then was holden or as it should be ordayned and appointed by the States of euerie particular prouince and namely in the prouinces of Brabant Guelderland Flanders Vtrecht Macklyn Friseland Ouerissel and the territories of Drenth and Twenth without any alteration to be made by him 13 That Holland and Zeeland should remaine as they then were touching religion and otherwise alwayes prouided that touching the money mint contribution and the priuiledges of the said prouinces and townes they should subiect themselues vnder the said duke and the generalitie according to the accord made by aduice of the generall Estates or else to follow the old customes rights and priuiledges 14 That he should not permit nor suffer any man to bee molested nor troubled for his conscience vnder pretence and colour of religion receiuing both the religions vnder his protection 15 That hee should procure the French king to aid him and his heires with his forces and power thereby to strengthen him and the contracted prouinces his subiects against their enemies whether it be the king of Spaine or any of his adherents and that the said king shold not permit nor suffer any aid or assistance to be giuen out of his kingdome vnto the enemy but that the Netherlanders should haue free passage in the frontier townes with fauour and leaue of the gouernors of the same 16 After that the said duke should be in possession of the Netherlands hee should worke such meanes that the said prouinces should be vnited with France and they to make war together by common consent against all those that would inuade any of the said countries prouided alwayes that the Netherlands should not bee incorporated with France but still remaine as they were with their priuiledges customes rights contracts and lawes 17 That for more assurance against the common enemie and others that should seeke to contradict their said contract as also for the vpholding and encreasing of the good agreement amitie and concord that it hath pleased the queene of England the kings of Denmarke Portugall Sweden Scotland and Nauarre the princes of the empire the Hans townes and other princes potentats and commonwealths townes and allies to hold and make with them he should seeke meanes together with the Estates to enter into a more strict league with them for the common good of the countrey vpon the articles and conditions that should and might bee agreed vpon with the said seuerall kingdomes and estates with all securitie 18 That hee should bind himselfe to make warre and to maintaine the contrey by such meanes as hee should haue from the king his brother and of his owne patrimonie whereunto the Estates should yearely contribute two millions and foure hundred thousand guldernes out of the which the souldiers of the Netherlands and their garrisons in conuenient numbers should first be paid 19 Touching the commaunder generall ouer the forces of the Netherlands the said duke should take order therein by consent of the Estates and should appoint a generall ouer the French forces such as should be well thought on by the Estates 20 That he should not place any Frenchmen nor other strangers in garrison in the towns and strong places of the Netherlands without the consent of the prouinces wherein such places should be and touching the naturall borne subiects he should place them by aduice of the aforesaid counsell 21 But for better and necessarie reliefe of the souldiers the prouinces should ordaine and appoint fit and conuenient places for the said souldiers to lie in in the Winter time 22 That all forreine souldiers both French and others should bee bound to depart out of the countrey whensoeuer the generall Estates should desire the same of the said duke 23 That he should make no alliance with the king of Spaine either by mariage or otherwise neither yet with any other prince or country not vnited vnto them by contract of amity but by aduice consent and approbation of the said prouinces nor yet make any other alliance or contract to the preiudice or hinderance of the Netherlands or this treatie 24 Prouided alwaies That the other disunited prouinces townes and places that would subiect themselues vnto him and ioyne with the contracted Netherlands should at all times be receiued and accepted into that contract 25 And touching those that should be compelled therunto by force the said duke should dispose of them by consent of the generall Estates as it should be thought conuenient whether they were of the disunited prouinces or others within the said Netherlands 26 That he and his successors should take the accustomed oath vsuall to be made in euery prouince beside the generall oath to be made and taken for the obseruing and maintaining of the said contract and that if it so fell out that he or his successors should faile in the performance of any of the points of the said contract that then the said Estates should therby be presently discharged of all faith and subiection towards him or them and should or might chuse any other prince or dispose of their affaires as they should thinke good 27 Lastly That whereas the archduke Mathias had beene requested to come into the Netherlands and had acquited and behaued himselfe in good sort according to his promise the said duke and the Estates should consult together by what meanes they should satisfie and content the said archduke These articles were in this sort passed and signed on both parts although with reference to be further treated and considered of thereby to auoid all controuersie and dislike At which time there was certaine counters made in memorie thereof on the one side hauing a Lyon with a collar about the necke bound to a pillar whereon stood the Image of a conquerour which collar a mouse knawed in sunder with this inscription Rosis Leonem loris mus liberas that is The Lyon being bound is made free by knawing of the mouse on the other side stood the Pope and the king of Spaine who with promise of a holy peace sought to put the collar againe about the Lyons necke with this inscription Liber reuinciri Leo pernegat that is The Lyon being at libertie will not be bound againe And at Gant there were counters made whereon there was a ring shutting with two hands wherein was written Iehoua and round about it pro Christo Lege Grege that is for Christ the Law and the people on the other side Religione Iusticia reduce vocato ex Gallia pacata duce Andegariensi Belgicae libertatis vindice that is Religion Iustice restored the duke of Aniou being called out of France for the defendor or reuenger of the freedome of the Netherlands The archduke Mathias brother to the Emperour gouernour of the Netherlands finding himselfe to be abandoned by part of the prouinces as namely the Wallons who had sent for him out of Germanie and were now reuolted from him and perceiuing that the peace of Cologne tooke no effect
heart of her owne kingdome As touching the loosing of friends the cause would bee so honourable and so good as shee should haue the kings of France Nauarre Portugal Denmarke Scotland other potentates her welwillers These reasons and allegations thus propounded and answered were communicated with the aforesaid deputies for the Estates who at that time made knowne vnto her Maiestie the estate and power of the Netherlands and what contributions the same were able to raise as also what the charges of an offensiue warre would be and what by loue and good gouernment might bee hoped for and gotten from such as were willing thereunto so as they might be maintained and kept in their freedomes lawes and auncient priuiledges for that it was well knowne and found to bee true that Holland alone since the pacification of Gant in 9 yeres besides their owne charges within the said prouince had contributed to the warres in the Netherlands in generall aboue 3500000 gulderns It was further declared how much it concerned the kingdome of England hauing beene long vnited to the Netherlands by many auncient contracts and bound to hold and maintaine the same in respect of the situations of both those countries for that the Netherlands had many great riuers and England an island lying right ouer against it who being enemies might doe great hurt one to the other and being vnited together might rule and haue the soueraigntie of the great ocean sea whereby they both get their liuings and without it could not maintaine themselues England hauing no strong forts but the high and steepe cliffes vpon the sea side the Netherlands many strong townes which liue most by their traffique by sea therfore are ful of ships sea-faring men whereby Englands steep banks might in time be made vnprofitable so easily assailed England also with the great store of good harbours hauens that are in it might greatly impeach and hinder the traffique of the Netherlands and therefore in times past these causes especially mooued them to make so many reciprocall contracts and alliances one with the other and not to suffer them to be inuaded or gouerned by strangers and that not onely betweene the princes of the said câ—…ntries but also with the Estates of the same as perpetuall friends and welwillers These things on both sides well weighed debated and considered had mooued the Netherlands once againe to make a motion vnto England and likewise had stirred England to heatken vnto their request and the rather for that now by meanes of the vntimely death of their prudent protector the prince of Orange the losse of many townes and castles and the refusall of aide to them made by the king of France by the procurement and secret practises of their enemies they were brought into a miserable and desperate estate and therefore it was now much to be feared that by their mistrust and diffidence the rather because they had many weake members amongst them which were continually suborned and solicited by the subtilties of their enemies they might fall into some treatie of reconciliation and peace or agreement with their enemies and afterwards inuade England with their helpe and meanes to the which they bare no lesse enuie and hatred in their hearts than vnto the Netherlands as it not long since plainely appeared by the arresting of diuers English shippes in the hauens of Spaine without any speech or cause of breach of peace cruelly handling and hostilly tormenting the marchants and sailers of the same The Queene of England was herewith not a little in minde perplexed and troubled being a matter that much concerned both her owne person and her kingdomes and dominions and therefore could hardly be resolued therein The reasons why the Queene tooke not vpon her the soueraigntie and chiefe command ouer the prouinces of the Netherlands for an inheritance to her her heires and successors all wise men persuaded themselues to be these first that shee was a princesse in yeares past hope of hauing any children and that shee had not any man within her kingdomes fit in all respects to take vpon him the command and authoritie of so absolute a gouernment and to execute the same as it ought to be done that shee was not mightie enough to rule ouer both places because shee did not beleeue nor could be persuaded that the power and contribution of the Netherlands was so great and so much as it was affirmed to be wheras for good considerations they made it not knowne to bee so much as it was but to the contrarie shee thought the Netherlands beeing compelled by extremitie had made it much more than it was and that her counsell had not taken sufficient information of the estate thereof that shee would not put her selfe wholly to the hazard and aduenture not onely fearing the great pride of the king of Spaine but the inconstancie of France knowing her owne might and that her subiects were not accustomed to the warres and vnwilling to contribute any great summes of money for the same especially to aide and assist a forraine nation Thus did this wise and prouident Queene aduisedly measure and weigh her owne meanes and affections and yet shewed her care and commiseration shee had of the Netherlands in their miseries with the assurance of her owne estate first and chiefly to be respected and after that to aide and assist the Netherlands as time and occasion should offer opportunitie These and many other like reasons mooued both parties to the conclusion of a prouisionall succour for the releeuing of Antuerpe which at that time was besieged and much distressed and thereupon it was contracted concluded and agreed between the Queene of England and the deputies of the Netherlands by a contract made the second day of August that the Queene should send foure thousand men to releeue the towne of Antuerpe and disburse all such summes of money as should be paid for the presting and imbarking of these troops and to be paied them monthly for three moneths together from the day of their mustering which together with the transportation and other things necessarie was accounted to amount to the summe of fortie thousand gulderns and the three moneths paie to be 184600 gulderns which summe should be repaid againe within sixe moneths after the raising of the siege from before Antuerpe and if it were not done then to be paid within twelue moneths after the first daie of their muster for assurance whereof it was agreed by the deputies that the towne of Oostend or Scluse should within one moneth after bee deliuered ouer to the Queene with all the prouision of munition ordnance and other marshall furniture therein and that shee should take seauen hundred of the said foure thousand men and place them in garrison in the said towne alwaies reserued that the said town should continue concerning the ciuile gouernment vnder the iurisdiction of the Estates of the said prouinces and not bee burthened
abstinencie from war made for 10 20 or 30 yeares vntill the splene and hatred of both parties were somewhat cooled and appeased or else that a continuall abstinence from wars on both sides might be concluded each holding that he hath and so liue in peace and friendship together keeping garrisons vpon their frontiers the king the archduke surceasing their pretensions vntill that God sent them other meanes liuing in peace as France and Spain do the French king leauing his kingdom of Nauarre in the king of Spains hands Touching truce or abstinence from war it were to be doubted that the vnited prouinces wold not trust them and the other meanes were verie good if the king and the archduke would hearken thereunto But he saith there is yet another meanes to end these bloudie wars which had ouerthrowne and ruined so many townes and bin the losse of so many souls and bodies whereunto all the Estates proceedings ought to tend and put to their helping hands Old diseases require other maner of cures than new there must be a means found that should be acceptable vnto either partie He acknowledgeth That the vnited prouinces and namely Catholikes themselues are wholly estranged from the king of Spaine so that neither he nor his house is not to expect any good seruice at their hands for a long time They haue experience of their owne countries forces they haue learned that which they knew not and now were vsed to liue in freedome and not accustomed vnto the yoke They dayly read and heare their fathers tell what fearefull cruelties haue bin vsed against them and executed vpon their forefathers friends and companions which is the cause of new hatreds and strengtheneth their rebellion and to bee briefe their children suck hatred against the Spaniards from their mothers brests What then shal the king of Spaine and the archdukes do with such rebels shall they for their pleasures alwayes liue in armes and troubles vnprofitably spending their treasures and reuenues and shal a Spaniard say That the king shall rather hazard and aduenture all his kingdoms and power than leaue or lose his right But we must answer with a politike true reason and say If men stand so much vpon their right why go they not to recouer Thunis and Goletta againe All honors and dominions haue their casuall fortunes and periods The empire of Rome might well aford to haue that which belongeth vnto it The time was when Spaine had not those large limits which now it hath who can say or tell whether he shall hold it still God giueth and God taketh The house of Austria long since made great wars against the Switsers to bring them vnder their subiection againe but at the last they thought it better to leaue their right than to labour in vaine and to lose both men and money And if euerie man would seeke for his right with all extremitie who should liue in peace But hee saith Hee would not that the king and the archdukes should simply resigne their right although neither the one nor the other euer yet possessed or enioyed any thing in Holland or Zeeland but would rather haue them to imitat the example of the children of Albert duke of Saxonie who after that their father they had long made war against thē of Groningue finding that they were stil to begin againe hauing to do with a stiffe rebellious people they esteemed them vnworthie to bee accounted their subiects and so sold them for a great summe of readie money vnto the emperor Charles 5 with al the rights they had vnto them returned into their country of Mesnia there to liue in peace In like maner the K. of Spaine being so much incensed against the vnited prouinces as he cannot affect thē what can he do better than by mediation of the kings of France and England or of the princes of the empire or by meanes of the prouinces which are vnder his command than to purchase a peace vnto himselfe that is hee should compound with those of the vnited prouinces for a good summe of money whereof the interest might yerely amount vnto as much as in times past the vnited prouinces did yearely pay vnto the king towards his wars and so to let them liue in peace and freedome renouncing all right which he pretends ouer them Themistocles once gaue profitable counsell vnto them of Athens but for that it was not honourable it was by Aristides aduice reiected Now if this counsell be found both honourable and profitable for both parties why should it be reiected Touching the vnited prouinces he saith That he saw no reason to the contrarie why they should refuse it but the K. of Spaine and the archdukes would not so easily be drawne vnto it although they had no great reason to reiect it Would it not be verie profitable for him to receiue a great summe of money which should be paid at certaine dayes with interest for that which should not be presently paid of the vnited prouinces for the redemption of their freedomes whereby he should peaceably enioy the reuenues of the other prouinces the which by meanes of a peace would be inriched by trade and traffique and so saue the great charges of continuall wars The king of Spaine and the archdukes should therby haue meanes to gather great treasures wherewith in stead of the vnited prouinces which is but a small continent of ground they might go and conquer new countries and kingdoms vpon the enemies of Christendome Concerning the honourablenesse of this action it were no disgrace at all but a great honour and commendation for them throughout all Christendome that for the good and welfare of Christendome they had made a peace and ended the miseries of war washing away the teares and bloud of poore men and giuing them cause to praise and thank God and to pray for their prosperities and welfares For as men esteeme the kings power to bee great to seeke his right by armes so would it tend to his greater reputation and honour that hee had yeelded freely thereunto without any compulsion only in regard of the common welfare and peace Hee said further That he had heard that this king of Spaines father before his death had resolued to end these wars by some means or other and that he saw no better course But if it should be alledged to the contrarie That hereby men counsell the prouinces to disioyne themselues one from another answer might be made That they had alreadie beene disunited many yeares without any meanes of reconcilement and that the Netherlands had not alwayes beene vnited some of them hauing bin purchased and therefore he might sell them againe And if any man would obiect That others might follow the example of the Hollanders answer may be made That let them first striue and withstand the kings forces fortie yeres together and then let them speake The king of Spaine also hauing peace with the vnited
it with our roiall seale Giuen in the yeare of our Lord at Engelshem 868 the 13 of Aprill Gezo vicechancellor in the absence of the archbishop Othelrie high chancellor hath seene allowed and subsigned it Hereby we may vnderstand that from Tournay and higher vnto Vtrecht all that did lie betwixt the two branches of the riuer of Rhine which Ptolomie calles Naualia for that the ships must of necessitie passe there and pay tribute the which since hath bene called Traiectum that is to say a Trauers of traijciendo was nothing but a thicke and fearefull forrest which they called The forrest without mercie By these Letters we may also see that Holland and Zeeland were the furthest limits and frontiers of Germanie the which did extend vnto the British sea towards Brabant and Flanders the one beeing held of the Empire and the other of the crowne of Fraunce and that of forrests woods and desarts they are by succession of time become good and fertile countries and both erected into Earledomes by the donators themselues Thierry of Aquitaine being then by the bountie of the kings of France and Germanie become earle of Holland and Zeeland and lord of Friseland although the Friselanders will not absolutly confesse it by reason whereof they had great wars against the earles of Holland of whom they â—…ue three or foure in battaile was issued from a most noble and antient race that is from the old kings of France descended from the Troians that is to say from the first race of the kings of Franconia issued from Marcomir Pharamond and others their successors kings of France whose discent may thus bee reckoned for this Priam come from Troy being so called by the name of his great grandfather king of Phrygia and of Troy was the first king of Franconia who had to sonne Marcomir that first came into France he had Pharamond Pharamond had Clodion Clodion had Merouë Merouë had Childeric Childeric had Clouis the first Cristian king Clouis had Childebert Childebert had Clotaire the first Clotaire had Cherebert Cherebert had Chilperic Chilperic had Clotaire the second Clotaire had Dagobert the first Dagobert had Clouis the second Clouis had Clotaire the third Clotaire had Childeric the third Childeric had Theodoric or Thierry Theodoric had besides Clouis the third king of France another sonne called Chilperic or Childebert this Childebert had Diedericke duke of Aquitaine Diedericke had Lothaire Lothaire had Didier Didier had Engelrim who died a martyr Engelrim had Sigisbert Sigisbert had of his wife Mathild sister to Cont Haghen of Zanthen and lady Emme queene of Germanie two sonnes that is to say Walger earle of Teisterbaudt and Thierry of Aquitaine earle of Holland and Zeeland lord of Friseland This Cont Thierry carried the armes of his ancestors and for that king Pepin would not haue any but himselfe and those of his blood carrie the armes of France hee therefore gaue vnto Diederic or Thierry duke of Aquitaine other different armes which some say were those of Hector of Troy that is A Lion rampant Gueules in a field Or armed and lampassed Azure And for that the sayd Cont Thierry drew his originall in the right masculine line from the said Diederic duke of Aquitaine he might by right carrie the same armes Hee was also honourably married to Genna or Ienna daughter to Pepin the Bald king of Italie sonne to the emperour Charlemagne who died before his father to whom king Charles the Bald was vncle by the fathers side and she his neece daughter to his brother a very wise and vertuous princesse This Thierry did valiantly suppresse and vanquish the Danes who at that time did possesse the towne of Vtrecht the Wiltes and the Slaues who seeing they could no more set footing in Holland through the valiant resistance which they found in Cont Thierry they made an incursion into Zeeland vpon the coast of Arnmuyden Lewis king of Germanie hauing intelligence of the great spoile which the Danes made in Zeeland sent Lupold thither a braue Franconian knight the sonne of Vrancke duke of Suawbe grandchild to that Lupold which was driuen out of his countrie by Nicephorus emperour of Greece to succour Cont Thierry his nephew who iointly together made good proofe of their valour and forces against the Danes in many a gallant incounter Of this first Lupold are descended those of the last house of Borssele in Zeland for he had to wife Elizabeth daughter to the great Maroth king of Hungarie by whome he had three sonnes that is to say Lupold who was earle of high Hungarie and Frederike duke of Austria from whome are descended those of Walchi which is the noblest house in Austria the third was Vrancke father to the second Lupold whome king Lewis made Lieutenant generall of his armie in Zeeland from whence hauing expelled the Danes he married an heire of the first house of Borssele and was the founder of the town of Borssele at this time drowned After this victorie Cont Thierry liued in peace and rest studieng to beautifie his countries and to furnish them with good lawes so as hauing reigned fortie yeares he died very old to whome his sonne succeeded THIERRY THE SECOND OF THAT name peaceable Earle of Holland and Zeeland and Lord of Friseland Theodoricus Secundus THIERRY the second Earle of Holland by degree I was and twice in two yeares space obtained victorie Gainst Frisons that my fathers bones did take out of his graue And all the sillie virgine Nuns out of their cloisters draue The which my father first for maids did make and frame Of Wood and I of Lime and Stone for men new built the same King Loys daughter Hille nam'd I had to wife And at full foureskore yeares and eight did end my mortall life THierry the second of that name by the decease of Cont Thierry of Aquitaine his father was Earle of Holland and Zeeland and lord of Friseland But the Friselanders at the first would not acknowledge him for their lord but rebelled against him and would liue free vnder the liberties which the Emperour Charlemagne had graunted them This Cont Thierry had to wife Hildegard daughter to Lewis the stuttering king of France and sister to king Charles the Simple by whome hee had Egbert his eldest sonne a deuout man who was Archbishop of Treues and Arnulph or Arnoult who succeeded him in the said Counties and one daughter called Alix or Erlinde Cont Thierry seeing the wilfulnesse and obstinacie of his subiects of Friseland leuyed a strong and mightie armie of the best souldiors he could recouer as well in his own territories as of his friends and allies with the which he entered into the countrie of Friseland and began to forrage spoile burne and destroy it The Frisons knowing themselues vnable at this time to resist so mightie an armie making of necessitie vertue and yeelding to the time and force they submitted themselues to the Earles mercie who
nothing he caused an high caualier or mount to be made on the North side from the which they might discouer and see any thing that was done in the towne whereby the Flemings did much annoy the besieged through the fauour whereof Guy gaue another assault which continued from morning vntill night where the Flemings were so valiantly repulst as hauing lost almost 2000 men they were forced to retire The inhabitants finding that they were retired went downe into their ditches and carried away the straw reeds and wood they found there with the which straw they fed their cattell as long as the siege continued There was a smith within the towne who found the means to set fire on this high caualier that was made of wood the Flemings running to quench this fire were charged so thicke by the besieged with stones and arrowes as there was no meanes to saue it and the flame therof mounted vp so high as it was seen at Schiedam in Holland wherby some did coniecture that the towne of Ziricxee had been taken and fired During this siege William earle of Ostreuant prepared an armie of Hollanders and Frisons to raise the Flemings from thence He had before written to Philip the Faire king of France and craued succours from him against the Flemings the which he granted sending him 350 ships rigged at Calais with men and al other equipage for war the which being conducted by the admirall of France arriued on S. Lawrence day and ioyned with Cont Williams ships beeing resolued to goe and fight with the Flemings and to dislodge them from Ziricxee The Flemings to trouble these two armies at sea being ioined together filled a great hulke full of fagots mixt with pitch rozine salt-peter brimstone and oyle the which hauing set on fire they let it float with the tide that it might fall among the French and Hollanders that by the meanes of this vnquenchable fire it might burne them or at the least disorder disperse them but the wind turning contrarie it was carried by the tide into the middest of the Flemish ships The French and Hollanders seeing this went to charge them and this furious combat continued both at sea and at land a whole day and a night with such obstinacie violence as they heard the fearefull cries of men fighting wounded drowning and dying three leagues off In the end the Flemings were so wearied and tyred as of themselues they fled and the Hollanders pursued them with al violence killing and casting ouer boord as many as they could incounter Guy of Flanders was taken there and sent by the admiral into France to keep Guy of Dompierre earle of Flanders and his other brethren that were prisoners companie There died in this battaile of them that were slaine and drowned a hundred thousand Flemings besides the prisoners The earle of Ostreuant sent eleuen hundred of their ships and ninetie verie rich tents and pauilions into Holland Then after an absolute and assured victory he entred into Ziricxee where hauing intelligence that there were yet six thousand Flemings remaining in the downes he sent the inhabitants of the town which had not been at the great battaile to incounter them but the Flemings seeing them approach lifting vp their hands made a signe that they would yeeld and not fight neither had they had ships to carrie them out of this island so they were all taken prisoners and carried to Ziricxee with the which they recouered all the Hollanders which the Flemings had taken in Holland during the wars and by this exchange they were sent backe into Flanders They were wont to make an annuall commemoration in the towne of Ziricxee of this notable and famous victorie against the Flemings Those of Ziricxee for that they had carried themselues so valiantly during the siege obtained goodly priuiledges from their prince The verie day of this victorie there appeared in heauen a great crosse of a purple color which they held as a presage of the said victorie The Hollanders hauing thus freed Ziricxee and woon this goodly and famous victorie against the Flemings by the which they did free all Holland Zeeland being returned into their countrey they made hast to go and besiege Iohn de Renesse within the towne of Vtrecht whom they prouoked all they could burning certaine mills in the suburbs thinking that Renesse would make some sally forth vpon them but hee fearing in the end to bee betrayed went secretly out of the towne to passe the riuer of Lecke and fearing to bee pursued hauing for his shorter way put himselfe and his traine into a little boat the weight of their armes and the great number of them that were in it made it to sinke and so they were all drowned This seignior of Renesse being valiant of his person wise iudicious did much harme vnto his prince for that he had refused him a passeport with the which he might haue gone and iustified himselfe of the accusations that were falsly suggested against him he which Cont Iohn of Holland by the instigation of his enemies refused him wherein hee was verie ill advised for the which both himselfe his successors and all their countries haue smarted It is a question which hath euen at this day beene debated Whether an absolute prince without diminution of his greatnesse and honour may giue a safe-conduct to his vassal to come vnto him to iustifie himselfe which otherwise he durst not do by reason of the malice of his enemies In my opinion he may how meane of qualitie soeuer the vassall be for by that safe-conduct and secret conference of the vassall with his prince great affaires may sometimes be discouered which may be the cause of great good or the preuention of great mischiefe for those that possesse the eares of princes and that make the greatest shew of their faith and loyaltie are not alwayes the most faithfull And therein the prince ought not by the persuasion of some priuat persons enuying it may be and malicing him that demands the safe-conduct against whom it may bee they themselues haue suggested something vse seueritie and rigour for hereby he shall assure himselfe of the partie accused by mildnesse and gentlenesse and not as king Lewis the 11 of France and Charles duke of Bourgoigne did vnto the earle of S. Pol nor the emperour Sigismond to Iohn Hus and Ierosme of Prague whose safe-conducts were but to intrap them neither can they be held other than fraudulent and deceitful impugning and blemishing the honour and greatnesse of a prince yea a prince ought not to make difficultie to heare any subiect were he a poore handicrafts man in priuat or any one that were guiltie of any crime although it were to sue for grace for by that meanes oftentimes great secrets are discouered As for example I will omit the safe-conduct which ought to be of greater consideration if the duke Charles of Bourgoigne would haue heard Cyffron a gentleman of
slaine The Bishop and the Earle of Holland his brother sent some Captaines into the Citie of Liege who in reuenge of the iniurie done vnto the Bishop put to death many of the Chanoins Priests and other Officers which the elect Bishop had placed the which were cast from the top of the bridge Those from whom any Prebends and Benifices had beene taken for that they had held Iohn of Bauarias part were restored to their dignities and offices many notable Burgesses were executed All their ancient Priuiledges Rights Freedomes and Statutes were burnt Their Banners Enseignes and Standardes were first ignominiously torne in peeces and then burnt and beside the Liegeois were taxed at 200. thousand crownes of the sun for a fine by means whereof and acknowledging their old Bishop the wars ceased in the countrey of Liege In the yeare 1409. after this great victorie the Earle of Holland went to the French kings Court and did mediate a peace for Iohn Duke of Burgongne his father in law with the King by reason of the homicide committed vpon the person of Lewis Duke of Orleans the kings brother and so a peace was concluded betwixt them whereat all France reioyced and commended the Earle of Holland for so good a worke In the yeare 1410. the Truce betweene the Earle of Holland and the Duke of Gelders being expired the Earle sent some ships of warre into the Zuyderzee to keepe them of Herderwyk and Elburch from going to sea The Earle had also drawne into his league the towne of Amersfort in the countrie oâ—… Vtrecht to which towne hee gaue many good Priuiledges and Immunities for that it was alwayes open vnto him and at his command and did serue him as a place of armes to enter by it into the Veluwe and the countrie of Gelders On the other side the Lord Iohn of Arckel Captain of the Duke of Gelders horse by the Dukes command seazed vpon the castle of Hofeslaeken neere vnto it caused a Fort to be built against them of Amersfort the which he manned with a good Garrison to defend the said Castell One day among the rest Hubert of Culenbourgh Iohn of Vianen and Arnold of Eienburch knights and captaines of the Hollanders issued forth with their men out of the towne of Amersfort to goe and skirmish with them of the towne and castle of Hoefslaeken But the garrison of the one and the other knowing of their comming abandoned both places These Captaines finding them emptie and forsaken razed them from thence they went to Nyekerke the which they spoyled and fired and so returned with their spoile into Amersfort In the yeare 1412. there was a peace made betwixt these two Princes William of Bauaria Earle of Holland and Renold Duke of Gelders By the which it was said That the Duke should yeeld vnto the Earle the towne of Gorrichom with all the appurtenances that depended thereon and that he should cause the yong Lord of Arckel his cousin to doe the like Moreouer it Was agreed that the Earle should pay vnto the Duke for the charges hee had beene at in the said Towne 100000. Crownes and that the Duke should resigne vnto the said yong Lord of Arckel the Seignorie of Bron the castle of Oyen and seuen villages depending thereon with fiue thousand Florins of the Rhine of yeerely pension assigned him vppon the towll or custome of Loebeck the which was thus concluded in the Towne of Wyck-terduyr-sted which done William of Arckell transported vnto the Earle of Holland for himselfe and his heires for euer the towne of Gorrichom with all the countrie and Seigneorie of Arckell And by that meanes the said Towne and countrie hath remained annexed vnto the Conty of Holland vnto this day These two Princes beeing by the meanes of this peace become good friendes the Duke of Gelders accompained with his chiefe Nobilitie went to visite the Earle of Holland who receyued him courteously and with great state staying there some time and disporting themselues together in all sorts of mirth feasts pastimes During this time there cameâ—…one vnto the Earle that was a secret seruaunt vnto the Duke aduising him in all dutie to beware of his secret enemies which he had in his countrey and of his owne Vassals who sought to attempt not only against his State but also against his person The which did somewhat trouble and perplex the Earle not knowing who wisht him so much euill The Duke being returned into his countrie Cont William of Holland had a like desire to goe and visit him the whiche he did being well accompanied The Duke knowing of his comming went to meete him as farre as the Velue and receiued him with inestimable courtesies and welcomes entertaining one another with great signes of loue his enteruiew continued eight dayes These Princes being once among the rest feasting and drinking together the Duke of Gelders hauing his head full of wine he said vnto the Earle Deare Cousin it falls out now happily for you that we are so well reconciled and good friends together Why said the Earle For said he if it were not so you had bin now my prisoner The other answered I cannot beleeue it Without doubt Cousin said he of Gelders it had bin so and wonder not at it for you haue some of your chiefe vassalls had bin actors in it These speeches being past the Earle casting vp his head they ended the banquet merrily The Earle being returned into Holland was still pensiue and wondred much who those might bee that would or durst attempt any such thing against him being their Prince And as he called to minde that in these last warres Iohn of Egmond had not serued him neither with his person nor with his subiects hauing refused to be enemie to the Duke of Gelders and that in fiue yeares space he had not come to the Court but vpon good warrants the which the other Noblemen and knights had neuer demanded hee beganne to suspect and to haue a bad conceite of him and of the Lord of Yselsteyn his brother yet at that time he made no shew therof concealing it in his brest vntill he had made some tryall thereof without attempting any thing rashly against them that it might not bee saide hee had done them wrong In the yeare 1414. the Frisons reuolted againe from the Earle of Holland leauied some men couertly and came secretly by night and surprised the Towne of Staueren those that were in gard performing their duties ill where they tooke many Hollanders whom they put to ransome which Towne had beene 13. yeares vnder the quiet command of the Earle of Holland This reuolt made the Frisons so odious vnto Cont William as hee resolued to suppresse them in such sort as they should neuer haue more meanes to rise against him nor against any others But as at that time there fell out affaires of greater importance he deferred the making of warre against them vntill
was the first sieigneor of Schagen Euerard of Holland bastard to Cont William father to the Contesse Iaqueline first lord of Hoochtwoode and his brother Lewis Iohn of Vianen siegneor of Noordeloos Didier vander Merwin Gerrard of Poelgeest siegneor of Homede gouernor of Schoonhouen Gerrard of Poelgeest his cousin Giles of Cralinghen Gerrard van Zyl Berthould of Assendelph almost all Knights Iohn vander Leck WilliaÌ„ of Egmond siegneor of Soetermeer Otto of Egmond lord of Merensteyn Gerrard of Hemsted Benthuseyn Iohn of Hodenpyl WilliaÌ„ of Langerack Iames vanden Woode Siegnior of Warment and Alcmada Adrien of Raphorst Gerrard van Vlyet Wouter of Mattenesse Herpert van Foreest Ghysbrecht van Swieten Iohn van Swieten Baliefe of Leyden Gerrard witten-Hage Frederick of Seuenter and Floris of Kishoek whereof some were Knights the rest Squiers and many Gentlemen which were too long to specifie here all valiant soldiers whereof many died in the seruice of their Prince as we shall see in the course of this Historie Among the chiefe families and nobles of Friseland were Otto of Broek Aurick and Emden Sicco Syaerda Wybrandt Hermana Sicco Liaucama Peter Campstra Aelko Campstra bretheren sonnes to Tako Douwe Tyessama Ieâ—…mer op Adeleen Sybrandt Tyaerda Wybet Walta Pibo Eelcxima Wopke In die Stedde Gerrit and Tyaert Iongama Herman Dowwema with an infinite number of other Gentlemen whom in their language they call Houelinghen which is as much to say as Courtiers An end of the 2. Booke 30 Philippus Burgund Cogn Bonus PHILIP DVKE OF BOVRGONGNE Earle of Holland and Zeeland lord of Friseland Duke of Brabant Lembourg and Luxemburg Earle of Flanders Arthois Henault and Namur Lord of Salins and Macklyn The first wife I espous'd was Lady Michell The second lady Bonne the third Isabell When the false Ganthois and the Brugeois â—…re Rebellious armes a peace with France I swore The golden Fleece I first of all deuisde Laide siege at Calais Luxembrough surprisde Subdued Liege In Holland I opprest The league of Hamecons foure and thirty yeares I raignd and Dijeon drunke my funerall teares The Argument of the third Booke PHILIP the first of that name called the good Duke of Bourgongne accompting Ihon of Bauaria Vncle to the Contesse Iaqueline was the 30. Earle of Holland c. the which he wrested 〈◊〉 the said Lady in her life time he takes reuenge of the Ganthois for abandoning him before Calais he was in great danger in Brugeâ—… who in the end were reconciled Warre betwixt the Hollanders Zelanders and the Esterlings The factions of Sceringers and Uetcoopers in Friseland Those of the Hoecks and Cabillaux reuiued in Holland warre betwixt the Duke and the Ganthois Hee disgraceth the two brothers of Brederode wrongfully to aduance Dauid his bastard to the Bishopricke of Utrecht Lewis Daulphin of France comes to the Duke for refuge who afterwards conducts him into France to bee crowned King A quarrell betwixt Arnold Duke of Geldres and Adolph his sonne who deales impiously with his father The Lord of Croy and Launoy hated of the Earle of Charolois Iohn of Koesteyn hauing vndertaken to poison the Earle of Charolois is conuicted and executed A diuision betwixt the Duke and the Earle of Charolois his sonne by reason of them of Croy but in the end reconciled King Lewis the 11. dissembles with the Duke of Bourgongne he sends Ambassadors to him which accuse the Earle of Charolois who answers them brauely A new dislike betwixt the Duke and the Earle for them of Croy. Ciuill warre in France called the warre of the Common-weale The French King and the Liegeois in league against the Duke of Bourgongne The Earle of Charolois goes with an armie against the Liegeois a peace is made Dissembling betwixt the French King and the Earle Those of Santroin and Dynant in the countrey of Liege breake the peace Dynant besieged by the Duke of Bourgongne taken and punished A second peace made betwixt the Duke and the Liegeois The Earle of Charolois marries the lady Marguerite sister to the King of England the death of Duke Philip. The arte of Printing inuented at Harlem in Holland and stolâ—…e away to Mentz PHILIP the first of that name the 30. Earle of Holland and Zeeland and Lord of Friseland sonne to Iohn Duke of Bourgongne slaine at Montereau faut-yonne was at the first Gouernor of those Prouinces as we haue said then by the death of the Lady Iaqueline Countesse of the said Prouinces he was right heire and lawfull successor both by father and mother And so was Duke of Bourgongne Brabant and Lembourg Earle of Flanders Artois Bourgongne Henault Holland Zeeland and Namur Marquis of the holy Empire and Lord of Friseland Salins and Macklyn He did afterwards purchase hauing conquered it by armes in the name of the widow of the deceased duke the duchie of Luxembourg other siegneories so as he was the mightiest Prince of all his Predecessors in the said countries Hee had to his first wife Michelle daughâ—…er to Charles the sixth king of France who dyed without children in the yeere 1422. and lyes buried at Gant Then he married Bonne or Olande daughter to the Earle of Eu by a dispensation from the Pope for that shee had beene formerly married to Philip Earle of Neuers his Vncle the which was a wonderfull faire lady and dyed also without children For his last wife he had Isabell daughter to Iohn King of Portugall Aunt to the lady Elenor who was wife to the Emperour Fredericke the third This Isabell was brought by sea into Flanders and landed at Scluse in the yeare 1430. by whom he had three sonnes the eldest at Brussels in the yeare 1431. called Anthonie who liued not long Then in the yeare 1433. an other sonne called Iosse who died also very yong The yeere following 1434 she was brought in bedde at Digeon in Bourgongne on S. Martins Eue of her third sonne called Charles Martin for that hee was borne the said day There was in this Princesse as some say some thing worthy of obseruation which was that when she tooke her leaue of her father to goe into Flanders to the Duke her spouse the father hauing giuen her his blessing said unto her that she should haue three sons whereof two which she should not nurse her selfe should be short liued as it happened to the two first and therefore shee her selfe gaue sucke vnto the last sonne Charles who after that hee was baptized was made Knight of the golden Fleece and his father gaue vnto him the Earledome of Charlois the siegneories of Bethune in Artois Chasteau-Bellam in Bourgongne and Arkell in Holland This Duke had some bastards among others Dauid bishop of Teroanâ—… and afterwards of Vtretch who did much mischiefe to them of Brederode Cornellis who died in his youth being slaine at the defeat of the Gantois before Ripelmond Anthonie Earle of Steenbergh Baldwin a Knight Philip his Admirall at sea and Iohn
to bring him to the duke These two came to Wyke for the lord of Brederode and the Baylife Amerongen before they were deliuered the bishop would haue the lord of Brederode put againe to the Rack in the presence of Noblemen and that before hee was laied vpon it hee should take a sollemne oth to answere the truth to that which should bee demanded him wherevpon a Notarie and certaine witnesses were called this proceeding continued two whole daies hee was once stript and layed vpon the banke but seeing they could drawe nothing from him without greater torments nor from Amerongen they suffred them to goe with the sayd Comissioners who led them to Berghen vpon Some to the duke but they found him not there being gone to the seege of Amiens so as they conducted them to Ruppelmond in Flanders wheras they were detained almost a whole yeare At the dukes returne the processe beeing referred to the iudgements of the knights of the golden fleece to heare the sayd lord in his iustifications his Accusers were cited to bring proofe of their accusations seeing that by tortures hee did not confesse any of those crimes wherewith hee was charged But none of his Accusers appeering the duke sitting in his seate of iustice with the knights of the order among the which were Engelbert Earle of Nassau Barron of Breda the lordes of Crequy Lalain and others to the number of twelue Barrons the sayd lord of Brederode was adiudged free and absolued of all crimes imposed vpon him and was restored to all his Estates goods and honours to the great content of all these Noblemen and knights who complained much of the great wrong that had beene done him and he was honorably receiued of all men Hee liued not aboue two yeares after hee died in the yeare 1473. and was interred at Vianen let vs heereby consider of what force enuie is which spareth neither great not small Two yeares after Iohn of Amerongen was found innocent of the crimes that were obiected against him notwithstanding his confession vpon the Racke and in like sort absolued inlarged and restored to his Office of Baylife to the great content of the Bourgeses of Vtrecht As for Ghysbrecht Prouost Cathedrall brother to the lord of Brederode before hee could recouer his liberty hee was forced to resigne his Prouostship to an other and to sweare neuer to keepe his residence in Vtrecht the which hauing performed hee was set at liberty in the yeare 1470. and went to liue at Breda where hee died a yeare after and was buried at the Chartreux by Geertruydenbergh Duke Charles not satisfied with the annuall contribution or tribute which the Frisons payed him according to the last appointment writ vnto them that they should send their deputies to the towne of Enchuysen the seauenth of Aprill 1470. to heare what should bee propounded vnto them on his behalfe They sent their Deputies But the duke beeing troubled with the warres of France came not in person but sent Philip of Wassenare lord of Woerburch and others his commissioners There were many things ambiguously and doubtfully propounded and debated and so many cauillations found out to intrappe the Frisons as it did much displease the Noblemen of Friseland who retyred themselues and would not treate in that fashion desiryng to goe plainely and roundly to worke Yet the Clergie and Deputies of townes remayned who willing to haue a finall ende desired to knowe what the dukes demaunde was It was sayd vnto them that hee demaunded a siluer pennie of his coyne vpon euerie chimney for all the countrie of Friseland in generalll The Deputies demanding of what valour this penie should bee for that they had no charge from the Estates to yeelde to aboue three Liards or a soulz at the most the which the dukes commissionars would haue referred to the dukes discretion The Frisons in like sort demanded a day of aduise to make report thereof vnto the Estates The report made they would no waies yeeld vnto it but concluded that if the duke would force them they would defend themselues and hinder his entrie into the coūtry The duke at his returne into France came into Holland hauing heard by his Deputies the intention of the Frisons hee resolued to force them to his will by armes and therevpon caused a great fleete of shippes to be prepared to imbarke his men at armes and to land in Friseland But it fell out happely for the Frisons that Edward the forth King of England being expelled his realme came into Zeeland to the duke his brother in lawe to demande succors of him against the Earle of Warwike who had chased him out of his Kingdome The which the duke promised sending this fleete appointed for the ruine of the Frisons to succor the sayd King Edward the which carried him backe into England Afterwardes the duke had so great warres against the French Suisses and Lorrains in the which in the end hee was slaine as the Frisons remayned in peace without any further disturbance In the yeare 1470. Lewis the leauenth the French King had a great desire to bee reuenged of the brauary which the duke of Bourgongne had done him at Peronne practising vnder hand to haue the townes vpon the Riuer of Some reuolt the which being hard to effect by secret practise hee must attempt it by open warre true it is that hee had iust cause to apprehend the dukes affronts at Peronne who had forced him to make a peace and to go against the Liegeois that were before his friends yet hee beganne it some what fearefully although he had a great desire to it The Earle of Saint Pol Constable of France and the duke of Guiennes people desired warre rather then peace betwixt these two Princes for two considerations the first was for feare to loose their Estates the other was they perswaded the King that if hee had not some forraine warre he should haue ciuill dissention at home The Constable offred the towne of Saint Quentin pretending that hee had great intelligences in Flanders and Brabant where hee would cause many townes to rebell The duke of Guienne offred for his part to serue the King with fiue hundred men at armes The King meaning to beginne this warre with solemnity called a Parliament at Tours whereas many Iudges assisted there it was concluded according to the Kings intention that the duke should bee adiourned to appeere in the open Parliament at Paris The King assuring himselfe that hee would answere proudly or that hee would doe some-thing contrarie to the authority of the court hee should therefore haue more iust cause to make warre against him An Vssher of the Parliament went to Gand to adiorne him being vnder the souerainty of the crowne of France which he did at his comming from the masse whereat he was much amazed and discontented hauing caused the Vsher to be put in prison yet soone after he suffred him
the duke of Bourgongne beyond that of Collogne which was on the other side of the riuer of Rhine towardes Duisseldorp to cut of the Dukes vittells The Emperour beeing planted before Nuys hee presently sent to the French King to requier him to keepe his promise and to send the 20000. men But the King fearing the English would inuade France laboured to make a peace with the duke of Bourgongne brother in lawe to the King of England or at the least to prolong the truce The King of England on the other side did what he could to drawe the duke from Nuys and presse him to keepe his word and to make warre against the French King But the duke excused himselfe vpon his honour which hee sayd should bee interessed if hee should rise There was an Apostolike legate with the Emperour who went euery day from one campe vnto an other to mediate a peace The King of Denmarke came also himself in person and lodged at Greuenbrooke in the country of Iuilliers who labored what hee could But the duke would giue no eare to any contynuing still obstinate at this siege doing what he could to take it The Duke being thus obstinate there was warre attempted against him in two or three places One was by the duke of Lorraine who had sent to defie him at the siege of Nuse and did him much spoile in the Dutchie of Luxembourg but by the other side duke Sigismond of Austria with the helpe of the Swissee and those of Strausbourg tooke the contie of Ferret made warre in Bourgongne tooke Blaumont and besieged the castle of Hericourt belonging to the Marshall of Bourgongne of the house of Neufchastel The Bourgongnons went to succour it but they were defeated and the Swisses returned into their countrie laden with spoyles In the beginning of the year 1475. the Duke holding yet his siege before Nuise the truce ended betwixt him and the French King the which the King would willingly haue prolonged but seeing it could not be he made open warre in Picardie tooke the towne of Roye Montdidier Corbie the which after that he had spoiled he caused to be burnt as he did many other places betwixt Abbeuille Arras Those of the garrison of Arras made a Sallie vppon the French but they were repulst euen into their ports there were many slaine and of their chiefe men taken prisoners as Iames of S. Pol Brother to the Constable of France the siegnior of Contay heire to the old Lord of Contay the Lorde of Carenchy and other Gentlemen The French King had intreated the Emperour to make a mutuall promise not to make a peace with the Duke of Bourgongne one without another councelling him to seaze vppon all his landes which held of the Empire as Brabant Gelders Lembourg Luxembourg and that he would seaze vpon those that are held of the Crowne of France as Flanders Arthois Bourgongne and others Wherevppon the Emperor answered wisely to his Ambassadors telling a Tale of two companions which soulde the Beares skinne to their Hoste before the beast was taken as if he would say come as you haue promised wee will take the man and then diuide his goods The Constable was much grieued for the taking of Iames of S. Pol his brother but this mischance came not alone for at the same instant the Earle of Roussy his sonne Gouernour of Bourgongne for the Duke was taken and there withall dyed the Constables wife a vertuous lady and sister to the Queen of France who had been a great support to him After these three mischances he was neuer assured liuing in contynuall feare swimming betwixt two streames to entertaine himself equally in the King and Dukes fauor which these Princes could easily discouer The Duke hauing contynued his siege a whole yeare before Nuise 2. things prest him extreamely to rise the first was the warre which the French King made against him in Picardie the second was the goodly and great army the King of England made at his request hauing alwayes perswaded him to come into France and could neuer induce him vnto it vntill that time and now the King of England and his Nobles were much discontented for that the Duke stayed so long before Nuise and came not to ioyne with them vsing threates vnto them considering their great expenses and the approaching winter The Duke of Bourgongne held it for a great glory that this great armie of the Emperour and the Princes of Germanie which was the greatest that had been seene in the memorie of man or long before could not raise him from this siege The Legat past dayly from one Campe to another vntill in the ende he made a peace betwixt the Emperor the Duke of Bourgongne the Towne of Nuise was deliuered into the Legats hands to dispose thereof as the Court of Rome should decree the which had yeelded to his mercie through famine if hee had continued but tenne dayes longer but he was forced by the threatnings of the English to make composion and to raise his Campe. In the meane time the Constable of France was much perplexed thinking of the wrong he had done to the Duke of Bourgongne touching S. Quintin and hee was out of hope of the King who prest him to come vnto him which he would not do vnlesse the King would sweare vppon the crosse of S. Loup of Angiers for his safetie which he refused to doe which draue him into dispaire At this time the King of England past at Calais with his armie and the Duke of Bourgongne raised his siege from before Nuys and went to the English with a smale companie sending his Armie to refresh it selfe and to bee reuenged of the Duke of Lorraine in the countrey of Barrois what happened during the abode of the English armie in France vnto the conclusion of the peace of Piqueny and their returne into England I leaue to the Historie of France who relates it at large for it concernes not our subiect After the English beeing repast the Seas the French King retyred to Vervins vppon the fronters of Henault The Duke of Bourgongnes Chancellor and other his Ambassadors were at armes in Henault The King desired now to haue peace with the Duke and vppon some difficulties that were propounded would himselfe treat personally with the said Ambassadors in the ende a peace was concluded for nine yeeres But the Ambassadors beseeched the King that it might not bee so soone proclaimed to saue the Dukes oath and that it might not seeme that he had accepted the same Truce which the King of England had made This Truce beeing made the conclusions of Bouvines betwixt the French King and the Duke of Bourgongne against the Constable were reuiued where it was resolued that hee that could first lay holde on him should execute him within eight dayes or deliuer him to his companion Those which followed the Constable fearing these practises
Picardy ioyful by the death of the duke of Bourgongne to see himselfe victorious ouer all his enemies wherof the duke was the mightiest who with his father duke Philippe had beene in warre with him and King Charles the seauenth his Father for the space of 32. yeares hauing all his landes and Seigneuries ioyning vpon France and his subiects disposed and accustomed to warre and therefore the dukes death was a greater content vnto him then the death of the duke of Guienne his Brother the Constable of Saint Poll of Rene King of Sicile of duke Iohn and Nicholas of Calabria of the Earles of Prouence and Mary their Cousins and of the Earle of Armaignac who had beene slaine at Estore of all which the King had inioyed their goods and possessions both moouables and immoouables presupposing now that during his life he should neuer finde any opposition in his kingdome And although hee were thus freed from all feare yet God would not suffer him to take the right course to vnite these great seigneuries to his crowne the which hee should haue done by some treatie of marriage or drawne them vnto him by loue and friendship which he might haue easily done seeing the great desolation into the which those Prouinces were brought whereby he should haue freed them from great warres miseries and calamities where into they haue since fallen and should haue fortified his Realâ—…e and inriched both countries by the means of so long and durable a peace The chiefe meanes to attaine vnto it was to marrie his Sonne who was afterwardes King of France called Charles the eight to the Ladie Marie Princesse of Bourgongne daughter and onelie heire to the deceased duke although he were then but fifteene yeares olde and shee eighteene But when hee did see the father dead all his thoughts and cogitations were only to spoile this Orphan Princesse of her fathers inheritance wherin God did not blesse his actions nor his designes the which were for the most part ouerthrowne by the marriage which the sayd Princesse made with Maximilian Archduke of Austria Sonne to the Emperor Frederic as you shall presently heare The King beeing entred in Piccardie with his army the townes of Peronne Ham and Bohain were yeelded vnto him Hee sent his Barber called Oliuer le Dain vnto Gand and Robinet of Audensort vnto Saint Oâ—…er where they had friends to put men into them The good successe which hee had in the beginning in Piccardie made him to hope that all would yeeld vnto him and he was aduised by some wherevnto he was of his owne disposition inclined to ruine the house of Bourgongne and to diuide the Prouinces to many euen naming those to whome he ment to giue the Earldomes of Henault and Namur and the Dutchies of Lembourg and Luxembourg lying vpon the frontiers As for the other great Prouinces of Brabant Holland Zeeland and Friseland he would make vse of them to winne some Princes of Germanie which should be his friends and helpe him to execute his desseignes Oliuer the Kings Barbar who termed himselfe Earle of Meulan a little towne nere vnto Paris whereof hee was captaine carried letters of credit to the Princesse of Bourgongne and had commission to conferre with her secretly and to perswade her to put her selfe into the Kings hands but this was not his chiefe charge but to mutine the people whome hee knewe to bee sufficiently inclyned therevnto by reason of their Preuiledges which duke Philippe and Charles had taken from them Hauing remayned at Gand some time hee was sent for to deliuer his charge hee went and deliuered his letters of credit to the Princesse beeing set betwixt the duke of Cleues and the Bishoppe of Liege and accompanied by a great number of Noblemen Shee read his letter and Maister Oliuer was commaunded to deliuer his charge openly who answered that hee had no commission but to speake priuatly vnto the Princesse They sayd vnto him that it was not the custome especially to so young a Princesse yet hee persisted in his first speech and they answered him that hee should bee forced â—…o deliuer wherevpon hee grewe fearefull making some excuse and so departed without deliuering of his charge Some of this councell skorned him by reason of his olde age and for the speeches hee vsed especially the Bourgesses of Gand who knew him to well beeing borne in a nere Village and did him some affronts and disgraces threatning to cast him into the Riuer the which they would haue done if hee had not speedily fled At his departure from Gand hee went to Tournay beeing then a Neuter towne but much affected to the French Hee knewe the sayd towne to bee neere to both countries and fit to annoy either partie so as they might drawe in any souldiars the which the 〈◊〉 would not haue yeelded vnto hauing neuer shewed themselues Partisans but Neuters to both the Noble Princes but Maister Oliuer sent secretly for the Lord of Mour whose Sonne was Baylife of the afforesayd Towne but was not resident there 〈◊〉 he should come at a certaine time appointed and bring with him his company of men at armes which were at Saint Quintins and some other souldiers out of those parts who failed not to come at the prefixed houre to the towne gate where he found maister Oliuer with fortie men who partly by loue and partly by force caused the Barre to be opened and so gaue entrance to the men at armes wherewith the people were some-what content but the Magistrate nothing at all of the which hee sent seauen or eight prisoners to Paris where they remained during the Kings life Thus was Tournay put into the Kings hands by the dexteritie of his Barber wherein a wiser or a greater personage then himselfe might haue failed The King being at Peronne there came vnto him from the Princesse certaine Ambassadors which were of the principall men about her wherof the chiefe were William Hugonet her Chancellor the Lord of Humbercourt the Lord of Gruythuyse Gouernor of Holland and the Lord of Vere of Zeland and many Prelates and Deputies of Townes The King before their audience laboured all he could to winne them as well in generall as in particular from whom hee receiued nothing but humble and reuerend words as from men that were in feare yet such as had their lands lying whereas they thought the King could not annoy them would in no sort binde themselues vnto him but in making the marriage of the Doulphin his sonne with their Princesse The Chancellor and the Lord of Humbercourt who had beene bred and brought vp in great authoritie with the deceased Duke desiring to continue so still hauing their lands lying in the Kings dominions that is to say the Chancellor in Bourgongne and the Lord of Humbercourt in Picardie and Arthois gaue eare vnto the King and his offers and did in a manner consent to serue him in making of this marriage and to retire themselues
Freezland the Ganthois and Brugeois mutinue againe and keepe the King of Romaines prisoner to whose succour the Emperour Frederick his father came against whom and against the Frisons he made Albert Duke of Saxonie his generall a priuate warre in Holland a peace betwixt the Flemmings and the Arch-duke diuers Factions armed in Freezland Duke Albert seekes a quarrell against them both a peace betwixt the Arch-duke Philip of Austria and Charles the 8. the French King the Arch-duke takes possession of the Neitherlands war betwixt the Duke of Gelders the Arch-duke the Estates of Freezland held at Snâ—…cke whereof followed great wars Duke Albert obtaines of the Emperour the hereditarie gouernment of Freezland the continuance of the warre in Freezland Duke Albert slaine before Groningen the Arch-duke inherits the Realmes of Spaine by his wife Duke George of Saxonie after the death of Albert his father contiâ—…ues the warre in Freezland the Duke of Gelders reconciled to the King of Castile the death of the said King warre renewed betwixt the Geldrois and the Bourguignons MAXIMILIAN Arch-duke of Austria sonne to the Emperour Frederick was borne the 12. of March 1459. from his infancie vntill he came to be fourteene or fifteene yeares old he was of a heauie disposition and slow in speech for he grew some-what big before he could pronounce his words but being come to age hee recompenced that defect by wisedome and readinesse of speech especially in the Latin tongue Nature and the bountie of God did adorne and inrich him with so many vertues for the good of the Empire as by the iudgement of euery man he did exceed all the Christian Princes of his time in vigour viuacitie and quicknesse of spirit in domestick publike polliticke and militarie vertues in zeale to religion in bountie worthy of such a Prince and of an invincible courage as well in prosperitie as in aduersitie Hee was about 20. years old when hee married his first wife Marie Dutchesse of Bourgongne Countesse of Holland Zeeland c. By whom hee had the first yeare of their marriage one sonne named Philip who was father to Charles the fift the second yeare he had one daughter named Marquerite the which in her infancie was betrothed to Charles Dolphin of France sonne to King Lewis the 11. The third yeare he had a sonne named Francis so named by Francis Duke of Brittaine The fourth yere he dyed as we will shew in the deduction of this Historie This vertuous Prince marrying this Princesse of Bourgongne was withall wedded to great warres which we will discribe heare for that which shall concerne the Neitherlands as succinctly as wee can referring those of Italy and Germanie to Paulus Iouius Francis Guichardin and others that haue written of that subiect The French King had no care but how he should deuoure all the siegneories of this Princesse but hearing of her marriage whereon hee thought least he did somewhat moderate the least of his greedie couetousnesse He had already notwithstanding the Truce made with the Duke father to the said Lady wrested away violently all the Townes of Picardie on this side the Riuer of Some the countrie of Arthois with Tournay and Tournesis practising all hee could the Towne of Gaunt and the Flemmings beeing easie to mooue and which since gaue many crosses to the Arch-duke Maximilian It was therefore needfull for this Prince to craue the succours and means of his father and his friends in Germanie for the Neitherlandes were much vnpeopled both of their Nobilitie and of their best Commanders in warre and of common souldiers which had beene lost in those three defeates and those fewe which had remained in Picardie as the Lord of Cordes and others of the countrey of Arthois had imbraced the French Kings partie some for that their liuings lay in those Countries and others being drawne away by gifts and goodly promises The Arch duke hauing visited all the Prouinces of the Dutchesse his wife where he was well intertained and hauing receiued the oathes and hostages returned to Bruges where hee called an Assembly of all the Princes Earles Barons Knights and chiefe Gentlemen of the said Countries with the generall Estates to resolue of the best meanes and course that was to be taken to resist the attempts of the French king who did dayly seaze vppon some piece of his estate But for that hee was not yet Knighted his desire was before hee vndertooke any warre against the French to receiue the order of Knight-hood of the golden Fleece with the solemnities and Ceremonies accustomed as the good Duke Philip his wiues grand-father had instituted it Hauing therefore receiued the choller from Adolph of Cleues Lorde of Rauesteyn he held a generall Chapter of the said Order which hee renewed and added some other Knights Among the which were William of Egmond brother to Arnold Duke of Gelders father to Prince Adolph The feastes and tryumphs of this Ceremonie being ended the Arch-duke began to leuie men of all sides to expell the French out of his Territories who had already taken many places in Henault But hearing of this preparation for warre and of so great a leuie of men they left all and abandoned the countrey whether the Arch-duke went in person in a short time reduced all the countrie vnder his obedience and subiection after some light skirmishes and incounters which hee had often against the French in the which for the most part hee was victor The 22. of Iune in the yeare 1478. was borne in the cittie of Bruges Philip of Austria first child to the Arch-duke and the Lady Marie of Bourgongne which brought great ioy to all the Neitherlands giuing thanks vnto GOD that had giuen them a Prince who in time to come might gouerne them in peace and defend them against the French their naturall enemies Wee haue formerly sayd that Duke Arnold of Gelders had sold the Dutchie to Duke Charles of Bourgongne by reason of the great wrong which Prince Adolph his sonne had done him by his imprisonment wherof Duke Charles had taken possession in the life time of Duke Arnold But after the death of Duke Charles of Prince Adolph who was slaine as we haue said before Tournay the Geldrois did reuolt especially the Townes of Numeghen and Zutphen with their dependances The children of Prince Adolph were at that time bred vp in the Court of Bourgongne wherevpon the Geldrois sent for the Lady Katherine of Gelders sister to prince Adolph to come and gouerne the countrie the which she did which was the cause of great warre betwixt the house of Bourgongne and the Geldrois The Arch-duke Maximilian hauing reconquered the Countrie of Henault he marched with his troupes towards the Contrie of Gelders hee came to Ruremond where hee was receiued and at Venlo also and in all the quarters there abouts then he returned into Flanders went to Gaunt to set things in order In the Meane time
the Empire and the forme of publike gouernment was maintayned by the wisedome constancy vnion and fidelity of the sayd Princes Electors Albert of Brandebourg Archbishoppe of Mentz Prince Elector and Chancellor of the Empire throughout all Germanie hauing newes of this death gaue notice thereof according to his charge to the Princes Electors and called them all to Francfort vpon the riuer of Mayn to proceed vnto the election of a new Emperour whether they came all Videlicet Albert himselfe Herman Earle of Weda Archbishoppe of Cologne Richard Archbishoppe of Treues Ladislas of Sterneberg Ambassador to Lewis King of Bohemia Lewis Count Palatin of Rhine Frederic duke of Saxony and Ioachin Marquis of Brandebourg The seauenteene day of Iune in the same yeare 1519. they assembled all in Saint Bartlemewes Church at Francfort where after the accustomed ceremonies the Princes in their habits of Electors approched to the Altar where in the presence of a great multitude they did sollemnly sweare faithfully to obserue all the Articles of the election contained in the golden Bull of Charles the fourth the which to that effect was publickly read before them all from thence the Princes Electors alone entred into the Vestry of the said Temple where they had beene accustomed for a long time to make the like elections The Archbishop of Mentz opened the cause of their assembly and after some preface of honor and prayers done vnto God to direct the whole assembly of the Electors wherein he gaue a testimony of his wisedome piety fidelitie and sincere affection to the publicke good and quiet the chiefe point of his discourse was to exhort them to vnion and to auoyde all occasions of ciuill warre in the Empire Alledging to that purpose what had happened in the times of other Emperors namely of Lewis the gentle Henry the first the Ottons Henry the fourth Conrard of Suabe Lothaire of Saxony and others where by the discord of Electors infinite miseries haue fallen vpon the Empire Hee added more-ouer that this discord had caused trouble and schisme in religion That at this present the threatning of the Turke who conspired against the liberty and religion of Christians especially of Germanie and the threates of some Princes who sought occasions to sowe troubles and to deuide the Germaines should admonish the Electors to remember their oth wherby they were chiefely bound to preuent all sedition After many other speeches to the same purpose the Electors hauing had some short conference together they commended the Elector of Mentz for his zeale and affection to the publicke state protesting that they would therein indeuour to follow his aduice and to be of one minde and consent if it were possible This was spoken in the name and behalfe of them all by the Marquis of Brandebourg to whom his companions gaue the charge in respect of his eloquence for then the Princes were so vnited as without any emulation they did willingly yeeld one vnto another and were carefull not to blemish the graces which their companions might haue respecting therein the publick good To conclude according to the custome of the ancient Germaines they resolued to ioyne loue and plainesse together and without doubt they were so nobly affected as they would neuer shew their passions in any of their consultations which concerned the publick good nor conceiue in their hearts any bad conceit against their brethren especially in affaires of consequence the Electors deferred their resolution vntill the next day In the meane time the Ambassadors of Prince Charles Archduke of Austria Duke of Bourgongne Earle of Holland c. and King of Castile c. arriued at Ments They intreated the Electors to remember Charles in their election adding some-thing of his vertues they did also put them in minde that the Emperour Maximilian had recommended his grand-childe vnto them the which hee would not haue done being so good so wise a Prince if he had not knowne it to be for the good of the Empire In the meane time the Ambassadors of Francis the first the French King were at Coblents on Conflans from whence they did sollicite for their Maister who had some Electors fauourable to his party the which as some Histories say had giuen King Francis incouragement to affect it These Ambassadors did extoll their Princes vertues all they could pretending many reasons why hee should be chosen before any other The Princes Electors hauing receiued letters from the Ambassadors of France and Spaine made answer in few words That they were exceeding glad of the good affection which both Kings carryed vnto the Empire But as for the election they did hope that GOD would giue them the grace to carry themselues faithfully and as they were bound by othe and by the lawes and ordinances of their Predecessors When they came to consult touching the election the Archbishop of Mentz hauing conferred priuately with Fredericke Duke of Saxony who was in great credit and authority among them all began his Oration vtterly reiecting the French King for the aduancement of King Charles describing and setting downe his good disposition his great meanes the benefit which the Empire might hope for and expect and with-all his beginning being issued and descended out of Germanie holding him as a naturall Germaine where they must finde and choose themselues an Emperour and not among strangers concluding in the end in fauour of Charles After that hee had ended his speech hee perswaded the other Electors to deliuer their opinions who after they had conferred some-what togither they intreated Richard Archbishoppe of Treuer Prince Elector to speake for he was much esteemed for his iudgement and experience in affaires of State who contrarie to the opinion of him of Mentz maintained that the King of Spaine was no more to bee admitted then he of France in whose honour hee spake verie highly saying that the same reason that hee of Mentz had obiected against him were lyable also against the King of Spaine and therefore hee concluded that the French King for the ripenesse of his age for his valour and experience in warre Germanie hauing great neede of such a Captaine against the Turke should bee preferred before the King of Spaine beeing young and without experience And if the lawe did forbid them to choose a Frenchman that it was of the same force against a Spaniard Or els if neither the one nor the other were to bee admitted then they should aduise among all the Princes of the Empire to choose one that had not liued any where but in Germanie that was a Germaine by birth in his manners minde and language deliuering manie reasons why and howe that might bee donne against the allegations of him of Mentz vppon that point Saying that the meanes were easie to finde by the which an Emperour chosen out of their owne Nation might maintaine his authoritie and that of the Empire both at home and a broade and so hee ended
the Bishop of Vtrechts forces vnder Nicholas of Wilderstorffe against the Geldrois and Frison Geldrois vnder the command of the Earle of Maeurs of Collonell Martin van Rossen and Captaine Grand Pierre for the Duke of Geldres vnto the yeare 1526. During the which there were many townes and castels taken and recouered againe on eyther side diuers incounters skirmishes and sieges raised where-with the whole country was miserably afflicted and ruined for if the poore country-men of eyther side would keepe any thing they must of necessitie carrie it into the townes from whence they might not retire it when they would Some writers speake diuersly of the causes and motiues of the warre betwixt the Emperour and the French King But all concurre that the election of Charles reuiued the old quarrels and bred new The French King had alwayes an eye to the realme of Naples hauing treated with Pope Leo for the recouerie thereof Hee desired also to restore the King of Nauarre to his kingdome seeing that the Emperour made no accoumpt to leaue it On the other side the Emperor was not well pleased to pay the 100000. crownes pension to the French king according to the accord made with the Lord of Cheures his Gouernour ratified by the Emperour Maximilian his grand-father for the rights pretended by the French king vpon Naples Hee did also beare the losse of the Duchie of Bourgongne impatiently seazed vpon by king Lewis the eleuenth after the death of Duke Charles his great Grand-father by the Mother side slaine before Nancy There wanted no quarrell also touching the Duchie of Milan As they were about to seeke occasions to assaile one another there was one offered small in shew at the beginning but it was the fire-brand to kindle this flame the which afterwards did thrust the greatest part of Europe into combustion and made these two Princes their successors and subiects so to afflict one another as all the miseries that might be imagined haue followed and this was the occasion There was a sute betwixt the Lord of Aymerie and the Prince of Chimay of the house of Croy for a Towne in the forrest of Ardennes called Hierges and a sentence giuen in fauour of Chimay by the Peers of the Dutchie of Bouillon who doe iudge soueraignely without any appeale from their sentences yet the Lord of Aimery who had great credit with the Emperor Charles and the chiefe in Court preuailed so as he obtained letters from the Chancerie of Brabant to call in the heyres of the Prince of Chimay to appeare at a certaine day and to heare the reasons of Aimery if need were and to see the sentence giuen in their fauour disanulled They seeing the wrong that was offered them repaired to Robert of Marcke Duke of Bouillon as to their Lord and Protector that he might defend the liberties and priuiledges of his Duchie being withall Tutor vnto Chimays children hauing married their Aunte Wherevpon the Duke did what he could possible to maintaine his rights but seeing that they meant to depriue him he addressed himselfe to the French king with whom he found meanes to make his peace being before in some disgrace with him putting into his hands both his person and his places crauing fauour and support that he might haue Iustice of the wrong done vnto his soueraigntie Hauing thus prouided for his affaires hee sent to defie the Emperor the which was a great presumption for him and he bought it full deerely at the diet at Wormes and soone after the Lord of Florenges his eldest sonne leuied 3000. foote and 500. horse in France against the kings Proclamation and went to besiege Vireton a small towne in the country of Luxembourg Heerevpon the King of England hauing perswaded the French King not to enter into quarrell for so small a subiect as that of Bouillon with the Emperour matters were past ouer and the Duke of Bouillon dismissed his Armie But in the meane time the Emperour raised one whereof the Earle of Nassau had the command with the which he tooke Longues Meusancourt Fleuranges Sanchy and Bouillon wherevpon the Duke finding himselfe too weake obtained a truce of the Emperor for sixe weekes onely The French King considering that the granting of this truce was a secret declaration of warre against him for that if the Emperor had had no other desseigne but against the Duke of Bouillon there had beene no need of any truce hauing meanes to ruine him within sixe weekes hee began in like sort to raise an Armie solliciting the King of England to ioyne with him The Emperour on the other side hauing this ouerture began to looke to himselfe and both Armies went to field attempting nothing yet one against the other for the King of England hauing offered to be an arbitrator of their quarrells a parle was appointed at Calais whether the Commissioners of both parties came But for that they did not yeeld vnto the Emperor the restitution of the Duchie of Bourgongue and the abolition of the homage of Flanders and Arthois which hold of the Crowne of France there was nothing concluded In the meane time the Lord of Liques a Wallon made an enterprise vpon the Abbay of Saint Amant in Tournesis belonging to the Cardinall of Bourbon and vpon a small Towne called Mortaigne not farre from thence of the county of Holland This Gentleman pretended these places to belong vnto him and made himselfe Maister thereof At the same instant the Lord of Fiennes Gouernor of Flanders did besiege Tournay of all which exploits the Emperour excused himselfe saying that they were priuate quarrels But the King seeing that the Imperiall Armie vnder colour that the truce with the Duke of Bouillon grew to an end approched neere Mouson hee sent some troupes thether and so the warre began betwixt these two great Princes both in Champaigne Picardie and else-where all which I will forbeare to write of in this worke both for that they do not properly concerne this subiect as also being set downe at large in the Historie of France George Schenck Gouernor of Friseland with the Lords of Wastenare and Castre hauing taken the fort of Warckom and Mackom the Townes of Dockom and Bolswaert with some other forts holding the Geldrois party they went to besiege the Towne of Sloten the which they did batter furiously and the besieged defended themselues as couragiously so as in a sally which they made in the night the Lord of Wassenare was shot in the arme and the Gouernor Schenck in the bottome of his belly yet they remoued not out of the Campe. Those of the Towne seeing there was no hope of succours were forced to yeeld The Earle of Maeurs being at Steenwyke and hearing that the Bourguignons had taken Sloten retired from thence vnder coulour that he went into Geldres as he sayd to the Duke to seeke for succours From Sloten the Gouernor Schenck went to besiege Lemmer those within it
Booke THE Emperor returnes into Germany and treates of religion Herman Archbishoppe of Collogn◅ seekes to reforme his diotese the Pope and Emperor oppose themselues The Protestants assemble at Francfort The Emperor giues them good words whilest that hee prepar◅ to armes A conference of Diuines at Ratisbone The Emperor and Pope make a league against the Protestants who arme also and make a league printing their Iustifications and go to field the Emperor banisheth the duke of Saxony and the Landtgraue of Hessen who defie him the Emperor in danger at Inghelstade whereas the Earle of Buren ioynes with him the Protestantes army disbandes Duke Maurice troubles the Duke of Saxonies state the Duke of Wirtemberg and the Imperiall townes reconciled to the Emperor who sends to succor Maurice A battaile betwixt the Emperor and the duke of Saxony whereas the Duke is taken prisoner Sute to the Emperor for the Landtgraue of Hessen who comes to make his peace is detayned prisoner Magdebourg a Protest◅nt towne holds onely against the Emperor Maurice made Elector Prince Philip the Emperors sonne comes out of Spaine into the Netherlands A bloudy Edict against the Protestants the Emperor affects the Empire for Prince Philip his Sonne which breeds a quarrell betwixt the Emperor and his brother Ferdinand King of Hungary the Protestants refuze to come to the councell of Trent The constancie of them of Magdebourg who are freed from siege the Landtgraues restraint is preiudiciall to the Emperors affaires in Germany Duke Maurice takes armes against the Emperor the French King comming with a great army to succor Maurice takes Metz ◅houl and Verduen Martin van Rossem makes warre in France the Emperor flies hastely from Inspruch through the mountaines An ass◅mbly at Passau to treat a peace Albert of Brandebourg makes warre a part the Emperors fruitlesse siege before Metz the taking and razing of the towne of Teroane A battaile betwixt duke Maurice and Albert of Brandebourg the siege and taking of Hesdin the battaile of Talma Philip King of Spaine marries Marie Queene of England the French besiegeth Renty the Emperor releeues it in person An Imperiall Diet at Ausbourg A defeate of the Arreer-ban of the French the Emperor resignes his countries to his sonne the resolution of the Imperiall Dyet at Ausbourg The Emperor resignes the Empire to his brother Ferdinand His departure out of the Netherlands with his two Sisters THE 3. of Aprill the Emperor parted out of the Netherlands to go to an Imperiall Diet which was to be held at Wormes where he arriued the 16. of May. Being there he writ to the King of Poland to incense him against the Protestants The Pope was wonderfully desirous to haue warre attempted against them and notwitstanding the councell which hee had published hee promised the Emperor 12000. foote and fiue hundred men at armes for that warre In Ianuary 1546. the Protestants assembled at Francfort where as they consulted what was to bee done touching the coūcel of Trent to continue the league for the charges of the warre against Henry of Brunswick a great persecutor of the Protestants Not to abandon the Archbishop of Cologne To sollicit the Emperor to giue peace vnto relligion and to rule the Imperiall chamber In this assembly the Ambassadors of Herman Elector of Collogne made their complaints of the wrongs his Clergy did him and of the commandements and Citations sent from the Emperour and Pope In the meane time Frederic Count Pallatin Prince Elector appointed Ministers and Preachers of the Gospell throughout all his countrie suffring them to receiue the Sacrament of the Lords Supper in both kindes and in the vulgar tongue and that Preests might marry The Emperor beeing arriued at Wormes the sixteene of May his councellors treated with the Protestants touching the generall councell and other things laboring to perswade them to yeeld to that which should be resolued on at Trent and to come thether to propound their causes of recusation to the which regard should bee had whervnto they replied as before so as after a long consultation the affaires were referred to Ianuary in the yeare 1546. And in the meane time the Emperour seeing that the Protestants were not willing to contribute to the warre against the Turke if he did not grant their demaunds touching a free councell and the reformation of the Parliament of the Empire he sent Gerard Veltwycke a learned man and who spake many languages to the Turke to make a truce desyring rather to make warre against Christians his owne subiects then against the Turke Some daies after it was bruted that the Emperor made secret preparation to warre and they could not coniecture that it was against any other then the Protestants for hee was at peace with the French King and was assured to haue a truce with the Turke Wherevpon the Landtgraue of Hessen did write vnto Granuelle to preuent it But Granuelle did what hee could to lull him a sleepe And in the meane time there were flatterers which informed the Emperour that the Protestants had conspired against him at Francfort so as matters began then to growe more bitter and in the meane time they sought to blinde the Protestants vntill the Emperour had his armie ready to worke what hee pretended Then began the councell of Trent where the Pope did preside by his legats the Emperor hauing vowed to make the decrees thereof to be receiued by the point of the sword Whereof the Landtgraue tould the Emperor openly in the towne of Spier and he sought to excuse himselfe saying that hee demaunded nothing more then the quiet of Germany In December during the diet of Ratisbone the conference which had beene appointed betwixt the diuine of both religions was begunne Where there were learned men and of great authority of eyther side for the Emperour were sent Peeter Maluenda a Spaniard Euerard Billic a Carmelite Iohn Hofmeister an Augustin Friar and Iohn Cocleus all foure diuines George Loxan Gaspar Caltental George Islinger Bartlemew Latome Auditors for the Protestants came Bueer Brencius George Maior Erard Schnepf diuins Volrad Earle of Walder Balthazar Gutling Laurence Zoch a lawier and George Woltmer Auditors Maurice Bishop of Eister and Frederic of Furstenberch were aboue them all There they disputed vpon the Articles of the confession of Ausbourg The Emperour would haue all kept secret and the Protestants would haue the contrary So as after some conference not able to agree the assembly was dissolued the which serued to no other end but to abuse the Protestants with a shew of that which was not intended The same yeare was published by the Emperor the sixt bloudie Edict against them of the religion in the Netherlands At that time Adrian of Croy Earle of Roeux Maximilian of Bourgongne Admirall of the sea and Cornellis Schepper Seignior of Eyken were appointed by Queene Mary Gouernesse of the Netherlands in the Emperors name to build a fort or castell in
in the yeare 1556 king Philip pretending many goodly reasons and colour but the chiefest was to free and satisfie those debts wherewith the emperour had left hiâ—… charged made an excessiue demaund for the first aid and subuention which he required froâ—… his subiects of the Netherlands but he could not obtaine a moitie of that which he preteâ—…ded neither would that be granted without a conuocation of the generall estates of the 17 Bâ—…gicke prouinces the which was wonderfully ill taken by the Spanish counsell and by thâ—… that inriched themselues with the treasure to the peoples ruine so as some noblemen and gâ—…uernors of prouinces and townes were not only in disgrace with the king and his counsel bâ—…t were also iudged guiltie of high treason and the noblemen which had in any sort contraâ—…cted this demand were marked vnto death vpon the first opportunitie that should be offered for that they would not instantly yeeld vnto the first demaund without any conuocatiâ—…n of the states Notwithstanding that which was granted him being called the Nouenalâ—…yde amounted in all to fortie millions of florins of Brabant money But this conuocation of the generall states was both to the king and his counsell as it hath been euer since most olious as we shall see by the beginning of the trobles which happened in the said Netherlands wherof grew the wars the which haue continued since the yeare 1566 vnto this day On S. Andrewes day the same yeare king Philip held the feast and chapter of the orde of the golden Fleece in the towne of Brussels where as these knights following were newly ceated William of Nassau prince of Orange Philip of Montmorency earle of Horne the earle of Lalaine the earle Amorall of Egmont the duke of Arschot the lord of Molembais the â—…ord of Glaison and the lord of Barlamont The 22 of December the lady Marguerite of Ausâ—…ia duchesse of Parma bastard sister to king Philip came to the court to Brussels with her son â—…lexander Farnese a goodly yong prince and of great expectation of whom wee shall haue suficient matter to speake hereafter the king went forth of the towne to receiue her This Winter was wonderfully sharpe and rigorous as well by reason of the extreame cold weather as through famine which ensued whereof died in the towne of Brussels I omit other great townes by the report of the masters of hospitals aboue 19000 poore creatures of 〈◊〉 sorts men women and children which repaired thither from all places for the great charitieâ—…â—…alms which the king and noblemen in court gaue There was a drought continued from Iuly 1556 vnto the same moneth the yeare following in which yere not only corne and all sorts of pulce was exceeding deere but all other things that were to be eaten for that the vehement cold of the Winter past had spoiled all so as the poore soules knew not wherewithall to fill their bellies and when they had gotten any store of almes through the deuotion of well disposed people they burst themselues with eating or the meat being stronger than their weake stomac would beare made them die EMANVEL PHILIBERT DVKE OF SAuoy Prince of Piemont Gouernor and Lieutenant generall of the Netherlands for King PHILIP EMANVEL PHILIBERT DVX SABAVDIAE GVBERNATOR BELGIâ—…Ae I am EMANVEL PHILIBERT Duke of Sauoy That for long time did not one foot within the same enioy Mine vncle th'emperour maintain'd me in estate And of his sonne the gouornment of Netherlands I gate Where hauing rul'd a while at last did peace obtaine Which beeing made my lands to me restored were againe Henry the French kings sister to my spouse I had And by that meanes assurance of the peace to me was made From thence I tooke my way to Piemont and Sauoy Whereas my subiects me receiu'd with great and extreame ioy KIng Philip hauing after the emperours retreat out of the Netherlands appointed the duke of Sauoy his cosin to be gouernour and his lieutenant generall of the said countries he returned the ninth of December the same yeare 1556 from England to Brussels The English hauing before taken a fort neere vnto Boulogne vpon the sea put all the French men they found in it to the sword they found in it about fiftie cart loads of corne the which they did imbarke and brought to Middlebourg in Zeeland The queene of England and cardinall Poole by much means and long solicitation brought the matter of controuersie betweene the kings of France and Spain to such effect that she got them to agree to a truce and abstinence of warre both by water and by land for the space of fiue yeares that in the meane time they might draw to a good and continuall peace and the better to procure the same certaine mariages were propounded And vpon the last of Ianuary 1556 the said truce on the king of Spaines behalfe was at Brussels sworne vnto monsieur Chastilion admirall of France and at Blois on the French kings behalfe vnto the earle of Lalaine This truce was made wholy against the kings mind but well knowne to the counsellor Simon Renart and to the earle of Lalaine whereby great hatred and enmitie ensued and was after chiefe cause of the controuersies and troubles that ensued in the Low countries This yeare in the moneth of August there happened a great conflict betweene diuers Holland and French ships betweene Douer and Calis the Hollanders being twentie two marchants ships that came out of Spaine and amongst them had appointed one ship to be their admiral as the manner is amongst ships of warre promising and swearing not to forsake one the other but valiantly to fight and defend themselues the French men intending to take them had assembled nineteene ships of warre and six or seuen pinnaces and meeting them before Calis they set vpon them and in the end boorded them making their ships fast one vnto the other with hookes and other meanes the Hollanders as much as they could kept close together and defended themselues valiantly and lay so close and thicke together that they might fight almost as well as if they had beene on land the Hollanders ships were higher and stronger than the French ships but the French ships were both better appointed and manned for the war at the last when they had fought six hours beginning at nine of the clocke in the morning and continuing till three of the clocke in the afternoone one of the ships was set on fire which by reason of the wind that began to rise was so spread abroad that the fire tooke in most of the ships before they could part asunder which made them to cease the fight euery man seeking to saue his life in the ships that were not on fire many of them leaping into the sea and swimming to the next ship they came at whether it were friend or foe were by that meanes taken prisoners whereby the French men perceiuing themselues to be stronger in
some of the Hollanders ships than the Hollanders themselues were tooke fiue of them and brought them into Deepe In this fight the Hollanders had sixe ships burnt and the French men sixe and one sunke in the sea It was thought that the French men lost many thousand men their admirall being one and the Hollanders about 300 men This fight was esteemed an honourable action for the Hollanders because they were but marchants ships and the French men ships of war and better manned While they were busied in the Netherlands touching the ratifying and establishing of a truce there began a new warre in Italy by meanes of pope Paul the fourth the first inuenter of the Iesuiticall sect This Paul was one of the familie and house of Caraffa in Naples that alwayes held with the French men in their Nepolitane warres and for that cause were most of them banished out of Naples and serued vnder the French men This Iesuiticall cardinall Caraffa being pope began to fauour and aduance his owne family and kindred thereby seeking meanes to be reuenged on the noblemen and cardinals which in Italy being their enemies were such as fauoured the emperour and the house of Burgondie as also vpon the houses and families of Columna Romanes and others charging them to be conspirators against him and for that cause persecuted them to the vttermost of his power whereby they were compelled to seeke aid of the viceroy of Naples the duke of Alua the duke of Florence and others who the willinglier granted thereunto because the pope refused to inuest the king with the crown of Naples which he holdeth as tributarie to the sea of Rome and seemed to threaten to excommunicat and curse both the emperour and the king of Spaine for which cause the duke of Alua came to aid the house of Columna and sore anoied the pope taking many places from him whereby he was constrained to craue aid of France which alwayes held and maintained the sea of Rome For which cause in the end of the yeare 1556 the duke of Guise was sent into Italy with eighteene or twentie thousand horse and foot men which did the pope no great pleasure for that the duke of Alua hauing besieged Rome and the king of Spaine hauing woon the battaile at S. Quintines which the pope had heard of the French men were sent for to returne againe into France by which meanes a deuout peace was made the duke of Alua first seeking it and went into Rome to kisse the popes foot and by that meanes got the great priorship of Spaine for his bastard sonne Don Ferdinando de Toledo The war in this sort begun in Italy notwithstanding the truce made betweene both parties not long before the French men and the Spanyards sought to intrap one the other vpon the borders of the Netherlands and to that end vpon Twelfe eue the admirall of France then gouernor of Picardy thought secretly to haue taken the towne of Doway thinking to deceiue the townes-men when they were busie drinking vnto their kings but he failed of his purpose after that hee tooke Leus in Artois which he pilled and spoiled The same yeare in the moneth of March the king of Spaine went into England to his wife queene Mary to haue some aid from her who vpon the seuenth of Iune by sound of trumpet openly proclaimed warre against France both by water and by land and by a booke put in print charged the king of France to haue conspired against her with the duke of Northumberland sir Thomas Wâ—…at Dudley Ashton and other English nobles in regard that hee supported and prouoked them against her as he had done the like to retaine rouers and false coiners of her money wholy against the promise by him made vnto her embassadors as also that not long before he had sent Thomas Stafford one of her rebellious subiects to take the castle of Scarborow and had secretly conspired against the towne and countrey lying about Calis and for that he made warre vpon the Netherlands which the kings of England were by contract long since made alwayes bound to aid and assist and that hee had little esteemed of her intercession of peace and desired no friendly nor good neighbourhood and for those causes she thought it conuenient to declare and hold him for her open enemie which she caused to be signified vnto him by a herault he being then at Reims in Campaigne which herault being rewarded by the king of France was presently returned backe againe with this answere saying That seeing his lady and princesse would now become his vtter enemie whereas hee had alwayes beene her friend he hoped by Gods helpe that hee should find meanes ynough against a woman and to get the better hand of her as his progenitors had alwayes done the like against their enemies The warre in this sort being proclaimed the queene of England raised an armie of sixe or eight thousand horse and foot-men and some pioners which were al apparelled in blew cassocks vnder the conduction of the earle of Pembrooke with the lord Clinton and the lord Mountague and three lord Dudleyes sonnes of the duke of Northumberland and many others which went to Calis and from thence marched to S. Quintines and there ioyned with the king of Spaines armie and holpe him to assault and win the said town where the lord Henry Dudley was slaine in the assault The king of Spaine being in England vpon the sixt of Iuly Emanuel Philibert duke of Sauoy began to raise an armie by aid of the prince of Orange the duke of Arschot the earle of Egmont the earle of Megen the earle of Mansfelt the earle of Barlemont and others with whom were ioyned the Dutch horse and foot and with that armie marched towards Guise making shew to besiege the same and incamped themselues not farre from it but their number daily increasing the duke of Sauoy sodainly approached and inclosed the towne of Saint Quintines with his light horse-men Within the towne there was a company of horse-men led by monsieur Tiligny and captaine Brudit as then gouernor of the towne and not long after in the night time Iasper Coligny earle of Chastilion admirall of France got into the towne The siege being strongly placed round about the same the ordnance was planted and diuers mines and sconces made about it The meane time Henry king of France sent an armie of men vnder the leading of the constable of France and the duke de Montmorancy to put more men and victuals into the towne which they thought to do by meanes of a marsh or poole of water lying upon the one side of the towne and to that end the constable came with his armie and lodging not far from the duke of Sauoyes campe shot out of his armie into the Spanish armie and to the duke of Sauoyes tent whereby he was forced to dislodge and to go into the earle of Egmonts quarter With the constable of
be executed against the Moors Saracens Iewes of Granada ofter they were subdued by the Spaniards without the which Inquisition they perceiued that many men specially such as could behaue themselues warily and closely could not for religion be once touched nor hurt concerning body and goods without witnesses produced against them to haue offended against the proclamation nor yet contrary to the rights and customes of the land might be put to torture to make them confesse any thing against themselues and therefore in the end it was deuised that the spiritualtie should haue the charge thereof and to haue power to examine men touching their faith and what they knew of other men thereby thinking to procure an absolute power vnto the emperor and to exalt the authoritie of the spiritualtie This maner of proceeding seemed ouer rigorous and cruell vnto the Netherlands cleane contrarie to the priuiledges rights and freedoms of the same who in that point ought not to haue been subiect to any spirituall iurisdiction and the rather because the number of the said Lutherans Protestants or reformed religious persons as then so termed were much augmented and increased in the Netherlands because their neighbors held and accounted them and such as they were to be Christians and who so persecuted them they accounted esteemed to be their persecutors and enemies with which their neighbors countries bordering vpon them they did daily traffique and conuerse whereby it happened that when the emperour Charls the 5 in anno 1550 would haue brought the Inquisition into the Netherlands The said prouinces and aboue all Brabant and specially the towne of Antuerpe were against it esteeming it to be the only way to driue all forrein merchants from thence and by meanes thereof they got Mary queen of Hungarie the regent in loue fauor of the Netherlands to ride personally to the assembly of the princes of Germany at Ausburg vnto the emperour her brother shewing him by word of mouth the estate maner of the land and there obtained a kind of moderation of the proclamation for religion and that the Inquisition should not proceed Which great and good worke of the said good queen was taken in such euil part of the Inquisitors of Spaine that they wrot out of Spaine to accuse her for an heretick vnto the emperour her brother whereas therby she held the said countries in such good order and wel-liking of their prince that they denied him no maner of taxes nor other impositions whatsoeuer in his need as also after vnto king Philip his son to whom although a certaine forme of Inquisition was in his time vsed in Flanders they contributed towards his warres in France although the said wars proceeded not vpon any occasion concerning the Netherlands many millions of gulderns in the space of 9 yeares We haue before made mention in diuers places of the numbers of them that made profession of the reformed religion the which increased daily both in Germany the Netherlands notwithstanding the kings rigorous edicts made by the persuasion of the clergy who sought by al means possible to suppresse ruine them for the effecting whereof in the end they found no better expedient among all they could inuent but for the putting of the said edicts in execution according to their forme and with al rigor they should appoint make choice of certaine Inquisitors of the faith who should haue a carefull regard that not any one should read or keep in his house any booke mentioned in the edict containing a catalogue of all the forbidden books and that no man should dispute of the Romish religion to contradict it in any sort For the execution whereof they began to appoint throughout all the Netherlands such like Inquisitors with ample commission absolute authority in that respect notwithstanding the promises which the king of Spaine had made no to charge his subiects with any such a burthen intollerable yoke The promise being vnderstood by the Inquisitors other clergie men they persuaded the king that his authoritie was contemned that there was no other means to preserue maintain it but in establishing the ful execution of the Inquisition But as they had wel seen and experience had taught them that notwithstanding all their practises for aboue 40 yeares yet they could neuer put it in execution they resolued therefore so to disguise this businesse as they would not doubt to bring it to the same effect but vnder another colour pretext the which should be mannaged so cunningly as the people shold be ingaged snared in the Inquisition before they should discouer it seeing they could not attaine vnto it openly the which came vnto the knowledge of the lords of the countrey notwithstanding all their secret practises This was the deuise Doctor Francis Sonnius a diuine of Louuaine at the instance of cardinal Granuelle and his ministers of the Inquisition was sent to pope Paul the 4 to giue him to vnderstand that the Netherlands were within these few yeres greatly augmented inriched in people and wealth and that the diocesses of bishopricks had such large limits ample iurisdictions as it was not possible for the bishops being so few to haue a fit care of their flock with other such like informations for the which the pope as supreme pastor should be intreated to prouide after that he had represented vnto him the map description of al the said countries with a roll of the qualities welth and bounds of all the clergy besides the diuersitie of tongs which were intermixt with them Wherfore Sonnius being at Rome furnished with instructions and directions from cardinall Granuelle he intreated that it would please his holinesse to cut off that which did exceed in great antient bishopricks and to diuide it among new the which he should erect in diuers places of the said countries whereas there had neuer been any fitting euery one to the naturall language of the countrey and to supply the want of entertainment of the new bishops hee should appropriat incorporat vnto their bishopricks not the least but the richest most sufficient abbies priories prouostships other good benefices The pope consented easily the 19 of March 1559 and granted this request of the Inquisitors priuat clergy men of the Netherlands without calling or hearing of the antient bishops which were foure Cambray Arras Tournay and Vtrecht so as besides these foure there were 14 new created among them three archbishops of whom all the rest should depend and be no more subiect vnto them to whom in old time they were wont to resort So for the three seats of the three new archbishops were appointed Macklyn Cambray Vtrecht Macklyn a good a goodly towne scituated in the midst of the duchy of Brabant and as it were in the center of the 17 Belgicke prouinces which was wont to be of the diocesse of Liege should be the Metropolitane of
out the new religion yet it is most manifest that it is no new thing to endure two religions in one countrey yea and that all wise kings and princes haue so done according to the necessitie of the time for although the religion of those emperours were bad yet they held it good holy as the king holds his and it was the religion which they had receiued from their ancestors aboue three thousand yeares past But wee find also that Christian emperours haue endured false religions as it appeares by the examples of Theodotius Honorius and Arcadius who gaue temples to the Arrians and Noâ—…atians sometimes within sometimes without the citie as the necessitie of the time and place required In the Ecclesiasticall hystorie it is reported for a remarkable thing that Valentinianus the emperour was Orthodoxe and a good Christian yet he suffered the Arrians though he fauoured them not so much as the others Valens his collegue or companion in the empire was an Arrian and would by no meanes suffer the Christians in his gouernment but did persecute them in all sorts whereby wee may easily gather that in all well gouerned commonweales to auoid seditions and tumults it is sometimes necessarie to grant temples vnto hereticks not to the intent they should disperse their heresies more but that the people hearing the truth confronted with falshood might without mutines or tumults apply themselues quietly vnto the true and right religion But our Lord and Sauiour saith That he came to bring warre and not peace into the world so as in one house there shall bee dissention betwixt the father and the sonne the brother and the brother c. How can we then maintaine the religion of Iesus Christ if they will reduce all the world to one faith and one law seeing that for the ordering thereof he doth not command the faithfull to kill the rest but contrariwise he saith That the Apostles and faithfull should bee betrayed excommunicated and put to death for their faith and religion and therefore hee will haue them win the field through patience and the vertue of his word So as I cannot wonder sufficiently at the impudencie of these men who making a shew to be well read in all antient hystories dare maintain that there were neuer two diuers religions in one commonweale For what will they answer to the diuersitie alreadie alledged betwixt the Pharises Saduces and Essâ—…es without doubt they shall neuer find that by reason of these sects there was any great difficultie in the gouernment nor that Iesus Christ or his Apostles did euer command to burne them for their law What shall we say of the diuersitie of religions that were among the Heathen wherof one did not know anothers gods no not the names and some also maintained publikely That God did not care for humane things and yet wee find not that the gouernment of the Romans was troubled for this cause But who doth not see at this day vnder the great Turke a great diuersitie of religions so as among the Christians alone there are fifteene or twentie sects and sundry religions besides the Iewes Persians and Mahumetists all subiects to his empiâ—…e the which are more contrarie one vnto another for matter of religion than water is contrarie to fire Without doubt if these diuersities were the true cause of seditions and tumults it were not possible that the Turkes power should grow so great It is then a great ignorance to thinke that subiects cannot bee maintained in quiet when they are of diuers religions for who so will looke neerely to the spring and beginning of tumults and seditions hee shall find that they proceed not so much from the diuersitie of religions as through priuat passions as couetousnesse ambition reuenge hatred and such like from the which â—…all quarrâ—…ls may grow and when the magistrat preuents it not in time then by little and little they inflame and are cause of tumults and publike seditions Witnesse the troubles and seditions in Italy betwixt the Guelphes and Gibellins the which continued foure hundred yeares and was the cause of infinit murthers rapes warre and al sorts of violence and yet there was no difference in the religion but all did grow for that the magistrat did feed the priuat passions of their subiects in steed of suppressing them by iustice And as for controuersies touching religion it is not two hundred yeares since that the controuersies betwixt the Franciscans and the Iacobins for the conception of the virgine Marie had caused great troubles throughout all Christendome not that the controuersie was of any great importance but through the negligence of the magistrats who nourished these factions and became partisans Seeing then it appeareth that whereas good order hath beene setled people of diuers sects and religions haue beene quietly gouerned without any sedition or tumult and contrariwise whereas no order was not onely diuersitie of religion but euen smal quarrels haue bred horrible seditions and tumults any man of iudgement may gather thereby that seditions and tumults take not their increase from the importance of the quarrell whereon they are grounded but rather through the want of good order for that the magistrats neglect to punish them that entertaine them or else themselues maintaine one partie the which is confirmed by many antient and moderne examples And who so will examine strictly the last troubles of France shall find that the greatest part haue happened for that some mightie men or gouernors themselues hauing no regard to the publike good nor to the ordinances of the states haue at their owne pleasures plaid the kings and insulted of their owne authorities ouer them of the religion I thinke no man is so ignorant but knowes that the murther committed at Vassy by the duke of Guise against the lawes of the king and state hath beene the true and onely cause of the ciuile warres which followed to the ruine of the whole realme for whilest the kings proceeded by their authoritie there was no newes of any sedition how greeuous soeuer the persecutions were But when as gouernors of their own authorities offered violence to them of the religion presently all these tumults grew the which may serue vs for a good example whereby wee may learne to auoid the like inconueniences and take some good course for the benefit of the king and the good of all his good subiects which seeke onely to obey him It is then easie to resolue that good order would be setled if libertie should bee graunted to them of the religion to assemble and exercise their discipline restraining and bridling them with such lawes as shall be thought good And that the kings magistrats and officers be carefull to execute his Maiesties intention foreseeing aboue all things that the people vsurpe not the authoritie of the sword vnder colour of the factions of great men So as aboue all things there must be a preuention that all violence be forbidden of
that the deputies of townes could haue no respite giuen them to send backe to make their relation as they had beene accustomed but were constrained to a◅swer presently r◅fusing to giue them a copie of the moderation of the edicts nor time to aduise according vnto custome saying that such was your highnesse commaundement That letters had beene sent to the priuat gouernours of townes to win the deputies thereof and the gentlemen of their iurisdiction to haue them at their deuotion Of all which your highnesse could not bee ignorant the which wee would not insert in our answere to auoid tediousnesse And touching the article of our greeuances wheras we say that we haue heard threats and discouered secret practises we say Madame that presently after the deliuerie of our petition we haue found plainly that many noblemen yea knights of the order haue distracted seperated themselues from vs flying our companie as if wee were guiltie of rebellion and high treason treating many affaires secretly among themselues the which they were not accustomed to do yea they haue aduertised some of their kinsfolks and friends not to ioyne with vs and that they should haue respect vnto their honours laying before them the dangers would fall vpon vs if the king should come into these parts obiecting the like vnto them which had alreadie signed our compromise promising to procure them a pardon from his Maiestie if they would seperat themselues from vs. And as they are noblemen which assist and giue their voyces in counsell it is to bee presumed that according to the impression which they haue of vs they informe his Maiestie and giue such aduice as must needs bee to our preiudice and ruine Diuers posts are also come at sundry times from Spaine without bringing any resolution from his Maiestie concerning vs being expresly forbidden not to carrie any priuat letters beside the aduertisements which we haue had from France that his Maiestie desired passage for a certaine number of Spanish souldiers and demanded from the king the queene mother and the counsell the like succours as he had giuen them during their ciuile warres We are also aduertised that the duke of Sauoy hath promised aid vnto his Maiestie to come into these parts with forces and to that end hee went to the emperor to an imperiall diet to acquaint him with the designes which he had vpon these Netherlands And we haue intelligence that the clergie hath furnished an extraordinarie sum of 500000 florins the which we haue alwaies presumed to be against vs as some among themselues haue vaunted Also that neuer any of the noblemen nor knights of the order would assure vs vnto this day that neither the king nor your highnesse would proceed against vs by fact All which reasons with many other coniectures haue reduced vs to this extremitie as to assure our selues as it is said in our first writing and that to our great griefe And to the end your highnesse shall not thinke whereas we say that we haue made friends in a certaine countrey that we meane the French assuring your highnesse that it is no where else but in this countrey and in Germany Whereas your highnesse desires to know what people we meane whereas we make mention of the kings subiects and vassals We answer Madame that they be the inhabitants of these parts allowing and consenting to our petition and compromise And for the last Madame which concernes our assurance according vnto that which is contained in our writing we find no meanes to giue contentment assurance to all those of our compromise but by the assurance which your highnesse if it please you shall giue vs together with all the noblemen and knights of the order and namely the three noblemen of whom we haue made mentiō to the end they may be mediators betwixt the king your highnesse and vs we intend not notwithstanding that the charge which we desire should be giuen them shold in any sort diminish your highnesse authoritie but that al which they shal do may be by your commandement We doubt not but some gouerners of prouinces may take it ill for that we demand that from henceforth no leuies of souldiers should be made neither within nor without the countrey but vnder the charge and conduct of the said three noblemen and that the said three noblemen after that your highnesse hath appointed them what numbers of men they shall leuie for the guard of the country may diuide the charges to such captaines as they shall thinke fit for his Maiesties seruice Which discontent of the prouinciall gouernors we would willingly excuse but we hope that this assurance is lesse dangerous than that which we haue formerly taken and that they will willingly beare a little discontent rather than to leaue vs in those termes we are And to the end your highnesse may vnderstand this more particularly our meaning is not to bind your highnesse nor all these noblemen any further by the promises which shall bee made vnto vs but by prouision and vntill that his Maiestie hath allowed or refused it Prouided alwayes that your highnesse and these noblemen shall promise vs that in case his Maiestie shall refuse it we shall continue still vnder their protection for the space of three weekes from the day that we shall be aduertised of his Maiesties refusall And that during the said three weekes your highnesse and all the noblemen shall remaine tied according to the former bond to the end that during the said time we may seeke for some other remedie such as we shal find necessarie for our safeties As for the assurance which your highnesse demands of our companie wee assure and promise you that from henceforth we wil neuer treat any thing without the counsell and aduise of the said three noblemen And touching the forces which we haue without the country we offer to imploy them for his Ma. seruice and the good of the country whensoeuer we shall be commanded remitting and submitting our selues to all that it shal please his Ma. to command vs by the aduice and consent of the generall estates Most humbly beseeching your highnesse to take this our declaration in good part and to giue vs a good and short answer You may see into what termes the affairs of the confederat noblemen and gentlemen were brought by the faintnesse of some and the falling away of others whereas in the beginning and at the presenting of their petition they thought to carrie it cleere so much they presumed of their forces and thought themselues to bee so strictly vnited in league together as nothing should breake or dissolue them Now by the tedious practises and dissimulations of the Gouernesse which bred a coldnesse in some they are forced to prouide for their safeties as if they were guiltie of some crime whereas they had so often protested it to be their duties The Gouernesse and those of her counsell laught within themselues and their
1578. wherein hee complained of the long delaies vsed in Spaine touching that which should bee determined about his affaires in the Netherlandes and with what policie and patiencie hee was to arme himselfe to withstand the same that he must of force suffer himselfe to bee inclosed by his enemies which had almost stopped vp all his passages in such sort as hee should bee constrained to retire to the place appointed him for his vttermost refuge for that hee had no hope to fight as beeing to weake vnlesse he should forcibly make a passage through his enemies and so escape awaie and that whensouer hee should doe it the King who was the onely cause thereof would be in danger to loose all the country he complained further that he had made a new motion vnto the King that hee would take order what hee should doe and his Maiesties pleasure should be obeied and put in execution but that he feared the remedy would come to late for that neither his writing nor his meanes preuailed not saying that both his hands beeing cut off hee was fully perswaded that their meaning was hee should likewise stretch out and lay downe his necke and so desiring them to haue him in remembrance in their daylie praiers he committed them to God He that is desirous to know more hereof may reade the booke of the sayd letters printed by William Siluius in Antwerp by which letters written not long before he died it appeeres what a troubled minde and how much discontented he was being yong high minded and inconstant yet wanting no iudgement hee had great aduersaries in the Court of Spaine as the adherents of the duke of Alua who sought by his policy and great experience to draw Don Iohns proceedings into dislike From his youth vpwards hee alwaies sought to aspire to a Kingly estate and to effect great matters as it likewise apeereth by a Spanish booke made by Anthonio Perez Secretarie to the King of Spaine touching the death of Iohn Escouedo Secretary to the aforesayd Don Iohn for the which the sayd Anthonio Perez after long imprisonment and persecution and great vprores touching the same in Arragon about the priueledges of the country whereof the King tooke great reuenge was forced to flie into France and after that into England and there staied In the sayd booke it is shewed that Don Iohns minde was wholy addicted to aspire to high matters and that the King of Spaine had apointed him a trusty Secretary called Iohn de Soto who serued him well in the warres in Granado and in his office of Admirall in the great victory against the Turkes but while that Don Iohn was in Italie the Pope was secretly delt withall to make him King of Tunis which the Kings secretary vnderstanding and the motion beeing afterwards made by the Pope vnto him the King thanked the Pope for the great care he had of his brother but he denied the request as being much mooued and very iealious thereof for that hee seemed to depend more vpon the Pope then vpon him suspecting his Secretary Iohn Soto to bee the cause thereof and therefore tooke councell and agreed with Anthonio Perez his Secretarie to deuise the meanes to place Iohn Escouedo to bee Don Iohns Secretarie promooting Soto to a better place and gaue Escouedo diuerse and perticular instructions to pull downe Don Iohns haughty and proude minde and to bridle the same and so to amend that which Soto had neglected but Don Iohn beeing sent for to bee gouernor in the lowe countries pretended that as soone he should haue gotten the full charge and commande ouer the souldiars in the sayd countries and setled the same in peace that hee would enterpize somewhat with them against England as it hath beene partly shewed and there to put the Queene from her crowne and to marry with the imprisoned Queene of Scots and so to make himselfe King of England wherevnto hee had obtained leaâ—…e and the name or title thereof from the Pope with promise of aide hee had likewise a secret practise and contract in France with the Duke of Guise and the league which they named the defence of both the Kingdomes of Spaine and France which the King also vnderstood by his Ambassador Iohn Vargas Don Iohn not once perceiuing it although hee caused his pretended enterprize against England to bee certified to the King by the Popes legate But that was broken off for that the Estates in the Netherlands beeing then in treaty of peace with Don Iohn would by no meanes consent that the Spaniards should goe out of the countrie by sea whereby hee was preuented of his purpose and perceiuing that in the Netherlands by reason of the Estates good policie and foresight there was no meanes or matter of great honour or dignitie to bee attained vnto beeing desperately minded he sought secret meanes to bee discharged of the same gouernment or els to haue so great a powre of men and money from the King as he might by force become maister thereof or of some other place whereby it apeared that hee would in a manner compell the King to followe his humor as it is apparant by the letters aforesayd and others also from Escouedo and specially by one bearing date the tenth of February in the yeare of our Lord 1577. Wherein hee wrot that hee was so much out of conceite with himselfe that hee had failed of his enterprise against England that with meere discouragement hee was of the minde to be become an hermite for that he could not finde in his heart to liue as hee had done to that daie saying further that rather then he would liue in that gouernment vnlesse it were vntill an other came to take his place there should no resolution bee so hard and difficult vnto him that hee would not sooner take in hand although it should cost him his dearest bloud insisting so earnestly vpon his discharge that he sayd hee would leaue it either by faire or foule meanes and that if hee were not discharged thereof hee sayd hee feared hee should fall into the sinne of disobedience to shunne the sinne of dishonor saying that hee had rather to goe take an aduenture into France with sixe thousand foote and two thousand horsemen then to staie in the gouernment of the Netherlands These desperate and doubtfull speeches mooued the King of Spaine verie much and gaue him great occasions of distrust when such things were secretly brought vnto his eares Remembring likewise some of the words he vsed before hee went into the Netherlands saying that whensoeuer hee was King of England that then he would be equall with Spaine especially if hee once got the entry into Saint Andrewes and the castle which is the frontire of Biskaie and a fort vpon the rode called Megro from whence all Spaine was to bee ouerrunne and vanquished These and the like dealings with the Pope and the Duke of Guise beeing knowne vnto the King and some of
defend and preserue you And for that which concerneth the said Estates and wherein they find themselues taxed by the said proscription they are resolued with the first opportunitie to iustifie themselues Giuen in Delft c. This answer being printed in diuers tongues was sent to all the princes of Europe to iustifie himselfe of the accusations laid vpon him in the said proscription and to shew who had bin the first motiue and the cause of the troubles in the Netherlands This yeare died Frederick Schencke of Tautenbergh bishop of Vtrecht beeing president of the chamber at Spiers who in the yeare 1559 succeeded Iordan van Egmont in the said bishopricke and was the 61 bishop of Vtrecht Which bishops had gouerned that countrey 884 yeares from anno 696 till anno 1580. This Frederick was a man of great learning as doth appeare by his writings The eight and twentieth of December died Gerard of Grosbeke cardinall bishop and prince of Liege who contrarie to the disposition of the Liegeois had openly defended the Spanish faction Some thought he died of griefe for that the countrey would not yeeld to the contribution which he demaunded The Estates would haue had some prince aduanced who had beene better affected to their partie and aboue all the archduke Mathias who was then in the Netherlands whereunto they recommended him but the partisans of Spaine carried it by voyces for Ernest sonne to the duke of Bauaria bishop of Fresingen who had before laboured to haue the bishopricke and electorship of Cologne the which hee had together with the Postulat of Munster with other great dignities So as we may truely say That the said Ernest is at this day one of the greatest prelats in Christendome In Nouember past colonell Balfour generall of the Scots that were vnder the States seruice being in garrison at Bruges in Flanders went forth with a troupe of horse and set vpon in the village of Wassenare in Franc of Bruges certaine light horsemen of the prince of Parmaes the which hee defeated but succours comming Balfour who had but threescore horse after that hee had fought valiantly was defeated and slaine but not without great slaughter of the Spaniards His bodie was carried to Bruges and honourably interred Hee was much lamented for the good seruices which hee had done in Flanders neither died hee poore His wife was brought in bed soone after in the same towne In the beginning of May the deputies of the prouinces of the Netherlands that were sent into Fraunce to the duke of Aniou returned backe againe hauing made choyce of him for their soueraigne Lord although some articles of the contract were not fully agreed vpon as that the king for his brothers sake shold make war against the king of Spain which the Estates did much desire with some others But the duke found many in France that did crosse his proceedings therein beeing of the Spanish faction for which cause about this time he made a declaration and putting it in print he sent it to all the courts of parliament of France shewing his firme and constant resolution touching the defence and freeing of the Netherlands from troubles shewing how honorable it was and what profit it might bring to the kingdom and crowne of Fraunce About this time there was an enterprise discouered in Brussels by a miller which carried letters who being put to the racke and tortured accused the seigniour of Haussy and his wife of certaine practises for the which they were committed to close prison with the lady of Waerdenburch sister to the said ladie and others who were soone after released except the said lord of Haussy who continued for a time in prison with doctour Cornet But afterwards by the meanes of the seigniour of Timpel gouernour of the towne who married the said ladie of Waerdenburch the seignior of Haussy was set at libertie and went for a time into France And not long after there was an vprore begun and made by meanes of a preaching monke that had been banished out of Gant called Anthony Ruyskenueldt who seruing there in a certaine parish by meanes of his preaching he drew diuers adherents vnto him who laboured to frustrat and disannull the good resolution which the Estates had taken for their protection and defence some of them hauing before consented to the enterprise made by the earle of Egmont and of others as of doctor Ioos Butkens Andreas Anderlech the lord and lady of Haussie and Iohn Cob an English man who not long before had bin hanged and quartered in the said towne For which cause the magistrat of Brussels sought diuers secret means to get that monk out of the towne but all in vaine at the last he being more and more suspected it was resolued that he should by some means or other be forced to depart which comming to his knowledge he and his adherents caused a great number of people to assemble together before the gouernors house which seditiously cried out That they being Catholikes neither could nor would endure that their peacher should be driuen out of the towne saying That they would sooner suffer themselues to bee cut in peeces with many such words more but for that time they were pacified with faire words but in the afternoone the magistrat being come thither they began another great outcry amongst them and in great rage they began to plucke vp the stones in the street and made a great vprore with their weapons and the stones the Amptman hauing a hatchet throwne at his head but the garrison and the well affected bourgers arming themselues the vprore ceased And after that further information being taken therein it was found that diuers seditious enterprises had bin practised inuented in the cloisters vnder pretence of going to masse as also at the like assemblies of the said seditious preacher Anth. Ruyskenueldt for which cause by full consent of the townes men and members of the same they caused the said Ruyskenueldt and some of his adherents to depart out of the town determining further to shut vp the cloisters and the churches that no more such violences should bee vsed by such tumults as also that by authoritie of the magistrats all the images in euery place of the towne should bee broken downe and that the best part of them should bee sold with most aduantage towards the charges of the towne and the reliefe of the poore Whereupon a proclamation beeing made shewing the abuses and dangerous practises of the Papists within the towne it was decreed by the Amptman and magistrats of the saide towne for the peace vnion and securitie of the said towne not to permit nor allow of the exercise of the Romish religion in any church or chappell of the same and that therfore it should wholly be suspended forbidden vntill that other order should be taken in the causes concerning the said town the country and that therin they should follow the necessitie of the time as
smoke of the canon which was discharged from the town and ships he was conducted to the towne-house where his lodging was prepared and dinner readie staying there vntill the next day from whence after his repast being then exceeding cold hee wenton foot with all the princes and noblemen to Middleburg which is a good league distant from thence where he was receiued very honorably without the town gate by the deputies of the Estates of the countie of Zeeland the bourgers being ten ensignes were in armes wel appointed both without and within the towne to guard him The next day hee had a very stately banquet made him at the towne-house the which was the most rare and sumptuous considering their small time of preparation that had been made him in all the Netherlands which made him admire the riches and sumptuousnesse of such a towne seated in so small an island besides the goodly presents which the magistrats made vnto him hauing staid vntill the 17 day he departed to go vnto Antuerpe and lodged that night in the fort of Lillo vpon the riuer of Escault FRANCIS DE VALOIS DVKE OF ANiou of Brabant c. Earle of Flanders c. Protector of the Belgicke Libertie FRANCISCVS VALESIVS D G DVX ALENSON ET BRABANT COMES FLANDRIAE PROTECT BELGICAE By royall race I was the sonne of valiant Henrie The second king of France and did behold with wofull eye The massacre that in my youth in Paris once was made Whereat I was in heart sore grieu'd and great compassion had The warres in France once finished I did then vndertake To aid the Netherlands that me their soueraigne prince did make Where peruerse counsell of such men as enui'd my estate Seduced me and made my actions proue vnfortunate For seeking Antuerpe to subdue in their defence They did become my mortall foes and draue me out from thence So deadly hated of them all in France I then retir'd Whereas in Chastean Thirry death my vitall dayes expir'd THE twentie ninth of Februarie the Duke of Aniou to make his ioyfull entrie into the towne of Antuerpe where hee was attended in great deuotion with an incredible preparation all his ships of warre hauing their pauillions and standerds flying with a wonderfull noyse of trumpets drummes and canon shot he sayled along the towne whereas all the kayes were full of men in armes and landed beyond the castle in the suburbe beyond the towne whereas the salt pits be called the Kiel At which place there was a great scaffold made and richly hanged where being mounted there was read vnto him in the vulgar tongue and interpreted into French the priuiledges statutes and ordinances of the duchie of Brabant of the towne of Antuerpe and of the marquisite of the holy empire which belongs to the same towne and the iurisdiction thereof The which he sware and promised to entertaine vpon the holy Euangils in the hands of the seignior Theodore of Lysfeldt chancellor of Brabant As in like sort the chiefe noblemen gentlemen and others there present his vassals by reason of the said duchy and marquisit tooke their othe and did him homage all with great ioy of the people and of all the assistants Then was hee attired by the princes of Orange and Espinoy with the dukes robe of crimson veluet surred with Ermins the prince of Orange saying Let vs make fast this button that the robe may not be pulled away Then was the hat put on his head the prince Daulphin saying to the prince of Orange Brother set it fast on that it fly not off All was performed with great pompe and ceremonies the which continued almost two howers there being all that day aboue twentie thousand men in armes as well within as without the towne All these solemnities of his reception inuestiture othes and homages being ended the pentioner of the towne of Antuerpe called M. Iohn vanden Werke made by commandement of the magistrat a speech vnto the people shewing That the Duke would in like sort take a particular othe for the marquisite of the holy empire and that they should pray vnto God that by such solemne acts redounding to his honour and gloire the countrey might flourish in all happinesse and prosperitie This Oration being ended the Duke tooke the said othe in the hands of the seignior of Stralen Amptman of the towne who in signe of acknowledgement and obedience presented him a golden key the which the duke returned him backe againe and commaunded him to keepe it safely These solemnities being finished the heralds with their coats of armes of Brabant Lembourg and Lothier bare headed began to crie God saue the Duke of Brabant and the trumpets sounding they cast among the people many handfuls of gold siluer On the one side of the coynes was his picture with his name and titles and on the other his deuice drawne from the vertue of the Sunne with these words Foâ—…et discutit that is He doth nourish and chase away This done the Duke going from the scaffold with the princes and noblemen that did accompanie him went to horseback being mounted vpon a goodly Neapolitan courser and so went towards the towne Before him there marched in goodly order first the sergeant maiors the officers of the town house the trumpets of the towne merchant strangers Dutch and Easterlings all in white and well mounted the English in blacke veluet the colonels and captaines of the towne then many gentlemen as well of the Netherlands as French and English after followed the magistrats and chiefe officers of the town as the Amptman Bourgmasters Sherifes Pentioners Secretaries Treasurers Receiuers and other officers beeing followed by the trumpets of the Estates Then marched in order the deputies of the Estates of euery prouince first they of the duchy and nobles of Brabant after whom followed the chauncellor of Brabant and with him cont Lamoral of Egmont as baron of Gaesbeke then his guard of Switsers being followed by many gentlemen of the countrey French and English after whom came the Duke in his ornaments hauing before him first the Markgraue of Antuerpe bare headed carrying his long rod the marke of iustice then the baron of Merode seignior of Petershem who that day supplied the place of marshall of Brabant carrying a naked sword the said nobleman marched in the middest of three of the sworne companies of the towne that is of crossebowes archers and harguebusiers with as goodly armes as could be seene seruing him as a guard then followed his French guard on horsebacke carrying petronels attyred in crimson veluet laid with silke and gold lace the Duke marching in this pompe towards the towne At the port there were six gentlemen carrying a canopie of cloth of gold richly embroidered who attended him vnder the which hee rode alone through the citie vnto his palace At his entrie he found a triumphant chariot of the vnion on the which was set a faire virgine richly adorned representing
then the king might make himselfe strong of men money and all things necessarie and should know what contrarie designes the princes of the empire the emperour those of the house of Austria and the allies and adherents to Spaine might conceiue As for the duke said they he will the sooner humble himselfe and submit to such conditions as it should please the king his brother to limit him rather than bee forced to abandon to his enemies that which he held and which had cost him so much And that the king vsing this manner of proceeding and hauing obtained of his brother what he desired the countrey being ouer toyled and tired with warte hauing consumed all their meanes and seeing themselues frustrat of their hope which they had conceiued in the dukes person through dispaire euer to be reconciled with the Spaniard fearing also the proceeding in the calling in of another prince would demand nothing more than to giue themselues vnto him And as for the other prouinces which remained vnder the obedience of the Spaniard that hee should make open warre with all violence vpon the frontiers suffering no victuals to enter beeing an easie matter to hinder it seeing that hee had no ports at his deuotion As for the Rhine and Meuse which are riuers running through the said countries they were to be stopt keeping an army in the countrey of Luxembourg and being master of the townes thereof as of Luxembourg the chiefe Theonuille and Malmedi the Spaniard should eat vp the countrey where he was They might also make roads and burne the haruest which would force him to yeeld so as the French king did stand vpon his guard without hazarding any thing vpō the euent of a battel still lodging vpon the aduantage And if it should so fall out yet might the king better endure it than the enemie who beeing once ouerthrowne could neuer rise againe Whereas beeing neere vnto France hee might sodainely recouer new forces But if the king reiected all these goodly occasions and would not imbrace the Netherlands actions that it was to bee feared hee should bee forced thereunto if hee would not haue a new ciuile warre in Fraunce And the duke his brother hauing no more meanes to resist the Spaniard would be contemptible to them that had called him not onely for the great charge they had beene at but also to see themselues frustrat of the great expectation they had of him That the said duke rather than they should doe him any disgrace would seeke to assure himselfe of some places within the country and then would returne into France to complaine of the smal succours and friendship which hee had found in the king his brother reuiuing the discourse which he had made the yere before to the parliament of Paris and in other places that for the greatnesse of the Estate and crowne of France beeing freed so long from frontier enemies which should ease the realme from so manie charges and impositions they should not neglect so goodly an occasion seeing that their father grandfather and predecessors had made so long warre against the house of Bourgoigne to conquer in the end but a towne or two and that now the whole countrey and the townes offered themselues and were in his possession the which hee might loose againe for want of succours from the king his brother And that therefore seeing hee had no assistance from him hee desired fauour from the generall Estates of Fraunce to preuent so great a disgrace and not to let slip so goodly an oportunitie which tended to the greatnesse and profit of all Fraunce Wherefore they counselled the king to consider well of this action which touched him neerer than any league or amitie with the king of Spaine Such aduice and counsell was giuen vnto the French king concerning the affaires of the Netherlands which came all vnto the knowledge of the Duke his brother making him to fall into diuers conceits and iealousies as well of the king as of those that were chiefe in counsell about him and neerest his owne person which seemed to make him run another course thrust on by his yong courtiers who hearing that his forces being led by the duke of Montpensier and the marshall of Biron had past by Cales and lay about Dukerke hee sent for them to come into Brabant The Duke being in Antuerpe and hearing that his forces were arriued hee caused his armie both old and new to approach neerer vnto Antuerpe into one of the suburbs which they call Bourgerhout the Switsers were lodged in another called the Kyel behind the castle along the riuer of Escaut In the meane time as the towne of Dunkerke did import him much to keepe a passage open and free from Flanders into Fraunce the duke to assure himselfe thereof in time hauing sent some French men thither hee commanded monsieur de Chamors to seize thereon the which hee did easily during the absence of the seigniour of Treslon admirall of Zeeland and gouernour of the towne Chamors pickt a quarrell against the bourgers about the diuision of some bootie so as they fell to blowes and many were slaine And whilest that they of the towne had sent to make their complaint to the Duke and the Estates being in Antuerpe Chamors hauing in the meane time fortified himselfe with more men chased away the States garrison and became master of the towne the sixteenth of Ianuarie This was the first act of ill counsell which the Duke put in practise which afterwards lost him the Netherlands and was the cause of his owne ruine Without doubt the Duke of whom for his owne disposition they had expected all good and on whom the Estates of the countrey had grounded the preseruation health and maintenance of the people against the oppression of the Spaniards had done wisely and had made himselfe wonderfull great if hee had giuen credit to the counsell of the prince of Orange and the Estates who had called him to those goodly principalities and seigniories wherewith hee was so lately inuested And that if in stead of preferring the French nobilitie who were but strangers in the Netherlands hee had countenanced the Netherlanders and not haue contemned them and held them in such disdaine for aboue the ordinarie counsell which he had of the said prince and other noblemen borne in the countrey although he shold not haue any other for matters of state and the gouernment of the countrey yet hee had a secret counsell which they called The Counsell of the Cabinet composed of yong giddie headed French men most of them being pensioners to the king of Spaine or relikes of the actors in the massacre at Paris This secret counsell put into his head that neither the prince of Orange nor the States did respect him as an absolute prince and would willingly haue seene him fully obeyed the which the Spaniards had so much affected and had beene the cause of the troubles and miserie which had
English had common with the said countries might easily moderate that and therefore they should not reiect the alliance of England But there fell out another great difficultie which was the doubt of the succession to the crowne of England after the Queenes death the which might fall into the hands of the Queene of Scotland although shee were then a prisoner and that shee beeing of the Romish religion and wonderfully affected to the king of Spaine might deliuer vp the said countries into his hands and withall they could not ground any firme assurance vpon the king of Scotland Whereas on the other side the succession of the crowne of France was more assured vnto them seeing that after the kings death it fell to the king of Nauarre a prince making profession of the reformed religion besides France had more means power to defend these countries against the Spaniard And that by this confederation they should be in perpetuall friendship with all their neighbors And althogh the king were not of the protestants religion yet would he giue offices to protestants and other good countrimen whereby the countrie the churches and their religion should remaine in peace and rest All this beeing well debated by the generall Estates and the councell of estate they resolued to offer themselues absolutely to the French king with the best conditions they could deuise and agree vpon without any restriction or reseruation that Holland and Zeeland had beene formerly giuen to the prince of Orange and his heires as it had beene concluded with the duke of Aniou the which had bred iealousie as some said betwixt him and the prince and had beene the cause of the error which was committed by the said duke in Antuerpe the seauenteenth day of Ianuarie two yeares before Finally after long deliberations and consultations there were deputed by the generall Estates and the chiefe noble men of the said prouinces the third of Ianuarie 1585 twelue men of account for the dutchie of Brabant doctor Iunius bourgmaster of Antuerpe and Quentin Taffin Seignior of la Pree for the dutchie of Gueldte the Seignior of Oyen and doctor Elbert Leonin called Longolius chancellor of Gueldres for the countie of Holland Arnold van Dorp Seignior of Maesdam for Zeeland Ieams Valck for the Seigniorie of Vtrecht N. de Menin and for that which remained yet in the countie of Flanders Noel Caron Seignior of Schoonwall for them of Brussels who were then distressed Arssees keeper of the seale of Brabant to the which there was adioyned in the behalfe of the Estates the Seignior of Lamouillene and for the chiefe of the embassage the prince of Espinoy to offer absolutely vnto the king all the said countries with the propertie Seigniorie and soueraigntie for him and his successors beeing French kings vpon conditions limited and to bee limited All which deputies except the prince of Espinoy who was a long time before retired backe into France with the duke of Aniou hauing a good conuoy of eight shippes of warre parting from the Brill thinking to land at Diep were through the extremitie of fowle weather forced to goe on shoare at Bologne from whence they tooke their iourney to Abbeuille in the moneth of Ianuarie attending the kings pleasure hauing giuen him notice of their arriuall who commaunded them to come vnto him to Senlis whither they went with a goodly traine and were there honourably receiued and their expences were defraied by the king in al places where they past from thence the king returning vnto Paris to haue the aduice and counsell of his court of Parliament concerning their affaires whereof the deputies attended an answer the said deputies followed him the successe of which legation you shall heare hereafter I was sent vnto them from the Seignior of Saint Aldegonde and the magistrates of Antuerpe to let them vnderstand and consequently the king and queene mother of the estate of the said towne which was then besieged and of the great neede they had together with the townes of Brussels and Macklyn to be releeued The fourth of Ianuarie the Seignior of S. Aldegonde made a long oration to them of Antuerpe in the open assemblie of their great councell exhorting them with many liuely and pregnant reasons to preserue and defend themselues feeding them with a continuall hope of succours and of the good successe of the affaires of the said deputies And then the better to prouide for the defence of the towne he created foure new Colonels men of action and capable of such a charge And moreouer he decreed that such as had absented themselues out of the towne as abandoning it in her greatest neede and want should be called backe by a certaine daie prefixed vpon paine of confiscation of such goods as they had left there but few or none at all would returne for the great danger there was in the passage The countries of Arthois and Henault beeing continually tormented and troubled by the garrison of Cambray made a truce for the space of one whole yeare with the Seignior of Balaigni gouernour of the said towne the which they could not obtaine without bribing him hauing since continued it for many yeares so as this truce brought him in a good reuenue The Seignior of Nyeuwenoort being in the field in Friseland for the Estates he cunningly seized vpon the village of Otterdom in the countrie of Groningue vpon the riuer of Ems preuenting his enemy who thought to lodge there where in view of the Spaniards he intrenched him and fortified with all diligence though they were stronger than he But hauing a good number of ships both great and small to cary his men in and the Spaniards being ignorant at the first which way he would turne head hauing meanes to land them betwixt Maeren and right against Embden they could not ouertake him nor yet march so fast with their horse and foot by land as hee did by water so as they could not hinder his landing nor his fortifying Verdugo knowing how much this place did import meant in the Winter time to besiege it on both sides vpon the dike and for the effecting thereof hee sent colonel Rhyneuelt of Vtrecht to winne it by famine whilest that the shippes of Holland should bee retyred by reason of the yce But the Seignior of Nyeuwenoort had set so good an order for all things as during that Winter they wanted not any thing so as the Spring being come the Hollanders shippes returned which in despight of all the resistance which Rhyneuelt could make did succour the fort and forced him to retyre hauing yet before his retreat taken three of the Hollanders shippes laden both with victuals and munition Whilest that the towne of Antuerpe was distressed as we haue formerly related the earle of Hohenlo lieutenant to Graue Maurice after that he had conferred with the Estates gathered together some foure thousand men the which hee lodged couertly not farre from the towne of Boisleduc one
caused peeces of siluer to be cast abroad on the which were grauen the armes of Nassau and la Vere tyed together with a double knot with this circumscription Nodus indissolubilis on the other side was an arme armed holding a sword and the deuise Ie maintiendray Nassau There was an other kinde of coyne with two hands ioyned as if they plighted their faith out of the which came Mercuries Caduceus the writing about it was Auxilia humilia firma consensus facit that is Vnitie and consent make small forces firme and strong He had receiued the like honor at Flushing but by reason of some iealousie betwixt the English and the Estates it was deferred vntill August the yeare following Whilest the Duke of Parma was at the siege of Berghen Charles Earle of Mansfield lay before Wachtendonck a small Towne in the vpper quarter of Gelderland the which hauing refused to yeeld vpon summons he began to batter it but preuailing little by reason of the great difficultie there was to come vnto the assault hee resolued to ruine all that was within the towne which was very little to which end he caused two great and high caualiers or platformes to be made whereby he might discouer all that was done in the towne whereon he planted his Artillerie which scoured ouer all so as the besieged were forced to abandon both streetes and houses and to keepe in their caues and sellers so as in the end despairing of all succors they were forced to compound the twenty of December the soldiers departing with their rapiers and daggers onely About the same time and before the Netherlands being in these troubles and garboyles many bordring vpon those countries which were to receiue money from the same for the which they had the Estates billes formerly made whereby they bound their subiects to the paiment thereof vnderstanding that for want of payment it should be lawfull for the said creditors to arrest their subiects and their goods which dwelt out of the Netherlands as it hath beene often vsed in Germanie and the East-countries so as for the like debts and for the arrerages of rents for diuers townes many Netherland Marchants of Antwerpe and other places were arrested and their goods stayed and actions entred against many Netherland Marchants inhabiting in London vpon such billes of debt the which bred great troubles The vnited Prouinces at that time were much troubled about the like cause with the King of Scotland who this yeare about the two and twenty of August sent his Herald vnto the vnited Prouinces to will them within fortie dayes after his message done to take order for the satisfaction of their martiall debt for seruice done vnto them by certaine of his subiects as to Collonell Stuart and to other Captaines and soldiers which had serued vnder him in the Netherlands which amounted to aboue fiue hundred thousand gilders else hee should be constrained to giue the sayd Collonell and his associates leaue to execute his letters of Mart granted vnto them alreadie by the aduise of his councell and so paye themselues to preuent this danger and all other controuersie which might grow betwixt the King of Scotland and the sayd Prouinces the Estates sent Maister Leonard de Voocht one of their councell of Estate vnto the King with Commission to informe his Maiestie that the vnited Prouinces and especially they of Holland and Zeeland who were most threatned and in greatest danger of the sayd letters of Marte were not to pay any thing vnto the sayd Collonell Stuart and his associates of his pretended debt which they sayd grew when as they serued the Estates of Brabant Flanders Arthois and Henault vnder the gouernment of Mathias Archduke of Austria and after him vnder the duke of Aniou by whose Commission the sayd Collonell Stuart with his regiment serued in the sayd Prouinces whereas they of Holland and Zeeland had not any thing to do touching the paiment of soldiers which serued in those Prouinces but euer since the pacification of Gant had diuided them-selues from them as touching those payments and by contract made betweene them had agreed to aide them with 25. companies of foote and a hundred horse wherewith they contented themselues And that it was against the common custome of all Kings Princes Potentats commonweales to seeke to get old debts for seruice done long since in warres by letter of reprisall so long as the warres continued and that it is an vsuall thing amongst them to appoint such debts to bee paied at such daies and times as their State may best spare them without deniall or constraint of their neighbors and that in such sort the Emperor Charles and the Kings of France England and Denmarke yea and the King of Spaine himselfe were indebted many milions vnto such as had serued them in fore-passed warres the which was not yet paide The Estates gaue commission vnto their Ambassador to returne by England to informe the Queene of his proceeding in this businesse and to intreat her Maiesty that shee would be pleased to compound this controuersie betwixt the King of Scotland and them wherevpon on the tenth of Nouember shee wrot very effectually vnto the King in fauour of the vnited Prouinces and not long after the Estates sent the sayd Maister Voocht and Iohn vander Wercke an other Councellor of Estate into Scotland by sea who satisfied the King so well in all points as the aforesayd letters of reprisall ganted by the King vnto Collonel Stuart were called in The Estates finding themselues some-what eased of the feare they had of the Spanish fleete and of the mutiny of their souldiers hauing thereby re-established their authorities they resolued to settle a better course for the gouernment finding the great vnwillingnesse that was generally among the soldiars as then seruing in the Netherlands by reason of their bad pay during the Earle of Leicesters Gouernment wherevpon they determined to establish a new order in martiall pollicy First they compared their charges of the warre with the meanes of the sayd Prouince and for that cause discharged diuers companies both of horse and foote which had beene entertained by the Earle of Leicester more then the sayd Prouinces could well pay And finding that by reason of their long and continuall warre there were many which pretended to be behinde hand with their pay for former seruice they caused all the Collonels Captaines and Officers to promise by oth not to importune the vnited Prouinces for any such old debt during the warres vpon condition that euery mans account and reckoning should bee cast vp and whatsoeuer should be thereby found due vnto them they tooke order should be paied at such daies and times as the sayd Prouinces could well spare it and so cut off all yearely pensions formerly granted for them their wiues and children Thirdly the Estates tooke order that the monthly paiments which from thence forth the soldiers
vpon their marche with some Artillerie they set vpon a fort which was called the Roynettes of Cologne the which they tooke and manned with a good garrison from thence passing the water neere vnto the castle of Loo hauing now past Teckenhof the Marquis thinking to charge them in the reere he found that contrary to his expectation he was valiantly with-stood by Sir Francis Vere with foure Companies of English and by Christopher Wolfs Cornet of Reyetrs being on the wing of the reereward so as this charge turned into a Battaile whereas Varambon lost aboue 600. men vpon the place with ten Enseignes and three Cornets besides the prisoners and aboue 200. horse whereof the English had sixe score for their part and amongst them there was one which the Marquis did vse to ride on who had now saued himselfe by flight Among all the prisoners there was not any one of reckoning but a pettie Italien Count Cousin to the Cardynall Caraffa who was wounded and one Lieutenant There were not aboue foureâ—…eene Knights Captaines and Officers slaine whereof one was the Marquis of Cico Nephew to Spinelli Maister of the Campe Iohn Antonio Caraffa and Alonzo Palagano both captaines and seauen Antients most Neapolitaines Whilest they were in fight Count Charles of Mansfeldt came posting thether with threescore and ten companies of horse and foote but the Earle of Ouersteyn the Barron of Poetlys Sir Francis Vere hauing won this victorie made hast to recouer Berck with their conuoy and victualls The Earle of Mansfeldt thought to haue met with them in their returne but they took an other course passing the Rhine nere vnto the fort of Rees This incounter was the 15. of October The same month the Earle of Mansfeldt hauing made prouision at Nymeghen of al things needfull to beseige a town hauing marched away with his horsemen from Boisleduc towards Graue passing by a little wood hee was saluted with a Volley of small shotte which wounded some horses wherefore hauing caused the wood to be compast round about and searcht they found 35 soldiers there whereof 30. were slaine vpon the place and the other were hanged Whilest that the Earle of Mansfedlt made preparation to go and besiege Berke the Earle of Meurs to succor it as hee had done twice or thrice before gathered togither all the men hee could beeing at Arnhem the chiefe towne of Gelderland in the Dukes Pallace where meaning to make a tryall of some fire workes the powlder was vnfortunately sette on fire where-with a part of the Chamber was blowne away and hee burnt and drawne from vnder the ruines of the house whereof he died within few daies after full of paine whereby the succoring of Berke was broken of and yet it held out three monthes longer The Earle of Mansfeldt had resolued to besiege Berke after an other manner hauing prepared all things necessary hee came out of Bommels-Weert where 〈◊〉 had battered the sconse of Vorne tenne daies togither in vaine and in Nouember hee â—…oke the Sconse of Reez aforesaid the which by reason of the dry wether and the lownesse of the water they did yeeld by composition whereby the besieged could not bee now well releeued who hauing great want of victuals and finding that their succors failed them the Estates considering also that this towne being so farre from them would bee ouer chargeable to victuall so often they did consent that the besieged should make the best composition they could with the Spaniard so as in the end of Ianuary 1590. the towne of Berke was yeelded to Charles Earle of Mansfeldt for the King of Spaine the Captaines Officers and all the soldiers going forth with their ful armes and baggage the Drumme sounding Coullors flying matches light and bullets in their mouthes and to carry them away they should haue fifty shippes and Scutes with conuenient Conuoy and a Captaine called Dauid Soper a prisoner should be discharged without ransome The Burgers likewise had good conditions and so Berke other-wise called Rhynebercke was giuen ouer It is thought that there were certaine secret promises made which caused the garrison to yeeld more willingly as that the Countesse of Meurs then a widdow should quietly inioy her landes by circumscription as beeing a member of the Empire and Neutrall Thus the Duke of Parma tooke in the townes and places in the Territories of Cologne to the vse as hee said of Ernestus Bishoppe of Cologne but hee kept the chiefe places with good garrisons as Rhynebercke Bonna Nuys Keysersweert and after the taking of Bercke hee had some disseignes vppon the Townes of Cleues Goch Reez and Emric belonging to the Duke of Cleues but all was in vaine his enterprise beeing discouered There was not much more done this yeare neither by the Duke of Parma nor yet by the vnited Prouinces the Duke beeing busie to send men and money into France stayed at Bins in Henault where the Duke of Maine and other commanders of the League came to speake with him on the other side the vnited Prouinces sent vnto the French King tenne thousand poundes starling with victualls and munition of warre by the Lord of Brederode issued from the Earles of Holland and Zealand Iustine of Nassau Admirall of Zealand and the Seignior of Pree Agent there for the Estates And the Queene of England sent him first twenty thousand pounds starling by Sir Edward Stafford then her Maiesties Ambassador with some poulder munition for war and ships to serue him within 15. daies after being besieged in Deepe by the League the Queene sent the Lord Willoughby ouer with 4000. men to his succor The generall Estates had long before reduced all the enemies Frontier Countries to certaine ceasments and contributions of money payable monethly as well vppon the landes as vppon the Countrie houses Villages and vnwalled townes which had no Forts to supplie the payment of their frontering Garrisons By which contributions the Peasants and Inhabitants of the sayde frontering places were freed from the courses spoyles and ransoming of their Soldiers The which without all doubt was a very great ease for the poore people and laborers and other good people who might freely doe their worke and follow their trafficke and marchandise with all safety going and comming freely into the townes and Fortes of either party This was against all right in the warres of fore-passed ages who would not yeeld any thing vnto their enemies as the Duke of Alua caused a poore peasant to be hangged for that he had bene forced to carry a bottle of hay to the Prince of Oranges Camp before Maestricht and it was also dangerous But the profit which did rise thereby did counteruayle the paine to prouide for the dangers which they feared The which the Spaniard might in like manner doe for his part who might reape farre greater comodities thereby then the Estates But no man smarted so much as the Lord of the soyle and proprietary who by
an Edict to bee proclaimed made at Paris the seauenteene day of Ianuary by the which for the reasons therein contained hee declared the King of Spaine and the Netherlands vnder his obedience his enemies denouncing open warre against them The which hee did also cause to bee proclaimed throughout all the fronter townes of his realme According to which the like Edict was proclaimed in Brusselles on the King of Spaines behalfe against the French King whome hee called Prince of Biarne and all his subiects that held his partie except the Leaguers the which hee termed the good confederate French Catholikes whome hee promised and protested to aide fauor and succor with all the meanes which almighty GOD had giuen him And the like hee promiseth vnto all other of the French Nation bee they townes commonalties or priuate persons that within two monethes after the sayd publication shall forsake him and giue sufficient testimony that they are no enemies to the Romish Catholike and Apostolike religion nor to his Maiesty This Edict bearing date the seauenth day of March was in like manner proclaimed throughout all the townes of the Netherlands vnder the Kings obedience The Archduke Ernestus on the 19. day of February had in his owne name made a proclamation and prescribed an order which he would haue obserued to defend himselfe against the courses and attempts of the Prince of Bearne carrying himselfe sayd hee for King of France who had begunne warre with other pointes how they should gouerne themselues towardes French leaguers who had before made their residence in the sayd Countries or should hereafter come and remaine there And herevpon the warres grew hot of either part The French running daily euen to the ports of Arras and Mons And they of Arthois to Amiens Peronne and farther into Piccardy On the seauenth day of that month of February Cont Philip of Hohenloo Barron of Langenbergh did marrie in the castle of Buren with the Lady Mary of Nassau daughter of the deceased Prince of Orange and of the Lady of Egmont daughter to Maximilian Earle of Buren the which hee had by the Lady of Launoy the onelie heire of the house of Launoy This marriage had beene in question during the life of the Prince her father but for certaine reasons it was deferred vnto that day The general Estates sent the chiefe of all their deputies to honor this marriage as well with their persons as with rich and stately presents worthy the merites and the memorie of the deceased Prince of Orange and the long and faithfull seruices of the sayd Earle of Hohenloo whereof the many scarres which hee carries on his bodie of the woundes which hee hath receiued in the Estates seruice in the life time of the sayd Prince and vnder Prince Maurice his sonne to whom he was and is yet Lieutenant may giue sufficient testimony The same Winter the Vicont of Turene Duke of Bouillon hauing gotten the title of duke by his precedent wife who was duchesse of Bouillon and the onely heire of the house of la Marke married with the Lady Elizabeth of Nassau second daughter to the sayd Prince of Orange which hee had by his third wife the Lady Carlot of Bourbon the solemnities of which marriage were celebrated in the castle of Sedan whereas at this day they keepe their Court. The eight day of February the signior of Herauguiere Gouernor of Breda hauing with him twelue companies of foote and foureteene cornets of the States horse surprized the castle and then the towne of Huy in the diocese of Liege the which is one of the Bishops pallaces scituated vpon the riuer of Meuse with a goodly stone bridge ouer the riuer and within fiue leagues of the towne of Liege Thirty men did this exploite lying hidden in a house ioyning to the castle and right against a windoe which they got vnto with ladders made of ropes Hauing thus wonne the castle they seized vpon the towne whereas the gards thought to make defence but seeing Herauguiere follow with so great troupes they laid downe their armes and were content to receiue a garrison into the towne the which Herauguiere did place there and in the castle likewise which hee beganne to furnish with all things necessarie reducing all the neighbour countrie that was subiect to the King of Spaine about Namur and in Brabant to contribution beeing resolued to hold that place to haue a passage and a retreate on the other side of the riuer of Meuse In the meane time part of the horsemen beeing in garrison in Huy going forth to seeke their aduenture neere vnto Momedy they met with seauen cartes laden with Italien Marchandise as veluet and other sortes of silkes with gold and siluer lace appointed for the towne of Antwerp the which was all spoiled and the bootie diuided amongst them And as they of the garrisons of Berghen vp Zoom Breda and other places vnder the 〈◊〉 commaund n Brabant thought to retire home with their bootie beeing come neere vnto Tillemont hearing that captaine Grobendonc was vpon the passage and attended them with some certaine horse and foote they diuided themselues into three â—…roupes whereof the one was incountred and defeated Besides the bootie Grobendonc tooke about some threescore horses most of the men beeing slaine The one and twenty day of February after a long languishing sicknesse the Archduke Ernestus died yonger brother to the Emperor Rodolphus and sonne to Maximilian the second being forty and two yeares old hauing beene but thirteene monethes Gouernor of the Netherlands for the King of Spaine his vncle brother in lawe and cousin Some gaue it out that hee died of verie melancholie and greefe to see matters goe so against the haire Frst for the marriage of the Infanta Secondly for that hee did see the affaires of the Emperour his Brother and of all the house of Austria succeeded not well against the Turke then for that hee found his hope frustrate beeing a man of a quiet spirit of a peace and vnion which hee pretended to make in the Netherlands for that hee sawe himselfe to bee contemned of the Spaniards who taxed him to bee to heauie for the warres for that hee had not in three monethes receiued any letters from the King of Spaine and for that hee see himselfe so vilanously accused of two attempts to murther Prince Maurice by one Michell Renichon and Peter Du four whereof notwithstanding his good disposition and all the excuses hee could make hee could not purge himselfe from suspition If it were so that hee were culpable as hee was accused by them that were executed for this fact such as haue well knowne him say that it was much against his naturall disposition and seeke to discharge him saying that Barlaimont and La Motte had supposed vnto them that were executed some personage like vnto him making them beleeue that hee was the Archduke the which might easily bee done Whatsoeuer it bee hee had
are and may be produced to attaine vnto peace The third shewing which should be the best means and wherefore they are not to be reiected by neither of the parties Touching the first he makes a learned discourse to shew the necessarie vse of peace and vnitie After war peace ought to follow although it cost both parties deere and therefore reason and necessitie ought to moue men thereunto The Turke ought to be withstood and the tumults of Hongarie pacified The euents of the Netherlanders long continued wars ought to make them wise after so many battails and towns won and lost and so many enterprises made both by land by sea without any end The Netherlands is a theatre of war and ciuil broils That men had seene the siege of Oostend continue so long so furious fierce and bloudie as it seemed vnnatural and our successors would hardly beleeue it neither can we read of any such both parties being so earnest and resolute as if the successe therof wold haue ended those wars That at the last the vnited prouinces had lost Oostend but on the other side they had profited so much thereby as they had won 3 or 4 townes and more forts for it and could annoy Flanders more than euer they did before He saith it is true that the K. of Spain is a mightie prince of many countries kingdoms that he hath great alliances with the Romish Catholikes and hath great numbers of men and good soldiers so as the Hollanders themselues confesse that they are not able to master him by force and yet strong ynough to withstand him and to defend themselues but on the other side we must acknowledge that Holland and Zeeland c. in mens iudgements are inuincible countries in regard of their waterie scituation being inhabited by a people accustomed to the seas and who by land feare not the Spaniards And although the countries are but small yet they are able to raise great summes of money drawing all other merchants for trade vnto them by means of their merchandise and sea-faring Adding thereunto their traffique into the Indies the which increaseth daily so as now they care not for the prohibition of trade into Spaine or Portugall And as they haue good store of money so they haue a great number of good souldiers and commanders with lesse charge than their enemies They are not likewise without friends both Catholikes Protestants which repine at the greatnesse of Spaine and although the kings of France and England haue peace with the archdukes yet they would not willingly endure the Spanish gouernment there Both parties that make wars may take Germany and France for an example where they may see that religion will not be planted by the sword being forced at the last to let euerie man serue God in peace as they would afterwards yeeld account for the same and without scandalizing one another wherby they found themselues best at ease and by that means kept their men wealth and trades at home in their owne countrey The Spaniards mistake themselues to think to settle the Catholike Romish religion onely in the Netherlands to chase away the Protestants with the Spanish Inquisitiō the Netherlanders are of another nature The learned are of opinion That by force and constraint men may make many hypocrites and Atheists but no true Christians The Spaniards are persuaded that the vnited prouinces wil be weary of the wars and that the common people being to much burthened with taxes and impositions will take armes and compell the Estates to make peace but the hope therof is small so long as they in Holland Zeeland c. liuing in the heat of war flourish become as rich as if it were peace And although they pay great contributions yet they sell their wares accordingly with good gaine and reasonable vent And although there are some that are discontented yet the number of them is but small But to the contrarie they of the vnited prouinces are in good hope that the prouinces vnder the archdukes command will not be able any longer to beare their great burthens for besides the great exactions and oppressions of the souldiers on both sides the sea and nauigation is for the most part taken from thē wherby the inhabitants growing poore at the last they must seeke some meanes to free themselues of the Spanish gouernment But that is preuented first by the great power of Spaine secondly by reason of the iealousie betwixt the archdukes and the vnited prouinces and thirdly by the diligence of the clergie being against it as bishops preachers and Iesuites who forbid the people vpon paine of damnation not to ioyne with heretikes Many make them beleeue that the Hollanders being masters would either by policie or power chase away the Catholikes and bring in the Reformed religion Thus much for the first point Touching the 2 How to find meanes to attain to a peace he saith That the King of Spaine had called the vnited prouinces to meet at Cologne in anno 1579 and makes mention of the the principal articles treated of at that time and how as then the prouinces of the Netherlands would haue had the authority of the general Estates established and the religious peace maintained according to the pacification of Gant and so they granted to acknowledge the king for their soueraigne lord But since that time the case was altered the prouinces by extremities and long wars being estranged one from the other since the murther of the prince of Orange so as now there was no dealing with Holland c. to acknowledge the K. of Spaine or the archduke for their soueraigne for that they thinke it not good to lose their freedome which they haue so happily gotten and that if they must of force do it they had rather submit themselues into the hands of any other prince than vnder Spaine or the archduke whom they durst not trust as being hardly induced to beleeue that princes can forget forepassed iniuries Wherupon he asketh If a peace then will neuer be made and the shedding of Christians bloud neuer restrained the which to the great preiudice of their neighbors had continued these 40 yeres If there were any apparence that the archduke in 10 yeares space could find the meanes to ouercome the Hollanders it were an easie matter to let him go on in the recouerie of his right but if we should attend vntill the one or the other partie were vanquished we shold expect an endlesse worke The vnited prouinces offer to make peace with the prouinces vnder the archdukes command not comprehending the archdukes or the K. of Spaine therin against whom they say they will defend themselues as long as they assaile rhem but that it is not pleasing vnto the other prouinces neither would it be a full and effectual peace but in the end breed an alteration the king persisting to recouer his right by all the meanes he can There might be a truce or
report to bee giuen vnto those to whome it app◅rtayneth and to certefie the same by writing vnto the sayd Arch-dukes c. Before the first of September next insuing so that the said Arch-dukes c. on the one side and the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces in qualitie as aforesaid on the other side haue faithfully promised and by these presents doe promise to hold and maintaine the said declarations and prouisionall truce and to restore and repaire all wrongs directly or indirectly done in or concerning the same and the said Arch-dukes c. promise within 3. mone◅hs next insuing to procure the like consent and agreation touching this matter from the King of Spaine for as much as concerneth him and to deliuer the same vnto the said generall Estates togither with all generall or particular renunciations and the assurances belonging there-vnto In witnesse whereof there were two writings made both of one tenor signed and sealed by the Arch-dukes togither with the common and accustomed signature of their Secretarie and by the Estates of the vnited Prouinces in the qualitie aforesaid sealed with their great Seale and subsigned by their Secretary giuen in Brussels at the Hage the 24 of Aprill 1607. vnderneath there stood I Iohn Neyen Commissarie general haue signed these presents and I C. Aertsens as Deputie for the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces This was done vpon the 10. 11. 12. of April but so that vppon the 24. of Aprill letters of assurance were to bee deliuered on both sides vnder their great Seales the cōtents words sil◅ables distinctions agreeing with the Act aforesaid they were so dared as aforesaid that they might both agree there with the Monke vpon the 13. of Aprill went to Brusselles and was by Prince Maurices Pinnace brought to Delfs Hauen This agreement was with all speed first certefied vnto the Gouernors of townes and forts in Holland and vpon the 13. of Aprill the declaration insuing was sent vnto euery particular Prouince and towne commanding a general day of praier fasting to be made throughout al the country vpon the 9. of Maie following Against the 24. of April the general Estates sent their commission of agreemēt accord vnto Lillo vpon the conclusion of a truce made for 8. moneths by their Commissarie Dericke vander Does there to deliuer it vpon the receipt of the like commission sent from the Arch-dukes to which end also the Frier came to Lillo hauing set downe the same agreement vnder the act of commission but for that Vander Does made some doubt to receaue the same in that manner the Fryer rode in al hast to Brussels to haue it made in the same order as the Estates had done theirs and therein vsed such expedition as it was effected on the eight and twentith day of Aprill the commissions and agreements were deliuered on both sides at which time Verdoes had a chain of gold giuen him for a reward frō the Arch dukes but for that the said Frier Iohn Nayen had commission to make some further explication of the said treatie and truce for eight moneths hee desired to go to the Hage where-vnto Verdoes had no commission but finding that he had no answer of his letters sent vnto the Estates he tooke the sayd Fryer Iohn Nayen to the Hage with him where after some consultation vppon the eighth day of Maie hee had audience of the Estates and had further conference with them about the interpretation of the truce and there-vppon they concluded vppon an other Act bearing date the first of Iune declaring thereby that the truce concluded for eight moneths should also hold good in the North Seas and in the Chanell betweene France and England to the Sorlinghs which should begin the fourteenth of Iune from the which time all prizes not beeing shippes of warre should bee restored againe That after that the King of Spaines agreation should bee sent out of Spaine all the shippes of warre should bee commanded to depart from the Coast of Spaine and that all prizes taken there within sixe weekes after that should bee restored againe and that during the truce the places following on the States sides should bee free from all inuasions or incursions what-soeuer Viz. the Emes Dullaret the country of Wedde Drente Couoerden the Riuer Vande-vechte to Becumund bridge the Newe-vecht to Swoll from Swoll to Koten from Koten downe the I sell to Isleoort and the countries North and Westward lying behinde them from Isleoort to the Rhyne as farre as Grauen-weert and the Countrie lying on that side West-ward from the said towne of Grauenweert along the wall to Gorcum and the countries lying North and West the Meuse from the Towne of Graue to Gheertrudenbergh and all the countries lying Northward on that side the Merweed and further all streames and waters betweene Holland and Zealand with the Islands seperated by ebbes and floodes with Lislo and Scluse both to bee included and on the Arch-dukes side the Countries of Luxembourgh Namur and all the Countries lying beyond them and in Brabant all that lyeth beyond the Dummer and Grethe to the Schelde In Flanders all that lyeth beyond the Leye passing ouer the small Riuer of Mande beyond Roetselad to Dixmuden and Nieuport and so to the Sea within the which limits no hostilitie should bee vsed but what wrong soeuer was done should be recompenced and restored againe but without the said limits no man should trauell without a passeport and that the soldiers might freely passe along not making any armies neither might they surprize any townes or places And therewith the Fryer vppon the 5. of Iune depart◅d from the Hage hauing offered to Secretarie Artesens a good present but he would not accept thereof vnlesse he had lycence so to do from the Estates and Prince Maurice Heere-vppon throughout all the whole Netherlands there was great ioy euery man hoping wishing and praying to bee once released from these long and bloody warres the report thereof beeing spred abroad in the neighbour countries it moued great admiration at such a sodaine truce and bred much suspition all men wondring much what might bee the cause that moued them there-vnto Men could not bee perswaded that the Arch-dukes would so much imbase them-selues neither yet the vnited Prouinces as to seeke it or that the one should offer so much and the other giue credit there-vnto But it was so secretly done as it bred great admiration for that no King nor Prince heard thereof neither by their Ambassadours nor messengers for in Holland few had to doe there-with and at Brusselles only the Arch-dukes Spinola the President Richardot and Vereycken the Secretary and some few others knew thereof Where-vpon the Nobilitie and the Councels of particular Prouinces complained much that they were not made acquainted therewith The like also was done in the Netherlands where it was said that the French King sought to agree with the Estates concerning the taking of the Soueraigntie
and disorder in the countrey as also from all the practises of Iesuites and others that seeke not the peace and quietnesse but rather the disturbance of the countrey which bookes were the better to be borne withall for that in so great and vncertaine an alteration of an estate as is now likely to happen in these countries they proceeded from such men as are well willers to their countrey and which take no pleasure in warres but with all their hearts wish and desire peace so it may bee honourable godly and well assured for them yet could perceiue nothing else but that vnder the shadow thereof some secret practises might bee wrought tending to the ouerthrow and subuersion of these countries the which otherwise in a publike gouernment such as is vsed in the Netherlands is not well nor easily to be hindered whereof the reader by the books themselues shall haue better tast and information which for that they are not pertinent vnto the hystorie I thought good to omit and referre the reader vnto the books themselues which are extant By meanes of fryer Iohn Nayens departure for Spaine many men began to find that the treatie of peace was likely to continue long for that they were to stay fortie dayes for his returne backe againe and were the more easily mooued to beleeue it for that during his absence little or rather nothing at all was done by the rest of the deputies that thereby they might not discouer themselues for that they were vncertaine whether their princes would accept and allow of those articles and againe that they were to haue a more ample commission to treat of so many articles as the Estates had propounded and deliuered vnto them and that therefore they would so manage their businesse either by themselues or by others as that frier Iohn Nayen should be returned backe againe before they would proceed any further in the treatie and it fell out well to the purpose for them that in the beginning of Aprill the Estates for the most part repaired to their own prouinces and the Estates of Holland also for a time so as thereby it rather seemed to be delayed off by the absence of the Estates themselues than by the deputies for Spaine for that they alwaies gaue forth that they were readie to proceed in the treatie although that in long time they had not once sought to enter into any conference or meeting Meane time there came a flying newes out of Brabant that vpon good Friday there was a dispatch brought thither out of Spaine the contents thereof beeing That the king of Spaine would not graunt nor allow these countries any traffique at all into the Indies nor to any places thereof and that the Estates subiects were presently to desist and leaue off the same and secondly That the king would haue his deputies insist and vrge free exercise of religion and grant of churches for the papists those of the Romish religion that were in the vnited prouinces and that openly and in all places or otherwise that they should leaue off and breake vp the said treatie Which newes made many men that were in good hope of the treatie of peace to be much disquieted in mind perceiuing that the proceedings and consequences thereof were so dangerous as without the hazarding of the whole state of the countrie they could not graunt that point vnto those of the Romish religion at the request and motion of the enemies of the countrie but it could not bee vnderstood long after whether this answer out of Spaine were of such effect or not yet they found that marquesse Spinola and the rest of the deputies were not much pleased when they had receiued the said answer or were aduertised thereof Many embassadours of forraine princes as those of Munster Cleue and Cologne when they perceiued the long proceedings of the treatie tooke their leaues and departed from the Hage the like did many earles and other noble men as the earle of Benthen the earle of Hohenloo cousin to that earle of Hohenloo which had done so great seruice to the Estates in formertimes and others We haue shewed before that frier Iohn Nayen was gonne into Spaine and that hee was to returne againe within fourtie daies after who not comming at the day appointed gaue many men cause of great suspition and the rather for that it was giuen out by some of the king of Spaines ministers and seruants that the king was not resolued to leaue his soueraigntie but to hold it still and to further the Catholike religion and how that in Fraunce the Spaniards boasted what great aduantage and profit they had gotten by the treatie of peace late made reporting the same to be much more than they expected with such like words the frier comming not againe and Don Pedro de Toledo embassadour for the king of Spaine beeing come into Fraunce not onely to make certaine propositions of mariage but also to intreat of this peace The Estates of the vnited prouinces attended the returne of president Ianin embassador for the French king in the Netherlands who till the comming of the said Don Pedro de Toledo was staied by the king in Fraunce but the said king hauing giuen audience to Dom Pedro de Toledo he presently sent president Ianin backe againe into Holland with letters of credit who vpon the seauenth of August arriuing in the Hage the next day had audience of the generall Estates where he shewed them what great affection the king his master bare vnto the preseruation and maintenance of their estate as well in peace as warres and how that Dom Pedro de Toledo in the name of the king of Spaine his master had made complaint vnto the French king touching the aid and assistance which the said king gaue vnto the vnited prouinces contrarie to the treatie of peace made at Veruins and what disliking the said king of Spaine had therof offering all kindnesse and friendship in the king his masters name vnto the French king for the preseruation of their particular estates if he would leaue off to assist and abandon the said vnited prouinces whereunto he said that the king his master made answer that he could by no meanes leaue them and that his alliance with them was not contrarie to the said treatie of peace made at Veruins alledging that the king of Spaine for his part had done much against the said treatie or at least permitted it to be done by his ministers which he declared vnto them at large saying also that the king aduised them to make a peace if it might be concluded vpon reasonable conditions and that to the same end they should with all speed mooue the deputies for the king of Spaine and the archdukes to proceed to a conclusion thereof and that they should not stay any longer for the returne of frier Iohn Nayen for that there was no apparance nor likelihood that they should get any further or other
consumed them And for that in these later times since the emperor Charles the 5 there haue beene so many writers of diuers religions euerie one writing according to his passion or according to the affection which hee bare to them of his religion I haue endeuored to hold a meane I will not say but such as are most passionat may sometimes discouer what religion I hold most pure for I neither can nor ought to denie it before men no more than before God yet hath it not in matter of truth made me to incline more to one part than to another to publish or suppresse the vertues and vices the honour and disgrace of one or other And for that the ground of our ciuill wars is written too partially or rather inuectiuely by some as by Surius the Chartrous monke by Ersingerus vander Haec Iansonius Documensus others built vpon a meer accusation of rebellion and disobedience to the king of Spaine and his edicts touching matters of religion and the Inquisition as those words of rebellion and disobedience comprehend much in them and haue a large interpretation But the better to informe posteritie who it may be will not be so partiall as to interpret all things past to rebellion and disobedience as these partiall men haue done I haue bin very large in the description of the originall and first spring together with the causes and motiues of our troubles and of the wars which haue followed against the Spaniards and their adherents by the insertion of many declarations which I haue thought very necessarie for this subiect for the explaining thereof I haue also of purpose extended my selfe to serue for an instruction and direction to posteritie in the description of the most remarkable sieges of towns of either part as of Harlem Leyden Alcmar Hulst and Bomel by the Spaniards of Middlebourg Gheertruydenbergh Steenwic Groningue and others by the Estates in which sieges haue bâ—…ene seene the dexteritie diligence industrie directions errours and omissions of the commanders of either armie I would also intreat the courteous Reader not to stumble nor take exception at the tearmes of Roman Catholikes and Protestants which I vse speaking of the one or the other Persuading my selfe that the Catholikes wil not except against this epithete Roman as also they of the Religion who pretend it to be reformed will not reiect the name oâ—… Protestants seeing they not onely pretend it to be reformed but protest and maintaine with all vehemencie that it is so be they of the confession of Ausbourg or others howsoeuer they will call them be they Lutheâ—…ans Caluinists or Zuinglians as well of Germanie France England the Netherlands as of other places disagreeing from the Romish Religion all which indifferently for the aboue named reason we call Protestants As for that which concernes the war armies exploits enterprises surprises stratagâ—…ms incounters embasies sieges of towns battailes victories and routs although I haue seene and learned something as well in France as in these parts I leaue the censure of the stile and phrase which I haue vsed to describe them to commanders colonels captaines and other souldiers who haply know them better and haue a better militarie methode to write them than my selfe who I hope will courteously supply my defects THE TRANSLATOR TO THE READER COurteous Reader it is now almost two yeares since I published to your view the Inuentorie of the French Historie I must confesse it had beene more safe to haue made that worke the period of my labours and not to haue vndergone a new taske of greater difficulty But by the intreaty of some whom I much respect and mine owne desire to giue my countrie-men some more contentment and to acquaint them that haue not read it in the French with the whole historie of the Netherland warres as wel as with the estate of France I haue thus venturously once againe put forth from a safe port into an ocean of dangers and vndertaken the translation of this historie of the Netherlands Whereunto I was the more incouraged by the gratious reception of my noble patrons and the kind testimonies of approbation of many courteous and well minded gentlemen who haue bin content to wincke at my weakenesse and defects in that worke and to allowe of mine indeauours yet will I not arrogate any thing that was praise worthie in that storie vnto my selfe nor attribute the worthinesse of those authors to mine owne merit who could both grace themselues in writing French and me in teaching them to speake English I doubt not but some will thinke it a great indiscretion to meddle with this subiect whereas the soueraigntie and prerogatiue of a mightie monarch in those vnited prouinces is called in question I confesse it were so if it were originally done by me but beeing written in the French Italian Latine and Dutch I thought I might without any imputation impart it to our owne nation which hath had so great a share in those warrâ—…s I assure my selfe it will be diuersly censured as men stand affected to the cause some I doubt not will read it to be satisfied of the true causes and proceedings of this long and bloodie warre some I presume will curiously search out but for matter of exception and not instruction and I feare some will be so transported with passion and out of charitie as whereas before they would haue exchanged a friendly good morrow with me they will now shunne my company and take me for a capitall enemie to their cause But good God how are they abused in their conceptions I would intreat those men to remember that I neither take vpon me to be an aduocate to plead the cause nor a champion to defend it by armes but am onely a bare translator who am tied to my teacher and cannot exceed the limits prescribed me by mine author There is nothing of mine owne in this worke neither haue I added nor kept backe anything that was materiall for the subiect and I may lawfully protest that I haue beene free from passion without aggrauation or detraction hauing vsed all the moderation I could in the relating of any thing where there might appeare either spleene or affection As for the truth of the historie and the integritie of mine author I must referre you to Iohn Francis Petit who must plead for himselfe and therefore I haue planted his owne preface or apologie in the front of this booke where you may both see his reasons for the course of the historie beginning with the earles of Holland and Zeeland and read his protestations for his sinceritie in the faithfull relating of all things that haue passed during the warres If this may not suffice for his iustification he himselfe is yet liuing here in London and ready to satisfie any doubt that may arise I must aduertise the reader that to make this historie more perfect and to continue it vnto these times I haue beene forced to vse some other
drie and then they lay them in garrets and barnes which lie open to the winde and sunne after which they are caried by boats through all Holland Zeeland and into Brabant They haue another kind of turffe which they digge out of the earth in some places seuen or eight foot deepe in some lesse the which being cut square or long they dry vpon heapes as the rest with little labour A third kind of turffe is drawne from the superficies of the earth in the heat of summer out of quagmiers and moorish places and dried with the heat of the sunne the which they cut long thicke and large the two last sorts are in a manner alike in goodnesse but not like vnto the first They make another kind of turffe of their cattels dung mixt with straw or reeds which they drie and cut like the first The nuptiall chastity was in old time so strictly obserued there as if a woman were found in adultery they did not put her to death as at this day how great soeuer the crime bee they put not any woman to death in some parts of Friseland but keepe them in perpetuall prison but in signe of ignominie and reproche they did cut of the tresses of their haire which the women carie at this day vnder their kerchiefes on their foreheads and the virgins bare in great rowles To entertaine this nuptiall chastitie in olde time the priests were forced to marie least they should defile anothers bed they thinking it impossible that any one could liue chastly without a wife Hauing described Batauia according to Petit and set dowee the maners and customes of the antient Batauiens let vs speake something of the scituation of Holland and of the present estate thereof as Emanuel Demetrius hath set it downe in his Hystorie Holland is little for that in length from Marsdiepe to the Meuse it is but eighteene Dutch miles but if you should reckon from Heusden to the lands end called Texel there is not any prouince in the Netherlands so long and it is so narrow as wheresoeuer you be you may go to the confines in halfe a day A third part of it is water for that within the land it hath fiue great waters or seas as Harlem sea Scheermeer Bemster the Waert and Purmeer being all ful of fish This little countrey being most part medow ground is preserued by many great ditches dammes sluces and water mils besides the downes and sands on the shore which haue beene cast vp by the waues of the sea The cost and charges to make and entertaine these ditches sluces and mills is thought to be more than the ground it selfe is worth for in some places the land lyeth much lower than the sea yet notwithstanding although it be well defenced from the sea yet would the countrey be ouerflowne with the raine water which falleth for that as we haue sayd in many places it lyeth lower than the sea and therefore it can haue no passage away if it were not by chargeable water-mills the which by motion of the wind carrieth the water forcibly vp and casteth it through diuers sluces into the sea These sluces are made in the ditches and haue double doores which when the sea ebs do open of themselues and when it begins to flow then they shut againe either by the sea water or of themselues the charge whereof is so great as being set downe no man would beleeue that such a countrey could be able to maintaine so great wars This prouince of Holland hath aboue 30 walled townes and 400 villages in it full of people all liuing by sea faring fishing trade of merchandise seething of salt making of ships ditches nets and all necessaries for sea faring and fishing besides building which is great and costly cutting of turffes whereby many thousand get their liuing They haue the sweetest medowes and fruitfullest cattell in the world all kinds of wildfoule and great store of conies hares and deere They haue not corne ynough growing to suffice the fourth part of the inhabitants The superfluitie of their store they send into all other countries The butter and cheese onely which they send abroad besides their owne store amounteth yerely to aboue an hundred thousand pounds sterling The women being many in regard of the men who are much cousumed by the wars and at sea are so industrious as by their spinning and weauing of Holland cloth and making of nets they are spoken of throughout all the world and besides the women are so politike diligent and carefull as they can buy and sell keepe accounts traffique and trauell from place to place as well as their husbands in their absence without any touch of lightnesse or dishonestie The like of them are not to be found in any countrey being for the most part big tall faire and well proportioned and so actiue as they are more respected than women in other countries whereas iealousie lightnesse and pride raigneth more than simple honestie The Rhine runneth through Holland and Zeeland the which diuideth it selfe into two great armes the Wahal and Leck which run into the sea and the riuers of Meuse and Scheld which come out of France all which riuers these prouinces can shut vp and open when they please with their great number of ships which brings them great profit by the transportation vp and downe of all sorts of wares and merchandise by the said riuers In time of warre they bring in great reuenewes for conuoy and licence money so as those prouinces haue almost as many ships and barkes great and small as there are houses by the traffique whereof they make their townes as it were sellers packhouses warehouses spice chambers and staples for al kinds of wares which they transport in Summer towards the East and in Winter to the West The great number of their ships and sea faring men may partly be gest by this that in the yeare 1587 there were aboue 600 Holland and Zeeland ships arrested in the Sont by the king of Denmarke besides others which went on the Vly for Norway and others that sayled into England Scotland France Portugall Spaine Italy Turkie the Indies and other countries and islands And in the yeare 1588 when as the Spanish fleet came it appeared true by information that within fourteene dayes they were able to set out an hundred good ships of warre to lie in the English chanell and that in Holland Zeeland and Friseland there were found to be 27 hundred great ships from two hundred to eight hundred tuns burthen a peece which without doubt may seeme an incredible number beside the great number of Buisses dogboats and crabbers so called in their countrie the which goe out to the common fishing into the ocean vnder Norwaie England Scotland and Ireland and neuer put into any hauen vntill they returne from whence they went and afterwards the fish and herrings are transported in other shippes
goodly rich abbey in the which at this present is the court of Zeeland and prince Maurice his lodging when he comes there The third member of the said Estates which at this day is the chiefest of all is comprehended in the commonalties of the townes of Middlebourg Flessingue la Vere Ziricxee Tergoes and Tertolen which are the principall the rest hauing no voice For the gouernment of iustice and the reuenues of this countie there are two soueraigne officers who are as it were lieutenants to the earle called rent-masters that is to say receiuers who haue proportionably great authoritie and preheminence one of the which is to reside as hee doth in the towne of Middlebourg and is rent-master of the chiefe part of the west quarter which they call Bewersterscheldt The other hath his abode in Ziricxee and hath charge of the east part which is called Beoosterscheldt These two in their seuerall iurisdictions receiue the rights fees and reuenues of all the earldome they are honoured with the title of the princes counsellers and all orders sentences and decrees are directed to them to see them published and obserued They haue also authoritie in all the villages and places of their iurisdictions to apprehend or cause to be apprehended for the execution whereof they haue their lieutenants and sergeants all delinquents and malefactors whom they are to represent in the two chiefe towns of the islands of Walchren and Schouen that is Middlebourg and Ziricxee and there to demaund iustice bee they to be punished or absolued The chiefe trade of the inhabitants of this countrie bordring vpon the sea is nauigation and fishing both farre and neere sayling and traffiquing at this day to the islands to the east and west Indies and to all parts of the world Those which dwell within the land giue themselues to tillage and to feed catteâ—… Moreouer they boile and refine salt the which they doe wonderfully augment boyling it with sea water The salt which comes from Spaine they doe increase fiue and fourtie in a hundred that of Portugal about thirtie fiue and that of Brouage or other parts of France fiue and twentie for a hundred In all the towns of the island of Walchren especially at Middlebourg and Flessingue they doe daily build goodly great ships which goe to the Indies and to all parts of the world for that they are very commodiously seated for nauigation and these townes of Walchren especially Middlebourg since the warres began haue much increased both in people wealth and trade of marchandise for that their traffique is farre greater since that Antuerpe fell into the Spaniards hands so as they haue beene forced to make their towne greater and to beutifie and fortifie it with new hauens bulwarkes and ports with other great and extraordinarie buildings Flessingue likewise is much bettered both in wealth and buildings being also amplified fortified and beutified with a faire towne house and a new church Camphere and Arnemuyden doe also prosper well and the rest of the townes in the other island as Ziricxee Tergoes and Tertolen haue likewise recouered a great part of their forepassed losses Hauing described the earledomes of Holland and Zeeland their beginning situation and manners we will hereafter set downe the number of their princes who had but the titles of earles whereunto in continuance of time by right of succession according to the alliances of mariage was added the earldome of Henaut or at the least the counties of Holland and Zeeland were vnited to the earldome of Henaut the race of Thierry of Aquitaine the first earle of Henaut failing in Iohn sonne to cont Floris the ninth to whom Iohn d'Auesnes earle of Henaut his cousin succeeded which three seigniories of Henaut Holland Zeeland although they haue no other title but of earle are richer better peopled and more mightie either of them apart than many dukedomes principalities or marquesates in Germanie France and Italie for there is no common weale how mightie soeuer no not Venice it selfe that can put so many ships to sea and entertaine them continually either for warre or trade of marchandise aduenturing themselues in long voyages as the Hollanders and Zeelanders doe at this daie which makes them so mightie as all the forces of the king of Spaine nor of all the princes of the house of Austria could not for these fourtie yeares greatly hurt them nor restraine their command at sea To enter therefore into this subiect we will first shew how that Holland and Zeeland in ancient time being much and often tormented by the daily incursions of the Gothes Danes Normans Saxons Sicambres which were they of Gueldres and Cleues and other their neighbours beeing freed some thousand yeares since from the subiection of the Romane empire did gouerne themselues in forme of an Aristocraticall common weale by the nobilitie and the most apparent men among the people among the which the viconts of Leyden and the lords of Wassenare were the most eminent in credit and authoritie in Holland and the lords of Borselle in Zeeland which two families are at this present extinct vntill that the emperours Charles the bald king of France and Lewis king of Germanie desirous to prouide for the spoile and ruine of these two prouinces gaue them a prince and lord which was Thierry of Aquitaine A HISTORIE OF THE NETHERLANDS OR SEVENTEENE PROVINCES Containing the Discents Genealogies and memorable acts of the Earles and Princes of the said Prouinces from THIERRY of Aquitaine the first Earle of Holland and Zeeland successiuely to PHILIP the third of that name king of Spaine and last Earle of Holland Zeeland Friseland c. ¶ The Argument of the first Booke HOlland erected into an Earledome and who was the first Earle The Viount of Leiden and the 〈◊〉 of Wassenare oppose themselâ—…es against Thierry of Aquitaine the first earle of Holland The earledome of Zeeland giuen also to Thierry The Normans and Danes make great spoiles in Holland ¶ Thierry 2 earle of Holland and Zeeland succeeds his father he makes warre and ranquisheth the Frisons ¶ Arnulph or Arnould sonne to Thierry the second the third earle of Holland Zeland this earle was vanquished and slaine by the Frisons ¶ Thierry the third the fourth earle of Holland and sonne to Arnulph The Bishop of Virecht riseth against him he defeats the Bishop and takâ—…s him prisoner The death and â—…pitaph of the three Thierries ¶ Thierry the fourth the â—…ft earle of Holland he sâ—…e the bishop of Collogns brother at a tourney The Germans to reuenge it come into Holland take Dordrecht the which he recouers and being victor 〈◊〉 slaine from a window with an arrow ¶ Floris the first the sixt Farle brother to Thierry the 4. The bishop of â—…ollogne and Liege inuades Holland â—…he defeats them twise and being a conqueror hee is slainely the earle of Cuycke who was also slaine there ¶ Gertrude of Saxonie his Widow Gouernesse to young Cont Thierry
Noblemen to court among others the Earle of Saint Pol Anthonie and Baldwine his bastard brethren braue Kinghts and the most of the Duke his fathers counsell to whom hee sayde My maisters and friends I cannot nor will not conceale from you any longer my heartes discontent but will presently deliuer vnto you that which I haue kept long secret I would haue you know that the Lord of Croy with his kinsmen and Allyes are and so I repute them for my greatest and most mortall enemies Then he made knowne the causes vnto them the which hee sent in writing to all the good Townes of his fathers countries Hauing spoken thus vnto his friendes hee gaue notice vnto the Siegneor of Quivarin who was chiefe Chamberlayne to the Duke his father by two or three Knights that hee should retier himselfe from the Duke his fathers seruice and that he should be packing with as little brute as he could without aduertising of his Father least he should be disquieted The signior of Quieurain was much perplexed at these newes beeing loath to leaue so good a house whereas all his kindred had growne great and rich but hee feared to offend the Earle Hee therefore without taking aduice of any one went the next daie in the morning to the Duke and falling downe vpon his knees before him thanked him most humbly for the good and honour hee had receiued from his greatnesse beseeching him to take his poore seruice in good part crauing leaue to depart seeing that the Earle his Sonne had sent him worde that hee would kill him if he retyred not The Duke hearing him speake in this sorte was exceeding wroth and hauing commanded him to stay he tooke a boarspeere in his hand and went out of his chamber full of rage saying to them that were about him that he would goe see if his Sonne would kill his seruants Those that were present seeing him in that estate caused the gates to bee shut and the Porter to bee hidden so as the Duke could not get forth whilest they sought for the keies the duchesse of Bourbon his Sister and many ladies of his house came with Anthonie of Bourgongne his bastard who vsed such milde perswasions as they did some what pacifie his rage and he returned into his chamber During this trouble the Signior of Quieurain got out of the Court and departed with one with him as secretly as he could The Earle knowing that his Father was much displeased with him was euery day in counsell as well with his owne as with the Dukes cheife Councellors seeking all meanes to pacifie him euery man imploying himselfe all he could in that good seruice In the ende it was thought good that the Earle should write vnto all the good townes of his Fathers Countries what his heart thought and the reasons which mooued him to discharge them of Croy from the seruice of his house which letter should be red publikely in all places that euerie man might be aduertised thereof The like letters were sent vnto all the cheife of the Nobilitie the tenor whereof is to bee red at large in my great chronicle the which I omit here for breuities sake they were dated the two and twenty of March 1464. The same month of March the Signior of Roubais with good troupes went by the Earles commande to seaze vpon the towne and castell of Lanoy thinking to finde the lord of the place there beeing Nephew to the lord of Croy who was then Gouernor of Lille and baylife of Amiens but they neyther found him nor his wife nor children there for beeing aduertised of Roubais comming hee had retyred himselfe with all his gold siluer and richest mouables into the towne of Tournay two leagues from thence then held by the French The Earle gaue the sayd towne and castell of Lanoy to Iames of Luxembourg brother to the Earle of Saint Pol withall the prouision that was found within it the which was verie great both in poudred flesh meale and other prouisions and munition of warre At that time Charles duke of Berry brother to Lewis the leauenth the French King being about eighteene yeares olde whome the King kept in his Court simplier and in meaner estate then hee had beene in the time of their Father Charles the seauenth one day he made shew to goe a hunting with ten men onelie and fled for refuge to the Duke of Brittaine the discours of all the troubles which followed after in France being called the warre of the common-weale is written at large in the Inuentorie of the Historie of France to the which I will referre the Reader for that it doth not properly belong vnto our subiect The Earle of Charolois writ letters to them of Arras sending them word that he was aduertised that the lord of Croy and his friends did leauy men to lead them out of the duke his Fathers countries that the Earle of Neuers was gone with the lord of Croy to molest the sayd countries the which he ment to preuent and therefore hee commanded them to make publicke proclamations in all their iurisdictions that none should presume to serue his couzin of Neuers nor them of Croy without the duke his Fathers leaue vpon paine of confiscation of bodie and goods The twelfth day of Aprill 1465. which was the day of our Redeemers passion a great diuine preached at Busselles in the chappell of the Court in the presence of the duke and of a great and noble assembly In his sermon hee discoursed at large what clemency and mercy was that he might mooue the duke to remit the discontent hee had against his Sonne by reason of the lord of Chimay the which vntill that daie hee would not do The sermon being ended many knights of the golden Fleece went vnto the Duke and beseeched him humblie that according to the Preachers exhortation he would pardon his sonne the offence which hee had committed The next day about noone the Earle went to present himselfe before his Father vpon his knee saying My most redoubted lord and father I beseech you for the honour of the passion of our Lord Iesus Christ that it would please you to pardon mee that which I haue misdone for what I haue done hath beene to preserue you and my selfe also from death and for the preseruation of all your Countries and subiects as I will giue you to vnderstand at large hereafter And hauing spoken other wordes wisely and humbly to the great satisfaction of all the hearers The duke holding him by the elbow and looking still in his face sayd vnto him Charles my Sonne all that euer you haue misdone vnto this day I pardon bee a good Sonne vnto mee and I wil be a good father vnto thee In speaking of which words the teares stood in the dukes eyes the which mooued the hearts of all the company so as some could not forbeare weeping This reconciliation made betwixt the Father and
imperfit This Duke Charles Earle of Holland Zeeland c. His fathers funeralles beeing finished hauing setled his estate and the affaires of his house went in person to take possession of all his Countries and Siegneories Frist at Gaunt to bee inuested in the Earledome of Flanders The Regents and chiefe of the towne went to meete him receiuing him with great honor and state acknowledging him for their Prince and naturall Lord Earle of Flanders Entring into the towne he was followed by about 800. banished men whom he tooke into his protection and remitted their banishment Hauing receiued the possession of the towne the next day the people did mutine both against him and the Magistrate pressing to haue a certaine imposition vpon the corne freed and to haue their priuiledges restored which the Duke his father had taken from them with other demands comming armed vnto the market place with their Enseignes crying out that they would not part from thence vntill the Duke had granted what they demanded Duke Charles seeing this and knowing with what people he had to deale after he had spoken vnto them seeing they departed not he strooke saile and yeelded to all that they demanded dissembling his conceptions vntill hee was freed from them This trouble thus pacified the Duke parted from Gaunt and went to take possession of his other Prouinces then he came to Brusselles whether the deputies of the mutinous Ganthois came vnto him crauing pardon for the excesse committed by them against his greatnesse carrying him backe the letters which they had forced from him and offring to make any reparation he should please The Duke pardoned the offence and would aduise of the reparation The deputies departed with this prouisionall pardon Two yeares after the duke did intimate vnto them that for a reparation of their offence the Ganthois should teare in peeces all the Enseignes Banners and Standards of their companies and trades the which was put in execution in the towne of Brusselles whether they were brought And as for their Immunities and freedomes hauing perused and examined them according vnto reason some were abrogated others confirmed and some moderated granting them some new according to his good pleasure A while after those of Macklyn rebelled against their Gouernor and Magistrates whom they chased out of the Towne The duke went thether with a resolution to ruine the towne if the Nobilitie and best Bourgeses had not sued for mercy and obteyned it vpon condition that they should deliuer vp all their priuiledges into his hands repaire the house of Iohn Muse Knight which they had ruined and restore that which they had taken and more-ouer to pay him for a fine thirtie thousand Lions of gold whereby the duke was pacified The Liegeois brake the peace not-with-standing the 300. Hostages deliuered to the duke of Bourgongne the last yeare taking a small towne called Ligny and chasing away all the inhabitants after they had vtterly spoyled it In the meane time Lewis the eleuenth the French King laboured all he could by goodly offers and promises to drawe the duke of Bourgongne from the allyance of Francis duke of Brittaine and in that respect he would abandon the Liegeois that were newly reuolted the which duke Charles refused The King insisting still vpon the same demand sent the Earle of Saint Pol Constable of France and the Cardinall of Balue his Ambassadors vnto him To whom the duke made short dispatch telling them plainly that hee would not doe any thing and in the presence of the sayd Ambassadors went to horse-back to goe and make warre against the Liegeois marching directly with his armie before Saintron A little before they were in councell to determine what should bee done with the 300. hostages whether they should put them to death or not Some among others gaue their opinions that they should dye But the lord of Humbercourt giuing a more modest milde and wise censure to preserue the dukes honor and reputation and for some other respects said that the best course was to send them back and at their departure to let them vnderstand what grace the duke had done them hauing their liues in his power that they should labour to draw the people to a good peace and in case the Liegeois would not yeeld vnto it yet at the least acknowledging the grace which he had done them they should promise neuer to carrie armes against the duke nor against their bishop his cousin who was in his company This aduise of the lord of Humbercourt was followed and the hostages did promise at their deliuery To whom it was said that if euer any one of them was prisoner in the warre that without any mercy he should loose his head And so they departed ioyfully to haue made so faire an escape The duke being camped before Saintron ready to batter it in the which there were 300. souldiars Liegeois and one Knight their captaine Those of the towne of Liege to the number of 30000. men good and bad fiue hundred horse and great store of Artillery aduanced to raise the seege and about two of the clocke in the morning came vnto a village that was strong of it selfe and partly inclosed with marish groundes called Bretan The campe was aduertised thereof hauing a generall alarme giuen them The duke knowing them to be so nere him put his army in battaile and after that hee had disposed of them that should gard the campe hee placed 1200. men on eyther side of the village of Bretan and hee himselfe stood right against them with about eight hundred The lord of Rauestein leading the vant-gard with some men at armes and Archers and certaine peeces of Artillery marched vnto the foote of their trenches But he was so valiantly repulst as hee lost about 500. men and his Artillery al the vant-gard wauering as if it had beene halfe defeated But the duke aduancing with his battaile led by the lord of Creueceur hee had soone put the Liegeois to rout and defeated them whereas their died some 9000. men and if night had not approched as many more had beene slaine for the flight was confused being pursued by the dukes horse but the darkenesse of the night saued them The duke beeing a conqueror returned the same night vnto his campe before Saintron with his whole army two daies after this battaile the Liegeois babling was well cowled for the beseeged imagining that the defeat had beene much greater then it was yeedled the towne leauing their armes they deliuered ten men at the dukes pleasure such as hee would choose whose heads he caused to bee cut of among the which there were sixe which had beene of the Hostages This towne being yeelded hee went to beseege Tongres an ancient towne sometimes the chiefe of the Realme of Tongres which comprehended the Country of Liege Lembourg Valkenbourg c. the which at the first made shew of resistance yet
Geldres Prince Charles of Austria takes possession of the Netherlands George duke of Saxony resignes his interest of Friseland to Prince Charles Hee holds the feast of the golden sâ—…ce at Brusselles Philip Bastard of Bougongne Bishop of Vtrecht Maâ—…ten van Rossen Gouernor in Friseland Prince Charles crowned King of Spaine the death of the Emperor Maximilian Charles the â—…ift chosen Emperor the Lady Marguerite Duchesse of 〈◊〉 Gouernesse of the Netherlands Troubles in Spaine the King being absent warre in Friseland warre betwixt the French and the Bourguignons the Peasants warre in Germany the Groningeois reâ—…ing the Duke of Geldres giue themsselues to the Emperor the second bloudy Edâ—… made by the Emperor aâ—…st the Protestants of the Netherlands A tumult at Vtrecht who call in the Geldrois against their Bishop VVilliam van Enkeâ—…oort 59. Bishop of Vtrecht the Coronation of the Emperor Charles by the Pope An Impâ—…iall diet at Ausbourg whereas the Protestant Princes present a confession of their faith A wonderfull deuoâ—… rinâ—… Inundation in the Netherlands Mary of Austria Queene Douager of Hongarie succeeds in the gouernment of the Netherlands after the death of the Ladie Marguerite her Aunâ—… warre betwixt them of Lubâ—…c and Holland An Imperiall dyet held at Ratisbone concerning religion A peaâ—… betwixt the Emperor and the Duke of Geldres warre betwixt the French and the Bourguignons The townes of Geldres mutine against their duke the Emperor comes out of Spaine through France to punish the Ganthois warre betwixt the Emperor and the French King A peace concluded CHARLES the second of that name the 35. Earle of Holland and Zeeland Lord of Friseland eldest sonne to the Archduke Philip of Austria and of Lady Iane Queene of Castile was borne at Gand in Flanders the 24 of February 1500. After the death of his Father he did inherit ouer and aboue the counties of Holland Zeeland West-frisland the Dutchies of Bourgongne Brabant Styria Carinthia Carniola Lembourg Luxembourg and Geldres The counties of Flanders Arthois Henault Bourgongne Ferrete Kyburg Namur and Zutphen the Landtgraueship of Elsaten the Marquisate of Burgau and of the holy Empire the Principalitie of Suaue and the Seigneuries of Windismark Portenau Salins and Macklin Afterwards hee conquered the Dutchie of Milan and did incorporate the country of Friseland Vtrecht Oueryssel Groningen Cambray and Cambresis all holding of the Empire The Emperour Maximilian hauing as we haue sayd taken vpon him the gardianship of his Nephews and Neeces retiring out of the Netherlands to goe into Germanie about the affaires of the Empire hee appointed his daughter the Lady Marguerite Douager of Sauoy Aunt to the Princes Charles and Ferdinand Regent of the low-countries in the name of the Prince her Nephewe who meaning to come out of Flanders into Zeeland she imbarked at Nyeuwerhauen right against Flesingue Philip of Bourgongne lord of Somersdike Admiral Adolphe of Bourgongne lord of Beueren with the Noblemen and deputies of the states of Zeland went with a good number of flie-boates shaloups other light boates to receiue her at the sayd place of Nyeuwerhauen Whilest that the sayd Noblemen were gone to land to entertaine the sayd Princesse the ships of war lying before the hauen shoting off their great Ordinance in signe of honour it happened that fire fell into the poulder of the Admirall so as many were slaine drowned and wounded but there were not any of these Noblemen in her al being gone to land in their long boates to salute the Gouernesse At that time died the vertuous Lady Anne bastard of Bourgongne Lady of Rauestein of whom we haue formerly spoken after that shee had recouered and walled in many Islands that were drowned in Zeeland To whose goods succeeded Baldwyn and Philip of Bourgongne her brethren except the Island of Duyueland the which returned to them of the house of Borssele from whence it first came William of Egmont Lord of Iselstein with the consent and coÌ„mission of the Emperour Maximillan and of his councell went to take and ransome some Inhabitants about Bommel for that they said they were of the Iurisdiction of Geldres and contrarywise the said Lord of Iselstein would haue them of his Princes Iurisdiction where-vpon the Duke of Geldres tooke occasion to reuiue the warres Saying that the Bourguignons had first of al broken the peace where-vpon the Geldrois lay in waite for the marchants of the Netherlands at their returne from Francfort Mart whome they spoiled and carried away prisoners to the towne of Gelder setting them at great ransomes besides their losses which they had taken from them In the same yeare 1508. Raoul Prince of Anhault of the noble and ancient house of Ascagâ—…e cheefe of Maximilian the Emperors Armie in the Netherlands â—…nt againe to beseege the castell of Puydroyen in the month of March from whence the duke of Geldres had forced Iohn of Egmont to raise his seege who hauing battred it and giuen diuers assaults in the which the marshall Seewint was slaine in the end it was yeelded to his mercie which was that the beseeged should depart euery one with a white wand retaining twelue to dispose of at his pleasure whom he caused to be presently hanged before the port then he caused both castell and fort to be ruied and razed In the meane time the duke of Geldres thought to surprise the towne of Harderwick which the Bourguignons held yet but he failed from thence the Prince of Anhalt went to beseege the towne of Wesep and the Castell of Muyden both together being but a quarter of a League one from an other The French king sent an ambassador to the Princes campe who did mediate the yeelding vp of the said two places by some good accord to the said Prince in the Emperors name after that the Geldrois had first been chased from the Block-house of Amsterdam and the Lord of Aymeries with his walons defeated vpon the mont of Muyden where the Lord of Iselstein was slaine In the yeare 1509. there died in the citty of Cologne Cont Henry of Stolburch Gouernor for the Duke of Saxony in the contry of Freeseland he was much lamented of the Frisons for his mild gouernment being a good Iusticer an vpright man fearing God after whose death Duke Georges Mareshall came into Friseland bringing with him Euerwin earle of Benthem with the dukes Comission to be gouernor of the said contry In the yeare 1510. there fell out great warre betwixt the King of Denmarke and the townes of the East contries as Lubeck Wismare Rostwicke and others Theyof Lubeck did write into Holland Zeeland and Freeseland for-bidding them to sayle into Denmarke but they would not forbeare for that the greatest profit of those contries consists in nauigation where-vpon the Lubeckers tooke some of their ships at two seuerall times their second losse was by the default of the Danes who did not succor them as they ought The yeare following the Esterlings came
one with her attendance in goodly equipage There were in all full 15000. horse as well barded as archers and those of the Emperors house-hold Spaniards Wallons Germaines and other nations marching quite through ths Cittie and going out at another Porte to lodge abroad for there was scarce roome in the Citty to lodge the Maisters The Emperor approching neere the Porte the Chanoins and the foure orders of begging Friars went to meete him conducting him to the great Church which they call Charlemagnes Chappell where in two dayes hee was annointed sacred and crowned with the first Imperiall Crowne the which was of Yron with all the ancient ceremonies and solemnities accustomed the which are particularly described in my great Chronicle Hee remained fiue dayes in the citty of Aix after his coronation sending backe many Noblemen Netherlanders to prouide for the frontiers Then hee returned to Cologne and from thence to Maestricke About that time certaine ships which they called Busses being fishing for Hearing were taken at sea by the commandement of the King of Denmarke and carried to Coppenhagen Adolph of Bourgongne Lord of Beueren high Admirall to the Emperour sent certaine deputies in his Maiesties name vnto the King In this prise of ships there was one of La Vere in Zeeland the which being seazed on by the Danes a storme comming the Marriners of Zeeland became maisters of them whom they kept close vnder hatches vntill they had brought them to la Vere where they were kept prisoners vntill that the deputies had obtained a discharge for their ships from the King of Denmarke which done the Admirall attired the Danes that were brought to la Vere all new and sent them home into Denmarke with good vsage After that the Emperor was parted from Spaine to come into Germany to receiue the Imperial crowne there fell out great troubles for that Don Piedro Giron and others did rise in armes by reason of their freedomes and liberties complaining of the seuere gouernment of the Lord of Cheures whom the Emperour had left in Spaine as if hee would giue all the offices of the Kingdome to the Netherlanders and other strangers excluding the naturall Spaniards So beeing in great numbers both of horse and soote they marched directly towards Valliodolit where without striking stroake or any opposition they carried away Queene Iane the Emperors Mother and all the Councell prisoners to Tordesillas distant but eight leagues from thence The which Cardinall Adrian borne at Vtrecht who had sometimes beene the Emperors Scholemaster seeing hauing beene appointed gouernor with the Admirall of Castille did leauy men also to make head against them hauing first sommoned them by deputies to submit them selues and returne to their accustomed obedience with promises of the Emperors speedy returne To whome they made a bould and a presumptuos answere that they did their duties to marry their Queene widdow to King Philipâ—… mother to the Emperor to the duke of Calabria sonne to King Frederic expelled from Naples to make him King of Castille But being obstinate and not willing to yeeld to any reason they were surprized in Tordesillas and the Queene deliuered out of their hands so as some were punished with death others banished When as Martin van Rossein Lord of Puydroien had discharged for a time the Office of gouernor of Friseland for the duke of Geldre finding that the priuate gouernors captaines and other Officers sought more their owne priuate prosit then the seruice of their Prince or the good of the common-weale and not able to endure it hee parted from Sneck and returned into Geldres acquainting the duke with the causes for the which he would giue ouer his place Wherevpon their was a new gouernor sent into Friseland in his place which was Christopher Earle of Maeurs a man of great respect and authority In the meane time the prolongation of the truce for a yeare beganne to weare away wherevpon it was continued againe for two yeares more During the which the Geldrois did not forbeare to rob and steale both by sea and land the which the poore soules of the Bourguignon were faine to beare beeing forced to obserue the Articles of the contract so as in suffring they had nothing left them but that goodly vertue patience About the time of the Emperors coronation the Geldrois did carry themselues so insolently as without respect of truce or any thing else they tooke the towne of Nicuport right against Schoonhouen in Holland the which they did spoile and burne The Bourguignons vanquished with impatience pursued them so as they tooke some prisoners and among the rest some gentlemen of good houses who were executed and layed vpon wheeles as theeues and robbers The Frisons of the Bourguignon party hearing that the Emperor should hold an Imperiall diet at Wormes in Germany sent their deputies thether Kempo Martua a knight of the councell of Friseland and Sybrand Roorda to beseech his Imperiall Maiesty and the Princes of the Empire that they might be once freed and deliuered from the oppressions and outrages which the Geldrois did them To which petition they had a fauorable answere the Emperor excussing himselfe for that he had no sooner prouided for it with promise to redresse it speedily Afterwards William of Rogendorf the Emperors Lieutenant in Friseland was called away and discharged from his gouernment in his place was appointed George Schenck Baron of Tautenburch who before had beene Drossart of Vollenhof who came the 24. day of March to Leuwarden with ample commission The sayd Lord of Rogendorf was made generall of the armie which Philip of Bourgongne Bishoppe of Vtrecht sent to passe the Zuyderzee and entred into Cuyndert where hauing stayed some-time and made warre against the Geldrois Frisons they went on and came to Lemmer whether the Earle of Maeurs the duke of Geldres lieutenant had afore sent some men to stoppe his passage if happily Rogendorf should offer it Yet notwithstanding any resistance hee past there chased the Geldrois spoiled and ransomed Lemmer and all the Sea-coast towardes the East Rogendorf hauing thus past his troupes into Friseland hee left Nicholas Wilderstroff to commaunde in his place and went to the Court at Brusselles All this was done to vanquish and tire the Frison Geldrois and to drawe them to the Emperours obedience The Emperor thrust on by Pope Leo to suppresse the doctrine of Martin Luther published in the same yeare 1521. his first bloudy Edict against them of the Protestants relligion whome then by a generall terme they called Lutherans which continued in the Netherlands vnto the yeare 1566. since which time vnto this day they haue called them Gueux as in France Huguenots as wee shall hereafter see but the Spaniards yet call them by the name of Lutherans All this time the warre continued in Friseland betwixt the Bourguignons vnder the command of the Baron of Tautenburche in the name of the Emperour hauing ioyned with
throughout all the country of Liege as a fee of the Empire vpon euery thousand florins value of Inheritance to helpe to defray the charges of the last warres of Germany The Liegeois would haue opposed themselues and fallen to mutiny but hauing sent their deputies to the Emperor in the end they yeelded vpon certaine conditions The Emperor at the same time did chase all the ministers out of Ausbourg Iohn Frederic duke of Saxony although hee were a prisoner did not forbeare to comfort them and to assist them with money Some of them retired into Suisserland and some else where The newes of this banishment of Ministers amazed many for euery man feared that what had beene done there would be also practised in other places as it was afterwards but for a short time in respect of Germany At such time as all were in these alterations the French King hearing that duke Maurice attempted warre against the Emperor fell vpon 22. ships of Zeeland bound for Spaine being worth aboue 200000. florins the which hee tooke and spoiled and then carried them into his hauens wherevpon the 17. day of September in the same yeare 1551. the French Ambassador was sent away from Brusselles as an enemie with all the French Nobility which had remained with the Lady Elenor Queene Dowager of France and warre was proclaimed the 21. of that month betwixt these two great Princes both by land and sea Many wondred how the King durst â—…eaue the friendship of the Emperor beeing then in so great prosperity neither did the Emperor as some sayd expect it In Ianuary 1552. the generall States of the Netherlands assembled in the towne of Bruges in Flanders whereas the Queene of Hungary Gouernesse of the sayd countries made a demand in the Emperors name of an extraordinary aide or subuention of three Millions of gold wherevnto the Flemings would in no sort yeeld by reason of their small traffick but they offred to entertaine so many men at armes as should fall to their shares wherewith the sayd Lady was not well satisfied Afterwards the sayd estats assembled at Brusselles where vpon certaine conditions they did grant 400000 florins Duke Maurice and the Marquis of Brandenbourg sonnes in lawe to the Landtgraue of Hessen sent their Ambassadors to the Emperor accompanied with the letters of the King of Denmarke of Ferdinand King of Romaines of Albert duke of Bauaria of the brethren of Lunebourg of the Elector Frederic Palatin of Wolfgang duke of Deux Ponts of Iohn Marquis of Brandenbourg of Ernest Marquis of Baden of the dukes of Merklenbourg and of Christopher duke of Wirtemberg to sue for the Landtgraues deliuery But it seemed the Emperour respected all these Princes little referring the answere of their request to the comming of duke Maurice who hee sayd should come to treate with him William eldest sonne to the Landtgraue did importune him and Maurice more both he and the Marquis of Brandenbourg putting him in minde of their bond and promise speaking somewhat bigge vnto him In the meane time the horsemen that had lyen about Magdebourg and within it wintred in Thuringen and the neighbour country where they did much harme especially to the Clergy and aboue all to the Archbishop of Mentz Wherevpon hee and the other two of Collogne and Treues complayned to the Emperor being resolued to forsake the councell To whome hee gaue good words intreating them to stay whether the duke of Wirtemberg those of Strausbourg and other Protestants had sent their Ambassadors and the duke Maurice did also send his the which did much reioyce the sayd Archbishops beleeuing that they had no more any cause to doubt of him The chiefe differences of the Protestants Ambassadors were vpon the safe conduit of their diuines the which they were forced to alter three times and vpon the other points which duke Maurice had propounded These Ambassadors hauing receiued their safe conduits in such forme as they could obtaine them sent them to their Princes and Magistrates Soone after many began to murmur that the councel should be prolonged and that Maurice beeing in league with the French made his preparations to warre against the Emperor This report increased daylie and they sent messengers from Trent to the Emperor to know his pleasure Afterwards an other came from the Emperor but they vsed therein great discretion to keep matters secret least they should discontent the Councell vntill that the first of Aprill Duke Maurice and his companions besieged the Towne of Ausbourg the which three daies after was yeelded vnto him Which was the cause of the dissipation of the Councell Maurice writte letters the which were afterwards printed to the States of the Empire setting downe many liuely reasons which moued him to make warre against the Emperor for the preseruation of his relligion and the liberty of Germany and withall for the deliuery of the Landtgraue his father in law Hee did greatly taxe the Emperor seeking to bring Germany into seruitude vnder his Monarchy as hee had already oppressed it by diuers exactions and suppressions of their priuilidges Albert Marquis of Brandenbourg published a writing almost of the same substance complayning that the libertie of Germany was opprest euen by them that were bound to defend and inlarge it c. The French King did also publish letters by the which hee shewed that hee had no other end but the libertie of Germany and of all Christendome complayning of the wrongs which the Emperor did and had done to him and to his friends in whose succors he had resolued to imploy all his forces in that warre yea euen his owne person without any respect to his owne priuate Interest how great soeuer it might bee But onely that Germany might bee restored and Iohn Frederic Duke of Saxony and the Landtgraue of Hessen deliuered c. These letters of the Princes and of the French King dispersed throughout Germany gaue cause of hope to some and to others of feare and care William the Landtgraues sonne hauing put his men to field went and ioyned with Duke Maurice Albert of Brandenbourg did also ioyne with them with his horse and foote In all places where they past they brought the Townes vnder their subiection taking the Inhabitants into their safegard and protection yet forcing them to furnish both mony and Artillery The Princes did also send to them of high Germany and especially to Nuremberg that they should not faile to bee at Ausbourg in the end of Aprill and did also presse them of Vlme to enter into league with them Whilst these things were doing in Germany the French King marched with a goodly army and tooke Toule and Verdun Imperiall Townes vppon the Frontiers of France Then marching into Lorraine vnder coullor of demanding passage hee tooke Metz a Towne of the Empire also He thought to haue done as much to Strasbourg a faire great rich and mighty Towne but the Senat excused them-selues and kept him
from entring furnishing some munition of corne and oats for the Kings armie Leauying fiue thousand men for the guard of the Towne if happely they should offer to force them The confederate princes came to Vlme which refused to bee of their vnion Beeing arriued there they houered about the Towne And for that the Inhabitants were so insolent to shoote at them they demanded for reparation of this outrage three hundred thousand Crownes The which beeing refused they spoiled them all they could From thence Duke Maurice went to Lints in Austria to vnderstand from King Ferdinand the conditions of peace For that Ferdinand desired greatly to pacefie things with the Emperors consent After that hee had conferred with him hee returned to the armie and the next day they marched towards the Alpes Heerevppon the Iudges of the Imperiall Chamber fledde from Spyer For it was against them that both the French King and the Princes were incensed laying vppon them all the blame and cause oâ—… these troubles In the meane time the Queene of Hongary the Emperors sister made an Assembly at Aix la Chappelle vpon the Confines of the Duchie of Iuilliers to make a League with them The Prince of Cleues and Iuilliers excused himselfe by his Ambassadors Adolph Bishop of Cologne came and so did George of Austria Bishop of Liege The French King being come to Weissenbourg after that hee had left the territory of Strasbourg seeing that there was not any thing to bee gotten the Ambassadors of the Prince Elector Palatin of the Archbishops of Mentz and Treues and of the the dukes of Cleues and wirtemberg which were assembled at Wormes for the good of the Common-weale went vnto the King intreating him that hee would not wast and spoile the champion country but take pittie of the poore commons and incline his heart to peace Duke Maurice for his part did also write vnto the King in the which was conteined what had beene treated at Lints with King Ferdinand requiring the King whome Maurice would haue comprehended in the treaty of peace to declare with what conditions he would compound with the Emperour The King found by these letters that they were weary of him in Germany and to say the truth the Princes would not willingly haue seene him aduance so as two daies after he retired with his army againe into Lorraine so into France But before his departure he answered the ambassadors saying that hee had obtained that for which hee came into Germany with his army seeing that the Princes Prisoners should bee deliuered which was the chiefe cause of the warre and therefore he had wonne honor ynough That if it euer chanced that Germany had neede of him that hee would spare neither his labour purse nor person that hearing nowe that his enemies had assayled him within his Realme hee would returne As for that which they writ of the Emperor and of a peace he referred himselfe to them c. with some other complements The King was no sooner gone out of France towardes Germany but presently the Emperors armie of the Netherlandes whereof Martin van Rossen was Commander entred and burnt the frontiers of Champagne and tooke Astenay a towne seated neere to the riuer of Meuze of the Iurisdiction of Lorraine whereon the French had but lately seized Some say it was one of the causes that made the King retire with his army the second was for that hee did not allowe of Duke Maurice his proceeding touching the peace and the third was for that hee had beene deceiued of his expectation vpon the towne of Strasbourg the which hee would willingly haue had as good cheape as hee had gotten Metz Toul and Verdun but Strasbourg was too great a morcell the which if hee had swalloed the Germaines might at leysure haue repented that euer they had called him Beeing retired out of Germanie hee beganne to march the two and twenty of May so as hauing past the Riuer of Mosella hee entred into Luxembourg where hee wasted spoyled and burnt all imitating as hee sayd Martin van Rossen and recouered the towne of Astenay the which hee found without garrison the Borguignons and Rossen being retired vpon the first bruit of the Kings approch Then he went with his armie before Danuilliers the which was yeelded vnto him and then Yuois the strongest place of the country Peeter Ernest Earle of Mansfieldt Gouernor of the countrie was in it with the floure of all the the youth of Luxembourg who were all taken by the French and the towne spoyled through a mutiny among the soldiars against the Kings will as they sayd Duke Maurice after his returne from the treatie at Lints to the Army of the confederate Princes he beeing gone King Ferdinand went presently to Inspruch to the Emperor his Brother to let him vnderstand what had beene treated betwixt them And that at Maurice his returne to the army hee marched with his companions towards the Alpes who being thrust on by du Fresne the French Kings Ambassador they were resolued to charge those soldiars which the Emperor caused to be leuied in that quarter The 18. of May approching to Fiesse which is a smal towne at the entry of the Alpes they sent some troupes to discouer euen vnto the straights which the Emperors men held whereof they tooke some prisoners from whom they learned the estate of that quarter The next day they aduanced with their foote and onely two hundred men at armes and tooke the way to Fiesse nere vnto Rutte they came vnto the straight of the Mountaines which some eight hundred of the Emperors men held with two field peeces whom they assayled won the passage and chased the enemies who flying away strooke a feare into them that were nere vnto Rutte The Princes followed them at the heeles and so charged the rest as they defeated them where there were about a 1000. slaine and drowned The next day they marched towards the fort of Ereberg where they happily tooke the fort vnder the Castell and were maisters of the entries of the passage and tooke the great Canon which was ready mounted This done they crept vp the mountaine the which was very steepe euen vnto the Castell although they played continually vpon them with their small shotte There were within it thirteene companies of foote whereof nine captaines were taken and three Germaines with one Italian escaped there were about 3000. prisoners and the Princes lost few of their men The 22. of May two regiments were sent to Inspruck by the Alpes which is but two dayes iourney from thence all their Caualerie remained with one regiment about Fiesse and Rutte to garde the passage Maurice and the confederate Princes followed the next day and ioyned with their foote neere vnto Zirle which is but two leagues from Inspruck The Emperor hearing newes that Eruberg was taken departed hastily in the night and with great confusion from Inspruck with his brother Ferdinand
the furious battery of the ennemy There were siue companies in the place the Emperor made the fiue Captaines Kinghts giuing vnto the soldiars as hee had promised them three monethes pay extraordinary and all they that were banished or charged with murthers or other crymes had their pardons The Emperor hauing the yeare before razed the Towne and Castell of Hesdin hauing obserued a place fitte to bee fortified a League from thence more towards France hee resolued to build a new fort and a Towne there and for that he would not be hindred in the xecution of this enterprise he entertained his armie the the which in Nouember burnt all the country about Amiens so as all the burthen of the warre fell vppon the poore Country-men After that hee retayned but two regiments dismissing the rest of his Armie and so he parted from Arras to come to Brusselles And in the end of October hee caused King Philip his Sonne to bee put in possession of the duchie of Milan by deputies the accustomed ceremonies therein obserued This yeare in August was a furious fight at sea betwixt two and twenty Merchants ships of Holland Zeeland and Westfriseland which came out of Spaine laden with sundry sorts of Merchandise and nineteene French ships of warre and sixe carauells appointed with Artillery souldiars and marriners for the purpose which attended for them and seeing them come vpon the coast of England neere Douer they began to assaile them and the others to defend themselues The French who were better manned made hast to boord them to auoide the furie of the Hollanders Ordinance and in the ende they grapeled fifteene French shippes to fifteene others thinking to vanquish them by force and the numbers of their men but those Hollanders shippes that were free shot continually at the French There was a fearefull fight for though the Dutch had fewer men yet their shippes were greater and higher and they knewe better howe to handle their Ordinance The fight continued so long that the French growing weary demaunded a truce but the noyse cryes and thunder of the Oâ—…dinance and small shot was so great as they could not bee heard and therefore they aduised for their surest remedie thinking that the Hollanders would let them goe to set fire of their owne sayles but the euent was not so as they looked for or expected But as these shippes could not so easilie vngraple themselues and the winde dryuing the fire from the sayles to the ships they fell all on fire so as they were forced to leaue the fight to quench the fire But some were fiered in such sort as there was no meanes to saue them the men casting them selues into the sea to auoyde the flames without respect to what shippes they went were they friendes or enemies seeking onelie to saue themselues in the first shippe they could get into which proued a strange victory vnto the French for there were so manie Frenchmen got into the Hollanders shippes before they perceiued it as after some small fight they mastred them and tooke both men and shippes The end of this furious battaile which had lasted sixe houres was there were sixe French shippes burnt and one sunke and of the Hollanders and others sixe were burnt and fiue were taken by the French with manie prisoners The number of the dead was different for the French lost aboue a thousand men and the others about three thousand men The seauenth of May Anthony Perronet Bishop of Arras was sent by the the Emperor to Graueling to conferre about a treatie of peace with the French King They met on both sides in a great plaine betwixt Ardres Calais and Graueling vnder pauilions where there was a great circuit compassed in with cloath in the which they assembled The deputies had about it euery one his quarter apart and the English Cardinall assisted as mediator or vmpier betwixt them The demandes of either side were so excessiue as they could not agree and so the assemblie proued fruitelesse The ninth of the same month newes came to the Emperor of the death of the Lady Iane Queene of Castille his mother at whose funeralls which should bee made at Brusselles King Philip would bee present and therefore they were deferred vntill his comming On Whitsonday died that great captaine Martin van Rossen Seignior of Puydroyen who in his life time had serued many maisters the duke Charles of Geldres William duke of Cleues the French King and the Emperor The fifteene of Iuly the French passing the fronters came to victuall Mariembourg without any cartes but with horses laden onelie and at their returne thinking to surprize all the souldiars that were in the new fort whereof William of Nassau Prince of Orange was Generall beeing discouered there was a very hot skirmish the which continued from noone vntill night wherein there died many on eyther side A while after the Seignior of Aussimont Gouernor of Bapaulmes the terror of the French hearing that some garrisons of Picardie ioyned with fifteene hundred horse of the Arrierban of France which they call the companies of the Nobles and foure hundred foote did roade vp and downe the countrie of Arthois hauing spoyled the suburbes of Lilliers and the burrow of Saint Venant he went and charged them in their returne being Laden with spoyles and hauing defeated them in an instant made them abandon their pray la Iaille their leader was hurt and a boue fiue hundred taken prisoners with him some escaped and the rest were slaine vpon the place where of the Arthesiens made a Iest saying That the Bourguognons tooke the Nobles of France without waying them where-vpon it was called the Incounter of the Nobles The eight of September King Phillip came after his marriage with Queene Mary out of England to Brusselles accompanied with Emanuell Philibert Duke of Sauoy and fower or fiue English Noblemen Knights of the garter and the sixteen of the said moneth the funeralles of the Emperors Mother were celebrated with great pompe and state In October there was order giuen by the Emperor and Gouernesse vpon the complaint of the Bourgéses of Brusselles to the Alcaide Captain of the Court to the steuard of the houshould to the Amptman and to the Magistrate of Brusselles to deuise some meanes to discharge the great and excessiue debts which the Spaniards as well Courtiars as soldiars did owe throughout all the towne of Brusselles as well to Inkeepers as to Marchants to the end their might bee no tumult at their retreat seeing that the Bourgeses stood in some feare that they would goe away without paying them whereby some should bee much impourished and others vtterly ruined and therefore they must preuent an imminent danger before it falles About the end of October the Emperor sent his letters to the States and townes of the Netherlands to assemble in the towne of Brusselles and there to heare matters that should bee propounded vnto them in his behalfe to which
neither the Emperour king Ferdinand nor the other princes and states should doe wrong to any of the Empire in what sort soeuer by reason of the confession of Ausbourg that from thence forwards they should not force by edicts or other meanes the allies of this confession to abandon their religion but should suffer them to enioy it freely with their goods tributes rights and possessions with many other priuiledges graunted in fauour of the religion Some moneths after there were bruites giuen out of enterprises and practises made by the Pope and his adherents against the allies of the confession of Ausbourg It was thought that the Pope was wonderfully discontented with this decree made at Ausbourg by the which they did leaue the religion in peace and libertie and that he did sollicite the Emperour to disanull it Moreouer vnder colour of going to the baths at Aix the Archbishops and Electors of Ments Treues and Cologne met together the which was not without some cause but it proued nothing and the Cardinall of Ausbourg published a writing to excuse the emperour and himselfe also as if he had beene the conductor and manager of such practises so Germanie began to breath after so many stormes and the Emperor hauing as we haue said giuen ouer the affaires of the Netherlands of his realmes to leaue them to the charge of his sonne king Philip resigned also the Roman Empire into the Electors hands by an embassage hauing held it seuen and thirtie yeares The sixteenth of Ianuary 1556 were celebrated in Brussels the funerals of the king of Portugals brother and the next day king Philip accompanied wâ—…th a great number of the nobilitie departed from Brussels to goe to Antuerpe to hold the feast and Chapter of the golden Fleece whereof his father had lately made him chiefe King Philip following the counsell of his father and sollicited by Mary queene of England his wife enclined vnto peace for the effecting whereof after many iourneyes a truce was made the fifteenth of February for fiue yeres The earle of Lalain went to Blois to see the king sweare it and the Admirall of Chastillon came to Brussels to the Emperour and king Philip to the same effect but it could not last long for both the one and the other had sought nothing but cauilling as it appeared presently the most cunning thinking to deceiue his companion 〈◊〉 whereupon the French who are more stirring began first for that the Admirall of Fraunce thought by subtiltie to surprise Downy by Arthois the which succeeding not the warre continued as before vntill that a peace was concluded by the mariage of king Philip and the duke of Sauoy as we shall see hereafter After that the Emperour had resigned all his Netherlands vnto king Philip his sonne and that he had setled a good order and disposed of all his affaires in the Netherlands being desirous to free himselfe from all temporall cares and to spend the remainder of his dayes in rest and quietnesse applying himselfe wholly to the seruice of God he resolued to retire himselfe with his two sisters the lady Elenor queene of Fraunce and the lady Mary queene of Hungarie into Spaine but before his departure he would also dispose of the affaires and state of the Empire the which he would yeeld and resigne vnto his brother Ferdinand king of Romanes whereupon he writ his letters to the princes Electors and to the States of the Empire as followeth Charles by the grace of God Emperour of Romanes alwaies Augustus king of Castile c. To all Princes Electors of the holy Empire Princes as well Ecclesiasticall as temporall Prelates Earles Barons Knights Nobles Captaines Prouosts Iudges Iustices Bourgmasters Bourgesses Comminalties and other subiects of the Empire of what estate qualitie or condition soeuer they be to whom these letters shall come health and peace Most famous and most reuerent our well beloued cosins most noble worthy reuerent and faithfull friends being moued by many pregnant and iust reasons especially finding our selues surcharged with the heauie burthen of old age and with continuall infirmities the which haue by little and little disabled vs and depriued vs of all strength requisite for the managing of affaires hauing long since resolued to resigne all our realmes of Spaine to the famous prince our sonne king of England hauing taken leaue of our court here wee are readie to imbarke attending onely the first prosperous wind that it shall please God to send By reason whereof seeing that through my absence and departure the rule and gouernement of the holy empire doth of right belong vnto our deere and well beloued brother Ferdinand king of Romanes of Hungarie and Bohemia as our lawfull successour in the said qualitie of king of Romanes the which gouernement he hath often many yeares since diligently deserued in our absence supporting the burthen with a brotherly loue and charitie and discharging himselfe of this charge To the end therefore that the Christian commonweale especially of the holy empire during out absence should not fall into some daungerous inconuenience and that the king of Romanes our brother may manage the affaires with greater authoritie wee haue aduised and resolued that hee in qualitie of king of Romanes hath absolute and irreuocable power to treat negotiat and commaund in all things that hee shall find requisit and necessarie for the greatnesse prosperitie and increase of the empire as absolutely as wee our selues being emperour of Romanes may doe True it is that we were resolued to assist in person at the imperiall diet at Ratisbone there with your aduice to haue conducted the affairs of the empire to some desired end and to haue resigned the gouernment of the said empire into the hands of the king of Romans to haue substituted him in our place to haue recoÌ„mended vnto you the honour respect and obedience which in this qualitie you should be bound vnto him but our indisposition apparent to all men could not endure so long and tedious a iourney by land and the rather for that wee thought it conuenient to haue respect vnto the season of the yeare fir for our voyage Wherefore seeing that we haue not appeared at this imperiall Diet as we would willingly yet being come vnto the effects of our desires and resolutions wee haue thought good by these presents to acquaint you and all others with our conceptions enioyning and expressely commaunding you hereby of our absolute power and imperiall authoritie that you shew vnto your king of Romanes vpon paine of our indignation all loyaltie and obedience honouring and respecting him in all his commaundements decrees and actions without any contradiction with all dutie as you would doe vnto vs if wee were there in person for such is our pleasure and last will Giuen at Zuytbourg in Zeeland vnder our seale the seuenth of September 1556. and of our Empire the 36. This done the fleet being ready in Zeeland he tooke his leaue of
which aduice the aforesaid cardinal the bishops who then were the chief of the queenes counsell had little regarded making answer They would keepe the towne with their white slaues and that iâ—… hee were afraid hee might come home into England ageine with such like answers and so the towne of Calis for want of foresight was soone woon and by composition made by them within when wanting succours they could no otherwise chuse vpon the eight day of Ianuarie deliuered vnto the French men vpon condition of sauing their liues and no huâ—… to bee done vnto them to carrie their money and goods out of the towne at the discretion of the vanquishers the inhabitants to leaue the towne and good where they would whereof fiftie such as they liked should remaine prisoners The souldiers should depart for England without spoyling hiding or burning the houses victuals munition or canon shot but should leaue it all behind them which was likewise done From thence the French men went to Guynes wherein lay as gouernour my lord Gray an old souldier with twelue or fourteene hundred English men Walons and Spaniards and Montdragon a valiant captaine sent thither by king Philip where they planted fiue and thirtie canon shot wherwith in short time they had giuen ten thousand shot whereby they so battered the bulwarkes and other places that they were easie to bee assaulted which vpon the twentieth of Ianuarie with great slaughter of men on both sides was done at which time there was slaine at the least foure or fiue hundred men whereby the bulwarkes being woon the lord Gray with the rest of the souldiers got into the castle where they began to parlie and agreed That the souldiers should depart with bag and baggage leauing their ensignes victuals munition and ordnance behind them and the lord Gray with the rest of the captaines and gentlemen to remaine prisoners which beeing performed the French men finding the place to bee vnprofitable for them rased the castle at which time also the strong castle of Hans was forsaken by the English men And by that meanes the English men in few dayes lost that little which rested in their powers of their forefathers conquests and all that they as then held in firme land of Fraunce and for the space of two hundred and eleuen yeares before had peaceably enioyed the lord of Termes beeing made gouernour thereof by the French men that affirme to haue found therein two or three hundred great peeces besides the victuals munition for the warres and the ransome that they had of those that were prisoners At the first newes thereof brought into England there was great preparation of men and ships made for to releeue it but by meanes of the great tempest at sea they could not get ouer before they heard of the losse thereof which grieued queene Mary much at the heart that it was after a great part of the cause of her death which happened vpon the 17 of Nouember after The French men also at the same time by force took the castle of Herbimont in Ardennes And vpon the foure and twentieth of Aprill the Dolphin of France married Mary Steward queene of Scotland the onely daughter of Iames the fifth king of Scotland at which time the duchesse of Lorraine first began to motion a peace between both the kings This duchesse of Lorraine was the daughter of Christian king of Denmarke and of one of the emperour Charles sisters This yeare died duke Maximilian of Burgonie baron of Beueren of le Vere lieutenant of Holland Zeeland Friseland and Vtrecht after whom succeeded William van Nassau prince of Orange This yeare in Summer the king of France tooke vp foure or fiue thousand horse and foureteene thousand foot-men vnder the conduct of the duke of Lunenbourgh the colonell of the horse-men being Grombacke Risebergh and one of the Lantgraue of Hessens brethren the foot-men being commaunded by the earle of Rocquedolf Reycrogh and others who being mustered in Lorraine ioyned with the dukes of Guise and Neuers with their French men and so besieged Theonuille otherwise called Diettenhold in Lutsenbergh lying vpon the riuer of Moselle wherein Peter Quarebbe a gentleman of Louen was gouernour with about eighteene hundred men and vpon the fift of Iune began to batter it with 35 pecces of canons the earle of Horne seeking by all the meanes hee could to get into it with a hundred men but they were repulst The mean time the French men continued their shooting and mining vntill they saw conuenient time to giue an assault whereby they within being much weakened and hauing no assurance of releefe to be sent them were forced to enter into a parlie and vpon the two and twentieth of Iune deliuered vp the towne vpon condition That the souldiers should depart with their rapiers and poniards the horse-men with their armes and the townes men with as much of their goods as they could carrie At this siege there were many French men slaine and amongst other great commanders the marshal Pidue Strossy that was shot in his brest with a musket as hee stood speaking with the duke of Guise that leaned with his hand vpon his shoulder And so the strong town of Theonuille was lost which most men ascribed to the small authoritie that the gouernour bare ouer the souldiers as being but a meane gentleman of Brabant While this was done in Lutsenburgh the marshall de Termes gouernor of Calis had assembled certaine souldiers out of diuers garrisons and elswhere to the number of 8000 foot and 1500 horse-men with certaine ordnance and therewith marching into Flanders passed ouer the riuer of Ha where a number of countrey-men were slaine that thought to haue intercepted his passage so went along by Graueling Borborgh and from thence to Duynkerke a towne lying vpon the sea where he planted his ordnance vpon the downes and so battered the same and while the burgesses were in parly about deliuering ouer of the towne hauing no garrison within it they were by the French men assailed and the towne woon who hauing ransackt the same at the last burnt it which done they went to Berghen S. Winox which they also ransackt burnt and all the countrey as far as Newport King Philip being in Brussâ—…ls and hearing of the spoile that the French men made in Flanders and in Lutsenburgh assembled his souldiers from al parts and sent the duke of Sauoy generall of his armie into the earldome of Namure there to resist the duke of Guise and into Flanders the earle of Egmont with full power to take order for the safetie of the countrey before more forces could ioyne with the lord of Termes With which charge the earle of Egmont drew al the garrisons out of the places thereabouts and with him had the lord of Bingincourt marshal of the field and hauing other forces sent vnto him out of the duke of Sauoyes campe hee had in all eight or ten
of Groningen and to annoy the Netherlands no more vpon paine to incurre the indignation of his imperiall Maiestie and the proscription of the empire the which the emperour did graunt him commaunding the earle expressely to forbeare and to retyre out of the territories of the king of Spaine the earle answered the herauld That he could not doe it before he had aduertised the prince of Orange his brother and other noblemen their confederates and being certified of their resolutions he would answere his imperiall Maiestie Which summation beeing heard and notwithstanding his answere many Seigniors of Germanie being terrified with this commaundement returned with their troupes into Germanie Yet the earle continued his siege vntill the comming of the duke of Alua who passing by Boisleduke with seuenteene companies of foot and some peeces of artillerie which he had drawne out of Macklyn he approched to Groningen the foureteenth of Iuly where hee went to counter-campe Before his comming the earle of Meghen hauing sallied foorth receiued a shot whereof hee dyed soone after The earle of Nassau knowing him so neere him and finding himselfe too weake to make head against him raysed his campe and retyred into the countrey of Embden in the countie of East-Friseland breaking the bridges and spoyling the countrey where hee passed to take all commoditie and meanes from the enemie to pursue him yet not without often skirmishing The duke of Alua put duke Erick of Brunswicke with all his Reistres in garrison into the towne for that beeing a marish countrey the horsemen could doe him but small seruice following the earle with his footmen who by his spies vnderstood he was encamped at Iemminghen a very commodious place hauing on the one side the riuer of Ems and the towne of Embden at his backe from whence he might draw all things necessarie for the entertainment of his armie being resolued to keepe himselfe there vntill that his brother the prince of Orange had entred with the body of his armie into some other part of the Netherlands which would cause the duke of Alua to retyre out of Friseland to goe against him for to stoppe his entrie But the duke hauing recouered the castle of Wede made a bridge at Reyden vpon Ems and sent Sancho d' Auila to view the earles campe and to draw him foorth to skirmish then followed Iulian Romero with eight hundred muskettiers to make him quit his lodging Sancho de Lodogno with a thousand Spanish shot Caesar Gonsague and Curio Martinengue with two companies of horsemen And for the arereguard fifteene companies of Wallons vnder George of Lalaine baron of Ville brother vnto the earle of Hoochstraten who was with Cont Lodowic and sixe ensignes of Germanes after the which followed Alonzo d' Vlloa and Gonsalue of Bracamont with sixe hundred launces the which could not march but one at once by reason of the streightnesse of the way hauing water on eyther side Cont Lodowic would willingly haue cut a dike to haue drowned his enemies before they should haue come vnto his trenches hauing himselfe with the earle of Schouwenberch and other commaunders taken shouels and pickaxes in their hands to worke But his Germanes who were about seuen thousand men seeing the Spaniards march resolutely towards them began after their accustomed manner to cry for Gelt and demaunded their pay saying that the money was come vnto the campe The earle who would gladly haue fought sought to persuade them saying That hee had no leysure to count it but that the enemie beeing so neere they must fight promising them their pay as soone as the enemie were repulsed and vanquished But neyther his persuasions nor those of the earle of Schouwenberch preuayled any thing to dispose them vnto battaile The Spaniards who had begun the skirmish by tenne of the clocke in the morning and entertayned it vntill two in the afternoone hauing discouered the Germanes countenances came resolutely vnto their trenches the which they forced with small losse and put them to rout whereof many were slaine vpon the place for their payment receiuing a worthie reward for their trecherie vnto the earle a great number of the souldiors saued themselues as well by swimming as in their small barkes Cont Lodowic and many gentlemen and others saued themselues also in little skiffes after that they had made resistance euen to the extremitie The earle of Hoochstraten was two dayes before retyred from the campe to goe vnto the prince And the earle of Schouwenberch seeing vpon the first approch of the enemie that the Landtsknechts demaunded siluer and would not bee contented with promises but refused to fight dislodged betimes with most of the horsemen The duke of Alua after this victorie writ to Iohn bishop of Munster the eight and twentieth of Iuly complayning greatly of Cont Lodowic of Nassau who he said would yeeld to no reason breaking the commaundements of the emperour and the empire hauing sopyled all the countie of Embden yea he accused the earle of East Friseland and lord of Embden that he had assisted him with victuals and munition whereby he did shew that hee was a friend to Cont Lodowic and an enemie vnto the king of Spaine and the rather for that during this battaile they had made certaine shot of great Ordnance from the towne vpon the kings troupes Yet these letters were of small effect the bishop not daring to stirre fearing the prince of Orange who was in Germanie prouiding of an armie appointing his Rendes-vous in the countrey of Treues neere vnto the abbey of Romersdorffe whereas staying a moneth he made a generall muster His chiefe Colonels and Reytmasters were Frederic Rollenheim marshall of Hessen very famous for the seruice which he had done the Protestāts in France Diederich of Schouwenberch Cont Albert of Nassau the earl Richard of Barby colonels among the Reytmasters Otto of Malsburg Herman Rydesal Adam Welsen others with seuen thousand Reyters The colonels of the foot were Nicholas of Hadtstate a gentlemā of ancient nobility and a man of great experience in warre Feyt Schoomer and Balthazar Woolfe with foure and fortie ensignes of Landtsknechts Of the French were the lords of Genlis Moruilliers the barons of Renty Mouy Antricourt Esternay Fongieres la Personne and others commaunding twelue cornets of horse and two thousand harquebusiers The Netherlanders and Wallons were commaunded by the baron of Batenbourg and the Seigniors of Waroux Baxtell Risoir Carlo Marbais Louverval d'Ohain and many others among the which was the Seignior of Launoy earle of March a mad head hauing sworne neuer to cut his haire nor beard nor to cut his nailes vntill he were reuenged for the death of the earle of Egmont his cousin with whom Cont Lodowic also ioyned with those troupes hee could saue at the rout at Iemminghen Some captaines carried in their colours this deuice Pro Lege Rege Grege others carried Pelicans others Roses painted vpon their morrions which is the auncient marke of
king of Spaine was sent as agent into England by the Commander to intreat her maiesty to banish all the Kings rebells that were retired thether The which was at the first refused him the Queene finding it very strange vnworthy the Maiesty of a Prince to chase away the poore exiled Netherlanders who were fled into her dominions to saue their liues and to auoide the Spanish tirany practised both against their bodies and consciences Shewing the mischiefe which had insued how much the King his maister had bin preiudized in the like case 3. years before when at his request she had driuen out of her Ports the Earle of Marck and them of his company with their ships who beeing thus chased away to all aduentures seeking a place of retreat they seized vpon the Iland and towne of Briele so as it had bin better for the King hee had not made any such request notwithstanding at the instance of the Agent the Queene gaue cōmandment to all captaines officers of her Ports and hauens not to suffer any one to enter and to cause al those retire that did carry armes against the King of Spaine Among the which that might not enter or that were there already were particularly named The Prince of Orange al those of his house the Earles of Culenburg Vandan-bergh and la Marck the signior of Esquerdes and of Lumbres brethren Rumen Carnesse Noielles Blioul Bredam Boisot Saint Aldegonde Mansart Vanden Dorpe Vander Aa Houtain Vanden Timpel Iunius and many others to the number of fifty by name This was granted by the Queene for that by doctor Wilson her agent she had obtained of the Cōmander that the Earle of Westmerland al other English rebells should be in like sort banished out of the low-counties and that the English ships 4. at once the which she had also obtained from the Prince of Orange might traffick freely at Antwerp and in al other places During this negotiation the Prince of Orange and the States of Holland and Zeland finding by that had past at the last cōference at Breda that there was no assurāce of peace with the King of Spaine whereby they might enioy the exercise of their relligion they consulted to what part they should turne whom they should seeke vnto to preserue their liues wiues children and goods against the violence of the king of Spaine wherevpon they propoūded to choose one of 3. great mighty Monarks for their Protector which was the Empire France or England As for the Empire they found great difficulty least hope there considering the diuersity of relligion and the small vnion that was betwixt the Princes of Germany one distrusting an other and euery one troubled with care how to maintaine his owne estate in peace free from the practises as well of the Spaniards as of the aduerse party besides the said Princes would neuer endure that any one of them in particular should take vpon him aboue the rest the state gouernment of the Netherlands wherby he might exceed the rest in force and means Moreouer the King of Spaine had many great friends there first the Emperor his brother in law then the dukes of Bauiere and other Protestants besides the bishops And that before they should incorporate the said Netherlands vnto the Empire their would be a yeare and a day spent before the States thereof would agree vpon so important a businesse the which could not be effected without an Imperial diet wherin they should wāt no opponents that would contradict it As for France it was not found counenient not only by reason of the periuries massakers cruelties lately committed there but for many other inconueniences which would follow it and that France was now exhaust and drawne dry of money and meanes by reason of the ciuill warres the which were not yet fully pacified And admit the French were wel affected to them yet could it not be done without great distrust of either part which would haue bred a continuall war betwixt the vnited Prouinces of Holland Zeeland and their associates and the Brabansons Flemings Artesiens and them of Henault who had rather haue warre against the French by reason of their old quarrells then against the vnited States As for the English notwithstāding the difficulties of the tongues they found not any in their opiniōs more fit to receiue them vnder their protection not onely by reason of the conformity of religion but also for the Queenes greatnesse her neighbourhood and the nauigation and traffick from one country to another whereby Spaine should be out of hope to be commanders at sea besides the realmes of Denmarke Sueden the county of Emden and the Hans townes of the East countries did not onely desire it but also intreated it might take effect that they might ioyne with them in a new league The which would also cause Brabant Flanders and other prouinces to seeke to be comprehended in this league yea and France it selfe that they might with their common forces weaken the Spaniards and reduce him vnto reason so as by the means of England those countries should be for euer maintained in peace rest and prosperity The estates and the Prince hauing duly considered which of these three might be most auaileable for them seeing that the estate of their affaires required a speedy resolution of the one before that their enemies should preuaile more ouer them they concluded that they must seeke to the Queene of England wherefore applying themselues vnto the time and to reason to that which their religion required their estate had most need of they sent into England Philip of Marnix signior of S. Aldegunde Iohn Vander-dorpe signior of Nortwyck William of Nyuelt Paul Buys aduocate for the states of Holland Doctor Malson a Lawier with others with cōmission to make a league with the Queene or to submit thēselues vnder her prot◅tiō or if necessity so required to acknowledge her for their Princesse soueraign Lady issued from the Earles of Holland Zeeland by the Lady Philipot daughter to William the third of that name Earle of Henault and Holland c. Wherevpon the Queene waighing of the one side the hatred of the Spaniards the iealousie of the French the great charges she must bee at if she vnder-tooke their cause grew cold in satisfying of their demands Besides the great Commander had sent the Lord of Champaigny vnto the Queene who preuailed so with his eloquence ' as she resolued rather to entertaine the amity of Spaine then to accept the offers the states made vnto her and to seeke some meanes to reconcile both parties for the quiet of her realme for the which she intreated the King by a particular discourse by protestation that if he would not agree with his Netherlands giue them peace that he should not thinke it strange if for her owne safety she did lay hold vpon Holland and Zeeland
further in that which hee hath begun to remedy these things And for this effect as the pacification made at Marche in Famine betwixt his heighnesse and the generall Estates of the country was afterwards confirmed by the perpetuall edict and then ratefied by his maiesties expresse authority so in like manner those of Holland and Zeeland should cause it to be proclaymed in their Prouinces and townes to bee ioyntly accepted of them all 〈◊〉 so long as it remaines vn-proclaimed it seemes that they of Holland and Zeeland would hold themselues diuided from the rest and not ioyne in this generall vnion which is the true and only meanes of the safety and preseruation of the country It would be also necessary to cease from fortefying of townes and other places which they not only continue but they build vp new which seemes to contradict the effect of peace for being no enemies and hauing no cause to distrust on another there is no need to fortehe if they will not nourish Ielousie and breed supition of hostility Moreouer as his highnesse hath vnderstood that not onely they doe daily cast new artillery and furnish them-selues with all sorts of munition as if they were still in warre but also they melt the old peeces againe which carried his Maiesties armes and that they graue on them other armes the which is quite contrary to the pacification of Gand and preiudiciall to the article which faith that the generall assembly shall take order for the restitution of artillery munition forts and shippes vnto his Maiesty his highnes would desire that this might be prouided for and that hereafter they would forbeare from any such casting and that they would also forbeare from making of any league or secret allyances with any forraine Princes or neighbour Prouinces seeing it cannot but breed great distrust and nonrish matter of bad intelligence one with an other being also against the duty of obedience which the subiects owe vnto their naturall Prince And besides his Highnes would wish that according to that which had beene concluded at the pacification of Gand and that which his Highnes hath also ratefied and promised for his part they will procure that the generall assembly of the estates may be held as soone as may be as it is conteyned in the said pacification and that to that end they will consider of the meanes whereby they may make them assemble and of the time and other circumstances thereto required The Prince hauing heard this speech after that he had retired a little into the Anext chamber with the deputies of the estates of Holland and Zeeland being returned hee answered Thus hauing heard the points propounded by his Highnes deputies for that there were many articles of importance and whereon they must conferre together hee desired to haue them in writing that they might answer to euery one in particular as it was fit Therevpon Doctor Elbertus Leoninus spake and said that to auoyd prolixitie of writing the which did breed but confusion they thought it necessary not to put any thing in writing and therefore that by way of conference they would answer to the points propounded and endeauor to come vnto that defired vnion and concord propounding also on their parts the points that might seeme to breed any scruple difficulty or distrust that by an amiable conference they might vnderstand one an other and if it were possible procure concord and vnion which is so much desired of all sides where-vpon the Prince answered that he desired nothing might bee treated of but by writing for that other-wise they might speake things of either side which might bee sinisterly interpreted or that might bee denied to haue beene treated of as wee haue seene said he by experience in that sollemne Treaty of the pacification of Gand which they labor by all meanes to make fruitlesse and vnprofitable vnder colour that some points which were debated by Mouth and not so particularly set downe are wrested to an other sence as that of gouernments giuen by commission from his Maiestie the which is a cleare point and yet they seeke gloses and cauelings to obscure the will and meaning of the contractors vppon colour that the name of Vtrecht was not expresly set downe in writing and whereas he said that writing bred confusion the which is not made plaine but by writing therefore hereafter they would not treat other-wise then by writing There-vppon the Doctor replied that they would not make any difficultie therein But that first by an amiable conference they would giue them to vnderstand the points where-with they held them-selues grieued to the end that seeking their content they should demand that which should bee fit for their safety The Prince answered But seeing they kept not that which was so sollemnly promised at Gand and confirmed by oth by most of the Nobilitie and Townes in particular and ratified by Don Iohn and his Maiestie what hope can wee haue that what-soeuer shall be promised hereafter will be maintained and kept Wherein is it said the Seignior of Grobbendoncq that you complaine that the pacification is not intertained The question was of Breda and of his Sonne but the first day of the garrison of Breda But said the rest suppose the pacification bee accomplished for all cannot bee done at one instant Don Iohn hath begun well hee must haue time to finish the rest and matters that are doubtfull must bee debated that it may bee made apparent where-vnto hee is bound For touching the point of Vtrecht it is no wonder if hee hath not satisfied it seeing that hee findes not Vtrecht specified in the pacification and that there lay before him many considerable disputable reasons why hee is not bound to do it Yea said the Prince by this reason you may draw any matter in question neither is there any matter so cleere but it may bee disputed the which was amplified by the Seignior of Saint Aldegond and concluded by his Excellency that they should first fullfill the articles of the said pacification and that then the Estates beeing assembled they would propound of either side the other points seruing for their greater assurance There-vppon Doctor Leoninus propounded that it was to bee considered that the generall Assemblie of the Estates was not without danger for the great number of them that did assist and the diuersity of humors especially of them that are not allwaies iudicious and discreet Producing for example the Assemblie of the Estates of France the which we haue seene to ingender more dissention and cause of warre then there was before And therefore it were fit to consider if by an amiable conference of the points that are in question and whereof there remaines yet some scruple of distrust that we may excuse this generall Assemblie and auoid the danger that might grow thereby Where-vpon his Excellencie answered that there was a great difference betwixt the Estates of this country the Estates of
points which were touching treatie of peace contribution their dealing which they sought to haue with the duke of Aniou and the gouernment of the land Concerning peace he complained verie much That he should be charged by certain men to be the onely cause that it tooke not effect whereas to the contrarie he had alwayes giuen counsell and did yet counsell them by all the meanes they could to procure the same as knowing well that otherwise they were to expect farre greater warre and bloudshed than euer they had but he perceiued the matter to be brought to that passe as those of the reformed religion were wholly bent not to forsake nor flie the country any more and that there was nothing else sought nor desired by the treatie of peace than to raise more diuision in the countrey as by consenting and desiring to continue the pacification of Gant which before in the treatie with the baron of Selles they held and esteemed to bee bad and vnlawfull and that for the same cause they ought to bee rooted out referring himselfe further therein to that which had beene answered thereunto by the generall estates Adding thereunto That the enemie vnder that pretence of treatie of peace sought nothing else but the liues and goods of the inhabitants of the Netherlands when as all the townes and forts should be deliuered ouer into the hands of such as offered them no other securitie but the simple and meere othe of those that had so much forgotten their honours as they had vndertaken to beare armes against their natiue countrey which othe should by the same persons that were much harder and worse affected than the Spaniards themselues soone and verie lightly be dispensed withall as it appeared by diuers examples in Fraunce and in the Netherlands in the yeare 1566. Further protesting before God and all princes potentats and the whole world That no man could pretend protest or prooue himselfe to haue suffered more losse and hinderance by the warres than he and that no man more wished desired nor thought it more profitable or necessary than himselfe it being sufficiently and manifestly knowne what lands and inheritances were by the enemy forcibly kept and withholden from him without any recompence As also that the detaining of his sonne the earle of Buren who against all reason was a prisoner in Spaine could not chuse but moue his fatherly heart who without a peace was wholly out of hope euer to see him againe which he notwithstanding next to the honour of God and the welfare of his natiue countrey most desired for that he as other fathers bore all naturall loue vnto his sonne Secondly That he had as then attained to those yeares which well deserued rest and quietnesse after so many labours and troubles by him endured but for that many men not onely such as made profession of the reformed religion but those also that seeke the freedom of their naturall countrey wholly relied vpon him he could not hearken nor consent to any peace but onely to that which tended to the securitie of religion freedome and priuiledges of the Netherlands and such as might be firme and permanent against the which desired peace for discharge of his conscience he certainly affirmed and acknowledged that the articles propounded at Cologne were wholly repugnant tending to the ouerthrow and abolishing of the reformed religion and the liberties of the Netherlands as he shewed and declared by many reasons which were ouerlong as now to be rehearsed and therein I refer the reader to the printed copie Touching the contribution he referred them therein to that which was done by the assembly at Vtrecht as it appeared more at large by the answer by him made vnto euery particular article of the same Concerning the duke of Aniou considering the great endeuors and earnest meanes sought by the Netherlands to attaine vnto a good peace and that on the kings behalfe there had not as yet been any signes nor shewes of any kind of good will or liking thereunto much lesse vnto the reformed religion and that there was nothing but all oppression and the ouerthrow of religion to be expected at his hands He said That if it so fel out that the prouinces of the Netherlands wold chuse another prince that there was no prince nor potentat that could as then be found whose authoritie or means could effect more good vnto the Netherlands than that of the queen of England or of the aforesaid duke of Aniou for that notwithstanding that the princes of the empire had seuerally and oftentimes beene moued and desired to take and receiue the Netherlands into their protection and that the emperors Maiestie likewise by letters both from the arch duke Mathias and the generall estates as also by diuers men of good qualitie and condition sent vnto him had beene most humbly intreated to grant thereunto yet would neither his Maiestie nor the said princes of the empire once bee stirred or persuaded to giue any aid or assistance to the Netherlands notwithstanding that the said prouinces are a member of the said empire Secondly that he had many and seuerall times vnderstood and made triall of the queene of Englands meaning and intent not onely touching the defence and protection of the Netherlands but also concerning the good affection and great fauour that shee bore vnto the said duke hauing written in his behalfe vnto the generall estates therefore vnder correction and for the good of the vnited prouinces and townes of the Netherlands hee said That there was no other meanes now remaining than to haue their refuge vnto the aforesaid duke and the rather for that such an honourable worke required a prince that might personally effect the same vpon condition that the Netherlands might bee will prouided of souldiers and sufficient meanes to withstand the Spaniards with securitie of religion and the priuiledges and euerie prouince to remaine in their old and antient rights and customes without any alteration And that if the countrey thought it more conuenient to chuse any other prince he referred himselfe therein to their iudgements promising and offering his seruice according to his abilitie for the defence of the countrey in the meane time wishing them to consider of the best meanes that might be found for the withstanding of such an enemie Touching the gouernment of the countrey hee referred that to the discretion of the prouinces as also concerning that which they should please to ordaine touching the person of the archduke Mathias but for himselfe he said hee could not let slip certaine manifest imperfections which vntill that time were not by any meanes to be remedied for want of obedience the which had caused great complaints to be made by diuers persons some for want of vnderstanding and others of meere hatred and malice Hee likewise said That besides that the disobedience commonly shewed was and had beene the cause of much euill the money that was to be imploied in the warres
very good sort both at the time of the massacre and in many other troubles hauing giuen good testimonie that he was displeased thereat not without the danger of his life yet at the last beeing mooued and prouoked he also bare armes against the Huguenots which was one of the causes of a peace which he sought to vphold and maintaine But howsoeuer it were such care and diligence might bee vsed and hee should haue such conditions prescribed vnto him as that if he would bee mooued or procured to follow any euill counsell he should not by any means be able to effect it and so much the rather for that he shall continually haue the kings followers and adherents opposite vnto him which will be a meanes to make him more desirous to win the peoples hearts and by that meanes he would also haue an especiall regard vnto those of the Religion in Fraunce and not seeke to molest them so that to speake after the maner of men there was no better nor conuenienter means in the world than that to cease the warres in the Netherlands for that the Spaniards hauing Fraunce their enemie would be wholly vnable to proceed with his warres as hauing their prouision munition and money most brought vnto them by the way of France as it appeared by their siege of Mastricht which by reason of their prouision gotten out of Fraunce was lost By that meanes likewise he should be barred from bringing of his Spanish and Italian souldiers and his money into the Netherlands especially if the king of France either secretly or openly would declare himselfe to be enemy vnto Spaine On the other side it were to be hoped that they of Arthois and Henault would seek to vnite themselues with the estates when they should see perceiue that it would be too chargeable for them to maintaine warre on both sides or that they could hardly let the states souldiers frō inuading them by which means they should get great store of forcible contribution from thē and so require the iniury done vnto those of Flanders The duke likewise should haue no cause to prefer the Wallons before other prouinces which vntill that time had most beene vsed and would be much more as it euidently appeared if the Spaniards once got the vpper hand and further it concerned the estates much carefully to take heed least the Wallons should procure the said duke to hold on their side And if any man should maintaine that the duke would not obserue the pacification of Gant or that the countrey might therby moue the Q. of England against them they said that it was very vnlikely that the duke would make any difficultie touching the pacification of Gant as being made most against the Spaniards Wherein the examples of the dukes of Burgundie might serue them for instruction which were likewise brethrē of France and with whom in times past the Netherlands made no difficultie to treat Touching the queene of England they knew she had rather haue the duke than the king of Spain to be her neighbor especially then whē as he had gotten the kingdome of Portugall whose power were to be feared being the onely lord both of the East and West Indies and so mightie a prince Besides the queene shewed her selfe not to haue any bad opinion of the duke in regard that she had proceeded so farre as to parle and did yet parle with him about a mariage to be made betweene them and although the same tooke no effect yet the English lords that were most addicted to the religion would not be displeased but rather desire to see some good proceedings in the affaires of the Netherlands Besides that it was to be thought that Spaine would prouide so much worke for Fraunce as England should not neede to feare Fraunce especially when as their intent was to include the queene of England in that contract And whereas some might perchance suspect That the said duke should haue secret intelligence with the king of Spain that was not likely but it was most true and without doubt that the king of Spaine would alwayes rather take the Netherlands againe into his owne hands vpon such conditions as thē were offered vnto him by the estates thā to stand to such hazard and after that be forced to receiue his country again at the king of France his brothers hands with many harder conditions than were then offered vnto him besides that all his dealings letters and actions shewed the contrary so that there was no cause why any such suspition should grow in any wise mans head Therefore the prouinces were requested once againe to resolue vpon that which they thought best to bee done that such meanes might be wrought as the Netherlands might once againe bee released and vnburthened of their continuall miseries feares troubles and warres These reasons and arguments being long debated and consulted vpon both by the townes and the generall estates at the last they resolued and agreed to accept the duke of Aniou for their soueraigne lord as hereafter shal be shewed In September past the captaine which commaunded for the estates in Bryel made a bargaine with the captaines male contents of Athois and Henault to deliuer vp vnto them the towne and Island of Bryel but it was with an intent to surprise thē the which they thinking to effect with some ships of Grauelinge appointed like vnto them of the Hollanders they approched neere vnto the Island but they were charged by them of Holland and all slaine or drowned The seignior of Alennes mad for the disgrace hee had receiued at Courtray which was redoubled by the losse of Menin dreamed of nothing but of reuenge for the effecting whereof he sent a captaine of Henault called Ieams Corbetiers who attyred like a pesant went to view the weakest parts of the towne the which he found to be betwixt the castle and the rampar of the towne D'Allennes meaning to make a tryall his enterprise succeeded so happily as for want of a greater garrison he became master thereof by force The 28 of Februarie the town was spoiled and the bourgers put to ransome A little before the foure members of Flanders had sent them four companies of Wallons thither but they excused themselues saying they had no need of them which was the cause of their ruine It happeneth so most commonly that to auoid a small discommoditie they fall into great miserie About the same time Monsieur de la Noue being generall of the Frenchmen and of all other souldiers that remained in Flanders hauing intelligence that the earle of Egmont with his wife mother and brother Charles with diuers other gentlemen were in Ninouen which is a small towne lying betwixt Alost and Geersbergh and not very strong nor very well manned th◅y tooke it in the night by scalado on the 28 of March with small losse on either side It was taken before the earle heard any alarme being in bed with his
side the Estates sent doctor Iunius thither to dissuade them who preuayled so much with his reasons as neither the duke of Arschot nor the prince of Chimay could doe any good considering that they of Gant had renewed a more firme league with the generalitie And as a great number of them of Bruges were retyred out of the towne it was easie for the prince of Chimay to conclude this reconciliation with the prince of Parma the which was proclaymed with great triumph and pompe vpon the fiue and twentieth of May with reasonable conditions to draw on them of Gant Scluse and Oostend The Scottish garrison which were in it were left to their choice to retyre or to continue in the king of Spaine his seruice of the which few remained and although that colonel Boyde did soone find how little the prince of Parma did esteeme him yet he durst not trust the Estates By this treatie of Bruges they of Franc and Dam were also reconciled in restoring the Clergie men vnto the possession of their goods and leauing all exercise of the reformed Religion suffering euery man to liue with libertie of his conscience not committing of any scandale and enioying of their goods the which continued not long The Seignior of Croisilles of the house of Montmorency was appointed gouernour there without any garrison seeing that the Catholickes who had fled away before and the Clergie were fully restored The prince of Chimay after the publication of this treatie of reconciliation required of the ministers of Bruges wherein it was thought that he did both mocke them and their Religion a certificat of his good life and profession But beeing departed with his Minister home to his own house they soone left their Religion the prince discharging all his houshold seruants which desired to continue in the profession thereof by the which renunciation and trecherie he purchased euen with the same partie which he tooke dishonour for euer with a marke of inconstancie and lightnesse The Contesse of Meghen discouering his heart and his manner of liuing would no more follow him but retyred to Scluse and from thence in Holland The prince of Parma hauing at that time seized vpon the village of Burcht on Flanders side vpon the riuer of Escaut halfe a league from Antuerpe and hauing caused it to be fortified to keepe any thing from passing by water to Gant Brussels or Macklyn they of Antuerpe sent their shippes of warre thither to chase them from thence or to hinder the fortification but it was in vaine by reason whereof they made another fort on the other side of the riuer vpon Brabant side about the village of Hoboken right against Burcht to defend their nauigation to the said townes then they pierced the dike betwixt Burcht and the head of Flanders the which drowned the whole countrey vnto Beueren and Calloo At the breaking of which dike they made a fort opposite to that of Burcht the which did batter one another continually with their great ordnance and with musket shot hauing nothing but the said breach betwixt the two forts But this fort was made by them of Antuerpe somewhat too late many shippes being passed by this hole to Calloo during the siege of the towne They of Bruges Franc and Dam being by reason of their reconciliation well accorded with the king of Spaine yet were they no lesse free from enemies round about them than if they had beene besieged for that they of Gant Scluse and Oostend cut off their victuals vpon all passages wherfore they did write to them of Gant on the seuenth of Iuly to induce them to their party shewing that they being one of the foure members of Flanders they had no reason to reiect the reconciliation with their king and not to ioyne with the other three members alreadie reconciled alledging many persuasiue reasons the which for breuities sake I omit Hereupon the Estates of Brabant Holland and Zeeland sent their deputies to Gant to shew them that such priuate reconciliations could neuer bâ—…eed a good peace but rather a dangerous and miserable warre vnsheathing more the enemies sword against their brethren and friends And if it happened that Brabant with Holland and Zeeland were in warre against them that Flanders would be more miserably oppressed than euer considering the hinderance of the nauigation by sea whereof the Spaniards were barred the breaking of the dikes in the land of Waes and the inundation which should cut off their victuals on all sides besides that Fraunce nor England would neuer suffer the Spaniard to lodge so farre within the countrey whereby they might doubt to haue warre against him And touching the two points which the king of Spaine demaunded which was the Romish Religion only and the absolute obedience which he maintained to bee due vnto him as for the Religion if onely the Romish were receiued there the reformed then must bee quite banished And to assure this obedience they must repayre and build the citadels vp againe and make new the which must be continually entertained with strong garrisons and so they should be in worse estate than before These and such like reasons were layed before them of Gant on the Estates behalfe with good hope to bring a goodly armie shortly to field the which should come into the country of Flanders as soone as they had woon the forts of Zutphen whereof they hoped soone to see a good end the which retayned the Ganthois for a time and kept them from making of any reconciliation vntill that their affaires were otherwise disposed as we will presently shew At that time there was a Dyet of the Electors and other princes of the empire held at Bottenberch in Germanie to treat of the meanes to keepe the Empire in quiet rooting out all distrust which was among the princes by reason of the diuersitie of Religion whereby it was easie to comprehend that Monsieur Segur embassadour for the king of Nauarre being sent vnto the said princes to draw them into league with his master and them of the Protestant Religion in Fraunce and withall to moderate the difference of Religion betwixt the Protestants of Germanie and the French should returne with small fruit of his embassage for they said that Augustus duke of Saxonie answered them That hee would not trouble the prosperitie of his Estate with the affaires of Fraunce and that the Landtgraue of Hessen had sayd That age and experience had taught him how dangerous a thing it was to enter into league with any strangers And therefore they did imagine or else some would persuade them that the French vnder colour of Religion did seeke to make some broyles in Germanie and in the meane time to assure their affaires that the prince of Orange and the English might the better settle the estate of the vnited Prouinces against the violence of the Spaniards who began now to prosper more than they did before Among the townes of the vnited
should receiue should be accounted at 48. daies to the month causing the Collonels Captaines common soldiers to sweare that they should rest satisfied with such pay but the entertainment of superior officers was appointed to be paied at 32. daies to the month And to the end that good order might be obserued concerning the payment of the soldiars which serue in the sayd Prouinces the Estates appointed the sayd soldiers to be kept in garrisons in the sayd Prouinces according to the order made concerning the contributions wherewith euery Prouince was charged according to their abilities whereof ensued many notable effects especially that the contributions of the respectiue Prouinces were not diuided but truely imployed for the furnishing of their seuerall taxations made for the payment of the soldiers which were in ech seuerall Prouince Secondly that the soldiers might know in what Prouince they were to demande their pay and if any default were made they might presently know how to seeke remedy for the same from the Councell of Estate And finding that the charges of warre grew so great as the ordinarie contributions were not sufficient to defray the same the sayd Prouinces were content to bee rated extraordinarilie ouer and aboue the old contribution which euery of the sayd Prouinces vsed to pay whereof the Councell of Estate had the disposition and imployed it for the extraordinary charge And it was agreed that at the end of the yeare the sayd Prouinces should assemble and account together to see if euerie of them had payd there new and old contributions orderly as they ought and what remained vnpaied The meanes wherby the sayd Prouinces raise their particular monthly contributions are not alike in euery Prouince for they of Holland and Zeeland beeing the richest and mightiest Prouinces do raise their contribution by excises and imposte rated vpon wines beere cattell gold siluer silke wollen-cloathes horned beasts sope salt vinager aqua-uitae and many other things the which are euery sixe monthes by certaine commissioners appointed by the Estates of the sayd Prouinces let out to farme and besides this by the poundage rated vpon all lands according to the yeerely value thereof and if the reuenues and taxations within the particular Prouinces will not extend to the summe ordained to bee paied by them in ordinary and extraordinary contributions then that which is found short is either made vp by the townes in Holland or els it is layed vpon the rest of the generall diuision that is equally and by a generall consent whereof the townes are satisfied againe either by selling or letting out of certaine rents belonging to the whole country of Holland or in money out of the poundage which is collected generally out of the whole Prouince aforesayd Some Prouinces haue other meanes to raise their contributions as the scituation and condition of the Prouinces may afford of the best meanes they can deuise for the preseruation of the sayd Prouinces townes and villages which prescribed contribution is not to be diminished but must bee paied out of such meanes as they shall finde least preiudiciall to their subiects With these and such like meanes the vnited Prouinces of Holland Zeeland Vtrecht and Friseland haue not onely valiantly defended themselues against the powre of so mightie a King but also as it shall appeere with the aide of Gelderland and Oueryssel haue oftentimes made offensiue warres against the sayd King and haue taken whole Prouinces with many strong townes and fortes from him wherein the sayd Prouinces haue neuer imploied any greater powre in the field besides the garrisons of Bourgers in their townes and fronter places then 12. or 13000. foote and 3000. horse well furnished and prouided of all kinde of munition for the warre as the necessity of the place besieged required hauing alwaies maintained their soldiers both in field and in garrisons in good discipline punishing open offences reforming abuses and satisfying the interessed The warre by sea is maintained by the Estates in as good order as that by land appointing in their sea Prouinces an office of the Admiralty which consists of diuers persons of good iudgement in pollitick affaires or els in traficke by sea and are diuided into fiue seuerall places where they haue their ordinary residence as at Amsterdam Rotterdam and Horne or Enchuysen for Holland at Midlebourg for Zeeland and at Harlinghen or Doccum for Friseland of the which Prince Maurice as Admirall Generall of the sea is the head In whose name all commissions and orders for the warre appointed by the sayd Officers of the Admiralty are sent forth the Officers vnder him are sworne and receiue their commission from the generall Estates The Admiralll hath three or foure Vice-admiralls which keepe in Holland and Zeeland in places that are most conuenient vpon the sea-coast as in Holland Iohn van Deuenvoord Lord of Warmont and vnder him Peter vander Doos and Iohn Gerbrantson In Zeeland Iustin Nassau and vnder him Ioos de Moor. The Officers of the Admiraltie direct all the warres by sea by aduise from the generall Estates and to that end they receiue such money as is payed for conuoies and Licenses rated vpon goods going out and comming in according to the order set downe by the generall Estates which taxes are raised higher euery yeare by the sayd Estates if necessity require it and be thought conuenient for the good of the Netherlands The money rysing of the sayd conuoies c. is collected by sworne Officers appointed by the sayd courts of Admiralty and is imployed to the paiement of the souldiars which serue by sea and are at the charge of the generality as also for the building and repayring of shippes of warre and for the rigging and furnishing them with all things necessarie the which is a very great charge in respect of the great number of shippes of war which they are forced to entertaine continually The warre by sea is ordered by the Admiraltie in this sort first they appoint diuers shippes of warre to watch the hauen townes which are vnder the enemies commande as before Dunkerke Nieuport Ostend c. Secondly there are certaine ships of warre sent out to keepe the seas Thirdly they vse yearely to send out some shippes of warre to defend the fisher-men which take herings and cod vpon the coasts of England Scotland and there-abouts fourthly as the Marchants shippes saile out of the said Prouinces to traficke with France England Scotland Denmarke and other places they are safely convoyed by certaine shippes of warre to defend them from their enemies and from pirats at sea Lastly they haue a great number of small shippes appointed for the warres which they vse within the land to keepe their riuers and fresh waters from Inuasion of the enemies as also for the beseeging of townes and forts which lie vpon the said riuers The said admiralty hath authority to punish offences and reforme disorders committed at sea to determine of
vpon Delfziel for the effecting whereof hee attempted the Fort of Rheyde which is almost an Island lying in the riuer of Ems right against the towne of Emden which he battred and tooke by force the which he fortefied and made a very strong sconst Iland and then he tooke some other small forts thereabouts the duke of Parma to hinder these petty victories sent both men and mony to Verdugo gouernor of Groning but Collonel Schenke defeated them vpon the plaines of Lippe as we haue said The twenty of October William Earle of Nassau tooke an other sconse called Saltcamp lying in the mouth of the Reedeep and entring it by force in the sight of Verdugo who could not preuent it he slue eighty men therein and tooke many prisoners this sconce lieth in a marish stopping the passage vpon Reedeepe vnto Groning The twenty eight of August the Earle of Meurs with the garrisons of Lochem and other neere places entred into Westphalia And for that the great Borrough of Graue two leagues from Munster the cheefe Towne of Westphalia did commonly entertaine the Spaniards which came from about Groning and did fauour them more then the estates men being that day a great free fare especially for horses and much frequented they entred into it sackt the faier and all the inhabitants and marchants that were come thether carrying away a great spoyle The generall estates to make their nauigation to France and England free manned forth a good number of shippes of warre to conuoy their marchants and to defend them against those of Dunkerk and other ports which the Spaniard held vpon the coast of Flanders which shippes were set in gard before the said hauens besides many others that were vpon the riuers of Ems Rhine Meuse Wahal Leck and other places where as the enemy might haue any passage to make his courses into the vnited Prouinces so as all the ships of warre which were intertayned at that time by the estates besides their pinasses which is like a small galley and the hoyes of munition came to a 114. saile and oftentimes more as the necessity of the time and occasion required It happened at that time that one of the estates shippes whereof Iacob Antonissen vice Admirall of Harlem was captaine but not then aboard for that hee was sicke lying with other shippes in gard before Dunkerke while the rest of his company had the enemy in chase he being alone certaine fisher-boates well manned and other shippes of Dunkerk cunningly set vpon him grapled with him and borded him where after they had fought along time and valiantly defended them-selues finding them-selues in the end too weake they set fire on their pouder and blue both themselues vp and a great number of them of Dunkerke that had borded them few onely escaping by swimming and burnt the shippes that were fastned to it The Dunkerkers being now very strong at sea by reason of the great prizes which they tooke daily from them of Holland and Zeeland where with they did so inrich their soldiars as they tempted many saylers and soldiars of the vnited Prouinces to runne thether and to serue them and so they kept in the north seas and tooke diuers English men Netherlanders and fishermen and put them to ransome for assurance whereof they tooke out the maisters pylots and marchants and whatsoeuer was good within the shippes and then let them goe The Englishmen for their parts made no meanes to preuent these spoyles but the vnited Prouinces first somoning all their saylers and soldiars which serued vnder them of Dunkerke hauing committed no heynous crimes to come from them promising them a pardon they appointed a great number of shippes to keepe the seas so as they tooke diuers shippes of Dunkerke and hung vp the men presently of whome the gallowes hung full in some townes of Holland and Zeeland for an example vnto others as vnworthy to bee ransomed whereby their number being some-what decreased they durst not put forth so boldly as they had a fore time beene accustomed vntill that they ioyned them-selues with the leaguers of New-hauen and of the riuer of Soome keeping in their hauens The towne of Bercke lying vpon the Rhine and belonging to the iurisdiction of Cologne being pend vp though not very neere by diuers sconses made and strongly garded by the Duke of Parmas forces the Estates were still forced to victuall the same by strong hand either by the Earle of Meurs Mounsire Villiers or Collonel Schencke This yeare in Ianuary they made a bridge ouer the Rhine and thereby vsed to victual the towne the enemie looking on them but beeing to weake in horse he was forced to endure it and in Iuly after they made a sconse aboue Rees the better to releeue it which the Marquis of Varambon would willingly haue hindred but hee could not The two and twenty day of September the Earles of Hohenlo Meurs and Ouerstein past with goodly troupes of horse and foote for the Estates into the Betuwe to dislodge those Spaniards that were entred into the Island of Bomel But beeing aduertised thereof they were to wise to attend them and repassing the Meuse after they had burnt the castle of Puydroyen and some other places they returned into the Mairie of Boiseleduc in Brabant At that time Mounsire Balaigny Gouernor of Cambray was wauering keeping both the Kings of France Spaine and the league in breath and drawing comoditie from them all When as the league sought succors from the King of Spaine offring him the townes of Guise La Fere and Peronne in pawne the Spaniard demanded ouer and aboue to haue Cambray wherevnto Balaigny opposed meaning as hee sayd to keepe it for the Crowne of France whosoeuer were King but rather for himselfe The Duke of Parma building vpon certaine intelligences which hee had with some of the Clergie and Bourgers of the Towne sent the Marquis of Renty Charles Earle of Mansfeldt and la Motte Pardieu thether who came with their troupes neere vnto Cambray the fifteeneth day of September attending the effect which they expected of their intelligences which was that making a generall procession on the nineteenth day the Chanoins and Bourgers of that faction should keepe a port open by the which they should giue entrie to the Duke of Parmas men But Balaignyes wife who was verie cunning hauing vented this mine beeing aduertised by some one of the enterprise whome shee had wonne they were disapointed for the which the Deane of the Cathedrall Church with some Chanoinâ—… and Burgers were committed to prison who at Balaignyes returne being then absent were executed The Earle of Meurs to victuall the towne of Bercke sent the Earle of Ouerstein the Barron of Poetlyâ—… and Sir Francis Vere thether with a thousand horse and two thousand foote knowing well that the Marquis of Varambon was there attending with eight hundred foote and fiue hundred horse to hinder the sayd victualing These three Commanders beeing
Netherlands and declared openly that he did not accoumpt it a neutrall towne whether the fugitiue Netherlanders should fly for refuge and inioy their lands and possessions in the Netherlands as was graunted vnto such as did dwell in neutrall places wherefore he commanded them to depart and leaue the said towne of Aix and either to returne into his dominions and there to liue like good Catholikes or else to goe and inhabite in other places and that within the space of foureteene daies after the publication of the said Proclamation within the townes of Antwerp and Mastricht vpon paine of forfeyture of the said graces and preuiledges and all their goods moueable and immouable commanding all his Officers to see it presently published proclaimed and put in execution This proclamation was made at Bins the tenth of December in the yeare of our Lord one thousand fiue hundred eighty nine And in the beginning of the yeare it was signified vnto them of Aix The Maior and Sheriffes which were fled seeking by this meanes to ouerthrow the authority of the great Councell of the towne had beene first sutors for it to the Emperor and the Duke of Iuliers as one of the Protectors of the aforesayd towne whose Councell and among the rest one Shynckern Amptman of the towne and Castell of Iuilâ—…ers did solicit it with the Bishop of Liege who procured it from the Duke of Parma in the King of Spaines name to whome the Emperor both in this many other things referred much The reason was that after the retreat of strangers whose goods and reunues did lye most in landes in the Low-countries through the ayd of their Partisans they might returne and dispossessing the Magistrates of the reformed religion settle them-selues in their places but for this time they were disapointed of their expectation yet afterwards in the yeare 1598. they addrest them-selues vnto Cardinall Albert of Austria who vndertooke it This proclamation did spoile many of the chiefe of the straungers for that they began to ceaze vpon their lands goods in the Netherlands which dwelt in Aix wherefore some retyred to Cologne others into the country of Iuilliers Such as went to Leege were presently chased away some continued there still and some redeemed them-selues for money purchasing safeguard from the Duke of Parma at a deere rate for a yeare or halfe a yeare more or lesse being forced still to renue them still at the same price the which was held mechanike and dishonorable in such a Prince The of Aix made petition vnto the Princes Electors at an Imperiall Diet held at Spires and to the Emperor to haue their priuiledge confirmed By reason of the warres in France in Anno 1589. the Estate of the Netherlands was then much altered for that the Prouinces of Arthois Henault Luxembourg Namur and others bordering vpon France were then to defend them-selues from the inuasions of the French in regard the King of Spaine as head of the holy League tooke vppon him to aid and assist the rebels of France giuing the Duke of Parma charge to haue a care thereof for the which in the beginning of this yeare 1590. hee assembled an armie vpon the Frontiers of Arthois which he sent into France vnder the commaund of the Earle of Egmont by which meanes the vnited Prouinces had some time and respight to breath after their long miseries and intestine warres which they had indured against so mighty an enemie And for that the gouernment of many is most tedious and dilatory but wise and prouident in resolution so in the two yeares last past they had spent their time to aduance their affaiers first appeasing all factions betwixt the Estates and the English and the mutinies of their garrisons great wisdome policie money and discipline beeing thereto requisite and necessary the Queene of England being well pleased they should gouerne among them-selues as wee haue formerly declared Concerning religion whereof the gouernment of the country much consisteth they had alwaies an especiall care to follow the necessary resolutions of the generall Estates in the time of the late Prince of Orange making a religious peace and hauing a dislike that men should iâ—…gine their consciences should be forced otherwise then by good instruction good liuing and by prayer And finding them of the reformed religion the most zealous to defend the liberties wel-fare of the Netherlands in regard they had bene many times persecuted for religion by the Spaniards to bee wel vnited togither they therefore grounded their foundation vpon the greatest number and for that the Estate and gouernment consisted of so many heads and opinions they sought to reduce this diuâ—…rsitie of mindes and opinions into one vnitie and consent for the good wellfare of the country whereof they had an especiall care in regard of their continuall wars in which vnity their only support maintenance consisted as by their common seale wherein standeth a bundle of Arrowes bound togither appeareth and for that consideration they neuer forced any mans conscience but only seditious Sectaries as certaine Anabaptists and Munsterians and such as were il conceited of the Magistrates for that they punished Malefactors with the sword of Iustice to them they allowed no open assemblieâ—… other sects whereof God amend it there haue bene to many for a long time they thought good to suffer them for the present time to reclaime them if they could by preaching and sermons made in the reformed Churches with commandement to liue in brotherly loue and to win them with loue and charitie the reformed vsing to that end in their Churches a certaine Christian discipline to auoyd scandall and ill speeches Those of the confession of Ausbourg which seeke to diuide themselues from the reformed religion were allowed to haue preaching and exercises with carefull ouersigh in certaine townes The Catholikes also had no publike exercise of their religion allowed them the which was done in pollicie because of the warres attending a time vntill it should bee otherwise prouided for and resolued by the countrie or generall Estates after an assured peace The Catholikes made no great question about their baptizings and burialls and touching marriages it was decreed by a publike proclamation that all such as were not of the reformed religion after law full and open publication comming before the Magistrates in the towne-houses were orderly giuen in marriage one vnto an other And to shew that their onelie care was for vnity religion and libertie this yeare they caused certaine counters to bee made hauing on the one side two hands griped fast together and holding sixe arrowes bound together with this inscription Deo iuuante On the other side was a strong piller standing vpon a great square booke called religion and vpon the piller was a hat which signified libertie This pillar was fast bound by sixe strong armes noting the sixe Prouinces of Gelders Holland Zeeland Friseland Oueryssel and Vtrecht with
since that Sir Martin Schenck in the yeare 1586 had begun to make vp the sconse there had alwaies complaint beene made touching the same so the Estates could not denie the restitution thereof And moreouer they sayd that they must of force let the generall Estates vnderstand that they had no iurisdiction neither vpon the Confines nor yet in the riuers of the Empire although they pretended that they were Iuris publici common and therefore they had no right to keepe their shippes of warre there to the preiudice of marchantes and sailers to preuent the which no doubt but the Empire would take some good order therewith desyring their resolution vpon those particularities as also concerning the other complaintes The French King beeing this yeare at the seege of Paris and hauing reduced it to great extreamitie the Duke of Parma was prest by the Duke of Maine and them of the league to goe and releeue it And beeing in Iuly at Brusselles hee sent for the Estates of the countrie letting them vnderstand that hee was of force to goe into France to the releefe of Paris appointing in his absence old Peter Ernest Earle of Mansfeldt Gouernor and Captaine generall of the Netherlands by prouiso It is sayd that a motion was then made vnto the Estate to accept and acknowledge the Prince of Spaine the King of Spaines onelie Sonne though then absent to bee their succeeding Lord the which was done onelie to trie the peoples disposition The Estates on the other side layed before him how vnfit and vnnecessarie they held it to make an offensiue warre in France and how preiudiciall it might bee in time to the fronter Prouinces of the Netherlands but whatsoeuer they could pretend or obiect it was held more conuenient to maintaine the warres in France then to attend it in the Netherlands holding it most certaine that the warlike French King would seeke to reduce those Prouinces vnder his command with the aide and assistance of the vnited Prouinces of Holland and Zeland The Duke of Parma hauing taken his leaue in Brabant hee went from thence into Henault and so into France taking with him about eightteene Cornets of horse most Italiens besides those that were sent before him and some of the bandes of Ordinance Of foote men hee had his owne Regiment the Regiments of Noyer-carmes and the Lord of Frenes ten companies of Camillo Capres ten Companies of Ballisons and about three thousand Duch-men of Barlaymonts and Arâ—…enbergs regiments with three and twenty companies of the mutinous Spaniards which were in Courtray which three and twenty companies reckoned them-selues to bee eighteene hundred men and caused them-selues to bee paid for three and twenty monethes after that rate and yet they were not aboue twelue hundred strong but to cry quittance with them the money was raised foure in the hundred higher then it was before These troopes altogither were about tenne thousand foote all old soldiers with a good number of horsemen besides the remainder of the Earle of Egmonts forces and other that came vnto him vppon the Frontiers Hee left behind him in the Netherlands vnder the Earle of Mansfeldt who had the charge of Martiall affaires about eight or tenne Cornets of horse and the rest of the bandes of Ordinance and about sixe Regiments of foote with many companies of seuerall Regiments with the Duke there went the Prince of Ascoly the Prince of Chasteavetrane and Don Octauio both sonnes to the Duke of Terranoua the Prince of Chymay the Marquesse of Renty the Earles of Arremberg and Barlaymont and Don Sancio de Lieua with diuers others Iohn Baptista Taxis was superintendent of the Armie La-Motte generall of the Ordinance Don Alonzo Idtaguez and Don Antonio de Sunega Collonels of the Spaniards Pedo Galeran and Biazio Capezuca Collonels of the Italiens With this Armie well furnished with Artillerie Munition great store of Wagons and all other necessaries the Duke of Parma in great pompe marcht through Henault into France in the moneth of August his Halberdiers Archers and his Cornet of Reisters were all apparrelled in crimson veluet the Reisters being all imbrodered with white Flower de Luces and marching in that manner neere vnto Cambray they had an eye vnto the towne but Mounsier Balagnâ—… was too vigilant for him At Meaux hee ioyned with the Duke of Maine and there tooke charge of the whole army What hapned during his aboad in France I leaue to the French Inuentory where it is related at large The Duke of Parma hauing releeued and entred into Paris winter beeing come and therefore not fit to besiege any townes in regard his armie was full of sicke men hauing great want of prouision for that nothing could come vnto him out of Henault neither could the old soldiers which were appointed to come with some necessaries vnder the leading of Verdugo passe Hee in the end of Nouember resolued to leaue France finding some dislike growne betwixt his soldiers and the French and that the townes of France would not receiue any garrisons of his besides the vnited Prouinces had gotten such victories in his absence as his presence was very necessary so as in December hee came to Brusselles It is thought that the third part of his men dyed of hunger pouertie sicknesse and by the sword and that all the Hospitals in in Arthois and Henault were filled with those that returned home whereof many died At the same time died Emanuell of Lalaine Lord of Montigni and Marquesse of Renty by his wife who was daughter to the last Marquesse of the house of Croy a wise Noble man and of great experience and one of the chiefe of the Nobilitie seruing vnder the King of Spaine a man of great authoritie and command at the first hee was held in great iealousie although he held with the generalitie for that he affected the Spaniards much Whilest that the Duke of Parma was in France Peter Ernest Earle of Mansfeldt beeing his Lieutenant wanting the King of Spaines chiefe forces hee had no meanes whereby to doe any thing that was of importance But in the meane time Prince Maurice slept not but came vnto the field with an Armie to performe a promise which was made by him and the Estates vnto the Princes of the Empire for the restitution of the Forts and places held on either part in the Territories of the Empire VVhere-vppon hee went along the Riuers of Rhyne and Meuse where hee recommended all the Castles and Forts which the Spaniards held as the Castle of Hemert the 27. of September that of Heel the 3. of October the Towne and Castle of Buricke right against Weezel the Fort of Graue beneath the Rhyne in the Duchie of Cleues and at Kenhouen in the diocese of Cologne causing al the forts to be raized which the Spaniards had built along the Rhine vpon the lands of the Empire which done passing his army into Brabant hee tooke the Fort Terheyden at the mouth of
succor his naturall subiects and hauing soone after lost Dam finding his forces to weake to make head against so great Princes hee quite abandoned them of Groning who seeing themselues forsaken and the danger that hung ouer them they fell to consult amongst themselues of making an accord with the Duke of Saxony sending their deputies vnto him with offer to yeeld vp the towne reseruing their preuiledges and certaine other conditions among others that it should be lawfull for them to raise the cittadell which Cont Edsard had built The which Duke George refuzing the deputies returned after they had told him that neuer hee nor any of his should bee Lord thereof Herevpon the Cittizens tooke a new aduise to choose an other Prince that might defend them against the Saxons So with a generall consent they made choise of Charles Duke of Geldres who greatly affected this Estate sending VVilliam van Oyen Generall of his horse thether who beeing entred into the towne the cittadell was razed in his presence This done the Bourgers tooke their oth in his hands to the crowne of France and to the duke of Geldres This did cause a great warre betwixt these two dukes George of Saxony and Charles of Geldres betwixt the which the battailes were often variable but in the end the Saxon discontented with this inconstant gouernment of Friseland yeelded vp all his interest vnto Charles Prince of Spaine afterwards Emperor for two hundred thousand crownes and so leauing Friseland hee returned into his countrie of Misnia Herevpon grew a great and a long warre betwixt the Bourguignon and the Gueldrois the duke hauing made the Earle of Emden his Lieutenant there In the end the Groningers refuzing to pay a certaine tribute of ten thousand florines of gold which they had promised him hee forsooke them and was abandoned by them after that hee had beene acknowledged twentie yeares together for their Prince Protector Herevpon the Groningers hauing assembled their Estatets they sent to demaund succors of the Ladie Marguerite the Emperors Aunt Douager of Sauoy and Gouernesse of the Netherlands promising him the same tribute which they had paied to the Duke of Geldres She who desired nothing more then to inlarge the limmits of her Nephewes Estates sent George Schenck of Tautenburg gouernor of Friseland thether who entred into Groning the eight of Iune and receiued the peoples oth in the Emperors name recouering all which the Geldrois had held in a short time but there was an accord made afterwards betwixt the Emperor and the duke as you may read in the fift booke From the yeare 1536. that towne hath remained vnder the obedience of the Emperor and the King of Spaine his sonne vnto the yeare 1576. that by the mutynie of the garrison against their Collonel and gouernor Gaspar of Robles Lord of Billy it submitted it selfe vnder the generalitie of the vnited Prouinces and afterwards in the yeare of our Lord 1580. it was againe yeelded to the Spaniards by George of Lalain Earle of Rheneberg vnder whome it hath suffered much vnto this yeare of our Lord and Sauiour 1594. that it was reduced vnder the generall vnion of the confederate Prouinces of the Netherlands as you shall here After that Prince Maurice had releeued Coevoerden he came with all his army being a hundred and fiue and twenty companies of foote and six and twenty cornets of horse with artillery and all other things necessary conducted as well by land as by the riuers which are within the countrie and camped the 21. of May before the towne of Groning about the which after that he had with great speed intrenched his whole campe he caused six great forts to bee made vpon all the approches well furnished with men and good artillery Of the which that of the West part had ten companies of foote and twelue peeces of ordynance and the rest accordingly The chiefe campe was on the West side betwixt the Drasport and the tower of Drentelaer betwixt the which were the raueling of Oosterport the Heereport the Pasdam with a case mate otherwise called Breemers buyck and the plat forme at the end of the waters all mounted with good artillery the which might greatly annoy the campe yet did Prince Maurice cause his ordinance to bee planted on that side which was against the tower of Dehtelaer fiue peeces against the Rauelin of Oosterport ten against Heereport twelue against the Asses hoofe six and two or three against the platforme The Prince had his own quarter retrencht apart within the great trench vpon the way of Helpen nere vnto Horen and Cont William Lewis of Nassau his cousin Gouernor of Friseland in the midest of the campe with the Frisons English Germains and Zeelanders They of the towne had made all necessary prouision to defend themselues and to endure a long siege so as they neither wanted victualls nor munition of warre true it is they had no garrison within the towne but it was before their port on the side of Drentelaer as you goe to Dam and Delfziel and to the fort of Schuytendyep which is one of the suburbes of the towne seruing for a small hauen for that which comes from Emden through the country which garrison they might receiue into the towne whensoeuer they pleased And withall they had the fort of Auwerderzyel which did defend that side in the which there were some 100. and thirty men which Cont William before all others went to besiege he battered it and the nine and twenty day of May tooke it by assault The besieged seeing themselues forced laied downe their armes and intreated to haue their liues saued but for the proud answere which they had made vnto the dromme which did sommon them they were all cut in peeces with the Lieutenant of Lankama Gouernor of the towne excepting some fewe which saued themselues at the first by swymming when they see their rampar forced Prince Maurice hauing wonne this fort made his approches neerer and hauing sommoned the towne to submit vnder the vnion of the Estates they answered that the Prince should stay a yeare before hee made that demand and then they might consider of it but not before Vpon this answere the cannon being planted as wee haue saied it beganne to play furiously against the Tower of Drentlaer the which stood not long before it was beaten down and against the portes and Rauelyns aboue named the which were strangely torne besides that the fiery bullets and other fire workes which were shot into the towne did much amaze the besieged The English and Scottish were lodged within the counterscarpe along the towne ditches nere vnto the artillery vpon whom the besieged did sometimes sally with losse of either side One night beeing fallen vpon the English quarter they slue a good number hauing surprised them sodenly but of the besieged there was the sonne of a Bourguemaster slaine and some other Bourgers This they did often vntill their passage out of their portes
the generall Estates assembled at Brussels the which the archduke would not allow for that the vnited prouinces had written vnto the chiefe townes in Brabant and Flanders aduertising them of certaine designes of the archdukes which letters were discouered by some of them vnto the archduke whereupon he did forbid the receiuing of any such letters commanding they should bee brought sealed vnto him which bred certaine iealousies and distrusts for that many had giuen him aduice not to suffer the generall Estates to assemble who without doubt would propound such matters vnto him as he should be forced to yeeld vnto them the which might be some blemish to his honour and reputation whereof they of Holland had intelligence by certaine letters which had beene intercepted whereof they did aduertise the rest so as the assembly of the generall Estates would not be tollerated yet euerie prouince assembled apart in their owne iurisdictions Out of Brabant they sought to haue three hundred thousand gulderns which at the first the bishops and prelats in the name of the whole clergie flatly denied vntill they did see better order in the gouernment and better discipline among the soldiers They of Brussels refused to pay chimny mony and so did they of Flanders but there was some hope of a peace and to that end certein articles of peace were dispersed abroad as if they had come from the king of Spain and at that time there were both letters and embassadours sent to the Hage in Holland It was also reported that the marquesse Spinola at his comming into Spain had 300 thousand gulderns a moneth promised him by the king with other summes of money to pay the mutynous soldiers and for the entertainment of the archdukes court wherewith the Estates and the common people were put in good comfort so contented themselues for a time The archduke with the helpe he had from the prouinces that were vnder his command and by means of certaine bils of exchange that were come vnto him he began to make preparation for the warre for the yeare following the which was very great making new leuies of soldiers both in Spain Naples Milain Germany the Wallon prouinces as also in England Scotland Ireland which according to the treaty of peace made with England might not be denied him The vnited prouinces began also to thinke vpon their preparations for that vpon the 16 of October past the councell of estate had informed the generall Estates what was to be done concerning the wars desiring that an armie might bee sent to field in the beginning of the nextspring wherby they might fortifie such places as they had gotten in Flanders as also that some course might be taken for the payment of all their arrerages of debts the which could not be discharged the yeare before for that their receits were lesse than their disbursements and therefore they were growne indebted the which must necessarily be paied and although their great charge for the defence of Oostend then ceased yet they must fortifie their places in Flanders and pursue their victorie keeping the enemy occupied with an army in field who gaue out that they would inuade the vnited prouinces with two armies together wherefore they desired that the ordinary taxation of the 7 prouinces might bee collected in the which three parts of Gelderland with Buren and Zutphen were accounted for one prouince They also required 600 thousand gulderns extraordinary for wagons and horses to draw them and other charges of the armie for six months with three hundred thousand gulderns for the fortifications That Ardenbourg was to be fortified with nine sconces lying about Coxie Cathalyne Oostbourg and one by the house of Weelde and a halfe-moone consisting of three bulwarks before Sluce with diuers other small sconces for the which they demaunded three hundred thousand gulderns and for warehouses and other necessaries for them other three hundred thousand gulderns They required also three hundred thousand gulderns for the payment of the interest wherewith the Receiuer generall stood charged There was a demand of 4 stiuers vpon euery barrel of beere to be paied by them that drew it and twenty stiuers vpon euery barrell of salt towards the payment of the money due to the king of England as also to haue consideration of the general interest and that they would continue the conuoyâ—…s licences To aid the admiralty with 400 thousand gulderns which they were in arrerages notwithstanding all booties and prizes That they would consent vnto 8000 gulderns for Drenthe and 1300 gulderns a moneth for Linghen all reparations to be therein contained That the impost for salt should be paied by the panman with the pasports and conuoyes and the money comming thereof to be collected into one purse That the contributions of Holland and Zeeland shold be collected and the mony brought in before December and that the prouinces might not be brought into any arrerages To this end vpon the first of Nouember the Estates sent vnto the prouinces to gather the monthly contribution as followeth viz. of Gelderland Zutphen monthly 28286 gulderns 2 stiuers 7 deniers of Holland 337646 gulderns 4 stiuers 8 deniers Zeeland 83029 gulderns 4 stiuers 5 deniers Vtrecht 35131 gulderns 18 stiuers 7 deniers Frizeland 69721 gulderns 16 stiuers 11 deniers Oueryssel 16770 gulderns 1 stiuer 8 den Groningue 39271 gulderns 16 stiuers 2 deniers Drenthe 5368 gulderns 4 stiuers Linghen 2792 gulderns 6 stiuers 8 deniers Wedde 350 gulderns All which amounts not accounting Drenthe nor Linghen vnto 609877 gulderns 7 stiuers and 2 deniers which is the ordinary contribution of the vnited Estates monthly not accounting the admiralty nor other forcible impositions vpon extraordinary causes so as it seemed the vnited prouinces had resolued to make an offensiue warre the next yeare and to that end they raised 100 new companies of foot more than they had in pay before with 36 cornets of horse besides they had contracted with the marquesse of Auspach for 1000 Dutch reisters to bee newly leuied They did also expect great aide from the French king they of France aduising them to go early to field with 170 or 200 companies of foot and 36 or 40 cornets of horse that they might attempt something before the marquesse Spinola were ready And this was their designe for the yeare following This winter and the precedent there were great means made to procure a peace in the Netherlands especially by the emperour and the house of Austria who did affect it the more in regard of the diuision of the empire and the rather for that France and England had now abandoned the vnited prouinces but especially for that the empire was much troubled with the Turkish warres the which might be aided by the soldiers of both parties if they could be once reconciled the let whereof was imputed to the vnited prouinces for the archduke seemed tractable and willing to yeeld to any reasonable conditions
nobility in mindâ—… of that which you once haue done and that you will attempt to do it againe at someother time counseling them therefore by preuention so to shorten and clip your wings and to put such a bit into your mouth as they may be assured and out of doubt thereof These arguments and naturall reasons grounded vpon mutuall care cannot by any meanes be taken from you for say that the Emperor the Pope the King of France England and other Princes make promises and bind them-selues that the Articles concluded shall bee truly and fully obserued and kept what will that helpe you you must neuer the lesse lay your head in your reconcled ennemies lap you must liue vnder his fauor and at his deuotion but when soeuer you are executed or other wise oppressed and haue no meanes nor power to helpe your selues which of these cautions will you charge with his promise before what iudge wil you plead your cause who shall serue execution vpon the principall debtor or the suerty paraduenture you thinke that if the Pope warrenteth the contract and put his seale there-vnto with declaration that the old cannon which is not to hold any faith with heretickes in that respect shall bee of no force that as then you are well assured but say that the Pope that now is did it who shall assure you that his successor will confirme it may he not say my predecessor erred I haue the the power to breake as being voyde and of none effect what so euer is done against the Catholike Religon let it bee done by whome soeuer it will but bee it that the Poope saith not so may not the King of Spaine him-selfe maintaine and say that vppon many waighty reasons hee being a soueraigne monarch who is not subiect to any iudge what soeuer may discharge himselfe of his contract and dispence there-with according to the argument of Docter Ayala aforesayd as in effect the King that last died brake and recalled al his contracts made for certaine years with the Italian marchants and thus you shall finde your selues intrapped on euery side wheresoeuer you turne you As touching the securitie of Princes and Potentates it is meere follie once to thinke that any sureties will beginne or vndertake for to make warres in your behalfe no man halteth for an other mans lamenesse the charges and the troubles of warres are so great as no man will take them in hand for the loue or profit of strangers yea men feare to enter thereinto although they should thereby reuenge their owne wrongs Looke into the Articles of peace made betweene the Kings of France and Spaine in the yeare of our Lord 1598. haue not the Spaniards by taking of townes vpon the confines of the Empire by ouer running Cleaue-land and other neighbour countries and by ransaking spoyling and offering of a thousand wrongs broken the same and yet France will not make any warres in the behalfe of those countries looke into the example of the Queene of England of famous memorie late deceased that although the King of Spaine sought by many practises and open force to inuade her crowne and countrie yet how vnwilling shee was neuerthelesse to assaile him with a iust offensiue warre but was content to defend her owne notwithstanding that by your aide and with halfe charges shee might haue assured her Estate What hope haue you then to expect that any forraine Prince when soeuer you shal be oppressed and that the charges must onely fall vpon him will reuenge your wrongs To speake of the Emperor it is needelesse for that no man is so simple as not to conceiue that there is more partialitie then trust to bee expected at his hands But you say the Emperor and the Princes of Germanie yea and the whole Empire doe of themselues offer to imbrace our cause and as good mediators will procure vs a good peac shall wee distrust both enemies and friends and heare no mans counsell I answere that you haue more then to many reasons to suspect all whatsoeuer that commeth from the Emperor not onely in regard of his neerenesse of bloud vnto the King of Spaine and the Arch-duke but in respect of his owne actions and proceedings against them of the Religion of Aix and namely against his owne subiects in Bohemia Hungaria Austria Slesia and other his countries hauing also winckt at the Admirall of Arragons actions and left the oppressed subiects of the borders of the Empire comfortlesse As touching the Empire and the Princes thereof although that many of them are well to be trusted yet diuers of them depend vpon the Pope and consequently on Spaine In the yeare of our Lord 1598. you saw the bad agreement that was amongst them and the slowenesse they vsed in helping and comforting of their oppressed members togither with the badde gouernment of their affaires by reason of the great number of diuerslie affected leaders All of them togither by their Ambasages and admonitions seeke to procure a peace for the profit and commoditie of the Netherlands but much more for their owne perswading themselues that by the Netherlandes warre they receiue some hurt and preiudice and fall into many extreamities seeking and desiring therefore to cease them let the Religion and your preuiledges doe as they may And whensoeuer artciles should bee broken they will doe much lesse for you then they haue done for their vnited companions and members of the Empire negligently ouerslipping the great daunger that approcheth them as soone as the Netherlanders which God forbid should bee brought into subiection and they that vnderstand the same as there are some will neuer giue you counsell to liue vnder the Spaniardes subiection but will humblie thanke you that you still continue as a stronge bul-warke for them and turne awaie the warres Touching other Princes of Christendome there is no hope to be had in regard of their weakenesse Therefore beloued Netherlanders helpe your selues and God will help you be not deceiued by cunning practises seeing you haue by armes maintained your cause so long put not your trust in any man but in the vprightnesse of your cause and Gods assured aid who for these 37. yeares in strange alterations and feareful accidents hath vpholden defended and brought you to this present estate from henceforth by his mighty hand shall lead and conduct you if you hold fast by his word and will follow his starre of direction as the wise men in the East did thinke often vpon things past set former actions before your eyes and therein as in a cleare glasse you shall rightly learne to know Gods mercies shewed vnto you were not the first beginning of these troubles wonderfull and strange In anno 1566. there rose such a zeale in the chiefe Noblemen of the Netherlands to defend the liberties of their natiue country as they bound themselues there-vnto There was such an assemblie of the common people in all townes by thousands such a
captaine as hee bent his pistoll vpon him which hee likewise did to him but both fayled wherewith the Spanish captaine thought to haue taken hold of the Earles scarse and for to haue pulled him to him the which Bax perceiuing hee bent his pistoll at him thinking to shoote him into the face but with ouer great hast hee shot him lower in the armor and their they sat both on horse-backe hardly be-sted amongst their enemies and but weakely releeued by meanes of the noise and cries which the Earles horsemen had caused amongst them they had manie shot made at them but in the end Baxes Nephew came and releeued them and by that meanes they gathered some horses together and once againe charged the head of a troupe but were againe put backe and in that sort they fought for the space of seauen houres In the meane time Prince Maurice came on with three field peeces and some troupes of footemen which as then were more necessarie then the horsemen who beeing ledde on by Cont Ernestus and collonel Marquette they discharged a volley of shot amongst the Spaniards at which time Earle Theodoro Trivultio was slaine beeing Lieutenant generall of those troupes a braue souldier and of a Noble house and therewith certaine horsemen led on by the Earle Henrick giuing a new charge the Spaniards were once againe put to flight and were driuen vp a hill some ranne into the wood and many saued themselues in the house of Brooke which at the first they tooke by policie but it was taken from them againe and for want of good order they recouered it againe and so it serued them for a good retraict many were taken and slaine in the flight and diuers horses wonne but such as fled into the wood heareing of Spinolaes comming from Roeroort with the whole armie gathered together againe After this long and tedious fight Prince Maurice hearing of Spinolaes approch hee caused his men to returne willing Bax to staie there to fauour the retraict as hee did but was ill seconded by the other horsemen the Spaniards hauing gotten fresh supplies fell vpon them againe and the horsemen getting ouer Roere the Spaniards fell vpon the English foote who valiantly defended themselues as long as they had any powder but the Earle of Chastillion standing with two troupes vpon the Roere about a hedge shot so fiercely as the Marquises horsemen were forced to retire and so they made an orderly retraict the Spaniards following them still shooting but comming to a heath they left each other where as Prince Maurice called for those horsemen which had fled giuing them many reprochful speeches and shewed them what confusion they had made amongst his men whereas he put his greatest trust in them and by that meanes mist so good and faire an occasion to ouerthrow his enemy It was thought in this fight there were about fiue hundred of Spynolas men slaine whereof one was the Earle Theodoro Trivultio whose body beeing imbalmed was the next yeare sent vnto Milane where hee was borne and Gambarotta and others of account amongst the prisoners one was Nicholas Doria cousin to Spinola and others hauing two cornets taken from them and of Prince Maurices side they lost two Ensignes and about two hundred men amongst the which Mousier Dumdeville was one and certaine captaines the prisoners were Mounsier de Bethune who was presently exchanged for Nicholas Doria as also captaine Sald captaine Pigot and captaine Ratclif but Sir Henrie Carie a gallant Gentleman and Maister of the Iewell house to the King of England after his father was put to a great ransome for that hee serued as voluntarie and was not contained in the quarter This was donne vpon the nineth daie of October which gaue Prince Maurice great cause not to put so great confidence in his horsemen beeing as then but weake of foote so as after that hee durst not by any meanes hazard the like againe This Winter there was little done in the Netherlands touching the warres onely that the garrisons on either side made many enterprises one vpon an other as vpon Nuys Graue Erckelens Deuenter especially ouer the Ice during the frost but they tooke no effect the feare thereof beeing the cause which made the generall Marquis Spinola to staie longer in the Netherlands then hee thought to haue done so as it was the first daie of Ianuary before he tooke poast to passe through France into Spaine where on the waie hee was hindered by sickenesse and beeing in Spaine hee found more want of money then hee expected by the bad traficke in Spaine for that the East and West Indian fleetes were not come as also in regard of the dearth in Spaine whereby al the Spanish ryalles were paied and carried away for corne which was brought thether in great aboundance out of France England and other countries so as in Spaine they were forced to vse most copper money the which was wont to bee as plentifull of siluer as any other countrie In this winter also the counsell of warre assembled in the Hage to giue their censure vpon the gouernor and captaines of Linghen for that they had so basely yeelded vp the towne this counsell consisting of the Earles Henricke Ernest and Iohn of Nassaw the young Earle of Solms the Lord Vander Noote gouernor in Flanders Emerie van Lidie gouernor of Williams Stat Mounsier van Lookeren with some English and Scots Colonels and other captaines with Collonel Warner du Bois as president which met the last of Ianuary They of Gelderland with certaine of the Barron van Hemerts kindred who was beheaded in the Earle of Leicesters time by rigor of lawe said that if they were not beheaded that then the said Barron of Heemert had great wrong offered him for that hee had endured three assaultes giuen against the towne of Graue and receiued aboue a thousand eight hundred cannon shot whereas they to the contrary suffered three bridges to bee laid ouer the towne ditches in the daie time without any resistance and that therefore if they would proceed seuerely against the one and not against them they should then haue good cause to apeale against the Iudgement giuen vpon the Barron de Hemert This counsell sitting tell the 11. day of February at last they gaue sentence that the gouernor of Lynghen called Marten Cobbe and captaine Iohn Witte should bee dismist and with ignominy declared vncapable euer after to beare armes and that the Drosart Albert of Itersome Iohn Ruysch Iohn van Dyck Ernestus Mellinga Nichalas Audaert and the Licentiate Iuthiema should bee deposed from their places cassiered and should serue vnder such companies as they should be appointed vnto to recouer their credits againe if they could This sentence was much spoken of for that many were of opinion that if at the first these men had beene censured they had beene likely to haue lost their heads but so much time passing ouer before they
children of Cont Tbierry Cont Thierry chaseth the Flemings The Frisons will acknowledge no other soueraigne but the empire Warres bewixt the Earles of Holland and Geldres A new quarrell betwixt the two Bretheren of Holland The Earles of Holland and Geldre reconciled 1198 Trouble in Frizeland The Earles of Holland and Geldre fall vpon the bishop The bishop reuengeth himselfe of the Earle of Holland An accord betwixt the two Earls the duke of Brabant the bishop 1203 Cont Thierry sicke The death of Cont Thierry The Nobilitie of his time The Contesse of Holland maried Cont William sent for to vndertake the gouernment of Holland Cont William comes into Holland He puts the yong Contesse in guard and becomes master of the countrey Cont William conquereth Zeeland The Kennemerâ—… pacified The Zeelanders call back Cont William CoÌ„t Williams children The castle of Aspren rased 1218 The Contesse of Holland dies His wife and children The beginning of the towne of Gorrichom in Holland Cont Floris a louer of iousts and tourneys Cont Floris slaine The earle of ClermoÌ„t slain The bishop of Vtrecht guardian to the yong Earle of Holland A wonderfull del 〈◊〉 of 365 children An Epltaph of the Contesse of Henneberg mother to so many children The chiefe Nobilitie of Holland The wife and children of Cont William How Cont William was chosen king of Romans The king comes to Vtrecht and ratifies their priuiledges 1253 The contesse of Flanders pretends to conquer the isle of Walchren by arms A great deseat of the Flemings The contesse goes â—…o succours into France The duke of Aiou comes to succour the contesse The wise answer of the king S. Lewis to the duke his brother The duke of Aniou retires The birth of Cont Floris 5. The contesse labours to be reconciled The pope sends for the king of Romans to come to Rome The king being in Vtrecht is traitorously wounded with a stone The king miserably slaine being sunke into the ice They burie him secretly in a countrey house The kings body found and interred at Middlebourg in Zeeland Factions for the gouernement of the Earles person and of the countrey Great trouble an Holland Cont Floris takes armes against the Frisons The Frisons defened Foure eâ—…es â—…lt by the Earle to subdue the Frisons Friseland wholy subdued The Earles of Flanders and Holland reconciled The Earle makes war against the lord of Amstel and Woerden 1290 Cont Floris his voiage into England and why A mariage betwixt Cont Floris eldest son and the king of Englands daughter The earle of Flanders pretends to assaile Zeeland The chiefe nobilitie A historie of the death of Cont Floris the 5. The violent death of Cont Floris the fifth The wonderfull loue of 〈◊〉 grey hounds The end of the conspirators The reuenge of Cont Floris death Too cruell a reuenge The Frisons send to the king of Denmarke to be their protector The gouernment of Holland diuided during the absence of Cont Iohn The Frisons defeared The Frisons ioyned to the bishop of Vtrecht are defeated The teâ—…or of the letters of reparation submission made by the Frisons Mourmont taken and rased Troubles at Dordrecht A foolish answere of the magistrat of Dordâ—…echr The death of the Earle of Holland Who the gyant Claes van Knyten was The beginning of two wicked factions in Friseland The Earle of Henaults brethren Iohns wife and children 1301 The Earle seekes to ruine Iohn de Renesse The bishop of Vtrecht taken prisoner by his owne people The bishop goes to armes The bishop slaine in battaile being ouer-bold 1301 The Epitaph of this bishop Iohn without mercy slame 1302 1303 1304 The Earle of Flanders pretends to land in Walchren The Hollanders armie defeated The earlâ—… of Flanders wins a good part of Holland Great alteration in Vtrecht The lord of Hamstede defeats the Flemings The lord of Hamstede chaseth â—…he Flemings out of Holland A great defeat of the Flemings The Hollanders besiege Iohn de Renesse in Vtrecht The death of Iohn de Renesse 1305 Death of the earle of Flanders The death of the Earle of Holland The chiefe nobilitie The wife and children of Cont William 1311 1316 An extreame famine in Holland Amstel Wâ—… erden vnited to Holland 1323 1327 1328 The Earle ouerthrowne from his horse 1332 1336 A historie of a bailife of South Holland for a cow A memorable example of iustice The death of good Cont William The chiefe nobilitie in Holland and Zeeland The chiefe families of Friseland in those daies The wife of this Cont William 1338 1342 1345 Vtrecht besieged by the Hollanders Those of Vtrecht reconciled to the Earlâ—… Cont William slaine and leaues no lawfull heires 1346 The Earledomes of Holland and Zeeland adâ—…dged to the Empresle sister to cont William She takes possessió of those countries Confiscation of â—…cclesiasticall goodâ—… The emperoâ—… children by the empresse 〈◊〉 William of Bâ—…uaria the empresse son gouernor of Holland The bishop of Vtrecht goes to liue priuatly in France The bishop of Vtrecht goes to field He defeateâ—… the Hollandeâ—…s The Empresse resumeâ—… againe the gouernment of Holland The Earle her sonne retires into Holland 1349. The bishop of Vtrecht makes warre in Holland The Hollanders deâ—…eated A truce betwixt tâ—…e Hollanders and Vtrecht 1350. 〈◊〉 in Holland of Cabillâ—…ux and Hoeâ—…ks The fruites 〈◊〉 factions to stir the sonnâ—… against the mother Cont Williaâ—… receiued in Holland A battaile betwixt the mother and the sonne 1351. The sonne raiseth a 〈◊〉 armie The sonne dâ—… fines his mothâ—… to battaile A second battaile The mother defeated 1351. An accord betwixt the mother and the sonne The factions cease not Cont Williams wife had no 〈◊〉 135â—… The Earle de fies the bishop of Vtrecht Two strange knights â—…aken pâ—…oners The Eaâ—…le enters the country oâ—… Vtrecht with â—…n armie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fâ—…om the bishop The bishop takeâ—… Wâ—…p by assault and then Muyden The 〈◊〉 of Montâ—…ort 〈◊〉 from the bishop A combâ—…te betwixt two commanderâ—… 1357. Cont Williâ—… himselfe enters into the country of Vtrecht A finall accord betwixt the Earle and bishop 1358. The Eaâ—…le of Holland becomes mad Diuision betwixt the two factions for the gouernement Albert duke of Bauaria called by the Hoeketins He is receiued for gouernor Hee agrees with his sister in lavve Alberts wiues and children By this Marguerite the earldome of Holland Zeeland and Henault came to the house of Bourgongne The Cabillautins seeke to kill the yong lord of Brederode The castell of Hemskerke besieged for Cont Albert. The Delfoi reuolt Cont Albert besiegeth Delf The inhabitants speake of a composition The captaines oppose The captaines retire in the night The towne of Delf yeelded The duke of Gelders defies the Earle of Holland The warre ended by marriage 1365. 1367. The Baron of Enghien beheaded in Henault which caused great troubles 1373. The castell of Ghildenburch 〈◊〉 to defâ—…d the sluses The lord of Vianen and those of Dordreâ—…ht discontented for the sluses Cont â—…ert spoiles the Frâ—…sons
beeing now in many places hardly beset and sore incumbred and oppressed and to deliuer the Netherlands and the inhabitants thereof out of miserable thraldome who not long before the wicked and dangerous inuasions of the Spaniards were so rich and flourishing in all kinds of wealth by reason of the great commodities of the sea hauens riuers traffique manuall trades and occupations whereunto they are much giuen and very apt by nature Shee should likewise preserue them from vtter destruction and perpetuall slauerie both of bodie and soule and so effect a right princely and most royall worke pleasing to God profitable for all Christendome worthie of eternall praise honour and glorie and fitting well the greatnesse and state of her princely Maiestie including therein the assured securitie prosperitie and welfare of her owne kingdomes and subiects Which done they presented their Articles vnto her Maiestie with all humilitie beseeching God who is the king of kings to defend protect and preserue her from all her enemies to the encrease of his honour and greatnesse and perpetually to hold and keepe her in his holy protection and safegard This humble petition tending so much to the honour and glory of the most magnificent and royall Queene and princesse in the world was with all thankefulnesse receiued at their hands Thereupon the Queene willed them for that time to depart and in the meane while she assembled her counsell to conferre with them what was to be done in this so vrgent a cause and to haue their aduice touching the same To conclude she found all her subiects generally addicted thereunto saying That shee might not by any meanes altogether abandon or forsake the vnited Prouinces of the Netherlands alledging the great hatred conceiued against her by the king of Spaine for the altering of his Religion in England which he not long before had planted therein which appeared by the treatie of peace made at Chasteau in Cambresis holden in Anno 1559 wherein he was verie slacke and carelesse for procuring the deliuerie of the towne of Calais vnto the English againe the which was lost by meanes of his warres and on the other side he caused the French to deliuer many townes ouer vnto the duke of Sauoy and left her in warre both against France and Scotland without any assistance They shewed likewise the vnkind refusall by him made of passage through the Netherland countreys with munition armes and powder which shee as then had caused to bee prouided and bought by her factor Sir Thomas Gresham vnto whome it was denyed Further That when her Maiestie by her embassadour the lord Vicont Montague desired the king of Spaine to renew and confirme the ancient contracts made betweene his father the emperour Charles the fifth and her predecessours hee would by no meanes bee drawne to yeeld thereunto That hee had suffered the Inquisitors in Spaine to persecute her poore subiects with all crueltie and extremitie and commaunded her embassadour out of Spaine because of his Religion That his gouernour the duke of Alua in the Netherlands had vsed all manner of hostilitie and violence against her subiects arresting both their bodies and goods contrary to the ancient contracts betweene England and the Netherlands That he had sent an armie into her Maiesties kingdome of Ireland and with colours flying inuaded the sayd kingdome vpon a supposed gift thereof made vnto him by the Pope of Rome which hee thereby excused intending also to enterprise the like against the Realme of England as it manifestly appeared by the Iesuite Sanders letters to that end dispersed abroad and by the Iesuite Creyghton who was then a prisoner and many other such like practises also were discouered by the dealings of his embassador Dom Bernardino de Mendosa in England Besides these many forepassed iniuries the Counsell layed before her Maiestie the danger that she was to expect if the Spaniard once obtained merum imperium that is full and absolute authoritie in the Prouinces of the Netherlands how he would alter their Religion breake their auncient priuiledges and subiect them wholly to his will and pleasure which done out of his malitious heart and intent he would easily inuade England with the aide of the multitude of shipping and sailers of those countries together with his Indian treasure first depriuing England of all trade of marchandize with the Netherlands and within the land procuring domesticall dissention and that therefore shee was not as then to let slip the present occasion nor yet to attend vntill the Netherlands were fully planted with Spaniards and Italians for that the warre was not vndertaken against the Netherlands but with a further intent and meaning to make a greater conquest On the other side there was laied before her Maiestie what difficulties and troubles might arise by entring into warre with the king of Spaine as first that thereby shee should breake the auncient contract betweene her and the king of Spaine and that it would not bee well thought on nor by forraine princes esteemed an honourable action to aide and assist the subiect against his lawfull soueraigne and that shee should hardly be able to contend against so mightie a monarch so strong of men money meanes and friendship which he should haue from the Pope domesticall English malecontents and many other his adherents whereby she should haue worke enough in hand to defend her selfe with many other obiections To these reasons aforesaid it was answered that therein shee should breake no contract nor league made with the house of Burgondie for that thereby shee was bound to aide and assist the Netherlands and to vphold them in their auncient lawes and priuiledges and not to permit or suffer strange nations to plant and settle themselues there and so intrude themselues into the gouernment and that if shee let slippe this faire occasion and did not assist them the French might set foot therein moreouer that shee intended not to aide any rebels against their king but to protect and defend her oppressed neighbours whereunto all princes were bound especially for religions cause as the Spaniards had done the like to her in her kingdom of Ireland with her rebels as also to keepe backe and preuent the warre with the miseries and troubles thereon depending if it be not foreseene and preuented and how dangerous and troublesome soeuer the warres be yet were the apparant danger much more and greater to be ouerrunne by forraine enemies and therefore it behoued her the more both in conscience and in honour to seeke to preuent all future danger for that the prouinces of the Netherlands could not be able any long time to withstand the enemies forces without some aide and assistance which beeing once brought vnder his subiection shee should bee assured to beare the burthen vpon her owne shoulders in England which would be much more preiudiciall insupportable and chargeable to her and that therefore it were better to haue and maintaine warre abroad than within the