will of their own Forces In the continuace thereof you all know what their losses have been what their sufferings and how oft they have been at the point of being rather besieged then besieging to such great straits have they been brought by snow frost rain want of victuals want of men and chiefly by our so many and so valiant excurtions wherewith we have somtime more indamaged them in their quarters then they us within our walls But at last their rage hath prevailed more over us in overcoming all difficulties so to finish their siege then the rage of earth and heaven as it may be said hath prevailed over them Behold them therefore thirsting after our bloud and already panting at our gates and ready to enter our City thirsting after our goods And shall we expect any mercy at their hands any favourable dealing from them I say whose rape as it is every day seen is not to be satisfied by women their firings by houses their plunder by goods nor their bloud-thirstiness by all the people We must then believe that as soon as they shall be entred they will put us all to the sword or to some more ignominious death without respect of age sex or condition The welfare of the miserable consist in the despairing of welfare Why shall not we therefore endeavour placing the weakest sex and weakest age amidst us to make our way through our enemies with our swords in our hands whether we yield or whether we be overcome we must die But if we must perish as there is little hopes of doing otherwise death will come the more welcome when sought by our selves with undauntless valour then when with scorn and disdain received from the pride our enemies of These words were of such force and found their minds so ready to entertain any whatsoever desperate resolution as they already spake of following Ripardo's councel which came to Fredericks car Who better considering the danger what despair might make so many valiant men do and that by overcoming them he should find the whole City consumed he forthwith sent a Trumpet to the Town to let the Harlemists know that they might hope for better then they deserved In particular he promised to secure them from Plunder and from all other licentious Military violence That there were so many amongst them who knew there was no saveguard for them as between their despair and the others hope it was often doubted whether the more fiercer or more mild resolution should prevail amongst them at last the last prevailed and thus the City about the beginning of July was surrendred to the mercy of the enemy A Brigade of the Spanish foot forthwith entred the Town and unarmed every one therein They then fell to inflicting punishment Captain Rypart as chief head of the sedition had his head immediately struck off and Lancelot Brederode not long after received the like punishment All the rest of the Harlemists who were thought most guilty either of Heresie or Rebellion ended their lives either by the rope or sword And the like was without remission done to all those foreign souldiers who had been in Mons or in any other place which the Spaniards had taken and who had promised never to bear arms any more against the Kings party Above 2000 were put to death and the very executioners were either so weary or so glutted or so affrighted with the work as for speedier dispatch they drowned a great many of them in the River which ran through the City The Inhabitants freed themselves from plunder by the payment of 24000 pound sterling the Kings men raging and storming to see their hopes so far deluded This was the end of the siege of Harlem Noble for being so valiantly and so long both sustained and prosecuted Remarkable for the variety of successes both by land and sea but at last so horrid by the severe punishments inflicted by the vanquishers upon the vanquished as it was doubted whether the faults committed by the one or the punishments inflicted by the other were the greater THE HISTORY OF THE WARS OF FLANDERS Written by CARDINAL BENTIVOGLIO BOOK VIII The Contents The Commendador-Major resolves to succour Midleburg to this purpose he disposes of two Fleets in several parts but had ill success therein the one being routed by the enemy whilst he himself looked on and the others indeavours proving vain Midleburg is therefore surrendred Count Lodovick in Germany moves to enter with an Army again into Flanders Orange makes great preparations and conspires with him to that purpose Incitements used by him to this end The Commendadors perplexities and dangers Lodovick comes into Flanders Draws near Mastrick and hopes to win it but the Royalists secure the Town Their forces oppose the enemy various successes and incounters between the two Armies A battel insues The Royalists get the victory The Spaniards presently mutiny Things best worth knowledg in matter of mutinies The mutiners go to Antwerp The City is in great dread of them They are at last pacified and joyn with the rest of the Camp-Royal A great loss of many of the Kings ships Orange his proceedings against whom Vitelli is sent by the Commendador A new general pardon publisht in Antwerp in the Kings name An indeavour of accommodation with the Rebels but in vain The siege and description of Leyden Divers difficulties in the prosecution and in the maintaining thereof Actions which succeed thereupon Those of Leyden are in a desperate condition More desperate resolutions taken by the Rebels to relieve the Town Which is at last succoured with great slaughter and prejudice of the Spaniards WHen the Government was in the Commendador he applyed himself with all his might to relieve Midleburg Mandragone was as hath been said at the defence of that City and had continually prest very much for speedy succour and turning his desires into protestations he declared that unless he were reliev'd within very few days he should be constrained to put the City into the Rebels hands He wanted all sort of victuals not only of the better sort but even of the most vile The Commendador gave order then that two Fleets should with all diligence be prepared the easilyer to relieve the Town by two wayes upon the Scheld The one Fleet were of lesser Barks to be sent by that narrower and lower branch which parts not far from Berghen ap Zome and which as we have said retains the name of the River The other consisted of greater Vessels which were to pass through the Honte the Scheld being so called in her other larger and deeper branch The Commendador added his own diligence to that of others Going therefore himself in person to Antwerp he did so hasten the preparation of both the Fleets as about the end of January both of them put to Sea to effect the intended succour Bevoir the Admiral of Zealand was then fallen sick who was to have had the chief charge thereof So as
military administration And indeed he was a Commander of very great renown who to his honour won first in the Wars in Italy had made the like correspond which he did purchase in the wars of Flanders But this loss was added unto by another of much greater importance which insued within a few days after to wit the death of Rechesens the Commendador who about the beginning of March falling suddenly into a violent feaver died within five days at Brussels His bodily sickness was preceded by a great malady of mind for being brought into a very great streight for want of mony he was not furnisht with any from Spain neither was Flanders any ways able to supply him there withall In so much as a little before his death a part of the Spanish horse mutinyed to the Countries great indignation for which he was forced to suffer the people to reassume their arms which were formerly taken from them by the Duke of Alva knowing that they would have done so of themselves though he had not given them leave Four ordinary ships were at this time only come from Spain with some few souldiers the maritine preparation from thence not any ways answering expectation By reason of all which obstructions the Commendador had reason to fear that the siege of Zurickzee would end unfortunately and that other sinister events would befall the Kings affairs in Flanders Whilst thus agitated in mind he fell sick and died with a reputation rather of great goodness then of great valour and of being fitter for peacefull imployments then for those of War in the manageing whereof so great a Paragon as was the Duke of Alva proved to say the truth too disadvantagious to him Many and especially the wiser sort of Spaniards thought that a mixture of them both might have done well if joyned together the one had been wholly imployed in Military the other in Civil affairs Here insued one of the greatest and most tempestuous agitations that ever Flanders felt in the whole pursuit of the war which we will now describe You shall see a Government without Government the whole Country about to revolt the Kings Forces at enmity within themselves and his cause more oppugned then defended by them More Governours then one bear his name at once in Flanders and use his Authority the Provinces of various sences and no less differing Councels Neighbouring Princes manifestly aspiring to the Government thereof A new introduction of foreign Forces No publick nor no private faith observed Cruel sacking on one side fatal sieges on the other More then hostile violence and fury every where and in fine the successes in these revolutions of affairs will prove such and so strange as will doubtlesly move great curiosity here in the expectation of them but much greater compassion towards Flanders hereafter when they shall be come and seen One of the greatest mischiefs which the affairs of Flanders suffered by the death of Rechesens was that he died without declaring who should succeed him in his Government He had a Patent from the King to that purpose with a blank left for the name But he was so suddenly surprised with the violence of his sickness as he could not do it It was notwithstanding discovered by some appearances that he would have left the Military Government to Count Peter Ernestus Mansfield and the Civil Government to Count Barlemonte which two of all the Lords in the Country were those the King did most confide in and from whose valour and wisdom most might be expected The Commendador failing thus the Councel of State took upon them the Government who presently dispatched away an express to Spain to give the King an account of what had happened and to represent unto him at full the present condition of the affairs of Flanders The King approved of the Provisional resolution taken by the Councel and declared therewithall that he would forthwith send a new Governor and such a one as should be fully to the mind of those Provinces The administration this mean while began by the hands of the Flemish themselves But nothing is more to be despised in Government then wavering and divided Authority Nor doth any thing hurt more then interessed and disagreeing Councels And it is seen in the Government of Kingdoms that State-Ministers by their private passions do usually ruine the common Cause The Councel of State had no sooner taken upon them the Government but great troubles began to be seen in all things for their orders were not observed as they ought to have been and the orders themselves were given with apparent discord which appeared much more in their minds then in their Votes Philip de Croy Duke of Ariscot Governor of the Province of Flanders did for his Nobility riches and adherence hold the chief place amongst those of the Councel And with him the greatest part of the Councel did go along in their Votes All these leaned towards the Liberty of the Country as well out of their own nature as out of a particular alienation which they had to the Spaniards Orange was not this mean while idle neither but seconding by his lively wit the favourable conjuncture from the very day that the Commendador died he incited all his followers in all the parts of the Country to imprint such opinions in the people as might draw them most to be of his mind Alleadging That this was the time to reunite all Flanders in one will That by fortune and more by justice the Government was now in the hands of the native Flemish and therefore it was not to be suffered to pass any more into the Spaniards hands That the yoke of so sore a servitude had lasted too long already imprisonments confiscations deaths sackings firings and so many other deplorable calamities too long That Liberty would notwithstanding be so much the more welcome by how much it was formerly more desired Then let the Flemish resolve unanimously to recover it and so to enjoy it with the greater contentment That the Cause could not be juster in it self nor of greater applause both within the Provinces and in all other places Finally to what worser end could affairs be brought since though the designe should not succeed the present miseries were so great as greater were not at any time to be expected Out of what fault shall we declare this Rebellion If the Spaniards have fallen thereinto by mutinying this is not the first time they have done so nor will it per adventure be the last War causeth expence Expence want of Pay Want of Pay the Souldiers anger and the Souldiers anger Mutiny As long as the wars continue these disorders will fall out other Countries have had experience of it as well as ours hath now But when was it ever heard that in such a case the Mutiniers were esteemed Rebels aay how often have whole Armies rather commended then condemned their cause insomuch as at last it hath been thought the best course
which had happened since the so solemn agreement made between him and the Provinces as if that he had desired to govern rather armed then unarmed and that he believed he might compass some of his own ends easilyer by troubles then by quiet So as by reason of these jealousies which were had of Don John and which had got a little rooting in Spain peace in Flanders was the more desired by the Spaniards Wherefore about the end of August all these Ambassadors met in Antwerp The Count Zuarzemburg from the Emperour President Belliure from the King of France and from the Queen of England Walsingam her first Secretary and with him another called Gobham But it was soon seen that Cesars endeavours wanted authority and the rest candidness For both England and France did sufficiently desire to have the troubles and disorders wherewith Flanders was afflicted continue Nor did this opinion prove vain The meetings were more for shew then substance and their endeavours ended almost as soon as they were begun to boot that in very deed the difficulties which were met with on all sides were very great Each party would justifie all they had done and all that they pretended to Wherefore all Treaty of Agreement being suddenly broken they continued in their former heat of preparing for war The Flemish regained Ariscot and Nevile and tryed but in vain to recover Lovain On the other side the French entring into the Province of Henault besieged Bins and after some assault took it and put it to the plunder But these were businesses of small importance in respect of what the Rebels hoped for from the union of so many Forces which they had received to side with them from all parts Orange laboured more then all the rest to bring them together and herein his adherents used likewise their best diligence Miserable Flanders every where so full of Arms and so lacerated as it was questionable whether she were more afflicted by her own or by foreign Forces and whether those or these in seeming assistance bore the most spetious title Don John this mean while kept with his men within his quarters which he had fortified without Namures to withstand the assaults of the enemy These Fortifications were about two miles and a half in compass and did so much the more shelter the City so as that passage towards Germany and Italy was very well secured and his Army very well provided of all things necessary for the maintenance thereof Wherefore Don John hoped shortly both to receive powerfull aid and to see those disband which the enemy had assembled together for their service These were his designs these were his hopes when in their very hight he fell sick his malady so increasing as he died within a few days When he was near his end he sent for the Duke of Parma and after having in a very affectionate manner recommended the Kings service to him he substituted him in his own place not any ways doubting but that by the so many Prerogatives both of bloud and valour which met in him the King would suddenly confirm him in that Government Thus dyed Don John not being yet full thirty three years old The Emperour Charles the Fifth was his Father and Madam de Plombes a Lady of noble birth in Germany his Mother The Emperour before his death gave the King his Son great charge of him who at first had in his private thoughts destin'd him to an Ecclesiastical life but afterward changing his mind bred him up in the Military profession Wherein by three memorable enterprises he eterniz'd his name In the first he bridled the Moors Audacity in the second the Ottoman Pride and in the third the Fury of the Flemish In each of these his successes did much exceed his years He overcame the Moors when but yet a Youth he abated the edge of the Turk at the very entrance into the flower of his age and he did so master-like suppress the Belgiques as greater skill could not have been shewn by any whatsoever antient and most perfect Commander He had in him very excellent gifts both of body and mind In his aspect Majesty and Grace strength of Body to undergoe labour He was affable with the Souldiery vigilant answerable to his Command wise in the greatest difficulties but having a heart much willinger to encounter then to shun them Many could have desired that he had been less amorous and not so easie to believe reports He was so greedy of Glory as many judged it to be an aspiring after Empire Which made him at last be envied and so far suspected as made his service to the King doubtful as if from being Governour he had aspired to be Prince of Flanders and that to this purpose he had held private correspondencie with the Queen of England and proceeded more secretly to express negotiations of Marriage Which was cause why his death was thought to be rather procured then natural But whatsoever the business was wherein truth might be overclouded by Calumny He dyed with the fame of singular valour and great applause Worthy assuredly to have lived longer and not less worthy to have proceeded from a Conjugal bed and to have commanded rather as absolute Prince then as a subordinate Officer Finis Partis Primae THE HISTORY OF THE WARS OF FLANDERS Written by CARDINAL BENTIVOGLIO The Second Part. BOOK I. The Contents The Prince of Parma is confirmed Governour of Flanders by the King The Prince thought first to draw the Walloon Provinces to side with the King by the way of negotiation but in the interim he applies himself with all fervor to the management of Arms. He stands at first upon his defence The Foreign Forces vanish Alanson returns for France and John Casimir for Germany The Prince here upon passeth from the defensive part to the offensive He resolves to besiege Mastrick The description of that place The Royalists endeavours in oppugning it and the resistance made by the Defendants The Royalists at last prevail and the Prince is master of the Town An agreement between him and the Walloon Provinces It is endeavoured to reconcile all the other Provinces likewise to the King but in vain Small successes of War on all sides The Flemish think of choosing a new Prince and to cast off their obedience to the King of Spain This is chiefly fomented by Orange Their Deputies meet together in Antwerp to this purpose and there is much consultation about it Some of the Hereticks are for the Queen of England other some for the Duke of Alanson The Catholicks opinion in this point The Assembly leans much more to Alanson The Deputies depart and return to their own Provinces to make each of them severally resolve fully upon the choise The war continues this mean while on both sides The King would have the Dutchess of Parma return to Flanders and why She is not well come thither when she earnestly desires to go back to Italy which
in Gaunt Bruges and other Towns in the Flemican part of Flanders to draw that whole Province again to the Kings obedience This mean while the year 1584 began nor did the Winter hinder the continuance of the siege before Ypri The Rebels endeavoured oft to relieve it but being either hindred or defeated they could never effect it The siege endured till the middle of April and the City was surrendred vpon almost the same conditions as Tornay had formerly been The Prince of Parma fared as fortunately in the getting of Bruges by intelligence The Prince of Semay eldest son to the Duke of Ariscot was in it The father adhered unto the King but the son changing sides upon various pretences adhered afterwards to the States And the Flemican part of Flanders was governed by him in their names and in the name of Alanson The son being sollicited by his father to come post to Bruges obeyed him for he knew how fitting an opportunity this would be to make amends for his former error and to reingratiate himself with the King by reducing such a City as this under his obedience and himself again under his service They came then to conditions and the largest which upon such an occasion could be demanded were granted relation always being had to their giving due obedience to the Church and to the King This hapned in May and this helped to further the Kings affairs in many other things in the same Province At the same time Verdugo had very much advanced the Kings affairs on the further side of the Rhine by the taking of Zutfen He got this Town of such importance by surprise And the enemy immediately endeavoured to regain it wherefore Count Hollach was sent thither with good forces and was sate down before it Verdugo being thus begirt craved relief and Fernese knew very well how needfull it was to send it him But being busied in so many other affairs on this side the Rhine which grew every day more ripe he could not assist him so soon nor with such Forces as he willingly would have done or as the occasion required Count Aremberg was at this time about the Rhine being sent thither by the Prince of Parma with a considerable strength of Foot and Horse to assist Ernestus of Bavaria newly chosen Archbishop of Colen and to exclude the former Archbishop Truxes who was deposed for having gone about to marry and for sustaining his Apostasie from the Church by favour of the Heretical faction thereabouts The good cause prevailed at last wherefore Fernese ordered Aremberg to go either with all or a good part of his Forces to the relief of Zutfen And this fell out so luckily likewise as Hollack was forced to raise his siege and to retreat In this interim Bironne with the rest of the lately come French was gone from Flanders the Flemish having afforded them commodity to do so by Sea for they could not without great danger have gone by Land Diffidences and distastes did still increase on both parts Nor was Orange's authority at last sufficient to reconcile Alansons affairs though he still laboured to doe it by reason of the news which was come from France that the King had declared himself much more freely in his Brothers behalf in his interests of Flanders and that he was much better pleased with him then he formerly had been Orange took occasion hereby to induce the States to send the Signor of Schonowel purposely to congratulate with Alanson for this endeavouring by this means the more to engage both parties in the formerly establisht resolutions But soon after came other news that Alanson was dead in the Castle of Tierry after a long sickness with some signs that poyson had been also used Thus he dyed not being above 30 years old He was a Prince of whom it might be questioned whether he had been the causer of greater troubles in France or in Flanders He was alwayes more ruled by others then by himself wavering in all his actions were it either out of weakness of understanding or easiness of nature Suffering himself therefore in France to be carried away sometimes by one Faction sometimes by another and afterwards abandoning them with equal easiness he applied himself again to the Court-Faction there to receive more scorn then respect Wherefore either weary of expecting or despairing of atchieving greater preferments in the Kingdom he with the like fickleness was perswaded to seek for them abroad and therefore passing into Flanders he carried Forces with him thither and with those Forces new Troubles For what remains his Conditions both of body and mind did no wayes correspond with his Birth He was low of stature and not very well shaped he was notwithstanding of a gracious and lively aspect Nor were his actions so altogether worthy of blame but that they were in many things praise-worthy he was kind liberal not much given to pleasures and naturally inclined to follow the best advices unless his Favourites prevailed too far with him to imbrace the worst He dyed when together with his years his hopes did most flourish For the King having no hopes of Issue he did not only promise to himself to enjoy the Principality of Flanders but by a greater fortune to succeed to the Crown of France His death was accompanied by the like of Oranges Alanson dyed the begining of June and Orange left this life in the beginning of July following The manner thus One Baldasar Serack a Burgonian a man but of mean birth but of some natural endowments had wrought himself into his acquaintance and more domestically into that of his Followers with an intention to kill him Orange was then in the Town of Delf in Holland about divers publike affairs one of the chiefest whereof was the better to reestablish the affairs of Alanson Sirack taking his opportunity and coming to Orange in his chamber under pretence of some important business he shot him with a Pistol in the flank and instantly slew him he not being able before his death to speak any one word Then taking himself to his heels he was got so far before he was overtaken as he was already gotten upon the Town-wall with intention of throwing himself down into the Ditch and so swim out when he was overtaken by those that followed him who took him alive and delivered him up to the hands of Justice They endeavoured by most cruel torments to draw from him the reality of the act and the common belief was that he would have confest he had received orders for it and that he expected a reward from Spain But they could never get any thing from him save only that he had slain Orange moved thereunto only by himself and to merit much more thereby from God then from the King He was afterwards condemned to die and suffered death by the most cruel punishments that might be Thusdyed William of Nassaw Prince of Orange in the 52 year of his Age. He
his being there in person see the agreement better established a handfull of base people were so bold as not only to shut the gates upon him but to make him keep aloof by musquet shot The Dutchess much moved at this excess commanded Norchermes howsoever to bring the intended Garison into the Town But the Townsmen increasing in their contumacy refused to receive them whereupon the Dutchess declared them presently rebels and made all things be prepared to besiege the Town Their confederate hereticks both within and without Flanders had presently notice of what past Some few Hugonots came immediately thither from the Frontiers of France but from the neighbouring parts of Flanders above 3000 foot and some horse were forthwith gathered together and some pieces of Artillery and all these went to put in such numbers of men into Valentiennes as might suffice to secure the Town in its present condition These people were led on by John Soreas a man of base abstract who had assembled them together between Lilla and Torney Norchermes being hereof advertised he suddenly drew up some Companies of foot together with some horse and with him Rosseghen the Governour of Lilla did joyn Then falling at unawares upon these suddenly assembled tag-rags rather then soldiers they easily routed them Soreas was wounded and many others slain though they had seated themselves strongly in a wood between ditches and marish grounds which made the getting thereinto very difficult The Artillery was likewise taken the rest of the rout sought to get into Torney but Norchermes and especially the Country people reduced them to such straits as they could never make head again and making use of this occasion he went himself in person to Torney entred by the Citadel and reduced things to obedience there where they were not much less likely to have been wavering then in Valentiennes he punisht divers in that City and put some heretick preachers to death who had been the chief incitors of the people to this contumacy And making amends by present rigour for past impunitie he went from thence and turn'd to Valentiennes to lay formal siege unto it and to reduce them by force which he could not do by Treaty yet before the siege was made the Dutchess was content that Count Egmont and Duke Arescot should go to Valentiennes to see whether by their Authority and Offices they could bring the people therein to their wits But all was to no purpose Norchermes delayed then no longer Such preparations as were needfull being made and particularly of great pieces of Artillery he began the siege in the beginning of March a great Battery was made ready and yet they within seemed resolute to defend themselves fed with several hopes of succour but their rashness turn'd suddenly to weakness being in an instant cast down seeing no succour from without and wanting wherewithall to defend themselves they hardly expected the first battery they yielded upon discretion to Norchermes He entred the Town and gave Laws thereunto such as satisfied the Regent as well in what concern'd religion as their obedience to the King He left a sufficient Garison there and put the Government into the hands of a Catholick Magistrate having first cleansed the Town of the most seditious hereticks and of al their preachers He for the example of others punisht some of the prime offenders with death and particularly many of the French Hugonots who bore arms against the King in that siege In the beginning of war fame hath always a great share and the bare reputation of one victory suffices to the getting of many others The news of Valentiennes was suddenly divulged abroad and the Regents forces began to be dreaded every where Fresh Tumults about this time began to be made in divers places and especially in the Castle of Cambresis upon the Frontiers of France in Balduke a chief City in Brabant and in the Town of Mastrick a place of important situation having a stone-bridg over the Mause which makes the passage surer and safer on that side which confines upon Germany Such remedies as were requisite either by way of Treaty or by force were apply'd in all these places and in a few days they were reduced to quiet obedience And as the Kings canse did improve so did the cause of religion by reason of this success of the Regents forces the Nobles of the Confederacy began to stagger the chief head whereof was Henry de Brederode as hath been said Some grew cooler others fell off and many laid aside all unquiet thoughts thus they endeavoured by several ways to be restored to the Regents favour nor did she forbear to use the fittest means for this purpose Yet Brederode growing every day more vain and being drawn by the spirit of heresie to the like of rebellion he used all means not only to re-unite the best sort of Petitioners but also to excite new disorders in those of meaner condition He gave out that nothing was performed which was promised in matter of religion but that the liberty thereof was daily more and more lost and they severely punished who would enjoy it What was there then wanting but to see the Inquisition and the Edicts on foot again and that they were shortly to see their necks not only under the yoke of the Flemish forces but under the intollerable yoke of those which were preparing in Spain He formed some new Petitions full of such complaints as these and made them be presented to the Dutchess The first was presented in name of the People with new pressures for liberty in matters belonging to religion and to facilitate the work they offered three millions of guilders The Regent suddenly refused it as altogether rash vain and disloyal and 't was known that this proceeded only from Brederode and some few of his followers He made another be afterwards presented under the name of many of the Nobility and renewed the former desire of being permitted to come to Brussels and being heard by the Regent but this second prevailed no more then did the first Brederode failing of all hopes this way precipitated himself into a more rash councel which was to try some novelty by force of arms He went to Holland and there endeavoured to incite the people to new tumults especially in Amsterdam which next to Antwerp was at that time the Town of greatest Traffick in all Flanders The Dutchess doubted some sedition of concernment especially since it was generally known that Brederode seconded Orange in all things and therefore though by his presence he caused some alteration there yet the Dutchess took such good order as that all disorders were there soon quieted Brederode being rather driven then gon out of Amsterdam he staid at Vianen a little Town of his own not far from Amsterdam he began to fortifie it and to bring soldiers thither The Counts of Aremberg and of Mega went suddenly by order from the Regent towards that Town who had the Government of
A moneths space past over therefore before the Kings men did any thing of consideration concerning the siege In which interim the Harlemites received a succour of 800 French and Walloon Foot who had been at the defence of Mons led on by Signior di Serras together with good store of ammunition and victuals The enemy grew so proud upon this success as becomeing rather insolent then audacious they appeared openly upon the walls jeering and scoffing at the Spaniards And joyning impiety to their insolence they caused themselves to be seen in usual places as it were in Procession with Priests and Friars habits upon them with Mitres and other Church-accoutrments contending who could best express their hatred to the Spanish Nation or their derision to the Church and Catholick religion And this their heretical frensie grew to that height as exposing in that wicked Scene the sacred Images and chiefly such as were most frequented in the Churches they made them a mark to be shot at and finally cut them all to peeces with their swords This mean while the Kings men when they had made necessary provisions desirous to redeem the time they had lost they betook themselves with all fervencie to the siege intending notwithstanding to pursue it not with immature assaults but with well ordered patience Whereupon opening their Trenches they diligently pursued them The Battery followed which they made not in the former place but placed it against the Curtain which ran between the Gate de la Croce and that of Sil which lay nearest the Camp on the right hand They made a great breach therein and yet those within did so well repair it as they without thought it not yet fit to fall to an assault And because the Curtain was too well fenced by the aforesaid Ravelin therefore 't was thought absolutely necessary to bereave the Defendants of so great an advantage Leaving then the Battery for a while they came in a short time to the entrance of the Ditch here their whole endeavour was against the Ravelin For going the longest way about but yet the most secure they would advance by degrees with the pick-axe spade and mines and thus drive the enemy from thence At last they made themselves masters of it but with no less expence of blood then of time such valour did they within shew and plaid so often their parts rather of Assaulters then Assaulted The Harlemists lost not their courage though they had lost their Ravelin But their diligence increasing answerable to their danger they ran suddenly from every place women as well as men to fortifie the gate de la Croce which the Ravelin being lost lay altogether open They did the like to the Curtain which was already battered and which ran as hath been said toward the gate Sill. And fearing lest the Kings men should play likewise upon the other Curtain on the left hand which joyned with the next gate called S. Johns gate they fell industrionsly to repair that side also not omitting any labour either in making of Ditches Traverses Countermines and other Inventions which are usually found out by the most industrious Defendant against the most cunning Opposers But they without lay at too much disadvantage in comparison of those that were within The Kings men by reason of the Enemies continual excursions came hardly by their victuals Great store of men were required to conduct them the remainder were not able to maintain the siege well And together with other hardships being mightily tormented by the cold their numbers lessened every day by sickness death and running away The Harlemists on the contrary did abound in warlike men they were easily succoured with men and victuals their houses saved them from the injuries of the weather and the ice was not of greater use to the Kings Camp for ordering the Country then it was to them by affording them means to bring all necessaries into the City It is not to be said how dexterous the Hollanders are upon the ice Their Country as we have often said is full of standing waters which are usually frozen over every year though they be not so excessive there as in other less humid and watry Countries The waters doe therefore then loss their nature and the use of Boats being changed into the like of Chariots those Fields of ice as if they were so much firm land are travel'd on by men and horses Their Chariots are usually little and drawn but by one horse they are not born upon wheels but upon little joysts or rafters according to those sledges which are used in Lombardy Their men are likewise very ingenious in going a great pace and yet very safe upon the ice They harness the whole length of their feet with sleek and narrow irons bowing a little outward in the part before they govern themselves upon these and upon these wings if I may so call them they rather flie then walk their course being then so fast as it can hardly be followed by the eye Nor is the use hereof less practised by women then by men nay in contentions which have somtimes hapned herein between both sexes the women have often had the better The women there find no trouble at all in running upon the ice but at the same time when they go fastest do some one or other of their womanly works By means then of these Chariots or Sledges the Harlemists received whatsoever they needed they came in troops upon that great neighbouring Lake call'd Harlem-meer All that side is call'd by that name which looks most upon the City whereinto the River Sparen enters on that side And because the same Lake comes almost as neer Leyden on another part it is there called Leyden-meer This communication between Leyden and Harlem by means of this Lake furnished the besieged with all things necessary who with frequent excursions received in their succours and oft times made the Kings men repent the going about to hinder them Nor did Orange forbear to bring in such aids into the City as he could by the usual land-way But to secure the succours the better from those parts he made a Fort be erected almost half way between Leyden and Harlem whither bringing the provisions he conveyed them the easilier from thence to the besieged But the Kings men though upon such disadvantagious terms ceased not to pursue what they had begun They pursued to batter the broken walls and to endeavour the undermining them hoping thereby to make the breach more commodious and consequently the assault more easie On the contrary the Defendants were not less vigilant in using all possible means to obviate all the Enemies endeavours and make them invalid To Mines without they opposed Mines within meeting thus with them spoiling them and springing them They repaired the walls where they were amiss So as they no wayes feared the threats of being assaulted from without This mean while December ended and the new year of 1573. began which
being likewise come up had brought the whole burthen of the war on that part hither but the hereticks still giving ground they at last began to run The business was better disputed between the horse of both sides the Kings horse Harquebusiers were so furiously assaulted by Lodovicks Rutters and especially the Germans led on by Schinck who stood forwardest as being first broken and then totally disordered they did not only forsake the place but running away to the next neighbouring Towns they gave out every where that the enemy had won the day The Rutters having discharged their first Volly of shot wheeled about to charge again and make a second more furious assault but the Kings Lanciers afforded them not time who fell on with such violence and did so vigorously charge them on divers sides as breaking their orders they forced them back and opened them In this the foot-wing played their part miraculously by whom the Rutters being gauled on their flank were put yet into greater disorder Lodovick and the Palatine couragiously endcavoured to re-order them and incouraged them by their own examples acting the parts rather of common souldiers then of Commanders in chief But the Kings horse still more inheartned both by the apparent victory of the foot and by the advantage which they themselves continually got did so closely pursue the Rutters as not being able longer to be withheld and fear getting the upper hand of shame they turned their backs and at last ran directly away Fortune would likewise have her share in this battel as usually she hath in all For just as the Rutters began to give back three Company of Lanciers came up to the Catholicks led on by Nicholas Basti by George Macuca and by Peter Tassis all of them Captains and this new inforcement finisht the business so as instead of fighting they fell to execution The Kings men being masters of the field slaughtered the enemy horribly in all places and it was commonly believed that above 4000 of them perisht About 200 of the Kings men were missing This success was particularly innobled by the death of the two brothers of Nassaw and of the Palatine which being all of them joyntly resolved either to make their way by their swords or by indeavouring to do so to lose their lives were slain fighting valiantly The Kings forces got great advantage and reputation by this victory For though the battel was not between numerous Armies yet the chief consequences of Flanders lay at stake on both sides And those which concerned the King being particularly considered 't is no doubt but if the enemy had got the better of the day their Forces being joyned with those of the Prince of Orange would have overrun the Country every where and would have made the Stanshest raise new rebellions But this so important victory was not well gotten when they who had been the chief Authors of it spoyled the effect thereof Instead of expecting their reward from the King the Spaniards to the great disservice of his Majesty would be their own pay-masters The very night after the day of battel and upon the very place where the battel was fought they resolved to mutiny And the effect thereof was seen before the thing it self could be imagined It began at first to be whispered by a few afterwards it was put in practise by many and at last it was fully consented unto by all They complained and seemed much incensed to see their labours so ill rewarded 'T was their hands and their bodies by which Towns were taken Battels won and all other actions of greatest danger done The honour and advantage redounded to the Commanders their reward was only wounds and poverty That their bare pay was given them rather as a reward then as of due Which yet being so far in arrear they could not fully receive How could so miserable a condition be longer tollerated that it was in their own power to satisfie themselves for the monies which were every day promised them and never paid And that therefore they were now rather to have it at their command then to wait for it any longer and that perhaps in vain They made no long delay they in a great hurly-burly flew to their arms and violently laying aside their former Officers they chose new ones This being done they went immediately from Mouch and marched towards Antwerp intending to enter the City and there with all safety and commodiousness to cause their whole pay to be given them Sancio d'Avila and all the Camp-masters used all possible diligence to remedy so great and so unexpected a disorder but they could do nothing that would prevail And because after this mutiny so many others of the like nature insued in the progress of this war whereby the Kings affairs in Flanders were more prejudiced by the arms of his own souldiers then by those of his enemies It will not be amiss to relate here anticipately with as much brevity as may be what is best worthy knowledge in a business which we shall so often have occasion to treat of An Army in the field is a great moveable City governed by Military Laws within walls of Iron this City is distinguished into personages of divers qualities The chiefest place is possest by the Captain-General who hath supream Authority in the Government thereof The other chiefest Commanders follow after him and after them the lesser And in the last place remains the inferior order of common Souldiers who having no share in Command are only to obey In this popular order of the Army if I may term it so do mutinies fall out the usual cause whereof is the want of pay In the meaner sort of souldiers Interest prevails more then Honour wherefore being unpayed first they complain then they grow angry and at last mutiny In long Wars this is oftner seen by reason of the excessive expences which they occasion This length of time makes souldiers mary whereby they have children and in that respect grow still more necessitous and this necessity at last turning into corruption they mutiny many times rather because they will do so then that they have any just occasion to do it The Laws of obedience being then broken this popular order riseth up against their Superiors and out of their body do tumultuarily chuse new Officers This happens usually when the Armys are in the field because it would be almost impossible to compass it with security in Garisons In the change of Government 't is commonly seen that we degenerate from the better to the worse And thus it happens upon this occasion The supreme Command of one only passeth then into the whole multitude which being composed of horse and foot makes a body of each of them which they call the Squadron of the incensed so to shun the always ignominious title of mutiners The Authority consists then in the Squadron and all the command in the united body thereof This tumultuous Commonwealth
that the Bischeyard to gain the fine that was set by the Kings Proclamation upon Orange his head and out of hopes of greater rewards had rashly resolved to undertake the business One Jaspar Annastro a Spanish Merchant had a share therein but he was broken and therefore gone from Antwerp And one Antony Venero and a Votary of St Dominicks called Antony Timmermanno were put to death and cruelly torn in pieces as complices in the misdeed This accident caused a great commotion in the Confedrate Provinces And the Prince of Parma hoping that thereby some advantage might result to the Kings affairs was not falling on his behalf to doe what was fittest upon that occasion But Orange being quickly out of danger and afterwards perfectly cured all fear ceased amongst the Rebels and they continued more firm then ever in their former resolutions Whilst these things past thus in Antwerp the Forces of both sides were not idle though they did but little Verdugo had made some further proceedings on the other side of the Rhine and had taken some Towns in Friesland and in the parts thereabouts And on the contrary the States had better secured the Towns of greater importance and strove to preserve those advantages which they had got on that side And they got one advantage of great moment at that time by the taking of Sehink prisoner as he returned from Germany being sent thither by Fernese to raise more Horse On this side the Rhine they had at unawares assaulted the Town of Alst with some of their men and taken it And the Walloons had done the like to Gaesbeck a Town not far distant from the other But this mean while Fernese growing stronger in men and yet more strong in hopes after the success of Tornay and after the accident which had befallen Orange resolved to besiege Odenhard one of the best esteem'd Towns in the Province of Flanders both for its situation traffick and people Odenhard lies upon the Scheld almost in the mid-way between Tornay and Gaunt It is begirt with a good Wall and the Wall with a large Ditch within the Walls it is furnisht with good Platforms but it hath never a Royal Bulwark without and therefore is but imperfectly fortified every where It hath on one side an eminent Rise which commands the whole Town Fernese incamped himself before it but first he seemed as if he would besiege Menin so to draw the greater number of the Enemy thither and that Odenhard might be thereby the more weakned And the effect did correspond with the design For there were not left above 500 Souldiers in Odenhard but under a very gallant Commander called Frederick Borch as he together with the Garrison made it appear to the very end of the Siege The Kings Army having taken up their Quarters Fernese quickly possest the Rise and from thence began to play upon the Town with his Canon he then came to the working of Trenches and preparing of Batteries The Prince was desirous to spare as much as might be the blood which is usually shed in Assaults wherefore his intention was to make a less bloody but more secure Siege Yet a great breach being made in a Ravelin which fenced the Gate they made an Assault but the event proved not fortunate For a Bridge which was to serve for passage over the Ditch and so to get upon the Breach not being so long as was requisite was with great disorder thrown down and those within made such resistance as the Royalists were forced to give over the attempt Wherefore Fernese was the more confirmed in his former opinion of proceeding with greater caution and in lieu of Assaults to use the Pick-axe and Mines This Siege did very much vex the Flemish Rebels wherefore mustering a considerable strength of Foot which were almost all of them English and Scots under Colonel Norris and Colonel Seaton together with a good number of Rutters they sent them into the Province of Flanders and disposed of them about Gaunt intending to adde thereunto and to endeavour the freeing of Odenhard But Ferneses Forces being likewise increased by Germans and Walloons and expecting the aforenamed others he fortified himself so well on that side as the Enemy could never bring in any the least succour into the Town This mean while a Mutiny hapned in the Kings Camp for want of Pay amongst some of the Germans and the Enemy both within and without hoped to reap some advantage thereby But the Mutiny being in a few dayes quieted and the Prince having by the punishment of some made the rest more obedient the Enemy despaired of holding out longer The Siege lasted notwithstanding from the beginning of April till almost the end of June And the Town was surrendred upon such Conditions as the Garrison marched out honourably and the Townsmen were contented Soon after the Royalists took Lira also a great Town in the bowels of Brabant not many houres march from Antwerp and therefore very proper to annoy that City There was in it amongst others Captain William Simple a Scotch-man with his Foot-Company of the same Nation Simple holding secret intelligence with Altapenna he under some other colourable pretence brought him in by night and driving out the rest of the Flemish garrison put the Town into the hands of the Royalists The Flemish seeing these continual losses not any assistance appearing as yet from Alanson and not being very well satisfied with him before his coming to Flanders they could no longer forbear breaking forth into sharp and spitefull speeches against him Where are said they these so many promised Forces where the Armies which would suddenly fall from France down into Flanders and where the helps which should also come from England That upon these assured hopes the Flemish had chosen declared and received him for their Prince and that in lieu thereof what had he brought them save only vain Titles and all other vain Appearances That his so many in vain reiterated promises were every day renewed by him but no performance seen That this mean while their losses were still increased and consequently the Enemies atchievements That by the taking of Tournay the Prince of Parma had gotten the whole Country of the Walloons into his hands That from Odenhard he might goe even to the wals of Gaunt and from Lira to the wals of Antwerp That his Army was already ingrost with Germans that he expected Recruits from Burgony and soon after from Spain and Italy So as now how did Flanders swarm with Foreigners and in what danger were the chiefest Cities of the Flemish Union That their new Princes succours would come just then when they should make not the strength but the scorn of his new Principality the greater These and the like Complaints did the Flemish make against Alanson and the French Nor did they spare Orange himself complaining that under pretence of procuring the publike felicity of the Country he had rather minded his own private
the Prince bring off the Rear who imbarking that remainder past them all safely over And the like insued to the other Souldiers who were in the Fort and to the Artillery which defended it Yet the King causing some of his Cannon be brought to a certain place which did most command the River endeavoured to sink those Boats wherein the residue of the Dukes men were and some of those Boats which were come from Holland came likewise up and endeavoured to hinder the passage But all was in vain For finally the Prince landed himself and all the rest of his men safe on the other shore and presently set all the Barks on fire to bereave the Enemy of making use of them in passing over the River also The King of Navar was still mightily incenst to see that Victory escape him which he made so sure of He was minded to pass over the Pont d'Ark to encounter the Enemy again or at least to infest them as much as he could in the Rear But the compass being great which he was to make and the Foot not being able to follow the Horse so fast which of themselves alone were not able to reduce the Enemy into straits he did not any thing more against them When the Army of the League was past over the River the Dukes of Parma and Mayn suspected lest the King of Navar might fall upon the aforesaid resolution of passing over the Pont d'Ark They therefore went far from the River and quartered in a Village called Newburgh more within land From hence Du Mayn went with some Forces to Rohan the better to secure the affairs of that City by his own presence whilst the King of Navar kept still thereabouts with so great a strength And Fernese pursued his Retreat marching still in very great order till being come into the Country of Brye contiguous to Champania he thought he might with more commodiousness and safety make less haste out of France Being come to the Confines he left certain Foot and Horse under the Command of Monsieur Rony to be disposed of in the Leagues service as the Duke Du Mayn should appoint him And from thence entring Flanders he went again to the Spaw being thereunto invited by the hot weather which already began But with small hopes of getting any good by it for his infirmity which since his wound grew every day greater He was much afflicted at this his bodily weakness being thereby deprived of following the most necessary military actions which he had formerly indefatigably undergone in his own person But he was chiefly vexed to see how much evil the diversions of France had occasioned to the affairs of Flanders and that the King of Spain did still persist more then ever in his desire of succouring the League and that to that purpose he was again to pass into France as soon as he could At his arrival in Flanders he found a mutiny of the Italians on foot and that Count Maurice had straightly besieged Stenwick a place of importance towards Friesland on the other side of the Rhine Maurice did lustily begirt it on all sides and having first fortified himself without to keep the Kings men from bringing relief he omitted no diligence in making inward advancements He plaid upon the Town furiously from divers parts with his Artillery And though the besieged were not wanting in making resistance by frequent Sallies and by all other stout resistance yet it was known the Town could not long hold out without some succour The siege was at this pass when the Duke of Parma arrived in Flanders He had left a good many men in France and the remainder were so lessened and so out of order by reason of so many sufferings as they were not in any condition of undergoing new ones The Duke endeavoured notwithstanding that all means should be used to relieve the Town And Verdugo did likewise labour in it with his wonted diligence and industry But his assistance was so weak and came so late as the besieged not being able to hold out any longer were at last inforced to yield Maurice won much honour by the getting of this place and it was a great advantage to the Confederate Provinces in those parts Nor did they stop here Count Maurice turned presently upon the Fort of Cowreden which was in the Kings possession and guarded a pass of great moment thereabouts and did so narrowly besiege it as those within wanting many necessaries for defence and withall having no hopes of succour they were at last forced to quit the place Much afflicted at these losses the Duke of Parma came to Brussels about the midst of October at his arrival in Flanders the Prince his son departed from those Countries to return for Italy And the Duke being grown so very weak as he thought he could not continue his Military labours in that Government he very much prest the King for leave to quit it But the King thought not good to condescend thereunto hoping that the Duke might yet again pass once more into France and knowing of what importance his very presence would be there On the other side the King knew in what a languishing condition of health the Duke was he knew how he was affected with the Dropsie which was become now incurable and that it was likely some time or other to prove his death Wherefore the King thought it necessary to send some personage of worth and esteem into Flanders who might more attentively observe the Dukes condition and might likewise have such Commissions about him from the King as should be thought fittest to be put in execution as well in consideration of the Dukes great want of health as also in case the Duke should die To this purpose he sent away John Pachecco Marquis of Ceralva who died before he got out of Spain wherefore he was fain to send another in his place which was Pietro Henrichuz di Azevedo Count of Fuentes This mean while the King being earnestly requested by those of the League in France had commanded the Duke of Parma that he should prepare to go again into that Kingdom with as great a strength as his occasions in Flanders would permit him In performance whereof the Duke gave out present orders for the raising of new men as he had formerly done And going from Brussels went to Arras that he might be as soon as might be on the nearest Confines of France and give the greater incouragement to the business Here through the strength and vertue of his mind he continued as much as possibly he could to govern the weakness and languor of his body He was indefatigable in his negotiations and more by night then by day And as if he scorn'd to yield to nature which made him now unable for any exercise he would sometimes appear on horseback and did strive to deceive himself by going on foot Thus did he persevere to do for some time And in the interim Count
those that assailed them and came the better to where their help was required They also soon discerned that they were all false Alarms that were given without and that the true Assault was made only in one place To this was added that Count Bucquoy not finding the water of the aforesaid Channel so low as he believed he could by no means pass over them Yet the Catholicks did for a long time continue their assault but the Defendants advantages still increasing the Assailants were at last forced to give over with great loss for there were above 600 slain and wounded part of them being Gambaloita's men who was slain himself and part belonging to Durango who was sorely wounded Nor did those within let slip the occasion of prejudicing yet more the Catholicks as they retreated For plucking up some of their Sluces by which they both received the Sea-water into their ditches and let it out again they turned the water with such violence into the Channel which the Catholicks had passed over before they came to the assault and which they were to pass over again in their retreat as many of them were unfortunately drowned John Bentivoglio Knight of St. John's Order our Brother who was but a little before come from Italy after having served the Emperor some years in Hungary was in this action and therein gave such trial of himself as the Archdukes not long after honoured him with a Company of Lances The year 1602. was already begun and with so bitter cold weather as many advised the Archduke to give over the siege of Ostend as a business which might be despaired of But he would not be perswaded thereunto thinking the Kings honour and his own too much engaged not to continue that siege still and bring it to a good end Wherefore he resolved to raise a great Platform in St. Alberto's quarter which might command the Town as much as might be possible on that side and gave new orders that Bucquoy should from St. Charls his Fort advance with all possible speed that great Bank which was designed to command the Channel of Bredene as we touched upon before Having given out these directions and leaving the Spanish Campmaster John di Rivas a valiant and well experienced Souldier to have the chief government of the Siege the Archduke retired to Gaunt to make such provisions against the Enemy as were requisite who on their side made very great preparations that they might be early in the field with great Forces The Treaty of Agreement which had been formerly on foot and almost at the same time broken as we told you then between the King of Spain and the Archduke on the one part and the Queen of England on the other was this interim continued by many means Great desire of coming to some good correspondencie appeared on both sides And the Queen being now very full of years did particularly shew her self every day more and more inclined thereunto When in March she fell very sick of which sickness she dyed after she had lived 70 years and reigned 4â— Thus dyed Elizabeth Queen of England and Ireland who so much afflicted the Church and who so long and by so many wayes fomented the War which we describe She was Daughter to King Henry the Eighth by Queen Anne of Boloign After the death of her Father being bred up in Heresie she was much made of by her Brother King Edward the Sixth who was likewise a Follower of the new Sects which were formerly introduced by his Father But Queen Mary who soon restored the antient Religion succeeding him Elizabeth ran hazard of her life and was either imprisoned or confined all her Sisters Reign who dying without issue the Crown came to Elizabeth The marriage of her Father with Anne of Boloign was always detested by the Catholick Church wherefore she openly maintained Heresie and persecuted the Catholicks And to secure her self the better in her Kingdom she was not content to favour Heresie in her own Dominions but still joyned with the Heretical Factions of Scotland France Germany and Flanders endeavouring thus to keep her neighbouring Countries still in turmoils that she might be the more quiet at home For what remains it is not to be denyed that by Common opinion such gifts both of body and minde concur'd in her as would have been worthy of the highest praise had she so much illustrated them by the true Religion as she did eclipse them by false worship a comliness of Aspect graceful behaviour weight in her words or a winning speech and a pleasing greatness both in her private and publick actions She was endowed with a rare understanding and wit which made her be a great friend to learning to the choicest and most delightful whereof she applyed her self she was particularly so ready in the Latin tongue as she was often pleased publickly to make use thereof and therein to receive the applause of the most learned in both the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge it may be no marriage was ever more coveted then hers Many Princes in several parts of Europe did for a long time strive to be her husband hoping that the refusal of the one might facilitate the pretences of another and she very cunningly still nourished hopes in them and endeavoured divers waies to honest her excuses thinking her self so much more worthy by how much the more she was pretended unto Coming at last to her declining years those seeming appearances ended and then it was clearly seen that she being full of haughty thoughts not caring for issue would never receive a Companion in her Bed because she could not admit of a Companion in her Throne She exercised her greatest enmities with the Pope of Rome and King of Spain as may have been seen in this our History she kept good correspondencie with all the other Potentates of Europe and was by the most of them continually much honoured She was a woman of a manlike spirit infinitely intent upon Government and desirous of retaining the chief hand in managing thereof as she had the prime authority Great were her expences both within and without her Kingdom It is not to be credited how much she spent at home especially in keeping England well munited with Naval forces being ofttimes used to say That her well arm'd ships in that Island were her Armies and her Citadels She enjoyed good health and that so long as none of her Predecessors lived so long as she and but few reigned so long And although she detested the Queen of Scots whom at last she put to death yet she was pleased that her Son King James who was likewise fallen into Heresie should succeed her and unite the Island of England and Scotland into one body which whilst divided had formerly for so many Ages been cause of so many discords wars and calamities on both sides THE HISTORY OF THE WARS OF FLANDERS Written by CARDINAL BENTIVOGLIO The Third Part. BOOK VII
together with some other of our writings concerning the Affairs of Flanders and that even since then we had a thought of composing this intire present History of the War which happened in those Provinces till by the Truce Arms were laid down we will therefore here insert the same Relation though it were formerly printed it being a member which ought also to be joyned to this body in this place and which will now fully compleat it The Command of the Catholick Army being past into Marquis Spinola's hands great were those designes as you have heard which he brought with him from Spain to Flanders to make the chief seat of the War on the other side the Rhine and to straiten the enemy the most they could in those parts To this purpose were the extraordinary Forces in the two last fields raised But though great advantages were gotten thereby yet fell they far short of the conceived hopes It was seen that Spain could not continue to maintain so excessive an expence That for want of money a new Mutiny had again happened That another might insue and that one of these disorders did much confound and distort the whole body of the Army Spinola was so troubled with these and some other reflections of importance as he at last fell upon those very considerations which already divers of the gravest and best experienced State-Ministers both of Spain and Flanders had faln upon touching the difficulties and dangers which the Warre of Flanders and the going about to weaken or subdue the Enemy by force of Arms brought with it They discoursed thus amogst themselves That all the good they had reaped by forty years War was their having made the Enemy the more strong more resolute to defend their usurpt liberty more firm in the union which they had established amongst themselves and better united to the forein Princes whho sided with them That Nature's self might be said to have fought always for them by their Bulwarks of Sea and Rivers and their strong scituations in all other parts and that where nature was wanting there industry together wih their so many well munited places did make amends That their power by land was verygreat in all things else and their power as sea so great as that the Crown of Spain had been much indamaged thereby even in the East-Indies and was in danger of being a greater sufferer by them in the West-Indies also What amass of strength on the other side and money must it cost the King to maintain the War of Flanders That doubtlesly his Empire was very large but much discunited Flanders the most disunited member of the whole body of his Dominions both by sea and land That the sea was blocked up by the Enemies ships That their passage by land did depend upon many Princes which alwaies caused great difficulties in their sending of aid and destroyed their men more by their marches then by their bickerings Then how many corruptions and disorders had been rooted in their Army and how could they be remedied during the War they being the effects which so long a War had inevitably produced That instead of obedience strife reigned amongst the Nations That there were now more wives then souldiers more mutinies then years that their own Forces were almost as dangerous to them as those of their Enemies And mutinies growing so familiar now of one now of another Nation and ofttimes of many Nations at once what a sad day would that be when the whole Army should mutiny together a day which would bring the Kings affairs in Flanders to their utmost danger as also the Cause of the Catholick Religion for the defence whereof the War at first was chiefly made and hath been so long maintained by the Spanish side If then by so many reasons and so long experience War against the Enemy were to be esteemed so fruitless is it not better said they to come to some fair agreement with them is it not better to order our Army anew and in the mean time to get strength and laying down Arms except what with time would make most to the Spanish advantage Arms being laid down the King of France already grown old might in this interim die and with him that assistance might chance to cease which was subministred to the Enemy by a Prince of such power and repute That after his death the affairs of France might peradventure change face their King being so young the like might be expected in the affairs of England their King being a new King and a Scotchman but ill looked on by that Kingdom the Enemy having likewise received considerable succours from Scotland And in case any of these things should happen how much would the affairs of Spain be bettered But above all it was to be hoped that even peace it self might turn to a secret war against the Enemy That the fear of the Spanish forces was the bond which fastened their union closest so as this fear ceasing through the enjoyment of quiet some domestick evil might arise amongst them which might break the union and some opportunity in favour of the King and Arch-dukes of regaining some of the Rebelious Provinces by underhand-dealing and of subjugating the others afterwards by force These reasons were doubtlesly very weighty and of great consideration and had been oft-times argued in Spain whereupon the King had at last resolved that if he could not effect his ends by arms all possible means should be used to come by some convenient Treaty of agreement with the Enemy in Flanders and the affairs of Flanders may be said totally to depend upon the King For the marriage between the Arch-duke and the Kings sister proving barren and the Provinces of Flanders being consequently to return unto the King again he had therefore chiefly maintained the War with his Forces and consequently all Treaties ' of agreement were chiefly to depend upon his Authority The Arch-duke inclined also very much to bring things to some accommodation he being a Prince naturally given to love his quiet and full of years and experience might comprehend better then any other the dangerous consequences which the War of Flanders brought with it but it was very hard to find out a way how to treat of accommodation A while since the enemy seemed to be quite averse unto any such Treaty and still swelling with prosperity and success they resolved never to listen to any whatsoever Treaty till such time as the King and Archdukes should first publickly declare that they treated with them as with Free Provinces and States unto the which the King nor Arch-dukes made no claim nor pretence whatsoever wherein the Arch-duke found great repugnancy in himself and foresaw the like in the King He thought that to declare those now to be a free people against whom they had fought as against rebels would be to confess that their former war had been unjust and that to seem now so willing to put an end
old Souldiers so well disciplin'd and so nobly born as were his Let him then go out of the Trenches and fighting in so just a cause and with such valiant men he might be sure to overcome The Archbishop of Cullen was particularly of this opinion who being of a warlike mind was come in person into the Camp But the Duke still firm to his old Maxim not to fight with Fortune which in all humane affairs is ever fickle but especially in affairs of war and battel answered in words befitting such a Commander That the end of those who govern an Army was alwaies to overcome but not alwaies to fight And that he should have fought sufficiently when he should have overcome Orange being thus deluded of all hopes of bringing it to a day of battel apply I himself wholly to the relief and the Duke wholly to keep him from it and this was the chiefest indeavor of them both Orange propounded unto himself the consequences of preserving such a place as Mons was and the Duke the importancy of re-possessing himself of it Orange had assur'd his friends that he would succor and relieve it and the other had signified no less assurance in Spain that he would hinder him from so doing Each of them argue the future from the present success And warring one against the other rather out of privat hatred then the publick respect each of them fervently desired to compass their ends with reputation and glory the more to thwart the adversaries designe with loss and dishonour Orange was much afflicted to find himself amidst the aforesaid necessities which did foretoken that if he did not very speedily relieve Mons his Army would immediately moulder away he had no money to maintain it nor was it any longer nourishable by rapine and fearing every day lest the souldier might mutiny he knew that in such a case his own forces would be more prejudiciall to him then those of his enemies And doubtlesly he ran hazard either of being brought into great agony by his own men by actual imprisonment or through greater perfidiousness and avarice of being delivered up into the Duke of Alva's hands which was the most hideous thing his thoughts could suggest unto him Without any further delay then chusing out 2000 of his best horse and 1000 of his best foot he sent them with great resolution towards that part where he thought they might easilyest enter Mons on the side of Jumampel He divided the horse into two squadrons and by them sheltered the foot which he intended to put into the City and disposed of all the rest of his Army so as might serve upon any occasion which fortune might present of battel But the Kings men who had very well furnisht that pass before and especially with some Spanish Colours under Sancio d' Avila and Julian Romero did so gallantly oppose the Assailants and were so advantagiously seconded by the Artillery which from the Fort commanded the Champian as Orange could in no ways compass his intent The conflict was notwithstanding very fierce and was accompanied by a double tempest of Canon-shot wherewith the Kings men played continually upon the Enemy both within and without they being no less playd upon by the others likewise both from within and without but few of the Spaniards were slain Of the Enemy about 300. Orange despairing of bringing in any relief on that side removed his Camp that very night and lodged in the Village Hermenes upon the bank of Trulla not far from St Sinforiano The Duke of Alva turned such forces likewise as were requisite on his side thitherward to hinder the enemy from all relief on that side Nor was it long ere he made them lose all hopes thereof Orange his souldiers were quartered in great disorder especially the Germans all other things also in his Camp were in much confusion nor was it any wonder For the souldiers being for the most part pickt up here and there without pay or the curb of discipline they obeyed no longer then they listed The Duke of Alva was very well informed of all these disorders and wants amongst the enemy which he suddenly made advantage of Having himself viewed the Germans nearest quarters he resolved to assault them that very night hoping that fortune would befriend him in their change of quarters He gave the charge thereof to Norchermes who was then very much imployed by him in Vitelli's absence he being gone out of the Camp to be cured of his wound The business insued thus A thousand Spanish foot were pickt out and the Camp-Master Romero was chosen to conduct them who though he was very good at Councel yet was much better at execution To these thousand Spaniards as many Walloons were added to secure the retreat where need should require In the deepest silence of night the Kings men began to move and that they might be known from the enemy in the dark they went with snirts uppermost The Germans were then in a great deal of carelesness all of them fast asleep so as they were slain before they knew they were assaulted they thought som tumult had casually hapned amongst them but being disdeceived by their wounds and bloud and suddenly seised upon by confusion and fear they betook themselves rather to flight than to fight The Kings men at the same time they assaulted the Germans the more to increase their terror and loss had fired their quarters the fire burst forth on a sudden in sundry parts and burnt many of the enemies So as it was questionable whether more of them perisht by the Sword Fire or Water whereinto many of them did blindly precipitate themselves So to shun one death met with another and the Kings men having continu'd slaughter a good while they were forced at last to retreat for the Enemies Camp was by this time in Arms. In this action about 500 Germans were lost and some few of the Spaniards who not observing well their orders were either borne away with too much heat of fighting or were not well acquainted with the places of retreat But the Enemy was hereat so affrighted as forgoing all obedience and discipline and leaving behind them great part of their baggage they of their own inclination betook themselves presently to be gone They stormed against Orange for having abused and betrayed them and that instead of returning home loaded with spoyl and booty they were now to carry away nothing but sufferings and disaccommodations Amidst these outcries which tasted more of threats then complaints Orange being strangely confused and being reduced to a condition rather of obeying then commanding raised his Camp and marched towards Malines The Duke was councelled by divers not to let slip so fitting an occasion of falling on the enemy whilst they retreated in disorder But he answered with the vulgar Proverb Let us make a Bridg to them that fly and shew'd how that without doubt Orange would within a few days be forced to quit
so agitated with winds as are the common people with passions They are blind in their consultations and more blind in their resolutions and with incredible fickleness on a sudden turn their love into hatred and their hatred into love We told you before that the Prince of Orange was come to settle himself in Hollana not only as in a Province whereof he had formerly been Governour and wherein he was still acknowledged to be so but as in the chief seat of his designs And therefore he ceased not by all possible art to foment the troubles which were already begun there Under him Captain Wibald Ripert was Governor of Harlem born in Friesland and who depended upon Orange more by the subordination of his sense then of his office This man assembling the multitúde together whilst they were hottest in concluding with the Spaniards with a loud voice spake thus unto them Shall private Fraud be now thus falsly cloaked by publike Zeal Shall the Tyranny exercised by the Duke of Alva be thus adhered unto under pretence of Obedience due unto the King And to shun the peril of a Siege as is speciously pretended shall we with greater danger receive Spaniards into this City which if we doe who shall secure us of their truth or rather why should not we by their usual customes assure our selves of their persidiousness The streets of Malines Zutfen and Naerden run yet with blood their houses smoke yet with fire and the groans occasioned by a thousand other hostile acts of theirs in those places without regard either to articles agreed upon or promises sworn unto are yet every where heard Why should not we of Harlem rather doe as they of Amsterdam have done the Inhabitants whereof would not admit of a Spanish Garrison but will maintain their Loyalty to the King by their own proper Militia It is best for us to doe so likewise and so thinks the Prince of Orange who is Governour of this Province and so well affected to this City The Prince of Orange who after having run such grievous dangers and suffered so much hardness for the common service of his Country is at last come to fix himself here amongst us to make our cause more his then his own and by which he desires the King may be obtyed rather then by any other but by the mildness of our own Laws and not by the violence of Strangers For if then the Spaniards will try their power by a Siege and we shall endeavour to withstand them and doe it more by the wals of our breasts then of our City our cause will doubtlesly be so just as we shall not doubt of the success But come what will come how much better will it be to die once in defence of our Liberty then a thousand times every day in undergoing the miseries of an intolerable slavery When Ripert had thus spoken Lancelot Brederode stept forward one of the most honorable men of the Province and best esteemed of in that City and seconded Ripert with equal efficacie In kindling fedition the forwardness of a few is sufficient against the lukewarmness of many And thus it then fell out Some others who were openly of Orange his faction followed these two Chieftains and changing the resolution which was already almost agreed on it was concluded that instead of a Spanish Garison some Companies of a German Regiment who by order from the Rebels in Holland were raised by Colonel Muller should be received into the City Hereticks were not wanting within the walls who growing bold upon such an occasion flew suddenly to some Churches and turn'd them to their own use Nor did the rage of the seditious stop here They would have those to be imprisoned who were gone to treat with the Spaniards and not long after they cruelly put them to death whereat Orange was not displeased for that the Harlemists being thereby the deeper dipt in Guilt they despair the more of pardon from the King At the hearing of so unexpected an alteration Frederick of Tolledo was highly incenst and his father more highly who had heard news thereof at Brussels They made no long delay Frederick moved at the same instant with the Kings Army towards Harlem and with great resolution prepared to besiege it Harlem lies in a large plain devided every where into lovely medows the ground in Holland being usually fitter for pasture then for seed On the one side it hath a wood nigh at hand which is but very little and serves rather for pleasure then for firing On another side the River Sparen runs within the Walls which washing the walls on the outside with another branch that presently joyns with the former makes that part of the City an Island Towards the South this River communicates with a great Lake called Harlem Meer and towards the West with a large Gulf called Tie which entring into other greater Gulfs fals not into but is rather inclosed by the Ocean The City is provided of a good Ditch and good Walls not flanked according to the modern fashion but with great Towers after the antient wont The circuit thereof is great it is very well peopled and to the number of the Inhabitants as well in private as in publick doth the condition of the Edifices answer Near this City almost at equal distance within half a days journey lie two of the chiefest Towns of Holland Amsterdam on the East and on the South Leyden The later conspired with the others in the insurrection and Orange was himself then in it to the end that he might be nearer to assist the Harlemists both with advice and forces Amsterdam on the contrary was wholly as hath been said for the King as was likewise the contiguous Province of Utricht and from that side therefore was the Spanish Camp to be furnished with all things necessary for the siege Frederick endeavoured therefore first to secure the Passes on that side One of which was of greater importance then the rest and lay nearer Harlem between two little Villages betwixt which runs the river Sparen and which by reason of the neighbourhood thereof are called the one Sparendam the other Sparenwoude In this place there was a Fort built by the Rebels of Holland which being lost and again re-taken was better munited by them then before Frederick purposed to possess himself of this Fort but as much as he desired to gain it as much did the Harlemists strive to keep it from being lost It was now about the beginning of December and the cold falling out more early and more bitter that year then usually the waters were in all parts very hard frozen This made much for the Spaniards in assaulting the Fort for the water in the ditch being frozen over and the earth hardened by the cold which before was soft and spongy they might therefore the easilyer draw near it Frederick sought first notwithstanding to inform himself better of the Forts condition and of the enemies
they let slip any occasion of hastening the effects thereof by way of terror and especially of Plunder So as threatening it every day and the Antwerpians every day fearing it they were so much affected therewithall as they were resolved to contribute whatsoever monies were requisite to free themselves as soon as might be from so dreadful a danger The Mutiniers were notwithstanding contented to receive six payes in Cloth and other Draperies which the City furnisht them withall they were paid the rest in mony And having obtained a large Pardon from the Commendador in the Kings name upon solemn oath in the greatest Church they at last went out of Antwerp and return'd to joyn with the rest of the Army which had already re-entred Holland and had begun to besiege Leyden Amongst other prejudices which the Kings affairs received by this mutiny one of the greatest was the loss of many ships which the Commendador had prepared upon the shore of Antwerp for new designs upon Zealand In Glimes his place who was slain in the former related Sea-fight was Adolphus Hansteede put Who fearing lest the Mutiniers might fall upon the Navy which he had the charge of and would have it in their power for their better security of getting their pretended satisfaction resolved to launch forth with it into the deepest part of the Scheld and there secure himself from that fear But by shunning this danger he ran into a greater The Zealanders had quickly notice hereof and would not lose the opportunity They came unexpectedly with many armed Vessels and without much adoe took most of the Kings ships which what great what little were about forty and almost all of them well provided of Artillery and all Naval preparations and the rest they either burnt or sunk or shatter'd them so as they were for no more service The design was to assault Zealand with this the Kings Fleet by the Rivers and Gulfs which inviron it within and which cannot receive great Vessels and at the same time to doe the same with another Fleet of greater ships on the outside which ships were with all speed preparing in Spain intending chiefly to possess themselves of some good Haven and stil to streighten that maritine Tract the more and to endeavour by all means possible to possess themselves of that Province without which the King could never hope to keep Flanders firm in his obedience And although the same design was continued in Spain after the unfortunate success of the Navy in Flanders yet so many difficulties arose on all sides as it was impossible afterwards to effect it The Prince of Orange was this mean with many Forces about Niminghen whither he was come to joyn with his brother Lodovick as we have said whose defeat and death ensuing and instantly thereupon the Spaniards Mutiny he staid still in those parts and failed not to make his advantage of the disorders hapned in the Kings Camp But seeing the Enemies forces hindred by the said mutiny within themselves he made many incursions into those parts hoping to make some considerable progress He was possest of the Town of Bomel a strong place and which gives the name to a large Island made by the Mause and Wahale Here Orange staid as in a place naturally very advantagious and annoy'd the neighbouring parts which were still in obedience to the King And because Balduke which is one of the chiefest Cities of all Brabant was in greatest danger the Commendador sent men suddenly to secure it and fortified the chiefest Passes thereabouts The Mutiny being afterwards accommodated he dispatched away the Marquis Vitelli with a good strength to disturb Orange in all his designs With him went John Baptista and Camillo brothers to the Marquis del Monte and Vitelli his Nephews by the sisters side Each of them commanded a Company of Lances but came to much greater preferment afterwards in the continuation of the war and won therein a great esteem of valour The greatest weight of the military affairs in Flanders lay then upon Vitelli as well in regard of his place of Campmaster-General which was the chiefest charge in the whole Army next to the supreme command of Governour as for his long experience in war which appeared yet more after the Duke of Alva's departure so cry'd up a Commander and of so great reputation of the Italian Nobility which were then in the Army of Flanders Rafell Barberino was in great esteem and was much imployed in many weighty actions He was very well skill'd in particular in matter of Fortification and therefore his advice was asked and his opinion followed upon all occasions of that nature He was as well esteemed in treating of businesses as in Military imployments and therefore having been formerly sent into England by the Duke of Alva the Commendador continued to make good use of him in divers negotiations which were then in hand to breed if it were possible a better intelligence and correspondency between that Queen and the King of Spain in the occurrences of Flanders This Rafell was Uncle by the Fathers side to Maffeo Barberino which our age hath seen pass through all the chiefest degrees of Prelatship with much applause in the Apostolick See and who by his worth becoming afterward Cardinal and lastly Pope precedes now in the universal Government of Christs flock by the name of Urban the eight A Prince who amidst his so many sublime vertues leaves it in doubt which of them merits more praise and in whom it is no less questionable which of his Principalities becomes him best or that which the Church gives him over men or that which he by his learning hath acquired over knowledge Vitelli being then gone towards the Island of Bomell he reduced many Towns thereabouts to the Kings devotion and built two Forts there the better to curb the enemies in those parts The chief Towns which he took were Leerdam Asperen and Huechelen all of them seated upon the River Linga which runs through Holland He hoped likewise to surprise the Town of Bomell but were it that his practises were discovered or not well managed he could not effect his hopes From hence Vitelli returned to Antwerp and of the people which he had with him a Regiment of Swissers were dismist which the Commendador had lately raised and the rest marched more inwards into Holland to joyn with those of the Kings men who were in that Province A new general pardon was at this time publisht by the Commendador-general in the Kings name like that which was formerly in the Duke of Alva's time came forth with such solemnity And because the other had begot more fear then trust by reason of the so many exceptive clauses which were in it therefore in this the King inlarged his clemency goodnesse and to all such as would enjoy the fruit thereof except such as were guilty of the most heynous offences and he thereunto added also the Ecclesiastical Authority touching such faults
conveniencie to use either monies or force with the Germans they forbare not using either of them as occasion did best serve So as in a short time they sent them out of all the abovesaid places And in Berghen ap Zome where Colonel Fuchero was quartered and in Breda where Fromsberg was in garrison their Forces proved so perfidious as that they put both the Towns into the States hands They then fell to demolish the Castles That of Antwerp was first slighted but only on that side which lay towards the City the rest was left in its former strength The people ran with great joy to this business striving who should outdoe one another in the pulling down thereof and expressing such rage against those insensible Platforms and Walls as they could not have shewed greater against the Authors of them By example of the Antwerpians those of Gaunt did the like to their Castle and so were all the rest dismantled except the Castle of Cambray which the States durst not meddle with for that it was in a City which was subject to the Empire and to Archiepiscopal jurisdiction Yet they wrought so as they got Signor d' Insy to be put into it and to keep it for their service causing Signor di Lich to be put out of it who kept it formerly under the Kings protection Don John was now all alone in Namures the Duke of Ariscot and almost all the rest of the Nobility which had waited upon him thither being under several pretences gone so as no persons of any quality remained with him save Barlemonte and his sons and Mansfield in the contiguous Province of Lucemburg He was not failing in representing to the life his dangers and his necessities to the Court of Spain and notwithstanding kept still fair with the States telling them that he had desired the King to send another Governour into Flanders who might be more acceptable to the Country He offered to withdraw himself into the Province of Lucemburg and there to expect the Kings orders and propounded that the States in this interim might not come to any act of hostility nor make any innovation But they suspecting that Don John's end was to make them foreslow their preparations and so allow more time to the King to make his did not any whit cool in their former resolutions They therefore signified unto Don John that in the frist place he should cause the City and Castle of Namures to be put into their hands together with the other â—owns which he had taken in that Province Which he absolutely refused to do unless such provision were first had as was requisite for his dignity and safety Thus were the minds on all sides daily more and more exasperated The States General gave present order that Orange should come himself in person to Brussels and to this purpose they sent four of their Deputies to him There was nothing which he did more desire then this Wherefore he came quickly to Breda a Town of his own and which he had then recovered after having been many years deprived of it From thence he went to Antwerp and so to Brussels It is not to be said with what concourse of people and with what Jubilee he was received in both those Citys The multitude being impatient to see him within their Walls went to meet him whole miles off in the fields and following him with great acclamations of joy called him the Father the Protecter and the Upholder of the Belgick Liberty Nor were the demonstrations of gladness less in all the more civil orders in such sort as his entry and receiving looked much more like the absolute Lord of the two abovesaid Provinces then of the Vassal of a Prince who had just and soveraign power over him and them Hardly was he well setled in Brussels when to witness the great respect they bore him he was by the general Orders created Governour of Brabant an honour altogether unaccustomed For the General Governour residing usually in that Province there needs no other particular Government 'T is true that nothing is more pernitious in States then faction but from this evil this good doth sometimes arise That whilst the one beats down the other the lawfull Prince may the more easily subdue them both Orange his Faction was grounded upon the favour of the people and of the new Sects as may sufficiently be comprehended by what hath been already said Wherefore when 't was seen that his Authority grew to that hight not only in Holland and in Zealand but even elsewhere and that his designe was every day seen of lessening the Kings Authority as also that of the Church high disdain arose in the chief Nobles of Brabant of the Province of Flanders and of the Walloon Provinces and from this disdain did a practice proceed of framing another Faction which might at least counterpoise this The Duke of Ariscot as we have told you before had a particular emulation to the Prince of Orange and many in Flanders being of opinion that after the death of Rechesens the King would have sent some of the Emperours brothers to be Governour of Flanders and especially the Archduke Mathias Ariscot had therefore from that very time endeavoured more then any other to insinuate himself into the favour of that Prince Mathias was not then above 22 years old his fortune was not answerable to his birth for he had many brothers wherefore his house was rather opprest by them then upheld He was therefore very desirous of this imployment in Flanders thinking he could not find another like it in all Germany Ariscot making himself head of this faction and judging that nothing could make more for the advantage thereof then to have a Governour chosen by their Authority he sent an express Messenger Privately away to Vienna and alleadging all the reasons which might most perswade him thereunto he endeavoured to make him take upon him the Government of Flanders In this proposal it was questionable whether the arrogancy of the propounder was greater or the easiness of the accepter thereof And to say truth there could not well any more rash action been undertaken then for the abovesaid Nobles to appoint a Governour over Flanders of their own Authority And on the other side the Archduke appeared too easie in accepting the offer not weighing as he ought to have done how the King to whom he was so nearly ally'd would be thereat offended and upon whose Supreme and lawfull Authority that election did of right depend But Mathias being perswaded that the King would approve of it and that in effect he could not wish more then to have an Austrian Prince of Germany at the Helm of Government in Flanders by reason of the conformity of the two Nations especially a Prince who was invited thereunto by the chief Nobility of the Countrey he did not any longer dispute the businesse Mathias past on to this purpose to Antwerp where he was solemnly received and
she obtains leave to do The whole Government of the Country remains therefore in the Prince her son The Flemish Rebels agree in their former resolution of chusing the Duke of Alanson for their new Prince What followed thereupon and with what conditions THe Kings Army was much afflicted for the death of Don John it is hardly to be believed what sence of sorrow was shewed for it for many days throughout the whole Camp The news thereof coming to Spain the King staid awhile before he would confirm the Prince of Parma in the Government of Flanders He very well knew the Prince his Military worth But then again he feared lest that his warlike spirit might not rather make him desire the continuance of the war then to see those Provinces restored to peace which the King desired above all things always provided as hath been often said that all due obedience were given to the Church and the like to his Crown Moreover the King had had it often formerly in his thoughts to send the Dutchess of Parma back again into Flanders if it should prove needfull to remove Don John from that Government He called to mind what satisfaction her former Regency had given unto those people and to make it prove the better again he thought to place her son the Prince of Parma with her for the part of Arms thinking that the Government being thus tempered the people would be much better pleased and his service might on all sides be better done The King therefore was a while doubtfull what to do in this case But because speedy remedy was to be applyed to the evils of Flanders and for that the King could not doubt but the Prince of Parma would with all loyalty and devotion do as he should be by him directed therefore without more adoe he approved of Don Johns Declaration and confirmed the Prince in the Government of those Provinces The Kings Army was greatly rejoyced to hear of this choice thinking that by the proximity of his bloud and by his greater resemblance in valour Don John might seem to live still in the Prince Wherefore Fernese applyed himself wholly to the Government committed to his charge His first resolution was To endeavour by all means possible to draw the Walloon Provinces over to the Kings side He considered of what importance it would be to have so great and such Catholick forces within the Country side with the Church and with the King And that on the contrary Rebellion and Heresie could not be weakened by any means better then by this He therefore began to endeavour this by several ways He treated chiefly with the Nobility who enjoy particular prerogatives in the Walloon Provinces and to whom the vulgar sort do usually adhere when the States do meet But notwithstanding this overture of a Treaty did not at all allay his ardency to War Putting on therefore Don Johns resolution he determined likewise to keep within those quarters wherein the Army was fortified about Namures and to expect there till the enemies forces should vanish especially the foreign aids which out of the reasons formerly alleadged he thought would not be long a doing Nay his hopes thereof were the more increased for that the dissentions grew every day greater amongst the Flemish He therefore attended the guarding of his quarters the keeping of his souldiers in perfect good discipline and did at the same time very much sollicite the King that he would speedily provide moneys for the necessaries of the Army and send over new men This mean while the disorders grew daily greater amongst the Flemish Rebels For divided in divers sorts amongst themselves both in affairs of Religion and in other things which respected the State of one common cause they had made many particular ones and every Province having its own particular ends few of them joyned any longer in their resolutions as they ought to have done with the rest The chiefest contestations were between the Walloons and Gaunteses as hath been said nor was it ever possible to find any means how to accord them Whence falling from words to blows neither of them paid their Contributions first agreed upon to the common Cause being kept from doing so by the necessity of converting it to their own peculiar uses The Faction of the Malcontents grew this mean while still the stronger for almost all the Nobility of Henault and Artois had wound themselves thereinto The Gaunteses and their adherents received their greatest indammagements from this Faction nor could there be a greater contrariety then was between them The Malcontents seemed more resolute then ever to continue in their Catholick purity and their due Allegiance to the King and the Gaunteses shewed themselves full as resolute to have only the contrary exercise in point of Religion and in all other things shewed their abhorrition of the Soveraignty of Spain So as by reason of this variance between the Confederate Provinces their first Union was mightily weakned Together with their want of money they began daily to be wanting in their Souldiers and not being able to maintain their own home-Souldiers much less able were they to maintain those very many that they had received from abroad Wherefore the French and German Aids did no more service but instead of easing the Country ran out licentiously on this side and that side and failing of their Pay paid themselves with large usury by Rapine insomuch that it was doubted whether they might not fall from tumultuary Free-booting to some downright Mutiny This necessity and these dangers were represented to the States by Casimir and Alanson who desired instant remedy But such evils could not be helped unless provisions were had first for the discords which were the occasion thereof which by reason of the aforesaid difficulties were become irremediable though the States and in particular Orange used all possible care and diligence to compose them It was clearly seen that the greatest novelties arose from the Gaunteses wherefore at the States desire John Casimir went again to Gaunt and used all the most efficacious means he could to reduce the Gaunteses to a more moderate sense But all was lost labour especially by reason of the obduration of those Ringleaders who for their own self-interest did the more willingly nourish sedition in that City This was the cause why John Casimir by Orange his advise resolved to go himself to England to perswade the Queen to be more firm in favouring the Flemish with her assistance especially in point of monies But the Queen after having received him very honourably were it either that she would not further offend the King of Spain or that she could not really be at further expences sent him away with bare terms of good Intention and with ambiguous hopes which were soon after resolved to the negative John Casimir being returned from England to Flanders without any good issue in his Negotiation found many of his men already disbanded and the
more great then usual for the heads of all Trades and all those who bore any Office amongst the People were then present he spake thus Since we that are here most worthy Citizens represent the whole body of the City and that through your goodness I enjoy the prime place amongst you I conceive it belongs properly to me to propound unto you that wherein the publike service in these present occurrences is most concern'd We are besieged round doubtlesly a sad spectacle the inconveniences being great which must be suffered within besieged wals It is no wonder therefore if many amongst us doe already wisely foresee this sort of evil and fear it But then we must be wary lest through too much apprehension and fear of the necessity which those that are besieged must undergo we forget not the mischiefs which so cruelly doe oft-times befall those who surrender We have seen two memorable Sieges these late years past in Holland the out of Harlem the other of Leiden The Harlemists would at last yield and rather then to come to the last desperate resolutions try the humanity and clemencie of the Conquerors But how much did they repent it afterwards and doubtlesly they had better have sallied out and with their swords in hand have willingly incountred their own deaths then to die as many of them afterwards did suffering such barbarous and horrid punishments On the contrary those of Leyden resolving rather to dye then surrender the Town did so maintain it though reduced to the utmost extremity of difficulties as at last they were freed from that so cruel siege by that so miraculous succour Which of these two examples shall we follow I believe it will be soon resolved Who can doubt that it is not better to under go not one but a thousand deaths rather then to fall again under the cruel proud and unsupportable Spanish yoke The Countrey groans every where through the so many horrible calamities which it yet suffers thereby But especially for the loss of so much famous bloud Where are the Egmonts Where the Horns Where so many of the Nobility of all sorts Finally where is our glorious Orange that true Father of his Country that unconquerable defender of the Liberties thereof It is no ways to be doubted but that as the first blow came from the hand of a Spaniard whereby he had then almost lost his life so did the second likewise from Spanish orders which brought him so miserably to his end If this our City shall ever prove so unfortunate which God forbid as to fall into their hands what doe you think their first actions will be They will certainly put the Citadel into its former condition which is as much as to say they will put the former insupportable yoke upon us To these and many other violences which they will use upon our persons we shall suddenly have many no less intolerable put upon our consciences The Reformed religion will be forbidden the very first day and the Inquisition will soon after be brought in And thus Antwerp being no longer a Flemish City but a Spanish Colony all Foreigners will forsake it all Traffick will decay and it will finally be intombed like an unhappy Carkass under its own desolate and decaying wals But let us talk no more thus dejectedly Let good auguries prevail And very well they may doe so if we consider the condition of the Enemies siege It is in vain to think that they will ever be able to finish the Bridg or to maintain it when it shall be finished The River it self will oppose them the flowing and reflowing of the Tide will oppose them our Ships will continually oppose them on all sides the Winter with her ice will fight against the Bridg nor will there be wanting many other inventions to discompose and break it down and leave that passage always free unto us And how much more easily may we open their Counterdike On Lillo's side our men have already begun to drown the neighbouring fields We will doe the like on Ordams side towards the City And the Counterdike being inclosed round between these two inundations and between our two Fleets it must of necessity either be born down by the water at the highest tides or being so often assailed by us we may cut it destroy it and freely receive all assistance likewise on that side In which case when we shall have commodity of being succour'd the Enemies can have no hopes in the continuation of their siege This mean while the Forces of our Confederates will still the more unite they will be accompanied with aids from France but chiefly with those which we may in greater numbers and with much more ease receive from England And having so many Forces both by land and sea why shall we not hope to see Antwerp restored to her full and entire liberty and to her former happy condition Let us then most honoured Citizens return all joyfully to our own homes And being to encourage others let us first take courage our selves But let us return always with an immutable resolution of rather perishing let our condition be what it will then of surrendring In fine Or Liberty or Death Thus ended stout Aldegonde Nor can it be said what power this and his other discourses had alwayes with the Antwerpians in making them receive his advices By his perswasion a new form of Oath was composed by which the City obliged it self never to return to the obedience of the King of Spain And an Edict was likewise published wherein it was prohibited under severe punishment for any one to listen to any whatsoever agreement which should at any time be propounded on the Kings behalf They then applied themselves with great fervencie to withstand the Siege Great care was had in the delivering out of victuals Such Citizens as were fit to bear Arms were put under Colours and disposed of in several Companies each of them having a Commander given them But above all things they betook themselves by all possible means to hinder the building of the Bridg and the defence of the Counterdike To boot with the Men of War which annoyed the Bridg they ordered some artificial Fire-boats whereby to assault indammage and utterly destroy the Bridg if it were possible And because the Kings Forts which were upon the River banks did very much hinder any thing that could be done by the Enemies ships the Antwerpians bethought themselves of building a Ship of such a vast greatness as being too good for the Kings Forts and furiously playing upon them with Cannon shot the absolute command of the River might by means thereof remain unto the City It was to be of a bulk answerable to a manageable Castle in the water And the Antwerpians confiding mainly therein and falling to work thereupon they gave it a no less vast title then was the bulk calling it The Wars End They ordered likewise all things which were necessary for the
better fortifie themselves there and this happened to be about the Fort St Georg which was nearest the strong house of Covesteyn The Royalists received the assault with much gallantry and suddenly a great fight happened here the one endeavouring to get upon the bank the others to keep them down the one incouraged by their ships from whence issued a furious tempest of Artillery and the others by the shot made from their Forts This mean while the Antwerpians came in with a great number of ships likewise on their side and furnished with the like provisions as were those of Lillo The enemy then redoubled their assault with greater eagerness and prevailed so far as they got upon the counterdike on both sides Nor did they only get footing in that one place but in divers others Wheresoever there was less of land there was the bickering the more bloudy And one souldier coming out of necessity close up unto another there was hardly any blow given without a wound nor wound without inevitable death Here the enemy began to make divers cuts in the banks But their chiefest force was against the place of their first assault The difficulty of making the cuts though it was great yet was it no ways so great as that of maintaining them They must there intrench themselves with sacks of earth with sacks of wool and with other such like materials And this the enemy boldly did Hollack and Aldegonde were both of them there in person Neither of them were wanting in exhorting in inforcing and in executing both by their voice deeds and example These said they unto the combatants shall be your last tryals these your last dangers When this pass shall be opened Antwerp will be free and that City being freed how glorious will your labours be and how advantagious to all our other confederates they will â—â—ok that their wives children brethren and whatsoever else they esteem dearest are here present And considering that the welfare of so many relations consist in the success of this conflict be sure to see the end thereof either by death or victory The enemy being still more and more inflamed by these words plaid their parts gallantly but all they did cost them dear For the Kings men did valiantly likewise defend themselves Many men fell on both sides the slaughter was equal and fortune altering the advantages smiled and frowned alternately now on one side now on another Mandragone sent many men from his side continually to assist the Royalists And though very aged and ill handled by wounds which he had received in so long a war and amidst so many dangers yet did he undauntedly present himself in his own person to all dangers The like did Mansfield though he were likewise very old and even wasted with labours In the strong house of Covesteyn which was in his quarter and from whence the counterdike began on that side as hath been said he had raised a great platform the better to defend the neerer Fort of St George and the other somewhat further off of the Palata This defence did excellent service upon this occasion For playing in a right line upon the bank the enemy could in no ways shelter themselves from it The Spaniards and Italians which were in those quarters incouraged hereby fell fiercely upon the enemy and began to put them into confusion At the first beginning of the conflict Camillo del Monte did likewise excellent service For Carbone of the same Family and four other Captains together with a great many other Officers and souldiers being slain close by him yet he still valiantly sustained the violence of the enemy Marquis Hipolito Bentivoglio our brother was with him who not long before the siege was come into Flanders nor was he wanting in behaving himself as became a man of honour upon such an occurrency And his actions were so well approved of by the Prince as soon after he gave him a company of Launciers and shewed him many other particular demonstrations of esteem The fight being afterwards renewed by the Spaniards and Italians their Commanders John del Aquila and Camillo Capitzucchi the one Campmaster of a Spanish Brigado and the other of an Italian did amongst others signalize themselves And the valour of the inferior souldiers did so well corrispond with the like of their Commanders as St George his Fort which for a good while was in danger of being lost was at last secured The Fort of the Palata was still in hazard To boot that it was but very weak of it self the enemy had invironed it with the gaps they had made and with their ships playing upon it furiously every where with their Artillery and muskets Here then was a fierce fight but with such advantage to the enemy as they already hoped for the victory when the Prince of Parma appeared himself in person upon the Counterdike He had been there the night before and after having with great care viewed the Forts and given such directions as was fitting every where he was returned to his quarters at Beveren on the other side of the river There was a considerable distance between that quarter and the Counterdike but when the Prince early that morning heard the noise of the Cannon on the other side of the River he quickly imagined that the Enemy had assaulted the Counterdike on both sides He therefore lost no time At his coming out of his quarters he heard that he had guessed aright and ever and anon advertisements came of the fight and of what danger his men were in As soon as he was come upon the Counterdike on Mandragone's part he heard by him and by others what danger the Fort of the Palata was in The Prince was usually followed with many of quality and worth and this occasion had increased their number Wherefore marching in the head of them he went together with them to where the fight was hottest And when he saw how much his men were troubled and the Enemy so much their superiors Is this said he the valour which my Souldiers shew Is this that which they learn under my discipline Shall the Enemy glory of being Conquerors after they were conquered And are they not overcome if after having lost the passage of the River we keep the passage of the Counterdike likewise shut up 'T is here then O my Souldiers that you must either dye or overcome I will share with you in the one and in the other But if we shall overcome as I hope we shall I will content my self with the honour all the rewards shall be yours Nor can so impornant a Victory be sufficiently rewarded but by so great a King The Prince accompanied these his words with actions Arm'd only with his sword and shield he gave strange proof of his valour By which example there was not any one of them who did not willingly run upon the greatest dangers and who did not endeavour to save their Prince his life
famous enterprises hath fully declared him to be This mean while the Duke of Parma was returned to Brussels and wholly intent upon his passing again into France he endeavoured to get as great a strength for that purpose as he could The news which he heard from those parts was That the affairs of the League did every day decline that the Forces thereof were very much diminished and that the King of Navar did still grow stronger and that being Master of the Field he had besieged Roan which is the chief City of all Normandy and the second of all France The Duke de Mayn had sent Count Brisack a little before this to acquaint the Duke of Parma with thus much And the danger of Roan every day increasing Fernese was again the more sollicited to come for France as soon as he could Preparing then for his departure he left as formerly the two Mansfields his Deputies And a solemn Ambassie being at this time sent by the Emperor into Flanders to endeavour some accommodation in the affairs of those Countries the Duke upon that occasion did stay some dayes at Brussels The Emperor had likewise signified the same intention to the United Provinces But they fearing that the Ambassie was sent by the King of Spains procurement would not consent to any Treaty About which though neer upon a Moneth was spent yet we have chosen to acquaint you with the result thereof briefly here to dispatch the account of a Negotiation wherein there was hardly any Overture made The Duke being gone from Brussels went towards Picardy and there in Peroun met with the young Duke of Guise who not long before having escaped out of the Castle of Tours where Henry the Third had shut him up after his Fathers death and where the King of Navar had likewise detained him was suddenly come to find out his Uncle the Duke Du Mayn From Peroun the Duke of Parma went to the Town of Guise where the Duke Du Mayn came to speak with him In the same place was likewise Hercules Sfondrato Duke of Montemarchiano who a little before was sent by his Uncle Gregory the 14. with a very considerable strength both of Foot and Horse to assist the League But Gregory dying and Innocent the 9. succeeding him his men were much diminished Innocent excusing himself that he could not continue so great an expence by reason of the scarcity of monies which the Apostolick Sea was then in Nor did the Duke of Montemarchiano know whether he were to continue in that Command or no though in all things else Innocent seemed as if he would protect the League of France to which purpose he had made the Bishop of Piachensa Cardinal declaring him also to be Apostolick Legat in the place of Cardinal Cajetan who as we have said was already returned to Italy At this meeting of the Duke of Parma and the Duke Du Mayn the first thing that was agreed upon was That Fera one of the most considerable Towns of Picardy should be delivered up to the Duke of Parma that upon all occasions he might have a Town upon that Frontier towards Flanders which might serve for better security to his Army Here all their Forces joyning each of the chief Commanders muster'd his men and the whole amounted to about 25000 Foot and 6000 Horse the greatest part whereof belonged to the King of Spain and were composed as usually of Spaniards Italians Germans and Walloons the Foot were about 16000. and the Horse 3000. The Duke of Lorain had sent the Counts of Vaudemonte and Shalligny with 700 Lances and Curasiers in assistance of the League Of all the Forces which the Duke of Montemarchiano brought with him into France there remained little more then 2000 Foot Switzers and 200 Horse The rest of the Forces were made up by the League The Duke of Parma commanded over all in chief and next to him the greatest authority lay in the Duke Du Mayn with whom were then the Dukes of Umale and Guise the first his Cousin-german the other his Nephew to boot with the aforesaid Counts of Vaudemonte and Shalligny who were of the same house but in a degree further off During the preparation mustering and marching of this Army the year ended and the next of 1592 began All their men being met at the entrance into Picardy the Army began to move about the midst of January and marched towards Amiens that it might enter on that side into Normandy and endeavour to relieve Roan as soon as might be The King of Navar as hath been said was before this City and had advanced so far forward already in his siege as the besieged were not likely to defend it much longer Yet Monsieur de Villiers sustained the siege valiantly and endeavoured by all stout resistance to afford time for the aforesaid succour And much encouraged to hear that the Leagues Army was upon its march to that purpose he continued in his defence more resolute then ever though by reason of the straits that he was in he prest the Colleagues very much to come to his relief as soon as they could Roan lyes upon the banks of Sene and this River doth there much inlarge it self Some leagues above it the King had a Town called Pont d' Arke which is the last bridge which is now upon the Sene in its current to the Sea some of the Arches of that bridge being broken and gone to decay which the English did anciently build at Roan whilst they were Lords of Normandy The Town of Cawdebeck lyes some leagues beneath Roan upon the banks of the said River which was likewise in the Kings hands insomuch as he commanding the River both above and beneath by means of these two Towns and by some men of war which scour'd up and down the River had reduced that City into great straits But hearing of the Duke of Parma and that the Army of the League was already on its march towards Normandy he called his Councel of war to consider what was best for him to do upon this occasion The King had very great Forces he had between nine and ten thousand Horse and his Foot were as many as those of the Colleagues all the Horse unless it were some Dutch were French in the Foot there were likewise some considerable number of Dutch and some English which the Queen had sent to assist the King and three thousand Flemish Foot were likewise sent from Holland in his assistance It was argued in the Councel of war whether it were better to abandon the siege and to march against the Army of the League to fight them in the field as it was formerly determined in the business of Paris or continuing the siege to wait the Enemy within the works and to defend those works so as the succour might by that resistance be hindred The Mareshal of Biroune inclined particularly to this opinion who by reason of his long experience and
the greatness of Spain appear the more both in maintaining greater Forces and greater expences where it hath been necessary to increase them and in preserving the reputation of their Arms both by Land and Sea where there hath been any occasion to imploy them But these Navigations of the Hollanders and Zealanders on both sides of the Indies especially in the West Indies have happened for the most part since their having found out the Northwest passage into the East Indies to return to which their resolution was to sail by a nearer cut if they could and to come to the Oriental regions of Cataia China and the Indies steering their course on the right hand and drawing still nearer the Pole In which short Voyage they thought that at some seasons of the year they might find such access into that almost continually frozen Sea as that they might at last get out of it And to this purpose they prepared four ships and furnished them with all things necessary for such an enterprise Then going out of their own seas and having passed through those of Norway and then the others of Greenland and Iseland which are the utmost on the North side most under the Pole they wheeled about to the right hand and came successfully to the Strait which is called Nova Zembla There began the difficulty of the passage which increasing still the more by how much they advanced further it proved so excessive at the last as their trouble to return back was incredible They saw the sea freeze into mountains the skies hidden in thick clouds and amidst those horrors Nature seemed almost wholly to fail Being staid by Ice they were forced to break one of their ships and turn it into Cabins and Cottages Nor were they then free from new dangers They were oft-times set upon by great numbers of white Bears of an extraordinary bigness and were by other necessities reduced to such a point as they oft-times dispaired of life or that they should ever be able to return but at last they did for the chiefest dread being over and the Ice melted they might though not without great sufferings return home by the same way they came Thus did they end this Navigation Of which and of others which they have made into the Indies we have been desirous here to give you this short account For though they may be accounted successes which do in some sort appertain unto the Arms which the United Provinces of Flanders have by all possible means opposed against the Crown of Spain yet being so dis-joyned from those which we describe the making of them known and joyning of them by distinct relations to the others of this History would doubtlesly rather breed confusion then perspicuity At the expiration of this year the Archduke grew to be very weak in body by reason of a lingring feaver wherewith he had been a good while troubled and whereof he finally died not being full 42 years old It was thought that the indisposition of his body was occasioned by the like of his mind finding the affairs of Flanders in so bad condition and by reason of the little hopes of their amendment Nor peradventure was he less troubled for fear left the Treaty of Marriage between him and the Infanta Isabella the King of Spains eldest daughter which had been a good while in agitation might either prove totally vain or by long delays be too long deser'd The time of his Government was not above one whole year He was a religious grave Prince and singularly good and his German candor made him the more acceptable to the Flemish For what remains he was not good at action no Warriour made much more for Peace then for the managing of Arms and who coming with very great expectation into Flanders had better satisfied that expectation if he had not come to the test thereof in that Government He declared at his death that Count Fuentes should succeed in his place till the King should take some other resolution Who afterwards ratified his Government with such necessary Authority as Count Mansfield had divers times formerly exercised it THE HISTORY OF THE WARS OF FLANDERS Written by CARDINAL BENTIVOGLIO The Third Part. BOOK II. The Contents It is resolved in France to declare open War against Spain The Duke of Bovillon enters therefore in hostile manner into the Province of Luxemburg and at the same time the United States surprise the Castle of Huy in the Country of Liege Verdugo is sent with considerable Forces by Count Fuentes to chase the French from out that Province wherein he had good success as had also Monsieur de la Motte in the recovery of the aforesaid Castle From hence Fuentes resolves to pass into Picardy His design touching the recovery of Cambray and many difficulties in the undertaking yet Fuentes prepares for it He first besieges Chatelet and suddenly turns from thence in hopes of winning the Town of Han But being deceived he returns to his Siege and quickly ends it From thence he goes to before Dorlan The French come to succour it A field-fight wherein Fuentes hath the victory He therefore straitens the Town yet more and after a fierce assault the oppugnors storm it and commit all manner of hostility in slaughter and sacking Immediately he incamps before Cambray The description of that City and the particular ordering of the Siege Duke Retel enters the Town with a small succour and soon after comes in Monsieur de Vich a valiant and greatly experienced Souldier He makes the Spanish Camp resent his opposition soundly yet Fuentes loseth neither hope nor courage His secret intelligence with the Citizens who are ill affected to the Marshal of Baligni as Usurper of that Dominion He joyns threats to his practices and prepares to storm the walls by assault But the Citizens prevent him and falling into tumults resolve to deliver upthe City into Fuentes his hands Which they doe The Confederate Provinces move this mean while with their Forces but succeed not neither in their Siege before Groll ner in the surprise which they attempt upon Lira Archduke Albertus comes to the Government of Flanders in the name of the King And soon after his arrival Fuentes departs and goes into Spain WE will begin the year 1595 with the resolution taken by the King of France to break into open war with the King of Spain He considered that many Towns in Picardy were under the self Forces of Spain That indeavours were still had to win more And that look how much more the League did decline in France so much the more was it fomented by Flanders his having declared himself to be a Catholick and his having advanced his endeavours of reconciliation to the Church of Rome with the Pope so far not causing them any whit to alter their designe Wherefore thinking that he was already too much injured he resolved not to indure it any longer To the which he was the more
last routed and dissipated them Wherein notwithstanding the Foot had a great share who advancing and letting flie with their Muskets on sundry sides upon the French did more facilitate the success in opening and breaking their squadrons and in making a bloody slaughter But it proved particularly most bloody against the Foot for they being quite abandoned by reason of the Rout given unto the Horse were almost all of them cut in peeces with a great desire of revenging the blood which the French had drawn of the Spaniards in the aforesaid assaults at Han. And for the same reason the like cruelty was used against the Horse after they were routed and defeated Yet the third Squadron of the Rereward got almost all safe off For San Paul and Bullion seeing what ill success the other two had retreated without further fighting and did it so early as they could not be pursued Whilst they were thus busie on this side the besieged failed not to sally out upon the Spanish quarters endeavouring to overcome them and then joyn with the French that were without But they met with such resistance as all they could doe was in vain And thus Fuentos had the victory on both sides Few in his Camp were either hurt or slain On the contrary few of the Enemies Foot were saved and great slaughter was made amongst the Horse Many Prisoners were likewise taken and of those many of the chief men One and the chiefest of them all was Admiral Villers when contention arising amongst those in whose hands he was and he offering a very great sum of money to satisfie all their greediness John Contrera a Spaniard who was Commissary-Generall of the Horse fuller of rage then anger made him be cruelly put to death An action whereat Fuentes was highly displeased Another of chiefest esteem amongst them that were slain was Monsieur de Sanseval who was Lieutenant-General of Picardy of a noble family and of high deserts in war Many others of the prime Nobility of those parts were either taken prisoners or slain And Fuentes were it either to boast his victory or civility sent the bodies of Villers and Sanseval to the Duke of Nevers that they might be honourably burried by their friends according to their merits Fuentes having gotten this Field-victory returned with more fervencie then formerly to besiege the Town and the besieged seemed as resolute in the defence thereof Count Dinax was Governour of the place and he had a very numerous Garison in the Town composed almost altogether of Gentry who were resolved rather to die then yield Resistance was made in the Ditch as you have heard and though the Spaniards had won the little Ravelin yet the French did still defend themselves there with Galleries and such other works But Fuentes resolving to force the Town as soon as possibly he could placed a great Battery almost close to the Counterscarf and began to thunder furiously from thence upon the walls He planted likewise some Artillery upon the rise of a Hill which from above shot point blank upon the French much to their prejudice and might continue doing so without hurting the Spaniards when they should make an assault The wall was plaid upon for many hours and a great part thereof with its platform being thrown down insomuch as the breach was almost levell'd those without presented themselves to make the assault and those within to receive it Fuentes ordered the Assault on his side thus He made 3 Squadrons the first consisting of 600 Foot and the other two of not full out so many The second was to second the first and the third the second The besieged on their behalf likewise prepared to make all manly defence with military order and resolution The chiefest for valour and birth were placed in the first Files who keeping close together and well arm'd seemed like a great high bank covered with iron And a sufficient breach being made those without marched to the assault The first Squadron advanced first and with great courage endeavoured to get footing upon the wall that was beaten down but it was so much better defended then assailed as the second Squadron must come in to assist the first Then the combat began to be very fierce for those within being likewise reinforced with fresh succour they did renew their resistance with more ardor then before In the heat of the conflict like waves successively now these now those were seen to give way Pikes were succeeded by swords and swords by all manner of other close fight which not only the desire of defence but of offence might teach upon that occasion The ground was all covered with dead bodies or such as were sorely wounded and those who were unwounded seemed much more desirous to dye then to live Blood ran down every where all was full of horror and death And the conflict was so various between hope and fear as it could not be discerned to which side the fortune of the day would turn Thus did the combat for a while continue But Fuentes resolving to try the utmost made the third Squadron come in and those within were likewise invigored with new aids insomuch as it is not to be said how fierce and how uncertain the fight was for a while Yet the assailants began already to prevail by reason of two manifest disadvantages which the assailed suffered under The one was the great slaughter which was made amongst them from aloof off by the Artillery that was placed upon the little Rise while they fought at nearer distance The other that the place where they fought being very narrow they could not make way one for another nor keep such order as they ought to have done Not being therefore able any longer to resist they were at last inforced to yield But they still gave back with their faces towards the Enemy and with so great undauntedness as the most of them at least the better sort chose rather to lose their lives then their station The Castle being forced the Victors soon entred the Town and the Gates being opened all the rest of the Camp came in who straightways pillaged and plundred it all over in hostile manner Great was the number of those that were slain and great the number of prisoners But the Plunder proved not to such a value as did any ways satisfie the Souldiers avarice which was the cause as it was thought why the Prey not answering their hopes some houses were despightfully set on fire which firing a great many others the whole Town would quickly have been consumed had not Fuentes come in himself in person and remedied the disorder Count Dinax the Governour of the place whilst he gave proof of great valour dyed in the Assault And his Brother Monsieur de Ronsoy was so sore wounded as he lived not long after All the rest of the better sort were slain or taken prisoners Divers Captains of the Spanish Camp were slain and many-inferior Officers
were become more odious then before by having coyned a great quantity of Brass-money which went at the rate of silver giving out that when the Siege should be over every one should be satisfied with their true value but this was not believed Baligny whilst the Batteries were a playing had assembled a great number of armed Citizens together in the largest Piazza that they might be ready to succour the Wall which was plaid upon When the aforesaid Firebrands dispersing themselves boldly here and there amidst those Citizens with a loud voice said Shall we through obstinacie rather sustain the interests of a base Tyrant then our own concernments nay not of one onely Tyrant but of two the Wife having by her actions done more to merit that name then her Husband Were not the past inventions sufficient to get monies but that this of equalling Brass to Silver should be added What defence is there now to keep our wealth from being devoured by the one or the other of those whirlpools Where is the antient splendor of our Cambray where her glory amidst so many negotiations both of Peace and War and of all other kinds which have hapned in the greatest occurrences of Christendom The Duke of Alanson brought us first into these miseries and now we are enforced to endure them more then ever by the King of France his Arms. Cambray is full of French garrisons our houses full of their rapines and violences and in all other kinds in all other places the City groans under this so heavy yoke It is now therefore time to throw it off And what better occasion can we have to doe it then to stir now whilst the French souldiers are imployed and to call in the Spaniards So the throwing open of the Gates shall be our work it shall be our work to restore the Archbishop to his dominions and it shall be we who will make so great and so Catholick a King enjoy his former Priviledges on these Frontiers But this resolution must be acted before it be consulted upon The Guns thunder from without against our walls Assaults will quickly follow and we in Cambray shall have our houses plunder'd and our selves slaughtered according to the fresh and fatal example of Dorlan And finally when our City shall be storm'd we shall lose all our rights and in lieu thereof receive whatsoever either the reason of war or the will of the Conquerors shall please to impose upon us These Citizens being by such incitements moved to new and greater anger and their number still increasing a great Tumult suddenly arose From tumults they came soon to insurrection and from insurrection to resolution of letting in Fuentes and of withdrawing themselves from Baligny's yoke To these Citizens which were 3000 in number did 300 Walloon Horse joyn which served under Baligny and 200 Switzers who were in another neighbouring Piazza were what by threats what by intreaties drawn to be of the same mind whereby the Citizens were the more encouraged who made no longer delay but chusing out some of the best of them acquainted Fuentes with the Cities resolution and intreated him that he would give over shooting Baligny together with his Wife Du Vich and the other French Commanders were this mean while very much troubled at this unexpected novelty and knowing that to use force would be but in vain they thought it better to use intreaties Baligny and Du Vich went therefore to the Piazza and strove by divers wayes to appease the Tumult and Baligny's Wife appeared there likewise with great store of money seeking by that means to mitigate the Citizens anger but she did thereby the more exasperate them for they thereby saw that it was rather avarice then need which had made Brass be turned to the value of silver The Citizens did therefore utterly refuse to treat with Baligny and continuing the Treaty which they had already begun with Fuentes it was soon concluded The substance whereof was That the Archbishop should return to his former Government and should be as formerly under the paerticular protection of the King of Spain But the so jealous considerations of that Confine and the like jealousies touching the Government of that City did not long after make those that governed under the King extend their authority almost as much to the Civil as to the Military Government This Agreement being made Fuentes sent Messia with such numbers of men as was thought fit into the City and he himself entred soon after with resolution to fall afterwards upon the Citadel with all ardencie But Baligny and Du Vich together with the other Commanders thinking that they were not able to defend it for that it was not so well fortified towards the City as it ought to have been treated of surrendring Which insued upon all the most honorable Conditions which could be desired Fuentes received the young Duke of Retel as also all the rest of the French Commanders with all possible honour But Baligny's Wife who was a woman of a high and domineering spirit not being able to digest such a fall and to return to her former condition fell so very sick for sorrow as at the instant of the surrender she ended her Principality and life together Thus did Fuentes happily end the Siege to the unexpressible joy of the obedient Provinces and particularly of the Walloons who had assisted the enterprise with so great Forces and were now with so much advantage to enjoy the fruits thereof Whilst they were thus busie on the Frontiers of France with so greatly considerable success the United Provinces suffered not their Forces to lie idle in Flanders Fuentes being entred at the time as we have told you into France Count Maurice delayed not to march with a great strength into the Field and in the beginning of July turn'd upon Groll in the County of Zutfen This was almost the only place of any consequence which as then remained under the King of Spain's Forces in the parts beyond the Rhine And therefore the United Provinces desired to make themselves masters thereof and to have all those Countries at their free will and disposal Groll is but a little Town but strong both by situation and handy-work and placed in a very important Pass Maurice had not above 8000 Foot and 2000 Horse with which he sate down before the Town and began to begirt it hoping to win it before Mandragone could come to succor it who as we told you before was left in those parts with good Forces after Verdugo's death to counterpoise whatsoever of evil which might be endeavoured there by the United Provinces to the Kings prejudice But Maurice was soon deceived For Mandragone who had a watchfull eye to all dangers provided quickly for this To boot with his former body of men he gathered as many more together as the Kings near Garrisons could furnish him withall so as he was almost as strong as Maurice And passing suddenly over the
the succour and that those that were with him were too weak to effect it Four of the six dayes granted for the relief of the Castle were already past Wherefore the King not willing to leave any thing unattempted which might contribute to the preservation of it resolved to send 300 choise men with all possible secresie from Boloign to Calis with a resolution that hazarding themselves upon all dangers they must either get into the Castle or die in the attempt He would have many Captains and Officers of known valour to be of this number and he gave them the Signor of Campignuola for their Commander a Souldier of great esteem and who was Governour of Boloign Campignuola marched on and being come two hours before day to within half a league of Calis he went to enter the Castle The chiefest difficulty lay in getting over certain low Marishes whither the Tide came and which were guarded by a Fort govern'd by the Marquis of Trevico a Neopolitan with his Brigado of the same Nation But the French had such luck to come at a low Ebb and such was the carelesness which was used in the Fort as Campignuola entred into the Castle with all his men not meeting with any obstacle Here he declared the Kings Commissions concluding that they must either defend the Castle or die in the defence thereof That if they could but make it good for a small time the King would come himself in person with full Forces to relieve it and that he was so resolved thereupon as he would use all imaginable means to doe it quickly These words did much inhearten those within the Castle insomuch as the Governour Biddosan together with the Garrison and the rest of the Inhabitants assured Campignuola that they would be faithfull in making the defence The Spanish Camp began to suspect by the proceedings in the Castle that it had received some succour which when the Cardinal was better assured of he complained much of Trevico Yet that he might come to the more perfect knowledg thereof the six dayes drawing now to an end the Cardinal sent to the Castle to demand the delivery of it according to the agreement To which the Governour answered That without violation of faith he was at liberty to defend it for he had received succour and such as he hoped he should be very well able to hold out This being known those without prepared for the assault and those within to defend the Castle And during these preparations the sixt day was fully expired The next day did hardly well appear when they began from without to play furiously upon the Castle and the chief Battery was placed against the chief Bulwark which did most command the gate Many other Peeces of Attillery were made use of at the same time to bereave them of their defence Wherefore the tempest of shot was so great and so continual for so many hours as the greatest part of that side of the Bulwark being beaten down the oppugnors thought they might fall to the assault The Artillery had plasd incessantly at the same time from the Castle and they within received the Enemy with great courage so as a sore conflict insued The Assailants were Spaniards and Walloons with their Campmasters Mendosa Velasco and Barlotta Who striving to give example and their Souldiers to imitate them there could not be a fiercer fight on this side Yet those within did so stoutly withstand the first assault as the Assailants not able to mount the breach were beaten back But at the very instant of their giving back being asham'd that they had done so they suddenly returned and falling more fiercely then before to the assault they so renewed the fight as at one and the same time almost they got upon the Breach planted their Colours there and entred with the Defendants into the Castle In this renewing of the assault the Governour Bidossan was slain together with many Captains and other valiant Souldiers who were present at the defence-making For what remained military fury was used few being left alive of which Campignuola was one From blood they fell to plunder which though it was not answerable to expectation yet it was thought to come to about 5000â—0 Crowns worth in goods together with a very considerable quantity of victuals and ammunition Many of the assailants Captains and Officers were slain The greatest loss they suffered was in the death of Count Pacchiotto an Italian chief Enginer of the Spanish Camp who through a desire of honour would be present at the assault where fighting valiantly he was slain Thus in less then 20 dayes Calis one of the chief Towns of France tell with so little opposition into the King of Spains hands Guines and Hames two Towns near Calis surrendred themselves also quickly to Monsieur de Rony The first was of some consequence the other very weak and not able to make any resistance The Cardinal staid ten dayes in Calis that he might leave the Town well munited and provided To the recovery whereof it appeared that the Queen of England and the Provinces of Holland and Zealand would buckle themselves with great Maritime preparations both these parties thinking themselves more concern'd in the loss of Calis then the King of France himself The King having received so great a blow returned speedily to his siege of Fera that he might put an end thereunto as soon as he could and keep the Town from being relieved with victuals Yet before he went from Bullen he secured that Town from all danger and furnished Montruille and Ardres with sufficient Garrisons and all manner of necessary provisions but especially the last as being nearer Calis and against which it was most to be feared that the Spaniards would address themselves Wherein he was not deceived For after divers consultations had the Cardinal being still thereunto advised by Rony made his Army march towards Ardres and on the beginning of May incampt before it The Town of Ardres is placed in a vally which is much more long then broad not above three leagues distant from Calis The Country about it is more watry then dry It is but of a small circuit but very strong both by nature and industry in the highest part thereof there is a suburbs which being formerly but weakly fortified was now very well munited by the Garrison and Townsmen Monsieur de Anneburg a well reputed Souldier was Governour of the Town And there were about 2000 Foot and 150 Horse there in garrison with good provisions for all things necessary for defence And for its greater advantage the Marquis of Belin the Kings Lieutenant of Picardy was come thither and with him Monsieur di Monluck a young man but one of the most cry'd up valour that was in all France Rony had the chief care of the siege wherefore having first well disposed of the Quarters and then provided for their security he began to advance with his Trenches They were first led
on towards the Town but Rony thought it better afterwards to endeavour the winning of the Suburbs the taking whereof would make much for carrying the Town The besieged this mean while made out frequent sallies in all which Monluck was still the formost nor made they less opposition by their Artillery which were placed upon their walls So as great was the damage which those without received by both these means Yet overcoming all difficulties they still straitned the Town more and more And Monluck being slain by a Canon-shot it might soon be discerned that those within cooled in their courage Coming at last to battery Rony was very sollicitous in indeavouring the effect thereof for fear lest the King having rid his hands of la Fera might come with his whole Army joyn'd together time enough to relieve Ardres as it was clearly seen he intended to do But the Suburb was so well defended that such progress could not be made by battery as the straitness of time required Between the Suburb and the Town there was a certain secret way which led out afterwards into the fields abroad and which was but little known save to such Inhabitants as most frequented that place The Camp-master Tesseda had notice hereof by a Walloon Souldier who upon other occurrences had been conversant in that passage Tesseda therefore acquainted the Cardinal that entrance might be had into the Burough secretly by night through that passage and he desired that he might be trusted with the Government of the design The Cardinal yielded to the proposal and to the desire Wherefore Tesseda went to the aforesaid place the next night taking with him 1000 foot part Spaniards part Walloons To divert the defendants the more a brisk alarm was given against both the Town and Suburb from the part without where the batteries were placed The enemy flocking apace to those parts Tesseda passed on and began to enter the Suburbs with his men But the enemy being aware thereof they suddenly turned all their opposition thither so as for a while the business was hotly disputed on both sides till Tesseda being recruited with new forces got a good way into the Suburb and forced the enemy at last to quit it and to retreat to within the Town in which retreat there happened a misfortune which added much to their loss For the Percullis being too hastily let down by those that guarded the Gate for fear lest the assailants might enter into the Town pel mel with the assailed 200 of their own men were shut out who were al miserably put to the sword by the assailants The Suburbs being won Rony immediately turned the batteries upon the Town and that they might be the more terrible some pieces of great Canon were brought from Calis and planted upon the chief battery and many other pieces of Artillery were planted against the fences in so much as the like preparation for thundring shot upon the Town had not been seen in many former sieges It was this mean while disputed between the Marquis of Belin and the Governour of the Town whether it were better to do their utmost to withstand the assault which was to be expected would insue the batteries or not to hazard a fight the event whereof was so uncertain and dangerous The Governour was for making good the defence alleadging That the Garison could not be more incouraged and that the mean while the King having dispatched the business of la Fera would undoubtedly come himself in person to the relief of Ardres The Captains were of the same opinion and the souldiers likewise shewed great resolution therein But Beline was of another mind He said That if it should come to the tryal they should not be able to withstand the assault That the greatest part of so valiant souldiers would be lost And that it tended much more to the Kings service to preserve then to lose them These reasons were not admitted of neither by the Governour nor Garison But Belin urging Authority which was discerned to proceed wholly from fear would by all means that without expecting so much as one shot they should treat of surrender He desired that he might first send unto the King But his request being denyed he yielded to the surrender upon such honourable terms as he could get One thousand five hundred souldiers marched out of the Town with him at which Action it cannot be conceived how hainously the King was incensed Both in respect of the action it self and for that la Fera falling just then into his hands he did verily hope either to make the Spanish Camp quit the siege of Ardres or else to force them to fight with him in the open fields And his Forces were by this time so increased as he had great reason to hope for one of these two Belin would have gon to have justified himself but the King instead of hearing him thought to have put him to an ignominious death though afterwards together with his anger he mitigated Belins punishment and only banished him the Court. This mean while those of la Fera being reduced to the utmost necessity of hunger could no longer defer the surrender of the Town The King that he might the sooner be gon from thence and come to the relief of Ardres granted them all the honourable conditions they could desire But Ardres being lost and the King still more incensed thereat he seemed to be much perplexed in his thoughts not knowing what to resolve upon His Forces were then very strong he had no less then 18000 soot and 6000 horse together with the flowre of the chiefest of the Kingdom and a numerous other Nobility which did then wait upon him His end would have been either to have recovered Calis or some other of the Towns which he had lost but he foresaw all sieges would cost much expence both of time and monies and the Kings monies were at this time so exhausted and Picardy together with the other Provinces so wasted with the so long quartering of Armies as out of each of these considerations it was impossible for him long to maintain so great Forces or to make use of them in any long siege He therefore by the consent of his Councel of War resolved to draw near to the Cardinal Archdukes Army and to endeavour by all means possible to draw him forth to battel But the Cardinals intentions were far otherwise for being fully informed of the Kings mind and knowing himself to be much short of him in men as being inforced to leave strong Garisons in the places which he had won he thought it might suffice if he could secure these and for what remained shun all field-battel His people had likewise suffered much disaccommodation in these last expeditions In so much as being willing to refresh them with the most commodious quarters he could he resolved to go into Artois and going himself into St. Omers he disposed of his Army in divers Towns
And doubtlesly there was not any one of the Spanish Nation who was as then highlyer esteemed in the Military profession This Fuentes opposed himself with all his might to the propounded marriage with the cession of the Low-Countries But on the other side Christoval di Moura Count of Castel Roderigo who was in great authority with the King did stiffiy maintain the contrary opinion Moura was come out of Portugal many years before the devolution of that Kingdom and came to Madrid with the Dowager Princess Donna Jovanna the Kings sister being in a very good place about her and after her death he was suddenly taken into the Kings Court where he was entertained in many noble imployments When the devolution did afterwards happen the King imployed none more then Moura in the occurrences of that so important Negotiation in so much as the differences which were therein met withall were soon overcom by the Duke of Alba with Forces on the other part and by Moura his negotiating on the other part wherby Moura stil increasing in favor merit and authority with the King none shared more thereof then he in these latter times The King being willing therefore to put on his fall resolution touching this business sent for his Councel one day into his own bed-chamber where for the most part he lay in bed by reason of his great years and the gout which he was troubled withall and where ount Fuentes spake thus The advantage is so great most powerfull Prince which those so many members whereof your Majesties Empire is composed do receive from Flanders as to bereave it of so noble a member now cannot in my opinion but be of great prejudice to the rest Wheresoever the run goes it looks upon some one of your Kingdoms But though the world reverence you in so many parts and bow unto you it is notwithstanding seen that your Enviers and Enemies respect your Greatness and fear it more from that of Flanders then from all the rest What and how great the opportunities of those Provinces are none knows better then your self There were you put into the Inheritance of that so glorious Emperor your Father before you were yet his Heir by that his so memorable Renunciation There you began to take the conduct of so eminent and so painfull a Government And tarrying there afterwards about a year you your self had still better occasion to know how much the possessing of those States did import your greatness together with the rest of your Empire By the Arms of Flanders you did then make an advantagious Peace with the King of France with those Arms you have ofttimes succoured the Catholick Cause in that Kingdom and maintained your own with much honour in these last times against the now present King And how oft have you from thence assisted the Catholicks of Germany and in what a terror from that side more especially did you put England not many years ago The world turns round with perpetual vicissitude and is continually producing new things And therefore it is to be believed that by the occasion of past times other the like will arise in times to come insomuch as the Arms of Flanders are likely to be no less necessary hereafter thereabouts either for the good of the Church or of this Crown or of them both their welfare being seldom severed I know not withstanding how much those Provinces are lessened and confess that dangers may daily grow greater there by the obstinate home-Rebellion and by the malignant correspondencie which hath always been had there from neighbours Yet when you shall well weigh the remainder of the yet obedient Provinces of Flanders and shall add thereunto the other Forces which your so powerfull Monarchy will be able to subminister thereunto wherefore may it not be hoped that your Majesties so just cause may be thereby bettered or at least be secured from growing worse If the wars in those parts should cease by reason of this new propounded Principality and that the expences should likewise cease there this Crown would doubtlesly be thereby much eased and in such a case it might the better be without those Provinces But it being to be believed that War will grow hotter there then ever through the love the Rebels have taken to Liberty and Heresie and through the hatred which they consequently bear unto the Austrian blood and especially to this Kingdom from whence the new Principality is to proceed will not the burthen of the Forces and Expences lie still upon this Crown If otherwise To what purpose should a new Principality be erected if it were not to be maintained by the Forces of Spain So the prejudice which would redound to your Monarchy by the one side would not be recompenced by any benefit from the other And so wanting that advantage which it hath always received from the Flanders Forces it might receive thereby such prejudice as might every day peradventure prove worse Let Spain then keep Flanders and let that your Empires Magazine of Arms be preserved Great Empires cannot be without Arms nor can Wars be made without Souldiers nor Souldiers be bred but amongst Arms. And what more flourishing Seminary of Souldiers can Spain desire then that of Flanders which she hath for so many years enjoyed and doth still enjoy My opinion therefore is that your Majesty shall not doe well to mutilate those so important Provinces from your other Dominions Your Majesties greatness and infinite wisdom will not want other means whereby to accommodate the Illustrious Infanta according to her own high worth and her exalted degree But the Count of Castel Rodorigo was of another opinion and spoke thus I should never be of opinion most glorious Prince that your Majesty should diminish any the least part of your Kingdoms and Dominions if I should not think that that diminishing should tend rather to the advancement then prejudice of your greatness The marriage of the most illustrious Infanta is now the business in hand every one know what and how sublime prerogatives both of blood and of merit meet in her Highness Now if out of the immense body of so many States which your Majesty by Gods goodness are Master of her Highness may be endowed with some of them by the parting wherewith the rest may rather be bettered then impaired wherefore should not your Majesty willingly give way thereunto And this being granted it is not to be doubted but that your infallible wisdom will presently point out unto you your Provinces of Flanders They are most remote from all the rest of your Empire the most differing both in tongue custom laws and all things else It is they who more then all the rest abhor to fall under the Government of Foreigners as they term them and consequently do most desire to have a particular Prince of their own Out of all these reasons hardly was your Majesty gone from thence when Heresie began to creep in amongst them
being oft-times disordered and oft times raâ—â—ed again were at last wholly routed and as they turned back fell foul upon their own Foot and disordered them also which gave so great advantage to the Enemy as it totally secured the victory to them Amongst the Enemies Horse there were some Troops of French Curasiers who gave particular proâ—â— of their valour that day And questionless the Enemies Horse were so much the more in number as the Foot being sundry times thereby invigored which was likewise more numerous then that of the Catholicks they also had the better of the battel The Arrchduke by being present every where was not wanting in playing the part which upon such an occasion became a generous Prince and Commander thrusting himself sundry times into where the fight was hottest he exposed himself to apparent danger of death Nor did he this without the loss or blood for wearing no helmet to the end that he might be the better known he was struck with a Halbert on the head towards the right ear but the blow was given so at random as it did him but little harm The Archduke being by reason of his wound retired it was noised abroad amongst his men that he was not only wounded but taken The Enemy had already taken the Admiral prisoner slain taken or wounded almost all the Campmasters Captains and other most considerable Souldiers of the Catholicks Army In somuch as the rest discouraged through so many great losses threw away their Arms confusedly here and there and seeking to save themselves by flight yielded the final victory to the Enemy The number of the slain in Battels is always uncertain but at this time it was most uncertain For many thought it was equal on both sides and many that the Catholicks lost many more men It was certain that the best and valiantest amongst them were found missing Besides the Admiral two of the Spanish Campmasters Gasper Zappena and Luis de Viglâ—ar were taken prisoners the first whereof was so sorely wounded as he soon dyed The Campmaster Bastock an Irish-man was slain in the battel Roderigo Sasso Captain of the Archdukes Horse-guard was wounded to death so likewise was the Italian Campmaster Avolas Count Bucquoi and Barlotte both of them Walloon Campmasters were more slightly wounded And in fine all the Catholick Officers as well greater or lesser were either slain wounded or taken They lost above a hundred Colours together with all their Artillery Baggage and Ammunition and the common report was that above 3000 of each Army were slain in the battel Amongst divers Italian Nobles Alexander and Cornelius Bentivoglio dyed in the first ranks and when the battel was at the hottest the one of them was our Brother the other our Nephew both of them being young men about 20 years of age who were come a little before into Flanders There were slain of the Enemy to boot with the ordinary Souldiers above 30 Captains and a good number of Under-Officers They fought certainly upon great advantage and Count Maurice knew very judiciously how to make use of it and in all things else proved himself to be a good Souldier and a gallant Commander and by that dayes action he either caused or continued the opinion that if he were good at Sieges he was no less good at Battels This Battel lasted the space of three hours and the Catholicks being fled many councelled Count Maurice to purfue them but because night came on and much blood was spent and for that his side likewise had laboured hard he thought it sufficient to have prevailed thus far without attempting other advantages which might have proved uncertain The Archduke retiring that very night to Bruges went soon after to Gaunt where the Infanta was who welcomed him with a manlike spirit as she had likewise done the various reports that he was either slain wounded or taken He came accompanied by the Duke d' Aumale who was likewise slightly wounded and but by few other people of quality for all the chief Lords of the Country were then at Brussels by reason of the States-Generall which as yet continued being desired so to doe by the Archdukes themselves that by their presence and authority they might facilitate such resolutions as were to be taken This is the so famous Battel of Newport or of the Downs for it is equally called by those two names wherein according to the usual sports of Fortune that Army was overcome which thought it self sure of the victory From Gaunt the Archduke returned suddenly again to Bruges where having rallied the Souldiers that were dispersed here and there after the Battel he gave order that they should joyn with those that were under Velasco Generall of the Artillery who had not been at the Conflict and that they should all of them draw down near Newport To this purpose Velasco marched to Dixmuda a good Town within three hours march of Newport This was done with such diligence as Velasco was able to reinforce Newport with men and to furnish it likewise so with all things else as there might be no fear of losing it This mean while Count Maurice after he had got the Victory had resolved to reassume the Siege and began already to open the Trenches on one side but understanding that Velasco was thereabouts and that the Town was well provided he would not ingage himself any further therein considering how much his Army was diminished by the Fight and the new difficulties which he might meet withall in case he should be inforced to retreat He therefore raised his Camp from before Newport and with all his Naval preparation past to Ostend We told you before that to keep the Enemies of that Town from making excursions the Archdukes had divers Forts about it to boot with those which were a little before lost and again recovered and amongst the rest one which was called Sancta Catherina and which was well garrison'd and munited Maurice before he left Ostend would try whether or no he could make himself master of that Fort and began to begirt it But Campmaster Barlotte being sent by the Archduke to relieve it and Count Frederick de Berg coming in afterwards to the same intent the Fort was so secured as Maurice was forced to quit the enterprise Yet there happened a loss which the Archduke was much displeased at which was that as Barlotte was advancing from a certain place against the Enemy he was shot into the head by a Musket and presently knockt down dead In him certainly the Catholick Army lost a Souldier exceeding forward in execution though it may be said that throwing himself too oft into dangers he had delayed his death therein too long Count Maurice losing all hopes of making any further acquisition in the Province of Flanders went quite away from thence and returned with all his men from Ostend by Sea into Hollaud and the adjacent parts not reaping almost any advantage by so noble a Victory save only
The Contents An Agreement is made between the King of Spain and the Arch-dukes on the one part and the new King of great Britain on the other The siege of Ostend continues and with what success Frederick Spinola comes into Flanders with a Squadron of Gallies And his brother Marquess Ambrosio Spinola comes thither likewise with 8000 Foot raised in Italy Both their intentions to advance themselves by the military profession But Federick is slain not long after in a Sea fight Count Maurice prepares great Forces besiegeth Graves and takes it A new mutiny in the Catholick Camp The Arch-duke resolves to turn his Forces against the mutineers Maurice comes into their aid and secures them from all danger With their Forces and his own he besiegeth Balduke The Arch-duke goes in person to relieve it whereupon Maurice retreats from thence Slow proceedings about Ostend The siege thereof is put into the hands of Marquis Spinola Who with great fervency embraceth the managing thereof Maurice the mean while incamps before Sluce Spinola marcheth to relieve it but not succeeding therein the Town is lost Spinola returns to the siege of Ostend and at last ends that enterprise He goes afterwards into Spain and returns from thence made Camp-master General of the Catholick Army in Flanders He opposeth divers of Count Maurice his proceedings then suddenly passeth the Rhine goes towards Friesland and there takes Oldensel and Linghen And soon after Count Bucquoy takes Vachtendonch Spinola goes again into Spain and is sent back by the King into Flanders with addition of Honours He passeth again with his Army towards Friesland takes Groll and Reinberg and forceth Maurice afterwards to raise his Siege from before the same Town of Groll JAmes King of Scots succeeding Queen Elizabeth came forthwith to London which is the Metropolitan City of England where his arrival was celebrated with great demonstrations of joy the Scots and English contending by usual and natural emulation who should glory most the one for having given a new King to the English or the others for having got him from them But amidst these mirths the Catholicks were much afflicted who soon lost all hopes of being better treated in matter of Religion as the new King in the latter time of the Queen to make them well disposed towards him had made them believe they should be For even from his very first coming to London they found they should suffer no less bitter persecution under him then for so long a time they had done under her That he might unite the two Nations together as much as it was possible the new King would be stiled King of Great Britain comprehending thus both the Kingdoms under one Title and endeavouring by all other means according to the Form of that Heretical Government to establish himself at home in all security He then applied himself to Foreign Correspondencies knowing how much the well grounding of these would contribute to his own domestical affairs He renewed the Confederacies which the late Queen had with the King of France and the United Provinces of Flanders And with the like inclination which she had shewed a little before her death of coming to some agreement with the King of Spain and the Archdukes he heartily gave himself to continue the Negotiation wherein the King of Spain and Archdukes did not refuse to correspond on their behalfs So as the business growing every day nearer an end it was not long till they came to mutual splendid Embassies by which such correspondencie was at last established as the so contrary Interest between them in point of Religion and matter of State could admit of Which we have thought fit to touch upon only here not to digress too far from the particular affairs of Flanders Then that we may return to the Narration thereof the chief business which did then depend in those Provinces was the Siege of Ostend The greater the difficulties appeared of bringing it to an end the more resolute was the Archduke to endeavour it by all possible wayes being particularly instigated thereunto by the Province of Flanders which shewed it self very ready to continue all the largest Contributions which to that purpose could be thereby subministred The Archduke when he came from that Siege had left the care thereof as we told you to the Campmaster Rivas who failed not to use all diligence in daily advancing the Works The most important whereof were two The one the great Platform in St. Alberto's quarter which was raised as fast as might be to annoy incessantly the Old Town of Ostend from thence by many Peeces of Artillery And the other the great Dike already begun in Bredene quarter with intention of leading it on so far as it might command the great Channel and so hinder the continual and large succours which by means thereof were received into the Town from the Sea To make this Dike a great quantity of those Sauceges which we spake of before were made use of and were much greater then the former To the first and largest foundation which was well incorporated with wet sand and other condense matter others of the like sort were added till the Dike was grown to the height it ought to be and the breadth thereof was very extraordinary great To boot with the ordinary Plain thereof upon which two great Canons might stand abrest there was a great Parapet raised in it against the Town to shelter the Souldier and which being in divers places furnished with Artillery did greatly indammage the Enemy likewise on that fide This work was made in a sandy and low situation and whither the Sea at full Tide came so as it cannot be said with how much expence labour and loss of blood this work was advanced Whilst such diligent work was had by Land touching the Siege of Ostend Frederick Spinola did continually scoure that Sea-coast with a Squadron of Gallies which he had a little before brought from Spain Frederick was come to be trained up in Arms in Flanders in the Duke of Parma's time And though he had not then any particular Imployment yet was there generally great hopes had of him in all those occurrences wherein his wit industry and capacity did plainly appear He had learnt by experienced men that by maintaining a good Squadron of Spanish Gallies upon the Coast of Flanders the Hollanders and Zealanders might be very much prejudiced in their usual Navigations in those Seas and Gulfs It was considered that those Vessels which frequented those parts were either Fisher-men or Merchants that the Gallies by their nimbleness might continually infest that passage that to boot with the great prejudice which the Enemy might receive thereby by Sea they might peradventure receive more damage by Land for the Gallies might at all times run into the nearest Sea-gulfs land men pillage their Villages and upon good success attempt some important surprise whereby they might get footing in Zealand Which if it should so fall
Coast of Flanders with his Gallies But a new unfortunate fight soon bereft him of his life and overthrew his whole design whereby he did notwithstanding the more highten those wherein his brother still continued and brought him afterwards to the greatest exaltation that might be atchieved in the millitary profession Frederick putting forth with eight Gallies well maned met with two of the Enemies Gallies and three other men of war The season was then softned into a calm and therefore the sail vessels stood immoveable Frederick taking this advantage assaulted the Enemies vessels on divers sides which did not fail to defend themselves the Gallies and round vessels giving each other such interchangeable assistance as the one sort of them could give to the other and for a while the conflict was very fierce Many fell of each side yet the Catholicks were still more advantaged by the calm when on a sudden the winde rose which made so much for the contrary vessel of sail as winding about in several sorts and pouring down Canon shot upon Frederick's Gallies he himself received a shot from one of them in his side whereof he suddenly dyed This happened about the end of May at which time the Marquess having given requisite orders in Germany for the raising of two Regiments of Foot went from thence to Italy to take two other Brigadoes of Foot there also into pay and to return afterwards with all these men to Flanders But his brothers death did so disorder the first designes as for divers difficulties the men could not be raised though the King continued the same commands of his brother upon the Marquess who quickly returned to Flanders with all demonstration of honour and esteem to his person Yet the Gallies were then almost of no longer use for the Marquess was soon after imployed as you shall hear in the enterprise of Ostend but before it was taken Sluce was lost which drew after it the the loss of the Gallies The Marquess in the interim indeavoured to preserve the men which he brought with him the year before from Italy but because they were much diminished as was likewise the whole Army the Arch-duke gave out orders for the raising of new Horse and Foot resolving to turn the greatest strength thereof that he could against the mutineers The Duke d' Aumale raised one thousand Horse the greatest part Lorrainers Three thousand Dutch were raised in Germany The Walloon Brigadoes were fild up and two other Brigadoes came to Flanders from Italy the one of Spaniards under Inico di Borgia and the other Neopolitans under Lelio Brancatchio Knight of St. John the people that could be soonest raised being assembled together and the season being already fit for the field the Arch duke sent Count Frederick di Berg against the Mutineers with 7000 Foot and 3000 Horse The Mutiniers were got into Hostrat where what by means of their own Fortifications and what by the aid which they received from the Enemies neighbouring parts they seemed little to value any force that could be brought against them They were above 2000 Foot and were grown to have 1500 Horse all good men of several Nations though the most were Italians Yet Count Frederick began to set so close to them as beginning now not to trust any longer in their own forces alone they sought to be openly backt by those which Count Maurice had oft-times offered them It hath been known in other Mutinies many times how much more prejudicial his own Souldiers have been unto the King then those of his Enemies but in this of Hostrat the excess of disobedience did degenerate into such a degree of infamy as the example thereof ought ever to be abhorred The Mutiniers were not ashamed in their Treaty between Count Maurice and them to bargain in this manner with them That they should be taken by Count Maurice into the protection of the United Provinces That to this purpose they should be by him defended against the violence of the Spaniards That on the other side they the Mutiniers should fight under him as long as the Army should lie in the field that year That in case they should agree with the Archduke they should not for four moneths space bear Arms against the United Provinces That if the Town and Castle of Hostrat should not be thought to be sufficient some good Town should be assigned unto them by the United Provinces and that their safety should by all other means be provided for The Agreement being thus made Count Maurice went presently into Hostrat with many Forces to secure the Mutiniers And their affairs grew quickly to such an advantage as Count Frederick being forced first to stand rather upon his defence then otherwise was at last necessitated to remove from thereabouts and to retreat Nor did Maurice lose this occasion Hostrat is very near Balduke against which it was clearly seen that Count Maurice had sundry times plotted his greatest designs Marching therefore speedily against Balduke he incamped about it and disposing of his quarters in sundry parts he gave one of them to the Mutiniers apart The Archduke was mightily troubled at the news hereof He feared as I told you upon another occasion that he had no sufficient Forces both to continue the Siege of Ostend and sufficiently to succour Balduke But that which most moved him was That upon other occasions that City not desirous to admit of any external Garrison was resolute to defend it self with its own peculiar Forces which were not thought sufficient for the security of such a place of too great a circuit and which had need of men trained up in Arms and not in City-affairs Just at this time were come the two Brigadoes of Borgia and Brancatchio which were expected from Italy Joyning therefore these men to those which were formerly with Count Frederick the Archduke ordered that Frederick should with all diligence follow Maurice and should by all means endeavour to hinder him in his intended Siege Maurice could not in so short a time possess himself of all such places about it as the Siege did require So as it was not hard for Frederick to make himself master of one of them by which he drew as near as was needfull to Balduke and secured such intercourse as was necessary with the City He immediately endeavoured to put in a strong Garrison into the City but the Citizens seemed unwilling as before to admit of them Maurice knew this and hoped that some dissention would arise thereupon and from dissention some tumult in the Town and that this tumult might produce some other disorder which might make for his advantage He therefore continued to fortifie himself both without towards the fields and on the inside towards the City raising good Forts and Redouts every where and accompanying them on all sides as was fitting with Trenches Ditches and all other most advantagious Fortifications Count Frederick did the like on his part yet thinking the City to
as hath been shewed above and in the rest divers resolutions were contained touching the affairs of Justice and concerning rather particular then publick interests Thus did this Negotiation of Flanders end at last the issue whereof was so long expected throughout all Europe And truly at this Truce as if it had been at an universal Quiet all Europe seemed to rejoyce which had seen for so many years and amidst so many fatal and dreadful spectacles the blood of all her Nations run upon the Theatre of Flanders FINIS A TABLE Of the most remarkable things contained in this FIRST PART A ABBOTS monasticall in Flanders complain against the new erection of Bishopricks 11 Adolphus Oranges brother slain in Battail 57 Alcmar in the Rebels hands 109. Besieged by the Kings party ibid. Alexander Farnese prince of Parma in Flanders upon oceasion of his marriage with Mary princess of Portugall 21 Alst in Flanders seâ—zed by the Mutiners 141 Amsterdam 96. A City very faithfull to the Church and the King ibid. Infested with the other Towns of Holland ib. Again molested by them 1â—0 Anne daughter to Maurice Elector of Saxony 19. Married to Orange ibid. Anne the Archdutchess daughter to Maximilian the Emperor married to the Catholick King 71. Is accompanied by the Archdukes Albertus and Wenceslaus her brothers ibid. Anthony Stralen a principall man in Antwerp 46. Is executed 58 Antonio Pittore endeavours to seize upon a passage and hinder victuals from being brought to the Kings Camp 102 Is routed slain and his head thrown into Harlem by the Spaniards ibid. Antwerp is threatned to be sacked by the Mutiners 122. Contributes a sum of money to satisfie them ibid. Taken by the Kings men 14. Sackt 147. The Commissioners from the Emperour from France and England meet there 177 Archduke Albertus and his praises 71 Archduke Matthias 162. passes secretly into Flanders ibid. Made Governour of the Countrie by the Councel of State 163 Archbishop of Colen in the Kings Army 86 B THe Baron of Battembourgh seeks to relieve Harlem 105. Is routed and slain 10â— The Baron of Erberstein makes a secret agreement with the States 142. Receives their men into Antwerp 143 Drown'd in the Scheld 147 Bartholomeo Campi Ingineer to the Kings Camp 99. He is slain 105 The Battel of Friesland 59. Of Geminghen 62. Between the Kings men and the Hugonots of France near Mons 8â— By Sea in the Lake of Leyden 104. By sea in the Gulf of Zuyderzee 110. In the Scheld between the Kings Forces and the Rebels 113 The Battel of Mooch 117. Of Geblours 1â—8 Berghen-ap-zome and its scituation 76 Bernardino di Mendozza sent into Spain by the Duke of Alva 103. He wrote of the Wars of Flanders 104 Was sent by the Commendador to Mastrick 115 Breda a Town belonging to Orange 23 What passed among the Confederates there ibid. Brederode makes himself Head of the Petitioners 24. His Oration to his Companions ibid. He presents a Petition to the Lady Regent 26. raiseth sedition 39 goes into Holland to set up Tumults there ibid. Seconds Orange in every thing ibid. Dies miserably ibid. Brill taken by the Geuses 73. Fortified by Lumay 74 Buren a Town confining upon Holland taken and sackt by the Kings Party 132 The House of Burgundy soveraigne over all the Provinces p. 1 C CAmbray raised to an Arch-bishoprick 9 Captain Plumart 91 His Proposition to Avila and Mandragone ibid. He finds the Food by which they were to go for the relief of Tergoes ibid. Capitulations between the Duke of Aianson and the States 172 Charls the fifth son to Philip the first 2 He peaceably enjoys Flanders ibid. Born in Gant 3. His favours to the Flemings ib. How much he was loved and reverenced among them 4. A comparison between his nature and that of his son Philip ib. The Castle of Gant besieged by the States 145. It is surrendred 148 The Castle of Antwerp besieged by the States 145. It is aemolished 147 The Castle of Namours seized by Don John 159. The Catholicks and hereticks in Antwerpt come to an agreement 39 Christophoro Mandragone Camp-Master goes to the relief of ter-Goes 91 Enters the Town and succours it 93 Is Commander at the defence of Middleburgh 108. Sends very earnestly for relief 112. Yields up the place 114 Seizeth upon the Isle of Finaert 133 Wades through the Channel of Scowen under Ziriczee 136 Coligni Admiral of France Head of the Hugonot Faction 83. His negotiations with Orange ib. The Commendador Maggiore of Castile sent to govern the Low-Countries comes to Brussels 111. Prepares two Fleets for the succour of Middleburgh 113. Sees one of them routed ib. Much troubled at the new expedition of Count Lodovick 115. Goeth over to Antwerp to appease the Mutiners 122. His designes upon Holland and Zealand 132 His perplexity about attempting the Ford from Filisland 134. He dies 139 His Character ib. A Confederacy in Flanders which they call a Covenant 22. Subscribed by a great number of the Nobility ib. The Confederates come to Brussels 24 They meet in the Count of Colemburghs Hourse ib. Admitted to the Lady Regents audience 26. They take upon them the name of Gueses 27. many of them goe in one Livery ib. their Licentious actions 28 The Conference in Breda for a Treaty of peace in Flanders 129. It is dissolved without coming to any conclusion 131 The Councel of State and its authority with the Lady Regent 9. What their opinions were concerning her designe for taking up of Arms 34. It enters upon the Government after the Commendadors death 139. Prepares for War against the Spaniards 141. Much daunted at the coming of Don John 150. They send Commissioners into Holland and Zealand 155. Their jealousies of Don John 157. They storm at his surprizing of the Castle of Namours 159. Writes to the King a Letter against Don John 160. Their practizes with foreign Princes 16â— Publishes an Edict against Don John 165 Declares it will not acknowledge him for Governour 170. Dispatcheth away a very solemn Ambassy to the Duke of Alanson 173 A Consultation held in Brussels upon matters of religion 21. what is resolv'd upon it ib By Frederick di Toledo whether the siege of Harlem should be prosecuted or given over 103. by d' Alva whether the Kings Forces should be imployed upon the siege of Mons or against Holland and Zealand 81. In Spain whether the King should go into Flanders 41. In Spain about the innovations in the Low Countries 164 Count Egmont a Flemming born 5 His nature and Customes ibid. Governour of the particular Province of Flanders and of Artois 12 Goes over into Spain 20. Returns well satisfied by the King 21. Is committed to prison 46. Is condemned 58 Count Horn Admiral of Flanders 12 Inraged against Granvel ib. His opinion that the people ought to be stirred up to innovations 36. Is attached 46. Is sentenced to death 58 Count Peter Ernestus Mansfield raises men to secure the Lady
Truce 447. They come to the Hague ibid. their Negotiations 448. They meet in Antwerp 457. those of the United Province to intervene at the Treaty aforesaid 447. their Negotiations ib. Characters of Philip 2. 347. Of Archduke Ernestus 414. Of Verdugo 317 Of Mandragone 331. Of Campmaster Rosne 345 D A Description of Geertruydenberg 299. of Groninghen 305. of Cambray 324 of Calice 336. of Ardres 339. of Hulst 342. of Amiens 353. of Ostend 400. of Sluce 416 of Linghen 422. of Groll 427. of Reinberg 428. of a fierce Assault made upon Dorlan 323. of another made upon Ostend 403. of St Andrews fort 383. of Schincks-sconce and the Countrey about it 377. of the battail of Dorlan 322. of the battail of Newport 396. of the United Provinces and their form of Government 438 A Declaration of liberty pretended to by the United Provinces 437. how interpreted by the Archduke and Spanish Ministers of State ibid. Ratified in Spain 438. the first Ratification therof not admitted in Holland 439. How the second was afterward accepted of 446 Dorlan besieged by Count di Fuentes 323 taken by assault ib. The Duke of Sessa by way of Proxie acts the part of the Infanta Isabella for effectuating her marriage with the Archduke Albertus 372 The Duke du Main recruited from Flanders 296. he takes in Noyon 297. he concludes a Truce with the K. of Navar for three months 298. he endevors to relieve Laon 308. his memorable Retreat 310. he comes to an Agreement with the K. of France 334. His Opinion that they were not to tarry in their Trenches for the Spanish Army 361 E. ELector Ernestus of Bavaria makes suit at Brussels for the recovery of Huy 316. the dammage done to his Estate by the quartering of the K. of Spains Army upon it 375 The Elector Palatine of the Rhine 375 F. A Fight of great consequence before Laon between the K. of France his Forces and the army of the League 310. between Count Maurice and Mandragone 330. between Marshall Biron and the Marshal of Barambone 347. between the K. of Spains men and those of the United Provinces 348 betwixt Marquis Spinola and Count Maurice before Sluce 418. and afterwards at Bruch 424 Frederico Spinola 407. Commander of some Gallies in Flanders wherewith he indammages the Enemy ibid. he goes again into Spain for a greater number ibid. he loses five 408. is slain 410 La Fera besieged by the K. of France 334 Relieved 335. yielded 340 Forts erected by Spinola upon the Rhine 421 Forts raised by the United Provinces upon the banks of the Wael and the Ysel 426 G. SPanish Galleys in Flanders 407 Gaspero Mandragone relieves Lyra 331 The Grave besieged by Count Maurice 408. It is yeilded up to him 409 Groll besieged by Spinola 42â— it is yeilded ib. Count Maurice strenghtneth it 430. It is relieved by Spinola 431 Groninghen besieged by Count Maurice 305. It s description ib. t is yeilded â—07 Geertrudembergh besieged by Count Maurice 299. The description of it ib. It is yeilded up 301 H HAn a Town in Picardy yeilded up to Count Fuentes 319. Recovered by the Marshal of Bulloigne ib. Hernando Teglio Portocarrero Governour of Dorlan 350. He projects the surprisal of Amiens ib. The order in which he disposed of the enterprise ib. His oration to the souldiers 351. He seizeth on the City 352. He craves a supply of men 354. His diligence in defending the Town 355. He sallies out upon the French Camp 357. He is slain 359 The Hollanders and Zealanders put for a shorter navigation into the East-Indies 312. How they got into the West ib. Their ends for the aforesaid navigation 313. The difficulties they met with therein ib. Hulst and its scituation described 342 Besieged by the Catholicks 343. It yeilds 346 Huy a Town in the Country of Liege seized on by the United Provinces 316. Recovered by Count Fuentes ib. I JAmes Maldereo Commissioner for Zealand 452. His oration ib. James King of Scotland succeeds in the Kingdom of England 406. Stiles himself King of Great Britain ib. comes to an accommodation with the King of Spain and the Archdukes ib. His ends in the war of Flanders 441 John of Balen in Groninghen 305. his oration to the Townsmen 306 John Guzman brings relief into Amiens 355. his death 357 John Barnevelt Advocate of Holland and his oration in behalf of the negotiations for peace 444. His opinion prevails beyond that of Count Maurice 446 Infanta Isabella Philip the second his eldest daughter 364. her singular qualities 365. She parts from Madrid 386. comes to Brussels ib. presents her self to the Army on horseback and makes a speech to the souldiers 392 Her constancy in entertaining the Archduke wounded in the battel of Newport 398. She comes with the Archduke to see Ostend 418 Frier Inico di Brizuela the Archdukes Confessor sent into Spain 457. He returns to Brussels 458 The Intelligence that Count Fuentes held in Cambray 328. that the King of France held in Amiens 355 Italian mutiners in Sichen 311 They seek to hold intelligence with Count Maurice ib. Besieged by Campmaster Velasco ib. withdraw into the enemies country 312. come to an agreement with the Archduke ib The Journey of Albertus upon occasion of going to fetch his wife into Flanders 399. Of the new Princes in coming thither 386 K KIng of England see James King of Scotland The King of France declared a Catholick 302. He besieges Laon 308. and carries it 310. comes to an open war with the King of Spain 316. Is fully reconciled to the Apostolick See 326 Besieges La Fera 334 and takes it 340. How much he was vexed at the loss of Amiens 353. He concludes a League with the Queen of England 354 Goes over to the siege of Amiens 355 What Intelligence he held there ib. His affability to the souldier 357 He routs some troops of the enemies horse 360 Enters Amiens in triumph 362. makes a peace with the Catholick King 364 His Interests in the affairs of Flanders 440. His authority with the United Provinces ib. He sends an Ambassador extraordinary into Holland to assist the negotiations of peace or a Truce 441 The King of Spain Philip the second and his ends in the affairs of France 296 He sends the Duke of Feria to Paris ib. He makes peace with the K. of France 364. His intention to marry the Infanta Isabella to the Gardinal Archduke 365. which he puts in execution 368 His death 369. his character ib. The King of Spain Philip the third resolves to make up an Army apart to be commanded by the two Spinolas 410 He approves of the Archdukes designes against the enemie 425. he resolves to give way to an Overture that shall be made for an accommodation with the United Provinces 437 L. ALeague between the K. of France and the Q. of England 354. Between the K. of France and the United Provinces 451 A Letter from Archduke Ernestus to