accompanied by a great many young Gentlemen of the United Provinces a Hollander who was in the Ambassadors Train at their first Audience having looked earnestly upon the Queen told an English Gentleman with whom he had been acquainted in Holland that he saw no reason why the Queens Beauty should be generally spoke of to so much disadvantage that he thought People much to blame for doing it that to him she seemed very agreeable and that if he durst he would let her see what passions she was able to raise in a young Gentleman with several other such like discourses often looking upon the Queen and then applying himself to the Englishman The Queen who took more exact notice of the private persons than the Ambassadors as soon as the Audience was ended sent for the Englishman and commanded him on pain of her displeasure to tell her what his discourse was with the Hollander being certain that it was concerning her as was evident by their mein and behavior The Gentleman made a great many excuses saying it was not worth her Majesties knowledge at last the Queen being very urgent he was forced to declare the whole matter and confess the extream passion which the Hollander had testified for her Royal person The event of the affair was this that the Ambassadors were each of them presented with a Chain of Gold worth 800 Crowns and every one of their Retinue with one of 100 Crowns but the Hollander who thought the Queen so handsom had a Chain of 1600 Crowns which he wore about his Neck as long as he lived This Queen who had a Thousand great qualities had still the vanity of being thought handsom by all the world and I have heard my Father say upon this occasion that being sent to her in every Audience that he had she would pull her Glove off a hundred times to show her hands which were very white and handsom But to return to the character of Prince Maurice he was naturally good and just and died with the reputation of an exemplary Honesty to show that he deserved this character I need only relate the following Story Two of his Domestics who were Frenchmen one called Iohn de Paris who waited upon him in his Chamber the other one of his Halberdeers named Iohn de la Vigne having assassinated a Jeweller of Amsterdam who had Stones of a great Value which he would have sold the Prince he was so far from protecting them as several Persons of Quality would have thought it concerned their Honor to do that on the contrary he himself prosecuted the Actors of so inhumane a Butchery and made them both be broke alive upon the Wheel If this great and just character of Prince Maurice might be any way in the least sullied in the opinion of some persons it was occasioned by his contests with Monsieur Barnevelt who had been one of the principal Ministers and Confidents of Prince William his Father and who after his Death got the soveraign Command both by Sea and Land to be put into the hands of Prince Maurice for People being in a terrible confusion after that disaster and several seeing themselves deprived of their principal support being desirous to have recourse to the Amnesty which King Philip offered them he said publicly that matters were not in so desperate a condition that they ought to take courage they had indeed lost a real support by the Death of the Father but that he had left a Son then studying at Leyden who was capable to fill his place and gave very great Testimonies of his inclination to Vertue so by the Perswasion and Authority of this great Man Prince Maurice was no sooner come out of the Colledg but he was placed as Commander at the Head of Armies upon this account the Prince looked upon him as his Benefactor till time made him think he had reason to alter his opinion and use other measures towards him Whilst Monsieur de Barnevelt was for the continuance of the War which the Prince desired to uphold his Authority they kept a very fair Correspondence as likewise in the year 1598 when he met King Henry IV. in Brittain to diswade him from making the Peace of Vervins But when Barnevelt shew'd himself inclinable to a Truce after a War of 40 years which had so exhausted the State that it was impossible by reason of the prodigious number of Debts to have the War continue any longer it was then that this Prince who thought the Truce would give a mortal blow to his Glory and his Interests could no longer conceal his resentment but fell openly at variance with Monsieur de Barnevelt even in publick Conferences so far as to give him the Lye and one time to lift up his hand against him Prince Maurice used all imaginable endeavours to perswade King Henry IV. to break the design of the Truce as inconsistent with the welfare of France since the Spaniards being no longer engaged against the United Provinces would without all doubt turn their whole Forces against his Kingdom He spread several Papers which accused those who were for the Truce of being Traytors and holding aCorrespondence with the Spaniards but Monsieur de Barnevelt made it be represented to the King by such Ambassadors as had their dependance upon himself what he had several times before told to Mr. Buzanval his Ambassador and Monsieur the President Iavin who had been dispatched Extraordinary Envoy into Holland That it was necessary for the United Provinces to use the King in the same method that sick and wounded persons do their Physicians or their Chyrurgions That is to discover plainly their Wounds and Infirmities whereby his Majesty may see if it lay in his power to afford them such remedies as would heal them That their State was charged with excessive Debts whose Interest was to be paid to private persons that had lent their Money to the Public and had scarce any thing else remaining for their own subsistence and that except that Interest was exactly paid the greatest part of them must be left to starve That the several Imposts which were established to maintain the charges of the War were not sufficient for its continuance and that 13 or 14 Hundred Thousand Crowns were over and above necessary to pay the Interest of their Debts and the Troops which were then in their Service but that if his Majesty would supply them with what was necessary for their continuance of the War with Spain they would pursue it more vigorously now than ever The King whose Treasure was exhausted seeing that he would be obliged to furnish them every year with at least 4 Millions of Livres consented to the proposal of the Truce which was concluded by his Authority notwithstanding the perpetual opposition which Prince Maurice made to it by his Creatures So the Truce being concluded in the year 1609 by Monsieur Barnevelt's perswasions it is not to be admired if the Prince of Orange
their own bounds which was so true that when the States of the 17 Provinces assembled at Brussels having instantly demanded of Prince William of Orange that the Roman Catholic Religion might be exercised in his Governments returned answer That this depended only upon the States of Holland and Zealand That they appealed from these Judges as incompetent and visibly suspected of being their Enemies to such Judges as were natural and proper to their cause At the same time Prince Maurice with the States General called a National Synod in the Town of Dort and several Divines of Foreign Countries were invited thither in this Assembly the Opinion of Arminius was declared to be Heretical scandalous and tending to the Re establishment of Popery in the United Provinces and in pursuance of this decree Utembaugarts and all the other Ministers and Doctors suspected to be of that Opinion were dismissed from their Cures and banished the Country and forbid to return under pain of severe punishment After this Monsieur Barnevelt and the other Prisoners were tried before Judges nominated by the States General these Judges Condemned Monsieur Barnevelt to death upon the 12th of May 1619. My Father had several times interceeded for him in the Name of the French King and Monsieur de Boissise had been twice sent Envoy Extraordinary into Holland to exhort the States to consult their proper welfare and treat their Prisoners with moderation Pursuant to the Sentence he was executed in the Court of the Castle at the Hague being 66 years old where the Scaffold was raised against his Chamber Window opposite to the Prince's Apartment who was said to have beheld this Execution from his window by the help of a prospective upon which some people made their Reflections Prince Maurice and the States had less regard to the Intercession of France because the King of England was in their Interest as being perswaded that Monsieur Barnevelt was none of his Friends and that he had done him a sensible displeasure by causing the English Garrisons to retire from the Town of Flushing the Brill and the Castle of Ramekius which the English held for a security of those Sums which Queen Elizabeth had lent to the States General Monsieur Barnevelt being the chief of a very splendid Embassy made great Instances to the King to recall his Forces from their Towns King Iames promised him publickly and solemnly that he would do it provided they paid the Money due to him thinking he had imposed an impossible condition upon them considering how the Provinces had been exhausted by their Taxes but Monsieur Barnevelt having got the Kings word applyed himself with so much diligence to the collecting of the Money and by his Credit the people bled so freely that in a little time these vast Sums were carried into England which King Iames tho' very much surprized at was obliged to receive and consequently to recall his Garrisons and the remembrance of it stuck so close that he had always a great aversion for Monsieur Barnevelt Prince Maurice had another reason to make him have less regard to the intercession of France which was because he was not in the least afraid of their resentments Lewis the 13th was then come out of his Minority and a new Favorite was absolute Master of Affairs who had more regard to the raising of himself and two Brothers than to meddle with the Affairs of other Countries which appeared in the business of the Elector Palatine King of Bohemia for though by reasons of State he should have been maintained to weaken the House of Austria which at that time was become formidable and because this Elector was one of our principal Allies who might always have so divided Germany as that one of the Parties should have assisted us when we had occasion yet Monsieur de Luynes promised the Marquess de Mirabel the Spanish Ambassador then at Paris to ruin the Affairs of the Palatinate upon condition that Monsieur de Cadenet his Brother should marry Mademoiselle de Pecquigny and Chaulnâ—…s one of the most noble most beautiful and richest Heiresses of her time who was educated at Bruxels in the Family of the Infanta Isabella Upon these hopes which were not ill grounded for the Spaniards had given him their word Monsieur de Luynes sent a splendid Embassy into Germany consisting of Monsieurs d' Angouleme de Bethune and de Chateau-neuf who deceived the Protestant Princes that were armed for the defence of the Palatinate for it was concluded by the Treaty of Ulme where all the Princes of both Parties were assembled to hearken to the propositions of France That both Catholics and Protestants should lay down their Arms and the Quarrel be decided by the King of Bohemia and the Emperor only The Protestant Princes suffered themselves to be abused and did perform the Treaty honestly so that the Marquess of Ansbatch the General of their Forces had orders to disband them but the Duke of Bavaria and the other Catholic Princes of the same Parties sent their Troops by the Danube to the Emperor who overthrew the Prince Palatine at the battel of Prague After this Monsieur de Luynes having thus sufficiently raised his Family began to consider what might be for the Interest of the Kingdom and thereupon councelled the King to weaken the Hugonots who as he told his Majesty had the Insolence to make a distinct State within themselves and had hitherto been held invincible hereupon Monsieur de Luynes seized upon all their important places except Montauban from Saumur to the Pyreneans and after his death in the year 1622 pursuant to his Maxims Montpelier was taken and at last some time after Cardinal Richelieu counselled the King to attack Rochel which he gained and razed immediately and having in that destroyed the principal strength of the Hugonot Party their entire ruin soon followed upon the Duke of Rohans retreat to Venice who had a long time upheld them by his Valor and Industry Prince Maurice was sufficiently informed of this condition of France by the Dukes of Bovillon and dela Trimoille who had married his Sisters besides these he had a great many Friends in Germany where several of the Soveraign Princes were related to him either by his own side or his Mothers who was Daughter to Maurice Duke of Saxony The Elector Palatine was his Nephew likewise and he afterwards was chose King of Bohemia which he accepted as 't is said upon the advice of Prince Maurice and the persuasions of the Princess his Lady though contrary to the Counsels of King Iames his Father in-law who thought a young Prince was not capable to manage an Affair of such Importance and resist the power of the House of Austria protesting that he would neither succor him with men nor money except he quitted this design which would infallibly become his ruin but the Duke of Bovillon perswaded the Elector Palatine to the contrary as having some power over the young
recruits on that side sent three fresh Battalions to support his own as likewise to guard the plain that was behind the Hedges But the two first Regiments basely quitted their Post upon the first approach of the Enemy so that the other three Regiments that were sent to their assistance having not sufficient time to adjust themselves and seeing the two first Battalions run away betook themselves to their Heels and breaking into their own Squadrons that stood there to cover them occasioned an extraordinary confusion Upon this the French Cavalry coming to advance and being supported by the Infantry that made perpetual firing the Prince's Squadrons were beaten back but they did not go far and soon rallied again and poured so vigorously upon the French that they made them fly in their their turn In the mean time the Enemy's Foot being advanced above and having possessed the Hedges where the Prince's men were posted before they cou'd not possibly make a long resistance nor hinder the rest of the Foot from being attacked in the Flank as well as the Front So that the Foot after they had done their duty extremely well saw themselves obliged to quit their post and the Prince repassing the Rivet retir'd in very good order to Steenword and from thence to Poperdingue the Enemy having been so rudely handled by Count Waldeck who commanded the Prince's Right Wing that they had no desire to pursue him And this was the issue of the battel at Mont cassel The Prince having retired in this manner as we have related it the French King pursued the Siege of the Cittadel of Cambray with all imaginable vigor and it fell out very unfortunately for the besieged that a Bomb set fire on one of their Magazines where the Granadoes and other warlike Provisions lay and utterly consumed it However the besieged continued to defend themselves bravely and recompenced their loss in some manner by the death of the Marquess de Renel one of the French King's Lieutenant Generals who was slain by a Cannon-shot from the Castle But at last the French having made several breaches and the Governour of the Cittadel being wounded they were constrained to yield to the great number and continual attacks of the Enemy and to surrender the Castle which was done on very honorable conditions To return to the Duke of Orleans altho victorious he was so afraid lest the Prince should once more attempt to throw relief into St Omers that he durst not quit the field where the battle was fought but kept himself upon his guard for eight days successively But when he received the News that his Highness had passed the Canal of Ghent with all his Forces he returned before the Town which he besieged with his whole Army and after a gallant resistance which cost him several of his best Officers they were forced against their will to surrender upon good terms After the taking of these places the French heat began to be somewhat abated and those that were so forward to attack others were now content to act on the defensive all the rest of the Summer and durst never put it to the hazard of a battle altho it was often presented to them So that after several tedious marches and counter-marches on both sides and the Confederates ineffectual laying Siege to Charleroy which for several weighty considerations they thought expedient to raise the Prince returned to the Hague being accompanied by the Earl of Ossory Don Carlos the Duke of Albemarle and several other Persons of Quality After he had given the States General an account of the last Campaign with the reasons that obliged him to raise the Siege of Charleroy and not to attack the Enemy who were not only superior to him in number but posted to the greatest advantage Their High and Mightinesses thanked him for his conduct and indefatigable pains humbly beseeching him still to continue his zeal for the public Interest A little after his return to the Hague several of the English Nobility arrived at the Prince's Court who in an Assembly of the States General gave them to understand that his Unkle the King of Great Britain earnestly desired him to make a Voyage into England in hopes that his presence there would not a little contribute to the Peace then in agitation which would be of such mighty advantage to the Republic Thus his Highness took his leave of the States and of all theColledges on the 17th of October and being accompany'd by the Earl of Ossory Monsieur d' Odyk the Count de Nassau and several other persons of condition he embarqued at Hellevoetsluys in one of his Majesties Yatchs and arrived at Harwich on the 19th about ten in the morning where the Duke of Albemarle and the Master of the Ceremonies attended him in the King's Coaches and conducted him the same evening to the King and his Royal Highness at Ipswich who received him with all the testimonies of a particular kindness and affection On the 23d he arrived with the two Royal Brothers at Whitehall and was lodged in the Duke of York's apartment who retired to St. Iames's What was at first nothing but a bare surmize was soon after confirmed by the King himself For on the first of November his Majesty acquainted the Council with his design to marry the Prince of Orange to his Royal Highness's eldest Daughter declaring that he hoped this Alliance would facilitate the accomplishment of a General Peace which his Majesty was resolved to advance as far as the Interest of his Kingdoms did engage him After this the whole Council went in a body to compliment the Princess and afterwards the Prince the rest of the Nobility did the same after their example The Prince of Orange acquainted the States with it by an Express giving them to understand that after he had maturely weigh'd the reasons which might incline him to marry he thought he could not make a better choice than the Princess Mary that he had already demanded her in Marriage of the King and his Royal Highness her Father who immediately gave their consent that he judged it advisable to inform them of it expecting their approbation of the Match with all speed that he might the sooner repair to them for the service of his Country Hereupon the States General were assembled and seriously considering the reasons of State upon which this Marriage was founded with the great advantages it might produce as for instance a confirmation of that strict Union that was between the King of Great Britain and the States of the United Provinces the establishment of the ancient House of Orange and the conclusion of the Peace so earnestly desired I say after they had seriously considered all this but especially the happy choice his Highness had made of a Princess who besides her natural sweetness possessed all the virtues that a Husband could desire testified their approbation by a public Edict in terms full of joy and satisfaction declaring
Battle of Senef p. 256. C. COligny Gaspor de His Character p. 3. Coeverden lost p. 231 retaken p. 232. Coligny Lovise de Her Life p. 137. Cambray besieged and surrendred p. 280. D. DOn Iohn of Austria made Governour of the Low Countreys p. 57. His Story p. 58 59 c. Surprises the Castle of Namur and Charlemont p. 61. Defeats the Army of the States at Gemblours p. 65. Dies of Grief p. 67. E. COunts Egmont and Horn Executed p. 20. Q. Elizabeth loved to be thought handsome p. 153 c. F. FRench King almost over-runs the United Provinces p. 214. G. CArdinal Granville his Character and Story p. 14 15 c. Name of Gueux or Beggars whence the Rise p. 17. Grave besieged p. 265. and taken p. 269. Ghent taken p. 291. H. HAerlem taken by Famine p. 42. Henry Frederick born p. 114. His Life p. 177 c. His Children p. 178. I. INquisition declares those guilty of High-Treason who had not opposed the Hereticks of the Netherlands p. 19. Ipres taken p. 291. L. COunt Lodovick c. presents a Petition to the Governess of the Low Countreys against the Inquisition New Bishops c. which at first is slighted p. 17 18 c. Lewis de Requesens made Governour in the place of the Duke of Alva p. 44. Leyden relieved by breaking down the Dykes p. 45 46. and the University settled there p. 47. M. MArgaret of Austria made absolute Governess of the Low Countreys with Orders to Establish the Spanish Inquisition and several new Bishopricks in the Netherlands p. 14. Mons surprised p. 32. and retaken by the Spaniards p. 34. Count de la Mark takes the Brill with several other Cities p. 36. Middburg taken by the Spaniards p. 44. Maurier traduced at the French Court c. p. 120 121 122. Maurice Prince of Orange his Character p. 125. raises the Siege of Berghen ap Zoom p. 129 and 140. takes Breda p. 130. and Sluise p. 134. defeats Arch Duke Albert p. 135. and the Lord de Balancon p. 138. his Description p. 148 149 150 c. Maestricht besieged by the French p. 235. and taken p. 236. Mansfeld's Story and Character p. 141 142 c. N. NArses the Eunuch his Story p. 8. House of Nassau their Genealogy p. 9 10 c. The Netherlands demanded to have all the ' Spanish Forces drawn out of the Low Countreys p. 14. Nimighen Treaty p. 273. O. OStend taken by the Spaniards p. 134. St. Omers surrendred to the French p. 285. P. KIng Philip the Cause of the Disorders in the Low Countreys p. 8. His Description p 13 14 c. Perpetual Edict concluded between the States and Don Iohn of Austria p. 60. Prince of Parma made Governour of the Low Countreys p. 68. King Philip published a Prescription against the Prince of Orange p. 74. Philip William of Nassau his Life p. 115. taken by force out of the Colledge of Lovaine by King Philip p. 115. shut up in a Castle in Spain at 13 Years Old p. 116. released and sent to bring the Infanta Isabella into the Low Countreys p. 117. marries Eleanor of Bourbon p. 118. S. STates General Consent to a Toleration of both Religions p. 66. Request the Duke of Anjou and Alemon to be their Lord and Protector p. 73. T. Treaty of Peace set on foot at Breda p. 48. Treaty of Peace at Ghent p. 50 51 â— Treaty of Peace at Nimighen concluded p. 297. V. MArquess Vitelli his Character and Epitaph p. 28. Valenciennes taken by the French p. 279. W. WIlliam the First of Nassau his Birth p. 3. the Favours show'd him by Charles 5th p. 4. made Generalissimo at 22 Years Old p. 5. builds Charlemont and Philipville p. 5. supports the Emperour at the Resignation of his Empire and is recommended by him to the King of Spain p. 6. his Description p. 12. Retires into Germany p. 19. Raises an Army there which is defeated near the River Ems p. 24. Raises another of Twenty Four Thousand German Horse and Foot p. 25. which refusing to follow him into France to assist the Hugonots he disbands p. 27. Enters the Low Countreys with a great Army and is received into Ruremond Malines c. p. 33. Acknowledg'd Governour of Holland Zealand c. by the States p. 38. banishes the Romish Ceremonies out of the Church p. 39. received into Brussels in great Triumph p. 62. lays the Common-Wealth of the United Provinces p. 68. publishes his Apology against King Philip's Prescription p. 75 76 77 c. Marries Lovise de Coligny p. 113. killed at Delft p. 115. his Funeral p. 119. William Count de Buren Eldest Son to Prince William seized at the Colledge of Lovain and carried Prisoner to Spain p. 23. William Henry of Nassau his Birth p. 211. deprived of the Offices belonging to his Family p. 212. chose General of the Army p. 215. and restored to all the other Commands belonging to him which Cornelius de Witt opposes p. 220. Prince William takes Naerden p. 237. falls sick of the Small-pox and recovers p. 270. besieges Maestricht p. 275. and raises it p. 277. Marries the Princess Mary p. 288. Attacks and almost Routs Luxemburgh near Mons p. 298. Cornelius de Witt and his Brother killed p. 224. William the Second born p. 203. besieges Amsterdam p. 206. dies of the Small-pox 208. THE Author's Preface THE Reader whoever he is must not expest in these Memoirs to find a gay or rather an impertinent Discourse fillâ—d with New Terms which some presumptuous little Authors who mind nothing but bare words call fine Language These people are to understand that I was never bred at a Colledge and that the little Skill I have in Languages I receiv'd from Masters at home or from common use in Conversation I never read one single Line of Priscian or of any other Grammarian Their Lexicons and their Syntaxes which my Father was used to call The Plague of Youth are as much unknown to me as the Isle of Pines I never was able to comprehend what a Gerund or a Supin meant and though perhaps I use them upon occasion I neither know how to define or describe them I have not without a great deal of pleasure read the Quintus Curtius of Monsieur de Vaugclas whose solid Vertue and extraordinary Sweetness as well as his inviolable Fidelity to his Friends I esteem although I was never able to edify much by his Remarks upon our Language And what is more than all this having had the misfortune to debauch my own Natural Language during my long abode in Forreign Countries where I was bred as also by my long stay at Mayne where their Language is extreamly vitious and thinking it not worth the while to spend money to no purpose at Court and to feed my self with Vain Expectations my Reader ought not to be surpris'd if he meets in this Work some terms and manners of speaking that have not receiv'd the
February following eight days after the Defeat made sufficient amends for this Loss Don Iohn encouraged by this great Success and hoping that this Victory would be the Instrument of another advanced with great Forces to attack the Army of the States at Rimenant near Malines commanded by the Count de Bossut But the Count had intrenched himself so strongly that Don Iohn was obliged to retire in great Confusion and considerable Loss And 't was agreed on by all Hands that if the Count de Bossut had marched out of his Camp he would have intirely defeated Don Iohn who had a Crucifix in his Colours with this Motto With this Sign I have beaten the Turks and with This I will beat the Hereticks In Iuly the States-General consented to a Toleration of both Religions in the Provinces which was called the Peace of Religion which all Men were not satisfied with by this means a Third Party sprung up called the Malecontents the principal of which were Emanuel de Lalain Baron de Montigny the Viscount of Ghent Governour of Artois Valentine de Pardieu Sieur de la Motte Governour of Gavelines the Baron de Capres and others Thus the Provinces of Artois and Hainault returned to the Obedience of the King notwithstanding all the Remonstrances which the States made to them by Letters and Deputies About this time the States coined Money with the Bodies of Count Horn and Count Egmont and their Heads upon Stakes on one side and on the reverse two Horsemen and two Footmen fighting with this Inscription praestat pugnare pro patriâ quam simulatâ pace decipi It is better to fight for our Country than be deceived by a feigned peace The Malecontents to secure themselves against the States desired that the Foreign Troops might be recalled into the Netherlands contrary to the Pacification of Ghent and the perpetual Edict On the other side the States in order to their Defence treated with the Duke of Alencon whom they call'd the Defender of the Belgick Liberty upon condition that he should supply them with 10000 Foot and 2000 Horse paid at his own Charge This Treaty was concluded by the Means of the Queen of Navarre his Sister who in her Journey to the Spaw-Waters had drawn over a great number of Men to the party of her Brother whom she loved so tenderly among others the Count de Lalain and the Sieur D' Enchy Governour of Cambray A. D. 1578. in September died Don Iohn of Austria in the Camp at Namur of Grief for being suspected in Spain where his Secretary had been Assassinated or of Poyson as many are of Opinion Immediately after died the Count de Bossut General of the States who after his Death desired Mr. de la Nove Bras de fer in Consideration of his Reputation Valour Conduct and Experience in War to take upon him the Charge of Mareschal de Camp of their Army Alexander Farneze Prince of Parma succeeded Don Iohn in the Government of the Low Countries and by his Civility and obliging Carriage to all Men added to the great Promises he made strengthened the Party of the Male-Contents and weakened the power of the States About this time the 22d of Ianuary A. D. 1579. the Prince of Orange laid the first Foundation of the Commonwealth of the united Provinces by the strict Union which he made at Utrecht between the Provinces of Gueldres Zutphen Holland Zealand Friezland and the Ommelands consisting of Twenty six Articles the chief of which were these The Provinces made an Alliance against the common Enemy and promised mutually to assist each other and never to treat of Peace or War but by common Consent And all this without prejudice to the Statutes Privileges and Customs of every particular Province Which Article was broken under the Government of Prince Maurice when the States General assumed a Jurisdiction over all the Subjects of the Provinces who till that time had no other Lords than the particular States of the Province This Treaty was called the Union of Utrecht because 't was made in that City It was râ—…tified by all the Governours of the Provinces and the States to show how necessary a perfect Union was to their Preservation took those words of Micipsa in Salust for their device Concordiâ res parvae crescunt little Things become great by Concord That Year Maestricht was taken by Storm by the Duke of Parma after a Siege of four Months and a Treaty of Peace was set afoot at Cologne by the Mediation of the Emperor Rodolphus but the King of Spain refusing to grant a Toleration of Religion in the Netherlands though it had been allowed in France and Germany the design did not take effect Under the Government of the Duke of Parma many Actions passed between the Male-Contents and the Troops of the States commanded by Mr. de la Nove who surprized Ninove in Flanders and took in their Beds Count Egmont his Wife and Mother with Count Charles his Brother and carried them Prisoners to Ghent where the People as they passed through the Streets threw Dirt upon them and treated them with a thousand Indignities and abuses upbraiding them with abandoning their Country to joyn with the Executioners of their Fathers But Monsieur de la Nove after great Success was surprized himself with the few Men he had with him by the Viscount of Ghent and Marquess of Risbourg The Cause of this Accident was the Sieur Marquette's not obeying Monsieur Nove's Orders in breaking down the Bridge which led to him By order of the Duke of Parma he was carried Prisoner to the Castle of Limburg where he was barbarously treated by the Spaniards who offered to set him at Liberty provided they might put out his Eyes From whence 't is visible how apprehensive they were of this great Captain At last after a long Imprisonment he was exchang'd upon Count Egmont's Swearing never more to bear Arms against Spain of which the Duke of Lorrain and many other Lords and Princes were Guarrantees Besides his great Skill in the Art of War which is celebrated by all Historians never was a Man of so clear and dis-interested a Vertue which he gave continual proofs of during the whole Course of his Life but among the rest one very remarkable Instance Monsieur de la Nove Bras de fer was a Gentleman of Bretaigne and had a Sister married to Monsieur de Vezins a Man of Quality and Fortune in Anjou who had by her a Son and two Daughters this Sister had 20000 Crowns for her Fortune but dying young Monsieur de Vezins married a Woman who was one of her Attendants by whom he had several Children This Megere after the Death of her Husband desiring to secure to her Children the great Estate of the House of Vezins could think of no more effectual way than by delivering the Children of the first Wife her Mistress to an English Merchant for a Sum of Money upon Condition that she
visiting him by an Envoy Prince Philip came into Flanders with Albert the Arch-Duke who a little while after sent him back to Spain to bring the Infanta Isabella afterwards his â—…se into the Low Countries to whom her Father Philip gave in Marriage the Soveraignty of the Seventeen Provinces all Europe was very much astonished that the Son of a man so odious to Spain should be chose to execute so important a Commission which could not be given him without a large Testimony both of Esteem and Confidence He lived afterwards in the Court of Brussels with the Arch-Dukes of Flanders for the States of the United Provinces conceived such a distrust of him by reason of this employment and because King Philip had reestablished him in his Lands situated in the Spanish Low Countries and in the Franche Comte which had been confiscated that they would never let him come to visit their Provinces much less to continue there though he had often testified his desire of it He never appeared there before the Year 1608 when the Truce with the Spaniards was almost concluded and in this Journey he did nothing else but reconcile the Princess Emilia his Sister with his Brother Count Maurice who would never see her since her Marriage with Prince Emanuel of Portugal because it had been concluded without his consent He married Eleanor of Bourbon the Sister of the deceased Prince of Conde a very virtuous Princess by whom he had no Children This Marriage with the first Princess of the Blood of France put him in possession of his Principality and Town of Orange where the Sieur de Blacons who was Governor of it as being a Kinsman of Monsieur the Marshal des Lesdiguierres who commanded absolutely in Dauphiny would not let him enter but the Sieur de Blacons had so many express orders from the King to leave the place and Monsieur des Lesdiguierres had an order to make them be precisely obeyed that at last the Prince saw himself possess'd both of the Place and his Soveraignty for before he had been look'd upon as an Enemy having followed the Arch-Duke Albert when he was at Calais and would make King Henry IV. raise the Seige of Amiens Prince Philip farther confess'd to his most intimate Friends That in his whole Life he was never in so great pain and such strange uneasiness as at the time when the battle of Newport was fought for the Arch-Duke who presumed very far upon his own Forces thinking them as much superior in Valor as they were in Number to those of the Hollanders had boasted that if he had gained the day he would send the two Brothers Maurice and Henry Frederick bound hand and foot as his Prisoners into Spain So he sent out his Scouts on every side kept all his Horses ready sadled and bridled in his Stable and his People all in a condition to retire suddenly into some place of safety thinking that his Brothers being lost he likewise must perish by the Spaniards so that during the whole fight he was at his Prayers and made ardent and continual Vows that his Brothers might obtain the Victory During the Truce which was concluded for 12 years he made a Voyage into Holland in the Year 1615 with Madam the Princess his Wife and they lived generally at Breda My Father had the honor to see them and converse with them often and he was so far in both their good graces that they helped him to overthrow a great many calumnies which had been invented to draw upon him the indignation of Monsieur the Prince of Conde and several other Lords and great Persons of the Kingdom who during the Minority of the late King had been several times in Arms upon diverse pretences it having been told them by my Fathers Enemies that during these commotions he had acted with too much heat and violence against them having caused several Vessels full of Arms to be seized and stopped divers Officers from Holland who would have come over to their Service to all these disobliging actions were added some discourses to the disparagement of these great Persons which my Fathers Enemies had likewise imputed to him These Princes had so far given credit to such Impostors that not being able to seize upon my Fathers Person they testified their resentment by sacking his Castle of Fountayne Dangé near Chateleraut which they pillaged by their Troops but Mary de Medices the Queen Mother who had knowledge of this disorder being then at Poitiers made him ample satisfaction so that he had no further loss than of several original Papers and ancient Titles which were not in her Majesties Power to repair The King himself upon this occasion wrote to my Father as follows Monsieur de Maurier Then after this are two pages in Cypher AS for what remains I am very sorry that your House has suffered for the Services you have rendred me I will takecare of my Servants and encourage them to do well by the Protection which I give both to their Persons and Estates The Sieur de Puysieux may acquaint you with what I have ordered upon this account continue only to serve me with care and fidelity as you do at present and you shall receive both the Honor and the Profit of it I pray God keep you Monsieur de Maurier under his holy and safe Protection Written at Poitiers Jan. 20 1616. Signed Lewis and a little lower Brulard The Queen likewise wrote him the following Letter Monsieur de Maurier THE King my Son answers your dispatch by this Bearer whose intentions I am assured you can so well execute as they may produce the effect which we desire pursuant to your good Counsels we confide therefore in your affection and care in this encounter nor shall I add any further Command You know likewise what considerations he has made you for the House which you have lost in his Service to which if you continue firm with the same fidelity and diligence you shall receive all possible Content and Advantage I pray God keep you Monsieur de Maurier in his holy and safe Protection Written at Poitiers the 20th of January 1616. Signed Mary and a little lower Brulard Monsieur de Puysieux writ to him likewise towards the end of a long dispatch AS to what concerns your Interests and the loss and damage you have sustained in your House of Fontayne I have not been wanting to represent it to their Majesties in all those circumstances which were requisite at which they are much concerned and do not intend that any of their Servants shall suffer upon account of the good services they have rendred them They have ordered you 2000 Crowns for a Recompence of your loss and would have you know they do it upon that consideration and have thought fit to encrease your Pension to 1000 Crowns a Year I wish I could still testifie more to your content the extream desire I have of serving you that you may know
the injuries of Barnevelt's Party which revived itself in the persons of the two De-wits who were Brothers expecting with a silent patience which was greater much than that of his Ancestor the great Prince William what time would produce and what favorable occasions might occur at last for his Re-establishment for having by a solemn sentence been deprived of all the Employments of his Family after the sudden death of the Prince his Father he was restored to them again at the beginning of the last war by an Ordinance that was made on purpose for it His Rise and Re-establishment were owing to France which having made great Conquests for almost 8 years together the greatest part of the Frontier Towns and several capital places of the Provinces Utrecht and Zutphen among others were rendered up at the very sight of their Armies though these places were provided with large Garrisons yet being composed of Officers and Men without any experience the King of France became Master of more than 40 places in less than two months These misfortunes which seemed to be the presages of greater and had put the United Provinces into the utmost consternation gave occasion to the People to complain of the ill conduct of the two De Wits who governed till that time and furnished those who adhered to the House of Nassau with a reasonable pretext to affirm that the Princes of Orange were only able to uphold their tottering State and defend them against their most potent Enemies and that as heretofore they had protected them against the Tyranny of Spain so it was they alone who could preserve them from the Fury and Violence of the French Armies The Grand-mother of this young Prince who was a Woman of a Masculine courage and suffered the indignities that had been offered to the House of Orange with great impatience having beheld it in its greatest splendour was not a little serviceable in stirring up all the creatures and dependants on the House of Nassau who were very numerous these people being angry to see themselves fallen from their credit the principal employments being given to the Sons of Burgomasters and seconded by the fury of the people that were grown out of all patience at so many disasters and the sight of a victorious Army through the very bowels of the Countrey massacred the Enemies of the Young Prince who was afterwards restored to the possession of all the dignities that had belonged to his Ancestors which is to say that of General of their Forces Stadt-holder and Admiral which were moreover by a solemn decree made hereditary to his Family Upon this occasion it cannot but be admired how so powerful a State that had made head for Fourscore years against the Crown of Spain had taken such large Towns and gained so many Battels and had become formidable at Sea to all the Princes of the world having carried its Arms and Victory to the farthest part of the Earth that this State I say which had rendred itself so famous by the long defence of Ostend which has equall'd the reputation of the famous Sieges of Tire and the ancient Troy should be reduced in less than two months to the very brink of its ruine and it had assuredly been destroyed in the year 1672 if by a desperate resolution it had not resolved to save itself by drowning part of the Country as a Pilot who throws all his Cargo overboard during a furious Storm that so he may preserve his Men and Vessel But those who knew the constitution of these Provinces and were not ignorant that discord is the plague and certain destruction of the most flourishing States were not so much amazed considering it was more than Threescore years since that Country had been torn in pieces by two contrary Factions which threatned its subversion without any Foreign Forces This Gangreen likewise had so seized upon the most noble parts of the United Provinces that in the year 1672 by a strange fatality and an unaccountable passion the greatest part of the chief Persons in that Country desired the loss of their Land Army and the defeat of the Prince of Orange whose Rise and Power they so much envied For this reason they had not sufficiently provided his Army with necessary provisions whilst they applied their principal cares to increase the Fleet to resist the Kings of England and France who attacked them jointly with a Navy of above Fourscore Men of War But it is not less surprizing to consider the expedition the French made in this Campaign when as these people for fear of becoming subject to the House of Orange allied to these great Monarchs had committed a considerable fault in their Politicks for after the Peace of Munster imagining themselves to be in perfect security and that they had nothing more to be afraid of and being acknowledged Soveraigns by Spain they might rather give Laws than receive them from any body They disbanded the greatest part of their old Forces that were Strangers and those experienced Officers who had gained so great Glory to their Country imagining that the surest means of freeing themselves from the Slavery which they thought themselves threatened with was to take from the Prince of Orange the support of his Government by reforming those Troops which looked upon him as their Master having taken an Oath to him and were devoted perfectly to his service Besides the principal men in the Country had as they thought some interest in this change for they gave all the Commands in the Army and the Government of places to their own Relations thinking by the assistance of this Souldiery to sortifie themselves and at the same time to weaken the House of Orange but they found by sad experience that endeavoring to avoid one inconvenience they fell quickly into a greater For having given the great Employments in the Army and Government of places to Sons of Burgomasters and Deputies of Towns People without any experience and who wanted Tutors for themselves rather than to be Commanders when a strong and powerful Enemy made War against them these young men show'd none of their Northern courage in this storm and danger for there were places that were garrisoned with 5000 Foot and 800 Horse that rendred themselves all Prisoners of War at the very sight of the French Army without making any resistance My Brother de la Villaumaine who came into France a little before this last War giving me an account of the state of the Army in Holland told me that if a powerful Enemy should attack them the Officers must resolve to perish and bear the brunt in their own persons having no confidence in the Souldiers they commanded who did not know how to manage their Arms a Prophecy which was since accomplished at the expence of his Life A little before he told me likewise that the Dutch Horse were so ill equipped that 50 Reyters of Munster would put to flight two or three Hundred Dutch
long Combat where abundance of persons of France England and the Low Countries ran from all parts to see from the shore so extraordinary a spectacle The greatest part of so powerful a Fleet was burnt destroyed or separated and those which escaped put themselves under the covert of some English Vessels and so retreated into the River of Thames or some Port in Flanders The Spaniards lost above 7000 men that were burnt or drowned besides 2000 who were made Prisoners by the Hollanders This Victory was very great and memorable for there were 40 large Vessels sunk burnt or taken and amongst others the great Galeon of Portugal called Mater Tereza was burnt which was 62 foot broad and had 800 men on board who all perished This Tromp was the Father of Count Tromp who was engaged in the King of Denmark's service and gained great advantages over the Swedes In the year 1641 Prince Henry Frederick married his only Son Prince William to the Princess Mary of England eldest Daughter to Charles I. King of Great Britain and Madam Henrietta of France and this Marriage was celebrated with a great deal of Pomp and Magnificence The year 1645 was remarkable for the taking of the important Town of Hulsh in Flanders which was carried in spite of the Spaniards who could neither put succors into it nor make Prince Henry raise the Siege This Prince during the space of two and twenty years that he had the Government in his hands was remarkable for his wife and moderate conduct Because the Princess Louise de Coligny his Mother had maintained Barnevelt's Party some people thought that the Prince following his Mothers inclinations would re-establish that Party and recall such of them as had been banished and among others Mr Grotius But this Prince like a good Politician thought it better to let things continue in the posture he found them in than to embroil'em afresh by bringing a prevailing party upon his back I have seen Mr. Grotius in a great passion upon this occasion and he has spoke very ill of the Prince accusing him of Ingratitude and of having no respect for those who had been Friends to his Mother Prince Henry was very rich but instead of finding any support from England he was forc'd to help King Charles in his necessity with all his ready Money The greatest part of which has been repaid by the King of England since his Restauration to his Nephew the Prince of Orange Henry Frederick died the 14th of March 1647 and was buried with a great deal of State Besides his Children that we have mentioned before he left a Natural Son remarkable for his Valor his name was Mr. Zulestein Collonel of the Dutch Infantry who died at the attack of Vorden Prince William of Orange laid the Foundation of the Commonwealth of the United Provinces and was their first Founder his eldest Son Maurice secured and established this Commonwealth by his Victories which forced the Spaniards in the Treaty of Truce for 12 years to acknowledge the United Provinces for a free State and Henry Frederick Brother to Maurice and Grandfather to the present King of England by the continuation of his Conquests at last forced the Spaniards to renounce entirely the right which they had pretended to that Country so that we may say with reason and justice that this illustrious Father and his two generous Sons who have imitated his Vertues are the Founders of this Commonwealth which sends Ambassadors that are covered before the most powerful Kings in Christendom even before the King of Spain himself whose Vassals they were about 100 years ago Henry Frederick had for his devise this word Patriaeque Patrique intimating thereby that he thought of nothing but serving his Country and revenging the Death of his Father WILLIAM II Prince of Orange THE LIFE OF WILLIAM II. Prince of Orange THis Prince was born in the year 1626 the States General were his Godfathers and by the appointment of his Father was called William after the name of his Illustrious Grandfather In the year 1630 this young Prince was declared General of the Cavalry of the Low Countries and the year following the States granted him the Survivorship of the Government of their Province He was no sooner of Age to bear Arms but he followed his Father to the Army and was present at the Siege of Breda giving great proofs of his Courage though but 13 years old Immediately upon the death of his Father Frederick Henry he took the Oath of Fidelity to the States for the Government of which they had granted him the Reversion All Europe was in a profound Peace upon conclusion of the Treaty at Munster which was done the next year after Prince Henry's death The States considering the vast Debts they had contracted by the extraordinary Expences they had been obliged to make resolved to retrench all unnecessary ones having a great number of Troops in their pay that were of no use now the War was at an end they proposed to disband a considerable part of them William the Second who had succeeded in all the Places of the Prince his Father and knowing very well that nothing but the Army could support the credit of the Places he was possessed of made a strong opposition to this design of the States General He represented that it was against all the Rules of Policy to disband Troops who had been so faithful to the Provinces and that France or Spain might make use of this opportunity to fall upon their Common-wealth in a time when they could not be in a condition to defend themselves The States who were already resolved to break 120 Companies to make some sort of satisfaction to the Prince offered to continue the ordinary Pay to the disbanded Officers The Prince agreed to this proposal but the Province of Guelders and the City of Amsterdam opposed and protested against it for several reasons They who were in the Prince's Interests advised him to visit the principal Cities of the Netherlands to perswade the Magistrates to take a Resolution of leaving not only the Officers but the Troops in the same condition they were in before the War that they might be in a readiness to serve where-ever there was occasion Pursuant to this advice the Prince having sent for the principal Collonels of the Army went in person to four or fiveCities of Holland The Burghers of Amsterdam who were well assured that the Prince would visit them too and apprehending his presence would cross the Resolutions they had taken desired him by their Deputies to put off his intended Journey to this City for several Reasons which they gave him Haerlem Medemblic and several other places followed the Example of Amsterdam The Proceedings of these Cities was so considerable an Affliction to the Prince and incensed him so much that in a meeting of the States General he resented it with inexpressible concern He endeavoured to insinuate to them by a great number of Reasons
proper time and place but in all appearance his reasons upon examination were not thought valid for he was condemned to perpetual imprisonment after he had been degraded at Utrecht in a very ignominious manner 'T is true all the world was surprized that the French so easily abandon'd a place of that importance and strength and which was in so good a condition to defend it self for there were Two thousand Nine hundred and thirty Souldiers in the Garrison who wanted no provisions besides that the French ever since they had rendred themselves Masters of it had fortified it extremely But whatever was the cause of it whether some divisions arising between them and the Swissers as some people imagine or something else which we don't know his Highness who to encourage the Souldiers by his own example exposed his person to all dangers both in the Trenches and upon the Batteries carried the Town in four days having only 100 men slain outright and about 200 wounded whereas the Enemy lost abundance more which is quite contrary to what happens in all other Sieges Nor was he less careful to preservehis conquest than he was to acquire it to this purpose having given all necessary orders to repair the Fortifications and placed a sufficient Garrison in in it he made Count Coningsmark a brave experienced Captain Governour of the Town and then returned to the Hague to prepare himself for some greater designs For after the States of the United Provinces had made a stricter alliance with the King of Spain and the Emperor to defend themselves mutually against France their common Enemy by which they were obliged to assist one another conjointly with all their forces after this triple alliance I say in consequence of which the Imperial Army consisting of about Twenty Thousand Foot and Ten Thousand Horse was already on their March the Prince of Orange to perform something remarkable before the season was over caused his Army to advance to Rosendael in Brabant and following it soon after himself he joyn'd with the Count de Monterey who without the least difficulty yielded to him the preheminence and command of the whole Army But finding that the Prince of Conde had changed his post upon the news of the two Armies being joyn'd and that he had so well intrenched himself that it was impossible to attack him he advanced higher and joyn'd the Imperial Army commanded by Montecuculi between Andernach and Bon. In his march he summoned Rhinbeck to surrender which thro the perswasion of a Burgher who encouraged the rest to make resistance being refused he commanded the Sieur de Walkenburg to take two Regiments of Dragoons and two of Infantry and to make an assault which they did with that vigour that the Souldiers entring the Town put all to the Sword and hang'd up the Burgher who had so ill advised them as to make an opposition The Confederates being now joyn'd it was resolved to attack Bonn. The better to effect this the Marquis d' Arsentar was dispatched to Kessenning to take his quarters there and on the next day Montecuculi lodged the Imperialists at Goedesbourg His Highness went to post himself with all his forces at Rynford and General Spork who commanded the Imperial Cavalry planted himself on the other side of the City near Westerwaldt Bonn is a considerable City called by the Romans Iulia Bonna scituate upon the Rhine within four Leagues of Colen As it was then in the hands of the Elector and the French they had placed in it a Garrison of two Thousand men under the command of Lantsberghen and had provided it with all ammunitions of war with Twenty four piece of Cannon planted upon the Walls and Ramparts The Confederates not thinking themselves sufficiently paid for the loss of Mastricht by the retaking of Naerden resolved to render themselves Masters of Bonn. The Pr. of Conde durst not hinder them in person but sent the Mareschal d' Humieres with a body of five Thousand Horse to oppose them and to endeavour to throw some relief into the Town in the beginning of the Siege To put this in execution he advanced as far as Birchem from whence he sent a party of an Hundred Horse who pretending that they belonged to the Duke of Lorrain passed through the midst of the Imperialists without being stopt by any of the Centinels and so got safe into the City But another Hundred hoping to meet the same success as they passed by his Highness's Quarters found the Centinels not so credulous as their Brethren were so they were all cut in pieces or made Prisoners which news coming to the ears of five Hundred more who had hid themselves in a neighbouring Wood upon the same design they fled with the greatest precipitation imaginable At this time General Spork detached a body of five Thousand Horse to go and meet the French which the Mareschal being informed of he sounded a retreat and went back to Utrecht On the other side the Bsiegers having finished their Batteries and made their approaches gave but little or no rest at all to the besieged and after they had made three Mines ready to spring they prepared to give a general assault Nevertheless the Generals of the Confederates being willing to spare their own People and hoping to make themselves Masters of the place by gentler methods sent to summon the Governor afresh remonstrating to him that he had no hopes of being relieved that they were ready to spring three Mines that to be farther satisfied of the truth of this matter he might if he so pleased send one of his own men to behold them and that in case of longer resistance they were resolved to put all to the Sword without giving quarter to any whom they found in arms This message so effectually frighted the besieged that after a few days siege they demanded Articles and surrendred the same day upon the ordinary conditions viz. to go out with Drums beating Colours flying without carrying any provisions or ammunition with them except two pieces of Cannon There went out of the Garrison a Thousand five Hundred men the rest being either slain or wounded All the Germans who were in this number immediately deserted and listed themselves in the Emperour's service The City being taken his Highness retired to Vesseling and from thence marching lower with his Army and that of the Imperialists for he commanded both ever since the departure of Montecuculi for Vienna till the arrival of the Duke de Bournonville he took the two Castles of Brevel and Sechuich the latter of which had a Garrison of two Hundred French commanded by a German who perceiving that the Soldiers after they were summon'd to surrender resolved to hold it out to the last bethought himself of a stratagem to make them alter their opinions for having commanded the French to go down into the lower Court under a pretence to defend it when he saw them all there he drew the Draw-bridge upon
the Cathedral Church of Paderburn This Saint Liberius had been Bishop of Mans. Such a beginning enticed him farther and knowing that at Munster there were 12 Apostles all of Silver of a prodigious bigness he went thither and seizing upon the place marched directly to the great Church called the Dome accompanied with all his Collonels and Captains made a Speech to these Apostles reproaching them with their Idleness and Disobedience in not observing the commands of their Master to go instantly through all the World in these words Go throughout all Nations swearing that he would make them Travellers and become obedient So he immediately commanded to coin them into Rix Dollars with which he paid his Army and so spread them throughout all Germany He had taken this for his Device Gottes freindt und der Psaffen feint which is to say Friend of God and Enemy of Priests whom he slew or at least guelt them without any remission at last this outragious Spirit departed in 1626 at Wolfenbottle of a burning Fever in the prime of his Youth After having raised the Seige of Berghen op Zoom Maurice Prince of Orange did nothing considerable besides the Project he laid for the surprize of Antwerp but Heaven and the Winds were opposite to his design he had given so good order for every thing the Undertaking was so well laid and he promised to himself such a happy Issue that he said that it was God alone that could hinder the Success Prince Maurice before he had resolved to ruine Mr. de Barneveld honored my Father with his esteem and confidence insomuch that he undertook his defence against those that had aspersed him as his elder Brother Prince Philip and his Princess had done before which was very well known to all those who were then in Holland and which appears evidently by a Letter which Prince Maurice writ to Monsieur de Villeroy after the Peace of Landau wherein he not only justifies my Fathers conduct but moreover tells him that the Court had no Person thereabouts who could serve France so much as my Father and that was so agreeable to him and the States General The Letter is this SIR AT my return from Zeland upon the instances that were made me by Monsieur de Maurier the Kings Ambassador for the Re-establishment of the French Officers in their Employments I used my endeavors for the satisfaction of their Majesties the States having taken the same Resolution their Act shall be executed I am very much pleased that the Troubles in your Kingdom have been so happily composed and particularly that your Labors have so well succeeded in it wishing that this repose may be of long continuance to the prosperity of their Majesties which is the thing that I desire besides although the Care and Diligence which Monsieur Maurier has show'd in his faithful Execution of the Kings Commands may speak sufficiently for themselves yet I must render this Testimony to his Behavior that it has been such as has served their Majesties heartily and to the purpose without giving any one reason to complain having managed all his Actions which are very well known to us with Modesty Respect and Honor and thus much I can give you certain assurance of whereas if any other reports may be spread to his Prejudice they must do great injustice to his Conduct and Integrity The States General and all of us are fully satisfied with his whole proceedings and think their Majesties cannot hereafter make use of any other Minister that will be more faithful and serviceable to themselves or more agreeable to this Commonwealth which as I have reason I must declare to be my own opinion and with that I shall conclude together with assurance of my desire to serve you and prayers to God to give you health and long life Sir your very affectionate Servant Maurice of Nassau This Letter and several others of the same Strain which Madam the Princess Dowager of Orange and the principal Persons in the Country had writ to Court contradicted the Aspersions of several Persons of Quality who had assured the Queen Mother and her Ministers that my Father was disagreeable to the Prince and States General In short Prince Maurice upon all occasions gave my Father very signal marks of his Esteem and Friendship so that in the Year 1615 having a Son born the Prince would be his Godfather and gave him his own name of Maurice with a little Picture of a great value this is he who has been known by the name of Villaumaine and who having past all his Life in Holland where he was born arriv'd by 40 years Service and his own Merit without any favor to the command of Collonel He had a mortal aversion for this last war for he drew his extraction from France where his Family was established on the other side he saw himself obliged to defend the place of his Birth where he had all his effects and where he was at last arrived to an honorable Post by an extraordinary Patience never Man had more true Friends than he and they of all Nations so that he gained the Esteem of all the considerable Frenchmen that had known him in Holland amongst others of Monsieur de Beringhen chief Querry to the King of Mr. de St. Romain who was Ambassador in Portugal and Switzerland and towards his latter days of the Princess of Tarentum He lived in great Esteem for his Valor and Fidelity and died at the Head of his Regiment in the Battle of Senef very much lamented by all that knew him and by the Prince of Orange himself who placed a great Confidence in him I hope I shall be pardoned for the tenderness I had for this only Brother that was left me which occasioned this digression But let us now come to the description of Prince Maurice's Person and Manners even to the secrets of his Life which have not hitherto been divulged as I have learnt them from my Father and several Noble Persons of that Country This Prince was very strong and indefatigable in Labor he appeared lesser than he was by being full and fat his Face was plump and ruddy his Beard fair which he wore very large and broad he always made use of little pleated Ruffs about his Neck He never clothed himself but after the same fashion with the same Stuff and that always of a sort of brown or musk color his Doublet was of Silk with Gold stripes the rest of his Cloaths were Woollen but his Cloaks or long Coats were faced with Velvet I speak of his common Habit and not of those that were designed for great Feasts and public Assemblies He often wore in his Hat a Band of Diamonds he was never without a Girdle to which was fastened a sort of Belt for his Sword that was gilt I never saw him in any other Habit and yet I have minded him a thousand times at the French Church in the Castle at the Hague
Cardinal having some difference with Mary de Medicis the Queen Mother who being of the house of Austria by the mothers side was upheld by all the power of Spain and Germany he was forced to have recourse to foreign Alliances and to caress those whom he had before despised and offended This storm which was raising against the Cardinal for his destruction as well within as without the Kingdom obliged him to seek the friendship of the Prince of Orange who tho he had not the title of Soveraign disposed of all things belonging to the United Provinces There was a Treaty concluded between France and the States General by which they were to attack the Spaniards and to divide the Conquest of the Low Countries which they had already devoured in their imaginations the Prince of Orange was to enter Holland with the Dutch Army and France was to joyn him with thirty thousand Men and the French Generals had orders from the King to obey the Prince of Orange so much it seems at that time they thought him necessary to their affairs In short the Spring following the year 1635 the French Army under the Command of the Marshals Chatillon and Breze enter'd the Low Countries and defeated the Spanish Forces at Avein commanded by Prince Thomas of Savoy who afterwards took the name of Prince of Carignon all the Baggage and Cannon remained in the possession of the French with abundance of Prisoners several of which that were of the best quality were carried to Maestricht These Generals after this Victory joined the Prince of Orange and sacked part of Brabant but the Prince who did not love the Neighbourhood of the French better than that of the Spaniard and had still the remembrance of the affair at Orange very fresh in his mind for want of victuals and subsistence ruin'd the French Army that had been so victorious which being retired into Holland after raising the Siege of Lovain under pretence of the approach of Picolomini with a German Army the greater part of it perished there with Hunger and Sickness the sixth part of it never returning back again into their own Kingdom The Prince of Orange looked upon Cardinal Richelieu as an Enemy that was reconcil'd to him only out of the necessity that he had for him in his present circumstances and for this reason he under-hand did him all the displeasure and gave him all the mortification that he could possibly granting a favourable reception to such as had been disgrac'd by him in France honouring them with his confidence and considerable imployments as amongst others it appeared by Mr. Hauterive and Mr. Beringhen whom he respected not only in spight of the Cardinal but because they deserved it and Cardinal Richelieu as powerful as he was was forced to swallow those Pills having necessary occasion for Holland to make some diversions which conduced to the good of his other affairs this made the Cardinal know that it was not good to offend people of courage and being a very great Politician he could dissemble so far as not to be angry at this ill treatment so he continued to seek the Prince of Orange's Friendship and it was agreed that each should attack the common Enemy from his own side he maintained a faithful and perfect correspondence with the French and the Prince who was sufficiently revenged and drew great advantages from his alliance with France executed the Treaties he had made with great sincerity The same year in which happened the battle of Avein and the Siege of Louvain the Spaniards surprized the Fort of Skink by means of Lieutenant Collonel Enhold who made himself Master of it by a party of the Garrison of Guelders whom he made use of to execute so bold an Enterprize The Sieur Veld the Governour being waked with the noise of the attack and rising in his Shirt had his Arm immediately broken and being in despair to see himself surprized would not render himself Prisoner whatever offers of quarter they could make him still defending himself till he was overwhelm'd with blows The Father of this Enhold had been beheaded at the Hague for some Crime and the Son to revenge the death of his Father quitted the Dutch service and put himself under the Spaniard which happened very luckily for him for by the surprize of so important a place beside the inward satisfaction which he had to cause so great a loss to the States the Cardinal Infant Ferdinand of Austria being newly arrived in the Low Countries where he had the Soveraign Command presented him for so bold and happy an action with a Chain of Gold of great value and gave him the summ of fifty thousand Livres But Prince Henry was so set upon the regaining of this place that he gave the Spaniards free entrance into the Countries of Guelders and Utrecht having besieged it in the month of August 1635 he re-took it in April 1636 by a Siege of six months In the year 1637 Cardinal Richelieu to oblige the Prince of Orange gave him the Title of Highness in a discourse made on purpose by Monsieur de Charnasse Ambassadour of France to Holland in the Name of his Majesty and at an Assembly of the States General which was soon after printed In which he was followed by the Ambassadors of all other Princes who before had used no other Title but that of Excellence In the same year 1637 Prince Henry by a Siege of four months re-took the Town and Castle of Breda which the Marquis Ambrose Spinola had conquered in the year 1625 by a long Blockade of a whole year with incredible Expences although this place was defended by France England and Denmark so the Marquis put over one of the Gates of the Town that he had carry'd it tribus Regibus frustra renitentibus notwithstanding the Resistance of three Kings It was at this last Siege of Breda that Monsieur de Charnasse was killed for though he was Ambassadour of France yet he would serve at the Head of his Regiment which he had in the Low Countries hoping to become a Mareschal of France by the favour of the Mareschal de Breze whose Aunt he had married and who had gained him his Employments In the year 1639 the Hollanders gained a considerable Victory at Sea over the Spaniards the Fleet of Don Antonio Doquendo consisting of 67 Men of War that had been equipping so long in Spain joyned to some Vessels from Dunkirk who were considerable in that time came for some great design which none yet have ever penetrated were stopped in St. George's Channel by the Renowned Admiral Martin Erpez Tromp with only-twelve Ships but being afterwards reinforced with ninety Men of War and several Fire-ships that came from diverse places he encompassed the Spanish Fleet that had put itself into the Downes near the Fleet of the King of Great Britain as thinking itself to be there in safety and then attacqued it with so great resolution that after a
the ordinary Souldiers but even the Guards of the deceased Prince should take an Oath of Fidelity to the States of Holland This was unanimously carry'd notwithstanding all the representations made by the Princess his Mother who ineffectually labored to preserve him in those Offices which her Husband possessed and before him the other Princes of Orange the Royal Family of Great Britain from whom principally she could expect any assistance being at that time under an Eclipse through the wicked Machinations of those execrable Parricides who after they had barbarously Murder'd their lawful Soveraing King Charles I. of Blessed Memory by a train of Hypocrisy and other Villanies peculiar to their Party shared the Soveraignty between themselves Our Prince who like Hercules was to encounter Snakes in his Cradle suffer'd a great deal from the intreagues and contrivances of Barnevelt's Party now re-established in the Persons of the Messieurs De Witt. But he bore all with incredible moderation still waiting for a favorable opportunity to be restor'd to those dignities and great Employments he had been deprived of by a publick decree obtained by a predominant Faction immediately after the death of his Father It must be confessed that France in some measure contributed to his re-establishment altho without the least design to favour the Prince Heaven so ordering it that that mighty Monarch should ravage and almost destroy this flourishing Republic to convince the world at the same time that only the Family of the Founders of this Republic was capable to repair its Ruines and restore it to its former Grandeur The Reader can scarce imagine with what a prodigions torrent the King of France over-ran and surprized all the United Provinces obliging the greatest part of the Frontier Towns and other Capital Cities to surrender themselves Amongst the rest Utrecht and Zutphen open'd their Gates at the first approach of the Enemy for altho there were large Garrisons in both those places yet being composed of Burghers and commanded by Officers of little or no experience they were frighted at the sight of a well disciplin'd couragious army that knew how to make the best advantage of the victory and the fright they had put their enemies in These calamities which had been foreseen long before by some of the most prudent persons of these Provinces as they occasioned a general consternation so they gave the people subject to complain of the ill conduct of the Mrs de Wit who at that time had all the authority of the Government in their hands and by this means furnished the friends of the House of Nassau with a favourable opportunity to speak their thoughts upon what passed at that time Which they did by way of advice to the People giving them to understand that the Princes of Orange were probably the only Persons that were able to support their tottering State and to defend them against their most puissant Enemies Adding that as these illustrious Princes had formerly deliver'd them from the tyranny of the Spaniards so they alone could stop the fury and career of the French The Princess Dowager Grand mother to his Highness a Lady of incomparable prudence and of a courage above her Sex did not contribute a little by her address to awaken those Persons that were in her interests and who were not inconsiderable for their number These at last not being able to see themselves any longer despised or that all the great Offices of State shou'd be thrown away upon Persons that were not worthy of them and at the same time making use of the fury of the people who justly alarm'd to see a victorious Army in the bowels of their Country spoke of nothing but Sacrificing the De Witts managed their affairs so dexterouslâ—… that they attained their designs for after the Prince had made a Journey towards the beginning of the Year 1672 to visit the fortifications of some Places the States of Holland and West-Frizeland being assembled it was unanimously agreed that he should be chose General of their Army which was notified next day to the States General and on the 24th of February the Prince having accepted their offer took the Oaths before them with the accustomed Ceremonies It is very remarkable that the Peasants of West-Frizeland who make excellent Souldiers wou'd not take up Arms but with this condition that they should swear to be true to the Republic and to obey the States and his Highness the Prince of Orange The immoderate ambition of some Persons had formerly occasion'd two fatal Factions who to fortify their own particular interests weakned the Nerves of the public security which made those who had the greatest Credit with the People commit the greatest Solecism's in matter of Policy that any Party can be guilty of For these short-sighted Statesmen imagining that after the Peace of Munster there was nothing left them to fear and that no body cou'd hurt them in their Pretensions but the too great power of the House of Nassau by reason of its Alliances with France and particularly with England they casheer'd their Troops composed of old Soldiers and experienced Captains who had preserved the Country but were looked upon to be intirely devoted to the Prince of Orange and at the same time gave the greatest Posts in their Army and in their Garrisons to the Sons of Burgher Masters and Deputies of Cities People who however brave they might be in their own Persons were for the most part of little or no experience as having never seen a Battle and this was the reason that when they came to be surprized by a vigorous Enemy whole Cities altho they had in Garrison five thousand Foot and eight hundred Horse surrendred at discretion without discharging one Gun at the first sight and appearance of the Enemy Thus Faction and Interest that are commonly the destruction of the most flourishing Kingdoms having reduced the States General to the brink of despair they were constrained to have recourse to their last Asylum the Prince of Orange in order to avoid their approaching ruine and to place the little hope that was remaining in the hands of one person whom the prevailing party had formerly rejected with a great deal of ingratitude and who indeed did not deserve such a hard destiny for in fine Children ought not to be responsible for the actions of their Fathers when they have by no means justified them The Prince had no sooner accepted the high Charge of General of the Armies which was presented to him from the part of the States by Monsieur de Beverning Iohn de Wit and Gaspar Fagel but he immediately repaired to the Army which was then posted near Nieu Rop where all he couâ—…d do against the united forces of the French commanded by the King in person was to keep his post And this he performed with so much conduct that the Enemy as powerful as he was cou'd have no advantage over him on that side On the other hand thinking
which heretofore was a Chappel for the Counts of Holland and often at my Fathers whither he used to come either to eat or play at Chess which was his chief diversion for during the Truce when he was not busy in war he often plaid at it and for that reason look'd upon such as did so H ehad a great affection for Mr. de la Caze a brave Captain of Bearn whose Son served in the Troops of Holland and played very well at it This Mr. de la Caze had no Revenue more certain than what he won of the Prince at this Play scarce ever parting from him without 9 or 10 Crowns of Gold which was worth more to him than his Company They never plaid for above one at a time without ever doubling but la Caze that he might not dishearten the Prince would let him win one Game in three or four This Monsieur de la Caze has told my Father that the Prince would be very much vexed when he lost which happens even to the greatest Men and the reason is evident because it is their own fault if they lose for this Game does not depend at all upon chance but good conduct and 't is very provoking to see ones self surpassed by others in Knowledge or Judgment Monsieur de la Caze said that when the Prince had lost and it was late before they gave over Play the wax Lights being almost burnt out he would pull his Hat down over his Eyes without rising from his Seat or bidding him good Night but at such times as la Caze had let him win the Prince would be very pleasant conduct him on his way and command his Pages to light and wait upon him to his Lodgings Such particulars as these show the temper of People and that the greatest Men are not without their weaknesses In relation to Chess Prince Philip of Orange told my Father that he had heard for certain in Spain when he was there a Prisoner that an old Spanish Lord having been winner all the Evening at this Play and continuing so good part of the Night with King Philip the 2d without being so complaisant as to let him carry one Game and having remarked much disturbance in the Kings Countenance he told his Children upon his return home that he must depart the day following and never think of coming back to Court where there was nothing to be done or hoped for either for himself or them because he had beat the King at Chess all that Night and should never be forgiven for it Prince Maurice used to make himself very merry with us Frenchmen who to cloath themselves after the Fashion of those times wore slasht Doublets with one single Shirt which made those freeze that look'd upon them being so thin cloathed and shivering in the midst of Winter which is very long and sharp in Holland and as he was jesting one day upon them in a great Company one of these Gentlemen told him he had a way to deceive People for he had two Shirts on and that nothing was so warm as two Shirts the Prince was pleasant cried Lay a wager upon it to which the other replying That he knew nothing warmer than two Shirts Prince Maurice answered That undoubtedly three were warmer than two and that the weather was cold enough for him to make use of them Prince Maurice related to my Father that one Winter at the Hague when there was a great many German Princes of his Kindred there they met one day at one of the chief Inns to divert themselves where after having drank till scarce any of them could see one of the Company proposed the putting out the Lights and throwing Stools at one another all night long which being done one of these soveraign Princes found his Arm broke another his Knee out of joynt another his Skull crackt and those that came off best had horrible Bruises and black Eyes after this they were all forced to go to Bed and consider what to do with themselves This Story the Prince learnt from Monsieur Luc his Surgeon a Frenchman very expert in his Profession who was called to their help upon this occasion Prince Maurice smilingly ask'd my Father if this was not a very fine and agreeable diversion for the Princes his Relations and whether they had not extraordinary reason to boast of their Pastime Prince Maurice loved Mathematicians and Engineers very well and amongst others of that age he very much esteemed Monsieur Alcome one excellent in the profession to whom he gave a large Pension though he had a very good one from the King but there was no body could teach the Prince in that Science he having contrived several fine Inventions for the passage of Rivers and fiege of places so that in his Age he served for a Pattern to Engineers as well as Captains He would not suffer his Troopers to wear straight Boots saying great inconveniencies might arise from thence being often in haste to get on Horseback ridiculing us Frenchmen for affecting to have fine Legs so that they would be whole hours in getting their Boots off or on and to set them an example he had his own Boots so large that he could almost leap into them He did not approve those Italian Grooms who taught their Horses to prance which he said was very dangerous and had been the death of several People he had no People to manage his Horses and was content if they would only turn to the right and left During the Truce the King of France sent him a magnificent Present of Spanish Horses by Monsieur de Pluvenelle Querry to his Majesty who had the honor to teach the King to ride being a person of great Reputation and the most famous Man of his time in that Art The Prince though he was very vigilant and laborious yet had so great a Quietness of Mind that so soon as ever he was in Bed and his Head laid upon the Pillow he fell into so sound a Sleep that it was a difficult matter to wake him but knowing his own infirmity that he might not be surprized in time of War as his Father who was of the same Complexion was like to have been in his Tent near Malines after having given necessary orders he made two Men watch by turns every hour with command to wake him if any accident should happen Marquess Spinola was of a humor quite contrary to the Prince and could never sleep if he had the least business upon his Spirits the Marquess was very lean the Prince very fat and their Tempers very different the one being dry and choleric the other plump and sanguine Prince Maurice being one day in a good humor told my Father That Elizabeth Queen of England by a weakness common to her Sex had so extraordinary a desire to be thought handsom that when the States General had sent her a magnificent Embassy which consisted of the principal persons of their Country