exceeding great preparations both by Sea and Land He gave the care of the maritime preparations to the Marquis de la Croce and destin'd him to the Naval command As for the Land he would have the greatest Forces be raised in Flanders and that the Duke of Parma should carry that Army which was under his command over into England and that he should have the chief command thereof as also of all the rest who were brought in the Fleet to land in the Island These Orders being given out by the King the noise thereof began to be heard throughout all his Kingdoms each of them strove which should provide most ships greatest store of victuals and warlike ammunition in so great ampleness as so high a design did require Great preparations of all these things were made in Sicily in the Kingdom of Naples and in all the maritime Coasts of Spain and especially in the building of great abundance of ships whereof the Fleet was to be composed Such men as were necessary for the service were also raised in all parts and in fine the resolution was to make an Armado so powerfull in all conditions as the like had never been known at any time to be upon the Sea The Duke of Parma's diligence in making preparations in Flanders in behalf of the enterprise was this mean while no whit less After the getting of Sluce he went to Bruges and kept there as in the fittest place of all the Province of Flanders to dispose of all things necessary for the transporting of his Army into England To recrute it with men the King had given order that Biaggio Cappizucchi in Italy should raise a Brigado of Foot in the State of Urbin and that Carlo Spinulli should do the like in the Kingdom of Naples That the Marquess of Brogaut brother to the Cardinal Andrea d' Austrea should raise another in Germany greater then ordinary That the rest of the German Nation that were on foot should be filled up and that the like should be done amongst the Burgonians and Walloons That a good body of men should be sent from Spain to recruit the old Brigadoes That in in fine the field Army of Flanders should be composed of 30000 Foot and of 4000 choise Horse all of which or at least the greatest part were to be imployed in the expedition for England An infinite provision of things was required to transport such an Army and to provide it with all things necessary to lead on the enterprise successfully on that side They purposed to embarke the men at Newport and Dunkirk and a great number of vessels was necessary to transport them And though these were rather to be for burthen then war and rather low built then high yet the assembling so many of them brought with it both great expence of time and monies and amongst other things a great number of Artificers were requisite to be had to do the workmanship and of Mariners to govern them The Duke of Parma had great scarcity of both these and was likewise jealous of them by reason of such mens being inclined to follow rather the Hollanders and Zealanders in whose Seas they were for the most part born and bred up then the Kings party where their profession was but little practised insomuch as the Duke was glad to send for some from the Baltick Sea and to make provision of them in divers other parts of the lower side of Germany The aforesaid Vessels were most of them built in Antwerp and many in Gaunt Newport and Dunkirk Those of Antwerp were to be brought by the Scheld to Gaunt and from thence to Bruges by a Channel cut by hand which goes from the one City to the other And upon this occasion the Duke cut another channel likewise from Bruges to Newport to the end that the Vessels might fall the more commodiously into the sea and there joyn with those of Dunkirk During the noise of so great preparations made in all parts of Italy Spain and Flanders to assault England that year ended and the year 1588 commenced which was particularly remarkable for this enterprise sake The designe was not notwithstanding publickly declared but the King striving as much as he could to conceal it made it be given out that so great a preparation by land and by sea was intended against the Rebels in Flanders And to keep them likewise in suspence he caused the begun negotiation between him and the Queen touching the accommodation of the Affairs in those parts to be continued Other reports were given out that the King intended a good part of the Fleet by sea for new designes which he had upon the Indies Some times the preparations seemed to cool But at last they grew to such a greatness and so many signes appeared of their being precisely destin'd for England as there was no room left for doubt The Queen seeing her self threatned by so great a tempest betook her self to make all such preparations likewise on her part as might be necessary to withstand it She gave order to Charls Howard Admiral of England a Lord of a very Noble Family and of great imployment that he should powerfully reinforce her usual Fleet and that he should make all other such provisions as were needfull to furnish it with Souldiers Mariners Victuals and Ammunition of War But she gave unto him Sir Francis Drake for a particular assistant herein one that was then the most esteemed amongst all the English for sea affairs and famous likewise thorowout all other Nations for many memorable sea-voyages which he had made and for many enterprises which he with great boldness had effected Such a preparation required great expence and a great inclination of the Kingdom to effect it Wherefore the Queen called a Parliament without the Authority whereof the Kings of England cannot receive any supplies of monies upon any extraordinary occasion The Parliament being met at London the Queen would one day appear there in person and went thither in the greatest glory that might be Where being placed under her cloth of State and having so composed her countenance and other gestures of body as might most take the Assembly she spake thus What a weight of war my Lords and you my beloved of the House of Commons is threatned against me at this time by the King of Spain each of you who know the preparation will easily believe the designe nor is the pretence less apparent That King complains that I have always favoured his Rebels as he is pleased to term them of Flanders And especially with so many forces and so openly in these their last necessities I confess the action and do still more commend the advice given unto me therein by my Councel Since in effect I could do nothing which was more praise worthy for Justice or more necessary for convenience Every one knows the near Confederacies which past between the Kings my predecessors and the house of Burgony whilst
almost after the same manner he had at this time made also a new League with the united Provinces and though his Authority was nothing near so great with them yet was it such as it might much impede the proceedings of the new Treaty for a long Truce and he had already complained to the Spanish and Flemish Ambassadors who were resident in England that the King of Spain had sent Don Piedro de Tolledo to Paris putting thereby so great an esteem upon the King of France and that he had made no manner of address at all to him For these respects the King of Spain resolved to send likewise Don Fernando Girone who was then in Flanders and who was one of the chiefest Commanders in his Army to the King of England who seemed to be very well satisfied therewith and made large promises to intercede for the continuing of the negotiation in Holland being thereunto perswaded by his natural addiction to peace as also for the aforesaid Reasons Before the Catholick Deputies departed from Holland the Ambassadors of France and England began to set again on foot this new Treaty of a long Truce insomuch as the Ambassadors meeting one day Jannines in the name of both the Kings made this insuing Proposition in the Councel of the States General That both their Kings had alwaies considered the affairs of the United Provinces as their own particular concernment having maintained them all this while as such by their Councels and defended them by their Forces but that the end of War must be Peace That to this purpose the United Provinces had been assisted by both of them and that both of them were therefore much troubled to see the Treaty of Peace which was begun thus broken and that they thinking it howsoever much better for the United Provinces to enjoy a commodious and honorable quiet then to return to the former difficulties and dangers of war were pleased to propound unto them by their Ambassadors joyntly a long Truce instead of Peace That notwithstanding in this Truce in the first place and before all other things it should be declared both by the King of Spain and by the Arch-dukes that it was made with the united Provinces as with free Provinces and States unto which they made no pretence at all and that they should be left Free in point of their Navigation to the Indies That both their Kings did believe that the United Provinces might be content with a Truce which was to bring with it such important advantages for them and not onely these but peradventure some others also That greater difficulties were to be foared on the other part but in case the war were to continue by reason of the Spaniards fault the Forces of the United Provinces would be thereby the more justified and both their Kings still the more obliged to mantain their Cause The States General took time to advice upon the whole with their Provinces The Ambassadors with like conformity applyed themselves to the Catholick Deputies who having lost all hopes of Peace did very much desire to come to some other accommodation or composition so they willingly listned to this new proposal of a long Truce though they thought many difficulties would be met withal in Spain touching the form thereof They promised the Ambassadors notwithstanding to use all the diligence they could to overcome them and having received assurances from the Ambassadors that they would do all good offices for the continuation of the Treaty and especially from Jannines on whose means and authority they did chiefly relye they at last went from the Hague after having been eight months entertained there and went to Brussels The Negotiation of the Truce lying then chiefly on Jannines hand he did all he could to perswade the United Provinces to allow of it in the same manner as had been propounded by him and the English Ambassadors Those Provinces seemed well inclined in general toward the Truce though they wanted not some amongst them who would have had the King of Spain and the Arch-dukes make the same renunciation in the Treaty of Truce as they pretended unto in that of Peace but the wiser and more moderate men amongst them considered that this would be too unjust a pretention due regard being had to the difference between a Truce and a Peace This difficulty proceeded chiefly from Zealand and was Fauter'd by Count Maurice by reason of his abovesaid power in that Province and the almost absolute dependency which Maldereo the particular Deputy of Zealand had upon him Maldereo had been a menual servant of the late Prince of Orange and to say truth the Interest of Zealand did accord with Count Maurice his particular ends for the Traffick and wealth of that Province was greatly increased by the war the choice Marriners who had served and did as yet serve in the voyages to the Indies were likewise Zealanders and next unto Holland certainly this was the chiefest and most considerable of all the United Provinces The same difficulties out of the same reasons were insisted upon by the City of Amsterdam in Holland but it was thought that at last the rest of that Province would prevail over the particular opposition of that City in a favourable acceptation of the Truce which Zealand did still pertenaciously resist And Maldereo very zealous in the cause endeavoured to make those words suspected wherein the King of Spain and the Arch-dukes were to denounce the United Provinces to be Free-States in form abovesaid Whereupon one day that this Clause was treated on he with great fervency broke forth into these words Are we Free-men or still Subjects If we be Free-men why ought we not to be publickly acknowledged for such Shall it depend upon the Spaniards to allow us what sort of liberty they please now that they cannot impose that slavery upon us which they would To wit a liberty more servile then our former servitude since it must depend upon the interpretation of their own words Do not we know what interpretation they have already given to those words Do not we know that they take them in such a sense as doth not take from them any pretended right to our Provinces At this rate we shall get nothing more by this long Truce then what was had in the bare suspension of Arms And yet this Truce shall rather look like a Peace and it may so fall out as by often prolongation it may at last be insensibly turned into the nature of a Peace Then as in the Treaty of Peace we did pretend in the first place That that absolute abnegation should be made by the King of Spain and the Arch-dukes which is now Treated of so ought we still to pretend unto it and in that form which may clearlyest declare our Provinces to be Free and Soveraign Shall not he ackowledge them when all the world Treats with them as such To what corner of the Earth or of the Sea is it that
then essential Afterward at several times they by degrees joyned one with another The male Line failed in many of them and Women came to succeed by whose Marriages the States in those Parts began chiefly to increase and together with the strength of the States the prerogative of Princes By this means the house of Burgundy did at last unite those Provinces into one body and govern'd them with such greatness And afterwards the Houseof Austria came to possess and govern them in greater glory The first of this Family on whom the Inheritance fell was Philip the first Son and Successor to Mary the last Princess and Heir of the Burgundian bloud From Philip who dyed in the flowre of his age came Charls and from Charls Philip the second Charls possest Flanders in great quiet but in the first year of Philips succession those Provinces grew into such alteration through divers home-bred and foreign occasions as the mischief creeping in from the very beginning by degrees now in one sort now in another it at last broke forth into open tumults and from tumults into one of the longest and most bitter Wars that hath at any time happened The events of this war is that which I undertake to describe which doubtlesly are the greatest and most famous which can be expos'd to the Worlds Theatre Forty years of continual troubles have past over since the first tumults to the beginning of the Truce for twelve years In which time as also in the times following wherein the Truce being ended Arms were reassumed he who shall consider the successes of this war shall find so many and so illustrious Scenes of various accidents as he shall be compell'd to confess that never any afforded more copious matter of Humane Instructions or that any war more memorable then this was ever written of either in Antient or Modern Histories You shall see Countries of a small circuit contesting with a mighty Monarchy but you shall see them so favour'd by the Arms of Nature by the Sea and Rivers and by Forces from abroad with all possible assistance as it is not to be wondred if they have made so long opposition and if they continue still to make it more vigorously then ever You in their unvanquish'd Rebellion shall see the rage of Heresie against the Church joyned to the like of Subjects against their Prince And Flanders divided within her self miserably to consume by wars caused no less by Religion then by State-Interest and set on fire no less by internal then by external Forces You shall see bloudy battels unheard of sieges dreadfull sackings firings and ruins Successes at Sea which will not yield for cruelty to those by Land and wars carryed with no less Atrocety from the neighbouring Seas of Europe into the most remoted Seas of the Indies Business will sometimes appear amidst Arms and amidst the raging noyse of war the natural desire of peace Yet ruine death and destruction shall be seen to prevail on all sides And it shall appear that on the fatal fields of Flanders as on the Lists of a publick Combat almost all the Nations of Europe have strove and as it were vied to vent forth their anger and malice and with their sword in hand to buckle themselves still more obstinately one against the other These two personages though of almost clean contrary genius and nature were in equal authority and favour with the Flemish Orange was more for Civil then Military affairs wary wise a great Master of speech and no less good at Councel in his fashion and behaviour popular and of whom it was questionable whether his ability was greater in comprehending businesses or his wariness in managing them Rare qualities all of them when they are level'd at right ends but do strangely degenerate when they are made use of as they were afterwards by Orange to ambitious and corrupt designes Egmont on the contrary was more given to studie war then peace of a free nature can did in his thoughts and words popular likewise but rather amongst soldiers in the fields then with the vulgar within walls and in all things else Much apter to win preferment amongst Arms then at Court The Government of the Provinces and Military commands were put into these two mens hands and some others of the chiefest of the Country And though till after the Kings departure thence none of them had any ways opposed the aforesaid Edicts yet it was well enough known that many of them were not well pleased with them and 't was feared that those would make use thereof who under palliated pretences had a mind to disquiet the present Government and introduce some novelties Orange had till then given greatest suspitions thereof for whilst he was in France with Henry the second for one of King Philips hostages in performance of the peace which was concluded in Cambrey between those two Kings the year 1559. he honesting the occasion thereby slipt into Flanders and revealed to his adherents a strong plot which those two Kings had in secret to exterp Heresie And the Nobility of Flanders having spent very much in Charls his time and many of the best of them being but in bad condition therefore the King being to leave Flanders they did in that behalf begin to murmure aloud and very much to complain as if by the Kings perpetual future absence the Dutch were to be deprived of those advantages which they had so largely enjoyed in the time of his Father the Emperour Which might occasion fear that they would endeavour the preservation thereof by exciting of troubles as having but little hopes to effect it by the way of peace Nor were many of the Church-men much better satisfied then were the people and the Nobility by reason of the new erection of Bishopricks which were instituted in the chiefest Cities of the Country which being at first procured by Charls for the better Church-government in Flanders and especially to bridle Heresie were after compleated and constantly continued by Philip. Upon the reason of these new erections it was necessary to suppress many Abbies and Priories And the Bishops being to enjoy the first place in Ecclestastical Orders the Abbots held themselves thereby offended who formerly made the greatest number of Ecclesiasticks and held the chief place at publick meetings To these several distastes in all the three Provincial Orders another was added with the introducing of forainers as Germans and Spaniards into the chief Forts which were formerly Garison'd by people of their own Provinces These and many other passions wherewith the minds of the Flemish were agitated were not unknown to the neighbouring Princes who watched all occasions which might cause commotions in Flanders and were desirous to propagate them And though they were not all of a mind in point of Religion and divers other things yet they all joyned in one end which was to see the greatness of the house of Austria somewhat lesned and especially the
more averse thereunto with whom the Bishop of Arras joyned in opinion who was one of the most imployed Ministers of the Court. Out of these reasons they also hindred Orange his afore mentioned Marriage it appearing to them that it was not good to consent to such an Alliance so neer to the King himself and that it would make Orange yet greater in Flanders by the neer leaning stock of Loraine and would cause yet more ambitious desires in him then those which had more then once been already discovered in him when the King had chosen the Dutchesse of Parma to be Governess of Flanders and caused her therefore to come from Italy he thought it fitting before his departure to call a generall Assembly of all the Provinces the which he held in Gaunt Where the Deputies being assembled together the King spoke first severally with every of them apart concerning the affairs of chiefest importance and at the first opening of the Assembly he was present himself in person together with the new Governess where after a great silence The Bishop of Arras began to speak by the Kings command to the Deputies and inlarged himself into a long discourse wherein he shewed the reasons which forced the King to go for Spaine and afterwards apply'd himself to the particular affairs of Flanders He said That his Father the Emperour had not for the space of many years seen Spaine and that at last he went thither out of no other end but to lay his bones there that the present King had also absented himself from thence for many years not to abandon Flanders which was then exposed to the greatest dangers of War which was very hot between him and the King of France That at last the peace of Cambray was insued his Marriage with the Daughter of Henry the second and all good intelligence and concord between both the parties that the affairs of Flanders being thus setled reason did require that he should now turn himself to the affairs of Spaine to provide in those parts likewise for many things which did necessarily require his presence that the King hoped either to return quickly himself to Flanders or else to send his son thither that he did acknowledge those Provinces to be his principall Patrimony and that from thence he had his rise to the succession of so many Kingdoms and that therefore he would vie with his Father in his love to them and endeavour to exceed him in his favouring of them that certainly of all goods that could befall them peace was to be preferred which occasioned commerce commerce traffick and traffick the plenty which the people of Flanders did now injoy that in peace likewise the Church did most flourish in her Ministery and the Nobility injoy their greatest priviledges that then this quiet was equally advantageous for all the three orders of the Country and that the King was therein interested more then any others by reason of the dangers whereinto the Princes Authority doth usually fall through the peoples turbulencies that the King knew nothing could more crosse this his so wise and pious object then Heresie the monster of impiety and Sedition and that when people did once arm themselves against their God they did at the same time arm themselves against their Princes of which the neighbouring Countries did afford too horrid and dreadfull examples that therefore the King as a Father no lesse then as a Prince did exhort the Provinces to preserve the purity of the ancient Faith to wit that faith which their Forefathers had for so many Ages professed with such lively zeal and caused to flourish with such constant Pietie That therefore they should cause the Edicts to be observed which were first published by his Father and afterwards confirmed by him in this point that they should not suffer themselves to be abused by false words taking licentiousness for liberty that they should take example from the evils of others not to fall into the like themselves that they should give all due obedience and respect to their new Governess and that they should assure themselves that as the King went from them full of Gratitude for the good service which they had done him and his Father so he would alwayes continue his Fathers and his wn affection towards those Provinces to witness which he would presently cause all forrein Garrisons to be drawn from forth their fortresses and take away all unusuall contributions from the Country These were the chief things which the Bishop of Arras uttered in the Kings name The answer which the Provinces did at the present give was full of Humility and obsequiousness and seemed to breath forth fidelity but those States ended afterward with very little of satisfaction to the King For touching the things spoken of before wherein the Country seemed to be distasted he saw the ill disposed minds of the Provinces in the faces of their Deputies and might judge that affairs would not continue long in the condition he left them The Flemings were then chiefly vexed through fear of having the inquisition introduced amongst them and there wanted not some who spoke their mindes therein publikely in the States That Flanders was not accustomed to such Rigors that it was terrified at the very name of the inquisition which would be the cause of deserting traffick and Merchandizing throughout the whole Country How much better would those evils be remedied by fairmeans then by fire and sword That every Humane body had its particular Habit and so every Nation its proper and natural constitution of temper That what did become Spain and Italy might not be fit for Flanders nor for the other more Northern people of Europe Who were more naturally inclined to liberty then those of the Southern parts By these and such like words wherewith they pierced the ears of the King they would either have had him have annul'd the published Edicts before his departure or at least have moderated them But he would never assent thereunto But gave this remarkable answer to one of his Officers who represented unto him the danger which he thereby might run into of losing either all or many of those Provinces and that therefore he might do better somewhat to connive alledging the neighbouring Countreyes for his example That he would rather be without Kingdoms then injoy them with Heresie Moreover the King with no lesse maturity of judgement then zeal of Religion foresaw the pernitious consequences which might from thence arise in his other Dominions for such an example would have encouraged the rest to have made the like desires and would be very dangerous to be admitted of and no lesse dangerous to be refused He therefore remained resolute to have the said Edicts put in execution as also fully to establish the new Erection of Bishopricks The King in the yeare 1555 had renewed the Edict which his Father the Emperour had made in the year 1550 wherein by Authority of the Apostolick
that the Dutchess was not much troubled to see Granville gone as one who was upheld by the King in too great Authority with her Yet the truer opinion was that she was very much grieved to be deprived of such a man and one so well experienced in the affairs of Flanders To boot that upon any sinister events whereof many and of very great moment did ensue after his departure he might have justified her behaviour therein unto the King and have easily freed her from those accusations which were afterwards often laid unto her charge in the Councel in Spain THE HISTORY OF THE WARS OF FLANDERS Written by CARDINAL BENTIVOGLIO BOOK II. The Contents The Nobility are glad at Granvilles departure Factions in the Councel of State The Regent makes the Councel of Trent be received Orange opposeth it and shews an unquiet disposition Heresie begins to appear bare-faced in Flanders The Inquisition still more detested Egmont goes into Spain The King persists in his former resolutions Egmont returns and the Country is distasted The Nobility do in particular conspire and form an Instrument in writing by the name of Compromise or Covenant Some of the chiefest meet together at Breda a Town belonging to the Prince of Orange The Dutchess grows very apprehensive of these proceedings She understands that a great many of the Nobility meet together to present her with a Petition she endeavours but in vain to hinder the delivery of it Brederodes Oration to his other Companions They present the Petition They take upon them the name of Beggers And why they do so The Marquis of Berghen and Monsieur Montigni are sent into Spain and are not admitted of by the King The practise and profession of heresie is publickly introduced in Flanders The Nobilities audaciousness in defending it Their assembling together at Getrinberg The Regent endeavours to satisfie them And is at last inforced to take away all manner of Inquisition The hereticks and unquiet people are hereby encouraged From whence they come to open violencies against the Churches WHen Cardinal Granville was gone from Flanders occasion of complaining did rather cease in Orange and the rest then a will to complain And therefore seeming very well satisfied with this the Kings resolution they made publick demonstrations of joy in all places That now the Country was freed of him who sought to oppress it The Councel left in its former dignity and the Regent her self in the reputation which was due to her in the Government That Flanders had not a sorer enemy then the Cardinal nor the Nobility a more malitious interpreter of their actions to the King Let him in Gods name carry that pride and arrogancy which he so much joy'd in somewhere else and let him exalt himself where either the obscurity of his birth was not known or where the splendor of others was less esteemed of They accompanied the Cardinals deperture with these words full of bitterness not yet satisfied with the hatred which whilst present they had in so many sorts shewed towards him On the other side they shewed all due observancy to the Regent they never intermitted commg to Councel neither did they let slip any other occasion by which they might reconcile her unto them and make her their protect or unto the King We told you before that the President Vighlio and Barlemont did side with the Cardinal in all things in Councel he had made the King have a great good opinion of their fidelity and wisdom as also the Councel of Spain so as when the Cardinal was gone 't was soon seen that the Regent confided more in these two in many resolutions then in all the rest and 't was easily to be judged that she had Orders from the King so to do and that though the Cardinal was gone yet his Councels remained still in Flanders Vighlio was an upright man and no less pious in matters of Religion then faithfull in what concern'd the King And where it was needfull he opposed the ambition and arrogancy of great ones more then became his condition Succeeding then in Granvilles sence and encouraged thereunto by the esteem which was put upon his Councels in Spain he forbore not to put the Regent in mind How little cause she had to confide in those great ones who having no other end then to make themselves every day greater could not receive any addition to their Authority which tended not to the diminution of the Regal power That their eyes were now upon France and by the example of those Contrivers of Innovations they would introduce the same troubles and Faction into Flanders that they might afterwards fall out within themselves who should have the greatest share of their Country when they had made a prey of her Was there any doubt but that all those pretences were false which they had made use of to remove Granville from Flanders How had he offended them unless they would esteem themselves injured by the service which he had done the King and which with such loyalty and constancie of mind he had alwayes endeavoured to sustain not regarding their complaint nor threats That she would be soon enough aware of this For one pretence failing they would raise up others and after having warred against the Kings Ministers of State they would bare-faced make war against the King himself This speech of Vighlio's proved a prophesie so fully was it confirmed by the event Nor was it long ere just as he had foretold Orange and the rest took up new occasion of Complaints in a business which fell out in Religion and 't was this The Councel of Trent was already published and the controversies which arose between the Catholicks and Hereticks in matter of religion were truly determined by that divine Oracle of the Church neither had her sacred Decree brought forth less fruit in the reformation of Ecclesiastical discipline Of all the Princes of Christendom the King of Spain had made it his particular care to see that Councel take good effect He was alwayes fixed and unalterable not to admit of any Religion in his Kingdoms and States but the Catholike profession For his Territories being so far divided one from another he thought that they might be the easilier united in their obedience under him by the bond of an uniform zeal which might equally fasten them in their devotion to the Church The Councel then being ended the King was resolved for what concerned his Temporal authority that the Decrees made thereby should be observed in all his Dominions and therefore had given such orders as were needfull to the Dutchess of Parma to make them be received and observed in Flanders She propounded this to the Councel of State and there wanted not some who presently opposed the proposition They said That the Conncel was in many things contrary to the priviledges of the Provinces that the Ecclesiastical government would be too much advantaged thereby that the strictness thereof did too much
may have matter for innovations to their advantage What reason is there then that more fuel should be added to the fire of those tumults when they ought rather to be quenched and deaded If the bare name of Inquisition as it may be termed not almost any ways put in use or at least but as a shadow and which it was thought necessary wholly to suppress hath put Flanders into such commotions what will that Nation do when they shall see themselves threatned with the forces of a foreign Army what fear what horrour will they thereat conceive the least they can apprehend will doubtlesly be the Inquisition They will believe that the Government of Spain will be by force brought into Flanders that their Priviledges will be violated their Institutions overthrown their faults severely punished their Liberties opprest by Garisons and finally be buried in Citadels But suppose an Army be to be sent into Flanders who will secure their passage who will secure their entrance Peoples fear doth oft-times degenerate into desparation So the Flemings growing desperate and the Nobility cloaking themselves no longer under Covenants and Petitions nor the common people falling into slight tumults but the whole Country going into a general rebellion all may with one accord oppose our forces and not suffer them to enter And say the Flemish were not apt enough of themselves to make this opposition will they peradventure want nighbours who will use all means to incite them thereunto do not we know what apprehensions the being of the Spanish forces in Flanders will cause in Germany in England and in France But let it be granted that they be suffered to enter and that as then they cannot from thence receive any impediment for so doing are we any whit the more secure that the Country may not alter afterwards and be troubled Great punishments must certainly be undergone and force must divers ways be secured by greater force The people there will then begin to despair more then ever they will call punishment oppression and severity tyranny Citadels yokes and Garisons chains and fetters and thus at last they will break out into rebellion and arms thus will the war be kindled Nor doe I know whether it will be afterwards as easily ended as it would have been easie at first not to have begun it Nature by the strong situation of sea and rivers will fight for them they themselves will fight desperately in defence as they will say of themselves wives children and liberty The opulency of their own Country will furnish them with gallant forces and much more the oportunity of their neighbours On the contrary how heavie a burthen of war will your Majesty be to sustain Succours at so great a distance will prove very slow and very costly both by sea and land Passage must either be beg'd or bought and we shall see our men fail before they come into Flanders The event of war is always uncertain And Fortune which in other humane accidents is content with a part will here have the whole Dominion If the success prove favourable to your Majesty the victory will be bought with bloud and against the bloud of your subjects But if the contrary should fall out which God forbid not only men but States would be lost nor they alone but Religion and so at last by too deplorable event we shall be taught how much fair means would have been better then bitter proceedings for the accommodation of the affairs of those Provinces It is to those fair means that I exhort you and that by all means you give over any thought of the other Every Province every Kingdom hath its particular nature like unto humane bodies And who knows this better then you Sir to whose Scepter worlds are born and whose Monarchie embraceth so much as the circuit thereof is only to be measured by the Sun One Government is proper for Spain another for the Indies another for your States in Italy and so likewise others in Flanders and in the rest of so many members of which the bulk of your Empire is composed Only the same religion ought to be in them all but in this also the zeal ought to be well regulated so as the too violent remedies which may be used to that purpose do not produce division instead of unity and that together with the loss of obedience to the Church that fail not likewise which is due by the people to their Prince What did not Don Piedro di Tolledo Viceroy of Naples do what did he not trie to bring the Inquisition into that Kingdom in the Emperour your fathers time Naples rose and so would the whole Kingdom have done so as it was necessary to remove the occasion of the tumults of that City Let the Flemish then be permitted to enjoy the Government of Flanders Free them from all suspition either of Inquisition Foreign Forces or any other more dreaded violence Let one contrary cure another So the peoples fear ceasing the Countrey commotions will cease Nor is it to be doubted but that heresie is rather supprest by peace then by war It is too well seen how much it hath increased heresie in Germany and in France and since so many have done amiss in Flanders and that the faults ought not to be left altogether unpunisht let the punishment of a few serve for the example of all and let it be laid there where the Country may be least exasperated thereby In fine clemency becomes a Prince other people are capable of other vertues But the Duke of Alva spake thus to the contrary By so many and so efficacious reasons on the one and on the other side the King was rather confused then confirmed Cardinal Granville adhered to the Duke of Alva and though he appeared to be a bitter enemy to the Flemish yet his long experience in the affairs of that Country gave authority to his very passions On the other side Prince Ruygomez who was greatly in the Kings favour joyned with the Duke of Feria And almost the whole Councel was divided between these two opinions The King did then again waver a little before he put on any resolution But the news of the novelties in Flanders still increasing and particularly those of the violence used to the Churches and of the excess of liberty which the hereticks took in all things else the King thought it was now no longer an act of will but of necessity to send an Army into the Low-Countries and to use force against the Flemish Princes usually when they can commit the execution of affairs to those who have had the greatest share thereof in Councel Therefore the King chose the Duke of Alva to go chief Commander over his Forces which went for Flanders To boot that if there should be any occasion to use them none in Spain was thought to be more able as hath been said in that profession A man rigid both in nature and aspect haughty in
bank At Avala his first advancement he found some of the Enemy who had opened the Sluces to overflow the Country and saw that the water entred already in abundance But putting them to flight suddenly he made the Sluces be shut and kept as they ought to be The Duke himself advanced this mean while together with Vitelli Norchernes and some few others who came in fight of the Enemies quarters He understood by the Spies that they were in some disorder as well for that they saw his Army so neer as that Lodovicks men were almost all of them tumultuous and so ill paid as some uprore was already feared in the Camp The first Spaniards had this mean while drawn the Enemy forth to skirmish who not thinking that the body of the Army was so neer thought they might easily break the forerunners There was no long delay made Two great Squadrons of Foot for as much as the narrowness of the place could permit vigorously assaulted the Spaniards by whom they were no less vigorously withstood The Dukes Van this mean while advanced and look how much courage this added to the Catholicks so much did it lessen in the Hereticks They then would have retreated but being hotly pursued by the Spaniards they began basely to run away and the Spaniards followed them so close at the heels as they fell in with them at the same instant into their quarters where the Dukes men shewed no less valour nor the Enemy any more resistance who being still more imbased and thinking only how to save themselves fell every where into disorder and confusion The rest was not to be termed fighting but execution The Spaniards more greedy of blood then booty by reason of the slaughter which the others had committed the preceding battel put as many of the Enemy as they could unto the sword but there were almost as many drowned as slain for seeing they could not escape the fury of the sword they blindly threw themselves into the River which was very large and deep in that place It was said that Lodovick swom it over with much adoe and that 7000 of his men perisht the rest ran away some here some there in so great terror as there hardly was left any remainder of that Army Few of the Dukes men were flam And the Battel was such as certainly few will be the like wherein the vanquished were more indamaged and the vanquishers less THE HISTORY OF THE WARS OF FLANDERS Written by CARDINAL BENTIVOGLIO BOOK V. The Contents Orange enters Flanders with great Forces raised in Germany The Duke of Alva goes to meet him They lie many dayes in the face of one another Orange at last gives way and must quit the Country The Duke returns triumphant to Brussels His necessity in matter of monies occasioned by a great reprisal made thereof in England He therefore resolves to impose unusual grievances Commotions which insue thereupon A general Pardon proclaimed by him The Arch-Dutchess Anne of Austria passeth through Flanders to marry with the Catholique King The Flemish are scandalized at a Statue of the Dukes which was set up in the Citadel at Antwerp The Castle of Lovestein is surprised by Orange his followers but is suddenly recovered by the Spaniard Lumay more luckily takes the Bril A particular Description of Holland and Zealand The troubles of Zealand Sancio d'Avila goes to the succour of Middleburgh Valentiennes fals into the Hugonots hands who not long after are made to quit it By their assistance Lodovick steals into the City of Mons and prepares to maintain the siege THe Duke of Alva after having obtained so notable a victory return'd to Groninghen and staid there some dayes the better to secure it from any new danger He therefore munited it according as was requisite And because he feared danger more from within then from without he left a Citadel begun to be built there according as he intended at first the better to bridle the Inhabitants From thence he past to Utrecht whose Province is as it were incorporated in Holland He thought to have stayed there some time the better to secure the affairs of Holland But the news which he heard from divers parts of Orange his approach or preparation so to do made him go from thence much sooner then he had intended From thence he went to Balduke giving at the same time such order as was requisite for the gathering together of the Army and the reinforcing it with Foot and Horse To this end he fill'd up the German and Walloon Regiments and added another Regiment of Walloons under Christophero Mandragone a Spaniard and commanded that the Train-Bands of Flanders which came to about 2000 Horse should be in a readiness This sort of Militia distinguished into Companies of Curasiers and Harquebusiers under the chief Lords of the Country was of great ãâã in time past but afterward it lessened much in reputation When there is need to make use thereof the charge is given apart to some one chief Lord of the Country who knows no other Superior then the Generalissimo of the Army Whilst the Duke was preparing in this manner the Prince of Orange used no less diligence in gathering together great Forces to enter Flanders with them where it might be more for his advantage He had received very considerable helps but more in men then mony from the aforesaid Princes and Free-Towns of Germany To boot with the German souldiers he and his adherents had assembled together a good number of those Flemish and Walloons who had left the Country and some French He was upon the banks of the Rhine with all these people part whereof were taken into pay and part were a taking in intending to pass the River and then to thrust into Ghelderland or Brabant as it hath been said and fix himself in the best parts of the Country He was not to expect any obstacle in his passing over the Rhine not wanting means to doe so in many of his friends territories in Germany His greatest difficulty lay in passing over the Mause which did wholly appertain unto the King of Spain except the State of Liege which was also wholly a Catholick Country and almost incorporated into the Kings Dominions But he hoped to possess himself of some important place upon that shore which might secure his passage both for his entrance if he should advance and for a safe retreat if he were necessitated to turn back Orange having thus mustered his whole Army together he past freely over the Rhine above Colen about the end of August and then over the Mosel at Trovers And winding to the right hand he advanced towards the Country of Juliers confining upon the Kings Provinces of Ghelderland and Limburg and upon the State of Liege The common report was that his Camp consisted of 20000 Foot and 9000 Horse all of them Germans except the aforesaid Flemish Walloons and French With Orange was his Brother Lodovick Count Hostrat
and Monsieur de Lumay and some other Flemish of good quality together with many German Commanders of great consideration The Army was well enough furnisht with Artillery and ammunition for war but had not so much mony nor victuals as was needfull This being understood the Duke of Alva resolved to make his Rendezvous at Mastrick the most commodious place upon the Mause that he might oppose Orange where it should be most convenient There were come unto the Duke from Spain at this time 400000 Crowns and 2000 Spanish Foot which being all of them new Souldiers he placed in the Garrisons and drew out from thence the old ones His eldest son Frederick came likewise then to Flanders to whom he gave the command of all the Foot The Rendezvous being appointed the Kings Army was found to consist of 16000 choise Foot to wit 6000 Spaniards the rest all Germans and Walloons and of 6000 Horse some whereof were Spanish some Italian some Germans some Burgonians and some Walloons and those Train-Bands of Flanders which were commanded by Carlo Philippode Croy Marquis of Haure The Duke removed the Camp afterwards from Mastrick to Haren a great Village not far from thence and seated likewise upon the Mause And here he made a Bridg of Boats that he might have free passage overfit at all hours and receive victuals the better from all those parts This place was almost in the midst between Liege and Ruremonde upon which two Cities Orange his designe was likeliest to be Ruremonde is in Ghelderland as hath been said It stands upon a little River called Ruer just where it fals into the Mause 'T is rather a place of great circuit then much people but the situation thereof is of importance by reason of both those Rivers Liege lies upon the same River a little higher The Mause hath not a City upon it of larger circuit nor better peopled 'T is divided by the River but joyned together again by divers Bridges The Bishop governs the Inhabitants there as well in temporal as in spiritual affairs being also Prince thereof though the City enjoy such ample priviledges as the form of Government therein partakes more of a Common-wealth then of a Principality 'T is one of the most Catholick Cities of all the North fullest of Ecclesiastical goods and most devoted to the Apostolical See Orange desired to try Liege first he wrote to the Magistracy omitting to write to Gerardo Grosbech who was then Bishop of the City and a personage of great worth thinking that he adhered too much to the Kings and the Catholick cause But the same mind and zeal appeared to be in the Magistracy for they determinately answered That the City would not receive in any foreign soldiers and that they had men enough of their own to defend themselves against any violence that should be offered them This practising of Orange with the Ligeois and his marching with his Army towards that City made the Duke resolve likewise to draw near it with his But Orange his designe upon Liege proving vain he without trying Ruremond turned suddenly elsewhere with intention to pass the Mause where he might best foard over it The river happened to be very low that year for the climat of Flanders which even in Summer is very rainy and moyst was of some late months more drie then usual Having found the most commodious foard and making use of the night season Orange in great silence past his Army over the river just against Stocchem in the State of Liege Which when the Duke heard he forthwith went thither also and drew near Orange with his Army Their designes were notwithstanding very different Orange would have fought at the very first for finding himself much streigthned in mony and victuals and with men who he was rather to obey then command he thought he could not long maintain his Army And nothing being done as yet in Flanders in favour to him he knew that if he should not have some favourable success by way of battel the Countrie would hardly rise having so powerfull an Army as was that of the Duke of Alva's within its bowels The Duke out of the very same reasons shun'd giving or battel He saw that Orange in losing a battel could lose nothing but his Army whereas he together with the loss of his Army should hazard the loss of all Flanders Resolving therefore rather to coast along by his enemy then to fight him and to vex him so with sufferings as at last he should disband of himself he only kept near him And because it was already evidently seen that Orange his intention was to enter into Brabant the Duke provided the places of greatest danger with all things needfull which were Tilemon Lovayne and Brussels and had an eye also to all other parts where there was any cause of suspition The two Camps being thus quartered Orange moved towards Tongueren a great Town in the State of Liege intending to possess himself of it and there to get victuals for his men But the Duke did so secure it as Orange durst never assault it Getringberg a very good Town in the same Countrie was more easily perswaded to let him have victuals and to receive his soldiers into the Town Which it soon repented by reason of the insolencies which they committed particularly against the Churches and sacred things Departing suddenly from thence for that it was not tenable He quartered upon the confines of Brabant hoping that when his Colours should be seen so nigh at hand the malecontents within the Countrie would likewise display theirs But the Duke flanking still upon him and streightning him now on one side now on another did not afford him one minutes rest Chiapino Vitelli had the particular care of the quarters which he was very diligent in taking and muniting To which purpose he had a great many pyoneers in the Army and upon occasion he would make the very soldiers work within the Trenches In these the Camps approachings one unto the other in their quartering and disquartering and particularly upon occasion of forrage there happened almost continually some skirmishes between the soldiers of the two Armies Nor was there any considerable advantage got on either side for many days But at last one action proved very bloudie Brabant is watered by many small rivolets which fall almost all of them into the Demer which inlarged by their accessions doth at last disgorge it self into the Scheld Amongst other the Geet runs into it Orange being advanced into Brabant he could not pass this river so speedily and with such caution before that a good part of his Reer ere it could re-joyn with the rest was in danger to be assailed upon great advantage by the Dukes soldiers who did not lose that oportunity The Camp-Masters Romero Bracamonte and Bigli advancing with their Spaniards and Walloons gave violently upon the enemy who seeing the danger had tumultuously fortified themselves in a Village upon the
could in his affairs of Flanders Both sides being thus incensed divers means of mitigation were used But this made nothing at all for the Duke of Alva's present necessity who finding himself much in arrears to the Army and at great charges with the Citadels which he had begun to build particularly with that of Antwerp which he would suddenly see finished could not bear with the malitious delayes made by the English Moved therefore by so urgent necessity and considering what new troubles might befall him by Orange his plots and machinations which he was framing both within Flanders and without it he resolved to have recourse for aid to the Flemish themselves by laying new Impositions upon the Country his design was to raise so much mony as might suffice for the present necessity and to establish a setled Treasury for the future so as the grievances should not be every day to be renewed and therewithall the danger of incensing the Provinces with odious demands as doubtlesly those would be which should be made in so abhorr'd a business The Duke thought therefore to lay on so great impositions at once as might suffice to carry through his whole business And the way was this That a true value being made of all moveable and immoveable goods for once only but one of a hundred should be paid but that upon every contract the twentieth part of the immoveables should be paid and the tenth of the moveables and that these two last payments should last as long as the publike necessities should require This being resolved upon the Duke call'd together the States General of all the Provinces to meet at Brussels to acquaint them with the Kings mind in this business and to get their consent He first represented unto the Deputies what great necessity the King had of monies at that time He said That to boot with the great expences of the Armies late march the Queen of Engiand out of malicious pretences and which argued more malicious machinations in her had detained 40â000 Crowns which were sent from Spain to Flanders That howsoever the Souldier must be satisfied which had long wanted their due pay That from the vigilancy of the Kings enemies in procuring by all means how to beat down his authority and to raise tumults amongst his people the necessity of those remedies might appear which were to be opposed to so many perverse intelligences and conspiracies That without doubt the best lay in building of Citadels and in maintaining of Garrisons in fitting places upon which the peace and safety of the Country did depend and that all whatsoever monies ought to be held well laid out to that purpose He wisht them to remember what the obligation of every good Subject was towards their Prince how great the Kings affection was towards those Provinces and how behovefull it was that in such and so urgent need the Kings desires should be by them willingly received and readily executed He afterwards propounded the demand in manner abovesaid It would be hard to say how much troubled and how full of confusion the Deputies of the Provinces were at the hearing of it Flanders had never formerly been wont to suffer the grievances of taxes and impositions as is used in Spain Italy and other places The antient custom was for the Prince to desire such assistance from the people in his necessities as was thought needfull and the often denying thereof shewed that the granting it lay in the peopleâ free will When they were resolved to grant any every Province imposed upon it self such a proportion as was fit for that purpose These contributions were demanded by the Prince and granted by the people but for a certain prefixt time and as oft as the one was necessitated to make new desires as oft was the other to renew again their consents So as this unaccustomed fashion propounded by the Duke of taxing the Country so integrally for an unlimited time and in a manner not prescribed by the Provinces but by himself did strangely move mans minds especially at this time when humours were stirred every where The Deputies took time to give their answer and in the mean while acquainted their several Provinees with the whole affair Who when they heard thereof the people strove who should most storm Nothing but complaints lamenting and execrations were heard against those who had counselled it and against the Governour who had made it That the misories of Flanders did infinitely increase Was it not sufficient to introduce forein Armies by violence to violate her liberties by Garisons and strong Holds and to unpeople Cities by banishments imprisonment and death but that the people whose contributions were formerly voluntary and moderate must now be compel'd to submit themselves to immense and everlasting tributes That the Flemish did not only not desire but did wholly detest the bringing in of these forces and these unaccustomed yokes And yet how faithfull had the Countrie apreared when the House of Nassaw was in arms and how ready was it by its ownproper forces to streng then the Kings Army That the enemies forces being driven out the Kings were now become the greater enemies And as if the war had been begun by the Flemish 't is they that must now bear the burthen thereof That Flanders was astonished at the very name of Tribute How much more would she be so to feel the effects thereof Hence it was that the concourse of foreiners grew less and therewithall the Traffick of the Provinces That Merchandizing ceasing by which the people did chiefly sustain themselves what was to be expected but to see them fall into the greatest misery and calamity that might be Where was the former moderate Government of their preceding rather Fathers then Princes where the Emperours rescent goodness that in lieu thereof the King deriving his bloud from Spain and his opinions yet more and imitating the Spaniards yet more particularly in his afflicting Flanders seemed as if his only end were to take from her all shews of Liberty and reduce her to the miserablest condition of slavery That to this purpose he had made choice of the most Imperious and cruel Duke Alva for his Agent who was come to ruine not to govern the Low-Countries But the Flemish had already tollerated too much 't was now time to turn their patience into generosity and retaining as well the worth of the antient Belgiques as their descent from them they ought for the future to be as forward in withstanding vyolence as they had been formerly in tolerating it The Dukes ears were fill'd with these complaints from all parts much agitated therefore between his desire of promoting what he had propounded and the difficulties he found of so doing he treated very fervently thereof with the Councel of State to find out some means whereby he might overcome the difficulties which therein were met withall The Councel differed likewise in their opinions there were not wanting some who incouraged
a matter it was to get any footing there having no place upon the Confines which would receive them and more particularly upon the River and because the greatest hopes of new commotions lay yet in Germany therefore Orange his adherents spying out the conjuncture of time resolved to indeavour the taking of some opportune place upon the Mause on that side In this river after it hath changed its name to Wahell in one of its branches is contained the Island of Bomele of large circuit The situation of this Island could not be of more importance in respect also of its nearness to the Rhine And not far from thence was Balduke upon the utmost confines of Brabant which is one of the most populous Cities of that Province and one the best fortified both by Nature and Art of all Flanders One Captain Hermanno Reiter was a native of this City who depended upon the Prince of Orange and desired to signalize himself by doing him some service Upon the lower point of the abovesaid Island stands a little Castle called Lovesteyn more considerable for its situation then strength Reiter with some of his companions got in hither by fraud and brought in some fifty with him Roderigo de Tolledo lay in Balduke with some Spanish Companies who by reason of his being so near was advertised hereof He therefore presently dispatcht away 200 foot under Captain Lorenso Perea of the same Nation that he might indeavour by all means to recover the Castle The Invaders did not think to be so soon set upon so as not being able to defend themselves by their own forces nor having time to expect any from elsewhere they presently surrendred it to Perea not without some little dispute wherein Reiter was slain Thus was Lovesteyn recovered almost before it was lost But the Duke was notwithstanding much moved hereat weighing more the occasion then the effect of such a designe for he might fear that other more dangerous and more considerable designes were hatching as the event soon after shewed He being still more necessitated in expences and in monies to defray them and much incenst to see how hardly the hundreth penny was payed and more particularly upon the Maritine coast where no exaction thereof could ever be made and being yet more angred at the attempt of Lovesteyn he resolved by all means to recover not only the hundreth penny but the tenth and twentieth too he made the Kings mind in that affair be publisht having notwithstanding moderated the Imposition so as those of the Country were taxed less and foreigners more and thus he would have it executed But the people were no less resolved to the contrary notwithstanding any moderation which was added And this repugnancy grew so great as in some places no more meat was brought to the Markets nor did the Merchants expose to sale their wonted Merchandise Thus did affairs stand in the end of the year 1570. The other of 71 follows which will bring with it deplorable memorials for ever to Flanders For then the war broke forth almost every where in her and so great a fire was afterwards kindled as could never be extinguisht but by the truce of twelve years where with it was not quencht but smothered up Arms being suddenly afterwards reassumed and the War continued with more obstinacy on both sides We told you before how the Prince of Orange and his brother Lodovick were got into Picardy in France after the Duke of Alva had driven them out of Flanders and that Orange retiring from thence into Germany had left his brother in France Their Forces were almost quite disbanded for they wanted necessarie conveniences to maintain them But the whole strength which Genlis brought with him in assistance of those of Nassaw as hath been said was still intire Nor were the chief of the Hugonots in France wanting in nourishing in themselvs and in reviving in the Flemish runagates hopes of new revolutions which were to arise in those Provinces The Hugonots promised therefore all assistance on their sides and shewed how it would be easie to make themselves Masters of some good Town in the Walloon Provinces which as hath been said lie nearest France They therefore stood expecting all fit opportunities for this purpose Orange used all the means he could with the Princes his friends and other his adherents in Germany to prepare new Forces and facilitate his designe of entring Flanders again on that side He excused his first undertaking and promised better success in the next representing how ill-affected the Flemish were to the Spaniards and how much their hatred was increased by reason of the grievances which the Duke of Alva would lay upon the Countrie Nor was his indeavours and those of his associates in France ere a whit less fervent with the Queen of England so as by the opportunity of the Sea and for other aforesaid considerations 't was hoped that easier footing might be got in Holland and Zealand and easilyer maintained To this end some of the fled Flemish the better to raise some insurrection were got to sea in men of War to which they were driven even by despair For their goods being confiscated and not knowing how to live but by rapine they thought they might better do so by sea then by land The Lord Lumay Count of Marcia descended of Noble bloud and who neither wanted courage in undertaking nor industry in executing hard enterprises was one of the best qualified amongst them From this Maritine part where the danger appeared to be greatest the mischief first broke forth which Lumay was in this manner the Author of Having got together about 25 Vessels some of them fled Flemish and some of them English Pyrates and fomented in private by the Queen of England her self he steered about the end of March towards Holland and unexpectedly by underhand dealing got into the Town of Brill In the Western part of Holland there lies a little Island made by the Mause and by the Sea on the utmost part whereof towards the sea stands this Town which by the commodiousness of its Haven is held one of the chiefest Keys of those Maritine parts Lumay had with him about a thousand souldiers pickt up from several parts which were all hereticks of mean condition most of them fugitives or such as were driven from Flanders and such in fine as desired to raise tumults there Now because from this first commotion in Holland many others suddenly insued both in that Province and in Zealand so as the war was more kindled there then in other places and many of the most memorable accidents happened there I think it fit first to set down here briefly their situation and nature to the end that deliniating as I may so say the portraiture thereof the Reader may have the events as it were before his eyes Both these Provinces lie on the North and West side of Flanders In Holland the Rhine and the Mause and in Zealand
the Scheld fall into the Sea in so large Channels as losing the condition of Rivers they seem to carry new Seas into the Sea on the contrary the Ocean first washing the said two Provinces for a long trackt of ground and turning then as it were from the sea into a River penetrates into each of them by divers Channels and hides it self there in sundry Gulfs From hence joyning with the Rivers and together with them cutting Zealand thorough in many places it makes many Islands thereof and reduceth Holland into a Peninsula To boot with these three forenamed Rivers which are the chiefest of all Flanders there are in Holland divers other lesser ones and as if Art would contend with Nature there are thereunto added an infinite number of Channels cut by hand which are made for the more commodiousness of the Countrie There are within it likewise a great number of Lakes and standing waters so as the situation of both these Provinces being well considered 't is to be questioned whether the space of ground be greater which is won from the earth by water or from water by the earth nor is it less to be disputed whether their Country do more abound with or be more failing in those Commodities which men enjoy in other parts Through the condition of their situation they want both Corn Wine Oyle Wool Wood Hemp Flax and almost all other Commodities and delights which are used in more temperate and drie Climates and yet again there is no Country not only in that Northern nook but not even in any part of Europe which abounds so much as Holland and Zealand doth in almost all the aforenamed things and even of those which are less necessary for the maintenance of humane life So great is the advantage which these two Provinces receive by the Sea and Rivers whereby their Commerce with all other parts is so easie Which since they have introduced and made so familiar in the Indies it cannot be said how much both Merchandise and Merchants are increased in both of them Hence it is that they abound so much in Inhabitants and that their Cities Towns and Villages are so well peopled But the Sea likewise is as full of Ships and other bottoms and all their watry places with other sorts of boats which serve all for habitations especially to Mariners and Fishers Great is the number of people which apply themselves to these two vocations in Holland and in Zealand They make houses of their ships and of their houses schools Here they are born here they are bred up and here they learn their profession And the Mariners especially practising their Calling in running so oft and so boldly from the one Pole to the other and whethersoever the Sun communicates it self to mortals they grow so expert therein as though they may be equalled yet cannot they be out-done in this Seafering mysterie by any whatsoever Nation For what remains these people are generally given to Traffick and are extraordinary industrious in Manual and Mechanical Arts. Their greatest delight lies in their feasts and at their meat by which they temper the melancholy of their tedious Winters which are rather long then sharp the Country abounding much more in rain then in frost They are generally well shaped in body as candid in nature as in countenance pleasant in their leasure times but fierce in their revolts and much better at fighting by sea then by land They feed most upon fish and white-meats wherein their Country doth infinitely abound They have alwaies been inclin'd to a Free Government and have ever tenaciously held their antient Customes And since Heresie began to creep in amongst them turning their Liberty by degrees into licentiousness it hath since been easier for the Authors of the late Novelties to make them rise and forgoe their former obedience to the Church and King Holland is full of great Cities good Towns and infinite in Villages But by reason of the frequency of Foreigners and multitude of self-Inhabitants Amsterdam hath always been the chief City of that Province Even whilst Commerce flourisht in Antwerp great was the concourse of Foreigners to Amsterdam but Commerce failing in that City by reason of the War it is so mightily increased in this other as Amsterdam is at this hour the place of greatest Merchandising not only in Holland but in all the North. In Zealand Midleburg is the Town best peopled and of greatest Traffick That Province cannot notwithstanding come any thing near Holland neither in circuit people nor plenty 'T is almost impossible to enter either of these Provinces by force because not only the chief places but even the commonest Towns are Invironed either by the Sea Rivers or Lakes or by Earth then which there can be none more low nor more myery So as it is no wonder if these People being thus favoured by Nature were both so fierce in taking up Arms at first and have with like animosity maintained them ever since But to return to where I left As soon as Lumay was received into the Brill he presently began to fortifie himself judging that without delay the Duke of Alva would send to drive him from thence He openly profest Heresie wherewith that Town was likewise much infected so as great violence and impiety was at first committed against Church-men and sacred things The news of this flew suddenly round about and the Duke of Alva was soon advertised thereof by Maximilian Count de Bossu Governour of Holland The Duke was mightily troubled hereat He knew what practises there were in Germany France and England to cause new troubles in Flanders and that the nearest and greatest danger lay on the Maritine side of the Country He therefore ordered Bossu to draw out so many men out of the neighbouring Garisons with all possible speed as would suffice not only to recover the Brill but to drive Lumay out of that Island To this purpose Fernando de Tolledo marched thitherward with part of his men which lay nearest and went to Roterdam one of the greatest and most Merchandizing Towns in all Holland 't is seated upon the Roter a little River from whence it takes its name and almost where it falls into the Mause which inlargeth itself there very much The Kings Forces passing from thence met with Bossu in Waldargin a Town situated likewise upon the same stream of the Mause not far from the Bril and hence they were conveyed in Barks into the Island But Lumay being first advertised of their advancing Bossu met with such impediments in effecting this enterprise as he was inforced and that not without great difficulty to turn back and all those people were already manifestly inclined to rise through an opinion which was every where received and by the Hereticks cunningly spread abroad that the Kings souldiers went to gather the imposed taxes by force When the Spaniards were come out of the Bril Island they return'd again to Roterdam where they found
like and peradventure greater might insue upon the same Frontier where he greatly apprehended not only the open practises of the Hugonots but even the secret ones which by order or connivance of the King of France the very Catholicks might nourish in those parts He therefore with all speed sent such men as were needfull to chase the French forthwith from out that Town and to prevent the danger of the coming in of others to assist the former Alonzo de Lumbrales marched thitherward immediately with 150 Spanish horse and was followed the next day by Garzia de Gualdes with above one hundred more of the same Nation These Horse were brought without any difficulty into the Citadel and time was afforded this mean while for John de Mendosa General of the Light-horse to come with both more Horse and Foot he brought with him also some Companies of Walloons taken newly into pay So as being entred with all these men into the Citadel and charging vigorously upon the French who could not in so short a time be succoured from without nor sufficiently fortified within they were first soon disordered and afterwards put to flight Many of them were slain and but few of them would have escaped if the Kings men would in that heat have pursued them But they were no less angry with the Townsmen suspecting that they had favoured the French So as leaving these and falling on the others they began to sack many houses and shed much blood not much distinguishing between such as were guilty and such as were in no fault at all The Duke had not well recovered Valentiennes when he heard that upon the same Frontier by means of some other Hugonots who had taken Lodovick of Nassaw for their Leader Mons was lost And the mischiefs were already grown so general on all sides in Flanders as it was impossible to withstand their course any longer just as the waters of an overswoln Torrent bearing down first the lesser obstacles and afterwards the greater doe at last in sundry places overflow the neighbouring fields and in sundry sorts make strange havock The Walloon Provinces as hath been often said lie towards France Henault is one of the chiefest of them and Mons is the chiefest Town therein a noble City for situation Inhabitants and buildings And because it stood not upon the very edge of the Confines but lay somewhat more inward therefore was it neither very well fortified nor yet carefully guarded though it were of it self strongly situated and well provided with ditches and strong antient walls Lodovick drawing secretly neer to that Frontier with a few French Hugonots he was let in on the 25. of May and thus surprised the Town Some other French were first entred Mons under pretence of merchandise with certain Fat 's full of Arms and had private intelligence with divers of the Townsmen So as the agreement being had they made themselves masters of one of the Gates and killing him who kept the keyes of it and driving away the rest of the Corps de Gard they let in Lodovick who to that end had marched hard all that night with an hundred Horse When he was entred the City he began to run into every place and endeavoured by seditious speeches to make the people adhere to him hoping for more succour But no French appearing from without nor the Townsmen rising any way within he forewent almost assoon the hopes of making himself master of the City as he had assumed them and resolved to quit it Nay he began already to fear lest the people being almost all of them Catholicks should rather turn against him and either drive him out or to his greater danger take him prisoner But Fortune which had favoured him the first time did so the second He was not well gone out of the Town when he met with 200 other French horse with foot en croupe which came to succour him being led on by Monsieur Genlis himself who was the chiefest plotter of all the Hugonots upon that Frontier So as reassuming courage and assuring himself that the gate by which he was newly come out was yet open he again entred the City And having in the first place possest himself of all the Market places and chiefest streets he summoned all the best of the Town into the Town-house and endeavoured to justifie his action honesting it with words full of zeal towards the Country and of devotion towards the King but of detestation against the Dake of Alvas Government and the Spaniards actions He afterwards gave all assurance that the City should receive no outrage nor be in any sort damnified and the better to secure himself and his men he seised upon all the Arms and Warlike Ammunition he could any where find Then he began with all diligence to take order for such things as were requisit for the defence of the City considering that the Duke of Alva would without any delay bend all the Kings Forces against him Genlis went himself in person to sollicite the Hugonots in France and to be himself their Conductor And Lodovick was not wanting in hastning his brother the Prince of Orange to come in unto his succour from the side of Germany and by so great an acquisition the better to confirm those hopes which he conceived they had reason to build upon of making yet greater in a short time THE HISTORY OF THE WARS OF FLANDERS Written by CARDINAL BENTIVOGLIO BOOK VI. The Contents The Duke of Alva was mightily incenst at the loss of Mons. Other Insurrections in Holland follow Orange prepares to enter Flanders the second time The Duke of Alva makes a great levy of men to hinder him Consultations touching the marching of the Kings Forces Resolution is taken to besiege Mons. Genlis and other Hugonots of France endeavour to bring in relief They are met with by the Kings Forces fought and routed Orange enters Flanders with a great Army by Ghelderland He takes and sacks Ruremonde He secures himself of Malines and staies his Camp in the Province of Hennault He is so opposed by the Duke of Alva as he cannot relieve Mons. He often endeavours therefore but in vain to draw the Duke to battel Great confusion in the Prince of Orange his Army whereupon the Duke takes occasion to make a Camisado by night wherein he succeeds well and makes great slaughter Orange retreats and passeth into Holland Sundry troubles in that Province and in the others beyond the Rhine The Duke of Alva enters Mons. The Town of Goes is besieged by the Tumultuaries and with memorable courage succoured by the Kings men The Catholick Army in Brabant Sacks Malines Recovers divers places in Ghelderland Takes and sacks Zutfen and doth almost wholly destroy Naerden THe Duke of Alva was the more troubled for the loss of Mons in that he did no ways suspect the losing of it He considered it was not only the prime City in all the Province of Hennault but
will of their own Forces In the continuace thereof you all know what their losses have been what their sufferings and how oft they have been at the point of being rather besieged then besieging to such great straits have they been brought by snow frost rain want of victuals want of men and chiefly by our so many and so valiant excurtions wherewith we have somtime more indamaged them in their quarters then they us within our walls But at last their rage hath prevailed more over us in overcoming all difficulties so to finish their siege then the rage of earth and heaven as it may be said hath prevailed over them Behold them therefore thirsting after our bloud and already panting at our gates and ready to enter our City thirsting after our goods And shall we expect any mercy at their hands any favourable dealing from them I say whose rape as it is every day seen is not to be satisfied by women their firings by houses their plunder by goods nor their bloud-thirstiness by all the people We must then believe that as soon as they shall be entred they will put us all to the sword or to some more ignominious death without respect of age sex or condition The welfare of the miserable consist in the despairing of welfare Why shall not we therefore endeavour placing the weakest sex and weakest age amidst us to make our way through our enemies with our swords in our hands whether we yield or whether we be overcome we must die But if we must perish as there is little hopes of doing otherwise death will come the more welcome when sought by our selves with undauntless valour then when with scorn and disdain received from the pride our enemies of These words were of such force and found their minds so ready to entertain any whatsoever desperate resolution as they already spake of following Ripardo's councel which came to Fredericks car Who better considering the danger what despair might make so many valiant men do and that by overcoming them he should find the whole City consumed he forthwith sent a Trumpet to the Town to let the Harlemists know that they might hope for better then they deserved In particular he promised to secure them from Plunder and from all other licentious Military violence That there were so many amongst them who knew there was no saveguard for them as between their despair and the others hope it was often doubted whether the more fiercer or more mild resolution should prevail amongst them at last the last prevailed and thus the City about the beginning of July was surrendred to the mercy of the enemy A Brigade of the Spanish foot forthwith entred the Town and unarmed every one therein They then fell to inflicting punishment Captain Rypart as chief head of the sedition had his head immediately struck off and Lancelot Brederode not long after received the like punishment All the rest of the Harlemists who were thought most guilty either of Heresie or Rebellion ended their lives either by the rope or sword And the like was without remission done to all those foreign souldiers who had been in Mons or in any other place which the Spaniards had taken and who had promised never to bear arms any more against the Kings party Above 2000 were put to death and the very executioners were either so weary or so glutted or so affrighted with the work as for speedier dispatch they drowned a great many of them in the River which ran through the City The Inhabitants freed themselves from plunder by the payment of 24000 pound sterling the Kings men raging and storming to see their hopes so far deluded This was the end of the siege of Harlem Noble for being so valiantly and so long both sustained and prosecuted Remarkable for the variety of successes both by land and sea but at last so horrid by the severe punishments inflicted by the vanquishers upon the vanquished as it was doubted whether the faults committed by the one or the punishments inflicted by the other were the greater THE HISTORY OF THE WARS OF FLANDERS Written by CARDINAL BENTIVOGLIO BOOK VIII The Contents The Commendador-Major resolves to succour Midleburg to this purpose he disposes of two Fleets in several parts but had ill success therein the one being routed by the enemy whilst he himself looked on and the others indeavours proving vain Midleburg is therefore surrendred Count Lodovick in Germany moves to enter with an Army again into Flanders Orange makes great preparations and conspires with him to that purpose Incitements used by him to this end The Commendadors perplexities and dangers Lodovick comes into Flanders Draws near Mastrick and hopes to win it but the Royalists secure the Town Their forces oppose the enemy various successes and incounters between the two Armies A battel insues The Royalists get the victory The Spaniards presently mutiny Things best worth knowledg in matter of mutinies The mutiners go to Antwerp The City is in great dread of them They are at last pacified and joyn with the rest of the Camp-Royal A great loss of many of the Kings ships Orange his proceedings against whom Vitelli is sent by the Commendador A new general pardon publisht in Antwerp in the Kings name An indeavour of accommodation with the Rebels but in vain The siege and description of Leyden Divers difficulties in the prosecution and in the maintaining thereof Actions which succeed thereupon Those of Leyden are in a desperate condition More desperate resolutions taken by the Rebels to relieve the Town Which is at last succoured with great slaughter and prejudice of the Spaniards WHen the Government was in the Commendador he applyed himself with all his might to relieve Midleburg Mandragone was as hath been said at the defence of that City and had continually prest very much for speedy succour and turning his desires into protestations he declared that unless he were reliev'd within very few days he should be constrained to put the City into the Rebels hands He wanted all sort of victuals not only of the better sort but even of the most vile The Commendador gave order then that two Fleets should with all diligence be prepared the easilyer to relieve the Town by two wayes upon the Scheld The one Fleet were of lesser Barks to be sent by that narrower and lower branch which parts not far from Berghen ap Zome and which as we have said retains the name of the River The other consisted of greater Vessels which were to pass through the Honte the Scheld being so called in her other larger and deeper branch The Commendador added his own diligence to that of others Going therefore himself in person to Antwerp he did so hasten the preparation of both the Fleets as about the end of January both of them put to Sea to effect the intended succour Bevoir the Admiral of Zealand was then fallen sick who was to have had the chief charge thereof So as
Country free from that violation which had been occasioned in them by Forein Laws That to compass so just an end Holland and Zealand had at last taken up Arms That their success had been alternately various but that yet the greatest part of both these Provinces were in the hands of their own inhabitants That the new Governour was not acquainted with his Souldiers nor his Souldiers with him That his experience in war was not great That he found the Spaniards in mutiny the others but ill satisfied and that monies were very scarce to give them satisfaction That the Empire of Spain by reason of the too great division and largeness of its bulk was so incumbred within it self as it could not furnish Flanders with sufficient Forces to maintain war long Then let the Flemish once resolve to joyn in one and those their neighbours with them who were most interessed in their cause That thus the Country would be soon restor'd to her antient form of Government and her present miseries be turn'd into her formerly enjoy'd Felicity Otherwise how could it be hoped for but that the Flemish divided at home within themselves and forsaken by their friends abroad were shortly to receive all hardest and proudest Laws from the Spaniards Orange gave abroad these conceits as well to incense the Flemish still more against the Government of Spain as also to make the neighbours the more ready to joyn with his brother in his aforesaid endeavours But these practises were chiefly had in Germany and were as usually fomented by the Heretick party of England and France The design of the Nassaw Brethren was That Lodovick should enter Flanders from the side of Germany with all the Forces he could assemble together and that Orange at the same time coming out of Holland should endeavour to joyn those which he had mustered in the Country with the Foreiners To this end very close intelligence was held by both of them in sundry parts of Flanders and by Lodovick particularly in some Cities which were most commodious for him for his passage over the Rivers but of all others he coveted to be master of Mastrick a very fitting place towards the Frontiers of Germany there being a bridge there over the Mause as hath been formerly shewn When Lodovick had got all things necessary for the body of an Army he marched from those parts about the beginning of February not valuing the threats of the season that so he might not lose the opportunity of the Crisis He knew in what straits the new Governour was by reason of the difficulties which were raised against him by Orange and his partakers Having therefore past the Rhine and Mosel he drew near Ghelderland intending as might be conjectured to pass over the Maus and get into Brabant where his brother was to joyn with him 'T was said that he had in his Army 7000 Foot 3000 Horse gathered out of the neighbouring Nations and that his greatest strength lay as it had done formerly in German Souldiers These and all the rest came with great opinion of good success which would prove so advantagious to them as might make abundant satisfaction yea with use for their last unfortunate losses Lodovick had with all industry strove to nurse them up in this belief shewing all which made for his advantage and his Brothers in the affairs of Flanders which might most confirm hope in them both of making large Conquests and of getting the Victory with ease This expedition of Lodovicks was so speedy as the Commendador heard of the effects thereof before he heard of the preparation So as very much troubled at the news and meeting with difficulties on all sides he knew not what resolution to take He saw the Kings men were mightily decreased in their numbers that to muster them together and march towards Lodovick to defend the Land frontiers was to leave all the Sea-side in prey to Orange that to divide his Forces were not to have sufficient to break their designs as it behoved on both sides that to draw them out of the garrisons was not without danger because peradventure they would not be drawn out without receiving their pay at least in some proportion that howsoever it was requisite to make other great Levies shortly which would cost great sums of money that the provisions from Spain were not sufficient to furnish requisite monies for so many affairs and that Flanders was every day more backward then other in contributing thereunto When Rhechesens had advised upon all these difficulties with all the chief of the Army the resolution which was taken was That he and the Marquis Vitelli should not go far from Antwerp where Orange's secret practises did threaten most That leaving a sufficient number of Souldiers in Holland to keep what they had gotten they should only stand upon their defence on that Frontier and that all the rest of the Army being assembled together Sancio d' Avila should lead them towards the Mause to secure the Kings Towns thereabouts and to hinder Lodovick from passing over that River This being resolved upon it was suddenly put in execution Necessary orders were speedily given forth for the making of great Levies of new men in the neighbouring Catholick parts of Germany Burgony and the Walloon Provinces of Flanders But because they were straitned in time they betook themselves to draw the old Souldiers out of the garrisons using all the means they could to satisfie them with hopes since they could not doe in effect This mean-while Lodovick still advanced and halting with his Camp near Mastrick he staid expecting whether he might according to his hopes steal into the City by way of Intelligencer The Commendador fearing this dispatcht away Bernardino di Mendoza suddenly thither with some Troops of horse to which he afterwards added some Foot-companies And the Royalists flocking thither from all parts to make it their rendezvous Sancio d'Avila came thither likewise about the beginning of March who was to be the chief Commander there Thus that City was secured in its obedience to the King and Lodovick was likewise kept from passing over the River on that part He took up his quarters near the Castle of Walchemburg little more then two leagues from Mastrick in divers Villages thereabouts Avila had likewise disposed of the Kings men towards that side accordingly as they came to the rendezvous And in the interim the more to encourage his men and to discover the Enemies courage the better he sent forth Skirmishes almost every day in one of which which proved more bloody then the rest Francisco de Medina who was Commissary-General of the Kings horse was slain the remainder of the loss being equal on both sides But Avila taking his advantage another time took a number of selected Spaniards and Walloons and set upon the village of Bemelen wherein divers Companies of the Enemies German Foot lay and slew above 400 of them the rest sorely confused flying for
being likewise come up had brought the whole burthen of the war on that part hither but the hereticks still giving ground they at last began to run The business was better disputed between the horse of both sides the Kings horse Harquebusiers were so furiously assaulted by Lodovicks Rutters and especially the Germans led on by Schinck who stood forwardest as being first broken and then totally disordered they did not only forsake the place but running away to the next neighbouring Towns they gave out every where that the enemy had won the day The Rutters having discharged their first Volly of shot wheeled about to charge again and make a second more furious assault but the Kings Lanciers afforded them not time who fell on with such violence and did so vigorously charge them on divers sides as breaking their orders they forced them back and opened them In this the foot-wing played their part miraculously by whom the Rutters being gauled on their flank were put yet into greater disorder Lodovick and the Palatine couragiously endcavoured to re-order them and incouraged them by their own examples acting the parts rather of common souldiers then of Commanders in chief But the Kings horse still more inheartned both by the apparent victory of the foot and by the advantage which they themselves continually got did so closely pursue the Rutters as not being able longer to be withheld and fear getting the upper hand of shame they turned their backs and at last ran directly away Fortune would likewise have her share in this battel as usually she hath in all For just as the Rutters began to give back three Company of Lanciers came up to the Catholicks led on by Nicholas Basti by George Macuca and by Peter Tassis all of them Captains and this new inforcement finisht the business so as instead of fighting they fell to execution The Kings men being masters of the field slaughtered the enemy horribly in all places and it was commonly believed that above 4000 of them perisht About 200 of the Kings men were missing This success was particularly innobled by the death of the two brothers of Nassaw and of the Palatine which being all of them joyntly resolved either to make their way by their swords or by indeavouring to do so to lose their lives were slain fighting valiantly The Kings forces got great advantage and reputation by this victory For though the battel was not between numerous Armies yet the chief consequences of Flanders lay at stake on both sides And those which concerned the King being particularly considered 't is no doubt but if the enemy had got the better of the day their Forces being joyned with those of the Prince of Orange would have overrun the Country every where and would have made the Stanshest raise new rebellions But this so important victory was not well gotten when they who had been the chief Authors of it spoyled the effect thereof Instead of expecting their reward from the King the Spaniards to the great disservice of his Majesty would be their own pay-masters The very night after the day of battel and upon the very place where the battel was fought they resolved to mutiny And the effect thereof was seen before the thing it self could be imagined It began at first to be whispered by a few afterwards it was put in practise by many and at last it was fully consented unto by all They complained and seemed much incensed to see their labours so ill rewarded 'T was their hands and their bodies by which Towns were taken Battels won and all other actions of greatest danger done The honour and advantage redounded to the Commanders their reward was only wounds and poverty That their bare pay was given them rather as a reward then as of due Which yet being so far in arrear they could not fully receive How could so miserable a condition be longer tollerated that it was in their own power to satisfie themselves for the monies which were every day promised them and never paid And that therefore they were now rather to have it at their command then to wait for it any longer and that perhaps in vain They made no long delay they in a great hurly-burly flew to their arms and violently laying aside their former Officers they chose new ones This being done they went immediately from Mouch and marched towards Antwerp intending to enter the City and there with all safety and commodiousness to cause their whole pay to be given them Sancio d'Avila and all the Camp-masters used all possible diligence to remedy so great and so unexpected a disorder but they could do nothing that would prevail And because after this mutiny so many others of the like nature insued in the progress of this war whereby the Kings affairs in Flanders were more prejudiced by the arms of his own souldiers then by those of his enemies It will not be amiss to relate here anticipately with as much brevity as may be what is best worthy knowledge in a business which we shall so often have occasion to treat of An Army in the field is a great moveable City governed by Military Laws within walls of Iron this City is distinguished into personages of divers qualities The chiefest place is possest by the Captain-General who hath supream Authority in the Government thereof The other chiefest Commanders follow after him and after them the lesser And in the last place remains the inferior order of common Souldiers who having no share in Command are only to obey In this popular order of the Army if I may term it so do mutinies fall out the usual cause whereof is the want of pay In the meaner sort of souldiers Interest prevails more then Honour wherefore being unpayed first they complain then they grow angry and at last mutiny In long Wars this is oftner seen by reason of the excessive expences which they occasion This length of time makes souldiers mary whereby they have children and in that respect grow still more necessitous and this necessity at last turning into corruption they mutiny many times rather because they will do so then that they have any just occasion to do it The Laws of obedience being then broken this popular order riseth up against their Superiors and out of their body do tumultuarily chuse new Officers This happens usually when the Armys are in the field because it would be almost impossible to compass it with security in Garisons In the change of Government 't is commonly seen that we degenerate from the better to the worse And thus it happens upon this occasion The supreme Command of one only passeth then into the whole multitude which being composed of horse and foot makes a body of each of them which they call the Squadron of the incensed so to shun the always ignominious title of mutiners The Authority consists then in the Squadron and all the command in the united body thereof This tumultuous Commonwealth
will notwithstanding have a head who is called the Elect. Next him it will also have some others of greater imployment and these they call Councellors The foot and horse are likewise distributed under two chiefer Heads They call the head of the horse Governour and him of the foot Sergeant Major The Captains and usual Officers follow in either sort of these men and divers other places are distributed according to occasion The Offices are distributed by votes allowed and in the like sort all other resolutions are taken The Squadrons first intention is to possess itself of some good Town or City and here to fortifie it self so as it cannot be forced From thence it takes in all the Country thereabouts which to shun greater damage is brought to pay equal Contributions The Office of the Elect is barely to propound what upon all occasions is to be resolved on the businesses being first well weighed in the Councel He therefore dwels in the best Piazza or Market-place of the Town possest and out of a window makes his Propositions to the squadron which meets there to that purpose The multitude grumble often at those which they like not and being born away by rage instead of shewing their negative by the usual way of votes they many time witness their gainsaying by a peal of musker-shot They are hereunto chiefly induced through the jealousies which reigne amongst them One souldier fears to be betrayed by another and they easily grow to distrust their heads wherein they did at first impose their chiefest trust The Elect is therefore never left without one particular sentinel he can neither receive nor write any Letters without the knowledge of the squadron and thus in all things else his voice is as well bound up as his hands unless the impediment be first taken away by the squadron The Ministry of his Councellors is bounded in like manner Amongst the other souldiers all separate commerce is absolutely forbidden it being their pleasure that by irretractable rigour as the squadron makes but one body so it have but one will Their discipline in all other things is very severe so as it may be doubted whether it were introduced with straiter laws or executed with more severe And no fault in point of execution is pardoned Never did disobedience beget better obedience The Squadron in withdrawing it self from the command of its first Commanders doth with so much rigor bereave it self of all liberty in submitting to second heads though as hath been said it keeps the supreme authority in it self and will ever and anon make it appear by horrid examples It therefore often punisheth great faults with its own hands making those who according to their laws have deserved it sometimes pass the pikes and sometimes be shot to death Their laws offend for the most part on the more severe side but many of them are so well regulated as better cannot be desired in whatsoever compleat Commonwealth Theft play blaspheming drunkenness dishonest women all brawls running in debt further then men are able to pay and many other such like excesses are forbidden upon heavy penalties which in the form of all good Governments are born withall since they can never be fully irradicated In this their chief respect is to avoid all occasion of contention or discord which may disunite the Squadron Of so much greater force with men is service done to themselves then when to others And so much prevails the uniform consent of many though of differing births customs and language For in the war of Flanaers divers Nations have been seen to mutiny together and all of them to make but one body and lead to one end as if they were but one onely people Generals and other Warriors have sometimes endeavoured to break and punish Mutinies but they have seldom hit in their designs For the better sort are oft-times won over to side with the worst and the remedy is turn'd into a greater malady It is therefore best to agree the divided Souldiery which is done by delivering up some principal Personage into their hands for a Pledge till full satisfaction be given And we in our time have seen the Duke of Ossuna a Grandee of Spain given up for an Hostage This in brief is the form of Government observed by Mutiniers When they have received their Pay they soon return to their former obedience and there is no sign left of any such pestilence For so may all Mutinies which happen in Armies be called since so great a part of their body is infected thereby the union thereof is broken the government disturbed their forces then rendred weakest when they should be strongest and those advantages are either lost or those evils caused by their own Forces which the Enemy could never have effected Now to reassume the thread of our discourse The Spaniards when they had formed this Mutinie took their way suddenly towards Antwerp passing over the Mause at Grave Sancio d'Avila gave speedy advertisement of this to the Commendador who forthwith went himself in person to that City to keep the Mutiniers from entring thereinto which if he could not doe then at least to keep them from sacking it Of one side of the City the wall met not by a good space with the Ditch of the Citadel and that open place was only shut up with certain Palisadoes Towards this part did the Mutiniers march in such diligence and presented themselves before it with such resolution as neither the Inhabitants of the Town nor yet the Garrison which were some German Companies durst withstand them They might have been best resisted by the Spanish Garrison which was in the Citadel but these not being very well pleased neither did rather incline to joyn with them nor had the Governour thereof Sancio d'Avila little to doe in keeping them from so doing At their entrance into the Piazza the Mutiniers put themselves in order and made the Citizens sorely afraid that they would have plundred the City Here the Commendador came before them on horse-back and with fair words endeavoured to reduce them to their obedience assuring them that they should very shortly receive full satisfaction with advantage But neither were his intreaties of validity nor did his Authority prevail yet they assured him that set their present maintenance aside the City should not suffer any prejudice provided always that they did receive speedy satisfaction They then took up their quarters in houses in the Town having first made the German garrison which was in Antwerp under Frederick Perenotto Lord of Champigni and brother to Cardinal Cranville withdraw out of the City But were it either for some particular distaste which they had taken against him or that they could not well moderate their own heat they could not forbear plundring his house together with some other houses where either their jollity or hatred did most transport them After this all possible diligence was taken to give them satisfaction Neither did
they let slip any occasion of hastening the effects thereof by way of terror and especially of Plunder So as threatening it every day and the Antwerpians every day fearing it they were so much affected therewithall as they were resolved to contribute whatsoever monies were requisite to free themselves as soon as might be from so dreadful a danger The Mutiniers were notwithstanding contented to receive six payes in Cloth and other Draperies which the City furnisht them withall they were paid the rest in mony And having obtained a large Pardon from the Commendador in the Kings name upon solemn oath in the greatest Church they at last went out of Antwerp and return'd to joyn with the rest of the Army which had already re-entred Holland and had begun to besiege Leyden Amongst other prejudices which the Kings affairs received by this mutiny one of the greatest was the loss of many ships which the Commendador had prepared upon the shore of Antwerp for new designs upon Zealand In Glimes his place who was slain in the former related Sea-fight was Adolphus Hansteede put Who fearing lest the Mutiniers might fall upon the Navy which he had the charge of and would have it in their power for their better security of getting their pretended satisfaction resolved to launch forth with it into the deepest part of the Scheld and there secure himself from that fear But by shunning this danger he ran into a greater The Zealanders had quickly notice hereof and would not lose the opportunity They came unexpectedly with many armed Vessels and without much adoe took most of the Kings ships which what great what little were about forty and almost all of them well provided of Artillery and all Naval preparations and the rest they either burnt or sunk or shatter'd them so as they were for no more service The design was to assault Zealand with this the Kings Fleet by the Rivers and Gulfs which inviron it within and which cannot receive great Vessels and at the same time to doe the same with another Fleet of greater ships on the outside which ships were with all speed preparing in Spain intending chiefly to possess themselves of some good Haven and stil to streighten that maritine Tract the more and to endeavour by all means possible to possess themselves of that Province without which the King could never hope to keep Flanders firm in his obedience And although the same design was continued in Spain after the unfortunate success of the Navy in Flanders yet so many difficulties arose on all sides as it was impossible afterwards to effect it The Prince of Orange was this mean with many Forces about Niminghen whither he was come to joyn with his brother Lodovick as we have said whose defeat and death ensuing and instantly thereupon the Spaniards Mutiny he staid still in those parts and failed not to make his advantage of the disorders hapned in the Kings Camp But seeing the Enemies forces hindred by the said mutiny within themselves he made many incursions into those parts hoping to make some considerable progress He was possest of the Town of Bomel a strong place and which gives the name to a large Island made by the Mause and Wahale Here Orange staid as in a place naturally very advantagious and annoy'd the neighbouring parts which were still in obedience to the King And because Balduke which is one of the chiefest Cities of all Brabant was in greatest danger the Commendador sent men suddenly to secure it and fortified the chiefest Passes thereabouts The Mutiny being afterwards accommodated he dispatched away the Marquis Vitelli with a good strength to disturb Orange in all his designs With him went John Baptista and Camillo brothers to the Marquis del Monte and Vitelli his Nephews by the sisters side Each of them commanded a Company of Lances but came to much greater preferment afterwards in the continuation of the war and won therein a great esteem of valour The greatest weight of the military affairs in Flanders lay then upon Vitelli as well in regard of his place of Campmaster-General which was the chiefest charge in the whole Army next to the supreme command of Governour as for his long experience in war which appeared yet more after the Duke of Alva's departure so cry'd up a Commander and of so great reputation of the Italian Nobility which were then in the Army of Flanders Rafell Barberino was in great esteem and was much imployed in many weighty actions He was very well skill'd in particular in matter of Fortification and therefore his advice was asked and his opinion followed upon all occasions of that nature He was as well esteemed in treating of businesses as in Military imployments and therefore having been formerly sent into England by the Duke of Alva the Commendador continued to make good use of him in divers negotiations which were then in hand to breed if it were possible a better intelligence and correspondency between that Queen and the King of Spain in the occurrences of Flanders This Rafell was Uncle by the Fathers side to Maffeo Barberino which our age hath seen pass through all the chiefest degrees of Prelatship with much applause in the Apostolick See and who by his worth becoming afterward Cardinal and lastly Pope precedes now in the universal Government of Christs flock by the name of Urban the eight A Prince who amidst his so many sublime vertues leaves it in doubt which of them merits more praise and in whom it is no less questionable which of his Principalities becomes him best or that which the Church gives him over men or that which he by his learning hath acquired over knowledge Vitelli being then gone towards the Island of Bomell he reduced many Towns thereabouts to the Kings devotion and built two Forts there the better to curb the enemies in those parts The chief Towns which he took were Leerdam Asperen and Huechelen all of them seated upon the River Linga which runs through Holland He hoped likewise to surprise the Town of Bomell but were it that his practises were discovered or not well managed he could not effect his hopes From hence Vitelli returned to Antwerp and of the people which he had with him a Regiment of Swissers were dismist which the Commendador had lately raised and the rest marched more inwards into Holland to joyn with those of the Kings men who were in that Province A new general pardon was at this time publisht by the Commendador-general in the Kings name like that which was formerly in the Duke of Alva's time came forth with such solemnity And because the other had begot more fear then trust by reason of the so many exceptive clauses which were in it therefore in this the King inlarged his clemency goodnesse and to all such as would enjoy the fruit thereof except such as were guilty of the most heynous offences and he thereunto added also the Ecclesiastical Authority touching such faults
military administration And indeed he was a Commander of very great renown who to his honour won first in the Wars in Italy had made the like correspond which he did purchase in the wars of Flanders But this loss was added unto by another of much greater importance which insued within a few days after to wit the death of Rechesens the Commendador who about the beginning of March falling suddenly into a violent feaver died within five days at Brussels His bodily sickness was preceded by a great malady of mind for being brought into a very great streight for want of mony he was not furnisht with any from Spain neither was Flanders any ways able to supply him there withall In so much as a little before his death a part of the Spanish horse mutinyed to the Countries great indignation for which he was forced to suffer the people to reassume their arms which were formerly taken from them by the Duke of Alva knowing that they would have done so of themselves though he had not given them leave Four ordinary ships were at this time only come from Spain with some few souldiers the maritine preparation from thence not any ways answering expectation By reason of all which obstructions the Commendador had reason to fear that the siege of Zurickzee would end unfortunately and that other sinister events would befall the Kings affairs in Flanders Whilst thus agitated in mind he fell sick and died with a reputation rather of great goodness then of great valour and of being fitter for peacefull imployments then for those of War in the manageing whereof so great a Paragon as was the Duke of Alva proved to say the truth too disadvantagious to him Many and especially the wiser sort of Spaniards thought that a mixture of them both might have done well if joyned together the one had been wholly imployed in Military the other in Civil affairs Here insued one of the greatest and most tempestuous agitations that ever Flanders felt in the whole pursuit of the war which we will now describe You shall see a Government without Government the whole Country about to revolt the Kings Forces at enmity within themselves and his cause more oppugned then defended by them More Governours then one bear his name at once in Flanders and use his Authority the Provinces of various sences and no less differing Councels Neighbouring Princes manifestly aspiring to the Government thereof A new introduction of foreign Forces No publick nor no private faith observed Cruel sacking on one side fatal sieges on the other More then hostile violence and fury every where and in fine the successes in these revolutions of affairs will prove such and so strange as will doubtlesly move great curiosity here in the expectation of them but much greater compassion towards Flanders hereafter when they shall be come and seen One of the greatest mischiefs which the affairs of Flanders suffered by the death of Rechesens was that he died without declaring who should succeed him in his Government He had a Patent from the King to that purpose with a blank left for the name But he was so suddenly surprised with the violence of his sickness as he could not do it It was notwithstanding discovered by some appearances that he would have left the Military Government to Count Peter Ernestus Mansfield and the Civil Government to Count Barlemonte which two of all the Lords in the Country were those the King did most confide in and from whose valour and wisdom most might be expected The Commendador failing thus the Councel of State took upon them the Government who presently dispatched away an express to Spain to give the King an account of what had happened and to represent unto him at full the present condition of the affairs of Flanders The King approved of the Provisional resolution taken by the Councel and declared therewithall that he would forthwith send a new Governor and such a one as should be fully to the mind of those Provinces The administration this mean while began by the hands of the Flemish themselves But nothing is more to be despised in Government then wavering and divided Authority Nor doth any thing hurt more then interessed and disagreeing Councels And it is seen in the Government of Kingdoms that State-Ministers by their private passions do usually ruine the common Cause The Councel of State had no sooner taken upon them the Government but great troubles began to be seen in all things for their orders were not observed as they ought to have been and the orders themselves were given with apparent discord which appeared much more in their minds then in their Votes Philip de Croy Duke of Ariscot Governor of the Province of Flanders did for his Nobility riches and adherence hold the chief place amongst those of the Councel And with him the greatest part of the Councel did go along in their Votes All these leaned towards the Liberty of the Country as well out of their own nature as out of a particular alienation which they had to the Spaniards Orange was not this mean while idle neither but seconding by his lively wit the favourable conjuncture from the very day that the Commendador died he incited all his followers in all the parts of the Country to imprint such opinions in the people as might draw them most to be of his mind Alleadging That this was the time to reunite all Flanders in one will That by fortune and more by justice the Government was now in the hands of the native Flemish and therefore it was not to be suffered to pass any more into the Spaniards hands That the yoke of so sore a servitude had lasted too long already imprisonments confiscations deaths sackings firings and so many other deplorable calamities too long That Liberty would notwithstanding be so much the more welcome by how much it was formerly more desired Then let the Flemish resolve unanimously to recover it and so to enjoy it with the greater contentment That the Cause could not be juster in it self nor of greater applause both within the Provinces and in all other places Finally to what worser end could affairs be brought since though the designe should not succeed the present miseries were so great as greater were not at any time to be expected Out of what fault shall we declare this Rebellion If the Spaniards have fallen thereinto by mutinying this is not the first time they have done so nor will it per adventure be the last War causeth expence Expence want of Pay Want of Pay the Souldiers anger and the Souldiers anger Mutiny As long as the wars continue these disorders will fall out other Countries have had experience of it as well as ours hath now But when was it ever heard that in such a case the Mutiniers were esteemed Rebels aay how often have whole Armies rather commended then condemned their cause insomuch as at last it hath been thought the best course
chief Citizens and Merchants were taken prisoners The number of the dead was said to be about 7000. the most of them Townsmen not above 200 of the Spaniards were slain and one of these was the Mutiniers Elect John de Navarese As soon as they had glutted themselves with blood the Spaniards fell presently to plunder the City Antwerp by the concourse of Poreigners did at this time wonderfully flourish in Merchandise the City abounded in riches and in all those happy accommodations as were to be wished for in so luxurious a juncture of time Amongst other Foreigners great were the number of the English and Easterlings which are those of the Hans Towns upon the Baltick Sea These two Nations had two Houses in Antwerp of such a largeness and capacity as they rather seemed to be Plantations then Ware-houses Luxury the constant companion of Riches made the Merchants not only live handsomly but with a great deal of sumptuousness many of which abandoning all parcimony lived like so many Kings they had got together great store of Jewels Pearls Gold and Silver and their houses were full of all other sort of merchandise How great the gain was which the Spaniards got in these Indus of one City may sooner be conjectured then said The Plunder lasted three dayes And notwithstanding so great Riches not being able to satisfie the insatiable Souldier the houses were heard to sound with outcryes and the streets were full of people that ran away by reason of the violences committed by the Souldiers against the Inhabitants to make them confess where their most pretious things were hid and to make them produce them Thus they proceedrd from Avarice to Cruelty and from Cruelty again to Rapine and thus they continued till weary rather then satisfied and matter to plunder wanting rather then will to plunder they reduced themselves to the obedience of their Commanders Thus did Antwerps misery end the Town remaining so afflicted as if that decay of Commerce had been then Prognosticated which fell out unto her in the insuing years by reason of the Warre and other calamities At the news of this whole Flanders was incredibly astonished The meeting of the States General was already appointed and to this purpose the Deputies of almost all the Provinces were in Gaunt Whereupon the desire of driving out the foreigners exceedingly increasing the Flemish did again bend all their endeavours to re-possess themselves of the Citadel of that City Which at last they did without any great difficulty There were but very few people within it and there was scarcety of all things else as we have formerly said so as the siege was not rendred famous by any important action But that which the Flemish did chiefly aim at was to make a general union of all the Provinces and that the Government being establisht in men of their own Country all forein government might be excluded To this purpose the Deputies of Holland and Zealand met with the other Deputies Nor was it hard for the Prince of Orange who was the chief leader and layer of all these practises in this present crisis of time to agree the diversity of Interests which were between these two Provinces infected with Heresie and the others which kept yet Catholick and to make them afterwards joyne in one opinion The former Treaty of Breda was reassumed and the Propositions which were then made by the Rebels were almost all of them assented unto By a joynt resolution taken in Gaunt many Articles of agreement were established between the one and the other Provinces and peace and union was agreed upon by them all save that of Lucemburg To which the Kings authority was also fully made use of by the Councel of State These were the chief things agreed upon That there should be peace friendship and confederacy for the time to come between the Catholick Provinces on the one part and Holland and Zealand together with the Prince of Orange on the other part and that all past injuries and offences should for ever be forgotten by all their Inhabitants That from that time forward their people should return to joyn the liberty of the former commerce and their respective correspondency That all the Provinces should with a joynt consent drive all the Spaniaras and their adherents immediately out of the Country and take such course as should be needfull to that purpose That the Provinces being freed from this oppression they should all immediately meet in a general Assembly as was done the last time in the days of the Emperour Charls the fist and that then such resolutions should be taken as should be thought best for the re-ordering of the Government and for the reducing of it to its primary true and natural form That in the mean time the so many Laws come forth with so much rigour by the Duke of Alva for the punishment of heresie and tumults should be suspended but that no other religion save the Roman Catholick should be used in the Roman Catholick Provinces and as for the other two of Holland and Zealand they should expect what the States General would determine in that point That concerning the restitution of Cities Places strong holds Ammunition and Arms which was to be made unto the King that should likewise be done which should be resolved on by them That all prisoners particularly Count Bossu should be set at liberty without any maner of ransome That all goods should be likewise restored to their former possessors respect being had to many irreparable impossibilities which the war had produced These were briefly the contents of the chiefest Articles which were agreed upon between the one and the other Provinces many others being by us omitted which related to matter of Justice and touching the restitution of goods so to shun the tediousness of relating every little matter and not to detain you with superfluous prohxities This peace and union being concluded in manner aforesaid the Provinces would begin to put them in execution upon those few Spaniards which were in the Castle of Gaunt the which was surrendred at the same time that the peace was agreed upon and therefore they conducted those Spaniards to the Frontiers of France and so sent them out of the Country and prepared with very great resolution to drive out all the rest also as soon as possibly they could by force THE HISTORY OF THE WARS OF FLANDERS Written by CARDINAL BENTIVOGLIO BOOK X. The Contents Don John of Austria comes to the Government of Flanders Much diffidence ariseth amongst the Flemish touching his person He endeavours as much as he can to remove them and Orange labours to nourish them An agreement is at last made between Don John and the States But the Prince of Orange with the two Provinces of Holland and Zealand oppose it Don John is received into the Government He useth all means again to bring all the Provinces to be of one minââ but fails therein Hence suspitions
the re-inforcing of their Armies and the States had in particular much sollicited the hastning of those Forces which were to come to them from Germany and France At this time a Diet of the Empire was assembled in the City of Worms Whereupon the States took occasion being chifley councelled thereunto by Orange to send the Lord Saint Aldegonde to move the Diet to favour their cause He spake publickly to this purpose and sought by all means to exasperate the Germans against the Spaniards and particularly against such actions as had proceeded from the Duke of Alva and which were now discried in Don John He demanded aid of the Diet as in a common Cause or that at least they would make some favourable Declaration in behalf of the Flemish But not being able to impetrate any considerable advantage from that Assembly all their expectations on that side lay in the forces which the Palatine Casimire raised by means of the monies which the Queen of England subministred unto him to that purpose Other preparations were at the same time making in France But these went more slowly on either for that really they met with more difficulties or that the King and the Queen his mother did cunningly hinder them under hand Henry the third was then King who in the time of his brother Charls the ninth was called the Duke of Anjou and Charls dying without sons succeeded him in the Crown France had not had a King for many former ages of greater expectation and who afterwards made it less good For whilst Duke of Anjou being made Lieutenant General by his father Charls he being then so young as he was hardly able to bear arms he with singular valour had led Armies won Battels taken Towns and by a thousand other testimonies of Military worth raised firm hopes that he was ordained to be the only rooter out of all heresie and that chiefly through his means that Kingdom would return to its former splendor and greatness And his fame was already so spread abroad not only throughout all the corners of France but even throughout all Europe as whilst he was at the siege of Rochel he was with incredible applause chosen King of Poland But afterwards leaving that foreign Crown to succeed in his own of France it is not to be believed how much he differred from himself on a sudden and how soon France wisht for the formerly glorious Duke of Anjou in their new King It was then generally held that he with more fervency then ever would have apply'd himself to suppress the Hugonot Faction by arms which occasioned the greatest misfortunes and calamities to his Kingdom Nor was there any doubt that the fury of the Hereticks being quel'd as it was well hoped it would be by that way he might likewise easily have curb'd the ambition of the Catholicks But instead of pursuing War greedily imbracing peace and turning that peace into a soft and effeminate idleness he saw Factions grow greater in his Kingdom and his own Authority less One of the chiefest evils which afflicted France at that time was the variance and discord which arose in the Royal Bloud There was none to succeed the King but the Duke of Alanson who was the last of four sons left behind him by Henry the second The Queen Mother did notwithstanding still live a woman of a reaching wit and who long accustomed to the subtilties of the Court had no less by her industry then by her valour gotten unto her self the chief power of Government But neither was her cunning nor the Kings diligence sufficient to keep the Duke of Alanson from making himself still head of some one or other Innovation which still most troubled the Kingdom He was but indifferently indued with parts either of mind or body yet his prerogative of being the only brother to the King and the Kings having no other successor added Authority to his weakness and was sufficient to give advantage to unquiet minds that they had such a head for their party During the so many and so great troubles of France the Flemish Rebels could never ingage the King thereof to shew any manifest demonstration of favour towards them Nay when they offered to put themselves into his protection he would not be perswaded to accept thereof Applying themselves afterwards in the same kinde to the Duke of Alanson the King did not only not shew himself averse therunto but thinking it might make much for his advantage he was tacitely content his brother should accept thereof to the end that going out of the Kingdom himself he might likewise take many others with him who were raisers of novelties This design being afterwards published the Catholick King complained very much thereof upbraiding the most Christian King how ill this did correspond to the so many assistances which were given by Spain to France since that from thence so great a fomentation was now preparing to his Rebels in Flanders But Henry partly dissembling and partly not being indeed able to hinder it excused himself saying it was not in his power to withhold his Brother and that since he was not permitted to use force to others he could much less use it to him The Duke of Alanson then resolving to assist the Flemish openly by Arms he had already as hath been said sent some Souldiers into those Frontiers of Flanders which lie nearest France and was raising as many more as he could thereabouts to that purpose But before he should proceed further in matter of Arms he thought it necessary to justifie his action publikely in writing He therefore published a Manifesto the Contents whereof were That being oftentimes very much prest by the Provinces of Flanders to ease them of the oppression which they daily suffered more and more by the Spanish State-ministers He could no longer refuse so just intreaties nor abandon so honest a cause That those Princes of the House of Burgony who had for so many years governed those Provinces were descended from the blood-Royal of France That many of those Provinces had been also possest formerly by the House of France and had from thence upon divers occasions enjoyed those rights and priviledges which have since with infinite violence been taken from them by the Spaniards That the interest of Flanders with that of France was too much concerned in their neighbourhood That it was the duty of true Princes to protect the innocent and the oppressed That in taking upon him to defend this Cause he was no less serviceable to the King of Spain then to the people of Flanders since it was known that they being already brought to the point of despair by the bad usage of the Spanish State ministers would at last put themselves under some more moderate Dominion and would by all means possible endeavour a more supportable condition This mean while the Forces which the Palatine John Casimire had assembled together in Germany were already upon the borders thereof For he
into greater slavery then ever That Arms were taken up for driving out the Spaniards but not for that the Country should be more tyrannized over by the Flemish themselves To what other end did Orange his ambition tend What other designe had his adherents That Arms were at first taken up in Holland and Zealand under spetious pretences And finally it was not enough that the Inquisition should be hindred but that in lieu thereof the new sects of heresies should have defused their venom throughout all those parts should have alienated those Provinces from the Church and begun manifestly to alienate them also from the King That the former disobedience made way for the second the one not being to be severed from the other That in the interim Orange under the name of Governour did retain almost the whole authority of Prince That by the same cunning he had rather forced then gotten the Government of Brabant That now under fals pretences liberty of conscience was demanded thorowout the whole Country And with what intent unless it were to make Liberty fight against Liberty to wit the unjust Liberty of Heresie against the legitimate Liberty of the Church to the end that the latter being opprest the people might the easilyer withdraw themselves from their Allegiance to the King That it was time now to dive into the knowledge of such ends and not only to know them but to break them Let Brabant and Flanders be of another opinion and let those other Provinces joyn with them the Country of Walloons would still continue in the sole Catholick Religion and with safety to its Priviledges in their sole Allegiance to the King of Spain These words full of indignation were soon accompanied with acts as angersom For the two Provinces of Henault and Artois would not assign over Landresy Quisnoy and Balpema to the Duke of Alansons men as was ordered in the agreement made between him and the States and with the same resolution denied to pay their share for the Souldiery This commotion of the Walloons made those of Gaunt rage horridly as those who were naturally most given to revolt and had more readily received Liberty of Conscience allowing all advantage to Heresie amongst them and taking up Armes they resolved to use force against the Walloons John Casimire after having spoken with the Archduke Mathias was at this time gone to Gaunt In this his coming his chief aim was to get money for his Souldiers who not able to move for want of Pay did not at all advance but talked rather of mutinying then of fighting The Gaunteses did in part satisfie his desires and favoured by him took so much heart against the Walloons as they resolved more then formerly to force them to joyn with them The Province of Flanders is divided into two parts The one and which is the greater part and wherein Gaunt and the other chief Towns and Cities are contained is called by the name of Flemicant because nothing but Flemish is spoken there The other which is the lesser but which hath in it likewise many good Towns is called Gallicant because the French tongue is commonly used there The former lies towards the Sea and the other towards the Walloons Country The Flemicant part of the Province went hand in hand in all things with the Gaunteses and the Gallicant inclined towards the Walloons as being more addicted to the Catholick religion then to Heresie As soon as the Gaunteses had taken up Arms the Walloons did the like and divers acts of hostility were committed by both sides in particular the Walloons entred the Town of Menin situated upon the River Lisa which divides the Flemicant part of Flanders from the Gallicant and here they began to fortifie themselves and to prejudice the adverse Country The Walloons would not notwithstanding for all this their difference with the other Flemish either acknowledge Don John for their Governour nor any wayes adhere to the actions of the Spaniards which caused some of them to take unto themselves the name of Malcontents This was a name taken at the first by some of the prime Nobility from them it spread abroad into divers of meaner quality and was finally used by every one of that Country Many of them wore a Chaplet of Pater-nosters and of Ave-Maria's about their necks to shew that they would keep good Catholicks and all of them did generally declare that they would continue loyal to the King when they should be restored to their former Government This was the so famous Faction of Malcontents which afterwards proved very advantagious to the Kings affairs as shall be seen in the pursuit of this Story Orange was not this mean while so blinded in endeavouring his advantage by Heresie but that he clearly saw how great a prejudice such a division might work He desired the Heretick Army might prevail but yet that the Catholicks should have all their due rites for the satisfaction of those that would not abandon them Wherefore he failed not to use all possible means as also his own and the States authority to compound the aforesaid differences To this purpose the Lord S. Aldegond went with some other personages of quality to Gaunt but the people there listening more to their Ringleaders who were seditious and for their own private interests more inclin'd to foment then to finish the begun differences would by no means be brought to alter their resolutions Thus stood the affairs of Flanders when the Duke of Alanson came in with his Army which was more expected then well received by Orange his own faction for he brought not so many with him as he was tyed to do and those but ill provided of what was necessary for their own maintenance Alanson had found it more easie to raise men then to raise money for he had little or none of his own And the King his brother being neither able nor willing to assist him openly for the reasons touched upon before his hopes fell very short likewise on that side And the King of Spain had again renewed his complaints to the King of France for this business of Alanson He had likewise done the like in very sharp tearms with the Queen of England for the assistance she had given the Rebels in Flanders And for Germany he complained likewise of the Emperour because he had not used more effectual means to hinder John Casimires expedition and all these complaints wrought this effect that express personages were sent from each of them to see if it were possible to bring the Affairs of Flanders to some good agreement The King forbare not to make great preparations for War but he would much more gladly have seen peace in Flanders so as it might have been done without prejudice to Religion or to his honour Nor were there wanting some of his Councellers who interpreting Don Johns actions worse then before thought him to be in a great part the cause of all the new Tumults
which had happened since the so solemn agreement made between him and the Provinces as if that he had desired to govern rather armed then unarmed and that he believed he might compass some of his own ends easilyer by troubles then by quiet So as by reason of these jealousies which were had of Don John and which had got a little rooting in Spain peace in Flanders was the more desired by the Spaniards Wherefore about the end of August all these Ambassadors met in Antwerp The Count Zuarzemburg from the Emperour President Belliure from the King of France and from the Queen of England Walsingam her first Secretary and with him another called Gobham But it was soon seen that Cesars endeavours wanted authority and the rest candidness For both England and France did sufficiently desire to have the troubles and disorders wherewith Flanders was afflicted continue Nor did this opinion prove vain The meetings were more for shew then substance and their endeavours ended almost as soon as they were begun to boot that in very deed the difficulties which were met with on all sides were very great Each party would justifie all they had done and all that they pretended to Wherefore all Treaty of Agreement being suddenly broken they continued in their former heat of preparing for war The Flemish regained Ariscot and Nevile and tryed but in vain to recover Lovain On the other side the French entring into the Province of Henault besieged Bins and after some assault took it and put it to the plunder But these were businesses of small importance in respect of what the Rebels hoped for from the union of so many Forces which they had received to side with them from all parts Orange laboured more then all the rest to bring them together and herein his adherents used likewise their best diligence Miserable Flanders every where so full of Arms and so lacerated as it was questionable whether she were more afflicted by her own or by foreign Forces and whether those or these in seeming assistance bore the most spetious title Don John this mean while kept with his men within his quarters which he had fortified without Namures to withstand the assaults of the enemy These Fortifications were about two miles and a half in compass and did so much the more shelter the City so as that passage towards Germany and Italy was very well secured and his Army very well provided of all things necessary for the maintenance thereof Wherefore Don John hoped shortly both to receive powerfull aid and to see those disband which the enemy had assembled together for their service These were his designs these were his hopes when in their very hight he fell sick his malady so increasing as he died within a few days When he was near his end he sent for the Duke of Parma and after having in a very affectionate manner recommended the Kings service to him he substituted him in his own place not any ways doubting but that by the so many Prerogatives both of bloud and valour which met in him the King would suddenly confirm him in that Government Thus dyed Don John not being yet full thirty three years old The Emperour Charles the Fifth was his Father and Madam de Plombes a Lady of noble birth in Germany his Mother The Emperour before his death gave the King his Son great charge of him who at first had in his private thoughts destin'd him to an Ecclesiastical life but afterward changing his mind bred him up in the Military profession Wherein by three memorable enterprises he eterniz'd his name In the first he bridled the Moors Audacity in the second the Ottoman Pride and in the third the Fury of the Flemish In each of these his successes did much exceed his years He overcame the Moors when but yet a Youth he abated the edge of the Turk at the very entrance into the flower of his age and he did so master-like suppress the Belgiques as greater skill could not have been shewn by any whatsoever antient and most perfect Commander He had in him very excellent gifts both of body and mind In his aspect Majesty and Grace strength of Body to undergoe labour He was affable with the Souldiery vigilant answerable to his Command wise in the greatest difficulties but having a heart much willinger to encounter then to shun them Many could have desired that he had been less amorous and not so easie to believe reports He was so greedy of Glory as many judged it to be an aspiring after Empire Which made him at last be envied and so far suspected as made his service to the King doubtful as if from being Governour he had aspired to be Prince of Flanders and that to this purpose he had held private correspondencie with the Queen of England and proceeded more secretly to express negotiations of Marriage Which was cause why his death was thought to be rather procured then natural But whatsoever the business was wherein truth might be overclouded by Calumny He dyed with the fame of singular valour and great applause Worthy assuredly to have lived longer and not less worthy to have proceeded from a Conjugal bed and to have commanded rather as absolute Prince then as a subordinate Officer Finis Partis Primae THE HISTORY OF THE WARS OF FLANDERS Written by CARDINAL BENTIVOGLIO The Second Part. BOOK I. The Contents The Prince of Parma is confirmed Governour of Flanders by the King The Prince thought first to draw the Walloon Provinces to side with the King by the way of negotiation but in the interim he applies himself with all fervor to the management of Arms. He stands at first upon his defence The Foreign Forces vanish Alanson returns for France and John Casimir for Germany The Prince here upon passeth from the defensive part to the offensive He resolves to besiege Mastrick The description of that place The Royalists endeavours in oppugning it and the resistance made by the Defendants The Royalists at last prevail and the Prince is master of the Town An agreement between him and the Walloon Provinces It is endeavoured to reconcile all the other Provinces likewise to the King but in vain Small successes of War on all sides The Flemish think of choosing a new Prince and to cast off their obedience to the King of Spain This is chiefly fomented by Orange Their Deputies meet together in Antwerp to this purpose and there is much consultation about it Some of the Hereticks are for the Queen of England other some for the Duke of Alanson The Catholicks opinion in this point The Assembly leans much more to Alanson The Deputies depart and return to their own Provinces to make each of them severally resolve fully upon the choise The war continues this mean while on both sides The King would have the Dutchess of Parma return to Flanders and why She is not well come thither when she earnestly desires to go back to Italy which
rest ready to doe the like unless he would reconduct them to Germany Alanson's French forces were likewise much lessend and the Commanders authority on either side did but little avail to retain the Souldiers in their due obedience when once they failed of their Pay Insomuch as both of them were inforced to return almost at the same time Alanson to France and Casimir to Germany leaving it questionable whether of them had with greater hopes undertaken the expedition or ended it with less good The Foreign Aids being thus vanisht the Flemish Forces were likewise suddenly dispersed into sundry parts Fernese dallied then no longer but thinking that it was now time to pass from the defensive to the offensive part resolved immediately to take the Field and to endeavour such success to the Kings Forces as might most strengthen his Cause The Enemy had no more Forces to withstand the Royalists in the Field wherefore Fernese was forced to betake himself to some of their chief Towns by the gaining whereof greater advantages might derive unto the King Consideration being had hereupon in the Councel of War they pitched upon one of two important Sieges either that of Antwerp or that of Mastrick But there was great opposition in the Councel concerning which of these they should resolve upon To perswade to the first it was said That the Acquisition of Antwerp was much to be preferr'd before that of Mastrick That Antwerp lay in the heart of the best Provinces of Flanders and for its so many Prerogatives was esteemed the nown paramount of all the Country that by it the Scheld was commanded in particular so noble a River and so seated as having its Ebbs and Floods it may seem to partake more of the Sea then of a River That from thence a man may soon be in the heart of Holland and Zealand in which two Provinces Rebellion was first radicated and they were the first which ought to be reduced to their obedience That Antwerp and the Scheld had abundantly furnisht Forces which had so often been imployed by water against those Provinces That Zealand was the chief Sea-Port of Flanders which was by all means to be opened for the receiving of such Aids as were to come by Sea from Spain And that though the siege of Antwerp was likely to cost more time more mony and more blood yet all these were to be esteemed but light losses in respect of making so important and so desireable an acquisition But it was said on the contrary That first of all they were to secure the Pass of Germany That from thence the Flemish Army had alwayes received their greatest aids And by what pass but by that which by her Bridge over the Mause the City of Mastrick doth so advantagiously open and shut How oft had that place been made a Rendezvouz not only to receive Aid from Friends but to repulse the Enemy That in the siege of Antwerp it would prove a very hard business to master the Scheld by any whatsoever Bridge by reason of her breadth and depth and by the force which the ebbing and flowing of the Sea would adde thereunto And yet that was the first thing that was to be done to cut off the relief which would be hourly brought to the besieged by that way That on the contrary in the higher parts towards Mastrick the Mause was neither very large nor very deep nor held she any commerce with the Sea so as that River might be shut up above and beneath whereby all succour by water might be cut off from the City and doubtless the Camp would hinder all relief by land That when this Siege should be ended there would be much greater hopes of happily effecting the other And that finally the present conjuncture of affairs did require that the easiest enterprise should be first undertaken and the Army so imployed within as first to secure the Aids which might be received from abroad This opinion at last prevailed and was willingly imbraced by the Prince of Parma He saw that really the Army was not sufficiently furnisht with Arms and provisions to besiege Antwerp wherefore he bent himself wholly against Mastrick resolving to doe his utmost to make himself Master thereof This mean while the year 1579. was begun When the sharpest part of winter being over the Prince began to assemble his Army and about the end of March marched to effect his premeditated design The Kings Army consisted of about 15000 Foot and 4000 Horse all of them men trained up in war and much more considerable for their quality then for their number When the Flemish Rebels had discovered the Prince his resolution they failed not to provide with all diligence for that City being as resolute to use all means for the defence thereof as the others were for the taking it Monsieur de la Nue was then in Flanders with the title of Lieutenant under Orange He was one of the chief Heads of the Hugonot Faction in France But that Kingdom being at this time in some sort of quiet he was come into the Army of the Confederate Flemish and had with great esteem the aforesaid place conferr'd upon him and moreover was made Governour of Mastrick Wherefore he very much laboured the preservation of that place which he thought would chiefly consist in procuring succour from without He therefore thought it not best to keep within the Town believing he might be more serviceable abroad But he did so order it as such Commanders were placed there as questionless would make stout and manful resistance These were Suarzemburg di Herle a Dutch-man and Sebastian Tapine a French-man both of them advised and resolute Souldiers and who were to expect their fortunes only from the hazards of war They had with them about 500 Foot part Flemish part French part English and to them were added a great number of Country-people who were to be imployed in such manual works as should at any time be requisite for defence of the Town to which the Townsmen seemed very well disposed The Kings Army was this mean while drawn near Mastrick and when the Prince of Parma had distributed the Quarters they begon to fortifie them in such order and with such advantages as are used in the best regulated and straitest sieges We have formerly in this our History described the Situation of this City but rather in general then in particular wherefore that you may the better understand what is now treated on it is requisite that we give you here more particular and more distinct knowledg thereof The City of Mastrick lies on both ââdes of the Mause but not in an equal proportion it is larger on the left side of the River and not so large on the right side The one by reason of the largeness of its circuit retains the name of the City and the other being of lesser compass is called Vich The former looks towards Brabant the other towards the State of
assaulted the enemy furiously and strove to get upon the breach and to make themselves fully Masters of the wall But on the contrary the enemy did so stoutly oppose as it was not for a good while to be discerned to which side the fortune of the day did incline On the one side Herle and on the other side Tapine shewed all manner of gallantry in their behaviour and were no less ready to act then to order They with their fervent speeches encouraged the defendants and shewing themselves forwardest to encounter danger made the rest the more despise it On the other side the Royalists inraged to see the enemy so obstinate in their resistance did their utmost to overcome them There could not be a fiercer nor a more bloudy conflict They did not fight a loof off with Musket or Cannon shot but in close fight opposing pike to pike sword to sword and souldier to souldier the better or the worse consisted and lay only in their arms and brests Bloud run down on all sides where ere they fought all places were full either of wounded or dead bodies and of weapons either lost or thrown away and to these were added great stones and instruments of artificial fire which those within had powred down upon the assailants And that the action might prove the more horrible it so fell out that at the same time fire tooke in the powder which both sides had brought that they might have it nearer at had which was the unfortunate loss of a great many the air refounding with miserable outcries and the ground being covered with torn bodies evidencing how many several ways fortune doth oftentimes vary the bitterness of war and the tragical scenes on which the fatal success of Arms are acted The conflict lasted many hours and great was the mortality on all sides But the Kings men were at last forced to retire not having ever been able to advance so far as might suffice to make themselves Masters of the breachâ or at least to lodg themselves as was their designe upon the walls if they could not wholly drive the enemy from their new rampires raised more inwardly These two assaults together with some other skirmishes that had preceded bereft the Army of many Commanders and of a great number of other valiant Officers and souldiers Of those of the better quality amongst the Spaniards there were lost John Manrique Blasco di Acugna Peter Gusman and Peter Pacecco and of the Italians Fabio Fernese Markantonio Simonetti Guido St Georgio the Marquiss Conrado Mallespina and John Grimaldi Many Germans and Walloons of good account perished likewise But the Spaniards suffered most as those who both for numbers and place had upon all occasions had the chiefest imployments Particularly in one of the aforesaid actions the Lord Hierges was slain which was a great lose to the King for of all the Flemish there was not a better souldier nor a more Loyal Subject The Kings Camp by reason of so many and so bloudy conflicts was much weakened in so much as it became the Prince of Parma to get new recruits of men He therefore took as many as he could from all places where the King had any Garisons he increased the number of Pyoners and not willing to adventure the flowre of his Army any more in assaults he resolved hereafter to make more use of works then men and to proceed more slowly to the end it might prove more sure But this mean while the incommodities and wants of those within the Town grew proportionably greater For not having received any relief from without they were now reduced to great scarcity of all things The most of their foreign souldiers were lost and a good many of the Townsmen and of those Country people which served for Pyoniers they wanted Ammunition and Victuals and to this was added sickness occasioned by their incessant labour and watching The Flemish Rebels had it often in their thoughts to gather together a good body of men which might be sufficient to force the Kings Fortifications and to bring in some considerable succour into the City The designe was that Monsieur de la Nue should have been their Conductor and that he should afterwards tarry himself in Mastrike the better to maintain the siege But the discords being still greater amongst the Rebels then their union they could never raise men enough for such a business Yet still they fed the besieged with new hopes and with great cunning made the effects appear near at hand wherein Orange and La Nue did chiefly labour Wherefore the besieged seemed more refolute then ever to hold out The Prince on the contrary still doubling his diligence left nothing untry'd to bring his enterprise to a happy end One of the chiefest disturbances which the Royalists received in their works towards the Gate Tongres proceeded chiefly from that Ravelin which hath formerly been spoken of And though they had endeavoured to beat it down with their Canon and by all other ways to bereave the enemy of that defence yet could they never fully effect it The Prince resolved notwithstanding howsoever to gain it He therefore redoubled the mines and all the other works in that place which were requisite to effect it but on the contrary the besieged were no less fervent in their works against the besiegers So as the others could advance but very slowly for they must win what they would have by inchmeal and lose bloud as wel as time Here therefore was the hottest doings and hither was the greatest bulk of the oppugnation brought But the besieged were at last inforced to yeild though the Royalists spent above a month in taking this Ravelin The Prince raised the platform yet much higher which was turned upon the enemy on that side and began to beat down the City to boot with the batteries which were every day made against the walls in so much as the besieged could neither find rest nor safety any where wherefore their hopes of holding out any longer were very small Yet they seemed willing rather to lose their lives then their resolution of defence though they were offered very honorable conditions when fortune favoured the Royalists with an unexpected way how to end the siege sooner then they could have imagined It was now about the end of June and the great heats made the defendants labours and sufferings the more insupportable so as they could not make good their Guards as was needfull The which being discovered by some Spaniards they would not let slip the occasion but stealing privately into one of those ill-guarded places they found the Defendants to be very few and those few by reason of their continual labour and watching fast asleep Whereupon the Spaniards being encouraged drew their swords and fell to slaughter The noise occasioned hereby made many flock speedily thither both from within and from without And the Royalists having already forced the walls in some other parts the
him to leave us one of his sons to be our Prince in his stead As for Religion every one knows how great a freedom France enjoys therein Wherefore it is not to be doubted but that the Duke will allow a greater liberty therein in Flanders For though our intentions be that the Reformed Religion should be the most prevalent yet it will behove us to allow of the Catholick there being so great a part of our Provinces which is obstinate therein and chiefly the Walloon Countrys to the regaining whereof we must with all our industry apply our selves And as for what authority the Duke may assume unto himself by the example of what the Kings of France enjoy in their Kingdom May not we limit it as we shall please so as he may know he hath the Flemish to Govern and not the French and that he must use our Laws only without any participation of theirs I therefore conclude that all the reasons considered in this present affair make much more for the French then for the English And this is likewise my opinion The which I am not notwithstanding so far in love withall but that I shall be ready to quit it when I shall hear a better None shall be more ready then I to adhere unto the sence of this most vigilant Assembly nor be more willing to endeavour the fulfilling thereof after it shall be maturely advised upon This opinion of Aldegonds bore great weight with it And to enjoy a Prince who was in his own person to sustain the Government and the Interest of the Provinces was a business exceedingly considerable This so important business was not agitated without the Catholick Deputies For though those of the Walloon Provinces were wanting and that there was no respect at all had to the Ecclesiastical Orders yet were there a great many Catholicks in the Provinces who leaned more to heresie wherefore in this Assembly there were divers Catholick Deputies chosen together with the Hereticks The Propositions which were made by the others were generally very ill rescented by these For though they did likewise greatly hate the Spaniards yet they thought it a too desperate business to treat of changing a Prince and almost altogether Religion They shewed How much the King would be irritated by both these That if he would never tolerate any liberty at all of consequence in Flanders how much less then would he suffer heresie to domineer every where And what more unworthy thing could there be then to make Religion subservient to the State the ancient Church to the new Sects and the Piety for so many years professed in those Provinces to rescent Doctrins which had involved almost all Europe in mighty troubles To this injury which should be done to the Church and which certainly the King would own as his own how much would the other add which belonged wholly to himself of bereaving him of his due soveraignty which after so long a succession of his ancestors was past into him and so strictly acknowledged and solemnly sworn unto by the Provinces That therefore it was to be believed he would rescent both these injuries with the whole Forces of his Kingdoms That his Forces had been formerly formidable but how much more now that he had gotten the Kingdom of Portugal That there could no relyance be had upon those of France by reason of the divisions by which that Kingdom was at the present so terribly rent in pieces And say the King of France could he would not assist his brother lest he might thereby draw upon him the Forces of the King of Spain That the Catholick Faction in France held already great correspondency with the King of Spain And now having so justifiable a pretence how much more might that King foment it and how many foreign evils might he add to those home-bred ones That from England they could not receive the benefit of a Prince of their own So as the administration must pass by the hands of Governours And what certainty was there that the English would give better satisfaction then the Spaniards especially in a new Principallity wherein they would never proceed so far by fair means but that they would much more use force That the same King had great commodity of making diversions likewise against the Queen and to incite England to some insurrection either by open war or under-hand practises and much more easily Ireland a Country which was almost altogether Catholick greatly devoted to the Church and well affected also to the Crown of Spain And thus the Provinces having no foreign helps would be wholly exposed to the indignation and forces of a potent and injured enemy from whom they were afterwards to expect the greater punishment in that they had given so just an occasion thereof For these reasons the Catholick Deputies past on to this opinion That above all things an agreement between the Provinces should be endeavoured for that if they were well united their own union might furnish them with sufficient Forces at least to defend themselves That they should never lay down their Arms till the ancient form of Government were first restored by the King That touching Religion the peace of Gaunt should be observed which was so maturely handled and concluded by the full consent of the Provinces That if things should be brought to that necessity as that the Provinces of Flanders must needs be severed from the Crown of Spain they should procure as it was most reasonable a Prince of the House of Austria or one of the Kings sons if he should have more then one or some other body who should marry with a daughter of the Kings upon whom the Dominion of those Provinces might be transferred And that at last if they should fail of all these means the Provinces should take the Soveraignty into their own hands In which case it was not to be doubted but that they should have a much better Cause more justifiable to the world better made good by their people and more favoured by their neighbours But the Hereticks did so far prevail in this Assembly as there was little regard had to this opinion of the Catholicks so as the question remained between the other two But at last that which Aldegonde had maintained in the behalf of Alanson was preferred Orange out of some private considerations of his own to boot with what concerned the Publick leaned more willingly likewise to this side For his Principality of Orange lay in France his wife was at that time of French bloud And great correspondency was had as had always been between him and the chief of the Hugonot Faction in that Kingdom Yet by reason of the weight of the Affair the ultimate conclusion was not at that time taken but the Deputies departed that they might first acquaint each Province with their Opinions and to bring from thence an integral resolution This mean while the business of War past on but coolly on both
sides as hath been said To say truth the Walloons could not shew more willingnesse to defend the Kings Cause but they had not Forces answerable to their wills Wherefore the Prince of Parma made no considerable progress He took Cortray by surprise a Town of some moment in the Gallicant part of Flanders But Count Egmont who had laid the plot was soon after taken prisoner by the enemy who entring by stealth into Nienove where he recided with his wife and a brother of his they seased upon them all and took them into their own power The Walloons took likewise Mortagne and St Amonde places of but small concernment and overrunning the Territories of Torney and Cambrey they endeavoured to streighten both those Cities of victuals that they might the more easily bring them into the Kings power Cambray looks upon the Frontiers of France more towards the extream on that part and Torney lies more inward towards the Gallican part of the Province of Flanders They are both of them principal Cities and Fernese desired very much to recover them for only they two in all that Tract of the Walloons Country adhered to the Flemish Rebels and he feared moreover lest Insy Governour of Cambray might put that City into the hands of the French But the Prince having not as then Forces sufficient to besiege either of them he suffered the Walloons only to annoy them with inroads On the other side the City of Malines fell again into the hands of the Rebels For the heretical part prevailing lately there they brought the enemy in who meeting with little resistance made themselves easily Masters thereof and in hostile manner plundered it They took likewise Diste Sichem and Ariscot in Brabant rather by Treaty then by force But at the same time the Marquis of Rubays who had the chief command over the Walloons much to his praise deprived the enemy of one of their prime leading Commanders He had intelligence that Monsieur de la Nue was gone with a good body of men to surprise Lilla and that failing thereof he returned to his former quarters Rubays not letting such an occasion slip set upon Nue at unawares as he retired and pursued him into his quarters where Nue made what resistance the time and place would permit him But such was Rubays's violence and especially that of the Albanois horse as La Nue was at last forced to yield himself with some other personages of quality and was brought prisoner into the Castle of Limburg where he was kept for many years and during his imprisonment composed the greatest part of those his Politick and Military Discourses which are of such esteem in France For which he receives this praise from his Nation That he knew as well how to handle his pen as his sword and to be as worthy in peace as in war The same Rubays endeavoured under-hand to surprise Brussels but because his practices were mingled with deceit they proved fruitless The Signor di Selle had worse success in his plots against Boucain a considerable Town upon the Scheld between Valentiennes and Cambray For being come near unto the place he was by double dealing taken prisoner together with divers others But the Walloons soon after besieged the Town reduced it to a necessity of surrendring and much to their advantage took it The King as we told you before had it in his thoughts to send back the Dutchess of Parma into Flanders intending that she should have the total administration of the Government and that the Prince her Son should have the particular charge of the Militia And although the King had afterwards confirmed the Prince in Don Johns place yet his mind ran still upon it And resolving at last to doe it he had by his own Letters and by his Agents in Italy acquainted the said Dutchess with his intention herein and had earnestly desired her that she would again take upon her the Government of those Provinces She was much troubled hereat She was beset on one side by a desire to satisfie the Kings pleasure as also to procure new glory to herself and on the other side by her desire of seeing her Son more glorious in the full Government of those Countries But in fine the Kings pressures were so instant as she could not keep from condescending thereunto Wherefore beginning her journy and leaving Italy she came to Namures where she staid and would go no further till she might more fully understand the Kings pleasure She found that the affairs of Flanders were in a very troublesom condition that she herself was well advanced in years and therefore much fitter to desire her quiet then to thrust herself into new troubles that the Prince her Son was in the full strength of his age and had given such proof of his wisdom and valour in this the beginning of his Government as that the like progress was undoubtedly to be expected Her motherly affection was so much the greater in her by his being her onely Son So as setting aside all self-respect she turn'd all her endeavours to the King as so many intercessors in his behalf He went immediately to Namures to meet her and to pay her such affection and reverence as in duty he was bound to doe But being also full of generous thoughts he could not well endure that his Government should be any way diminished after having had so full Authority therein and so prosperously exercised it The Mother thought this her Sons resentment very just which confirmed her the more in her own opinion Wherefore she reiterated her desires to the King and wrote him a Letter the Contents whereof were these How ready I have been to obey your Majesty by returning into Flanders your Majesties self hath vouchsafed to witness by being graciously pleased to like well of it Now that I have obeyed your Royal commands in this behalf I shall for what concerns the Government humbly lay before you again my sense thereof and that the more freely for that it shall clearly appear I aim only at your Majesties service therein I came not long since to Namures as I quickly signified unto your Majesty And though whilst in Italy the troubles of these Countries were not unknown unto me yet I confess I find them now as an eye-witness thereof to be much greater then I had conceived them Which inforceth me humbly again to beseech your Majesty as I did in Italy to consider how little available my service will be unto you in this Government Here is no more way left for fair means all hope of accommodation is lost the Rebellion grows every day hotter This wound must be drest by the sword and cured by fire Since then this Government is wholly to consist of Force your Majesty cannot chuse but see how much fitter my Son is to serve you therein then my self He is in the full strength of his age After having spent his younger years in your Majesties royal Court he
in the King his brothers Court the Nobility ran from almost all the parts of the Kingdom to be with him upon such an occurrancy Wherefore the Duke having in a short time gathered together a gallant Army of 12000 foot and 3000 horse he marched towards Cambray to relieve it and free it from the straits wherein it was Fernese knew he could not withstand so powerfull a strength having so few Forces as he could neither incamp himself in face of the enemy nor sufficiently fortifie himself about the walls of the City Wherefore forgoing the Forts he resolved to retreat Some slight skirmishes happened upon this occasion between the two Camps and the Country being finally left wholly free to the French the Duke had leasure to relieve the City and to furnish it aboundantly with all things necessary He himself entred thereinto and being solemnly received he made a large Declaration that he was come into it as into a City of the Empire and that as such a one he would keep it and defend it He upon this occasion took likewise the Castle of Cambresis From hence he suddenly returned to France though he was earnestly desired by the Flemish Rebels who were now become his Subjects to come further into the Country and make good use of the so many Forces as he now had upon that occasion But because they were really to be esteemed rather lent Forces then any of his own being hastily and tumultuously gathered together and be not having monies to maintain the Army any longer at that time he could not satisfie them in their desires but made such excuses as were necessary He assured them notwithstanding that he would be suddenly with them with good Forces And that to that purpose he would not only use all possible dilligence and industry with the King his brother but go himself if need should be into England and use all other efficacious endeavours with his neighbours These Forces of Alansons being vanished sooner then it was believed they would be the Walloons took courage again and hoped for good success Yet was the Prince of Parma very much troubled within himself as well by reason of his retreat from Cambray as also for that he verily thought he should never do any thing of consequence by the sole help of those Countries who kept loyal to the King He had upon divers occasions endeavoured to make this known to those who were of greatest power amongst the Walloons and had dexterously suggested unto them how much they themselves ought to desire not only for the Kings service but even for the good of their own Country that the foreign souldiers might again return But he could not so represent the necessity thereof but that they had their equal jealousies for all the Country desired very much to be free of Foreign Forces The Prince found not therefore such a disposition in them thereunto as he desired The Marquis of Rubays was in great esteem amongst the Walloons as you have often heard And doubtlesly he deserved to be so by reason of his bloud valour and adherency of friends The Prince had contracted a particular friendship and trust with him wherefore he resolved to use all the means he could to draw him over to his opinion of fetching back the Foreign Souldiers into Flanders He therefore took him one day by the hand and after a Flemish familiarity joyn'd with a Military Authority he spake thus unto him How weak the Forces are most valiant Sir which we have now here in the Kings Service cannot be better known to any then to your self who have so great a share in the Command thereof The Agreement made with the Walloon Provinces hath certainly been of great advantage to the Kings Affairs It is every day seen that their Forces can neither be more faithfull nor more valiant But every day likewise confirms that which was then feared that their forces alone would not be sufficient to carry on the Warre And to descend to particulars tell me I pray you What thing of consequence have we done since the taking of Mastrick wherein the Foreign Souldiers did intervene Have we ever been able to take the field with any considerable Army or by any sufficient Siege forced any place of importance rather how shamefully have we been compelled to rise from before Cambray and also with how much loss The French before our eyes have not only relieved the Town but fully taken possession thereof which was the strongest out-work your Countrey had towards their Frontiers How much is the union of the Rebeis also encouraged by our weakness Is not their rash perfidiousness come now to the greatest height what more execrable thing could they devise to do then so affrontedly and by their own sole authority to chuse unto themselves a new Prince Then since reason requires that such enormous faults should be punished and that this cannot be done by the sole forces of the obedient part of the Country why should it not be thought necessary to be done by strangers Why should not the former souldiery be suffered to return again and an Army be thereby made which may be worthy of our King worthy of the Cause which he maintains and by which this still renewing Hidra of Rebeliion may be tamed When this wicked Monster shall be corrected and Peace and Loyalty shall be every where established throughout the Country it is not to be doubted but that the King will presently of his own accord remove all foreign souldiers and leave the Custody of the Country to their own Militia And thus when the Kings forces shall be returned hither in their former vigour how great shall our advantages be together with his Then when we with a flourishing Army shall be able to be Masters of the field storm all places win all battels and compass all our desires I who am the Commander in chief and you who next to me have the chiefest Command what shall our share of glory be in all these successes what rewards are not we to expect from the Kings bounty and goodness and how triumphant shall we be in the Church by suppressing Heresie Out of all these considerations Sir I most heartily desire you that you will be pleased particularly to interpose your endeavours and your Authority where need shall require it that the foreign souldiery may return hither again with the good will of the obedient Party Your desert was certainly highly valued by the King when you reconciled your Provinces to his Royal Crown but how much will it now be increased and how glorious shall I make it appear And I already pawn my faith unto you that if this may be done the King shall acknowledge it chiefly to be your work for what remains you know the friendship that I have promised you which you may be sure shall be inviolably observed by me in fine either I shall be of no power in this Government or your part therein next mine own
turned upon the Town for the greater terror of the Inhabitants the souldiers that were without should suddenly enter the City and joyn with those that were within the Town And for a token to know themselves the better by the Dukes souldiers should cry The Town is taken may the Mass prosper and particular order was taken that above all things the French should not be suffered to plunder the City lest the souldiers might through avarice be diverted and so the Inhabitants be the more incensed to rise up against them In all surprises secrecy is of mighty importance to have them succeed well they must be done before they be declared But it is often times found that many orders cannot be executed because they are not understood And those being confused the whole designe must needs suddenly vanish The business coming to the birth the Duke according to the agreement went on horseback from his house and with many others in his company rid towards St James his gate so to get out of the City When he was gotten out those that staid behind seemed to fall together by the ears and laying their hands upon their swords turned upon them that kept the gates and killing some and driving away the rest they were easily masters of the Gate The people flocking together at the noise hereof were much confused at such a novelty The Antwerpians were not at this time free of suspition seeing so many French men amongst them yet could they not fear such a thing as this They were in some posture of taking up arms upon any occasion of tumult that might arise The French this mean while possest themselves easily likewise of the Caesarean gate and of the abovesaid Curtain Hereupon the novelty appeared the greater on their side and the commotion much greater on the behalf of the Inhabitants and chiefly when the French began to run up and down the streets and in a loud and hostile manner to pronounce these words The Town is taken may the Mass prosper At the same time 15 Foot-Companies and 10 Troops of Horse entred the Town and the Switzers being further off then the rest were the longer in coming In this interim their happened an accident which much disordered the Frenchmens business S. James's Gate had a Percullis to shut out all entrance when need should require upon a sudden Were it either that the French had not thought upon it or that they had neglected it there was none of them that took care of it Which the Antwerpians failed not to make use of for they threw down the Percullis and so inhibited all entrance at that gate The French-men were entred by this gate and by this gate were the Switzers also to enter The Inhabitants were this mean while still in greater commotion and had better armed themselvs they were at this time very numerous and by the so long experience of war and their own so many sufferings well verst in Arms. The French-men at first had the better But having had the first slaughter of the people believing that they should not afterward meet with any considerable resistance and that their fellows that were without would share with them rather in the prey then in the peril neglecting or peradventure not having received the Orders from those few that were within they fell immediately to plunder The people then incensed with anger and fury joyned their Forces together and behaved themselves valiantly against the French The love of their Country Children Parents substances and of themselves added to their strength but when 't was known that no more of the Dukes men could come in by S James's gate the Antwerpians were so encouraged and the French discouraged as the faces of affairs began wholly to alter The Antwerpians without any further delay recovered the Caesarean gate and then setting upon those that guarded the aforesaid Curtain or Line drove them easily away and threw many of them down from off the wall deceiving those that were without who thought it to be an effect of the surprise This being done the French that were within the Town could not much longer resist the Townsmen they were every where encompast by them Of the Citizens those that were not armed joyn'd with those that were armed and even the women with the men to make at first the better defence and afterwards to take the better revenge So as the French-men having no whither to fly unto in the City and not receiving any succour from without for any thing that the Duke and the other Commanders that were gone forth with him could doe they were all at last either wounded slain or taken prisoners About 1500 were slain and of those some of the best both for birth and valour Those that were wounded and taken prisoners were almost as many and these were also likely to have perished had not Orange by his authority interposed and saved them Of the Townsmen not many more then â00 were slain but a great many more hurt Orange had some occasions which kept him from waiting upon Alanson out of the Town as otherwise he had in honour been bound to doe And because he lay in the Castle which stands a pretty distance from the most frequented part of the City he could not come in so soon as was needful besides he thought it at first to be but some squabble between the looser sort of the People and the Souldiers Notwithstanding there were some who suspected his carriage in this business as if he had had a hand in the surprisal But how was it possible to believe that changing his principles he should destroy his first ends and serve in stead of commanding And therefore it was rather to be believed that when he understood the truth he thought it better to quiet the minds on all sides and not to break off the Agreement which after so long so many and so doubtfull endeavours had been made with Alanson Thus ended the intended surprisal of Antwerp The common opinion was that the Duke of Mompensier and the Marshal Bironne were averse to this design and that judging it not feasible as partaking more of rashness then of stoutness they had oftentimes endeavoured to disswade the Duke from it but still in vain for that the rest who were the authors of it and who were more in favour with him had made him too fond of it The surprisals of Dunkirk Dixmund Terremond and of some other less considerable places succeeded better In the other Towns of greater consequence were it either that the French were too inferior in numbers to the Flemish or that Fortune was more favourable to the latter then to the former they took no effect at all The Duke much confused and not knowing what to doe went from the walls of Antwerp to Terramonde and from thence by letters messages and particularly by Orange his interposition he began to use all means to return again to his former good intelligence and agreement
immortalized by the world Antwerp lies on the right side of the Seheld and extending its walls for a long space on that side which looks towards the River it afterward makes a great compass toward the other which commands the Fields That River cannot be mastered by a more noble City nor that City watered by a more noble River Every one knows how Antwerp flourisht before the wars both in the number of Inhabitants in the beauty of buildings and in merchandizing But howsoever still afterwards one of the greatest Commerces of all the Northern parts is in it Which is chiefly occasioned by the commodiousness of the Scheld it being a River of so great a breadth and depth and ebbing and flowing so far into the Sea as it is there capable even of the greatest Vessel which sails upon the Sea Towards the fields side the City is invironed with one of the stateliest Wals that can be seen as well for the breadth of the Platform within as for the noble Bastions without and the Ditch is every where answerable On the other side towards the River the River it self serves for a defence and therefore on that side there is only a single wall The platform of the wall towards the fields is of such a breadth as many rowes of Trees stand round about it so as it serves no less for delight then for defence The Citadel enjoyed formerly also its praises apart But being fallen into the Rebels hands those sides of it were only maintained by them which lay towards the fields and all the rest which lay towards the City were slighted Antwerp is in or to say better joyns upon Brabant of it self making one of the ancient 17 Provinces by the name of the Marquisat of the sacred Empire The Province of Flanders joyns upon the contrary side of the River which therefore partakes thereby of all the advantages afforded both by âo large a River and of a City of such Merchandizing Here therefore had the Flemish placed the scene of all their most weighty negotiations and the situation of the City and its other advantages to withstand all sieges being considered they could not dream of ever losing it by siege but rather be confident of always preserving it On the lands side so strong a Wall promised them all safety And as for shutting up the River and keeping the City from being relieved by water they thought Fernese would never be able to do it both in respect of the nature of the River it self and by reason of their Naval power whereby they were wholly Masters of it These difficulties were not unknown to Fernese but yet he thought them not to be such but that they might be overcome He saw that in the first place all succour must be cut off and that consequently the River was to be blocked up whereby it might continually be supply'd And therefore laying aside all thought of assault he resolved to besiege the City and to build such a bridge over the Scheld as might master the violence of the River it self as also the enemies ships When he should have bereft them of relief by water he doubted not but that he might much more easily do the same by land since he was so superior in forces as he might at his pleasure be Master of the field every where About three leagues beneath Antwerp the Scheld makes a great Arch and here the ships do usually alter either their sails or their course and oftentimes do make som stay wherfore that place is very opportune either to facilitate or to hinder the navigation of the River The enemy had at this time two forts upon the banks of that Arch the greater was called Lillo being the name of a neighbouring village and the other on the opposite bank was called the Fort of Lifechensuch Fernese therefore first of all endeavour'd to take both these at unawares that he might make his advantage thereof in the siege The Marquis of Rubais did so furiously assault that of Lifechensuch as within a few hours fight he took it Christopher Mandragone had the charge of the other who did likewise manfully assault it But the enemy made such resistance both through their souldiers worth and the Forts condition as he was inforced to retreat He afterwards returned unto the siege and Fernese this mean while went to besiege Terramonde in the Province of Flanders This Town is seated upon the Schelds side almost midway between Gaunt and Antwerp Wherefore it afforded great communication between these two Cities It is a Town greatly peopled and was then so well fortified as it was thought it would have held out longer then it did The Kings Camp drawing near it they began to play fiercely on the Town came afterwards with no less fierceeness to the assault The besieged withstood the first assault with much gallantry but seeing themselves threatned with a second and considering the danger of not being able to withstand it and that then the Town would be put to fire and sword they resolved to yield and thus within little less then a week the Prince ended this enterprise It cost notwithstanding the loss of some bloud and in particular Pietro di Paez one of the Spanish Camp-masters and a greatly reputed souldier perished in this action Fernese having taken Terramond he continued to begirt the very City of Gaunt with a siege at distance Antonio Oliviera a Spaniard who was Lieutenant General of the horse had formerly much annoyed that City by making incursions into all the Countries thereabouts so as it began to suffer great scarcity of all things But the Prince not content to reduce only the aforesaid City to straits he endeavoured to make Brussels and Malines sensible of the like He therefore made himself master of the most frequented passes by which victuals were brought and in particular he took Villebruch and Villeford two of the chiefest of them And scouring the Country all thereabouts with his horse he soon reduced both Brussels and Malines to such ill condition as they were afterwards forced to surrender during the siege of Antwerp which Gaunt did likewise much sooner inforced by the like necessity But we will give you a more particular account of these passages when we shall have ended the siege of Antwerp the narration whereof was not to be interrupted by any other diversion but ought to be displaid in one continued narrative After the taking of Terramond the Prince returned to before Antwerp and knew how hard it would be to bereave the enemy of the Fort of Lillo by way of assault They had already munited the Fort by way of the River which was commanded by their Vessels with all things that were at that time needfull and by the same way they might at all times continue the succouring thereof And though Fernese should have been master of it yet might access have been had unto the enemy by the River so far distant were the banks of
munite it on the one side and to Mandragone on the other Mansfield therefore fortified the Village of Cowstein from whence the counterdike was thrust out and that Fortification was called the strong House he inlarged and heightned the counterdike where it was most needfull he planted a little Fort upon the one side which was called La Motta because Signor de la Motta had the command thereof He made also another on the other side and named it Palata because for want of earth it was made of pales which want was found almost every where in fortifying the counterdike so as they were fain to supply it with fagots and other such like materials Where the counterdike joyned afterwards with the chief dike of the river Mandragone raised a Fort and called it the Cross in relation to the position of the place which was almost of the same form and because 't was doubted that the enemy might make a great cut in the chief bank of the river beneath Lillo which might have more prejudiced the counterdike Fernese caused three Forts be raised in that place which for that they were triangular were called the Forts of the Trinity All these Works which we have named were made from time to time according as need required which we have here set down the better to present them before your eyes and to give you the clearer intelligence thereof The Prince had shut up the Passes towards the land side about Antwerp which coasted upon Brabant by Garisons which were placed in Hostrat in Herentales in Breda in Lira in Diste and in divers other Towns by which Antwerp was kept from being relieved on that side Particularly the horse scoured the whole Country every where not only out of a bare intention of incommodating the Antwerpians but to keep them from having any communication with those of Brussels or Malines so to make both them Towns fall the sooner into their hands The fiege being thus ordered on each side the river it remained totally to block up the same river which was the chief business and which brought with it not only the greatest advantage but also the greatest necessary and met with greatest opposition The Marquis of Rubays General of the horse was of great authority and esteem in the Kings Camp Wherefore Fernese gave him the chief care of the bridg and gave unto him likewise the command of a great many men of War which were a preparing to facilitate the enterprise Rubays was not wanting in acting his part in all these imployments He was in action both day and night he uncessantly divided his labours now on this side now on that with infinite industry and valour So as by his dilligence all necessary provisions for the building of the bridg did in time so increase as all the Army began to hope to see their work soon brought to perfection Whilst the Kings Camp was amongst these labours and difficulties the besieged within the City were not agitated with less uncertainty and perturbances From the very beginning of the siege they had sent expresly into Holland and Zealand and to the rest of the Confederate Provinces to desire the best and speediest assistance which could be sent them from those parts But knowing that they could not receive sufficient succour from thence they had sent particular personages into France and into England to do the like in those Courts and endeavoured to interest both those Crowns again if it were possible in their cause They had good hopes from France but the effects were not answerable That Kingdom was still full of troubles and that King would not more irritate the King of Spain who was already too much incensed for what the Duke of Alanson had done in Flanders They received greater hopes from England and might much more easily come by them But the Queen after Alansons death willing to make such advantage of the Flemish as she could not do before made them believe she would assist them but was very slow in doing it It appeared at last that her end was to see them reduced to such necessity as they should be inforced to throw themselves into her hands and contenting her self at first with a bare title of protection she might come more easily afterwards so to be totally master of them These practises from abroad proceeding but very flowly and with much ambiguity the Antwerpians hopes consisted chiefly in succours from Holland and Zealand Provinces which were nearest them and which by their naval forces might best disturb the siege especially by way of the river Nor were these parts wanting in doing what possibly they could to this purpose But the work about the bridg advancing every day and the Forts of the Kings Camp being already increased on both sides and Rubays having commanded his barks to withstand those of the enemy victuals could not so freely be brought to Antwerp by water as formerly And all passes by land being shut up they had less hopes of any relief from thence Their wants therefore still increased But the Inhabitants were chiefly afflicted to see that Commerce began already to fail and that by continuation of the siege they were likely to be totally deprived thereof And peradventure not without danger of new plunder and firing which was that that they most apprehended calling to mind what they had undergone not many years before in that kind by the Spaniards A great part of their people especially of meaner sort lived upon Merchandizing and Traffick wherefore they began to complain very much of their already sufferings and of those yet greater which they daily feared more and more And those who were of better condition were not well pleased to see themselves thus incommodiated And those that were of the best condition and wealthiest amongst them the more they feared to lose so much more did they desire to avoid the danger thereof And though they did all of them abhor to return again under the Spanish Command especially those who were most infected with heresie yet well weighing all Interests they preferred that of their lives and estates before all other respects The meaner sort of people began already to speak freely of these inconveniences and dangers and whispers were heard to the same purpose amongst the more civiliz'd people So as wavering thus in their minds it appeared that they could not but grow very cool in sustaining such a siege so vigorously as they ought to do Il Signor di Santa Aldegonda was chief of the Magistracy which governed the City by the Title of Burgamaster Before Orange his death he was put into that Office that he might particularly advance Orange his ends as he had always endeavoured to do and as we have often told you And when Orange was dead there was not any one that more partially maintained his memory nor his passions with more vehemency then did Santa Aldegonda Wherefore occasion being one day offered when the Magistracy was much
opposing of the Counterdike And though they could not much better their condition on the Fields side where the Kings men commanded all yet they lodged some of their Troops on that side to curb the Royalists so much the more and that they might be the better able to come by some victuals Thus the Antwerpians sought to advantage themselves but the Royalists were no less fervent in their endeavours Fernese had divers times invited the Antwerpians with large proffers to return to the Kings obedience but they refusing them at first and afterwards demonstrating full resolutions to the contrary it was sufficently evident that all hopes of negotiation ceasing he was to place them wholly in his Arms. He therefore by out-doing not only others but himself in toil and labour gave himself wholly to procure the defence of the Counterdike and to proceed in the business of the Bridg those parts thereof which consisted of rafters and summers being so far advanced as there wanted but little to the perfecting of them Rubays with great diligence had got together a great number of Men of war to oppose upon any occasion those of the Enemy and scouring up and down every where and chiefly where most need was it is not to be believed how much he thereby advantaged the building of the Bridg. But the middle part was yet to be finished which was much larger then that of the rafters on both sides This was wholly to be supplied with Boats and a requisite number could not suddenly be got together the void space between the rafters was as yet made up with but about twenty But experience shewed that that number was not near sufficient for the Enemies Boats found means to pass through the void spaces though they were linked together either cutting in sunder that which they were linked together withall or breaking through them with full sail by the force of the Tide Some succour was therefore by this means from time to time brought to the City and much of action happened between the ships of either side the Kings ships endeavouring to block up the passage and the Enemies to keep the passage open One of these Naval conflicts proved fortunate for Rubays For Teligni as he was going for Zealand was found to be in one of those ships which he took and being taken prisoner the Enemy lost one of their valiantest and wisest Commanders The next of best esteem amongst them was the Count of Hollack who was not wanting on his part neither in giving good testimony of his valour sometime by water sometime by land But for all they could doe they could not keep the Kings men from bringing Boats enough at last to block up the middle space between the rafters on both sides of the shore And thus after a long dispute between hope and fear wherewith the Royalists were a long time agitated the miraculous fabrick of the Bridg was finished which we have so often mentioned but never sufficiently described for we could never till now come to give you a full relation thereof This was then the shape of it From the two contrary shores upon which lay the two greater Forts of Callo and Ordam divers rowes of great Piles of Trees were thrust out and being driven into the River extended as far as the current thereof would permit These which went streight forwards were closed together overthwart with divers others of the like greatness they were called Steccadoes at the first and ever after continued the same name The Steccado of Callo advanced about 120 usual paces not being able to reach further for on that side the river of Scheld grew presently deep The other of Ordam advanced about 150 paces the river affording better commodity on that side At the end of each of these Steccadoes and where the Boats began to be placed a large space was composed as if it were a Piazza able to receive a great many Souldiers for the better defence both of the Boats and of the Steccadoes On the flanks of these towards the upper part a series of Parapets were raised which were made of great doubled boards well fill'd in the midst with earth so as the Souldiers might be thereby fenced or sheltered and endure a volley of musket-shot and from those Fences pour musket-shot upon the Enemies ships Both the Forts served for Curtains if I may be permitted to say so to both the Flanks of the Steccadoes and to that purpose were alwayes furnished with good store of great Ordnance At the other end of the Piazza's where the Steccadoes ended some Peeces of Artillery were placed on both sides the better to defend that part And adding new securities without to those within both the outsides of those Piazza's were garnished with certain great Rafters of wood armed with iron at the ends which advancing for a considerable space into the river and upheld by some others which were planted in the bottom thereof might keep the enemies ships the further off and make their assaults the weaker This was the form of the Steccadoes from the ends whereof began the ank of boats wherewithall the rest of the river was shut up which was her deepest and largest part and the space between the two Steccadoes might be about 4500 paces This was filled up with 32 great barks all of them of almost an equal body and form they differed but little in their poup and forecastle or in any other part They were joyned together at the ends and sides with strong chains of iron each end was furnished with a piece of Artillery and the body of each bark with a convenient number of souldiers and Mariners Ten men might walk abrest upon the Steccadoes and sufficient commodity for passage was left likewise upon the barks And because 't was already known that the Antwerpians had prepared some fireboats to prejudice the bridg and that they were always to provide for the assault of their other ships and of those which their friends would send unto them therefore the Kings men bethought themselves to shelter the barks of the bridg with another exterior defence that they might the less fear being injured by the enemy The invention was this Many masts of ships were fastned together which made as it were a float and as many of these were made as sufficed for the whole length which the barks took up The one float was joyned to the other like a wall or great parapet and then thrust out in a proportionable interval before the barks and they were fastned to great anchors on both sides so as they might not fear being moved or loosened by any assault of the enemies ships or by the rage of any incensed tide And because they floated upon the water they were floats This was the whole Fabrick of the Bridg a proud one of that kind and which well deserved the glory of having perfected so memorable a siege and of having at last reduced so important a City to the Kings
and divers others who were thereabouts But the other occasioned much more bitter dread and likewise much greater prejudice Those Gunners and Mariners were not well entred into the Boat when the fire arriving at its due time made the Mine play and suddenly devoured not only those who were within the Boat but most of those who were upon the Boats of the Bridg and upon the Steccadoes It is not to be imagined much less to be exprest what horrible effects this raging fire made The Air was for a good space darkned with a thick cloud the Earth shook for many miles about the River broke forth out of her bed and with great violence threw her waves beyond the banks The bodies of men that were blown up by the fire were so torn as no shape thereof could be found and the tempest and hail of great stones and other lesser materials of offence scattering abroad further off so many of the Camp were slain or wounded as nothing was to be seen all thereabouts but a sad and dismall spectacle of people either slain or maimed or ill acconciated Above 500 of the Kings men were slain by this misfortune and a great many others of them were maimed or wounded But that which made the loss the more fatal was the death of the Marquis of Rubais who while in order to his office he viewed all parts and went from one place to another was unfortunately kill'd A death generally bewail'd by the whole Camp but with a particular tenderness by Fernese who had a singular affection and esteem for him Jasper Robles a Spaniard perisht by the same misfortune who was Lord of Bigli and a Souldier likewise of great experience and valour as may oft-times have been seen in the successes of this History Divers other Officers of inferior quality were likewise lost and there was not any Nation who did not share in the misfortune The confusion and astonishment being ceased which so strange an accident had occasioned in the Kings Camp it was found that the prejudice which the Bridg had received was not so great but that it might be repaired The greatest harm that was done was on that part of the Steccado where the Fire-boat had disgorged its fire and the Flote likewise there was greatly disordered But a great danger yet remained lest the assault of the Enemies ships which were in readiness for that purpose on Lillo's side might succeed the fury of the fire Wherefore Fernese using all diligence for the defence of the Bridg was come thither himself in person and made the Forts on all sides stand prepared with their Artillery But whatsoever the matter was none of the Enemies ships were seen to move It was thought that the Tide hindred them and that expecting the Wind to overcome it that failing they could not second the Antwerpians The danger being thus past which was then most feared Fernese had leasure to restore the Bridg to its former posture It was notwithstanding thought best to take the Flote quite away which lay towards the besieged to the end that if any more of their Fire-boats should fall down they might the better pass through those of the Bridge to which purpose an useful invention was found out as also in the other Flote which was on the other side The Antwerpians began to be very much troubled that their Fire-boats had no better success and even the stoutest amongst them began to lose their courage But Aldegonda and those that adhered most unto him endeavouring to keep their hopes alive strove to make them believe that the next Fire-boats would be more successfull then were the former That the great Ship being now likewise finished would be in effect as it was in name The Wars End That certainly the Royalists would never be able to make such resistance as was needfull to keep the double forenamed Forces from beating down the Counterdike and that when the passage should be once open the City would be wholly freed from the Siege Of these trials which were to be made for the benefit of the Antwerpians that of the great Ship was the first This immense moveable Castle began to appear upon the Scheld about the beginning of May with mighty expectation on both sides on the Antwerpians out of their hopes of reaping advantage thereby on the Royalists out of the curiosity of seeing such a Fabrick and to see what the effects thereof would be The Ship drew near one of the lesser Forts which the Royalists had on Brabant side and began to play furiously upon it There were above a thousand Souldiers in the Ship who accompanied the fury of the Cannon with the hail of Musket-shot They then landed to annoy the Fort nearer hand But the effect was not answerable to the design for the Fort received no great harm from the battery nor they who were within the Fort from the Souldiers that were landed nay the ship was so torn and shattered as they had much adoe to mend her and to make her serviceable again This experiment coming to so little good they fell to the other of breaking down the Counterdike and the business was thus carried The ships of the Hollanders and Zealanders were to fall from Lillo and enter into the drowned Country in that part by those Cuts which were made in the chief bank of the River The Antwerpians were to doe the like on the other side towards the City and to that purpose they had likewise fitting Cuts in the same bank Between these two drowned parts of the Country did the Counterdike run but it was very hard to assault it on both sides at once because the Tide could not equally serve both the one and the other in their uniform motion wherefore such a middle season was to be taken as that the conjuncture might not be lost This was the design of the Enemy nor was it any news to Fernese who had long before expected it There were four of the Kings Forts which guarded the Counterdike The one that of Crosse where the Counterdike joyned with the greatest Dike which Mandragone had the charge of About the middle in some distance one from another stood that of the Palata then that De la Motta commonly called S. George his Fort and at the end where the ground began a little to rise was the strong House of Cowstein wherein Count Mansfield did usually keep To boot with these Forts a row of great Stakes were pitcht at equal distance on both sides the bank which rose up above the water where the ground was therewithall drowned that the Enemies ships might find more difficulty in accosting These situations we have here again repeated the more to awaken the memory and to give the clearer intelligence of the Counterdike where the Besieged's chiefest hopes lay and where the Royalists had finally the victory Fernese gave order that all the Guards should be every where reinforced And to increase emulation amongst the Souldiers as
Gauntesses resolved to come to an agreement which followed about the end of September the preceding year They obliged themselves to give all due obedience unto the King to admit onely of the Catholick profession as formerly to rebuild the Castle which was slighted on the side which lay towards the Town and to pay twenty thousand pound for maintenance of the Kings Army and Fernese on his part did in the Kings name grant them full pardon they were restored to their former priviledges and those who would not profess the Catholick Religion had two years space allowed them to be gone and to carry away their goods whether they would That in the first place their Provinces did in all integrity of soul thank her for her having been so gratiously pleased to favour them and protect them against the King of Spain 's violence since the very first time that he used any against them That be continuing more then ever to oppress Flanders and those Provinces not being able of themselvs to defend themselves from so powerful and cruel an enemy were inforced to seek for necessary protection elsewhere That therefore they had resolved to fly unto her for it A Princess so conjoyn'd to them in territories so united in religion and so interested in the cause That to say truth they were then in a very low condition that notwithstanding they were yet possest of Oestend and Sluce in the Province of Flanders which were both of them Maratine Towns of great concernment That Holland Zealand and Freisland Provinces which lay all of them upon the Sea were yet wholly free from the Spaniards and that within land there were yet many of the most secure places under their union and a great part of the best of the Country That they doubted not but that so puissant a Princess as she would Patronise their defence much more out of magnanimity then out of Interest so as leaving the first part to her and considering themselves the second they represented unto her how great an advantage the addition of such Provinces and particularly those of the Maritine Coast would be to England And what doubt could it be but that these two Naval Forces being joyned together would give the Law by sea to all the Western yea and Northern parts That they then offered to submit themselves wholly to her Soveraignity so to injoy not onely her ordinary protection but to be defended by her absolute authority as by their Princess hoping that she would be pleased to admit of such an offer under such fair and reasonable conditions as their people were to enjoy according to the moderate form of their ancient Government for what remained she might assure her self that the Flemish would alwayes vye for Loyalty towards her with the English in readiness in concurring to all her greater exaltations and in joy to see all her ends effected according to her own desire This was the substance of their Proposal Having said this by word of mouth they presented it in writing to the Queen who graciously received it and did in as gracious a manner reply That she would with all attention study to send them back as speedily as might be to their Provinces well satisfied That such an offer bore with it matter of great conseqnence and that therefore she would take particular care that it should be diligently discust by her Councel The English had at first seemed very much to desire this But as usually seen things move more then such as are but meerly imagined so when the weight of this affair was seen nearer hand the Councels differed much in their opinions concerning it Some more boldly were of opinion That so fair an offer was by all means to be imbraced That the United Provinces had already lawfully made themselves their own Soveragins out of their so requisite necessity of not being able to suffer the King of Spains so great oppression They might therefore lawfully dispose of that their Soveraignty as they should best please That they had once already confer'd it upon the Duke of Alanson and wherefore might they not now confer it upon the Queen The King of Spain would undoubtedly be scandalized hereat and would peradventure make war again upon England But how oft had he already offended the Queen Were not the Insurrections in Ireland fomented by him had he not a designe to do the like in England Did not he favour the Queen of Scots Cause as much as he might and did not he upon all other occasions shew his ill will to the English That if he would fall into open war with the Queen it was to be considered how greatly her usual strength at sea would be increased by this new Maritine addition of Flanders Let therefore the King of Spain assault England when he should please he should finde it as secure in forces as inexpugnable by situation But there wanted not those that were of a contrary opinion They said It was the common concernment of all Princes that their subjects should keep within their due obedience what a ruine would it be to Principality if the rendering or denying of obedience should be at the Subjects pleasure That hitherto the Queen had favoured the Flemish not as free people but as those that were opprest that she might still without proceeding any farther do the same justly for the future but to acknowledge a Soveraign power in them and then to accept of that Soveraignty offered by them was an action of bad example for other Princes and particularly of very dangerous consequence for the Queen her self How much more just reason would the King of Spain have in such a case to make her taste of the same evils at her own home How great a disposition was there generally thereunto in Ireland And how great in the so many Catholicks which were yet in England By her example the King would doubtlesly pass from fomenting secretly into open invasion To his Temporal Forces the Pope of Rome might likely enough add his Spiritual ones And it would then be seen what would be got by making so uncertain an acquisition in neighbouring Countries when by doing so certain hazard must be run at home in her own Dominions Amidst these two contrary opinions there was one in a middle way between them which was That the Queen without accepting of the Soveraignty or using any other title of Protection should assist the Flemish with a good strength of men That for security of the expence which she should be at in assisting them they should put some good Town of Zealand into her hands and some other also in Holland And that the Forces which should be maintained by the United Provinces should be under his command whom she should send in Chief with her men Thus having gotten footing in those Maritime parts and her Authority likewise being in the above said manner extended further within Land the Queen might wait for what time would produce who is the
before they could get thither and afterwards in their return for Spain some of those ships perished unfortunately and amongst the chiefest and best qualified Spaniards which were there lost was Alonso di Leiva Generall of the Gallies in Sicily who chose to quit that Command and to be a Voluntier in this so famous Enterprise It would be too long to relate how many others of Quality perished in this imployment It will suffice to say that there were not any parts of the English Scotish or Irish coasts which were not innobled either by shipwracks or by the death or imprisonment of some of the choisest and best born Personages of all Spain Some other ships came up to the Admiral Ricalde in Ireland but all of them so shattered as they had much adoe to recover Spain and in the remainder of that voyage many of them perished The place whereunto the rest came for refuge was St. Anderos where Ricalde within a few dayes dyed as also another chief Commander at Sea called Oquendo together with divers other persons of quality who through their so great sufferings at Sea dyed almost as soon as they came to Land The Duke of Medina Sidonia after having together with the common dangers fallen into many particular hazards of his own arrived likewise about the end of September at the Port of St. Anderos from whence he acquainted the King with his arrival and gave him a full account of the whole success of that expedition This was that which befell the Spanish Armado which was sent to assault England Few enterprises were ever longer premeditated few ever made with greater preparations and none ever executed with greater misfortune So fallacious doe the designs of Mortals usually prove And thus the Divine Providence doth often in the secret Decrees of Heaven determine things contrary to what Humane wisdom hath in her pride determined here below THE HISTORY OF THE WARS OF FLANDERS Written by CARDINAL BENTIVOGLIO The Second Part. BOOK V. The Contents After the unfortunate success of the Spanish Fleet the Duke of Parma goes from the Province of Flanders into that of Brabant The situation of the Enemies new Fort called Schinck-Sconce What was the occasion of making it and how prejudicial it is to the Kings affairs and those of the Archbishop of Colen in those parts At the Archbishops desire the Prince of Samay is sent by the Duke to recover Bona. The Duke hopes to get Bergen ap Zome by secret intelligence but is deceived He sends Count Charles Mansfield to besiege Vachtendonch who takes it S. Getrinburg is delivered up unto him by the Garrison thereof The mean while he again straitens Reinberg Schinck dyes in attempting to surprise Niminghen Reinberg soon after is surrendred A Spanish Brigado mutinies to Fernese's great displeasure which is increased by the loss of Breda Count Maurice raiseth a Fort-Royal against Niminghen The Duke of Parma prepares to go into France The King of Navar and Duke of Parma compared together in Military qualities The Duke goes from Flanders comes to Meos finds Paris reduced to the greatest extremity of famine resolves to use all means to succour it The King of Navar opposeth him with all his Forces The Dukes stratagem in shunning Battel when he seems most desirous to fight The mean while he unexpectedly assaults and storms the Town of Lagny upon the Mearn and relieves Paris with great store of victuals The King of Navar retires much incenst from thence The Duke of Parma besiegeth and takes Corbel upon the Sene. From thence he returns to the Low-Countries The King follows him and endeavours to discompose him But the Duke marches in so good order as with ut receiving any considerable damage he leaves France and returns to Flanders THe Spanish Fleet being departed with so unfortunate success the Duke of Parma went presently with his Army from Bruges Whilst he was in those parts attending the expedition for England he had not omitted to do what was fitting for the service of the affairs of Flanders We told you before that at the instant intreaties of the Archduke of Colen the Duke had recovered the Town of Nuys and besieged Reinberg both which places appertain to that Church Being diverted from Reinberg and drawn to relieve Zutfen he could not as then do more in service of the Archbishop This mean while things went very much the worse for him Schinck was never quiet Neither was it well known whether the vivacity of his understanding or his vigorous proceeding was the greater The Rhine after having run for a long space in one only Channel not being able any longer to keep within its own bounds falls into two Currents which become almost as capacious as the first By these two is the Island of the antient Battavians formed and the same name though somewhat corruptly is at this time preserved there Schinck thought it would be very convenient to build a Fort upon that point which the two arms of the river make Wherefore presenting himself before Count Maurice he spake in a Military manner thus Since my fortune was not most illustrious Count to serve under your Fathers Ensignes I will wholly dedicate my self to you who are left in his place And doubtlesly you will imitate him much more in valour then in bloud What Martin Schinck is his actions have already shewn Being ungratefully dealt with by the adverse side I will never be at quiet till I have revenged my self To this end I beseech you hear a Proposal of mine Why do not we fortifie that point which is made by the Rhine where it divides into two branches How much advantagious will it be to raise a Fort there All Vessels which pass from the one or the other part will be inforced to strike sail and to pay Tribute to it It may be called the Bridle of the Rhine And from thence may the banks thereabouts be overrun and still new progresses be made and those already made the better confirmed In fine no fort can be more advantagiously seated I desire no more but the trouble of building it and of keeping it and that it may be called by my name that I may be the more obliged to defend it Either my Military industry deceives me or the enemy cannot receive a greater blow then this upon the banks of Rhine Count Maurice though he was yet very young knew that Schincks proposal must needs be of great consequence and he represented it so unto the States as they resolved it should be done And it was not long ere the Fort was made defendable with such flanks every where as the situation most required It was afterwards munited with a good Garison and with all things else that was thought necessary for the security thereof This is the so famous Fort called Schincks Sconce possest for almost fifty years together by the United Provinces but which is of late years so much in every mans mouth by reason that
side Idiaques and Cajetan's Foot coming in to assist Basti's Horse a very hot skirmish had likely to have been had not the King considering his disadvantage made his men retreat in a warlike posture The Dukes men pursued them no farther least they might break their establish'd order of marching And here did end the King of Navar 's assaults all the molestations which Fernese till then had suffered by them Who being come with all his Army safe into the confines of Flanders he and the Duke Du Mayne parted He again confirm'd more then ever hopes in the Duke Du Mayne of new and potent succours in assistance of the League and assured him that he himself would very speedily be their Conductor The mean while he left with him about 4000 Foot and 500 Horse thinking that such a recrute might serve for the present to boot with a Regiment of Germans which was formerly maintained in the service of the League and defray'd by the King of Spain under the command of Count Colalto The Duke passed forward and distributing the souldiery into Garisons to rest themselves after so great labours he came about the beginning of December to his winter quarters which was usually in Brussels THE HISTORY OF THE WARS OF FLANDERS Written by CARDINAL BENTIVOGLIO The Second Part. BOOK VI. The Contents The Duke of Parma after his return from France findes the Kings affairs in Flanders but in ill condition Advancements made in many parts by the Enemy They take Zutfen and Deventer both of them places of great importance The Duke incamps before the Fort opposite to Niminghen does all he can to take it from the Enemy Count Maurice draws neer it with great Forces to relieve it This mean while Fernese receives precise orders from the King to prepare suddenly to return again to France he therefore immediately raiseth his siege Maurice maketh use of this occasion He goeth to before Hulst a Town in the Province of Flanders and quickly takes it From thence he goes to before Niminghen and hath the like good fortune there The League in France does this mean while decline daily Their danger of losing the City of Roan which is straitly besieged by the King of Navar Wherefore the Duke of Parma presently enters France The Army of the League joyns with his They march towards Normandy to relieve Roan The King of Navar marches to oppose them A noble fight between both the Camps at Umaile wherein the King is hurt and in danger to be taken The Army of the League advances draws neer Roan and puts some succour into it It then falls further off and the King reinforceth his siege But at last the Duke of Parma forceth him to quit it The Colleagues enter forthwith into the Peninsula in the County of Caux and besiege Caudebeck In discovering the Place the Duke is wounded and is much disturb'd in continuing his command The King makes use of this occasion He possesseth himself of the entrance into the Peninsula and reduceth the Colleagues to great scarcity of all things The Duke that he may not be forced to fight upon too much disadvantage resolves to secure his Army by passing over the River Which he fortunately doth He then leaves France and returns with speedy march to Flanders New successes on that side to the advantage of the enemy and to Fernese's great grief His affliction is increased by his growing every day worse and worse in his health And yet he is again commanded by the King to return with all speed possible into France To this purpose he goes to Arras and deligently prepares for his third passage into France But his sickness increasing still upon him he dies WIth the Dukes return to Flanders we will return to our former narration though we shall be soon diverted from it by the new necessity put upon the Duke of returning again into France Great had the sufferings been which he had undergone in his first journey wherein those of his mind were more then those of his body He had learned by experience how hard a business it was to joyn the Kings designes together with those of the League That the King after the vast expence he had been at in his late expedition against England did now consume himself in these disbursments which he was at for the League of France And that in the interim his own Territories of Flanders was but ill furnished with men mony and almost all things else in so much as doubtlesly much damage was to be expected thereby To boot with the men that were left with the Duke Du Mayn it was necessary to place many on the Frontiers which lay towards France to encourage the League nearer at hand and that they might be ready to march in the behalf thereof when it should be needfull at any hours warning So as the Kings Garisons in Flanders were much lessened even in the most important places And the Towns themselves left but slenderly provided with victuals or warlick ammunition to maintain a siege if the enemy should sit down before them Which they knowing their own advantage were not long adoing as we shall successively relate Amongst other things which had mightily afflicted the Duke of Parma whilst he was in France one was the mutiny which happened at that time in Emanuel de Vega's Spanish Brigado which remained in Flanders which the Duke after his return did very much rescent at both the Mansfields hands they not having been diligent enough as he thought in preventing it And the disorder grew so much the greater because it was above a year before those people could be paid and reduced to their former wonted service At the beginning of the year 1591. the enemy did not delay seconding the good conjunctures on their parts Colonel Norris an English man of whom we have often spoken was in Ostend who with that Garison which was then very numerous by reason of a new recruit of men which the Queen of England had newly sent thither overran all the parts thereabouts Yet the Fort of Blanchemberg which lies between Ostend and Sluce as hath been said was a great obstacle in his way Resolving therefore to free himself thereof he assaulted the Fort so unexpectedly and upon such advantage as he soon took it and it was soon after dismantled This happened in the Province of Flanders about the midst of February Not long after the enemy made two other surprisals in Brabant The one was of the Castle of Westerlo and the other of Turnehaut which is one of the greatest Villages in all Brabant There is likewise a Castle in this Village into which as also into the Village some souldiers did enter in country attire as having something to sell and without any difficulty made themselves Masters of them both But these were but slight acquisitions in respect of others which Count Maurice intended to make and which he sufficiently did that year as you shall
famous enterprises hath fully declared him to be This mean while the Duke of Parma was returned to Brussels and wholly intent upon his passing again into France he endeavoured to get as great a strength for that purpose as he could The news which he heard from those parts was That the affairs of the League did every day decline that the Forces thereof were very much diminished and that the King of Navar did still grow stronger and that being Master of the Field he had besieged Roan which is the chief City of all Normandy and the second of all France The Duke de Mayn had sent Count Brisack a little before this to acquaint the Duke of Parma with thus much And the danger of Roan every day increasing Fernese was again the more sollicited to come for France as soon as he could Preparing then for his departure he left as formerly the two Mansfields his Deputies And a solemn Ambassie being at this time sent by the Emperor into Flanders to endeavour some accommodation in the affairs of those Countries the Duke upon that occasion did stay some dayes at Brussels The Emperor had likewise signified the same intention to the United Provinces But they fearing that the Ambassie was sent by the King of Spains procurement would not consent to any Treaty About which though neer upon a Moneth was spent yet we have chosen to acquaint you with the result thereof briefly here to dispatch the account of a Negotiation wherein there was hardly any Overture made The Duke being gone from Brussels went towards Picardy and there in Peroun met with the young Duke of Guise who not long before having escaped out of the Castle of Tours where Henry the Third had shut him up after his Fathers death and where the King of Navar had likewise detained him was suddenly come to find out his Uncle the Duke Du Mayn From Peroun the Duke of Parma went to the Town of Guise where the Duke Du Mayn came to speak with him In the same place was likewise Hercules Sfondrato Duke of Montemarchiano who a little before was sent by his Uncle Gregory the 14. with a very considerable strength both of Foot and Horse to assist the League But Gregory dying and Innocent the 9. succeeding him his men were much diminished Innocent excusing himself that he could not continue so great an expence by reason of the scarcity of monies which the Apostolick Sea was then in Nor did the Duke of Montemarchiano know whether he were to continue in that Command or no though in all things else Innocent seemed as if he would protect the League of France to which purpose he had made the Bishop of Piachensa Cardinal declaring him also to be Apostolick Legat in the place of Cardinal Cajetan who as we have said was already returned to Italy At this meeting of the Duke of Parma and the Duke Du Mayn the first thing that was agreed upon was That Fera one of the most considerable Towns of Picardy should be delivered up to the Duke of Parma that upon all occasions he might have a Town upon that Frontier towards Flanders which might serve for better security to his Army Here all their Forces joyning each of the chief Commanders muster'd his men and the whole amounted to about 25000 Foot and 6000 Horse the greatest part whereof belonged to the King of Spain and were composed as usually of Spaniards Italians Germans and Walloons the Foot were about 16000. and the Horse 3000. The Duke of Lorain had sent the Counts of Vaudemonte and Shalligny with 700 Lances and Curasiers in assistance of the League Of all the Forces which the Duke of Montemarchiano brought with him into France there remained little more then 2000 Foot Switzers and 200 Horse The rest of the Forces were made up by the League The Duke of Parma commanded over all in chief and next to him the greatest authority lay in the Duke Du Mayn with whom were then the Dukes of Umale and Guise the first his Cousin-german the other his Nephew to boot with the aforesaid Counts of Vaudemonte and Shalligny who were of the same house but in a degree further off During the preparation mustering and marching of this Army the year ended and the next of 1592 began All their men being met at the entrance into Picardy the Army began to move about the midst of January and marched towards Amiens that it might enter on that side into Normandy and endeavour to relieve Roan as soon as might be The King of Navar as hath been said was before this City and had advanced so far forward already in his siege as the besieged were not likely to defend it much longer Yet Monsieur de Villiers sustained the siege valiantly and endeavoured by all stout resistance to afford time for the aforesaid succour And much encouraged to hear that the Leagues Army was upon its march to that purpose he continued in his defence more resolute then ever though by reason of the straits that he was in he prest the Colleagues very much to come to his relief as soon as they could Roan lyes upon the banks of Sene and this River doth there much inlarge it self Some leagues above it the King had a Town called Pont d' Arke which is the last bridge which is now upon the Sene in its current to the Sea some of the Arches of that bridge being broken and gone to decay which the English did anciently build at Roan whilst they were Lords of Normandy The Town of Cawdebeck lyes some leagues beneath Roan upon the banks of the said River which was likewise in the Kings hands insomuch as he commanding the River both above and beneath by means of these two Towns and by some men of war which scour'd up and down the River had reduced that City into great straits But hearing of the Duke of Parma and that the Army of the League was already on its march towards Normandy he called his Councel of war to consider what was best for him to do upon this occasion The King had very great Forces he had between nine and ten thousand Horse and his Foot were as many as those of the Colleagues all the Horse unless it were some Dutch were French in the Foot there were likewise some considerable number of Dutch and some English which the Queen had sent to assist the King and three thousand Flemish Foot were likewise sent from Holland in his assistance It was argued in the Councel of war whether it were better to abandon the siege and to march against the Army of the League to fight them in the field as it was formerly determined in the business of Paris or continuing the siege to wait the Enemy within the works and to defend those works so as the succour might by that resistance be hindred The Mareshal of Biroune inclined particularly to this opinion who by reason of his long experience and
defend themselves and to draw all the Country thereabouts into contribution for their maintenance till they should receive full satisfaction for their pay The Town St. Paul was pitcht upon for a very fitting place to this purpose Going therefore unexpectedly thither and not meeting with almost any resistance they fixed there At the first hearing of this riot Count Charls was minded to reduce them by force But doubting afterwards that when the rest of the Nations being come nearer them should more narrowly consider the Spaniards design they would rather imitate then impede it he thought it better to shun so great a hazard Which served to defer but not to evade the danger as shall be said in its proper place These were the successes of the King of Spain's Forces upon that Frontier of France And now to proceed with the peculiar affairs of Flanders The United Flemish failed not to make use of this occasion which made so much for their advantage The Duke of Parma being dead and finding the King more eager then ever in his designs upon France they used all the means they could to be early in the field with a potent Army Wherefore the winter being over and Count Charls being gone with so great a part of the Army into Picardy Count Maurice deferred not moving but discovered his design of entring with his Forces into Brabant He desired particularly to secure Breda better as a place which belonged properly to his Family and which had so luckily fallen into his hands by surprisal as you have heard And being of opinion that the too neer neighbourhood of St. Getrinberg did threaten continual danger thereunto he therefore advised that by all means that Town might be likewise recovered and so that first acquisition be the better ascertained by the advantages which this second would bring with it which would certainly be very great by the importancie of such a place This opinion of Count Maurice was very much approved by the Councel of War of the Confederate Provinces The business being therfore resolved upon by the publike authority of the whole Union he forthwith applied himself to make such provisions as were requisite for such a design He used all means he could to keep the Royalists from being aware of it Marching several wayes he seemed as if his intentions were to turn now upon Groninghen towards Friesland now upon Sluce or Dunkirk in Flanders and now upon Balduke or Graves in Brabant The Royalists therefore ran from all parts to defend these places Wherefore their Forces being the weaker by being divided St. Getrinberg could not consequently be so provided as was fitting to sustain the siege which was afterwards laid unto it At last Maurice discovering his true design threw himself suddenly into Brabant and began to fall to work with very great Forces both by land and water St. Getrinberg lies towards that out-skirt of Brabant which is subject to Holland The seat thereof is very strong it hath the Mause on the one side with its name turned into Merwe and of such a breadth as being there ready to fall into the Ocean the Channel thereof seems rather a Sea then a River There falls also into Merwe on another side another little River of but a short course called Donge and it terminates the course neer the walls of that Town yet is the bed thereof also so broad and so deep as it is capable of any whatsoever Vessel The other places thereabouts are likewise so lowly situated as men walk more upon the top of the banks then upon the plain ground The manual fortification is answerable to this of situation wherefore by reason of these prerogatives this place is held to be of greatest concernment not only in Brabant or Holland but even in any other Province of Flanders Maurice being then incamped with the said Forces before St. Getrinberg he begirt the Town on the land-side with divers well comparted Quarters and he added thereunto a good number of Boats by water to block it the better up on that side also and to end his work the sooner In every Quarter he began a Fort-Royal intending to joyn them together with other smaller Forts and to make Trenches and Ditches from all these on all sides so as the whole outward Line should be perfectly inclosed and munited In the inward Line also the like care was had of flanking and fortifying it where it was the most needfull the better to curb the besieged And because all these Works required extraordinary diligence and labour Count Maurice had with him in his Army above 3000 Pioners who were only to be imployed in digging Ditches in raising Trenches making Forts and in doing whatsoever else the Siege required of manual work This was the first Siege which was undertaken by Prince Maurice in a more exact form then all others till this time and in the success whereof he propounded greatest difficulty unto himself He therefore desired very much to effect it that by the taking of such a place the fame which he had already won in military affairs might be increased The aforesaid Works were then begun and pursued with incredible diligence And the Souldiers often vying with the Pioners in their labour and one Commander with another and Maurice himself with them all they had soon raised the outward Fortifications in such sort as they had small cause to fear any harm that the Kings men could doe them And Maurice had all the commodity he could desire fully to perfect both the outward and the inward Line And truly till then there had hardly been seen any such works The Forts were raised very high with earth the Trenches and Ditches were every where answerable Many great Palisadoes were added for the greater security in divers places and every Fort was well furnished with Artillery So as the place was invironed with almost as noble Fortifications as any it self had And yet the more to take from the Kings men all hopes of succouring it Maurice made the land be overflown in divers parts to make the difficulty the greater in endeavouring it Thus was the Siege ordered In the Town which was besieged there were about 600 Burgonians and 400 Walloons good men but not enough for the present occasion nor the condition of the siege Monsieur de Messiers commanded the Garrison of the Town in stead of Signor di Vatervid who was Governor of the place and who upon some occasions of his own was then in Spain To boot with the want of Souldiers the City was not sufficiently provided of victuals nor of warlike ammunition to make such defence as was needfull When the Enemies Camp appeared Messiers gave a present account to Mansfield of what condition the Town was in and prest him very much for speedy succour Nor did he forbear providing the mean while to make such preparation for resistance as became a valiant and faithfull Commander to doe He made the Townsmen labour together with the
by the example of this chief City of the Kingdom not only the Cities but the Provinces in all other parts strove who should most follow the King and more submissively acknowledge his authority To which his gratious making use of Victory even to those who had most highly offended him served him in good stead Growing therefore stronger every day both in Cause and Forces he made daily further progress throughout the whole Kingdom But he endeavoured to doe it most in Picardy and in the parts thereabouts where the French League was still in some power and where it was most fomented from the Frontiers of Flanders On the contrary the Archduke the new Governour and the Spanish Ministers of State who were in greatest authority under him judging that the more the League declined the more it needed to be sustained resolved to send back Count Charls with new Forces into Picardy who at the Archdukes arrival was come also to Brussels The King of Spains affairs were then in a very low condition for the reasons which have been often alleadged Wherefore to keep from wholly neglecting their own peculiar affairs of Flanders Count Charls could assemble no more then 8000 Foot and 1000 Horse for the occurrences which summoned him again into France With which Forces staying in Picardy after he had well observed the Enemies proceedings he thought he might be able to get La Chapelle which is seated on the very utmost precincts of that Province towards the Flemish frontiers of Henault This place is four-square well flankt in all the four angles and with other Defences on almost all the sides of the Curtains it hath likewise a good Ditch round about it and in all other circumstances it is held one of the best-Towns in Picardy Count Charls resolving to besiege it sate down before it and in a few dayes with the wonted winding of Trenches he came near the Ditchs whereinto that he might the easilier fall and facilitate the Assaults which were to succeed the Batteries he drew away the water thereof to where the ground was lower He then began to play upon the Town which had but a weak Garrison in it and was found to be but ill provided of all things else Yet were not they within wanting in preparing to make what defence they could Count Charls put them presently to the test The Myre which yet remained in the Ditch was very deep and there was no such breach yet made in the wall as afforded the Assailants sufficient commodity to mount thereupon Wherefore the Count failed the first time in his design and his men being beaten back with the loss of much blood and with the death of some Captains and other Officers he must prepare more maturely for a second assault But they within would not wait it For fearing lest they should not be able to maintain it and that they must then be all put to the sword and the Town be sackt they yielded upon good Conditions and the Garrilon was suffered to go freely out This mean while the United Provinces on Flanders side had diligently made their Forces ready to turn to some new important design The Royalists feared Groninghen most wherefore the Archduke gave order that Verdugo should be assisted who prest very much to bee so and shewed in what danger the Kings affairs in those Parts were The Archduke caused likewise requisite provisions to be made in other places where it was most needfull But this was but weakly executed every where so great was the scarcity of monies amongst the Kings men such the disorder of the Mutinies which had hapned and such the daily fear of new Mutinies Amidst these preparations which were made for the continuance of Arms the Archduke would notwithstanding try whether there could any way be found out for the introducing of Peace He was naturally given to love quiet and the King having always shewed the same inclination he thought that the King being already weary and disdeceived in the affairs of France and having so little hopes to advantage himself in those of Flanders by the way of Arms would willingly imbrace any Agreement which with safety to his and the honour of the Church might reduce the affairs in those Provinces to some tranquility Two Councellors at Law the one called Ottone Hertio and the other Jerolimo Comans were by reason of some private occurrences at this time in the Hague where the Confederate Provinces had established their chief Councels representing the General Union The Archduke thought that by their means without making any further noise he might come to some Treaty of accord with those Provinces And thinking it fit to invite the United Provinces thereunto he writ them a Letter the Contents whereof were That he had left the Emperor his brother and was parted from Germany with a particular desire of seeing the Peace of Flanders restored by some good accommodation during the time of his Government That he knew the King would very graciously incline thereunto likewise to the end that the people there might once be free from so many calamities of war and might enjoy the fruits which might so largely be expected from Peace That the United States would consider how uncertain the fortune of war was and how dangerous it was to promise unto themselves still the same good success therein by reason of some happy ones which they had already had That it was now time to come to some agreement That for his part he offered all sincerity in the Treaty thereof and allconstant application towards the effecting of it That therefore they should reduce their demands to so just a sense as that he might the more willingly propound them unto the King and use all means afterwards to have them granted This was the contents of his Letter in the end whereof the Archduke referred himself to what the two afore named Councellors at Law should more at large add In the Archdukes Councel of State there were divers opinions concerning the introducing of this Treaty The Councellors of the Country who had propounded it did still favour it shewing a great desire that all means might be used whereby to free Flanders from Arms. Alleadging that the King himself was of the same mind and that let the event be what it would this would serve to justifie the continuation of the war on his part But the Spanish-State Officers were opposite hereunto especially Count Fuentes who was of more Authority then all others next to the Archduke He said That the enemy did very well know in what condition the Kings affairs were then in Flanders That doubtless they would account this Proposition an effect rather of weakness then humanity That peace was then advantagiously made when there was an advantage in the war Wherefore it was better to expect awhile till such time as the King might have the better of the business as it might be hoped he would have and that then it would be his part
incouraged for that he saw his Authority and power did daily increase in France He therefore proclaimed War against the King of Spain and endeavoured by a bitter Declaration to invite all his Subjects to the War Nor was it long ere another contrary manifesto came from Flanders wherein the King of Spain indeavoured to justifie all that he had done in order to the affairs of France And some other Declarations were added which were requisite upon such an occurrence War being thus declared between the two Kings the greatest designs of both sides were turned towards the Frontiers of France and Flanders The King of France had sent the Duke of Bullion with good Forces a little before into the Country of Lucemburg Wherein the United States did likewise joyn with a certain number of horse and foot on their behalfs Wherefore Bullion having soon won the Towns of Frette Yvois which lay nearest the Frontiers of France he marched further into the Country pillaging and preying upon that Province in hostile manner At the same time the States took likewise the Town of Huy in the Country of Liege that they might advance nearer the Confines of France on that side and in the mutual communication of their designs communicate their Forces also the easilier The Town of Huy lies upon the Mause with a Bridg which expedites that passage and a Castle eminently seated which commands the Town The Town belongs to the Bishoprick of Liege and till this time had always enjoyed Neutrality between the Kings Forces and the adverse party as all the rest of that Country had likewise done Ernestus the Elector of Bavaria enjoyed that Bishoprick together with the Archbishoprick of Colen The invasion being made he applied himself to the United States for the restitution of that Town which was taken But his endeavours proving vain he had afterwards recourse to the Kings forces to which he promised to joyn his also that such a novelty might be the sooner remedied The Archduke was no less moved upon this occasion nor less ready on his part to remedy it And he being dead Count Fuentes appear'd to be of the same mind He therefore and 't was his first action sent Monsieur de la Motte with good Forces to recover Huy which were quickly augmented by those which the Elector added unto them La Motte being come near the Town began to play upon it and within a few dayes took it and reduced the State of Liege into total security He being afterwards sent for back by Count Fuentes to Brussels who intended to imploy him elswhere Colonel Verdugo was sent by the Count with a great strength of men to free the Country of Lucemburg from the excursions made by the French and to recover the Towns which Bullion had taken Verdugo went thither and did so handle the French as making them first forsake the field he made them afterward quit the Country and the Towns which they had taken The King of France his Forces were then chiefly turned upon the Dukedom of Burgony to take it from the Duke Du Mayn To the defence whereof as also of the County of Burgony which was likewise threatned by the King the Constable of Castile Governour of Millan was come with very gallant Forces from Italy Fuentes had thought to have sent Verdugo thither also with some assistance from Flanders But he dying at that time it could not be effected In him the Spanish Nation lost one of the most valiant and best experienced Commanders in War that was then in all those Provinces Wherein he had served the King of Spain little less then â0 years And passing through all the degrees of the Militia he had still shewed himself most worthy in the last and particularly most in such as required either greater vigilancy in command or greater wisdom in advice He commanded the Kings Forces with great authority a long time on the further side of the Rhine with much variety of acquisitions and losses till that the Spanish Forces being diverted too much in France the Kings own affairs in Flanders were brought to too bad a condition Count Fuentes being freed from that diversion which the enemy had occasioned in the Countries of Liege and Lucemburg and leaving Colonel Mandragone well furnished with forces thereabouts he applyed himself wholly to the Frontiers of Picardy resolving to go thither himself accompanied with a great strength of men and to advantage the Kings affairs there as much as he could Count Charls Mansfield did formerly command the Kings Flemish Forces which were upon that Frontier as hath been often said But he being gon into Germany to serve the Emperour against the Turk in the VVars of Hungary the Archduke before he died had substituted the Marquis of Barambone in his place who was Governour of Artois which joyns upon Picardy VVho being entred into that Province had overrun it in divers parts and taken Anker and some other Towns all but of small importance He afterwards returning into his own Province had sent Monsieur di Rone in his place of whom and whose Military worth mention hath been often made already He was one of the chief of the League of France but resolving at last actually to establish himself in the King of Spains Service he was received thereunto and had a great stipend allowed him and was made Campmaster General of the Army VVherefore the command of those parts being past into his hands he went thither and made likewise some small acquisitions The Spring was by this time over and Count Fuentes did no longer delay to prepare for putting his designs into execution He desired above all things to take the City of Cambray from the French and to reduce it as formerly it was under the particular Authority of the King of Spain In the revolutions of Flanders soon after the death of Don John that City was fallen into the hands of the Duke of Alanson as was then said Alanson at his death left the Queen his mother heir to those parts which he could pretend to by such an acquisition and she had confirmed the Government of Cambray and of the Castle and Territory of Cambresis upon Signor di Baligni who had the same charge whilst Alanson lived Nor did Baligni omit to make use of the present conjuncture of times by becoming as it were absolute Lord of that City and of all that depended upon the Dominion thereof He having always wrought his advantage on both sides during the troubles of France and Flanders had brought that Country into a condition as it were of neutrality Yet upon all occurrences he lean'd much more to the French where his acquisition might cause less jealousie and consequently receive more protection But the King of France his affairs bettering every day in that Kingdom and especially upon that Frontier Baligni had condescended to put the City of Cambray under the direct dominion of the King reserving unto himself the usefull part
in recognition of his being also resolved to adhere unto the King and for his having drawn the City of Roan to do the like To boot with these Governours of Provinces the Marisnal of Bullion and Monsieur de Sanseval had a great influence upon the Forces within the same Frontiers but the chief command lay in the Duke of Nevers All these Commanders used the greatest industry they could in gathering together such Forces as might suffice to keep Dorlan from falling into the King of Spains hands Fuentes was this mean while incamped before the Town And it was argued in the Councel of VVar whether were the better to begirt it on the Towns side or on the Castles and at last it was resolved that they would bend all their forces against the Castle For that being won they might much more easily take the Town Amidst which contrariety of opinions whilst Monsieur de la Motte in order to his office was viewing where he should fittest dispose of his Batteries he was casually shot in the eye with a musket and slain A great loss For Flanders had not a more experienced Commander in Arms nor who had passed with greater approbation through all offices even from the meanest to the greatest The winning of the Castle being then resolv'd upon divers Forts were raised on that side in such places as were most requisite to secure their quarters on the outside the Works which were to be made within They fell presently to making Trenches On one side which was of greatest concernment the Spaniards Burgonians and Walloons were so fervent at their work as they soon fell into the Ditch Hernando Teglie Portacarera Serjeant-Major of a Spanish Brigado did in particular merit great praise herein To become masters of the Ditch more easily it was necessary to take a little Ravelin from the besieged To this end the Spaniards and the rest made a furious assault upon the Ravelin which was so well sustained by the French as the success was doubtfull for some hours But those without being still reinforced by new men they took the Ravelin at the last and lodged in it The Town was thus begirt when Fuentes came to know that the French came to relieve it The Admiral Villiers had brought 400 Horse a little before this to this purpose out of Normandy and a great number of Horse was raised to the same end in the neighbouring Frontiers by Saint Paul Bullioun and Sansevalle The besieged desired only to be succour'd by 800. or 1000 Foot And though the Duke of Nevers was diligent in his endeavours likewise to secure the Town as soon as might be with new men yet he maturely judged that it was needfull to assemble yet greater Forces together whereupon the succour might be better grounded To the which he was the rather moved for that he knew Fuentes had received considerable Recruits from the Flemish and Walloons But the French Commanders confiding in the Cavalry which they already had and which consisted of prime Gentry sent word to Nevers who was at S. Quintains that he should no longer delay endeavouring the succour and that undoubtedly they would effect it with the Forces which they had Going therefore from Amiens which is the chief City of Picardy and which is within a short dayes journey of Dorlan they moved with 1500 Horse and 1000 Foot intending to convey the Foot into the Town and that the Horse should make their way When they were come within sight of the Spanish Camp Fuentes and the rest of his Commanders thought that this was rather to make a discovery then to fight But when they saw that the real intention of the French was to endeavour the succour with those men Fuentes getting on hors-back and in that posture suddenly sending for the rest of the Commanders to Councel they resolved to leave the Trenches well provided and to march and meet the Enemy with the rest of the Army And Fuentes foretelling the certainty of the Victory This said he may be termed a French Butado Do they think to find us asleep within our quarters or that we be not able to sustain that double assault which they peradventure intend to make at once these from without and the besieged from within I believe they will soon find they are deceived and that this their design partakes much more of fool-hardiness then of courage Then taking all requisite or der for the defence of their Trenches and particularly for withstanding the Assault which the besieged might make he drew forth the rest of his men into the field observing first in what order the Enemy marched They had made three almost equal bodies of Horse The first was led on by Admiral Villiers the second by Monsieur Sansevalle and the third by Count San Paul and the Marshal Bullion Under the shelter of these Horse the Foot marched on the right hand and in such order as they might easily disjoyn and get into Dorlan when the Horse should have opened them the way Thus came the French marching on and Fuentes ordered his Camp thus On the right hand he formed a Squadron of Flanders Train-band Horse which in their several Companies might come to 6 0 Curasiers and who upon this occasion were commanded by Count Bossu He placed the Light-Horse on the left hand under the command of Ambrosio Landriano who was Lieutenant-Generall of the Horse the Duke of Pastrana who was Generall and who was a little before returned from Spain being not well then He himself kept in the midst with his wonted Guard of Lances and Carabins and followed by a great many Personages of great Port amongst which were the Duke d'Umale the Campmaster Generall Ronye the Princes of Simai and Avelino the Marquis Barambone and divers others of the best quality that were in the Camp The Foot were divided in the most advantagious places and there was therof particularly one little flying Squadron of Spaniards which might be ready to turn wheresoever occasion should most require Fuentes having thus ordered his Army Villers advanced and with great fervencie charged the first Squadrons of the Light-horse Those first Squadrons which were all Spaniards and Italians did not stand the charge of the French but wheeling about were disordered and almost made to run The second Squadrons did then advance who were Spaniards led on by Carlo Colonna and fiercely setting upon the French on the Flank they came to close fight The French Vanguard being thus advanced Sanseval made forwards with the Battel against him came Landriano with the rest of the Light-horse which were placed there And here began a fierce and bloody conflict where Villers Sanseval and the rest of their Company fighting couragiously the Spaniards Light-horse were again disordered Fuentes gave the sign then to the Curasiers who charged so close and home upon the French Horse as they beat them back and the rest of the Horse being rallied together and come in to them they at
together with a great number of common souldiers In fine the success of this Assault was such as a more fierce bloody and longer doubtfull fight had not till that time been heard of neither in the Wars of France nor Flanders Fuentes having taken Chatelet and Dorlan and gotten the aforesaid victory in the field he had the greater desire to incamp before Cambray and he hoped the more to win it at last He first rested his Army for some days and in the mean while sollicited those aids which diversly and plentifully was preparing for him in Henault Artois and in the other neighbouring Countries and by the Bishop of Cambray The aids consisted in monies souldiers victuals ammunition Artillery together with a great number of Pyoners to serve for the mannual work of the fiege But in the Interim he being willing to gain as much time as he could parted from Dorlan and with those men which he had incamped about the midst of August before Cambray His Camp consisted not then of above 7000 foot and 1500 horse VVherefore the Duke of Nevers who was then in Peroune resolved to try whether he could bring any relief into the Town or no before his Army should be increased He to this purpose sent his eldest son the Duke of Retel who was not then above 15 years old accompanied with 500 horse By sending such a pawn Nevers desired to assure the besieged the more that he himself would soon come to succour them with other forces The young Duke met with a brisk opposition wherein Carlo Colonna with his Cavalry did particularly signalize himself But the French prevailed and having lost some of their men entred most of them into the City Fuentes his Army did this mean while daily increase in a short time his Camp conâsted of 12000 foot and 3â00 horse he had moreover above 80 pieces of Artillery great aboundance of Ammunition and victuals and 40â0 Pyoners At his first incamping Fuentes had rather designed where he would take up his quarters about the Town then taken them up deviding them the most advantagiously that the several situations would suffer him to do But now abounding in all things that was necessary to fortifie them he applyed himself suddenly to bring them to intire perfection Cambray is seated as hath several times been said upon that edg of Frontier made by the two Provinces of Henault and Artois on Flanders side towards France opposite to Picardy It hath under its command abroad only the little Castle of Cambresis with a very narrow precinct of ground but the Prerogatives of the City make good the smallness of the Territories It enjoys a free Government under the spiritual and temporal dominion of its Archbishop It is indowed with very large Priviledges full of noble Churches whereof the Cathedral is such as hath not its like in any of the chief neighbouring Cities It is sufficiently provided also of other Edifices either for use or ornament yet are not the Inhabitants answerable in numbers to the houses Many of which being Ecclesiasticks foreign Commerce and Merchandizing doe rather languish then abound there Neither doth the Scheld though it run through the City afford Commodity for it for that River takes its head but from a little above that City and hath therefore there so slender a Channel as it is hardly Navigable in those parts The City is about a league in compass and is invironed with an antient wall flank'd for the most part after the ancient manner but with many Bulwarks also after the modern way of Fortification It hath a ditch which is very broad and deep on the one side whereinto for a great part the Scheld runs but the rest thereof by reason of the hight of its situation is dry but so much the deeper On the highest side which is on the East stands a Citadel with four royal Bulwarks having a great half Moon between two of them which are next the fields and divers other defences for the better custody of the ditch The ground descending from hence towards the South side and still more and more as it inclines towards the VVest stands the Port Neufe and then that of St Sepulcher afterwards another called Cantimpre and more towards the South that of Selle And lastly more higher towards the Citadel there is another Gate called Malle Between these Gates is the compass of the City divided It had for the defence thereof about 2500 foot and 600 horse besides 500 foot which were reserved for the Citadel Amongst the foot some Companies of Swissers were comprehended and some others of the confining VValloons which served Baligni The rest were French all of them well trained up in wars The City and Citadel did abound in Victuals Ammunition Artillery and with whatsoever was requisite for the maintaining of a long and hard siege Now to turn to the adverse party Fuentes had taken up his quarters chiefly over against the Gates that he might block up the most frequented avenues and that he might the better keep out succour On that side which lay nearest France from whence relief was most to be feared and which was on the South side he raised a great Fort near the Village Nierny and gave the custody thereof to the Prince of Simay He raised another Fort towards the west called Premy taking its name from a near neighbouring Village and gave the charge thereof to Count Bilio Colonel of a German Regiment Then turning towards the North he added another Fort which was called St. Olao the name of a Church not far from it and he committed the defence thereof to the Baron Ausi On the fourth side towards the East did Fuentes his self quarter by reason of the near accommodation of the Village Evendunre and here he raised the greatest Fort for on that side which was the most eminent and where the ditch was dry he intended to open his Trenches and to make his batteries These were the chief quarters and the defence was to be secured by the abovesaid Forts From one Fort to another did certain little Forts or rather Redouts run with double Trenches because the inward might serve to refrain sallies and the outward to keep out succour To each Fort and Redout he assigned such men as were requisite together with all things necessary for the well maintaining of them And the horse were likewise distributed in places most-needfull to scoure the Country and to be ready to disturb relief The siege being thus setled they began to work their Trenches against the wall But as that highest or most eminent place which hath been spoken of was most commodious for the opening of them so was the wall on that side the City hardest to be forced A half Bulwark was thrust out from the Citadel with a great Orillioune which with the well covered fences within did serve for a curtain to a long line of wall which ran between that Bulwark and the Port di Malle Between
Ardes So as almost at the same time he loseth the one Town and gets the other He then draws near the enemies Camp with all his Forces and endeavours to draw him out to battel Which the Cardinal avoids and having provided well for the Towns which he had newly taken he retreats with the rest of his Army into Artois From thence he passeth into Flanders and seeming first as if he would make some other sieges sits down before Hulst The description of that place the Country about it and the whole siege with the insuing surrender thereof This mean while the Marquis of Barambone is routed and taken by the Marishal of Biroun upon the Frontiers of Picardy And soon after Barambone's brother the Count Varras is put to flight and slain in Brabant by Count Maurice AT the Cardinal Archdukes arrival in Brussels all mens eyes were turned upon the Frontiers of France and Flanders It being the generally conceived opinion that the greatest heat and chiefest seat of war between the two Kings would be there The King of France not long before the Cardinals arrival was in Picardy He had hoped to establish himself at one and the same time in Burgony and to relieve Cambray not thinking that either Balignie's misfortune would be so great or yet Fuentes his happiness as to end that siege so soon Touching the affairs of Burgony the King had had all good success in those parts for Interest at last prevailing over Arms the Duke du Main had made his peace with him quitting the Government of Burgony and taking in lieu thereof that of the Isle of France together with divers other conditions wherewith he was fully satisfied Wherefore the Constable of Castiel returning to Milan Burgony remained eased of Arms and the King began already to have intire obedience therein The greater advantages he got on that side the more was he displeased with those which Fuentes had obtained in Picardy but he was chiefly troubled that Cambray should be fallen again into the King of Spains hands The King of France had not any great Forces as then yet they were such as he thought he might besiege la Fera and soon take it La Fera is strongly seated for being almost wholly invironed with Marishes there is no access unto it but by two narrow avenues It stands a good way within Picardy wherefore the Duke of Parma had chosen it as one of the best places that were in that Province and whereby the King of Spains affairs in those parts might receive the most advantage There are two avenues whereby access may chiefly be had unto the Town of both which the King did quickly possess himself and having block'd them up with good Forts he fell to dividing out his quarters Alvarus Osorio a Spaniard and a greatly esteemed souldier commanded in chief within the Town he had with him a choice Garison and had sufficient ammunition for war but was so very much straitned in victuals that unless he should receive good store thereof all the sooner it was impossible for him long to sustain the siege The King was not ignorant of this wherefore quitting all thought of assault he resolved to straiten it only by siege hoping that by keeping them thus from succour on all sides and especially from victuals he should soon be Master of it This was the condition of la Fera when the Cardinal Archduke came to Brussels Wherefore the first thing that was taken into consideration by his Councel of War was Whether they were to relieve Lu Fera with all their Forces or endeavour to necessitate the King to raise the siege by some important diversion There were so many and so efficacious reasons which made against the succour as they were not to be answered It was considered That La Fera being situated so far within Picardy it was as it were invironed with St. Quintain Han Guise and Peroune and some other Towns also which were all of them in the Enemies possession and were all very well garisoned and munitââ That therefore if the Spanish Army would approach La Fera it must of necessity leave divers of these Towns upon its back that if so the enemy might at their pleasure scour the Country cut off the ways hinder victuals and especially disturb forage That La Fera was almost unaccessible on all sides by reason of the Marishes That the best Avenues were well guarded with Forts by the King of France That the siege was still more straitned by him on all sides and that new men came in daily unto his Camp which would abound as usually it did especially with choice Cavalry What hopes could they then have either of coming near La Fera or by doing so of introducing relief unless they would at the same time assault the enemy in his own quarters But what hope of good success could they have herein the King was intrenched ready to fight or not to fight according as should make for his most advantage That if he thought his Forces were such as he might buckle with the Spaniards in the field no reason either of war or yet of State would permit that the Spaniards should hazard themselves upon the uncertain event of a battel That if the King should be routed he might easily gather new forces but put the case the contrary should happen what difficulties would the Cardinal Arch-Duke meet withal and what expences would he be at in making new Levies of Spaniards Italians and of other Forraigners of which the chief body of the Kings Forces in Flanders is usually framed And say such a losse should insue what new acquisitions would the Confederate Provinces hope to make These reasons bore with them so much weight to plead against the abovesaid succour as the votes were already for proposing some diversion which might force the King to rise from before la Fera when news was brought that by George Bastie's means that Town was victualled sufficiently for at least two moneths not long before this Basty was returned into Flanders with leave for some short while from the Emperor who had long before imployed him in the wars of Hungary against the Turks he had won very great experience in war by his having spent so much time in the war of Flanders and by reason of the so many noble employments wherein he had served the Duke of Parma in particular in whose last expeditions in France Basti had almost alwaies commanded the Armies horse in which sort of service there was no man held more able at that time then he nor who knew better what belong'd thereunto neither in point of command nor execution He had received orders from the Cardinal that he should endeavour to relieve la Fera with some victuals from the neerest Frontiers of Flanders to which purpose 800 choice horse were in readiness upon the same Frontiers which were to take each of them a sack of corn behinde them and to cause them to
be brought by small boats into la Fera. This design required great secresie wherefore Basti having very secretly acquainted Osorio Governor of the Town therewithall and suddenly assembled the 800 Horse together upon some other pretence came with such speed so near the Town as he might easily effect the Succor The Agreement made between him and Osorio was that Basti should come at a certain prefixt time to a part where the Marish was most watry and that Osorio should send all the Boats he could get to receive the Corn to bring it to the Town And just so it fell out to Basti's unspeakable praise and honor he having been continually on Hors-back for little lesse than Forty hours and having known so well to choose his time to deceive his own men first and then the Enemy much better and how to return without the loss of so much as one man nay more having defeated some of the Enemies horse which would have opposed him as he returned This small succour gave some hopes that a greater might ensue but the former oppositions still arising and it being known that the King did still more and more fortifie his quarters and that his Forces grew still greater the Cardinal began to incline to the making of some important diversion and hereupon they gave their opinions in the Councel of war Some were for besieging Peronne others St. Quintain and others other Towns thereabouts The Camp-master General Ronye was very well acquainted with every corner and every pass of the Province by reason of his being so long thereabouts in the time of the League he was more averse to the succour then any other and advised more to the diversion and willing to speak his minde clearly therein to the Cardinal but with such secresie as so jealous an affair required He took an occasion to speak thus unto him in his Chamber when but some few were with him It is now agitated most excellent Prince whether it be better to succour la Fera by all our Forces or to endeavour such a diversion as the King of France may be thereby more damnified then he shall be advantaged though he doth not raise his siege enough hath been already said touching the difficulties of the siege which truly are so great as there is no hopes of overcoming them Let la Fera then be lost provided that in lieu thereof we get another Town which may recompence the loss thereof with advantage I must confess the keeping of la Fera and other Towns in Picardy was of some concernment during the League and Civil wars of France but now that there is no sign of League left nor of civil commotions and that la Fera is surrounded with so many Towns towards the Frontiers of Flanders what considerable advantage will it be to the King if be do chance to get it Nay how great will his trouble and expence be to keep it Let the King continue then at that siege and let us betake our selves to a diversion but as I have already said let it then be such a one as the acquisition which shall thereby be made may much exceed the loss which may be apprehended by the other I shall not propound Peronne St. Quintain nor any of those other Towns wherewith la Fera is surrounded unto your Highness every one of which may be thought equal or rather inferior to this I shall advise you to another of so much greater concernment as it may of it self alone weigh against all those put together I mean Callis Callis a Sea Port the Key to the English Channel from whence passage may be had in a few hours into that Island and in a few more into Holland and Zealand Callis where succour may so commodiously be received by Sea from Spain and which certainly will be the sharpest Thorne at the present in the sides of France which fears nothing less there abouts then to see Callis besieged The Commander there is a very weak man the Garrison at the present is as weak and you shall find all other provisions for defence of equal weakness This is the diversion which I propound in enterprises of this nature in the first place great secresie is requisite in the resolving thereupon and then speed in putting it in execution Your Highaess must therefore possess your self of all the Avenues about Callis before the Enemy get any inkling of it otherwise succours will be soon sent thither both by Sea and Land and so the undertaking will be defeated before it be begun when on the contrary if the Avenues be speedily secured either my military experience deceives me or our Arms and your Ensignes shall in a few dayes be seen to enter there The Cardinal seemed to be mightily pleased with the propounded diversion which was fully approved of by the rest that vvere vvith him vvho vvere the chief commanders of the Flanders Forces They then fell to treat of putting it into execution and the Cardinal chose Ronye to be the guider thereof vvho was the first adviser but for the better concealing it they gave out that they vvere resolved to relive la Fera or attempt some diversion thereabouts To this purpose Valentiennes vvas chosen for their Randezvous one of the neerest Cities upon that Frontier and after having made great store of victuals be brought thither the Army began to march vvhich vvas one of the most flourishing ones that had of a long time been seen in Flanders It consisted of 5000 Spaniards 1500 Italians 1000 Burgonians 1000 Irish 2500 Germans and 6000 Walloons all these vvere very choice Foot and to these vvere added 3500 Horse the Train-bands of Flanders being numbred thereinto vvhich did serve upon that occasion The Cardinal vvas in Valentiennes about the beginning of April and had with him the greatest part of his Army and ordered divers marches the more to confound the King of France and to keep his true design unknovvn to him From hence he sent Ronye vvith great celerity and secresie tovvards Callis vvith the Camp-masters Lewis di Vilasco Alonsa di Mendosa la Barlotta and the Count Buckquoy The tvvo first Spaniards vvith their Brigadoes and the other tvvo Walloons vvith their Brigadoes also and these Foot vvere accompanied by 400 Horse Callis lies upon the very brink of the Channel vvhich divides France from England and in that very point of Land vvhere the two Kingdoms are nearest one another This vvas the last place from vvhence the English vvere driven after they had so long possest Normandy together vvith so many other provinces of France and as the repurchase thereof made by the French vvas thought a great concernment so did they ever after studiously endeavour to keep it But the Kingdom falling into civil discord Callis vvas no happier then vvere the other Tovvns vvhich being all of them almost in private mens hands for their ovvn ends could not be so vvell kept as the service of the Kingdom and Crovvn
on towards the Town but Rony thought it better afterwards to endeavour the winning of the Suburbs the taking whereof would make much for carrying the Town The besieged this mean while made out frequent sallies in all which Monluck was still the formost nor made they less opposition by their Artillery which were placed upon their walls So as great was the damage which those without received by both these means Yet overcoming all difficulties they still straitned the Town more and more And Monluck being slain by a Canon-shot it might soon be discerned that those within cooled in their courage Coming at last to battery Rony was very sollicitous in indeavouring the effect thereof for fear lest the King having rid his hands of la Fera might come with his whole Army joyn'd together time enough to relieve Ardres as it was clearly seen he intended to do But the Suburb was so well defended that such progress could not be made by battery as the straitness of time required Between the Suburb and the Town there was a certain secret way which led out afterwards into the fields abroad and which was but little known save to such Inhabitants as most frequented that place The Camp-master Tesseda had notice hereof by a Walloon Souldier who upon other occurrences had been conversant in that passage Tesseda therefore acquainted the Cardinal that entrance might be had into the Burough secretly by night through that passage and he desired that he might be trusted with the Government of the design The Cardinal yielded to the proposal and to the desire Wherefore Tesseda went to the aforesaid place the next night taking with him 1000 foot part Spaniards part Walloons To divert the defendants the more a brisk alarm was given against both the Town and Suburb from the part without where the batteries were placed The enemy flocking apace to those parts Tesseda passed on and began to enter the Suburbs with his men But the enemy being aware thereof they suddenly turned all their opposition thither so as for a while the business was hotly disputed on both sides till Tesseda being recruited with new forces got a good way into the Suburb and forced the enemy at last to quit it and to retreat to within the Town in which retreat there happened a misfortune which added much to their loss For the Percullis being too hastily let down by those that guarded the Gate for fear lest the assailants might enter into the Town pel mel with the assailed 200 of their own men were shut out who were al miserably put to the sword by the assailants The Suburbs being won Rony immediately turned the batteries upon the Town and that they might be the more terrible some pieces of great Canon were brought from Calis and planted upon the chief battery and many other pieces of Artillery were planted against the fences in so much as the like preparation for thundring shot upon the Town had not been seen in many former sieges It was this mean while disputed between the Marquis of Belin and the Governour of the Town whether it were better to do their utmost to withstand the assault which was to be expected would insue the batteries or not to hazard a fight the event whereof was so uncertain and dangerous The Governour was for making good the defence alleadging That the Garison could not be more incouraged and that the mean while the King having dispatched the business of la Fera would undoubtedly come himself in person to the relief of Ardres The Captains were of the same opinion and the souldiers likewise shewed great resolution therein But Beline was of another mind He said That if it should come to the tryal they should not be able to withstand the assault That the greatest part of so valiant souldiers would be lost And that it tended much more to the Kings service to preserve then to lose them These reasons were not admitted of neither by the Governour nor Garison But Belin urging Authority which was discerned to proceed wholly from fear would by all means that without expecting so much as one shot they should treat of surrender He desired that he might first send unto the King But his request being denyed he yielded to the surrender upon such honourable terms as he could get One thousand five hundred souldiers marched out of the Town with him at which Action it cannot be conceived how hainously the King was incensed Both in respect of the action it self and for that la Fera falling just then into his hands he did verily hope either to make the Spanish Camp quit the siege of Ardres or else to force them to fight with him in the open fields And his Forces were by this time so increased as he had great reason to hope for one of these two Belin would have gon to have justified himself but the King instead of hearing him thought to have put him to an ignominious death though afterwards together with his anger he mitigated Belins punishment and only banished him the Court. This mean while those of la Fera being reduced to the utmost necessity of hunger could no longer defer the surrender of the Town The King that he might the sooner be gon from thence and come to the relief of Ardres granted them all the honourable conditions they could desire But Ardres being lost and the King still more incensed thereat he seemed to be much perplexed in his thoughts not knowing what to resolve upon His Forces were then very strong he had no less then 18000 soot and 6000 horse together with the flowre of the chiefest of the Kingdom and a numerous other Nobility which did then wait upon him His end would have been either to have recovered Calis or some other of the Towns which he had lost but he foresaw all sieges would cost much expence both of time and monies and the Kings monies were at this time so exhausted and Picardy together with the other Provinces so wasted with the so long quartering of Armies as out of each of these considerations it was impossible for him long to maintain so great Forces or to make use of them in any long siege He therefore by the consent of his Councel of War resolved to draw near to the Cardinal Archdukes Army and to endeavour by all means possible to draw him forth to battel But the Cardinals intentions were far otherwise for being fully informed of the Kings mind and knowing himself to be much short of him in men as being inforced to leave strong Garisons in the places which he had won he thought it might suffice if he could secure these and for what remained shun all field-battel His people had likewise suffered much disaccommodation in these last expeditions In so much as being willing to refresh them with the most commodious quarters he could he resolved to go into Artois and going himself into St. Omers he disposed of his Army in divers Towns
Varras got notice of it He had with him the Marquis of Trevico's Italian Brigado which was commanded by his Serjeant Major Count Sols his new Regiment of Germans and two Walloon Brigadoes of Barlotta and Assicount These Germans and Walloons were also without their Commanders and were Governed by other inferior Officers Nicholas Basti Commanded the horse which were all Spanish and Italian Count Varras having discovered the Enemies march and thinking that he had not sufficient Forces to fight him in the Field knowing also that Turnaut as being an open Village was not a place for defence resolved to go to Herentales a Town which he might easily get unto being but three hours easie march from Turnaut Yet he would retire by day lest if he should have marched by night his retreat might have seemed a running away Thus resolved and sending out his baggage by night upon the break of day Varras left Turnaut and made his men march in this manner He devided the foot into three squadrons in the first he placed the Walloons in the second the Germans and in the third the Italians But that which at their first going out was the reer if the enemy should come upon them was to be the van The horse were placed on the right hand where the field was more free and a great wood served for a sufficient defence on the left hand Maurice hearing of this removal he suddenly advanced with all his horse and with 300 musketiers behind so many Curassiers en Croup and the Curassiers advancing foremost with the musketiers en Croup he gave them order to charge the enemy home in the reer and that they should endeavour to hold them play till his foot should come up With Maurice were the Counts of Hollack and Solm Colonel Vere an English-man and divers other Commanders of great experience and valour The Kings Horse valiantly opposed the like of the Enemies and the Squadrons facing about did likewise sustain the first charge of the Enemy But all Maurice his Horse coming in and soon after his Foot the Kings Horse being no more in number could make no longer resistance So as these being routed the rest were discouraged though Count Varras galloping here and there and in every place shewed all the proofs of valour and undauntedness which could be desired of him upon such an occasion And finally pressing forwards amongst the Italians when he saw their Squadrons begin to flie he was suddenly slain and he failing the Kings men were wholly overcome and the Enemy had the total victory over them The Walloons fought not that day according as they were wont to doe and the Germans made but little resistance And therefore the most that were slain or wounded were Italians In all there were above 1200 slain and almost as many taken There were 37 Colours lost and a great part of the Baggage There were not above 100 of the Enemy slain And Maurice wan such a Victory with the loss of so little blood as made much for the advantage of the Consederate Provinces and for his own Honour in War After this mischance the Cardinal failed not suddenly to provide for the necessities of Brabant by sending in many Horse and Foot He was about likewise to make many great new Levies But the King was in so great scarcity of monies as the Cardinal could not make provisions so soon nor yet so fully as the necessity of the Flanders affairs required and much more those which were of so great concernment on the part of France Nor was it long ere an occasion arose in France which being one of the most remarkable which the wars of France or Flanders hath produced in point of Surprise and Siege you shall have a particular diligent account thereof in the next Book THE HISTORY OF THE WARS OF FLANDERS Written by CARDINAL BENTIVOGLIO The Third Part. BOOK IV. The Contents The Spaniards surprise the City of Amiens by stratagem The King of France immediately besiegeth it The chiefest successes thereof and of the Defence are related The Cardinal-Archduke goes himself in person with a powerfull Army to relieve the besieged but being kept off by the Enemies forces the Town returns at last into the Kings hands who presently fortifies it with a strong Castle The Cardinal retreats to Artois and from thence passeth into Flanders Here he visits Ostend but not attempting any thing he returns to Brussels and puts his Army in garrison The acquisitions this mean while made by Count Maurice to the great advantage of the Confederate Provinces are related Nor is it long ere Peace is declared between the two Crowns so as the Kings Forces are now at liberty to attend only the proper affairs of Flanders At this same time great consultations are had in the Court of Spain about a Marriage propounded between the Cardinal-Archduke and the Infanta Isabella the Kings eldest daughter with the giving of the Low-Countries to the Infanta for her portion The King inclines thereunto out of many good reasons and therefore will have it effected The Archduke parts from Flanders to go for Spain and Cardinal Andrea d' Austria stayes in his place The Cardinal-Archduke is not well gone when the King of Spain dyes and his son Philip the Third succeeds him To whom the King had also a little before destined the Archdutchess Margaret of Austria for Wife HErnando Teglio Portocarrero was Governour of Dorlan being left there by Count Fuentes after the taking of that place as chosen by him for one of the best Souldiers that the Spanish Nation had in Flanders Portacarrero not satisfied with the bare custody of Dorlan wherein he was extraordinarily vigilant he oft-times issued out with his Garrison and assaulting the Enemy sometimes in open fields sometimes by ambushes now preying upon their Cattel and then setting their Villages on fire he was almost become the Terror of that Frontier But neither did his thoughts end here He had an earnest desire to doe some great action for the Kings service in those parts by which he himself might likewise acquire reward and glory Amiens is the chief City of Picardy and Dorlan is not above seven leagues distant from it This neighbourhood afforded occasion to Portacarrero to penetrate almost ââurly into what was done in Amiens and thereabouts That City had appeared much for the League and being now fallen into the Kings hands it coveted much to have its antient priviledges observed and especially that the City should be governed by Personages of their own Inhabitants and by their own proper Forces Nor would the King the present condition of affairs considered doe any thing to the contrary Thus the City was its own Guardian And though there were a great number of Citizens who had listed themselves under Colours yet were they not any way disciplind according to custom in the handling of their Arms nor were they so vigilant as they ought to have been in guarding their Gates The Country
and their souldiers shewed themselves ready to do what upon such an occasion might be desired of them They came to within sight of the Gate vvhich lies tovvards Dorlan and vvhich is called Montrecurt about the break of day there vvith great silence they possessed themselves of a certain Aââey vvichin less then a mile of the City they took likevvise another place yet neerer the City where was a little Hermitage from thence those that were clad like Peasants advanced towards the Gate with their Cart and Sacks full of Apples and such other things as have been spoken of This mean while the Citizens opened the Gate and surveying the Country about with their wonted negligence They stayed in the Court de Gard under the same Gate but the souldiers were so few in number and so unfit for such an office as the Gate could not be more weakly nor more negligently kept It was now Lent and Sermons being usually made in France early in the morning almost all the people were then at Church Francisco d' Arco had the command of those that were clad like Peasants and who were to make the surprise he who as you have heard Portacarrero sent to Brussels to negotiate the business with the Cardinal Baptista Dognano a Milonoise was another chiefly imploy'd and Captain la Croy with particular diligence attended upon the Cart who was a Burgonian The rest were almost all Walloons who by reason of the neighbourhood of Frontier were better known both in the language and fashion of the Peasants of Picardy But were all of them Souldiers of tryed fidelity and valour As they drew neer the gate these mingled themselves with other Country people who entred the Town at the same time either to buy or to sell commodities Wherefore entring more easily with them into the Ravelin which covers the Gate they stayed under the Arch thereof and one of them letting the Sack fall which was upon his shoulders the nuts and things that were in scattered upon the ground those of the Guard ran in and mocking either the simplicity or poverty of the Peasants began to scramble for what was on the ground the Cart came in this interim which being made to stay by him who guided it at the first entrance into the Gate the horses were presently fastned lest frighted at the noise which was to ensue they might run away elsewhere with the Cart. Francisco d' Arco was to give notice to Portacarrero of the Carts being entred by the shooting off of a Pistol which he failed not to do for carrying two under his counterfeit habit he discharged one of them in the brest of one of those that kept the Gate Which when he had done his assotiates did the like and seising upon some Halberts which belonged to the same Corps de Gard they so behaved themselves as they slew or deadly wounded all those few French who had the custody either of the gate or of the ravelin For the better security of the Gate it had two Perculleses which over-hung it they were guarded by a sentinel who let them both down the first was easily kept from falling to the ground by the Cart but the second broke it all in peeces and almost quite shutting up the passage brought the Assailants into great straits when the other who were hid in the Hermitage came in with all speed who securing themselves first of the Raveling without and suddenly taking away all hinderances within made themselves Masters of all the avenues to the Gate The noise was already grown so great as many of the neerest Inhabitants taking up arms and hastning thither began boldly to oppose the assailants who increasing still in number and in courage easily overcame all opposition insomuch as having won the first Avenues to the City and fully secured the Gate as also the contiguous walls they afforded time for the rest of the Foot and Horse to come up and fortunately to perfect the premediated design Nothing is so prejuditial or doth more endanger surprises then giving way to fall suddenly and tumultuously to plunder for in such a case the Townsmen within may either take up arms or the Enemy may come in from without so as the Assailants may be easily supprest by reason of their being disperst and disordered amidst rapine and other military licentiousness For this cause Portacarrero commanded under penalty of the severest punishment that none of his men should dare to fall to plunder the City till the market places chief streets and all the Gates were fully taken and well guarded which being by him performed in great order and the souldiers in much obedience they fell to plunder of which they found such and so great store as few the like was met withal in all the vvars of France and of Flanders Count St. Paul Governour of Picardy vvas in Amiens at the time of the surprisal but he vvas got out as the Assailants first entred providing in great haste for his ovvn safety and leaving his vvife there vvho vvas presently set at liberty by Portacarrero and used with all respect and honour The plunder lasted one whole day and nothing else of cruelty was used nor of dissolute licentiousness There were not above 100 of the Inhabitants slain and three or four of the assailants and some few others were hurt At the news of the surprise and plunder many other souldiers of the neighbouring Spanish Garisons came flying in to partake of the plunder and who afterwards helped very much for the defence of Amiens for Portacarrero would not permit them to go out again Yet for greater security he disarmed the Citizens and with great vigilancy ordering all things every where as best befitted the safety of the City he together with the rest of the Commanders and all the souldiers prepared with all courage to sustain that hard and dangerous siege which he foresaw would soon befall them by the King of France This mean while the King had speedy advertisement both of the surprise so boldly undertaken and of the happy success thereof It is impossible to relate how much he was afflicted at this his mischance and how much he was inwardly tormented in his mind particularly in the point of Honour He seemed to be much offended with himself Had he so quelled the Rebelloin of France and so supprest the League maintained by the Spaniards to the end that breaking into war with them their sole Forces should triumph over his How many victories had Fuentes got the year before sometimes by sieges sometimes by open field-fight and how many other great acquisitions had the Cardinal Archduke lately made was not that of Calis sufficient by open siege but that the other of Amiens must issue by surprise What two other Towns could the Spaniards have desired whereby they might receive more advantage in the affairs of France both by sea and land The way was short and free between the Gates of Amiens and Paris Nor did
Calis afford less opportunity to offend so noble a part of the Kingdom by sea And what would Europe think of a King who contented with his only home-victories should suffer himself to be thus overcome by Forreign Forces How much would the Malcontents of the Kingdom be hereby incouraged to set the League on foot again perhaps which was or too lately supprest or not yet fully extinguished Thus did the King of France with great anger storm against himself for the surprisal of Amiens Being then thus agitated by these considerations he speedily removed from Paris to Co bie a Town standing upon the banks of Some not above three leagues from Amiens Here he together with Marishal Biroun and other Commanders in war resolved immediately to incamp before that City and not to leave any thing undone whereby to drive out the Spaniards and to free Picardy from all their Forces Biroun Commanded the Kings Forces who being naturally very haughty thought it redounded much to his own particular dishonour that the Spaniards should daily make such advancements in those parts The King therefore commanded him that mustering together as many of the French souldiery as might be had from the neighbouring Garisons he should begin to begirt Amiens and to take a particular care that no fresh men should enter into it This order being given and such others as were requisite upon such an occurrency the King went again to Paris to sollicite such Forces and preparations from all parts as were requisite for such an undertaking The River Some runs a long course through Picardy and cutting it as it were through in the middle fals afterwards into the British Sea Upon the Banks of this River stands the chiefest Cities and Towns of the Province But Amiens doth flourish there beyond them all as well for the antiquity of its foundation as for the beauty of its buildings and for the quality industry and number of Inhabitants The Some enters it with many Branches and washing the wals in many places makes the circuit thereof stronger on those sides then on the others it is also well provided of Curtains Flanks and Ditches but that part which looks towards Flanders as being most subject to danger is best fortified And because the Spaniards in likelyhood would have endeavoured to relieve the City on that side and especially from Dorlan the Marishal Biroun did therefore incamp himself on that side and began to break up the ways to possess himself of the Passes and to design out his quarters for the future siege Portacarrero had this mean while sent back Francesco d' Arco to Brussels to advertise the Cardinal of his happy success and to desire him to send some new recruits of men with all speed Great store of Artillery Ammunition and Victuals was found in Amiens Portacarrero did therefore for the present only desire a recruit of men that so he might make good the Town till such time as the Cardinal might come to relieve it with a compleat Army The Cardinal shewed such signes of joy as became such a purchase and sent back the same Francesco d'Arco having first honoured him upon this occasion with a Company of Spanish Foot to assure Portacarrero that he would speedily send him some good succour and that he would forthwith muster the whole Army with which he himself would come in person and undoubtedly raise the siege On the other side the King of France being fully resolved to continue it went perpetually from one place to another to raise what moneys he could what men and what provisions as were requisite for such a purpose A Renovation of League was then in Treaty between him and the Queen of England which he very much desired might be effected And he Treated likewise with the United Provinces of Flanders that they might make some considerable diversion against the Spaniards and that in particular they might send him some aid for the business of Amiens The mean while Marishal Biroun prosecuted the already begun works he had thrown a bridg of boats over the uppermost part of the River between Corbie and Amiens and another over the lower part thereof where the Village Lompre stands to the end that he might have free passage from the one side of the River to the other and might at his pleasure joyn the Kings Forces on either side He drew a Line in compass from the one bridg to the other of well Flank'd Trenches towards the City but of much greater compass towards the field-side All these Works were made on the side towards Flanders as hath been said because the besieged were to be succoured from thence Nor did he forbear beleaguering the Town in such sort as was fitting on the side which lay towards France It is not to be said with what ardency and eagerness Biroun behaved himself adding a rigid imperious command to his innate pride and making it evidently appear in his Military haughtiness that he would bequeath the siege in such a condition to the King when his Majesty should come thither as he should acknowledg the good success thereof chiefly from him Thus had Biroun laid the siege but at the same time he hoped to make so important a surprise on the neighbouring Frontiers of Artois as the Spaniards should be so much the more hindred from the freeing of Amiens To this purpose he did so unexpectedly assault Arras by night which is the chiefest City of Artois with 4000 foot and 1200 horse as he indangered it He planted a Petard luckily his men began already to enter the Gate but the people thereof which are numerous and warlike taking up Arms the French were so on repulst wherein Count Bucquoy's valour did very much appear who being in Arras had the fortune to signalize himself more then any other upon that occasion Biroun being returned to his quarters about Amiens attempted another surprise by sealado against Dorlan but failed therein also So as quite forgoing these secret machinations he applyed himself wholly to the siege which he had begun No less vigilancy was in the interim used on the Spaniards behalf The Cavalier Pacciotto an highly esteemed Italian Ingenier and brother to the other Ingenier Pacciotto who was slain at the assault of Calis was by stealth gotten into Amiens and had brought Captain Lechiuga with him a Spaniard who very well understood the management of Artillery These two applyed themselves diligently the one to better the Fortifications where it was most needfull the other to dispose of the Artillery where they might be of greatest annoyance to the enemy And Biroun not having as yet fully finished his Trenches the Cardinal Archduke had given strict command that some endeavour should be made to put some new recruit of souldiers into Amiens from the Frontiers of Artois Count Bucquoy was to this effect in Dorlan with 4000 Walloon foot and John de Gusman with 300 horse And because it was afterwards feared that such a body of
the Rearguard he made his Army march leasurely and in good order off The French endeavoured more then once to indammage the Rear but the Flying-Squadron facing about and with miraculous discipline now handling their Pikes now their Muskets and being sheltred by the Horse likewise on both sides all the Enemies assaults proved vain Thus they marched for above two houres after which the Cardinals Camp being free from all molestation took up its quarters with all security and was by degrees divided in the neighbouring Frontiers of Artois At the Armies retreat the Cardinal signified to the besieged in Amiens that it being impossible to relieve them they should immediately surrender the City and not lose any more men to no purpose He infinitely praised their pains and promised them reward leaving them to make such conditions as they could at the surrender Which when they came to be treated of were granted them by the King in as ample manner and upon as honourable terms as could be by them desired He highly commended the worth they had shewed in defending themselves which had made the like of his Army appear in oppugning them The Marquis Montenegro marcht out of the Town with 800 sound Souldiers and above as many more that were wounded and was very graciously received by the King at his coming forth as also the other Commanders that came out with him When the King came into Amions he presently caused a strong Citadel to be designed there which was soon after built that it might serve for a greater curb to the people and be a greater safety to the City Then leaving Picardy he went to Paris where he was received with great applause by that multitude of people for his new atchieved glory in having so happily conducted so difficult a Siege for having hindred so powerfull a Succour and recovering a City of so great consequence to the interests of that Kingdom The Cardinal Archduke being retreated to Artois he presently sent some of his Forces to take Montalin the onely Town which remained in the French hands within the precincts appertaining to Calis and from whence Calis was much incommodiated The care of the enterprise was given to the Admiral of Aragon who finding the place not very strong nor yet well guarded took it within a few dayes The King of France was already gone from Picardy nor was it known that he had as then any further end upon that Frontier Wherefore the Cardinal resolved to leave Artois likewise and to give some satisfaction to the Province of Flanders which did very much desire that Ostend might be besieged The Cardinal would therefore go thitherward himself and causing the Town to be well surveyed he thought it was impossible to keep it from being succour'd Wherefore as also because Autumn was already well advanced the Cardinal determined to leave the enterprise till a better conjuncture Nor having any other in which it was fitting to imploy his Army at that time wherein there was hapned a new Mutiny again he resolved to send it to its winter-quarters and came himself with his Court about the end of November to Brussels But the United Provinces lost not the opportunity this mean whiles which offered it self so favourably to them The Cardinal by reason of the siege of Amiens being gone with so many Forces towards the Frontiers of France and having left the peculiar affairs of Flanders in a forlorn condition Count Maurice took presently to the Field And having speedily raised about the beginning of August an Army of 10000 Foot and 2500 Horse together with a great Train of Artillery and whatsoever else was requisite for his designed ends he went to besiege Reinberg a Town situated upon the left side of the Rhine It had but few Souldiers in Garrison and was but weakly provided of all things else Wherefore Maurice coming without any difficulty to the Walls and playing upon them with his Cannon he forced the besieged in a few dayes to surrender the Town From thence he went to before Mures a Town not far from thence but somwhat remote from the Rhine And meeting with the like weak defence he with the like easiness won it He this mean while had thrown a bridg of Boats over the Rhine and passing with all his Army to the other side he sate down before Groll a strong Town both by nature and art He found some greater resistance there yet many provisions being wanting which are most necessary for sustaining a siege having dryed the Ditch on one side and threatening a furious Assault he forced the Defendants to deliver up the Town From thence he turned to Oldensel a weak Town which he therefore soon took And no Town remaining now at the Kings devotion in those parts but Linghen a place well flanked and fortified by a good Castle Maurice incamped before it and besieged it straitly on all sides Count Frederick de Berg defended it which he did very valiantly for many days But that place being but ill provided as were the rest he was forced to surrender it upon very honourable conditions So to boot with Reinberg and Mures all the whole Country on the other side the Rhine fell in a short time under the Dominion of the United Provinces which in acknowledgment of so advantagious successes did forthwith give the same Town of Linghen with the Territories thereunto belonging which make up a very noble Lordship to Count Maurice and to his heirs for ever About the end of Autumn Maurice returned with his men to their quarters and passing himself afterwards to the Hague he was received there with demonstrations of great joy Which afforded new occasions to such Provinces as were yet obedient to the King to complain and grieve considering that for the interests of France which were very uncertain the self-affairs of Flanders were so much neglected And they were more scandalized that to defend the Catholick cause in that Kingdom for the advantage of strangers the same cause was abandoned in the Kings own Country suffering so great a part thereof to fall into the hands of Rebels and Hereticks who by all the most desperate means would implacably maintain their double perfidiousness against the Church and King Thus ended this year and the year 1598 insued memorable for two of the greatest events which could then have hapned The one Peace concluded between the two Kings after so bitter war and the other the Marriage between the Cardinal Archduke and the Infanta Isabella the King of Spains eldest daughter to whom the King her Father gave the whole Low-Countries for her Dowry As concerning the Peace Pope Clement the eight had mediated it awhile before moved thereunto by the same zeal whereby he had already so happily reconciled the King of France to the Apostolick See and afterwards indeavoured to reconcile the two Kings by making such a peace as might conduce to the establishing of universal quiet in Christendom To this purpose having first wisely
and maturely ordered all things he sent a Legat into France which was Alexander de Medici Cardinal of Florence who was judged the fittest for such a Negotiation for his candor of life grave behaviour and dexterity in handling of business And these vertues together with some other raised him though but for a very short while to succeed the said Clement in the Apostolick See He then parting from Paris in the beginning of the year and going to Vervin an op portune place upon the Confines of Henault and Picardy and the Deputies of both Kings joyning there with him he laboured by all possible means to overcome those difficulties which interposed themselves to the effecting of the Peace The King of Spain did very much incline thereunto though he were thereby to restore so many Places which his Forces had taken in Picardy But the agreement could not be made without full restitution For what remained he knew he was near death by reason of his great age opprest by continual indispositions of health That he had only one son and he very young That it would be very advantagious for that his son not to inherit so bitter a War and with so powerfull an adversary That he would find his Kingdoms exhausted by such excessive expences and finally that it would redound much to the advantage of the new Princes to whom he intended to give Flanders if they should find France and him first at peace These were the chief reasons which made the King of Spain incline so much to peace But the King of France had altogether as many motives to make him willingly imbrace it He considered that the greatest impediments which kept him from succeeding to that Crown proceeded from the Spaniards That his Kingdom was rent in pieces by so many discords and wasted by so many vast expences That it was now time to enjoy it in secure obedience and if it were possible under one and the same Religion That this could not beeffected but by his reconciliation to the Apostolick See and by making a good peace with the King of Spain That the one having already had happy success he should desire the like in the other So as France after having suffered so many calamities horrible Factions and troubles might once enjoy those accommadations which by a happy change might turn her troubles into quiet Out of these efficacious reasons the King of France was well inclined to desire peace Wherefore after a long Treaty the knots which gave most disturbance to the happy ending of the business being untyed by the Legats abilities and authority about the beginning of May the peace was fully agreed upon and concluded between the two Kings To the so much glory in particular of Pope Clement as he was mightily applauded for it every where it not being easie to be judged by which of those two actions he merited most either by his late reuniting so powerfull a King as the King of France to the See of Rome or in making universal peace throughout Christendom by according these two Crowns This may suffice to be said here touching this affair as a success which doth not properly belong to the thred of this our History Wherefore passing now to the Treaty of Marriage we will with all brevity first relate the consultations which were had thereupon and the Kings resolution The Negotiation of separating the Provinces of Flanders in perpetuity from the Crown of Spain was doubtlesly one of the weightiest affairs that hath of a long time been resolved on by that Court The King was then past threescore and ten years old But though as well by reason of his years as of his so long and weighty affairs he was a Prince of infinite wisdom and who could of himself put on any resolution how difficult soever yet was he very doubtfull what to do in this point He was assailed on one side by his love to the Infanta and on the other by his duty to his Crown The King desired nothing more then to Marry the Infanta to any whatsoever highest degree as well for that she was his eldest daughter and one upon whom if his only son should chance to die the succession of so great a Monarchy was likely to fall as out of the tender affection which he always bore her and had still bred her up with great contentation in his own company And truly it was commonly famed and thought that there had not been any Princess of a long time in Europe in whom so many rare indowments both of body and mind had met as now in her Great was the affection likewise which the King bore to the Cardinal Archduke for passing into Spain whilst he was a young man as we have already touched upon and having purchased great praise in those Kingdoms sometimes in the Court at Madrid and sometimes in the Government of Portugal he had so particularly conformed himself to the Kings ways and humour as he made him his example after a proportionable measure in all his actions For which the King so loved and favoured him that he treated him not as a German but as a Spaniard nor with demonstrations only belonging to an Unkle but with a true Fatherly affection These considerations made the King very much incline to the aforesaid Marriage and to give the Provinces of Flanders in dowry to the Infanta But on the other side to devide so noble a member from the body of that Empire which he had inherited from his fore-fathers pleaded hard for the contrary The truth is he was of opinion that the best course he could take to keep the yet obedient Provinces in their allegiance and to reduce those that had rebell'd would be to give them a Prince of their own who might become a Fleming and from whom a Flemish discent might be expected And he feared that if this were not done the whole Country might one day be lost Yet he thought he was not to give way so soon to this danger nor so easily lose the advantage which for other considerations the Crown of Spain received by possessing even the yet remainder of those Provinces The King was therefore much agitated amidst the several difficulties which arose in this affair Nor was his Councel less uncertain Where by his appointment the business was with all attention discust Count Fuentes being returned with great reputation from Flanders was at this time in the Court of Spain After the Duke of Parma's death he had supplyed the chiefest place as we then told you under Count Mansfield and likewise under the Archduke Ernestus both which were Governours of Flanders And in the time of his own Government had won great renown in the battel of Dorlan in the recovery of Cambray and by his other prosperous successes gotten by the Arms of Spain in the Frontier of Picardy against the French The King had already designed him to be Governor of Milan and of all the Spanish Forces in Italy
And doubtlesly there was not any one of the Spanish Nation who was as then highlyer esteemed in the Military profession This Fuentes opposed himself with all his might to the propounded marriage with the cession of the Low-Countries But on the other side Christoval di Moura Count of Castel Roderigo who was in great authority with the King did stiffiy maintain the contrary opinion Moura was come out of Portugal many years before the devolution of that Kingdom and came to Madrid with the Dowager Princess Donna Jovanna the Kings sister being in a very good place about her and after her death he was suddenly taken into the Kings Court where he was entertained in many noble imployments When the devolution did afterwards happen the King imployed none more then Moura in the occurrences of that so important Negotiation in so much as the differences which were therein met withall were soon overcom by the Duke of Alba with Forces on the other part and by Moura his negotiating on the other part wherby Moura stil increasing in favor merit and authority with the King none shared more thereof then he in these latter times The King being willing therefore to put on his fall resolution touching this business sent for his Councel one day into his own bed-chamber where for the most part he lay in bed by reason of his great years and the gout which he was troubled withall and where ount Fuentes spake thus The advantage is so great most powerfull Prince which those so many members whereof your Majesties Empire is composed do receive from Flanders as to bereave it of so noble a member now cannot in my opinion but be of great prejudice to the rest Wheresoever the run goes it looks upon some one of your Kingdoms But though the world reverence you in so many parts and bow unto you it is notwithstanding seen that your Enviers and Enemies respect your Greatness and fear it more from that of Flanders then from all the rest What and how great the opportunities of those Provinces are none knows better then your self There were you put into the Inheritance of that so glorious Emperor your Father before you were yet his Heir by that his so memorable Renunciation There you began to take the conduct of so eminent and so painfull a Government And tarrying there afterwards about a year you your self had still better occasion to know how much the possessing of those States did import your greatness together with the rest of your Empire By the Arms of Flanders you did then make an advantagious Peace with the King of France with those Arms you have ofttimes succoured the Catholick Cause in that Kingdom and maintained your own with much honour in these last times against the now present King And how oft have you from thence assisted the Catholicks of Germany and in what a terror from that side more especially did you put England not many years ago The world turns round with perpetual vicissitude and is continually producing new things And therefore it is to be believed that by the occasion of past times other the like will arise in times to come insomuch as the Arms of Flanders are likely to be no less necessary hereafter thereabouts either for the good of the Church or of this Crown or of them both their welfare being seldom severed I know not withstanding how much those Provinces are lessened and confess that dangers may daily grow greater there by the obstinate home-Rebellion and by the malignant correspondencie which hath always been had there from neighbours Yet when you shall well weigh the remainder of the yet obedient Provinces of Flanders and shall add thereunto the other Forces which your so powerfull Monarchy will be able to subminister thereunto wherefore may it not be hoped that your Majesties so just cause may be thereby bettered or at least be secured from growing worse If the wars in those parts should cease by reason of this new propounded Principality and that the expences should likewise cease there this Crown would doubtlesly be thereby much eased and in such a case it might the better be without those Provinces But it being to be believed that War will grow hotter there then ever through the love the Rebels have taken to Liberty and Heresie and through the hatred which they consequently bear unto the Austrian blood and especially to this Kingdom from whence the new Principality is to proceed will not the burthen of the Forces and Expences lie still upon this Crown If otherwise To what purpose should a new Principality be erected if it were not to be maintained by the Forces of Spain So the prejudice which would redound to your Monarchy by the one side would not be recompenced by any benefit from the other And so wanting that advantage which it hath always received from the Flanders Forces it might receive thereby such prejudice as might every day peradventure prove worse Let Spain then keep Flanders and let that your Empires Magazine of Arms be preserved Great Empires cannot be without Arms nor can Wars be made without Souldiers nor Souldiers be bred but amongst Arms. And what more flourishing Seminary of Souldiers can Spain desire then that of Flanders which she hath for so many years enjoyed and doth still enjoy My opinion therefore is that your Majesty shall not doe well to mutilate those so important Provinces from your other Dominions Your Majesties greatness and infinite wisdom will not want other means whereby to accommodate the Illustrious Infanta according to her own high worth and her exalted degree But the Count of Castel Rodorigo was of another opinion and spoke thus I should never be of opinion most glorious Prince that your Majesty should diminish any the least part of your Kingdoms and Dominions if I should not think that that diminishing should tend rather to the advancement then prejudice of your greatness The marriage of the most illustrious Infanta is now the business in hand every one know what and how sublime prerogatives both of blood and of merit meet in her Highness Now if out of the immense body of so many States which your Majesty by Gods goodness are Master of her Highness may be endowed with some of them by the parting wherewith the rest may rather be bettered then impaired wherefore should not your Majesty willingly give way thereunto And this being granted it is not to be doubted but that your infallible wisdom will presently point out unto you your Provinces of Flanders They are most remote from all the rest of your Empire the most differing both in tongue custom laws and all things else It is they who more then all the rest abhor to fall under the Government of Foreigners as they term them and consequently do most desire to have a particular Prince of their own Out of all these reasons hardly was your Majesty gone from thence when Heresie began to creep in amongst them
was severely carefull of Piety and Justice And did always imploy his worthiest Subjects in the administration of them both chusing them of himself unexpectedly according as their merits did suggest unto him His so great age and so long Government made him try the more various turns of Fortune and made it the more appear how equal how constant and how much superior to himself he was in all successes And indeed it may be doubted whether prosperous or adverse Fortune swayed most with him For what greater felicity could he desire then to enjoy Spain with so much quiet then to command it wholly every where with the addition of Portugal then to enjoy so peaceably his Territories in Italy and see himself so much respected in those that appertained to others then to have the memmorable victory of Lepanto in favour of the Christians in so great a part attributed unto him then to have so highly maintained the reputation of his name and made the Majesty of his Empire be still so reverenced and feared But he accounted it his greated fortune and glory to be held so great a defender of the Church and that upon so many occasions and in so many parts recourse was had to his zeal for the favouring and protecting thereof These and many others were his prosperities sundry times both in peace and in war On the contrary what greater adversity could befall him then to see Flanders amidst so long and so horrible troubles then to lose so much of that his most antient patrimony then to have his most remotest Countrys of the Indies wounded by that wound Then to have so unfortunately lost that great Armado which was to have assaulted England Nor had his designs in the revolutions of France any ways answered his hopes The domestical events of his own house may likewise be said to have been not very fortunate Having hardly one son by so many marriages The fatal death of the first with the suspitions also of Don Johns death So much more seeming then true are the felicities which the vulgar do so much adore in Princes And so much greater proof thereof do they give who are in highest places with them But in affairs of Fortune as most of these were humane wisdom is not to be blamed For what remains so eminent were Philip the second 's vertues and which made him so memorable a Prince as doubtlesly few like him have been found either in former or in latter times THE HISTORY OF THE WARS OF FLANDERS Written by CARDINAL BENTIVOGLIO The Third Part. BOOK V. The Contents The Archduke goes to carry the new Queen of Spain from Germany They arrive happily at the King her husbands Court. The King hath this mean while powerfull Forces in Flanders But great mutinies insue and great sums of money are spent in appeasing them So as for want of pay the Army is wintered in the neighbouring Countrys of Cleves and Westfalia and in other places under the jurisdiction of the Empire The Princes that are interessed are sensible of this Novelty They indeavour to receive satisfaction by way of Treaty which not obtaining they at last resolve to have it by force Yet they move but slowly The Kings Army is this mean while drawn out into the field under the Government of the Admiral of Arragon General of the Horse They advise what to fall upon and by Cardinal Andrea's intervention they resolve to enter the Island of Bomel and to besiege the Town of Bomel which denominates that Island But Count Maurice opposeth them with such Forces as the Admiral is forced to forgoe that design The Cardinal resolves afterwards to plant a great Fort upon a narrow passage of the Island to the end that so he might command the chiefest passes over the Mause and Wahal and cals it the Fort of St. Andrea Great haste is made in the erecting of it and notwithstanding all the enemy could do it is brought to perfection The German Camp begins at last to move It first besiegeth Reinberg but soon retreats with no great honour From thence it goes to recover the Town of Res and rises from thence likewise in great disorder and confusion Great discords happen between the Commanders thereof So as it soon disbands and is afterwards dissolved The new Princes of Flanders part from Spain They come to Italy and pass the Alpes at Turin They come to their own Country An Interview between them and Cardinal Andrea who returns into Germany and the new Princes are received with all solemnity in Brussels PHILIP the second King of Spain being dead the Archduke hastens his journey that he might the sooner bring a wife to the succeeding Philip the third to which purpose the Archduke was gone for Germany as you heard before He came with all speed to Prague where having visited his brother the Emperor he went to Grats and from thence to Italy by the way of Tirol with the new Queen and her mother the Archdutchess Pope Glement the eight was then in the City of Ferrara which together with the Dukedome thereof was devolved the year before to the Apostolick See The occasion of this his neighbourhood was very acceptable to the new Queen and the Archduke that so they might have their marriages celebrated by the Pope Nor was the Pope less glad to celebrate them They therefore passed from Trent with all their attendance to Ferrara where being received as became so great Princes both their marriages were effected by the Pope in the Cathedral Church with such solemnity and magnificence as was most requisite for such an action by such a hand between such personages The Kings part was supplyed by way of Proxy by the Archduke and the Infanta Isabella's by the Duke of Lasse the King of Spains Ambassador in the Popes Court. The Queen departing then from that City together with her Mother and the Archduke they followed on their journey towards Milan where having staid a while they went to Genua and taking ship there they in a few days fail arrived happily in Spain Where we will leave them and continuing to relate the affairs of Flanders we will with all brevity acquaint you with what passed there till such time as the new Princes came thither The Archduke at his departure had left these particular directions with the Admiral of Aragon That he should endeavour to preserve the Army as much as he could till his return from Spain That therefore he should shun all difficult sieges so not to lose his men nor be at greater expences That by all means be should endeavour to get some good pass over the Rhine that so if it were possible he might enter the Enemies Country on the other side and quarter his Army there Which if he could not do that then he should strive to quarter it in the neutral Countries of the Duke of Cleves and others of the like nature thereabouts The Archduke left this last condition in particular to
as they could and securing them better then formerly by oblique Windings and Redouts But the besieged willing to use all their force to the contrary sallied out on divers sides about the midst of May against the Royalists and in such numbers as it might be thought rather an intended Battel then a Sally The Italians and Walloons were quartered upon the Bank above Bomel the Spaniards in certain Pastures and the Germans Burgonians and Irish were quartered on another side The Enemy being recruited by new men which Count Maurice had sent unto them from the other side the River sallied out about Noon at once against all the aforesaid quarters and that they might the more indamage that which was quartered upon the Bank they placed above 30 Barks loaded with Artillery in the River just over against it The first assault was made on that side by 3000 Foot and 400 Horse and 4000 Foot with a proportionable number of Horse divided into two parts gave on upon the other quarters The Kings Camp was very vigilant so as the Enemy came not so suddenly out but they were ready to receive them The fight was therefore very resolute on both sides the Enemy striving to get into the Kings works and the others valiantly defending them Nor was the business less hotly disputed between the Horse nor did the Artillery of both parties forbear to play at the same instant violently But the Enemy at last not being able to have the better of the Royalists they resolved after three houres fight to retreat The number of the slain and of the wounded was much alike of both sides and the action well considered was cause of greater noise then loss of blood The Enemy returned the next night to assault the Kings men thinking that they should find them the less provided for that they would not in likelihood expect so suddenly such an assault The charge was notwithstanding only upon the Italians and Walloons And truly it came so unexpected as at the first falling on many of both those Nations were slain and wounded and Avalos the Italian Campmaster was in particular sorely hurt The Enemy had the better of the Assault for a while But the Kings men rallying together and reassuming courage did so well defend their Trenches as the Enemy not being able to injure them retired They were notwithstanding much inheartned by finding their numbers still so increase so as within three dayes after they returned to make a brisk assault upon the Kings men and resolved to make it by night to the end that it might come so much the more unlooked for and be the more dreadfull Monsieur de la Nue was come from France with many Hugonots to serve the United Provinces He was son to the late Monsieur de la Nue a so cry'd up Commander and of whose valour you have often heard in divers parts of this History This man in his military comportment proved himself worthy to be the son of such a father Count Maurice therefore gave him the chief charge of this new sally and would have it performed chiefly by the French Foot together with a select number of English which in all might come to about 5000 Foot The assault was chiefly to be made against the Works which the Kings men continued to make upon the bank and in those neighbouring parts La Nue therefore sallied out couragiously and assisted by a fog gave so fiercely on upon the Royalists as he put them in disorder The Walloons had the Van with the Camp-master Achicurt who had then the command thereof He and his men failed not to make all possible resistance till being himself sorely wounded and the Enemies force still increasing he was forced to retire and to crave a new recruit of men But the noise of the Assault had already caused those of the Royalists who were nearest hand to move and had given the Alarm to those that were further off so as the whole Army was in a readiness to fight Some Companies of Spanish and Italian Foot were to come first in to the assistance of the Walloons These stopping the fury of the Enemy did stoutly sustain them and fresh men coming in they secured their Trenches And the Enemy despairing of doing any further damage when the day began to break retreated in very good order being pursued by the Kings men to beneath the Fortifications and wals of Bomel and the fight continuing still fervent on both sides The siege had by this time been laid twenty dayes and no considerable progress had been made And it was plainly seen that the enterprise would prove totally vain since they could not keep the besieged Town from being relieved and that Count Maurice was thereabouts with so great Forces The chief end of the Kings men in endeavouring to get Bomel was that they might have a strong Hold upon the Wahal so as they might command the Pass of that River and might introduce themselves into the heart of the Enemies country and especially into Holland Despairing then of the enterprise of Bomel the Cardinal propounded that a Fort Royal might be raised in some part of the same Island whereby they might reap the same end Where the Mause and Wahal met first together and then imediately part again they shape a certain point of ground which delating it self a little doth afterwards grow straiter from thence doth the Island afterwards inlarge and extend it self till the two aforesaid Rivers meet again and inclose it it was therefore propounded unto the Cardinal that a great Fort should be raised in that narrowest neck of ground by which they should possess themselves of all that Avenue which lay between the one River and the other which might prove a great curb to the Enemy and which would keep them more in awe then that of Schink would have done for that it was nâârer their very bowels then the other was The Cardinal was mightily herewithall pleased and causing it to be well discussed in the Councel of War it was with a general applause agreed upon Nor herewithall contented he would go with some of the chief Commanders to the very place it self and there put on his last resolve which was That by all means the Fort must be raised and must with all speed be begun The Cardinal resolving upon this presently raised the Camp from before Bomel which was done about the beginning of June and the charge of seeing that effected which was resolved on was chiefly given to Velasco Generall of the Artillery The siege being abandoned the Camp removed to the Village of Hervin and came coasting from thence to the place where the Fort was intended to be built Count Maurice having discovered the design past over likewise a little higher upon the contrary shore and staid just over against the Kings Camp He afterwards placed many Peeces of Artillery upon that side and with them began immediately to annoy the Kings men who were to begin the
Enemies Camp without having first well known what it is and when so considerable a number being behind the Catholicks would come short of them in numbers Then turning more freely towards the Archduke he said Most mighty Prince Your Highness in my opinion hath a glorious Victory safe in your hands if you will be carefull in the carriage thereof Doth not your Highness apprehend Count Maurice his rashness He is come firmly believing that he should take Newport before it could be succour'd and did confide more then became him to doe in the Forts which he had taken and which were afterwards so easily lost again Now when he shall see himself faced by our Army he must of necessity think of retreating which must be done either by land or by sea He hath no place whither to have refuge by land but Ostend and if he retreat by sea he must of necessity reimbarque his men together with all his Artillery munition and baggage which were formerly landed Let our Army then halt between the Towns of Newport and Ostend so as Maurice shall not be able to get by land to the latter He will then be inforced to retreat by sea which if he doe how great will his disorder in imbarking be and how great opportunity shall we then have to assault the Enemy with all advantage to rout and to disperse them This opinion was grounded upon very sound reasons But Claudio Barlotta the antient Walloon Campmaster a lover of hazardous enterprises and who oft-times degenerated from audacity to rashness did with such vehemencie oppose it as he drew most of the other Commanders to side with him He said That it was too great an error to let slip so fair an occasion of assaulting the Enemy that it was to be believed they had already received a great blow both by the loss of the Forts which they before had got and much by their loss of so many men that very morning That they did not expect so furious a tempest wherefore it was to be believed that possest with fear and confusion they would in all haste imbarque themselves and rather think of flying away then of fighting That he did therefore earnestly press that the Army might be speedily led on to pursue their begun victories That of all others the Mutiniers were impatient of delay and of what advantage was it upon such an occasion to make use of the Souldiers forwardness That some of the Catholicks were behind but that it was very well known the Enemy was likewise very much lessened in their numbers nor was it numbers but valour that gave the victory That this victory might be built upon for certain if they would march immediately towards the Enemy and fall upon them And what doubt was there to be made of it since the Souldiers were to fight under the command and in the eye-sight of their own Prince who would likewise be their Captain-Generall and to detain the Army in so fair a course would it not be totally to discourage the Souldiery would it not be to bereave them of certain hopes and to feed them with more uncertain For if time were allowed unto the Enemy they would peradventure provide so for their retreat as the success of victory might prove as doubtfull as it might now be thought certain The Souldiers ardencie to fight was really very great and chiefly the fervor of the Mutiniers who stormed saying that they had not left their Companions to stand idly now before the Enemies and they did very much press to fall immediately upon them The Archduke notwithstanding did stand somewhat in suspence between these two Opinions when a Chance made him resolve to march immediately against the Enemies Camp Fortune hath always a great stroke in all humane affairs here below But in the concernments of war she does almost what she pleaseth and ofttimes by unexpected accidents causeth losses to insue where victory was expected The Army marched upon the Sea-shore and it so fell out that just as the Archduke was to put on his resolution a great many of the Enemies ships were descried which upon several occurrences came from Newport towards Ostend The Catholick Camp did then verily believe that the enemy was resolved to retreat and that this was already the beginning of it Wherefore being now more incouraged then before they pursued their march each souldier with all fervor solliciting one another There remained yet four hours of day when the Catholicks came within sight of the enemies Camp 6â0 horse marched foremost in the van and then the foot followed devided into two great Battalions each of which was confusedly mixed of all Nations the rest of the horse took their place in each of them where it was fittest And the Spanish mutiners both horse and foot that they might signalize themselves the more upon this occasion had obtained to march in the head of the Army Count Maurice was not this mean while idle At the first news that the Enemy came to assault him he called a Councel of war where it was resolved that they would manfully joyn battel They thought that to retreat by imbarking themseves would not onely appear base and unworthy but that it might likewise prove dangerous That the Catholicks would come weary whereas their men were in good plight and vigor That the Catholicks were fewer in number then they and that their men were not to yeild in goodness to the Catholicks That the mean while they might make choise of the most advantagious place to fight in and out of so many reasons have assured hopes of victory This being resolved upon Maurice rose with all his men from before Newport and drew as far from thence as was needful to keep unmolested by that Garrison whilst he should fight the Catholicks and that he might the more incourage his men by leading them to encounter with those of the Arckduke's Then staying in an oppertune place he was very diligent in fitting his Army for the battel And that he might necessitate them the more to fight he gave order that all the ships should stand off at sea that there might be no hope of safety that way His camp consisted likewise or divers Nations furnished with gallant Commanders and long accustomed to the wars of Flanders to boot with the Flemish which consisted chiefly of Frieslanders and men of Ghelderland there were in the Army of the united Provinces a great number of French English and Scots and there were then also some Foot of Switzers amongst them Colonel Sir Francis Vere an old Souldier of known valour and of whose Military actions you may have often heard in this our Story Commanded all the English foot But Count Maurice willing to encourage his Army to battel before he composed his squadrons advanced before them and said thus I ingeniously confess my fellow souldiers that I am deceived in the hopes I had when I first undertook this siege I hoped that the Passes and
Coast of Flanders with his Gallies But a new unfortunate fight soon bereft him of his life and overthrew his whole design whereby he did notwithstanding the more highten those wherein his brother still continued and brought him afterwards to the greatest exaltation that might be atchieved in the millitary profession Frederick putting forth with eight Gallies well maned met with two of the Enemies Gallies and three other men of war The season was then softned into a calm and therefore the sail vessels stood immoveable Frederick taking this advantage assaulted the Enemies vessels on divers sides which did not fail to defend themselves the Gallies and round vessels giving each other such interchangeable assistance as the one sort of them could give to the other and for a while the conflict was very fierce Many fell of each side yet the Catholicks were still more advantaged by the calm when on a sudden the winde rose which made so much for the contrary vessel of sail as winding about in several sorts and pouring down Canon shot upon Frederick's Gallies he himself received a shot from one of them in his side whereof he suddenly dyed This happened about the end of May at which time the Marquess having given requisite orders in Germany for the raising of two Regiments of Foot went from thence to Italy to take two other Brigadoes of Foot there also into pay and to return afterwards with all these men to Flanders But his brothers death did so disorder the first designes as for divers difficulties the men could not be raised though the King continued the same commands of his brother upon the Marquess who quickly returned to Flanders with all demonstration of honour and esteem to his person Yet the Gallies were then almost of no longer use for the Marquess was soon after imployed as you shall hear in the enterprise of Ostend but before it was taken Sluce was lost which drew after it the the loss of the Gallies The Marquess in the interim indeavoured to preserve the men which he brought with him the year before from Italy but because they were much diminished as was likewise the whole Army the Arch-duke gave out orders for the raising of new Horse and Foot resolving to turn the greatest strength thereof that he could against the mutineers The Duke d' Aumale raised one thousand Horse the greatest part Lorrainers Three thousand Dutch were raised in Germany The Walloon Brigadoes were fild up and two other Brigadoes came to Flanders from Italy the one of Spaniards under Inico di Borgia and the other Neopolitans under Lelio Brancatchio Knight of St. John the people that could be soonest raised being assembled together and the season being already fit for the field the Arch duke sent Count Frederick di Berg against the Mutineers with 7000 Foot and 3000 Horse The Mutiniers were got into Hostrat where what by means of their own Fortifications and what by the aid which they received from the Enemies neighbouring parts they seemed little to value any force that could be brought against them They were above 2000 Foot and were grown to have 1500 Horse all good men of several Nations though the most were Italians Yet Count Frederick began to set so close to them as beginning now not to trust any longer in their own forces alone they sought to be openly backt by those which Count Maurice had oft-times offered them It hath been known in other Mutinies many times how much more prejudicial his own Souldiers have been unto the King then those of his Enemies but in this of Hostrat the excess of disobedience did degenerate into such a degree of infamy as the example thereof ought ever to be abhorred The Mutiniers were not ashamed in their Treaty between Count Maurice and them to bargain in this manner with them That they should be taken by Count Maurice into the protection of the United Provinces That to this purpose they should be by him defended against the violence of the Spaniards That on the other side they the Mutiniers should fight under him as long as the Army should lie in the field that year That in case they should agree with the Archduke they should not for four moneths space bear Arms against the United Provinces That if the Town and Castle of Hostrat should not be thought to be sufficient some good Town should be assigned unto them by the United Provinces and that their safety should by all other means be provided for The Agreement being thus made Count Maurice went presently into Hostrat with many Forces to secure the Mutiniers And their affairs grew quickly to such an advantage as Count Frederick being forced first to stand rather upon his defence then otherwise was at last necessitated to remove from thereabouts and to retreat Nor did Maurice lose this occasion Hostrat is very near Balduke against which it was clearly seen that Count Maurice had sundry times plotted his greatest designs Marching therefore speedily against Balduke he incamped about it and disposing of his quarters in sundry parts he gave one of them to the Mutiniers apart The Archduke was mightily troubled at the news hereof He feared as I told you upon another occasion that he had no sufficient Forces both to continue the Siege of Ostend and sufficiently to succour Balduke But that which most moved him was That upon other occasions that City not desirous to admit of any external Garrison was resolute to defend it self with its own peculiar Forces which were not thought sufficient for the security of such a place of too great a circuit and which had need of men trained up in Arms and not in City-affairs Just at this time were come the two Brigadoes of Borgia and Brancatchio which were expected from Italy Joyning therefore these men to those which were formerly with Count Frederick the Archduke ordered that Frederick should with all diligence follow Maurice and should by all means endeavour to hinder him in his intended Siege Maurice could not in so short a time possess himself of all such places about it as the Siege did require So as it was not hard for Frederick to make himself master of one of them by which he drew as near as was needfull to Balduke and secured such intercourse as was necessary with the City He immediately endeavoured to put in a strong Garrison into the City but the Citizens seemed unwilling as before to admit of them Maurice knew this and hoped that some dissention would arise thereupon and from dissention some tumult in the Town and that this tumult might produce some other disorder which might make for his advantage He therefore continued to fortifie himself both without towards the fields and on the inside towards the City raising good Forts and Redouts every where and accompanying them on all sides as was fitting with Trenches Ditches and all other most advantagious Fortifications Count Frederick did the like on his part yet thinking the City to
thereabouts and began to fortifie himself in a certain part shewing clearly that he intended to begirt that Fort. But it was so well provided to make defence by Spinola as there was no fear of losing it Nor was he long in appearing thereabouts himself Spinola had with him thirteen thousand Foot and three thousand Horse with great provision of all other things He fortified himself also and the Armies were so neer one another as daily skirmisher past between them At this time came the three Brigadoes which were expected from Italy But the other which came by Sea from Spain had not the like Fortune Pietro di Sermiente who was Camp-master thereof conducted it in eight ships and meeting with many great ships of Holland in the English Channel which lay waiting for him he was assaulted by them and after a fierce fight most of the Spanish ships with the men that were in them were taken by the Enemy The Camp-master saved himself with the rest of the ships and souldiers and got to Dunkirk At the same time the Germans and those of the neigbouring Nations were likewise raised Wherefore the Arch-duke resolved Spinola should no longer delay to put the design in execution which was agreed upon in Spain which was to pass the Rhine to advance into Friesland and to make some great diversion against the Enemy on those parts Count Frederick de Berg stayed therefore only with such Forces as might suffice to oppose Maurice and Spinola went from the Province of Flanders and coming to Brussels past with all speed to make his randezvouz at Mastrick Prince Avelino conducted over the Neopolitans and returned presently for Italy Francisca Colonna Prince of Palestrina was then in Flanders being a little before come thither from Rome and there was likewise Andrea Matteo Aquaviva Prince of Caeserta who came thither likewise about the same time One of the two Neapolitan Brigadoes was given to Colonna and Alessandro di Monti was Camp-master of the other Count Guido St. Georgio commanded the Lombard Brigado and Christophero de Conti d' Emden was the principal of the German Colonels Before Spinola came to Mastrick he had dispatched away Count Buckquoy General of the Artillery to begin a Fort upon the right side of the Rhine which was the most suspected The place he chose was neer Casesuert a little Town belonging to the Arch-bishoprick of Cullen Here Buckquoy began to build the Fort whither it was not long ere Spinola came who hastning the work caused it soon to be erected with a Line of five Flanks and raised another lesser one on the other side towards Cullen The Arch-duke and Spinola kept their intentions of passing with their Armies over the Rhine very secret and therefore the Arch-duke seeming to his own Captains as if he had some other design had ofttimes had it argued in Councel whether it were better to endeavour the recovery of Sluce or Graves or to besiege Berghenapzome or rather Breda never touching upon the true design Upon the variety of these Proposals there was variety of opinions and the Arch-duke had industriously wrought it so as that the Enemy might be advertised of these consultations to make them the less suspitious that they intended any thing beyond the Rhine nor did his thoughts abuse him for the Enemy being thus deluded and out of other respects not beleeving that the Catholicks would put on so bold a resolution they were not time enough to relieve the Towns which Spinola begirt and took in those parts as shall be related this so speedy march of Spinola's towards the Rhine made the Enemy beleeve he would besiege Reinberg and the same opinion was conceived in the Catholick Camp which did not yet know the true design Of all others Count Maurice beleeved the like who therefore had made Count Ernestus march away with good Forces to the end that the fortifications of that place might be by him so strengthned both without and within as there might be no fear of losing it This mean while the two aforesaid Forts were finished by Spinola by which that passage of the Rhine was secured He then no longer deferred the making known whither the Catholick Camp was bent but calling a Councel of War he said That the King and Arch-duke had resolved to carry the war to the Rebels own homes and more inward if they could That so strong an Army was prepared to this purpose That to this purpose monies were prepared to maintain the Army And that to the same end he had already secured the passage over the Rhine That the determination was to enter the Enemies Country towards Friesland and particularly to make use of all their power to take the Town of Linghen in those parts That his Highness pleasure was that this design should by all means be kept secret that so it might be the easilyer effected and that there was almost no doubt to be made of it That they knew the Town was at this time but ill provided the Enemy never having dreamed that it could at such a distance and so at unawares be assaulted by the Catholick Forces That it was true it was a great way off and that they were to pass through a great part of the Neutrals Countries where it might be feared they might suffer for want of victuals But that there was already great provision made thereof and that they were to march through that Country with such discipline as the souldiers being no ways troublesome and having sufficient monies for plenty of victuals they need fear no want That for what remained the taking of such a Town would be of very great importance That Count Maurice had still fortified it better that it lay in the Havens of Friesland almost upon the Confines of Germany and that if once they should get footing there wherefore might they not hope that this happy success might be insued by many more happy The Councel of War did much approve of this advice and it was likewise very chearfully received by all the Souldiery The Army was compounded of the usual Nations and consisted of 16000 Foot and 3000 Horse They were particularly to pass over a great part of the neutral Countrey of Cleves and Westphalia And to the end that all things might be the fairlyer carryed on both in them and in all other places of the like nature Spinola had with him the Count di Lora one of the chiefest and best esteemed Lords of all Flanders who was to negotiate with the Magistrates of each Town and to give them all due satisfaction To secure the passage of the Rhine and the Army also on their back Count Bucquoy had the charge of the new Forts having 6000 Foot and â00 horse with him From whence Spinola marched away with the rest and began to enter into the Countrey of Cleves and after into Westphalia He marched still orderly and with so exquisite and severe discipline as victuals were brought unto the Camp in
come thither and having made some tryal found both the water so high and the opposition made by the Enemy so great as he failed in his defigne Whilst Marquis Spinola laboured thus on the other side of the Rhine Bucquoy had also gathered his Army together on this side in Brabant and passing the Mause over against Moch kept there Moch is an open Village not above four leagues from the Wahal Bucquoy's intention was to attempt a passage in a certain place which lay just in the midst between Schincks Sconce and Niminghen he had caused a great many of Barks proportionable to the designe to be carryed upon Carts to put them into the River and to put thereinto men sufficient to make way through the contrary shore Amongst other Commanders Camp-master Justinian was with Bucquoy who imployed him in attempting the said Passe Justinian going therefore with 4000 Foot two pieces of Arrillery and necessary Barks for the transporting of them prepared to put the designe in execution But he found the Enemy no less ready to oppose him on that side the Wahal then they had been on the other side of Ysel The River was much greater and much more rapid then usual Wherefore the Marriners could not govern their Barks as they would have done nor were their Artillery of any advantage to them for the contrary shore was better furnished therewithall and therefore all attempts proving vain Justinian retyred to joyn with the rest that were with Bucquoy Spinola having notice hereof knew there was no more hopes of passing over either in the one or in the other place he resolved then not to part from those places where he was without making himself Master of some place of importance The chiefest Towns the Enemy had thereabouts were Zutfen and Deventer both of them seated upon the Ysel but so munited both by the River on one side and by their Fortifications on the other side as they required longer time and greater Forces then Spinola then had to offer at the winning them Besides Maurice kept with his Army almost in the midst between them Nor was it to be doubted but that he might be at liberty to succour which of the Towns he would The Town of Groll is not far from thereabouts and though it were not to be compared with the other two it was notwithstanding to be esteemed a place of great consequence both in it self and because by the scituation thereof the other two Towns of Oldensel and Linghen which were won the preceding year might be the better sheltered Spinola therefore resolved to apply himself to this siege And the designe being approved of in the Councel of War he marched towards it on the beginning of August Groll lies in a plain and on the one side thereof runs Berchel a little River but sufficient to serve for a good defence to the Town on that side on the other side the Line was well Flanked and beyond the chiefest Ditch stood other Flanks with Ditches likewise Spinola distributed his quarters out on three sides with his usual division of Nations to boot with the Irish who in Queen Elizabeths time were naturally inclined to fight under the Catholicks Colours in Flanders many English and Scots did the like now Which was permitted by the new King who succeeded her to witness the good intelligence which he held with the King of Spain and the Arch-dukes The siege being begun and the Catholicks striving to end it as soon as they could they came with their Trenches in three dayes to the Ditch which invironed the Half-moons without Then the several Nations strove a main who should first pass over it in which some bridges of cloath extended upon rafters and little casks did great good a device invented by the Engineer Targone The first Ditch being past over some contest was had and not without the loss of much blood before they could get the Half-moons but the Assailants making themselves masters of them also betook themselves to storm the chief Line nor were their Batteries this mean while Idle assisted by which they possessed themselves of the greatest Ditch and came to the aforesaid Line Those within laboured as much as they could to make good their defences but all of them being at last beaten down by the batteries from without they knew it would be but vain to make any further resistance and therefore resolved to deliver up the Town and thus in nine dayes space Spinola took it Having gotten this place much sooner then he expected and thinking that he had yet time enough to attempt some other Town of better consequence he bethought himself of Reinberg which had been several times taken and retaken by the King of Spain and the Arch-dukes and by the United Provinces But being last taken by Count Maurice he had fortified it much better them formerly it was particularly the year before and this very year fearing least one of Spinola's chief ends about the Rhine might be to besiege that Town This was very much approved of in the Councel of war and it was hoped that it might be soon effected Spinola's Army was so diminished by reason of the unusual troubles which it had undergone as his Forces alone were not sufficient to undertake such an enterprise wherefore he writ to Bucquoy to come with all speed to him Bucquoy drew first near Reinberg on that side which lies towards Brabant and Spinola soon after came on the other side which looks towards Friesland When Maurice had discovered the design he suddenly dispatched away his brother Henry with two thousand Foot and two hundred Horse into the Town and began to make fitting provisions to come to the full relief thereof himself This mean while all the Catholick Forces came on both sides the Rhine insomuch as about the end of August Spinola incamped himself formally before the Town on both sides Reinberg is seated on the left hand of the Rhine which is thought to be one of the most advantagious situations which is to be had about that River To her former ancient and but ill flancked Line was added a second which had a great number of Ravelins Half-moons and other greater and lesser Flanks which were all accompanied with a Ditch and Strada Coperta Nor did the outward Rampires end here but a third Line was almost finished with new works flanckt and of a large circuit to the end that embracing so much compass abroad the inward fortifications might be the better sheltered and defended Not far from the shore where the Town is situated an Island of small circuit riseth in the River in it there was a Fort with four flancks to which other fortifications were added which took up almost the whole Island And a Fort was likewise placed on the other side of the shore but with greater Flancks with Trenches and other defences near it The siege began hottest on this side for they desired first to bereave the Enemy of the Fort on the
together with some other of our writings concerning the Affairs of Flanders and that even since then we had a thought of composing this intire present History of the War which happened in those Provinces till by the Truce Arms were laid down we will therefore here insert the same Relation though it were formerly printed it being a member which ought also to be joyned to this body in this place and which will now fully compleat it The Command of the Catholick Army being past into Marquis Spinola's hands great were those designes as you have heard which he brought with him from Spain to Flanders to make the chief seat of the War on the other side the Rhine and to straiten the enemy the most they could in those parts To this purpose were the extraordinary Forces in the two last fields raised But though great advantages were gotten thereby yet fell they far short of the conceived hopes It was seen that Spain could not continue to maintain so excessive an expence That for want of money a new Mutiny had again happened That another might insue and that one of these disorders did much confound and distort the whole body of the Army Spinola was so troubled with these and some other reflections of importance as he at last fell upon those very considerations which already divers of the gravest and best experienced State-Ministers both of Spain and Flanders had faln upon touching the difficulties and dangers which the Warre of Flanders and the going about to weaken or subdue the Enemy by force of Arms brought with it They discoursed thus amogst themselves That all the good they had reaped by forty years War was their having made the Enemy the more strong more resolute to defend their usurpt liberty more firm in the union which they had established amongst themselves and better united to the forein Princes whho sided with them That Nature's self might be said to have fought always for them by their Bulwarks of Sea and Rivers and their strong scituations in all other parts and that where nature was wanting there industry together wih their so many well munited places did make amends That their power by land was verygreat in all things else and their power as sea so great as that the Crown of Spain had been much indamaged thereby even in the East-Indies and was in danger of being a greater sufferer by them in the West-Indies also What amass of strength on the other side and money must it cost the King to maintain the War of Flanders That doubtlesly his Empire was very large but much discunited Flanders the most disunited member of the whole body of his Dominions both by sea and land That the sea was blocked up by the Enemies ships That their passage by land did depend upon many Princes which alwaies caused great difficulties in their sending of aid and destroyed their men more by their marches then by their bickerings Then how many corruptions and disorders had been rooted in their Army and how could they be remedied during the War they being the effects which so long a War had inevitably produced That instead of obedience strife reigned amongst the Nations That there were now more wives then souldiers more mutinies then years that their own Forces were almost as dangerous to them as those of their Enemies And mutinies growing so familiar now of one now of another Nation and ofttimes of many Nations at once what a sad day would that be when the whole Army should mutiny together a day which would bring the Kings affairs in Flanders to their utmost danger as also the Cause of the Catholick Religion for the defence whereof the War at first was chiefly made and hath been so long maintained by the Spanish side If then by so many reasons and so long experience War against the Enemy were to be esteemed so fruitless is it not better said they to come to some fair agreement with them is it not better to order our Army anew and in the mean time to get strength and laying down Arms except what with time would make most to the Spanish advantage Arms being laid down the King of France already grown old might in this interim die and with him that assistance might chance to cease which was subministred to the Enemy by a Prince of such power and repute That after his death the affairs of France might peradventure change face their King being so young the like might be expected in the affairs of England their King being a new King and a Scotchman but ill looked on by that Kingdom the Enemy having likewise received considerable succours from Scotland And in case any of these things should happen how much would the affairs of Spain be bettered But above all it was to be hoped that even peace it self might turn to a secret war against the Enemy That the fear of the Spanish forces was the bond which fastened their union closest so as this fear ceasing through the enjoyment of quiet some domestick evil might arise amongst them which might break the union and some opportunity in favour of the King and Arch-dukes of regaining some of the Rebelious Provinces by underhand-dealing and of subjugating the others afterwards by force These reasons were doubtlesly very weighty and of great consideration and had been oft-times argued in Spain whereupon the King had at last resolved that if he could not effect his ends by arms all possible means should be used to come by some convenient Treaty of agreement with the Enemy in Flanders and the affairs of Flanders may be said totally to depend upon the King For the marriage between the Arch-duke and the Kings sister proving barren and the Provinces of Flanders being consequently to return unto the King again he had therefore chiefly maintained the War with his Forces and consequently all Treaties ' of agreement were chiefly to depend upon his Authority The Arch-duke inclined also very much to bring things to some accommodation he being a Prince naturally given to love his quiet and full of years and experience might comprehend better then any other the dangerous consequences which the War of Flanders brought with it but it was very hard to find out a way how to treat of accommodation A while since the enemy seemed to be quite averse unto any such Treaty and still swelling with prosperity and success they resolved never to listen to any whatsoever Treaty till such time as the King and Archdukes should first publickly declare that they treated with them as with Free Provinces and States unto the which the King nor Arch-dukes made no claim nor pretence whatsoever wherein the Arch-duke found great repugnancy in himself and foresaw the like in the King He thought that to declare those now to be a free people against whom they had fought as against rebels would be to confess that their former war had been unjust and that to seem now so willing to put an end
the first into Holland the truest and most intrinsecal end whereof was that he might have a share in what was to be done and specially to cause jealousie in the Spaniards and by this means to induce them to make use of him and to make him Arbitrator in the differences The King of France was then in his chiefest greatness and prosperity and enjoying his Kingdom in perfect peace and honour after having arrived thereat through many difficulties all which he had overcome with incredible constancy and valour He considered the Affairs in Flanders after several manners on one side he could have wished that the war might continue and that thereby the affairs of Spain might still be impaired even till at last they might lose whole Flanders On the other side he saw himself well stricken in years his children very young and that in case he should fail fresh troubles might in a short time arise in his Kingdom which might chiefly be fomented by the Spanish Forces of Flanders that the disorders of those Forces were not so many but that if the war should continue very necessity would force them to finde out a remedy nor the danger of their losses such as might not be evaded by the power of so great a Monarch which made him desire to see Flanders without war and the Spaniards without Forces so near at hand Neither did he like that the United Provinces who were already become so formidable at Sea might by their growing too great be as dreadful at Land For the Hereticks of his Kingdom could from no part else be better fomented to rebel The King amidst these various considerations had his eye fixt upon these passages of Flanders and because his authority was very great in the United Provinces he beleeved they would never come to any accommodation with the Spaniards without his consent At the first he seemed to be averse to the affairs in hand though to say truth he did not well know what he had best to do but he did this of purpose to enforce the Spaniards to put the Negotiations into his hands Great dexterity and cunning was requisite to the leading on of these designs He therefore chose for this so important affair the President Jannine a man of great experience and abilities and one who was then chieflyest employed by him in State affairs He sent Mr. de Rosse along with Jannine who was then extraordinary Ambassador into Flanders to continue afterwards his ordinary Ambassador in the United Provinces Having both of them exercised their Offices in the entrance into the affairs spoken of they stayed in Holland Jannine did diligently observe the whole carriages and wrought himself every day more and more into the affairs which still increased the jealousie of the King of Spain and the Arch-dukes who then began to see clearly that it behoved them to have recourse to the King of France his mediation who already had complained to the Commissary General in his return to Flanders that the King of Spain and the Arch-dukes had proceeded so far without his knowledge in the aforesaid business Almost the like passions and artifices appeared in James the first King of England who was newly come to that Crown The same reasons appeared in him for desiring the continuance of the war in Flanders as did in the King of France for the King of England being strong at Sea and confiding in the strength of all his Kingdoms situation as also in the conformity of his ends with those of the United Provinces in favouring heresie he could not much fear their Forces though they should grow greater He was the more secure likewise by having Flushing and the Ramechins in Zealand and the Brill in Holland Sea Towns of great importance in his hands as pawned for monies lent by Queen Elizabeth to the United Provinces and for that their chiefest strength consisted in English and Scottish souldiers who were in their Army He foresaw he should have greater cause to be jealous of the Spaniards if being free from the war of Flanders they might endeavour to molest him in any part of his Dominions especially in Ireland an Island which is almost wholly Catholick well-affected to them and much dis-affected to England Out of these reasons it was believed that the King of England desired the war in Flanders might continue But being a great lover of Quiet and much given to Hunting and to his Book and wholly fixt in warring by writings with the Church it was therefore judged he would not at last shew himself totally averse to see the affairs of Flanders in some sort pacified To boot that not being able for scarcity of Monies to give any considerable succour to the United Provinces his power would be but small in perswading or counselling the continuance of war since he could not much assist it by his Forces Yet it very much imported those Provinces to preserve his friendship were it onely that they might raise souldiers out of his Kingdom Wherefore they entertained his Ambassadors which were sent into Holland at the beginning of this Negotiation with very much respect and treated with them with all confidency The King of Englands end in sending of them was almost the same as was that of the King of France To wit that he likewise would have a share in the business which was in hand and to enforce the Spaniards to make use of him likewise therein The King of Denmark sent likewise Ambassadors to Holland as also the Prince Elector Palatin the Elector of Brandenburgh the Lantgrave of Hesse and other German Heretick Princes who all of them seemed to shew their good affections towards the united Provinces in so important an occasion These businesses which were thus begun grew very hot in Holland every thing was in motion and great was the expectation what the united Provinces would resolve as well touching the second ratification come from Spain as also whether they would continue or break the Treaty But of all others Count Maurice of Nassaws thoughts were most busied at this time His father the Prince of Orange being dead he being yet but a youth of sixteen years of age had got into all his fathers Military and Civil employments with the great good will and approbation of the united Provinces And encreasing no less in valour then in years after so many enterprises and prosperous successes his authority grew daily greater amongst them He had won it by arms and he thought he could best preserve it by arms And by means of the publick trouble of war he hoped some favourable conjuncture might the easilier be opened unto him of making himself one day Prince of those Provinces It is not to be doubted but that his ambition carried him thus high for his Father was very near attaining thereunto and his own deserts being added to his Fathers his hopes ought rather to be augmented then diminished To boot with the Supreme Government of the Army he had
succeeded his Father in the Civil Administration of Holland Zealand Utricht Overisel His brother Count Henry General of the Horse of the united Provinces and the Counts William and Eârnestus the one of them Governour of Friesland and Groninghen and the other Governor of Ghelderland were all of them of his House and depended on him almost in all things so as the whole Government of the united Provinces as well Military as Civil may be said to be in his hands and his domestick power was the greater by his great friendship and alliance with Forraign Princes The Negotiation in hand made nothing at all for his present condition nor for that which peradventure he had an intention to raise up unto himself And say he had a minde to have hindred it at the beginning what colour or what pretence had he so to do Since the united Provinces in the Proposal made by the Arch-dukes for a Treaty had gotten all that they desired when the first ratification which came therefore from Spain proved vain Maurice began to hope well in the begun breach of the Negotiation by occasion thereof augmented the coÌmmon jealousies He inlarged himself very much and with great fervency in calling to minde their late good successes so many mischiefs cruelties and horrible in humanities committed as he affirmed by the Spaniards together with many other things to make all manner of Treaties with them suspitious and to encrease the hatred which those of the united Provinces alwaies bore to that Nation And though the second ratification was come in very ample manner yet did not he go less in continuing to do the same hoping to make this second appear likewise faulty in many things The time drew near of giving their resolution therein concerning which they had had many meetings at last one day when the Councel of ãâã States General was fuller then usual by reason of the importancy of the business 't is said Count Maurice spoke thus How much most worthy Deputies I have alwayes desired the prosperity of our Republick all my precedent actions which have made me appear no less my Fathers competitor then his son in her service may sufficiently manifest I have not laboured less then did my father in all wayes procuring the common good and if he lost his life in the publique cause I have exposed my self to no less dangers in the defence thereof and certainly it would have redounded much more to my honour and glory to have died amidst Arms then it did to him to perish by the hand of that base and detestable Paricide who so unworthily slew him None therefore should more rejoyce then I to hear our Provinces declared to be Free-States even by our Enemies themselves did I not think that all these proceedings were but couzenages whereby more easily to draw our Liberties again into their subjection I apprehended this even from the beginning of these practises so that as I have hitherto ever abhorred them so do I now abhor them more then ever and think it now more necessary then ever to break them wholly off and to throw back this second ratification with the same resoluteness as we did the former How many tricks and how many cheats the Spaniards have alwayes used in their like Treaties is too well known to us all But what need we look after past-times hath not the like been seen and is it not now seen in these present negotiations The first ratification came in general terms nor did it contain any thing of ratification but the bare name The second is come since which is likewise so defective as in my opinion it ought in no way to be excepted Do you perceive how the King would have it sent in the Spanish tongue a tongue unknown to us the true meaning and efficacy whereof we do not understand Do you observe how he uses the same subscription as he useth to his Vassals Not having changed any of the other things excepted against And the addition of the last clause doth it not evidently enough shew his pretensions that it shall wholly depend upon his will whether we shall be free or no As if from the time that the Duke d' Alva that Fury and Firebrand of all the troubles of Flanders and after him the other Governours had bereft their Countrie of its priviledges brought forein colonies thereinto put the whole Country to fire and sword and given sentence themselves against our Liberties and we had not known how to defend it by our unconquered Forces We then are free whether the King declare us to be so or no. And our pretence to this Declaration is because it is due to us from all the world and due to us by him absolutely without any conditional limitation of insuing agreement as he pretends in the additional clause so as it is now too well seen that the Spaniards treat with their wonted frauds and that they would pretend they can never lose by any whatsoever accord that should insue the right which they presume to have over our Provinces that they may afterwards expect new opportunities to oppress them again it may then be granted that it is not any publique respect but their own particular necessity which induceth them now to come to agreement with us The necessity I say of their disorders which doubtlesly are so many and so great as we may expect their utter losing of Flanders What darkness what obscurity is it then that doth possess our senses or what hoodwinkt and untimely wisdom is it which teacheth us to intermit and slacken the course of our Victories whence they are nearest and most certain their Army is in very great confusion without any discipline without any obedience corrupted by perpetual mutinies And if the war continue we shall doubtlesly see the whole body of the soldiery mutiny and then their whole Countrey will rise How great a part thereof does there already abound in our sense We on the other side have a flourishing Army well disciplin'd well paid and well provided of all things We have the assistance of France of England and of the greatest part of Germany We maintain a Cause then vvhich none can be more just nor can there be more constancy desired in our peoples wills to defend it To these our advantages by land our other progresses at sea do fully correspond What greater blovv could the Spaniards receive from us then that which we have given them in the East-Indies What will the other prove vvhich vve are preparing for them likevvise in the West To this end to boot vvith the publicke forces particular Companies of the richest Merchants of all our Provinces are oppointed so as when we shall get footing there to what straits and hazards shall we reduce the Spanish Fleet On the contrary side how much both publick and private advantages how much honour and glory shall our Common-wealth receive thereby Our having gon round the Sea where ever the
sentence and for the most part the justice of the cause gives the victory It imports but little then whether their ends be sincere or fradulent in case of agreement for then they cannot oppress us by their forces We must above all things endeavour to secure our selves from this danger which necessarily consists in one of two remedies either in continuing the war out of hope that their necessity will daily grow greater or else in ending it by some accommodation after which our affairs might be better secured And from hence I come to the second point I deny not but that their present disorders and necessities are great but I cannot think them past remedy so far but that if the war in ure the Spaniards may finde sufficient Forces to do it I for ãâã own part finde the Monarchy of Spain to be the same thing that it hath alwaies ãâã during the whole course of this war nay rather increased in this interim by the addition of the Kingdom of Portugal and of the East-Indies which depend thereupon I finde it to be very strong both at land and sea Where hath the formidableness of their forces been better seen then here in Flanders What other power hath at any time maintained so long so far distant so hard and so expensive a war And shall we believe that the Spaniards cannot still maintain it And that they are not likely to finde a remedy for their disorders in these parts and for any hazard they may run in the East-Indies The very necessity of making war will doubtlessly furnish them with means enough to continue it So then we are again engaged in war in a new and more obstinate war then the former and what security can we have that fortune will alwaies favour us We have likewise our necessities and if they be at present great amongst the Spaniaads remember I pray you that they have been greater amongst us and that all humane things being subject to alteration and the events of war usually very uncertain the time may prove propitions again to them and averse to us Do not we know how much our war depends upon the aids from France and England May not the King of France die Is he not already very old May not the Kingdom afterwards alter And shall we not then be deprived of all succour from thence Do not we likewise know upon what fickle terms the affairs of England stand The King being a Scotch-man a stranger in that Kingdom and there being many other occasions which may cause some fear of alteration on his side How much would the affairs of Spain be bettered by any of these accidents How much worse would ours be We ought then to be taught by all reason and by all the rules of good Government not to let slip this happy conjuncture of coming to some good agreement with the Spaniards Fortune is flitting inconstant disdainful and exceeding apt to be provoked 'T is now the time to know how to lay hold of her So as my opinion is that by all means we ought to accept of this ratification come from Spain and proceed on to some Treaty of agreement I confess it is not alwaies in the power of man to enjoy the happiness of peace but I verily bel eve it is now in our power to shun the dangers of war which in my opinion ought by all means to be indeavoured and certainly we may hope for great advantages from the Spaniards by this accommodation which they do so much desire to make with these our Provinces in this their present necessity As all Pilots prefix the haven for their end all Travellers their Country and all motion rest so all war hath peace for its end wherein consists means chiefest happiness and shall the waâ of Flanders be the onely thing which shall never have an end And shall all our most advantagious successes depend alwaies upon the so uncertain event of war We shall be free from the uncertainties and from so many dangers which troubles brings with them by reducing our selves at last to a quiet condition we shall then much better re-order the Government of every of our particular Provinces and of the intire body of the union when we shall be in a quiet condition This our Common-wealth will then break forth from out the duskishness and horror of arms which how wounderful a sight will it be and what unaccustomed praises will it produce in the Theatre of the Universe When it shall be seen how our Provinces do unite themselves in one body with what sort of Lawes and Magistracy they conspire together how unwounded the Liberties of each of them remain and how uninjured it passeth through every one of them as through so many veins to the intire body of their general Union We shall have Ambassadors sent to congratulate with us from all parts who will return rather envying then rejoycing at this our so great felicity We shall pay the debts we have contracted abroad we shall ease our selves of those we have here amongst our selves and we shall enrich our treasury by taking off so many and so grievous expences our people shall then know that they are truly free when they shall enjoy liberty without any contestation and being once got into such a condition what need we fear to be at any time reduced under the yoak of that proud cruel and tyrannical Spanish Government Barnevelt was listned unto with much attention and the reasons alledged by him appeared to be so weighty and wisely grounded as after some other consultations it was at last resolved on by the States General that they would accept of the ratification yet there was much ado before Zealand could be brought to joyn in this Vote so absolute Authority had Count Maurice in that Province whereof he was not onely Governour but had a great estate there and enjoyed such prerogatives as he appeared rather to be Prince then Governor of that Country The Arch-dukes were then acquainted with this the States Generals resolution and 't was almost in the same words which were used in the answer which was first given to the Commissary and Verreychin when they brought the ratification into Holland And because the term for suspension of Arms was already expired it was by both sides prorogued and continued to be so from time to time in new terms till the end of the Treaty which was after concluded I thought good to insert this in this place to shun the tedious repetition of the same things sundry times Now all the eyes of Flanders were fixt upon that Deputies the Arch-dukes would chose to send according to the first agreement into Holland The greatest weight of the Spanish affairs which were agitated in Flanders lay upon the Marquess Spinola Camp-master-general of the Army and upon Manchichidor the Spanish Secretary of War and as for the Arch-dukes business John Richardotto President of the Privy Councel and Verreychin so often named before
were chiefly trusted therewith These four were chosen for Deputies and Father Nyen was added for a fift as one who had hitherto had a great hand in the business Marquess Spinola was already got into great Authority by reason of his so many Imployments and Trusts He was Camp-master-general and Governor of the Army Administrator or Pay-master-general of the Kings monies of the Councel of State in Spain and through his hands all the Kings affairs in Flanders as hath been said did chiefly pass and the Arch-duke likewise seemed to put much confidence in him Indeed a States man of singular judgment and valour of incredible vigilancy and industry in the managing of whatsoever business either Military or Civil and indowed with so many other gallant parts as he had reason to be esteemed one of the greatest States-men that the Crown of Spain hath had these many years The Secretary Manchichidor was likewise highly esteemed of for his long experience in the affairs of Flanders for he had been Secretary of war even from the time that the Arch-duke whilst he was yet Cardinal was come to the Government of those Provinces In the affairs which belonged properly to the Arch-dukes the President Ricardetto was no less esteemed of he had for a long time been the man chiefly imployed in affairs of greatest importance by the Duke of Parma and other Governors and the Arch-Duke being made Prince of the Low-Countries chose him particularly to employ in making the last Peace with France and the like with the King of England so as almost all the important business of the Country passed through his hands Verreychin was likewise present at the making of the two above named Peaces and had long before exercised the place of first Secretary of State and was alwaies held a man of great wisdom and integrity Enough hath already been said of the Commissary-general and of his endowments But when the Spaniards who were in Flanders understood who the Deputies were and that they were to go to the Enemies own homes to treat of agreement with them it is not to be believed how much they stormed and how much they complained of the Arch-Dukes in particular Are the affairs of Spain said they come to so low an ebb that our King must abase himself thus hath so much time bloud and treasure been spent against the traâterous rebels to bring things to this end That the affairs of Spain were now in as glorious a condition as ever but that there wanted fitting instruments in Flanders to manage them That the Arch-duke had alwayes shewed himself to be better at peace then at war and that now that he saw himself not likely to have any children his only desire was to spend the remainder of his days in peace and quietness That it was impossible so great a Monarchy should be without a war nay it was to be desired that it should alwayes have an Army in the fields for its service And what other more fitting Theatre could there be found for the seat of its Arms then Flanders a place so opulent and of such extent and placed in the midst of Spains chiefest enemies and maligners That if the war could not be alwayes so plentifully maintained their Forces might be lessened and consequently their expences That thus the vigour of so great a Monarchy might be preserved even to eternity The Spaniards broke forth into these complaints and sent them from Flanders into Spain but to no purpose for it was then seen as also during the whole Treaty that the King and the Arch-duke did always jump in their opinions and âs for the Deputies going into Holland without all doubt it might seem in all appearance no wayes to agree with the Kings and Arch-dukes dignity but the form of the Government of the United Provinces considered no other manner of negotiation could well be had for their Deputies were so many that Commissions so bounded and so many sendings to and fro as they were inforced to make Orders to receive new Orders and new Consents from every Province which if it had been to be done out of their own Country the Treaty would never have had an end and though afterwards as you shall hear it was concluded in Antwerp 't was because all things were already digested so as they went thither as it may be said to a business already concluded The Deputies departed about the end of January 1608. and being come into the United Provinces they were received by the Governors of their Frontier Towns with all honour and bravely lodged in all places They came to the Hague the first of February and were met half a league without the Town by Count Maurice of Nassaw accompanied by the other Counts of his House and all the chief men of those parts The Second BOOK of the TREATY of the TRUCE of FLANDERS HOLLAND is the greatest richest and best peopled Province of all the United seaven Nay it so far exceeds all the rest as it furnisheth half the monies which are issued out by the whole seaven Provinces It is made by the Sea and sundry Rivers a Peninsula it is incompassed on many sides by the Sea cut through in many parts by Rivers many Channels cut by hand joyn with these Rivers and there be many lakes within it so as it may be doubted whether it consist more of land or water Besides it doth so abound with shipping of all sorts as it may likewise be questioned whether the number of moveable habitations on water or of houses fixt on the land be the greater This Province is full of Cities and of a great many lesser Towns Amsterdam is its chiefest City and here is the greatest Traffick not only of Holland itself but almost of the whole North of all its Towns Hague is the principal an open Village but so large so well peopled and so delitious as it may compare with many Cities Here did the Counts of Holland formerly build a Palace for themselves to live in which the Vnited Provinces do now make use of for the meeting of their Councels which depend upon the Vnion Here likewise the Councel of the States General do meet almost every day wherein things of greatest importance are agitated and resoved by the Deputies of the whole seaven Provinces The chief affairs of the whole Vnion are then handled in the Hague and here staid the Catholick Deputies to give a beginning to the Treaty Before they arrived the Vnited Provinces had likewise chosen their Deputies one was chosen for every Province and two of the best of bloud amongst them in the common name of them all And these were Count William of Nassaw full Cousin German to Count Maurice and Min here Bredrode for Holland Barnevelt was named and by him the business on the behalf of the Vnited Provinces was chiefly to be agitated At their first meeting nothing was done but the producing of the credential Letters on all sides they then began to
the Fame of their Liberty together with the Fame of their Forces is not flown Let the Spaniards then do the like or let all Treaties be broken That necessity which enforceth them to come to agreement with us will likewise compel them to do it in this manner So since we would make no greater advantage of this their necessity with our swords in our hands as we ought and peradventure might have done we shall at least come by it by this contestation of Treaty in such manner as the victory of words can most promise These reasons against the above named clause and many others against the Truce in general were exagerated by Maldereo or rather through his mouth by Count Maurice who laboured by all other means and used all his industry that this Treaty of Truce might prove vain as the other of peace had done the same things were scattered abroad by his followers giving out many printed papers to this purpose not owned by any they seemed to distrust the forraign Ambassadors and it was whispered that though the two Kings advised to Truce yet for their own self-interest they would not totally forbare assisting the United Provinces though contrary to their Councel they should reassume their Arms that howsoever it was requisit to return to Arms since it was undoubtedly to be believed that the present necessities being over the Spaniards would no longer observe the Truce That in the mean while the people of the United Provinces cheated by the abusive names of Peace and Quiet would lose their former vigour and constancy That they would hardly be brought to contribute those monies afterwards for the war which at first they did so willingly part withal And that all these would be seeds to produce pernicious discords amongst their Provinces Lastly they concluded That though the Spaniards should observe the Truce it would be requisite howsoever to keep their Frontiers still well look'd unto The which being so many and the jealousies on all sides being now likely to prove so great the expence in time of Truce would be well nigh as much as in the time of war How much better would it then be to continue the war and not to lose the present occasions which did all of them so smile upon them and frown upon the Spaniards Affairs leaning already towards discord and the Zealander Deputies threatned openly a separation from the rest of the Provinces if contrary to the form of common Government the rest would resolve upon Truce without the particular consent of Zealand Jannines loitred now no more but judging this a fitting occasion to shew his experience and force of his advices one day when their contestations grew highest 't is said he spoke to the Deputies of the United Provinces in this manner Neither did my King ever think worthy Deputies that so long contestations could have had place here amongst you in so great an Union nor did I ever beleeve that such distrust were to be found here as some of you seem to have of my behaviour I will speak of mine own leaving the English Ambassadors either to justifie themselvs or make their just complaints For what concerns my endeavours I will onely say Execution is the onely share I have therein So as to mistrust them will be much more to offend my King then me And to say truth what greater injury can he receive then this He having alwaies shewed himself so partial to your Commonwealth as he hath almost never made any difference between the interests of his own Kingdom of your Common-wealth When he was hardly yet come unto the Crown and had hardly after so many Domestick and Forraign oppositions setled his own affairs the first thing he did was to assist your Provinces From that time to this he hath not been wanting in aiding you with Monies Men and Counsel and to make your Cause appear the juster in all other respects by his owning it Doubtlesly he pretended to assist a just Cause but the justest actions do not alwaies prove the most useful Nay these of yours might have been thought the more dangerous by how much their power is the greater who take themselves to be offended The liberty of your Provinces may be said to have sayled into the Haven chiefly by the sayles of his favour And because we cannot now establish it upon the Anchor of Peace my King endeavours at least to fasten it upon the Anchor of Truce which may prove as advantagious to you Let us then consider whether such an Agreement may be truly advantagious to your Affairs Which when it shall be known as I hope it will sinister discourses will then soon cease which if they do not it will appear at least That they proceede from particular passions vailed over with the semblance of Publick good The business is then touching the making of a long Truce and whether the chiefest endeavour ought to be That your Provinces should be therein clearly acknowledged to be Free We Ambassadors think the clause by us propounded sufficient to that purpose That the King of Spain and Arch-dukes should declare that they made Truce with your Provinces as with Free Provinces and States unto which they make no pretence at all But there are some amongst you who differ from us in opinion thinking it to be too generical and dubious and who would have the King of Spain and Arch-dukes make the same absolute renunciation now as was pretended unto when there was a Treaty of Peace I cannot notwithstanding part from my first opinion for it appears to me that to boot with the difference that there is between a Peace and a Truce this Declaration may be thought to make more for your liberty then the other Tell me I pray you Have not you alwaies declared That you have taken up Arms against your Prince infored thereto by necessity And that the war on your side could not be more just because it could not be more necessary And by the same reason have you not set your Provinces at Liberty by your own Authority Then if you pretend upon so good grounds to be free what need you now that the King of Spain and the Arch-Dukes should make these renouncings Do not you see that such like renouncings of right would presuppose it to be more manifest on their behalf And that in such a case much more should be confest by you then granted by them Do not you know that they can grant nothing to the prejudice of their successors Kingdoms cannot otherwise make any contract nor Kings make any alienable part therein And since they give the laws to others they must likewise in this behalf receive it from their Crowns How much better is it then that your Provinces be declared by the King and the Arch-dukes to be free by a general clause and that the agreement which is now spoken of may follow with this presupposition of your Liberty without making it doubtful by any other
kinde of clauses instead of making it more clear This form is not onely sufficient but best And if it be not sufficient with the contrary party think you that if the Spaniards would not observe the Truce for some other end of theirs they would ask your opinion first before they would break it And that they would first argue whether they have any right over you or no This is the custom of private suites not of publick Causes The controversies whereof are at last reduced to Field Forces where hee that overcomes hath the right and no account of the victory is given So as you need not care what interpretation the contrary party will give to those words wherewith they do acknowledge you to be free That which imports you is That your people hold themselves to be confest to be free by those words not to be made so And that the Princes your friends understand them in the same sense So as if it be needful to fall to arms again your people may be more ready then ever to reassume them and that your Friends may shew themselves more disposed then ever to favour your cause But it is too well known how much more easie it is to use constancy in troubles then moderation in prosperity Tell me I beseech you those who are the most zealous amongst you when did they ever think that the King of Spain and the Arch-dukes were to condiscend to Treaties so advantagious for your Provinces And will you lose this so happy occasion Shall vain shadows prevail more with you then essential reasons Shall seditious Papers which are every where scattered abroad be of more validity amongst you then the sincere and wise Counsels of two Kings who are so affectionate unto your Cause Now is the time then to resolve upon and to embrace this agreement which is now offered Do you see how the Swissers have fared Take them for your example And by the similitude of their affairs and yours hope for the like success The Swissers took up arms at first against their Princes not being able longer to undergo the grievances of their Government nor were they above two or three Cantons at the beginning and those the weakest amongst them but their People gasping for Liberty and defending it with equal vigor both of body and minde they made invincible oppositions to their Enemies Forces till being unconquerable by the Forces of the other Cantons and the strength of their own Alpester situation their Enemies despaired of ever subjugating them At last they ceased fighting and from tottering agreements they came to a firm and continual peace And who will now dispute the Swissers Liberty Why may not your Provinces hope for the like success The severity of the Spanish Government made Holland and Zealand take up arms at first their People valiantly withstood their Enemies The Sea Rivers and the strength of their Natural situation fought for them your other Provinces came in afterwards unto them and all made such resistance to the contrary Forces as there is not any example to be had of so long a war The successes have been various but at last they have proved so propitious to you as a Treaty of accommodation was sought for by your Enemies and now we are upon the point of a long Truce which if it succeed will doubtlesly prove very advantageous for your affairs and will easily be hereafter renewed upon the same advantages or turned into a perpetual peace which may prove yet better for you That which I have hitherto said seems to me to be sufficiently clear In fine there will be no doubt of your liberty by this Clause which is propounded Nor is it less to be doubted that a Truce will be more advantageous for you then unnecessitated to subject your selves to the uncertain events of a new war Fortune is generally seen to have too great a sway in war and that mocking at humane arrogancy she too often makes the more powerful give way unto the weaker and losses insue where victories were expected To witness which and pass by so many other examples What more memorable president can you have thereof then what so lately befell here before your own eyes in the Arch-dukes own person at Newport Where instead of being Victor as it was assuredly hoped he was overcom wounded and very near being taken prisoner By means of this Truce you will escape so many and so-dangerous uncertainties of war you will in the interim establish your Government the better you will ease your people of their disbursements you will continue your former Traffick into the Indies and you shall finally see an end of those hateful titles of Perfidiousness and Rebellion which hath hitherto been given by a great many in the world to your motions and proceedings in arms And who can doubt but that your Provinces will hereafter willingly concur in such expences as shall be needful since they will be so easie in comparison of what they have been And so much the more willingly by how much men do more naturally desire to enjoy quiet then to live in troubles and by how much liberty is the sweeter after having made tryal of servitude And surely it is to be believed that those to whom the Government of your people shall be committed will use the same care and vigilancy in the administration of publick affairs in time of Truce as they have prudently done hitherto in the time of war their chiefest care will be still more to establish the present concord which is the soul which gives life unto the body and the heart which maintains it and hence proceeds that miraculous temper which of many makes but one and of but one many but yet such as whether they be severed or conjoyned do alwaies conspire to the same end Thus your affairs being well ordered within your selves you shall have little need to fear forraign dangers and thus your Truce being at last turned into peace as 't is to be hoped it will be my King shall see the same success in your affairs as he hath seen in his own and whereby his Kingdom is now made happy to wit after war peace after troubles rest and after the sacking and burning of Towns and all the other miseries of Arms the commodity security and felicity of quiet and peace The Majesty and presence of the King of France himself seemed to break forth in the President Jannines countenance and words He afterwards gave what he had spoken more fully in writing to the end that the People might come to the better knowledge thereof and that they might the easilyer effect the agreement which was in Treaty The like offices were done by the Ambassadors of England and to overcome fully the pertenacy of the Zealanders it was resolved that Deputies should be sent into Zealand in the name of the six other Provinces to induce that Province to conformity with the rest which after muc difficulty was
at last effected and all of them concurring now in the same resolution the Ambassadors began again to labour to overcome the difficulties in dispute Continual correspondency was had by Letters between Jannines and Richardotto so as the Negotiation of what was needful past between them but the King of Spain needed no less labouring to be brought to give way to the Truce news was sent to the King of Spain of the Proposition made by the Ambassadors of France and England and of the new Negotiation introduced by their means The King would have been well enough pleased with the Truce had it been according to usual form and all things left in the same terms on both sides as they were at present but to declare the United Provinces to be altogether free and to suffer them in express words to traffick in the Indies seemed to put too great a difference between the present Treaty and ordinary Truces yet 't was seen that 't was impossible ever to come to any accomodation without this Declaration of Liberty and that if the United Provinces had stood so absolutely upon it before they would be brought to a bare suspention of Arms for a few months they would now be much more resolute in it in a Truce which was to endure for many years The Arch-dukes who saw the difficulties and dangers of the war in case it should be continued at a nearer distance were easilyer induced to give way to the Proposal made by the Ambassadors and Jannines both by word of mouth and by Letters had endeavoured to perswade the Catholick Deputies that to declare they made Truce with the United Provinces as with free Provinces and States unto which the King and the Arch-dukes made no pretence at all did not any waies prejudice the right which the King or Arch-dukes might pretend to have over them He had shewed how that it was a general Declaration that the word as bore with it a sense of similitude and not of propriety That in the declaring of one mans being friends with another 't was never said I hold him as a friend that the adding in the last words not to pretend unto any thing had reference to the ambiguity of the former words And finally that such a Declaration could not admit of any interpretation save onely during the time of the Truce That then the King and the Arch-dukes ought to be content to make it since it was involved in words which might satisfie both parties First The unskilful multitude of the Vnited Provinces for the outward appearance of their pretended Liberty then the King and the Arch-dukes for the true substance which was retained in them of leaving their former right still unhurt Then opening himself more freely Jannines said My King in such a case would not make any difficulty in granting this Declaration for if the Vnited Provinces when they shall betake themselves to Arms shall not have better Canons and Muskets words and interpretations will avail them but little In this manner and by these wary and wily waies Jannines as a good mediator endeavoured to draw both sides to a Truce to which the Arch-dukes were easily perswaded and endeavoured to bring the King to be so likewise shewing that by this neither they nor the King should do any thing more then what was yeilded unto at the first suspension of Arms much repugnancy did notwithstanding appear in the King 'T was thought in Spain that the Clause wherewith the Vnited Provinces were to be declared Free States though it were limited vvould generally be interpreted in savour of their Liberty and that vvhen they should have got their desires in that behalf the King vvould not obtain leave for the exercise of the Catholick Religion in their Country vvhich he vvas resolved to have by vvay of interchange and moreover if the Article concerning the Indies should be condiscended unto how much would the King be thereby damnified How much reputation would he thereby lose To which difficulties the Archdukes replyed shewing that when the King resolved to have the abovesaid requital 't was onely to be understood if the peace should be concluded and that the King and the Arch-dukes having absolutely renounced all their right the Vnited Provinces were absolutely free that the present Negotiation of the Truce did differ very much by which the King nor the Arch-dukes could not lose any piece of their former right that it was not to be doubted but that a clause so general and so limitated would be interpreted rather in favour of them then of the contrary party That the Ambassadors themselves thought so as also divers of the Inhabitants of the Vnited Provinces who were against the Truce as that which would be no whit more advantagious for them then was the bare suspension of Arms. And as for the point of the Indies they seemed to have hopes to end it so as it should be no considerable prejudice to the King These reasons were not taken as fully satisfactory in Spain but on the other side the King did very much desire the Truce and that the so great and so unnecessary expences of Flanders should cease The Duke of Lerma was then in great authority with the King and having gotten the sole power over the King by such arts as were available in peace he was unwilling to share it with them who might gain it by such means as war affords which made him from the very beginning very earnest in endeavouring the Negotiation and he did now no less labour that it might come to some good event of agreement the same desires were known to be in the Arch-duke who therefore resolved to send his Confessor to the Court of Spain to answer all the difficulties which were insisted on in Spain the which was thought necessary also to put an end to so long a Negotiation wherein above two years had already been spent which had so tyred the two mediating Kings as they began already to protest that they would meddle no more therein if it were not all the more speedily ended Father Inico di Brazuela of the Order of the Dominicans was the Arch-dukes Confessor a very learned and upright man and one who had been long experienced in the affairs of Flanders so as men hoped well of him and of his fidelity that he might reconcile affairs with the King and State-Officers he being a Spaniard a Votary and of a very noble Family and commendable life He was particularly to take all scruples from the King in the point of pretending by way of interchange the exercise of the Catholick profession in the time of Truce whereof he was to press the necessity even for the cause of Religion it self By representing That if they should return to Arms again manifest hazard would yet be run of losing more then formerly on the King and the Arch-Dukes behalf in Flanders and consequenly of quite losing the Catholick Religion in the yet obedient Provinces instead of
Flanders 140. see the Councel of State 102 The Sufferings of the Kings Camp before Harlem 102 T TOrney and the Country thereabouts infected with heresie 28 A Treaty of accommodation between Don John and the States 153 Tumults how they began in Flanders 2 A popular Tumult in Brussels 140 A Throne set up in Antwerp by the D. of Alva 71 V VAldes a Spanish Campmaster hath the principal charge of the siege of Leyden 124. He takes two Forts from the enemy ib. He shuts up all the Avenues about the City 125 Valentiennes riseth 37. Is surprised by the Hugonots of France 8 Vargas a Spanish Captain relieveth Mastrick 145 Vahelius President of the Privy Councel follows the opinion of Granvel 11. Opposeth Orange and for what reasons 19. shews himself contrary to the new Impositions 69 Utricht an Archbishoprick 11 W WAlcherin an Island 76 The Walloons take up Arms against the Gantois 176 Seditious Writings against the Inquisition 22 Z ZEaland opposeth d'Alvas Impositions more then all the other Provinces 70 Zirickzee a principal Town 135. It s scituation ib. It is besieged 137. Is yeilded up 138 Zutphen and its scituation 94 Besieged by Frederick di Toledo ib. stormed and sackt ib. A TABLE Of the most remarkable things contained in this SECOND PART A ADolphus Count de Meurs Commander in chief for the Flemish opposeth the Kings party 237 Altapenna surpriseth Breda 199 Mortally wounded before the Fort of Engelen 247 Antwerp in danger of being surprized 210. It s description 217. Besieged by the Prince of Parma 218. What diligence the Townsmen use to get in relief 222. Their uproars for the streightness of the siege 223. They contrive fireboats to annoy the Bridge made upon the Scheld 224. Their great ship called the Wars end ib. Their new designe against the Bridg 228 They resolve to surrender 233 Arch-duke Matthias returns into Germany 204 The Arch-bishop of Rossano sent to Collein for the accommodation of Affairs in Flanders 187 ALexander Farnese See Prince of Parma Army of Farnese before Mastrick how quartered 183. How placed about Antwerp 220. Of the League and its strength 281 B BErghen-ap-zone attempted by Farnese but in vain 260,261 Bona surprized by Skinck 259. Recovered by the Prince of Simay 260 Breda surprized by Altapenna 199. and with a stratagem recovered by Count Maurice 265 Bruges taken by the Kings party 213 Brussels comes in to Farnese The Bridg before Antwerp and the description thereof 220. What mischief the fire-barks did to it 227 C CAmbray straitned by Farness 198 Relieved by the Duke of Alanson 200 Cardinal Allen 251 The Cardinal Infante takes Skincks Sconce 259 Christophoro Mandragone Campmaster where quartered before Mastrick 183. How gallantly he plaid his part in defending the Counterdike 231 The Conference held at Colein for accommodating the affairs of Flanders 187 A Consultation held by the Prince of Parma Whether Antwerp or Mastrick should be first besieged 181. by the same about building a bridge upon the Scheld 219. by the Queen of England upon the proffer of the soveraignty over the United Provinces 237 238 by the King of Navar whether the siege of Roan should be suspended or continued 282. in Spain concerning the manner of expressing their grudge they bare to the Queen of England 248 The Count of Aremberg forceth Hollach to retreat from the siege of Zutphen 214 The Count della Laigne Governour of Henault 186 The Count di Berg turns to the Kings side 198 Count Herman di Berg besieged in Deventer 278. is wounded ib. yeilds up the Town ib. Count Charls Mansfield taketh in Eyndoven 213. Assaults and routs Marshal Biron ib. Besieged the Grave 240 Relieveth Nimegââ 265 Count di Fuentes sent into Flanders 292 Count Holack at the siege of Groninghen 198. Made Count Maunce his Lieutenant 217. Assaulteth the Counterdike 229 Count Maurice put into the place of the Prince of Orange his father 217 Commands the Militia of the United Provinces 245. Surprises Breda 265 Raises a Fort against Niminghen 266. Makes himself Master of Zutphen 278. And then of Deventer ib. Takes in Niminghen 280. Takes Steenwick 292. and the Fort of Coverden ib. Colonel Norrice surprizeth Brankemberg Fort 277 Colonel Vere relieves Reinberg 264 Count Peter Ernestus of Mansfield left by Farnese to govern Flanders 267 The Count of Reinberg turns to the Kings side 198. He besiegeth Steenwick but is forced to retreat 199. His death ib. The Counter-dike of Covestein 221 Defended with four Forts by the Royalists 229. Assaulted by the Rebels but in vain ib. Assaulted again by the same 231 Complaints of the Flemish Rebels against the Duke of Alanson 207. Of the same against the English 244. Of the Commanders of the League against the D. of Parma 273 Of the Army of the League for want of victuals 290 The Catholick Commissioners of the Flemish Union what opinion they were of in point of changing their Prince 193 The Character of Alanson 214. Of the Prince of Orange 215. Of the Duke of Parma 292. Comparison between the King of Navar and Duke of Parma 267 D A Description of Mastrick 183. of Antwerp 217. of the Bridg built upon the Scheld at the siege of Antwerp 225. Deventer won by Farnese 244 It falls back into the hands of the United Provinces 278 The D. of Alanson returns into France 181. Comes into the Low-countries as their Prince Elect 193. Upon what condition he ãâ¦ã of the Government 195. He ãâ¦ã the City of Cambray 200. He goes over into England and thence to Zealand 204. His solemn entrance into Antwerp 205. He receives his expected forces â08 He is perswaded to establish his new Principality by force ib. and he attempts the surprisal of Antwerp 210. but with bad success ib 211. He goes away into France 213. where he dies 214 His character ib. The Duke of Medina Sidonia made Commander of the Spanish Armado in the place of the Marquiss of Santa Croce 254. His unfortunate expedition 256 The Dutchess of Parma comes over into Flanders 194. Her Letter to the Catholick King ib. She returns into Italy 195 The Duke of Parma 242. See Prince of Parma The Duke du Main gives the Duke of Parma a meeting 267. His opinion that the victory of Aumale should be followed 285. He exhorts Farnese to keep aloof from Roan 287. He continues Generalin the Camp of the League 288 He carries a supply of men into Roan 291 E THe English rout the Spaniards before the Grave 241 The English Fleet 255. The advantages it had of the Spanish ib. F THe Faction of the Malcontents what it pretended to 181. It seizeth upon Alst 188 Monsieur di Feruaches and his speech to the Duke of Alanson 209 Francesco Verdugo Governor of Friesland 199. Takes in Embden ib. Surprizes Zutphen 213 The French in danger for Oranges wound 205. They run up and down Antwerp in hostle manner 210. But are repulsed by the Inhabitants 211 They
Truce 447. They come to the Hague ibid. their Negotiations 448. They meet in Antwerp 457. those of the United Province to intervene at the Treaty aforesaid 447. their Negotiations ib. Characters of Philip 2. 347. Of Archduke Ernestus 414. Of Verdugo 317 Of Mandragone 331. Of Campmaster Rosne 345 D A Description of Geertruydenberg 299. of Groninghen 305. of Cambray 324 of Calice 336. of Ardres 339. of Hulst 342. of Amiens 353. of Ostend 400. of Sluce 416 of Linghen 422. of Groll 427. of Reinberg 428. of a fierce Assault made upon Dorlan 323. of another made upon Ostend 403. of St Andrews fort 383. of Schincks-sconce and the Countrey about it 377. of the battail of Dorlan 322. of the battail of Newport 396. of the United Provinces and their form of Government 438 A Declaration of liberty pretended to by the United Provinces 437. how interpreted by the Archduke and Spanish Ministers of State ibid. Ratified in Spain 438. the first Ratification therof not admitted in Holland 439. How the second was afterward accepted of 446 Dorlan besieged by Count di Fuentes 323 taken by assault ib. The Duke of Sessa by way of Proxie acts the part of the Infanta Isabella for effectuating her marriage with the Archduke Albertus 372 The Duke du Main recruited from Flanders 296. he takes in Noyon 297. he concludes a Truce with the K. of Navar for three months 298. he endevors to relieve Laon 308. his memorable Retreat 310. he comes to an Agreement with the K. of France 334. His Opinion that they were not to tarry in their Trenches for the Spanish Army 361 E. ELector Ernestus of Bavaria makes suit at Brussels for the recovery of Huy 316. the dammage done to his Estate by the quartering of the K. of Spains Army upon it 375 The Elector Palatine of the Rhine 375 F. A Fight of great consequence before Laon between the K. of France his Forces and the army of the League 310. between Count Maurice and Mandragone 330. between Marshall Biron and the Marshal of Barambone 347. between the K. of Spains men and those of the United Provinces 348 betwixt Marquis Spinola and Count Maurice before Sluce 418. and afterwards at Bruch 424 Frederico Spinola 407. Commander of some Gallies in Flanders wherewith he indammages the Enemy ibid. he goes again into Spain for a greater number ibid. he loses five 408. is slain 410 La Fera besieged by the K. of France 334 Relieved 335. yielded 340 Forts erected by Spinola upon the Rhine 421 Forts raised by the United Provinces upon the banks of the Wael and the Ysel 426 G. SPanish Galleys in Flanders 407 Gaspero Mandragone relieves Lyra 331 The Grave besieged by Count Maurice 408. It is yeilded up to him 409 Groll besieged by Spinola 42â it is yeilded ib. Count Maurice strenghtneth it 430. It is relieved by Spinola 431 Groninghen besieged by Count Maurice 305. It s description ib. t is yeilded â07 Geertrudembergh besieged by Count Maurice 299. The description of it ib. It is yeilded up 301 H HAn a Town in Picardy yeilded up to Count Fuentes 319. Recovered by the Marshal of Bulloigne ib. Hernando Teglio Portocarrero Governour of Dorlan 350. He projects the surprisal of Amiens ib. The order in which he disposed of the enterprise ib. His oration to the souldiers 351. He seizeth on the City 352. He craves a supply of men 354. His diligence in defending the Town 355. He sallies out upon the French Camp 357. He is slain 359 The Hollanders and Zealanders put for a shorter navigation into the East-Indies 312. How they got into the West ib. Their ends for the aforesaid navigation 313. The difficulties they met with therein ib. Hulst and its scituation described 342 Besieged by the Catholicks 343. It yeilds 346 Huy a Town in the Country of Liege seized on by the United Provinces 316. Recovered by Count Fuentes ib. I JAmes Maldereo Commissioner for Zealand 452. His oration ib. James King of Scotland succeeds in the Kingdom of England 406. Stiles himself King of Great Britain ib. comes to an accommodation with the King of Spain and the Archdukes ib. His ends in the war of Flanders 441 John of Balen in Groninghen 305. his oration to the Townsmen 306 John Guzman brings relief into Amiens 355. his death 357 John Barnevelt Advocate of Holland and his oration in behalf of the negotiations for peace 444. His opinion prevails beyond that of Count Maurice 446 Infanta Isabella Philip the second his eldest daughter 364. her singular qualities 365. She parts from Madrid 386. comes to Brussels ib. presents her self to the Army on horseback and makes a speech to the souldiers 392 Her constancy in entertaining the Archduke wounded in the battel of Newport 398. She comes with the Archduke to see Ostend 418 Frier Inico di Brizuela the Archdukes Confessor sent into Spain 457. He returns to Brussels 458 The Intelligence that Count Fuentes held in Cambray 328. that the King of France held in Amiens 355 Italian mutiners in Sichen 311 They seek to hold intelligence with Count Maurice ib. Besieged by Campmaster Velasco ib. withdraw into the enemies country 312. come to an agreement with the Archduke ib The Journey of Albertus upon occasion of going to fetch his wife into Flanders 399. Of the new Princes in coming thither 386 K KIng of England see James King of Scotland The King of France declared a Catholick 302. He besieges Laon 308. and carries it 310. comes to an open war with the King of Spain 316. Is fully reconciled to the Apostolick See 326 Besieges La Fera 334 and takes it 340. How much he was vexed at the loss of Amiens 353. He concludes a League with the Queen of England 354 Goes over to the siege of Amiens 355 What Intelligence he held there ib. His affability to the souldier 357 He routs some troops of the enemies horse 360 Enters Amiens in triumph 362. makes a peace with the Catholick King 364 His Interests in the affairs of Flanders 440. His authority with the United Provinces ib. He sends an Ambassador extraordinary into Holland to assist the negotiations of peace or a Truce 441 The King of Spain Philip the second and his ends in the affairs of France 296 He sends the Duke of Feria to Paris ib. He makes peace with the K. of France 364. His intention to marry the Infanta Isabella to the Gardinal Archduke 365. which he puts in execution 368 His death 369. his character ib. The King of Spain Philip the third resolves to make up an Army apart to be commanded by the two Spinolas 410 He approves of the Archdukes designes against the enemie 425. he resolves to give way to an Overture that shall be made for an accommodation with the United Provinces 437 L. ALeague between the K. of France and the Q. of England 354. Between the K. of France and the United Provinces 451 A Letter from Archduke Ernestus to
the tide should come and feared to be first forced by the Royalists Wherefore the conflict proved exceeding bloody great numbers falling on both sides and worth and fortune varying the success a long time They fought thus for six hours together when the Kings men perceived that the Tide began to come which brought them to their last endeavours which was such as those within not being able longer to hold out were forced to give back whilst they still defended themselvs valiantly til they were in so doing all cut in pieces there were slain about 200 of the Kings men and the number of the wounded was much greater The chief of each Nation wan much renown in this conflict and amongst other Italians the two Brothers of Monte Nephews to the Marquis of Vitelli Raphael Barberino and Curtio Martinengo each of which playing the part of a Common-Souldier exposed themselves to each common danger After the reducing of the Forts the whole body of the Kings forces betook themselves to doe the like to the Town of Zuricsee the greatest difficulty lay in bereaving them of the succour which might be brought by the abovesaid greater Channel and by the lesser which comes as we have said into the Town Signor di Dorp was the Governour thereof a vigilant and stout man For the better securing of the concourse of the lesser Channel with the greater he had fortified the banks thereof on both sides to where it joyned with the other he likewise from the very first caused all the fields round about to be overflown So as the Kings men had no hopes of taking the Town by the wonted way of Trenches Batteries and Assaults Succour was easily conveyed thereinto nor was the Kings Fleet though disposed of in the most convenient places and assisted by the Boats made like Gallies able to hinder them Wherefore the Siege drew on in length and the cold weather was already come yet was it so favourable this year as it did never hinder the passage of the Boats upon those Channels The chief care of the Siege lay upon Mandragone who was not wanting in using all means possible to shut up all passages whereby relief might be brought to the town He planted a great Palisado at the mouth of the lesser Channel and placed some big Barks there to hinder the entrance But to work in that place cost both time and blood for Musket shot hail'd down continually from the fortified banks and much harm was done likewise by the Artillery Two little Islands of very small circuit lay on that side at the entry of the greater Channel the one near the other Towards that which lay most inward and where the Channel grew narrower Mandragone caused also another Palisado to be planted on both sides and sought to block up the passage on that side also by great chains of iron He likewise raised a Fort upon the Bank neer Doveland the more to hinder that succour And lastly he resolved to inclose the two fortified Banks of the Channel which leads to the Town planting a Fort upon both sides of the chief Bank the better to impede all entrance on that side Raphael Barberino was author of this last advice which proved to very good purpose The Marquis Vitelli held particular correspondencie with him who not being able to be himself in person at that enterprise he reposed very much upon Raphael in all the most weighty affairs both by sea and land The enemy were brought thus every day into greater streight yet their vigilancie still increasing they provided for succour one way or other so as the Kings forces were not able to disturb them Count Hollac brought in a very considerable succour in the beginning of February But Mandragone did so secure the Traverse which lay at the month of the Channel which leads to the City and did so well shut up that passage on all sides as the Enemy could come to the Town no more by that way They had cut many gaps in the chief Bank as hath been said to overflow the ground about the town the largest part whereof was towards the village Dreischer lying in the midst of the Channel The Enemy endeavoured to enter into the little Island by this gap and so into the Town from whence divers little Boats were to be sent out the better to receive such provisions as should be brought which could not be brought in by greater Barks at a low Ebb. Count Hollac endeavoured to relieve the Town by this way but the Kings men who for want of high situations elswhere had placed themselves chiefly upon the said greatest bank and did very well guard it in all parts did so behave themselves as the enemy failed in their design This bad success moved Orange the more to try a greater by the same way again for it was thought impossible to bring relief by any other way To this purpose the Rebels assembled together as great a strength of Boats men and victuals as possibly they could Orange would be present himself at this succour and Lewis Boisot Admiral of Holland bad the chief care thereof But the preparation was not answerable to the need not did the success answer the hopes Orange by the advantage of the high tide came about the end of March to the abovesaid Gap of Dreischer he assaulted the Kings men and at first put them into some disorder slew some of them and took some of their Canon from off the banks But their courage increasing together with their danger and the ebb being by this time come they drove the enemy away from all parts many of which were slain many drowned and amongst the rest the Admiral Boisots self for his ship running upon the sands which were very deep neither the ship nor any of the souldiers that were in it could be saved This last indeavour of the rebels proving vain they dispaired of ever relieving the Town which notwithstanding under the sufferings of a lingring siege which lasted almost eight months did still hold out till it was at last surrendred about the latter end of June which we have thought good to relate here so not to break off the thread of this success with other narrations This mean while many other important affairs hapned which we shall now set down For the better incouragement of the siege Marquis Vitelli was come in the midst of Winter into the Island of Scown great were the moystures in these low Teats especially this year the cold not being so very bitter as usual Here he who was already well strucken in years were it either by reason of the air or other disaccommodations fell dangerously sick and taking a boat that he might be carried to Antwerp to be cured his mallady so increased as he died by the way before he could get thither His loss proved very prejudicial to the King affairs for upon him at that time lay as we have often said the greatest weight of the
give battel and fure therein according to their hopes Gonzaga readily obeyed he advanced towards the Enemy with nine Companies of Lanciers and four of Dragoons At the same time came 1500 Foot most of them Spaniards which Mansfield had with all diligence dispatcht away The Flemish were gathered together in S. Martins a Village between Namures and Geblurs where they ordered their retreat with all diligence that they might not allow the Kings men time to joyn and to come upon them with the more advantage They rose with their whole Camp from that Village the last of January and ordered their march thus They divided their Foot into three bodies and left the Horse in the rear the better to secure them behind and to beat back the Kings horse in case they should fail upon them in their rear as they retreated as they reared they would When Don John understood that they were on their march he furnished some advantagious places with Foot which lay betwixt him and the Enemy to secure the retreat likewise of his Horse if need should require He then set forward and they were not gone far when they overtook the Enemy whose Foot could not hasten so fast as did the Kings Horse All their Leaders were men of valour and experience The Lanciers were commanded by Bernardino de Mendoza Curtio Martiningo the two brothers John Baptista and Camillo del Monte Nicolo Basti Alfonso di Vargas Ernando di Toledo Aurelio Palermo and Georg Macura And the Dragoons by Antonio Oliviero Commissary Generall of the Horse Antonio d' Avalos Mutio Pagano and John Alconeta The Dragoons came up first and galled the Enemy when they were not far from Geblures and when they had discharged their shot they gave way to the Lanciers who charged them more close and more home The Enemies Horse faced about and boldly receiving the first onset of the Harquebusiers they seemed as if they would with the like stoutness stand the second assault of the Spear-men but the effect proved otherwise The Prince of Parma would be on the head of the Kings Lanciers and one of the first that should charge the Enemy which he so couragiously did and was so well followed by the rest as the Flemish Horse after having made some appearing resistance gave manifest signs of yielding Don John came up this mean while with some few Foot for it was impossible to have many time enough to fight But the Enemy believing that all the Kings men were come up or at least the greatest part of them turned their retreat into a downright running away and sought only how to save themselves The Horse throwing away their Arms began to run and being closely pursued by the Kings Horse they fell foul upon the rear of their own Foot They charge and therewithall confusion past into the body of the Battel which was likewise soon disordered and routed the Van which had much advantaged themselves in their march received no harm at all The Enemy being routed the Kings men fell to execution but they were so few in number as they could not draw so much blood from the Enemy as they would have done The Enemy fled sundry wayes and could not be equally pursued by the Kings men insomuch as many of them saved their heads by their heels The report was notwithstanding that about 3000 of them were slain and many of them taken prisoners amongst which I l Signor di Goigny who was the Enemies most considerable Commander There were hardly any of the Kings men slain very few hurt And truly the Victory was such as it was doubted whether it were more to be ascribed to fortune or to valour Don John having got the better of the business pursued his victory He presently turned towards the Town of Geblures neer unto which the battel was fought And putting the Enemy to slight a second time a good many whereof after their defeat were got under those wals and seemed as if they would reorder themselves he easily perswaded the Townsmen to submit to the Kings obedience The Kings Camp meeting all here together the greatest part whereof as hath been said could not be at the battel Don John sent Octavio Gonzaga to take in Lovain and the Lord Hierges to recover Bovigne Gonzaga met with no oppotion and Hierges presenting his Artillery before the walls he with small resistance reduced that Town likewise But the Prince of Parma found harder work at the Town of Sichen to the taking whereof Don John had sent him a part by himself The Town was not strong by nature nor was it made so by industry there was also but a weak garrison in it And yet the Townsmen and the Souldiers being obstinate in the defence thereof the Prince was forced to batter the walâ divers times and to make many fierce assaults in the last whereof the Kings men falling with the Townsmen into the Town they made great slaughter of them and afterwards plundred the City in hostile manner The Captain of the Garrison and some of the Souldiers saved themselves in a little Castle within the Town but were forced soon after to yield upon discretion and all of them were put to death by the Hangman for having been more fool-hardy then stout and for having chosen force before clemencie By the example of Sichen Diste Ariscot Leuvâ Tilemone and divers other less considerable places of Brabant on ãâã thereof which lies towards Namures came without any dispute into Don John âands Neville one of the best Towns in all Brabant lay nearer Brussels Don John would have taken it by force but he met with such opposition as he was forced to tarry longer about it then he had thought He came therefore to batttery and from thence to assaults which cost much blood Monsieur de Villiers commanded in chief within the Town who egregiously performed his part as did also all his Souldiers The Town was not strong notwithstanding nor could it hold out long whereupon the Kings men being much incensed and threatening to deal with Neville as they had but lately done with Sichen the Townsmen upon better consideration came to Articles and resolved to yield the Town when the Garrison should be marcht out with their Arms and baggage From hence the Army entred into the Province of Henault and without much opposition took the Towns of Reus Gognie Bins and Mabuge with divers others of the like condition which were all but very weak So as these petty victories seemed to correspond but badly with that so noble a one which Don John had but a little before got at Geblures After the taking of Nivelle Don John would willingly have straitned Brussels from whence the Archduke Matthias and the Prince of Orange with evident signs of fear were gone to Antwerp to secure that City wherein lay the greatest consequence of all the affairs of Flanders But the besieging of Brussels would not have been a business of such dispatch For it was
a place of large circuit and greatly peopled and which might have stood out long Wherefore the Councel of War were of opinion That it was better first to possess all the Country which lay about Namures to secure themselves still the more of that passage which lay so opportunely for the receiving of succours from Italy and which would make the other Pass over the Mause at Mastrick the more easie by which Aid in assistance of the King might likewise be brought from the neighbouring parts of Germany Wherefore Don John enlarging his Quarters in the two Provinces of Brabant and Henault that he might receive his victuals with more ease and in the greater abundance re-entred into the Country of Namures and resolved to incamp before Philippaville This is a Town of five royal Bulwarks which the King fortified the better to secure that Frontier towards France and did therefore honour it with his own name The Quarters being distributed according to the diversity of the Nations they began to make Trenches on one side And Don John willing to shew his superiority as well in pains-taking as in command applied himself with great fervor to such Works as were of greatest importance The Prince of Parma was alwayes by his side So as by their example every particular Souldier gave himself to labour hard in the siege When the Trenches were advanced some Cannon and Peeces of lesser bore were planted on that side to bereave the Enemy of defence and the Kings men coming at last unto the ditch began to lodge there But those within were not less ready in making resistance Signor di Glimes was chief Commander over them and with him were five Foot-Colours and one Troop of Carbines on hors-back The people were but few in respect of the need and they wanted many things within the Town for their defence Yet the Enemy seeming as if they would maintain it and encouraged by Orange who promised they should within a short time be relieved they began at first to annoy the Kings Camp with frequent shot and by some sallies endeavoured to hinder the working of the Trenches at least to keep them further off Being come to fight at nearer distance the actions grew hotter the assailants sought how to get nearer the walls and the assailed how to keep them further off But the Kings men did so well shelter themselves and did so advance with their Trenches and Earth-works and by their batteries threw down so great a part of the Wall as they prepared to come boldly on to the assault when the Governour resolved to surrender the Town to Don John Some succour was endeavoured to have been brought in but that failing the besieged were much discouraged It was notwithstanding thought that the Governour was too easily perswaded to surrender being more wrought upon by promises from Don John then by any necessity And his going over soon after to the Kings side turned this opinion into a believed certainty When Don John was rid of this enterprise heresolved to leave Gonzaga with a good part of the horse and some foot upon those Frontiers of Hennault and Artois to withstand some preparations which the Duke of Alanson was making in France against Flanders on those parts And Gonzaga did luckily defeat some Companies of foot who were already entred the Country After this he endeavoured to endamage the Territories thereabouts which were in the hands of the Flemish Rebels by frequent inroads and especially by destroying the corn upon the ground which was then a ripening Don John sent the Prince of Parma at the same time with other Forces to streighen Limburg a Town which gives the name to that Province and lies near the County of Namures being very commodious for the receiving of aid from Germany At the first battery the Town surrendred to Fernese from whence the Governour retired himself into the Castle which is very strong by reason of its situation standing upon a very steep rock wherefore he resolutely prepared to stand out But his souldiers were of another mind for being but very few in number and having but small or no hopes of being relieved they would not run the hazard of punishment assuring themselvs that they should easily obtain pardon as they did for Fernese sufffering the Governor to go out free did not only pardon the other Soldiers but took them almost all into the Kings service This was the proceedings of the Kings Army after the battel of Geblurs This mean while Norchermes Lord of Selle was com from Spain by whom the King had by his Letters signified his plesaure touching the novelties which had happened in Flanders The Contents whereof were That he would not have the Flemish acknowledg any other Governour then Don John For what remain'd in a language which relisht both of the sowre and sweet he commended the States for standing so firm in their obedience to him and to the Church assured them that whilst they should persevere in so doing they should receive all fair usage from him And he refer'd himself to what the same Lord of Selle should represent more particularly in his name touching the composing of the new commotions which were raised in those Provinces But from the time that the States had written unto the King complaining so bitterly against Don John as we then told you the affairs on all sides were so imbittered as there was no means left for any peaceable accommodation For the States declared themselves fully resolved never to acknowledge Don John for their Governour That they had chosen the Archduke Mathias to govern them that therefore they desired the Government might be left to him which if otherwise the fault was not theirs if the service of the Church and King did daily suffer detriment Selle procured a Treaty between both parties but to no end He then endeavoured that the Prince of Parma might negotiate with the States believing that he as son to the Lady Margaret toward whom the Flemish had shewed so great affection might be well received by them and might more easily overcome the difficulties which lay on that side But he proposed that for the Prince his security the Prince of Orange should the mean while be put into the hands of Don John which made them absolutely refuse the Treaty And for this particular which had encouraged Orange and some others they grew very jealous of the Treaty mentioned by Selle At this time the Emperour had likewise interceded with the Flemish to bring them to some good agreement with the King He had joyned complaints with his exhortations saying that they had stoln the Archduke Mathias from him which action of theirs the King had great reason to resent But this intercession of the Emperours did no good neither for the Flemish lent but little ear to his exhortations and as for his complaints they had formerly answered them in their justifying themselves in that point This mean while neither side omitted