Language wherein he said that he did not use to set aside Ministers of State without hearing and perpending their cause of Complaint but if he could not have his Revenue upon whose payment he did depend he would that some of them should come to him from whom being present he would take cognizance of the whole matter They earnestly write back again That it was not for them to lay crimes to any ones charge but they believed it was a part of his duty rightly and truly â— have informed his Prince but whether he had so done or not the imminent danger if they should be silent would speak and they hoped that their Births and Merits would gain no lesse credit â— their betters than their words but now chiefty when the absenâ— of Governours from their Charges could not be well admitted The King was much moved at these lines but finding necessary a little to yield he sends secretly to Grannell whom now these fore-going passages began to vex partly aâ— a by-stander and partly as being guilty to himself of the deadly hatred of the people towards him commanding him to depart into Burgundy whither he was ordered to retire for avoyding the danger of his life so much fought and layd wait for by his enemies And a long time after he kept all the Netherlands or the greatest part in fear of his return but few joyning with him in his hopes till at length either by Command or his own free will he went to Rome There they who hitherto had been kept out of office were at the Request of the Regent Margaret recalled in the Senate of Assembly and that they might give some proofs of themselves they begin with all diligence to advise and take notice of choice things of others there was no great need And the praise and thanks of dissembling their Crimes was so much the greater towards them by how much he would divert them from the sense of their evill so that now acting wholly as Victors they had taken all things into their own hands whether belonging to publick accounts or to the Law saying it was the Soveraign pleasure of the Senate and that to it all the other Assemblies ought their Service and Obedience But how many faults do attend where some few bear the Sway and in how little time do they grow ripe The Kings Revenew neglected the Authority of the Law among potent discords laid aside the greatest Crimes and villanies unpunished Honours given for favour either much done through ambition by such as coveted the praise of all or else evils never to be remedied overcharge the Credit of the great ones They dissembled less in point of Religion maintaining it was better taught by perswasion than compulsion till at length they found what they supposed as remedies proved rather food to nourish the Disease But when they granted this in favour of the People whether it were out of their own disposition averse from cruelty or that they suspected under the veil of the Inquisition that there lay hid slavery or danger to the valiantest men I will not undertake to discover But this is most evident that they themselves did not depart from the Ceremonies of the Church of Rome and he who was the chief in all these Consultations in his own Principality of Aurange would suffer nothing in matters of Religion to be changed Besides this and for other weighty Causes Egmond was sent into Spain to pry into the Kings nature and affections and is there received with so much Honour and such high Gifts as no man before him ever had the like Here Philip protests much of affection to the Netherlanders and that he may prevent any desire of his return to them again he sayes he hath resolved in himself for the Turkish Warre and likewise gave him some hope that he would moderate the rigour of the Sentence and Edict of the Bishops least either by severity or impunity he might provoke the Secturies licentiousness whereas in truth he intended to make it far more strict For when first he came into Spain and found there many and some of the chief of the Covent of St. Isidore to think otherwise than they ought of the received Rites and Doctrine he was not onely content to have commanded into the fire Learned men and noble Women but rejoyced to see the same with the terrour whereof having appeased the discords there he believed either the sloth or timidity of his Judges hindred if not envyed him the like success in the Netherlands And at this time Elizabeth his Wife Sister of Charles King of France being sent together with the Duke of Alva to â—ajon whether the same Charles and his Mother Medicos met at a Conference for rooting out innovators and disturbers of Religion he bound himself by some private Covenants to be assistant equally therein The like League was made between Henry and Philip after the Peace of Cambray and this being by the imprudence of Henry discovered to the Prince of Orenge in his Embassy into France as he was by chance â— hunting made him often assert with Protestations that he onely feared those Counsels which were concealed Egmond was scarce returned full of his vain hope but the Kings Letters immediately followed cruelly commanding the Inquisitors to execute judgement upon violators and novelties in Religion adding certain other Assistants to the number of the Judges and though Viglius and many with him perswaded the contrary presently they were published to the great trouble of all mens mindes and shortly after were the Decrees of the Councel of Trent put forth by whom nothing being amended either in Doctrine or Ceremonies some whole Nations separated and fell off from the Church of Rome onely there was a Decree made for reformation of Priests Lives and Manners wherewith indeed they were offended but never cured And truly in the Netherlands those mens lives were most vicious who being admitted into the Sacred Order of Priesthood got nothing thereby but the name and Revenues yet were these men most fierce for the publishing of these Decrees which in some places were obeyed but with exception underwritten to which Philip had consented that they should not derogate from any mans right which was added by reason of Patronages of Churches and bounds of Jurisdictions But the Brabanders with one free consent went further First their Cities and afterwards the Senate or States of their Nation did Declare That this Custome of the Inquisition insensibly creeping in daily in a high manner into their Countries was against the Law by which all their Judgments should be directed and which should set Bounds to the Priesthood wherein they should walk The Constancy of these was followed by others but especially the Common People were infinitely perplexed with the Terrible Rumour of the Spanish Inquisition whose Authority with the King though manifest and its Usage and Example in all Kingdoms how profitable and though commended by the French yet the
nothing but Penury and Slavery so they are sure to have no other pity than that of Torments Fire and Death Meritedly therefore they desire an equal share of Liberty since nothing can be by them expected from a Kingdom but Tyranny They looked not after rich Benefices and ample Revenues but were content others should enjoy them onely they begged they might not be banished both from the Church and Court as profane Persons That they never were Apostates either in their Piety towards God or their Fidelity towards their Country Some doubt there was a while how to Resolve but at last praising the Examples of Germany and Poland agreeing many old Customs it was concluded by the Counsell of those who had put forward these things That it was very necessary for the maintaining of Unity and Concord that these just Desires should not be rejected for they could not have an Army of any value or strength but it must chiefly consist of them and they found by Experiment that no Persons might be with 〈◊〉 safety trusted with the care and management of Affairs that they In this Vicissitude of Affairs it came to pass that several of the Romane Opinion especially those who took to them selves the Names of Jesuits could not be drawn to takeâ— Oath against Dan John and no small part whose hope maâ— depended upon the King's Success voluntarily defend them But many of the Magistrates though so instructed â— if they had fore-seen the Rising Authority of that Side embraced that Form of Worship which the Nassanians helds And for these Causes Honours were communicative to them and in some places no less than a hundred Families desired they might have by Command places see apart for theâ— Publike Worship on the same Condition That the like should be granted to those who preferred the Doctrine of the Latin Church through Holland and Zealand which yet was never affected The things which followed after this are not to â— passed by without Compassion or a sad Remembrance Such Commotions such Hatreds and such Troubles one still following another For as the Romanists would grant nothing at all to the other so they not satisfied so much now with their Impunity and privacy upon their own private account took by force the Administration of the Law from the more violent and stubborn Magistrates and after they had therein prevailed they began to look at Revenge So that they whâ— but lately wished ill to the Spaniard now of a suddain joâ— both their Purses and Counsels against them Citizens now against Citizens standing armed in the very Cities which being free from their Publike Enemies they endeavoured â— drive away their private Adversaries there was not mâ— need here of the Souldier his help being onely necessary preserve Domestick Peace And as they which labour of a Deadly Disease for the most part despise all Remedies â— here they who were Lovers and Promoters of Peace and and Concord were on all hands hated by these strong Promoters of Sedition And indeed they ought to have studied nothing but Patience to see such persons by whom the common Plague of this Age was scattered into both Parties and the Names of all things inverted So that a blind and perverse Obstinacy in Discord was called a Holy Zeal and Modesty and meekness of Mind Sloth nay sometimes Treason The People of Gaunt now grown to that heighth of Licentiousness that they could not hope for Pardon or Impunity but from the monstrous Greatness of their Villany being still egg'd on further by that Boutefeu Imbis who had crept up into Power by a Thredbare Journey formerly to openly detract the Government They protest they will no longer so much as see those Romane Superstitions that have invented so many Wickednesses and Cruelties not that the Authors or Fomenters of the Sedition esteemed much of any Religion for they would raise Tumults under the pretence of both but onely they preferr'd Novelties before things received from Antiquity and their own Fancies before any Truth that could be taught them and having by chance convicted some Monks of detestable Sensualities first they expelled that Order yet groaning under the Weight of their fresh Malice and furious Hatred and afterwards all Priests Then being conscious to themselves of what they had begun they begin to fortifie their City with strong Bulwarks and Rampires which being of a vast compass equal almost to the greatest Cities was not totally inhabited for having been often besieged and fearing the like again from the vileness of their Action in time to come they inclosed many Fields within their Works or Wâ—ll And the more their Fortification proceeded and came nearer the finishing so much less they did hearken to the Commands either of Matthias or the States or take notice of their vain objecting their Crimes against them seeking backward still for new Pretences out of those very things which they had stirred â— against themselves Neither could the Prince of Aurange's Authority any whit prevail with them though by his Intercession the same People of Gaunt had obtained again their Antient Laws which they had before forfeited by a Rebellion against the Emperour Charles But the Mischief rather increased and spread into other Cities of Flanders On the contrary those of Artoys and Henault were more constant and stedfast to the Romane Religion for most of them were of that Judgment And the Lords being averse to the Prince of Aurange with a kind of civil Objuration refused to hear of the New Law for they said that it was specified in the League that nothing should be altered in Religion while the We continued Some did advise that the City of Gaunt being by this Sedition lyable to Treachery should by War be compelled to Obedience But neither the Prince of Aurange nor several other of the Nobles would consent to that to turn theâ— Arms or Forces against Citizens how ill deserving soever while the Spaniard their Enemy with a powerful Army lay almost in the middle of their Country for that indeed were to make good that which some of the wisest of their Enemies had fore-told of them that their own Discord wâ— destroy them But while it was dangerous to inforce them they slighted all Commands Counsels and Intreaties looking upon them onely as predetermined Malice At this tiâ— Bossis whom we formerly mention'd to have been taken in the Sea of Frizeland when he commanded the scatter'd Remains of Holland under Alva was General of the greâ— Army of the Netherlanders the States having taken that Honour from Lalain because at the unhappy Battel of Geâ— he forsook the Camp without their Leave or Commandment The Viscount of Gaunt was Commander in Chief of the Horse Lanove who had won great Renown in the Civil Wars of France was Camp-Master General Don John assaulted their Camp scituate not far from Mechlin at a Village called Rimenen and was onely Repulsed there being as many both believed and said a great Errour committed
of Authority was equally ridiculous both to his own Souldiers and his Enemies they had changed an old feeble man for a person of great Nobility and therefore they gloried at once of that Honour and their restored Laws that according to the antient Custom one was sent to govern them that was of Royal Blood and by Kinred allyed to the King They remembred that Alva and Requescuse had stirred up the War by their forraign Authority And the Duke of Parma though otherwise we I enough liked was maligned for his Country sake That Don John who had attained Royal Blood by all wayes both of Birth and Vertue wanted rather the moderation than the affection of the Nobles and People But that now there was truly come the off-spring of Emperours with a German uprightness neither infected with hatred or malice and consequently more prone to concord He had governed in behalf of his Brother the Emperour both the Panâ—â—nia's or Hungary beloved by the Subjects for his mildness in the taking care of them and the blandishments of his leisure time not much provoking the Enemy nor himself by them often provoked Not averse from fighting when the Barbarians urged him by disturbing his peace and it may seem that he was the rather chosen as one who might compose the Netherlandish Affairs the Citizens being even tyred with War and the King well knowing that it would be in the Conquerours power to make what Laws he pleased for the settlement of peace This Duke Ernestus was of such gravity in Conversation that the Netherlanders interpreted it to pride But which is proper to his Countrymen being not Superiour in his Affairs he was easily ruled either by Counsel or Command With this mediocrity of disposition he had so pleased Philip that he intended to have married him to his Daughter and strongly argued in the French Counsel by Embassadors 〈◊〉 confer upon him the Kingdom of France fearing perchance that if he should marry her to any Frenchman and at any time after his Issue male should fail that Spain by accessâ—â—â— to the Crown of France would become a Province thereâ—â— But Providence provided otherwise in that affair 〈◊〉 brought Henry of Burbon through divers variety of Fortune and setled him in the Kingdom for he being grieved â— himself that being born to a Kingdom he should onely â— depelled for the oretext of Religion Many of the Princes protesting they resisted him for 〈◊〉 other causes and by that means alone could not submit their Fortunes to him seeing his Forces almost consumed and 〈◊〉 other things that were the main supports of his hope He â—â—gan to grow unsetled in his mind between some of his Friends applauding his noble constancy and others persuading for most advantage At length either that he believed nothing more sacred than the Peace of a Kingdom or that he had embraced his former kind of living more out of Form than Judgement he was Reconciled to the Church of Rome which thing was not of so much disadvantage to the Spaniard but that for many years after be continued his hatted and War against him neither till of late by the strong endeavours of Anmarle were the Cities of Picardy adjoyning to the Borders of the Netherlands reduced unto his obedience Nay at Rome a great while he incensed Pope Clement and the most powerfull in the conclave by threats and force least they should open or propose a way for the Kings Repentance and Reconciliation calling him a Renegado from Religion and a dissembler of novel Piety But at the first being had in suspicion by both Parties as well that he departed from as that he came over to afterwards by a sweet and well-constituted moderation by giving to these the chiefest Power to those Safety in the Exercise of their Religion and some Honour he exceeded both their 〈◊〉 and made a Harmony between them among whom before there was nothing but Discord So that now all were pleased except a few ignorant how great a benefit they had receiv'd whom no Felicity could ever please no Revenge saâ— In short Trade and Commerce beginning in this Cessation of Arms and the People well pleas'd with this Quiet it came to pass that the strongest and most potent Cities with the Metropolis of them all Paris and the chief Heads of the Faction and Revolt submitted to him caused either by private â—â—scords among themselves or the fear of a Forreign Authority The Spaniard hereupon when the Duke de Mayn came to â—â—xels were of opinion to restrain him as one that was averse to their Design but the Regent Ernestus having more regard to his Fame hindred it although it were known he was the chief Instigator of the chief Leader of the Faction to go in to the King and merit thereby his Pardon yet there were some who detain'd by their own Covetousness or the Spaniard's Policy did all they could to hinder Peace delaying by the same the performance of their Expectations Picardy chiefly and the parts thereabouts near Henalt and Artots were molested and perturbed by the Spanish Forces And the first Spring Charles Mansfeldt who made War in those parts had forced Capelle a free City there having assaulted the Rampires when the Trench was dry to surrender before King Henry could send thither any Succours Shortly after the King himself being conducted with some Troops to Laudune staying upon those Confines Towards the end of Summer Mansfeldt being driven away who had indeavour'd to raise the Siege the Town came again into the King's Power The Confederate States about this time had given a Summe of Money to King Henry upon condition That he should turn his Force upon the Netherlands But that Queen Elizabeth would not hear of who fore-saw that together with the War all use of him and respect to him would cease This Defection of the King from the New-Religion was variously reported both in England and Holland so as hardly any thing had bin further examined and discoursed with more variety of Language and freeness of Judgment Others look'd upon it with Hatred and Detestation The Catholikes hereby conceiv'd a hope that in time that other differing Religion Rites though at present receiv'd in publike might at last reunite and that as France had follow'd the Rule of German so the rest would follow the Pattern of France But all Leagues and Alliances with Neighbors were by the King inviolably observ'd And now the States being 〈◊〉 by what private Policies the Enemy gain'd upon them ordered very diligent Care to be taken That no sort of Writing that might prove dangerous to the Publike might be foisted 〈◊〉 the People And that Masters which instructed Youth in Leaning should not instill into their Minds evill Opinions Which done they turned all their Counsel to the carrying on of the war while the Enemy would seem to seek after a peace And because Ernestus having recruited the Army was reported to have enhanced the Fame and Terrour of his
admired by her neighbours but courted by Embassadours even from the Moors and Sarmatians No man hitherto doubted but that great Commotions would have arisen in England upon the death of the Queen who had never declared any certain Successor for it was believed that although James King of Scotland was the next in bloud yet the ancient hatred of the inhabitants and the private fear of those that had consented to his Mother's death would be an obstacle to him there being several ready in England who boasted themselves to be descended of Royal bloud Then also the power of the English Catholicks was feared lest they should hope for that by Troubles which they could never expect while the setled Authority of the Queen remained the Pope also instigating them as unwilling that a King of the new Religion should be admitted although he were next in bloud Nor was that hope onely grown in the Spaniards who lay at watch for the peoples commotions but the Hollanders also although they had by many good offices before-hand pre-engaged King James upon the connexion of Religion yet by tacite wishes did guess that the imputation of their alliance with him would transferre part of the Warre into Britain But it happened beyond hope and expectation that presently after the decease of Queen Elizabeth the old Councel of the Queen and as many of the Bishops and Magistrates of London as were at present at hand and in readiness proclaimed King James not waiting for the authority of a Parliament for the danger of delay and because Interregnum's do many times in the future by new Laws and Covenants diminish the grandeur and power of Authority Thus without any contradiction the King of Scotland got the possession of England and was the first that within the known Records of any Annals enjoyed the whole Island of Great Britain in one entire and undivided Government The United States did not omit forthwith to send an Embassy to congratulate him for his new access of magnitude having first sent some gratulatory Letters The Embassadours sent by them to the King were Count Henry of Nassau Prince Maurice's brother then a Member of the Councel of the States and General of the Horse next to him was Walrave Brederode thirdly John Olden Barneveldt and lastly Jacob Valcken who died before he returned from this Embassy When they were admitted to audience they spake in this manner We are come hither Great King divided in our selves between Grief And Joy for we have lost Her whose goodness and benefits to us we are not able to express in words but we have found You as the Heir of Her Kingdome so the Imitator of Her Vertues That which formerly we desired and since that by publick supplications decreed to the most happy Messengers of Your new-begun Dominion that now in Your own presence with hearts and voices we beseech and begge of God that this Your reign may be happy and prosperous to Your Self to Posterity to Great Britain and to Vs We begge of You Sacred Sir one thing That You would not suffer the insulting Spaniard to trample upon the necks of the Netherlanders and from thence by degrees to incroach upon the Dominions of others his Neighbours It suits with Your Religion to save so many Assemblies of pious men from that Kingdome of sanguinary Superstition it agrees with Your Justice to defend a Cause allowed of by so many Kings and it is an act becoming Your Prudence to drive away those underminers of Kingdomes and supporters of the Papacy by whose judgement all that You now possess is given to them as a Prey Your Predecessor Queen Elizabeth did this and so we hope will You and that with the greater ease by how much You are in the prime of Your age have a more man-like Authority a more ample Power and a House well setled upon the happy foundation of a hopeful Issue Our fidelity shall in part supply Your Work and Charge by whose prosperity and adversity it hath been made evident that the Spaniards could be conquered 'T is true Peace is a most excellent Jewel and worthy of high estimation among Christians but that that is made with Tyrants and treacherous people is little better then Warre If all they that are joyned in the Cause would unite their wealth he would be deprived of the Netherlands and if that punishment would not yet make him wise he should be driven out of the Sea and all his maritime Dominions which would be no hard matter for the Hollanders and English to effect and this certainly would make him glad to come to a true Peace the best maintainer whereof was equality of Forces Now is the siege of Ostend protracted unto the third year so that having endured so long a misery we humbly intreat You to aid us with supplies for relief thereof for which purpose you may make use of those ships which by the Queen 's command were furnished and instructed with Armes and provisions by us being eleven in number and now wait for nothing but your Royal command Hereto the King very courteously answered as to the matter of friendship but as to the rest he excused himself by the infancy of his Dominion but in time he would see what was best to be done in the interim not concealing that as much as he could he would prefer all counsells tending to Peace for hitherto he had had no difference with the Spaniard and also Philip had voluntarily offered him his assistence if any dispute should have arisen concerning his Kingdome and himself being of a mild disposition and well grounded in all kind of Literature had spent his time in studies rather inclinable to Peace then War And the Archduke being supposed to have made war with the Queen not with the Realm had by Edict forbidden any damage to be done to the English sending home besides all Prisoners they had that were that Countrey-men and soon after he sent Charles Prince of Arenberg Embassador to the King as also the Spaniard sent Don John Baptista Taxis to the same for the promoting a Peace concerning which the year following there was an agreement When the Embassadors of Holland saw they could not prevent it they endeavored to delay it and to give the King some hopes that they likewise might obtain Peace together with their Liberty if the King by procrastinations or delay would suffer the Spanish counsells which yet depended upon the event of a few years to grow towards perfection And this was the discovery of Olden Barneveldt who was throughly versed in all the secrets of the United Provinces producing the Duke of Brunswick's hand whom the Emperor Rudolphus had acquainted with that affair But King James his hast was not at all slackened in making that Peace whereupon the Hollanders onely contended that if they could not obtain a shew of assistence yet that they might not be denied right These their desires were seconded by the French King who was very
had been one general Agreement to set all the Netherlands into a Combustion in some places the Magistrates by either Civil or Armed Authority hardly prevailing Onely the Inhabitants of Antoyes Heynault Luxemburgh and those adjoyning to them kept their Faith and Allegiance both to the Romane Church and the King unspotted and untainted in the midst of this Horrid Contagion In some places the Magistrates to prevent the Licention Fury of the People did first begin to remove and take away Images to some of whom boasting of their Service Viglim said very ingeniously That they too were mad but with a shew of Reason Many things which were thus stollen from Churches the Teachers urged might be restored but without any effect to the great Scandal of their Religion which by these mean had contracted new Infamy The Lady Margaret in this great Perturbation of Affairs being vehemently affrighted was not able now so well to obey the King's Commands who though too late had heard all these things at a distance in regard of the imminent dange because she was forced to give place to the Times and submit to the Counsels of the Confederate Lords without whose Authority they could not endure to hear of any thing At length therefore though with much Reluctancy she was drawn to this that she promised the Lords that none of those former Actions should be drawn into question They now one now another as long as they could have any Security renounced the League under this condition That all that slighted the Name of the Romish Religion or moderating thereof should not be deâ—ied Pardon And now while the People lay aside their Arms and Faults together they are allowed to have Sermons in those places which even till that time they had had for their Instruction and the Edicts were laid aside until the King and the States should take other Order in that behalf Presently Messengers were sent to several places to prohibite any further Force who did affirm they had obtained this by Treaty which in truth they extorted by violence First the Prince of Aurange sent to Antwerp being thâ—n troubled with a dangerous Sedition where having obtained the Name of Viscount or Sheriff as due unto him from his Predecessors he quickly brought that most strong City to his own Will where not so much minding the necessity of the time as to shun the Regents displeasure he caused not onely the new Discipline but Sermons also to cease not onely in the Fields as in other Places but within the very Walls The same also did Count Horn and others whose Brother being now returned out of Spain related unto him the Kings implacable Anger But the Letters sent to the Lady Margaret and by them surprized troubled them beyond measure they being thereby destined to Accusation and Destructions whereupon they all meet to counsel at Dendremond where Count Egmond was the chief man looked upon as being well-skilled in Warlike Affairs and well-beloved of the Souldiery But he whether allured by fair promises or mindfull of his duty affirmed he would not in any thing be wanting in his Allegiance to his Prince let him do what he would but would rather seek to appease his mind with good Counsel and wipe away former errors by future fidelity Unwise man that would not take notice that when great things in disobedience to Princes are begun with danger after the first setting out the 〈…〉 of reward and safety is in going on for revenge attends every step backward But the Prince of Aurange had a more prudent foresight for seeing these begun undertakings failed he writ Letters to the King humbly desiring that he permit to lay down all Offices and that he might betake himself to peace and rest in some private part of Germany To whom Philip craftily sent answer and how far will deceit prevail under the mask of simplicity intreating him that he would not now desert him while his Affairs were in such an unsetled Estate and when there was most need of his help withall advising him that he should for a time send away from him his Brother who was suspected of innovation in Religion untill all things should be better considered off But Aurange the more crafty and subtle of the two still urges for Licence to depart and in the mean time going back into the places under his own Government forbidding all severity and to prevent his surprise of the fortifications within those Provinces by forreign Souldiers that might to that end be provided under the pretence of liberty he by his single industry and policy stirred up all the valiant and couragious people to be at his Command 1567. He set forth also in writing the Counsel which he had given to the King to this effect That unless he gave Toleration to these Religions which the Neighbouring Nations had granted as necessary it would be a matter of dangerous consequence for at the best his Conquest would be attended with great mischief in exhausting the wealth and destroying the people of the Country But Count Horne retreated to his own home and there betook himself to a private life These thus dispersed the Regent easily perceiving whence at first these perturbations did arise betook her self to Viglius his former Counsels which had been slighted to wit to break the connexion and band which was between the Lords and the better and inferiour sort of the people which she brought to passe either by her self or others with them that so receded first by cavilling by and by more openly as if she had been terrified thereby would cast out the falling away of others for no sooner was she advertised by the private order of the Judges that they had proceeded against the persons who had committed Sacriledge in the tumult before mentioned who had gone beyond words against the publick rites even to the taking up of Arms the rest knowing themselves not able to go through with the management of their cause and likewise that they differed among themselves in point of Religion broke up their strength Nor did the confederate Lords either by hope or fear divided among themselves lesse betray the Weal-publick for Conscience a little accusing for their evill deeds some of them running over and submitting obtained Pardon others disswade the gathering of Taxes and levying Bands of Souldiers as things not fit for private men to undertake another sort while thus every one was minding his own particular are forgotten by all And now for the better maintaining the peace of the State the Regent beside the German Souldiers under the Command of Ericus of Brunswick commanded another Regiment of Walloons to be forthwith raised for by that name the people in that part of the Netherlands which borders upon France are called and are distinguished from the others by the use of the French Tongue and beside are more valiant and not so dull-witted as the rest And that she might the better choose able Commanders over them she
if it should either rain or snow because the natural moysture and marishness of the ground would be exceedingly increased wherefore the Prince returning Victor into Holland loaden with honourable fame even among forraign Nations he was received by the 〈◊〉 even with an excess of joy The people of old were wont to rejoyce at their Princes good fortune as from Command not obliged by duty They had known the former Prince of Aurang onely in disguise under the Cloud of adverse fortune And in the Earl of Leicester's time they were perplexed between private discords and publick murthers Now only they saw their bounds enlarged by Arms and their Government setled by Rivers and strengthned with fortifyed Towns and yet their Leader requiring no other satisfaction for all his pains and labour than the glory thereof the benefit of the success being wholly left to the Country which looked not only with hope â—ut adâ—â—tion at his youth as if it had been on purpose set apart by the divine Providence for such weighty undertakings And then again casting their unsatisfied eyes upon his countenance they gratefully reverenced that tender Age and 〈◊〉 Blood which had so often thrown it self upon dangers for their defence And without all doubt the Princes good fortune was much forwarded by celerity besides he had learned the exquisite Arts of Fortification both as to the of sensive and defensive part the besieging or defending Towns and as far as the present Age was able to instruct him was well practised in the encamping of an Army The Enemies were nothing so industrious their confidence as it is generally observed breeding carelesness and slouth and sometimes overweening Temeriâ—y They who are weakest in power are for the most part strongest in Counsel as ayming to supply by prudent Resolutions and Industry what is deficient in strength Fame also is a great assistant where the first happy events are multiplyed to the great supportation of liberty But the mayn of all was the strength of Shipping among so many Rivers without which the rest would have profited but little According to Custom the Souldiers wintered in Garrisons from whence many times small parties going out wiâ—h various success brought in booty or were circumvented by the Enemy During which times also stratagems were frequently used for getting of Towns such were they whereby here Gertruydenburg Maestrict and Scluys were offered at and in another part Breda was endeavoured to be taken but the Ambushy being discovered the Armies marched back frustrate of their designs Now was the Sea scowned from Pyrates and the Duke of Parma being for France received joyfully an Embassie sent from the Emperour to mâ— and mediate a Peace But the United Provinces suspected it as they had reason but chiefly because they had intercepted Letters from the King of Spain written concerning it wherefore they shut their eâ— against those old deceits warned by the fresh example of the Arragonians who while they unwarily discoursed of liberty were surprised by craft and drawn into slavery and ruine These People of Spain of old called Tarraconia now â—â—garly Arragon first getting possession of that part of the Country by Arms which barbarous Nations from the other side of the Sea had invaded by the Counsel of such as weâ— esteemed wise among them erected a Commonwealth At the beginning Kings that name and honour being given to a limited power were chosen here by the suffrages of the people afterwards by the Custom of several Nations their Heirs were admitted by Succession to the Government yet obliging them to the observance of the Law whereby they who were then eminent as foreseeing the inconveniencies of a Kingdom conveyed some power to the people whose Authority was to be used in publick Counsels and gave a priviledge of Supreme Magistracy even over the Kings themselves and these boundaries were well observed as long as the Princes were careful to do Right and Justice and made use of no Forces to defend Crimes But afterwards there happening a Conjunction of Kingdoms and all Spain by that means becoming subject to King Philip all mens patience was tryed by the severity of the Inquisition and every thing by new forms of Judgment was disposed and they rather fitted to the pleasure of the Court and Courtiers then squared by the Rule of the antient Law or Prescript order of Justice The Case of Anthony Perez was greatly commiserated by the People who having been employed by King Philip about Eâ—oâ—vedo's death was yet by him falsly accused of but an ordinary fault for which deprived of all Authority and flying from Castile he was yet prosecuted by the Kings rage into this Region for the King hated him because he had been active as a procurer in matters of Love And when he Instruments of wrath impudently opposed the Laws and would by no means suffer Justice they were resisted by force and the first commotions being provoked by force were afterwards nourished by gentle endeavours and dissimulation And as the Tumults begun under a malevolent constellation so the City was perswaded under pretence of the French War to suffer the Kings Army to come through its Borders and to march through Sarragosa the Metropolis of that Region and so to go over the Pyrenean Mountains But instead thereof the Nobles were murthered and every one that either with Tongue or hand had been forward to advance liberty was by revenge marked and for the future nothing remained but a prospect of Tyranny and slavery Although these things are not suitable to my purpose yet I have not neglected to insert them here at such times as they happened that Posterity may compare their fortune and the Netherlanders together that as well the faults of Princes may be known as the People may be instructed that many times the cause is no less to be minded than the Forces of a King While these Transactions were a foot otherwhere the King of France being recruited with German Souldiers and English Auxiliaries besieged Roan Queen Elizabeth desiring that he would inclose the Enemy between the River Seine and the British Ocean this made the French Confederates with Parma take his long stay the worse who being slow in making ready his Warlike preparations or else consulting of some higher design how to augment the dangers at last though late in the year having first received the Town of Fer in pledge he drew near to the Borders of Normandy There were in his Army several new raised men and those Regiments which had lately fallen into a mutiny but now were restored to their Colours being full of booty and having also received their pay which the Duke of Parma very hardly extorted by the encrease of Tributes and selling the right of Commerce to the Enemies the Netherlanders not without cause complaining that their Borders were left naked and their mony and strongest men carryed away to help strangers Pope Gregory sent also Assistance to the French Rebels â— thing not used by
to the King and not to refuse Garisons as before they did The King himself the thoughts of Peace being shaken off spent all his time with his Allyes so that now he seemed ready to accept the same Conditions which the English had offered before concerning Calais In the mean time the Fortune of one day made the French a long work to recover what was lost whereupon the Horse being Quartered all about the Country from thence Biron encreased his Forces by all means to besiege Amiens untill the King himself came before it and being allured to try his turn he unfortunately attempted Artois by blowing up the Walls with Gun-powder and Scaling-Ladders Nor had the French any better success either at Cambray or Dorlens And the Spaniards likewise lost their design upon Gravewaert an Island within the division of the Rhine and also upon Steenwie against which there were a thousand Foot out of the Garrisons twenty and four hundred Horse gathered together by several marches These in the dead of the night having cut down the Palisadoes that stood in the way endeavoured to come up to the Rampire And as they had much forwarded their first attempts by silence so that the terrour might by reason of the darkness be greater they assaulted divers parts of the Walls with a hideous Outcry and Singing but the Sentinels not troubled with bare noyses exposed themselves to the danger and that advertised others that stood not far off for most of them were in small covered Huts near the Rampire part of whom without their Cloaths as they leaped out of their Beds threw down Stones upon the Assaylants heads as they climbed up the Walls Others half Armed killed the Enemies retiring from the Rampire or else by their shot driving away such as came on afresh and pursuing them when they fled Thus the Assaylants though divers times gathering fresh Courage yet at length were beaten off striving to hide the greatness of their slaughter by carrying away the dead Bodies privately About the same time as it Fortune intended to bear her self equally towards all Prince Maurice conducting some Foot and a few Troops of Horse to Niâ—ghen without any halt upon their march with a well-layd design upon solid Counsel to take Venloo was met by ill success though he had before sent some Souldiers up the River aboard two Ships out of the first the Souldiers coming ashore had now taken the Gate and killed such as guarded the same helped also by the foreknowledge of some in the City But the other Ship laden with an hundred Souldiers was hindred by the slacking of the wind and a Ford or Shallow in the River in which time the day-light fully appearing the Townsmen assembled and with great labour stopped at first the inner Gate then their number encreasing they drove away those that kept the Skirts of the Town being not above fifty men And as they sled they were wounded by the Seamen from Leige In this third Experiment of his Valour was slain Matthias Holly yet no less worthy of Honour there then at Breda and Nordam With him also fell Schalque the Captain of the Ship Others were taken and punished that the right of War might as it were by consent prevail in averting such kinds of dangers One who had delivered or rather betrayed the Gate by a Politick confidence running about the City affrighted as it were with the common terrour and not being known escaped away on the contrary side of the Town Moreover some Souldiers being sent with a Fleet to the Coast of Flanders returned having effected nothing In this mean while the Count of Bulloyn with a small party wasting and plundering Henault and the Country about the Maes never rested long in one place and Prince Maurice's Horse being by their late Victory grown more confident going out of their Garrisons in Brabant and Gelderland were both of them though in several places surprised by the Enemy and slain Then was the Summer spent among the Hollanders in trivial actions and attempts and by the Archduke in taking care to retain and keep Amiens and because the Vnited Provinces while they had leisure neglected all occasions of the War having enough to do to send ayd to their Allyes and not themselves also to be wearied out At this time some discords begun to grow among them although not sufficient to make a breach of the League yet the more suspected because they fell out at that time The City of Groeninge and they that inhabited the open Country between the Rivers Emes and Lecke breathing out inveterate and cankered hate one against the other were not easily united or reconciled while the City obstinately urgeth those things which the Duke of Parma had granted to it when it followed the Kings Party not by a setled and perpetual Law but in the manner of an Interloquatory Edict On the contrary the Boors brake the antient League with it and refuse all Society as if the City had endeavoured a diminution of their liberty whereas they would manage their own business separately It was true that as formerly all the People of Germany so likewise the Frizons had distinct Dominions that no Consultations should be held but by their Consent But the Country beyond Lecke and such as were distinguished into Dorpes had agreed by Article to joyn their Forces with those of the City which was their Neighbour as well against foreign as domestick evills to whom likewise flourishing in Merchandise and Reverenced for Sanctimony of Judgment they had given great Authority in the ordering both and all the Neighbouring People willingly offered them thereby the Reward of their Allyance being accustomed there to proclaim all their Solemn Conventions But that which at the beginning was free by long use and many Covenants had now passed into the force of Law and Right yet this was not the time that all Bonds however strictly tyed should be loosed 'T is true the Spaniard looked upon it as a main part of his Potency to nourish the divisions of his Subjects by giving no definitive Sentence between them But the Strength of the United States was augmented by Concord and therefore they appointed Judges for the deciding these Controversies At first three and when the Country-People were offended at their Judgment nine others were added whose Decree was allowed and confirmed in the Counsel of the General States To this purpose the Deputies as well for the City as the Country are Commanded to make one Body Politick out of both to Govern as one Common-wealth and all matters of the greatest Concernment were to be debated in that Assembly but things of meaner quality to be discussed by the Deputies To their care was committed all the common Tributes and Taxes and whatsoever had belonged either to the Prince or Priesthood that in all equal suffâ—ages although the City should have Priority yet it should not have any Superiority yet it was provided that they who governed the
transactions in those parts while in the interim about Ostend the Warre greatly increased and therewith not the charge onely but the political inventions and stratagems also And now the Winter being past that had sometimes been offensive to these other-while to those as the force of the wind drove the waters and made them more turbulent in the middle of the Spring a fierce assault was made from the Camp upon all the quarters of the Town and when the Defendants were not able to sustain so violent and spreading a force three Forts were taken by the Enemy which lying on the backside of the Town at the conflux of the waters we mentioned before to be slightly guarded and some few daies after the besieged making a sally upon the same places which wanted success made the Enemy not onely encrease the number of his Guards but to put therein of his choicest men But other small Forts beyond the Gollet assaulted by Bucquoy were successfully maintained Colonel Dorpen was then Governour of the Town whose time being spent he was succeeded by Colonel Notte Towards the middle of Summer Ambrose Count Spinola came to Ostend promising an end to this hard and by some esteemed desperate work if he might have the chief command in the Camp Nor did he undertake this out of any vain temerity but by the sound informations of those by whom both the place and method of the Warre were well understood especially after the way was found through the water over great piles of wood a work onely of time and diligence whereby the Works of the Town might be taken from them as it were by piece-meal And this desire of Spinola was the more easily consented to by King Philip because besides many eminent vertues of a noble minde whereof he had given certain testimonies he offered also out of his private wealth to prescribe a remedy to the affairs of the Treasury at that time very much out of order He was at first very greatly envied because being an Italian and but newly come into the Warre among so many Netherlanders and Spaniards he commanded at once both the Souldiers and Treasury but he diligently minding all things and following the most prudent by little and little overcame it And presently removed such as had made a gain of the Treasury having prepared his own provisions because there was need of money to prevent mutinies and running away Besides the hope of rewards had brought thither the most famous Wits of Christendome among whom there was great emulation in finding out new waies of approching battering and assaulting Towns and as any ones inventions came to most perfection in the executive part so was the care of the General more ready to gratifie him with a certain reward No less valour or industry was shewn by the besieged for they took care lest their provisions should be streightned that all commanded allowances should be publickly delivered and for their defence were unwearied in their Watches yea and sometimes were confident enough to make Sallies besides what either the violence of the Enemy or the Sea had thrown down they employed skilful workmen to repair To believe so great a number of men shut up in so narrow a compass and obnoxious to so many dangers wounds and labours and yet to finde no contagion bred among them next to the providence of God must needs be attributed partly to the extraordinary care of the Chirurgeons and Physicians and partly to the care of the States which alwaies caused the sick or wounded with all diligence to be carried thence Moreover besides the harm they did by burning bullets and hand-granadoes and the like new inventions they did other great damage to the Enemies materials being now through dry by the heat of the weather The chief labour of the Assailants was concerning some Boats that were built for the carriage of great Guns by the same Engineer which we mentioned before Targon a Romane a man of a very subtle wit but altogether unexperienced in Martial affairs Part of these were sent to the left hand of the Town where the Sea was not so boisterous to the Forts that lay nearest to the Enmy but on the right hand where the Gollet is the shot being unequally levelled they did little or no harm most of them being spoiled by the impetuousness of the waters because stones being bound up in great bundles of wood the bands thereof quickly breaking the rest floated having lost the weight that kept it down Yet was not Spinola dismayed thereat but still added more Boats to the former learning new waies of Fortification from the very experience they gained from their losses And the battery of Count Bucquoy being by little and little advanced nearer the Town it came to pass that Ships came in and out with more difficulty to bring in Souldiers Victuals Guns or Gunpowder some after that falling upon the Shallows or being swallowed up in the Sea when they had in striving to enter endured the fury of the Enemies Artillery Against the shot from the Town the Besiegers partly chose the night partly used Works made of earth to keep out the water wherein were transfixed several rows of Piles and Faggots where they had setled in places of more safety otherwise they sunk great Vessels filled with stuff underneath the water But in Spain with the King who in the practice of his Affairs did most things by the counsel ot Strangers not his own judgement sometimes new counsels were preferred before old other times the old regained their former repute as the authority of persuading or hope of the event led every one Some averred that it was a great error of State to forbid the Hollanders traffick with Spain they being a People potent at Sea and seeking Merchandise from the farthest parts of the earth either by Arms or otherwise and going to the Indies to the no small though new and hitherto unheard of damage of the Spaniards With how much more wisedome did his Father attain a hope of Peace from that custome of the Provinces among themselves having alwaies a convenient number of Ships as often as occasion required made ready for him by his very Enemies If a remedy should be sought for present and future mischiefs it must be by taking away necessity from the Hollanders for that very thing first shewed them their own strength This counsel in it self not absurd was yet found fault with and disallowed by covetousness for though Trade was publickly confirmed by Edict yet there was so great a Tribute and Custome besides what was formerly laid upon all Merchandise that it amounted to little less then the third part of the price of the commodity to wit thirty in the hundred was to be paid to the King's Exchequer And this was not laid upon the Hollanders onely but all other Nations lest otherwise the Hollanders should shelter themselves under the names of others and for some private causes of hatred against those
Ships under the conduct of Captain Matelifen one of the Governors of the Indian Company In the interim Carden whom we mentioned before to be sent to Brasile returned with a very great booty Among the Neighbors although the name of Peace yet continued yet many fierce commotions were believed to tend towards War for the Citizens of Aquisgrane the City having alwaies been coveted by the Dukes of Brabant had new Governors put upon them Imperial Decrees made against them and which then was buried in silence but afterwards was manifested by the confidence of a private League with Albertus all the Ceremonies of the Reformed Religion were both publickly and privately forbidden they who had before born the Office of Magistrates were not onely accused as guilty of Sedition but as being illegally chosen were contumeliously used and fined their Accusers were of the choicest sort and whoever undertook their defence were joyned with them in punishment The Bishop of Colen's Legates to whom the Emperor had given that in command under pretext of Reconciliation publickly declared that profession faulty upon their bended knees and afterwards laied pecuniary mulcts upon all they denounced guilty in the name of costs and charges and upon most the fine exceeded their ability yet if it were not paid part were thrown into Prison others removed their habitations whose Banishment was followed with care and hatred of the Commons against the Great men and pity towards the poor But by how much at the present they were oppressed by so much the more violently they would in the future break out In France besides the rest of the Spaniard's treacheries it was discovered that Monsieur Merarges sent from Narbon to exhibite the desires of that Province to the King had agreed with Don Balthazar Zunica King Philip's Embassador privately for the delivery of Marseilles concerning which he and one Brunelle a Netherlander Secretary to the Embassador were apprehended and with them were taken palpable demonstrations of their Treason When the Embassador required his servant according to the Law of Nations the King on the other side set forth the unworthiness of the fact and how the right belonging to Embassadors was by himself violated The Embassador replied If any thing had been done contrary to friendship that ought not to be attributed to him for the French King contrary to the Peace made at Verbin had openly given assistance to Rebells and the Enemies of the true Religion nor had he onely tempted to corrupt the Counts Heremberg and others in the Netherlands but had stirred up the Moors to invade Spain With which reproof the King being more enraged answered That the Roman Religion was more indebted to him and his ancestors then the Spaniard that being untruly reported to be the cause of the War in the Netherlands because in truth that contest was about Dominion And if he either would pay what money was due to the Hollanders or the French who are a people impatient of ease would in these parts make War under a famous General as in the farther Hungary and with the Archduke how much would that resemble so many treacherous designes intended against Cities and the tempted fidelity of so many great men Then he repeated particulars protesting those things spoken concerning the Moors to be false and confessions extorted by force And if it were unlawfull for him to allure the Count Heremberg and others who were not Low-country-men but Germans to unworthy actions what did they merit who by large promises had drawn away Terral not onely a Subject but a Member of his House and family But these were small matters But if haply an Embassador dived into the secrets of State-affairs by politick means it ought mutually to be dissembled and pardoned but counsells of cruelty and such as tended to the hazard of lives ought by him to be refelled Zunica praising the King of great Britain that although he differed in Religion yet he observed the Peace with great reverence the French King answered Their friendship with the Spaniards was but of a new date but a short time would make appear what it would come to But at last the Embassador was glad to pacify the King's anger which began to break out into threats saying there should be no need thereof as well the vertues as the wisedome of Henry the Fourth being generally known to most men But at last Merarges being brought to condigne punishment the Secretary was restored to the Embassador his Master it being proved to the King that it would be better to repay subtlety with policy then to seek to revenge it by War About this time a horrible Conspiracy was discovered in Britain contrived by some who valued their own safety and fidelity and all Laws both divine and humane less then their Zeal to the Roman Religion for because they could not by Petition obtain liberty for the exercise of their Rites hiding a great quantity of Gunpowder under the Parliament-house they decreed at the first assembling of the Parliament to blow up the King the Prince and the Peers of the Kingdome And the chief Fathers of the Jesuites being consulted with by the authors of the Plot whether it were lawfull in so great a number of guilty persons to destroy some innocent ones they answered that for the great good of the Church some wel-deserving persons might suffer confirming their opinion by an argument of besieged Cities But one of the more consciencious of them admonishing his friend that he should not come to the Parliament at the appointed day the Letter of advice being mistakenly delivered first gave notice of the designe and afterwards the place being found out both the Treason and the Traitor himself were found out Upon knowledge whereof the Conspirators in the farthest parts of Britain broke out into open Rebellion one Oldcorne a Jesuite incouraging those that were afraid lest they judged of the goodness of the cause by one unprosperous event That God did many times deny success to undertakings well approved by himself that he might make trial by adversity of his servants constancy and perseverance But at the very beginning of the same they were apprehended brought to trial and executed Father Garnet also who had formerly attempted many things against Queen Elizabeth being wont highly to extoll the Pope's authority over Kings and Kingdomes that no faith or obedience was due to Princes by him interdicted averring that subjects if they were commanded ought to oppose them with Armes even to the hazard of their lives From whence all in power and authority may learn who neither stand in awe of the Roman Religion nor Fleets nor Armies that they are by Ecclesiastical authority most violent inciters of the common people to Rebellion They added also another pestilent opinion That one might answer to any questions proposed by the Magistrate evasively ambiguously and with mental reservations to that purpose setting forth Books in print which in defence of a lie they inscribed with
added the frequent Assaults takings and re-takings of Towns and Castles Marches and Re-Marches of Armies till sometimes they met to Battel Passages to and fro by Sea long Sieges and indeed all kind of Martial Discipline improved to the utmost by signal Experiment But these things being done in publike whereby each Party strengthned his own Affairs and turned all occasions into Force I shall more easily accomplish in regard I have them as nearer so more certain and consequently not to be prevented much less amended by others at a greater distance The beginnings of this War though very incertain because much unknown and dark in its occasion many famous Writers have undertaken even in the Latine Tongue to describe But in regard you cannot well understand those without some further Director I thought it not amiss to declare at large the first Causes of those Tumultuous Proceedings which intervened there from the beginning that at one short View Counsels and Policies may be compaâ—ed one with the other together with the Event produced by the same And in truth so great and famous have the Actions there done been that even Strangers have been cuâ—ious in writing thereof and therefore we certainly should be accounted most ingrate to our Countre and envious of the good of our Posterity if we should not give them a most exact Relation of those things which hapned so near them Especially since most of our Modern Writers have too frequently deluded their Readers Credulity with vain and uncertain Rumours as either Party for their own advantage published the same or else if any had Desire or Opportunity of knowing the Truth even such contented themselves to write onely a Diurnall My Design is to lay open and discuss the Peoples Commotions the Consultations of the great Ones and Governours and whence a new Soveraignty sprang where the first determined The People that â— hâ—bit the Land within the Rhene as also on both sides thereof to â—he Seâ— of â—he Morim and the River Amasius on this side called Germany on the other Old Belgium their Country but most of them are beholding to Germany as well for their Language as their Original whence it was that while the Romans strove to bring in their Arts and Commerce these jointly taking Care both of their Liberty and the Warre at once were Companions in Loss or Conquerours Neither did they ever lâ—se the Repute of good Warriors though they most shewed their Vâ—lours either in others Ayd or their own Rebellions But when the Generality of People as it were upon one Sâ—gnal made violent Incursions into the Roman Empire all this â—ract felâ— to the share of the Franks until in the Division of their Power part became the Possessions of the Kings of France and other part the Emperors of Germany claimed as their Right But both when they themselves were from thence far distant sâ—t Governors by the Names of Earls Dukes and the like to rule and defend all the Cities therein saving onely such as for the sake of Religion were given unto Bishops when Christianity began to increase and flourish Such as were sent forth to the Wars in Command were called Dukes to whom Earles or Counts were such as took Care of the Accounts of Subsidies and other Taxes for the Souldiers Pay and were chief Judges But it is a thing hardly credible how both these and those did augment their Power in a short time by these three means their own Valour and Vertue their Princes neglect and Carelessness and the Favour and Good-will of the Provincials For first they got themselves Power and Authority by doing good to all nor did they shew more Audacity and Courage in time of War than Moderation and Religion in Times of Peace In this manner strengthning themselves instead of a Lieutenantship which was all they had at first they attain to themselves a perpetual and Hereditary Dominion which was with the more Facility and Complyance granted to them because when any Wars broke out in those Parts they were the more ready to meet and undergo the Dangers and Hazards thereof in regard they defended their own Territories For in those Times the Seas were almost covered and the Shores even beset and filled with Danish and Norman Fleets Not long after taking a Priviledge either from the Fear or Favour of their Followers or the Breach and Decay of a greater Lordship though they kept the same Resemblance still in Name yet they established a Soveraign and lawful Authority even with the Peoples good-will Lands are set apart for the Princes and moderate Tributes yet enough to support and maintain their Dignity for they gave not themselves over to Covetousness and luxury or those other Crimes which in the Innocency of that Age were scarce known to the World Onely the Desire of Rule and Thirst of Dominion aged almost as Nature they could not excuse themselves from Hence it was they had perpetuall Wars either among themselves or with their Bordering Neighbors for managing whereof they never hired Forrein Souldiers but used their own People who for the safe keeping of their Borders would strive who should be foremost in the Watch and if Ambition or Honour had invited the Prince beyond they forthwith followed him with Alacrity moved thereto as well by the hopes of Praise as Reward The Conquerour bestowing in Gift on his Noblest Souldiers Lands in Fee-Farm and confirming on Cities and Citizens their Franchises Customs Laws and Magistracy the sure Guards and Defences of their Liberty Nor did their Successors take upon them the full power of Government before they had confirm'd by Oath these Grants on whom they were at first bestowed The whole Charge of the Common-Wealth was of old said upon the Shoulders of the Nobility and Governours of Towns which consisted of the Communalty to whom in some places the Clergy were added These where it was necessary met together concerring Embassies These Consulted of the great Affairs of State nor was it lawful without the general Consent of all to set a Tribute or Tax to alter the present state of Affairs nor to much as enhance or debase the value of Coyâ—â— So much Caution was there used even when they had good Princes to prevent the encroaching of Evil Ones The most Noble and Vertuous amongst the Citizens underwent and performed all publike Offices and all Strangers were kept out of the Princes Court the Senate and all other places either of Honour or Profit By the observance of these good Customs long did the Common-Wealth continue fix't on a good Basis But at length by little and little Seditions growing up wasted this flourishing and rich People untill by many Victories Affinities and Treaties most of them were glad to submit to the Burgundian Government who being sprung from a Royal House Warlike Crafty and dating to undertake any thing to Arm his Power from the Dâ—ssâ—nâ—ions of the Nobles Promises to one Threatens another and give Rewards to a Third Thus
caused them to take an Oath to that purpose contrived that they should take all persons without exception for enemies whom the King should so declare This Oath was taken by Count Egmond Charles Arscot of Croya a person quite unconcerned in the former troubles Charles Baylaymont and his Brothers the Counts Peter Mansfield Governour of Lutzenburgh Count Megem Governour of Gelderland Count Aremberg Governour of Frizeland and the Count of Noricum that in Henault held the place of the Marquess of Berghen And quickly did they begin to make the truth of their Oath appear by their actions Egmond infesting those in Flanders the safeguard of whom he had undertaken The Count of Noricum marcheth against Valenciennes where were others of the Rebels and by Siege forcing them to surrender punished them with great severity by which examples terrified the best and greatest Cities the troubles being thus for a time ended received their appointed Garrison the rest destroying and slaughtering all the remains of those mad people that they could find any where together onely the Prince of Aurange and Hochstraten denyed to change their old Oath by which they were obliged to defend the King and Laws for any other Aurange adding further that his Wife was one of that number which by that Oath were destined to destruction While these things were in agitation the Spaniards as they can see when they have an opportunity did not sluggishly manage that happy occasion And first while the danger was yet scarcely removed it was agreed almost on all hands that the Presence and Majesty of the Prince would be very available for the quieting and composing of all parties the most faithfull and loyall among all the Netherlanders telling and assuring that if the King should send another and not come himself it would produce more hate and lesse obedience which the Emperour Charles the Kings Father well knew when upon a small disturbance onely in the City of Gaunt he made no delay to come thither immediately though at that time France even yet breathed out Warre against him But now a great deal of time was wasted in vain and frivolous Discourses which was the safest way for him to passe by for they suspected France would hardly afford him passage either with or without any Army and a Voyage by Sea was not judged fit in regard of the many certain hazards thereof besides his landing in Zeland might be doubted for they could nor tell how far either the Prince of Aurange or the English might attempt upon his person Therefore the Resolution was that he passe over into Liguria and thence into Germany and there to speak with the Emperour and to try his pulse The Emperour then was Maximilian the Son of Ferdinand who upon consideration had of the Dutch Affaires said that unless Philip would in some measure give place to the present necessity of the times it would be a dangerous undertaking for him by reason of the Princes of the Augustaâ— Confession that were bound to the Dutch Lords by many tyes of friendship allyance and benefits but if any way of moderation might be proposed he offered himself as a Peace-maker between them but this was somewhat ill resented as Augustus Elector of Saxony said who was very great in Caesars favour and allied to the Prince of Aurange by his Brothers Daughter Letters now are sent to the Lady Margaret which declared the Kings approach but not without an Army for so it befitted his Majesty to keep up his Dignity among strangers as also either by the terror thereof to appease all tumults or if any durst stand to contest with him that then he was prepared for the future not to receive but to give Lawes And indeed a little time made it manifest that the Spaniards not content that they were quiet began to look back for revenge by making thâ— Kings anger the meanes to compass their private ends and advantages for they offered as a pretence for enslaving the Dutch that they were all to be looked upon as Traytors either because they had began those novel mischiefs in Church and State or else because they had not brought the persons that durst do such things unto condigne punishment There are also that add the Authority of an Oath formerly made by the Pope to Philip when undertaking the Government he bound himself up to the Lawes that the Netherlands should be governed as America and the greatest part of Italy were And the great credit given to the Duke of Alva's Counsels who was no new fomenter of Tyranny made all men believe that unless so horrid an Example of Rebellion were signally corrected with some remarkable punishments that it would cause others of his Subjects to kick off their Allegiance and therefore that not only the present force but fear of like reward should keep them within their bounds Nor was this so fit time of subjecting the Netherlands to be lost or neglected for all the Kingdoms lying round about do faithfully observe the peace they have made with him and if there were any thought of troubles it was domestick and arise at home Thus were they over-ruled who perswaded Peace and moderation Prince Charles the Son of Philip offering his endeavour for the pacifying and ruling the Netherlands but so much in vain that it did prove to his harm by encreasing those suspitions before conceived against him At last it was declared the King having retired as if upon matters of greater concernment or else upon pretence that he might not be in danger that the Duke of Alva should be sent thither with most ample Authority nor is it to be doubted with what Instructions he being a man alwayes used to Warre and Bloodshed to whom being in Italy the Messengers reported the Companies of old Spanish Souldiers from Naples Scicily Sardinia and Millaine to be joyned with the Horse the Prince of Aurange not thinking it fit to stay any longer goes to Nassau being then possessed by his Brother protesting openly at his departure before a great multitude of people that followed him that he would not stir one foot further in this difference unless he were assaulted or damnified In whose absence the Lady Regent commanded Maximilian Earl of Bossu to take charge of his Lieutenancies Brederode when he had fortified what was his and hovered about Vtrecht near the Rhene and Amsterdam two very wealthy Cities the Prince of Aurange favouring his first attempts either by an under-hand assistance or deceit is shortly after forcibly driven out of the Country Egmond and some other meaner Lords whose minds and fortunes could not suffer banishment were led about with the hope of living till they were brought to their ends untimely but most of the Nobles and many of the Commonalty for fear of the Spaniard though part of them fearing punishment returned being not prepared to fly for Religion went some into the next parts of Germany some into England and some into farther distant Countries the
and for the pacifying of those that were fallen off But no man was ever so wise whom Fortune at one time or other hath not deceived For the Prince of Aurange had before this by under-hand Policies and insinuating Intelligence gain'd the Hearts of the Brabanders declaring That he desired nothing that might singly tend to his own particular advantage but wholly minded the Publike Good And they again of their own accord consented while Requesens was busie abroad with his Forces or dissembled Lenity with intent to raise his Authority higher than he had ever abated it For the Regent himself very indiscreâ—tly commanded the Countreymen to take Arms to repress the Tumultuous Mutinies of the Souldiers which very thing was the first beginning of their Liberty in thoâ—e Parts For now the Names imposed by Alva being forgotten the Laws and the Rights of the States were cryed up by the Voyces of all Men Flanders also from hence learned Wit a People very unquiet and hardly able of old to endure their Princes when they were onely Princes These confidently denied Tribute to Don Requesens because there was exacted from them more than was necessary But as there were in that Senate some Spaniards so were there also many Netherlanders from whom the Prince of Aurange hoped that he might desire that they would rather bestow those Monies to defend their Country than betray it And this Counsel so full of sound Care did greatly help forward in that Case For this War had so extreamly drained the Spanish Wealth though very great that the King being greatly indebted was fain to take by force his Possessions from the Vsurers under the pretence of a general Discharge by common Authority of all Debts and Bonds before that time without any payment or satisfaction for the same And by chance the Turks whose Power hath ever grown greater by the Christians Discords while Philip turns all his strength against the Netherlands enjoying the Kingdom of Tunis fell violently into all the rest of Africa both by Sea and Land which the Spaniards held By means of which straits it came to pass that the Spanish Souldiers in the Low-Countries had no Pay for many Moneths who thereupon according to Custom by them long received casting off Obedience become Licentious and wish for nothing more than for Pillage Wherefore Bruxels the Metropolis of those Dominions was destined for Plunder and so had been if the common People mindful of former Villanies and almost astonished at the greatness of the imminent Danger had not betaken them to Arms and advertised the Magistrates and those who had the Management of the Laws thereof These presently summoned the Senate to whom we told you before the Administration of the Government was fallen to condemn these impudent Souldiers as Enemies to the Prince and Country which being openly done the Sedition was believed to be privily fomented by the Counsels of a few whose Wealth grew from Forreign Tyranny But when the Confederate Regiments turning out their Commanders had forcibly entred Alost a Town in that part of Flanders which of old stuck to the German Empire and was never as the rest subject to France and thence had wasted the Country round about them there being none to take Vengeance of them some of the Nobles of Brabant not by any publike Advice but struck with the Fear and Memory of the Example of Antwerp sent some who should keep together the Senate that is the Head of the Commonwealth in their Court and Session Anon least the Government should fail for want of a lawful Authority they discriminated the Innocent from such as were Suspicious restraining all whose Treachery or Sluggishness would produce the effect that no Strength should be made ready against the insulting Envy and Malice of the Spaniards And not onely so but the Natives that were Souldiers were as much as might be picked out and sent into several parts and then joyned in League with Flanders and other Cities against them as against a Common Enemy Nor did they onely think of these new Disturbances of the Publike Peace but called also to 〈◊〉 the Oppressions in Alva's time such as the Tenths Inquisition Punishments of the Guiltless Robbing them of that by Force and War which they laboured for in Times of Peace and their frequent Slaughters and Executions by colour of the Edicts And now Matters began to seem not onely to take notice of such as had traduced the Government but of the whole Spanish Nation Whereupon one Rode made himself Captain of certain Companies of Spaniards that now went out of Holland never to return thither again part of the Senate before and which then was gone over to the Souldiers usuâ—ping to themselves all Right of Government But now â—he whole Colledge as it were re-uniting The German Souldiers too joyned themselvs hoping to do what they listed 〈◊〉 thus joyned together they sacked Vtrecht by he Maze â— most noble City and not long after powering themselves out of the Castle into the City of Antwerp where for some days having beaten out the Defendants they glutted their Wrath and Avarice with the Slaughter oâ— the Townsmen the burning of Houses and an exceeding great Booty Among all which Mâ—series the Netherlanders durst not rely upon the strength and valour of their new and unexperienced Souldiers against those Weather-beaten and old ones who had also Fortifications and Castles not knowing well therefore what to do and considering that it would be too tedious to â—ove oâ—her Princes to aid them they resolved at last to accept of the next Forces which belonged to the Prince of Aurange were by him freely offered them being conscious to themselves that they should be looked upon however as guilty of the like Crimes and that they must either purge themselves together by Force or suffer together Wherefore resuming the Treaty of Peace which was broken off at Breda as is before related and as Fellow-Citizens consulting against a Common Enemy they easily agree and it was provided that for the obliterating the Memory of former Differences no one should be questioned concerning Religion nor that any Judgments should be confirmed which were given concerning the same but that all things confiscated should be restored to their Owners or if they were sold certain select Apprizers should set a value both upon Possessions and other things wrongfully detained and to restore to the one the thing it self to wit the Possessions to the other the value or price thereof that every one for the future might use what Religion he pleased and so as to those things which they of Holland and Zealand took detained in the time of the War which belonged to the King and they also agreed That what Money the Prince of Aurange had expended in his two Expeditions or so much thereof as belonged to him the rest of the Provinces should be equally contributary to the re-imbursing after the Commonwealth was freed from Forreigners according to the
at that time was President of Flanders Lalayne Champigny and divers others who could not digest that the chief management of all Affaires should rest in the Prince of Aurange with whom few were equall in birth none of them like him in Wisdom and Authority Therefore because they see themselves never able to compass the Peoples love as he hath done and that they must come far short of him they begin to fear that if he should come to enjoy that Dignity that he would bring Religion to his own bent and to prevent that they seek to prevent his glory by the splendor of a greater name Rodolphus was chosen Emperour of Germany in the stead of Maximilian his Father who was lately dead His Brother Matthias they by many great promises intreat from the Court not by any open consent of the Emperor for fear of offending the Spaniard The'e men because they had strong Cities and Arms in their power imagined they could easily bring to passe that by their bringing in of this young man who must be beholding to them for that great Honour they should have all things in their power and might in his name execute their own Commands and do what they listâ— all which the Prince of Aurange foreseeing he removed some of these guilty persons from that Council and assured them that they might more confidently hope for a just Government in the lawful Dominion of the States than the particular power of some few And by chance also at this time it fortuned that Arscot the chief Emulator of the House of Nassau swolne big with vain hope offended the Commonalty of Gaunt by some insolent Speeches the people of which City being the most noble of all Flanders but the most averse to Nobility threw him and all his Train into Custody But the Prince of Aurange although Matthias was called in by his Enemies and had come contrary to his desire and that the rest of the Netherlanders had a greater respect towards France yet having regard to the moderation of his Carriage he himself moved the States that they would accept the young man eminent in his Brothers Majesty and of Kindred to the King to protect their Cause wherewith they were thus far pleased that the Government of the Netherlands should be in Matthias but that the Prince of Aurange should be Deputy Governour which at length though unwillingly he accepted by which means their fury who had sought out Matthias onely with hope to have made themselves great by his Dignity was more enflamed The Regency of Matthias is bounded and limited by Laws and Counsellors nor had he power to use any thing suitable to his greatness besides the State and splendor of his life The third Book of the Dutch Annals ALL matters being in this manner setled Warre is proclaimed against Don John at which time the Monethly Revenues arising from Provisions of Victuals amounting to six hundred thousand Florens was brought into the publick Treasury the free disposing whereof as also of Musters and Councels relating to the Warre that they might be the freer from discovery were by the States left wholly to the Senate Then at length the Queen of England began to think the forces of the Netherlanders worthy of her favour though yet she was not without a peculiar fear of troubles in her own State because Don John moved a Marriage with the Queen of Scots by which and the help of his Arms he hoped to get to himself the Kingdom of Britain and this was evident by no small demonstrations wherefore she promised them both men and money for their assistance they giving caution for repayments but yet still they should stick to their pretence that the Netherlanders Provinces would be obedient to Philip. And so she interwove her self into that Common-wealth that no matter of any importance could be done without her knowledge and approbation endeavouring also to strengthen these new Settlements by an universal Concord though some of the Netherlanders laboured earnestly but in vain to provoke the Queen against the Prince of Aurange and perswading now one now another by laying before them the greatness of the danger least they should incline to re-settle the old Possession of the Roman Religion She therefore would give them ayd When She had effected these things She sends Letters to the King desiring him therein to hearken to peace and to moderate his Government by the Rule of the Law but if he would compel his Subjects to take Arms he should not take it ill at her hands the French long since being intent thereto if she prevented the Dutch allyance with that People who were her Enemies and in the interim she did with great pains strive to clear her self from affecting the Soveraignty that belonged to another Henry King of France Sebastian King of Portugall and the Emperour himself were in like manner solicited by the States to move Philip to moderation towards them the last also being sâ—ed to for assistance in their Cause which at that time was in vain In the interim private grudgings and discords increased among the great Ones so that many went thence into Castles and strong Holds scituate in Lutzenburg upon various pretences but the true cause was they interpreted the Honours given to others to be an affront and disparagement to them But Don John being recruited with the coming of the Spanish Forces and a great many Companies of Souldiers brought to him by the Duke of Parma the Son of Margaret late Governess of the Netherlands out of Italy overthrew the Dutch Army which was daily weakened by the going away of their Captains and retreating into Brabant at a place called Gemblim Nor was the Prey gotten by the Victory small especially if we consider it in the success because Lovayne which layd open Brabant on that side Limburg a famous Dutchy and the Metropolis of the Dominion bearing the same name using to make excursions even into Germany and Phillippolis which City the Prince of Aurange when formerly he was Generall of the Kings Army had fortified with new and strong Bulwarks against the French when onely forraign Warres were feaâ—ed as also many other adjacent Towns came in and submitted The King having â—hus conquered them yet thought fit to try them with the hope of Peace the Baron Selles carrying Conditions out of Spain for differing from those made at Gaunt and for which Don John would not alter a tittle which then was enough to make it seem reâ—sonable why they should be denyed for now the Netherlanders began first to know themselves and several Princes did augment their confidence by striving who should first offer them Souldiers and other ayd Here Francis of Valoys Duke of Anjon and Bâ—other to the King of France both before the Peace made at Gaunt and after was often sued to by the Belgick Nobles There Casimire who possessed the Palatinate of Germany both of them by reason of theiâ— yonger Birth being laid side
the chance that in the same place that very day eleven years before the Father dyed by the hand of the Executioner through the cruelty of that people among whom the Son was now come as a Traytor to his Country but at last by the pitty of the Townsmen he got thence away and came safe to Nienove who being received by the Dutch was after by the power of his own People as we shall relate made Prisoner At Bruges there was a sharp and dangerous tumult so that Arms were taken and bloodshed very hardly prevented both the parties having set forth Souldiers that belonged to them the Bands of the United Provinces came first being hastned by the Magistrates and this was the end of the dissention the Tumults of other Cities were prevented by Garrisons Ipre of its own accord came and joyned it self to the League of Union and the like did Gaunt and a little after the Prince of Aurange came into that City by the favour and good will of all the multitude So great inconstancy was there in the resolutions of the vulgar rout and their levity being the same both in good things and bad there removing such from Authority as had by violence intruded themselves he gave the Honour to others Most of the Prisoners which we mentioned to be there detained being carelesly looked to had broke out the rest that remained the Prince set at liberty And another thing which proved as well to augment his Honour as revive envy against him was That the Government of Flanders was put upon him notwithstanding his many refusalls to accept thereof In the Embassey to Colen there was nothing done but what the Spaniard was well pleased with to wit that minds distracted to the hope of Peace should never advise well concerning the publick good The Embassadors of both sides complaining mutually that their Collegues by private agreements were solicited against the peace disturbed by new Confederacies not minding the Repute or Esteem of the Treaty But the Dutch because of the present danger for that the Duke of Parma had gained much upon Maestricht a City partly belonging to Brabant and partly to the Jurisdiction of Leige as being scituate upon the Confines of both and they could not get an opportunity of relieving it either with Souldiers or Provision they desired the time of the pacification might be freed from War and they hoped the Emperour's Embassadors would assist them herein But the Duke of Terranova denied that he had received any such power Thus while a Truce is asked and denyed while Conditions of Peace begin to be offered while the Instructions of the Dutch are found fault with as being not free but bound up to new Orders and Commands the Duke of Parma had crept under the very Walls of Maestricht when after a four moneths Siege he took the City by force though the same were valiantly defended and his own strength not very great But at Winter he sent away almost all the German Spanish and Italian Souldiers retaining onely the Captains and one Wing of Italian Cavalry though later than was agreed by the Covenants made in Artoys but yet this gained to him Mechlin with Valenciennes and the City of Issell In some convenient places he set Garrisons of Walloons Of these as every one was grievously annoyed or else of his own accord had offended his Neighbour so was he esteem'd most safe from danger and for this benefit they confirmed on the Duke of Parma the Lieutenancy not throughly understanding that a General of an Army might when he pleased recall to their Assistance any Forreign Souldiers But the Confederate Dutch though by the conjunction of so many People and Cities had lost all hopes of Peace yet that they might seem not so to hate it as to despair of it they sent the Articles of Composition and Agreement offer'd by Philip unto every Town that they might be consider'd of in publike Council Which being objected against as unjust and fallâ—cious were these The Acts of Matthias were not otherwise confirmed but as they had no Relation to the Supream Authority of the Prince or the Injuries of others That whatever Regent Philip should appoint over the Netherlanders to him constantly should be delivered all Cities Castles Magazines and Instruments of Warre He together with the Senate should take Cognizance of all things there was no mention of the States That all displaced and ejected Priests should be restored as also all others that had born Offices of Honour or Magistracy All which things seemed to tend to this That the Laws being restored in shew by the endeavour of them who would enjoy the Benefit and Trust of the Commonwealth they should shortly be abrogated and the People being disarmed reduced to slavery for there is no fortification for maintainance of Liberty so weak as that of Kingly Jurisdiction As to matter of Religion the Settlement whereof wâ— the matter of greatest Difficulty and Controversie it pleased the King to grant that there should be but one Religion throughout all the Netherlands which should be confirmed by the Authority of the Pope unless in such places where â— this time other Rites were used and this confirmed the League made at Gaunt Without those Bounds a time was limited to men of different Judgments wherein they might settle their Affairs and after their departure out of the Netherlands their Goods should not be medled with so long as they would commit the Administration thereof to the prâ—curation of such as were of the Romane Religion But this was looked upon as very hard by all and in aâ— manner convenient for the Publike Peace because it would turn upside down the present state of so many Cities banish and expel from their Country so many Thousand Men Nor should it be free for any man to believe what his Conscience bore him Witness was the Truth And what Country was able to receive all that should be Exiled and if any could yet what safety could it hope for in such Multitudes Where could they whom their own Country thought fit to expelâ— hope for quiet in a strange Land But the Governours and Chiefs without the deepest Brand of Ignominy and Villany could not consent to betray for fear that Religion they were taught to be true in what manner soever it first brought forth Neither the Hollander nor Zealander think that Proviso sufficient for them for they had some strong Cities which dis-senced from the Common-wealth in the use of that Religion to be revoked to those very times From whence they might well doubt new Tumults and their good will to become suspected that their Cause was separated from the rest They also laboured to work upon the Prince of Aurange apart and by himself when though seemingly aloof off there was offered to his Son not onely Liberty but the Governments belonging to him his Father to himself as many Goods is he had ever before possessed so as he would go out of
private ends the People that it to say the States rightly â—â—sembled have power to judge thereof and to punish the same Nor were most Kingdoms any otherwise subject 〈◊〉 their present Kings unless that the People tyred either wiâ—â— the injuries or sloath of the former have translated them 〈◊〉 other hands How much more then should these things prevail in the Netherlands to whom the very name of King is unacquainted and their manner of obedience such that they never took any Oath unless the Prince had first obliged himself according to their desires to maintain the Law It is the Law of Nations that mutuall Obligations are dissolved by the tricks and wickedness of either party And having laid aside Philip they would seek them another Prince And they needed not to doubt those things which would easily be maintained against the Spanish greatness by their Wealth There was need of a present Captain and of such a one who when mischief raged every where would though with the neglect of his own safety incourage the Netherlanders That he had clearly cast out of his thought all hopes from Germany There remains then but one thing and that is that Francis of Valois be chosen to the Governments whom they could not deny already to have given 〈◊〉 certain proof Nor was it a little material to their advantage if that young Prince who was next Heir to the highest Fortune should begin his growth from hence In the Interim he was sure of the Brother-hood of France and in probability the good affections of England would not be wanting against whom the Spaniard of â—aâ—e had prepared a Fleet which partly by Tempest and partly by the Portugall Warre had been destroyed and further he had newly given ayd and incouragement to the Rebels in Ireland nor had the English spared him in the new World of America the Wealth which they took there from the Spaniards and brought into their own Country having laid the foundation of a future Warre After a long doubting and much hesitation the Counsel was approved with a greater fear of the Spaniard than affection or confidence in Mounsieur Francis and Philip for violating and infâ—inging the Laws by the States of the Provinces of the Union is thrown off from the Government and nor that sentence is brought forth wherewith if we may speak the truth the Warre had now been in labour for the space of nine years but thenceforth was his name and all marks of Honours utterly left off and denyed and the words of their solemn Oath made to him absolutely altered so that thereby he who had of late been their Prince was now declared an Enemy The putting in execution of this Counsel was to Neighbour Nations guilded over with the severall excuses of necessity and the severall fruitless Requests they had made to him yet the Spaniards did not cease highly to Brand it as infamous it seems altogether forgetful that their own Predecessors had deposed a King from his Kingdom for his too great cruelty and that they preferred before him a Bastard slip-sprung from an unlawful coition We will not mention old Examples of the like kind is France nor any of fresher memory transacted in England nor those newest of all of the Danes and Swedes laying aside their Kings But to return to the purpose Matthias was dismissed with much affection and great Rewards And this being a matter of so great concernment neither did the greatness of the action it self nor the Authour remain unknown to the Spaniard whence perceiving that the life of one single Person was the onely obstacle to his desired greatness therfore though he had fair Law against him in the field yet he in the first place proscribes him and then by the habits of Wealth Honnur and impunity as well of all forme faults as of that invites some body to assassinate him Against this new fashioned Edict the Prince of Aurange makes his Defence in a Book on purpose set forth as well to the States of the Netherlands as to other Princes of Christendom which Book was penned by the help of Peter Villier a Frenchman who having the Study of the Laws wherein he had been bred up first fell to be a teacher of the new Religion and thence came to be admitted into the secretest Counsels of the Prince of Aurange The Declarations on both sides are yet extant full of equall bitterness wherein after repetition of the Crimes relating to the Cause on the Kings part is objected to the Prince Ingratitude and Treason he on the other side retorts on the Kings Treachery and Tyranny and so intermixing many true and some false Relations at length they directly fall to terms of scurrility like scolding Women for because the Prince of Aurange being seperated from his Saxon Wife for Causes well approved by all her Kindred and having marryed the Daughter of Montpensier who had been devoted for a Nun was accused both as an Adulterer and Sacrilegious Person On the other greater Adulteries were objected to Philip nor was he forgotten to be charged with the severall deaths of his Wife and his Son from the guilt whereof not yet cleared he had married his Neece in blood for the then Wife of the King was the Emperour Maximilians Daughter by the Kings Sister which Conjunction the Pope by his Authority though many judged contrary to the Divine Law confirmed Nor was it smothered in silence how formerly he attempted by his great Minister of State Granvell to have poysoned Maximilian himself being his near Kinsman by the Fathers side but then his Father in Law Whereupon the States contemning both the malice and insinuations of Philip who layed the fault of this great defection onely upon one by publick Testimony vindicated the Prince of Auranges innocency adding moreover for the safety of his Person a Troop of Horse to the old Guard The Embassie of the Netherlanders was most acceptable to Francis of Valois being thereby called to the Government and very pleasing to his Mother who endeavoured by forraign Honours to indulge her Sons already too ambitious by their over-swelling hope But the Kings Ayd and Consent was requested before it was convenient and so did not answer their expectation onely the King wrote to them that he would not have a respect to his Brothers greatness but would also give help and succour to himself and all those which were under his Dominion which that he might more readily perform he wished to his own Kingdom Peace and to his Brother all happiness and prosperity The present necessity forced the United Dutch to rest satisfied onely with words and only to hope for the rest And presently Valois that he might the more strongly work himself into their Affections understanding that Cambray besieged by Horse and Foot and fortified in their Camps had undergone great hardships and extremities He sets forward thither with an Army for the maintenance whereof Queen Elizabeth had supplyed them with a great sum
the Enemy conferring nothing more of strength to their Party than that of his Sons whom he compelled to Revolt with him though not intangled or sullied with his Crimes nor insensible of their Honours Now was the state of Flanders very miserable Ipre was Besieged by Parma The Gauntoys had recalled Imbis for no other Reason than to revive old Enmities and conteâ— with the Prince of Aurange and the French who eft-sorts attaining the prime Degree of Magistracy by some pests ferous and turbulent Predicators did unsettle the Minds of the Vulgar The City of Bruges now Flanders was all in Combustion had chosen for their Governour Charles of Cimaca He was the Son of Areschot and diveâ—s times had charged Parties out of Fortune afterwards forsaking his Father in a voluntary Exile he professed to follow the New Religion and seemed most vehement therein meerly to hide his Dissimulation By these Subtilties creeping into the thoughts of those that interpreted the holy Scriptures to the People he deluded the simplicity of such as were not very circumspect but well meaning men and by them was wrought into the affections of the vulgar Now this Charles held no lesse Correspondence and private Intelligence with the Romanists than Imbis did though openly both of them imprison some of them and not let them so much as come together In the Interim they had so obliged another part of the People to them by a faigned zeal in Religion that whoever did but suspect or sinistrously interpret any of their actions was sure to incur a generall hatred These were the two who undertook to betray into the enemies hand all Flanders a most noble Province and then strengthned with so many Cities And first that they might take the necessity of recalling the French they began to talk of Casimire Truxius making a League with Germany not that there did any such hopes appear but that by the losse of time being left remediless there should remain nothing to be done but to submit Thus these Commanders of Peace first had onely licence to parley but afterwards they had Authority to conclude but they had so ordered their business and informed the People as if a Peace had been made not with the Duke of Parma and the Spaniards but with the Netherlandish Cities which had revolted for that bayt was more popular and easie to be swallowed adding moreover that the King was satisfied therewith and content with that obedience which was due to him would not rob God but leave to him all things Divine Now are both Books and speeches cast up and down stuffed with bitter railings against the French and others who had so long consumed as well the private as publike Wealth of the Netherlanders in so unequall a Dispute That now they had no Forces nor the hope of any allyance or ayd from abroad and the Victorious Armies of a most potent King had in a manner inclosed them round That now it was manifest that God was displeased to have Religion profaned with blood and that the use of Divine Mysteries should be maintained by force and slaughters That certainly the Primitive Christians lived peaceably under the Government of profane Princes even in the greatest persecutions as a strict Command laid by God upon them and when he thought fit to alter their Condition He took away their Princes but never allowed a Sword in their Hand to remove them That when the power of Warre and Peace was once given to Princes there was nothing left to the Subjects but Patience and their Prayers Nay that Piety it self did rather chuse to strengthen it self by Persecution than weaken it self by Licutiousness Did there many suffer Death by Law under the Emperour Charles and Ring Philip How many more have perished now by the Sword And surely they are most happy who dyed not in their sinne In the Fury of Citizens there is no distinction all are alike miserable as wel they who do such things as they who suffer them To an Understanding Spectator there will not appear to be the Causes of a War as they are called but the Ambition of a few who by Domestick Dangers have exposed their Country to Ruine The Duke of Parma observing all these Occurrences takes Time by the Fore-lock and besieging Ipre with strong Bulwarks and Forts that it might want the fewer Forces be sends his Army under the Leading of the Viscount of Gaâ—â— and Montigny into the North part of Flanders that he might confirm the Minds of the Netherlandish Lords already inclining towards him and that they who would not come in of their own accord might be forced to Submission all hopes of Relief or Assistance being utterly taken away from them There is in the furthest part of Flanders which the there undivided River Scheld divides from Brabant and afterwards separated by a Cut or Drain of the same from Beveland a Southerly Isle of Zeland and inclosed with the Bending thereof a place called the Waese which then Steland Governed of the same Mind towards his Country with Areschots Son Charles and Imbisius Hither when the Captains of the King's Army were arrived the Governours forthwith deliver to them all the whole Region together with the Towns of Hulst and Axel and the Castle of Rupelmund famous in Antient Histories of Flanders The Original of this Castle 's Name was taken from the little River called Rupell that runneth into the Schelde and whence not far off upon the other Bank stands Antwerp A little more inwardly is Alost seated to the Garrison Souldiers whereof a pretty Sum of Money being due for their Pay being Forreign Souldiers out of England and neglected to be given to them by the Flandrians they were sollicited as Souldiers by the Enemies strength their own penury and the Example of their Neighbors to surrender which not long after was done But the Brabanders and Zelanders presently threw down their Banks and Cawseyes to let out the River Schelde and beyond it to Repair and Fortifie Castles and Forts to defend their side of the Banks or Shore and to offend their Enemies on the other side 1584. In the mean time the Duke of Parma's Captains that they might the better be able to blow up into a flame the Sedition of those two potent Cities pitched their Camp between Gaunt and Bruges stopping up all Passages by Water to hinder Commerce Wherefore the Romanists on both sides and divers others who adhered to the Spaniards under the Name of Peace either out of Design or Simplicity no longer mutter'd or sought private Meetings but being backed with great and publike Authority endeavoured to draw all to their Opinion some by perswasions others by fear At last these by the departure of the rest prevailed at Bruges and the Lord of Cimace Areschots Son broke out at the same time which as soon as the Prince of Aurange had received Information of from the Magistrates that continued faithful he laboured that he might be suddainly
but onely will note that although he were very stern to others he was easie to Flatterers and Syâ—phants and would give too much credit to pretended Friendships without any Trial. Nor were these the onely men to be found fault with about him there were others very intimate with him and privy to all his Counsels whose Factious Designs were soon discover'd Among whom Ringaltius one eminent in the Guilt of the Conspiracy refused all the Tribunals of Judges until at last as a Renegado and a Traytor he ended his infamous Life among the Enemies in a miserable poor condition Wherefore now innumerable Complaints as it were all at once were made to the Generall returning from the War to wit That Warro and Garrisons being not possible to be Governed without the Injury of the Citizens against this such should be put into Command as the People were pleased with And there was added That the Office and Dignity of Treasurer or Receiver Generall was given to Strangers by whom it was deceitfully managed That the Price and Value of Money was unsetled and the Souldiers and other Charges of the Common-wealth were not compared with the Treasury That the Commands of the Sea was betrayed by the exhausting the Navall Revenues That Trading and all Commerce decayed That Honours were bestowed on those who in no wise merited them That the Authority of all inferiour Lieutenancies was destroyed by him and their Right so many years maintained cevoured and swallowed up in Garrisons Nor was it passed in silence that the Souldiers at that time hired did not come concerning which there was a Suspition that the English had been the cause thereof as willing rather that their own Forces and proper strength should be brought in in regard the Numbers of them were small when the Covetousness of the Commanders or Paymasters had exhausted the Auxiliary Numbers so much that they were necessitated to give way to the Enemy not being able to withstand his Victories These things were thus related by Direction of the States then Confederate who from that time began to Assemble and meet more frequently than formerly that those Things might be Transacted without the Senate which should keep in awe the Guilty Consciences of the English as Hollanders and privately complaining of many Things both in relation to themselves and to Prince Maurice they took into their Cognizance and Care most ordinary Matters This the Earl of Leicester took very ill that Men from Shops and Taverns should come to make a Judicatory who could bring nothing thither with them but sordid and mechanick Arts and Minds prostituted to Lucre and Gain and that he a Man of that Birth and Quality should receive Laws from the Ignorant and despicable Vulgar and fight under the Banner and Command of Strangers Much vexed hereat he thought it would be a Work well worth his pains if he could possible to remove such Clowns from the Stern of Government for there is nothing more hateful to Nobility than the Dominion of Peasants being generally sharp Observers of Oppressors And this he thought might the more easily be brought to pass because Strangers and the multitude of Citizens which is far the greater having no share in the Government as was supposed would gladly hearken to this Equality But I revolving in my Mind the worthy Precepts of wise men and antient Forms of Cities do rather think that as many as would exclude that part of the People from Honours for whose common Utility the advantage of all things chiefly redounds do conceit Matters of that difficulty as are better to be walked after in Discourse than Practice For not to speak of Nations Bordering upon the Sea amongst whom the Commons had the Superiority the Spartans Democracy as being free from Flattery equalled almost the greatest Kingdoms Nor had Rome any peaceable or setled Government untill the Commons were admitted to have a shâ—re therein And at this day in many most flourishing Cities where the Government is Aristocratical the Vnderlings of the Senators in the Name of the Common People exercise all Offices Neither is this Order forbidden in that Commonwealth who is indebted to the Water for all it hath and by the Dignity of Trades and Merchandizing grown much greater than of old so that the whole World hath participated of her Navigations And all the Wealth is almost in their Hands whereof an Account is exacted where Honours are to be bestowed according to the Judgment of Antient and severe Legislators And surely Covetousness and Wealth are no where less to be suspected than where the Dominion is not perpetual and as it were limited within Bounds But the Earl of Leicester prepared to alter both these and other long-continued Practices not so much in a ridiculous Affectation of Novelty but that by separating the Nobility and others for Wisdom eminent from the rest he might draw them into Parties And first he took to him as Chaplains some Interpreters of Scripture for in this Age they alone carry the liars and Affection of the Multitude such as were eminent for their outward Profession of Zeal and differed from others For at first in the Commonwealth Religion being less esteemed than was fit was reported to be the onely cause of the Troubles and things more earnestly longed for because forbidden upon pain of punishment became neglected when they might be used with Impunity Reverence to Things Sacred was to all that shewed it dangerous No Honour was given to Priesthood nay there were who would not allow any Right of Ecclesiasticall Censures but would utterly abrogate it and all this when they remembred with Canker'd Hearts and imbitter'd Minds the Lordlyness of Priests formerly and so in a venomous Malice to Old Things they made all Things New But Liecester on the contrary by his Example shewing to them Authority and other Advantages of England which they should enjoy first won the Applause of his Preachers and by them gained the Affections of the People committing and trusting many Affairs of the Commonwealth not to the Magistrates but to those who were in some way or other conversant with things Divine or else concerned among the Plebeians who though willing yet could never attain to right use and knowledge of things And now many whose Counsels had been sound and faithful to their Country were openly put back from their Honours because they agreed with the Church of Rome either in all Points or at least in some little regarding how this matter would disturb the Peace if once it were published abroad That they had received such a Religion which would admit of no Companions in the Common-wealth except of the same Gang. This had not long continued but among the Frizons and in Utrecht where the Inhabitants had taken away the power from the Magistrates to themselves and in other Cities which had formerly been Tumultuous and ruled by the too great strength of the Multitude the Name of the States began to be murmured at and he
never intended a Peace And Arguments of their Hostile Dâ—signs and Warlike Preparations every day broke out clearer and clearer until at last the so long feared Flâ—et set an end to the one sides hope and the other sides dissimulation But Dissention and Factions with By-names went not out of Holland with the Earl of Leicester but under this pretence the Garrison Souldiers both of Cities and Castles made Disturbances robbing and pilling every where especially they that by ill-ordering of the Treasury were behind in their Pay for fear of Peace hasted by Rapine to repay their Labour in the War At which time some were pleased that the third part of Pay should be offer'd which by the Custom of the Netherlands is always in Bank and never used to be disbursed but upon very good occasions Which because it could not speedily be obtained in regard it was the Remains of many Years and to be demanded of many they forthwith every one took to himself what Liberty or Licentiousness he pleased being defended a while by some English the Queen had sent As if the Name of English would have made these Crimes pass more currant The Souldiery of Geertruydenburg upon the receiving a great Sum of Money seemed cotented but into what an unâ—â—ly Baseness and Tâ—eachery they afterwards backe on I wâ—liâ—m its proper place relate Sonoi in the City of Medem like â—cituate on the Western Shore of the Frizian Gulph by the Rebellion of his Souldiers against him suffer'd the punishment of denying Obedience to Superiours Prince Maurice by Siege reduced these to the Obedience of himself and the States â—â—ssel also Governour of the Garrison in Flushing hoping to command in Chief all the Souldiers in Zeland and drawing to his Party Veren and Armuyden Towns in the sle of Wâ—lcheren with an Ambition of Rule was at length 〈◊〉 Queen's Commands who understood heâ—â—â— things a 〈◊〉 Renunciation of the Earl of Leicester which now 〈…〉 heard of forced to desist In other places the Seditions were appeased with less danger but every where with great Expence of Money These things though not bursting out till the following year I have mention'd in this place because they are coherent with the matter But before I settle my self to proceed in my impartial Relation of the following Troubles I think it will be a digression both satisfactory and pleasant to the Reader if I take a short View chiefly of such Domestick Affairs of our own as is necessary for other Nations to come to the knowledge such as was that War when a few People and they living in a narrow compass of Land and shaken with many grievous Slaughters should yet raise it self to such a Greatness against so mighty a Power as that of Spain Therefore I will compare what Bounds what Form of Commonwealth what Number of Forces and what Natural Dispositions and Inclinations were in this middle Time most usual with both these People After the Liberty confirmed by the League at Gaunt Don John of Austria had Conquer'd Namur Lutzenburg and Limburge The Duke of Parma gained by particular Agreements Artois and Henault by Treachery he obtained Flanders and Brabant and Mechlin he subdued by Famine excepting that in Flanders the Town of Ostend in Brabant Bergeâ—op-Zoom and Williamstedt so called from the Prince of Aurange together with some Castles all lying upon the Sea-Coast or by the sides of Rivers Frizeland and Over-Issell were in the power of the Vnited States onely the Spaniard had Groningen The rest Steanwic and Daventry excepted with as many other Fortresses were divided with the Enemy And they wanted not many Towns in Gelderland besides Arnheim Geldres Niâ—umegen Zutphen principal Cities and some less Carrisons held by the Spaniard Prince Maurice did wholly govern and Zeland after the rest there came under his Command beyond the Frizons the Dominion of the Sea and all other places which continued faithful to the States in the Enemies Country They took away every where the great President of having proper and peculiar Governours in Cities suffering none such but in the very uttermost Borders Nor must I omit to say something of their Neighbors Beyond the River Eomes is the County of East-Frizeland commonly called Embden-Land By the Maes and Rhine the Bishopricks of Colen and Leige the Governour whereof a Bavarian a Kinsman of King Philips who encompassing almost all the Belgike Provinces by divers Names of Ecclesiasticall Dignities possesseth most large Territories and although the Court of the Prince of Cleves and Juilliers had not yet been claimed by War yet either by infused Dread together with the pretence of the Burgundian Alliances it seems to incline towards the Spaniard and then if any of those Cities should fall to the like Religion as the Hollanders they had an Enemy close by them that would be no less implacable than theirs But Cambray which after the Defection of the Neighbour Cities being clogg'd and annoy'd with its own Garrison Valois had by his last Directions commended to the Kingdom of France his Protection Baligny who was appointed Governour thereof by the King's Mother Catharine kept after both their Deaths and he now joyning himself to the Guisian Faction while the Duke of Parma rejoyced at the prolonging of the War thereby to recover satisfaction for the wasting of the Country and King Henry driven out of his own Cities had no peace nor vacant time to mind these beginnings took to himself an Authority though he knew it could be of no long continuance These were their Bounds and Limits Now let us consider their Polity the Vnited States among whom the Prince of Aurange for a long time had the chief Authority in the King's Name and then in his own afterwards both his and the States Power sliding into the Earl of Leicester's Dominion were taught by Experience that the strength of the Empire divided into many Hands though it may suit better with Liberty yet is it more subject to discord if the fear of the publick Enemy be but abated but the Government it self lost nothing for what was substracted by any means from its power was doubly regained in the benevolence and affection of the People for Honours and Licences were wholly granted by it whereas Impositions of Taxes and Subsidies and other burthens were laid upon the People by another hand And besides such is the nature of the common People that they will generally lay the fault of all miscarriages upon those who are most active in the Common-wealth and yet for Victories they will only acknowledge one The Nobles and more potent men were wont by an antient Custom according to the hereditary right of their Possessions to govern the Country and the Inhabitants therein but Towns were left to be ruled by selected and choyce Citizens and the Reason was because the People imploying themselves in multiplicity of Affairs did not desire to be called together and assembled upon every occasion of electing Officers or making Laws
but out of them forty or sometimes fewer were picked who afterwards meeting together did consult and deliberate of all things that concerned the Commonwealth and these were called The wise and sober men And if death or banishment took any one or more of them away others are forthwith chosen into the vacant places who are eminent for their Prudence and Riches and the Laws and Ordinances made by this Assembly or Common-Council are by the Consent of the whole City obliging to all so that it is hardly found in an Age that any People gainsay them but are ready rather to fight in defence of the Authority of their Governours These every year nominate severall out of whom are chosen Praefects this Power formerly belonged to the Prince who are to maintain and defend the publick Peace and are called by the People Masters and these at most were four There are seven others that are called by the name of Eschevins do passe Judgment in all differences of private concernment as likewise in criminall matters These Offices are undertaken and performed as a duty incumbent upon them in behalf of their Country with little or no Reward or Salary And to these mens Power and the Counsel of some that are their Assistants who must be well read in the Civill Law all the business of Towns and Cities is referred and by them dispatched with this additional Power allowed to them of making Laws and raising moderate Sums of mony within the verge of their own Jurisdiction from hence the whole Empire as it were assembling these Chiefs together in one Body they who before singly governed the Parts thus associated and conjunct do praeside and rule the whole Nation For three or four times in the year or oftner as the Emergencies of Affairs require there is a Council summoned out of both degrees of the People which is called the Convention of the States But the Nobility because they cannot easily meet from their several Remote Habitations have conferred their Power and Authority upon some few whose Riches and Honour is greater than the rest and they meet in that Great Council in the behalf of all To these in respect of their Quality is only given the priority of suffrage for every one of the meaner Ranks have a Vote equall to them When therefore the Common-Council of any Town hath deliberated at home concerning matters there proposed the Magistrates and some of the Assistants are sent to the great Convention to give them account of what they have so done and thereupon to obtain their permission all other things that may happen either by accident or conveniency are left to their Prudence and Fidelity Wherefore in this great Assembly as all things are discussed which formerly the Princes used to take care and Cognizance of so they assess what Taxes Assesments or other Customs are necessary every year for the bearing and carrying on the Burthen and Charge of the War which is proportionably rated upon every Province according 〈◊〉 their Forces But because this Great Convention is ag◠quickly dissolved the Nobility and chief Magistrates of great Cities may chuse fit men out of themselves that they sitting at the Helm of Government may put in execution the Ed◠and Decrees of the States and oversee all other quotid◠business and in sudden Cases to provide remedy and ◠any thing happen that requires a greater care they may by a Proclamation in Writing summon the Great Assembly of the States This Honour doth generally continue but for time limited But the Dignity of Advocate of Holland is perpetuall He in the times of the Princes was the only assertor of the Publick Liberty and as then is dangers so now the form of the Commonwealth being changed he is in the Convertion of the States and in the meetings of the Deputies he demands their Advice and Judgment he by perswasive Speeches draws points to a head and composeth any difference like to fall out among them This Office was executed very prayse-worthily from the beginning of the War by Paul Busius and after him John Olden Barnevelt had the same and much honoured the same by his proper vertues whereof he gave a most excellent Testimony against the Earl of Leicesters Threats and Policies manifesting himself both a faithfull Counsellor and a person of an invincible Spirit This is in effect the Form of the Government in Holland from whence the Customs of other of the Provinces are not much different Every place hath its proper Overseers of all penalties and forfeitures belonging to the publick Treasury and Judges who are men well skilled in the Laws to whom Appeals might be made from the inferiour Courts of the Town These are they who obtain all lasting and continuall Dignities out of whose number a Prefect is chosen and these are always nominated by the States only But now the Senate takes Cognizance of all things relating to the confederated Union and provides all-things necessary for the War and all that are admitted into it do swear That without any respect of them from whom they are sent they shall advise what shall be most advantagious to the Publick good Now it is to be observed that hither are sent from every Province some particularly from Holland three from Zeland two from Frizeland the like and from every one of the rest one Hithet when there is any more grave and serious matter to be debated the Governours of Provinces are sent for and admitted But because matters of the greatest concornment were from all Antiquity never dispatched without the consent of every severall Province and that was found by reason of the infinite multitude of business and the hazard of long delays to be inconvenient therefore it was agreed that Deputies should be sent with free Commission who should always attend the chief business of State and if any thing hapned there that required more deliberate Consultation and merited maturer judgement that forthwith every one should consult the States of his own Province Every Province which now according to the League sends out of their chief Cities some hath an equall right of suffrage And by turns they successively come to be Presidents And at that time these were the Provinces Guelderland Holland Zeland Vtreche Frizeland within the Vlye and the Lecke and Over-Issel This Deputation hath by little and little assumed to it self the nature of a perpetual Assembly resembling the Confederate or United States and doth frequently use that name And the Power here included and vested in the Deputies for a prelimited time is not prolonged unless by the pleasure and Authority of their Superiours by whom they were intrusted In like manner others of an inferiour Rank are chosen for Sea-Ports and other Towns lying on the Sea-Coast who are by their Judgments and Counsels to order and settle all Navall matters This in brief is the Method and Form of that Common-wealth nor is it congruous only to mind the meaner sort which means
own him But when he declared himself a Catholike the face of Affairs were on a sudden very much changed for the fault of the defection from and aversion to the Kings Name and Title was wholly call on the other yet was not Philip terrified by this example but that he now assisted the Duke of Guise his Brother who made use of a double pretence of Piety not in private but in the view of the whole World not that he so loved him but that he might keep involved in discords that Kingdom which lying between him and the Low-Countries had formerly been very dangerous and troublesome to him and if his designs were crowned with success he would commit the same to some one of his own Allyance with a fiduciary Power And the Reason by him pretended for this was because he marryed Isabella the Daughter of Henry the Second King of France by whom he had a Daughter a Person most fit to govern that Kingdom either in regard to her Fathers Merits or her Mothers Blood and so much the rather because the Dukedom of Bretaigne as severall other Principalities of France were known to have been fortunately ruled by a Woman's hand On the other side the Duke of Savoy the Spaniard's Son in Law enlarged his Borders to the very opening of the Alps The Queen of England being informed by a particular Envoy that the Duke of Parma had sent Lamot into France with an Army both of Horse and Foot forthwith ordered a supply of mony to the King of France together with four thousand English Souldiers Neither were the States of the United Provinces backwards in granting him Assistance for first they sent Ships with Provisions and all other necessary Munitions for War then adding thereto mony far more liberally than the present exigencies of their Affairs would permit and this only in hope of a future benefit It was certainly a noble and an honourable act and that raised an emulation towards their moderated Liberty that they having so newly erected themselves into a Commonwealth should yet by their Riches support and help a Kingdom the success thereof proving no less advantagious to the French than distructive to their Enemies while the Walloons Country to whom formerly they committed their cause lying open and exposed to the mischief of War was equally damnifyed whether assaulted by the French or their own Souldiers Afterwards the Spanish Forces France putting a stop to their victorious times lay open to the Hollander who for eight years together increased their Treasury enlarged their bounds and augmented their Armies untill the Bourbonian by his own vertue and valour waded through all the threatning billows raised against him by his obstinate adversaries and himself at last becoming a Catholike brought under his subjection all parties rather laying aside his Arms than the memory of that Pristine League It seems here very convenient now we are relating the French Affairs to search as far as humane Reason can direct us how the Belgick troubles having the like beginnings should yet have so different a Progress For a Peace being setled formerly between King Philip and the King of France these two Princes seemed to be of one mind having concluded a mutual League to extirpate all Religions which had begun or increased either by impunity or War But the French Peers hating the Guisian Potency that they might not become contemptible as the Netherlanders to the Spaniards took occasion to draw the multitude now contending about Religion into Tumults and Arms but the Events were most unlike for there the Subjects obedience was preserved entire and consequently the Roman Catholique Religion carryed the day but so only as to keep under not oppress the other But here the old Form of Government is altered the differing Rites grow insociable neither allowing the other and so between Servitude and liberty become divided The cause whereof I suppose may be that the Guises or Lorraines being by themselves in private but weak did afterwards receive from abroad such small help as might indeed follow but not force their Fortune So that the main of their strength either consisted under the pretence of the Kings name or the affections of the vulgar which are mean supports and of no duration where there is any experiment of utility on the other side And the Kings of France have within themselves the whole strength of that one People so that they diminish their own Authority by tyrannizing and wholly loose what is spent in revenge And the very Commons though highly offended with the differences in Religion yet when once they became sensible of the miseries of War were not so desirous of revenge as Peace Hence proceeded those Edicts of Peace so often hastned so often withstood by the now divided affections of the People who might rather be said to lay aside War than to make and observe a Peace for being weary of a long War they were driven to force and treachery by the impulse of others not their own obstinacy and being always accustomed to a Kingly Government they might have been composed before if the one King famously knowing in the Arts both of War and Peace had tempered himself and his Laws according to the strength and prevalence of parties They who were newly gotten into power being ignorant how to use the time nourished discords by variety of evill deeds while they of a more active Spirit or such whose Riot incapacitated them either got or lost all and this was the only hindrance of Peace But on the other side the Spaniards having a King that wished the same things in hatred to the Belgick liberty and who was now grown old in the enjoyment of his Territories by the keeping abroad so great Forces never feared the Netherlandish Solitudes especially having Presidents both in Italy and America that where they could not subject into Provinces they should settle Colonies But the French were highly offended with the pride avarice and cruelty of this forraign Nation the very Catholikes themselves who had never faltered in point of Religion disliking their Customs some of whom having been before circumvented and deluded with the hope of better things becoming an example to the rest that they would with all violence exercise their malice as mistrusting the breach of Peace under that notion to hide their revenge Thus a War no less cruel than civill Wars use to be continued but still looked as forraign But Count William in Frizeland straitned the City of Groning not able to resist the greatness of his endeavours by scarcity and death having wasted all their Provision about the Country he got also Reide a Peninsula of a very convenient Scituation between the River Eâ—mes and the Bay of Dullart The City being suspected for this mischief cast it upon Verdugo because he had refused a Garrison from thence being both recruited this with a new addition of Foot and Nassau with more Horse sometimes with mutual fear sometimes taking opportunities
to the King by Letters of the small Authority the Spaniards had with Ernestus which he supposed the chief cause of all the present Evils Taxis was more subtle to pâ—y into Dangers and did perswade to win the Netherlandish Nobles with great Pretension of Honour but to keep the ordering of the King's Treasure still in the hands of the Spaniards whereby as with a private Knot tie unto himself all other Matters Ernestus having heard out Areschot and being in his own Nature full of delay and knowing that he could by that means best pâ—event their Violence answer'd He would advise with the King to whom he would also be an Intercessor for attaining such things as related to the Peace This hope supported their Minds although their Evils were not yet remov'd For after both the Kings of Spain and France had proclaimed War the lesser Towns of Lutzenburg being possessed which could not resist the Storm the Count de Bulloin wasted all round about nay and ranged even to places far distant with Fire and Sword But yet the Enemy met with four Troops belonging to Philip of Nassaw which they either killed or put to flight being circumvented by Ambushes and the overflowing of the Rivers and afterwards in a greater Battel of Horse the Victors prosecuted their good Fortune Against the more potent Cities Policy was rather used than Force yet the Success was not therefore answerable There was Chance which really might have increased more Parties to the War and made it break out in all the Borders if there had not been more difficulty in keeping than acquiring of which this is compassed often by Boldness and Temerity but that must be maintained with Care and many excellent Policies Hoye is a Town of the Bishoprick of Leige which Authors believe to be the Remains of a greater and more Cities spoiled of old by the Incursions of the Barbarians and the Scituation perswades this from the running of the River Maes through it which a Stream breaks into that runs with more violence than scantiness of Water maketh shew of this Brook gives Name to the place The Soil that is all about it is very rugged by reason of Iron Mines and answers to the Nature of the People It hath an Arched Bridg the Rising Bank on the right side is over-looked by a large Castle seated upon a little Hill It is a choice place of Recess for the Bishops in regard of its pleasantness and no less difficult to be Assaulted because of its steep Ascent But while it was assured both by Peace and Right those few that by there in Garrison and spent their time in Riot and Idleness and did their Souldiery Duty as a Work of Supererogation and by the like neglect all the Buildings Erected upon the Rock were equal to the Foundation of the Castle One of these Houses by the consent of the Owner Heraugier the Inventor of such Stratagems who was Governour of Breda by him taken commanded to be fill'd with Thirty Souldiers who in the Night by the help of the Window and Ladders going out and first using silence then by continual beating of Drums and Shouting hindring the Prospect they took the Keepers of the Castle and bound them in help of whom while it was yet but the Dawning of the Day their Captain came with six hundred Horse and one Thousand five hundred Foot But the Townsmen though at the beginning of the Tumult they ran to their Arms when they saw so many Souldiers at their Gates and others over their heads affrighted with that double Terrour losing their Courage they submitted Then Heraugier placing therein a Garrison sent his Horse abroad into the Fields and the Country within the Maes which were subject to the Spaniard to collect Tribute This Exploit of War committed against a Prince who was at Peace and however he did not affect the Hollanders yet in regard there had been no Hostility declared against him according to the Custom of War might with more facility be answer'd to the Spaniards than excused to him Not was it altogether unlike that of Bonne and Berck which being formerly taken in War should be retained now that the whole Archbishoprick of Colen was in peace When therefore Bojoarus the Bishop of Leige and Colen had sent to examine the matter and it was answer'd by the States That it was rather out of present Necessity than any Right they claimed neither would they do any Damage to his Government or Subjects but onely having taken a Town from the publike Enemy they were ready to restore it when Arms were laid down on both sides And that Bojoarus did not deal justly with them in suffering the Spaniard to enjoy it and thereupon the Conditions were refused wherewith they were sollicited to Rendition being in themselves very reasonable but that the conveniency of the place perswaded the contrary for that Castle was a great Safeguard to their Journey that the Holland and French Forces might the more securely meet and in that Town they intended to place those Italians which had formerly deserted the War being far from the Borders of Holland and in a rich Country where they might have their fill of Plunder As soon as the Bishop saw himself slighted or at least deluded with Procrastiuation gathering together some New Souldiers whereto were added fifteen hundred Foot seven hundred Horse and fifteen pieces of Artillery under the Leading of Lamot he besieged the place on both sides for the King's Commanders voluntatily gave their Assistance their Interest being no less concerned than the Bishops lest thereby the Hollanders should come to possess all the parts have the Maes and so connect the Country Nor did the Spaniard's want an honest pretence because the Country of Leige was fiduciary to the Princes of Brabant by severall Leagues of Philip Duke of Burgundy and Philip the First of Austria The Town was easily gained by Scaling Ladders and Breaches for it was but meanly fortified and all in it that resisted were slain The greatest part fled into the Neighbouring Castle But from the next Hill which the Hollanders had neglected to possess being higher than the Foundation of the Castle it was sorely batter'd and below it was undermined For there was present a great Number of the Native Inhabitants who being accustom'd to dig for Mettal in the Iron Mines were very skilful in the Art of undermining Heraugier judged that the Garrison might have held the place longer and with the hopes thereof he had gather'd together Forces for their Relief But fearing at length lest his Journey should be hindred by the overflowings of the Rivers although there were in the Castle Subterfuges and Seluces to prevent the inraging of the Enemy at the Siege the Castle was surrendred being observed by many that he was better at suddain Enterprizes than the patient enduring of tedious Hazard He complained That the Succours promised both from the French General and the Italians at Sichem 〈◊〉 fell short
aside under the pretence of Honour with those Regiments which Philip sent to the Emperour he departed to fight against the Turk who at that time grew very potent in Hungary There being next of all to Matthias who was General of his Brothers Army he not long used his antient Valour and Policy against the well-skilled Enemy before among all the dangers of War he was taken away by sickness But Duke Areschot that the Netherlanders might never see him inferiour to Fontayne voluntarily exiled himself to Venice protesting he went thither where he would dye free and where Fontayne should have nothing to do with the more happy People because the Germane Souldiers that kept Bruxells making a small disturbance he had endeavoured wholly to possess the City by some Regiments of his own Countreymen This was odious to all so that now the tumults of others were not more feared than the modesty of the Spanish Souldiers And the rest of the Cities were possessed with the same fear Hence grew a double distemper from these complaining that they were excluded from the others that they were almost detâ—uded however upon this occasion the Fields were harased by both Whereupon when a new misery was added to the calamity of the former year and with the very fear of want the price of Victuals was inhansed the common people took to themselves such liberty as is proper to poverty and thereby vented their griefs and sufferings This made the mindes of all people of all degrees more inclinable to peace the desire whereof had been first inflamed by the hopes of it given them by Ernestus nor was Fontayne any longer able by vain experiments to resist the current of their resolved desires The Family of Croy was the most earnest of all in labouring for peace of which Family the Marquess of Haure sent Letters to James Malery of old allyed to their Stock but then of great Eminency in Prince Maurice's Court which were the very Index of his affection and being by Malery shewed the Prince and by the Prince to the chiefest of the States Malery was commanded to write back to the Marquess that there would be hopes of peace conditionally if the Spanish Souldiers going out not onely of the bowels of the Netherlands but Lutzenburg also and Burgundy would remove from them all cause of fear whereto the Marquess returning a reply but passing by that whole demand in silence therein Malerye was again commanded to write to him that there might be means of agreement and Concord between the Vnited States and the States of the other Provinces be found out but that they would have no Treaty with the Spaniards Therefore an Embassey was prepared to be sent to Prince Maurice in the name of the Belgick Noblemen for at this time Areschot was not retired to Venice whereby they desired him to be just and favourable to their allyed Nobilities To this Treaty came Theodorick Liesveldt sometimes Chancellour of Brabant when Frances de Valeis held the Government together with Masius and Hartye all wife men and well skilled in the prudent manage of Affairs The Prince was then at Middleburg in Zeland to whom being brought they spoke seriously to him to the effect following When first the forreign Souldiers had made a prey upon the Netherlands by means of intestine discords the Senate who then had the Authority determined that civill strife and made the King agree to a League Nor will it be any difficulty for them after they have agreed among themselves to free their Country from forreign Arms Not long after that first League many things intervened by the fault of both sides or else by the wrath of the Divine Providence which hindred the well-nigh cured wound to heal and grow well as it should but rather made it fâ—ster worse than before At this time the same Senate sits at the Helm of Government and being we aried out with the same or greater Calamities do entreat for an end thereof from their Neighbours and they might be confident the Senate would not be wanting to give them satisfaction and this they might expect with the more reason because the Covenants were desired of them while they were prosperous and in a flourishing condition That they had no doubt but Prince Maurice where such a thing may be with Honour would rather chuse to leave his fortune than by tyring it out force it to forsake him in regard there is no thing so much suspected by a wise man as long prosperity In good reason therefore they hoped they came to advise with his Highness who had outgone many of the most famous Souldiers to preserve intire his gotten Renown That he had many great Governments and plenty of all other things wherewith to content the greatness of his mind That the Family of Nassau was not onely famous for Arms but had been generally renowned for other excellâ—nt Endowments of Peace That it was their hope he would embrace those Honours which should be attended by joy of all and the teares of none and that he would rather exâ—ect obedience from the Princes of the same blood then compell any to execrate his Greatness But if he was best pleased with such Honour as was gotten with the expence of sweat and blood there were honourable Warres wherein he might advance his Standard against the Enemies of the name of Christ so would his Prudence and Valour arrive to that heighth of glory as for the greatness and Honour of the Adventure should exceed the ambition of the present Age. To which Prince Maurice a few of the Deputies of the States being present according to the usual Custom made answer to this purpose Wishing to God that he might be so happy as to set an end to these civill discords both for the benefit of the present Age and Posterity That he would account it more glorious than the Name of a Conquerour or then any Triumphed Garland If therefore now at last they were truly sensible of the smart of the Spaniards injurious dealing they should then shewâ— Courage suitable to their own Honour and the greatness of their Ancestors So it would come to passe that Freemen with Freemen might make what Agreements they pleased That by coming into the League of Vnion they were not only vindicators of liberty but would be Companions of Kings whose Authority they were now oppressed under Nor would the dissimilitude of Religion be any greater obstacle to Concord than it is now in France But he would not prescribe any rule to them therein the Judgement of Religion being to be left to God and the several Nations professing the same Between the United Provinces and the other parts of the Netherlands there are many things common as antient Allyances right of consanguinity and the Customs of the places But between them and the King of Spain all things were discordant and hostile necessity continuing and increasing those things which were begun at first either to please his will
readiness a standing Force to repell any Injuries that should be offer'd to them The Moderators of the Conventions and their Judges who were their Defence against Factions by little and little either through the Discords or Carelesness of the People drew to themselves what they could possible and when sometimes the memory of their Liberty returned to their Thoughts they would fall into Civil Broils among themselves to be revenged one upon another Among these the Imerge of Graithe became most notable by Marriages Inheritances and injoyment of many Lands which from Custom became a Jurisdiction Thus at first the Dorpes of Emâ—den were by him gotten and afterwards growing more hardly from others he took the Government of the Town being yet but mean From this Off-Spring Ulderic in the year 1454. first drawing privily to him others of the nobler sort and under-hand working upon the people from the Emperour Frederick he took upon him the Rule of all that Tract of Land which is stretched from the Eemes to the River Vueser along by the Sea by the Name of Earl or Count together withal Authority belonging thereto as much as the Frizon Liberty would permit And after ten years he published certain Instâ—uments in Writing as Laws but more contractedly that before left the Rights of others who began within those parts to grow ambitious and to get honour by the same means should be damnified He moderated his Government with so much Benignity either leaving or granting many Things to the people of Embden and many Things to the Magistrates and his Son Edsard by adding more grew 〈◊〉 potent in the fidelity and love of his Subjects that by the help he not onely hoped for the Dominion of Groeningen and the Principality of the adjoyning Country but also enjoyed and held the same until the Saxons Arms the Geldrians Rebellion and lastly the Austrian Violence invading 〈◊〉 things beyond the Eemes ejected and threw him out to all This man's Son altogether unlike his Father and so governing that he himself needed to be govern'd by others in short time left both his Life and Dominion At which time when the Christian World began to be shaken with Dissertions about Religion Embden following that Profession which in other Countries was sought after with Fire and Sword by the opportunity of the River invited thither and maintained a great multitude of strangers as well Dutch as French and English The Lady Anne of Oldenburg was then Governess in the name of another Edsard her Son using with great Civility and Moderation the growing Principality and not according to the Custom of German Princes She bore a great Reverence to the study of Religion and the Laws which she judged not so much a safeguard to Liberty as Authority By this place of Refuge together with her mildness and sweet behaviour it is almost incredible how much this City increased containing therein no less than six Thousand Soon after this follow'd all the Vices usual predominant in a flourishing people as among them Pride and Luxury among the Magistrates and those in Authority Envy and Emulation Nor was it yet come to the height of force so long as John a younger Brother of Edsard by counsel or fear being of a mild nature restrained his Brothers more furious Disposition But John being dead Edsard differing in Religion from the Townsmen for he held the Augustane Confession and the Town owned the Discipline of Geneva began more and more to have in Suspition the Townsmens Felicity His Wife descended of the Royal Stock of Sweden and a Regal Inclination increased the Difference and among other things this was related as one câ—uâ—e That she detained to her own use some parcels of Houshold-stuff borrowed of the Townsmen under this pretence that it exceeded the Rank of private men Now by the instigations of those who our of design of novelty either flatter'd the Prince or People a dangerous Contention arose and came to that heighth that the Earl interpreted the Assemblies and places of Meeting devoted to Religious Uses Conventicles of Sedicious persons and with the Collections of Money which the City made out of a pure intent of Charity to relieve the poor he gave out they designed to raise Force against him But on the other side a troublesom sort of Tumultuous persons crying out for Liberty and which is the most violent perswasive of all Religion being ignorant of all Civill Customs and Law onely turbulent under that pretence of Religion oftentimes do pervert a good cause by ill managing The unconquer'd Valour of their Progenitors and the fresh and near Example of the Hollanders with the Frizons were mention'd And what could they do more honourably than to unite themselves into antient Name and League of those most valiant Nations Now the Earl imposed Tributes and Burthens upon Merchandizes now he so minds Affairs that he imposed Magistrates upon them of his own nomination Hitherto the People's Rage and Fury though fierce and obstinate yet vented it self no other ways than in words but when they saw a Garrison in the Castle they threw off both at once Shame and Delay and forthwith unde a private person their Leader run to Arms they assault the Court the Gates and all other strong places in the City Neither did they onely choose Collonels and Captains but by the worst of Presidents they set up new Magistrates deposing them who withdrew themselves from the Troubles in regard of the Oath taken to their Prince The Keepers of the Castle were compelled through Hunger to desert the same and all things being thus forcibly seized they immediatly without any Dispute resolved to court the help of the United Provinces Both Parties dispatch Legates to the Hague to agree with the States Those accused the rude and unruly multitude of Sedition in whose Revenge and Example the States were concerned who flourish'd in Concord and if Authority should thus be despised by the Vulgar it would be to the injury of all Superiours These on the contrary side called to mind the Hatred of sincere Piety violation of the Laws unjust Taxations a Dominion obtain'd by Arms and Faction as if they demanded of the States Whether they thought such Things tollerable And they humbly desired That they would have compassion on their Associats both in Religion and suffering They added further That its Count had endeavoured the Friendship both of the Pope and King Philip by whose assistance he would oppress their Liberty and receiving Possessions other where deliver up the City to the Spaniard as a Gift And they were well informed by Spies that the Enemy placed the main strength of his War therein if he could but attain the River and well-contrived Port and indeed there is hardly any River more desireable than that of the Eemes which running into the Bay of Dullart divides the Territories of Embden from the Jurisdiction of Groeningen and from the midst thereof dischargeth it self into the Ocean with a
inferiour Captains and little Parties But when King Philip fearing the danger had sent Velasco as we before mention'd from Millayn which he then govern'd to Burgundy with Ten Thousand Foot and fifteen hundred Horse that strength of the Enemy first brought thither Biron and after that the King himself In many light and accidental Skirmishes of Horse the French went off Victor And Velasco avoided a Pitch'd-Battel desiring to preserve the Towns In the Dutchy of Burgundy King Henry subjected to his Power the City of Dijon which in the last Civil War of France follow'd the Guisian Faction then headed by the Duke de Mayn to whom there was nothing left Fortified in that Dukedom but Chalons sur la Saone But when he began to prosecute his Victory into the Bounds of the County or Earldom the Switzers interceded him to respite his Fury because being bound at that time by Leagues to the House of Austria they were obliged to resist all Force that should be offer'd either to the Government of Millain of the County of Burgundy Whereupon King Henry took occasion by means of a Truce to withdraw his Army without any dishonour he himself being even tyred out with the Controversie and the thing it self contended for not being worth so many lives And also being sollicited by Cambray he marched that way when a sorrowful Messenger met him with the News of the loss of the City Therefore he accused his Allies That he himself being employ'd in Wars at so great a distance they had betrayed to the Enemy the Confines both of France and the Netherlands That they gave him other hopes that his Borders should not be left destitute of Aid else why should he so often have refused Conditions of Peace when offered to him And if they repented them of their League that he was yet ready to agree with the Spaniard The Hollanders excused themselves to these Taunts with the necessities of that year and furnished the King with Corn and Money and two Regiments of men the one of Scots the other of Zelanders under the Leading of Justine of Nassau wherewith being well Recruited he fell into Vermandois and careful that where he had now begun the Enemy might not break further into the Bowels of the Country the people of Soissons being subdued he shut up Fayer with a difficult and Winter-Siege But by how much the States more earnestly endeavour'd to please the King by so much more grievously they offended Queen Elizabeth for King Henry's prosperity in stead of pity had renewed in the English Nation their old Envy and the Queen was incensed with the difference of his Religion especiall for that she knew what Laws and how dangerous to the Protestants the Pope had prescribed to King Henry for the obtaining his Peace And this was the Reason that lately before upon his desiring of her four Regiments of men for whose Pay the City of Paris should ingage their Credit The Queen answer'd That it was an inconsiderate Desire proceeding from his Youth to request her to denude her Kingdom which was â—â—â—ed at by so many Treasons yet if he would deliver to her Diope Bulloin and Calais she would furnish him with some Souldiers This gave suspition to the French and besides there was added that lately in Bretaign a Province of France the English were unworthily Treated nor could be admitted to such places as they desired the Actions of their Predecessors being objected against them But Queen Elizabeth sent Letters to the Hollanders and one Thomas Budleigh objecting to them with much Regret the Aid they sent to France saying They could not want her help who could so freely gratifie others Whereto the States made this Answer That they did it not out of any ambitious counsel but meer necessity that the Enemy being drawn into many places at once they might weary him out of breath and themselves get a breathing space for they were as it were forced in regard the Queen sent Pay onely for six hundred Foot and two hundred Horse which were in the Camp where as six thousand Foot and a thousand Horse of the League required the 〈◊〉 She on the other side replyed That although this was continued within the League that at the end of the War whatever was disbursed should be repaid yet she desired very earnestly payment of what she had laid out at leastwise that they would pay for some part thereof at the present and she would take the rest by Annual Portions Adding withall Threats That if she were not obeyed herein that she should take such course as her Lenity 〈◊〉 not use to be acquainted with To these the States after the return of many Thanks Desired the Queen to cast an Eye upon the present times to observe that the War was very burthensom to them and not wholly so successful as was hoped And that of late the enlargment of their Bounds had little increased their Tributes but much augmented their trouble and charge in the defence That their Merchandizing and Fishing Trade upon which two onely they lived that was spoiled by the detention of their Ships in Spain and this oftentimes the Injuries of the English and the Dunkirkers Pyraous much impaired and the Sea also had done them very great damages by Innundations Over all which if they should now be forced to repay to England the Money due and also the Queen should openly fly from the Covenants of the League the French already beginning to stagger It was with great reason to be feared that the insinuating Designs of the Enemy and the Allurements of a dangerous Peace would prevail with the people But it was not to be avoided however but that the States must pay with their own Money the English Souldiers that lay not in the Towns put to Pledg to the Queen While these things were arguing between them some new Endeavours of the Enemy brought the Queen to be more mild towards these her Allies For the Spaniards out of French Bretaign had fallen into Cornwal wasting the Country and carrying away great Booty together with some honourable persons and also they began in the open Face of the World to assist the Rebellion in Ireland which Country was from all Antiquity possessed by many Petty Princes Natives thereof Of whom Dermack the Son of Munhard the most Potent was despoiled of his Dominion for many Acts of Tyranny by him committed Whereupon he got to him for his Son-in-law and Assistant Richard Earl of Pembrook who making War there in Ireland very successfully was recalled by an Edict of Henry the Second King of England and compell'd to transfer all his Right and hope of Principality to the King who himself in defence of hir new Acquisition went into Ireland with a great Army and made some of the Lords by Force others by Treaties and Promises to acknowledge his Authority as Supream But such was the blindness and simplicity of that Age that it was believed a great support
And this makes it the greater wonder to see the boughs and Bodies of Trees swimming here and there in this place unless it be that the vast Ocean stirred with the very turnings of the shores breaks into those remoter Lands towards the North and so overturns all before it 'T is probable that by such like force the Islands which we now see have been broken off from the Continent of Sarmatian perchance of old jetting out so hither and thither as their sight makes appear What part soever of that Coast our Ships touched upon they perceived sometimes smoak and the foot-steps of men but no Cities nor so much as a Village The inner part of the Country is believed to have Woods and Lakes which are filled and nourished by the perpetual dissolutions of Snow All hereabouts according as the Soyl and water pleased diverse that lurked scatteringly here and there in poor Hovels or in Caves appeared which places served them only for fire to refresh their Bodies against the bitterness of the Weather wherein though they could hardly stir yet would they not be idle The chief nay only Housholdstuff they have is a kind of Sledge which is drawn with incredible celerity by four-footed Creatures not much unlike a Hart sliding as it were in these they trace their prey through the deepest Snows yea and change their Seats All this Region is divided though somewhat unequally between wild Beasts and these Savage men There is abundance of Hares and Wolves both with white Skins Martins also Sables and many other Beasts whose Skins are of great value Here are Beares of a more than ordinary bigness which are made white too by the sharpness of the cold and are beyond expression fierce and ravenous because they want Pasture insomuch as if they but once get a scent of prey neither the fear of Weapons nor the Sea it self can put a stop to their eagerness or lessen their pursuit This mischief miserably lost some of the unwary Seamen that went a-shore nor were their Companions able to help them otherwise than by seeing them eaten and afterwards to seek a too late Revenge Upon the rising part of this Coast was observed a sad division between Religion and profaneness when upon the tops of the Hills on one side innumerable Effigies of the Gods testified both an ignorance of Art and dulness of understanding and on the other Erected Crosses shewed marks of Christianity For the Rushians whom either Tempest or the desire of Trading for Furs had brought into that part of the Continent and among those Islands had been taught Christianity by the Greek Church fix Ages before The Samogitians worship the Heavens and the Stars Deities not worse than others according to their old Custom nor do they believe it lawful to hate those that dissent from them There are some that in those Woods stick not to worship by an unknown kind of Superstition things horrible both to sight and hideous for their dreadful noyse nay and call Snakes and Serpents sacred But the Samogitian Customs are not so barbarous not much differing from those used in Lapland and Finland although some from their name would argue that in former Ages they did eat mans flesh which if we allow there are these to be numbred among those people whose lives were so mollified by age and example shewed an apt inclination of mankind to leave off their old and customary barbarity At the first coming thither of the Hollanders they were fearful meerly our of ignorance they provided for their security either by Arms or flight But after they had tryed out innocence and received some triviall Presents two sacred tyes they called to witness the Sun and their own poverty that they were even against their wills overcome by good turns And if at any time afterwards Fortune smiled upon us we were altogether beholding to the affections of those People which border upon the Sea though it were very necessary that Castles should be built in those passages to preserve the use of that new found Sea and where Ships may have shelter and Harbour if any sudden accident should happen Then if industrious care together with men meet there the Island of Waygats is no less fit for Tillage than those places which are inhabited in the utmost skirts of the Danish Kingdom for as under the very line where the Country is beyond measure hot so those places which being far off at both the Poles or frozen up will both admit humane Inhabitants which by Custom or being born there after the first Plantation will be naturalized to the Clymate contrary to the Opinion of the Antients as experience convinceth us for certainly Nature condemned no part of her self to Solitude so that Groenland being more to the Northward yet may and without question would produce and bear Fruit and Corn according to our manner in Europe 'T is true and equally probable to be believed that at first many places lay desert and unmanured while yet the choycer parts of the Earth would suffice for all But when by little and little either multitude or discord forced men to seek further Habitations the Land demonstrated the Sea and that again discovered more Land Obdor is the next Region to Obis famous for the Effigies and Oracle of a Noble old Woman Beyond the little River Molgomzay there is another greater and a Bank of the same Name whereof the Russians used by Authority not for Trade But all the rest surely is fabulous as That the people of Leucomoria die in the Winter and revive again in the Spring while in the interim the onely Religion of the Inhabitants is performed in the exchanging Commodities exposed to Barter That the mens Bodies are all rough and hairy and their Heads and Faces resembling a Dogs is no less vain surely than those forged Inventions of the Antients who have bestow'd upon some people Horses Feet upon others Ears of such bigness that they cover their whole body so that every where almost the Report of these Things is made more wonderful by additional hear-say yet that some of these and which is confirm'd with more certain Testimony of Truth as Men without Heads who have their Faces in their Breasts either really be such or seem so to be by the shortness of their Necks and their Shoulders sticking up I will not obstinately deny well knowing as in some places the violence of Heat so in other the extremity of Cold hath often warped Nature and made it become deformed From hence it is agreed That the next are the Loppians and the Mountain Imaus and the Tartarian Hordes removed to and fro among the Deserts by a part of whom is Cathay possessed Thence is the way to China and other places in the Eastern part of the World This same Year was made unlucky by Pyrates of Dunkirk who took five and Thirty Ships of Holland sent to Norway for Timber among all which was but one Ship of War but
enough of War and gotten therein sufficient Wealth were there returning to their Country to take their ease There were in it also take a Letters wherein were discover'd the Intentions and Gifts of the Cities destined and alloâ—ted to Fontain which Prince Maurice sent back to him The coming of the Spanish Souldiers was every where displeasing to the Common People as well for the Hatred of their Persons aâ— of War But the Arch-Duke glad of them their Poverty having by the sense or fear of Evil overcome all Difficulties by their Aid and the service of Herman Count Heremberg put an end to that long-continued Sedition of the Souldiers at Grave for want of their Pay although some Prisoners and Letters also did certifie that though they were pacified more were offended that among all these Turnings would yet remain faithful to their Parties This was the state of the Law Countries on both sides before the state of Affairs was theâ—e anew changed At this time between the Embassadors of France and the Arch-Duke Albertus the long-continued Treaty produced great hopes of Peace and the Queen of England had sent thither Cecil Son to the Lord Burghly and with him one Wilks who was privy to all his Secrets And therefore now the matter it self required that the Vnited States should send Embassadors to France and Queen Elizabeth desiring that they might be authorized with a full and free power together with her Embassadors to Treat of War and Peace They disapproved the Motion lest afterwards if they denyed to consent they should be over-powred by her Royall Authority Hereupon a double Embassie is appointed with a convenient Retinue one of which was to go into England The Persons were the Lords Warmâ—nde often before-mention'd and beloved by the English in remembrance of his good service in the Cadiz Expedition Min Heer Heffingen a Frizon and John Wercken of Zeland To France they sent Justine Nassau Governour of the Sea for Zeland and John Olden-Barnevâ—lt principal Counsellor and Assistant to the States of Holland a man well skill'd and industrious for the publike good of his Country and by his Authority did and obtain'd is much as by the help of Art Wit and Industry could be done or obtain'd among a free People And here among many other things which I have cause to fear this is one lest any strangers into whose hands these Histories shall come should wonder how the Names of such famous men an honourable Report of whom they have receiv'd in their own Country should come to be so seldom mention'd in my Writings But I hope the great difference between the Government of that State and the Empire of other Countries shall be a sufficient Excuse for me For where the Actions of Cities and Towns are related which are ruled either by the Senate or People if any more eminent matter of Valour oâ— Policy happen there is given a fair occasion meerly in a return of Gâ—atiâ—nce to set out the Authors or Inventors thereof Neither in Kingdoms do the great Ministers of State remain obscure But among the Hollanders all things are transacted in the Name of the Council without any mention of the Authors whom although you know yet you would seem ambitious in seeking to praise them nor would you avoid the haâ—red and displeasure of many by whom anothers Glory is look'd upon as their shame and the praise of their active Honour as a Reproof of their sluggish and dull Nature The Embassadors that went to England endeavour'd by many Arguments to make the Queen averse to a Pacification advising also That she would in some measure gratifie the French King in his desire concerning Aid and then urge him further being incouraged by Embassadors that he would of his own accord rather seek Reparation both for Old and New former and later Injuries by War than to think to appear his Domestick Discords against such a restless Nation And then bowing the Knee according to the Customs of the Court when they had returned large Thanks for so mer Benefits They added in these words All who are called fâ—om their just Arms to talk of Peace ought to consider whâ—ther the Peace that is offer'd be reall and sound or deceitful and infirm and on the other side whether the War be terrible or dubious or be not moâ—e safe than Peace for it is a vain thing to talk of the goodness of Peace where men shall never be suffer'd to enjoy it The Spâ—niard O Queen is reported to sollicite you to a Peace whose perfidy Conâ—unct with Barbarous Cruelty and whose Ambition of reaching at the Rights of others we need not accuse when his Masters openly teach that with men differing from them in point of Religion no Faith or Promise is to be kept neither ought they to partake of the Benefit either of Divine or Humane Laws Others have not fear'd to say that by the Decree of Fate the hâ—ighth of Empire is allotted to the West and that amâ—ng Christians there shall be no other visible Empire on Earth than that of Spain And though it might be to purpose to speak of the impotent Pride of the Austrian Family to other Princes and how by Trisling Leagues it hath claimed to it self that Angle as Hereditary with other the furthest Parts of the Earth that whatever lies within the Bounds of Lutope if it be not his own is accounted and looked upon as an Enemy yet it will be to little purpose to remember these things to you which have suffer'd and undergone many Hazards by him And can it be doubted but that he still hath the same Mind who hath not onely armed the People of your Kingdom to Rebellion and more than once sought to invade it by Fleets though prevented by Almighty God but also so far contemned all Honesty and Justice that he hath precured Murderers and Poysoners to do mischief to your Sacred Person Certainly it is not to be doubted for the old Grudges and the Causes thereof remain and as you continue fixed in your antient Piety so is he nothing alter'd from his wonted Avarice And now this man seems to seek to make an honourable Peace with you with a just and pious intent is it not that he may wage his Wars at his own pleasure while now he is forced to wait upon yours And therefore he presuming from the present Affairs to gain opportunity for greater Matters will lie in wait for all occasions And shall we in so great danger be caught and wrapt up into a stuggish security We know that since he cannot catch us all he endeavours by this League which he surely intends to break to â—oâ—se as many of us as he can Former Kings and People did better for though they were not at all troubled yet they never fear'd to ioyn together against increasing Empires while they had time lest at one time or other though piece-meal they might be all conquer'd For they knew that some Wars were waged onely
be content in their present estate and not seek change or alteration Observe also what a pernitious Example he induceth who however for Ambition and Dominion sake he hath voluntarily submitted himself to the Yoke commands all Kingdoms to bow to the Pope and calls not onely the People thereof whom he hires to Sedition but the very Kings themselves Rebels Certainly to this man there will never be wanting either a cause or a pretence for War but that he may sometimes want hopes next to God Almighty it lies Great Queen in your Hands and if you resolve with Us to Conquer We shall be ready to run the extreamest Hazards for our Social Fidelity and we hope you will rather maintain your wonted Constancy than neglect Advantage and by the ruine of your Friends promulgate and corroborate the Enemies strength The Consultations upon this Matter in the Queen's Court were various and both Opinions had strong Supporters to know whose Behaviour and Affections will not be from the purpose that it may appear how the Perswaders Authority bore sway in the Publike Counsels The Earl of Essex as we have elsewhere declared being a young man and burning with the desire of Glory was a Liberal Giver beyond the Ability of his Estate wholly spending himself in compassing the Love of the Nobles Commons and Souldiers having no hopes in Peace but putting great Confidence in the Friendship of the Hollanders and therefore he being General of all Forces in England was for the War with Spain affirming That it could not be put off unless at once both the Queen's Security Credit and Charges should all be hazarded On the other side the Lord Burghly from a private Person being called to the Court and advanced to the high Honour of being Lord Treasurer of England minding wholly the Care of the Treasury especially now in the declining of his Age and his Parsimony agreeing with that of the Queen being also very rich and well-grounded in Experience and so by his Authority preceding the others Favour This man with grave Words praising Christian Concord debated among all the doubtful Counsels what was the most pious and honest to be follow'd He said That a present Commodity ought to be preferr'd before the Incertainties of Suspition and that Peace would not be more profitable to the Enemy than to the English and is the strength of out Countrey so little known that it cannot be safe but at the pleasure of the Hollander when in the mean time the French out of common fear and the Hollanders themselves out of their Care of Religion are tyed with stronger Bonds against Danger by Necessity than by a League Besides the Spaniard is willing to be quiet out of a sense of his own infirmiâ—y And then Peace would follow without more ado both in Ireland and elsewhere Queen Elizabeth either really wavering in her Mind or else willing to express all other Things by her fear of Peace made Answer in a very temperate manner That from the beginning she had done nothing without the Advice of her Allies that it was acceptable to her that they had declared their Minds so freely yet there were many and great causes both for her Self and the French that moved them to desire an end of the War and to make her trust to Peace by removing or disbanding her Armies for since the Spaniards old hopes have been crossed by the Netherlanders abjuring him the loss of France and so many other slaughters and misfortunes if he should think fit to re-assume his Arms the same God that had helped them before would she doubted not assist them again to maintain their Right by the Sword but if they thought fit to continue in Arms things more certain ought to be offer'd This thing the Peers of England interpreted thus That there was no Fault more heinous than to defraud the Queen of her Rights and Duties sometimes by Cavillings otherwhiles by deceitful Supplications and Pretences of Poverty which the Wealth of the Cities in Holland and their well-stocked Treasury openly consuted Nor was it more to be endured that the English should lose the Trade of Spain for them and yet they preferr'd their own Gain before the famishing of their Enemies and so make Merchandize of the War At last this Delay was put to the Pacification that Embassadors from both should go to take notice of the French Affairs And to that purpose by the Queen were sent thither the before-mentioned Cecil and Wilks with whom the hopes of Peace was grown dead by being at the Treaty at St. Quintins for the Spaniards preferred by the Name of Allies those whom the French Peace would advantage giving out at last that they onely should be included in the Treaty who observed the Romane Rites in point of Religion The Embassadors from Holland came a little later by reason of contrary Winds The King at this time was at Angeires busie in pacifying Bretayn which is otherwise called Armorica which as yet Duke Mercury one of the Lorrain Princes the Fury of both Parties being asswaged forcibly detained having deliver'd to the Spaniards the Port of Blavette that they might with more ease land with Supplies But he seeing the King's Army prepar'd on the one hand and a Pardon offer'd in the other and knowing well that when an end is put to a War all subsequent Offences are with severity punish'd obtains for himself and his noble Conditions and an Augmentation of Honour The King at this time was happily without a Wife Margaret of Valois being divorced from him but though his Body was exercised in Military Matters yet his Mind was liable to the Darts of Love for he was absolutely taken with one Gabrielis Estraea a Noble Woman but led aside from the Embraces of her vowed Husband This Woman what with her Beauty and what with her sweet Temptations and alluring Arts had so vanquish'd the King that advancing her to the Title of a Dutchess which was then a Novelty in France so heightned her Pride that though but a Concubine she aspired beyond the Greatness and Authority of a Wife And she also was numbred among the Causes that induced the King's Mind to be inclinable to Peace that he might the more securely enjoy his pleasures with her She had a Son by the King that was four years old and at that time called Caesar whom the King with great Obtestations gave in Charge to Mercury this Woman had also by the King a Daughter very young and appoints to the said Mercury a great Allowance of Money and bestowing upon his Son the Dukedom of Vendosme and the Government of Bretaign And now the Embassadors of Holland just arrive and find the King puffed up with these Matters together with the Spanish Pacification and yet if by chance that had failed he had called a Council of the Brittons to consult about the Siege of Blavette Mounsieur Buzanvale who was well-skill'd in Affairs of that sort and one of the
King's Council was there present who went and recommended the Embassadors to the King who after he had received their Saluâ—e very pleasingly and without any pride Olden-Barnevalie in a grave and composed stile according to his Custom began First to applaud the hopes of his Alliance to urge their laâ—e made League and to require his faithful performance thereof which would be much to the advancement both of the King's Honour and Authority and advised him to take heed of the Peace that was offer'd him Adding in the Name of the States many Promises of Assistance and Money for the future both by Sea and Land which way soever the King would please to command them that the War might in some manner be again renewed against the Spaniard urging also many other things that might inflame their Minds to resolve anew to fall to Arms. And among the choice of the King's Council it was debated how much more safe and honourable would it be to make an Example to Posterity of this Enemy whose Treasury was drained and Mind perplexed with the wavering Obedience of his Subjects witnessed by his seeking for Peace as well his fear as the inconveniences he suffer'd out of this League of ours to deter for the future any from thirsting after the Dominions that are belonging to another There were present at this time the English who now more freely commemorating the many Benefits they had done him and how unworthy an Act it was to lay aside his sworn Faith for present Utility helped forward the Speech made by the Dutch sometimes by their Silence and sometimes by applauding Speeches not forbearing to demand the Money which had been lent to him The King on the other side dealt plainly confessing his Necessities to be such as would not bear slow Remedy And that he doubted for all this Noise of Peace whether the Spaniard would deliver up to him either Calais or Blavette which if he did not he assured them he would continue the War giving them Thanks that they had so freely offer'd their Assistance The States Embassadors replyed That if the King rested in that Judgment yet they hoped their coming and Offers would be advantagious to France and cause the Enemy to make larger Concessions than perhaps otherwise he would And therefore they pray'd on behalf of their Masters that if a Peace were concluded yet the Alliance might continue between them by which the Hollanders might mâ—ke use thereof to their private benefit and to the security of the French in the manâ—gery of the War in Holland The King answer'd That he would be willing not onely to continue his own Friendship with them but that they should likewise enjoy the benefit of the Friendship he was to have with others Those things at present being onely removed whereby the Commerce of several Nations was hindred and how much might be wrought thereby was learned by Experience in the future Times when the King no less intent to keep than to get Money gave so much scope to the defence of Liberty as the Kings of old would hardly have afforded to any People unless with a Design to intrench upon it The first Liberality given to him was two hundred and forty thousand Florens which after in the Years following was increased according as his Necessities required For now remembring the Monies he had received from his Allies and at what time he resolved how he might repay the same that it might not seem altogether as the payment of a Debt but as if it carryed along with it the grateful shew of a Remuneration Here the King carefully excusing his own highly applauded the Counsel of the States that they would stand upon their Defence since which few Kings could boast of they could upon occasion be on a suddain in a readiness in regard any new Necessity would forthwith put the idle Multitude into Arms. For maintaining this Friendship with the King because Levinus Calward dyed there in performing the same Francis Arsen was left in France whose Father Cornelius wrote the Chronology of the States And now it appear'd that the Spaniard had by many Arguments perswaded the French to lay down Arms being contented rather to have the English still their Enemies than to make a Peace with them upon equal Terms And this was the cause why the Holland Embassadors in France Justire Nassau and Olden Barnevelt went thence into England neglecting thereby a while their former Embassie and assuming a boldness till that time dreaded where they deliver'd themselves in Terms to this effect That if the Queen would follow the French there should be no hazards of Peace so great to the Hollanders that they would not rather hazard than singly to undergo the unsupportable Burden of the War And these Dissemblers thus used their Art as believing that the English would yet disturb the Pacification if they supposed the Hollanders could be drawn to it But they offer'd the Queen all manner of Assistance if she would Resolve to continue the War and the hope of perfecting the same with Expedition though she had hitherto for a time surceased as being moved rather to incline to Peace In this mean while at Vâ—rbin for thither was the Meeting upon the Treaty adjourned from St. Quintins by the endeavour of the Embassadors a Peace was concluded between those two eminent and great Princes of Christendom containing the same Articles which formerly had been concluded on 29 Years before between the same Philip and King Henry the Second of France onely there was a small Addition of some others which to insert here in words at length I think to be altogether unfit for him who professeth himself to write onely the Dutch Affairs However in brief take them thus That there should be a free Trade between the People That all Prisoners should be set at liberty and at their going away should be restored to what they had lost or had been detained from them That the Spaniard received into the County of Charlois should in the Name thereof owe to the French Faith and Homage That Calais and other places in Picardy and last of all Blavette as they Were then should be deliver'd up to the French all other places which the Spaniard had fortified being dismantled These were the Articles agreed to and accordingly having given Pledges on both sides they were within Three Moneths after performed But for the Oblivion of Injuries and continuance of mutual Concord for the future that if War were made upon either of them the other should neither help against him himself nor suffer any belonging to him to interest themselves and if any thing of doubt arose between them that it should be argued neither by Violence or Fraud but referred to indifferent Judges But these things were agreed more for shew than that such equal Greatness should leave any Thing out that might seem to secure Friendship Both of Them comprehended their Allies by Leagues whether Kings Princes or People especially
the Kings Deputies interposed denuntiations how often have the People of Cleves been commanded that they should not give passage to the Enemy contrary to the Articles made at Venlo and yet by their Cities Arms and Traffick the Enemies effrontery hath been increased when at the same time the Duke of Parma must restore Buricke throw down the Fort against Rees and suffer them to be quiet in the midst of War so that the Isle of Gravewaert might be taken from the Hollander And yet that was not performed which cost the King the loss of his possession beyond the Rhine so that he was fain afterwards to take a longer Journey to require his own and if it were with the damage of those by whose fault is happened it was no great matter And certainly the Bishop of Colen would be much to blame if he be too much moved at the complaints of the People of Munster or any others but rather He and every Bishop else that yet enjoy their Ecclesiastical Dignities should give thanks to Philip who when Truxius made an impious War against the Germane Decrees not one Germane resisting him from whence some took occasion to assault the Priesthood neglected all his Affairs at the Bishops Request and restored first Nuys then Bâ—nne onely desiring that his might be reimbursed to him The like he did by Bercke also being taken from the Rebels and while Albertus was busied elâ—ewhere lost again yet lately while there was any hopes of restoring the City to its right Lord without force he gave them a long time to treat thereof in point of honour If they would rightly consider these things they would be better advised than by an improvident commiseration of small inconveniences to stir up greater mischiefs of which perhaps they would too late repent And if the peace should be disturbed they who infringed the same ought to make satisfaction with their heads but the King the Arch-dukes and Mendosa ought to be blameless The like defence was made by those that were sent to the Emperour and particular Princes to molifie them with promise also that the Souldiers should depart before April The Vnited States having so often in vain made tryal of Embassies had hitherto abstained from any in this case as supposing that it was permitted to the Spaniard that he might with freedom do what he list and harrass Germany at his pleasure yet they make some defences for themselves being angry that they who came to rip up matters should compare them in the ballance with Enemies calling to mind all the places they had restored and such as the Spaniard retained that the offences of the borders were sought by those by them tolerated repeating all from the beginning of the Commotions in Cleves to Truxius his War That their Justice was testified by many who admired it when not long since they quitted Embden and of later time Emmeric That it many times happened that one place or other lying fit for the Enemy was to be first taken which they esteemed no oppression for that it is absolutely necessary for the preservation of Subjects against the Spanish Insolencies not otherwise to be avoided which also was done by a modest Souldier whose pay was certain and Discipline strict It might be probable some faults of a few ouâ—-runners might be committed and yet escape both knowledge and punishment But they never lead an Army into the Territories of others by publick Conduct and Authority they never made Seditions on purpose to rob the Country nor did they ever inforce a Form of Religion upon People with whom they had nothing to do That they promised to take care of Gravewaert lest the Geldrians should refuse any arbiters That there were many other things which either made their cause plausible or detect the Spaniard of covetousness under the false name of pretended piety but having been spoken of before needed not to be here repeated In brief That they would no longer suffer such a slavish sort of men to insult over free Nations While these things were arguing pro and con before the Deputies of the five Countries at the meeting of the Rhine and Moselle the Counsels relating to War went but slowly on nor were some wanting that esteemed it convenient at that time to joyn their Forces with the Hollanders being men well experienced in Military Affairs But the greater part thinking it sufficient to receive back their own refusing to engage Germany into a long War many of whom so dreading either the hatred or displeasure of the Emperour and the great mens power that when there was any debate concerning the fore-mentioned injuries received they solicitously avoyded to mention the name of the Spanish King or People But the States laboured most earnestly to gain to themselves Associates from whose dissentions as they reaped disadvantage so from their good successes they might gain the power of making peace at pleasure The principal Authours for bringing this Expedition to maturity were the Count Palatine one of the severe Electors the Landgrave of Hessen and the Duke of Brunswicke who undertaking the Affairs in their own Names and with their own Forces which they had raised to a great number the last Winner but a contention arising between Hessen and Brunswicke concerning the chief Command in the War hindered it the Palatine also desirous of rest and peace received for himself the defence of the inner parts and the charge of all publick Assemblies The Westfalian Romanists making use of this division nothing being more hateful to them then to see the Protestant Princes in Arms by offering a three months Tribute equal to that given to the Turk that their Governour might be made General of the War they obtained their aym averting it to be just and consonant to the Germane Customs that whensoever any injury is suffered in whatever Country a War is to be maintained for obtaining satisfaction the Command was always given to them for their ayd The States passed this Winter in great care and fear in regard the Rivers were twice shut up with Frost but yet without loss or damage for Prince Maurice and Count William dividing their Forces He took care of all on this side Issell from Arnheym and this resided at Meppell for the Guard of the further parts continual Messengers with Intelligence passing between them At this time several plots were detected against Breda Nimmeghen and Devinter Which did but increase the care and cost in the defence thereof Now also were the Mauribian Souldiers more then once Conquerours over their Enemies and by the slaughter and plunder of a certain Garrison recompenced the honour of those Soldiers that were hang'd in the Territory of Juliers or Gulicke though it is confessed to be the worst Custom of all Martial Discipline that for neglect of the publick execution of the Law permits Captains to take their own private revenge The Town of Emmeric which we mentioned to be freed by Prince Maurice was now
out went their Companions who either partly refused or at best were very slow in following the Example The Zelanders chiefly refused to advance their proper Charge by reason of some new or late Losses and among those beyond the Rhine there were used many Evasive Circumlocutions while part study rather the Peoples Favour than the Publike Good and applaud those Impositions which they hoped would be easie for themselvs though they fell heavy upon their Neighbors Others there were who would not be silent when others being quiet they had all the Care of the Commonwealth although the Hollanders winked at it except it were seriously debated in Common-Council they would leave the Care of the out-lying Parts looking onely to their own nearer Necessities and the possession of the Sea Some Comfort was received from the German Princes who as yet having a Suspition and Jealousie of the Spaniard offer'd them continual Aid and Money The Count Palatine excited the rest of his Allies of the same Religion both by Words and Example Shewing to every one of them what Alva had done of old and what Mendosa now and that the Hollanders could not bâ— overcâ—me without the destruction of their Neighbours but if they flourished they would be a great help to many to this for the Defence of Prussia to these of the Possession of the Dutchy of Cleves and to all against the Bishop of Rome and his Followers by whose cruel Hatred and Faction all are oppressed But all this was little hearkned to for the Duke of Brunswic converted his Arms against a City that had assumed too great a Liberty the rest acknowledging themselves unable to maintain the War But Charls Duke of Sudermannia Uncle of Sigismund King of Poland who taking little Care of his Antient People of Sweden and for his earnest Affection against the Romane Religion suspected of Innovation first opposed him in Arms and afterwards in a Publike Assembly when the Kingdom was taken away from him a long time shunning the Name of a King yet usurping the Authority by other Titles when he voluntarily desired the Alliance of the States because he desired some present help and that his hopes were uncertain his Kingdom poor and Forces far distant he was for a time put off with Delays yet because it was an offer'd Friendship it was accepted because he seem'd as it were to fight for Religion making an Excuse That some Holland Ships without any Publike Command had given Aid to Sigismund The Ninth BOOK of the History of the Dutch AFFAIRES THE New Year which closed up a Century as it produced immediatly great Events so it did seem to portend great Changes of Affairs for a long time The Affairs of the Netherlanders under the Princes were in a bad Condition and full of Trouble and so wasted as was hardly to be seen in other places But the Goodness of the Princes as New They in Authority being present and the very greatness of the Distemper hastned to apply Remedies The United States to whom but newly redeem'd from Servitude was accrewed an Ample Dominion made all their Dangers to be but stricter Bonds to connect them being deliver'd by successful Arms although they had since that been reduc'd to no small Necessity out of their Old Discipline retrain'd their Courage against their Enemy but not equally their Concord and Modesty On both Sides then were great and strong Endeavours while for above the space of Thirty Years they contended to put an end to their Labour with which hope they have prosusely wasted their Forces even to Extremity as if Victory had stood before their Eyes promising Reward to them that could hold our longest And first of all the Winter being Frosty the Hollanders escaped great danger by reason the Rivers were all passable upon the Ice from the Enemies seditious Mutinies which they turn'd to their Advantage For Lewis of Nassau marching with great privacy out with a select Party of Horse and Foot broke into Wachtendone a Town not far from the Borders of the Dutchy of Cleves formerly taken by Count Mansfeldt after a Two Moneths Siege when the Duke of Parma had drawn the States Forces another way The Horse which had lately been added to that Garrison for the preserving thereof were then by chance absent forraging about the Borders of the Bishoprick of Colen yet there were theâ—ein 800 Souldiers but the Ice of the Trenches was not broke and the Situation of the Town far from an Enemy and among Cities associated in Frienship made them more secure than usual Therefore a few seizing the Rampire with a small slaughter they open'd the Gates to the rest Then Geleno both Lord and Governour of the Town fled with some few into the Castle in hope of Aid which he had sent to intreat and there endur'd the Terrour both of Granadoes and Bullets thundred upon him until Lewis his whole Party approached and brought Scaling Ladders to the Works and yet some resisted and among them a Woman well grown in Years not without the hazard and Wounds of those that opposed them But at last overcome by Multitude they yielded this place which was not of a contemptible Situation among the Marishes and then was full of good Booty because many of the Boors had betook hither Themselves and their Wealth because the War raged all about those parts After a few days the Souldiers brought in sufficient of all Things both as to Victuals and Defence Among the French that fought for the Hollanders was one Breautee a Gentleman of good Birth and Bloud in Normandy who vaunting in his Youth had challeng'd to fight 20 of Grebendoncks Troop the chief of whom were infamous for the Treacherous Delivery of Gertruydenberg and therefore certainly this was an unbeseeming Contest for a Person of Honour Each of them with an equal Number came out into a Field not far from Shertogenbosch the Grobbendonkians being better Armed but Breautee more exact in his place and order At the first Charge Breautee kill'd the Enemies Leader who was named Abraham but was known in the Camp by the Nick-name of Cook and so sharp was the Fight and the Shot directed so rightly opposite that in the first Conflict on both Sides the one half of the Contenders fell but by the flight of the French whose Courage began to fail in the continuance of the Danger Breautee being left alone having oftentimes changed his Horse and afterwards fighting on foot at last overpressed with a multitude of Enemies yielded himself The French affirm he articled for his Life against which the Brab under say That by Agreement the Conquered were to expect nothing but Death But certainly being Prisoner he had prevail'd much when some sent out of the City kill'd him with 30 Wounds while he onely begg'd they would let him dye Armed and like a Man A Wickedness fit onely to be committed by such ignominious Persons and yet a good Lesson for magnanimous Youth That they should not
Brabant into Flanders to go to Ostend and there raise the Siege But Prince Maurice unmoved with all this noise resolutely affirmed That it was safer to use wary and cautelous Counsells then to run on in rash and adventurous attempts But the Queen of England and the King of France approved the Opinion of the States perswading them to go on with greater Authority because they assisted them with men and money Also a great strength of Germane Horse was hired and very well furnished with other very great preparations And in the Moneth of June Publick Prayers being first made by command though later then was necessary the Expedition was begun at the same time when the Italian Forces arrived at the Netherlandish borders And Letters were sent into divers places as Artois Brabant Flanders and the Deputies of other parts The United States wrote magnificent things concerning their Affairs and Assistance by Forreign Princes they spoke also of the Souldiers sedition on the adverse party and of the wasting and spoiling of Cities what was too much truth and what reward had they for all these miseries but that which is the last and greatest of all miseries Servitude for it was not unknown what the Spaniards formerly prepared and that a false Pretence or the bare Name of Archduke might no longer deceive any body they should see in whose hand was the Government of the State and the publick Power of Peace and War If they desired the Glory of their Ancestors or the Liberty of their Posterity they should then joyn with them or at leastwise assist their strong endeavors by some moderate Levyes Let the Archdukes go and seek more peaceable Kingdoms That it was easy to drive out the few Spaniards that remained in Garrison in several Castles and then they might put the State both Civil and Ecclesiastical into what form they would and that it would be no great pains and labour to attain to the chiefest felicities of Peace and Liberty This was the effect of their Letters which were quickly followed by Prince Maurice who divided his Army into three parts which he commanded to March three several wayes the whole number whereof was Five Thousand Horse and Eighteen Thousand Foot and almost Two Thousand Carriages the middle Tertia was led by Count William of Nassaw That on the right hand by General Vere and the last by Count Ernest of Nassaw yet at no greater distance then that they could easily meet and joyn upon occasion however thus divided they could proceed with more ease and celerity The whole rabble of Pedees and other inferiour people that attended the Army with Mills Furnaces and other necessaries that were usually sent by Sea now followed the Army by Land with no small difficulty Passing the Maes at Nimmeghen from thence the Army marched through the Countrey of Leige by the place where William Prince of Orange Prince Maurice's Father held his Camp with his Army which was conquered by Famine not the Duke of Alva's Arms which mischief because he would avoid by terrible threats he compelled the neighbouring Towns which of their own accord were more inclinable to the Spaniard to bring in Provisions daily to the Army and to sell it at a reasonable rate and yet was scarcely Victuals enough found to give sufficient to so great Forces The fifteenth day the whole army sate down at Centron a village in Leige not far from Tielmont where Mendosa then lay for the Arch-duke hearing of this preparation of the States had sent him from Ostend with forces having left there Don John de Rivez to guard the Camp and fortify it round about They that lay at Waert laying aside their sedition for a while were persuaded to come to Mendosa and increase the number of his forces so that now he had five thousand foot and four thousand horse Ambrose Count Spinola was sent to joyn with these with eight thousand Spaniards and Italians more which he had new brought into the Country in hope of winning honor and to assist his brother's endeavours at Sea and the Spanish affairs at land with this select band of men For he covenanted with King Philip to be reimbursed his charges and therefore at present he paid his men out of his own revenues and although Mendosa had the chief command as General yet he directed and commanded his own men and as he kept them from the want which the rest suffered so he would not give a licentious liberty but kept them in a strict discipline by which means it came to pass that no souldiers ever behaved themselves with more quietness and civility yet seldome was there any severity used towards them By which example it was evident that the strength of military government consisted in money Prince Maurice lying near them drew his souldiers out of the Camp provoking and chalenging the Enemy to fight But Mendosa kept his men within their trenches either because he was unequal in strength or else broken by his captivity he yet feared his unlucky fortune and having once received a great blow for the future it made him only fight by delay These by all means avoiding fight and objecting to themselves the danger and terror of a battel made the Prince perceive that all these glorious and great beginnings would come to nothing for it was not possible for them to goe into the inner parts of that Country with so great an army through so many narrow passages among all the Enemies towns and where the Enemy himself was ready to attend them upon all occasions wherefore he thought meet the sooner to make his retreat get to the rivers and the rather because Victualls began to grow scarce and the harvest was not yet come yet that the year might not pass away ingloriously after such great designs and ostentations turning his thoughts to things of less moment he presently sate down before Grave a town within the territories of Cuick hard by the Maes reasonably well fortified having therein a strong garrison all other things for the enduring of a siege Hither being come the eighth day after a tedious march through the parching heat of the Sun the Prince pitched his Camp in three several parts where many of the new souldiers unaccustomed to such toil and labour died On the upper part of the river lay General Vere on the lower himself and on that part where the fields grow marshy towards Brabant Count William of Nassau That done two bridges were built upon the river one hundred and fifteen foot long and whatever was within the Camp as also on the other side towards Gelderland was inclosed with one continued breast-work before which were very deep and broad trenches for the clearing whereof several forts and sconces were erected that were well furnished with Cannon The great Bulwark which the Townsmen held beyond the river being deserted as not tenable against so great force as was used about it proved afterwards a great assistance to
sollicitous for the support of his allies and to that end he had sent into England Maximilian de Rohan his chief Treasurer and a Privy-counsellor At last this Medium was found That whatever moneys the French should lay out in behalf of the Hollanders the third part thereof should be charged to the English and all accounts to be discharged wherein France impoverished by her Warrs was indebted to Britain The States were content herewith although they were offered by Sir Ralph Winwood the King of great Britain's Orator to be comprehended in the Articles of the Treaty if they pleased which they refused with great thanks The rest of the year King James spent in performing and receiving the Solemnities of the Kingdome and in viewing his new Dominion of England giving audience at Intervalls to the Embassadors of other Kings and the gratulations of his own subjects Tyrone himself the great Captain of the Irish Rebells coming and upon his humble submission obtaining pardon Concerning Religion several complaints were offered by two sorts of people The one in England are called Puritans being a people that do not esteem the Ecclesiastical State or Church-government there to be sufficiently orthodox and sincere but requiring therein more purity from whence sprung the original of that hated name of Separation These find fault with many Ceremonies retained from custome and antiquity as the Orders of Bishops some Ceremonies added as they say in the Sacrament of Baptisme and others things more tending to Discipline then Doctrine A change or at least an amendment of all which they now hoped from hence because the Scots had already rejected the same On the other side the Catholicks with high applauses magnifying the antiquity of their Religion as well in Britain as elsewhere and setting forth their fidelity both to the King himself at present and heretofore to his Mother petitioned that if he would not give them publick allowance which yet in France the King allowed to dissenters that at least they might privately and without fear of punishment worship God according to the custome of their Fathers But the King rejected both these suits suspecting the Catholicks for no other cause but that the Pope claims power over Kings but the King was offended at the Puritans because by men of the same Faction under pretence of Ecclesiastical authority he had irreverently been used in Scotland Whereupon also he accused their perverseness and obstinacy publickly set forth in Print for he would have each Nation be free to use their own Rites which were not contradictory to the Divine Law but the supreme Authority even in matters Ecclesiastical should continue in the King Yet something was setled according to the desire of the Catholicks viz. That the Sacrament of Baptisme should not be administred by women or private persons that many Ecclesiastical promotions should not be accumulated upon one person and that Church-censures should be strict and severe both in the inquisition and punishment of errors either in the life or doctrine of the Priesthood But the words of the Puritans became so offensive that many of their non-conforming Ministers were punished by Imprisonments Banishment and abjuration of the Realm Notwithstanding which some of the Romanists associating others with them who were desirous of novelty conspired to set up to the Government the Lady Arabella a Virgin sprung from the bloud Royal dividing among themselves the chief places of honor and preferment through the Kingdome The authors of this Treason were punished with the losse of their heads the accessories thereto and such as had concealed the same were cast into prison and the fear of imminent death was reckoned to them for a sufficient punishment the King being prone to win repute to his new Government by the fame of his Clemency While these things were doing in England Enno Count of Friesland beyond Eems having really learned that he might easily obtain from the Emperor both words and threats against the City but that he could not give him a power to put the same in execution he resolved to try the favour of them that were most potent among the Hollanders and to that purpose he went to the Hague urging many things both privately and publickly in his own defence and objecting many things against the Embdoners as being of a wavering temper in their fidelity not well knowing either to govern or be governed At the same time were present some Deputies from Embden behaving themselves with much obstinacy and notable irreverence towards their Prince then present At length after many long debates the United States not doubting the fidelity of the City towards them bent all their resolutions for the security thereof and it was concluded that the Delphzilian agreements should be observed whereto besides were added That for the future there be an Edict of Indemnity and Oblivion for all things already done nor should the Count exact the Penalties set by the Emperor's Decree That both should be restored to their houses and lands all prisoners be released and all instruments of war and other received profits be accounted for And that Enno should endeavor to set free all strangers being really such nor should deny his safe conduct in writing to all Ships going from the City That the Tributes imposed upon the City the third and the fifth year before should all be made null and that there should be a consultation had in the Senate of the Transamasians for the settlement of new the right of summoning which should be in the Count but if he neglected to doe it then they might meet by themselves and consult of their common affairs That it should not be lawfull to denounce a War or levy souldiers without the decree of that Councel onely the Count might retain as many as should be sufficient for the guarding his Castles and strong holds and likewise that the City might raise seven hundred souldiers for the defence thereof and maintaining their works That the Transamasians should maintain the souldiers the charge of the works should be born by the Townsmen and what goods were within a Town should be equally distributed and whatever was inclosed within any fortifications should enjoy the same priviledges with the City it self That the Magistrates of Embden should be created by the Senate of the City and that the Count to that creation should adde his authority When therefore the Count and the Deputies of the City had agreed upon these conditions it remained that the whole Magistracy of the City and the States of the Transamasians should allow of and ratify the same which was very likely to have been done the Nobility being afraid of War as that which would wast their Lands and some being sent by the United States to enforce force such as should offer to delay the same the greatest part of the garrison also was withdrawn that the fade of affairs might appear more peaceable But new hopes from the Emperor changed Enno absolutely insomuch that
he requires the Hollanders not to prohibit the Britans to come out of the Sea into the Scheld to pass to Antwerp paying Customes equal to their Subjects But they excused it by shewing that they had good reason for their Decree that none should goe to the Enemy unless they first changed their Ships that so they might the more certainly have knowledge of all things Nor ought he to take it ill that they imposed Laws upon a River within their own Jurisdiction when the Spaniards durst deny the passage of the Seas even to their friends And so that he might convert the English who were accused as infamous for Piracy to innocent gain he forbad any to fight at Sea under a forein command but conniving at any that went hither or thither to a land Warre By another Edict the Jesuites and all other Ecclesiastical persons that received not sacred Orders according to the custome of the Kingdome of Britain were banished thence setting out for cause that that sort of men taught that the Pope might absolve Subjects from their obedience to Kings of another Religion then which there is not any opinion more dangerous to Government But at the same time the same Jesuites were restored in France upon some conditions from whence they had formerly been banished when by their instructions a young man fought to murther the King But now the monument was destroyed which kept the memory of that fact fresh together with the Jesuites infamy the Parliament of Paris crying out that by that one work the authority of the most honourable Order and the security of France were subverted together But the King with his own great danger as many ominously feared unterrified merely to gratifie the Pope admitted and favoured these stout defenders of his power Between this King and the Spaniard arose some new causes of hatred upon old discontents Monsieur Villeroy a person highly entrusted and favoured by King Henry had a servant named Hostius whose industry and ingenuity himself being much imployed otherwise he used in the decyphering and reading of Letters and private Characters This man being hired gave intelligence of all the greatest affairs of State to one Monsieur Raffee a French-man but banished and living in Spain who discovered them to King Philip's Counsellors by which having such insight into all the private counsels of France it was easie for them to guess at all things else Some things also being discovered to the King of Britain had ingendred animosities and jealousies This Treason being detected by Raffee Hostius first by flight and afterwards by a sudden death prevented further inquisition There was also at this time another matter stirred up by a Woman which was this Henrica the daughter of Monsieur Interaque was esteemed among the first for her beauty and pleasantness of wit wherewith the King being allured to whom there was hardly any other crime to be objected then these loose Affections the better to compass the end of his unlawful desires had promised her marriage if she bare him a Son and this promise he confirmed to her by writing After Medices was preferred before her in marriage she was compelled to pacifie the Queen to deliver up this writing of the King 's Whereupon dissembling higher designs under the pretence of solitude and Religion she aimed to compass forein wealth wherewith she might secure her Son against the Queen's anger and malice and not onely so as she publickly declared and as others interpreted it but also that he might therewith assert his right and claim to the Kingdome The King of Britain refused to give any ear to them for the disturbance of another's Kingdome but the Spaniard approved her cause and promised largely to assist her therein When these things first became known the Lady her self her Father and Brother the Count of Auvergne were taken but King Henry pardoned them acknowledging his own misdemeanour in their crime But Philip fearing lest Henry enraged with these things should from thence take a cause to make Warre he ended the quarrel begun about the Customes which he had lately raised by Edict and turning his fury against the Hollanders commanded all of that Nation to depart out of his Dominions and all Merchandise afterwards brought in to be forfeited This year was celebrated in the Netherlands a solemn Funeral pomp for Count Peter Mansfelde who for fourty years had faithfully served the Spaniard in the highest Commands being then President of Lutzenburg who though all his life conversant in Warre had yet by rare fortune lived even to the extremity of old age And among the Hollanders died Lewis of Nassau being but a young man yet emulous of the glory of his Ancestors and in whom there appeared great hopes of a noble and circumspect Vertue The Fourteenth BOOK of the History of the Dutch AFFAIRES THE charges of the now superannuated Warre increasing every year and that great demonstration of their equal Forces appearing at Ostend restored to some that hope which they had a long time laid aside to wit that the extreme fury of the Warre would at length conclude in a Peace hence every one as their hopes or desires led them delivered their opinions both in discourses and Books Such of the Netherlanders as affected the Austrian Government believed and so said having great emulation to the Cities of Holland and malicious inclinations that they would fall under the weight of that Greatness they had drawn upon themselves or else would become a prey to forein Princes unless they returned to their old obedience whereof for so many ages they had had experience onely with these additions to the old Laws That the Netherlandish Government should not revolve to the Spaniard That the right of Commerce should be free and indefinite That Religion should not be forcibly or with punishments urged in hope of making a more united Concord That as well the forein Souldiers as that plague of mankinde the Jesuites faction should be expelled That the chief honours should remain in the Citizens and all affairs of greatest concernment should be handled in the General Councel of the Provinces which liberty would continue more substantial if it were used with moderation On the other side some in France persuaded the Netherlanders to separate themselves from the House of Austria That the name of Archduke was but a vanity without power without authority his Forces being consumed by the Enemy his Authority swallowed or devoured by the Spaniard and when the Netherlands should be exhausted and Spain impoverished what hopes had they of protracting the Warre certainly onely this one the wealth of the Indies which also in time would fail them and become a propriety to him that is most prevalent at Sea That the twenty several Mutinies and Seditions of the Souldiers have made Albertus his Government infamous and if while those jealousies and hatreds encreased among them the French should have stirred they might have lain upon the Country and
devoured the fields which of necessity must have produced desolation and poverty Therefore they should return and unite themselves to the Body of France voluntarily and of their own accord rather then be compelled thereto by force by which means they should remain setled in the ancient and renowned seat of their Ancestors which must needs perish and be lost if the Hollanders should be victorious That there are nine Forts or Castles erected for a small resistence of all Invaders from whence the original of that Nation is extracted of whom 't is questioned whether they exceed more in cruelty or pride but afterwards inclosed by the Pyrenean Mountains and the remote shore of their own Ocean That the French Empire grown to a vast magnitude would govern its Subjects with more moderation and for the future settle Peace by a settled and hereditary succession according to the Salick Law That this should be to them no loss because they should enjoy in common all the advantages and benefits of France Some there were also in Germany who equally considered from hence the Spanish greatness on the other side the abstruse recesses of the Hollanders whose fortune was daily bettered by Warre nor could they be concluded by conquering That it were both more honourable and easie for the Spaniard to repel the Turk with those Arms he useth against these or else he might compensate any small damage of his Government by propagating and encreasing his limits elsewhere That the Hollanders might buy their Liberty for money for Empires have their setled foundations and periods so that when they are arrived to the highest pitch of Greatness they suddenly decrease Of late the Spaniards neither demanded Tunis nor Goleta nor did the Austrian Family look after Switzerland So also must he loose these people and as they chiefly withdraw themselves so were they to be suspected from the remembrance of the Warre and by the discord of Religion working great prejudice even from their example besides part of them were purchased from the Burgundians so that he may with equal justice sell what he had bought These were the discourses abroad but at home besides a few in whose hands lay the managery of the Commonwealth and by whom all counsels and advices were ordered the rest calling to minde how great the Spaniard's pride was how resolutely determined never to agree with the Hollanders threw aside all hopes the Fates having yet kept in obscurity any glimmering of an end of this so great and long a Warre And now the States to Maximilian Cocheyne urging the Emperour's commands as also to the Legates of Mentz Saxony and others desiring safe conduct free passage and time and place for a Treaty being all things of moment and such as usually work with the common people returned this Answer That they were not unmindful what damages they had received by former Treaties Nor were Germany or the Emperour although names highly reverenced by them of any power against the treacherous dealings of their Enemies That the Hollanders were desirous of nothing more then that the fear of Warre being laid aside they might enjoy what they had attained with so many dangers and so persevering an industry and therefore having so long intreated the aid of their neighbours to divert the Arms imminent over them by a moderate Peace and having afterwards gotten to themselves a solid and well-setled liberty from a fatal necessity which was allowed and confirmed by Kings and Princes they would not change it for a deceitful Peace That they had heretofore entred into Covenants with the Netherlandish Lords and were now ready to renew the same for it was evidently seen how small the authority of the Archdukes was since Spinola a Foreiner received his Command over the Netherlands by Commission from Spain They never refused a safe and well-grounded Peace so as Religion might be safe and the Commonwealth not hazarded But if that opinion remained that as there ought to be but one Pope for the ruling Ecclesiastical affairs so for the Government of Temporal matters there should be but one King and that the Monarch of Spain Germany should see that the Hollanders would not be wanting either to their own or the publick safety As to the business spoken of concerning damages done by them they would endeavour that their Justice and Equity should not be blamed That they should be reputed very rash and inconsiderate if they should deliver up any strong Holds while Spinola lay about the Rhine they knew Germany it self might thus be forewarned if they would consider Mendosa 's Army and the contumelious injuries received by them About this time came forth a Book written by Francis Renes a learned man and of good repute in the Commonwealth of which he had deserved well for writing the Annals thereof in the native Language this man the Author being dead the Book was set forth and published by his friends discoursing of many things as well ancient as novel and relating the many tyrannies and oppressions of the House of Austria and the Spaniards and what treacherous Leagues those Princes used towards other people especially those whom the Pope absolved by a Religious kinde of perjury and setting forth that from thence the danger was equal both to the Catholicks and Reformed people and that there was no other issue to be expected then by Conquest since those waies which are absolutely desperate to men are yet evident and well known to God While these things were minded discursively the Warre in the mean time is spurred on in good earnest For those Forces that had been taken up at Ostend made a great accession of strength to the Hollanders besides some Regiments came out of France to their aid the King sending them advice that they should first draw out into the Field for it would be more for their advantage to be before-hand with the Enemy then to let him get the start of them But in England and Germany Forces were levied and raised for both parties with a vendible faith as they met Souldiers of Fortune or else as Religion led any man to one side or the other Also the Hollanders hasted to raise money with all speed but the Netherlanders under the Archduke came to it with less willingness and more delay for that the Warre was maintained against their will and they were jealous of the ill managing of the Treasury besides the United States had increased their displeasure by writing to the Nobles of affairs that concerned the common good which things so terrified Albertus that he would not suffer a meeting of the Provinces under him though often before and at that time chiefly the same was desired fearing lest by his denial of many things he should become unable to resist their envy or the authority of the States being contemned they should according to their neighbour example fall to direct force his Letters to his friends detecting this his fear which the Hollanders intercepting sent to
Prince Maurice's Camp lying in a wet and unwholesome soil what with diseases and what with runnings away was almost emptied But Fortune recompenced at Sea this slow and protracted Warre at Land from whence since the first Commotions of the Hollanders until these very times that which was reckoned among the great burthens of the Spaniard to wit that his best and choicest Souldiers must of necessity be brought afarre off out of Italy by long Marches into the Netherlands being in the interim of no use though they were an extraordinary charge and burthen was now eased by Spinola for he brought by Sea out of Spain it self into the Ports of Flanders what Forces he had occasion for Twelve hundred Souldiers trained up in the Irish Warres by Colonel Pedro Sarmienti were at Lisbone put aboard eight Ships and some little Barks the charge of all which was given to Pedro Cumiara whose particular instruction among others was this That if he could not get in at Flanders avoiding the coast of France he should goe to the British shore where by the help of the Spanish Embassadour they might have safe harbour and that he should there receive such of the Britans as he had hired and purchased by gifts But the United States that they might for the future restrain the like bold attempts by terrour did command William Hauteene Admiral of Zeland to meet the Spaniards in the narrow Sea towards Bulloyn and without any pity to drown all the Prisoners they took in the Sea Now it is to be observed that the Spaniards were not brought in Ships of Warre but of burthen such as could with most ease lurk upon either the British or German coasts But Hauteene with part of his Fleet coasting about Flanders and with the residue going along the shores of Britain by this means met with whatever passed in the middle of the Chanel Thus passing along at last he met his Enemies about Dover who when they would not strike sail but voluntarily stood in their own defence by shooting part of them were slain the rest escaped either by swimming or the help of English Boats which came in to their succour and took them up Another Ship coming even into the harbor was so beset with two Ships of Zeland that at last they all struck upon the Flats and Quicksands but the Zelanders as they were less in bulk so more light to avoid and escape a danger not onely assaulted but took and brought off the Enemie's Vessel The Mariners according to command were thrown into the Sea the Souldiers and such as had long been in service much complaining of Fortune not that she deprived them of their lives which they knew was but short at the best and whereof they could not in regard of their age hope the long continuance but that they being a people sworn to fight should not die valiantly as Souldiers with their swords in their hands but should be helplessly swallowed up in the all-devouring waves of the Sea The next day some more Ships were taken and one burned all the Souldiers suffering the like severe fate being tied two together which upon a sign given were all at once thrown over-board One saying he had no need of the Enemie's hands to hasten on his death voluntarily leaped into the Sea who though he was unknown among all that obscure company yet was covetous of honor even to his last This slaughter consumed almost the one half of the men and Ships for four of them by the help of the wind got into the Haven yet were many of the men there wounded and slain even by the Enemie's shot But the Souldiers in Dover while these Enemies fought at Sea a great while looking on at last grew angry to have the War brought into their Jurisdiction and shot from the Castle in aid of their late Enemies against their old Friends The Britans recriminating the Hollanders for these attempts were afterwards answered that they did not seek for any Ships in the Rivers of England which yet the Dunkerkers without any notice taken thereof had done but they looked rather at their Enemy growing hot by the force of Victory then either the confines or boundaries of Sea and Land But they could not so easily purge themselves because under pretence of searching the English who contrary to the King's Proclamation made War at Sea they had not long since drawn to their shore the Spanish Ships which were take as a prey by the Hollanders and vindicating King Philip's Embassadour had under pretence of right eluded the force of War But the Spaniards that lately were driven thither by the desperate storms of the Sea before Winter remained there at great charge which was very grievous to their Masters and in the interim while in a miserable condition they continued on the bare shore in poor little cottages by them erected either lived in great poverty or died languishing for not a few of them died of sickness and wounds among whom was Cumiara himself Now arrived out of Italy six strong Regiments by their usual way of marching by Land besides new levies made by the Archduke in the neighbour Kingdomes nor otherwise came the parties to so great strength for Spinola when he was in Spain with the King replete with the honor and authority of taking Ostend had easily persuaded him that this lingring War advantageous to the Enemy might easily have an end set thereto if the King would contract his long-continued gifts and to this purpose he gave for his word and inscribed on all his Ensigns this Motto Jam aut nunquam Now or never Wherefore calling to mind the frequent mischiefs that had arisen by Sedition he required money and two Armies with the one of which he would defend his own limits and with the other would invade Frieseland and to that purpose provided all things necessary in plenty for the Tributes beyond the Rhine being gotten by them would be a great damage to the Enemy besides many Cities now possessed by the Enemy which at present the Rivers defended would become a new bound and there would be need of a strong Army to scatter the Garrisons And this with the greater hope was to be undertaken in regard from thence the very entrails of the Hollanders would lie open to them both by Sea and Land This was wise counsel as the first successes made it seem but the rest being not followed according to hope I will proceed to remember The Generals yet remaining in Flanders while the Prince at Scluys took care to fortify Ysendike and Spinola attempted him with false alarms Count Bucquoy having with a strong party not far from Colen driven the Hollanders Ships out of the Rhine for he had carried with him great Guns passed the River to the great terror of the German Cities round about from whose remembrance the Villanies of Mendosa's time and the many indignities they had suffered were not yet banished At the mustring of the forces the
Castle it self within a moneth was restored to him This was the amicable issue of that business which was very pleasing to both parties at War in the Netherlands For it was a grievous thing to the Hollanders that one of the same Religion and related to the house of Nassau should be afflicted and the Archduke was sorely afraid lest those Armes pretended against Bulion should fall upon himself and therefore Lewis de Velasco that was sent to defend the Borders offered help to them of Sedan But the Brunswick Commotions began the former year the Duke having a spleen to the City because having bought their Privileges partly from his ancestors and partly extorted them they defended them with more then ordinary confidence relying upon the Hanseatick League He replete with hope that he could by his own power restore that Authority which the carelessness of his Ancestors had lost gathering together his Forces as if he had dreaded Spinola's coming over the Rhine first by ambushes planting some Souldiers he invaded the more outward of the two Walls that encompassed the City but the assailants being repulsed they fell to open hostility and a Siege which though the King of Denmark whose Sister was married to the Duke came with a notable strength to his assistance the Winter broke off The United States being requested by the Duke to send Count Ernest of Nassau as General with some Forces to his assistance were in a great suspense because it appeared to them an unseemly thing to oppress the liberty of another while they so hotly contested for their own and yet rather for the King of Denmark and the Duke of Brunswick's sake then the Hanseatick Cities who had not assisted the Hollanders either by wealth or any other kindness whatsoever it was thus moderated They would not send him but that he might goe with some new Forces if he pleased to whom some Colonels and Captains joyned and associated themselves requesting that for that time their Oath might be dispensed with being covetous to gain those rewards which are more readily given at the breaking out of a new War But this high contest was ended in a short time for at the entrance of the Spring the Leaguer about the Town being anew begun and the dam broken by which the Duke hoped to bring the restrained River upon the City and by that means to shorten the Siege the Hanseatick Forces being collected prevailed with him to desist from the War To both parties unable to bear the charge the Emperor's authority was interposed which commanded them that they should voluntarily and out of reverence to the Laws proceed judicially since they seemed in honor thereto to lay down their Armes Besides these affairs which were common to the Hollanders and their Enemies there were certain peculiar causes which hindred the Enemies Levies of men both in Britain and Italy For in Britain the King being forewarned how dreadful those Subjects were that acknowledged power superiour to the King conceived a new form of an Oath to oblige all his Subjects whereby they were â— confess him the true and lawful King of Britain and that he could not be deposed by the authority of the Church of Rome or the Pope and if that should be attempted yet that they should bear unto him faith and â—legeance and discover all things that might tend to the King's damage and that in the taking the said Oath they had no other meaning then the common use of the words expressed and that they did not hope to be absolved from the same From hence arose great discord even among the Catholicks themselves while part of them by the allowance of George Blackwel an Archbishop of England for so the Pope had entitled him took the said Oath without fear supposing a distinction between sacred and temporal affairs and as they ought to doe their duty to God in point of Religion so in all things else by the command of God himself they were bound to obey their Princes On the other hand some believed the Jesuites that humane things ought to be subservient to Divine and so that he who was the great Arbiter of Religion if necessity reâ—ited the same might transferre Kingdomes that being a most sacred Order that all things should be subject to one In the interim they that demurred at the taking of the Oath were forbidden to goe out of the Kingdome into any forein service And the Pope's authority in Italy made the like if not greater troubles and delaies For the Venetians fearing the wealth and potency of the Priesthood and imitating the Decrees of other Nations forbad them to build Temples or to give lands to Abbeys or Monasteries unless they were licensed thereto by Decree of the Senate and that the Revenues of Church-lands should at no time return to them besides they commanded some Priests to be put into Prison because they were accused of Sorcery Parricide Incest Falshood and publick Force Pope Paul the fifth by the instigation chiefly of the Cardinals Bellarmine and Baronius interpreting these things to be done in despight of him when they were refused to be taken away interdicted and excommunicated the City Cardinal Baronius in some Letters by him sent to the Venetians advised them among other things to take heed lest God being angry with them as he was once with the Hebrews should take away their Liberty and make a Lord over them Many Books were written wherein a long time it was disputed what was the power of the Laws or of any other Sentences upon those that were wholly devoted to Religion or whether the Pope's unjust commands obliged their Consciences The greatest part of the Priests in the Venetian territories did not abstain from performing all publick services in the Church and the Jesuites when they refused to doe the same were banished While this matter was hoped to break out into Arms the Spaniard who had received it from his Ancestors to augment the Troubles of Italy raised Souldiers there boasting himself the Defender of the Pope's Majesty On the other side the Hollanders partly out of hatred to the Pope and partly out of love to a free City promised the Venetians some assistance by Sea if they should be indangered for which they returned them great thanks by Letters with much candor of language But that prudent Senate as they would stoutly defend the rights of their Dominion so they studiously avoided all things that might hinder Peace or the ceremonies of greater affairs However this was the beginning of friendship between those two most potent people who would never endure the Rule or name of a King While these things were doing in forein parts at the beginning of this year the Hollanders send a Fleet into Spain to increase the dearth and scarcity of all things which was rumored to be there and also for vindicating those losses they had received by the violent assault of their Ships by Lewis Faizard the said Ships lying unprovided
dealing to turn their Friendship into a kind of Domination Nor could any Peace or Leagues be hoped for in that New World which is divided from its better part not so much by Scituation as Manners and secluded on every side by its own Ocean as if condemned by Nature to the most odious barbarism These were at that time the Discourses concerning America Surely it concerned those who were desirous of finishing the Warr that these hopes should not be settled too deep in the Opinions of the people Nor was it a hard matter to put a stop to the begun Project of the New Company by the emulation of the Cities earnestly drawing to themselves the ordering of the Ships and some interceding that the Liberty of fetching Salt out of America should not be restrained by any Law Therefore this debate being set apart no less difficulties were observed to hinder those that were desirous of making peace for although the Enemies Design might chiefly be discovered yet the Governours of the Confederate Cities from a received Opinion in the Prince of Aurange's time abhorred the very name of Peace And to men of this perswasion much appeared that would be lost if the Enemy should openly profess himself contented with a Peace whereby he could not regain the dominion he lost by Warr for that which of old was accounted a part of Prudence to break off all hope of reconciliation had no other Basis than this That onely such a Peace could be expected as would bring along with it an insulting Lord. On the other side That it pertained both to the Security and Honour of the Commonwealth if the Enemy could be drawn to a confession of their Liberty But the War yet growing hot and new Causes of Indignation daily arising either Victory made them fierce or some slaughter drew them to the desire of revenge so that minds prepossessed or byassed with affection could not considerately ponder the Reasons that induced to peace But if any Remission or Cessation should be granted of Arms there would not be wanting some favourers of peace which being otherwise acceptable in it self would agree principally with the mind of the HOLLANDERS that were earnest of Traffick and also the people that lay next the â—nemy would not easily suffer themselves having once tasted the Sweets of Peace to be carryed back to Arms. It is a very hard thing to find the beginning of so great a â—â—ter in that Commonwealth wherein no Affair of any great Concern is undertaken without the Advice of the Provin◠〈◊〉 and a Relation of what is done or to be done to the several Cities which circuit that business which without doubt was involved in great Dissentions could not bear They that were in the General Assembly of the United States would not take upon them the Envy of so suddain a Mutaâ— unless Prince Maurice who was the General of the War and famous as well by his great Merits as the Nobility of his Extract should become the great Author of Temporary Agreement But He having attained so much Honour by War that scarcely any ever attain'd the like and not despising the most effectual substance of Fame and thinking with himself that all Peace with the Spaniard was mingled with Treachery yet was perswaded by Oldenbarnevelt whose Authority underpropped by his Providence chiefly and 30 years Fidelity supported these Consultations of Peace that as would not refuse to Treat with the Enemy For the King of Brittain would sit by onely as a Spectator of so great a War and the French King by their Alliance aimed at greater Matters of which there were no obscure Demonstrations If â—e Confederate States could find a way to lye open for them 〈◊〉 Peace they that supposed it advantageous to their Affairs that the Spanish Forces should be wasted in the War of Holland might be brought to promise certain Aids without any other account Therefore Wittenhorst and Gevard having receiv'd Letters from Albertus and Isabella whereby it might appear they were intrusted they were admitted into the Assembly of the United States where they publickly repeated what they had privately before spoken highly extolling the Commodities of Peace before the uncertain Events of War But because the Legates had mention'd the Arch-Dukes Right and Claim The States thought fit to answer That it was openly known to all who had any insight in the Belgick Affairs that the Arch-Dukes could be helped by no pretence of Right against the Confederate Provinces but such as must be hoped to be gained by Conquest In truth when of old divers of the Provinces after the Confirmation of their Liberty by an inviolable Decree were united into one Body they had sought to reduce them by Arms being Members separated from that Body by the best and highest Right the Equity of whose Cause many Kings and Princes had approved by making Leagues with them Therefore they all Resolved to persist in that Opinion which they had lately declared to the Emperour That a safe pinâ— and just Peace could not be expected with them who under the vain pretence of Right would infringe the Authority of a must Reverend Decree The Mischiefs of War would fall on both Parts but ought to be imputed to them that would unjustly seek what belonged to others not those that valiantly defended their own Wittenhorst being dismissed with this Answer afterwards writ to the States that he had found it to be the Arch Dukes pleasure that in the making an Agreement they desired to gain nothing but that all things should remain in the same condition they were But for the more ready carrying oâ— of this business the Principal of the Order of Franciscans of that Country by Name Francis Naya born at Antwerp but by Kinred a Zelander was made choyse of his Father sometimes followed the Prince of Aurange Himself was of a voluble and fluent Tongue and though he was not ignorant in Court-Affairs for he had been in Spain and lived at Bruxells conversant in matters of greatest importance being of an open and free disposition like the Netherlanders that you will hardly suspect guilty of fraud and by his Profession of life armed against bashfulness neither greatly fearing a repulse or contumely This Man being sent from Bruxells came privately to Riswicke the next Village to the Hague making tryall by discreet Persons what were the main difficulties that â—ostructed the business from thence being brought to the Prince he expounded some things as he saw convenient in Wittenhorsts Letters and there understanding perfectly that there was no hopes of beginning a Treaty unless the Arch Dukes did first really own and acknowledge their Liberty returning to Bruxells soon after he brought Letters from Albertus and Isabella Signed the thirteenth of March to this effect That they were weary of the cruell War and were ready to make a perpetual Peace with the United States as free People whom they so accounted and against whom they would make no pretence of claym
Holland to carry home the wounded Men and the Body of Hemskerk which Admiral for the better preserving thereof was embalmed The Report of this Battel at Gibralter which was fought the 25 day of April was not yet arrived to the knowledge of the Hollanders but then supposed to have been brought by speedy Messengers out of Spain into Brabant when Naya then Resident at the Hague desired the Assembly of the States the 27 of April setting forth to them That he lately at their Request promised the Arch-Dukes should take care that the King of Spain should confirm the Articles when he had no such thing either in his Charge or Instructions And that the Arch-Dukes when they might have refused that Authority yet out of love to Peace by promising the same had made good his assurance to them Now therefore it was but just that as those Princes had by an extraordinary belief omitted nothing that might be conducible to Peace so the States on the other side should remove all things that might be Obstructions to the same intent and consequently should recall their Fleet out of Spain which had lately been sent thither to spoil all the Maritime Parts of that Country Moreover he desired That those things which had lately been agreed of late concerning the forbearance of encamping and invading each others Country might be declared in more express and plain tearms for that the words wherein they were expressed were more ambiguous And since many Things might happen before the first of September which ought to be published by the States in the Arch-Duke's Names He required Instruments of publike Credit and safe Conduct by vertue whereof he might without hazard go up and down between both Parties And now the greatness of the business in hand had wrought upon all Mens Minds insomuch that some of the principal Persons of each Province came and were present at the daily Debates of the Council At the first there was much hesitation concerning the recalling of the Fleet some Rumours of the Victory at Gibraltar being scatter'd abroad Whereupon some averred That it was convenient to prosecute their good fortune and that Peace should not be discoursed of but in the heat of War Others were of Opinion That they ought to shew as well in words as reality that their Minds were not averse from a true Peace which if it were not at that time brought to pass not onely the Sea should be secured but they would all unanimously resume their Arms not so much for Revenge of old Injuries as of their delusive Peace And it had almost hapned that they who desired Peace by making the Spaniard more secure and they that were against it putting the Enemy in fear and seeking after the Causes why Peace should be sought that they had brought to nothing their own Counsels Among these Transactions Embassadours came out of France the chief of whom was Mounsieur Peter Janine of old a great Supporter of the Guisian League but returning to his Obedience towards the King together with the Duke de Mayn and from thence forward was a Minister of great Fidelity and of great Estimation and Authority among the chief Counsellors for his great and eminent Experiments in points of Prudence having a Wit rarely skilful in handling Affairs of State and not onely knowing in the Theory and Practice of the Law but throughly instructed in all other good Arts Besides he was so prevailing both in Countenance and Words that when he endeavour'd most to hide himself his Judgment would most evidently appear With him were joyned Mounsieur Buzenvale formerly the King's Agent with the States and Mâ—unsieur Elias Playce who was Commanded to succeed Buzenvale in that Dignity It seems the King took it ill that they had begun to lay the Foundation of so great a Matter onely by the Knowledg and Advice of a few which he judged they ought not to have begun without his Approbation as well in regard of his Grandeur as the Benefits he had often done to the Hollanders Therefore the Embassadors according to the Directions given them premising many Things by which they declared how highly the King had deserved of that Commonwealth They presently fell to Complaints first bitterly inveighing against them who seeming to love the Thing yet spoke sharply of him as being ambitious to get the Dominion over them Afterwards when they had involved Themselves in Treaties with the Enemy they made a Clandestine Application to the King which also he could not but take in very evil part yet nevertheless he would not forbear at this time with Courtesie to set forth his Friendship by this his Embassie declaring That he would for the future assist them if they were necessitated to make War Or if they thought fit to make Peace He would by his Authority make the same to them just at the present and permanent for the future That some might be chosen out of the Assembly of the States that should before the Embassadors weigh the Ability of the Treasury and the ways and means conducing to Peace And lest the French Kings Authority might offend other of the Hollanders Allyes it was judged necessary to request the Kings of Great Brittain and Denmark as also the Prince Palatine and Marquess of Brandenburg to be aiding and assisting by their Counsells in these doubtful and ambiguous Affairs Upon Naya's demands after long debate that part prevailed who were for Peace Whereupon it was Decreed That the Fleet should be recalled from Spain assoon as king Philip should have confirmed the Articles granted by the Archdukes and that in the interim neither any new ships should be sent thither nor any provisions That in the Neighbour Sea which is enclosed within the Streights and narrow passage by Bulloin from thence forward should be a cessation of arms but upon this condition That none but Fishermen should be permitted to go out of the Ports of Flanders And as soon as Philips Instruments of Confirmation came the like cessation of Arms should be in all that Sea that runs by France and Spain as far as Cadiz and from thence all over the more inland Sea They consulted also for the same nearer to them by Land And thus the United States enclosed their jurisdiction and security within the famous boundaries of the Eemes the Vider the Issel the Rhine the Wael and below Grave the Maes all great Rivers of note but the Archdukes Countreyes were bounded with less famous Rivers such as Demmer and Gatt in Brabant Ley and Amand in Flanders All that lay without these Borders was subject to War excepting only the Cities Forts and Castles yet so as no bounds should defend the Souldiers themselves offering injuries one to the other either by Sea or Land Thus before Naya departed it appeared how little in vain be protracted his time among the Hollanders Notwithstanding all this it would not be granted that he should stay at the Hague for that the minds of
the States were possessed with fear and suspitions not without cause but he had a residence appointed for him at Delf where both his going in and out as all his actions were observed the reason and Author of which counsel he seemed by bis actions and carriage to approve for be invited Cornelius Arsen Secretary to the States to a private Conference who presaging to himself the intent of the Design goes to Prince Maurice from whom he is commanded That if any extraordinary graâ—ity were offered to take the same and withal to detect the Enemies Treachery When they met the Monk with great Eloquence gave him thanks That by his assistance some glimmerings of Peace had been attained for it is to be understood that when Naya came first among the Hollanders by the Mediation of one Craulen who was nearly related in bloud to Arsen he found the first access to him Afterwards he added That he was not ignorant how great danger Arsenius had hazarded by this Deed if the matter had not succeeded according to both their wishes a popular or Aristocratical Government being alwayes full of envy emulation and jealousy That the Archdukes did greatly love and highly esteem this his willing inclination to the Peace of the Netherlands and that as they would for the future give greater rewards so they would for the present restore to him the house which he formerly possessed in Bruxells and that the Marquess Spinola who was of the same mind and desire with them whether a Peace were concluded or only a Truce for nine years would promise to give him fifty thousand Scutes of which fifteen thousand should be forthwith paid to him where he would appoint and for the same produced a writing cautionary under the said Spinlaes hands Afterwards Naya in hit own name presented to Arsens Wife a Diamond of great value Arsen giving thanks for the house and seeming to believe himself obliged by the Covenant for the same when it should come to him from the City of Bruxells for a while refused the rest as too hardly pressing upon his fidelity yet at length he received both the Jewel and Spinola's writing and so departing he declared the whole matter to the Prince and the Prince again related the same to some few of the States The Prince supposing the matter fit to be concealed for a time refused the Custody of the Presents But soon after Arsen being sollicited by new Letters from Naya to come and receive his fifty thousand Scutes and fearing lest this doubtful and dangerous secret might break out to his disadvantage discovered the whole matter in all its circumstances to the Council of the States They appointed George Debes a man of exemplary fidelity and chief overseer of the common Treasury to keep both the Charter and Diamond yet could not Arsen by all this care escape the hatred of the vulgar who interpreting the common report of the business to the worst sense grew so enraged that he was compelled to set forth the truth of the matter in Print to prevent further mischief that might ensue About this time Admiral Hemskerks body was brought to Amsterdam where it was received with high honour and applause and with no less grief and sorrow because having been the Author of so great a Victory his Countrey was believed to have received the greater prejudice in his loss to him then first of all was publickly given a Funeral and a Monument with an Inscription testifying with great honor and eloquence the famous Actions by him done After which they sent to the King of Great Brittain desirous to dive more narrowly into the Affairs of Holland John Berken an assistant to the Magistrates of Dort and Jacob Maleree a man in principal esteem in the Senate of Zeland these set before him the present strength and charge of the Commonwealth and how much the Treasury was judged unable both by the Prince and Senate to maintain the War in any hopeful condition These were very gently received by King James who promised to take a special care of the Affairs of his Allyes for he well understood That by the Hollanders Arms as well his own as the Peace of Ireland was defended And no less did he foresee how unfit he was to perswade to War who till that time had never given any supply of mony towards it which was the greatest want of that War nor had at the present any to help them with Not long after there came from him to the Hague Richard Spencer of an honourable Family in England and Ralf Winwood then returning out of Brittain but otherwise Leiger Ambassador for the King with the States In the intetim Spinola by Letters sent to the States signifying the King of Spains confirmation of the Archdukes Covenants and desires a safe conduct for Don Lewis Verreike Albertus his Secretary who should bring the Instrument and declare other things relating to the matter which being granted and He come immediately the Spanish subtilties appeared for the words of the Covenants were not confirmed by the Kings Authority according to the Custome of a just League but the Charters were written in the French Tongue which is generally spoken by the Duth Nobility bore date the eighth of May and brought to them the first of June which were subscribed by the King in no other manner then he used to do towards his Subjects and so confirmed That he promised the Cessation of Arms should be ratified calling Albertus and Isabella Princes and Lords of the Netherlands but in the interim by no word Himself acknowledged the Liberty of the States according as was desired nay more in the very foremost Covenant of Albertus the words that declared their Liberty were totally left out which Verreike called by a ridiculous pretext the Writers neglect When he sent word to Bruxells of that objection the Archdukes said nothing only John Richardot the chief of the Cabinet Counsel answered That the States mistook the words for so long as King Philip rejected none of the Covenants they ought to believe that He approved all And although though the Archdukes might protest the performance of all things they had promised yet that their candor and benignity might be the more evident they sent back again into Spain for the mending of those things that were found fault with And the States did not delay to recal their Fleet out of Spain left while they professed to be desirous of Peace their Actions should go rancounter to their words But about this time arose many hot disputes among the United Provinces many furiously crying out That they were publickly deluded by the Spaniard who for the better concealing their Treacheries had only made an empty offer of Liberty but now their deceitful dealing bring manifest he would only endeavour this one thing to denude them cunningly of their Arms. Besides the Enemy was said to be preparing a Fleet both in Spain and Flanders the danger whereof was the more
Interpretation that the former Grants might obliquely be avoided thereby and they being a Free People and such over whom neither King Philip nor the Archdukes had any Authority would of their own accord consult of their Domestique Peace and not suffer their Affairs to be ordered at the pleasure of others That there was now a fit occasion given them not to enter into any further Treaty yet they would offer so much towards the desired concord that they would by Letters signify the whole matter to the particular Councels of every Province and desire their Judgments thereupon only with this Protestation That they would admit of nothing that might be prejudicial to their Liberty And that the Archdukes should within six weeks time know what was their result That if they thought fit to hearken to such Proposals of Peace as they should offer then within ten dayes after such Ambassadors as they heretofore promised to send should come to the Hague where also their Deputies should be present but upon this confidence nevertheless That neither the King nor the Archdukes should offer any Proposition that might intrench upon the States ordering their own Affairs within themselves And the States appointed the Hague for the place of meeting left it should appear unseemly for the Ambassadors of other Kings to remove from place to place and also because the power of managing the Affairs being divided amongst many with more ease and wisdome all things might be consulted of When Naya and Verreike doubted whether upon this answer they should leave the Kings Letters with the States or carry them away with them the States declaring they cared not whether of them they did Naya went to Bruxells to be advised from whence he brought this answer That the writing should remain with them so as they would give an acknowledgment that they had received the same for thereby the Arch-Dukes would be free from their promise to the King and finally that they should restore the same if the League came to no effect Which things being absolutely refused by the States and the Archdukes once more advised with Naya without any contract soon after delivered the Letters These deliberations being related to all the several Provincial Assemblies many doubted that it was not safe to admit a treacherous Enemy into the very bosom of their Dominions what would he do there but search into the affections and strength of the People and learn what was atâ—â—imble either by money or Arms by force or purchase They feared also lest they among themselves who desired peace running as it were headlong and without Counsel 〈◊〉 acquire the same should by little and little be drawn to accept of unjust and dishonourable Conditions Therefore when the Deputies returned into the Common Council past of all they oblige themselves each to other by mutual consent that they would if the Treaty came on in the very last Article have their liberty established by fit words publickly attesting the same in such manner as should be sufficient to satisfie the Embassadors of other Kings admitted into the Council And that they would not admit of any Conditions relating either to profane or sacred matters that â—ight undermine their liberty On the other side if the Enemy should still persist they would declare to all mankind that it was his fault why Peace was not setled and that recollecting their Forces and invoking the ayd of their neighbour friends and Princes They would resume their Arms from which they doubted not but Justice would give a successful Issue to their cause Prince Maurice and the Zelanders further insisted that the very words for Confirmation of their liberty should then be contrived and forthwith sent to Albertus whereto if he would not consent then to let him know that they would proceed no further in the Treaty This sentence seemed very hard to some who desired the Enemy might be hearkened to At this time a new year approached at the beginning whereof the time for the Cessation of Arms was to expire nor did the Arch Dukes desire its prolongation expecting to have had an Address made to them to that purpose whereupon the States write that they trusted to the Arch Dukes Promises with the same Resolution they had engaged to Naya and Verreike expecting a Treaty And to that purpose they were ready to send seven or eight from them if they would please to send the like number or fewer of theirs whom they would endeavour equally to fit as formerly had been discovered with Command and Instructions from them as they hoped the Arch Dukes and King Philip would do the like to wit that the said Commissioner should with all possible speed expedite the business and that they would consider whether it were convenient to the matter in hand whether they would lengthen the Cessation of Arms for a Month or six weeks That they would be pleased it should be for the longer time if so the Arch Dukes thought fit to consent That the States would have the Legates to be such as the Arch Dukes were for the future hoped to be The meaning whereof was that only Netherlanders should be sent For the Arch Dukes first Letters whereby the States were moved to a Treaty clearly contained the same Nor was it a matter of small advantage to the Hollanders that the conclusions of peace should be weighed together by the principal men of their so wearily allyed Neighbours among whom as there was less fraud and craft and one common design of interest equal with them though not for liberty yet against forein oppression and tyranny which being foreseen by the Arch Dukes they on the other hand were as violent to the contrary and from the very beginning the Netherlandish Nobles had privily fostered the same design until it should as of necessity seem to be thrown not only upon them but the Commons also And lately Naya and Verreike when they were at the Hague were delayed some speeches being cast abroad whether the States would endure any forein Commissioners when the Spaniards Affairs were no less in Agitation than those of the Arch Duke But then their design failed of its effect yet at this time the Governours of Holland who were desirous of peace when either by conjecture or some private intimation that it was likely that Spinola himself the General of the War together with a Spanish Senator should be sent of whom Spinola was by some private means known to be inclinable to peace and esteeming it of little advantage by much discourse to the Counsel to breed further jealousies in suspicious minds they earnestly endeavoured that the States Letters should be written to Naya and Verreike wherein they should be desired That they would certainly inform them of the number and names of the Commissioners that so a fitting care might be taken for their Provisions and Entertainment In these Letters was a Schedule inclosed carelesly as if is had been a matter of no moment signifying That
craftily insinuate to the Hollanders how potent the Body of the Netherlands would be if it were united where as being divided and torn asunder they might easily become a Prey to some Foreiner That therefore they would do well if they would choose the Arch-Dukes for their Defenders or at least would enter into such a Society that who offended either should be taken as Enemy to both And if that could not be obtained yet they should endeavour that it might be agreed That neither Party should assist the others Enemies either by Counsel or otherwise or suffer any of their Subjects to take Arms on their behalf And the Spaniards were Commanded to conceal these Instructions from the French and English yet in other Things to use their Help and Counsel and especially the Advice of Janinus for obtaining a Toleration of the Romane Religion and part of the Goods heretofore belonging to the Priesthood The Earl of Frizelands Business also was commended to them and some other private Matters They that would not believe this Writing was carelesly left behind by Richardot suspected this might be some Reason why he left them to wit that the States thereby might be perswaded there was nothing acted concerning their liberty but what was serious and should put into the Hollanders minds the thoughts of an Auxiliary League which had been unreasonable to have spoken of They that published that Paper desired that the Embassadors of Frances Counsels chiefly might be suspected or to make the Arch Dukes subject to the more violent hatted of the Kings however it was Richardot by Letters both accused his own negligence and complained that the Laws of Hospitality were violated in that a private Writing belonging to him was published to all the People Nevertheless the Embassadors of France and England the Germans to whom that action was very displeasing preparing for their departure knowing by some late speeches and now by Don Richardots Letters that a Truce for ten years might be obtained from Albertus and Philip but that no other words would be granted touching their liberty than those had been at first used at the beginning of the Cessation of Arms framed a League according to that method Concerning the Indies it was admired that King Philip might chuse whether he would have a Truce there or War but as to the Borders and other controverted points they were reserved for the future to a more peaceable Treaty The greatest Labour was that this method of Agreement might be approved by the States who were solicitous to confirm their liberty for ever some also willing to lay hold on this occasion utterly to subvert the League and therefore the Embassadors came into the Councel of whom Janinus having setled himself into a Senatorian Gravity began thus to speak The Dignity and Vertue of them who are displeased with our Counsels for a Truce merits that their Arguments should be composed with ours whereby it may appear to you worthy Patriots whether is more wholsome and sound Counsel I hear they find fault with words which if they do that their liberty may be preserved and a pretence is not sought out of a desire of War it is that they may be freed from a prayse-worthy perchance yet an â—â—pty fear for liberty is numbred among those things which receive neither time nor condition and being once given can never be recalled Although if we rightly consider the matter you desire not your Liberty to be given to you but only to be acknowledged Neither indeed can he give it It being denyed that a Prince can transpose his Government and it would be a shame for you to receive that as given which by publick Decree you obtained long since And 't is not possible to acknowledge it more plainly than by calling you Free and professing that they arrogate no Authority to themselves over you This seems enough to Us for the settlement of peace in self but because some thought more might be obtained we have not interposed But to relinquish the Titles and Ensigns of Honour seemed even to us reproachful and infamous and therefore well to be suspected by a King unconquered But say they If the Enemy think so why doth he not declare himself freely Why it may be he thinks it unreasonable and unjust to be compelled to use other words then such as were satisfactory to you before the Treaty And now who would you have believe your liberty Is it the Kings your Allies Certainly those words will be satisfactory to them Nor do you fear I believe that the Spaniard would offer to lay his hand of Authority over you and should require to be revenged on you But a Truce being finished if he shall so think meet he shall make use of War as a Judge No caution can defend the Conquered and the Reason will easily appear why Victorious Arms cannot be limited Nor is it greatly to be feared that the Enemy can heap up any great store of Wealth That is the Custom of free People and such as require nothing but their own to look at the future whereas it is frequent with Kings only to mind the present some being destroyed with boundless desires of luxurious living others wasted with the ambition of wide extended Dominions King Philip is a young Man and Governs a Nation that cannot be taught quietness It is more easie for you to renew your Credit having payd your debts where Garrisons onely remaining the charge of Fortifications which are the greatest part of your burdens will cease You may now defer your Tributes during the years of the Truce The Enemies gifts and dissentions I will easily grant to those who say they fear those things whereof they ought to take heed I know you neither want Laws nor Judiciall Proceedings and it will be but a vain thing to seek to corrupt a few where the Government remains in the â—als of many and they not always the same And the Enemy himself will shake off shath being of that nature that cannot so behave himself as to continue long unsuspected Otherwise if that Reason be admitted you must of necessity undertake a perpetuall War In Peace the vices of Security are much more to be feared nor want there in War peculiar dangers especially where any great Calamity makes a breach upon obedience Nor is that much to be feared when the publick Revenues are so unable to begin a War that they cannot keep it off that is as to the averting the ruâ—ne This Advantage you have that it is in your own power to take heed of the discommodities of a Truce Many times the wisest mâ—n cannot escape the sad events of War There lies upon us also the necessity of answering Lipsius his Letters who perswades the Enemy to a Truce though but for a short time and without the mention of Liberty If they require Examples we have many and those not of former but of the present Age Holland and Zeland gained a new life
from the League made at Gaunt The Switzers that took Arms for the like Causes laid them down upon a Truce and have now for a long time retained their Liberty being defended by their Foot Souldiers chiefly and the heights of their Mountains And wherein I pray are you less able to defend your selves being so powerful at Sea and having the Ocean for a Guard Some indeed fear lest you should return to your Arms more weak and effeminate for the lives of Princes that favour you say they are uncertain But let them know that the causes of Allyance and Friendship doth not decay with the Kings but remain as immortall as the Kingdoms themselves This is that makes Allyes live and flourish and let this prevail to stir you up not to let slip so reasonable a time to acquire peace This Advice prâ—ceeds from Kings your Friends whose careful providence chiefly ayms at this that you may be safe More might be said to this purpose but I think it prudence to say no more Let every one answer for himself only let not the Authours of the contrary Opinion overcome us in the liberty of saying what they please The next day he sets upon them again their minds being already moved with the former Oration and runs over the principal Heads of the League one by one that he might convince them that there was nothing couched therein either unjust or deceitful and when he had so done added that They were the first of all People to whom that Honour had been granted to confirm their liberty by the Confession of the rejected and abjured Prince The Switzers could not obtain so much nor could the like be forced by the Victorious Danes from their King Christierne though a Captive to them and thereupon he grievously blamed them with accusations of ingratitude and falsity because they had whispered that by the coming of Don Pedro de Toledo into France the King was become averse to the Hollanders Commodity But His Majesties good will to them was more firmly setled then to be changed by the desires of their Enemies or any thing else save the contumely of such as dispersed abroad such falsities Winwood also thought it a part of his duty to commend a Truce to the Senate whereof he himself was a member affirming that his Master the King of Great Britain would not perswade them to any thing but what he himself would give an Example of Those Arms are just that are necessary and those not onely pious Kings but God himself would favour but they are not necessary to which there is a way open to an honourable end If they subsisted by extraordinary succour yet they ought not to refuse the making of a League since both their Religion Liberty and Commerce might be preserved But now it was to far distant to conjecture what would come to passe after a Truce by how much they could not discern the nearer dangers of War It was a wonder to see with what greatness of mind the business was transacted at every Assembly and new Books were daily set forth as it were to sow and foment discords for now they spared neither of the Kings as if the chief of their hopes had consisted in the miseries of the Confederate States But the chief of their envy was vented against Oldenbarneveldt as the Inventor of such things He being grown odious to men of the greatest quality and most eminent degree by his excessive Authority much less could his Equalls endure to see him so far in Honour above them insomuch that there were some Letters found wherein he was not obscurely destined to slaughter Whereupon He in the Assembly of the States of Holland protesting that he had not feared to draw upon himself the malice of the most potent men nor shunned any dangers so as He might serve his Country being fraught with the Solace of a quiet Conscience against all scandalous Rumours and unlucky accidents But when he saw a thing in it self displeasing to him yet nevertheless be aggravated to make him odious He beseeched them that for expediting those things they should see fit in the Common-wealth they would appoint others to officiate that were less hated which said immediately he departed from the Assembly Some of the Lords were sent after him to desire him that he would not in this nice Juncture of time desert the Common-wealth which he had hitherto assisted with his faithful Counsels Hereupon returning to his accustomed charge sometimes extolling the benefits and Authority of the Kings anon explicating and laying open the charge of the War he confirmed such as wavered and refuted them without anger although they were very sharply contradicted and Amsterdam it self a long time resisted at length he brought all Holland to one mind which also five other of the Provinces soon after embraced Only Zeland out of some peculiar Reasons of their own and by the instigation of Prince Maurice resisted the consent of all the rest denying to agree to a Truce nor would suffer the Decree to be revoked urging the words of the Trajectine League that Arms should not be laid down unless by the common consent of all and whatever difference should arise among the Provinces should be left to the decision of the Governours Others were angry and said the Question was not now concerning a Truce but whether Zeland alone should give the Law to all the rest And now the Contest among them growing hot the Embassadors of the Kings interposed endeavouring to drive those by force of Arguments whom they could not lead by perswasion And first Janinus producing to the States King Henrics Letters wherein he ratified whatever they should say or do began to praise the good benefit of Concord then mentioning divers Opinions without frowardness when he came to the Trajectine League he said it belongs not to us to interpret the Laws of other People but yet common Reason teacheth that at this time the Debate was upon a yielding not an indifferent League and it any think otherwise the Law is either to be abrogated or laid aside the Publick Weal so requiring which contains in it the Sanctimony of all Laws for what other event will produce if these do not refuse the decision of the Kings their Allyes more justly than those the determination of the Governours but that upon this Consultation both must needs run into factious parties it remains therefore that the fewer in number should yield to the greater for by this means alone stands the Government of People which otherwise would decay and fall to ruine Thus among the Switzers the Decrees of the greater Party are obeyed by those who contradicted the same But the Acheans and Aetolians though valiant people yet were destroyed by dissention while each of them would not agree to consult with the other for too much liberty is the ready way to Servitude Besides that no man may feed himself with a vain hope I now by Command declare that
the King hath no such need of you as to give assistance to those that despise his Counsels Spencer also in the name of his Master the King of Great Brittain spoke to the same purpose adding that the Common-wealth wherein the right of many Opinions doth not prevail is like to a Virgin which as old Authours remember was pulled in pieces by the hands of many other rivall Lovers contending among themselves and so elegantly set forth how much the Tribunitial Power prejudiced the Romans The same Embassadors also perswaded them for the future to settle a more certain Method of raising their Tributes as also if any thing were distempered in the Common-wealth or disfigured by War that it might be amended whereby they might become more unanimous among themselves and more formidable to their Enemies The like Advice they gave to the Citizens who esteemed their own Government best to wit that they should leave the chief Matters to their Provincces and their Deputies but all suddain and quotidian Business should be in the ordering of the Governours and Senate who were to look after not any particular part alone but the whole Body But it was not convenient to abolish a Custom approved of by the space of Twenty Years with Success fortunate enough wherby it easily appear'd that it would be profitable for all that all Things should remain as at present lest while the Debate of the Truce depended they should involve and intangle one Business in another In these Verbal Contentions this Transient Year was almost expired and a Rumour was frequently spread abroad That the Truce endeavour'd by the Embassadors did no whit please the Spaniards And the Truth is Richardot had written to Janinus That King Philip was grown more averse than before but he assigned the fault thereof to the King of Great Brittain as if he had given some hope that nothing more should be spoken of Liberty And now the sweetness of Peace had so far allured some among the Vnited States that they could digest that but the more discreet sort wâ—thstood it and the Embassadors of the Kings sent to the Arch-Dukes demanding Whether they should give Credit to those things which of late had been begun to be transacted with their Ministers Upon Return of their Messenger being certified That the Arch-Dukes had given Command and likewise had from the King a power of making an Agreement they shew'd the same to the States and admonish them That the Cessation of Arms being near a conclusion should be prolonged for one Moneth in hope of making a League Yet lest they should expect other Articles than what had bin of late prescribed by them They said They would only do their Endeavour that the Truce might continue for 7 years longer and that there might rather be a peaceable than a Warlike Trade in the Indies In the mean while the Arch-Dukes well understanding that there wanted not some in Spain who either desirous of War or striving for the honour of the Kingdom would dispute those Words concerning the Liberty of the Hollanders especially because the Hollanders would not leave the Trade of the Indies nor would suffer any thing to be Decreed in favour of the Romanists Therefore they sent thither Inicus a Priest of Bruxels of a Noble Spanish Family and Father Confessour to Albertus and which is of necessary consequence with the same intimate and privy to all his Counsels This Man was commanded to shew what Commodities would by a Truce accrue to the Ports of Flanders the passage to which was stopped up by War as also that some increase of the Romane Religion was to be hoped by as much as Hatred and Animosities decreased they being a People covetous of Novelty and discordant in Matters of Divinity Neither were those Words much to be fear'd that were ambiguously implyed the Embassadors of the Kings not only averting They would take nothing away from the Spaniard but that many of the Hollanders had shew'd them to be fruitless by subtilly cavilling That these Arguments might prevail against all contrary Attempts and Endeavours they were strengthned by the Authority of the Duke of Lerma a Man most eminent in the Favour of King Philip and therefore drawing after him not onely the Respect of the Court but the whole Source of Counsel he delighted much in the pleasures of Peace and therefore fear'd lest others should over-top him by Honour and Renown gain'd in War This Year came Philip William Prince of Aurange and Elder Brother to Prince Maurice first of all into Holland remaining other where during the time of War but now using the common freedom taken by all The causes of his comming thither he pretended That by the Truce he might take a Care to mind the benefit of his own Affairs as also that being honour'd with the French Affinity he hoped he might the better bring it about by means of the present French Embassadors those Things which were in dispute between him and his Brothers concerning his Paternal Inheritance But others interpreted it in another manner as if he had appear'd there as a Fautor of Peace contrary to the Counsels of his Brother However it was this is certain That by his means Emanuel of Portugal against whom we elsewhere mention'd Prince Maurice to be highly inraged for his Marriage with his Sister was reconcil'd to the House of Nassau During all this time nothing was done by the Souldiery but only near Ardenburg some were slain that lay in wait to take away the Townsmens Cattel Likewise in Germany the Hollanders Horse with more than ordinary Licentiousness foraging the Country were met with and punish'd for some being sent out of the Garrison at Berck slew some of them as they were scatter'd abroad in the Night among whom was kill'd Adolphus of Nassau a Young-man of great Courage but too indulgent to the Souldiery But the Victors Joy continued but a while for the Troops gathering together from all parts repai'd the slaughter of their Companions with the Death of many more of their Enemies This Year also there appear'd the Seeds of a Mischief that was not contemptible for Arms were scarce laid aside before there began a Difference in Religion the beginnings whereof are not known nor more of it but as it broke out by little and little which hapned thus At Leyden two famously learned Men the one named Gomarus the other Arminius publikely read Lectures upon the Holy Scriptures of whom this maintain'd That by God's Eternal Decree it was appointed who should be saved and who should be damned and thereupon that some are drawn to Piety and being so drawn are preserved that they shall not fall away while others are left to perpetrate the common Vices of Mankind and lie totally involved in their own sins This on the other side maintain'd That God would not be altogether a severe Judge but was also a loving Father and made this difference of Sinners That to such as were
about this time a small Book came forth at Gonde containing Matters to be believed by few yet in the same Words which are prescribed in Holy Writ Presently there appear'd some from another Company who publikely detested this saying There was no so portentous and horrid Opinion which might not be hidden under such Words That the simplicity of the Primitive Times was praise-worthy when yet unknown Evils wanted no Remedies but soon after as every Age was more fertile in Errour so there were found certain manners of speaking that might drive all that went astray from their lurking places By which means they became servile while these enjoy'd Peace and Quiet which they nick-named Liberty these truly call'd Perturbation and Faction until on both sides by famous Names the differences were encreased which afterwards gave both name and nourishment to greater feuds From the East this year also came Capt. Mateliseu all things there being in a happy condition which without doubt might be some reason why the Spaniard would not the decision of the Indian Trade to War He went out three years and three Moneths before when the Spring was too far spent to suffer him to escape those annual Southerly blasts under the Equinoctial driving him to the Coasts of Africa He had many and great commands for War But the Seamen resisted his Authority murmuring that they were not to perform the Duties of Souldiers The Captain himself being ambitious of honour allured the most potent in the society with the hope of renown and the Commons with the hope of prey now speaking to all in general anon to particular men as occasion offered it self and giving exhortations to every one according to his disposition When he came to the Indies they took some Portugall Ships and other that assisted them in Merchandising but the Barbarians in them were all set at Liberty that they might the better acquire their good will Malacca is seated upon the right Angle of the gulf of Bengala where Sumatra shadows the Indian Continent it is a great Island divided by a narrow branch of the Sea which is called there Cincapura Jora is not far distant whose Kings formerly possessed Malacca but after the Portugueses came into that World being invited by the scituation of the place they built there a Castle upon a little hill encompassed with a square Wall and some houses within it and taking into the same a quantity of ground as seemed sufficient By little and little they began to dwell without the Wall and especially beyond the River that lyes to the right hand those buildings also that were near the River side were fenced with a Wall From hence proceeded a perpetual feâ—d between the Kings of Jora and the Spaniards and therefore at this time did they first make a League with the Hollanders At this time four brothers governed Jora of whom the chief in Authority was named Jandepatuan but Sabran far excelled him in ingenuity and industry being very intent both for the defence and increase of his Government the contrary whereof it usual in most of the Indian Kings who rather follow Bacchus and Venus loving all things that bring delight at the present and not minding anything of future advantage Now Matelisen was more able in mind than power to besiege Malacca for the Castle and Town was kept by Andrea Fartado a man famous in War and having with him almost three thousand men but the greater part of them was Indians because some Portugueses were sent out of the Garrison with certain Ships to China In the Holland Fleet were eleven ships and fourteen hundred men Wherefore for augmenting his Forces he desired aid of the Kings of Jora making a League That they should enjoy the Countrey and the Hollanders the Town but the Prey to be divided equally between them Hereupon they began to shoot first from the Ships then from certain little Islands which lay near Then on the shore to the right hand they pitched their Camp and suddenly a suburb beyond the River that might have been defended was quitted and a bridg being cut down the whole defence lay within the Castle and the places near adjoyning to the Castle Thus the Hollanders with safety made another bridg over the River and so invaded the backside of the Town and a Monastery defended with a Mount and in a short time pierced on the other side even to the Sea Therefore Matelisen appoints Forts in convenient and fit places and beats down with the shot of his Great Guns a Bulwark that Fartado a little before had added to the Castle and when the ground that was full of Water would not suffer the Pioneers to work making little wooden Towers and filling them with earth and small loppings of Trees and by chance there were many Orchards near there abouts he removed nearer to the Castle carrying into that rude and barbarous World the Political Stratagems of the Netherlandish War And strange it is to tell and hard to be believed that in all that Siege there was no use made of any of the Jorensians or others whom the Neighbour Kings had sent thither The first number promised to send they performed not and then in those that came obedience and constancy was no less wanting than knowledg in the use of Arms for they were not only unfit to stand against violent eruptions or sallyes but at every shot of a Gun were ready to fly from their appointed stations so that then it was evident by clear experiments That the Portugueses had rather made a prey of these Nations than obtained a Victory But the Hollander being pressed with the whole burden of the War partly by accidental misfortunes and partly by weariness and nocturnal showers were much diminished and weakened There was no hope that the besieged being more in number could be taken by them who were fewer it remained therefore only to starve them out but now the Siege having continued four Moneths was broken up by the comming of a Fleet from Goa which was commanded by Alphouse de Castro the Kings Pretor in the Indies this Fleet consisted of fourteen Galeons four Galleyes and sixteen smaller ships which carryed of Portugueses and other Europeans to the number of three thousand seven hundred men and well nigh as many Barbarian servants These were commanded as afterwards was known by some Prisoners and Letters to invade all the places where the Hollanders were wont to come with Merchandise particularly Achem Jora Faham Patan Bantam and Amboyna As they came near Achem they commanded the King of the City to pay the Charges of their Fleet Deliver up the Hollanders and suffer a Castle to be builded as if already they had gotten the Victory But he being well furnished with Arms and Fortifications wherewith he had strengthened the shore by the directions of the Hollander contemned all these threans and cracks yet the Spaniards broke into one of them but were repulsed with so great slaughter that they
so do other places 319 320 Namur and Lisle refuse Spanish Garrisons 325 Nassau Philip of Nassau slain 392 Netherlanders Letters to King Philip concerning his Daughters Marriage with Albertus 529 530 Netherlands turned over to Albertus and Isabella the causes and Aâ—cles thereof declared by King Philip. 562 563 564 Several Opinions concerning his 〈◊〉 564 565 Netherlanders set 〈◊〉 to their obedience 567 568 Their desires to the Arch-Dukes 651 652 Newport a Town in Flanders besieged by Prince Maurice 667 Nassau Count Ernests worsted 〈◊〉 fight by Albertus at Leffingen Bridge 670 671 Newport Battel the beginning and end thereof and Victory gotten by Prince Maurice 678 679 ad 680 The number of the slain and names of the prisoners 685 686 Netherland States summoned to meet at Bruxells and the Arch-Dukes Speech to them 688 Notte Colonel succeeds Dorpe in the Government of Ostend 760 Nassau John his death and Character 856 857 Naya Francis who he is employed by the Arch-Dukes about making peace with the Hollanders 878 His desires to the States and their Answer 889 890 Netherlands under the Arch-Dukes their bounds 892 Naya appointed to rende at Delf and why 893 He hath a private meeting with Cornplius Asten Secretary to the States and the effect thereof 983 984 Nassau Adolphus slain and how 949. O. OAth imposed by the Regent on the Commander and why and who took the same 4â— Ocean breaks over its bounds with a great distruction 5◠〈◊〉 Issell Doway and other places submit to the Duke of Parma upon Condition and the heads of the same 105 106 Oâ—denard besieged stormed and taken by Parma 127 Oath imposed by the Confederate States when why and on whom 1◠〈◊〉 Michael his Ship burned and â—ow becomes a booty to the English 2â—1 â—arson Garrisoned by the Prince 291 Delivered to the Spaniard 316 323 â—al an Irish Title abjured by whom and why 403 Ostend the Siege thereof threatned but no more blocked up by Albertus 50â— â—sen 〈◊〉 by Prince Maurice 519 Ostend taken also by the same and dismantled 519 〈◊〉 and Mulsem fortified and why and by whom Orseo besieged 592 593 〈◊〉 blocked up with Form by the Spaniards 6â— Besieged by Albertus with a large descriptiâ— of the Town and the whole Siege from the beginning to the end with the Surrender thereof upon honourâ— Conditions and the names of the several Governments during the time 698 699 700 701 ad 705.708 ad 710.713 ad 717.760 ad 762.774 ad 777 Oldeâ—zpole besieged by Spinola and yielded 800 801 〈◊〉 French Colonel killed 812 〈◊〉 Burnâ—velt perswades to peace 877 In suspected and layes down his Offices in the Common-wealth had â—on desire takes them up again 944 945 P. POpe when he attained his heighth of Power and how and by what degrees 14 Philip the second King of Spain departs out of the Netherlands 21.23 〈◊〉 to consent to the States Request for removal of the Souldier 22 〈◊〉 great affection to the Netherlanders but quite contrary 29 Send his Wife Elizabeth with the Duke of Alva to a Conference at â—ajon with the French King and his Mother 30 Displeased with several of the great Men and why 32 Disappointed of rising Forces and how 36 Popes Authority denyed and by whom 38 Publike Commotions first begin in the Low-Countries and why and by whom 37 Philip talks of going into the Netherland 43 Hâ—s churlish answer to the Emperours Message by his Brother to him 52 53 His name used in all Cases by the Union 70 75 Peace Treaty of Peace at Breda between whom and the refuse thereof 76 77 Philip dischargeth his Creditors without payment 82 Approves the Peace made at Gaunt 85 Desired to make peace with the Hollanders and by whom and why 90 Parma the Duke of Parma succeeds Don John in the Government of the Netherlands his Character 103 104 He besiegeth Maestricht and takes it 104 110 111 Peace Treaty at Colen and the result thereof 104 105.110 Portugall Kingdom claimed by King Philip and Conquered by Alva to his use 114 115 Parma Duke receives Recruits from the King 1â—8 170 He pitcheth his Camp between Gaunt and Bruges 141 Takes Dendremuâ—d and Vâ—lvorde 148 Plicentia a Castle in Italy delivered to Parma by the Spaniard and why 161 Parma made a Knight of the Golden Fleece 162 He wins divers Towns and Forts to the Spaniard 172 Peace Treaty of peace between England and Spain and the heads thereof 184.186 187 Provinces under the Spanish obedience which and how many and which under the United States 188.193 Pope sets out Bulls against Q. Elizabeth and exposeth it to Conquest 205 Parma's Councel and the Marquess of Santa Cruz rejected 206 Parma collects above 30000 men with other Provisions to help the Spanish Fleet. 207. He is kept close in Dunkirk 209. Wants Seamen and why 210 Piementel Didaco with his Ship taken in Zeland 214 Parma blamed envied and hated by the Spaniards and why 231 232. He falls sick and goes to the Spaw 232 Philip of Spains pretence to the Kingdom of France 240 Parma receives gracious Letters from Spain 253. He takes a new Journey into France 254. Frees Paris from a Siege 260 The many troubles attending his return 261. Discontented at his loss before Knolsenburg He goes to the Spaw waters 273. He marcheth into France with an Army 282. Returns thence into the Netherlands having first received a wound 283. While he intends another Journey into France he dyeth 298 The causes of his death and his Character 299.300 Philip King his Declaration against the French King 348 Peace desired by all and a Treaty to that purpose between whom and what Commissioners 368. Their Speech to Prince Maurice and his Answer 369 370 371 The Treaty broken off and why with several opinions thereon 371 372 373 Philip King of Spain in great distress for money and why 454 He dischargeth all his Creditors without payments and the â—ssue thereof 455.456 Peace concludeâ— between England and France and the heads thereof as also the like with the Hollanders 461 462 463 Poland the ingrateful Speech of the Polish Embassador and upon what occasion with the States Answer thereto 492 493 Peace Reasons why the Hollanders refused peace 494 495 496 Padilia sent from Spain with a Fleet to invade Brittain being broken by Tempests and returning is removed from his Command 501 502 Philip King of Spain incline to peace and why 515 Peace treated off between France and Spain at St. Quintins by whom and upon what tearms 526 527. The Treaty goes forward to which are sent English and Holland Embassadors 544 545.553 Various opinions concerning it in the English Court and what and among whom 551 552. Treaty removed to Verbin where a Peace is concluded and the heads thereof 557 558 Philip King his death and the manner thereof 575 576. His Character 576 577. His Son Philip named the 3d succeeds him 578 Priest the noble Speech of a Priest to Mendosa 611 Peace