I know not how we might haue kept the towne twelue howers longer with the losse of our liues had we bin al desperat if it had pleased the enemy to attēpt vs but it is most true rather then to haue accepted of any base conditions most of vs would haue ended our lyues in that place I protest I write not this to condemne any one in particular nor in generall that should haue succored vs nor to robbe the least defendant of his right for I confesse my selfe the simplest captaine of halfe a dozen that were within the towne three or foure of them were they knowne and rightly iudged are sufficient to conduct double that garrison in any army in the world to commande a greater troupe hauing authority These are Sir Roger Williams owne words to iustefie the yeelding vp of Sluse After this losse of Sluce the Earle of Leicester determined to stoppe vp the mouth of the hauen but the officers of the admiralty and others were of opinion that it could not be done yet the English-men thought otherwise wher-vpon suspecting the Zeelanders he sent into Holland for certaine old shippes the which were granted yet it was not done but on the other side sence that time the hauen is much bettered by reason that the sea hath scoured the sand away The losse of this towne made them to murmure much against the Earle especially the common people who hearing of the accord retired him-selfe into Zeeland imputing the losse of this towne to the want of men money and other meanes greatly taxing the admiralty of Zeeland and the officers namely one Martin Drooghe whome he caused to be put in prison where he continued six moneths vntill that the Earle being retired the second time into England hauing iustified himselfe of that where-with he was accused he was set at liberty and restored to his credit Those that were affected vnto the Earles party excused him and layed all the blame vpon the Estates accusing them that they sought to take his authority from him and to command them-selues leauing him but the vaine title of a Gouernor The Earle passing by the Iland of Zeeland arriued the seauenteene of August at Berghen vp Zoom a towne held also by the English where as the Lord Willoughby was gouernor from thence the Earle sent some troupes into Brabant to make an enterprize vpon the castle of Hochstraten the which succeded not From Berghen he went to Dordrecht whereas the generall Estates of the Prouinces assembled The Earle being in the open assembly of the generall estates made a long speech by the which he first excused him-selfe and greeued much for the treasons of Stanley Yorke and Patton by whom he complayned that he had beene basely deceyued the which he said might haue happened to any captaine generall of an army or gouernor of a country and state were hee more pollitike and of greater experience then he was That they were not the first traytors which had deceyued their maisters in the said vnited Prouinces As for the releeuing of Sluce he would maintaine that it was not his fault hauing there in imployed his best endeuors That the three thousand or 2500. men which had beene promised him for supplies and the hundred thousand florins had failed of the which calling the tresorer generall to witnes he had receiued but thirty thousand in ready mony That the said Estates knew well themselues how ill he had bin serued by the sea captaines and officers which had beene giuen him who made him beleeue to diuert him from these succors that if they had past on being before the towne the enemy would from the other side of the Sluce of Bruges sinke all their shippes with his Artillery not-with-standing they were sufficiently informed thre was an other depth vnder the castell where as they might lye without any danger as hee said it appered by the report of captains and soldiars that were come from them of the towne So as he could not put in execution the desire he had to succor it and therefore the blame was not to bee layd vpon him but vpon them that had fayled of their duties and not furnished that which was needfull according vnto that which had beene decreed betwixt him and the Estates Wherevpon after they had layd before him the letters written by him in Iune before out of England to secretarie Iunius tending to fortefie and incorrage such as hee knew affected to his partie in the townes and countries of Holland and Zeeland Descouering thereby that at his returne hee pretended to gouerne and command in the same manner as the Emperor Charles and King Philip his sonne had done and if hee should be restrained of that authoritie that he would abandon the Netherlands quite and retire himselfe into England Wherevpon the Nobilitie and townes of Holland Zeeland and Friseland presented a declaration vnto the Earle in writing dated the twentith day of August which they intended to haue giuen him before but for some good considerations they had forborne to offer it till then Declaring thereby as dutie bound them how much they held themselues bound vnto her Maiestie for her great care of Religion and the good of those countries and that it had pleased her to imploy his Excelencies person seeing that it had not stood with her good liking to take the soueraignty vpon her to whom they would haue yeelded as great respect and subiection as euer they did vnto the Emperor Charles the fift or to any other Prince whatsoeuer but for that they did finde by experience that there are diuers seditious and busie headed fellowes which labour to sowe dissention and to breed discontents betwixt the Estates of these countries and his Excelencie seeking to blemish and disgrace the authoritie of the Estates and to make his Excelencie absolute Gouernor in all respects They let his Excelencie vnderstand to the end that all iealousies and distrusts might bee layed aside and forgotten that they did and do yet vnderstand that for want of a naturall Prince the soueraigntie of those countries returned vnto the Nobilitie Gentlemen and Townes and that after the King of Spaine who heretofore had beene their naturall and soueraigne Lord had left those countries all acts of soueraigntie were lawfully exercised by the Estates and in that manner they had contracted with diuers Princes and namely with her Maiestie and therevpon by a generall consent had giuen vnto his Excelencie the authoritie of Gouernor and Captaine Generall ouer those countries And furthermore to stoppe the mouthes of ill affected and contentious persons they shewed that the Estates were not presented by any priuat persons but by the Nobilitie Gentlemen and Townes so as they are much deceiued which thinke that the Estates consist of certaine priuat persons and that the faults wherewith such men charges them cannot iustly bee imputed to them and the rather for that the Estates haue alwaies conceiued and vnderstood that
aide they were able to continue the warres he was content they should vse him therein so as they maintained him in the same authority which vntill that time hee had inioyed But if their means were not sufficient to defend the country or that they did not affect him to bee their Gouernor any longer hee should be forced for the preseruation of her Maiesties honor and his owne to protest against them And if they vnderstood by their act of the ordinarie contribution of two hundred thousand Gilders the moneth to giue him leaue and limmit therevnto he would not take the charge vpon him not holding it sufficient to pay the garrisons according to the Estate set downe by him much lesse to maintaine an army in the field wherefore if the could make no better means nor raise any greater contribution he knew no reason for his stay there nor how he should do them any good wherevpon hee desired their resolution to aduertise her Maiesty that she might prouide for her owne affaires Lastly he sayd he had in charge to tell them that her Maiesty was mooued to aide and assist them not onely by reason of the ancient leagues betwixt England and the Princes of those countries but also and especially for the contracts made for the entercourse of traficke of both countries as it appeereth by the Charters and Instruments made by diuers townes and Prouinces of the same as of Dordrecht Delft Leyden Amsterdam Bryel Middlebourg Campheer Zeerickzee and others which Instruments were yet extant to bee seene and for that cause her Maiesty was pleased to aide and assist them at their requests to the end that seeing her Maiesties royall intent towards them they for their parts should endeuor to do that which were requisite not onely in regard of good dealing but also in respect of the contracts entercourses instruments and former conditions made with those countries and for the last contract touching their aide This declaration was sent by the Earle of Leicester to certaine townes with letters wherein he complained that they had charged her Maiesty and him to haue delt with the enemie for a peace to the preiudice and ruine of the country and that hee came to deliuer the townes into the Spaniards hands whereof hee excused himselfe desiring them to send him an answer in writing to his declaration Whervnto the Nobility Gentlemen and Townes of Holland and Westfrisland being assembled in Harlem made answer on the sixteeneth of October as followeth They shewed how that in the yeare 1572. they had lawfully begunne warre against the King of Spaine for the preseruation of those countries the maintenance of Religion and the defence of their ancient preuiledges vnder the command of the Prince of Orange but fearing they should not bee able to continue it they sought aide from the Queene of England and to that end they sent their Ambassadors ouer in the yeare 1573. and againe in the yeare of our Lord 1576. after that they sought for succors from the Duke of Aniou and after his death from the French King but all in vaine desiring him to imbrace the soueraigntie of these countries In the end being put in good hope of her Maiesties aide and assistance by her Ambassador Maister Dauison and others they offred the soueraignty vnto her by their Ambassadors from whom they obtained a gratious aide as appeereth by the contract for the which they most humbly thanked her Maiestie and were the more highly bound vnto her in that it had pleased her to send his Excelency ouer to gouerne the sayd forces and to direct their warres both by action and good counsell for which also they gaue him great thankes in that he would accept the Estate and Commission of Gouernor and Captaine generall of the vnited Prouinces and that for their parts they had not sought to with-drawe their hands from the full performance of the contract nor of the act of delation of the Gouernors authoritie nor yet with-drawne the contributions nor once failed in any point of their duties hoping also that they had not neglected to giue his Excelencie all honour respect and thanks due vnto him True it is that withall dutifull respect they had presented a certaine complaint vnto his Excelencie before his going ouer into England wherein there was nothing contained but onely the seruice of her Maiesty and of his Excelencie togither with the preseruation of the country beeing content with his going into England so it were but for two or three monethes so as in his absence the generall gouernment according to their resolution might be committed to the Councell of Estate and the particular gouernors of the Prouinces leauing them lawfull authoritie for the same But for that within ceraine weekes after his departure it was found that by a certaine act not onely the authority of the Councell of Estate but also that of the Gouernors of Prouinces touching the generall gouernment was restrained and that among other things the betraying of Deuenter and Zutphen the which was sufficient discouered followed but by reason of that act it could not be preuented The Estates to auoide the like practises yet not to blemish his authority but for the restoring of the authority due to the gouernors of the said Prouinces were forced to take some order therein That which was written by them vnto his Excelencie after the betraying of Deuenter and Zutphen procceded of mere griefe and necessitie and yet was done so secretly in regard of his honor as it was not knowne to the common people before that the coppie thereof was sent out of England to Vtrecht and a motion made vnto the Estates that had written the letter to disavow the same with certaine other letters of the tenth of March dispersed among the common people and that the letter sent vnto her Maiesty was to no other end but to haue her Maiesties Ambassador that was to besent ouer the better instructed but hearing that it was hardly censured they said that they ment not thereby to charge his Excelency but such as had wronged and abused them desiring him withall to impute the sharpnesse of their letter to their office the oth they had taken the free liberty of the Estates of those countries but especially to the treason then cōmitted rather then to any euil intent in them They thanked his Excelencies for shewing his noble courage and disposition notwithstanding the precedent misfortune in that he was resolued not only to be an earnest intercessor for those countries but also to come ouer againe and that he had done his best endeauor for the releeuing of Scluce As touching the promise of soldiars made to him by the Earle of Hohenlo they knew not what to say thinking that the Earle would satisfie him therein They commended his proclamations made against seditious and popular factions beseeching him that it might be dulie executed They said they would do their best endeauors to
no small preiudice to their common enemy without seeking of any doubtful and suspitious peace or to dispaire of their countries cause Lastly the Estates humbly thanked her Maiesty for letting the countries and townes vnderstand her gratious pleasure concerning the continuance of the ancient contracts and treaties which haue passed and haue beene alwaies maintained betweene the Kings of England and the Princes of those countries as also with certaine particular townes in those Prouinces and that for their parts they would take such order as her Maiesty his Excelency and the English Nation should find their zeale and desire to maintaine al loue and good Neighbourhood desiring his Excelency that he would fauorably recommend their answer vnto her Maiesty Besides this answere the generall Estates gaue him an other answere for the better cleering of some points propounded vnto him at Dordrecht the 16. of October Shewing that the Estates desired to continue his Exelency in the same authority which by the contract made with her Maiesty and the act of the generall Estates was giuen him desiring him that for the ceasing of al controuersies it would please his Exelency to keepe the oth which he had made vnto the Estates at his first entry into the same and that by certaine acts and namely by some letters written by him to his secretary Iunius bearing date the 10. of Iuly the authority of the Estates was brought in question they thought it conuenient to make a more plaine declaration thereof conteyning the force of their authority the which they sayd they were bound by oth to iustifie and maintaine for if they were not lawfully authorized in the soueraignty by the Prouinces then had they no powre nor authority to put the King of Spaine from his Inheritance nor to make warre against him nor yet to deale in any sort by contract or otherwise with the French King and the Queene of England neither yet to confer the gouernment to his Excelency which they neuerthelesse had done vpon a good ground and foundation and by the Estates in all things held and obserued And therefore they desired redresse of that which had bin done on his Excelencies behalfe more then to his authority belongs his authority being all one with the Gouernors of those Prouinces vnder the Emperor Charles the fift who although they were great personages and Princes of his owne bloud yet hee alwaies reserued vnto himselfe to make peace or truce to beginne a new warre to make leagues and alliances with forraine Princes and countries the making of proclamations and decrees concerning the Estate of the land The altring and changing of the minte and standard the restraint of traficke and dealing with neutrall and forraine countries proclamations whereby neighbour Kings Potentates and common-weales should bee offended The bringing in of new rights and customes The augmenting of contributions and charges for the warres aboue that which was formerly granted by the consent of the country and many other such like But those things which belonged to the disposition of the Gouernors generall the Estates ment should be at his appointment to dispose and order the same by the aduise of the Councell of Estate chosen both out of them of the countrie and of her Maiesties subiects and that such things should passe vnder his Exclencies name as had vsually past vnder the gouernors name in the time of the Emperor Charles the 5. And that in the Estates name which did vsually passe vnder the name of the Emperor Charles the fift which would in no sort bee contrary to the contract made with her Maiesty neither yet against the act of declaration of the commission of the gouernment and authority of the Estates vnto his Excelency The second point of controuersie was the oth of fidelity to bee made by the soldiars and the authority of the particular Gouernor of Prouinces and for that they found some mistaking of the oth to bee made they desired that according to the contr◅ct the soldiars should sweare fidelity and obedience to the Prouinces in generall and to his Excelencie as Gouernor generall of the same as also to those Prouinces townes and members thereof where they shal be imployed or placed in garrison And that they shall obey his Excelencie as Gouernor generall and that the chiefe Collonels Captaines Officers and Soldiars shall in like manner sweare to bee obedient to the particular Gouernors of Prouinces and to their Lieutenants wherso euer they shal be imployed and this for the maintenance of the rights of Prouinciall Gouernors saying that the change of garrisons and distribution of soldiars ought to bee done by them for if they had had that authority and the forme of oth afore recited had beene obserued they had not lost the towne of Deuenter nor the fort by Zutphen but beeing discouered long before it had beene preuented by the Gouernor and for that cause the Estates were mooued the more to maintaine the rights of the Prouinciall Gouernors as well to see the oth of obedience performed and kept as for the alteration of garrisons and yet no new matter neither yet any dyminishing of his authority hauing a powre ouer the said Prouinciall Gouernors as being sworne vnto him wherby he might execute all things with good order for that the Estate of those Prouinces and townes were best knowne vnto them But contrariewise not long since a priuat person had charge to place certaine English companies in Vtrecht and to arme them and then to take others forth without the priuity or the consent of the particular gouernor which they could not yeeld vnto for that both their oth and the contract were against it as being a breach of the chiefe rights and customes of the country for the which they had beene in continuall warres for so many yeares Moreouer they neither ought nor could abridge the house of Nassau nor Prince Maurice in regard of the honorable seruices done by the Prince of Orange of famous memory who neither spared life nor lyuing for the defence of their preuiledges of the authority which of right belongeth vnto him and by oth and promise was giuen him before his Excelencie came into those countries They were likewise compelled to see that the soldiars pay and all martiall causes were so gouerned as the charge might be borne out of the contribution of the Prouinces and out of the particular contribution of euery Prouince the charge of the same Prouince for the which they stood boūd should be paied for otherwise great confusion might grow They sayd that they were summoned by the second member of the Estates of Vtrecht according to their oth and promise made to a stricter vnion for that some men not only English but natural borne countrie men ignorant of the Estate of these Prouinces or rather seeking their owne priuat profit attributed the whole gouernment of the country absolutly vnto him wherein they absued his Excelencie And so they concluded
and of Iustice according to the commission and Act of declaration of the same gouernment Dated the first of February 1586. And for that the present Estate of this Kingdome requyring it wee were commanded to returne home into England for her Maiesties seruice And for that by reason of our absence wee cannot execute the authoritie as we should and as it is necessary to bee done for the good and prosperitie of the country Therefore wee giue you to vnder-stand that our desire is for the cause aforesaid to bee discharged and vnburthened of our said gouernment and place of Captaine generall of the said vnited Prouinces as also of the commission and charge giuen vs to that end and that by this Act signed and sealed with our hand wee haue resigned left hereby doe resigne and leaue the same In such sort that wee will from henceforth wholy leaue of and refuse to haue any dealing in the same commission giuen vnto vs by the aforesad Estates in what manner soeuer it were leauing it vnto them to proceed therein by aduice from her Maiestie as they shall find it necessary and conuenient for the good well-fare of those countries Giuen at London vnder our hand and seale the 17. of December 1587. Subcribed Leicester This Act was presented to the Estates by Sir Henry Killegrey vpon the first of Aprill 1588. being Agent there for her Maiestie With excuse that it came no sooner to his hands Which Resignation the Estates caused to bee generally proclaimed throughout all the Prouinces to the end that euery man might know hee was discharged of his oth to the Earle of Leicester remayning onely bound to the vnited Prouinces States and Townes c. So as after that no man would acknowledge any gouernment of that of the Estates and the soldiars no other Captaine generall then Prince Maurice and the Earle of Hohenloo his Lieutenant The twentith of December Collonell Schenck being at Rhynberghe hauing gathered out of the neighbour garrisons some foure hundred foote three hundred horse hee marcht neere vnto the towne of Zulpich in the Diocesse of Collogne vppon the frontiers of Iuilliers where hee lay quiet for three daies doing wrong to no man vntill that his troopes were fortified No man could iudge what his disseigne was many thinking it was but to spoile the Territories of Collogne against the which hee had a great spleene But on the two and twentith day being risen with his troopes he made a shew to march towards the quarter of Eyssell the brute whereof came presently to Bonne being foure leagues from Collogne But turning head hee past at noone day through a wood at the Village of Rhybourg and so marching on hee aduanced to the mid-way betwixt Bonne and Brulle Where hee made a stand in a little groue vntill that night approached Then taking the lower way by Buhell and Bourchem from whence they of the Castell shotte at his men passing close by their ditch the which they might heare easily at Bonne and to the end they of the towne should haue no adaduertisment he sent certaine horsemen before who staid all those they met Approching neere the towne about eight of the clocke at night he rested a while to feed his men and horses in the vilages of Transdorp and Endich Then comming neere vnto the towne with his ladders although hee vsed them not hauing past by Popeldorf wheras the Archbishops of Cologne haue a pallace he placed his footemen along the riuer of Rhine were not discouered nether by the keeper of Popeldorf nor by the gard of the towne for that the season was darke and rainy And to take away the noise of his men which were vnder the towne there was one of his soldiars gotten into a hogs coate beating the swine continually to make them cry And in this sort the collonell stayd vntill three of the clocke after midnight during the which he caused a great Petard to be made fast to a posterne gate towards the key of the riuer of Rhine close by the towle house the which was seldome opened where he lay still obseruing the rounds of the towne as they past by the light of a Lanterne and seeing no more to passe growing neere fower of the clocke imagining that night workes to be past and that the officers were gone to their rest he commanded them to set fier to the Petard the which gaue so great a blow as not onely the Port but a part of the wall was ouerthrowne by the which the soldiars entred in a throng vnto the second port the which was not so strong as the first which they beat downe sodenly with hatchets and pikeaxes Being entred into the towne some of his men ran vnto the rampars and the Boulwarks and others vnto the Market place the which they seazed on without any resistance there be ing neither captaine nor commander to put the soldiars and Bourgers in order for their defence or that did any thing except one Canonier who made a shot with the which he slue Hans Wichman and soone after the said canonier was ouerthrowne with a small shotte This being done they beat downe Stockem port by the which the Ritmaister Gerard van Balen entred with his cornet the other horsemen being alredy entred by the posterne The collonel who was entred at the first with the foot-men went then to horsebacke and ranne throughout all the quarters of the towne placing his sentinels and corps de gard forbidding vpon paine of death to spoyle vntill they were well assured The Bourgers hearing this great noyse and terror of the petard the trompets sounding and the drommes beating an alarum with the soldiers cryes kept them-selues close in their houses for wheresoeuer the soldiars discouered any light they shot through the doores and windoes Schencke placed his horse-men in the Bishops Pallace to preserue the chancery So after that hee had set all things in good order being maister of the towne he abandoned it to his soldiars who spoyled it and put the Bourgers to ransome intreating them no other-wise then it it had beene an enemies towne taken by assault Charles Bille gouernor of the towne hearing the noyse which the petard made the alarum escaped halfe drest and fled towards Confluence He had beene aduertised two daies before that Schenks men were lodged about Zulpich whervpon he sent a good part of the garrison to keepe the neighbour villages from spoyling yet he was sufficiently warned that there were mad lads would come to visit him wherevnto he answered that hee must take the care of it for the which Schenck did afterwards flowt him This towne of Bonne being well assured for Truchses Schenck resolued to keepe it causing it to be rampared and fortefied in all places and then did furnish it withall things necessary for a towne of warre withall he caused a fort to be presently built right opposit on the other side of the riuer
to bring him to the duke These two came to Wyke for the lord of Brederode and the Baylife Amerongen before they were deliuered the bishop would haue the lord of Brederode put againe to the Rack in the presence of Noblemen and that before hee was laied vpon it hee should take a sollemne oth to answere the truth to that which should bee demanded him wherevpon a Notarie and certaine witnesses were called this proceeding continued two whole daies hee was once stript and layed vpon the banke but seeing they could drawe nothing from him without greater torments nor from Amerongen they suffred them to goe with the sayd Comissioners who led them to Berghen vpon Some to the duke but they found him not there being gone to the seege of Amiens so as they conducted them to Ruppelmond in Flanders wheras they were detained almost a whole yeare At the dukes returne the processe beeing referred to the iudgements of the knights of the golden fleece to heare the sayd lord in his iustifications his Accusers were cited to bring proofe of their accusations seeing that by tortures hee did not confesse any of those crimes wherewith hee was charged But none of his Accusers appeering the duke sitting in his seate of iustice with the knights of the order among the which were Engelbert Earle of Nassau Barron of Breda the lordes of Crequy Lalain and others to the number of twelue Barrons the sayd lord of Brederode was adiudged free and absolued of all crimes imposed vpon him and was restored to all his Estates goods and honours to the great content of all these Noblemen and knights who complained much of the great wrong that had beene done him and he was honorably receiued of all men Hee liued not aboue two yeares after hee died in the yeare 1473. and was interred at Vianen let vs heereby consider of what force enuie is which spareth neither great not small Two yeares after Iohn of Amerongen was found innocent of the crimes that were obiected against him notwithstanding his confession vpon the Racke and in like sort absolued inlarged and restored to his Office of Baylife to the great content of the Bourgeses of Vtrecht As for Ghysbrecht Prouost Cathedrall brother to the lord of Brederode before hee could recouer his liberty hee was forced to resigne his Prouostship to an other and to sweare neuer to keepe his residence in Vtrecht the which hauing performed hee was set at liberty in the yeare 1470. and went to liue at Breda where hee died a yeare after and was buried at the Chartreux by Geertruydenbergh Duke Charles not satisfied with the annuall contribution or tribute which the Frisons payed him according to the last appointment writ vnto them that they should send their deputies to the towne of Enchuysen the seauenth of Aprill 1470. to heare what should bee propounded vnto them on his behalfe They sent their Deputies But the duke beeing troubled with the warres of France came not in person but sent Philip of Wassenare lord of Woerburch and others his commissioners There were many things ambiguously and doubtfully propounded and debated and so many cauillations found out to intrappe the Frisons as it did much displease the Noblemen of Friseland who retyred themselues and would not treate in that fashion desiryng to goe plainely and roundly to worke Yet the Clergie and Deputies of townes remayned who willing to haue a finall ende desired to knowe what the dukes demaunde was It was sayd vnto them that hee demaunded a siluer pennie of his coyne vpon euerie chimney for all the countrie of Friseland in generalll The Deputies demanding of what valour this penie should bee for that they had no charge from the Estates to yeelde to aboue three Liards or a soulz at the most the which the dukes commissionars would haue referred to the dukes discretion The Frisons in like sort demanded a day of aduise to make report thereof vnto the Estates The report made they would no waies yeeld vnto it but concluded that if the duke would force them they would defend themselues and hinder his entrie into the coūtry The duke at his returne into France came into Holland hauing heard by his Deputies the intention of the Frisons hee resolued to force them to his will by armes and therevpon caused a great fleete of shippes to be prepared to imbarke his men at armes and to land in Friseland But it fell out happely for the Frisons that Edward the forth King of England being expelled his realme came into Zeeland to the duke his brother in lawe to demande succors of him against the Earle of Warwike who had chased him out of his Kingdome The which the duke promised sending this fleete appointed for the ruine of the Frisons to succor the sayd King Edward the which carried him backe into England Afterwardes the duke had so great warres against the French Suisses and Lorrains in the which in the end hee was slaine as the Frisons remayned in peace without any further disturbance In the yeare 1470. Lewis the leauenth the French King had a great desire to bee reuenged of the brauary which the duke of Bourgongne had done him at Peronne practising vnder hand to haue the townes vpon the Riuer of Some reuolt the which being hard to effect by secret practise hee must attempt it by open warre true it is that hee had iust cause to apprehend the dukes affronts at Peronne who had forced him to make a peace and to go against the Liegeois that were before his friends yet hee beganne it some what fearefully although he had a great desire to it The Earle of Saint Pol Constable of France and the duke of Guiennes people desired warre rather then peace betwixt these two Princes for two considerations the first was for feare to loose their Estates the other was they perswaded the King that if hee had not some forraine warre he should haue ciuill dissention at home The Constable offred the towne of Saint Quentin pretending that hee had great intelligences in Flanders and Brabant where hee would cause many townes to rebell The duke of Guienne offred for his part to serue the King with fiue hundred men at armes The King meaning to beginne this warre with solemnity called a Parliament at Tours whereas many Iudges assisted there it was concluded according to the Kings intention that the duke should bee adiourned to appeere in the open Parliament at Paris The King assuring himselfe that hee would answere proudly or that hee would doe some-thing contrarie to the authority of the court hee should therefore haue more iust cause to make warre against him An Vssher of the Parliament went to Gand to adiorne him being vnder the souerainty of the crowne of France which he did at his comming from the masse whereat he was much amazed and discontented hauing caused the Vsher to be put in prison yet soone after he suffred him
faithfull and loyall seruants and grounded vpon right iustice and good policie Yet by the sinister interpretation which was made by the Cardinall and his adherents it was imputed to rebellion and a raising of innouations So as it became a Troiane horse from whence those that were enemies to the king and the publicke good haue drawne so many calamities and miseries For if the duchesse and the kings counsell would in any sort haue foreseene it so many miseries had not ensued and the fire which was kindled had not in a manner consumed the whole countrey whereof wee must onely blame the insatiable crueltie of some counsellors who were not satisfied with the rigour of the Edicts but they must second the Cardinals ambition whom they see in danger by this petition to receiue a great disgrace they themselues to fall from their credit and authority and it may be worse when as all their practises had bin discouered by a conuocation of the generall estates which they demaunded This was the anuile whereon were forged all the miseries which ensued for that they did not satisfie the demaunds of the nobilitie as was fit and expedient whereas contrariwise the said counsellors tooke occasion to pursue and persecute those that had signed this petition as guiltie of high treason and this terror was greater than the former To which petition the next day after the presentation the Gouernesse made answere as followeth Her highnesse vnderstanding what is demanded by the contents of this petition is resolued to send vnto his Maiesty to represent it vnto him and to do all good offices to make his Maiesty yeeld to the demaunds of the petitioners who must hope for all things worthie of their demands according to his Maiesties accustomed bounty and clemencie The Gouernesse hauing before the comming of the said petition by the aduice of the gouernours of prouinces knights of the order and counsellors of state labored to make a moderation of the edicts touching Religion and to present it vnto his Maiesty the which her highnesse hopes shal be to all mens content And for that her highnesse authority as the petitioners may well conceiue is not so absolute as to surcease the Inquisition and the Edicts as they demand and that it is not conuenient to leaue the country without a law concerning Religion she hopes that they will rest satisfied with that she sends vnto his Ma. to that end and that in the mean time attending his answer her highnes will giue order that as well the Inquisitors whereas any haue been as other officers respectiuely shal proceed modestly and discreetly in their charges so as there shal be no cause to complaine Her highnesse expecting also that the petitioners for their parts will gouerne themselues accordingly and it is to be hoped that by her highnesse good endeuours his Ma. will be pleased to discharge those countries of the Inquisition wheras now it is and as it may be vnderstood by his answer to the chiefe towns of Brabant that they shal not be charged And her highnes will the more willingly employ her selfe to do all good offices with his Maiesty to that effect for that she is assured the petitioners haue no intētion to alter any thing concerning the ancient religion obserued in these countries but to maintaine it with all their powers Made by her highnesse at Brussels the 6 of April 1566 signed Margareta Who so doth well consider of this apostile or answer may easily gather the profit that shold follow and what fruits the nobles might expect for this delay to aduertise the king was only to win time and so to be better instructed of the most expedient meanes to auoid this danger Vpon this on the 8 of April the gentlemen desired another time of audience where they thāked the Regent for her gracious fauor wishing that her answer had bin somewhat cleerer and larger saying that it grieued them that she had not the authority to disannul the proclamatiō desiring her notwithstanding to forbid the officers to proceed any further therein and as they were content to submit themselues in all things to that which his Maiesty should ordaine and appoint to be done cōcerning religion th◅y hoped likewise so to behaue themselues that nothing but good report should be giuen of them protesting once again to haue done their duties if there should after ensue any further trouble for want of better order to be taken therein beseeching her to take it in good part and for that their aduersaries sought to put their request in print they desired that the K. printer might do it in such sort as it was deliuered without falsifying the same After counsell taken the Regent made answer That she hoped to take such order with the Inquisitors that no disorder nor scandale should therby ensue and that if any should so fall out it should rather proceed from them than others willing them to be carefull that no scandale should rise amongst them withall praying them not to proceed any further to draw any more company vnto them Wherunto the gentlemen replied That they thanked her for her gracious answere but they should be better pleased if she would vouchsafe to declare in presence of all the lords there assembled that she took their assembly in good part and all to be done for the seruice of his Maiesty assuring her that they would behaue themselues in all things peaceably and quietly Whereunto the Regent answered That she beleeued no lesse But for that she made no further speech to shew her entent the gentlemen once againe craued That she would openly declare what she thought of their proceedings Whereunto she made answere in few words That for that time she could not tell what she might say therunto And with that it being perceiued at the gentlemens departure that they seemed to be discontented diuers of the counsell and others as Monsieur Dassonuille entreated the Regent that she for more quietnes would send the gentlemen away with better satisfaction Whereupon to giue some content vnto the gentlemen fearing that an absolute denyall or the long expectance of avoyage into Spaine should alter them by some new iealousies the eight day of the same moneth a promise was made vnto them by the knights of the Order touching some points of the said petition whereof an act was made as followeth The noblemen here present promise vpon their faith and the oath of their Order to the deputies of this noble and honourable companie hauing sufficient authoritie to receiue the promises of the said noblemen That from this day forward the magistrates and Inquisitors shall not proceed for matter of Religion by apprehension of bodies confiscation of goods nor banishments for that which is past or to come vnlesse that by some seditious act or foule scandale tending to trouble the Commonweale any be found culpable In which case you my Masters shall take knowledge as is fit and that by way of
by some that shee sought to make a peace without their consent This in effect was the contents of the letters on both sides sent and receiued touching the Earle of Leicesters gouernment where-with her Maiesty seemed to be some what pleased but yet it was an occasion that many men esteemed his Excelencie the lesse With this authority the Earle of Leicester was instauled in his gouernment and the contributions of the countrie deliuered into his hands amounting vnto the yearely valew of foure and twenty hundred thousand gilders and aboue besides the connoy mony the profits of the admiralty and her Maiesties ayde his owne intertainement being 100000. gilders a yeare presently therevpon hee set downe an order for marshall discipline amongst his souldiers and made a proclamation bearing date in Vtrecht the fourth day of Aprill whereby was forbidden the transporting and carying of all kind of necessaries victualls ammunition for warre or any manner of marchandise whatsoeuer vnto the enemy and their associates or to any newtrall places as also all manner of dealing or correspondence by letters of exchanges or otherwise not onely with Spaine but with France and the East countries vnder what pretence soeuer it might bee vpon paine of death and losse of shippe and goods The letter to execute these things one Iaques Ringoult a man verie familier with the Earle of Lecester and the onely inuentor of the sayd proclamation had gotten by an extraordinarie commission wholy without the aduise of the Councell of Estate thereby to deale and proceede extraordinarily with those that had any dealings with the enemie by forme of inquisition search and examination searching all the marchants letters bookes and secret accountes a thing not vsed nor accustomed in these countries and wholy against manie priueledges old orders and freedomes of the Prouinces and townes and not content therewith he sought meanes to haue the same order vsed in England against the Netherlanders inhabiting there in Sandwich and other places This proclamation and commission much disliked the Estates and mooued them to cōplaine against it At that time likewise it was put in practise hoped to be effected to raise a generall contribution vpon all nations trafficking to sea for the furtherance of the warres in regard that England being vnited with Holland and Zeeland it might prescribe and giue lawes as Lords of the sea how and whether men should traficke which lawe beeing set downe the Earle of Leicester thought to compell all sailors and sea-faring-men to come and buy passe-ports or saffe conducts of him thereby to haue libertie to deale freely in euerie place contributing some thing to the warres But when many letters of complaint concerning the same were sent into England The Noble Councell of Estate esteemed it a verie hard matter for to bring the French Scottes Danes and East-countrie-men there vnto and therevpon the contribution beganne to bee behinde-hand and the proclamation standing in force caused great trouble and hindrance in the Netherlandes for that by it much traficke was conuerted and ceased in these countries for that many rich marchants and sailers of Antwerp and other places withdrawing them-selues and flying from thence would not staie and inhabite in the lowe countries because they might not vse there trade as they were wont to doe but went to inhabite and dwell at Hamburgh Breame Emden Stode and diuerse other places from whence they might freely traficke into Spaine Italie Portugale and the Islandes and by that meanes made other Nations acquainted both with their traficke by sea and brought much dealing into many other townes so that at the last in Holland and Zeeland they were forced to dispence with that proclamation and againe to permit the traficke by sea West-ward or els in short time they should haue driuen all trade of marchandise and sea-faring out of their countries togither with their richest inhabitants those Prouinces liuing most by fishing and sea-faring hand-labors and trade of marchandise The fiue and twenty day of Iuly the Earle of Leicester being in Vtrecht made an act concerning the erecting of a new tresory in the vnited Prouince whereof hee apointed to bee principall in that office the Earle of Niewenar and Menes gouernor of Gelderland Zutphen and Vtrecht with authority to sit in the councell of Estate for the second man hee apointed Maister Henry Killegray one of the receiuers of her Maiesties Exchequer in England and a Councelor of Estate in the low countries the third person was Reynardt de Aeswin Lord of Barkelo and for tresorer Iaques Reingoult Lord of Canwenbergh and for commissioners Sebastian Loose Iosse Teylink and Maister Paul Buys The Receiuers generall the Treasuror for the warres the Clarke nor the Vssher beeing not named but blankes left to put in their names one Danell Burgrate being apointed chiefe secretary with free liberty to goe into the Councell of Estate and there to haue audience After the contract and vnion made by the Netherlands with the Queene was past and agreed vpon the King of Spaine caused all the Englishmen through all his dominions to bee arrested and their shippes and goods confiscate vsing them most rygorously wherevpon many of them became men of warre hauing commissions from the Queene for that they might not otherwise doe it in regard that as then there was no open warre proclaimed with Spaine who beeing at sea made good vse of the sayd arrest in Spaine for that all shippes going or comming West-ward that they could come by vnder that pretence were taken and made prize and at that time the Netherlanders could hardly deale or traficke into Spaine Portingall and the Islandes vnlesse it were vnder Spaniards names their Factors dwelling there and esteemed for naturall bred and borne Spaniards and vpon this suspition the shippes were brought into England and the keeping and possession of the goods that were in them was deliuered into the hands of them that tooke them and if it were such wares as would not keepe long they had authoritie to sell them giuing securitie for restitution thereof if the sayd goods were not found to bee good prize In the beginning of this winter in Ianuary Taxis Lieutenant to Verdugo Gouernor in Friseland for the King of Spaine gathered togither the garrisons thereaboutes and entred into Westergoe where hauing found meanes and oportunitie for to passe through the countrie by reason of the great frosts and yee hee had wonne Worckcom Coudom Hindeloopen and some other places The nine and twentie day of Ianuarie it beganne to thawe wherefore the Spaniards beeing loath to bee shut vp in that waterie countrie thought to make their retreate and not to attend anie further hazard In his retreat he met with some pesants armed whom he defeated wherof some saued themselues in a Church and refusing for to yeeld were burnt from thence they went to the village of Boxom a league from Leeuwaerden where they were told that there was nere them 2000. Frisons Protestantes
whom the contributions are to bee gathered might not be ouer much burthened That the garrisons might bee payd which the Commanders ouer them complained of fearing mutinies and reuolts in regard that the fourth part of the contribution gathered in Holland would suffise to pay their frontier garrisons and the halfe of the contribution of Zeeland for the garrisons of Zeeland and that therfore the three parts of the Hollanders contribution and the other halfe of the Zeland contribution would serue for the rest of the garrisons That no pioners nor laborers Wagons should bee forcibly taken out of the country villages contrary to the ordinances That according to their priuileges no man should be summoned to answere to the law out of the Netherlands That the authority of Magistrats which was much diminished and decaied namely of Vtrecht might be vpholden and restored againe That Vtrecht might not be seperated from Holland but be againe reduced vnder the gouernment of Prince Maurice That the proclamation dated the fourteenth of August concerning traficke and nauigation and the letters of the fiue and twenty of August forbidding the carrying forth of any kind of wares or marchandises tending to the ruine and ouerthrowe of the Netherlands might be called in againe and free liberty permitted vnto all men That the mony belonging to the admiralty should not bee distributed nor vsed to any other end then to the same for which it is appointed That new or strange manner of collection of contributions might no more be vsed and that no more question might be made against the administration of spirituall goods That concerning the contributions of Holland Zeeland and Friseland not touching matters of policie neither yet in the administration thereof there should bee no audience nor good credit giuen vnto any person what soeuer that had beene any dealer in the treasory of Brabant Flanders or other the enemies countries not hauing any knowledge or vnderstanding of the state of these Prouinces and that his Excelency in all causes concerning the contribution policie or such like affaires would vse the aduise and Councell of the sayd Prouinces Vnto these demandes and complaintes the Earle of Leicester made many excuses and diuerse faire promises that all should bee amended but that as now hee had some occasion to goe into England in regard that some matter of importance and great waight was then to bee handled in the high Court of Parliament in England The states sought all the meanes they could to stay him from going but it was in vaine and so the reformation was deferred tell his returne againe wherevpon they desired him to leaue some good order for the gouernment of the Netherlands during his absence for which cause vpon the three and twenty daie of Nouember hee made an act whereby hee committed the gouernment thereof to the Councell of Estate with this clause that all should bee done by aduise of the generall States authorising them with full powre to consult and dispose of all causes whatsoeuer with as full authoritie as if hee himselfe were personaly present not onelie for Marshall causes but also for policie according to their good discretions for the preseruation and welfare of the Netherlands common peace and quietnesse of the State and the resistance of the enemie with this prouiso that all dispatches and commissions should bee made and vnder written In his name with his expresse commaundement and authoritie by his Cousin Prince Maurice Earle of Nassaw and one of the Councell of the Noble Estate beeing there for the Queenes most excelent Maiestie or in their absence by two other of the sayd Councell of Estate and that the sayd Councell of Estate should deale in all other causes according to their ordinarie instructions without deminishing any of his authoritie and that the garrisons of townes and fortes should bee placed altered and changed according to their aduise and counsell but in his name and that the commissions and authorities of the same as also the passes and lodging of the souldiers in the champian countrie should in like sort be made in his name and no man to deale or meddle there-with notwithstanding any commission or commandement to the contrary and that the warre by Sea and the moneys appointed to that end should rest in the disposition of the Admirall and the counsell of the Admiraltie And further for the ordering of the warre the sayd counsell of estate should appoint a sufficient and experienced man that should sit and consult with them in the said counsell commanding all gouerners Coronels and Captaines of horse and foote both by sea and land and all Magistrates what-soeuer c. to bee obedient vnto the sayd counsell of estate as if he were personally present and that during his absence or till that it should bee otherwise appointed by the generall estates promising vpon his princely word to allow maintaine and ratifie and cause to be allowed maintained and ratified all and whatsoeuer the said counsell of estate in his absence should decree and ordaine Dated the 24. of Nouember 1586. subscribed Robert Leicester and vnder by order from his excellencie Signed Gilpin The same day the Earle of Leicester made an other act of restraint or recalling of the counsell of estates authoritie aforesaid the effect whereof was as followeth That although his Excellencie had committed the gouernment of the country vnto the counsell of estate with full power and authoritie both by water and by land commanding they should be obayed in all things as his owne person as by his act appeared yet his Excellencies intent and meaning was that neuerthelesse during his absence hee would reserue certaine causes to his owne will and disposition and therefore decreed by this other act that the aforesayd councell of estate notwithstanding the aforesayd commission and generall absolute and free power vnto them committed and granted should not alter nor change any thing touching the gouernment and command of places by his excellencie already giuen and bestowed nor touching the keeping of any Castles or Fortes as also that they should not meddle with the chiefe officers of armies as generalls of horse and foote nor their Lieutenants nor with any other principall officers vnlesse it were with the knowledge and consent first had from his Excellencie and when any one should chance to dye they should not put any other in his place but with prouiso They should not discharge any prisoners nor yet take any assurances They should not dispose of confiscations and spirituall goods without his knowledge or pre-consent And further that they should put to their helping hands that the order concerning the English companies may be obserued As also touching the carrying of victuals out of the Prouinces especially of that which groweth within the same that they should haue a speciall care regard that it were done as much as might be to the profit of the Netherlands and so he could bee well contented therewith and
gouernor of Gelder Vtrecht and Oueryssel so as he hath brought in diuers gouernors with equall power in one Prouince the which could not bee without confusion Yet there was no redresse not-with-standing many admonitions that were giuen vnto the Earle They complayned also that that the towne of Deuenter and the great fort before Zutphen which were two of the keyes of the country had beene comitted to Stanley and Yorke contray to the liking of the Estates who held them to bee no beter then traytors And although the Earle had ingaged his person and honor for their fidelities yet they found by experience and to their losse that errors committed in matters of State are not to bee repayred by gage pledg nor caution And as it seemed that these flatterers and bad councellors sought nothing more then the ruine of the country The Nobility and townes to discouer the ground of all had seazed vpon the person and papers of Stephen Perret whereby it was knowne that the said Ieames Ringault was the cheefe motiue and conductor of all the troubles a mortall enemie to the Estates and the country secretly reconciled to the Spaniard and making profession to ouerthrow all good dessigns and aduise and to breake of all good correspondency betwixt the Estates and the Earle as it appeared sufficiently by the banishment of the best Bourgers of Vtrecht whome he called vetus fermentum All which hauing bin imparted vnto the Earle by the deputies of the priuat Estates of Holland and finding it true he decreed that Ringault should be put in prison promising to do good Iustice and commanding the Prouinciall councell of Holland and west Freezland to make his processe yet hee wrought so by the meanes of his adherents and partisans as he was inlarged and for that hee should not be answerable to the iurisdiction of Holland he was led to Vtrecht there to be hed of the mutins and to deuide Vtrecht withall that diocesse from Holland vsing perswasions without ground to the Earle and to some English Noblemen that the Estates and the councell of Estate were enemies to religion and to the Earles authority for which cause the sayed Ringault was discouered by the papers that were seazed on being a very hipocriticall Spaniard and a dissembling counterfet seeking but to enrich him-selfe with the countries mony then to play banquerout and so retire to the enemies party As hee did since where they scorne him suffring him to dye in prison at Brusselles like a beggerly rascall being deteyned for his old and new debts Finally to the end their councells and practises should not be hindred by the Earles absence and retreat into England they caused him to signe this last act whereof mention hath beene made by the which the authority of the Estates and councell was restrayned in the maine points concerning the preseruation of the country the which he reserued to his own will and disposition especially the change and renuing of English garrisons holding the cheefe townes and forts of the country The which was done so secretly as neither the generall Estates the councell of estate or any priuat person did euer heare speake of it vntill that Stanley refus'd to obey the counsell of Estate producing the said act for his defence They declared also that after the yeelding vp of Deuenter and the forts of Zutphen if the fidelity of generall Norris and some Englishmen that were of the councell of State had not beene it was to be feared that the garrisons of Berghen vp Zoom and Ostend after the example of Stanley and Yorke had done the like considering the familiarity they had with the enemy to whome the English soldiars fled by troupes leauing their Sentynells and Corps de gard Where-vpon amidest so many doubts and distrusts so many practises and factions among the commons so many complaints of soldiars for their bad pay considering also the danger that might grow by the want of a Commander the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces thought it expedient hauing no other meanes to bee assured from so mighty an enemy seeing that the respect of her Maiesty of England and the Earles authority fayled them then to take some course them-selues restoring the gouernor's of Prouinces to their first authority and setting a good order for their soldiars for the preseruation and fortification of their frontiers and to send their shippes of warre to sea against the enemy the better to incorrage the subiects They remembred also the pasports giuen in England by the Secretary Bourgraue vnder the Earles name as gouernor of the vnited Prouinces the which they said could not be good in law for that a gouernor hath no command out of his prouinces and besides it was against the good of the country They also gaue a reason for the enlargement of Paul Buys concluding in the end that the letter of the fourth of February had beene written aduisedly and with mature deliberation by the estates who haue beene alwaies accustomed to proceed roundly and plainely and without any dissimulation to impart vnto their Lords Princes and gouernors any thing that might greeue or charge the people The which they haue alwaies found the most safest course and least offenciue to their Princes that vsed reason and iustice seeing that for the loue of the commons they descouered the naked truth vnto them to disswad them from that which slanderous and false practises might induce them to beleeue and so abuse them to the preiudice of their honors and reputation As also there shall bee nothing found in the sayd letter but the pure truth proceeding from the sincere affection which they beare vnto their deere country to her Maiestie and to the honor and authority of the sayd Earle And fearing happily that her Maiestie by some sinister impression of the sayd letters had with-drawne the affection which she did beare vnto their affaires whereon depends the health of their estate and that at other times the like had happened vpon their petitions they found nothing more expedient then to send her a coppy relying vpon her Maiesties singular bountie and wisdome whereof they had heretofore tasted when shee should be more particularly informed of the whole estate of the countrey whereby she may be the better inclined to graunt them some extraordinary succors to repaire that which was shaken according to the tenor of the said letters This answer and ample declaration was made by the generall Estates the seuenteene of Iune with the which the Ambassadors and some other of the English nation after many disputes and replies had cause of contentment But the Earle of Leicester was not well pleased there-with as he shewed afterwards by his iustification the which hee caused to bee printed at his returne from England comming to succor Scluse being much discontented with the Lord of Buckhurst Doctor Clarke Maister Wilkes and especially with generall Norris whom hee caused to bee called home to be sent into Ireland to his
if any one should intrude himselfe into their assemblies or medled with their proceedings although it concerned himselfe hee ought to bee punnished for examples â—…ke beseeching his Excelencie that if hee could name any such men they would assist him to haue them punnished according to their deserts And wheras question was made by those busie headed fellowes whether his Excelencie had the like authoritie giuen him as the Emperor Charles the fift had or the like in euery respect that the Gouernors of the Netherlands which are by them appointed euer had They besought his Excelency to vnderstand that although the Estates Gouernors Officers and Ministers of Iustice in the time of the Emperor Charles the fift and of other Princes his predecessors were not by oth bound vnto the Gouernor Generall of the Netherlands yet the Estates held themselues bound vnto his Excelencie beeing in the Netherlands to bee obedient vnto him according vnto the lawfull custome and manner with ioynt and conferred authoritie not meaning thereby in any respect to impeach or derogate from their due authority but that it still belongeth vnto and resteth in the generall Estates and the Estates of the particular Prouinces as the Emperor Charles the fift did in times past when as he made the Dutches Lady Marguerity Queene Mary the Dutches of Sauoie others Gouernors general yet he commited not the soueraignty vnto them but reserued it vnto himselfe and so it was now with those countries euer excepting that which hath beene since altered by the contract made with her Maiesty And they likewise vnderstood that all matters in the time of the Emperor Charles the fift were at the disposition of the General so should they now be at his Excelencies disposition and of the councel of Estate according vnto the act of transferring the gouernment vnto his Excelency vnderstanding that in making any dispatches the instructions which were giuen or any thing else that was accustomed to bee decreed and published in the Emperor Charles his name shall now bee made decreed and published in the name and vnder the seale counter-seale and signet of the generall estates in such causes as concerne the whole Estate of the vnited Prouinces in generall but if they touch any particular Prouince they shall bee done in the name and vnder the seale of the same Prouince Also that all Gouernors of Prouinces generall or particular Collonels Captaines and other officers and men of warre shall be bound by othe to be obedient to the vnited Prouinces in generall to his Excellencie as gouernor generall thereof and to the Prouinces and Townes of the same wherein they shall bee particularly imployed and that all of them in generall shall be obedient vnto your Excellencie as gouernor generall and the Collonels Captaines Officers and soldiers to the Gouernors of those Prouinces wherein they shall be imploied and to their Lieutenants Captaines and Commanders that are now or shall hereafter haue charge ouer them Touching the absolute power which is giuen vnto his Excellencie in matters of warre the Estates vnderstand that the same shall extend and haue power ouer all soldiers and men of warre both by sea and land as well her Maiesties succors as those that are otherwise in pay and entertained by these countries to command them when time serueth to march against the enemie or to goe vpon any other enterprize or seruice and to execute iustice and martiall lawe prouided alwayes that his excellencie shall not leuie any more souldiers then may be well entertained and payde out of her Maiesties succours and the contributions which are raised in the countrey according to the resolution of the Estates They desired further that their warres by sea might be ordered by the Admirall of the sea and the placing of garrisons by the gouernors of particular Prouinces And to the end there might here-after bee a better vnion correspondencie and trust entertained betwixt the Estates and his Excellencie they desired redresse of that which by turbulent and busie headed fellowes who in the yeare past in placing of any Gouernors or superintendents of townes and quarters and in the conferring of any principall Offices as well ciuill as cryminall had beene done contrary to the act of the transferring the Gouernment And withall to cause those things to bee put in execution which the generall and particular Estates according to the contract made with her Maiestie and the act a foresayd in the declaration formerly made vnto his Excelencie did request crauing likewise that to that end hee would be pleased to put from him and not to giue any credit in matters concerning the countrie to all such as shall seeke to set diuision betwixt the Estates and his Excelency and consequently such as seeke to bring the country into confusion and his Excellencies honor and credit into danger and disgrace To this declaration made by the Estates the Earle of Leicester made answer to the first six articles vpon the margent thereof saying that hee neither sought nor affected any greater authority then what the generall Estates had giuen him by the foresaid act wherewith he was well content not seeking in any sort to diminish the authority which belonged vnto the Estates neither yet desired he to make any question thereof but onely sought and wished that his authoritie might in all things be duly vpholden and maintained according to the contract and the honor of the place whereof the Estates had put him in possession without any derogation or restraint and that no alteration might bee allowed nor vsed in his titles neither yet in his accustomed seales by the consent of the Estates but as it had beene obserued by his last fore passed Predecessors in the generall gouernment As touching the oth his Excellency held it not conuenient that the souldiers should take an oth to the particular Prouinces or Townes neither yet to their gouernors or lieutenants but it was not onely a new inuention but to be feared that so many othes would breed both confusion and contempt among the soldiers and that it ought to be looked vnto according to the nineteene Article of the contract made with her Maiesty vnderstanding that the soldiers entring into garrison in any of the Townes should sweare notwithstanding the oth by them made vnto his Excellency and the country that they shall keepe and defend those townes for the Estates the generall gouernor and that they should not doe nor practise any thing secretly that might be preiudiciall vnto the said townes with this clause that his excelency shall haue power to displace change or call forth such garrisons at his pleasure when occasion is offered To the other articles hee agreed in generall termes if they were to bee done alwaies respecting time and occasion not thinking it fit that for want of such things the countries seruice should bee neglected touching the last point hee desired a more ample declaration where-vpon the Estates of Holland made a
place which hee then had to take order for the same finding that his great patience serued to no other end but to encourage and fortifie the bad and to aduance their leagues and factions thereby to bring those Prouinces into misery and confusion After that he sent an other aduertisement vnto the Councell of Estate how that the Earle of Hohenlo continued still in his former pretence and that he had sent for soldiers out of Naerden and Viana and for certaine horsemen had sent some towards Lillo and to other places all by his owne authority These complaints bred a great alteration among the Councel of Estate and the generall Estates the which did threaten some great inconuenience But ten or twelue daies after vpon good information it was found to bee a meere practise of some pick-thankes and seditious persons for that Prince Maurice being demanded what it meant and they remembring themselues they found that the Earle of Hohenlo had gathered these soldiers together at William-stat to doe some great exployt vpon the enemy about Lillo neere Antwerp whereof Prince Maurice aduertised the Earle of Leicester wherevnto vpon the sixteene of September hee made answer and allowed of the sayd enterprise thanking him for his diligence therein wishing them all good successe But the Earle of Hohenlo being aduertised by some of his friends out of Holland that the Earle of Leicester tooke the pretence of that exploit in euill part he gaue it ouer and sent his soldiers back againe into their garrisons before hee could haue any intelligence of the Earle of Leicesters consent where-by it appeered that all mistakings and other dislikes proceeded onely from falce reports sinister conceits and ielousies the which began before the Earle of Leicesters going out of the vnited Prouinces and increased much in his absence by certaine accidents the which sence his returne were more agrauated and inflamed b◅ reason of the complaints on both sides and for that the Earle of Leicester had had little conference with the estate nor conuerst much with them sence his last comming ouer whereby the affaires of the country were much interessed and little or nothing was effected for want of good correspondency Of all these controuersies the Earle of Hohenlo caused an apology to bee printed whereas all his reasons are set downe at large against the Earle of Leicester answering that which hee had propounded in his declaration of the seauenth of September wherevnto for breuities sake I will referre the reader The Earle of Leicester being much moued with the declaration deliuered him at Dordrecht and with some other occations which past he made an answer in manner of a replycation to the estates being then at Dordrecht bearing date the seauenth of September Shewing that whereas the Queene of England and all other Princes had refused them pittying their estate being zealous to relligion and affecting the ancient law and league betwixt England and the house of Bourgongne had beene moued to ayde and assist them whose Maiesty at their instant su◅e had sent him ouer into those parts vpon whome they had imposed the gouernment thereof the which he preferring the loue he bare vnto those countries before his age which required rest had taken vpon him and did his best endeauor for the good of the common cause but being called into England vpon vrgent causes there happened during his absence the betraying of Deuenter Zutphen the which he excused and much greeued at He shewed moreouer that his honor and authority in those parts had beene brought in question and much restrained and withall that they had written letters vnto the Queene of the forth of February though not with full consent of all the Prouinces not onely to dishonor him thereby in those countries but also to bring him into disgrace with her Maiesty beingful of false slāderous reports yet hauing reconcyled al with her Maiesty he was now returned ouer againe He then excused the losse of Scluis through the want of men and mony which had bin promised laying the blame vpon the officers of the admiralty and the Captaines of ships He made mention of the quarrell betwixt him and the earle of Hohenlo and of the estate of the wars and how they should proceed therein As hee expected some resolution from them of all these things new matters were brought vnto him by their deputies touching the Soueraignty tending to the limitation and diminishing of his authority contrary to the act and the letters sent from Middlebourg vnto her Maiesty by which their shew of smal esteeme and crosse proceding there was great losse to be expected in Gelderland the which he protested ought not to be imputed vnto him being redy to doe his best endeauor to impeach it so as he might haue the men and money that were promised at Middlebourg But vnderstanding that the want of money and deferring of the soldiars was by some imputed to the need and pouerty of the Prouinces as vnable to beare so great a burthen by others to the treaty of peace which her Maiesty had begon with the duke of Parma hee therefore for the better ordring of their affayers to further their resolutions aduised them to make a generall assembly at the Hage and there to consider of their owne power and meanes and whether it were sufficient to maintaine the warres that hee might be certefied by a true information what their meanes were and that in so doing her Maiesty would continue her ayde if not there were no reason that her Maiesty if they were not able to mainetaine their warres should be forced to beare the whole burthen for they might well thinke her maiesty was to consume a great treasor for the defence of her Kingdomes of England and Ireland and that she had warres with the King of Spaine onely for their sakes wherfore if their meanes with her Maiesties succors were not sufficient there was some hope of a peace to be made with the duke of Parma which her maiesty ment not to yeeld vnto And wheras it was giuen forth that at the instance of the king of Denmarke she had proceeded there-in it was a faulse sugiestion the contrary where-of might appeere by her Maiesties sending of Sir Francis Drake into Spaine and his owne returne into the Netherlands so as they were able to proceede therein and yet her Maiestie was not restrained by the contract from any treatie of peace although shee bee content not to seeke any for these countries without their priuity and consent But if they could not raise sufficient means to maintaine their warres he demanded what they would haue him to do therein with her Maiesty or what they desired more If they thought good to continue the gouernment in him according to the act with the ordring of their contributions to bee at his and the councell of Estates disposition and that they could make it apparant vnto him that with her Maiesties ordinary
They caused to bee published vnder the authority of the duke of Mayene as Lieutenant generall of the Estate and crowne of France the entertayning of the councell of Trent the which in the time of the precedent Kings could neuer bee allowed nor receiued by the courts of parliament nor the French church It was published the eight of August with a new forme of oth the which they did for the vpholding and maintayning of their league against the King whome they sought to haue treacherously murthered by one Peter Barriere called la Barre borne at Orleans who being descouered araigned and found guilty was broken vpon the wheele in the sayd month of August During this generall truce their were sundry discourses and many propositions made for the setling of the affaires of the realme The King who desired nothing more then the reunion of his subiects and the abolition of that pernitious party of the league labored to reconcile and to winne vnto him the duke of Mayene with offers of charges and very honorable aduancements The duke hauing in his opinion many strings to his bow stood vpon doubtfull termes sometimes be promised and then he refused againe prot acting the businesse with many delaies and vnder hand procuring that the decision which was made by the Sorbonists in the yeare 1590. in the month of May should take place which was That Henry of Bourbon was declared incapable and fallen from all right and pretension to the crowne of France although hee did reconcile himselfe and adhere to the Romish relligion The Agents of Spaine both in France and at Rome did further and aduance all these rebellious practises crossing the Duke of Neuers all they could in his negotiation On the other side the people and many great personages continued in their old song of the incompatibility of the exercise of two religiōs within the realme and many were of opinion that the King should not bee admitted nor receiued vnlesse he would first promise to banish all them of the reformed religion or at the least cause the publike exercise of the religion to cease There was yet an other sort of people well affected to the league and yet seemed to be friends to the publike quiet and tranquility of the land who secretly and vnder hand gaue out speeches of the Kings weakenesse and disability saying that he wanted means to force obedience and that hee had to mighty yea inuincible enemies who would soone tread him downe and ruine him That France would but languish vnder his raigne and in the end after many calamities and miseries shee should remaine a prey to a more powerfull maister this by their estimation was the King of Spaine whose greatnesse they did so magnifie and extoll his double pistolets sayd the true hearted Frenchmen hauing dazeled their eyes and blinded their vnderstandings they also sought to terrifie such Frenchmen as were faint-hearted and not well assured with his name Finally they had for the most part beene so seduc'd by the practises of the heads of the league as they admired nothing but the greatnesse and Maiesty of the King of Spaine in comparison of whom that of France was little esteemed Whilest this truce continued the King resolued to call an assembly at Mante of some of the greatest personages of his realme to consult consider of diuers affaires among others the deputies of the reformed religion came thether in Nouember whome the King commanded to come before him on the 12. of the sayd month hauing giuen them audience and heard their complaints vpon many breaches of his Edicts and strange wrongs and iniustices done vnto them throughout all the Prouinces Hee sayd vnto them in the presence of many Noblemen and of the Chancellor My maisters I haue sent for you hether for three reasons the first to let you vnderstand from mine own mouth that my conuersion hath caused no change of my affection towards you The second is for that my rebellious subiects had made some shew to giue eare vnto a peace the which I would not enter into before you were called to the end that nothing should be done to your preiudice as you haue bin assured by the promise made by the Princes of the crown who did sweare in my presence that there should not be anything treated in the conference of peace against them of the reformed religion The third is hauing beene aduertised of the ordinary complaints touching the miseries of the Churches in many Prouinces of my realme I would willingly heare them and take order for them More-ouer you may beleeue that I affect nothing more then to see a good vnion betwixt you my good subiects both Catholikes and of the Relligion and I assure my-selfe that no man will hinder it It may be their are some malicitious spirits which will seeke to crosse it but I hope to punish them I assure you that the Catholikes which are about me wil maintaine this vnion and I wil be a caution and pledge that you will not seperate nor diuide your selues from them I haue this contentment in my soule that during all the time that I haue liued I haue made proofe of my faith and integrity to all the world Nor any one of my subiects hath trusted in me but I haue relied more in him I beleeue your informations and command you to depute foure of your number to treat with such of my councell as I shall appoint to whome I will giue this charge and to resolue of what shal be held fit and conuenient In the meane time if any among you haue any affaires with mee they may haue accesse with all libertie Afterwards the Kings affaires remayning long in suspence and the heads of the league continuing in their peruers courses to trouble the estate of France they of the relligion remayned in their accustomed condition vntill that the league was disperst and vanished I haue made a long digression concerning this act of the French Kings conuersion to the Romish Relligion the which I haue presumed to insert here for the rarenes of the example although it doth not properly belong to this subiect but now I will returne vnto the Netherlands The 24 of Iuly George Euerard Earle of Solms past into Flanders by commandement from the Estates and from Prince Maurice his cosin with 800. horse and 2500. foote he entred into the land of Waes where hee sent his horsemen to inuest the fort of Saint Ians Steyn and the footemen to the village of Steeken where there was a fort held by the Spaniards the which they abandoned before any seege flying to the fort of Waert vpon the riuer of Escault right against Antwerp whereof there were some thirty horses taken hauing at their retreat burnt the village The Earles horsemen met with eighty Spanish horse neere vnto Saint Nicholas Bourg all which were slaine or taken prisoners This done the Earle went with his artillery before Saint Iaques fort the
to go forth with his men to doe some exployt vpon the enemy whome hee had descouered Being gone forth he returned presently before day bringing with him Collonel Taxis with three Companies of foote and three of horse marching directly to the market place where they put them-selues in battayle after that Taxis had placed gardes in all parts of the towne the which was don so stilly and with so smale brute as the townes-men heard not any thing or if they did they thought it had beene their garrison so as at the breake of day they found they were Spaniards Some among the Protestants were so terrefied as fearing a massaker they cast themselues from the toppe of the walles to saue themselues Taxis hauing placed all his gards began to bee more assured for before hee was not without great distrust hauing with so few men trusted vnto Stanleys word and thrust him-selfe into a towne where there was a good garrsion and a number of braue Bourgers well armed where hee might haue beene taken like a mouse in a trappe Being thus assured hee presently caused it to bee proclaymed at the sound of the trompet that all men might remaine freely within the towne without any wrong done them either in bodie or goods lyuing in the Romish Religion and vnder the King of Spaines obedience Herevpon Stanley made his excuse both to the magistrats and the soldiars and sought to iustifie this trecherous fact saying that he neither was nor could be accoumpted atraitor in respect that hee had done no wrong vnlesse they would hold it treason to deliuer the towne to the King of Spaine to whome of right it did belong being long before moued therevnto as he said in conscience alledging many other such like reasons saying more-ouer that if any of his soldiars would serue there they should be well payed by a most bountifull king and the rest might freely depart where-vpon many but most of them Irish-men staid with him euery one hauing a monetâ—…es pay giuen him and presently the Bourgers were disarmed and likewise suffred to depart with Taxis pasport among the which there wore two Preachers The Bourgers houses were not spoyled that they might draw other townes to doe the like onely a few were ransackt among the which the preachers houses were not spared Stanleys regiment was disperst into sondry garrisons and hee himselfe was left still gouernor of Deuenter At the same time Rouland Yorke being made gouernor of the great Sconse before Zutphen by the earle of Leicester wholy against the liking of the Estates with eight hundred foote and a hundred horse did in like sort sel it to the Spaniard This Yorke had long before serued vnder the States although not with the best credit In Gant hee had beene Lieutenant Collonell to Iohn van Imbise with whome he had conspired to betray Gaunt and Dermond to the Prince of Parma for the which Imbise was beheaded and hee sent prisoner to Brusselles where at the last by the taking of the towne he was set at liberty and after that imployed by the Duke of Parma vppon the water in the riuer Scheld at the bridge before Antwerp at length by the meanes of friends he was reconciled and returned into England with credit and from thence came with the Earle of Leicester into Holland and there was so recommended by Sir Philip Sydney as the Earle of Leicester his vncle put him in great credit and gaue him this gouernment of the Sconse who the same day that Deuenter was battered told his soldiars that it would bee but lost labour for them to stay there wishing them rather to take pay of the King of Spaine where-vpon his soldiars tore their collours in peeces and two Duch companies with some others went away euery man where he pleased but Yorke went to Zutphen where he receiued a reward from the King and for a time kept company with Sir William Stanley but without any credit and there not long after dyed very miserablie and so Taxis like-wise got the sconce Thus the credulity and light beleefe of the Earle of Leicester was the cause of the losse of this goodly and strong towne of Deuenter which is one of the Hans townes and of that important fort of Zutphen the which the sommer before had cost so much to winne and fortefie It was not without cause if they began to murmure against the Earle of Leicester hauing at his very departure placed these two gallants in such important gouernments It was no maruell then if the Noblemen Collonels and gentlemen of the vnited Prouinces were discontented and complained vnto the Earle of Leicester to see them-selues reiected to aduance such traitors to the gouernment of such important places as Stanley Yorke and Patton were of whome wee will speake here-after After the losse of this towne of Deuenter and of the fort of Zutphen the Estates of the vnited Prouinces were much perplexed fearing that all the English garrisons which lay in any other townes and forts would doe the like and deale with them as the French in the time of the Duke of Aniou and Brabant had determined to doe all in one day On the Sonday morning being the first of February the councell of estate being assembled to prouide for their affaires and to preuent the alterations which the losse of Deuenter and the forts before Zutphen might cause thether came the generall estates and the aduocate Barnevelt for their part who declared in their names that considering the necessitie and in what termes the State then stood they held it more then necessary that the Gouerners of Prouincesshould go into their Gouernments there to command by vertue of their commissions And that to hasten the departure of the Earle of Maeurs they had resolued concerning the Ritmaisters as should be seene by the contents of the contract made with them and the means which they had set downe for their paie Secondly that maters concerning the Admiralty might be redrest and ordred for the Gouernment of sea causes as the seruice of the country should require the affaiers of estate being in very great disorder for want of good gouernment where-vpon words grew of either side tending to accusations and excuses Barnevelt saying Is this the way to serue the country where-vnto the Lord of Brederode answered that if they were not contented with the seruices and toyle which the Lords of the councell tooke but they must daily receyue bad words and reproches as if they were subiects and slaues they might seeke for others that would subiect them-selues to their slanders and continuall exclamations Hee was also demanded wherein it was so ill gouerned and ordered and what were the causes there of Barnevelt like a man full of passion and choller answered that it was the councell of the Cabinet where-as many things were done which none but they of the councell knew as of late appered by the Act of restraint which was made
there by some priuate persones without the knowledge of the councell whereby the authority of the councell of estate in the absence of his excellency was quite cut of And so the councell remayned here and the authority in England the which the estates did not hold fit nor conuenient Moreouer that in this Gouernment it seemed they did not remember how the deceased Prince of Orange of famous memory had gouerned who neuer in a frontier place made a garrison all of one nation neither was it conteyned in the treaty made with her maiesty that Englishmen should command in all the frontier townes The which was of bad consequence and not tollerable hauing beene so ill intreated and deceiued by the English Nation where-vnto the conncellor Loozen answered that they ought not to blame and condemne a whole nation for the offences and misdeeds of some priuate persons seeing that other difficulties and greater misfortunes had happened vnto the Prince of Orange especially in the time of the French who comitted other kinds of disorders his Excelence deceased hauing beene much deceiued To the which Barnevelt replyed crying out that they had beene neuer so deceiued by the french as by the English their gouernment being incompatible The which Loozen said could not be inferred hauing receiued so great fauors and benefits from her Maiesty and that he knew not wherein the said pretended deceit might consist At which words the Secretary Gilpin also said that it did not become Barnevelt to exclaime so against the nation and that he did wrong both her Maiestie and his Excelency in vsing such words the which he at the first began to denie and then began to speake of the fact againe as if that had beene the cause which moued him seeking to excuse his vndecent words But Gilpin replyed that it was not the act hee made question of but at his vndiscreet words calling if need were the Seignior of Loozen and all the Noblemen there present to bee witnesses Maister wilkes hearing these speeches which past betwixt Gilpin and Barnevelt being in French began to say that he was sorry to heare that all the fauors and benifits receiued from her Maiesty were in a manner forgotten considering the smale respect which it seemed they bare vnto her Maiesty and consequently vnto his Excelency as her Leiutenant that for a fault committed by one or two wicked persons they would blame all the Nation the which was no fit course and would breed but spleene and great inconueniences where-of hee wisht them to bee carefull and not giue her Maiesty any cause of discontentment the which would redound to their owne harme and by this course they should giue her occasion if they continued to take it in ill part and to tell them plainely of their errors And so that conference ended During this generall murmuring against the English there grew dayly factions and partialities some inclining to the Estates and to the generality of the vnited Prouinces and others to the Earle of Leicester and the English either party hauing many at their deuotion so as it seemed to tend to a diuision and a dismembring of the Prouinces or rather to a whose confusion of the generall Estate where-vpon there was a letter written by a gentleman of Germany to a friend of his to iustifie the English Nation who had beene much taxed for this trechery of Stanley and Yorke The tenor whereof followes A letter written by VVarmond of Stochelen a Gentleman of Germany to a friend of his touching the betraying of Deuenter and the fort before Zutphen SIR comming from Franckfort I arriued in these parts at the same time when as the towne of Deuenter and the fort before Zutphen were betrayed and yeelded vp vnto the enimy I assure you I found a strange alteration generally by reason of this losse and there was nothing more feared then a reuolt like vnto that which was made against the French after the enterprize of Antwerp yet such as are ill affected haue hetherto conteyned them-selues and beene content to reuenge them-selues with their tongs blaming generally all the English Nation and taxing his Excelency with a thousand reproches yea they haue beene so impudent as they haue not spared the Queene of England as if her Maiesty his Excelency and all those that are come into the Netherlands had had no other desseigne from the beginning but to ruine the country and to bring it vnder the power and oppression of the King of Spaine And it seemes these euill spirits haue layd hold of this occasion to vomit out their poyson against them who had neuer before giuen them any subiect of reproch Without doubt Sir I beleeue that such as are wise iuditious and well affected to the preseruation of Religion and of their liberties are not the authors of this scandalous brute but there bee the papists and such as are spaniolized and the spies and pentioners of the King of Spaine who by this meanes would distaste the people from seeking any more assistance from her Maiestie and reduce them to that poynt wheere-vnto they were once brought at his Excelencies comming into these Countries which is to make an accord with the King of Spaine But that which hath seemed most strange vnto mee is that all men in generall are so amazed as if this Estate were ruined and that the losse of these places whereof the one hath not bâ—…ene ours foure monthes and the other was well assured should draw after it the ruine of all the rest and as if neuer heretofore any place of importance had beene lost and finally as if there were no hope left to recouer this losse vpon the enemie To conclude in an instant all that were affected to the English partie were so terrefied and grewe so cold as they would willingly haue giuen eare to any practises or new inuentions to preserue themselues without England or at the least without Englishmen but not without their Angells the which they knew well they could not want but aboue all to free themselues of his Excelencie as of him who had beene the cause of the losse of these two places and might in time procure the ruine of all the rest Yea some haue beene so audatious as to say in open Councell of State that the Netherlands had neuer beene so much deceiued by the French as they were at this present by the English writing letters vnto her Maiestie and to his Excelencie full of reproch and discontentment seeking to bring his Excelencie into disgrace with her Maiestie Doubtlesse Sir wee must confesse that the losse of these two places is not small for that the countrie of the Veluwe is in danger to bee spoyled by the enemie but who can denie that it hath not beene in the like Estate of late years euen vnto September last that the fort before Zutphen was taken by the English forces and the towne of Deuenter assured Who will say that the Veluwe is much indomaged