no answer vppon the receipt of this letter the Prouinces vnder the Kings obedience assembled at Brusselles vpon the first of Ianuary 1595. only the Clergie the Nobilitie but not the Townes Where at their first cession the Arch-duke made a declaration in Spanish the effect was that the King had written vnto him and charged him as his good Brother and Cousin that hee should indeauour by all possible meanes to vnite the countrie by peace and to free it from the spoiles and miseries it had so long indured for which cause alone hee had left his ease and was come thether to effect his Maiesties good desire as appeared by the letters written with his Maiesties owne hand the which so moued him as hee could not but summon the Estates to appeare there before him to impart these good newes vnto them and that they had considered vppon a very good course to attayne there-vnto Where-with they should bee made acquainted the next day following by the President Richardot There were present in this Assemblie Stephano D'ybarra and Don Diego de Varra but the Earle of Fuentes came not for that the Duke of Arschot had protested hee would not giue him the place next to the Archduke which honour the Emperour and his Maiestie had giuen him the which hee would not suffer a stranger to take from him Where-vppon the Earle of Fuentes and Charles Earle of Mansfeldt who tooke the Dukes part therein meeting togither they beheld each other without any salutations on either part But nothing was done at all the first daie the which was spent in complements after the high Dutch manner VVhereat many of the Assemblie especially the Bishops and Clergie murmured The next day the Duke of Arschot laid open the generall necessities of the countries of Arthois and Henault and the miseries they indured by reason of the French inuasions and how requisit it was his Highnesse should prouide some speedy remedie for these mischiefes the which for many vrgent considerations ought not to bee deferred Saying that they had long since vnderstood his Maiesties good will the which should bee apparant to all the world if they might once taste the fruites thereof which it seemed the Archduke would indeauor to procure them but when it was in manner too late the whole country beeing readie to reuolt if they once swarued in the least poynt of seruice concerning their indifferent duties They had long since complained and made their great wants and necessities knowne vnto the King who by the lawes of nature was bound to heare them and to defend and protect his subiects And that if their cries and complaints vnto his Maiestie could not bee heard by reason of the great distance betwixt him and them nor the imminent dangers and mischiefes which now threatned them much more then the forepassed bee preuented they should bee forced to take some speedy course therein themselues and that hauing brought the same to passe they would yeeld such reasons of their Action vnto his Maiestie submitting themselues therein to the iudgement of all Christendome and calling them to witnesse as no man should haue iust cause to charge them that they had done more then what nature and necessitie had taught them The which they had resolued to shew in effect if they did not hope for some speedy helpe by this present Assemblie Hauing deliuered these wordes very eloquently and plainely all the Clergie cryed out Amen saying that it was their whole intent and that it required a very speedie execution There was also many Noblemen as the Prince of Chymay the Dukes Sonne the Earles of Arembergh Bossu Solue Barlaymont Ligni and others who all consented heerevnto togither Then the Duke of Arschot made further complaint in the behalfe of the Prouinces touching the great burthens which were laid vppon them by strange soldiers especially by the Spaniards who were countenanced and incouraged by the Earle of Fuentes and other strangers which ought to giue place to the naturall borne subiects of the country and follow the councel of the Nobility thereof who were best acquaihted with the affaires o◅ the same or else they would with-draw themselues both frō the Kings and the countries seruice and regard their owne particuler with many other reasons all tending to a peace with the vnited Prouinces the which the sayd might easily be effected if the forraine soldiars might bee sent away into Turky thereby freeing the vnited Prouince from all suspition and so they might treat with them as with neighbors and not as Rebells The Archduke Ernestus seeing the Estates to presse him thus vnto a peace hee let them vnderstand how much hee had labored to reconcile the vnited Prouinces who would by no meanes harken vnto it and that he could not proceed any further therein without some preiudice and blemish to his Maiesties authority and honor And therefore hee desired their aduice in three points First whether the necessity were so great as the King must of force doe it The second if it were fit and conuenient to offer more vnto the enemy then had beene already offred as to referre the conditions of peace vnto their owne discretions The third whether any other treatie of peace were to bee made and how that might bee effected Wherevnto the Estates made a full answere in writing shewing that peace was both reasonable necessarie honorable and easie to bee concluded Wherevnto the Archduke as it seemed consented promising to recommend it in such sort as hee doubted not but the King of Spaine would bee easily perswaded therevnto And that hee would also mooue the Pope and Emperor therein who had alreadie demaunded the opinions of diuers learned men who were well acquainted with the question of the Netherlands and among the rest of the learned councellor Wesenbeeke as then remayning in Wittenbergh what they thought thereof wherein all Christendome seemed to consent and agree desyring them in the meane time to persist in their accustomed duties and ancient vnitie vntill that hee receiued an answere from the King concerning the same but notwithstanding all these good words and faire hopes the Archduke Ernestus letters sent vnto the King of Spaine in September beeing intercepted by the vnited Prouinces contained nothing els but that there was not any thing to bee done in the Netherlands but by force and violence To the like effect were the letters written by Don Guillaume of Saint Clement from the Emperors Court the which were intercepted that the rebels should bee brought to that extremitiy as they must bee forced to seeke and sue for a peace c. But their resolution pleased not the Archduke neuerthelesse his seeming to consent and his faire promises satisfied the assembly for that time so as by reason of his death which followed not long after all alterations were preuented The French King seeing that they of Arthois and Henault did not vouchsafe to make any answere to these his letters hee caused
their afaiers they caused a booke to be Printed wherein they shewed by many reasons that the motiue of this warre was relligion and that all the Emperors other pretexts to punish some rebells was but to diuide the confederats and so to ruine them one after an other to settle the Popes doctrine They also published an other Booke against Iohn of Brandenbourg who being of their League and confession had taken armes against them And although the Emperor thought to surprise them yet they vsed such dilligence and found so many resolute men to carrie Armes in this warre as the 16. of Iuly in the yeare 1546. the Landtgraue went to field with his army and presently after began open warre betwixt them and the Emperor The 20. of Iuly the Emperor published his leters pattents in the which after that he had made a long complaint against Iohn Frederic Prince Elector of Saxony and Phillip Landtgraue of Hessen hee banisht them as periured rebâ—…les seditious guilty of high treason both against GOD and man and perturbers of the publike quiet meaning to punish them according to their deserts that hee might after-wards prouide for the affaiers of State and doe that which should belong vnto his duty for bidding all men to succor them or to ioyne with them vpon paine of forfeiture both of body and goods dissoluing all Leagues and compositions and absoluing the Nobility and subiects from the faith and oth which they ought vnto these Princes to whom he gaue the publicke assurance if they did obey adding that such as did refuse should be punished like vnto them But the Protestants did shew that the Emperor had no quarrell to them but for their relligion wherein hauing sought all meanes of accord they were excusable if to mainetaine the liberties of their consciences and the quiet of Germany they defended themselues being there-vnto aduised by the resolution both of Lawyers and Diuines In the meane time the Protestants army aduanced and tooke the strong fort of Ereberce scituated vpon a mountaine which stopt the passage from Trent for Italy to Enepont and withall the towne of Fiesse belonging to the Bishop of Ausbourg and passing on they tooke Dilline and Donavert The Emperor was then at Ratisbone ill prepared to make head against them Soe as if their affaiers had beene gouerned by one only commander the Emperor had beene in great danger The 7. of August in the towne of Macklin which is one of the 17. Prouinces of the Netherlands whereas the Great councel or Parlament of the said countries did remaine lightning fel among the gonpouder which was in great quantity in a tower of the wal at the port which they cal Necbecspoel the which at first ouerthrew both the Tower and the gate then it tooke hold of the buildings both within and without the Towne and aboue 500. paces round about so as it ruined and defeated the whole Towne the trees were pulled vp by the roots burnt the water in the towne ditches was drawne out and the fishes cast farre out into the fields There were about 150. burnt slaine in this accident with the ruine of houses besides those that were grieuously hurt and recouered and such as died of their wounds which were very many Many came two three and foure daies after out of Caues where they saued them-selues others were smothered or dyed for honger A great number of Cattell with the stables was also consumed by this fier The wall where the Tower stood was shaken aboue 200. paces long The domage that was done by the fier could not be repaired in a long time Then grew the warres hotte in Germany betwixt the Protestants and the Emperour To whome the Prince of Saxony the Landtgraue of Hessen and their companions sent letters the XI of August by the which according to the vse and lawes of armes they gaue him to vnderstand their resolutions and after they had informed him of his duty and how hee was bound to them and the Empire by his othe and that it was for relligions cause that hee made this warre against them they concluded with these words Matters standing in this sort and seeing weare allied to the end that it may be lawfull for vs to perseuer in this relligion though some would surmize other causes of discontentment against vs wee haue beene forced to put our selues in defence the which wee may lawfully doe both by the lawes of GOD and nature And although that through thy pernicious desseines we are not in any sort bound vnto thee and therfore was needles to let thee vnderstand our will yet for the better assurance we renownce the faith and duty we owe thee not to diminishe the honour and good of the Empire but rather to preserue and maintaine it Wee doe therefore protest this publickly and according to the sollemne custome being resolued to repell this warre attempted by thee and by thine Allyes This letter was sent by a young Gentleman and a trumpet according to the custome to the Emperours campe neere vnto Land shupt but hee was so farre from receiuing it as hee commanded them vppon paine of their heads to returne them backe againe to their people Hee said moreouer that if hereafter any one came vnto him from them in steed of a chaine of gold hee would present him a halter then hee gaue them the proclamation of their banishment charging them expresly to deliuer it vnto their Lords whereof hee likewise sent a coppy vnto Duke Maurice of Saxony cousin to Iohn Frederick Prince Elector perswading him to seaze vpon his country before that an other layed hold of it To the accusations and criminations contained in the said proclamation of banishment the Protestant Princes published an ample answer in print the contents whereof was that the intention of the Pope and Emperour was to roote out all them of the relligion the which hee had declared vnto the French Kings Ambassadour from whose mouth all was knowne and vanquish Germany as hee had long before disseigned c. But from words and writings they fell to blowes The two armies beeing neere one vnto the other the Landtgraue was of an opinion to charge the Emperors campe before the arriuall of the Earle of Buren with his supplies who brought with him 4000. horse 10000. choyce men out of the Netherlands but the destinies of these Princes would not suffer them to follow this good Councell for the Emperor was nothing so strong as the Protestants who seeing them so neere vnto him and hauing endured a whole day the thundring of their cannon shewed a gallant resolution if they had come to assaile him soone after the Earle of Buren arriued so as the Emperour hauing all his forces together those of the Protestants began by little and little to disband and in the meane time Duke Maurice according to the Emperors aduise molested the Prince Elector of Saxony in his Country Where-vppon
either side and that those which proceed by any other vnlawfull meanes as by taxing and slandering shall bee well punished which doubtlesse will be a most assured meanes and the subiects shall liue in good vnitie and concord together and will carrie a perfect obedience vnto his Maiestie And in the meane time truth will lay open falshood in such sort as the king shall not need to feare that heresies shall multiply by this meanes to root out the truth but contrariwise wee shall see truth flourish and al heresies and false sects decay Gods glorie shal be generally celebrated and the kings greatnesse and prosperitie increase The which God grant vs by his holy grace to whom be all honour and glorie for euer and euer and euer Amen Such was the discourse of M. Francis Baudwin wherein he toucht the true point concerning the remedie of the troubles the which the king and his counsell might since haue known to be true if they would haue confest it freely or whether that the point of religion and the great zeal which his counsellors did counterfeit were the matters which toucht them neerest as they made great shew of or else couetousnesse and ambition euerie one aiming at his priuat greatnesse to the preiudice of the king and his countries and if the king who was then giuen to his pleasures and without any knowledge of state the which hee hath since learned to his owne cost referring all wholy to his cardinall and counsell had not beene so easie to suffer himselfe to be persuaded to the contrarie Whilest that both great and small in the Netherlands were thus distempered for feare of the troubles which were at hand by reason of the new bishops Inquisition bloudy edicts and counsell of Trent Alexander Farnese prince of Parma sonne to duke Octauio and the duchesse gouernesse of the Netherlands maried the Infanta of Portugal in the towne of Brussels whither most of the nobles and best qualified gentlemen of the countrey came to honor the feast during the which there were diuers conferences among them all concurring in this opinion That they held it an inestimable losse and a miserable case that a countrey so abounding in people and so flourishing in riches should for the aboue-named causes come to ruine and de solation and that so many faithfull and loyall subiects should kill and murther one another so grosly for that they would not yeeld a little to their inclinations nor discharge them any thing of the violence that was offered them seeing that the peoples requests were so reasonable Wherein seeing that they which had the gouernment in hand were abused or hindered by some bad spirits to preuent the apparent mischiefe they thought themselues bound as wel in regard of their duties and othe as of the ranke which they held to imbrace this matter effectually and to aduance it all they could But they would first trie if by the generall complaints of the people together with their praiers and intercessions they might obtaine any thing Wherin many of them did imploy themselues the more earnestly for that they had of a long time been affected to the religion and therefore hated the edicts and all other cruell innouations The noblemen which were as we haue said assembled at Hochstrate were dealt withall but they would not hearken to it but reuealed it to the duchesse for that some feared the euent yet notwithstanding the noblemen and gentlemen assembled at S. Trudon in greater numbers resoluing to make a petition in the peoples name they concluded of the order and the day when they should meet at Brussels to make the said petition vnto the gouernesse and the chiefe of the countrey as well by mouth as by writing And to the end that through the persuasions of some seditious instruments the matter might not be so disguised as their assembly and good intention should be taken in ill part and otherwise interpreted than was sincerely intended they thought it conuenient for their assurance to make a confederation or league together by the which they did promise to succour one another and not to forsake it for any cause but what should bee done vnto the least of them for that occasion should be taken as done to them all in generall and to euerie one in particular and that they should iointly defend themselues with all their powers whereof they made a compromise signed by euery one of them the tenor whereof followeth Whereas wee haue beene lately duly informed and it is most true that certaine peruerse creatures cunning and malitious making a counterfeit shew of great zeale which they haue to the maintenance and increase of the religion and Catholike faith and of the vnion of the people but indeuouring onely to satisfie their instiable couetousnesse ambition and insupportable pride haue by their â—…gred words and false suggestions so persuaded the king our lord notwithstanding any petitions to the contrarie that haue beene made vnto him that contrarie to the othe which his Maiestie hath made vnto God and to his faithfull subiects of the Netherlands he would forcibly bâ—…ing in and plant that pernitious Inquisition the which is not onely vnreasonable and contrarie to all diuine and humane lawes but also exceeding all the rigours and cruelties that euer were put in practise by the most cruell tyrants Infidels and Heathens The which also cannot but redound to the great dishonour of the name of God and the losse desolation and totall ruine of the said Netherlands for that it doth subiect all authoritie and iurisdiction vnder the power of the Inquisitors making all men perpetuall and miserable slaues exposing all good men to continuall and apparent danger both of bodie and goods by their searches and visitations so as if a priest a Spaniard of some wicked instrument meanes to do a mischiefe to any man by meanes of the Inquisition he may accuse him cause him to be apprehended yea put to death be it iustly or vniustly and confiscat all his goods were he the vprightest man in the world without hearing of his cause reasons and lawfull defence Wherefore we that haue subsigned hauing duely weighed and considered all these things haue and do thinke it our dueties according vnto reason to preuent the said apparent and intollerable inconueniences and by all good meanes to prouide for the safeties of our goods and persons that we be not made a prey vnto them who vnder colour of religion or Inquisition would inrich themselues with the losse of our goods and liues Whereupon we haue resolued to make and do make a good firme and holy league and confederation binding our selues and promising one vnto another by a solemne othe to hinder with all our power that the Inquisition be not brought in in any publike sort whatsoeuer either openly or secretly vnder the name of Inquisition Visitation Edicts Commandements or any other pretexts whatsoeuer but to abolish and root it out as much as in
thereof for that they could neuer know who were the doers thereof no man was euer heard to brag or boast thereof no quarrel nor strife was amongst them nor any man hurt which was a great wonder aboue all the rest considering that it was done in the night time and so many stones wood and other stuffe broken and rent in pieces Meane time the magistrates and the townes-men stood abashed and amazed all night in their armes as if they had beene bewitched and knew not what they were best to doe euery man hauing seuerall conceits thoughts feares and suspitions in his head The Romish catholickes thought that it was done by them of the reformed Religion and that they ioining with such companions might be too strong for them and therefore were in feare to be assailed and set vpon The reformed church thinking that the doing therof would be imputed vnto them thought it their best way to looke vnto themselues that they might not bee surprised on the sudden And while on both sides the one thus feared the other they were both in one common doubt and opinion That the Image-breakers hauing begun to ransacke the churches would not so content themselues but would fall vpon the rich marchants and townes-mens houses and search for the Idols in their purses and their chests vnder pretence of breaking downe of Images or els worke some other vilanie or treason Thus the magistrates and the townes-men being in great perplexitie stood with heauie hearts and hands and yet in armes and in good order one counselling and admonishing the other to a vnitie and to be carefull that no murther nor bloud shedding might ensue wherin they all agreed as the Spaniards say being carefuller and readier to defend their owne liues and goods than the holy Romish reliques and seruice of God and although in the said breaking of Images and ransacking of the churches many things of great worth were stollen and secretly conueyed away neuerthelesse great store of iewels siluer workes and other things were brought into the towne-house and other places and some handycrafts and guilds did likewise intreat the people to giue them diuers faire costly and cunning pictures in regard and loue of the great art and workmanships therein shewed which they tooke and bare away with them In the morning as soone as the gates of the towne were opened a great part of the Image-breakers got out and went to S. Bernards a cloyster about a mile and a halfe from Antuerp and from thence to all the villages round about the town with great boldnes and fiercenes pulling downe and breaking all their Images the rest that remained within the towne ceased not all that day and two daies after to run about the towne into euery church breaking downe and spoiling all the relicks whatsoeuer they found standing whole therein no man daring once so much as say or do any thing vnto them But at the last when they began to breake downe a faire crucifix that stood in the great church ouer the great quier dore it falling vpon the armes of the knights of the order of the goldē fleece which were painted round about ouer thé seats in the quier being the armes of all those that were then liuing when the said feast was holden in Antuerpe in Anno 1555 the magistrats and the townes men began to be moued therat and being somewhat better encouraged repulsed those that sought to haue done the like taking ten or twelue of them prisoners three that were found doing the deed vpon the eighteenth of August were hanged in the market place and three others banished out of the towne the rest punished in other sort Presently thereupon the magistrate vsed all the diligence he could to keepe those of the reformed Religion frō preaching in the churches which they had alreadie begun to admonish and withdraw the people from spoyling and robbing the church and to mooue and incite them to peace submissiuenesse and obedience but at the last they left off in regard of the honour and reuerence of the magistrates who vpon paine of hanging commaunded That all the things that had beene taken out of the churches should within foure and twentie houres after be brought vnto the Wiekemasters and that no man should meddle with breaking downe of any more Images which they likewise caused to bee certified vnto them of the reformed Religion by their pentionary M. Iacob Wesenbeek who for that cause vpon the 24 of August tooke occasion both by writing and by word of mouth to shew the magistrate Iacob vander Heyden bourgmaster that they in truth would and might protest before God that the breaking down of the Images was done without their knowledge and consents and that they allowed not of the manner of doing the same if it were not done by order and authority of the magistrate although the great idolatrie vsed in that towne had well deserued no lesse and that they blamed and detested the theeuerie ransacking and other insolencies vsed therein and that their preachers in their sermons should admonish the people to restore the stolne things into the magistrats hands That they of the reformed Religion were ready to be obedient vnto the magistrat in all things touching the resisting and with-holding of all insolencies and forcible actions That they acknowledged the lords and magistrats of the towne to be their lawfull magistrats appointed by God to rule and gouerne them and that therefore they were bound to be obedient vnto them according to the word of God so consequently bound and would willingly pay al assesses imposts taxes and other burthens as duty required And to that end they said that the preachers rulers of their churches were ready to take their oaths of faith and obedience vnto them in al causes next after God and his word for the conseruation welfare and furtherance of the inhabitants of the towne that therby the people might be maintained in peace and vnitie desiring that vnder the name and authoritie of the magistrats they might be suffered to preach in some conuenient churches and to vse the exercise of their Religion excusing themselues that they vntill some order were taken therein did vse some churches for their aduantage Lastly That they pretended not to compell any man by force vnto their Religion being well content to liue in peace and to thanke God for the meanes they had to serue him according to their consciences crauing that it might be ordained that no man should molest iniure nor disquiet one the other for Religion By meanes of this declaration request admonition in the end the matter was so brought to passe that they of the reformed Religion were suffered to preach in the new towne by authority of the magistrats to hinder them from preaching in the holied churches but the preacher of Kiel which preached after the confession of Ausbourg was suffered to preach in S. Georges church as being the chiefe church of the Kiel therby to
hauing gotten this libertie since the breaking downe of Images leauing the fields did appropriate vnto themselues certaine churches within the townes so as they were forced with the Gouernesse consent to suffer them to build new Temples in Antuerpe for their exercise with some rules and ordinances ouer all to auoid scandales and disorders after that those of the Consistories of the Religion and the Ministers Iohn Taffin Herman Modet and George Siluain for the French Dutch churches had made their excuses by writing vnto the magistrat of Antuerpe in manner as followeth My masters we protest in truth as before God that what hath beene done touching the beating downe of Images was without our priuitie or consent As for the spoyles robberies drunkennesse and other dissolutenesse and insolencies we both blame them and detest them Wherfore the Ministers of the Word shall exhort as they haue already done their auditors in their sermons to abstaine and to deliuer into your hands what hath bin stolne away Those of our Church are ready to yeeld you all obedience and to oppose themselues vnder your command against all violences thefts and other insolencies We will acknowledge you to be established by the lord in the office of magistrat and therfore we are bound to obey you not only for feare of punishment but also for conscience sake and by consequence we ought and will faithfully pay all taxes imposts customes subsidies tithes and other duties ordinarie and extraordinarie that shall be imposed vpon vs. We confesse that such as shall refuse shall deale fraudulently offend God and are to be punished by you For the better assurance whereof the Ministers of the Word and others committed for the gouernment of the church are ready if need be to take an oath to be faithful and obedient vnto you in all things except against God and his Word for the good and profit of the towne and of the inhabitants beseeching you that vnder your authoritie and protection we may be suffred to assemble in some Temples fit and capable for the exercise of our Religion and not to take it in ill part if wee make vse of some according to the present necessitie vntill you haue otherwise prouided In the meane time we pretend not to force any one in his conscience nor constraine him to our Religion contenting our selues and praysing God that wee haue meanes to serue him according vnto ours hoping that you will prouide so as both the one and the other may haue cause of content giuing charge that they shall not doe any iniurie or outrage one vnto another for matter of Religion Vpon which request there was a certaine accord made in Antuerpe betwixt the one and the other Religion whom the magistrat tooke equally into his protection the second of September the said accord containing seuenteene articles Signed by the prince of Orange and vnderneath Ex mandato Dominorum Polites The like in a manner were made in Vtrecht and Amsterdam then at Gaunt Tournay and other places to entertaine the inhabitants in concord and loue one with another and to assure the townes from all eminent danger vntill the king had otherwise prouided by the aduice of the generall estates the which was done by the particular gouernours and magistrates of townes as well in Brabant Flanders Holland Zeeland Vtrecht Friseland Gueldres as other prouinces of the Netherlands whereby the reformed Religion did wonderfully encrease and the Protestants had for a time some cause of content seeing themselues freed from that odious Inquisition from the new bishops bloudie Edicts persecutions and obseruation of the counsell of Trent enioying the libertie of their consciences and the preaching of their doctrine The confederate gentlemen holding themselues well assured by the letters which the Gouernesse had giuen them after that they had written vnto the Consistories to carry themselues modestly in their assemblies they retyred euery one to his owne house And soone after there followed an Edict by the which to giue the people the better satisfaction the Inquisition and the Edicts against them of the Religion were surceased by the authoritie of the court commaunding notwithstanding to punish both in body and goods the breakers of Images causers of tumults robbers and disturbers of the publicke quiet vpon paine of the losse of their priuiledges for such as should not doe their duties forbidding expressely the carrying of armes to the preaching Yet the people did not altogether forbeare carrying of armes but in many places did assemble like men of warre for which cause the Seignior of Backerzeel a chiefe counsellour to the earle of Egmont who had beene one of the deputies for the nobilitie and had signed the compromise issuing out of the Audenarde with some bourgesses and pesants fell vpon a troupe of these armed men neere vnto Gramont whom he surprised suddenly not fearing any such encounter defeated them and put them to rout whereof hee slew twelue and tooke one and twentie prisoners the which were afterwards hanged This was the first exploit that was done by armes against them of the Religion and afterwards they began by little and little by vertue of letters and secret commaundements from the Gouernesse to pursue them in diuers places whereof some seeing this change and that the consederate gentlemen had thus abandoned them and withall that the earle of Egmont notwithstanding his permission to preach within his gouernment of Flanders was the first that did persecute them began to retyre out of the countrey some here some there and they had at the first retyred in greater numbers if the duchesse had not giuen them a new assurance that his Maiestie comming into those parts would heare their complaints and entreat them as a good and mercifull prince assuring them that he had no entent to vse rigor against his subiects with the which and many other goodly reasons shee sought to persuade them And in the meane time she sent secret instructions to thâ—… gouernors and particular magistrats to punish such as were culpable whereby those that were not the most rigorous nor forward in the execution of her secret instructions found that al the duchesses persuasions did not tend so much to grace in retaining them that would retire as to punishment Wherupon the magistrat of Alcmat in West Friseland writ vnto the Gouernesse in what perplexitie they were in by these latter letters written in secret directly contradicting the letters of assurance and the kings bountie whereof she made so great brags desiring to haue a more ample resolution therupon Wherunto she answered that notwithstanding any obiections made by them of West-Friseland which are the townes of Alcmar Horne Enchuysen and Medenblyc they should gouern themselues according vnto the instructions sent to the officers particular magistrats This passing in this sort in the Netherlands and the contract aforesaid being sent into Spain to the king he was not a little grieued and offended thereat being as then at
seditionâ—… but shall behaue them-selues indifferently and modestly saying or speaking nothing else but that only which tendeth to the instruction and edification of their audience vpon paine aforesaid Forbidding likewise vpon like paine all soldiers of what religon soeuer they be to beare any signes tokens or showes whereby they might moue or stirre each other to strife or contention That they of the afore-saide resormed religion both in Holland and Zeeland and elsse where should bee bound to obserue the lawes and customes of the Catholike Church touching Marriages allready made and which there-after should bee made in respect of the degrees of consanguinity and affinity and that touching the mariages as now done in the third and fourth degree they of the said religion shall not bee molested nor troubled for the same nor the validitie of the said Marriages brought in question or doubt neither yet denied nor with-held from the children produced or to be produced of the sayd mariage Prouided alâ—…ayes that the spirituall affinitie shall not hinder such mariages and that there shall bee no distinction nor more difference made touching religion in the receiuing of Schollers sicke or poore persons into the Vniuersities Colledges Schooles and Hospitalls then there is to receiue them into publicke Almes-houses and other charitable places That they of the religion out of Holland and Zeeland should bee bound to keepe and obserue the festiuall dayes ordained and kept in the Catholick Romish church as Sondayes Fayre dayes the feasts of the Apostles of the Anunciation of the Virgin Mary the Ascention of Christ Candlemas day and the Sacrament dayes and shall neither worke open their shops nor buye nor sell vpon the same That also vpon such dayes as by the sayd Church it is forbidden to eate flesh the Butchers houses and the shambles shall bee shut vp and euery man shall behaue himselfe according to the ordinances of euery place And the better to vnite all the inhabitants of the Netherlands wee declare that both the one and the other of each religion shall bee capeable beeing fitte to bee imployed to hold vse and exercise all manner of offices and states as well of Iustice as otherwise neither shall they of the sayd reformed religion bee forced to take any other oth nor bound vnto any other duties then well and truly to exercise their office and function and to keepe and obserue the ordinances appointed for the same And for that the administration of Iustice is one of the principalest meanes to keepe and maintaine the subiects in peace and vnitie and that the same by meanes of the diuersitie of religion and other wayes is troden vnder-foote in many places to the great oppression and iniury of the innocent and others seeking and desiring iustice Therefore to preuent all slanders at this day too much raigning it is commanded and forbidden vpon paine aforesayd vnto all Iudges Magistrates and particuler persons from hence forth not to apprehend nor lay hold vpon any man without obseruing three accustomed wayes that is in the deed doing or by order from the Iudge vpon lawfull information before giuen or where the party plaintife appeareth and giueth due information by writing And that the persons being by any of the three meanes aforesayd apprehended shall presently bee deliuered into the hands of his or their competent Iudge there to bee iudged and ordered touching his cause or offence as equitie requireth And to the end that all bad humors in the common wealth may bee purged and rooted out euery man is permitted without any perticuler interest to accuse one the other so it bee done by due information and before a competent Iudge that shall be bound within eight dayes after or before according to the custome of the place to doc the party accused right and iustice and therein to proceed with all diligence either to condemne or discharge him as he in iustice shall finde it requisite and conuenient And yet it shall not bee lawfull for any man to slander an other without cause or reason neither yet to bring his name or fame in question or to back-bite him vpon paine aforesaid And touching the execution both of ciuill and criminall iustice to giue euery man reasonable contentment it is ordayned that from hence-forth all the offices of the Magistrates of the perticuler Townes Villages and Lordships of the Netherlands shall bee executed by men of the best qualitie and such as are fauourers and louers of their natiue countrey without distinction of religion Which Magistrates shall onely deale with the causes of Iustice policie or gouernment of the Townes and places where they are appointed in such cases to bee resident Without any trouble molestation let or impeachment to bee done vnto them by any man whatsoeuer neither yet shall any seeme to meddle there-with in any sort whatsoeuer And when as the Magistrates shall be renewed and new chosen those that are called the eighteene or otherwise which were put in their places in greater or smaler number shall bee wholy left of with expresse command not to deale any more therein nor to trouble them-selues with the publicke affaires nor with the fortifications and watches of the townes vnlesse they shall bee specially appointed and chosen therevnto by the Magistrates aforesaid And that touching the same they shall therein giue no commission nor command that is of any importance but by fore-passed knowledge of the Magistrates of the Townes wherein they remaine and by their expresse Commission vpon paine as aforesaid And that this our Edict may the easilier and the better bee obserued and kept the Committies and other Deputies or such as haue power to renew the Magistrates shall nominate and appoint foure notable and sufficient persons of good qualities and behauiours at all times to bee ready and that without request made by any man to inquire about the defects and breaches of the aforesayd Edict which information by them taken and put in writing beeing signed by three of them shall presentlie bee deliuered vnto the Magistrate to take knowledge thereof and there-vpon to proceed by speedy iuâ—…ice and execution of the paines aforesayd against the breakers and suppressers of the sâ—…me Alwayes prouided that the offices of the sayd foure persons shall not continue aboue the space of a whole yeare and that they shall bee likewise renewed and altered with the Magistrates Giuen in Antwerp the two and twentith of Iuly 1578. As this religious peace was a remedie and medicine for many Townes so did it likewise serue such as were ill affected and troublesome to moue and stirâ—… vp strife and contention in some Townes and Prouinces which otherwise likewise were not very well pleased nor contented as here-after I will show In Antwerp Brussels Mechelen Bergen Breda Liere Bruges Ipre c. as also in Friseland Gelderland and other Prouinces and Townes it gaue great contentment and in those places those of the reformed religion had Churches appointed for them
might well endure long and yet they must of necessitie loose more than they should win therby for that many would be tyred with the warres thinking that no townes which were once besieged by the enemie could be relieued and therfore would reuolt and cause more suspition and distrust And that further it was to bee considered That the continuall spoyling of the countrey would weaken and decay their power and take from them all meanes of money and other necessaries and that therefore it was requisite resolutely and couragiously to resolue vpon making of peace or else of proceeding with the warres As for peace they found that it could not be made vnlesse they yeelded themselues once againe by as good meanes as they could vnder the king of Spaines subiection Touching the king of Spaines meaning and intent they sayd it was well and sufficiently discouered by the articles of peace propounded in the towne of Cologne which articles they said could not be receiued nor accepted without bringing the Netherlands into imminent danger to be reduced and subiected vnder the Spanish yoke more than euer it had been before to the vtter ouerthrow and ruine of an innumerable company of the inhabitants of the land especially those that made profession of the reformed religion which would breed great confusion misery and destruction to the Netherlands together with the abolishing of al trade of marchandise so that there was no other means to be propounded for their security but only to maintaine warre And for that it was impossible in mans iudgement to vphold the warre in such sort as it had in times past beene done therefore it was requisite that they should resolue vpon some other proceedings thereby to shorten the warres and to rid the countries of the enemie And for that of themselues they could not find the meanes they must be forced to seeke it by some other potentate and rebus adhuc stantibus the sooner the better before they fell into greater danger for that it was to be doubted that they in the next Summer being vnprepared and not readie either should be ouer-run by the enemy which they well knew made himselfe strong or else forsaken by their reuolting friends wherein their enemy vsed all the meanes and subtill practises he could deuise That in all Christendome there was no king potentate nor prince that had offered them more fauour and friendship than the duke of Aniou brother vnto Henry the third king of Fraunce who likewise had the best meanes to annoy and hurt their enemie vpon the borders of Fraunce from whom they were to expect most aid and assistance and who of himselfe would willingliest vndertake the same with lesse feare and prompter resolution And therefore they were to determine whether they should yeeld themselues into the hands of the said duke vpon such conditions as should be propounded vnto him or not the principall causes why they had so long borne armes being these First for the reasonable and lawfull gouerning of the Netherlands vnder the command of naturall borne inhabitants of the same Secondly for the restoring and perpetuall vpholding of the rights lawes statutes priuiledges and freedomes of the land Thirdly for the eschewing and auoiding of all vnreasonable persecutions and for the permission of the exercise of the reformed religion which was found requisite and necessarie to be suffered for the common peace and quietnesse of the same All other causes in respect thereof being of much lesse importance and therefore it was to be considered whether they could agree better with the king of Spaine than with the duke of Aniou touching the same First it was most certaine and without all doubt plainely and manifestly to be seene that the will meanes and power to bring the Netherlands into subiection and vnder a strange yoke were without comparison greater in the king than in the duke for that the king would haue all the lords of the land commaunders and other officers whom he would appoint and ordaine at pleasure at his deuotion and vnder his subiection so that euery one would striue to be the first that should be receiued into his good grace and fauour not they alone that of long time had been affected vnto his seruice and hoped for reward but also those which had alwayes beene his enemies for that it had beene seene that a great number of those which had beene most earnest against the Spaniards had suffered themselues to be seduced by Monsieur de la Motte and vpon hope to be made rich were reuolted from the other prouinces and townes and so were bound and vnited together by oath Whereby euery man might easily iudge what was to bee expected from them and such as they are if they besides the passions which had drawne them thereunto should adde the respect of their duties whereby they should thinke themselues bound vnto the king To the contrary the duke of Aniou could not in many yeares purchase so great credite with the people as the king had alreadie obtained for that the king had many townes in his hands whereby hee had more meanes to attayne to his desire than the duke of Aniou although his will were good being likewise much mightier especially if hee once recouered Portugall into his hands whereby his power would euery way be too great for the Netherlands if they sought not another protector or else tooke better order in their affaires That the kings euill will towards the Netherlands was manifest for that hee was greatly mooued and incensed against the same and therefore whether it were to maintaine his honor or to giue the rest of his subiects an example and warning that they should not hereafter attempt the like or else of his owne nature desire of reuenge he would espie and watch all oportunities to be reuenged vpon the Netherlands as addicted thereunto by nature Which by his former actions and proceedings in the country of Granado India and Italie and especially in the Netherlands appeareth to bee most true for that the bloud of the principallest lords most lamentably brought vnto their ends by sword torment and poyson against all lawes of God and man and his owne promises was yet in a manner warme besides many gentlemen and great multitudes of the common people that with fire and sword and most cruell torments ended their liues with great numbers that were forced to flye out of the countrey and to liue miserably in other strange countries with their poore wiues and children whereby the trade of the land and diuers kinds of manuall occupations were carried into forraine countries and the wealth and welfare of the Netherlands much hindered and impaired It was likewise seene that vnto those against whom he had the greatest spleene and was resolued to punish them hee wrot the most pleasing and gracious letters that could be deuised And whereas hee made shew as if he had altered his mind and seemed to begin another more pleasing and peaceable
quarter who were very glad to bee imployed about so good a worke whereby they might recouer their quiet and libertie All the countrie of Ouerssel beeing freed by the taking of Grolle Brefort Enschede Oldenzyel Otmarsum and Goor and of some fortes which the Spaniard had held there the whole countrie hauing beene by reason of them extreamely afflicted euen vnto the gates of Deuenter Campen Zwol Hasselt and Steenwyc chiefe townes of the countrie of Oueryssel vnder the Estates obedience for the which they are bound in dutie to thanke the Prince who performed so great a worke in so short a time and with so little oppression the which the whole countrie did afterwards very thankefully acknowledge To finish the Princes victories for this yeare and to free the countries of Friseland Oueryssel and Gronning so as the Spaniard should hold nothing beyond the Rhine there yet remained the towne and castle of Linghen places of great importance beeing the passage by land towards Hambrough Breme and other townes of the East countries beeing neighbour to the countrie of Westphalia and the Counties of Emden and Oldenbourg making a signeury and pettie Estate by it selfe which the generall Estates had heretofore giuen to the Prince of Orange father to Prince Maurice in recompence of the libertie which they had recouered by his meanes and seruice Cont Frederic vanden Berghe after that hee had yeelded vp the towne of Grolle by composition had retired himselfe into the castle of Linghen which was all that remained of his Gouernment on that side the Rhine beeing fully resolued to keepe both the one and the other and there to set vp his rest for that the places were verie strong and furnished with sixe hundred good men the floure of all the King of Spaines forces in that quarter of Friseland with a cornet of horse and some ten or twelue verie good brasse peeces of Ordynance besides iron ones The Earle assuring himselfe that he should be besieged he caused certaine houses nere vnto the towne to be burnt the more to annoy his cousin the Princes campe and had done more if hee had not beene hindred by the sodaine comming of the army winter beeing then at hand and the wether likely to prooue bad The Prince retyring out of the countrie of Oueryssell causing his armie to march that way on the twenty eight day of October the same day he did inuest the towne and for as much as on that side there were no enemies to bee feared but those which hee besieged he therefore the better to accommodate his souldiars lodged them a little at large and most of them in peasants houses the countrie being very much peopled The Prince himselfe was lodged in a Gentlemans house nere halfe a myle from the towne and his horsemen dispersed The approches were easie to make for that the towne hath many little hilles about it so as in a short time the season beeing reasonablie mylde his men lodged in the counterscarpe euen vpon the edge of the ditch out of the which the water was soone drawne then were there certaine galleries made through the ditches especially on the castles side The slow arriuall of the great ordynance was the cause the battery was not so soone readie yet to take away their defences the Prince did presently imploy those few which hee had brought with him but when the rest were come hee caused foure and twenty cannons to bee planted against the castle the which on the second day of Nouember did batter with such fury for eight houres together at the two Rauelins that Cont Frederic seeing their meaning was against the castle drew all the ordinance out of the towne into the castle with the which he made an exchange with the Prince causing his men to sally often forth with losse of either side The galleries beeing finished against those two Rauelynes whose worke the besieged could by no meanes hinder by reason of the continuall thundering of the cannon and of the small shot and that all the defences of the rampar were taken away the Prince commanded his men to sappe the sayd two Rauelyns Frederic perceiuing it and knowing his cousins vsuall course which is that hauing a sufficient breach hee goes presently to the assault hee therefore desired to make a good retreate in time wherevpon beeing sommoned hee desired to parle and to enter into capitulation The Prince did the more willingly giue eare vnto him for that hee feared the season of the winter which vntill that time had beene verie fauorable and to winne time to carrie backe his army Wherefore on the twelfth day of the month Frederic accorded to yeelde and to depart with armes and baggage furnishing him with certaine wagons vnto the next village deliuering the castle the same day into the Princes hands who instantly put men into it the Earle retyring his men into the towne vntill the next day that he departed It was a strange thing of these Bretheren of Vanden Berghe that of all the places which the King of Spaine committed vnto them they could neuer keepe one against the attempts of Prince Maurice their cousin as Deuenter Steenwic Grolle Linghen and all those other pettie places in the Countrie of Oueryssell which the Prince wonne this sommer They say that the Spaniard did of purpose put them into them to the end that if they had them in gard hee should not incurre the dishonour to loose them himselfe whereof they would not haue fayled no more then these of Vanden Berghe who alwaies shewed themselues faithful and readie to do the King of Spaine their Master seruice Whilest that the Prince was camped before Linghen the King of Denmarkes Ambassadors came vnto him which were Arnold VVitfeldt Chancellor and Christian Bernekar a Councellor who would not depart vntill hee was master thereof These Ambassadors returning from their Embassie out of England came to the same end to the Hage in Holland in the beginning of October to the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces where hauing had their dispatch and returning into their owne countrie they would needes see Prince Maurice as they past along The some of their Legation which they did deliuer as well by word as by writing on the ninth of October was THat Christierne King of Denmarke at this present raigning remembring the good loue and neighbour-hood which King Frederic his Father had in his life time with the deceased VVilliam of Nassau Prince of Orange the sayd generall Estates and generally with all the Inhabitants of the vnited Prouinces who had euer sought and labored as much as hee could possibly that not onelie the sayd vnited Prouinces should bee once discharged of those long cruell and deuouring warres but also that they and all Christendome might bee restored to an assured peace and quietnesse So as it was to bee hoped that this so holy a designe and intent of their said Lord and King would haue taken
withall that Mâ—…rquis Spinola in regard that hee fauored the cause held himselfe verie much beholding vnto him for which consideration hee had sent him an obligation vnder his hand whereby hee promised that if a truce were concluded for aboue nine yeares or a generall peace to giue him fiftie thousand crownes whereof hee should receiue fifteene thousand crownes in readie money to bee paide in Amsterdam to the handes of any one that hee should nominate or appoint recommending himselfe and the sayd affaires to his good discretion And for his owne particular hee sayd that seeing it had pleased the Archdukes and the Marquis to honour him so much as to thinke him fit to bee imploied therein and for that the matter had proceeded so farre that hee for his part and in his owne behalfe would giue some particular testymonie of his loue towardes the said Artesens and to that end would bestowe vpon his wife a Ring of Gold with a Diamont therein protesting and assuring him of the scincerity vprightnesse and worthinesse of the sayd Archduke and the Marquis as also of his owne the which notwithstanding was otherwise censured by many Wherevnto Artesens made answere that hee most humbly thanked the said Archdukes for their great fauour shewed him and especially for the restitution of his house and patrimoniall lands in regard that at the reduction of the towne of Brussels vnder the King of Spaines obedience hee had great wrong offered vnto him in this point for that hee was debarred the benefite of the contract which was graunted vnto all the Burgers of the towne whereby they were inabled for to enioye their landes and goods notwithstanding that hee at the same time was imploied about some seruice that then was to bee done for the Estates for the assembling of the Generall Estates and that touching their further bountie hee sayd that hee had done no more in that action then hee was bound vnto in loue and duetie with other such like excuses and therefore hee besought the sayd Archdukes and the Marquis that it would please them to hold him excused if hee did not accept their bountifull presents which seemed rather to bee giuen to corrupt him then as a recompence for any seruice done by him and that therefore hee neitheir could nor might accept them nor yet the Ring which hee offred to giue him for his wife giuing the Frier great thankes for his courtesie therein and offering all seruice for his part which hee could or might doe for them and him alwaies excepting any thing whatsoeuer that might tend to the breach of his oth and blemish of his reputation c. Wherevnto the Frier replied that the presents aforesayd could not bee any waies held to bee done in manner of corruption considering the sincere and vpright intents of the sayd Archdukes Marquis Spinola and himselfe who affected nothing more then sincerely and without any fraude to bring the warres vnto an end with many other good wordes to perswade him to bee a furtherer vnto the same c. Wherevpon at last hee accepted of the restitution of his house and lands together with the obligation making much difficultie to receiue the Ring with the Diamont for his wife but beeing much vrged and intreated therevnto hee tooke it with promise to giue the best direction therein that hee could his oth and credit alwaies preserued and therewith they departed The same day Artesens made report vnto Prince Maurice and to the Estates of all that had past betwixt them offering to deliuer them the obligation and the Diamont but Prince Maurice would not receiue them neuerthelesse hee aduised them to take some course for the receit of the money and withall that the matter should bee kept verie close and secret But Artesens did often solicite the Prince and the Estates to bee discharged thereof the which they still refused to take into their custodie telling him that hee had no cause to doubt any danger seeing that hee had not done any thing but by speciall commission wherein hee had discharged himselfe by discouering the offers that were made him as in duetie hee was bound and that order was to bee taken about the receiuing of the money wishing that they might get all the enemies treasure into their handes by such meanes esteeming the Diamond to bee well worth sixe thousand Gilders at last it was resolued vpon that the matter should bee imparted to the generall assemblie of all the Estates This businesse passing ouer for certaine daies together without any further resolution from the foureteenth to the twelfth day of May there was an other letter sent from the Frier Iohn Nayen vnto the sayd Artesens whereby hee wondred verie much that hee heard not from him nor had any assignement to whome the fifteene thousand crownes should bee payde Artesens hauing receiued this letter went vnto the Estates againe to acquaint them therewith but for that Prince Maurice had the second time refused to receiue the obligation and the Ring beeing still of opinion if they thought good to keepe the matter secret that it was best for them to receiue the money it was resolued amongst them to make both the generall Estates acquainted therewith and the ambasadors of France and England by which meanes the matter was divulged vnto the common people wherevpon Artesens vnderstanding that hee was charged and taxed to haue beene corrupted by the enemie he desired the generall Estates that hee might be discharged of the obligation and the Ring of Gold and vpon his request so made vnto them they tooke order that the treasuror generall should keepe the said obligation and the Ring with the Diamond which was taken out of the gold and valued till further order should bee taken therein and that the said Artesens should haue an act made in his behalfe and for his iustification the which was published accordingly bearing date the seauenth daie of Iulie in the yeare of our Lord and Sauiour 1607. Notwithstanding all this Artesens fell into great suspition and it was giuen out that hee had beene corrupted by the enemy for the which cause and to free himselfe from all imputation and blame hee caused an appologie to bee printed in his name whereby hee excused himselfe vnto all the common people and therevnto hee ioyned a coppie of the act aforesayd made by the generall Estates in his behalfe his apologie bearing date the twentie daie of Iulie in the yeare of our Lord and Sauiour 1607. When as Mounsieur Vereycken came last vnto the Hage with the act of agreation Mounsieur Barnâ—…uelt Councellor for Holland let him vnderstand what presents had beene giuen by Iohn Nayen the Frier as is before mentioned which were deliuered to Mounsieur Vereycken by the Estates who willed him to take them with him againe and restore them vnto those that sent them desiring the Archdukes that if they ment to proceede sincerelie in the treatie of peace and sought nothing els that