and barricadoed them The Clergie knowing themselves unable to resist a multitude of thieves not discerning how few they were forsook the Churches and provided for their own safetie Nor had the religious Orders time to collect their spirits in this common trepidation when so many fled In a word men had no more consideration to defend themselves against this misfortune then against a thunderbolt which every one wishes to avoid but none labours to oppose But the poor Nuns were in the greatest fright and amazement whose Cloysters were broke by these Hobgoblins which making havock of all things in their way and prying into every secret corner whilst their furie or theivery kept them imployed it was the onely preservation of the holy Virgins that getting on their clothes of any fashion escaped these sacrilegious dogs and fled most of them into their Parents houses By which means lesse mischief was done then uses to be committed in night-robberies Their principall aim being to make haste and ruine all things in an instant And truly their hast was so great that the noblest Churches and Religious houses of Antwerp were profaned and pillaged by the severall parties of these infamous Rascalls Nay when it was day light and that they saw the citie amazed with sudden fear had made no preparation to suppresse them for both Catholicks and Hereticks kept within doors those fearing the Hereticks which they believed to be masters of the Town and these in regard they knew the odium of the fact would reflect upon themselves and therefore feared the Justice of the Magistrate and to be assailed by the Catholicks but all were of opinion the libertie taken by these base Artificers depended upon some superiour causes the Church-robbers secured by other mens terrour fell to plunder in the day time returning to the Churches and Monasteries unworthily and basely fouling the pure ornaments with their filthy souls and bodies and buttering the Books in the library set them on fire Then in mockerie arming the Saints statues they ran a tilt and overturning them insulted over them And every where like Conquerours having as well surprised Religion as the Town they bore the spoils in triumph Three dayes together in Antwerp lasted that spoil and destruction of things sacred with so great a losse of rare pieces drawn by the hands of Masters that some writers stick not to say the great Church alone was damnified to the value of four hundred thousand Ducats But it being strongly suspected that after the spoil of Churches hope of prey having multiplyed this wicked rabble they would at last plunder the rich Merchants as many times men fight more eagerly for their houses then for their Altars the Townsmen thinking it their best no longer to stand neuters especially perceiving the small number of these Rogues appeared at their doors in arms and as if they meant to revenge the Commonwealth shut up all the Ports but one out of which that damned pack of villains ran and poured out their furie upon the adjoyning towns and villages where they exercised the same kind of sacrilegious freeboot While this was done at and about Antwerp the rage of these Traitours was no lesse upon the very same dayes at Gant Ondenaerd and other towns in Flanders from the river of Lys as farre as Schelt and Dender all the Churches and holy Ornaments going to wrack For this destruction was more like an Earthquake that devours all at once then like the plague that steals upon a Countrey by degrees Insomuch as the same tainture and whirlwind of Religion in an instant miserably involved and laid waste Brabant Flanders Holland Zeland Gelderland Friesland Over-Isell and almost all the Low-countreys except three or four Provinces viz. Nemure Lucemburgh Artois and part of Haynolt And as of old in the reign of Tiberius Cesar they tell us that twelve cities were swallowed by an earthquake in one night so in the Low-countreys not the like number of Cities but Provinces by the Spirit struggling and bursting out from hell were devoured with so sudden with so great a ruine that the Netherlands which had as many populous Cities Towns and Villages as any part of Europe within ten dayes was overwhelmed in this calamitie the particular Province of Flanders having four hundred consecrated houses either profaned or burnt to the ground So as indeed the Governesse could not but believe Count Mansfeld who called that conspiracie a plot laid to betray all the Low-countreys by the Heads of the hereticall party in France from whence came almost all these cryers of the new Gospel For by their practice the state of the Low-countreys being troubled they might the more easily as when an Army is confused at the first volly of shot send fresh men that assailing the Provinces already weakened might totally subdue them With this opinion theirs agreed who thought this impious plunder acted with such consent and such impunity not to be accidentall nor the villanie of a few but to be contrived by the Hereticks and Orders given at Centron that by one Massacre they might prevent another which they feared hung over their heads ever since the conference of the French and Spanish at Baion the chief of the Gheuses giving way to it that they might the sooner by the fright of these tumults extort from the Governesse all which they had petitioned for Indeed when the Churches and Monasteries of Gant were rifled the spoil having continued for three dayes together the like whereof happened at the same time in Antwerp a letter from Lewis of Nassau and six others were delivered to the Ministers Consistories and Merchants of the Low-countreys for so ran the superscription wherein he advised them that in regard the cause of the reformed Religion seemed now to be in sufficient securitie they should oppose themselves against the saucinesse and insurrection of the people confident that hereafter no body would trouble them for the free Exercise of their Religion and they were to give credence to the Bearer who was one Giles Clerk a Lawyer of Tournay his name being writ in cypher in the same letter Upon receit whereof they ceased from profaning the Churches of Gant Add to this the words of Count Mansfeld to the Governesse which she sent in Character to the King that she was advised by Count Mansfeld to beware of Lewis of Nassau before all men living for he was the wickedest Traitour in the world to whom the Ministers and Elders of the Hereticks communicated all their Counsels and that he carried in his hand the spoil of Churches and religious Houses and by this means that turbulent spirited desperate man hoped to levie warre against the King And it is evident that Lewis was one of the first movers in all the Sacriledge committed it was by his incouragement that the common sort of hereticks would not obey the
be forced to accept of unjust conditions But whilst Orange and Egmont to whom she would needs bid Farwel disswaded her from the journey the news was all over the Town and some of the Citizens shutting up the Gates others went to the Governess humbly beseeching her that she would not by her flight adde to the impudence of wicked men and make the Kâ—ng condemn that faithfull Citie under the notion of Conspiratours against his Majestie Nor did she alter her resolution for all this though a great man informed her Excellence that the Prince of Orange speaking of her going away to some at Court told them among other discourse That if the Governess would leave the Town and consequently desert the State he himself was resolved his Towns and Fortunes should not become a prey to any That their French neighbours might easily possesse themselves of Flanders and that long since they pretended a title to Artois and Haynolt nor could the rest of the Provinces want new Lords But that which most of all troubled the Governess was a rumour dispersed in Bruxels that she was the onely cause why the Gheuses had not their Petition granted which she might do of her self having received plenipotentiary Authority from the King to signe any conditions for quieting the Low-countrey tumults And that if still she pretended to exspect answer from Spain putting them off with such flammes there were some in readiness that seizing upon her together with Viglius Keeper of the Seal and Egmont himself would extort by force what they could not obtain with modestie Such reports as these though at first the Governess accounted them vain threatnings of the Hereticks which had cunningly named Egmont to make her think the Conspiratours hated him Yet when she saw the same affirmed by many that seemed utterly to despair of any good once more attempting to get out of Town and being staid again Fear overcoming her she at last was induced to grant some of the Covenanters demands Which after other businesse she wrote to his Majestie in these words Now when I come to add what finally I granted to the Covenanters unworthy my Resolution unworthy your Majesties Religion truly the grief of it peirces my very soul and shame comes upon my face in blushes I call God to witnesse who knows the secrets of my heart that often and with my utmost power I resisted them many nights together I have not shut mine eyes being at that very time afflicted with sorrow and a fever At last besides the spoil of Churches which I heard of from other quarters when the storm hung over this Citie and that so many openly rung in mine ears that the destructive spight to holy things would never cease til I should grant two demands made by the Covenanters When my house was besieged my mind languishing and my body sick sending for Orange Egmont and Horn and protesting before them that my consent was extorted thereunto I made a concession of pardon and indemnity to the Covenanters and to the rest I gave libertie to hear their Ministers preach onely in places where they had been accustomed so to do provided they came unarmed and molested not the Catholicks With a speciall clause limiting these two Grants to such time as the King with consent of the Estates of the Low-countreys would be pleased to allow Yet to both these I consented not in your Majesties name but in mine own so as when you please you may avoid them without the least blemish to your Honour which you have not your self ingaged and being ill-ingaged by me you should not and I hope will not make it good Nay I beseech and conjure you Mighty Sir by that which is dearer to you then your life your care to defend the Catholick faith that immediately not exspecting the convenience of the Spring you will please to come in person and revenge the wrongs dâ—ne to afflicted Religion which now sadly and solely addressing her self to your Majestie exspects relief which otherwise she dispairs of from that right hand of yours renowned for faith and power indeed unlesse this one hope remained my life which lingers in a miserable manner would soon part from me though perhaps this hope it self will be hardly able to keep off death Thus her Excellence fainting under the burden of her grief wrote privately to the King but publickly shewed no womanish passion and still intent to affairs of State gave Count Mansfeld Commission to govern Bruxels as her Lieutenant put into the town a new Garrison of horse and foot fortified the Count left nothing undone that either concerned her own or the Cities preservation Indeed having made that agreement with the Covenanters they gave her jealousies a short breathing-space for upon the foresaid terms taking a new oath of obedience to the Governesse they so ordered the matter that upon the day appointed the Gheuses attempted nothing against the Church Nay the Prince of Orange returning to Antwerp hanged three of the sacrilegious villains and banished three more setting open the great Church commanding the Priests to exercise their function and boldly to instruct the people Which had not a little rejoyced the Governesse but that in the same letter which he about it he inclosed two petitions delivered him by the Germans that desired some Church in Antwerp where they might freely exercise the confession of Auspurg This took off much of the Governesses contentment especially because the day after she understood by other letters from the Prince of Orange that he and the Senate of Antwerp had permitted Hereticks to preach in the citie and to use all the other rites of Luther and Calvin assigning them three places for that purpose The reason whereof the Prince of Orange explaining affirmed to the Governesse who very hainously resented it in three letters sent immediately one after another that he was extreamly unwilling to make conditions with the Hereticks but some considerations inforced him First that he might by this means restore the Churches and Churchmen to securitie Then whereas no lesse then twenty thousand men used to go out of Town to sermons he greatly feared lest at their return some pragmaticall knaves gaping after pillage might joyn with them and the multitude prevailing plunder the rich Merchants houses Lastly because the Hereticks already had sermons in Antwerp therefore in pursuance of that agreement he had assigned them places in the citie Notwithstanding the Governesse liked not the proceedings of the Prince of Orange perhaps because she her self was guilty of too much indulgence and likewise in fear to be reproved for anothers fault perhaps because the Prince of Orange had indeed given further allowance to the Hereticks then they could challenge by their articles which licensed their Sermons within the walls but not their Baptisme Marriage or other Hereticall ceremonies But
by reason of King Charles his Edict commanding that none should be raised in France All this the Governesse knew by private letters out of France Lastly at the very same time in the Consistorie of Antwerp letters were read dated at Constantinople from so many and so remote places were the Low-countreymen incouraged to rebell either out of malice to the Catholick faith or to the house of Austria sent from Iohn Michese a powerfull man and highly favoured by the Turkish Emperour Wherein he advised the Calvinists of Antwerp and inflamed their zeal To proceed as they had valiantly begun in rooting out the Catholicks that the Turk had great Designes a foot against the Christians and shortly Philip King of Spain would be so ingaged in a Turkish warre that he would not have leasure to think of the Low-countreymen And indeed Michese spake not this at randome He was born a Iew for it will not be amisse to speak somewhat of the man illustrious for mischief and often mentioned in the history of Cyprus and other destructive warres and when he was a youth fleâ— out of Spain for fear his ill-dissembled superstition might be discovered and living long in Antwerp he was much esteemed by many persons of honour particularly by Mary Queen of Hungary then Governesse of the Low-countreys from thence impudently stealing away a maid of noble parentage he went to Venice and there had the confidence to treat with the Senate about assigning a place for the Jews in some of the Islands belonging to that Signiorie his Suit being with scorn rejected first he made a voyage to Constantinople and there married a rich Jew then he passed into Cilicia to Selimus the sonne of Soliman and finding the Prince in a vacancie of affairs or not disposed to serious businesse being altogether inslaved to his pleasures Michese as he knew all the points in the compasse of Luxury feeding him every day according to the variation of humour to the height of appetite with exquisite and new delights became one of his Minions or Privadoes by how much he excelled in the art of flatterie or the artifice of pleasures by so much he preceded all others in the Princes favour Therefore Sultan Soliman was easily intreated by his sonne to grant what the Venetians had denied a Citie and Territorie for the Iews Nay Selimus after he came to the Crown made him of his Councell of Warre much about the time when the Moors in Spain resolving to take up arms implored the assistance of the Turkish Emperour to a people of the same Religion that in hope of aid from the Turk intended a warre against King Philip. Nor was the Emperour Selimus averse from sending an armie into Spain and whilst Michese advised him to it because he saw it pleased Selimus his sonne in law Achmet who had infinitely indeared himself to Selimus by his rare policie used in concealing his father Soliman's death at Zighet he doubted not but the design would shortly take and therefore by that which I have mentioned animated his friends at Antwerp putting them in hope of a rebellion of the Moors But Mustapha and others voting for a warre with Cyprus Michese came over to their opinion and when the Emperour was doubtfull which way to incline Michese alone turned the scales and carried it for Cyprus so great was his envie to the Venetians whose incivilities and scorn he often with much passion mentioned Besides he had a foolish hope to be created King of Cyprus vainly grounding upon some words spoken by Selimus at his table And that his endeavours might be answerable to his Counsell they that wrote the historie of that warre affirm it was he that laid the plot for blowing up of the Arcenall at Venice which not onely shook the foundation of the citie and beat down the buildings round about it with a huge destruction of men but even the neighbouring towns and cities were affraid they should be shattered with that Earthquake Those that gave fire to the powder being sent from the Turk by advice of Michese to the end that so great a losse might weaken the Venetians and render them in no capacitie for the warre And if a few dayes before the better part of their powder had not been shipped away for Corcyra that Citie the fairest in the world had been utterly ruined and one man had in a moment ended the warre of Cyprus So great a fire can spleen kindle in any mans bosome raised even in the midst of the water Among the Low-countreymen Michese his letters and incouragement did no little mischief For this news putting them in heart it was decreed by the Consistorie of Antwerp that whereas an opportunity was now offered to strengthen their partie they should make up among themselves as great a summe as possibly they could to be ready upon all Emergencies which was with great zeal immediately put in execution At which time Count Hochstrat Lieutenant Governour of Antwerp for the Prince of Orange sent a Petition to the Governesse delivered him by the Hereticks of that citie wherein they desired libertie of Conscience for themselves and their brethren for which they offered the King three hundred thousand Florens which was supposed to be the Artifice of some that they might with lesse suspicion go to and fro to gather money and in the mean time both deceive the Spaniard that would be easily tempted with so much gold and likewise their own partie that would more willingly open their purse for obtaining the free exercise of Religion then for the maintaining of a warre Unlesse perhaps that vast summe was offered to set forth the greatnesse of their faction And therefore many copies of the Petition were sent about the Provinces subscribed by the Gentlemen and Merchants that ingaged for payment of the money thereby to advance their reputation and to fright the Governesse with so great a power But her Excellence nothing moved with the vain noise of their wealth did not so much as vouchsafe an answer to Hochstrat The Petition it self she sent to the King to quicken him upon so many provocations In the interim she her self knowing all that passed in their Consistories and Assemblies when she saw that divers of the Conspiratours believing the news of the Kings coming grew very fearfull thought it best to make her advantage of that fear and therefore writing letters to them full of affection and confidence instructed the messengers to make them large promises to some which she knew were no enemies to Religion she wrote letters upon those blanks the King had sent her signed with his sign Manual wherein suiting her words to the times she exhorted them to defend the Cause of Religion to keep the people in their antient Duty and Obedience and these were to be so delivered that they should not be altogether concealed
certaine conditions which both they and the Prince of Orange took their Oaths to see observed for the present laid downe Armes which notwithstanding were shortly taken up againe both by the Calvinists and Lutherans when they heard of the Siege and Danger of Valenciens occasioned in this manner Among the towns that after the Church Robberyes refused to submit unto authority one was Valenciens animated by a strong faction of Hereticks and by their owne nature being like the rest of the people of Haynolt impatient of Subiection insomuch as they have a proud Proverb that Haynolt is only subiect to God and the Sun And they were the freer because of their Vicinity to France which being considered the Valencenians were ever ruled with a gentler hand but with a more attentiue eye The Governesse was very fearefull lest the French if they stirred at that time might first lay hold vpon this key to the frontiers especially because they knew that one Grange of Narbon a Calvinist Minister by his French Lectures had now confounded all in Valenciens and much increased the commerce betweene the Valencenians and the French The Governesse having many times written to the Magistrate about it at last when she found her selfe strong enough she sent an expresse commanding him to receiue a Garrison into the Towne of those men commanded by Philip Norcarmius of St Aldegund Lieuetenant Governour of Haynolt for the Marquesse of Bergen then Ambassadour in Spaine And that by these Souldiers nothing was intended but the Authority of the Magistrate and Concord of the People Norcarmius coming to the Towne in the Evening was met by Commissioners from the Magistrate of Valenciens affirming they had ever beene and ever would be faithfull to the King and to the Governesse withall they demanded how many men he would quarter in in the towne desiring him to be contented with as few as might be But in the morning at the time when they had promised to receiue his Garrison new commissioners came from the Burghers and told him that by the industry of the Hereticks running all night from house to house the People had changed their minds were resolved not to admit the Garrison and to write their Reasons for it to the Governesse But Norcarmius terribly offended with that Inconstancy and affront departed threatning Ruine to the City Their Messengers he carried away Prisoners but because that was against the Law of Nations four dayes after he sent them back by command from the Governesse And indeed the Towne presented her Excellence their Reasons for not admitting a Garrison of Norcarmius his men as well because they feared he would Vse them cruelly and like Enemyes by reason of his different Religion as likewise they were perswaded that Garrison was to have come in without the consents of the Prince of Orange Count Egmont Horne and Hochstrate But if those foure Lords would ingage for the Security of the Towne it should immediately submit This touched Egmont to the quick who of the foure was only present when these Letters were read in Senate he therfore professed that he and his Collegues had greivous Iniury done them by these men But the Governesse thought her selfe most iniuried her Power being looked upon as inferiour to the Authority of these Lords Therefore implacably offended she resolved to revenge this Scorne and no longer expecting the kings Presence sent for Norcarmius and Cressonerius an excellent Engineere determining by their advise to lay speedy Sâ—ege to Valenciens appointing Commanders and giving Order for all necessaryes By Norcarmius she sent a Letter writt in the Stile of Anger briefe and decretory to be delivered to the Magistrate before he should atâ—acque the Towne wherein she commanded the Valencenians in the Kings name immediately to receiue foure Troopes of Horse and as many companies of Foote yeilding Obedience to Norcarmius Governour of their province which if they refused to doe she declared them Enemies to their King and Country They obstinately stood out and therefore by the Kings Edict were proscribed and their Goods confiscated The Reasons of this Proceeding the Governesse wrote severally to the Provinces That she had often admonished the Valencenians not to suffer the Hereticks coâ—trary to her agreement with the Covenanters to possesse themselves of Catholique Churches and to preach within the City nor to protect the Heads of the Conspiracy especially Grange and his Companion five yeares before condemned at Tournay if they could not doe it of themselves then to receive a Garrison from Norcarmius to that end but they contemning both these Proposalls SHE in the Kingâ— name declared them Tratours and besieged them to bring downe their pride Commanding upon paine of death that no one either with Advise Armes money or otherwise should presume to assist them or goe armed within their Liberties or be present at any of their Meetings and that whosoever should doe the contrary did it against his King and Country This Newes troubled the whole Faction of the Gheuses and because it much concerned them to incourage their Friends in such an Exigent presently Letters were directed from the Consistories of diverse Cities to the Valencenians bidding them be resolute and fearelesse for shortly the besieged should be relieved and the besiegers called away to quench a fire kindled in another place Nor were these vaine Brags for a few dayes after not farre from Tournay 4000 of the Gheuses tooke the Field Vnder the command of Sorean Their Designe was to take L'isle the chiefe City of French Flanders They were put vpon it by certaine Consistorian Merchants great rich men and dwellers in that City The Plot was so laid that vpon a day when Maximilian Rassinghem Governour of L'isle must necessarily be out of Towne the calvinists should goe as they were accustomed to their Sermons in the Fields and in their Returne the Souldiers of Tournay should come in mingled among them the Merchants undertaking to have an eye upon the Citizens of L'isle that they did not in their Comming back shut the Gates against them In the meane time to keep Rassinghem away some Foote Companyes of the Towne of Armenter had Orders to plunder the Country about Lisle The Governesse having intelligence of the whole Designe writt in good time to Norcarmius Lying before Valenciens with part of his Forces to oppose the enemyes Practice first acquainting the Governour of Lisle with his advance Rassinghem had already heard of the Souldiers of Armenter and without further delay chusing out 150 Foot and about 50 Dragoones fought with them neare the Village of Waterloch The Armenterians were 300 and odd most of them fresh water Souldiers with a Captaine more ignorant then themselves one Cornelius a Calvinist Minister that from a Smith was become a Preacher and from a Preacher a Souldier Nor did he then
France and England sent for into the Low-countreys and a Peace concluded with the Prince of Orange an Enemie to Religion to his King and Countrey truly they held it their duties with united forces to oppose the Confederates lest they expelling the the Kings souldiers out of the Low-countreys should likewise shake off which they had now in design the Royall Government That the sack of Antwerp was lamented by all men but merited by the City having received contrary to their faith obliged by Oath the forces of the League and attempted to besiege the Castle so as the Spaniards could not defend themselves and the Fort without calling in their fellow souldiers though some oneby by divine Providence came unsent for Who if they behaved themselves more fiercely or cruelly in defending the Fort and beating the Enemy out of the Town that was done upon a sad necessity when they must either kill or be killed Yet that it is not easie to hold mens hands when Victoriâ— shews them both Revenge and Bootie But howsoever they excused their military licentiousnesse common Fame absolved them not but reported their valour in taking the citie against twenty thousand Defendants to be no greater then their covetousnesse in plundering that richest port-Port-town of Christendome for three dayes together forcing the richest Citizens and Merchants to redeem their merchandise and goods out of which they made twenty hundred thousand pistols Many câ—using sword-hilts helmets and breasts to be made them of pure gold but discoloured lest they might be taken notice of And those poor men which entered this rich citie went out rich men and left it a poor town as the Low-countrey Historians say with an odious commendation of the Spanish courage Unlesse in this as in other things they have exceeded the truth out of their hatred to that Nation Though I am not ignorant that the Captains and common souldiers occasioned for the most part these disorders the Colonells and superiour Officers having all shares in the fault not all in the spoil Nay I am assured that Sanchâ— Avila Governour of the Castle restrained the rage of many both by command and punishment And Camillo a Monte one of the first that took the town when he had secured the Florentine Merchants and might have had a great summe of money of them out of so much wealth took nothing but a little bitch as if he strove by his continence to expiate the transgression of their plunder I likewise know the destruction of Antwerp was not the crime of the Spaniards alone but the Low-countreymen Burgundians Italians and Germans had every one their part in that tragick desolation and diverse of them acted more barbarously then the Spanish Indeed some great moneyed men taken by the Spaniards when Cornelius Vanindems souldiers would have had the prize were as they say betwixt despair and envie cruelly murdered Among whom Giles Smissart a rich Lapidary and therefore more greedily searched for by the plunderers was miserably used who at last being found out and buying his life and fortunes of the Spaniards for ten thousand Florens could not avoid death so For a companie of Germans coming in that saw themselves defeated of the profit they gaped after a quarrell growing about it one of them thrust him through the back with his pike See the unhappie fate of riches how much more easily may he avoid the spoilers hands that never hath allured an envious eye For no naked man is sought after to be rifled Little things being by their littlenesse secured Touching the execution done and the number of the dead they that were present do infinitely vary Some affirming them of the Spanish side to be at least two hundred others not above fourteen But of the States souldiers and the townsmen the Low-countrey men and Spaniards which is strange agree upon the number of six thousand unlesse perhaps those out of their hatred and these out of their pride do over-reckon whereof they say almost three thousand were killed by the sword fifteen hundred burned or trod to death and as many drowned in the waters thereabout and in the River Schelt where they say a Low-countrey horseman pursued by Pedrâ— Taxiâ— as he was armed with his Lance in his hand leaped from a huge height into the Town-ditch and swimming it with his horse got off safe without so much as breaking of his Lance. And yet at the very same time Count Otho Oberstein Commander of the Germans and Governour of the Town Garrison when he was taking boat upon eaven ground his foot slipping was in a moment devoured by the water Nothing is therefore to be presumed upon or despaired of since the Levell precipitates those that stand on plain ground and precipices save men falling headlong The End of the eighth Book The Historie of the LOW-COVNTREY WARRES The ninth Book Don Iohn of Austria Son to Charles the 5th Governour of the Low countreys Don Iohn took time to consider of it for the disbanding of the Spaniards troubled him And calling to him Iuan Escovedo and Octavio Gonzaga his intimate Counsellours and Confidents very much troubled he desired their advice Gonzaga immediately denyed that it could be either advantagious or honourable For saith he if the Prince of Orange were this day of Counsell with you what else do you think he would perswade but to send away the Spaniards and to establish the Government of the Low-countreys in the love of the Low-countreymen not in the fear of a forrein and hated souldiery Which is in effect that you dismissing your Garrisons might with moreâ—ease lie open to the Plots and Stratagems of turbulent persons injoying at present a kind of Government during pleasure and upon the first breath of the giddie multitude none at all We are deceived if we hope this people differing from us in Manners and Language many of them in Religion all in Resentment of our Countreymens late victory will be governed of their own accord without the terrour of our arms They article with an armed Governour what will they do when he is disarmed Let them know there is come a sonne of Charles the fifth lesse then his Father in Power not Courage to whom it belongs to give not to receive the Law But they are resolved except this be granted them not to admit a Governour Let them be compelled If it be disputed by the sword can our men and theirs have other thoughts then such as are familiar to the Conquerours and the conquered If you seek praise by this Indulgence it is â—ver hasty and will be of no long continuence with proud people made impudent by our modestie These names of humanitie and favour will shew more noble after a victory when they are demonstrations not of Necessitie but Moderation It may be objected that some good subjects well-wishers to the Royall party would have all forreiners disbanded I would gladly know these Low-countrey Royallists for
of terrour and therefore sufficiently formidable to that very day were now turned into these great Gunns that he might though absent for ever terrifie the Low-countreys The City of Gant with no lesse alacrity forthwith followed the example of Antwerp so did Utrecht Lisle Valenciens and other Towns which slighting their Forts as if they had shaken off the yoke of servitude kept the Festivall of their new recovered Libertie These actions because they tended to a Rebellion of the People and which more troubled some to the too high advancement of the Prince of Orange his power divers of the Lords yet loyall to the King especially Duke Areschott by reason of the old differences between him and the Prince of Orange spake of choosing a new Governour of the Low-countreys pretending it would strengthen the Estates by accession of greater forces but meaning when the Ruart was out of Commission whom the Nobility with much unwillingness obeyed to balance the Authority of their new Prince And when some named the Queen of England some Francis Hercules Duke of Alenâ—on Brother to the King of France others Matthias Arch-duke of Austria the Emperour Rodolph's brother the Catholicks excepted against Her as an heretick and one that would govern them by a Lieutenant The Duke of Alenâ—on â—on by reason of the constant enmity between the Low-countrey men and the French was not by many so much desired as the Archduke who being of the House of Austria would not so much offend King Philip unlesse some pitched upon the Archduke onely to engage the House of Austria in a Warr among themselves Embassadours to this purpose being sent to Vienna easily perswaded the young Archduke to what he longed for and stealing him away by night with a few in his train brought him sooner then could be imagined into Brabant without the privity of the Emperour Rodolph who as soon as he knew it sent post after him to stop his flight and afterwards wrote Letters to disswade him but in vain from his designe I have likewise heard from good hands that the Emperour was very angry with his brother Maximilian because he had not in time acquainted him of this Plot imparted unto him by the Archduke though Maximilian excused himself because his Brother made him take an Oath that he should not reveal the Secret that night discovered to him unto any man living till the next day at evening But for all this the Emperour escaped not the censure of some that made a farre other construction of the Arch-duke's flight Truly at that very time many men suspected the sending of this youth to govern the Netherlands to be designed that by occasion of this patronage the Low-countreys might come at last to be the Patrimony of the Germane House of Austria a point which Bartholameo Comes Portia the Popes Legate to the Emperour grounding his discourse upon this suspicion argued with some Germane Lords And Don Iohn himself seemed to doubt the Emperours intention For writing to Alexander Farneze Prince of Parma among other passages he sayes Yesterday one brought me Letters from the Emperour wherein he tells me of his brothers departure as he suspects for the Low-countreys without either his Privitie or Allowance Indeed it is a thing that troubles me not a little For though I am not ignorant that it was last year attempted by the Estates yet I could never perswade my self that either the Arch-duke would undertake it or that his Mother the Empresse and the Emperour his Brother would give their assents Howbeit I wonder not so much at the Empresse-Dowager who I believe knew nothing at all of the Designe but am rather grieved on her behalf and fear that her sonne 's levity will much afflict her What I should think of the Emperour I cannot yet resolve because when he knew there was such a businesse in agitation He was so far from preventing it that he never so mâ—ch as like a kinsman sent word of it to the King For mine own part as soon as ever I hear the Arch-duke sets his foot in the Low-countreys I will seriously desire him as I think it concerus both our interests not to joyn nor engage with the Estates If he refuse I shall justly repute him for an Enemie But the Arch-duke was now come into the Netherlands though not yet declared their Governour For the Estates and the Prince of Orange being not sufficiently consulted in the businesse purposely delayed it very busie about preparing conditions to be offered unto the Arch-duke and finally proposing no fewer then thirty one whereby they tied his hands and onely allowing him the honour of precedencie laid the foundation of such a popular Goverment as the Low-countrey men had of old when dividing the administration with their King they did govern and were governed To these conditions when both Catholicks and Hereticks being joyned in a new League had bound themselves by Oath the Arch-duke Matthias first at Antwerp afterwards at Bruxels with great publick joy Shows and Revels was saluted Governour of the Low-countreys And the Prince of Orange his party prevailed so farre that he was added to the Arch-duke not yet one and twenty years of age and a stranger to the Low-countrey affairs that under the name of his Lieutenant he might be indeed his Governour The first Act of the new Government was to purge the House of Lords and discharge all those Senatours that were held ill affected to the Estates choosing new ones in their places which immediately pronounced all Don Iohn of Austra's adherents enemies to their Countrey Soon after the same sentence passed against Don Iohn himself unlesse he departed the Low-countrâ—ys Lastly by the same Senate and the Deputies of the Estates an Oath was framed wherein both the Clergie and Laity should swear to obey the Arch-duke Matthias supream Governour of the Low-countreys and 〈◊〉 defend 〈◊〉 with their Lives and 〈◊〉 till another were created by the King and the Estates but to oppose Don John of Austria as an enemie This Law being passed and in some places in a manner forced entrapped many of the Nobilitie and ruin'd some At Antwerp they began with the Fathers of the Societie because their authoritie being great in the citie it was thought if they acknowledged the Arch duke others might be invited by their example or if they did not frighted by their punishment The Hereticks exceedingly pressed it not doubting but the Fathers whose constancie they had alwayes hated but now wished upon such an occasion which they commonly turned to their honour would in the mean time be banished the Low-countreys William Hese undertook it and meeting Father Baldwin ab Angelo Provinciall of the Iesuites in the Low-countreys advised him to take the Oath in the name of the Societie He who knew that Oath was formed by Hereticks against the
enough nor was it necessary his Souldiers should purchase that by other mens Consultations which shortly would be their owne by the Law of Armes Howbeit to mix Clemency with Threats he bade him tell the Limburgers that he would not deny them an houre 's Deliberation but if they dallyed any longer he would come with a Mischiefe to them and breake off their Debate The Cannon scarce left playing when a Croud of Women appeared upon the Walls with their little ones in their armes their hands lifted up to the furious Assailants and begging Peace and Pardon on their bended knees In the very same houre the Limburg-Commissioners though the Governour would have hindred it securing the Lives and Fortunes of the Townsmen and Souldiers rendred the City and Castle to the Prince of Parma All the Garrison about 1000. taking the new Oath were entertained into the King's service Only the Governour infinitely detesting the basenesse of his men was suffered with his Wife to go for Aquisgrane But Prince Alexander entring the Towne and viewing the new Fortification defensive Bulwarkes and Sconces turfed and pallisadoed stronge as Castles with all that had been done upon the place by the ingenious Engineer besides 15 great Brasse-Cannon and many lesse as also no little Magazine of Armes and Ammunition then measuring the greatnesse of his Victory he himselfe gave thanks commanding the like should be solemnly done by the Army to God the God of battailes by whose Favour a Towne of that Strength not to be taken without much paines cost and losse as 't is usuall of the best Souldiers so easily and without bloud ignorant of its owne power had yielded to him The same day the Prince of Parma appointed his great Officers to attacque the remaining Cities of that Province some one some another And all within a few dayes obeyed his Summons except Dalhem that was stormed Thither Prince Alexander sent Camillo a Monte with a Letter exhorting the Towne to returne to the King's obedience But the Souldiers of Holland and Gelderland not above two hundred and fifty which held the Castle shot at the Messenger and would by no meanes suffer a Parley or the Delivery of his Letter Upon notice hereof the Prince of Parma wondring at so much confidence in so small a Towne calling to him Henry Viennius Lord of Ceuranium Go said he to Dalhem take Cannon and shoote me a Letter into the Towne He speedily carrying along six great Gunnes with his Regiment of Burgundians and foure Colours of Germans daunted the Towne and turning his Cannon upon the Castle into which Souldiers had retreated that would soone die then yield he began a fierce but fruitlesse battery for the Walls were as stubburne as the Men and easily bafled the Cannon Till the Burgundians undertaking the Scalado set Ladders to two sides and with incredible courage fighting hand to hand upon the Walls with various successe at last with the losle of ten though many more were wounded they stormed the Castle and the Towne with such a Slaughter of the Defendants of whom not one escaped and Towns-men that no age no sex was spared but the Army long affronted and kept off poured their fury like a Torrent equally on all Where an accident hapned as sacrilegious as barbarous Into a Church for Sanctuary with the rest of her weake Sex fled a maide of about 16. yeares old Daughter to the Governour slaine in the Assault and now to be registred among the Examples of unfortunate Beauty She handsome both in her person and her Dresse was taken notice of and immediately seized by a couple of Souldiers one a German the other a Burgundian who quarrelling about the prize tugged the poor Lady in vaine objecting the Reverence due to the place and crying out for succour which was all she could to God and his Saints But while they fought she being in the middle either by chance or by the malice of him that found himselfe the weaker receiving a cruell wound in her neck all bloudy she fell downe upon the floore the other was about to have revenged it when a great sort more coming in the man lest he might lose his prize and some other should enjoy her mad with Rage struck at the maide looking about her in hope to make an escape and holding up her hands to the rest whom she thought more mercifull and with his Sword gave her a deadly cut under the Eare ready to double his blow if the Company one of which was Signior Paulo Rinaldo a confident to Prince Alexander that lifted up his voyce and sword together had not in time frighted the villaine But the two Souldiers knowing Rinaldo's Intimacy with Prince Alexander in feare of his Authority ran away Rinaldo carrying her to her Father's House with much humanity tooke care of the Lady and instantly sent for Chirurgeons to dresse her but she past all cure was scarce laid upon her bed when she gave up the Ghost leaving indeed a foule blot upon the Catholique Army which notwithstanding would have been washed out with the bloud of both the Ruffians if they condemned with the generall execration and searched for to be executed had not prevented punishment by running quite away But the PrinceS of Parma in the space of twenty dayes losing just that number of his men with so little damage recovered for the King the whole Province of Limberg a very great Addition at this time to the Royall Party not so much for the greatnesse of the Province which is indeed but little compared unto the rest as for the opportunity of keeping out the enemy which might easily by that way have come from Germany Besides the private benefit likewise accruing to the Neighbour-Princes particularly to the Bishop of Liege and the Duke of Iuliers both which by severall Embassies congratulated Prince Alexander for the happy course of his Victories either of them giving thanks in his owne behalfe especially for the destroying or removing the Garrisons of Limburg and Diestem that daily robbed their Subjects But the newes of this Victory awakened diverse Passions in the States at Antwerp Griefe at first when they heard Limburg was taken excessive Joy when it was rumoured through the Towne and a printed Pamphlet likewise published that the Castle of Limburg the Magazine being fired was shattered to the ground the Spanish Commanders miserably and deservedly blown up the Prince of Parma Mondragonio Heirg and the other great Field-Officers buried in the Ruines and that Don Iohn of Austria was run mad upon it and resolved to make his Retreat from the Low-countreys All this appeares to be forged by the Prince of Orange that he might the easier keepe up the people's hearts dejected with the Austrian victories by making a fained since he could not make a reall Slaughter and likewise that the rest of the money
the Astrologer Gauricus he answered her the Kings head would be endangered by a Duell Others say the very night before his misfortune the Queen had the manner of his death presented in her dream But some who wisely observed not without admitation of Divine justice that the King who in the beginning of his Reign gave way to a serious Duell between two young Gentlemen of great families and with the Lords of his Court sate to behold it should in an unfortunate mock Duell loose both his life and Kingdome Howbeit he was then penitent for the fact and had made a vow never after to allow of any more such fighting and if in this last Tournament he sinned in the vain ostentation of his strength no doubt but he abundantly redeemed it in that admirable and Christian constancie of his soul in her extreamest agony Sure he had contributed much to the religious meekness of the French if he had buried this barbarous Recreation in his tomb This year that I may enlarge my History a little was fatall if we may so call it to many and great Princes that dyed one after another especially since no contagion reigned among the People very few vulgar corpses being then buried yet in the compass of one year most of the Lords of Europe were entombed There dyed the Emperour Charles the fifth and Henry the second of France Christian King of Denmark and Christiern also King of Denmark the last onely surviving four and twenty dayes Queen Elianor sister to Charles the fifth married first to Emmanuel King of Portugall then to Francis the first of France Mary who followed her brother Charles the fifth within less then a moneth and a Queen of England of that name and Bona Sfortza mother to Sigismund Augustus King of Poland the other two were wives to Kings one to Lodowick of Hungary the other to Philip the second of Spain There died Pope Paul the fourth attended by the funerals of ten Cardinals two Princes Electors the Archbishop of Cullen and the Prince Palatine Laurentius Priulus Duke of Venice and Hercules Este Duke of Ferrara not to name inferious Princes whose continued Obsequies filled the Annual Register so as that season seemed to be Deaths greater Harvest when he cropt the heads of Nations as Tarquin struck off the Poppy-heads King Philip therefore having now concluded a Peace departed with his Queen from Savoy into Italy for King Henries death had altered no part of the agreement and before his going into Spain to take possession of his Kingdomes he thought it best to settle not onely the Civil and Military but likewise the Ecclesiasticall State of the Low-Countreys Belgica by Forreiners called Flanders from the noblest part of it and the Low-Countreys from the low situation or as the Germans will have it from affinity with their language and manners is known by the name of the lower Germany it is indeed a little parcel of Europe as not much exceeding the fifth part of Italy nor above a thousand miles in compasse yet I hardly know any Countrey more rich or populous The Prince making as much of Flanders as the Kings of England set by the revenues of the Church used to do of that large Island It containeth Cities or Towns equall to Cities above three hundred and fiftie great Villages to omit the lesser above six thousand three hundred besides Forts that stand so thick as if the ground were sown with them Yet the ingeniousness of the People and their contrivance is such as their variety and plenty of manufactures are more then can be used in the narrow bounds of this one Nation The world hath not a more industrious richer or constanter Militia so as Mars seems here to set up school and teach the Art of War to people that come hither from all climates Then what unknown sea-coasts and Regions beyond the Line hath not the Hollander discovered as much as Nature by Land contracts their limits so much by Sea have they opened to themselves larger Countreys which they have subdued and peopled extending as it were the Suburbs of the seventeen Provinces The Cloth and Stuff they make not onely fill as great as it is all Europe but far and wide through every Nation of Africa and Asia they daily bear about the Low-Countreys Nay the West-Indians trucking for their Linen and Woollen have learned the names of the Low-Countrey cities To conclude we seldome at this day admire the workmanship of any Engines which the Low-Countrey men have not either invented or brought unto perfection Heretofore their wits were indeed kept under and depressed when their fortune was as low as their Countrey Now there is an other age and other manners Their love to learning their skill in Sea-fights their gainfull trade of Navigation the well-ordering of the Common-wealth by themselves created their stupendious Fire and Water-works proofs of no dejected natures are scarce any where to be matched I am sure so many together are not to be seen in all the rest of Europe as in this little plot of the Low-Countreys It is likewise proper to this Nation if left to themselves to hate fraud and by that credit which they know they themselves deserve to measure others They are not greatly taken with presents at least not long using benefits like flowers that please while they are fresh their sense of injuries is the same which they presently forget and easily pass over unless they conceive themselves sleighted then their fury is implacable They have likewise a shrewd guess of their own strength seldome undertaking any thing they do not compass Yet no people under heaven drive on a subtiler traffick either by Sea or Land inhabiting both the Elements and not obliged by the Laws of either In this they exceed that how great soever their gains or losses are a Common case with Merchants they passe it over with so little and dull a sense of joy or grief as you would think them factours for others not owners of the goods I suppose out of the native temper of their minds and the air of their Countrey that quickens them with colder spirits But in maintaining their liberty they are very fierce for they hold it an honour to undervalue all things in respect of that wherein they sometimes come nearer to licentiousness then liberty The whole Region of Belgica is divided according to their own calculation into seventeen Provinces which not long ago were either by affinity or traffick or arms associated under the Government of one Prince Philip was the first of all the Dukes of Burgundy under whose protection many more Belgick Provinces put themselves then ever submitted to any other For Burgundy Brabant Flanders Limburgh Lucemburgh Artois Haynolt Namurs Holland Zeland Frizeland the Marquisate of the sacred Empire were solely in his possession To these his sonne Charles
dishonour to a Prince to keep Laws in force which his Subjects will not obey then to apply them unto their natures and so keep his people in obedience But for the Inquisition it was apparent that none of any condition whatsoever would receive it insomuch that the meanest tradesman of Antwerp can shew either a Musket or a Pike which he threatens to use upon them that shall endeavour to bring in the Inquisition Nay it was no little iniury to the Bishops to have the cause of Religion which by Law appertains to their Iurisdiction transferred to this late Iudicature of Inquisitours But it is to no purpose any more to dispute this point when the Covenanters are at the gates before whose Requests be denied it must be considered in case the Hereticks joyning with them should offer to storm the Town whether we have sufficient forces to resist the people and their Confederates Lastly the opinion number and faction of these men carried it For though there wanted not some that easily refuted all that was pretended in behalf of the Bishops yet hardly any one of the Senate thought this kind of Judicature seasonable for the time therefore after many heats the business was thus composed Forasmuch as the Emperours and the Kings designe reached no farther in these Edicts and Questions of Faith but onely to preserve Religion in her ancient purity those remedies were onely so far to be made use of as might conduce to its preservation Besides there was a twofold Inquisition the one annexed to the function of Bishops the other granted by Commission from his Holiness to certain Judges Delegates Now the odium onely fell upon the Popes Inquisitours which though brought into the Low-countreys by Charles the fifth yet he was inforced thereto by reason of the small number and great negligence of the Bishops This being no longer a reason and men so much abhorring the name of this forrein Inquisition so violent and impolitick a Remedie ought not to obtruded upon refractory people Therefore without preiudice to Religion some part of the Covenanters petition might be granted But lest they should seem to be over-awed by the Hereticks or to passe any thing in favour of them this answer was to be returned That they had no cause to trouble themselves about the Inquisition which was out of date the Inquisitours themselves forbearing to exercise their authority having not renewed their Commission from the new Pope which they use to do for the better confirmation of their power Touching the penalties which by the Imperiall Edicts were to be inflicted upon Hereticks they should not be repealed but whereas most of them were capitall they should be hereafter qualified for the Bishops the greatest Divines and Lawyers and the Inquisitours themselves had so advised which Charles the fifth would have consented to if he were now living who himself upon the like difficulties in the year 1550 at the request of his Sister Mary Queen of Hungary thought it not unnecessary nor unbeseeming his Imperiall Maiesty to rectifie and moderate the Laws he had formerly decreed Thus for the present the Conspiratours being graciously received in a little while their meetings would be dissolved a work of great consequence and in the interim time might be gained to agitate the publick business without Tumults and therefore with more Authority The Governess though she wished better yet approved the Counsel given because she knew that in this juncture of time she must either grant something to the Conspiratours or else forcibly resist them But this she durst not attempt being unprovided of a Generall for she trusted not the Prince of Orange and putting the question to Count Egmont he denied to draw his sword against any man for the Inquisition or the Edicts For the rest of the Nobility they either had not much more loyaltie or had far less abilities Her Excellence therefore told them she would follow their advice and so answer Brederod and his Companions that she might at once both satisfie them and withall reserve the Judgement entire to the King without knowledge of whose pleasure nothing could be done in a matter of so great importance Every one of these particulars she wrote to his Maiestie by speedy messengers beseeching him presently to resolve her what she was to pitch upon The same day about evening the Covenanters came into Bruxels They were full two hundred horse apparrelled like forreiners every one a case of pistols at his saddle-bow Brederod their Generall rode in the head of them next him Lewis of Nassau for the Counts of Cuilemburg and Bergen arrived not till three dayes after Francis Verdugo a Gentleman that followed Count Mansfeld told the Governess that Brederod bragged at his entrance into the City in these words Some thought I durst not come to Bruxels behold I am come to see the Town and will shortly make another visit but upon a new occasion Then Brederod and Grave Lewis went to his Brother the Prince of Oranges house where the Counts of Mansfeld and Horn were come to wait upon them That night no body being present but Count Mansfeld Count Horn used many arguments to perswade the Prince of Orange to send back his Order of the Fleece into Spain and thereupon Verdugo was commanded to bring the Statute-book of the Order that they might see in what words they had obliged their faith to the King as supreme Master of their Society But Count Mansfeld interposing nothing was determined The same was moved another time as Anderlech informed the Governess The next day Brederod staying for the Counts of Cuilemburg and Bergen in Cuilemburg-House at Bruxells assembled his Confederates to encourage them in the enterprize they had undertaken First he shewed them a Letter writ in Spanish lately sent him as he said out of Spain unless the man who wanted no subtiltie had peradventure counterâ—eited it as he suspects that wrote all these passages in cypher to the Governess In which letter it was certified that one Moro a man known in the Low-countreys was with a soft fire burned alive in Spain which infinitely exasperated and enflamed the minds of his Associates against the cruelty of such sentences Then taking his hint to come to the matter as if he were to make a generall muster of his Army he produced the Roll signed by all the Conspiratours Which he and Lewis of Nassau reading unto the people they answered to their severall names professing constancy to their resolutions For those that were absent being to the number of two hundred they that were present being almost as many engaged themselves Then he required them in confirmation of the Covenant every one to joyn his heart and set to his hand again Which was accordingly done and they all now the second time took the Covenant their Oath being this in substance That if any of the
as the Governess sent the King intelligence by Alphonso de Lapes a French man That they should frame a Letter to invite Count Egmont to joyn with them give an account of their proceedings to the Governess by a new Petition and in the mean time levie men even in the bosome of the Netherlands And a Letter was writ to Egmont by the Prince of Orange Hochstrat and Brederâ—d desiring him to give in his name to their Association for by this new conjuncture they promised to silence the preaching Ministers in the Low-countreys whereby they would either take away any pretence of the Kings coming with an Army or else if when all things were quieted his Majestie though intreated should come armed into the Provinces they might justly unite their endeavours and forces to stop the Kings passage and preserve their Countrey from Tyrannie which by the rigour of punishments building of Forts Spanish Garrisons and forcing of the Low-countreys was certainly intended Egmont imparted this to a friend either out of love or for advice or perhaps that he might acquaint the Governess with their letter and his answer for he likewise shewed him hâ—s absolute deniall to joyn with them Notwithstanding the Governess confided not in Egmont who as she now feared all things suspected this to be merely artifice and deceit But Brederod who was to present this Petition from the Covenanters desired a safe conduct from the Governess for himself and fourty horse which she long since offended at such Treaties absolutely denied and commanded that if he came to the gates they should give fire upon him Whereupon Brederod contented himself with sending the Petition and with it his particular complaint The Covenanters remembred the Dutchess that in August last they met by her command to disarm and quiet the people They complained that by letters directed to the Magistrates from her Highness they were prohibited to exercise the Ministery of the Gospel in those places where they were allowed to have Sermons when notwithstanding that under the notion of Sermons all other rites were comprehended For it is the solemn custome where Sermons are permitted there likewise to tolerate all appendences to the same Religion and they accordingly explained the toleration to the People and promised them the free use of Sermons and all their other Rites of which freedome the People being now debarred they claimed promise of the Covenanters every day implored their faith by new Expostulations and Letters some of which they had annexed to this Petition Lastly they were amazed and grieved to see the Low-countreys every day frighted with great forces themselves expelled the Cities watched in the fields and every where reputed for enemies to the State All which being inconsistent with their own Loyalty and Honour and the Tranquillity of the people they humbly prayed her Highness that according to her Princely word obliged under her hand and seal she would both secure the Covenanters and suffer the People to hear Sermons and those things which alwayes go along with Sermons For the better effecting whereof they humbly desired that her Excellence would please to disband the souldiers lately raised and call in her Edict contrary to the capitulation For which they should be so much bound to his Maiestie her Highness that both their Dignities should by them be ever valued far above their own lives or fortunes But otherwise in spirit they foresaw a great destruction of the people and the imminent ruine of the Nation the foretelling whereof and labouring to avert it as much as in them lay would hereafter free them if not from sorrow yet from any crime This Petition the Governess communicated to her Privie Counsellours and a few dayes after by their advice returned answer to Brederod withall commanding it should be printed and published the heads whereof I shall briefly give you She understood not she said who those Gentlemen were or those People of the Low-countreys in whose name this Petition was presented when many of those Gentlemen that petitioned in April last did not onely profess themselves to have received satisfaction but daily came to offer their services to the King That she onely tolerated Sermons and that so much against her will as may testifie how farre she is from giving them power to appoint Consistories create Magistrates to levy taxes to collect above twenty hundred thousand Florens to confound the marriages of Catholicks and Hereticks and consequently their Successions and Honours Besides the Calvinisticall Suppers which they had and Congregations in most part whereof since they detracted from the Authority of the Prince and his subordinate Officers and sought by degrees to introduce a new Commonwealth they might see how likely it was that these things which they call onely Ceremonies of Religion should be permitted by the Governess to the so great Dishonour of God and the King That indeed she had capitulated with them and that the capitulation was and shall be observed but not in things prejudiciall to Religion and the Royall Authority But why should they that complain of the breach of Articles passe over in silence That since their own agreement in the moneth of August so many faithlesse and sacrilegious Villanies have been done Churches destroyed Religious Persons turned out of their Monasteries Hereticall Gospellers from forrein parts by force of Arms brought to preach in places where their Sermons were never heard before Cities aâ—d Provinces by their Letters or Emissaries solicited to mutiny and rebell and diverse other foul things committed whereof the Petitioners themselves were Authours for under their Protection the people have presumed to seize upon his Majesties Magazines to expell his Officers at the ringing of a Bell to muster in the fields to destroy Monasteries and Gentlemens houses with fire and sword to possesse themselves of Towns and marking out all Catholicks for the slaughter the Governess her self not excepted they would have made a generall Massacre in the Low-countreys if the Traitours Letters to them of Valenciens had not been intercepted and so their horrid Designe by Gods goodness prevented That by the premisses they may perceive how unseasonably they petition for her Edict to be revoked and the Souldiers disbanded that is in other words for Iustice to be disarmed and exposed to the injuries of the wicked Let them not cozen themselves she would do neither of both but was resolved to guard the Commonwealth if need should be with new Laws and Souldiers and not to lay down especially at this time the sword that God puts into Princes hands She therefore advised them to forbear meddling with Publick Affairs and every one to mind his private business that they may not shortly force the King at his coming to forget his native Clemency That she her self will use her utmost endeavours to save the Low-countreys from the Ruine threatned by these popular Tumults which they have raised The End of
with any more skill handle his Armes then he used to do his Text. For at the very first Charge being frighted relinquishing his men this hare in a Helmet fled out of the Field Two hundred and thirty of his Disciples were slaine and presently stripped of their armes leaving Rassinghem Victorious without bloud Who with his Triumphant Souldiers laded with the Spoiles of the enemy entering into Lisle the newes of that sudden execution made the feare of the City greater then his honour by the Defeat of such an inconsiderable Enemy Their consistoriall Counsell was therefore now at their witts end and the Souldiers of Tournay hearing of the Armentarians Overthrow retreated from Lisle to Lanoy which shutting their Gates against them their Generall Sorean indeavouring to take the Towne gave Norcarmius time to overtake him But before Norcarmius came vp Rassinghem vnderstanding by the Armenterian Prisoners that the Gheuses of Tournay were marching towards him raising as many of the Country as he could upon the suddaine resolved instantly to fall upon them not imagining that Norcarmius besieging Valenciens had the same Designe And it fortuned that Rassinghem sending out some Scouts as the manner is to discover the strength and motion of the enemy they fell vpon the like number of Horse sent by Norcarmius to the same intent and as night and suspicion doses the mind either Partly mistaking their fellowes for the enemy fired upon one another and one or two being shot retired frighting and affrighted While this Accident held Rassinghem in suspense Norcarmius by other meanes understanding the Enemy to be neere Lanoy presently marched thither and going to order his men for a Bataille her perceiued the Gheuses too weake for the open Feild by little and little fell backe into the lanes trenched with Ditches and bulwarkt with Woods Wherefore he sent thither three Companyes of musketteers with some Pikes mixed among them which he him selfe followed with the Horse The Gheuses stood the first Charge indifferent stoutly and shot off some small Field-Pieces that guarded the mouth of the Lanes Nay thought many fel they filled vp their places with fresh men without much Difficulty taking the Advantage of those Straits beat back the Norcarmians But at last the Avenue being opened by the Pikes the Horse and Foote breaking in they gaue back were routed fled and in the Flight more Dangerous then in the Battaile were killed like sacrificed Beasts A few with their Generall Sorean but dividing themselues escaped through the woods Norcarmius with the Losse of only six men having taken nine of the Enemyes Colours twentie Field-Pieces and two Barrells of Powder though it best to follow the Opportunity and to march with his men now fleshed and desirous of Victory up to the Walls of Tournay and sending a Trumpet to the Towne commanded them in the name of the Governesse to receive a Garrison of his men if they denyed or paused he would use his Victorious Armes The Townsmen hearing by such as fled out of the Battaile that their Army was defeated being struck with the suddaine and armed Summons of Norcarmius the Conquerour at their Gates and Feare within their hearts depriving them both of time and reason for consulting they yielded to mercy He entered the Towne triumphantly and forthwith disarmed the people sending Souldiers from House to House which he did afterwards through all the Signiory of Tournay that tooke away their Armes and carryed them to the Magazine Then he imprisoned the Incendiaryes and restored the Bishop and Clergy to their Honour and Authority Lastly he put downe the Consistoryes and prohibited all such kind of Meetings the common Forges of Sedition thereby absolutely disinabling the Hereticall Faction in that City This done by Command from the Governesse he made Iohn Croy Count of Reuse Leiutenant-Governour of Tournay for Montiny who was yet in Spaine soe leaving eight Foot Companyes in the Towne besides 450 Garrison Souldiers in the Fort he returned to the Siege of Valenciens and was ready to storme it when the Governesse should command But she being to consult the King presently after the render of Tournay with the Newes of the Victory writt to his Maiesty her Resolution to take Valenciens by assault because the beseiged adding Obstinacy to Rebellion had made diverse Sallyes out of the Towne and beate vp the Quarters of his Maiestyes men as in Contempt of the King His Maiesty though he disliked not the Siege yet intimated that he should have better liked noe Siege now since it was gone soe farre it concerned his Honour to continue it but it likewise concerned his clemency and Affection to his Subjects to forbeare the Battery of the Towne aâ—d putting them to the Sword lest the fury of the Souldiers should destroy the Innocent together with the guilty The Governesse should therefore try all wayes to win the besieged to yield without fighting which was feizible witnesse the example of Tournay But if the Rebells stubbornesse could not be broken but only by Armes his Majesty would not have the Town stormed before his pleasure was known and two Regiments come out of Germany But these cautions were given to no purpose the besieged growing every day more obstinat Therfore the Governesse commanded Norcarmius to make his approches neerer to look more narrowly unto the cutting off all Victuaâ—l and commerce and to present his Cannon and Army as prepared for a generall Assault so by frighting and wearying the Enemy to spinne out time till the German Regiments should arrive commanded by Oberstein and Scouwenberg She likewise writ to the King that Mercy was fruitlesse that she and the Senate thought it necessary before they were better fortified or relieved to take the Towne which Norcarmius was of Opinion might be effected in eight dayes and that Delay would be dangerous lest the Gheuses being inraged all over the Low-Countryes and upon the Borders of France might have time to raise an Army But all this moved not the KING who dispatched back his Adviso with more then ordinary speed that they should hold off and rather take the Towne by Feare then by the Sword perhaps starved and wearyed they might yield yet if there was no remedy but to force them which he must leave to their Iudgement that were upon the Place then he would have these commands principally observed First that raising their Batteries and planting their Cannon they should prove them with theâ—â— Preparations and Fore-runners of a Storme leaving them in the meane time some space of Repentance Then if they yielded not they should storme the Towne and do the Duty of Souldiers but yet forbeare to do execution not only upon Children Old-men and Women but that no Citizen whatsoever should be killed in cold bloud The Governesse well weighing this letter though she knew it was more mercifull then
opportune because about the same time a Company of sacrilegious Villaines sallying out of Valenciens had fired cerraine Monasteries that stood neere the Towne and brought the plunder of them into Valenciens yet mindfull both of his Majesties and her owne moderation she resolved to leave nothing unattempted It was told her the Valencenians bore an implacable hatred to Norcarmius she therefore sent to them two of the Lords Lamorall Count Egmont and Philip Croy Duke of Areschot to see if they by their Authority could bring the Towne to consider of their Safety These Lords sending for the Valencenian Commissioners gently admonished them to lay downe their Fury and Obstinacy that would not secure them when their Walls should be battered with the Cannon for to that day their City had stood not by their strength but by the King 's and Governesse's Mercy That they found by sufficient experience how vaine it was to expect forreine Ayde That the French stirred not in the Quarrell and if they should it would bee neither handsome nor advantageous for the Low-country-men to be assisted by their antient Enemies The Consistories of Antwerp being distracted into factions what had they yet done These of Tournay had taken Armes but were withall suppressed They of the Bus and others had enough to do to looke to themselves all the hope left them must be in Tholouse but he and his whole Army let them not deceive themselves were destroyed by Beavor in the sight of Antwerp Who couâ—d be now expected or from whence to come and raise the Siege They ought therefore to redeeme their pride by their Repentance and by their Duty and Obedience to prevent whilst yet they might their Princes Indignation and their Countryes Ruine Having premised this they read the conditions offered by the Governesse that the Valencenians should render their City and receive a Garrison That after their rendring the Towne and receiving a Garrison those that would obey the King should have Liberty to remaine in Valenciens the rest immediately after the Surrender were to depart the Towne carrying with them all their portable Goods The Commissioners reported this Offer to the Senate and the People which were prepossessed with wicked Counsels their hearts hardned especially with Grange's Sermons a man eloquent with a mischeife to the Publique They were confirmed in their Obstinacy by a Rumour that Tholouse had the Day and Beavor was fled cunningly given out by the Hereticks to amuse the Towne and hinder them from crediting Tholouse his overthrow at least to suspend their beliefe so long as the Commissioners treated Who returning to Areschot and Egmont they when they saw nothing was done by the Valencenians and themselves slighted in great fury threatning the Towne presently dismissed the Commissioners And Egmont whose military heart and therefore more sensible of a Provocation was grievously offended at the Obstinacy of the Besieged that very day and the night following with Cressonerius in his Company viewing the Walls and sounding of the Ditch assured the Governesse that Valenciens might be taken in a very little time But for as much as the Kingâ—s commands were obeyed in admonishing and terriying of the Towne and that her Excelâ—ence heard the German Forces were at hand specially being vexed with the Newes of a Sally made by the Valencenians in the night to beat up Quarters she commanded Norcarmius that making his Approaches still nearer without further Delay yet according to the King's Instructions he should storme the Towne Valenciens is no lesse strongly then pleasantly situated part thereof standing on a rising Ground and the rest lying on a Levell invironed with Walls Towers and Ditches the River Schelt running through the midst of it and falling into the River of Rouell they flow round about the Walls and make the Place almost inaccessible But Norcarmius knowing he had to do with an ignorant Enemy and that the Towne was like a strong Body governed by a weake Soule finding the Ditch to be narrow in some places and the Bankes by negligence fallen downe with a great and gallant Resolution began the Assault and calling in part of his Forces that were set to keep the Pasâ—es and to cut off Provisions under the Câ—mmand of Gâ—spar Lord of Bill he tooke Mâ—ns-gate a Port of the Suburbs in the â—ight From thence with some Companies of Haynolterâ— piying those that came upon the Walls with Musket-shot so as none duâ—st put out their Heads Cressonerius with wonderfull dexterity raised a Mâ—unt scaled the Walls and with the losse of very few of his men obâ—erving the discipline of Warre he faced and beat the Enemy fâ—om their Workes And so dividing his Forces under the Commands of Mâ—ximilian Count of Bolduc Charles Mansfâ—ldt Son to Count Ernest and Egidius Lord of Hierg he gave the generall Assault first making his Battery with 10 piâ—ces of great Cannon then with 20. besides other lesser Guns with so great an Impression that within lesse then foure houres space their prime Workes about the wall were beaten down The Citisens terrified with such a beginning sent two Trumpets to intreat â—hat Norcarmius would please to give safe Conduct unto their Commissioners to treat for the present Render of the Towne He gave them leave to come but neverthelesse the Cannon still played upon the Battery which hastened the Commissioners that were 20. who came about Sun-setting to the Generall promising to yield up the City upon the same Termes which three dayes before were offered by Areschott and Egmont But Norcarmius laughing at them said Belike you think your condition to be as good to day as it was three dayes since Valencenians you are wise too late I never use to article with a conquered Enemy All that night he continued the Battery giving them no time to repaire the Breaches made in so many placeâ— that now the Ditch being filled up with the ruines of the Wall the Souldiers might enter on even ground But about two a clock in the afternoone the Valencenian Commissioners returned and without any exception yielded the Towne and themselves to mercy Norcarmius sounding a Retreate just when his men were got up the Wall and in hope to sacke â—he Towne sent a Countermand enjoyning them to containe themselves within those Bounds of Modesty which by Order from the King the Governesse had set downe The Battery held 36. houres without any inâ—ermission It is reported that 3000. Cannon were shot into the Towne doing gâ—eâ—ter Execution upon Walls then Men. The same day being Palme Sunday and making good the Omen of that victorious name unto the Conquerour Norcarmius entred the Towne with 13. Companies of Foote and was met in the Streets with multitudes of women and Children with greene boughs in their hands lamentably crying to him to have Compassion upon the Towne He sent them away with gentle Language without the death of
attend her Highnesse in the name of the City Which she denyed to heare of unlesse they brought along her own Commissioners that were kept Prisoners at the Bus. Shortly after the Chancellour and Merodius being set at Liberty arrived at Court and told the Governesse that Bomberg distrusting his Faction daily mouldring away had left the Towne with a band of men the Citisens being compelled for what he had acted to give their Approbation and to pay a thousand Florens in the name of a Donative As they were speaking came in Commissioners from the Bus desiring a generall Pardon that the Edict might be revoked and that a Garrison might not be imposed vpon them But the Governesse offended with those proud Demands answered That their Message looked not like a Supplication made by Delinquents and so put them off till another Nor suffering them to come any more into her presence she commanded them by the Chancellour and Merodius to returne home and teach their City not to Article with her for a Surrender but to receiue a Garrison as she commanded And that remembring their Offences they should leave themselues their fortunes to the Kings Mercy The Governess was animated as wel by the late Victory as by the present Forces come from Germany wherewith the Bus being terrifyed sent back their Commissioners rendring themselues to the Governesse without Conditions only they beseeched her that to prevent quarrell betweene the Townsmen and the Souldiers they might haue a Garrison of their owne Countrymen And they receiued part of the German Army and their Generall Col. Schovenburg who together with a Senatour ioyned in Commission with him by the Governesse ordered the Common wealth repealing indeed the Edict but suspending both Punishment and Pardon till the King 's Coming At the same time the Governesse was attended by Commissioners from Antwerp craving Pardon for their past Delinquency and promising that the Towne now freed from the factious Inhabitants would hereafter be obedient Subiects And truly though the Antwerpers were the last that came in yet they deserved the greatest Commendations and much more their Pardons because the best of the Towne were forced to sweate hard for it before they could remove the swarme of Hereticall Preachers For albeit most of them were ignorant people rather wicked then subtle their Greatest understandings reaching no higher then Taverne-Politicks yet they were growne so numerous so strong by the Assistance of wicked and factious Persons and had so captivated the affections of the Commons that they were become absolute Masters of the Towne and could not be outed but with greate paines and Trouble and with a miserable and manifold vexation of the City The Body of one that is possessed with the Devill is not more deadly tormented when the evill Spirit is expelled by the power of the holy Exorcist then all Antwerp was shaken by the Threatenings and Curses of this Legion of Ministers and Fugitiues that long strugled and at last was forced to leaue it But the Governesse though she was glad at heart to see Commissioners from so great a City yet dissembling her Ioy grievously rebuked them and said there was no talking of a Pardon till they had received a Garrison that done she promised them to use her best endeavours in preferring their Supplication to the King In the interim she would forbeare to punish that contumacious and rebellious City excepting only the chief Rebells and the Sacrilegious people As soone as the Commissioners were returned with this Answer they were sent back from Antwerp to offer the Towne and said the Citisens were in the power of the Governesse if she pleased to Command a Garrison they would receiue it Her Excellence much commending their Resolution replyed as if she meant it for an Honour to them which she intended for securing of the Towne that she would come in person to Antwerp and honour with Her Presence the Rendition made by her dearest Subiects The next day she commanded Count Mansfeldt to goe before with 16 Ensignes of her best Foote And he for feare of a Mutiny among the people being to guard the Passages with Cannon planted at the turnings of the streets entred the Towne as if he were to storme it and securing the Market-place and every part of the City with Musketteers and Cannon he receiued the Governesse who came about the end of Aprill with great pomp not only waited upon by his Souldiers that were 1200. but by the Magistrates Gouernours of Provinces Knights of the Golden-Fleece and Senatours of the three Estates Entring the Towne in manner of a Triumph with great concourse and Acclamations of the people Attended with all those eminent persons her Highnesse went directly to the great Church dedicated to the blessed Virgin Mary where she beheld the mischiefe done by those damned Villaines which had defaced that goodly Building The sight wereof drew teares from her eyes but now occasion being offered for some kind of reparation it partly qualified her griefe Therefore causing Te Deum to be sung she publiquely gave thanks to God and privately to the blessed Virgin that without warre or bloud so great a City was returned to their Religion and their Prince Then she applyed her selfe to regulate the Common-wealth wherein her first care was to do right unto the Church and sending for the Bishop of Cambray the Altars and Churches which the sacrilegious had either pulled down or prophaned began to be new built and purified with Canonicall Ceremonies and which was best of all furnished with active men fit for the Cure of Soules Afterwards looking upon the Government of the Towne she examined who were Authours of the Rebellion and what Magistrates had been negligent or false and a Particular was brought her of all the Armes which she tooke from the People While the Governesse was thus imployed she heard Embassadours were come from the Electours of Saxony and Brandenburg from the Duke of Wirtemberg the Marquesse of Baden and the Lantgrave of Hessen which Princes the Hereticks that had lost all and fled out of the Low-countryes used as their last Refuge for Assistance The Governesse imagining what their businesse was sent Scaremberg her Secretary for the German tongue to meet the Embassadours and to desire that they would passe no further because their coming could not at that time be seasonable either for the City not yet throughly quieted or for the Governesse taken up with the Care of setling it That for the present it would be best to acquaint him with the heads of their Embassage and they themselves might come at another time more opportunely But they affirming that would not consist with the Dignity of their Masters were admitted and under pretence of attending them Courtiers and Souldiers were put upon them for Guards and Spyes The next day they had audience before the Lords and one of them after he had
the Governesses Hand retired to Culemburg-House leaving the Pallace to the Governesse The next day he sent her the Kings Letters and a Copy of his Commission wherein the Command in Chiefe for the Militia of the Lowcountreys was conferred upon him the administration of civill Affayres remaining wholly in the Governesse The same day waited on by a great traine of Horse and his House-hold Servants he went in that state to visit her Excellence the Courtiers that found the Governesse was or would have had her discontented observing how they looked at this first Ceremony Indeed the Governesse that had for some dayes before the grudging of an ague having made an offer of going forward to Receive this stranger pretended her Fitt or else it was thought to come very opportunely to take downe Alva's Pride who in publique omitted no Complement or Veneration due to the Daughter of Charles the fifth and Sister to his King but when they were alone he produced somewhat a larger Commission not only giving him power over the Militia but Authorizing him to fortify what Places he thought fit to displace Magistrates and Governours to examine and punish the causes of the late Tumults And when the Governesse demanded if he had any further Instructions he said yes a few more then could be opened at one meeting but according to future Emergencies they should be imparted to her This Answer seemed not to move her she then commended the Kings designe in case it were so handled that Peace newly restored to the Lowcountries like a tender plant were not spoyled with diging too deep about it She added that she thought it would do well if next day Copyes of the King's Letters should be read in Senate which was done accordingly But writing to the King she complained that the Duke Alva should come with such absolute Authority and so great an Army that being greatly preiudiciall to her Honour this to the newly settled State of the Lowcountreys For already about 100000 men were fled out of the Provinces carrying their money and goods into other Princes Dominions either fearing to be oppressed by Forreiners or dispairing of mercy or thinking to avoid future calamity One thing both comforted her and the people that is the King 's Coming who was so certainly expected by the Lowcountrymen that foure dayes before she had sent into Spaine Wacken Admirall in the place of Count Horne with nine Ships well manned to attend his Majesty but if peradventure he should alter his determination and thinke it better to deferre his voyage till another time she humbly from her soule beseeched him that he would please of his goodnesse to free her that now for nine yeares had governed the Lowcountries from further care and charge of those Provinces But that which made her much more earnest in the same suit was the suddaine Imprisonment of Count Egmont and some others The Duke of Alva resolved to begin his Governement with the Attaindours of some of the Lowcountrey Lords that when the eminent persons were removed the People might have nothing whereon to fix their eyes At first therefore he carried himselfe obligingly to the Lords in particular to Count Egmont by whose example he aymed to bring in Count Horne that stood upon his guard and was desirous to heare of Alva's Beginnings at a distance They say when presaging his owne death he shunned the sight of Alva Count Egmont chid him for his feare and undertooke he should be no worse used then he himselfe The Event shortly verifyed these his ominous words But when Alva saw that Count Horne was wrought upon he sent for Hochstrat and the rest of the Lords to Bruxells to consult about regulating the Common-wealth and he set forth but being newly recouered of a Sicknesse whilst his Coachman went an easy pace as he was Commanded hearing what had hapned hee droue back againe with a powder The rest of the Lords came to Bruxells the ninth of September That very day the Duke appointed two Captaines Andrew Salazar and Iohn Espuc without tumult to arrest Iohn Casembrot Lord of Backersell one of the Covenanteers who could in all probability make the greatest Discoueries as being Secretary to Count Egmont The Colonells Count Alberick Lodronio and Sanchio Londognio received Orders on the same day to bring to Bruxells Anthony Strall Consull of Antwerp one very intimate with the Prince of Orange And lest the City wherein he was one of the most popular and richest men should mutiny and rise in his behalfe Alva desired the Governesse to write to the Magistrate of Antwerp that the Consull was sent for to Bruxells to aduise with the Duke of Alva concerning the State of Antwerp she did so and Lodronius after he had taken the Consull delivered the Letter to the Magistrate who fearing himselfe made them lay him in a Cart couered with many Pieces and packs of Cloth but he was scarce out of the port when Lodronio advertised by a Spye seized on him While these things were acting the Duke at Culemburg House sate in Counsell with the Lords Areschot Egmont Horne Mansfeldt Aremberg Barlamont There was present Ferdinand Son to the Duke of Alva Vitellius Serbellonius and Ibarra Alva purposely spun out time in Consultation expecting newes of the taking of the Consull and Cassembrot and therefore sent for Count Paciotto into the Senate to resolve them about the platforme of the Castle at Antwerp When he knew his Commands were executed he dismissed the Lords As the rest were going out the Duke tooke Count Egmont aside as if he had private businesse with him and many Commanders shewing themselves out of the next Roome Alva said Egmont I arrest thee thou art the King's Prisoner in his name diliver up thy sword The Count struck at the suddaine Arrest and seeing such a Company of armed Men about him yielded his sword saying and yet with this I have often not vnfortunately defended the King's Cause adding noe more words the Captaines had him into a drawing Roome At the same time Count Horne was by the Dukes Son who seemed to waite upon him downe the Stairs commanded to resigne his Sword and yeild himselfe Prisoner to the Duke of Alva by the King's Command immediately the Captaines that stept in disarmed and carried him to the other side of the House In the meane time Sanchio Avila Captaine of the Dukes Lifeguard had drawne up his men to Culemburg-House and secured the Streets the City being amazed not knowing what this Face of Terrour meant But when they understood that Egmont and Horne were imprisoned by the Duke of Alva at first Griefe tooke away the People's Tongues then they found the Duke of Alva's Plot and were angry at Egmonts Credulity Many said that in the Captivity of those Lords the Lowcountreys were inslaved This wrought in them a greater admiration of the cautelous Course
that if he would not pay their arrears they would be their own Pay-masters And when he had appointed a certain day yet failed with new fury as if they had been deluded they ran armed to the Court of Justice where their Electo was hearing causes and there presently setting up an Altar when Masse was done they all bound themselves by oath to obey the Electo and not to lay down arms till they had their pay to a Maravedi Which very Act passed not tumultuously in that tumult but orderly and gravely as if there had been no sedition So must armed rage be ordered lest it rage in vain Nay they set up a Gallows on the place and made Proclamation in the Electo's name That whosoever for the future stole or plundred should be immediately hanged which was so punctually observed by the souldiers two of them being instantly trussed up that Antwerp heard of no more such offences This present form of modesty and their past moderations so won upon mens affections that partly the Antwerpers assessing themselves at certain rates partly Requisenes out of the Kings Treasury with the pawning of his own Plate and Hangings the Merchants likewise making up their Pay for yet there was not money enough with pieces of Silk and Cloth after 47 dayes abundantly satisfied the souldiers One memorable Accident I cannot here omit especially coming to my knowledge from the persons by whom it was occasioned When Requesenes had paid the Army they being flush of money were followed as the custome is by many poor people for their alms particularly by the begging Fryers And most of the souldiers then full of gold for some had got three years Debentures some four either out of that Nations inbred pietie rowards Religious Orders or that when wealth comes on the sudden it is lesse regarded were so liberall that the Franciscans for their part got four thousand Florens But when the souldiers took notice that among all the Religious which had tasted of their bonnty no one of the Society of Iesus came unto them to which Order for their constant pains in the Camp and their extraordinary care of the sick souldiers they acknowledged themselves chiefly obliged they sent one of the Army to encourage the Fathers in that publick Donation not to let themselves onely be pretermitted But the Fathers giving thanks to the Messenger when they could not otherwayes put him off at last absolutely denied to take any thing of those men till they had restored all their plunder to the true owners The Armie nothing at all offended or retarded choosing two of their number for Collectours gathered a very great summe and sent it to their Colledge assuring themselves ready money would not be so refused as when it was onely promised The Fathers admired the souldiers constancie whom they imagined to have been displeased with their former Answer and Ceremonies having passed on both sides held it their dutie to instruct those preposterously pious men and in a friendly manner to rectifie either their errour or their contumacie Therefore one of the Societie in great credit with the Armie went to them and speaking freely made them understand That his Order refused not their Liberality as if it would not come seasonably to supply their necessities but God Almighty was not pleased with those that give out of other mens fortunes They should remember themselves how long and how profusely they had lived in Antwerp keeping possession of the Townsmens houses how threatningly and licentiously in the beginning of the mutiny some of them had seized upon the citizens Estates Why then should they seek out persons profusely to bestow their money on and in the mean time injuriously passe by those to whom it was iustly due Rather in that distribution they should use care and method and relieving the wants of the poor Townsmen recover the good opinion of the City and save their own soule and reputations This was not spoke in vain to the souldiers that likewise by this Argument of Bounty endeavoured to excuse the necessitie of their past actions Wherefore some of the chief among them either touched with Religion or to cancell the Ignominy of Sedition by a new example gave largely to the Citizens and began to restore many things got by violence with so great admiration and applause of the Magistrates that they ordered a Publick Speech should be made to the People wherein the Army should be praised and the pains taken and moderation used by the Fathers of the Societie specified and commended But Requesenes not yet confiding in the Army having pardoned and buried the memory of their fault sent them back to the siege of Leyden which the year before was begun by the Duke of Alva the Governour being now dis-engaged from much fear and care which out of a vain presumption of the Armies obedience he had imprudently brought upon himself and all the Royall party Unless perhaps it was done by confederacy to supply the present wants of the Exchequer as some then suspected saith the Bishop of Namure in his Letters to the Dutchess of Parma Requesenes therefore detaining the Spaniards a while at Bruxels till he in the Assembly of the Estates had published an Act of Indemnity sent them by the King with lesse preparation then was made by Alva but with more Liberality though for the unseasonableness not much greater fruit they commanded by Francesco Valdez returned to Leyden with more Resolution then Success And Valdez at first taking their Out-works and some Forts near the Town and cutting off Provision of Victuall had almost brought the City full of Inhabitants to extream necessity Notwithstanding he wrote a kind Letter to the Citizens shewing that he understood their wants yet offering them very fair conditions But they proudly and barbarously answering that They would not want sustenance whilest they had their left Arms for those they would eat and use their right arms to defend their Liberties Valdez hastening his approaches daily straitned them so much that at lengthâ—t caused a great tumult in the City the Townsmen in every street dying for hunger insomuch as the people having lost their patience threatned the Consuls that unless they rendred the Town they themselves would open the gates to the enemie Valdez upon notice hereof that he might fall upon them whilest they wavered in that discord resolved upon the third day to give a generall assault In the mean time he failed not to go the Hague a neighbouring city where his Mistresse lived a noble Ladie of that Countrey married to him not long after whom he was then a suiter to often waiting upon and courting her according to the freedome used in the Low-countreys By chance the day before he was to storm the Town Valdez feasted his Mistresse at the Hague and observing her to look sad importuned her to
acquaint him with the cause She said It was not possible but she must be in great anxiety having before her eies the image of Leyden designed to spoil and plunder the next day For so many funeralls of her friends and acquaintance as must necessarily be involved in the publick ruine were they not sufficient at the present with onely Fear and Imagination to banish all joy from her mind and afterwards when she had news of the success to give her heart a wound incurable Valdez lest he should loose the hope of his marriage beseeched her to be more chearfull and made her a secret promise to recall his orders for storming and for her love to spare the lives of that obstinate Citie Which he promised the more freely in regard he knew the Town would fall of it self though he held his hand and saved his souldiers bloud For very hunger would make them yield and the thought of it would be taken as a favour from him though he did it upon his particular designe Indeed the day after he had omitted the assault the difference increasing between the People and the Citizens they consulted about sending Commissioners to Valdez When the Countrey-people that had long watcht to help the Leydeners hearing of their danger and disagreement finding all attempts to free the Town fruitless resolved to follow the counsell of despair Through the Liberties of Leyden and the adjacent countrey many Rivers flow with various windings and turnings the Rhine it self divides and washes the streets the Ysel and the Mose this runs as far as Rotterdam that to Goud and from thence to Leyden with swift currents which with the confluence of those greater chanels lest at a high tide they should pour the mixture of their own the seas fury upon the land are banked in as if a line were drawn before them by the industry of men The Hollanders therefore writing to their friends at Leyden by Carrier-pidgeons what they intended made holes through the bank and slighted that Bulwark of the Continent raised against the salt and fresh-water tides by the labour of so many yeares and with the Mose the Ysell and the Sea it self rushing as from an ambush on the level they covered their native countrey with a deluge So as the ruine estimated at seven hundred thousand Florens made way for ships to sail the meadows overflowed the Leaguer of the Spaniard and they which dwelt fourtie miles off a thing hardly credible brought supplies of men and victuall to Leyden And truly that new face of the Sea spread among Groves Villages and Fleets sailing through woods as if trees had grown into ships might have been delightsome to the Spaniards like a Show in a Romane Theatre where the Scene was miraculously changed and Ships fought to make them sport if they had not likewise beheld their danger from that unwonted spectacle and the Auxiliarie forces of that confederated element had not been directed against themselves so that all hope was cut off for taking the Town now victualled by so many Ship-ladings of Provision For to bring relief it was wonderfull to see how many sail appeared furnished with men and ordnance from the neighbouring Ports and Islands by a generall confederacie and with no less hatred to the Romane Religion which many publickly gloried in wearing half-moons in their hats with this motto Rather the Turk then the Pope The Fleet that came in to them was no fewer then a hundred and fifty sail well appointed for the war manned with at least twelve hundred besides Seamen Yet the Spaniards wear not at all dismaied and though the sea beat them out of their lower Forts they held the rest so obstinately and wrought so hard that in some places when they wanted spades to cast up earth against the water and the enemie they digged with their swords and carried the mould in their breast-plates and helmets The like upon the same necessitie was done of old in the same Countrey by the Nervians when they besieged the winter-quarters of Quintus Cicero using for want of other instruments their weapons instead of spades and their cassocks for wheel-barrows But their danger hourly increasing with the water which rose to a great height at the full Moon especially blown up by a storm the Spaniards that were rather now the besieged then the besiegers upon a sudden fear apprehended by Valdez who too late repented the lost opportunitie of taking the Town about midnight having nailed their great Canon and sunk them in the ditches after four moneths raised the siege Nor did he flie without loss the enemie chasing him with Grapples in their hands that is long poles headed with iron hooks or hooks at the end of long ropes wherewith they angled for the Spaniards grievously wounding them and drawing up many of them prisoners to the Ships At which time it was an admirable passage that of Pedro Ciaconio Bongia's Lieutenant This man running before his fellows to defend a Bridge was struck at from one of their boats with four grapples which catching hold drew him up dead to all appearance But when they had him aboard and that he saw them being six or seven busie fishing for others he rose at their backs and taking a hatchet that by chance lay before his feet with his full strength for he was onely dragged by his clothes his flesh being scarce touched knocked down one then another so a third the rest astonished at the fury of the revived man leaped into the water Ciaconio left alone in the Hoigh as it was laded with corn provided for the distressed Town brought it in for some kind of comfort to his vanquished fellow-souldiers The misfortune of the siege was augmented by a fresh mutinie of the Spaniards for having lost their hopes of the Sack of Leyden promised them instead of Pay And their sedition was increased by a report that Valdez their Generall bribed by the citie of Leyden forbore to storm it And though Valdez was not guilty of that crime for Avarice never had power over him and the Hollanders then were simple and knew not how to treat with bribes notwithstanding the rumour was believed or rather forged by such as were ignorant of the true cause but would not have the improsperous successe imputed unto themselves And they were glad of such an occasion to demand pay of their Generall full of money as they thought The flame of this tumult brake forth on a sudden from the breasts of very near four thousand who seizing upon and imprisoning Valdez substituted in his place another Electo and though the news of his bribery forthwith vanished yet they marching towards Utrecht entred the Town nor till by Valdez his means their pay was sent from Requesenes would they be quieted But the Spaniards not long after redeemed their honour lost by this
day having made divers breaches in the Castle he gave orders for an assault which proved the stronger by reason of the emulation between severall Nations The Germans under Count Megen he commanded to march in the middle right against the Port on the right hand the Spaniards on the left the Lovainers under the Colonells Mondragonio and Samblemont Some companies of Wallons were also ordered to bring scaling-ladders which they when the signe was given should fasten to the contrary part of the wall for diverting the enemie Then the word going about and the souldiers animated not so much with hope of glory or plunder great matters being never exspected from a little Town as with fury at their preposterous confidence and the shame it would be if the victorious Army were said to stick at Sichem both parties fought most gallantly and while these not daunted at the death of such as fell close by them ran up the walls those standing upon their ruins hindred them from climing by the interposition of their bodies the event for a while was dubious but the Spaniards having lost two Captains such furie and indignation possessed them to be so affronted that anger whetting their courage they made the Defendants turn their backs and from their quarter entred first the Town Likewise in other places the Townsmen being no longer able to resist and hearing the Wallons scaled the walls on the other side terrified with this rumour all at once quitted their Posts And the Town-souldiers laying down their Arms most of them yielded But some of the Garrison in the close of the evening they were about two hundred suddenly got into the Castle Others almost an hundred and fiftie stealing away in the night out at the breaches fell upon the Horse for that purpose placed by Alexander Farneze beyond the River and were all to a man cut off The Pillage of the Town as he threatned the enemy Prince Alexander gave his souldiers not permitting them to injure the women and preserving by his presence the Houses of consecrated Virgins He put the town to their choice of Mercie or the Sword according as they yielded or stood out Nothing now remained but the Castle secured onely by the stubbornness of the Defendants which stubbornness was fomented by a hope that the town-port being dammed up they could raise no Battery whereon to plant Cannon and consequently neither could the Castle be battered nor they themselves forced to surrender in so short a time but that Relief might come from Diestem The besieged were also favoured by the Spaniards want of Pioners and workmen to dig and bank But Prince Alexander's dexteritie overcame all difficulties For causing all the iron in the camp to be brought forth and looking upon the great Commanders round about him he himself first broke the earth presently by his example the noblest of them with emulous alacritie in conclusion the Captains and Common souldiers who at first seemed to disdain the work followed it with such eagerness as that verie night though wearied with the day's fight in four hours space they not onely levelled the earth-work on this side the Port but cast it up again within the Town planting upon it their battery against the Castle But the next morning when they in the Castle saw the new sconce and thereon the Cannon astonished with fear and admiration they presently yielded imploring the Conquerours mercy but in vain Because they were the first that would not stoop till broken and subdued and because most of them contrary to their oath taken at the battell of Gemblac were once more in arms against the King Prince Alexander pretermitting unseasonable mercie and resolving to punish them as traytours commanded the Governour of the Fort with the principall souldiers and Boutefeues to be hanged over the Castle-walls the rest about four hundred and seventy to be put to the sword by night and cast into the River that ran below Thus revenging hostile perjurie he taught Diestem what to do by others danger And they took warning by the example For being summoned though at first they refused to submit in hope of succours from Antwerp and Lyre Yet when the Kings Horse were quartered beyond the River and had fortified some Countrey-mens houses so as they saw the enemie possessed of those parts by which they hoped relief would come and on the other side the River Batteries raised and Cannon drawn thither with admirable celeritie by their neighbours misfortune admonished not to be wise too late they rendred upon Articles themselves and their Citie to the King And Alexander Farneze that he might put a difference between their Obedience and others Contumacy used these of Diastem with all humanitie protected them and theirs not suffering so much as one house to be plundred But the souldiers about three hundred most of them Wallons with their Arms and Baggage not their Colours marching out according to Conditions the Prince of Parma by their firm and well timbred bodies making an estimate of their military hearts made it he signified to them That they might if they would be received into the Kings Pay whereto they assented and taking a new Oath to serve his Majestie had their Colours delivered them and were disposed of in the Wallon-Regiment Levia ran the fortune of Diestem which Town lying between Tienen and Diestem Prince Alexander being commanded to reduce it was the same day he attaqued it yeilded upon conditions and taking away their Colours from an hundred of the Garrison he dismissed them but another hundred swearing to be faithfull to the King he honoured with the redelivery of their Colours and gave them entertainment These three Cities being rendred in seven dayes Alexander Farneze brought back the Victorious Army to Don Iohn and marched with him to Nivell a Town in the entrance of Haynolt seated upon the skirt of Brabant which Iustus Villiers with six Colours of Foot and two Cornets of Horse kept for the States Thither Don Iohn had sent Charles Count Mansfeldt with his French Tertia who both by Battery and Assault had tried his fortune but was twice beaten from the wals rather for want of luck then courage But Don Iohn and Prince Alexander coming up with the rest of the Army the Nivellers finding themselves too weak wrote Letters to the Generall excusing the delay of their Rendition not out of contumacy towards the King or the Kings brother but in hatred to the French unto whom in regard of the ancient enmitie between the Nations they held it a dishonour to submit Whilest they treat a tumult arose in the Leaguer caused by the Germans Some companies of them had for two moneths received no pay Whereupon the souldiers took an occasion to rant and sending a Messenger to Don Iohn unless for their arrears he would give them the pillage of the Town
hope of impunity Their new Conspiracy And new fashion The Originall of these kind of confederacies May 17. Not cured either by the Governesses care 6. or 21. of May. Or by the Kings letter gracious indeed March 15. But unseasonably protracting the Grant of Generall Pardons to some great ones 1570. The Low-countreys over flowed with Hereticks 1566. Privately at first Then openly preaching Three â—orts or Classes of them Calvinists Lutherans Anabaptists Catholicks What they were that came in Infinite Resort to hear them And to the Sacraments after the hereticall way Why the people are so fond of sermons Some out of zeal to heresie Divers taken with the Rarity 1565. Many delighted with singing of Psalms But the most with hearing them rail and jeer in the Pulpit Their audience increased by severall Countreymen striving to have their heresie preferred Which necessitates the Governess to hasten away the Marq. of Bergen into Spain Who sickning by the way Sends the Steward of his house before with his Letters 1566. Her Excellence by Edict banishes Forreiners But cannot resolve what course to take with the new Preachers She revives the Edict against them Who were more followed because prohibited Especially at Antwerp The Governess is desired to come thither 1564. She sends count Megen before her But upon a mutiny of the people He is called away The Town petitions for the Prince of Orange Who is made Governour of Antwerp Multitudes of people meet him upon the way He silences their shouts and the Hereticks acclamations Consults about a remedie for the present mischief Sermons in the fields frequented as much as ever For which she justly reprooves the Senate of Antwerp and tries severall wayes to make the Prince of Orange A meeting of the Gheuses at Centron or San-Truden They desire the use and freedom of the Town from the Bishop of Liege Gerard Grosbech Which he denies But the Townsmen let them in They convene in the City Where they unanimously agree to petition for their Indemnity Touching Libertie of Religion they differ among themselves A few Pages lower The Governess sends Count Egmont and Count Horn to break off the Convention These Lords remember the Covenanters of their promise But they by a new message from S. Truden make high demands from the Governesse She puts them off for the present The Prince of Orange would be made Governour of Antwerp to enable him for ruling of the Town And is made Governour accordingly with power to chuse himself a Guard But this concession was a great weakning in her Excellence The Kings letters wherein he grants the Governesse her desires So limited as gave the people no satisfaction And so long a coming as rendered them unusefull to the King Of the plunder of Churches From whence that Mischief came into the Low-countreys August 28. What forreiners incouraged them Why the Low-countreymen joyned with them August 28. The day appointed for the Picture-scuffle The Place The quality of the Image-breakers Their Instruments First the Villages are plundered Then the Cities They are received at Ipres Deface and pillage the great Church Burn the Library Violate all things sacred The People and the Magistrate diversly affected A new Party of Image-breakers in other Towns S. Omer Menin Commines Vervich Encountred by the Secliners And defeated The Governess's words to Count Egmont His Answer Her reply His Rejoynder Her Conclusion The Senates resolution upon the Exigent A new Iconomachy at Antwerp Begun with scorn put upon the holy Pâ—ocession Mockerie And quarrelling in the Cathedrall Church Whereof the sacrilegious people shutting out the rest possest themselves And singing Psalmes fall to work Breaking all things consecrated And defacing the whole Cathedrall O Profane What a great stately Church was this How small a number defaced it In a few houres Some thought the Devil helpt his Children Because none of the Sacrilegious were so much as hurt in the doing it From the Church they fall upon the City And their number encreasing Plunder all the Churches And Religious Houses in the Town With incredible security Terrifying the Inhabitants The Merchants keep their own houses and there stand upon their guard Those that had the custodie of things sacred run away from their charge Religious men dare not appear All the Town in a fright The Nuns flie to their fathers Houses The Sacrilegious make but one nights work of it Both Catholicks and Hereticks conceal themselves out of mutuall distrust The Church-robbers plunder with more licentiousnesse then before The Pillage continues for three whole dayes together At last the drowsie Citizens awake And taking Arms Fright away the Sacrilegious The like mischief at the same time Shaked all the seventeen Provinces like an Earthquake Onely sour excepted Tac. l. 2. Annals To an infinite losse Especially in Flanders Some thought this Pillage a design to betray the Low-countreys Martin Delrio in Alter Belg. l. 1. Sen. Truden l. 4. Plotted between the French and Low-countrey Hereticks With consent of the Gheuses An instance whereof is Lewis of Nassau's letter And his Patronage of the Iconomachy Septemb. 8. The Governesse calls a Senate or Great Councell Aug. 27. Her Speech The divers senses of the Senatours upon this Speech some for others against a Warre Their heat ended The Senate made this Decree nemine contradicente â—he Gheuses threaten Bruxels and the Governess Who frighted resolves to leave Bruxels But is stayed by prayers force The Prince of Orange expresses verymuch trouble The Governess more and more threatned Ulricus Viglius Yet not suffered to depart the Town And very much terrified Makes some concessions to the covenanting Gheuses Giving the King this account by letter Of the Causes moving her to do it And of the particulars granted Blaming her own indulgent Act and beseeching his Majestie not to confirm it But rather to vindicate Religion She in the interim secures her self and the Town of Bruxels And gets time to breath upon the present alteration of affairs by the endeavours of the Gheuses at Bruxels And of the Prince of Orange at Antwerp Who afterwards offended the Governesse by his grant of Churches to the Hereticks Septemb. 3. For which he gives her reasons Septemb. 4. Septemb. 4. 5. 7. But not satisfactory The like done at Mechlen and Tournay by the Counts of Hochstrat and Horn who excuse themselves Septemb. 8. The very same at Utretcht And at Bolduc The Franciscans at Antwerp endangered by the Hereticks Septem 17. And turned out of doors at Amsterdam The pious Act of the Amsterdam women The impious act of the women of Delph Septem 27. Octob. 10. and 16. The Governesse beseeches the King to come with an Army Gant 1539. 14. and 24. And the King after he had communicated the joy of his Daughters birth August 12. Clara Isabella Eugenia Approves of her advice Directs her what numbers to raise And what Commanders to employ Sends Commissions And money to the Governess Giving reasons to the Princes of
of Burgundy apperteining to the Belgick Princes when his Majestie approved and confirmed the present Governour thereof Claudius Vergius Lord of Champlitt and it was the year following when Claudius died that her Excellence of Parma by her letters to the King obtained Burgundy for the Prince of Orange The Provinces thus disposed for Brabant is never commanded by any but the Prince and his Vicegerent the supream Governour of the Low-Countreys the King began to order the Militia and leaving Spanish Garrisons upon the Borders he thought of disposing the Horse the proper Militia of the Low-countreys They say it is very ancient and was far more numerous Charles the fifth lessened it to three thousand but then he encreased it in the choise of Noble and valiant persons he armed them with half pikes and carabines which so well they handled as the Low-countrey Troops were famous over Europe Philip by his fathers example divinding the Horse into fourteen Troops appointed over them so many Commanders of the greatest of his Lords viz. all the said Governours of Provinces Courir and the Count of East-Frizland excepted Philip Croi Duke of Aresco Maximilian Hennin Count of Bolduke Anthony Ladin Count Hochstrat Iohn Croi Count Reux Henry Brederod Earl of Holland all but the last being Knights of the Golden Fleece These ordinary Troops the King used to draw out of their Quarters according to the emergencies of Warr. And King Philip by experience found these to be his greatest strength and best Bulwark against the valour of the French But the command of the Sea and the Royall Fleet he left still in the hands of the old Admiral Philip Momorancy Count Horn Philip Staveley Lord of Glaion he made Master of the Train of Artillery both highly meriting in Peace and War and therefore at the same time admitted by his Majestie into the order of the Fleece There yet remained a part of the Republick by how much the more noble and sacred by so much the more tenderly to be handled To the seventeen Provinces full of People because foure Bishops they had then no more were not thought enough the King resolved to increase the number I find it was endeavoured by Philip Duke of Burgundy Prince of the Low-Countreys he that instituted the Order of the Golden Fleece and dying bequeathed the establishment thereof to his Son Charles sirnamed the Fighter or Souldier from his continuall being in arms which altogether transported and took up the mind of this warlike Prince Nor had Philip grandchild to Charles the Fighter Son to his onely daughter and Maximilian King of the Romanes more leasure to pursue it by reason of the new troubles of the Kingdoms which he had in right of his wife Ioan daughter and heir to Ferdinand the Catholick King And though Charles the fifth sonne to Philip made it his business and put some threds into the loom yet the great distractions and war of the Empire intervening the work was often at a stand and war upon war rising in Europe and Africa rather deprived him of the means then affection to accomplish it Unless perhaps the Emperour grew slack lest the erection of new Bishopricks should straiten the jurisdiction of his uncle George of Austria Archbishop of Leige Yet among his last commands he particularly left this in charge to his sonne Philip. I my self have read a letter written in King Philips own hand to his sister of Parma wherein he sayes He is induced at that time especially to increase the number of Bishops because the Cities and Towns of the Netherlands daily grew more populous and Heresie from their next Neighbours crowded in and got ground of them and that his Fathers Counsel and Command had made deep impression in his mind who taught him this as the onely way to preserve Religion in the Low-Countreys The King therefore assoon as he was respited by the War sent to Rome Francis Sonnius a Divine of Lovain a great learned man who not long before had disputed at Wormes with Melanchthon Illyricus and others by command from the Emperour Ferdinand giving him in Commission together with Francisco Varga the Kings Ambassadour to acquaint Paul the fourth with his desires After some moneths when the business had been debated by a Court of seven Cardinals it was accordingly granted The Pope inclining of himself to destroy heresie and neglecting no occasion of gratifying King Philip to whom he was lately reconciled So that he appointed fourteen Cities in the Low-Countreys besides the foure former for Bishops-sees whereof three were honoured with the Prerogative of Archbishopricks that is Cambray Utrecht upon the Rhine and Maclin preferred before the others at the Kings request which seated in the heart of Brabant near the Princes Court at Bruxels he had designed for Anthony Perenott Granvell purposely translated from the Church of Arras thither because that mans being near the Court seemed to concern the publick In this manner the Popes Bul was penned and sent by his Nuntio Salvator Bishop of Clusino and Francis Sonnius going for the Low-Countreys who was enjoyned to see the Decree executed but in other things belonging to the revenues and limits of Jurisdiction they were to do what to themselves in their discretions seemed meet King Philip having received authority made an excellent choice of men for the new Myters all famour for the learned books they had written as likewise for their virtues and deportments in the Councel of Trent Such Bishops the Pope joyed to approve of and the people were ashamed not to admit And because the King would no longer defer his voyage into Spain he left the care of limiting and endowing the new Churches to Granvell and Sonnius for the Popes Nuntio was to follow his Majestie Before his departure the King summoned the Estates of the Low-countreys to Gant many were of opinion he would there declare a Governour for the Low-Countreys which he had till then declined though others imputed the cause of that delay to the Kings nature perplexed and doubtfull whom to trust with the Government Which procrastination daily added to the number of Competitours and to the discourses of lookers on Many of which according to their severall dependencies made sure accompt their friends and Patrons should carry it and together with this belief cherished their own hopes Divers that aimed at no private advantage did not so much named a Person as a Governour being ambitious to be Statesmen though it were but in giving imaginary votes as if they should have their part in the Government if they could but think of disposing the Provinces and fill a vancant place by predesigning him that should be chosen But Count Egmont was the man on whom the Low-Countreys fixt their eyes and wishes a Prince conspicuous for his experience in the Warrs and very active either in the field
distracted between two factions wavering and fearing the successe of either Things being in this condition whilst King Charles made all the friends and means he could to help himself King Philip was extraordinarily carefull to dispatch away succours to his kinsman Perhaps moved by zeal to Religion perhaps solicited by his wife who trembled at her brother Charles his danger perhaps jealous of the Low-countreys lest the arms or example of the French should there prejudice his affairs Therefore having raised three thousand foot in Italy and made Iohn Anguisciola their Colonel to be commanded in chief by Imbertus Platerius Bordillon Lieutenant Generall for the King of Spain in Piemont and dispatching as many more from Spain by the way of Navarre he writes to his sister Margaret Governess of the Low-countreys presently to choose two thousand horse out of the Low-countrey Militia to march against the French Rebells and if the Queen or the Guises shall desire more men to furnish them The Governess reading the Kings letters at the Counsel board observed that all the Lords were against sending assistance to the French The Prince of Orange and Count Egmont argued that the horse was maintained by the Provinces for a guard to the Low-countreys and to that end they were at first ordained Therefore to carry them out of the Low-countreys the Provinces must give their consent but that would be a work of time and exposed to much danger now especially when the Low-countreys wanted additionall forces and ought not to have their own taken from them But they had perhaps a higher Consideration For it was believed at the instigation of the Prince of Conde some German Princes had threatned their neighbours the Low-countreymen if they assisted the Guises enemies to the new Religion they in defence of the Cause would bring an armie into the Low-countreys Nor do I think it unlikely that both the Prince of Conde attempted it and the Germans undertook it For on the one part the Prince of Condes faction was much troubled about the raising of those forces in the Low-countreys as appears by a book then published and sent by the Spanish Embassadour Cantonet with letters to his brother Granvel wherein they give the Hereticks many reasons why the King of Spain should not assist the Catholicks in France On the other part the Governess by an Express to his Majestie informs him That the Low-countrey men either terrified by the Germans or out of some other cowardly considerations would hardly nay could by no means be drawn to give order for the horse to march into France and threatned mischief if they went In which letter she seems to touch what I have here mentioned the cause of their dissent And she her self either despairing that the Provinces would let them go or believing they could not be well spared from the Low-countreys equally endangered by a war from Germany and an Insurrection at home pressed the business more remissely at the Councel Table When on the sudden came an Express from the King wherein the Governess was not a little chid for her delay and commanded without further consultation immediately to send away the Horse She anxious how she might obey his Majesty in that particular by the advice of Granvel changed the name not substance of the Kings desires demanding money instead of men Which being granted she presently returned it into France to the Queen-wother and signified to King Philip the reason of her so doing Not onely because she knew money would be far welcomer then men to the Queen according as she her self formerly intimated and after the receit confirmed but likewise for fear the Governess should loose both her endeavours and authority in pressing the Low-countrey men to that which she found by experience was not to be obtained or if it were obtained would be disadvantageous That she feared the Low-countreys now their hearts were down and that in Tournay and Valencena were begun no inconsiderable stirrs about Religion and no doubt but they would encrease if the seditious once saw the Low-countreys left naked without defence of their Horse Lastly for that some by their Place were to conduct the Horse whose faith she might very well suspect it seemed to be no less dangerous to trust them with Arms then to shew a diffidence in them by choosing other officers The King received rather then approved the condition of the money which the States had granted and sending fifteen hundred horse out of Spain to the Queen-mother which the Governess was to pay he strengthened the Catholicks in Francâ— But before these succours came the King of Navarre the Guise and Momorancy had taken Roan from the Prince of Condes men The King himself though dangerously shot lying upon his bed in a kind of Chariot was triumphantly brought into the Citie But a few dayes after his wounds bleeding afresh in the same sepulchre with himself he buried his hopes of the Kingdome of Sardinia which he had kept alive till his last gasp to the great good of the Catholicks Nor was the War prosecuted with lesse care Momorancy commanding in Chief both Armies exceedingly increasing For with the Kings forces were joyned 6000 foot sent from King Philip and the fifteen hundred Horse formerly mentioned And near to Dreux a Town in Normandy they fought a battel with great courage on both sides The Prince of Conde and Momorancy both the Generals were taken prisoners and above ten thousand men slain the Victory at last fell to the King but with more honour then joy Such fatall wars issued from the liberty given to the Hereticks and cherished by the ambition of the Lords But these miseries of the French which I have related for to that end I have related them brought the same mischief upon the Low-countreys as any man will easily perceive that hath leasure to compare the practises of Hereticks in both Nations and the differences of either Court the names of Hugonots and Gueses raised in their severall tumults The Cardinal of Lorain answering to Cardinal Granvel the Queen-mother of France to the Dutchess of Parma in the Low-countreys the like conspiracy of the Nobility the like Edicts of their Princes the plunder of Cities and Churches not to be distinguished all things in both Countreys almost the very same as springing from the self-same Causes save onely that the War was more suddenly begun by the French and more obstinately pursued by the Low-countrey men The first Low-countrey Towns that followed the example of the French were their next neighbours Tournay Lisle and Valencena which by their sudden motions plainly signified the subsequent ruine of the Netherlands For in October the year before two French Calvinist preachers in the same night the one at Valencena the other at Tournay openly before a great assembly in the Market-place delivered their new Gospel and when they had done
Work therefore prohibited as well because the sacred verses of the Prophet were published in a vulgar tongue by profane persons as that they were dolo malo bound up with Calvin's Catechisme at Geneva these singing Psalmes though abhorred and sleighted by the Catholicks remained in high esteem with hereticks and the custome of singing Geneva Psalmes in French at publick meetings upon the high way and in shops was thenceforth taken for the distinctive sign of a Sectary The seditious Townsmen of Valenciens warbling in this manner as I was about to have told you passed along the streets as if they meant to deliver a Petition But making a stand in the market-place they lifted up their singing-Master and bad him preach ex tempore Immediately either by the Preachers perswasion or the increase of their company the mutinie was revived and finding themselves grown strong for they were about two thousand they would not part without doing something worthy such a Muster Wherefore they resoved to pull down and burn a monastery of Dominicans But changing their minds upon the way for they were tossed and tumbled like billows in a storm a fury possessed them when they remembered that the condemned persons had been taken out of their hands and carried back to prison To what end had they raised this tumult and frighted the town to no purpose if their associates should suffer death in the Iayl which they had escaped in the market-place no they would look into the matter break open the prison and either release their fellows if living or if dead revenge them So they cried to the Jayl to the Jayl And thither they ran forced the doors knocked off their shackles and that they might appear to do nothing out of contempt of Law they onely set those two at liberty and kept in the rest that were committed for other causes sending word to the Magistrates they had onely met to deliver their brethren but if they might live quietly and not be troubled for their conscience not a man among them would stirre any more In the mean time Michael Hovey Deputy-governour of the Town was sent by the Magistrate to the Dutchess who amazed at the news of the sudden tumult sent Hovey himself immediately to Bolduâ— a town near Valenciens to desire Iohn Hennin Count of that place whom she knew to be faithfull and industrious that he should instantly get into the City and in the Kings name till the Marquesse of Bergen returned at discretion quiet the troubles if any yet remained She commands him likewise to signifie to the Marquesse in what condition Valenciens was whilst he neglecting his publick office minded nothing but his private business But now the Marquesses Lieutenant the Low-countreymen call him the Count-governour with two troops of horse one whereof he took out of the Bolduc the other he himself commanded under the Marquesse of Bergen entered Valenciens the people not daring to attempt any thing against him Thither also with all speed marched the horse of Philip Croy Duke of Areschot by order from the Governess Lastly the Marquesse of Bergen himself and the Count of Bosch came into the town and contrary to their exspectations found all quiet not so much as any signe of a Sedition But Indeveltius who was in Commission with the Marquesse to examine business of that nature being sent by the Magistrate to the Dutchess for authority to pursue the fugitives was earnest with her to take from that turbulent Citie both their priviledges and arms and that with the fines payed by the Mutiners for their composition a fort should be built to hold in the stiff-necked people like a bridle the Valencenian might be compelled to this if her Excellence would but send one thousand two hundred foot to the horse already in town The Governess caused it to be moved at the Councell table where the gentler vote carried it That the fugitives should be brought back to execution and the authours of the Sedition punished but that the rage of the mad people should not ruine the honest Citizens The Governess consented the rather because that Citie as she wrote to the King standing much affected to the French must have been unseasonably provoked whilst the French were in arms within sight of the town But she her self forbare as much as was possible to make any Levies lest the sword and consequently the power should come into the hands of some of the Low-countrey Lords Yet because nothing could be done in that City without souldiers she commands the Marquess of Bergen to draw souldiers out of his severall Garrisons not above thirty out of any one and so on the sudden to put two hundred into Valenciens giving it out that company after company should follow them to aw the Town that the Judgement pronounced against the offenders might accordingly be executed The Marquess readily obeyed And though the two seditious Preachers were then escaped a while after one of them was taken and put to death and the Citie terrified with the decrees of the Magistrates and the continuall fresh supplies of souldiers within a few dayes having taken the fiercest of the Mutineers or those that bragged most of their doings in the tumult they were severely punished So for that time the mutiny at Valenciens ceased The Governess was not more glad of the success then fearfull of the consequence because such a multitude of Calvinists were crept into one Citie especially because in other places she saw the like beginnings and motions she was jealous lest Calvinisme which then infected France might be caught by their neighbours of Haynolt In like manner the commerce with Denmark and the neighbouring towns of Germany might corrupt Frisland with Lutheranisme And though on the one part Heresie had hardly touched any of the Lords of Frisland but onely crept upon the ground among the Commons as suteable to their capacities being a rude plain people and therefore credulous and on the other part Iohn Lignius Count Aremberg looked very carefully to that Province yet questionless the disease would spread it self and by degrees seize the Nobility unlesse it were prevented by strong Physick This seconded by Granvels advice moved the Governess to bring in the designed Bishops into their several Dioceses that by example word and deed which most conduces to the advancement of Religion they might be a stay and support to the people committed to their charge Indeed things were put into a handsome way and by the industry of Granvel and the Nuncio the one having the Popes Commission to this purpose and the other the King of Spains they were received into the Cities But the Brabanters stood out and would suffer no change of Government in their Provinces though Cardinal Granvel pressed it very much and delivered his opinion for the present suppression of those tumults and designes which would grow daily worse and
Covenanters should be imprisoned either for Religion or for the Covenant immediately the rest all business laid aside should repair to both or one of those that were to tender the Covenant in the severall Provinces and that all of them if need were should presently take up arms to assist their brethren So he dismissed them full of courage and alacrity resolved next morning to attend the Governess Which day being the fifth of April the Conspiratours to the number of about two hundred met again at Cuilemburg-House and from thence took their way directly to Court marching through the high Street the whole City beholding the spectacle with amazement and many not well knowing by what name to call that new kind of Embassie For they looked not like Petitioners that came to make demands in so confident and imperious a way especially being led on by Brederod and Nassau that did not use to supplicate nor did they seem to be a Faction or to pretend force coming with such appearance of simplicity that rather shewed like Fryars going in Procession They rode two a breast most of them matched in years Brederod and Nassau brought up the Rere The Town took notice that one of the Generalls was lame which many looked upon as an evil Omen and not without much laughter Entring the Court they found the Governess the Senate then newly risen speaking with some of the Lords Brederod coming up to the chair of State after he had done his duty with the Ceremonies due to the Governess spake in this manner These Gentlemen of the Low-countreys now standing in your Highness presence and others of the same quality that will shortly follow in great numbers are come with me to let Your Highness know by their multitude how earnest they are in their demands expressed in this humble Petition â—nd whilst you read it I beseech your Excellence to believe that these honest men propound nothing to themselves but obedience and honour to the King and safetie in their Countrey When he had spoken this he presented the Petition and said that he had something else to offer to her Highness in the names of his Confederates but lest he should mistake their sense if he might presume so far he desired leave to read it out of his own Papers The Governess was pleased he should read his Notes the summe whereof was That the Gentlemen were much aggrieved because her Excellence had writ to the Provinces of their League as if it were made by a concurrence and association with the French and Germans pretending indeed the safetie of their Countrey but intending onely spoyl and plunder Which information given unto the Governess as it was an insufferable injurie to the Low-countrey Gentlemen so they humbly and earnestly beseeched her Excellence to declare the Informers names compell them to bring in their impeachment publickly in a Legall way That if their Confederates be found guilty they may be sentenced or if they be cleared and acquitted of the Crime those informers by the Law of Retaliation may have the punishment of Traitours The Governess suppressing the trouble and indignation of her mind as well as she could with a chearfull look received the Petition wherein it was prayed that the Inquisition might be abolished the old Edicts repealed and new ones made by the Estates of the Low-countreys Her answer was She would consider of their Petition and since it related onely to the Kings Honour and their Countreys safety they need not doubt but she would give them satisfaction But whereas they complained of her Letters written to the Provinces they had no reason for it she did but what her place required having received intelligence from many hands of a certain League made with forreiners in advising the Governours and Magistrates to be vigilant lest upon that occasion their Provinces might be troubled not so much by the Low-countrey men whom the King ever found loyall as by the Borderers that resorted to them Without more words she dismissed the Gentlemen not naming her Intelligencers which they exceedingly pressed her Highness letting such questions pass as she had not minded them or rather seeming offended that they should press her to reveal secrets of State Nay the same day at evening when a Senatour in the House perswaded her Excellence to give in to the Covenanters the names of those Intelligencers she answered somewhat angerly That she admired that he who refused to name his Authour for things which he himself a little while since had discovered should now perswade the contrary that might be prejudiciall to so many In that Senate the Governess read the Petition of Brederod and asked them if they had not altered their opinions But when they had debated it they voted the same again in other words It was then disputed Forasmuch as the Covenanters had writ in generall We his Majesties most humble Subjects whether it should not be required that every particular person under-write his name whereby the King might know whom to thank or rather whom to be revenged upon But it was carried by most voices in the Negative lest upon occasion of getting the names of such as were absent the Petition shold be sent to the great Towns and more drawn in The next day the Confederates returning in greater numbers for the Counts of Cuilemburg and Bergen were yet in time come post the Governess returned the Petition which she had received the day before together with her Answer writ in the Margine wherein she gave them hope that the Inquisition should be taken away and the Edicts moderated onely she must first acquaint the King with their desires But because this did not satisfie them all they withdrew to consult together and having passed their votes came back and in all their names Eustachius Fiennes Lord of Esquerd for Brederod durst not speak in publick unless he had conn'd his Lesson or that he read it out of his Book giving her Highness humble thanks for that Answer desired that she would please to certifie whatsoever had been done at this meeting of the Gentry was out of their dutie to the King and for his Majesties advantage But the Governess expresly denying it replyed Time their Actions would testify that sufficiently to all the world and so left them The same day Brederod entertained the Covenanters at Cuilenburg-house and made them a great feast but unfortunate to the very House where they were feasted which for this onely cause was afterward pulled down and levelled with the earth The invited were about three hundred and therefore more confident especially at the table in their jollity Among other passages they put the question how that Society should be named and it pleased them to give it the title of the Noble Concord and they called their Generall the Restorer of lost liberty But these denominations after this feast were never heard of Perhaps
other things which she wrote to Pius the fifth exceedingly commended this piety of the Low-countrey men especiall in that point of time and Pope Pius who received no less contentment to encourage the Low-countrey mens Religion consecrated those Medalls and as he wrote to the Governess out of his Pontifician power gave to them that should have such Medalls stamped with the Image of any Saint indulgence and pardon for their sinnes It is reported that the devotion towards these kinde of figures increasing in the Netherlands and other orthodox countries striving to follow the Low-countrey mens example the use of Medalls was upon this occasion brought into the Church or at least from hence they received their first fame and lustre if it be so this likewise ought to be recorded in the book of Honour that registers the acts of the Low-country Nobility and particularly placed among the Monuments of the house of Croi But Brederod before his departure from Bruxells returned to the Governess two daies after his last address to get his petition signed There came along with him the Counts of Bergen Nassau and Cuilenburg heads to the faction of the Gheuses and they delivered a new petition containing their old demands onely with these additionalls That the delay of expecting the King of Spaines resolution would be dangerous in respect of the incensed and furious disposition of the people Truly they themselves out of that affection they owed unto their Country could not but acquaint her Highness that the Low-country mens violent desires would questionless break out into insurrection Howsoever if her Excellence were resolutely bent to apply to such an imminent danger so slow and so remote a remedy they called God and men to witness what mischief soever came of it the Low-country Nobility should not hereafter bear the blame But the Governess nothing moved withall this promised to cut of all delayes by sending speedily to Spain and all occasions of tumults by giving instructions to the Inquisitours and Magistrates of Towns to proceed with greater moderation Onely she seriously desired them that since they conceive they have in this imployment done their duty they will stop here invent no new designes draw in no new partisans nor meet any more at private conventicles otherwise she resolved to do her duty in maintaining the Antient Religion and the Kings authority in those Provinces Having received this answer many of the conspiratours took leave of the Governess and presently departed from the City leaving spies behinde to give intelligence to the Covenanters of all that passed at Bruxells Brederod Cuilenburg and Bergen going out together with 150 horse for a military farewell discharged their pistolls before the City gates and so the first of them went to Antwerp and the other two into Gelderland But there was a post dispatched from the Governess to the Magistrate of Antwerp to let him know of Brederod's coming and to be a spye upon his counsels and actions And though the Magistrate certified the Governess that Brederod carried himself with great civility yet afterwards she wrote to the King having it seems better intelligence from another hand that about 4000 of the common people of Antwerp flocked to the Inne where Brederod alighted with 43. horse and when he heard that such a multitude were come to the house he rose from dinner and looking out of the window with a great bowle of wine in his hand saluted them standing below in the yard in these words You of Antwerp here I am that will with the hazard of my life and fortunes protect your selves and free your children from the tyranny of the Inquisition and the Edicts If your consent goes along with me in this glorious action come on and as many of you as would have your liberties preserved and mee for your Generall pledg me this bowle with a good heart and hold up your hands in taken that you accept of my good will Then he drank it off and first held up his own hand instantly the most of them did the like and lifting their hands with an odd kinde of hum signified that they took it as an argument of his love and when he departed from the city the same rabble brought him on his way The rest of the Covenanters were but newly returned to the towns from whence they came yet lest they might seem to have carried their petition to no purpose they made it be reported through the Low-countreys that their businesse was dispatched And to that end they counterfeited a Declaration subscribed by the Knights of the Golden-fleece either to induce the world to believe that they were protected by the Knights or to make the Governesse jealous of the Order The Declaration was thus penned The publick faith concluded upon at Bruxels by the Gentlemen of the League and signed by the Knights of the Order the seventh of April 1566. We Lords whose names are underwritten having sworn by our Order do promise to the Gentlemen chosen by the Estates and legally sent into the City that the Ecclesiasticall Inquisitours and the other Magistrates shall from this day punish no man for his Religion neither by Imprisonment Exile nor death unless it be joyned with a popular tumult and the ruine of our Countrey of which crimes Be the Covenanters the sole legall punishers But this power of theirs onely to be in force till the King with the consent of the Estates of the Low-countreys shall otherwise determine The news of this Declaration at first startled the Governesse then she sent for the Manifesto it self and read it For though she rationally conjectured that is was an impudent lie invented by the Covenanters yet she very much feared it would be such a bait as might easily catch the people prone to believe what they desire or making a shew of believing to colour their delinquencie with an handsome excuse At least she knew that before the trick could be discovered many insolencies might be committed against Religion and the Kings Authority which afterwards could never be revoked or rectified by any means or industrie And truly many do spread abroad such forgeries not out of hope they will continue long concealed for they have their ends if they last but till the people that are fooled with them begin to pull the frame of the State in pieces the Result whereof will be that when they come to see their errour at the same time despairing of their â—â—â—don licentiousnesse and love of sinne likewise increasing they raise one tumult upon the neck of another cruell but cowardly and imagining danger it self to be the best remedy for danger Many indeed make use of lies as builders do of buttresses and scaffolds For as they are usefull whilest Arches are in making but when they be finished are cast away so the subtiller sort of people devise falsehoods to no other end but to
support their Architecture a while which if compleated and able to stand alone then they easily suffer their fictions to grow out of date to be pulled down and cast away like props and scaffolds when the building is brought unto perfection And the Governess knowing it was now no time for delayes sent for as many of the Order as could conveniently attend her for it was Passion week and the major part had retired themselves to make their Confessions in the Monasteries of their own Towns according to the custome of the Nobility and shewed them the Declaration upon sight whereof Count Egmont and Count Mansfeld who were the first that came protested that no part of it was either done or said by their Companions of the Order It was therefore resolved that expedition should be used whilst the multitude had onely a tast of the Errour but had not as yet swallowed down the Falsehood and that they should not expect till the wooll dipt in Ink were made uncapable of another die That the Governours of the Provinces and the Magistrate of every City and Town should be immediately informed of the truth and a copy sent them of the Petition presented by the Covenanters with the Governesses marginall Answer They were likewise to take notice that if any thing else were published by any whatsoever it was to be reputed as the Invention of some seditious persons endeavouring to beget domestick Tumults and accordingly by the Kings Laws and Authority to be punished These Letters though presently sent into the Provinces yet failed to undeceive the people which in many places had already heard and believed the untruth to the great prejudice as I shall presently shew you of the ancient Religion and the Publick peace Which forced the Governess to hasten the Embassie into Spain that was lately voted by the Senate Iohn Glimè Marquess of Bergen and Governour of Haynolt was named for the imployment But he whether his guilty conscience could not brook the Kings presence or whether the trouble of the voyage frighted him at first refused to undertake it then was willing so that another might be put in Commission with him Florence Momorancie Lord of Montiny was therefore joyned with the Marquesse Both of them because they doubted their business would not please the King were suiters to the Governess to dispatch away a Messenger into Spain that should prepare his Majestie with the knowledge of their coming in the interim they resolved so to order and spin out their journey that the Messenger should meet them upon the way with the Kings Letters wherein they might perceive if his Majestie approved of their imployment Notwithstanding all this caution which their ill-presaging minds rather used for their security then for their Honour they escaped not but this Embassage cost them both their lives They had yet other unlucky Omens for two dayes before they set forth the Marquess of Bergen as he walked in the open Court of the Governesse's Palace was hit upon the thigh with a Ball of wood by some playing at Pall Mall and being very grievously hurt kept his bed and was constrained to deferre his journey You would think this good office was done him by his Genius who not contented by other warnings to have pulled him by the ear now laid him by the heels and kept him lockt in fetters to â—inder his unfortunate voyage But what Fate hath ordained for every man is not so easily prevented as foreseen In the mean while the Governesse it concerning her to loose no time got the other Embassadour though against his will to go before the Marquesse of Bergen who should follow as soon as he recovered and to acquaint his Majestie with the state of affairs in the Low-countreys after the Gentlemens petition was delivered To this purpose besides letters instructions and other appendents to an Embassage her Excellence gave him a Book containing in eighteen chapters the principle actions of that year which she left to his Majesties consideration and concluded that onely his presence would with the least hazard settle the Low-countreys Yet before his departure the Governesse as she had promised her two Embassadours sent away Fabius Lembus a Neopolitan an old Courtier and faithfull with private commands and notes wherein she interpreted most of that which she had given in charge to Montiny She sent likewise a copy of Charles the fifth's Edicts somewhat qualifyed in the penalties against Hereticks by advice of the Senatours and Divines likewise signifying that she had shewed that qualification severally to the Estates of the Low-countreys and that by most of them it was approved of yet that she would not publish it nor propound it to the People without his Majesties consent but she earnestly beseeched him to command it and to deferre his intention of establishing the Popes Inquisitours So on the seventeenth of May she dispatched Fabius Lembus thus instructed In ten dayes after Montiny followed and the seventeenth of June was by the King gratiously received at Madrid and divers times had Audience Yet before he could get a determinate Answer he was commanded to exspect his fellow Commissioner the Marquesse of Bergen nor found he the King inclinable to or well pleased with his Embassage Indeed to divert his Majestie from consenting to the Low-countreymens desires though he was of himself sufficiently constant both to Religion and his opinions Pius the fifth interposed his authoritie by whose Nuncio Pedro Camaiono Bishop of Asculum who had an eye upon that Embassie from the Low-countreys his Majestie was continually solicited not to suffer the Catholick Religion to fall in the Low-countreys but that he would personally by force of arms punish the disloyaltie of that turbulent people And for this cause his Holinesse commanded Iulio Pavesio Archbishop of Surrentum whom he sent Legate to the Emperour Maximilian to take the Low-countreys in his way and in his name to set a high commendations upon the Dutchesse of Parma for her zeal to Religion manifested in her Government of the Low-countreys wherein he should incourage her by promising supplies of money from the Pope with his utmost assistance For now a Cause was controverted for which he would not fear to stake his triple Crown Moreover he was to advise with the Governesse about delivering the Popes letters to the Prince of Orange and Count Cuilemburg exhorting the Count to forsake the Hereticks unto whom it was said he adhered and to reconcile himself to the old Religion and admonishing the Prince not to suffer with impunity so many foul things as were committed by Hereticks in his Principality of Orange to the great dammage of all the neighbouring Cities especially Avignion But the Governesse whose counsell the Legate was commanded to follow did not approve of the delivery of the Popes letters to Cuilemburg least as he was a youth of a weak and fantasticall brain he
might not value or receive them with due reverence She said he might safelier treat with the Prince of Orange in regard the like admonition formerly sent from Paul the fourth had struck him with a fear of loosing his Principality neverthelesse she would prepare him for the Legate But for his liberall offer of assistance from his Holinesse she acknowledged her obligations to the great Bishop and desired Pavesio to represent her for that favour kneeling at his feet and humbly kissing them though she had not power to admit of his promised supplies unlesse the King would please to give her leave But she assured his Holinesse that the Cause of Religion should be alwayes to her as it had ever been dearer then her life Lastly touching the nature and industry of the Low-countrey Bishops for Pavesio intreated her to instruct him in that particular she very graphically discoursed their lives and manners and gave him their severall characters telling which deserved Rebuke which Praise or Pitie The Legate finding all she said to be true and the Prince of Orange the easier to be wrought upon belike her Excellence had prepared him as she promised admiring her industrie and pietie professed that he would publish in the Court of Rome how Religion standing now in the Low-countreys on a dangerous precipice was supported onely by her Highnesses vigilance and prudence But the Factions and Tumults ceased not for all this The Covenanters being returned as I have told you into their respective Provinces and giving it out that they had the publick Faith of the Knights of the Golden Fleece for their indemnitie all those that had been banished for heresie came back from the adjacent Countreys and such as had lyen concealed at home appeared again magnifying the name of the Gheuses calling them the Assertours and Champions of their libertie and putting themselves under their protection Thus the number of the Covenanters was much increased especially in Antwerp even the Merchants themselves began to wear the Habit aud Cognizante of the Gheuses Nay there sprung up a new-brotherhood of the Common People wearing in their hats besides the wallet stampt in silver a wreathed pilgrims staff the ends bowing acrosse signifying as I suppose that they were to go a pilgrimage out of their Countrey and seek libertie in another Climate This conspiracie was spawned out of the other it being the off-spring as the Governesse wrote to his Majestie of that two years before raised by the Lords against Cardinall Granvel where they first wore hoods and then Darts But that which at the beginning was onely private difference at Court and the ambition of a few afterwards turned into the publick mutiny of the Provinces Great men it seems never can offend alone and vices whilst they passe from hand to hand are soyled with being touched and grow still fouler Neither did the Governesses letters to the Magistrates concerning the counterfeit Declaration in the Lords names do any good nor the Kings letter to the Governesse and the Provinces about that time received wherein his Majestie promised That having now secured himself from the Turks and Moors he would presently make a voyage into the Low-countreys and in person moderate the severitie if any such were of his fathers Edicts In the mean time he rested confident that the troubles would be quieted by the Lords endeavours whereupon formerly relying both his father the Emperour and he himself never feared what their enemies could do and now he doubted not but their old loyalty would easily compose a sedition raised by a few private men Onely the pardons which the Governesse in her letters to the King desired for certain persons were by his Majestie more resolutely then seasonably put off till another time In the interim the evil increasing and the opportunitie of applying a fit remedie being past his Majestie lost the Grace and favour he intended And truly mischiefs sprung not up severally or by intervals but compleated and in a knot breaking forth all at once For in the bordering Countreys the Master-hereticks watching how discord prospered in the Low-countreys that they might take occasion to vent their outlandish wares and sell them the new Gospel flocking in crouds the Calvinists out of France and the Lutherans and Anabaptists out of Germany invaded and as it were attached their nearest neighbour-towns First they held their Conventicles in the fields by night then successe smiling upon them fearing likewise that if differences chanced to be composed they should fail of dispatching what they came for they thought it best by way of prevention to shew themselves in the light and before the people that ran to meet them out of towns and villages boldly to preach against the Spanish tirannie against Religion corrupted by the Bishops and for the pure and sincere light of the Gospel Emulation made them more impudent lest the Calvinists that had indeed fewer great persons of their faction but more Proselytes and applause should be lesse powerfull then the Lutherans And the Anabaptists being farre more in number then the Lutherans scorned to be worsted by the Calvinists or that the Lutherans should have more great Protectours then both the other Sects Therefore they made haste in zeal of spirit to feiz upon Cities and Towns as if they were to make new plantations every one being for himself and all against One. Miserable and calamitous at that time was the condition of the Low-countreys many of the noblest Provinces being suddenly hurried into factions and running upon the rocks of errour Whilst impure men Apostates both from divine and humane faith whilst the scumme of their own nations the Refuse of Germany and France promised themselves a kind of sovereignty in the Low-countreys and ran up and down as if hell had been broke loose filling all places with turbulent sermons infamous libells hopes fears and jealousies Whilst such a multitude first out of the next villages but at last out of great towns came with incredible desire to hear these trumpeters of the new Gospel that once in the fields of Tournay above eight thousand men were seen at a sermon Near Lisle they appeared in greater shoals At Antwerp in one day were gathered together thirteen thousand next day fourteen thousand a while after sixteen thousand men Lastly taking more freedome in many places especially at Valenciens and upon the borders of Flanders they married people in the fields and baptized infants after the Calvinisticall manner And that all this might be done with safety they meet at these Conventicles and Sermons armed with pikes and muskets I know the Reader will not a little wonder to hear what they say the Low-treymen themselves were amazed when they saw how the Peopleâ— zeal of hearing sermons came to such a height that neither the Magistrates by authoritie nor their Officers by force nor
set ladders to the walls with hammers and slaves battering the pictures Others broke a sunder the iron work seats and pulpit Others casting ropes about the great statues of our Saviour Christ and the Saints pulled them down to the ground Others stole the consecrated plate burnt the sacred Books and stript the Altars of their holy ornaments and that with so much securitie with so little regard of the Magistrate or Prelates as you would think they had been sent for by the common Councell and were in pay with the citie With the same fury they likewise burned the Bishop of Ipre's library and destroyed the rest of the Churches and Religious nouses of the town reacting their villanies and because the first prospered still presuming This sacrilegious robbery continued a whole day Part of the people being amazed to see them not taking them for men but devils in humane shapes and part rejoycing that now those things were done which they themselves had long ago designed Nor had the Magistrate and Senatours any greater care of Religion Perhaps this sudden inundation took away their sense and judgement perhaps being privy to the plot they idle and carelesse kept their houses Indeed the whole Citie frighted like passengers in a Shipwrack beheld the destruction never putting to their helping hands The next day another party of Church-robbers either kept for a reserve or taking example by what was done about St. Omer had orders to plunder Menin Commines Vervich and other Towns upon the Lys which they did with the like violence All things holy that were portable they carried away the rest they cut in pieces and burned Thence passing the River they came within the Liberties of Lisle many of the Townsmen joyning with them and having robbed a rich Monastery which they call Marquet mad and drunk some went to Doway some to Seclin But the Secliners and other neighbour Towns catching up any weapon that came to hand faced them upon their march and shewed themselves ready to punish the injury offered to Religion unless those thieves would take another way But they with the same impudence striving to go forward and to break through them the Countrey came in and falling upon them slew a great sort and routed the rest making them flie in great distraction forcing many into the boggs drowing some in the river and carrying others into the Town in triumph But this was a slight revenge when at the same time almost all Flanders did as furiously assault God himself and all his Saints no man resisting The news whereof much afflicted the Governess who in great grief of heart turning to Count Egmont that waited on her from the Sermon to her Privie-chamber said Do you hear Egmont what good news comes from your Province of Flanders Unhappy Woman that I am to see in the time of my Government such indignities offered to God and to the King And will you in whose worth and fidelity his Majestie hath alwayes put such confidence suffer these foul villanyes to passe unpunished in the Province committed to your charge and when he answered That in the first place the Kings Authority must be carefully maintained and then Religion would easily be restored the Governess not without indignation replied that his counsel was not just but rather before all humane things the honour and worship of God ought to be preferred the neglect whereof would be a farre greater misery then the losse of any power or fortune whatsoever This was her opinion and likewise the Kings who resolved to put nothing in ballance with Religion And when Egmont added That men were of another mind who had estates in these Provinces which they feared to loose she concluded with the same constancie that it was indeed to be wished and would be a more prudent course to preserve both Religion and temporall Power but if one of them must go to wrack the safetie of Religion ought principally to be respected which once lost would never be repaired with the addition either of Wealth or Empire To this purpose her Excellence spake in Senate also which she speedily summoned Wherein it was decreed that Maximil Rassinghem who succeeded Iohn Currier deceased in the Government of French Flanders should immediately enter Lisle with the horse commanded by the Lord Montiny who was then in Spain and not suffer the people that had been plundering consecrated Goods to return into the town before they had yeilded up their Arms and that he had carried them to the Magazine And notwithstanding Egmont did not well approve of this kind of proceeding but affirmed that if the Governess went by the way of Arms this Insurrection would not be quieted till 200000 men hast lost their lives yet she gave not off her resolution but answered It were better that Roat the dregs of mankind if they would not renounce their heresie should be banished or destroyed then they should be suffered to commit such execrable wickedness lest the good men of the Low-countreys should at length either be infected with their contagion or forced by them to flie their Countrey in case the multitude prevailed Whilst these preparations were made at Court the rage of the Low-countrey Hereticks was not laid but like a storm now violently carried into this now into that quarter terrified every Province especially Antwerp Where upon the day of the Assumption of our Lady for the Antwerpers have the Blessed Virgin for their Patroness whilst her Image in solemn Procession was carried upon mens shoulders from the great Church through the streets the symptomes of that disease appeared which brake forth soon after Some jeering rascals of the meaner sort of Artificers first laughed and hissed at the holy Solemnitie then impiously and impudently with mimick salutations and reprochfull words mockt the Effigies of the mother of God and had presumed to lay sacrilegious hands upon it but that by the care of those that ordered the Procession it was set down not as was usuall in the middle-Isle of the Church but speedily conveyed into the Quire And next day for base people grow bolder if they find themselves feared many came into the Church and some playing their gambols before our Ladies Chappel asked her in scorn why she had so early flown up to the roust Others ran about the great Church threatning the Altars and Images among whom an impudent Rogue a Sadler got up into the Pulpit and when this impious Mimick had counterfeited the tone and gesture of a Preacher desiring them to reach him a Bible he challenged any of the Catholick Priests to come and dispute with him and whilst they received him on the one side with applauses and on the other with casting faggot-sticks and rubbish at him which he threw at his audience again at length the scuffle increasing as if they had been in the streets a Catholick Spipper not able
the fifth Book The Historie of the LOW-COVNTREY WARRES The sixt Booke BUT whilst the pen was thus imployed Brederod raised some Forces at Antwerp and upon receipt of these Letters from the Governesse made hast to increase his number of which he carried with him above 1400 to Viana a Towne of his own in Holland fortified to that end a little while before Part of these men marched by land part was transported in seven Shipps followed with a Uessell laden with Armes and Ammunition It was said that William Count Lumè a Marcha Escanbechius Villers and Malberg were to bring thither 1500 horse from the Covenanteers and that Lewis of Nassau was likewise expected there with the German Forces under his Command that having mustered the Army at Viana they might send them into severall parts as occasion should require This rejoyced the Hereticks who now openly bragged that at length their cause was well followed and the Nobility revolting from the King had cut off all hope of pardon That it was not to be doubted but that besides the Counts Hochstrat and Horne Orange himselfe would declare for them nor durst Brederod presume as he had done but that he relyed on higher powers though it was conceived that amidst those troubles he aymed at the Principality of Holland whereunto he pretended a Title and to that private end used the Assistance of the Lords His Ambition was flatterâ—d by the Covenanteers but in the mean time every one had their particular Designe Wherefore a while after most of the principall Cities of the Low-countries Antwerp the Bus Vtrecht and Maestriecht Amsterdam Groeningen Tournay besides Valenciens and others by the increase of their Souldiers seemed to threaten a desertion from the King Anthony Bomberg of Antwerp fell upon the Bus a Towne of Brabant and tooke it by the helpe of the Hereticks that were the stronger party he was lately fled thither out of the storme of the French commotions wherin he served under the Prince of Conde from thence being rebandied to his Country as he was of an Vnquiet restlesse Spirit he bounded againe into the Belgick Tumults and increased the number of the Covenanteers But the Governesse having formerly sent Merodius Lord of Peter Semy and Scheiff Chancellour of Brabant to settle the Motions of that Towne when she heard they Could not do it her Excellence commanded the Count of Megen to draw towards the Town with some Troopes of Horse directing withall Her Letters at the same time both to the Citizens of the Bus and to her agents there Graciously conferring with the Citizens about receiving a Garrison into their City and restoring it to the antient Priviledges and giving Instructions to Her Agents for pressing it to the Magistrats The Letters were intercepted by Bomberg in place whereof he counterfeited two others as written from the Governesse proudly to the Citizens and deceiptfully to her Agents and when he read them to the Magistrate having given out among the people that the towne should have beene betrayed by Merodius and the Chancellour the furious Multitude flocked about their Houses railing vpon them for Traytours and besieged them a day and a night till Bomberg had ripened his Plot. Who taking the incensed Rabble before their fury cooled the rarest time for Mischeif perswaded them that Count Megen was the principall Traytour and that they should therefore come upon him whilst he expected but the word for entering of the Towne They easily believed that Count Megen would attempt it to revenge the private Iniuryes done to his Towne of Megen by those of the Bus which being their neighbours and the stronger had oppressed them Bomberg therefore takes vpon him the Command in cheife and instantly raising 800 men and planting some great Cannon on the walls when the Count march'd up he unexpectedly fired and beat him back with the losse onely of his Plot upon the Towne and an affront received which he deepely resented Count Megen not having then sufficient forces to lay seige to so strong a place marched to Vtrecht for this was in his Orders from the Governesse and the charge was stricter because she feared that Towne by reason of the neighbourhood of Viana which was the general Rendezvous of the Covenanteers And they of Vtrecht because their lands daily sâ—ffered by the incursions of Brederods Souldiers willingly received a Garrison from the Count and by his directions presently built a Fort upon the banke of the River Leck right against Viana Nor was Brederod lesse actiâ—e but in the interim having setled Viana and being called to Amsterdam by the Gheuses he came thither disguised and then in his owne opinion his hope stood faire for the Principality of Holland At the same time Iames Marnixius Lord of Tholouse one of the Covenanteers shipt 600 men at Antwerp in three bottoms and sent them downe the water into Zeland hoping whilst other parts were in combustion unobserved in the Tumult assisted by the Pretour of Middleburgh to possesse himself of Vlushing and the whole Island of Walcheren which is the Head of Zeland But the Governesse was before him for she had made Cattey a faithfull and valiant Gentleman Governour of Vlushing and commanded him to carry some Regiments from the Marches of Flanders and draw them out in order of battaile before Walcheren Therefore when the Tholousians came within sight of the Island they were easily beat back and vainely expecting Brederod who was kept in action by Megen tâ—at appeared with his horse sometimes before Amsterdam sometimes before Viana they fairely passed the River againe into Brabant but at Ostervell a village neare Antwerp they made a halt and ayming at things above their strength pitched their Tents upon the banks of Scheldt and there intrenched and daily increasing with multitudes of Exiles and Outlawes that fled unto them for protection they sent them out in partyes to the adjoyning Townes and Villages where they robbed and fired the Churches returning to the Army loaded with spoyle and frighting or incouraging Antwerp according to the severall factions within the City But the Governesse particularly fearing Antwerp lest Tholouse might bring in his Army and strengthen the Gheuses calling to her Philip Lanoy Lord of Beavor a noble and industrious commander she said I call God to witnesse I am unwilling and with much reluctation forced to a War the Fame of Uictory a glory that hath wrought with many Women and might with me out of the sense of my Fathers invincible and martiall Bloud I never aspired unto in my Province of the Low-countries But since with stubborne-natured and implacable wicked men neither by indulgence nor pardon I have beene able to effect any thing but onely the lessening of my Authority and their feare truly I should not lay to heart either the cause of Religion or of the King and Country if
began to offer his Service and to be active in publique Affayres First taking the Oath as he had promised in the forme wherein it was administred and putting downe the Consistoryes in the lower Flanders he in person with six Companyes of Foote disarmed diverse Townes and shewed himselfe so averse to the Designes of some of his Collegues that by Count Hochstrats Servant theiâ— vsuall Messenger he advised them to attempt nothing against Religion the King or their owne Honour if they did he would hate them worse then a white Scarfe which was the ordinary Weare of the French Horse This made Hochstrat and the rest send to him for the Originalls of all the Letters and Petitions which he had at any time received from them returning him those he had sent to them an undoubted Argument that their Friendship was dissolved Notwithstanding the Governesse was fearefull that all this might be cunningly dissembled But whether Egmont did it bonâ fide now hating the proceedings of the Covenanteers or whether he complyed with the Governesse to take off the ill opinion conceived of him now upon the King's Approach certainly it was of much advantage to the Catholique cause For many of the Covenanteers the Prince of Orange having left them and frighted to see Egmont with some of the greatest Lords fall off the rest growing jealous of one another every man shifted for himselfe and either personally or by friends petitioned the Governesse for their Pardons and bound themselves as they were required by a new Oath Not long after Hochstrat and Horne wrote to the Governesse promising to take the Oath in her presence nay the last named sent a Copy of the Oath inclosed in his Letter The Counts Culemburg and Bergen had now left the Low-countryes Lewis of Nassau followed the Prince his Brother So that Feare had severed the foure principall Confederates excepting only Brederod who still lived in hope This caused an universall dejectednesse and consternation of the Merchants and Hereticks complaining they were deserted contrary to the Covenant and crying the Nobility had betraid them This caused diverse especially Ministers to fly this incouraged the Governesse to use expedition that whilst the Heads of the Conspirators were timerous and at difference among themselves she might the more easily reduce the stubborne people to their antient Obedience And now by command from the Governesse Norcarmius with â—1 Companies of Foote and 10. piece of Cannon was to attaque Maestricht in Brabant But they of that City hearing of the Surrender of Valenciens immediately turned out of Towne all the preaching Hereticks and factious Teachers Then understanding that Norcarmius drew neare they forthwith sent Commissioners to the Governesse to beseech a pardon for what was past promising for the future to continue faithfull to the King and Bishop For part of Maestricht is subject to the Bishop of Liege and part to the King as Duke of Brabant The Governesse gave them a short Dispatch and referred them soundly chidden to be answered by Norcarmius The Commissioners were no sooner gone but Messengers came from Gerard Grosbeck Bishop of Liege assuring the Governesse that the Hereticall Sinke at Maestricht wâ—s now cleane swept That many of the Citisens with the Magistrate even when that Plague was hottest kept themselves uninfected That the Gentry and Communalty were not past Cure as plainely appeared by the suddaine change made in the City converted chiefly by the endeavours of one of the Society sent for from Colen by the Bishop which Father dayly chalenging the Hereticall Doctours to dispute and dayly confuting them had brought them to a perfect Recovery of their old Religion and Allegeance And therefore the people if they might but have a pardon would satisfy for their Delinquency with more earnest Observance and were now ready to receive a Garrison though the Bishop himselfe did not conceive any necessity for making it a Garrison the Firebrands of the Rebellion being now extinguished Or if her Excellence were concerned in honour not to alter her Determination that one or two Companyes would be sufficient That he himselfe for his own part had pardoned those of Maestricht with promise to be a Suiter in their behalfe for the like pardon from the Governesse the rather because he considered himselfe not only as their Prince but as their Father well knowing the mercy of the Governesse Who thanking the Bishop for his message full of kindnesse and charity told them it was not in her power to imitate their Master's Example the King having taken from her all Authority of pardoning Offences of this nature but she was confident they might hope no lesse from the Kings Clemency In the meane time it was necessary that a new Garrison which she might confide in should be put in into Maestricht to prevent the practice of Traitours that made sure account of that Towne lying no lesse convenient to receive Succours out of Germany then Valenciens for Ayde from France She had therefore commanded Norcarmius to take Maestricht but first to advise with the Bishop and to that end she had sent Turius Secretary of her Privy Counsell to give him notice of their March The Messengers replying that Maestricht was not like other Townes of the Low-Countryes because part of the Jurisdiction appertained to the Bishop The Governesse answered not that particular for she used sometimes to returne Silence for an Answer saying these that had not ill eares would be sufficiently answered by not being answered The Army in the meane time made long Marches with cheerefulnesse proper to Conquerours and invited forward by the hope of Plunder But the Maestrichers were as quicke in yielding and excepted against nothing which Norcarmius in the Governesses name commanded Who entring the Towne tooke the keyes from the Magistrate and all their great Cannon and Munition from the City disarmed the Townsmen hanged the Author of the Rebellion in the Market-place and leaving Egidius Barlamont with part of his Forces in Garrison he with the rest marched towards Holland as the Governesse had appointed to joyne himselfe with Charles Brimey Count of Megen The Citizens of the Bus doubting which way the Conquerour would take were so much the more fearfull of the Governesse by how much they knew they had more justly merited her indignation For by her Edict she had proclaimed them Enemyes to the King for their uncivill usage and detaining of Merodius and Scheiff Chancellour of Brabant which she had sent unto them for expelling Count Megen and admitting Bomberg which Edict confiscated the Wealth of the City and deprived them of all their Priviledges till such time as they should returne her Commiss The Townsmen though at first they slighted her Decree yet at length better advised by the nearnesse of the Danger unknown to Bomberg beseeched the Governesse to grant a safe Conduct for certaine Commiâ—â— of theirs to
spoke a formall Preamble read a Booke written in High Dutch that with many tedious and odious calumniations concluded that the profession of Auspurg being more agreeable to the word of God then the Catholique Religion ought to be received in the Lower Germany at least not prohibited by Edicts and penall Lawes The Governesse was therefore desired by the Princes of the Higher Germany that the People otherwise inoffensive might not be troubled for their Religion and exposed to the Tyranny of the Spanish Inquisition and other censures of Law The whole Presence being moved with indignation at his words he gave the Booke to the Governesse Her Excellence when the Embassadours withdrew advising about it in Councell infinitely displeased delivered her opinion that they should be returned without Answer But it was thought more civill that Secretary Scaremberg should answer them in these words That the Embassadors preamble concerning Religion was not worthy of a Reply What they had said in excuse of the stubborne Rebells and Church-Robbers demonstrated that the German Princes gave lesse credit to the King of Spaine's and the Governesse's Letters then to the complaints of seditious men whose innocence belike appeared in Sacriledge forcing of Magistrates and stirring up the People to Rebellion Therefore from the Governesse they should admonish those that sent them to give the King leave to govern his owne Subjects and not by their patronage of Rebells to foment discords within another Prince's Iurisdiction The Embassadours replyed they came only to intreat for their Brethren of the confession of Auspurg that were not Rebells but they had no answer to that point And foure dayes after their Arrivall they returned seeming very much discontented all but the Embassadour of Saxony who unknowne to the rest told the Governesse that his Master by others perswasions was over-ruled in the sending of this Embassy for he himselfe was affectionate to the House of Austria and it was his desire to be so accounted The Embassadours were not gone out of Towne when newes came that the Covenanteers were overthrown in Holland and Brederod forced to depart the Country 4000. of those Rebels under the Command of Andelot Vinglius and Lefdale had possessed themselves of Holland vexing and plundering the Country Most of which thinking to surprise Amsterdam were met by Count Megen with 13. Companyes of valiant Souldiers that not only spoyled their project of taking the Towne but also pursued and forced them into Waterland a marish part of Holland and therefore inaccessible Yet they were affraied that to this very place they should be followed by Megen with whose Forces it was reported Norcarmius would joyne Therefore they tooke shipping for Frizeland but were caryed the wind lying against them into Gelderland from thence dispersing themselves into severall Countryes they all escaped out of the King's Dominions Only one Ship laded with the Spoyle of the Holland-Churches and manned with 120. Souldiers aboard which was Andolott Vinglius and the two Brothers Gisbert and Theoderick Battinburg either by violence of the Storme or practice of the Master Duncher Harling came into the hands of Ernest Mulart who had Count Aremberg's Commission to give chase to the Fugitives with a nimble Pinnace The Souldiers lost all their Armes and plunder some of them their lives The principall Commanders were by warrant from the Governesse imprisoned some at Harling others at Vilvord and a few Months after when the Duke of Alva was Governour of the Low-Countryes they were put to death Of all the confederates only Brederod yet remained proud in the hope of recovering Holland and glorying that he alone was head of the Covenanteers The Governesse sending him a command to depart from Amsterdam Brederod not only refused to obey but likewise detained the Messenger her Secretary Turrius who in the King's name charged him forthwith to leave the Towne but he would not so much as heare the Royall Edict read and taking away the Secretaryes Letters and Notes kept him in his House But the Magistrate offended at his dishonourable proceeding and frighted with newes of the Render of Valenciens sent away Turrius by night without acquainting Brederod Who seeing the Gheuses every where beaten and destroyed the Covenanteers flying or making of their peace and all the burthen both of the Danger and Hatred to lye upon himselfe trying to get his pardon but in vaine and lastly hearing how the rest of their Forces in Holland were either routed or slaine out of heart and frighted with the Report of the King 's coming he fled his Country and for the present waved his hopes of the Principality of Holland With expedition thereof setling his Affaires and leaving a few of his Servants in the Fort at Viana his patrimoniall City with his Wife and the rest of his Family he arrived at Emden a City of East-Frizeland at the mouth of the River Eems Being received with no great honour at Emden he went to Breme in Westphalia Desirous to change place againe and uncertaine as well in his Resolutions as in his Journeys because he found himselfe mockt with the Hope of a Crowne and not able to digest the disgrace of being only titulary Prince of the Covenant whilst he was raising some Forces in the County of Schouwenburg and solliciting the Count of that place Iustus to declare himselfe against the Low-Countryes he sickned and falling into a distraction dyed raving in the Towne of Schouwenburg After Brederods Flight all Holland was reduced For not only Viana by speedy Messengers sued for their Pardon and a Garrison though they obtained neither their pardon being deferred till the King's Arrivall and the Governesse signifying her pleasure that the works of the Towne should be slighted and the Fort dismantled that was built contrary to her command but likewise Amsterdam Leyden Harlem and Delph made it their humble and earnest Suite some to Count Megen some to Norcarmius to send them Garrisons The like did Middelburg and the other Townes of Zeland as also Groening Daventrey and all Frizeland submitting to their Governour Aremberg Lastly there was no City Towne Fort or village of the Low-Countryes that did not strive to turne out the Hereticall Doctours and seditious Incendiaries yielding themselves to the King's Pleasure and Mercy Yet was the Governesse no lesse vigilant or secure notwithstanding all this prosperity having for many yeares had the Experience of good and bad Fortune Wherefore being more carefull to establish then for the present to enjoy her Felicity she placed Garrisons in the Townes that were rendered ordering the Cityes to pay the Souldiers as a Fine for their Delinquency In some places she modelled Forts particularly at Antwerp where she her selfe designed the Situation nor was it altered by the Duke of Alva The Church-Thieves and principall Rebells were arraigned condemned and hanged and the Churches repaired with their confiscated Estates or with
led the Neopolitan Regiment consisting of 19. Colours viz. 3230. men Sancho Londognios had the Millaine Regiment comprehending under 10. Colours 2200. The Sicilian under as many Ensignes contained 1620. commanded by Iuliano Romero The like number of Sardinians were mustered under Colonell Gonsalvo Bracamonte Ferdinand de Toledo Prior of Castile of the Order of Saint Iohns of Hierusalem Bastard Son to the Duke of Alva was Generall of the Horse that were Spaniards Italians and Epirots The Campe-Master Generall was Chiapino Vitelli Marquesse of Cetona an old Generall famous for many Victoryes and upon the King's request sent by the Duke of Florence to serve his Majesty who likewise borrowed of the Duke of Savoy Francisco Paciotto of Vrbin Count of Montis-Faber an admirable Engineere and rarely skilled in fortification The Generall of the Traine of Artillery was Gabriell Serbellonio a Knight of Saint Iohns at Hierusalem Prior of Hungary a gallant Souldier and a most excellent Cannoneere To these great Field-Officers was added Commissary Generall of the Horse a new command lately instituted by Ferdinando Gonzaga Governour of Millaine and Generall for Charles the fifth and at this time the Duke of Alva first brought that Office into the Low-countryes bestowing it upon Anthonio Olivera descended from that Marino Olivera whom Pedro King of Castile sent for out of France with some other Commanders to beat the Moores out of Spaine and Anthonio was well able to discharge the place having been an old Souldier both in Italy and Africa and being then a Colonell in Millaine from whence he first brought into the Low-countryes the Name and Office of Commissary-Generall of the Horse No lesse gallant men were the Captaines of every Troope and Company Charles Davalo Son to Vastius Commander in chiefe with his Brother Piscario in the Battailes fought in Piemont and Millaine emulating therein the antient Glory of his valiant Ancestors Bernardino Mendoza then famous for his valour afterwards for his History Camillo a Monte Brother to Iohn Baptista Marchio sent before into the Low-countryes who trayled a Pike under his Vncle Chiapinio since he was twelve yeares old Christopher Mondragonio that had served under Charles the fifth in his Italian African and German Warres and is said to be one of those ten Spaniards that with memorable Bravery holding their Swords between their teeth swam the River Albis taking the Boates from the farther Shoare and bringing them back to the Emperour through a Tempest of Shot made a Bridge of them to passe over his Army a very advantageous Service that hastned the Conquest of Saxony Sancho Avila bred up to the Warres from a boy by the Duke of Alva and till death his constant Follower Curtius Comes Martinengo Nicholao Basta Francisco Verdugo and diverse others almost all old Souldiers that had seen many severall Services and won as many Victoryes Having mustered his Army he divided it into three parts and so marched over the Cenisian Mountaine the highest ridge of the Appenine into Savoy The Van wherein was the Neopolitan Regiment with five Troopes of Italian and Spanish Horse was led by the Duke of Alva himselfe The second Division consisting of Londognio's Regiment with foure Troops of Spanish horse was commanded by his Son Ferdinando The Marquesse Vitelli brought up the Rere containing the Sicilian and Sardinian Regiments and two Troops of Epirots The Front of every company by a new invention was flanked with 15. Supernumeraryes armed with Musketoones and Rests wherein they layed the battell that could not be managed by the hand For before his time such huge Muskets as unmanageable were drawne upon Carriages and only used at Sieges from whence being translated into the Field and those that carry them mixed with the lesser Musketeers they have been found extraordinary serviceable in Battailes Gabriel Serbellonio and Francesco Ibarra were sent before with some Companyes of Souldiers and Artificers this to provide Victuall he to examine the way and to prepare Quarter They had Orders from Vitelli that the Army marching in three Divisions the second should still lodge upon the place from whence the first was moved and when this dislodged the last should have Quarter there And thus in Iune by short Marches over the Alpes and through Savoy the Army came into the County of Burgundy where it was increased with 400. Horse all young Burgundians Passing through Loraine about the beginning of August the Duke arrived in the Low-countreys offending none in his Passage nor being himselfe offended by any one Though the French appeared in Armes upon the Marches of Burgundy and Colonell Tavan by command from the French King with 4000. Foot and some Troopes of Horse for defence of the Borders still costed the Spanish Army Indeed I doe not thinke that ever any Army marched so farre and kept stricter Rules of Discipline So that from Italy even to the Low-countryes not only no Townes but not any Cottage was forced or injuried Only one crime in their Entrance to Loraine was committed by three Dragoones driving away as many Weathers from a Flock of Sheep who upon examination of the Fact by the Duke of Alva were immediately condemned to be hanged the Sheep sent back yet upon the intercession of a Loraine Captaine sent from his Duke to meet the Duke of Alva on the Borders two of their lives were pardoned in honour of the Duke of Loraine and the third was hanged up by lot for they cast Dice upon the Drum-head and it was his fortune to dye that inticed the other two When the Duke of Alva came to Theonvill in the province of Lutzenburg the Counts Alberick Lodronio Otho Oberstein and Schowenburg received him in the head of their German Regiments with Volleys of Shot and generall acclamations There was present Charles Barlamont and Philip Norcarmius he Governour of Namure this of Haynolt both come from the Governesse to salute the Duke of Alva who had sent Francis Ibarra to present his Service to the Governesse and to receive her directions in what Towns the Army should be quartered Wherein though the Governesse differed from the Dukes Opinion because she would haue Bruxells a City allwayes faithfull to the King exempted from this burden yet he pretending the security and honour of the King who was to be resident in that City lodged his Army part in the suburbs thereof part at Gant and in other neighbouring Townes Lodronio with his Regiment which had twelve Ensignes and under every Ensigne 300 men was sent to Antwerp and Count Mansfeldt whom the Governesse by order from the King had made Generall of the German Horse was commanded to disband his Lowcountry-Souldiers and resigne his Goverment of Antwerp to Lodronio A little while after the Duke of Alva attended with many Lords that met him on the way entered Bruxells and went directly to Court where he cursorily kissing
this Mischiefe is vulgarly imputed to the Duke of Alva for before he came Governour to these Provinces his name was hatefull to the Lowcountry-men It is reported when the Emperour Charles the fifth meaning to revenge himselfe upon Gant asked the Duke of Alva what Punishment in his Opinion they deserved He answered that his Majestyes stubborne Country deserved vtter Ruine The Emperour offended at this cruell Answer commanded him to go to the top of a Tower from thence take a View of the whole Towne then he asked him how many Spanish Skinnes would goe to the making of such a Glove for Gant in French is Glove but finding the Emperour by his looke to be displeased Alva durst make no Reply This Passage because interwoven with the Honour of the Prince and City whether true or false was easily believed by the Gantois and from them dispersed with an Odium upon Alva through the rest of the Lowcountreys And by the manner of his Coming he increased the Opinion of his Severity entring the Provinces with an Army as if his designe were to Conquer them bringing Spanish Souldiers againe into the Low-countreys awing the Townes with them and with the Forts he built sentencing Count Egmont a man generally beloved and Count Horne Admirall of the Seas summoning the Prince of Orange with other of the Confederates to answer their Impeachments And it is said he perswaded the King that he should not out of Lenity of which there had beene too much allready pardon any man for the future And indeede if his Majesty had granted the Petition made by the Prince of Orange that his owne and his Friends causes might be heard by the King as Master of the Order of the Fleece not by the Duke of Alva and his Councell many thinke they had hardly at this time begun the Warre But the sentence of the inraged King condemning the Prince of Orange and his confederates of High Treason and confiscating their Estates being pronounced by an odious Minister and so the Odium reflecting upon the Judgement it selfe may seeme to have constrained their taking of Armes upon a just resentment and consequently that the miserable and long Warre ensuing should rather be charged upon the Spaniards then the Low-countrey-men as some say but what are they men of that number which saith Polybius conceive the Causes and Beginnings of a Warre to be the same For my owne part as I will not deny but that Alva's cruell and hatefull Government was the Occasion and Beginning so I assure my selfe it was not the Cause of the Warre For the cause was much deeper grounded Indeed the Prince of Orange's Ambition to command in chiefe exasperated with griefe and Anger heightned by the accesse of Hereticks and opportunity of a Party men of all qualities ingaging this was the Cause which if it had not then and from that Originall taken fire to kindle a Warre in a little more time and from another Place would have found combustible matter Nor can occasion be long wanting to Improbity But the Prince of Orange his Fact was so fortunate as to find Patronage in the Hatred of another For he upon the Sentence pronounced by the Duke of Alva against him his Brother and many great persons tooke up Armes with so much the fairer pretence by how much it seemed not only just but glorious to defend himselfe to recover his owne and to vindicate his Associates his Son and Countrey in their Rights and Liberties In the Relation of which Warre managed by the Duke of Alva and his Successour Ludovico Requesenes I shall contract my selfe especially where I have no more nor no certainer Intelligence then others For which two Reasons I have inlarged my discourse in the Dutchesse or Parma's Government and shall doe in that of Don Iohn of Austria and of Alexander Farneze For I can promise many Animadversions concerning them out of the Monuments of Letters in my hands which are not common Yet in this Summary if there be any thing as I presume there will be diverse which I know and is unknowne to others I shall not faile to give it you at full Some thought the future Calamities were presaged by a Boy borne at Liege with two Heads foure Feet and as many Hands portending as they said the Monster of a Confederation to be made out of the joynt Forces of sundry Nations which soone after came to passe This Terrour was increased in minds already disposed to feare by a Fire immediatly after happening in the City of Machlin For a sparke falling among the Gunpowder at the Mills by accident or perhaps upon designe tooke hold of 60. Barrels with such a horrid thunder and Earthquake that in most of the Cityes of Brabant the men and houses trembed at the dreadfull noyse Though in regard these Powder-Milles used to be distant from Townes there were but few men slaine yet there might have been fewer and would be daily if as we sever seditious persons lest by coming together they set the State in a Combustion so the Elements that make Gunpowder were kept a sunder But Alva more moved with the Losse then with the Prodigy laid the foundation of a Fort at Antwerp modelled by the great Engineere Paciotto approved of by the Judgment of Serbellonio raised by the hands of 2000. Workmen with extraordinary Speed and Successe because he used but one man's contrivance and one man's counsell It was built in the forme of a Pentagon at every one of the sides was a large bulwarke to foure of which the Governour gave his owne name and titles Ferdinando Toledo Duke and Alva the fifth he suffered to be called Paciotto But this Fort though it long continued a patterne to all the new Plat-formes of Europe and that Paciotto got himselfe a great name by it being from thence called the Inventour of the moderne Fortification yet it was not by all men equally esteemed as for other Causes so particularly for the Situation upon that banke of the Scheldt which looketh towards Brabant in so much as when the Enemy from Holland attacques the Towne it cannot beat them off as it would have done had it been placed on the other side the City against the mouth of Scheldt opposite to Holland But 't is excused by some that say when Alva built this Fort he rather considered how he might defend himselfe from the Towne then the Towne from the Enemy And they add that the place was discreetly chosen as opportune for the bringing in contribution from those Provinces subject to the Spaniard which indeed is most considerable in the building of Forts a convenience they had wanted in case it had looked towards Holland Though I suppose Serbellonio had not this in designe For when he raised this Fort Holland was no lesse obedient to the King then Brabant and therefore he would have provided
footman strucke off his head Presently after Count Horne with the same constancy was by the same Executioner beheaded both their heads being for two houres set upon two speares for the City to behold Their Bodyes were immediately carryed into the next Churches and the day after together with their Heads sent to the chiefe Cityes of their owne Provinces and there honourably buryed The miserable Death of Count Egmont for he was generally beloued was lamented by the Low-countrymen with greater Spleene then Sorrow Some whereof despising danger dipt their handkerchers in his bloud and kept them either as Monuments of Love or Incitements to Revenge Others kissed his leaden Coffin and without any feare of an Informer publiquely threatened Vengeance Insomuch as diverse Person noting the Low-countrymen's Violent affections to his Memory and their detestation of the very name of Alva said that by Egmonts death the Confederates were first established and foretold that all the Lowcountreys would in a short time contrary to the Duke's Expectation be involued in Tumults This Prediction gave credit to the report that presently after it rained bloud in the Fields about Lovain the Multitude easily believing what their Hatred supposes to be done in Heaven And indeed there are that doubt not but it would have beene more policy in the Duke to have made their Execution private and not presented that distastfull Scene and Pompe of Egmont's Tragedy to the people For they doe ill that make the Favourers and Pittyers of the Cause Spectators of the Punishsment But Alva resolving to make an Example of Terrour which hee then thought necessary slighted Hate or Envy It is reported the French Embassadour who privatly beheld the Execution wrote to King Charles that he had seene in the Market-place at Bruxells his head struck off whose Valour had twice made France tremble intimating the losse of the French Nobility at Saint Quintin and Graueling the first of which Battailes was almost the second altogether purchased by the Courage and conduct of Count Egmont He dyed in the fortie sixth yeare of his age leaving by Sabina of Bavier to whom he was married at Spires in presence of the Emperour Charles the fifth eight Daughters and three Sons the eldest inheriting his Fathers Vertues the second nothing but his Hatred to the Spaniard the third who was faithfull to the King only left Issue to the Family He had a Brother that followed the Emperour Charles into Africa and dyed in Italy a Sister marryed to Count Vadamont Mother to Frances Wife to Henry the third of France The Nobility of his House was antient their Power much greater once when the Dukes of Egmont were Lords of Gelderlandt He tooke his name from Egmond a Towne in the farthest part of Holland neare the westerne Shore of which he still wrote himselfe Count though he was Prince of Gavera a Towne upon the banke of Schelt not farre from Gant Charles the fifth created him knight of the Golden-Fleece King Philip trusted him with the Governement of the most noble Provinces of Flanders and Artois He was a man for the Heroicall Vertues of his mind and body worthy a farre better Fate though the very infelicity of his Death as Compassion looks upon all things through a multiplying Glasse did not a Little increase the opinion of his Vertues Nor was it any disadvantage to his Children restored by King Philip to all their Father 's personall and reall Estate But Philip Count of Horne who was likewise Knight of the Golden-Fleece dyed foure yeares elder then Count Egmont his Brother the Lord Montiny being for the same Cause condemned and beheaded in Spaine whither he was by the Governesse sent Embassadour with the Marquesse of Bergen Nor was Count Horne of a lesse noble family then Count Egmont being descended of the French Momorancyes and had courage equall to his Honour as appeared at the Battaile at Saint Quintin and in the magnificent discharge of two great offices of Admirall and Captaine of the life Guard Hee first tryled a Pike under the Emperour Charles the Fifth to whom he was a Subject for Horne an Imperiall Castle betweene Gelderland and Brabant whence he had his Title of Count though he was possessed of many other Townes and Castles within the Kings Dominions Indeed his death could not have beene moderately lamented but that Egmont had consumed all men's Teares After this the Duke of Alva resolved to move speedily to Friezland sending before with part of his Forces Chiapino Vitelli his Campe-Master-Generall who entring the Groine Valiantly defended that Towne against Lewis of Nassau that sate downe before it Then the Duke in person having payed a Souldiers Duty to Count Aremberg and with the sad Military Ceremonies waited on him to his Grave went about the end of Iune from Bruxells to Antwerp leaving Gabriel Serbellonio there in Garrison with eight Companyes of Germans for defence of the Fort and Towne At the Bus he stayed till Cressonerius came up with seaenteene Field-pieces marching thence in the beginning of Iuly he passed the Mose at Grave from thence he went to Arnhem in Gelderland and so to Daventry in Over-Ysell where he rested a while till his Scouts should bring word if the Bridges wer strong enough to beare the weight of his Cannon they had not rid farre but hearing Drummes beate a pretty way off and presently discovering foure Ensignes they galloped back to the Duke and told him the Enemy was coming hard at hand though he could not well believe it yet because his Scouts of several Nations brought the same Intelligence he forthwith commanded his Colonells and Feild Officers to set his men in Battalia and sent out others to discover the Enemyes nearer Aproaches and their number These were no sooner in the Field but they saw foure gallant Banners displayed and as many Waggons covered with Canvasse and greene Boughes in which a Bride marryed that morning who dreamed not of a warre was riding towards the next Village with a great sort of countrey fellowes leaping and playing about her When this Newes was brought to the Army they made not better Sport at the Folly of the Scouts then they did at the simplicity of the Country people when an Army was so neare them and all that suddaine preparation for a Warre being changed into Mirth they entertained the Bride in her passage with a Volly of Musket-Shot The memory of this Accident is still fresh in the mouthes of the Wallons who ever when they send out their Scouts if they shew any Feare in their Returne aske them in a military Ieere if they have seene the Bride But the Duke of Alva angry at this delay and sharply rebuking them that were the Causes entred the Groin on the fifteenth of Iuly about Noon-day and at that very houre without alighting or changing of his Horse he himselfe attended with a few others rode
Thus long ago when the Romans fought with the Sabines by the River of Anio they at Rome seeing the Sabines Armes floating upon Tiber into which the River Anio falls prevented the Messengers by their fore-knowledge of the joyfull Tidings Touching the number of the slaine the Reports of those present in the Fight were diverse The most credible is that there fell six Thousand of the Enemy and no more then Seventy of the King's men Though twelve miles in length being strewed with Carkasses of men and Horses presented it as a huge and horrid Slaughter to the eye The Spoile was likewise great twenty of the Enemies Ensignes taken ten great Cannon and those six musicall Field-pieces lost by Count Aremberg with a vast quantity of furniture belonging to Nassau Hochstrat and Schouwenberg in a word all their Carriages and Baggage came into the Spaniard's hands Hochstrat the day before the Battaile was carryed sick out of the Field Schouwenberg fled in the begining of the Fight Of Nassau the Rumour was at first uncertaine for his Armes and the Suite he wore that day were brought to the Duke of Alva afterwards it was knowne that changeing his Cloathes he swam the River and left those he put off purposely in the Field that they might imagine him slaine In this Province of Friezland Germanicus Caesar conquered Arminius by the banck of Visurgus another River of Friezland the memory of which overthrow was now revived Iust so the Romans for their Sport killed the barbarous people swimming the River till they were weary with the Sport so Arminius fled disguised so the Battaile continued till darke night so the Fieldes for as many miles were covered with dead bodies Nor was the Monument lesse proportionable which either Generall out of the Enemies spoyles erected for Posterity to behold Only when the Roman set up a Trophy his modesty omitted to name himselfe the Spaniard boldly put in his owne Title Fame therefore in that Inscription inserted the title of Germanicus but envy in this soone blotted out the name of Alva I know some that accompt this victory a miracle wrought by the Prayers of Pius the fifth who both by Letters and Supplies of money had animated the Duke of Alva against the Gheuses Indeed Christopher Assonvill an intimate Counsellour of the Duke's describing the Battaile writes that when he considered the place chosen by Nassau on the one part to be so fortified by nature and Art as might well have contemned a greater Army on the other part to be taken by so suddaine a storme and so few men he could not thinke this victory lesse then a Miracle And the Duke of Alva after he had won the Field the first think he did dispatched away a Messenger that very night with the newes to Pope Pius who as he had devoutly prayed to God for good Successe so now having obtained his desire commanded three Thankesgiving-Dayes to be solemnly kept in three of the greatest Churches of Rome which was accordingly performed with great Solemnity and the addition of Cannon-shot and Bonefires But though I will not say this was miraculous in regard a farre lesse mutiny and consternation uses every day to worke stranger effects yet when I looke upon the attempt of the Spanish Forlorne-Hope how they being to run the apparent hazzard of their Lives when Lopez Figueroa advised them to call the Communion of Saints to their Assistance falling on their faces and imploring after an extraordinary manner and with many zealous Prayers the Patronage of the Blessed Virgin and the Tutelar Saint of Spaine fearlessely and fortuâ—nately among the enemies Cannon began their Conquest truly out of these premises I may boldly conclude that if at this Battaile there was more then humane help the Devotion of the Spaniards called downe Victory from Heaven and their heroicall courage merited such a Day In the Returne of the conquering Army a bold and wicked fact was committed that greatly tooke off the Generalls and his Officers Ioy. The Sardinian Brigade marching in the Reare when they came within sight of the place where awhile before many of their fellow Souldiers were lost vnfortunately together with Count Aremberg their Bloud rising they resolved to be revenged and leave a memorable example of their fury For before day-breake they fired they fired the next Villages beginning at the Towne where they heard the Spaniards in their flight were by the Countreymen betrayed to the Victorious Nassavians From thence dividing themselves they dispersed the fire among the Townes adjoyning which so kindled the Houses being built of combustible materialls especially the wind conspiring with their Wickednesse that from the Bay of Dullart to the farthest prospect of West-Friezland nothing was presented to the eye but dreadfull Flames The Duke of Alva amazed to see the Countrey burne and suspecting it to be a Stratagem of the enemy when he sound that it was the Villany of his owne men commanded the whole Army to stop the Brigade that had fired the Countrey and calling before him their Colonell Gonsalvo Bracamonte reproved him for suffering at the present that Mischiefe to Friezland and the King for they had burnt some Townes that were his Majestyes Patrimony and for their former Contumacy whereby they had importunely forced their valiant Generall Aremberg to fight Some of the Souldiers which began it he commanded to be hanged upon the place others especially the Supernumeraryes of the Brigade which seemed to be accidentally involved in the Fault and Colonell Bracamonte himselfe he adjudged to change their Militia for this was a kind of warlike penalty still retained out of the Discipline of the Antients that often degraded their Souldiers a Horseman to a Footman and a Footman into an Archer to make them sensible of their Errours by disgrace But this was no great Punishment to the ordinary sort that were received into other Regiments with little or noe disadvantage The Captaines Lievetenants Ensignes and above all the Colonell was aflicted with the Ignoâ—iny who were all to be reduced into the Ranke of Common Souldiers Therefore some of them particularly the Colonell resolved rather to leaue the Warre then fight with such dishonour But the Duke of Alva satifyed with what they already suffered a while after restored the Colonell to his Command The Brigade being in this manner punished but the Losses of the province unrepaired which were rated at no lesse then a Million of Crounes Victorious Alva entred the Groine upon Saint Iames his Eue whose assistance he had found in the day of Battaile and commanding the Townsmen to receive Gniffius long since designed Bishop of the place and Count Megen Successour to Aremberg in the Government of their province for defence of both by the directions of Vitelli and Paciotto the Duke began to build a Fort like that of Antwerp Things thus ordered in Holland he was met
therefore easily believed so as their feare of a falling man was lesse and his indignation greater in regard he thought they insulted over his departure Another cause of their dissent was the new and suddaine Calamity of the provinces For upon All-Saints Eue the Sea excessively swelling and in some places overflowing in others bearing downe the banks such a prodigious and unheard-of Deluge covered certaine Islands of Zelandt a great part of the Sea-coast of Holland and almost all Friezland as that Inundation which forty yeares before is said to have swallowed up threescore and twelve Villages was not so high as this by a foote There was not only an incomparable losse of Fortunes but of men In the very compasse of Friezland twenty thousand persons were drown'd sunke and swept away at the rising and falling of the water which at both times was alike mercilesse whose bodies with the Carcasses of Cattell House-hold-goods and broken ribbs of Ships floated over the Fields the Land now being indistinguishable from the Sea and as they affirme presenting to the eye a modell of Noah's Flood I find in the History of Friezland that many men who had climed to the tops of Hilles and Trees ready to give up the Ghost were timously saved by boates which the Magistrate sent out to gather up the remainder of the Ship-wrack Among the rest upon a hill by Sneace they found an Infant carried thither in the Cradle lying besides a Cat and soundly-sleeping neitherin feare of Ship-wrack nor the Flood The Duke of Alva moved with this losse of the maritime parts of the Low-countreys for some months forbare to presse the point in Controversy not resolving absolutely what generall future Course to hold For his Court was divided in opinions Arguments were held on both sides the wiser sort disputing That his reason deceived the Duke who perswaded himselfe the Treasury could be supplyed by the Excise which would impoverish the Provinces therefore was not likely to continue long That the Duke had done ill to boast in in his Letters to the King how he by a compendious way by Excise had found out the Golden Mines of Peru for he would have noe better fortune then King Antigonus his Treasurer who upon the discovery of a Kind of Spaw at Edepsus which cured such as dranke the water when he imposed a Tribute upon all that used it his Coveteousnesse was immediatly deluded the Well and impost drying up together And the like Tribute being set upon Merchandise in the Lowcountreys would in like manner lose them all the benefit of Trading How much more considerate was Charles Duke of Burgundy that when he thought to impose the hundred part upon all vendible Commodities being told what prejudice would follow by the departure of the Merchants transferring the Mart into some other Counâ—rey abrogated the Innovation And when Commerce was gone what could remaine to the Netherlands but solitude from their owne poverty and slavery from their inriched Neighbours On the contrary some argâ—ed that the Treasury being exhausted by a Warre maintained by the Spaniards not willingly but upon compulsion necessitated by the Tumults raised within the Provinces it was therefore requisite the Provinces should defray the Expence especially at this time when the English threatned them with hostility Others as they had put the Duke upon the Project of the tenth part so they affirmed that it concerned him to be constant to his resolution pretending it was for his honour but indeed aiming to bring upon him the Envy and hatred of the Low-countreys in order to his Ruine Whose Counsell as sutable to his rigid nature he obstinately followed Wherefore threatningly complaining that the Low-countrey-men were so stubborne meerely in contempt of the King's Majesty without further delay he commanded the Edict tempered and qualified with new moderation but now immutable to be published at Bruxells where by reason of his presence he expected their rediest obedience But they unanimously resisted In so much as they shut up their Shops and all that day the Bakers Butchers and In-keepers would sell nothing The Duke passionately inraged to see before his eyes in the principall city and place of terrour such confidence in the people that very night commanded some of them to be hanged upon their Signe-Posts And now the Souldiers were in Armes and the Hang-man ready with a Rope when the Messenger that brought newes of the taking of Brill by the Gheuses like a god coming downe upon the Stage untyed the knot of that intricate and dismall Tragedy For Alva struck with that unexpected losse at last gave over the odious dispute for two yeares together continued with no other fruit but that aggravating their hatred to the Spaniard it ripened the Plot of their Revolt Indeed it plainely appeared how great a provocation to Rebellion Taxes are when people having other grievances have that burthen added For the Low-countrey-mens complaints of Alva's Pride and Cruelty went no further then hate and execration so that lately when the Prince of Orange came with an Army the Cities though offended with the Duke of Alva sent no Assistance to the Prince For punishment falls but upon a few and by how much it spurrs on the multitude with hatred by so much it curbes them with feare But Taxes are accompted every man's particular Losse and they that be therewith grievously oppressed lose their feare together with their fortunes and not regarding future prejudice seeke a Generall meerely to defend themselves from present injury and dammage This hath beene the familiar practice of other Nations but particularly of the Low-countrey-men whereof the major part especially the Hollanders were antiently exempt from all Taxes and Contribution being reserved by the Romanes like their armes only for the warres as we read in their History Nor of old was there any other cause of their Rebellion under Tiberius Caesar but that Olennius their Governour inhaunsed the small Tribute which they formerly paied and when it was inhaunsed did severely exact it With whom their prayers and petitions not prevailing their refuge was a Warre which for many ages they obstinately maintained against the Roman Generalls And truly when I looke upon the Counsells of the Prince of Orange that so often cast the Dice in hope to win the Government it seemes his Fortune never smiled till the occasion of this Tribute was presented For he stirred a little in the time of Margaret Dutchesse of Parma raising those Insurrections about the Bishops the Inquisitours and the Councell of Trent Yet these being composed by the King's grace and goodnesse and the greater part of the Lords adhering to the Governesse fearing Count Egmont especially would not suffer him of his Friend to become his Prince he durst proceed no further at that time But when the Duke of Alva by his Severity lost the hearts of the Lords and
among the rest had impeached and condemned the Prince of Orange then he joyned the common cause as he strove to make it with his owne and openly tooke up Armes safe in point of reputation because there was one to whose execrated name the Warre would be imputed But the Cities being terrified with the suddaine punishment inflicted by the Duke the Prince of Orange found by experience that in the new Impression of a feare whose first Fit is the strongest and by continuance lessens till it be shooke off it is to no purpose so long as the humour that hath weakened the people is undigested to sollicit them to rebell But when the Cities as well those that continued faithfull to the Spaniard as those that stood suspected were pressed to pay Taxes the hatred of the Generality increasing overcame their Feare the people growing more confident when they heard that the Duke of Alva must be gone Then the Prince of Orange knew his time was come for maturing a Rebellion and founding of that Government which he had long designed Therefore whilst Alva fixt all his Care upon raising the Taxes the Prince of Orange laid hold of the opportunity to draw the people from their obedience to the King and incouraged by the secret Intelligence which he had with many Townes ready to revolt levied Souldiers at his leisure and kindled such a fire of Warre in the Low-countreys as for so many yeares space could never be put out with the ruines of battered Cities nor extinguished with a torrent of bloud The Warre was begun upon the Sea of Holland as if they had now already found their strength and were sensible from the very first in what part they should establish their Dominion And notwithstanding this Rebellion was often intended and attempted by the Gheuses as well those of Corporations called the City Gheuses as the High-way-men called the Wood Gheuses yet the Water Gheuses for so they were commonly called were they whose fortunate Audacity carried it The Commander in chiefe of these Water Gheuses was Count William a Marcha Baron of Lumè professing his enmity to the Duke of Alva in his Colours wherein was painted ten pieces of money to inflame the fury of his men by putting them in mind of the tenth part The first that tooke Commissions with him were William Blosius Treslong Lancelot bastard Son to Brederod Bartholomew Entese Sonoi and diverse others These had Letters of Mart from the Prince of Orange and orders to scoure and rob the Sea-Coast of Holland and Friezland And out of hatred to the Spaniard and desire of Free-boote whereof the Prince of Orange was to have a fifth part they executed their Orders and robbed from the mouth of the Ems to the English narrow Seas where if at any time they met with Ships too strong for them or fled before a Tempest they commonly secured themselves in some English Harbour But the Queene her selfe refusing to protect them as common Enemies upon request made to her by the Duke of Alva they having boarded and taken a Biscaner were by tempest driven into Vorna an Isle of Holland the People supposing them to be Merchants cast upon that Coast by the Storme Where imboldened by their late perills they fell upon the Brill a Port-towne of Zeland and before the Townsmen were aware that they brought Warre not Merchandise with unimaginable successe no man resisting they tooke the Place upon Palme-Sunday and Lumè leading them on broke the Saintes Images in pieces and omitting no kind of Irreverence to holy things or Orders so fortified the Ports that when Count Bolduc Governour of Holland by Alvas Command came against them they not only gave him a strong Repulse but likewise Willam Treslong with incredible Confidence fired some of his Ships accidentally severed from the Fleete Vpon report of the taking of this Isle as if the Scarlet Colours had beene hung out for Signall of battaile to the Provinces t is not to be told what wonderfull changes through all the Low-countreys immediately insued For many Cityes favoured the Covenanteers some invited them others stood neutrall and would neither admit of Alva nor revolt from the King A few were sensible of their Allegeance and tooke armes for the Spaniard Dort the Chiefe City of Holland when Count Bolduc fled thither and demanded entrance for his men it being cunningly given out that the Spaniards were upon their March to distraine for the tenth part would not let him in but shut their Gates against him as an enemy Vlushing a port Towne of Zeland and the bulwarke of the Ocean upon an Exhortation at Masse made to them on Easter day in the morning by the Parish Priest who hated the Spaniard perswaded them to maintaine their Liberty turned out the Spanish Garrison with such a popular fury as they hanged Colonell Alvarez Pacecho Kinsman to the Duke of Alva at Treslong's request in revenge as hee said of his Brothers death foure yeares before beheaded by Alva's Order and the Hereticks themselves were earnest to have him put to death that Vlushing might not hope for pardon from the Governour 's just Anger A while after Enchuysen lying over against Friezland which among the chiefe Ports of Holland had till then continued loyall revolted from the Duke Enchuysens example was follwed by Horne Alcmar Edam and other Townes of North-Hollandt And in South Hollandt Goude Oudewater Leyden Gorcom So that besides Amsterdam and Schoonhoven that were still faithfull to the Spaniard the Duke of Alva lost almost all Holland and a great part of Zeland which had so shaken off the terrour of his name that they wrote publique Libells against him and assoone as Brill was taken pictured him with a paire of Spectacles put upon his Nose by Lumè standing behind his back for the Low-Duch call Spectacles Brills and they have a jeering Proverb when they hamper a man that they put Spectacles on his nose and a Snaffle in his mouth These Figures therefore signifyed that Alvas Severity was now bridled But they that made them little dreamed what a world of Mischiefe hung over their heads in the hand of this great Generall one that despised such ridiculous toyes And though some of the Cityes I have named wavered at the very first resolved to rebell not resolved to whom they should submit yet partly despairing out of the greatnesse of their crimes committed against the Church and Churchmen partly out of an obstinate determination never to indure the new Taxes they finally came in to the prince of Orange and as if he had beene their Kinge Lumè moving it tooke an oath of Fidelity to him From him they received their Garrisons Shipping and Armes he disposed of all places of Government made Lawes bestowed an ordered the Revenues taken from the Clergy such Multitudes out of France and Great Britaine flocking
thither in hope of plunder that within lesse then 4. Months in the Port of Vlushing lay a Fleete ready rigged and manned of a 100. 50. sayle which made diverse bold Attempts upon Townes and Shippes of the Spanish party wherewith in ten yeares space during which time they had many Sea-sights the Hollanders were but once overcome to be for ever after Conquerours as the Spanish Historians themselves affirme So that it seemes these were but prelusory Victoryes by which at this time the Hollanders Strength by Sea exceedingly increased Thus at last the water brought forth this new Common-wealth Ambition being the Mother Heresy the Midwife and Terrour like Thunder making her fall in Labour before her time Truly when this last Occasion of Rebellion was controverted the Bishop of Namure writing to Margaret Dutchesse of Parma concludes that the tenth and twentieth part was the price wherewith the Prince of Orange purchased the Maritime Provinces and his new Principality But in this so thick and suddaine a Defection of Cityes though the newes of losse upon losse extreamely vext the Duke of Alva for in Zupthen Overysell Gelderland and Friezland the Successe of the Prince of Oranges Kinsman William Count Bergen was no lesse fortunate the Cityes and Townes there being partly taken by storme partly submitting out of Affection or Feare Yet whilst the Duke of Alva only thought of keeping out the French and prepared against a Land-Winde not against a storm from Sea nothing more amazed him then to heart that Lewis of Nassau had taken Mons the chiefe City of Haynolt by the assistance of the French because he doubted this was the beginning of a war which it was cōmonly reported Charles K. of France perswaded by Lewis of Nassau and Gaspar Colligny had designed against the Low-countreys For King Charles having concluded a Peace with the Hugonots and received the greatest of their Faction into his Favour and Grace at Court suffered himselfe as it was said to be overruled by the Admirall Gaspar Coligny so farr as to send forces into the Low-countreys to assist the Nassaus And now the Drum was beat for them in France and because Colligny was to be Generall by the Kings appointment he invited to Paris the Flower of the Hereticall Nobility under pretence of doing honour to the King of Nauarre at his marriage with the King of France his Sister but indeed hoping to strengthen himselfe by the accesse of those Lords diverse of which and those the subtillest of the Faction were loth to trust themselves in the Kings power and wondered that Coligny who a few yeares before when the King sent for him to Court returned answer that in France there was no Count Egmonts should now with so much confidence come in person and be the Decoy to bring his fellowes to the Royall City and into the King's hands Notwithstanding the Admirall because he saw Mons taken by the French the Peace with Spaine broken and a Peace for that end concluded with the Queene of England not doubting but the designed warre would follow raised as many forces as he could possibly get among the German P. laboured to undermine the faith of the Low-countrey L. by a certaine Instrument of his tryed to corrupt Alva's Campe-Master Vitelli promising him the place of greatest honour and benefit in the French Army if he would in time come over and serve the King of France ready now to possesse himselfe of the Lowcountreys And And after his first Repulse when Coligny sent againe and shewed himselfe as impudent a Buyer of anothers faith as he was a Seller of his owne Vitelli inraged at the receipt of more Letters by the fame Messenger in his presence sealed as they were threw them into the fire and bad him get out of his sight and carry back that Action for an Answer to the Admirall his Master The Duke of Alva informed by Vitelli and advertised from the Spanish Embassadour in France of the Designes and hourely proceedings of the Hereticks at Paris though he could not at first believe the King of France to be an enemy being privy as some write to the King's Plot against the Hereticks yet hearing of the losse of Mons he thought it best to confide in the King no longer therefore neglecting the Warre from Sea he sent his Son Federico and Chiapino Vitelli with part of his forces before to besiege Mons he himselfe with the rest of his Army resolving immediately to follow When Federico came neare the Towne some commanded French Horse sallyed out lest the Spaniard should sit downe without resistance Indeed they conceived it a punctillo of honour to give the Enemy proofe of their valour before they be coopt up within Walles works Though in that skirmish Vitelli was shot in the left Thigh which was no little grief to the King's men yet they lodged the Army in the place he had appointed The next day after they had intrenched themselves they found in their quarters certaine Women of Mons that came under colour of selling herbes to discover the strength and resolutions of the Spaniards All which by Federico's Order had their petticoates cut off above the knee a military punishment wherewith the Spanish use to shame that Sex not unlike the old custome of the Ammonites and being first carried through the Campe and laught at they were with this Disgrace sent back to Mons. A while after the Monastery D'espine which was fortified by the Towne in regard of the neare distance was twice assaulted by the Spaniards who at last after hot dispute beate out the Garison and tooke it The Admirall this while omitted no endeavours to relieve the besieged listing Horse and Foot upon the Borders and appointing for their Commander in chiefe as he said by order from the King Iohn Hangest Lord of Ienlis Brother to Francis de Ienlis lately slaine Who though advised by a letter sent post from Lewis of Nassau not to fight till the Prince of Orange was joyned with him impatient of Delay and of a partner that must share the honour of delivering the Besieged and being incouraged by the cheerefulnesse of his Army consisting of six or seven thousand at St. Gislen not farre from the Towne besieged with more Valour then Discretion he gave Battaile to Duke Federico who omitting no duty of an Active Generall defated him with the losse of almost all his men That day the boldnesse of Vitelli was admired who not being as yet cured of his wound and neither able to go nor stand neverthelesse could not be perswaded to keep his Tent but made himselfe be carried upon a hand-barrow which he saw by chance and so sitting ordered the battaile with the Generall Federico planted the Ambuscadoes and did all that belonged to the Campe-Master's place Then appearing in the head of the Army among
the thickest of those that fought his voice his hand and even his presence was very much conducing to the Victory though his wound festring upon the cold he tooke his recovery was despaired of and it had like to have cost his life Ienlis they say lost twelve hundred men the Spaniards no more but thirty Ienlis himselfe and six hundred of his Souldiers whereof about six score were Gentlemen coming into the Spaniards hands part were imprisoned in the Forts next adjoyning and the rest hanged up Such as fled out of that unfortunate battaile and hid themselves in the Woods were by the Countrey people whom they had cruelly used awhile before with like cruelty murdered But Federico whose name grew glorious from that Field returned with his Victorious Army to the next Village to give publique thankes to Saint Leocadia Patronesse of Toledo whose body at that time was there preserved spending the day in warlike pompe And to fill Spaine with the newes the Duke as haughty in Ostentation as in Action sent Captaine Bobadilla to the King to gratulate his Majesty for the victory won by his Majesties Armes and Influence In the meane time the Prince of Orange animated with fame and hope of the rebellious Provinces was the more confident to march the second time against the Duke of Alva and bringing into the Field 6000 Horse and 11000 Foote in the beginning of Iuly passed the Rhine and the Mose storming Ruremond in a cruell manner entred Brabant forcing a passage into Haynolt to relieve his Brother Lewis In the way he traversed his ground to Lovaine a City faithfull to the King but forbare to use violence against it upon the Receipt of 16000. Crownes Mechlin having a while before refused a Spanish Garison and therefore unable to make resistance yielded The same fate had Nivell Diest Sichem Thienen and other Townes that either out of Feare or Love submitted to the Rebells Bruxells constant to their Loyalty kept out the the Prince of Orange Dendermund and Oudenaerd were stormed and plundered Many Villages not strong enough to resist redeemed themselves with money And indeed the Lowcountreys if ever at this time were truly miserable being invaded by forren Armyes by Sea and land The Sea-coast was spoiled and harressed by Lumè The parts bordering upon France by Lewis of Nassau Those confining upon Germany by Count Bergen and the Inland-Countrey by the Prince of Orange Nor did they only take Townes kill such as made resistance and rob houses with the Licentiousnesse and Avarice of Souldiers but with barbarous Inhumanity spared no age nor modesty tyrannizing over the Rest and Monuments of the dead which they spleened as much as the Living especially holy things and Persons no money could buy the Lives of Priests but with exquisite and shamefull cruelty they were tortured to death Some Writers expressely describe this Priest-Shambles which the Gheuses and and Lumè of all the Gheuses the bloudyest Butcher set up in many Cityes with as much glory to the Sufferers as dishonour to the Iudges and Hangmen And though in some places the King's Army Sacrilege excepted used their Victory afterwards with greate Cruelty Yet because the Gheuses began to them at Brill and likewise contrary to their faith obliged by oath had plundred Amorsfort the severity of the Spaniard seemes to be somewhat more pardonable as done by Example I am sure for this very reason the Hereticks in their owne Annalls doe confesse the Prince of Orange's men were infamous in the Low-countreys and he himselfe that was thought at first to have taken armes for Protection of the Netherlands against the Tyranny of Alva now by making no distinction between Friend and Enemy grew to be generally hated the people complaining that they were fallen among a multitude of Tyrants But the Prince of Orange slighting the distaste of the Cities came into Haynolt within sight of the besieged in the month of August where he found the Towne straitned and as it was commonly thought not able to hold out long against the Spaniards He wondred much to see the fortification of the Leaguer no lesse strong for mastering and keeping in the Garison then inaccessible to the assaults of any that should come to their Reliefe Diverse pieces of Cannon played upon Bartimont-Port from a hill which with a worke running on the left hand and a line from thence almost inclosed the Towne many little Redoubts at convenient distance standing on the Bulwarks which flanked one another and secured the whole These Intrenchments whilst the Prince of Orange vainely endeavoured to passe being entertained with some pickeering for Alva was resolved not to venture a battaile he heard about evening in the Spanish Campe a great joy expressed by three Vollyes of Shot and the cheerfull sound of Drums and Trumpets the light of Bonefires shining through the Army whereat being very much troubled his Spyes brought intelligence that two dayes before by King Charles his Command the great Massacre of the Hugonots was executed at Paris which because it hapned at the Marriage of Henry King of Navarre afterwards King of France and Margaret Sister to King Charles upon Saint Bartholomew's-Eve the Massacre it selfe was called Bartholomews-Eve or the Parisian wedding A strange attempt it was indeed but a just punishment of Traitours conspiring against their King The Pope when he had the newes sent him from the Cardinall of Loraine set apart a day of publique Thanksgiving to God the just Revenger in the Church of Saint Lewis and published a Bull of extraordinary Indulgences to such as should pray for the heavenly assistance to the King and Kingdome of France The Prince of Orange amazed at the suddaine accident and doubting the Event of the Warre because the Admirall Coligny and the rest of the Hereticall Princes being murdered no Aydes from the King of France could now be hoped for by these of the adverse Faction held it his best course to try the fortune of a battaile with the Duke of Alva before the newes of the Massacre came to his Souldiers eares But Alva still cautelous kept himselfe within his Trenches and from thence safely battering the Towne the Prince of Orange when he saw he could neither make any impression into his Campe nor draw him out fearing lest the French Commanders the chiefe strength of his Army upon notice of the Massacre at Paris should change their mindes and leave him wrote to his Brother Lewis That hee should provide for himselfe and give way to his fate and so retired with his Army to Mechlin not without some losse received as it commonly happens in a Retreate For almost 200. commanded Spanish Foot and about 800. Horse all of them so habited as they might bee distinguished by one another in the darke broke into the enemies Campe in the night and killing their first Centrees fell
into the Tents that were next at hand with great Terrour and Slaughter and before the Enemy could bring their men together no lesse then foure hundred of them were slaine or burnt for they fired their huts that were thatched and with this victory retired Doubtlesse the Execution had been greater but that the fire which at first affrighted them presently after discovered the Stratagem whereupon many Spaniards as they were easie to be known being all in white were cut off some of which running before their Companions got as farre as the Prince of Orange's Tent who had a Dogge lying by him on the bed that never left barking and scratching him by the face till he awaked and rose in the meane time his men came in The rest of the night was spent in feare and care by breake of Day his Army moved and he by long Marches passing the Rhine came to Delph in Holland Not long after Lewis of Nassau who was the most astonished and stricken at the Admiralls Death because he had perswaded him to trust himselfe to the King upon his Royall word yielded up the Towne to Alva upon no contemptible Conditions and went to Dilemburg the chiefe Seate of the Counts of Nassau Alva having taken the Towne ere he had lyen three Months before it though at the same time whilst he besieged it he himselfe was besieged by the Prince of Orange it so much advanced his fame by conquering Enemyes on both sides him that he recovered all the Prince of Orange had gott in Flanders Brabant with more speed then Clemency fining some Townes sacking others Particularly Mechlin a very faire and rich City awhile before yielded to the Prince of Orange was exposed to the fury of the King's men that pillaged it for three dayes together But even that Calamity wanted no good Presidents The Souldiers carryed most of their Plunder to Antwerp and sold it according to their ordinary course dogg-cheape Whereupon a priest of the Society of Iesus exceedingly beloved by the Townsmen of Antwerp meeting some Factours his Friends told them of a greate bargaine to be had and fit for Christian Merchants if with their money they would redeeme the Plunder of Mechlin which the Souldiers had sold for little or nothing and returne it to the Owners at the Price they themselves paid for it for so the men in misery would be lesse sensible of their losse which if it came into the Brokers hands would cost dearer And in the meane time the Merchants should be no loosers in their money but great gainers in their fame even among men but with God no doubt this kind of Traffick was most advantageous These religious Merchants liked the Motion The greater part of the plundered Goods were bought for a small Summe not standing them in above 20000 Florens wheras they were prized at 100000. At the Rates which the Merchants paied the Owners had them againe only some few Parcells their Proprietaries not appearing were distributed among the poore Nay as there is a certaine pleasure in relieving the necessitous the same Merchants making a Purse upon the same Priest's Exhortation bought great store of Victuall and therewith lading a â—hip sent it to the Poore at Mechlin In that Ship which is more to be admired I finde the Souldiers perswaded by the same man besides other household stuffe laid aboard above a hundred rich Vestments which they freely presented to the religious men and Women But notwithstanding the Duke of Alva scaped not the Peoples Curse's for that Plunder Though by his Letters soone after published he laid the fault upon the perfidiousnesse of the Mechliners who to frame a pretence for yielding to the Prince of Orange had a while before refused a Garison from the King But in Gelderland Federick acted with no lesse Valour then Dispatch though with more Cruelty then his Father His storming and plundering of Zupthen brought such a Terrour upon the rest of those Provinces that Count Bergen before victorious within a month after flying all the Rebells Garrisons being mouldred away left him the whole Countrey This while in Zeland Colonell Mondragonio with 2000 commanded men chosen out of the whole Army passed his Foote over the Sea that was about fiue Miles broad and with admirable Courage raised the Siege before Tergoes at the Mouth of the Schelt and partly killing partly routing the Enemies Forces tooke the whole Island of Zuid-Beverland Which exploit is rendred much more gallant because Mondragonio doubled it with another of the same nature but of more danger passing his men to Schelt an Isle of Zeland the naming whereof shall serve instead of a further Relation of this great Attempt But the destruction of Nardem upon the Borders of Holland brought a farre contrary Successe to the victorious Federico For howsoever that Towne by reason of their foule Rebellion and â—iding with the Hereticks deserved to be made a singular example yet the Revenge exceeded their demerits for being all put to the Sword even the weake and innocent their houses fired and their Walles levelled with the ground it was not a Punishment but a Crime The newes of that Ruine augmented by the cunning of the Gheuses was told with so much not terrour but hatred of all the Hollanders never to be forgotten towards the Spaniard as their mindes being hardned with despaire they were resolved to suffer any thing rather then do what Alva would command them Particularly Harlem a noble City of Holland which Federico had attaqued invited by the convenience of the faithfull Towne of Amsterdam not onely with scorne rejected the pardon he offered them but receiving a new Garrison from the Enemy to cut off all hope of Reconciliation publiquely renouncing the old Religion breaking the holy Images violating and robbing the Churches they held out eight months Siege with equall contempt both of the enemie and their Lives In so much as Federick despairing of successe would have returned into Brabant but that Alva grievously offended at his Son's Irresolution wrote to him that if he thought of going he himselfe though he were carried in his bed would come or in case his Sicknesse so increased that he were not able to remove he would send for his Wife out of Spaine and give Her a Commission to be Generall instead of her Son But though the young Duke out of countenance with this Reproofe used all kindes of Stratagems to take the Towne yet they every day more bold and stubborne omitted nothing defensive or offensive dayly shewing their contempt by new reproachfull and insolent expressions Many times they hanged their Spanish Prisoners over the Walls in sight of the besiegers And when the Leaguer shot into the Towne a maâ—'s head with this writ upon it the head of Philip Conin that came with 2000. men to relieve Harlem and afterwards another
with this Inscription the head of Anthony Painter that betrayed the City of Mons to the French those of Harlem in requitall cutting off the heads of eleven Prisoners barrelled them up and in the night rolled the vessell into the Spanish Campe with this direction writ upon it The Citizens of Harlem to the Duke of Alva that he may have no farther pretence to make warre upon them for the tenth part have payed ten heads and for Interest because they have been long in his debt have sent him the eleventh Moreover with impious Scorne they set up Altars on the Bulwarks dressed them with Saints Pictures and putting on Copes and Vestments sung Hymnes before them as if they were offering their devotions and on the suddaine their sport turning into fury they tooke the Effigie of Priests and Religious men made of straw and first whipping then stabbing them cut of their heads and threw them into the Leaguer There were some that set up Saints Images and Christ's the Prince of Saints for markes to the Spaniards when they were ready to give fire and by such mockery frighted the pious Souldiers from shooting But their sacrilegious Pageantry escaped not unpunished For it was observed from that very time Harlem fell into a miserable condition which grew worse worse till in a most wretched manner consumed with famine they were by God's just judgment forced to yield to mercy For 't is evident that of 1600. Garrison-Souldiers to which number they were reduced when the City was rendred whereas at the begining of the Siege they were 4000. scarce 700. escaped with life The other 900. with almost 400. Townsmen most of them Incendiaries to Rebellion principall Instruments of Heresie being adjudged by Federico de Toledo to be put to the sword or hanged or drown'd which fatall Spectacle continued many dayes they dearely payed for their jeering God Almighty The Siege of Harlem was memorable for many Passages They revived the antient invention of Carrier-Pidgeons For a while before they were blocked up they sent to the Prince of Orange's Fleete and to the nearest Townes of their owne party some of these Pidgeons which afterwards being dispatcht away when necessity required with letters fastned under their wings remembring their severall Masters houses and their young ones they flew back to Harlem By these winged postes the Prince of Orange incouraged the Townsmen to hold out for the last three months till one of them tired with flying lighted upon a Tent and being shot by a Souldier ignorant of the Stratagem the Mystery of the Letters was discovered After that accident no Pidgeon could flie over the Leaguer though not of that kind but the Souldiers would strive who should kill her The Harlemers likewise had a gallant Regiment of Women that in repairing the breaches and defending of the Workes might compare with the industry of the men Their Colonel was onely Goody Kemava a woman of a manly spirit neare upon 50. yeares of age Under her command and conduct they were imboldened to doe Souldiers Duties at the Bulwarks and to salley out among the Firelocks to beat up the Spanish Quarters to the no lesse incouragement of their owne men then admiration of the Enemy Yet nothing was more admirable then the Townsmens obstinacy who notwithstanding they had lost three great Armies and had hardly any shelter within their Walls shot through as they say in ten thousand three hundred and sixty places yet would not heare of a Treaty or conditions And when the Garrison was brought to a small number both day and night upon the Walls they so well performed the dutyes of many that if at any time the King's men chanced to appeare never so little above their Trenches they were in a moment taken off with Musket-bullets and those shot as for a wager from many parts at once Nay I have heard that the Spanish Souldiers partly to mocke the enemy partly to make them spend their powder would many times put their Helmets upon faggot-sticks so as they might be seen but to cock above the Workes which in an instant were shot at and hit by the Besieged Lastly though they were inforced by famine for the two last months to eat Mice old Shooes and every nasty thing yet they lost not their fury resolving to sally out and rather die fighting then by yielding to mercy have their throats cut like beasts and they had done accordingly but that as they marched out of the Port their Wives and Children with pittifull Shriekes and imbraces stayed them To conclude the Siege of Harlem was rendred Illustrious by the resemblance it bare to the Siege of Sancerre In the same month Sancerre in Aquitaine was besieged and Harlem in Holland Both these Cityes were Rebells to their King and their Religion both because at first they were in vaine attempted by the Royall Party were no more assaulted but carefully close besieged The Women of both Townes with like courage tooke up Armes there was a kind of Kennava at Sancerre that perswaded gave example to the rest Both Towns shewed like obstinacy that holding out ten Months foolishly hoping for reliefe from the Rochellers this as long as idly relying on the Prince of Orange At last both Garrisons conquered by Famine in the same Month of August almost upon the same day rendred themselves Sancerre upon Articles Harlem to Mercy But in that more were hungersterved above fiue hundred perishing for want of food insomuch as a Girle of three yeares old newly dead and buryed was most horridly digged up and eaten by her owne Father and Mother In this more dyed by the Sword for it consumed no lesse then thirteene Thousand and diverse Persons of great quality For there was lost of the King's part the Governour of Graveling Cressonerius that noble Engineire Generall of the Artillery for this Expedition Bartholomeo Champio of Pisaura no lesse famous for his quick designe in fortification which appeared in many places but France had the best proofe of his Skill at the Siege of Roan Besides those that were carryed off the Field wounded and halfe-dead as Norcarmius Governour of Haynolt Valentine la Mott Successour to Cressonerius Iuliano Romero Gaspar Bill Roderick de Toledo all great Colonells and their Generall himselfe Duke Federico Son to Alva with about twelve Captaines more and Multitudes of Common Souldiers whereof the Spaniards confesse they lost no fewer then foure Thousand Of the Confederates were slaine Willam Bronchorst Baron of Battemburg Lievetenant Generall to the P. of Orange Vbaldo Riperda Governour of the Towne Garrison of Harlem Lancelot Brederod Derdeindius Gallus and Peter Iansen all exquisite in the art of Fortification Hadrian Iansen Martin Prutius Lambert Wirtzemburg and other principall Commanders Whereunto may be added the banishment of Willam A Marcha Count Lumè For he as no man will take a
to his Highnesse a supply the more wellcome because so seasonable to him then destitute both of Men and Money Nor did the Nuncio fail to visit the Deputies of the Estates and the Senatours but passed from Namure to Bruxels where delivering as she had in Command his Holinesses letters and fatherly exhortations to the resuming of their former Concord and Obedience which letters were received with more magnificence then dutie many of their minds being long since possessed with the spirit of heresie a refractorie and sullen disease that may with lesse difficultie be kept out then shook off In the mean time Don Iohn by letters from the King being injoyned if an accommodation could no way be made strenuously to maintain the Catholick Religion and the Royall Authority with assurance that he should not want an armie had notice that the Prince of Orange was sent for to Bruxels by the Estates and created Protectour of Brabant by the old name of Ruart of the Province an Office very like that of Dictator among the Romans or Manbure among the Leigeois This Officer the Brabanters said they were authorized to elect by the priviledges of the Ioyfull Entry though as farre as I observe in their Annals besides Anthony sonne to Philip Duke of Burgundie when Ioan the widow of Duke Wenceslaus governed Brabant chosen Ruart by the three Estates of that Province and besides Philip Count de Saint Paul whilst Duke Iohn and his wife Iaquenette were at difference whom the Brabanters rebelling against the Duke created Ruart that people never made use of such a Magistrate And because both those Ruarts came at last to the power and authority of Dukes the Prince of Orange might by their example hope that one day the titles of temporary modestie laid aside the House of Nassau might be Dukes of Brabant and he the first For this presumption Don Iohn failed not bitterly and speedily to reprove the Citie and the Estates by his Embassadour Gaspur Schetz Lord of Grobendonch Likewise a while after receiving other Letters post from the King by the hand of Philip Sega sent at that time Nuncio out of the Low-countreys into Spain in the place of Ormanetto wherein the King commanded the Deputies of the Estates to lay down Arms not to admit the Prince of Orange and to obey the perpetuall Edict Don Iohn sending them a copy of the Letter seriously wished them maturely to advise upon it whilst they had time and not to provoke their Prince his just displeasure to the ruine of their Countrey and themselves But when instead of Answer they would return nothing being wholly governed by the Prince of Orange but complaints and threatnings Don Iohn applyed himself to thoughts of violence and Warre as some conceived not unwillingly For having lost all hope of quieting these Provinces by indulgence and liberality an Honour forfeited by the former Governours of the Low-countreys which he laboured to recover when he found that his clemency prevailed not but the Magistrates authority waxed his waned and was rather a kind of entreaty then command his life exposed to the daily injuries and plots of wicked men He not able to suffer their affronts having been accustomed to command great Armies and finding his hands tied both at home and abroad weary of such a life was glad to lay hold of that occasion and rather chose an open Warre then a miserable and unsafe Peace Indeed it was an Argument of a mind highly offended and incensed that a Man of such experience in the Warrs would enter into hostilitie at a time when he was in strength so much inferiour For of all the seventeen Provinces onely two Luxemburg and Namure continued faithfull to him The Nobility Clergie and Magistrates a few excepted were all confederated with the Estates Not that they renounced their Religion or Loyaltie though there was then a world of such Apostates but some to ingratiate themselves with the People greedie of Libertie and still maligning their Governours part bought with promises by the Prince of Orange and being kinsmen to him many thinking Don Iohn quite disarmed and running away followed the partie of the Estates as safer A great sort held their cause to be likewise honester conceiving all Don Iohn of Austra's jealousies and fears to be onely pretences for the justice of a Warre Therefore by Letters to the King they accused him for endeavouring to ingage the Low-countreys upon vain suspicions It seems we must not beleive Treason to be plotted against any Prince that is not slain Nor could he then raise an Army able to contest with theirs For on the one side those few Germans he had retained in the Low-countreys some Companies of Spanish now called out of France where they fought for the Crown and divers Wallons and Burgundians hardly amounting to the number of four thousand When on the other side they had at that present no lesse then fifteen thousand which as it was proposed in their Councel of Warre and to which end they marched from Gemblours if they had presently advanced to Namure no doubt they had beat Don Iohn weaker in Men and Munition out of the Town and Fort. But as in consultation where many heads are laid together whilst they in the field disputed away their time they gave Don Iohn opportunity to strengthen himself with new succours For the Ruart the Prince of Orange after that Dignitie was conferred upon him would do nothing before Brabant was settled that their neighbours might be secure in Holland He therefore instituted at Bruxels and in the Towns adjacent Magistrates according to the Hollanders new model By his advice the Fort at Antwerp was dismantled as to that part which commanded the Town with so great a rejoycing of the People and such a crowd of voluntary Labourers that women of the best quality could not be kept within doors but they would come in the night to see the men at work till for abominable things committed in their drinking and dancing the night-work was prohibited by Edict But their Joy was never at the heighth till they came to the triumphall Brasse-statue of the Duke of Alva laid out of the way in a private corner of the Fort. They tumbled it into the Court hackt it with their swords hewed it asunder with axes and as if they had at every blow drawn bloud and put the brasse to pain pleased themselves with an imaginary Execution Some carried home fragments of the broken Basis and hung them up in their Halls as if they were the enemies spoyls and would signifie to Posteritie a kind of revenge taken upon the Duke The metall as before it was melted out of Cannon into Alva's statue so afterwards the Statue was again cast into Cannon and restored to its own nature Onely one thing displeased many as if Alva being wholly composed
kind of fate upon the place for ever since the year of our Lord 900 it is famous for many sackings burnings and plundrings at the earnest suit of Lambert Count and Abbot of Gemblac made to Alexander Farneze and by him unto Don Iohn was preserved both from the plunder and injurie of the souldier The Garrison being onely disarmed such as were Low-countrey men taking an oath never more to bear Arms against the King of Spain the rest not within a year were all let go save twelve of the principall detained in stead of hostages that were carried to the Castle of Namure with their Generall Goigny Who was before his departure brought to Don Iohn and they say desiring to kisse his victorious hand he gave it him with these words God thus breaks their contumacy that impiously rebell against Religion and their King The successe even of this battell wherein so great an Army was defeated by so few shews how much God Almighty favours his Majesties just cause But he onely answering That he never took up arms against Religion with the other prisoners was removed Then Don Iohn taking notice of his own Souldiers merits graciously calling to him every Commander and the stoutest of the Souldiers with great and glorious words magnificently commended their service Among them all he was not ignorant that Alexander Farneze best deserved yet the more he saw the Army look upon him and extoll his courage the more he thought it concerned his Love and Place to praise not without care and caution the virtue of that man whom he both feared and affected Therefore minding the Prince of his danger at the battell of Lepanto he remembred him of the Office of a Generall and said He was sent thither by the King his Uncle to advance the Warre not with his hand and the danger of a common souldier but with his counsel and conduct Prince Alexander replying that he could think no man fit to command in chief that had not first valiantly performed the duties of a common souldier especially under so great a Generall was received both with the Armies applause and the Generalls embraces But the Prince of Parma wrote Don Iohns praises not beyond their merit much more freely and without any exception to the King For together with the Generalls Letters giving an account of the battell to his Mejestie at Argenton Prince Alexander gratulated the Kings victory won first by Gods assistance and in the next place by the prudence and valour of Don Iohn And that as the enemy in the field found him a most valiant Generall so when they had laid down Arms he shewed himself a mercifull Conquerour by his Majesties example And therefore it was to be hoped that that victory in all mens account the greatest ever gained in the Low-countreys would shortly draw along with it the reducement of many Cities And writing a Complementall relation of the same victory to some Lords of Spain that were his antient friends and acquaintance at large to his Mother more briefly to his Father and his uncle-Cardinall he still inserted the like commendations of Don Iohn nothing at all of himself either out of the greatnesse of his spirit hoping to do yet more glorious things and therefore concealing this as of no moment or else assuring himself others would write to the same persons those very actions much more to his glory But at Bruxels where they yet heard not the mis-fortune of their men they consulted in the Archdukes presence whether Don Iohn should be assailed or exspected in the fields whether they should fight with all their forces or a part when suddenly the sad news ran through the whole city that they had fought unfortunately with Don Iohn and lost a day where the Spaniard had his fill of bloud Which being confirmed by many that at last had got by their fear and flight into the Town It being further said that Gemblac was taken by the enemie who had the Generall of their army prisoner and had put all their Foot to the sword some reporting as fear ever fancies danger near at hand that Don Iohn with his victorious army would presently be at the City-gates Bruxels was so terrified as the next day leaving some kind of Garrison in the Town the Prince of Orange with the Arch-duke carrying along the Courts of Justice and the Senate retired to Antwerp Nor was Don Iohn altogether averse from besieging Bruxels propounding it to his Councel of Warre But being hindered by the thinness of his army which could not be recruited unlesse the King sent money it was thought best before men recovered that fit of terrour to carrie into severall parts the Warre and Victory consisting in expedition rather then to dull the souldiers alacritie with lying before a Town Octavio Gonzaga was therefore commanded with five hundred chosen Horse and some regiments of Foot immediately to assault Lovain and Machlin Cities well affected to Don Iohn AEgidius Barlamont with Charles Mansfeldts French Regiment and four colours of Wallons marcht to Bovines And Lovain not exspecting a summons turning out the Scottish Garrison rendred themselves to Ganzaga of their own accord So did Iudoignia a Town of more account for the healthfulness of air then fruitfulnesse of soil in which respect the ancient Dukes of Brabant used to make it a Nursery for their children the like was done by Tienen and a while after not without force by Areschott To Machlin and Vilvord newly garrison'd by the States Gonzaga came too late But Bovines a Citie accustomed to assaults never attempted by the enemie in vain often slighted but ever by the peoples constancie fortified again received the Lord of Heirge but not before a great part of the walls was battered down upon conditions Don Iohn while things succeed as he could wish resolving to reduce the rest of Brabant ordered Alexander Farneze to attaque Diestem a Town belonging to the Prince of Orange He with part of his forces marching thither left he should leave Sichem on his back a neighbour Town to Diestem and a place at that time not to be neglected both for the Fort which afterwards was ruined with a great part of the Town and for the convenience of the River Demera sends thither with his German Regiment Lancelot Barlamont Count of Megen But they of Sichem confident both in the place which they had prettily well fortified and likewise in their number refusing to treat industriously prepared for their defence When Prince Alexander comming up after he had offer'd his Devotions upon a hill close by the Town where the Blessed Virgin works miracles out of an Oak planted against the old wall of the Suburbs standing in diameter to the Lovain-Port eight demi-Culverins and beginning at day-break to make a Battery no lesse violent then constant holding till noon
by the thunder of the Cannon then by this slow and silent weapon of the Pioner whence souldiers have a Proverb that 't is the spade and pickax which build and destroy Forts Therefore after he had drawn a line about the town and brought his trenches near the ditch Don Iohn commanded the Pioners working under long and thick boards in the form of a Tortois covered with raw hides to secure them from Granadoes anciently called Vineyards and Galleries to enter the ditch and with their Pickaxes and Spades to undermine the foundation of the wall Which whilst they guarded by the souldiers strongly endeavoured the defendants sallying out and at the same time others from the walls pouring down stones and wild-fire they had divers bloudy encounters with great losse on both sides Don Iohn in the mean time omitting no duty either of a Generall or Gentleman so as at the works he both called upon and contended with the common souldier At last the hearts of the besieged no lesse shaken then their walls partly being divided among themselves so that first they imprisoned Florineus Governour of the Town for favouring the Royalists and afterwards released him partly upon news of the defeat of those forces which to relieve the Town the Prince of Orange sent for out of France they began a Treatie demanding indemnitie for the Citie and that so many of their souldiers as would serve the King might have three moneths pay then due to them from the States the rest to be suffered to depart with drums beating Colours flying and the wonted pomp of souldiers that carry out the funerall of a citie Their demands being granted almost five hundred of the Garrison changed their service As many with one Troop of Horse departed the Town reduced to the Kings obedience was continued under the Command of their old Governour Florineus The End of the ninth Book The Historie of the LOW-COVNTREY WARRES The tenth Book IN the meane time Don Iohn of Austria having by his daily and nightly Labour contracted a weaknesse of Stomacke and a Languishing of his whole Body whilst he went to Namure for his health left the Army to Prince Alexander But first holding a Councell of Warre about the besieging of Limburg which it was feared would otherwise do much hurt to the Province of Luxemburg he commended that Service to the Prince of Parma He willingly undertooke it and the rather because he hoped to fight with Iohn Casimir Brother to the Prince Elector Palatine who it was said would bring his Army that way into the Low-countreys thereby to vindicate as he told the great Commanders the honour of the Royall Army which in some men's Letters was aspersed as if they shunned the Enemy and durst not come to a Battaile with the States but that declining the Encounter they carryed the Warre up and downe only to bug-beare Townes and Villages Therefore Prince Alexander sending before Gabriell Nignio a valiant Spanish Colonell with seven Colours of Musketters and commanding Camillo a Monte should follow with the Horse to second Nignio when he stormed the Suburbs of Limburg hee himselfe about Midnight moved with the Spanish and Wallon Foote leaving Fronsberg's Regiment to conduct ten peice of Cannon that came after And Nignio beating the first Companyes that opposed him afterwards with some losse taking the Suburbs got a huge booty of Cattell and Victuall But as it was a worke of too much time to besiege the Towne so it seemed of too much difficulty presently to storme it For Limburg stands upon a high Rock the Valley about it being all craggy and therefore saue only by the higher ground towards the South inaccessible Besides it might be relieved by the River Vuest running through the Towne All this troubled not Prince Alexander who Viewing the Place chose a Hill whereon to plant his Cannon betweene which and the Towne was the smoothest part of the Valley From the Hill he commanded the Pioners to run a Trench sloping downe into the Valley and from thence to carry it within sight of the Towne thence turning againe obliquely to bring it to the Sconce at the very City gate whilst the rest of his Workmen on the other side undermined a Tower at some distance from the Castle shooting out like a promontory In both Works was more of Terrour then Danger to the Towne For they had scarce broke the Earth two foote deepe when they were hindred by Rock Yet making blindes of Boughs they defended their Trenches against the Shot from the Walls Prince Alexander himselfe hastening the men at worke sometimes visiting the Diggers sometimes the Miners He likewise used gracious Invitations to the Limburgers sending them Letters by a Trumpetter Wherein he forbare to reprove but rather admonished them as assured of the Victory and only carefull not to destroy the King's City and Subjects by the Sword They receiving the Letter from the Trumpetter at the Gate and reading it in publique bade him returne at the same houre next day But when he came they told him no Resolution could be Pitcht upon by reason of the difference betwixt the Townsmen and the Souldiers but if he would come yet once againe he should the day following have an absolute Answer Prince Alexander knowing that the Besieged used such trifling Delayes only to gaine time forbade the Messengers to go any more conceiving it below the Dignity of the King's Army and that it would show like a Confession of some Weaknesse but was more industrious in advancing towards the Towne his Trenches on the one side and his Mines upon the other Comes Caesius overseeing the Workes a bold and active man He himselfe fortifying the Hill with Trenches and Pallisadoes setting up Gabions to be filled with Earth and turfe and drawing Cannon upon their Cariages in sight of the Enemy that shot continually watched two nights both hideous ones that with raine from Heaven this with Thunder from the Walls But the Battery beginning at the breake of day with nine great Cannon from the Hill when the Limburgers saw their Walls shaken and a great Part thereof no lesse then thirtie Cubits beaten downe in foure houres space and likewise a Trench brought downe the hill a thing they held impossible by which the Souldiers marched under covert and were ready to assault the Port Instantly sending to Prince Alexander the Towne earnestly beseeched him a little while to respite the Assault and grant a Cessation of Armes but for an houre for their last consultation The Prince of Parma though it was a welcome Message because he well knew unlesse they yielded of themselves it would be a long Worke to force them Yet lest his facility in condescending might argue some diffidence in his Strength putting on a face of Terrour he angerly told the man there had beene now going and coming
the tincture of pleasure seldome or never takes another die the boy was hardly drawne to leave those Sports and a while after Charles the fifth deceased A little before his death the Emperour discovered to his Son Philip King of Spaine which till then he had concealed from him that Philip himselfe and this Iohn had both one Father and therefore charged the King to send for him and to love and regard him as his naturall Brother But King Philip deferred to do it two yeares after the Emperour's death till his Son Charles Prince of Spaine was growne up Then resolving to acknowledge his Brother he went to Validolid to the Abbey of of Spina with a great traine of Lords to hunt commanding Aloysio to bring the Boy and meete him in the Field Aloysio when his Doggs were in a readinesse mounted a Horse richly trapt and carried along little Iack on an ordinary Horse among the croud of hunters When they came to the hill Torose where he discovered the King a-hunting he then leaped off his Horse and bad Iack doe so too Which done presently Aloysio falling on his knees Giue me said he your Highnesse's Hand to kisse What this unusuall Honour I now do you signifiyes the King that hath sent for you will explaine Now get upon this Horse that had not shone in all this bravery but for you The Boy stood amazed at the novity yet gave him his hand to kisse and got upon the Horse the lookers on admiring and longing as upon a Stage to see how that Scene would end When behold King Philip with those that waited on him to the Chace comes in Immediately little Iack presented by Aloysio bowes himselfe and handsomely honours the King upon his knee His Majesty raised the boy with his hand and smiling asked him if he knew his Father And when he doubted what to reply because he saw himselfe now disclaimed by him he formerly though his Father the King alighting said Alegramente boy thou art Son to a man of Honour the Emperour Charles the fifth that dwells in heaven is Father to us both uttering these words he imbraced him as a Brother set him upon his horse and appointed Servants to attend him as became one of the House of Austria and the Son to an Emperour the whole Plaine ringing with the joyfull Halloes of the Hunters and Gratulations of the Lords cheerfully wishing that day happy to the King happy to the King 's new Brother his Majesty himselfe often protesting that in all his Life he never had better hunting Fortune Thus Don Iohn of Austria being acknowledged was brought to Court therebred with Charles Prince of Spaine and Alexander Prince of Parma who not long before was sent out of Italy by his Parents to the King his Vncle as I have in its place remembred And they were allmost all three of one yeare the eldest being not about 14. But they were not al of one disposition Feature or Manners Prince Charles saving his haire and Complexion in all the other parts of his body was deformed for one shoulder was higher and one legg longer then the other nor was he lesse deformed in his furious and hauty mind Prince Alexander was indeed of a passionate and military Inclination but full of Courtship whereto his sweete and pleasant Countenance seemed to be naturally composed But Don Iohn of Austria as well in the habit of body as Generosity of Deportment farr transcended both His face was not only faire but excellently featured His haire yellowish his eyes â—uick shining with a lovely proportion of all his limbs answerable to each other His manners infinitely set off his Louelines his Louelinesse his manners Civility Industry and Integrity were eminent in the Youth and as in one newly come to his Honours Modesty Which Vertue and Beauty of his compared with their Contraries in Prince Charles at first made him beloved afterwards envyed as eclipsing the Prince in his Fathers Court. And King Philip was somewhat distasted at Don Iohn's Aversion from holy Orders to which he had beene pressed upon his Fathers Designation but too late His Majestyes Displeasure was increased by his suddaine leaving of the Court when inflamed with a desire to fight in Malta without the King's Leaue which if he had hoped he would never have declined he tooke Post for Barcelona with a great traine of Gentlemen being then 18 yeares of age And this Levity he aggravated with his Pride not vouchsafing to heare what message Aloysio Quisciada brought who followed him by his Majestyes Command But as he was going abroad at Barzelona receiving the Kings Letters which threatningly commanded his Returne swifter then imagination he rode back to Vallidolid and by his ready Obedience not a little qualifyed his Majestyes Indignation which a while after he clearly cancelled when he first discovered to the King his Son Prince Charles his new designe For this Service his Majesty in the Warre of Granado made Don Iohn his Generall against the Moores which held him play for a long while but at last he fortunately defeated them And that which seemed to be his Remuneration was but a step or Earnest of more Honour For when the Christian League was concluded he was made Generalissimo of the Fleete that carryed the Forces and Hopes oâ— Christendome and joyning battaile with the Turkes at Lepanto gained upon the common Enemy a Victory since the memory of the Othoman Name the greatest Thence from the East turning his Armes into Africa he conquered Tunis that commands the Libyan Sea the Mahometans flying before him stormed Biserta and tooke prisoner their King Amida with two of his Sons which he brought in triumph back to Italy Here the of Spaine was highlyer offended because Don Iohn had not only contrary to the Commands sent him from Spaine not dismantled the City but had likewise furnished it with Munition put in a Garrison and made Gabriel Serbellonio Governour as if he had resolved in that Towne to fix himselfe a Royall Seate As the King then especially believed when in that very point of time he saw the Pope's Legate in the name of Gregory the 13 move him to honour Don Iohn for his Victoryes in Africa with the Title of King of Tunis Which made King Philip jealous that the youth proud of his Conquests would not long brooke a private Fortune and now only requested Kingdomes but hereafter would invade them Therefore removing from Don Iohn all such as he thought advised him to those courses he placed new Servants about him and made Iuan Escovedo his Secretary that is he changed the names but not the Natures of his Brother's Followers The King likewise observed that his Brother grew to a greater Animosity Because when he was called out of Italy into Spaine to go from thence to the
Margaret of Parma to be Governesse of the Low-countreys l. 1. p. 20. is commended to her by his Majestie l. 2. p. 40 his favour and power with the Governess ibid. and p. 41. l. 3. p. 68. his dextâ—rity in giving counsel l. 2. p. 40. he Acts for the new Bishops l. 3. p. 65. is hated by the Lords l. 3. p. 66. and Commons p. 71. The Lords envie emulation and malice towards him l. 2. p. 39. l. 3. p. 67. 68 72 74. The greatness of his spirit in despising his Rivalls l. 2. p. 42. he approves not the sending away of the Spanish souldiers out of the Low-countreys l. 3. p. 51. at last consents to it ibid. is created Cardinal by Pius the fourth l. 3. p. 54. why for a while he deferred the acceptance of his scarleâ— ibid. he receives his Robes and Hat sent from Rome as an extraordinary favour ibid. what benefit he aimed at in being made Cardinall p. 54. 55. he consults with his brother the Spanish Ambassadour touching the French affairs p. 55 58. What his opinion was concerning the exchange of Sardinia for Navarre l. 3. p. 58 59. he is defended by the Governess l. 3. p. 68. and 72. by the King p. 71. Three Lords write a letter against him to his Majesty l. 3. p. 72. the Kings answer l. 3. p. 74. he speaks in Senate against the ambition of the Prince of Orange l. 3. p. 67. his power with the Governess decreaseth l. 3. p. 74. the danger of his life p. 75. Scandalous Libels against him l. 4. p. 77. the giving of Hoods for Cognizances was thought to be a combination against him l. 4. p. 77 78. l. 5. p. 115. l. 7. p. 49. he is called out of the Low-countreys l. 4. p. 79. the Kings letters that discharged him dejected him not ibid. his words as if he desired a manumission from publick imployment ibid. he would gladly have been commanded into Spain ibid. the King sends him to Burgâ—â—â—diâ— l. 4. p. 80. He goes giving out that he is shortly to return ibid. a plot to keep him from coming back ibid. he goes to Rome to the Conclave l. 4. p. 81 is employed by King Philip in his affairs at Rome ibid. especially in the transaction of the holy League against the Turk ibid. He is created Vice-roy of Naples ibid. and delivers the Christian Colours to Don Iohn of Austria ibid. returning to Rome he labours in the Conclave for the election of Gregory the xill l. 4. p. 81. going back to Naples he offends the Pope in a controversie with the Archbishop of Naples p. 82 which is at last composed ibid. the report of his return to the Low-countreys is there believed l. 7. p. 68. he treats in the Kings name with Margaret of Parma and Alexander Farneze to accept of a joynt-commission for the government of the Low-countreys l. 9. p. 47. he is sent for into Spain by the King and there made President of his Italian Councel l. 4. p. 82. his liberty in speaking to the Grandees and to the King himself ibid. he governs Spain in the Kings absence p. 82. is honoured by him at his return ibid. at Ausburg he marries Katharine daughter of King Philip to Charles Emmanuel Duke of Savoy ibid what he said when he heard the Duke of Alva had not taken the Prince of Orange l. 6. p. 33. he dieth at Madrid l. 4. p. 83. his bodie is transported to Besançon ibid. his principall commendations p. 83 Antonio Perez Privie-Seal to Philip the second l. 6. p. 23. l. 9. p. 53. Anthony sonne to Philip Duke of Burgundy â—uart of Brabant l. 9. p. 36 Anthony Painter l. 7. p. 78 Antonio Saulio the Popes Nuncio to the Vice-roy of Naples l. 4. p. 82 Anthony Strall Consul of Antwerp l. 6. p. 33. intimate with the Prince of Orange ibid. beheaded l. 7. p. 49 Antonio de Toledo Prior of Leon a Knight of S. Iohns of Ierusalem l. 6. p. 23 Antwerp one of the chief cities of Brabant l. 5. p. 98. stands much affected to Breâ—erod l. 5. p. 112. a Mutiny in the Town occasioned by the punishment of an Apostate l. 4. p. 84. the number and habit of the Gâ—euses there l. 5. p. 115. the Calvinists frequent sermons l. 5. p. 116. their Tumult l. 5. p. 117 118. upon the News of Tholose's overthrow at Oostervel l. â— p. 4. for the quieting of which stirres they desire to have the Prince of Orange for their Governour l. 5. p. 118. what a multitude of people meet him with acclamations and applauses ibid. their Iconomachy and violation of sacred things l. 5. p. 123. 124. the great Church restored to its use and beauty l. 5. p. 130. l. 6. p. 18. Hereticks hold their Consistories in the Town l. 5. p. 138. Solemn Procession l. 6. p. 28. the sack of it by the Spaniards l. 8. p. 22 23 Antwerpers animated against the Catholicks as farre as from Constantinople l. 5. p. 138. 139. They cunningly offer money to the King l. 5. p. 139. they threaten to Revolt l. 6. p. â— they sue for pardon to the Governess l. 6. p. 17. they offer her to render the town ibid. Antwerp-Fort designed by Margaret of Parma l. 6. p. 20. Built by the Duke of Alva l. 7. p. 40. entred and kept by the mutinous Spaniards l. 8. p. 5. attempted by Don Iohn l. 9. p. 35. possessed by the Estates ibid. dimolâ—shed l. 9. p. 38 Apologie published by the Prince of Orange l. 1. p. 4. l. 2. p. 38. p. 43. 45. p. 47. Aquila a town l. 9. p. 47 Aranda vide Iuan Archdukes of Austria vide Maximilian and Matthias An Archbishoprick in the Low-countreys l. 1. p. 28 Ardingbel l. 4. p. 91 Aremberg vide Iohn Ligneus Arescâ—ot rendereth it self to Don Iohn l. 9. p. 53. is betrayed l. 10. p. 13 Arscâ—ot the Duke vide Philip Croi Arias Montariâ—s vide Benedictus Armeâ— figures of little men and horses brought to maâ—ch upon a table l. 1. p. 7 Armenterians conspire with the Tournay-Gheâ—ses l. 6. p. 7. their plot is discovered ibid. they are defeated by Nâ—â—carmius l. 6. p. 7. Armenterius vide Thomas Arminius his overthrow compared with that of Lewis of Nassaâ— l. 7. p. 56. 57 Arms of Castile l. 4. p. 78. assumed by the associated Provinces ibid. The Gheuses Arms l. 5. p. 109. the Arms of the Empire vide Empire the Kings Arms l. 7. p. 65. the Arms of death l. 9. p. 41. Army prepared for the Duke of Alva from France l. 7. p. 46. from Spain l. 7. p. 58. from Italy l. 6. p. 25. By Alva in the Low-countreys to be sent into France l. 7. p. 64. Alva musters his Army l. 6. p. 29. it marches in three divisions p. 30. against Don Iohn raised in Germany l. 10. p. 7. sent to him from Italy l. 9. p. 41. Ranged for battel l. 9. p. 50. brought off from the Cannons
mouth l. 10. p. 12. for the Governess from Germany l. 5. p. 132. 133. for the Prince of Orange from the Low-countreys and France l. 7. p. 58 61 63 73 75. l. 9. p. 57. and out of Germany l. 5. p. 138. l. 7. p. 58. An Army for the States from France and Germany l. 10. p. 7. 13. from England and Scotland l. 10. p. 10. The Duke of Alva's Army besieged by the Prince of Orange l. 7. p. 77. the Gheuses Army l. 7. p. 75. the Hugonots Army l. 7. p. 79. four Armies at one time vex the Low-countreys p 75 Artois a Province of the Low-countreys l. 1. p. 15. invaded by Cocquevill l. 7. p. 46. defended by Cosse ibid. associated with the rest of the Provinces against the Spaniards l. 8. p. 20. its Governour l. 1. p. 16 Arthur Cosse Commander in chief upon the Marches of France forbids the Prince of Orange to enter the Kingdome l. 7. p. 63. sent by the French King to assist the Duke of Alva l. 7. p. 46. 47. beats Cocquevils Army into the town of S. Valery and storms it ibid. takes the Commanders ibid. Assonvill vide Christopher Asper l. 8. p. 9 Ausburg vide Confession of Ausburg Augustino Barbarico l. 9. p. 46 Augustus Duke of Saxonie succeeds the Prince Elector Maurice l. 3. p. 53. Christens the Prince of Oranges sonne l. 4. p. 87. joyns with the Low countrey Rebels l. 5. p. 138. threatens the Governesse l. 5. p. 140. makes warre with Iohn Frederick sonne to the late Elector p. 141. sends to Margaret of Paâ—ma an Embassage in Favour of the Low-countrey Hereticks l. 6. p. 18 19. Avila vide Sancho Austrian what l. 10. p. 21 Autruxius l. 3. p. 62 Ayala vide Martin Ayamont vide Antonio Marquesse of Ayamont Sentences in A. WE may safely suspect those for Authours that are ADVANTAGED by the Design l. 5. p. 102 Thy are most sensible of ADVERSE fortune that have been in most felicitie l. 9. p. 48 The first AGE after the tincture of pleasure seldome or never takes another die l. 10. p. 17â— BAden the Marquesse sends an Embassage to the Governesse l. 6. p. 18 Baion l. 4. p. 87 88 Balduin ab Angelo a Jesuit refuseth the Oath pressed upon him l. 9. p. 40. is turned out of Antwerp with the rest of the Societie ibid. Barbara Blomberg of Ratisbone l. 10. p. 17. commended to the King by Don Iohn dying p. 22. she deceaseth p. 24. Babarino vide Francisco and Raphael Barlamont surrendred to Don Iohn l. 9. p 57 Barlamont vide Aegidius Florus Lancellot and Philip Baronnius one of the Covenanters l. 5. p. 101 Bartolomeo Campio l. 7. p. 80. the famous Engeneer in the siege of Harlem ibid Bartholmew Entese one of the first water Gheuses l. 7. p. 71. turns Pirat ibid. is committed to prison l. 7. p. 80 Bartolomeo Miranda Archbishop of Toledo l. 1. p. 8 Bartolomeo Portia the Popes Legate to the Emperour l. 9. p. 39 Bartholmew-Eeue in France l. 7. p. 76 Basta vide Nicholao Batemburges the Brothers vide Gisbert and Theodorick Bavaria the Duke vide Albert Bavier vide Christopher and Henry Beavor vide Philip Lanoi Belgium why called Flanders l. 1. p. 14. the lower Germany and the seventeen Provinces ibid. its situation opulency cities towns Villages Militia Navy and Manufactures ibid. their Government was ever like a free-state l. 2. p. 28 Belgick Provinces how they were all joyned under the Government of one Prince l. 1. p. 15. out of them Charles the fifth thought to erect a Kingdome l. 1. p. 15 be transferres them to his sonne Philip l. 1. p. 4. their division l. 1. p. 15. to what Persons the King intrusted them l. 1. p. 16. they petition the King to take off the tenth part l. 7. p. 67. they waver upon the news of the surprize of Brill by the Covenanters l. 7. p. 72. they conspire against the Spaniards l. 8. p. 19 20. they adhere to the States onely two continuing faithfull to Don Iohn ibid. l. 9. p. 37. 48. 50 Bcaumont rendered to Don Iohn l. 9. p. 57 Bearne the refuge of Delinquents l. 3. p. 63 Benedictus Arias Montanus l. 7. p. 64 Bergâ—n vide William and Iohn Glimè Bergen op Zoom l. 8. p. 10. comes into the hand of the Estates l. 9. p. 48. the Garrison souldiers betray their Colonel p. 49. Berlinguerio Requesenes Admirall for the King of Spain in Sicily l. 8. p. 15 Bernardo Fresneda a Franciscan Confessar to King Philip l. 6. p. 23. votes against a warre with the Low-countreys ibid. Bernardino Mendoza sent Embassadour from the Duke of Alva to Pius the fifth l. 6. p. 26. Captain of foot in the Low-countrey service p. 30. at the battle of Moocâ— l. 8. p. 4. and of Gemblac l. 9. p. 49 Bernois l. 6. p. 26 Bersen sent by the Deputies of the Estates with part of of their forces to Antwerp l. 8. p. 22 Beza vide Theodorus Bill vide Gaspar Binch sometimes the delight of Mary Queen of Hâ—â—gary yields to Don Iohn l. 9. p. 57. a stone upon the â—lace engraved by King Henry the second of France when he demolished Binch ibid. Birth of Alexander Farneze l. 9. p. 42. of Granvell l. 2. p. 39. of William Prince of Orange l. 2. p. 43. of Margaret of Parma l. 1. p. 20. of Prince Maurice of Nassan l. 4. p. 87. of Odoardo Cardinall Farntze l. 4. p. 95. of Philip the second of Spain l. 1. p. 9. of Raâ—ucio Farneze Duke of Parma l. 4. p. 95. Biseain man of warre l 7. p. 65 Biserta stormed l. 10. p. 19 Blanch Queen of France l. 5. p. Blanca Sforza daughter to Maximilian Duke of Mâ—lain and wife to the Emperour Maximilion killed by a fall from her horse as she was hunting l. 1. p. 21 Blazer vide Iohn Blosius vide Iohn and Lodwick Bobadilla a Captain l. 7. p. 75 Bobemian King vide Maximilian Boisot vide Charles and Lodwick Bomberg vide Anthony Bommen in the Isle of Sceldt taken by the Royallists l. 8. p. 13 Bona Shorza Mother to Sigismund King of Poland dies l. 1. p. 13 Boniface Bishop of Mentz l. 2. p. 30 A Book published in Germany called the Interim l. 1. p. 9 A Book set forth by the Prince of Orange against the Duke of Alva l. 7. p. 58 Calvinisticall Books sent into France l. 3. p. 56. Designed for Spain l. 5. p. 137 Bourbon vide Anthony Iohn and Lewis Borgia a Captain l. â— p. 8 Borlutius of Gant Speaker for the Estates l. 1. p. 25 Bolduc vide Maximilian and Iohn Bovines renders it self to Don Iohn l. 9. p. 53 54 A Boy with two heads four feet and four hands l. 7. p. 40 A Boy with a Cat in a Cradle l. 7. p. 69. Putting ouâ— the eyes of Quails l. 7. p. 43. killing Leverets ibid. of eleven years old begging arms and leave to go to the storming of a town l. 9. â— 44
Brabant the principall Province of the Low-countreys l. 1. p. 15. l. 7. p. 46. extorts liberty of conscience l. 9. p. 41. its immunities and priviledges l. 2. p. 2. 29 30 31 32. l. 5. p. 98. the head of that Province ibid the towns there taken by the Prince of Orange reduced by the Duke of Alva l. 7. p. 77. their Deputies bought by the Prince of Orange l. 8. p. 17. are sent for to Bruxels by Requesenes l. 8. p. 18. its Governour l. 1. p. 17. Brabanters refuse the Inquisition l. 2. p. 32. and new Bishops l. 3. p. 65. send Agents privately to Rome and Spain p. 66. deny to obey the Governesse's Edict proposed unto them l. 5. p. 98. Create Prince of Orange Ruart of their Province l. 9. p. 36 Bracamonte vide Consalvo Brandenburg the Electour sends an Embassadour to the Governesse l. 6 p. 18 Breda l. 5. p. 142. besieged by the States forces l. 9. p. 48 sends a Messenger to Don Iohn who was discovered by the enemie ibid. it is rendered p. 49. the mutiny and perfidiousnesse of the souldiers ibid. Don Iohn sends forces to relieve it but in vain ibid. a Garrison of Spaniards put upon the town l. 7. p. 42 Brederod vide Henry Lancellot and Robert Bride l. 7. p. 54 Briganze vide Isabella and Mary Brill a Port town of Holland l. 7. p. 72 taken by the Gheuses ibid. upon the news whereof many Cities revolt ibid. the jeering clinch upon the name of Brill ibid. Brimè vide Charles Bruges affronts the Inquisitors l. 4 p. 84 Brunswick vide Erick Philip and Ernest Bruxets a capitall City of Brabant l. 5. p. 98. faithfull to the King l. 6. p. 31. their priviledges l. 5. p. 98. their contumacie against the Duke of Alva's imposing taxes l. 7. p. 70. they keep off the Prince of Orange l. 7. p. 75. they mutiny l. 8. p. 18 20. their fear after the battle at Gemblot l. 9. p. 53 Bucar l. 3. p. 55 Bura taken by assault l. 8. p. 8 Buran the Count l. 8. p. 19 Burgundie by Charles the fifth assigned to King Philip l. 1. p. 4. the Dukes of Burgundie p. 15. the Governour p. 17 Burgundians scale the fort at Dalhem and take it l. 10 p. 3 Burgundion Princes used in their funerall pomp to have a Crown set upon their heads l. 10. p. 22. vide Philip and Mary Bulduc or Bus one of the chief Cities of Brabant l. 5. p. 98. refuseth Count Megan l. 6. p. 2. a tumult in the town ibid. they force their Bishop to flie l. 5. 131. they detain the Governesse Embassadours l. 6. p. 2. they release and send them to her p. 16. they threaten to revolt from the King p. 2. they are declared enemies p. 16. they crave pardon and render themselves p. 17. they receive a Garrison ibid. Busta vide Pedro Butero a Prince l. 10. p. 23 Sentences in B. BENEFITS please like flowers while they are fresh l. 1. p. 14 Some mens natures are more obliged by receiving one then many BENEFITS l. 1. p. 24 When men fall from their hope whatsoever comes short of their wishes looseth the title of a BENEFIT l. 2. p. 38 A BENEFIT more easily obligeth particulars then a multitude l. 1. p. 22 A present BOUNTIE is the step to a future Rise l. 1. p. 24 CArcass of a girl eaten by her Parents l. 7. p. 80 Cahors the Bishop l. 2. p. 80 Caesar Davalo brother to the Marquesse of Pescara pursues the Nassavians l. 7. p. 55 Casius vide Nicolaus Caius Fabius his gallant attempt to passe through the enemies Camp l. 9. p. 40 Callice taken by the French l. 1. p. 11 Cooks and Scullions fire Antwerp l. 8. p. 22 Calvin tries how his books will take in France l. 3. p. 56. brings in heresie there ibid. is authour of the tumult at Ambois l. 3. p. 57 Calvinists imprisoned l. 3. p. 62. condemned ibid. rescued from the Executioner ibid carried back to prison l. 3. p. 63 taken out by force p. 64. executed p. 65. they plunder the Low-countrey Churches l. 5. p. 121. vide Image-breakers They and their books are designed to trouble Religion in Spain l. 5. p. 137. l. 7. p. 45. They have their Calvinisticall Suppers l. 5. p. 141. p. 143. they try to get out of Antwerp to Ostervel l. 6. p. 4. finding themselves shut up in the Town they ragâ— ibid. they are enemies to the Lutherans ibid. they make a mutiny in the Town ibid. they petition for liberty of Religion to the Arch-duke and the Estates l. 9. p. 41. which they extort and seiz upon the Catholick Churches ibid. One of them that jeâ—red the Jesuits finds his own house infected with the plague l. 9. p. 41 Conbray the Bishop restores things consecrated at Antwerp l. 6. p. 18 〈◊〉 l. 1. p. 15 Cambrey the peace-making Citie l. 1. p. 12. honoured with the Prerogative of an Archbishoprick p. 18 Camillo Gonzaga Count de Novellaria l. 7. p. 60 Camillo a Montâ— comes with the Duke of Alva into the Low-countreys l. 6. p. 30. his moderation at the sack of Antwerp l. 8. p. 24. he fights and defeats the French l. 9. p. 57. in the expedition of Limburg 1. 10. p. 1. he is beaten off at Dalhem l. 10. p. 3. commands Horse in the battel of Rimenant l. 10. p. 10. pursues and is drawn by the enemy to their camp ibid. the gallantry of his Troop in sustaining the charge of the enemie l. 10. p. 12. Camillo Chiaffinatâ— l. 10. p. 13 Campin vide Frederick Lord Perenatt Cannon l. 7. p. 76. six taken by the enemie that had their names from the first six elements of musick recovered l. 7. p. 56. nayled l. 8. p. 8. attempted and taken l. 7. p. 55. Master of the train of Artillery vide Gabriel Serbellonio Cressâ—â—erio the Barlamonts Philip Staveley and Valentine Pardieu Captain Campin an Engineer l. 6. p. 21 Cantonet vide Thomas Capital besieged by the Gauls l. 9. p. 40. Caprius sent by the Deputies of the Estates with part of their forces to Antwerp l. 8. p. 22. taken by the Spaniard l. 8. p. 23. exchanged l. 9. p. 31 Carafa vide Marius Cardinal Alexandrino l. 7. p. 43. Borromeo vide St. Charles 〈◊〉 Odoardo Granvel vide Antonie Perenot Lâ—rain vide Caroldo Pacicho vide Francisco Spinosa vide Didaco Cardinalists in the Low-countreys l. 4. p. 81 l. 5. p. 103 Carloi brother to Ressorius Nohot l. 7. p. 46 Centron vide St. Truden Charlotta Bourbon wife to the Prince of Orange l. 3. p. 54 Charles Altapen sonne to Count Barlamont Captain of a Troop of Horse l. 10. p. 5 Charles the fifth goes from Spain to Germany to be crowned Emperour and so into Italy l. 2. p. 27 33. l. 10. p. 21. his Military Expeditions l. 1. p. 4 8 9 15. l. 2. p. 34. l. 6. p. 30. l. 10. p. 14 21. he quiets the mutinie at Gant l. 5. p.
Chosen by the Lords without the Kings consent l. 9. p. 3â— confirmed by the Estates l. 9. p. 39. Governour of all the Low-Countries l. 1. p. 16 21 25. l. 6. p. 35 36. l. 7. p. 69 81. l. 8. p. â—7 18 19. and of every particular Province â— 1. p. 16. Low-Countrey Estates vide Estates Lodronius vide Albericke Lodwick Boisote Admiral of Holland loses his Eye in a Sea-fight l. 8. p. 2. Defeats the Enemy ibid. Admiral for the Expedition of Ziriczce where he is drown'd l. 8. p. â—3 Lodwick Blosius Treslong taken prisoner l. 9. p. 35. vâ—de William and Iohn Lodovico Berlinguâ— is son to Requesenes defeats the Turkish Fleet l. 8. p. 15. Recovers the Popes Colours and returns them ibid. Lodovico Requesenes great Commandor of the Knight of St. Jago l. 8. p. 1. Embassadour to the Pope presseth him to determine the Controversie between himself and the French Embassadour l. 4. p. 85. Departs from Rome in great Indignation ibid. Governour of â—â—â—lain l. 7. p. 81. Difference betwixt him and St. Charles Borromeo l. 8. p. 15. Going from Milain he asks forgivenesse of S. Charles ibid. Governour of the Low-countries He receives the Provinces from the Duke of Alva l. 7. p. 81. Enters upon the Government l. 8. p. 1. Takes away the Duke of Alva's statue iâ—st sends a Fleet to relieve Middelburg besieged ibid. Beholds from the shore the losse of his men l. 8. l. 2. Pawnes his furniture to pay the mutinous Spaniaâ—ds l. 8. p. 5. Sends them to the siege of Leyden commanded by Valdez l. 8. p. 6. Proclaimes a general pardon at Bruxells Ibid. Quiets another sedition of the Spaniards by sending of their pay l. 8. p. 8. Leâ—ves Count Altâ—mpse his Forces to secure Brabant l. 8. 29. Undertakes the Zeland Expedition Ibid. Designes the Officers the way and the Souldiers ibid. stands on the shore and views his Souldiers wading over the Sea l. 8. p. 11. A flame seen in the form of a Crown inclining towards him Ibid. Takes Duveland l. 8. p. 13. besieges Ziriczee ibid. Performs Vitellâ—'s Funeral obsequies l. 8. p. 14. His death l. 8. p. 15. Elâ—gy ibid. Ancestors ibid. Fortunate for Victories atâ—â—ea ibid. His errors in Governing the Netherlands l. 8. p. 16. Dying he nominates a Governour and a General ibid. Lombere a City l. 2. p. 3â— Londognia vide Sancho Lopez Figueroa l. 7. p. 55. The piety of his Souldiers ibid. They take the Cannon Ibid. 56. open a way to victory ibid. Lopez Figuâ—â—oa a Spanish Colonel brings the Itâ—â—ian Garrisons into the Low-countries l. 10. p. 6. Lopiu Gallus l. 6. p. 29. Lords of France joyn with the heretical multitude l 3. p. 57. Lords of Spain neglect Charles the fifth l. 1. p. 5. Lords of the Netherlands advanc'â— by the King to the Governments of Provinces l. 1. p. 16. Their Indignation l. 3. p. 69. Accounted Patrons of the â—ugonots l. 3. p. 72. They leave the Court l. 3. p. 76. Their Letters to the King against Granvell l. 3. p. 72 73. The Cognizance of their Combination invented at a Feast l. 4. p. 78. Impatient at the power of strangers l. 4. p. 78 79. In obedience to the King they 〈◊〉 to the Court l. 4. p. 8. Some of them thought to be Covenanters l. 5. p. 101. Their design to change the Government of the Low-countries ibid. 135. l. 7. p. 49 50. Their private meeting at Dendermund l. 5. p. 134. They have Intelligence of the Kings resolutions in Councel l. 5. p. 137. Their cause defended in the Kings Court l. 6. p. 22. l. 7. p. 43. They come to Councel with the Duke of Alva l. 6. p. 33. They are impeacht l. 7. p. 41. They refuse to give their appearance Ibid. They are condemn'd in their absence â—bid They take up arms against the Spaniards l. 8. p. 20 21 23. are offended at the Prince of Orange ' power l. 9. p. 38. Consider of a new Governour of the Low-Countries ibid. Lords Patrons to the Commons vindicators of the Low-Country Priviledges and liberty vide Nobility Covenanters and Knights of the Golden Fleece Lorain the Dukedome l. 1. p. 16. p. 31. Lorain the Duke l. 1. p. 12 19. l. 6. p. 26. Lorain the Cardinal l. 3. p. 56 61 75. l. 7. p. 76. the Captain l. 6. p. 31. vide Charles Christien and Francis Lovein a City l. 5. p. 98. Faithful to the King l. 7. p. 75. taken by the Prince of Orange and fined ibid. Assaulted by Gonzaga l. 9. p. 53. rendered to Don Iohn ibid. The famous University of Lovain l. z. p. 31. Its priviledges l. 7. p. 42. It raines blood near the Town l. 7. p. 53. Lovervall vide Philip. Lucas Gauriem the Mathematician l. 1. p. 13. Lucemburg a Province of the Low-Countries l. 1. p. 16. l. 6. p. 31. l. 9. p. 26. Famous for slaughter l. 1. p. 16. Adheres to Don Iohn l. 9. p. 37. It s Governour l. 1. p. 16. l. 4. p. 96. Lumo a Marcha vide William Lutheran Heresie l. 9. p. 42. upon what occasion it was brought from Germany into France l. 3. p. 55. By whom it was promoted ibid. Almost extinguisht by the King of France ibid. It breaks out in the Low-Countries l. 5. p. 116. The Lutherans enemies to the Calvinists l. 6. p. 4. Joyn with the Catholicks against them ibid. Luther vide Martin Sermons Heresie Lyes how they come to be so artificially compos'd l. 10. p. 4. The Advantage by them ibid. Many times they are sprinkled with soone portion of truth ibid. Made use of like Scaffolds in building lib. 5. p. 113. Sentences in L. LAWES before they passe should be debated after they are pass'd obeyed l. 5. p. 105. A State cannot be more indangered then by altering of their LAWES Ibid. It is more dishonour to a Prince to keep LAWES in force which his Subjects will not obey then to apply them to their natures and so keep his people in obedience l. 5. p. 105. 'T is wisdome to wave those LAWES the Contempt whereof we have not power to punish l. 5. p. 117. They favour LEARNING whose Actions are worthy of a Learned Pen l. 3. p. 55. LICENTIOUSNESSE more easily increaseth then begins l. 6. p. 24. LITTLE things are by their Littlenesse secured l. 8. p. 24. M. MAchiavell's Institution studied by the Prince of Orange l. 2. p. 46. Machiavell Secretary to the Governesse sent into Spain l. 6. p. 34. returns l. 6. p. 35. Maâ—stricht threatens to revolt from the King l. 6. p. 1. sues for pardon to the Governesse l. 6. p. 15. the Embassage in behalf of that Town sent to the Governesse by the Bishop of Lieg ibid. it is rendred to Norcarmius l. 6. p. 16. punished ibid. to whom the City of right belongs l. 6. p. 15. the Spanish Garrison turned out l. 8. p. 21. they recover and plunder the town ibid. Magdalen Vlloa Lady of
l. 10. p. 9. Challenged to a battel by Don Iohn he keeps his Trenches Ibid. Counterfeits to flye l. 10. p. 10. the Site of his Camp and number of his Forces ibid. he renewes the fight ibid. sounds a retreat l. 10. p. 12. a Note upon his Management of that daies Battel ibid. he retreats to Tillemâ—nt l. 10. p. 13. Prince Casimir refuseth to obey him l. 10. p. 14. vide Iohn Hennin Maximilian Rassinghem Governour of French Flanders l. 5. p. 123. the Armeterians conspire against him l. 6. p. 6 7. he encounters and destroyes them ibid. enters Lisle victorious ibid. pursues the Tornois ibid. is sent into Spain by the Royal Senate l. 8. p. 19. imployed to the King by the Deputies of the Estates and by the Senators l. 8. p. 23. and by Don Iohn to the Deputies of the Estates l. 9. p. 35. a Maid Sacrilegiously slain in the Church l. 10. p. 3. of 3. years old buried digged up again and eaten l. 7. p. 80. Mâ—â—hlin a fair and rich City l. 7. p. 77. its Governour l. 5. p. 131. l. 6. p. 12. Churches in the Town assigned to Hereticks l. 5. p. 131. a fire there l. 7. p. 40. the King's Garrison refused l. 7. p. 75 77. 't is rendred to the Prince of Orange l. 7. p. 75. recovered by the Duke of Alva l. 7. p. 77. when it was plundred how pious the Merchants and Souldiers were ibid. how much the Duke of Alva was hated for suffering of the spoil Ibid. 't is Garrisoned by the States l. 9. p. 53. attempted by Gonzaga when it was too late ibid. made an Arch-bishoprick l. 1. p. 18. its first Archbishop ibid. the Archbishop of Mâ—â—hlin delivers the Popes Present to the Duke of Alva l. 7. p. 64. Medalls how they came in use and accounted sacred l. 5. p. 111. Medalls of the Gheuses with the Picture and inscription of the King of Spain l. 5. p. 110. Medalls hallowed at Hall l. 5. p. 111. Megan vide Charles Brimè Lancâ—llot Barlamout Mehemet son in law to the Turkish Emperour Sclimus l. 5. p. 139. King of Tunis l. 10. p. 21. Meinser one of the first Covenanters l. 5. p. 101. Melancthon vide Philip. Mendoza vide Antonio Bernardino Didaco Maria. Menin a Town l. 5. p. 1â— 2. Mentz the Bishop and Elector l. 2. p. 30. l. 5. p. 134. Merchants bring in Heresie to the Low-countries l. 2. p. 36. one of them procures 3000 of Calvins volumes l. 5. p. 137. and payes the Prince of Orange's Army they fortifie themselves at Antwerp l. 7. p. 58. they conspire with the Gentlemen Covenanters l. 5. p. 137 raise money l. 5. p. 139. joyn with the Tornay Gheuses l. 6. p. 6. the great mens differences put them out of heart l. 6. p. 15. they transfer their Manifactures to Neighbour nations l. 6. p. 21. l. 7. p. 65. they steal out of the Low-countries into England l. 6. p. 34. â—ribute imposed upon them by the Duke of Alva l 7. p. 65 69. the piety of the Antwerp Merchants l. 7. p. 77. their losse when the Town was plundered l. 8. p. 24. Merchandise of the Low-Countries l. 1. p. 14. l. 7. p. 66. of the Indies ibid. Mercurius Arboreus Cardinal Gatinar the Emperours Chancellor l. 2. p. 39. Merodius Lord of Petersemi sent by the Governesse to the Bus l. 6. p. 2. Contumeliously used by the People ibid. l. 6. p. 16. released and returned to the Governesse ibid. vide Bernard Messenger of Victory l. 7. p. 56 75. l. 9. p. 53. Of the last necessity l. 7. p. 52. Mettle Sacred vide Medalls Metz taken by the French attempted in vain by the Emperour l. 1. p. 8. Michael Hernandes a Jesuite upon the shore with Requesenes prayes for the men that are to wade the â—ea l. 8. p. 11. Michael Hovey 3. p. 64. Michese vide Iohn Michese Midelburg receives a Garrison from the Governesse l. 6. p. 20. is besieged by the Zelanders l. 8. p. 1. a Fâ—eet sent to relieve it by Requesenes Ibid. p. 2. rendered to the Hereticks ibid. the Townsemen redeem the plunder with a sum of money ibid. Milain l. 6. p. 30. the Milian-Regiment ibid. the Government of Milain l. 7. p 65. Military Discipline observed l. 6. p. 31. funeral poâ—p l. 1. p. 22. Stratagem l. 8. p. 21. Piety l. 7. p. 57 77. Military Proverb vide Proverb Militia of the Foot strengthened with a new invention l. 6. p. 30 31. Militia of the Knights of the Golden Fleece and St Iohns of Hierusalem vide Knights Militiâ— of Horse disposed l. 1. p. 17. and of the Foot l. 3. p. 52. Militia of the Low-Countries new-modelled l. 6. p. 30. Miracles l. 5. p. â— 31. l. 9. p. 40. l. 10. p. 5. Mode of Combing up the hair before l. 10. p. 21. of the Ammonites and Spaniards in punishing Women â— 7. p. 74. Mooch a Village l. 8. p. 3. the battel ibid. the description of the fight ibid. Moulin a Lawyer l. 3. p. 66. Mombrune a French Colonel l. 6. p. 26. Momorancy vide Anne Florence Lord of Montiny Heleonor Iohn Mary Philip. Mompencier the Duke l. 3. p. 54. Monastery of St. Michael l. 8. p. 22. of Greenvale l. 7. p. 46. Mondragonio vide Christopher Monfort a Town l. 8. p. 8. Money the best Spy to discover Princes Councels l. 5. p. 137. it Buyes out Hostile Injury l. 7. p. 75. sent by Gregory the 13. to Don Iohn l. 9. p. 36. lent him by Alexander Farneze l. 10. p. 16. sent to Alexander Farneze by the King l. 9. p. 48. and to the Governesse l. 1. p. 25. l. 4. p. 90. l. 5. p. 132. to the Queen of Scots l. 5. p. 104. and to his Great Commanders in the Low-countreys l. 10. p. 7. and to the Bishops l. 2. p. 32. to the Duke of Alva by Pius the fifth l. 7. p. 57. offered by his Holinesse to Margaret of Austria but refused l. 5. p. 115. lent by Don Iohn to the Deputies of the Estates l. 9. p. 32. by the Governesse sent into France l. 3. p. 60. Collected by the Covenanters l. 5. p. 139 141. taken by the Conquerors in the sack of Antwerp l. 8. p. 5 24. got by the Prince of Orange and how l. 7. p. 58. vide Plunder Stipend Tribute Monster at Liege l. 7. p. 40. Montesdocha vide Francisc. Mons a Town of Haynolt l. 7. p. 73. taken by Lewis of Nassau ibid. besieged by the Duke of Alva l. 7. p. 47. the fight before they suffered him to Encamp ibid. the Fortifications of the Besiegers ibid. a Monastery neer the Town taken ibid. Auxiliaries sent to the Town by Coligny Ibid. the Prince of Orange comes to relieve it l. 7. p. 75. it is rendred to the Duke of Alva l. 7. p. 77. a discription of the recovery of Mons ibid. Montiny vide Emmanuel Florence Montio vide Camillo Giovanni Baptista Monumental pillar erected
Low-Country Tumults l. 7. p. 53. l. 8. p. 11. vide presages and Prodigies Osservell a Village l. 6. p. 3 4. the Battel ibid. description of the fight ibid. Otho Count Obersten Colonel of the Germans sent for out of Germany with his Regiments to the siege of Valenciens l. 5. p. 132. receives the Duke of Alva at his Entrance into the Low-Countries l. 6. p. 31. Fortifies Antwerp against the Spaniards l. 8. p. 22. the unhappy fortune of his flight l. 8. p. 25. Otho Nassau l. 2. p. 43. Oudenaerd the Town taken and plundered by the Prince of Orange l. 7. p. 75. the Devastation of things Sacred there by the Sacrilegious l. 5. 126. Overysel a Province of the Low-Countries l. 1. p. 16. its Governour Ibid. Iconomacby l. 5. p. 126. Cities revolted from the King l. 7. p. 73. Oudewater a Town l. 7. p. 72. l. 8. p. 8. Owning of Don Iohn vide Agnition Sentences in O. MAny OFFER their service with huge Courtship to such as they know will not accept it l. 5. p. 141. Some ingraft an OPINION whilest they are over sollicitous to eradicate it l. 4. p. 97. P. PAcecho vide Francisco Cardinal Pacecho Isidor Pacification of Gant l. 8. p. 20. the heads of it weighed l. 9. p. 30. both parts subscribe it ibid. it is approved of by the King Ibid. published by Don Iohn ibid. vide Association Paciotto vide Francisco Pagano vide Mutio. Palatine the Count Prince Elector of the Empire a favourer of the Low-countrey Rebels l. 5. p. 100. l. 7. p. 58. his Death l. 1. p. 1. 14. vide Elector Frederick Christopher Iohn Palace at Bruxels l. 1. p. 3. at Antwerp l. 8. p. 23. Pandupho Cenamio of Lucca Commander of French Forces l. 9. p. 57. Papists how they came to be so Called l. 3. p. 57. Pardieu vide Valentine Pardo a Village of the King of Spains l. 10. p. 19. Pardon general published in the Low-countries l. 7. p. 67. sued for by the Governesse ibid. granted by the King ibid. Promulgated by the Duke of Alva ibid. and by Requesenes l. 8. p. 6. Parish-Priest at Masse exhorts the People to fight for liberty l. 7. p. 72. Paris l. 1. p. 11. l. 3. p. 63. l. 6. p. 35. an University there founded l. 3. p. 55. a fatal marriage there celebrated l. 7. p. 76. Parma joyed at the Coming of Princesse Mary of Portugal and by her Reformed l. 4. p. 95. Parma the Prince vide Alexander Farneze Parma the Governesse vide Margaret of Austria Dutchess of Parma Parma the Duke vide Octavio Paul the third of the house of Farneze Pope l. 1. p. 22. goes to Nice to meet the Emperour and the French King ibid. takes a Journey to Lucca to the Emperour carrying with him Octavio and Margaret l. 1. p. 23. dislikes the Expedition of Algiers ibid. delivers Octavio to the Emperour bound for Africa ibid. sends Forces to serve the Emperour beyond the Alpes under the Command of Octavio l. 9. p. 42. begins the Councel of Trent Ibid. his prediction of his Grandchild Alexander Farneze ibid. p. 43. Paul the fourth P. M. how he established the Inquisition at Rome l. 2. p. 33. a War between him and the Spaniard l. 8. p. 33 34. his Death l. 1. p. 14. Paulo Guinichi Prince of Lucca l. 8. p. 2. Paulo Rinaldo l. 10. p. 4. Paulus Termus the French General invades the maritime parts of Flanders l. 1. p. 11. overcome at Graveling ibid. p. 12. Paulo Vitelli l. 9. p. 45. Peace when it is to be hoped for l. 1. p. 12. concluded by the mediation of Women ibid-agitated l. 9. p. 49. l. 10. p. 5 6 14. vanishing l. 8. p. 9. l. 9. p. 49. restored to the Low-Countries l. 6. p. 21. diflembled by Charles of France with the Hugonots l. 7. p. 73. the opinion touching breach of peace with the Spaniards ibid. peace between Charles King of France and Maximilian Arch-Duke of Austria and his son Philip l. 1. p. 15. between Lewis the eleventh of France and the same Maximilian ibid. between Philip the second and Henry the French King l. 1. p. 12. vide Cessation of Armes and Truce People never constant l. 2. p. 34. over-joyed to see the fall of powerful men l. 4. p. 80. easily believing what they wish l. 5. p. 112. Ambitious to be made Judges of Religion l. 1. p. 10. desirous to shew their Countries wealth and power to strangers l. 2. p. 45. they Design a Governesse for the Low-Countries l. 1. p. 19. Sollicited by the Nobility to oppose the Inquisition l. 5. p. 101. their boldness l. 1. p. 71. their acclamations to the Prince of Orange upon the high way l. 5. p. 118. their opinion touching the imprisonment of the two Lords l. 7. p. 51. their love to Count Egmont ibid. their shoutes when they saw the Gâ—enses l. 5. p. 107 108 110. their Alacrity in pulling down Heretical Temples l. 6. p. 20. their hatred to the Duke of Alvâ— l. 7. p. 51 64 70. to the Spaniards l. 8. p. 19. to Granvel l. 2. p. 41 42. vide Hatred their joy for his departure l. 4. p. 80. and at the breaking of the Duke of Alva's Statue l. 9. p. 38. their fear by reason of Domestick and external rigour l. 7. 46. their popular government in the Low-Countries l. 9. p. 39 their Conspiracy l. 5. p. 115. they of Antwerp favour Bredered l. 5. p. 112. Peralta vide Gabriel Pirotto vide Pedro Antonio Pirotto Perez vide Anton. Pesti lence in his house that made a mock of it l. 9. p. 41. Petition to the Arch-Duke for liberty of Conscience l. 9. p. 41. to the Governesse presented by the Covenanters l. 5. p. 102. the Contents thereof l. 5. p. 108. another l. 5. p. 142. the Countesse of Egmonts Petition l. 7. p. 49. Petreius the Centurion l. 8. p. 12. Pedro Antonio Perottâ— in the battel of Moâ—ch l. 8. p. 3. his gallant attempt l. 8. p. 4. styled the Paladine of Italy ibid. in the battel of Gemblac l. 9. p. 51. in the fight at Rimenant l. 20. p. 12. Pedro Cebellio a Spanish Captain l. 5. p. 21. Pedro Ciacconio l. 8. p. 8. Piedro Busto a Commander of the Italians l. 7. p. 81. Pedro Camaiano Bishop of Asculum the Popes Agent to the King of Spain l. 5. p. 114. exhorts the King to a War with the Low-Countries l. 6. p. 21. Pedro Francisco Nicello l. 9. p. 45. Pedro Henri quez l. 9. p. 54. Pedro Navaâ—re a Commander in the Isle of Gerben l. 7. p. 82. Pedro Taxio l. 8. p. 24. Pedro de Toledo Marquiss of Villa Francha comes from Spain into the Low-Countries l. 10. p. 6. his place at the Funeral of Don Iohn l. 18. p. 22. Peter Trigose a â—esuite to what he perswaded-the Antwerp Merchants l. 7. p. 77. to what the Mutinous Souldiers ibid. Peter Ernest Count Mansfeldt Governour of Lucemburg l. 1. p.
the Covenant l. 5. p. 100. Treasurer to the Gheuses l. 5. p. 141. taken by the Spaniards at the Hague l. 7. p. 81. intimate with the Prince of Orange ibid. he with three other exchanged l. 8. p. 2. imployed by the Prince of Orange to surprise Don Iohn l. 9. p. 34 35. Philip Melanctlhon his prediction of the Prince of Orange l. 2. p. 44. Philip Momorancy Count Horne Admirall of the Belgick Seas l. 1. p. 17. l. 7. p. 53. and Captain of the lifeguard ibid. Knight of the Golden fleece ibid. first trayles a pike under Charles the fifth ibid. his service at Saint Quintin ibid. appears against Granvell l. 1. p. 16. his malice and letter against Granvell l. 2. p. 41. l. 3. p. 72 â—3 l. 7. p. 51. Invited into Spain by the King but â—efuseth to goe l 3. p. 74. combines with others against Granvell ibid. l. 7. p. 49. is numbered among the Covenanters ibid. l. 5. p. 101. his complaints in Senate against the King l. 5. p. 104. moves his fellow-Knights to return their order to the King in Spain l. 5. p. 107. joynes with the Covenanters in Culemburg house l. 5. p. 110. and at a feast with the Prince of Orange ibid. votes it Senate against a warr l. 5. p. 129. the Covenanters sue to have him for their Protector l. 5. p. 120. he acts for the Hereticks l. 6. p. 1. being Governour of Tornay he assignes Churches to the Hereticks l. 5. p. 131. l. 7. p. 50. is present at the private meeting in Dendermund ibid. l. 5. p. 134. the Kings indignation against him ibid. he refuseth to take the oath of fidelity l. 6. p. 12. sends a coppy thereof to the Governess l. 6. p. 15. hath an aversion from the sight of Alva l. 6. p. 32. is drawn in by Count Egmont to meet the Duke at the Counsell boord ibid. arrested and disarmed l. 6. p. 33. imprisoned in the Castle of Gant l. 7. p. 49. many supplicate for him ibid. what was charged against him by the Kings Advocate ibid. p. 50. his answer to the particulars ibid. from Gant he is removed to Bruxells l. 7. p. 51. prepares himself for death l. 7. p. 52. is beheaded ibid. his Elogy l. 7. p. 53. many hate the Duke of Alva for putting him to death ibid. p. 58. Philip Norcarmius a Saint Aldegund Lieftenant Governour of Haynolt for the Marquis of Bergen l. 6. p. 5. puts a garrison into Valenciens ibid. offended at their inconstancy ibid. takes their commissioners along with him l. 6. p. 6. besiegeth the town ibid. p. 7. defeats the forces at Tornay ibid. enters the town victorious and punisheth them l. 6. p. 8. returns to the siege of Valenciens ibid. prepares for an assault ibid. takes the Suburbes l. 6. p. 10. coâ—es into Valenciens as a Conquerour ibid. p. 11. dis-ameth and punisheth the town ibid. his Encomion ibid. he goes into Brabant to reduce Maestricht l. 6. p. 15. takes the town l. 6. p. 16. punisheth their Rebellion ibid. goes for Holland ibid. p. 19. wounded at the siege of Harlem l. 7. p. 80. Philip Sega the Popes Numâ—â— to Don Iohn of Austria l. 9. p. 36. treats with the Deputies of the Estates and the Senators ibid. goes from the Low-Countreys into Spain l. 9. p. 37. Philip Staveley Lord of Glayoâ— Master of the Ordinance l 1. p. 17. Philip Valois vide Philip Duke of Burgundy Phisitians their custome l. 9. p. 28. their predictions l. 10. p. 15. Picenian Presâ—cture or the Government of Ancona l. 9. p. 36. Pictures made in contempt of God and the King l. 5. p. 141. in scorn of the Duke of Alva l. 7. p. 72. Piety to our Lady of Hall l. 5. p. 111. of the Spaniards in battel l. 7. p. 55 57. of the Mutineers and Merchantâ— at Antwerp l. 7. p. 77. Pigeons carry Letters to and from the besieged in Harlem l. 7. p. 79. and at the siege of Leyden l. 8. p. 7. Pilot l. 4. p. 93. l. 6. p. 19. Piracy exercised in Holland and Frizland l. 7. p. 71. much confluence to the Pirats out of France and Great-Brittain l. 7. p. 73. vide plunder Pisans illuded by Charles the eighth l. 9. p. 34. Piscorio vide Charles Davalo Pius the fourth P. M. how he endowed the new Bishopâ— in the Low-countries l. 2. p. 29. he Creates Granvâ—il Cardinal with 17. others l. 3. p. 54. endeavours to draw the King of Navarre from favouring the Hereticks l. 3. p. 58. his servants in the Conclave offended at the Spanish Embassadour l. 3. p. 65. how activeâ—hâ— was to get the Councel of Trent promulgated l. 4. p. 85. he offends the King of Spain ibid. intends to trouble Octavio Duke of Parma l. 4. p. 91. his Death l. 4. p. 81. Pius the fifth P. Max. makes a League against the Yâ—â—kâ— l. 4. p. 81. sends the Christian Colours and Admiralâ—s Staffe to Don Iohn of Austria ibid. he first consented Medals to increase the Devotion of the Low-countrey men l. 5. p. 111. grants Indulgences to those that wear those Medalls ibid. perswades the King of Spain to visite the Low-Countries with an Army l. â— p. 114. l. 6. p. 21. sends an Agent to the Governesse l. 5. p. 114. Commends and offers her assistance ibid. desires her to send his Letters to the Prince of Orange and Count Culemburg ibid. informes the King of Calvinistical books found at Tholous and Lyons l. 7. p. 45. animateâ— the Duke of Alva against the Gheuses wiâ—h Letters and money l. 7. p. 57. the Duke of Alva's Victory ascribed to his prayers ibid. for which he gives Solemn thanks to God ibid. sends a hallowed Helmet and Sword to the Duke of Alva l. 7. p. 64. his Letters absolving the Low-Countrey men of Heresie l. 7. p. 68. praiseth Alexander Fâ—rneze l. 9. p. 46. dyes l. 4. p. 82. Platerius vide Imbertus Plots against Don Iohn l. 10. p. 20. of the Hugonots against their King l. 6. p. 35. of the enemy l. 7. p. 60. discovered l. 10. p. 10. against the Duke of Alva at the Monastery of Greenvale l. 7. p. 46. Poysoned or suspected to be poysoned l. 6. p. 28. l. 10. p. 20. Plunder of Oudenaeâ—d by the Prince of Orange l. 7. p â—5 and of Amersort by the Gheuses Ibid. of Antwerp by the Spaniards l. 8. p. 23. of Mechlin by the same l. 7. p. 77. of Nardhem by the same of Rome by Divers l. 7. p. 78. of Churches l. 1. p. 9. of Dendermund by the Prince of Orange l. 7. p. 75. of Maâ—shicht by the Spaniards l. 8. p. 21. of Zuâ—phen by the same l. 7. p. 77. of other Cities and Townes ibid. p. 75. of Scander Eâ—shaw and Mustapha's ships l. 9. p. 46. at the Sack of Antwerp l. 8. p. 23. Predatory ships redeemed l. 7. p. 77. vide piracy Poesie sacred and prophan l. 3. p. 63. Polvillerius Colonel of
2. p. 32. vide Inquisition Or the punishment of Delinquents l. 2. p. 34 35. vide Heresie and punishment Or the alienation of the Nobility l. â— p. 37. Occasioned by Granvell l. 3. p. 75. by the Kings Letter l. 4. p. 96. by the Edicts proposed by the Governesse l. 5. p. 98. by the Duke of Alva l. 7. p. 39. by taxes l. 7. p. 75. by Mutineers vide Sedition and the Beginning of the Low-Countrey Tumults how it came l. 2. p. 46. l. 3. p. 61. a general Pardon for the Tumults l. 7. p. 67. vide Pardon Tumults in France l. 3. p. 55 57 58. vide Guises Conspiracy the French and Low-Countrey Tumults compared together l. 3. p. 55 61. Tumults of the Moores in Spain l. 7. p. 45 66. at 〈◊〉 against the Spaniards l. 8. p. 18. at Antwerp l. 5. p. 117. l. 6. p. 3. l. 8. p. 22. at Bolilue and Maestriâ—ht 1. 6. p. l. at â—â—nt l. 5. p. 132. 1. 6. p. 24. at Valenciens l. 3. p. 63. Tunis the Royal Seat of Libia taken by assault l. 10. p. 19. the Expedition of Tunis l. 7. p. 69. l. 10. p. 21. Turks fire the Arcenal at Venice l. 5. p. 139. Turkish Fleet at Lepanto l. 9. p. 4â— the Treasurer of their Army ibid. Turkish Garrison at Navarine Ibid. Tunius the Secretary sent by the Governesse to the Bishop of Lieg l. 6. p. 16. to Brederod l. 6. p. 19. by him retained ibid. sent away by night from Amsterdam ibid. imployed by the Duke of Alva to the Queen of England l. 7. p. 66. Tuscany l. 8. p. 14. Twâ—ntieth part vide Taxes Sentences in T. SLander is a Shipwrack by a dry TEMPEST l. 3. p. â—7 THREATS proportioned to the greatest Spirits will at last humble them l. 4. p. 82. In a TROUBLED State the most present Remedy is for one Man to Rule l. 8. p. 17. V. VAbrince a Bishoprick in France l. 2. p. 31. Vadamont the Count l. 7. p. 53. Vahal a River l. 8. p. 9. Vaâ—dersong appointed a Captain of Foot by the King l. 5. p. 132. Valdez vide Francisco Valenciens a City l. 6. p. 5. impatient of their Rulers ibid. the Tumults therein l. 3. p. 61 63. composed l. 3. p. 64. the state of the Town l. 6. p. 5. the Valencentians Commanded by the Governesse to receive a Garrison Ibid. after some tergiversation they refuse ibid. are pronounced Rebels l. 6. p. 6. besieged l. 6. p. 8. the King unwilling to have them stormed ibid. besieged yet more straightlie ibid. the Assault limited by the Kings Order l. 6. p. 9. they are invited to render by Count Egmont and Duke Areschot ibid. they Sally out by night l. 6. p. 10. the Site of the Town ibid. the battery ibid. the Valencenians Treat ibid. they yield to mercy ibid. and so escape storming Ibid. p. 11. the City is disarmed ibid. the Authors of the Rebellion Executed ibid. the State Sacred and Civil restored ibid. the Fort demolished l. 9. p. 38. Valentine Pardieu Lord de la Mott Commands the Forces of Flanders l. 6. p. 3. Master of that Ordinance l. 9. p. 50. carried out of the field wounded l. 7. p. 80. St. Valery stormed l. 7. p. 46. Vallidolid l. 1. p. 6. l. 10. p. 18 19. Valois vide Philip Duke of Burgundy Valois vide Margaret Vanâ—â—st vide Iohn Margaret Vargas vide Alphonso Francisco Iuan. Vaâ—â—â—ination vide Presage Venice fired l. 5. p. 139. who was the plotter of it Ibid. Verdugo vide Francisco Venerus Ginnich Embassadour from the Duke of Iuliers l. 9. p. 36. Verse about half Moones worn in hats to expresse their hatred to the Roman Religion l. 8. p. 8. of Ovid. Sited upon the Death of Charles Prince of Spain l. 7. p. 45. Vesâ—â—â—â—ch imployed from Antwerp to Spain l. 8. p. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Emperour l. 1. p. 2. Vestarhoâ—â— raisâ—â—â— Horse in Saxony l. 5. p. 138 Viennâ— a Town of Holland l. 6. p. 1 20. Vibaldus Riperda General and Governour of Harlem dyes l. 7. p. 80. Victory of Actium l. 9. p. 46. at the River Eâ—s l. 7. p. 56. at Calicâ— l. 1. p. 11. at the River Geta l. 7. p. 61. at Graveling l. 1. p. 11. at St. Gisâ—en l. 7. p. 74. at Gemblaâ— l. 9. p. 52. at Limburg l. 10. p. 1. at Mons in Haynâ—lt l. 7. p. 76. at Ostervell l. 6. p. 3. at St. Quintin l. 1. p. 11. in the Isle of Duveland l. 8. p. 13. at Mooch l. 8. p. 3. over the Armenterians and Tornois l. 6. p. 7. over the Hugoâ—ots l. 3. p. 62. l. 6. p. 34. l. 7. p. 64 74. over Mustapha's Galley l. 9. p. 46. in the War of Portugall l. 7. p. 82. by every 10. Spaniards over as many thousands of the Enemy l. 9. p. 31. the Sea-Victories of the Prince of Orange l. 8. p. 2. and of the Hollâ—nders frequent for ten yeares together l. 7. p. 73. thought to be a miracle l. 7. p. 57. moderation in Victory l. 10. p. 13. the newes of Victory strangely brought to the Groine l. 7. p. 56. the Victory of the Spaniards parallel'd with one of the Romans ibid. vide Expedition Vid. Caboce slain in a duel in the French Kings presence l. 1. p. 13. Vieâ—â—lus vide Henry Viglius vide Ulricus Villa of Henry King of France l. 9. p. 57. Villapardo l. 10. p. 19. Villagarcia l. 10. p. 17. Villages fired l. 7. p. 57. Viller Commands the Covenanters Horse l. 6. p. 1. moves the Bishop of Lieg to suffer their meeting at Centron l. 5. p. 119. Villers a French Marquis joynes with Count Aremberg at Amiens l. 6. p. 35. Villers Commands the Carabines for the Estates l. 9. p. 50. defends Nivell l. 9. p. 56. vide Iustus Villers Villres General for the Covenanters l. 7. p. 49. is ordered by the Prince of Orange from Iuliers to passe the Moes l. 7. p. 46. routed and taken Prisoner ibid. 49. executed ibid. Villet Granvells Countrey-man undertakes his Murther l. 4. p. â—â—0 Vilvord too late attempted by Gonzaga l. 9. p. â—3 Vilvord-Prison l. 5. p. 101. Vinglius one of the Covenanters infests Holland l. 6. p. 19. defeated ibid. executed ibid. Vincentio Carafa Prior of Hungaâ—y appointed Colonel of Italians l. 10. p. 7. Violaters of holy Images punished l. 6. p. 17 20. vide Iâ—â—nomachy Vervich l. 5. p. 1â—0 Visurgis a River l 7. p. â—6 Vitelli vide Chiapinâ— Camillo Nicolao Paulo Viterlotio Vitelli. l. 8. p. 14. Ulloa vide Alphonso Iuan Osorio Magdalen Ulricus Viglius Zuitchem President of the Privy Coâ—ncel l. 1. p. 25. l. 3. p. 68. faithfull to Granvell Ibid l 4. p. 78. numbered among the Cardinallists ibid. 31. the Gheuses threaten him l. 5. p. 129. affectionate to his Religion and his King l. 8. p. 17. arrested in Senate and committed Prisoner l. 8. p. 20. Ulutial the Turkish Admiral l. 9. p. 46. Vlysses l. 3. p. 10.
against the Leâ—ying of a War l. 5. p. 129. disswadeâ— the Governesse from leaving Bruxels ibid. by his endeavoâ—rs Religion at Antwerp is restored l. 5. p. 130. he assigns Churches to the Hereticks in Antwerp ibid. 〈◊〉 against the Emperours Edicts l. 5. p. 133. meets the other Lord at Dendermund l. 5. p. 134. l. 7. p. 50. what was there concluded l. 5. p. 134. l. 7. p. 50. boasts and glories that he hath penetrated into the Kings design l. 5. p. 137. Essayes to draw Count Egmont into a new Confederation l. 5. p. 142. how he carried himself in the tumult at Antwerp l. 6. p. 3. â—he refuseth to take the Oath of fidelity l. 6. p. 12. of his own accord resignes his Government ibid. is troubled at the Duke of Alva's coming into the Low-Countries l. 6. p. 13. his Conference with the Lords at Willebroc l. 6. p. 14. his words at his departure to Count Egmont ibid. and his Letter to the Governesse ibid. he departs from the Low-Countries ibid. is impeached by the Duke of Alva l. 7. p. 41. condemned absent ibid. 42. what he answered ibid. his complaints for the sending of his son into Spain ibid. his first Expedition from Germany into the Low-Countries l. 7. p. 46. he publisheth in Apology against the King l. 2. p. 45. and a book against the Duke of Alva l. 7. p. 58. musters at Aquisgrane ibid. passeth his Army over the Moes contrary to the Duke of Alva's opinion l. 7. p. 59. fights onely with light skirmishes l. 7. p. 60. â—routs Vitelli ibid. Challenges the Duke of Alva to a battle ibid. attempts â—ivers Townes in vain l. 7. p. 61 63. his danger upon a mutiny in his Camp l. 7. p. 61. he moves to receive the French Forces ibid. Takes Centron ibid. fights at the River Geta ibid. 62. with great losse ibid. is recruited by the French Auxiliaries ibid. intends to joyn with the Prince of Conde in France l. 7. p. 63. plunders the territory of Lieg and the Villages of Haynâ—lt ibid. fights more fortunately with the Duke of Alva at Queâ—cy ibid. is prohibited from entring France ibid. a mutiny in his Camp ibid. defeated of his hopes he goes for Germany Ibid. derides the Duke of Alva's pride in erecting his own Statue l. 7. p. 64. Sollicites the Low-Countrey men to revolt upon occasion of the Taxes l. 7. p. 71. compasseth his desire ibid. useth the Water-Gheuses against the Duke of Alva ibid. the Rebellious Cities willingly yield to him l. 7. p. 72. his second Expedition out of Germany into the Low-countries to relieve his brother 〈◊〉 l. 7. p. 75. he takes some Townes in Brabant ibid. the Cruelty of his Men ibid. he quickens his march to Mons ibid. admires the Duke of Alva's Camp as he lay at the siege l. 7. p. 67. attempts in vain to break thorow ibid. retreats ibid. is invaded in thâ— night ibid. he confirmes the Harlemers to hold out by letters sent them by Carryer-Pigeons l. 7. p. 79. his Sense of the Duke of Alva's departure l. 7. p. 81. his victory and the rendition of Midelburgâ— l. 8. p. 2. he prepares Men and Shipping to defend 〈◊〉 which he â—oseth l. 8. p. 10. he sends relief to Sceldt l. 8. p. 13. having taken Crimpen he marcheth to Ziriczee Ibid. is bear off Ibid. perswades the Governours of Provinces and the Senators to stand for liberty l. 8. p. 19. associâ—tes with some of them Ibid. Courts Duke Aresâ—hâ—â— Ibid. is invited to the Confederation of Gant l. 8. p. 21. assists the Estates against the Spaniards Ibid. instructs the Senators and Deputies of the Estates against Don Iohn l. 8. p. 26. moves them to command the Spaniards out of the Low-Countries Ibid. is vexed at Iohn's admission l. 8. p. 33. denyes together with his Provinces to subscribe the Edict Ibid. professeth himself a Calvinist Ibid. labours to poison the Low-Countrey Countrey mens hearts against Don Iohn ibid. Sowes dissention between Don Iohn and the Low-countrey Lords l. 9. p. â—4 in Created Ruart of Brabant l. 9. p. 36. Institutcs new Magistrates by the Copy of Holland l. 9. p. 38. by his Designe the Fort at Antwerp in demolished Ibid. at his too great power the Lords are offended ibid. he is joyned with Archduke Matthius as his Lievtenant-Governour of the Low-Countries l. 9. p. 39. he flyes to Antwerp upon the newes of the Catholicks Victory at Gembâ—ac l. 9. p. 53. he gives out that all the Royallists are slain in the Fort at Lunburg l. 10. p. 4. blamed by the Arch-Duke and the Estates l. 10. p. 5. he founds his Empire by the Sea of Holland Ibid. attempts Amsterdam Ibid. deceived by his 〈…〉 rendred to him Ibid. he raiseth men iâ— Germany Ibid. perswades the Estates to a cessation of Armes ibid. p. 6. dislikes a Truce Ibid. his Enmity with Campin Glìmè Hese l. 10. p. 9. he cunningly spreads a rumour of his own murther ibid. his report of a marriage to be between Don Iohn and the Queen of England l. 10. p. 20. Granvell called him Silence l. 6. p. 33. Writers of History l. 1. p. 2. why they differ about the beginning of the Belgick Tumults l. 2. p. 27 all Wallon Militia and Proverb l. 7. p. 54. Regiment l. 9. p. 50 55. Winschot l. 7. p. 47. Wood Gheuses l. 7. p. 59. Sentences in W. NEver shines a greater hope of Peace then when a WARR is seriously prosecuted l. 1. p. 1â— The fire of Civil WARR is carefully to be watched where they are neer that feed the flame they far off that should extinguish it l. 6. p. 2â— In WARR a General fears nothing more then to be thought to fear l. 7. p. 59. WICKEDNESSE prospers by suddain attempts l. 2. p. 34. Quarrels of WIT use to be irreconcileable among Children l. 3. p. 67. Z. ZAchrias the Pope increaseth Bishopricks in Germany l. 2. p. 30. Zeland a Province of the Low-countries l. 1. p. 15 16. its Governour Ibid. l. 3. p. 51. l. 8. p. 10 13. infested by the Image-â—ighters l. 5. p. 126. the head of Zeland attempted by Tholose l. 6. p. 2. the Cities receive Garrisons from the Governesse l. 6. p. 20. some Islands belonging to it covered with a delâ—ge l. 7. p. 69. a great part of it revolts from the Spaniards l. 7. p. 72. the Chief City of Zeland assaulted l. 8. p. 1. yields to the Prince of Orange l. 8. p. 2. the Zeland-Expedition undertaken by Requesenes l. 8. p. 9. the Site of Zeland ibid. the Courage of the Royallists in wading over the Sea to Zeland l. 7. p. 76 77. l. 8. p. 13. the Principal Isle of Zeland taken ibid. it adheres to the other Rebel-Provinces l. 8. p. 21. Zeveghem a Lord sent by the Governesse on a Ceremonious Embassage into Germany l. 4. p. 87. Ziriczee the Island fortified by the Prince of Orange l. 8. p. 10. Ziriczee the City befieged by the
his resolution But those Censurers were mistaken The Monastery of S. Justus Sex Aur. Vict. in Caius Czs. The Emperours new habitation Febr. 1557. His family and how accommodated His contempt of the world How be disposed his time His riding to take the air His gardening His making of clocks or watches Jannell Turrianus whose Mathematicall inventions be much delighted in His extraordinary care of his soul. Joseph Seguenza in the History of his Order l. 1. By the Bull of Julius 111. 1554. Marc. 19 He disciplined himself His whip reverenced by his son Aug. 30. 1558. Immediately he falls sick Barthol Miranda Soon after he died Sept. 21. 1558. His funerals ushered with Prodigies in heaven Observed by Ian. Turrionus present at the Emperours death And in earth How long he reigned Diverse reasons commonly given for his resignement The new Kings first care The Duke of Savoy made governour of the Low-countreys The Truce between France and Spain broken Febr. On what occasion Thuan. l. 22. Decemb. The French invade the Low-Countreys Ferdinand of Tolledo Duke of Alva Iune 1557. Aug. 1550. The Spaniard first was conquerour at S. Quintins Presently after the French recovered Caliâ—e Ian. 1558. The Spaniard hath another victorie at Graveling Fortune seconds valour Iuly 1558. The womens crueltie to the French A Treatie of peace between the Kings Concluded by mediation of the Dutchess of Lorain At Cambray the Peace-making city April 1556. To the generall contentment Charles the V. Francis the I. Aug. 1529. Alice the Kings mother and Margaret the Emperours aunt The Peace confirmed by marriage Of the King of Spain to the French Kings daughter The King of France his sister married at the same time to the Duke of Savoy A Tournament at the wedding Where the King is victor Gabriel Count de Mongomary but soon after wounded Dies July 2. 1549. His death foretold Luc. Gaur Thus. l. 22. Lod. Guicciard l. 3. The history of the Netherlands 1559. Anonym in that Hist. Thua l. 3. 22. Vidus Cavocius Francis Vivonus The judgement of prudent men upon the Kings fate A strange conjuncture this year of Princes funerals King of Rome Of Belgium or the Low-countreys It s Name 〈◊〉 Greatness Wealth Guicciardine in his description of the Low-countreys Cities Towns Villages Forts Militia Navigation Trade of clothing Inclination Adv. Jien in his Tract of Holland attributes it to the air they live in The Character of a Low-countrey man Belgium divided into 17 Provinces Which come to one Prince three wayes Philip the Good had them by affinity Meyer l. 17. Charles the Souldier by Purchase and the Sword Pont. Heut l. 1. But he lost some of them Paulus Aemil. l. 10. and Pont. Heut l. 2. Part Maximilian recovered by arms The same Authour in the same book and lib. 5. Part by Treaty Guic. lib. 1. 4. 8. Belcar l. 8. Charles the fifth possessed himself of all together Pont. Heut lib. 11. and 9. The same l. 11. and Meter Guic. lib. 16. and Pont. Heut lib. 11. And though to have made a Kingdom of them Guic. Meyer Why he did not The distribution of the Provinces 1546. 1556. The government whereof King Philip gave to the Lords Lucemburgh to Count Mansfield 1559. Namure to Count Barlamont Lymburgh to the Count of East-Frizeland Haynolt to John Lanoi Lord of Molembase But he shortly after dying it was bestowed on the Marquess of Berghen Flanders and Artois to Count Egmont French-Flanders to John Momorancy Tournay to his Brother Florence Holland and Zeland to the Prince of Orange 1559. Frizeland and Overysell to Count Arembergh Gelderland and Zutfen be as then assigned to no one But afterwards he sent from Spain a Patent to Count Megen to be Governour of both Marc. 25. 1560. And another to the Prince of Orange after the death of Vergius Jan. 16. 1559. to govern Burgundy Brabant reserved for the Supream Governour of the Low-countreys The ordering of the Militia Especially of the Horse Whose troops were famous througout Europe Their Commanders The Admirall Generall of the Ordinance The disposition of Bishopricks whereof there were onely four in all the 17 Provinces Many therefore had wished their number might be encreased Which Charles the fifth went about to do The reason why he desisted His son Philip attempts it Treats about it with the Pope Concludes with him Fourteen Bishopricks were to be added to the four former Whereof three Archbishopricks The men chosen for those Dioceses Of the Governour of the Low-countreys Various conjectures as is usuall with the people who should be the man The major part conceive Count Egmont will be elected a man of much same and merit Many think the Prince of Orange will carry it a man of greater power and wealth Not undeserving But he doubts a repulse Christierna of Lorain is also designed for the place With generall approbation But Margaret of Parma is preferred before them all What hindred Count Egmont What the Prince of Orange What Christiern of Lorain Cic. l. 2. de Oratore Of Margaret of Parma Her Mother Her mothers Parents Education Perfections The Emperour falls in love with her Delivered of Margaret Anno 1522. whom Cesar conceals for her mothers credit and his own But at last it was discovered The Infant is sent to be educated by the Emperours Aunt And afterwards by his sister 1530. Her disposition Her delight in hunting 1496. Cesar promises her in marriage to the Duke of Florence Breaking the match intended with the Prince of Ferrara 1516. 1529. Francisc. Maria Feltrio The Florentines labour to break the match But in vain The Nuptials celebrated at Naples Soon after at Florence With a strange Omen 1536. Her husband slain the same year 1537. His successour sues to Cesar for Margaret But he casts his eye on the house of Farneze And marries his daughter to Octavio Farneze Francisco Maria Feltrio With whom at first she corresponded not 1541. But afterwards He was indeared to her By means of his Absence and Hazzards 1545. Her love to him increased See the ninth Book Not without some instrvening jarres Her masculine spirit And manly exercises She was of a ready wit Wonderfull discreet And religious Especially at the Eucharist Her yearly Charity to the poor Which juncture of excellencies principally moved the King to make her Governess of the Low-countreys A second Cause thereof A third A fourth more secret perhaps more true The King after her instructions gives her a pension And in a Chapter of the Knights of the Golden Fleece 1516. 1433. 1429. He declares her Governess And commands to them Religion and Obedience Hears the Estates Requests And grants them Then his Majestie goes into Spain The Dukâ—â— of Savoy into Italy The Dutchess of Parma to Bruxells The Kings unseasonable departure out of the Low-Countreys before a perfect settlement was made The like inconvenience in Spain when Charles the fifth went from thence to Germany 1520. The Causes why writers differâ—
Ambois Where and how the name of Hugonot came up Thuan. lib. 4. of his History Gil. Geneb lib. 4. of his Chronicle and others The Authours of the tumult at Ambois Succours sent from Spain Limosin Strange fortune King of Navar Prince of Condé The hereticks imboldened Granvels design Sancta Cruz endeavours to draw off the King of Navarre from the hereticks He is taken off and sends an Embassadour into Spain Rui gomez de Silva 4. Aprill 1562. By whom Granvel likewise writes Sardinia is offered in stead of Navarre Whether in carnest or no. A match between the King of Navarre and the Queen of Scots falsly rumoured Thuan. in his History l. 28. 1562. 1564. The King of Spains Letter concerning the Queen of Scotlands marriage Dat. 6. of August Alibrets indignation The Guises power revives And the Malice of their Rivals Either party prepares for war Katharine of Medices King Philip sends Foot out of Italy Spain May 2. And commands the Governess to dispatch away the Horse out of the Low-countreys The Belgick Lords oppose it Perhaps set on by the Prince of Conde 1562. April 4. Iune 30. The Governess cools in the business Iuly 1. She is checkt for it by the King Instead of men she sends money And writes her reasons to the King August 31. The King of Navarre enters Roan triiumphant and dies A memorable Battel Dreux The French Low-countrey tumults paralleld The first Belgick tumults occasioned by French Calvinists Lâ—isle The insurrection at Tournay quieted Novem. 15. 1561. That at Valenciens inflamed by the Hereticks escape of punishment 1562. March 22. Which at last are condemned But rescued by the Commons And by the Magistrate carryed back to prison Davids Psalmes turned into French meeter The Authour Clement Marot Ex. Florim Hist. de ortu c. Haeres l. 8. His Manners Dubious Religion His Translation of the Psalter Forbid by his Majesty Marot flies his Countrey Dyes Beza finishes Marots Work of the Psalmes It is published but prohibited immediately by the Catholicks Retained by the hereticks The Valencenian Sedition renued They incourage one another either to rescue or revenge the Prisoners They forceably 〈◊〉 them out of the Iayl. Souldiers are brought into the Town by the Governesses Order A Councell is called about punishing the city The milder opinion carries it New souldiers put into the Town The seditious executed Valenciens quieted The Governesses vigilancy Her particular care of Religion in Frisland New Bishops brought in The Brabanters will have no Bishops The Popes Buls were delayed at Rome Pius IV. The Abbots exasperated the Brabanters The Brabanters send Agents publickly to Rome and privately into Spain Their Instructions Expedition money given them The Governess prevents them by Agents of her own that came before them to Rome And into Spain The Agents for the Estates rerurn from both places without Dispatches The Brabanters will not give it over thus Count Horn writes for them to his Maiestie Iune 2. Many Low-countrey Lords assist them Discontented at the King and at Granvel Their principall Abettours the Prince of Orange and Count Egmont Count Egmonts liberty of speech 4. Octob. 1559. Regnard sooths him in it Out of emulatition to Granvel begun when they were school-boyes Mart. Delrio lib. 1. Tumult Belg. Granvel Regnard Continued when they came to Court And there turnned into envy against his Superiour This made Regnard so active against Granvel The Governess therefore labours to have Regnard sent for out of the Low-countreys Which at last but too late was effected The Prince of Orange sets on the Brabanters His Ambition is checkt by Granvell Who put a kind of affront upon him Which occasioned the Prince of Orange and Count Egmonts first complaints to the King that they were neglected at the Councel-board That one ruled all And Granvell was the man But the Governess defends him in her letters to the King Decemb. 18. 1561. â—4 1561. The Governess denies her assent for summoning the Estates generall But gives way to a convention of the Knights of the Order Where the seeds were sâ—wn of a conspiracy against Granvel The result of the Convention Montiny sent into Spain The Governess dispatches a Messenger before him with this private letter Iune 14. What Grievances the Lords pretended How the Governess answered them The faith and freedome of Count Barlamont 27. Iuly The Governess is commanded to find out Some expedient for setting the Lords at difference among themselves What disparity betwixt Count Egmont and the Prince of Orange P. Orange C. Egmont C. Egmont P. Orange C. Egmont P. of Orange Which the Governess made use of to divide them and it ministred a double occasion The Princesse of Orange brought a bed of a Daughter Montinys Embassage out of the Kings letter to the Governess 23 Novem. His Conference with the King He imputes the generall discontent to the new Bishops and Granvel The King gives his reasons for increase of the Bishops Desends Granvel Possesses Montiny with his Resolution to go in person to the Low-countreys Montinies Relation in Senate 14 Day of Decemb. Which they credit not 1562. The Lords offended at Granvel upon new suspitions He despiseth his enemies His Rivals plot against him Some dissenting 22. March Letters writ against the Cardinall to the King by C. Egmont C. Horn. and the Prince of Orange 1562. Of these letters the Governess preadvertised the King March 9. How the Governess came by her intelligence causes a grievous falling out between Egmont and Aremberg May 5. The Kings answer to the Letters sent from the three Lords inviting one of them to Spain 1563. Iune 15. A private letter from his Majestie to Count Egmont But none of the three would go For which they give reasons to his Majestie Granvel grows out of date at Court Aloyfio Cantera lib. 9. in the life of King Philip. The Governess displeased with him for three reasons August 29. She sends Armenterius into Spain Who was to inform the King among other passages Of the Lords complaints against Granvel On the 25. Of Granvells danger Septem 13. The King at large hears him Who first suspends and then alters his Majesties resolutions The Belgick Lords leave the Court. 1564. 1564. A report raised that King Philip was murthered Which he himself was active to suppresse 4. Ianuary Scandalous Pamphlets posted up and handed through the Low-countreys 15. Iuly 1561. 10. August 1562. Emblematicall Cognizances given by the Lords-Conspiratours 29. Of March Invented at a feast In imitation of the Germans They throw the Dice who shall name the Livery Egmont chuses 29. Of March How the People interpret the Device The Governess gets them to leave off part of it Which the Lords supply with another Embleme As the King answered Egmont Prince of Orange in his Apollogy 1481. What many men conceived it to boad The King and Occasion puts an end to these Rebuses 20. Granvel sent for out of the Low-countreys Why the
Germany for his levies Particularly to the Emperour Who disswades him And offers himself to the Governess to arbitrate the differences between her and the Covenanters Octob. 13. But her Excellence prayes his assistance in the levies And obtains more then she requested Whereat the Pr. of Orange chases And threatens The rest of the Germane Princes return different answers Triers and Mentz approve of the Kings designe and offer passage to his man The rest of the Catholick Princes do the like The Landtgrave of Hessen and others do the contrary Novem. 11. Especally the Palsgrave Charles the ix of France declares for the K. of Spain 1565. Who writes thanks to the French King and his intent of coming to the Governess Octob. 2. A private meeting of the Lords at Dendermund where they produce Of all which the vigilant Governess had exact intelligence Novem. 12. Letters signifying the Kings displeasure and resolution to be revenged on three Low countrey Lords A fourth Lord is added falsely but subtily Novem. 12. A Quere made whether they should oppose the King with an army or admit him Both wayes seem dangerous They resolve to change their Prince Novem. 9. The summe of C. Egmonts letter to Count Mansfeld C. Mansfelds Answer 1565. The Governess sends abstracts of both Letters to the King and writes in count Mansfelds behalf Assured of the truth of his intelligence The Governess grievously complains to the King that her letters were betrayed in his Court. But no course was taken to help it so great an influence the Prince of Orange had upon the Kings Councell For which he paid well A new Convention at Amsterdam Where they resolve to beseech the Emperour to be their Advocate to the King And the Electours to mediate for them to the Emperour And if he deny them then to deny to serve him against the common enemy If no good could be done so to make a league with the Swisse And to puzzle the Spaniards in their saith by sending thither Books and Ministers Calvinisticall Whereof her Excellence premonishes the King Decem. 18. And is her self vigilant in the Low-countreys The Gentlemen and the Merchants promise to one another mutuall Assistance The Confession of Auspurg onely to be held forth Novemb. 7. Consistories and the Hereticks Republick set up They enter into league with the Hereticall Princes of Germany Novem. 21. Novemb. 4. Arms promised them from France Nay even from Constantinople From whence Michese the Jew incourages the Low-countrey Hereticks Who this Michese was A Jew that fled from Spain to Antwerp From thence to Venice And from Venice sailed to Constantinople Where he ingratiated himself with Selimus And moved him to assist the Moors in Spain ready to begin a warre Of which he advertises the Low-countreymen And promoves a warre with Cyprus In hatred to the Venetians And in hope to be King of Cyprus Deâ—â—gneth the siring of Venice Ant. Mar. Gratian. de bel Cypr. The Lowcountreymen by his letters animated Begin to collect money Which they subtilly offer to the King The Governesse contemns their offer Novem. 18. The same of the Kings coming staggers the Conspiratours Whom the Governesse endeavours to work upon with letters and promises Not without Artifice And successe Whereupon the Governesse having recovered her spirits Begins her great businesse with Prayer and Fasting To the French King she notifies the Hugonots preparations for a warre To the Emperour the Low-countreymens intentions to petition him at the Diet and how the Electours threaten him Count Mansfelds advice upon this point Which the Governesse commends but makes no use of She increases the souldiery Decemb. 15. And writes to the Governours of Provinces to take away the Hereticall meetings and exercises in this manner Which Letters she seconds with an Edict somewhat severer then her custome was Decem. 16. Egmont onely dissenting Whereupon the Conspiratours hasten their design for a War Brederod made Generall 1567. With Lewis of Nassau who solicits friends and collects money in Germany and the Low-countreys But the Governess puts rubs in their way They meet at Breda Endeavouring to draw Egmont into their new League By Letter But they perswade not They offer to bring a new Petition to the Governess Feb. 2. Not admitted It is sent Containing many complaints 1566. And many demands Febr. 16. But the Governess in her Answer grants them nothing C. Brederod prepares men and armes So doe the rest of the Confederates The Hereticks rejoycing And many flattering up Count Brederod The first revolt of the Cities Bolduc Vtrecht Mastriecht Bomberg one of the Conspirators invade Bolduc And cozâ—ning the Citizens enrages them against the Governesses Agents And against Count Megen Whom they beate from the Walles C. Megen enters Vtrecht and C. Brederod Amsterdam Tholouse aymes to be Lord of Zeland March 2. But is disoppointed He makes a stand neere Antwerp From whence he frights the neighbours Beavor is sent against him with this command Valentine Pardieu The Prince of Orange hinders the Antwerpers from Salâ—ying They fight at Ostervell The Citizens of Antwerp See the Battell from the walls They act their different wishes to both sides The Tholousians defeated Their Generall burned The Calvinists would have sallyed out of Antwerp to helpe their Fellowes But finding themselves lockt in they grew rageous Tholouse's wife sets them on The Prince of Orange opposes them with danger to himselfe The Insurrection of the Calvinists increaseth They take up Armes The Catholicks and Lutherans march against them led by the Prince of Orange The Calvinists terrifyed and quieted upon conditions The seige of Valenciens The Condition of the City The Valencenians commanded by her Excellence to receive a Garison December 1567. They seeme willing But at their appointed time fly off For these Reasons Which offended C. Egmont And much more the governesse Who resolves to beseige them But first sends againe to them to receive a Garrison And upon their refusall declares them Rebells Writing to the Provinces Decemb. 14 1566. Guy Brare of Mons. 1567. The Gheuseâ— every where perplexed The Tournay-Gheuses take up armes With a designe to surprize â—â—isle Decem. 22. 1566. 1567. The Armenterians conspire Their Plot discovered Rassinghem falls upon the Armentâ—rians 1567. Destroys them And following his Victory enters Lisle From thence pursues them of Tournay Tâ—e Errour 1567. 〈…〉 Norcarmius comes first upon the Place Fights with the Gheuses of Tournay Makes a great slaughter of them 1567. Câ—mmandâ— Tournay to receive a Garrison The City obeyeâ— He enters as a Conquerour Punishes the Citizens Returnes to the Seige of Valenciens The Governesse consults the King about storming of the Town His Majesty will not give way to it February 1 Whereupon the Governesse protracts the siege and drawes a line about the Towne Febr. 17. She Presses the King by Letters 1567. March 13. The King wishes her to deal more gently with the besieged and gives a rule for it She obeyes And sends to them Count Egmont
him refused The state of the Provinces Breda besieged by the Genera's of the Confederates Cardinal Granvels Brother A Messenger with a Letter to Don John Discovered Another counterfeit Letter was sent The Town rendred The Perfidiousness of the Garrison Ruremond holds out against the Confâ—iderates Still the Treaty of Peace continues The Queen of England moves for a Cessation of Arms in a threatning way She is not listned to The hope of Peace vanisheth Aprodigious Comet In Novemb. Decemb. 1577. January 1578. Of the Battel of Gemblac Both Armies mustered January 20. Don John's is lesse The enemie's greater But his are better men And more confident for this respect 6. January Pardieu Lord de la Mot. Goigny Commander in chief for the Confederates from 18. 1567. 1576. The Order of his Army Goigny Lievtenant-General to the Arch-duke Matthias for this Expedition Scoutes sent out and an ambush laid by Don Iohn The Catholick Army thus marshalled The Standard Don Johns orders Parties of both sides first skirmish Perotto of Sassoferrata The place of battell Alex. Farneze's conjecture of the enemy His words to the Gentleman of his Horse Curtius He communicates his designe to the Officers about him Henr. Viennius Lord of Ceuravium And they following he first passeth over the Gulph They all together charge the enemies horse And rout them Execution done upon the Confederates army Ianuar. 31. The day won by the horse Christ. Assonv in Relatione sayes One Spaniard was too hard for ten Confederates How great the Victorie Mar. Delr sayes but two were slain Mich. ab Isselt Leo. Belg. Febr. 2. Gemblac besieged by the Conquerours Yielded Mercy shewed to the town And to the prisoners Don Iohn's words to General Goignie The Conquerours commended by Don Iohn Prince Alexander especially With some adâ—â—â—ition Alex. Farneze's Answer His letter to the King in praise of Don Iohn Fâ—br 5. The like Commâ—ndations inserted in many other letters from Prince Alexander to Anton. Perez Marc. Almazar and Marc. Ayemont Feb. 15. Feb. 13. wherein he writes nothing of himself The Deputies of the Estates ignorant of the Victory sit in Councell Their trepidation when they heard the news The Arch-duke and the Prince of Orange flie Lord of Hierg Lovain yields to Don Iohn Feb. 5. And Iudoigne And Tienen Feb. 7. And Areschot Feb. 17. And Bovines Sichem summoned Refuseth to treat Alex. Farneze makes ready for an assault Febr. 21. Ordering his Forces In this manner The fight The Royalists The Sichemers Peter Henriquez and Baraiaz The Town is taken They that flie are cut to pieces The Town plundered The Castle holds out But Alex. Farneze batters down their works And raises new of his own The Castle rendred The Prisoners executed Diestem terrified Feb. 24. Submits And are gratiouâ—â—y used The Garrison-souldiers take Pay of the King Levia reduced Febr. 27. C. Mansfeld attemps Nivel Is repulsed The Town treats with Don Iohn A mutinie in the Catholick Army Don Iohn severs the Mutineers Demands the Principall of them Makes them cast lots for their lives At last one is hanged March 11. The Nivellers render themselves The Garrison suffered to depart without their Arms which are bestowed upon the French A gift that ruins them Mar. Delr l. 5. Turb Belg. saith 200 were lost The like misfortune formerly happened to their Nation Anno 1552. Pont. Heuter l. 3. Thuan. lib. 10. The Frenchmen move for a discharge from the service Duke of Alen-Son Don Iohn easily grants their suit They return in arms against him Part of them slain by surprise Part retire to a Fort. And will take no conditions Towns surrendred to Don Iohn Binch 1554. Malbuge Reux Beanmont Soigniac Barlamont Cimace taken by Assault April 15. The Castle yields Philipvil besieged It 's site 'T is invaded As we read in Cesar Livie and others Don John performing the parts of a Generall and a common souldier It is rendred Upon these terms May 19. 1578. The expedition of Limburg by Don John in his sicknesse committed to Alexander Farneze Why he undertakes it Part of his Forces sent before Iune 7. The Suburbs taken The site of Limburg Vvest Woâ—kes in order to an Assault Prince Alexanders Letter to the Limburgers They defer the sending of their Answer Whereat enraged He hastens the finishing his workes Comes Nicolaus Caesius And begins to batter from the hill A large Breach made The besiegers come up to the City gates A Messenger from the Towne to Prince Alexander His Answer He grants them an houres time to consider The women Supplicate from the walles Iune 16. The Towne is rendred Thought fortified And in a condition to hold out The Conquerours give God thanks P. Alexander summons Dalhem His Trumpet not admitted The Castle batterred To no purpose The Burgundians scale it And take both Castle and Towne by storme Iune 10. With a great Slaughter of the Citizens The sad fortune of a Maid Two Souldiers strive for her and in their struggle use their prisoner most inhumanely Who wounded and halfe dead Is taken from them But immediatly dies The benefit that followed the taking of Limburg Thanks sent to Alex. Farneze by the Princes whose Estates lay neare the Towne To the confederates great griefe at first afterwards to their great joy Vpon a Report that Prince Alexander with diverse more was slaine Coyned by the Prince of Orange Why such kind of newes is often forged What truth was in this Rumour A Miraculous Accident Iune 30. The Deaths of Count Barlamont Count Megen C. Barlamont's Encomion Aegidius Lancelloâ— Charles Don John's prosperous fortune troubles the Enemy Amsterdam attempted by the P. of Orange 1577. November Beates out his men Mar. Del. l. 4. Turb Belg. For which the Women are to be commended February At last the Towne is rendered and deceived The Prince of Orange votes for a Truce March 10. Sellio in the Kings name Treates with the Deputies of the Estates But to no end The Prince of Orange will onely give eare to a Truce Which Prince Alexander likes not March 25. His Letter to his Father Octavio Duke of Parma Neither is it approved of by Don Iohn New Officers from Spaine Pedr. de To. ledo Lopez Figueroa Alphons-Leva Gabr. Serbellonio Iune 22. New supplies of money from the King to Don Iohn To Alexander Farneze To Octavio Gonzaga To Mondragonio To Verdugo To Ant. olivera To Count Mansfeldt New levies in Italy Vnder these Commanders Don Iohn troubled at it Stops their proceedings Three Armies of the Enemy The States Forces The Duke of Alencon's Iuly 19. â—ohn Casimir's Iuly 17. Don Iohn's Councell of Warre Alex. Farneze votes against fighting them August 18. Only Serbellonio concurres with Prince Alexander The rest viz. Gonzaga Mansfeldt Olivera Montin and Mondragonio were of Don John's opinion Especially hearing the Prince of Orange was falne out with Campin And with Hese and Glimè Mart. Delr l. 4 Turb Belg. Don Iohn resolve to fight The site of the Enemy's