own him But when he declared himself a Catholike the face of Affairs were on a sudden very much changed for the fault of the defection from and aversion to the Kings Name and Title was wholly call on the other yet was not Philip terrified by this example but that he now assisted the Duke of Guise his Brother who made use of a double pretence of Piety not in private but in the view of the whole World not that he so loved him but that he might keep involved in discords that Kingdom which lying between him and the Low-Countries had formerly been very dangerous and troublesome to him and if his designs were crowned with success he would commit the same to some one of his own Allyance with a fiduciary Power And the Reason by him pretended for this was because he marryed Isabella the Daughter of Henry the Second King of France by whom he had a Daughter a Person most fit to govern that Kingdom either in regard to her Fathers Merits or her Mothers Blood and so much the rather because the Dukedom of Bretaigne as severall other Principalities of France were known to have been fortunately ruled by a Woman's hand On the other side the Duke of Savoy the Spaniard's Son in Law enlarged his Borders to the very opening of the Alps The Queen of England being informed by a particular Envoy that the Duke of Parma had sent Lamot into France with an Army both of Horse and Foot forthwith ordered a supply of mony to the King of France together with four thousand English Souldiers Neither were the States of the United Provinces backwards in granting him Assistance for first they sent Ships with Provisions and all other necessary Munitions for War then adding thereto mony far more liberally than the present exigencies of their Affairs would permit and this only in hope of a future benefit It was certainly a noble and an honourable act and that raised an emulation towards their moderated Liberty that they having so newly erected themselves into a Commonwealth should yet by their Riches support and help a Kingdom the success thereof proving no less advantagious to the French than distructive to their Enemies while the Walloons Country to whom formerly they committed their cause lying open and exposed to the mischief of War was equally damnifyed whether assaulted by the French or their own Souldiers Afterwards the Spanish Forces France putting a stop to their victorious times lay open to the Hollander who for eight years together increased their Treasury enlarged their bounds and augmented their Armies untill the Bourbonian by his own vertue and valour waded through all the threatning billows raised against him by his obstinate adversaries and himself at last becoming a Catholike brought under his subjection all parties rather laying aside his Arms than the memory of that Pristine League It seems here very convenient now we are relating the French Affairs to search as far as humane Reason can direct us how the Belgick troubles having the like beginnings should yet have so different a Progress For a Peace being setled formerly between King Philip and the King of France these two Princes seemed to be of one mind having concluded a mutual League to extirpate all Religions which had begun or increased either by impunity or War But the French Peers hating the Guisian Potency that they might not become contemptible as the Netherlanders to the Spaniards took occasion to draw the multitude now contending about Religion into Tumults and Arms but the Events were most unlike for there the Subjects obedience was preserved entire and consequently the Roman Catholique Religion carryed the day but so only as to keep under not oppress the other But here the old Form of Government is altered the differing Rites grow insociable neither allowing the other and so between Servitude and liberty become divided The cause whereof I suppose may be that the Guises or Lorraines being by themselves in private but weak did afterwards receive from abroad such small help as might indeed follow but not force their Fortune So that the main of their strength either consisted under the pretence of the Kings name or the affections of the vulgar which are mean supports and of no duration where there is any experiment of utility on the other side And the Kings of France have within themselves the whole strength of that one People so that they diminish their own Authority by tyrannizing and wholly loose what is spent in revenge And the very Commons though highly offended with the differences in Religion yet when once they became sensible of the miseries of War were not so desirous of revenge as Peace Hence proceeded those Edicts of Peace so often hastned so often withstood by the now divided affections of the People who might rather be said to lay aside War than to make and observe a Peace for being weary of a long War they were driven to force and treachery by the impulse of others not their own obstinacy and being always accustomed to a Kingly Government they might have been composed before if the one King famously knowing in the Arts both of War and Peace had tempered himself and his Laws according to the strength and prevalence of parties They who were newly gotten into power being ignorant how to use the time nourished discords by variety of evill deeds while they of a more active Spirit or such whose Riot incapacitated them either got or lost all and this was the only hindrance of Peace But on the other side the Spaniards having a King that wished the same things in hatred to the Belgick liberty and who was now grown old in the enjoyment of his Territories by the keeping abroad so great Forces never feared the Netherlandish Solitudes especially having Presidents both in Italy and America that where they could not subject into Provinces they should settle Colonies But the French were highly offended with the pride avarice and cruelty of this forraign Nation the very Catholikes themselves who had never faltered in point of Religion disliking their Customs some of whom having been before circumvented and deluded with the hope of better things becoming an example to the rest that they would with all violence exercise their malice as mistrusting the breach of Peace under that notion to hide their revenge Thus a War no less cruel than civill Wars use to be continued but still looked as forraign But Count William in Frizeland straitned the City of Groning not able to resist the greatness of his endeavours by scarcity and death having wasted all their Provision about the Country he got also Reide a Peninsula of a very convenient Scituation between the River Eâ—mes and the Bay of Dullart The City being suspected for this mischief cast it upon Verdugo because he had refused a Garrison from thence being both recruited this with a new addition of Foot and Nassau with more Horse sometimes with mutual fear sometimes taking opportunities
Multitude of the common People while others after the old manner of Mourning in a vowed Habit promise and swear Never to cut their Hair untill they had revenged the Blood of those Noble-men The Prince of Aurange with many others are cited by a Proclamation to appear and because being absent and out of their reach he laughed at their Threats of Punishment all his Goods are confiscated and his Son which was bred up at Levain in the Study of the Arts is seized upon and carried Prisoner into Spain It was a very sad thing to take notice of the Desolation and Wast that was here made partly by Slaughters and partly by Flight Some few whose exceeding Poverty would not bear out their Banishment retired into the Woods and there hiding themselves where they lived like Salvages upon the daily Spoils committed upon Priests not taking Notice of the Magistrates who came to suppress them by Force but robbing and killing them as they could find advantage until at last they were destroyed and driven away by the greater and more powerful strength of Alva So also at the Rivers Maze and Rhene a few unadvised persons being scatteredly met together and having sworn the Dukes death at the very first Rencounter were all overcome and slain And to cut off all thoughts of hope the Messengers and Curriers from Spain brought word that then was nothing of moderation more to be expected from the King than from Alva for that a publike punishment was there inflicted upon Montaigne who was sent thither in vain bearing with him the Name of an Embassador as to Enemies which among all Nations is sacred and not to be violated for it was not thought fit for Subjects to treat or deal with their Prince after such a manner and so positively denied The Marquess of Berghen by a seasonable Death prevented to himself the like Fate though not without Suspition of Poyson But the very Thoughts of such a thing was condemned as a Crime because Alva had a hand therein There was about the same time a louder though more mystical Rumour of the Death of Charles the Kings Son It was evident that he though the Heir of so many Great Kingdoms was put into Ward whether his too much forwardness in his Youth had raised a Suspition of him that he was ambitious of Rule as if his Care for the Netherlanders had been too great for his Interest there or whether the same Crime were laid to his Charge which had taken off his Step-Mother is uncertain But this is sure that shortly after he died though still very dubious what Causes could so provoke the Fathers Wrath to that heighth as to work his Sonne death The Exiles who now though at distance were every where against their Wills and in Poverty being much grieved at the Oppression of their Country did earnestly sollicies the Prince of Aurange to take up Arms which of his own accord he was not at all propense to do willing rather the the Spaniard should over-un all until all his Counsels were laid open and there might be hoped a more safe Opportunity for the Distressed to gather and unite a Force while the King should for the most part be taken up with other Wars Nevertheless some of the Exiles at present being drawn together under the Leading of Lewis of Nassâ— brake into Frizeland There by the Death of Arembery there slain whom the heat and reviling of his Souldiers compâ—lled to fight though he thought it more Prudenceâ— weary them out by Delays by the Rout and Overthrow his Forces became Conquerours but staying with a fruitleâ— Expectation of some Towns falling off to them their Moâ—eâ—fell short for the Souldiers Pay so that all Discipline was neglected when suddaintly by the Surprize of Alva they were almost all slain Adolph the Prince of Aurange his Brother and Lewis his also being killed in the former Skirmish they had tincted the War alternately both with their own and their Enemies Bloud The Prince of Aurange being throughly moved with this Carriage of Affairs that he might be the better able to relieve his Parties both by strength and the Justice of their Government he sets forth in Books a Narrative the Reasons Causes and Justice of their taking up Arms refuting at once both the Judge and the Crimes objected against him not dissembling That now being taught better things he had lâ—ft the Church of Rome yet calling God to Witness That he took Arms for the Publike Weal and freeing his Countrey from Slavery That this was the Duty of every good Citizen much more of a Noble-man Of Philip he spoke honourably whose Goodness he said was perverted by the Spanish Counsels and that he did not yet despair but that he would at length resume better thoughts of his faithful Subjects and uphold their sworn and setled Laws In the mean while according to the Law of Brabant in regard of his many Errours in Government Obedience was due unto him as to their Soveraign Lastly that which seems to make most for the Justice of their Cause was this The Brabanders as they had a more special and wary care than the rest for the maintaining their Liberty so likewise to prevent the Incroachmâ—nt of their Princes who under pretence of the Publike did not stick somâ—times to break up and dissolve their State-Conventions they used to Covenant of their own proper Right that when any Prince infringed the Laws they should be free from the Bonds of their Fidelity and Obedience to him untill the Wrongs so done should be removed and satisfied And this confirmed by many Examples of their Ancestors who when formerly some of their Princes either through their own weakness or the Delusions of Flatterers had been drawn away they drew to more moderation among whom the most remarkable was John the Second of that Name either by Force or strong Decrees by them drawn up which before they would conclude any Peace they made the Princes freely promise That they would without any violation confirm and establish the same Now the Prince of Aurange though born in Germany yet had obtained many most Noble Heriditary Jurisdictions in Brabant to the Lords or Possessors whereof antient Custom had given the Dignity of being a Peer or chief Governour by which Right he urged That is did belong to him not onely to see the Laws well executed but also to defend and maintain them But here it is not to be omitted that the same Right was claimed by the like Customs by divers other of the Netherlandish Provinces and also that the Decrees of Maximilia of Austria and Mary of Burgundy were to be taken notice of which had made them by the same Sanction of the Laws individually equally with the Brabanders themselves And this appears by what the People of Frizeland Utrechâ— and Gelderland did in the time of the Emperour Charles their Prince when among many other peculiar Agreements and Covenants there was this one common and
Judgment of the General States of the Netherlands In the interim Trading should be incouraged both Parties should use the present Form of Jurisdiction and the Religions they already hold And that it should not be lawful for the Hollanders or their Associates to alter any thing in Religion without their own Bounds onely granting the Prince of Aurange Power of ordering the Cities belonging to his particular Government Upon these Agreements a Peace was concluded at Gaunt between the Nassauian Party and the People of Brabant Flanders Artoys Henault and other Provinces onely Lutzenburge excepted whose Governours were privately obedient and affectionate to the Name of Spaniard and the People ever most firm in their Fidelity to their Princes But the Frisons came in having imprisoned their Governour Caspar Roblese a Portugeze because he resisted them Thus thâ—owing down the Castles every where they threw off their Yoke of Slavery And because Antwerp being possessed by the Spaniards hindred the mutual Commerce of the Provinces they made great Banks of Defence near the Sceld that under their Safeguard ships might pass safely Afterwards this League was entred into again at Bruxels and the Agreement of War against the Spaniards confirmed by the Oath of the Clergy Nobility and Commons and fully assented to by the Senate And this was the onely time from whence any one might with Reason hope well of the Low-Country Affairs if they had laid aside their Feuds as well as their Arms And to speak clearly the Emulation and Ambition of the Lords was the undoubted Fountain of all their Evils and the Fault of the People was not much unlike this for such was their Frantick Zeal in their Religion that they would never stick to any Agreements or Covenants nor be contented with their present Condition and while these Vices keep their Footing there will never be Person nor Instruments wanting to undermine Liberty Therefore King Philip when these Conditions were brought to him being informed that they were approved by the general Consent of all and that they would have Forreign Aid if he should continue to deal harshly with them thought it fit to yield to Necessity and so making a Law in confirmation of the said League and Agreements in the mean while under-hand he determines to wait all Opportunities either to break or at least distract this Alliance and kept the Prince of Aurange's Son who according to the said League ought to have been set at Liberty as an Hostage for his Fathers Actions Now is Don John of Austria base Son of the Emperour Charles sent Governour into the Low-Countries that so being a young man of a sharp Wit famous for a Sea-fight against the Turks and high in the Pope's Favour he might divert his Mind from the thought of higher things And this also he pretended he did to shew his Intent for the future of maintaining the Laws when he sent one so near to him by Bloud to govern them And indeed in publike he would own nothing that might seem to intrench on the Peace though privately he commanded to follow Rode's Counsel who was as we before declared the Leader in the Spanish Sedition But not cunning enough to conceal these Matters long for the Hatred which he had drawn upon himself the impatiency of the Age together wiâ—h some intercepted Letters made publike the most secret of all their Counsels and Designs Which the Prince of Aurange consideâ—ing and earnest that Extreams might not damnitie so increasing Fortune be counselled the Netherlanders that weighing how much they had offenâ—ed Philip in the Peace they had made they should by War keep out that manifest Officer of his Wrath while yet he was without strength and upon their Borders This was gain-said by many of the prime Nobility that did not heartily love the Prince of Aurange either out of an old Grudge or for some new sprung Envy many in this Tempest of Affairs who were by Advice in ermingled in general Parties for Reverence of the Prince continued in their Arms under the pretence of Necessity to defend themselves Thus Peace being made in a Town of Lutzenburge call'd Marsa the Government was granted to Don John of Austria if he would first Disband and send away the Spanish and then all other Forreign Souldiers although the Hollanders and all that of their Party did earnestly labour the contrary All fear was now banished and an incredible joy surprized the hearts of all because the Spanish Army was by Covenant to go out of their Cities although carrying with it many barbarous spoyls and the Rapines of ten years and boasting that within the last six moneths they had killed thirty thousand Netherlanders of the meaner sort questionless when they denyed that within the same time that they had lost above threescore nor were they long gone or far some of them being stayd at Millayne and others nearer till Don John might recall them to a War prepared for them For this Austrian being received into the Government with the highest Honour possible but youthfully impatient of all delay suddenly besets the entrances of the Country and in short time breaks through them taking Namur and some other Towns on that Border and further solicites the German Bands which were not yet gone out of the Netherlands for want of their pay to render up the Cities they were in and their treachery was easie enough to be wrought on But whether they were either frighted with threats or tempted with promises the dulness of their Spirits or flexibleness of their Natures quickly broke off their design By this meanes most of Brabant was preserved the Souldiers not onely delivering the Garrisons into the power of the States but their Commanders also the Embassadors of the Provinces at the General Council used the name of the States to whom after the Power of the Regall Senate was abolished most of the business of the Common-wealth was brought And yet there was no War but the States did accuse Don John to the King and other Princes that he had publickly broken the Peace He again casts the blame upon the Prince of Aurange â—hat he would set up new Customs contrary to the Covenants of the League in the Cities which subjected to his Dominion by Contracts and Agreements Notwithstanding which Calumnies he was by all the Cities of the Netherlands looked upon with an high esteem as the Authour of their liberty and of such a noble disposition as is wont to win all mens affections He strengthned by complacence that power which he would seem to diminish so great was his prudence and moderation and because by diligent inquiries and pains and by intercepted Letters he had demonstrated that the Austrian Snares were laid first for him and his and afterwards for all the rest by breaking the Band of the League he so won the favour of all the people that he was by the Brabanders chosen to be their Governour This was taken very ill by Arscotâ— who
the chance that in the same place that very day eleven years before the Father dyed by the hand of the Executioner through the cruelty of that people among whom the Son was now come as a Traytor to his Country but at last by the pitty of the Townsmen he got thence away and came safe to Nienove who being received by the Dutch was after by the power of his own People as we shall relate made Prisoner At Bruges there was a sharp and dangerous tumult so that Arms were taken and bloodshed very hardly prevented both the parties having set forth Souldiers that belonged to them the Bands of the United Provinces came first being hastned by the Magistrates and this was the end of the dissention the Tumults of other Cities were prevented by Garrisons Ipre of its own accord came and joyned it self to the League of Union and the like did Gaunt and a little after the Prince of Aurange came into that City by the favour and good will of all the multitude So great inconstancy was there in the resolutions of the vulgar rout and their levity being the same both in good things and bad there removing such from Authority as had by violence intruded themselves he gave the Honour to others Most of the Prisoners which we mentioned to be there detained being carelesly looked to had broke out the rest that remained the Prince set at liberty And another thing which proved as well to augment his Honour as revive envy against him was That the Government of Flanders was put upon him notwithstanding his many refusalls to accept thereof In the Embassey to Colen there was nothing done but what the Spaniard was well pleased with to wit that minds distracted to the hope of Peace should never advise well concerning the publick good The Embassadors of both sides complaining mutually that their Collegues by private agreements were solicited against the peace disturbed by new Confederacies not minding the Repute or Esteem of the Treaty But the Dutch because of the present danger for that the Duke of Parma had gained much upon Maestricht a City partly belonging to Brabant and partly to the Jurisdiction of Leige as being scituate upon the Confines of both and they could not get an opportunity of relieving it either with Souldiers or Provision they desired the time of the pacification might be freed from War and they hoped the Emperour's Embassadors would assist them herein But the Duke of Terranova denied that he had received any such power Thus while a Truce is asked and denyed while Conditions of Peace begin to be offered while the Instructions of the Dutch are found fault with as being not free but bound up to new Orders and Commands the Duke of Parma had crept under the very Walls of Maestricht when after a four moneths Siege he took the City by force though the same were valiantly defended and his own strength not very great But at Winter he sent away almost all the German Spanish and Italian Souldiers retaining onely the Captains and one Wing of Italian Cavalry though later than was agreed by the Covenants made in Artoys but yet this gained to him Mechlin with Valenciennes and the City of Issell In some convenient places he set Garrisons of Walloons Of these as every one was grievously annoyed or else of his own accord had offended his Neighbour so was he esteem'd most safe from danger and for this benefit they confirmed on the Duke of Parma the Lieutenancy not throughly understanding that a General of an Army might when he pleased recall to their Assistance any Forreign Souldiers But the Confederate Dutch though by the conjunction of so many People and Cities had lost all hopes of Peace yet that they might seem not so to hate it as to despair of it they sent the Articles of Composition and Agreement offer'd by Philip unto every Town that they might be consider'd of in publike Council Which being objected against as unjust and fallâ—cious were these The Acts of Matthias were not otherwise confirmed but as they had no Relation to the Supream Authority of the Prince or the Injuries of others That whatever Regent Philip should appoint over the Netherlanders to him constantly should be delivered all Cities Castles Magazines and Instruments of Warre He together with the Senate should take Cognizance of all things there was no mention of the States That all displaced and ejected Priests should be restored as also all others that had born Offices of Honour or Magistracy All which things seemed to tend to this That the Laws being restored in shew by the endeavour of them who would enjoy the Benefit and Trust of the Commonwealth they should shortly be abrogated and the People being disarmed reduced to slavery for there is no fortification for maintainance of Liberty so weak as that of Kingly Jurisdiction As to matter of Religion the Settlement whereof wâ— the matter of greatest Difficulty and Controversie it pleased the King to grant that there should be but one Religion throughout all the Netherlands which should be confirmed by the Authority of the Pope unless in such places where â— this time other Rites were used and this confirmed the League made at Gaunt Without those Bounds a time was limited to men of different Judgments wherein they might settle their Affairs and after their departure out of the Netherlands their Goods should not be medled with so long as they would commit the Administration thereof to the prâ—curation of such as were of the Romane Religion But this was looked upon as very hard by all and in aâ— manner convenient for the Publike Peace because it would turn upside down the present state of so many Cities banish and expel from their Country so many Thousand Men Nor should it be free for any man to believe what his Conscience bore him Witness was the Truth And what Country was able to receive all that should be Exiled and if any could yet what safety could it hope for in such Multitudes Where could they whom their own Country thought fit to expelâ— hope for quiet in a strange Land But the Governours and Chiefs without the deepest Brand of Ignominy and Villany could not consent to betray for fear that Religion they were taught to be true in what manner soever it first brought forth Neither the Hollander nor Zealander think that Proviso sufficient for them for they had some strong Cities which dis-senced from the Common-wealth in the use of that Religion to be revoked to those very times From whence they might well doubt new Tumults and their good will to become suspected that their Cause was separated from the rest They also laboured to work upon the Prince of Aurange apart and by himself when though seemingly aloof off there was offered to his Son not onely Liberty but the Governments belonging to him his Father to himself as many Goods is he had ever before possessed so as he would go out of
private ends the People that it to say the States rightly â—â—sembled have power to judge thereof and to punish the same Nor were most Kingdoms any otherwise subject 〈◊〉 their present Kings unless that the People tyred either wiâ—â— the injuries or sloath of the former have translated them 〈◊〉 other hands How much more then should these things prevail in the Netherlands to whom the very name of King is unacquainted and their manner of obedience such that they never took any Oath unless the Prince had first obliged himself according to their desires to maintain the Law It is the Law of Nations that mutuall Obligations are dissolved by the tricks and wickedness of either party And having laid aside Philip they would seek them another Prince And they needed not to doubt those things which would easily be maintained against the Spanish greatness by their Wealth There was need of a present Captain and of such a one who when mischief raged every where would though with the neglect of his own safety incourage the Netherlanders That he had clearly cast out of his thought all hopes from Germany There remains then but one thing and that is that Francis of Valois be chosen to the Governments whom they could not deny already to have given 〈◊〉 certain proof Nor was it a little material to their advantage if that young Prince who was next Heir to the highest Fortune should begin his growth from hence In the Interim he was sure of the Brother-hood of France and in probability the good affections of England would not be wanting against whom the Spaniard of â—aâ—e had prepared a Fleet which partly by Tempest and partly by the Portugall Warre had been destroyed and further he had newly given ayd and incouragement to the Rebels in Ireland nor had the English spared him in the new World of America the Wealth which they took there from the Spaniards and brought into their own Country having laid the foundation of a future Warre After a long doubting and much hesitation the Counsel was approved with a greater fear of the Spaniard than affection or confidence in Mounsieur Francis and Philip for violating and infâ—inging the Laws by the States of the Provinces of the Union is thrown off from the Government and nor that sentence is brought forth wherewith if we may speak the truth the Warre had now been in labour for the space of nine years but thenceforth was his name and all marks of Honours utterly left off and denyed and the words of their solemn Oath made to him absolutely altered so that thereby he who had of late been their Prince was now declared an Enemy The putting in execution of this Counsel was to Neighbour Nations guilded over with the severall excuses of necessity and the severall fruitless Requests they had made to him yet the Spaniards did not cease highly to Brand it as infamous it seems altogether forgetful that their own Predecessors had deposed a King from his Kingdom for his too great cruelty and that they preferred before him a Bastard slip-sprung from an unlawful coition We will not mention old Examples of the like kind is France nor any of fresher memory transacted in England nor those newest of all of the Danes and Swedes laying aside their Kings But to return to the purpose Matthias was dismissed with much affection and great Rewards And this being a matter of so great concernment neither did the greatness of the action it self nor the Authour remain unknown to the Spaniard whence perceiving that the life of one single Person was the onely obstacle to his desired greatness therfore though he had fair Law against him in the field yet he in the first place proscribes him and then by the habits of Wealth Honnur and impunity as well of all forme faults as of that invites some body to assassinate him Against this new fashioned Edict the Prince of Aurange makes his Defence in a Book on purpose set forth as well to the States of the Netherlands as to other Princes of Christendom which Book was penned by the help of Peter Villier a Frenchman who having the Study of the Laws wherein he had been bred up first fell to be a teacher of the new Religion and thence came to be admitted into the secretest Counsels of the Prince of Aurange The Declarations on both sides are yet extant full of equall bitterness wherein after repetition of the Crimes relating to the Cause on the Kings part is objected to the Prince Ingratitude and Treason he on the other side retorts on the Kings Treachery and Tyranny and so intermixing many true and some false Relations at length they directly fall to terms of scurrility like scolding Women for because the Prince of Aurange being seperated from his Saxon Wife for Causes well approved by all her Kindred and having marryed the Daughter of Montpensier who had been devoted for a Nun was accused both as an Adulterer and Sacrilegious Person On the other greater Adulteries were objected to Philip nor was he forgotten to be charged with the severall deaths of his Wife and his Son from the guilt whereof not yet cleared he had married his Neece in blood for the then Wife of the King was the Emperour Maximilians Daughter by the Kings Sister which Conjunction the Pope by his Authority though many judged contrary to the Divine Law confirmed Nor was it smothered in silence how formerly he attempted by his great Minister of State Granvell to have poysoned Maximilian himself being his near Kinsman by the Fathers side but then his Father in Law Whereupon the States contemning both the malice and insinuations of Philip who layed the fault of this great defection onely upon one by publick Testimony vindicated the Prince of Auranges innocency adding moreover for the safety of his Person a Troop of Horse to the old Guard The Embassie of the Netherlanders was most acceptable to Francis of Valois being thereby called to the Government and very pleasing to his Mother who endeavoured by forraign Honours to indulge her Sons already too ambitious by their over-swelling hope But the Kings Ayd and Consent was requested before it was convenient and so did not answer their expectation onely the King wrote to them that he would not have a respect to his Brothers greatness but would also give help and succour to himself and all those which were under his Dominion which that he might more readily perform he wished to his own Kingdom Peace and to his Brother all happiness and prosperity The present necessity forced the United Dutch to rest satisfied onely with words and only to hope for the rest And presently Valois that he might the more strongly work himself into their Affections understanding that Cambray besieged by Horse and Foot and fortified in their Camps had undergone great hardships and extremities He sets forward thither with an Army for the maintenance whereof Queen Elizabeth had supplyed them with a great sum
taken by the Commander in Chief of the Forces of the Garrison But the Lord of Cimace took him off with Gifts and laying hold on that present Opportunity by giving out to the Common People That both himself and the City were to be betrayed into the Enemies hands He conferreth all Publike Offices and the Honours likewise which he took from others upon those who were with him associated in Council And by the help of these be subjected the City to the Romanists and so in them to the King's Obedience In the like manner the Town of Dammâ— was surrendred and the Free Vniversity which of old being exempt from the Command of Bruges and other more Burthensome Duties of the Country is called by the Name of Frankenland And in all Assemblies of State in Flanders hath an equal Voice with the best Cities Nor would Ipre the Third City of Bulk in Flanders being next of all to Gaâ—â— and Bruges any longer wait upon the Hopes of a Common Pacification and endure the miseries of a hard Siege The Gauntoys themselves came to Treat by their Deputies offering Pledges and desiring a Truce But Imbisius his undissembled Treachery preserved the City for he would have delivered to the Spaniard the Town of Dendremund which Rikovius by the Prince of Aurange's Command stoutly defended and this out of a vain hope of greater favour he acted so openly that it could not be hid And when he was hindred in so base and nefarious a Counsel he would have besieged the Senate House with the Senators therein with a Regiment of Souldiers which he had taken into the Garrison to serve his own Designs These two heinous Faults so utterly alienated the Peoples Minds from him that they considered among themselves to punish him being thus convicted of Treachery with the loss of his Head A notable Example of unfortunate Ambition that he who was grown old had been loaden with the highest Honours and enjoyed so long the prosperous Affections of the Common People whom Civil Contentions had carryed so far beyond Reason that the greatness of their Crimes had devoured their Compassion This Ring-Leader of Faction was destroyed though the Tumults were not quite extinct yet for some time they who insisted upon the deceitfulness of the Pacification grew stronger But the Duke of Parma having almost inclosed the City and besieged it strongly with Warlike Troops was well satisfied not to assail them otherwise than by Hunger and to leave their Fate to the punishment of their own Discords But he had a better hope and therefore took more pains to get Sceldt and Antwerp scituate upon the same River the Noblest City of all the Netherlands which disperses all over Brabant the Merchandizes brought out of Zeland in regard his Troops were fresh and that he in breaking up the Siege at Zutphen had much weakned the strength of the Confederate Provinces By this means the one of these Cities was quickly won by force the other gained by fear Setting over therefore part of his Army he drives away those Netherlandish Ships that lay thereabouts as Guards and on each side of the River plants Artillery and Souldiers But the Antwerpers understanding that the Enemy did not lye upon the Coast over against Flanders built from the Ground for the safeguard of their Shipping two Castles or Forts the one below the City at the Village called Lillow the other upon the Coast of Flanders on the Backside overlooked as it were Hulst a Town of Waes This in regard it was not half finished being assaulted was taken but the other was gallantly defended with a great slaughter of Spaniards by Teling the Son of Lenove a noble Imitator of his Fathers Vertues But all these imminent Dangers were by the Prince of Aurange's Death too much hastned and in a time most inconvenient if we mind the Netherlanders because by his single Counsel and Conduct all their Affairs though at the present so full of Trouble and Vexation would have been brought to a setled Method But he to have been in a good Season as to himself because thereby he was taken from the growing Evils of the Publike to the Defence whereof he had most strictly bound himself For after his Death the Commonwealth partly with Intestine Seditions and partly by continual Victories of the Enemies was brought even to the last Gasp nor could it recover till by the appearance of his Son fresh Vigour was infused thereto and the half-forgotten Father's Memory revived in the Heroick Actions 〈◊〉 his Son He was shot with a Bullet at Delph in Holland by oâ— Balthasar Gerard a Burgundian who moved thereto either with the hopes of the Reward promised in his Proscriptionâ— else by the Zeal of his Party with a wonderful Condâ—â— bore up his Spirit as to the committing the Fact so to â— suffering the Torments inflicted on him for the same 〈◊〉 did there want some who much applauded his Resolution although the Duke of Parma an Italian being desired leave that some publike Demonstrations of Joy might be shewed because their Grand Enemy was gone fearing to blast 〈◊〉 Fame and cast an Odium upon the Justice of the War blâ—shed to suffer it The onely Expression of this dying Patriot sent together with his last Breath to the Almighty was this O Lord be mercifull to this poor People And all those who were more intimately acquainted with him now growing into years were well assured That the many Varieties and Changes of Fortune which from his Youth he had for above fifty years undergone and chiefly the Burthen of the present Cause attended with daily Envy replete with many Difficulties fought against with the Passion and Valour of the Great Ones murmur'd against by those of an inferiour Degree and oftentimes hazarded by the rashness of the Vulgar as it had inabled him to bear the greatest brunt of Humane Affairs so it had setled his Devotion and Religion on a firm Basis And this was the cause that he underwent all Businesses with a Mind so Resolute and a Body so indefatigable that he was observed never to be daâ—ced in Adversity nor elated or puffed up in Prosperity I do not hold it fit to bury in silence as a Token of his Abstinency and even as it may be called Infelicity that there was nothing so much by him neglected excepted the Glory he gained from the Civil War as his own private and particular Affairs which he freely assisted the Commonwealth with but left it much disturbed by the several Issues of a four-fold Marriage His first Wife was the Daughter of Count Egmond by whom he had Philip his Son whom the Spaniards carryed Prisoner into Spain and Mary a Daughter afterwards marryed to Count Hohenlo By another of his Wives which was the Second being Daughter to the Duke of Saxony one of the Electors of Germany he had one Son named Maurice and one Daughter His Third Wife was of the Family or Burbon Daughter to the Duke of
those things which had been used by Antiquity in the Art Military or that were grown Customary by Modern Practice and Experience He diligently encouraged his Souldiers to attend all the Enemies Motions and though he sat in the Highest Seat of Power yet he would not suffer the meanest things to pass without his Care So that it was admirable to see this great and Warlike Instructor who had never had any Master by discreet Considerations establish all things for the War that Guards might be diligently kept and Cities well Fortified he causes sound men to instruct the Souldiers how readily to pitch their Camp and to use all sorts of Engines and Instruments for Assaults and in regard they were yet unexperienced in Battels Sieges and Fortifications he hath them caught to manage Horses to observe their Ranks to carry Provision and to raise Works not according to the Method of this Age. At first these Endeavours were laughed at by the Ignorance of those who are ashamed to learn what they understand not but after the Success of some Experiments they were admired because hereby they that had turned their Backs in many Fights now durst stand and look the Enemy in the Face and reduce by strength Towns that they had lost So that now all did plainly confess That as no man excelled his Father in gaining the love of the People and laying the Foundation of a Commonwealth so by the great Blessing of Heaven the Son was as famous for the increasing and defending the same But how much the manner of the War was alter'd from the first use will easily be understood in the Context of the following Work A considerable Number of Ships are sent to infest the Enemies Towns that lay by the Sea-side and to guard the Passages of Rivers Some go out as a safe Convoy for Merchants and to secure the Fishing Trade Others sail up and down to scour the Sea of Pyrates Without all doubt in this the Enemy was inferiour who had very few Ports and they incommodious and not many Ships which onely waited upon Towns The Nobility on both side either contented themselves in an unprofitable carelesness or the peaceable enjoyment of their Honours with a kind of Neutrality for Envy of the Commons on one side and of the Spaniards on the other or else out of an inveterate Stupidity because some cunning Princes changing the Execution of their Military Offices into Hereditary Possessions had taken all from them and given them as a Favour to the other Some few there were that either out of Love and Thirst of Renown or their particular Discontents did take up Arms and do Service suitable to their Births and Qualities Among the Commons the young men and such as onely knew the Evil of the present Times because they had never seen Peace were content with any condition of Affairs not being sensible of the War otherwise than by Rumors and paying Taxes and many because the Religion publikely received was not affected by them for no other cause followed the Cry But the Laws of Holland though many of them not very harsh in their Sanction did sorbid to the Catholikes even the use of their Religion in private notwithstanding the like Orders had been the cause of so many former Tumults The same also by a kind of implicite manner put them from the chief Honours But the States allowed some mean Allowance to Priests and Nuns so long as they lived quietly because in many places their Possessions were laid wast but it pleased by connivance to suffer the Meetings of other Sects The Ministers of the Publike Religion were admitted on neither side into the Council nay the whole Throng of Ecclesiastical Persons were beyond the Inspection of the Magistrates Finally if the nearest Troubles had been appeased there would have been no suddain fear of new ones On the other side There was another Party of Netherlanders whose long Experience and continual Converse among Troubles had made them now not gainsay the Causes thereof There was onely a Shadow of those Laws in use before the War nor was the Duke of Parma's Modesty alike constant to all Some Cities were kept under by Garrisons but all were cuâ—hed by the Authority of Governours And although the Bishops enjoyed the Seats the Lady Regent formerly being the Duke of Parma's Mother and Alva had setled them in and many other Things were done for the Jesuits sake yet the Inquisition and all punishments inflicted thereby were either suspended or moderated in regard of the War and respect to the Enemy because the greatest part having fled that were Disseuters the rest had learned to obey rather out of fear than punishment On both sides Traffike and Merchandizing together with the increase of Work-mens Wages did readily supply the dearne's of Victuals and other Things necessary for Man's Life and also the Prices set upon greater Commodities and the Fruits of the Field which were somewhat scarce Among the Hollanders the Merchants Trade flourished which is the Nurse of all Inferiour Manufactures Amsterdam alone equallizing the greatest Mart-Towns either of this present or of former Ages In the mean while as the Benefits of Peace were received notwithstanding the War so the Evils thereof were not quite vanished for Men's Minds were not so much naturalized to Cruelty by the use of Arms as to run into contrary Extreams For all such as fled hither for safety and had secured themselves from a necessitated Banishment by a competent Provision by the Company and Society of Forreigners and imitating the better sort of them no Check of the Laws being able to restrain them would run into a supersâ—â—ous Excess and Vanity of Clothes and Dyet until they had by this means drawn in others to the same to avoid the shame of Poverty though they were in no way able to bear the same And therefore then that old and constant simplicity of the Hollanders and their uncorrupted Frugality was changed into Luxury and Profuseness which though it might advantage the Treasure yet was I am sure very pernicious and destructive to all good Manners because as Avarice as old overgrown Evil grows into Confidence it will not let Nations Conquer'd think so as long as they can live at such heighth But the Vices of the Enemy made these seem Virtues whose more wastful and abominable Prodigality was 〈◊〉 to be curbed even by Poverty it self The End of the Annals of the Netherlands THE HISTORY OF THE Low-Countrey's Affairs WRITTEN By HUGO GROTIUS The First BOOK I Shall here begin to Declare that more setled Course of Affairs wherein Prince Maurice having attained the Chief Command of the Army drew up himself the whole Managery of all Businesses The Commonwealth had still the same Face Religion was controverted with like Animosity the War sharply maintained with equal Obstinacy and all hopes of Peace utterly laid aside so that now the Series of Things was indeed in respect of its Actions various but
many and great Advisers of Concord the States in effect gave one and the same Answer the words onely varyed but they wrote to the Dane with more civility than any of the rest I will here briefly relate the Reasons of this their Resolve so often before-mentioned least that passe for currant with the Reader which they began by often hearing and repeating the same things to nauseate They insisted that both by the French and English Allyance and afterwards by the great vertue of Prince Maurice they were so obliged that they could not in private either accept or suffer any Articles of Peace which as it would be wicked so likewise would it be dangerous for them to think because the thoughts of Peace though frivolous yet makes all men more remiss in matters of War and for the most part from the liberty and Leagues of Cities springs discord and hatred And at this time were certain Letters written by William Clement the Spanish Orator to the Emperour discovered which did set forth such hopes and that the Germans had onely gotten envy from the Hollanders by their motioning of Peace And then were added the examples of divers things done at Breda Gaunt Colen and in Brabant and Flanders which had much promoted the Enemies snares After which things they averred that they could never hope for an end of the War from the Spanish infidelity but by the goodness of God the onely Ruler of Armies if perchance then the Netherlanders consent might prevail A word or two now for the cause how and under what necessity of labouring they were compelled to those things whereof no agreement could make them secure It was the Interest of their Neighbours least the King of Spain being eased of so great a War should grow greater by the addition of those Forces which should by Peace become subject to him which if he once attained he might have alwayes in readiness an Hundred Thousand Men. Now to oppress and enslave one anon another That it was a frequent Speech in the mouths of the Spaniards that the Hereticks were to be Conquered by the blood of Hereticks nor did they by that Name comprehend the followers of the Reformed Religion as it is called but also those of the Augustane Confession both by their own and the Popes Judgement and because that name is no less hated now by the Common-wealth then of old was that name of King among the most puissant Romans and yet there remain some tracks thereof with those People which affect such a Soveraign Dominion as is next of all to liberty neither is that Form of Government which the Polanders publickly maintain so much grounded upon the Right of Birth as the consent of Election whereof also the German and Dane retain a Similitude giving almost the same account of their Governments They say the Netherlanders were never enslaved but had alwayes a moderated Empire bounded by Laws That the care of the Laws was committed from their Ancestors to such as gave particular Testimonies of Valour and Vertue That the Inclinations and Affections of Governing by Justice passed from Father to Son for then there was no infinite unbounded and Arbitrary Power but it was kept within Assemblies which made the Name of King be wholly unknown Then both Prince and People had a Confidence and Faith of each other untill Philip not onely by perverting Judgement and exacting things never granted violated the Oath he had taken but also on the other side he contemned and said aside contrary to all Justice and Equity the true intents of Embassies dipping his hands in the blood of innumerable Innocents That which Nature Commands all Creatures which is the Principle of self-preservation we have done and not promiscuously as Libertines but under the Conduct of a worthy Prince the Prince of Aurange In the interim many Supplications were made to Philip and the Neighbour-Princes solicited him to mitigate the severity of his Resolutions But after that Treachery and Revenge were found to lie hid under the pretences of his peace We removed which is no new thing among Subjects him doing by his power such things as were contrary to his duty as a Prince and this by a publick Decree wherein were set forth all the Causes and Motives thereof And then again it seemed good to some to Elect for their Prince the King of France his Brother while others submitted to the power of the Prince of Aurange which they had no sooner done but forthwith he was assassinated by Spanish Treachery and the Succession of Government by his death devolving to Prince Maurice who now being supported by the Allyances of sundry great Princes defendeth and enlargeth our limits by Arms. I have in this manner declared these things that among Remote Nations the Report of Affairs then might be known from the use of matters at present Nor were the Hollanders satisfied to shake off the offers of Peace but that they incited others to take up Arms objecting against the Spaniardâ— his ambition and thirst after Kingdoms and the greatness of his Power to do mischief Reproaches of a long standing which great Empires very hardly or never can escape And for the better winning of Credit hereto besides the manifest Examples of France and Brittain were published all Albertus his Demands against many Cities of Germany and also a fresh document from Erabant what might be hoped for touching Religion The Relation thereof followes Anna Hovia a Maid living in Family with her Sisters to whom she was in nature of a Servant being suspected of dissenting from the Popes Sanctions was thrown into Prison and when they overcome either by the threats or prayers of her Friends or the allurement of life wherewith even the greatest minds are made to sloop had begged her Pardon by acknowledging her ignorance she alone was nothing moved but in the interim with modest Speeches she obtested that being a Woman and so both by Sex and Fortune exempts from troubles and as she her self believed maintaining no false Opinion but if it were so that she was guilty of error who could pardon her for it for that was an offence not against men but God and he would take vengeance for the same if any one overcome by fear against the thoughts of their heart should recant although it were thereby to maintain the truth of whom the Senate advising whether they should give judgement or â—â— Albertus is reported to have made answer Let the Laws be put in execution You may the more justly wonder hereat that so cruel and inhumane a punishment should yield delight or satisfaction to any Spectators for she was buried alive under ground at Bruxells the Authours of this Barbarisme probably expecting she would have repented But she now descending into the Cave and being placed between Death and the Priests ready to give her absolution without any shew of fear calling onely upon God she was covered over with the Earth and buried alive This Womans
should be raised onely in their Name and should fight under their sole Command and at their Charge And from thenceforth the so much envyed Authority of the English Embassadour was absolutely taken away Yet still the Queens Priviledge of nominating an Assistant to sit with the Senate was reserved If the Queens Enemies should invade her either by Land or Sea or the Queen should think sit to make War upon her Enemies the Dutch upon notice should add to her Fleet 30 or 40 lusty and stout Ships together with an Army of Five Thousand Foot and Five Hundred Horse Upon these Articles and Covenants a firm Agreement was made but reserving to the Queen her Right that she might vindicate her cause against the Netherlander under the King of Spain's Jurisdiction There was excepted out of this League Palavine's Debt of Fourscore Thousand Florens which was afterwards privately compounded It was not that England chose Peace rather than War by this League but that as it was eased of a Burthen so it had gained thereby a Fortification Not long after this some were taken who went about to poyson Queen Elizabeth and in Ireland by one happy Fight and the taking of a Castle was the cruel Tyrone made Prisoner while he was drawing the Province of Munster to partake in his Rebellion No more did the Hollanders repent them of their Old Resolution although there was a new Face of Affairs with the Enemy and many ways were sought to invite them Aod now the Report of the New Marriage grew every day more frequent these being Letters brought to the Netherlanders by Friasio whereby the whole Government of them was turned over to the Princess Isabella The Causes and Articles of which King Philip published to be these When by the Pope's Licence he had destined and by the Consent of all his Relations Resolved to bestow his best Beloved Daughter in Marriage upon his Kinsman he conceiv'd it would be of great Advantage to the Netherlanders to the advancement of Peace and settlement of the present Government that they might always have their Prince present among them which their Ancestors could not be in regard of their many and great Cares and therefore he did give and grant unto his said Daughter all the whole Country of the Netherlands and every part thereof together with Charlois and the County of Burgundy together with the Name of Duke of Burgundy for the French had long since got the possession thereof yet so that himself and his Successours Kings of Spain should enjoy the Honour of the same Title with the chief place among the Knights or Companions of the Golden Fleece being an Order instituted by his Fore-Fathers Adding moreover all other Things that were thought fit by Men learned in the Law for Confirmation of the Premisses by which the Rights of Principality and the Revenues and all other Incidents pertaining thereto might the more rightly descend and pass unto the said Isabella and her Posterity These Things were the more remarkable because Philip using the word Clientole did declare That he gave all those Dominions to his Daughter in Fee And this seems to be added because the greatest part of the Lands were held of the Empire and other part of the Crown of France and then because by his Command the Oath which the Nobles had formerly taken was to be alter'd now from the Obligation to himself in a New Obedience to his Daughter And if any thing contained in these Instruments seemed to contradict the Law in my point that he did confirm by his Supream and Royal Authority And if it should happen that no Children should proceed of this Marriage or that Issue Male or Female did ever fail all the aforesaid Premisses and the Right thereof to revert to the Kings of Spain And this was given as a Reward to the Merits of Albertus that he might have the Government of the Netherlands as a Comfort to his Wiâ—owship And if there were any Issue then the use and profits thereof but nothing to descend to the Heir besides the Revenue of the Dutchy of Lutzenburg and the County of Chiny There was also prescribed an Order of Succession First to the Male then to the Female and so to the Younger and the Elder Daughters Nephew should procede the Younger Son That it should not be lawful to divide or alien the Lands unless by the King's Licence And it was provided also that this Gift should return to the Donor many ways As if any Woman should for the future attain the Netherlands that it should presently return to the Hands of the King of Spain or his Heirs neither might it be lawful for a Son or Daughter being Princes of the Country to marry or otherwise alter their condition unless by the Consent of the same King Moreover They are forbidden by themselves or their Ministers to intermeddle in the Trade of America or the Indies and that every one coming to that Government is to swear to these Articles and also to maintain the Romane Catholike Religion And if any thing be done to the contrary the Right of the Netherlands to come to the Spaniards These Instruments were signed by the Father and attested by Witnesses the Sixth of May. The same day the King's Son and Heir Philip also by Name gave his Consent to the same by Writing carefully taking Cautions according to the Laws There were divers Speeches concerning this matter and they disagreeing among themselves as is usual in such Cases Some accused this as an Evil Custom that the Heads of Free-men or any private Service should be rated and valued That it was onely used by Barbarians to give and bestow Dominions For of what value was a Prince among them who never knew what belonged to Lordship But to them that make a distinction between Right and Wrong it is nothing ambiguous because the matter belonging to the People makes the Government from thence be called a Commonwealth The ordering whereof as it is in some places committed to the Nobles or Senate so with most it is setled under the Tuition of a Prince Nor was there ever any just Empire but what begun by the Consent of the People who have trusted the Defence thereof either to one Single Person or else by reason of Faction in Suffrages to more who have this onely Reward of their Honour that next to their own Welfare they take Care of the benefit of their Subjects Which as it is true every where so is it more manifest among the Netherlanders who being neither Conquer'd by Arms nor yet willing of their own accord to serve will not suffer their Princes to do many Things but with a Limited Power and Revenues it being chiefly forbidden left at any time they should break any part of the Trust commiâ—ted to them And therefore in former Time the Daughters were put off with a small Portion in Money To the rest of the Children were given Governments and other small Offices the
Crimes they afresh batter'd and by the Ruine of the Gate not without bloud took Calcar a City of Cleves professing the Roman Religion which had refused to admit Souldiers of its own Jurisdiction but as a Winter Garrison Goch also a Town in the same Jurisdiction was subdued by Force of Battery But Genâ—cy and Santern were permitted to redeem Themselves from their Fear with Money He boasted with so much pertinacy his Hatred to Lutheranism and Calvinism That he commanded the Bishop of Patelborn and others to purge their Lands from such noxious Vermine and if they neglected to do it that his Souldiers should come thither who would neither spare the Lives of the Guilty nor the Estates and Fortunes of the rest This was terrible at first to them of Wesell who were commanded to readmit the Roman Rites by the Counsel of the Duke of Cleves usurping the Princes Right who by the German Laws have free power and authority tO settle Religion The United States had sent to the Senators or Burgomasters declaring that it was an unworthy thing at the beck of a barbarous Nation which had abjured from their actions all sense of piety to change that Religion which was setled by Law and by them received from their Ancestors admonishing the City that in this Cause of God they should not fear the power of man but should couragiously resolve against a storm that would continue but for a short space and that they would not be unmindful of the common Religion nor of any hospitable kindness but their fear being at hand and their hopes at a great distance had so unsetled their minds that they durst not stand the Contest Whereupon they prayed that they might but enjoy the one half of the Churches but that absolutely denyed their Ministers ejected and both the Churches and Schools given to the Jesuites a sort of men by that City generally hated And for the more exact completion thereof Coriblanus Garzadosâ— the Popes Nuntio in Lower Germany made solemn Processions sprinkling the Ground with Holy Water and cleansing the very Pulpits as guilty of impiety afterwards the Commons of the City for fifty years space accustomed to more plain and simple Rites were enforced to behold long Ceremonies of the Mass and all other things fitted for States which part of them beheld with rage others with laughter and contempt The Priests continued in the large recesses of their Temples mutually hating and hated for the People as violently required their own as they detested that strange Religion which enmity continued all the time the Spanish Forces abode in those Quarters but when once they were departed and they also that acted by their Authority the City returned again to her old Liberty and Customs At this time all the Consultations of Germany inclining to revenge Mendosa although he had hitherto pretended that it would be for the Kings profit if they should begin a War which they could not maintain and that he being ignorant of their Right as Romanes had rather deal with them according to Laws of War though in truth he was conscious that all in general were his Enemies yet having by Spyes tryed the affections and Authority of the most eminent Princes as what Allyances they had what the manner of their Leagues he neither spared Gifts nor any kind of Policy to breed a distraction and division among them at their meeting And at last it appeared worth his labour to inquire who supported that so deplorable with Counsel and Advice I know some will admire what they could at that time offer as a pretence in their own justification Wherefore I will in as shoâ—t a method as I can relate those things which Cardinal Andrews Envoy spoke at the Assembly of the Inhabitants about the Rhine within the Jurisdiction of Colen These after they had wasted much time in the inquiring contrary to the Custom of Embassadors of the Names and Instructions of those to whom they came at last as it were inforced to make a sudden defence they said They were much grieved that the enemies of the true Religion and the favourers of Rebels had so filled the Princes ears and the publick Assemblies with false and scandalous Reports as if it was unjust in the common cause of Christendom which the King of Spain defended to remit a few discommodities against particular persons For these Arms were not taken up for the Kings pleasure or ambition but for the repressing of Thieves and Robbers who slighting all power both of God and Man create and believe a right from their succesful villany Where were then those Assemblies and raisings of Souldiers in Germany and terrible decree when the Prince of Aurange actually engaged in a trayterous War but one but by example undermined all the Princes of the Empire All Powers were Armed by God that they might suppress growing evills and have often been punished justly for the neglect of their duty therein but they did not onely dissemble others injuries but their own when the Germane Fields were wasted and their Castles and Cities held by Rebels without any account demanded for the same That they needed no detractors so bitterly to incite them if the Germanes mindful of their duty by whose advice the Spaniard would have been advised had compelled those perpetual Enemies of peace at once to have laid down Arms which are never used without the damage of the Neighbours For what hath not been given by the Kings either the Father or the Son for the peace of Christendom who for the avoiding of envy having given the Netherlands from himself and all the next Summer a great Army at his Command yet had worn it out in the onely hopes of Peace until he oppressed his own Souldiers as well with want as with Winter foâ— his Treasury was most honestly employed in the freeing of France from War and Garrisons Then also how great care he used in the setling a strict Discipline whoever comes to succeed Mendosa in that charge will quickly be sensible how great a care and how difficult a work it was There was no right of Victory claimed in any of the places by them taken they onely desired entertainment therein and the Custody thereof for a short time with select and choyce Garrisons that the Countries round about might be guarded from the excursions of the Hollanders As to those faults objected against the Souldiers which escaped either the providence or punishment of the General notwithstanding the great noyse yet in themselves were but small if compared with the benefits heretofore done by the Emperour Charles and King Philip Let them also call to mind the Leagues for how should the Princes Bishops Cities say that it was free for them to follow neither party in this War who had been antient Allies and Companions of the Burgundians and whom Charles had obliged to himself for a general assistance in defence and support of the Romane Religion How often by that name have
purpose for so much were they contemned that they published an answer filled with many souldierly taunts objecting to Albertus his fear of a battel and that Grave had been in vain looked after long before their recess and finding fault that while the Army was ready to starve he feasted and revelled at Court without any moderation of charge and repeating on the other hand the praises of such Commanders as were courteous and affable to their souldiers But what wonder could it be if after so many others they required what was due to them for their service or fled to such assistences for recovery thereof which though unseemly in themselves yet were made just by the laws of a fatal necessity Subjoyning at last that they were and would be safe against the punishments of that cruel Edict partly by their arms and partly by their poverty Octavio Frangipane the Pope's Legate endeavored to appease this Sedition but they would hearken to no condition untill that ignominious Edict was revoked and made null And now the greatest part of Autumn being past and Winter approching Prince Maurice having dismissed his German horse disposed the rest of his forces into Garrisons the like did Albertus whose Army was grown thin by frequent runnings away to the other party and the Italian souldiers decay being but fresh-men through the extremity of labour Yet part of the Army was sent into the Camp before Ostend so were Spinola's ships in part sent to those parts where either the Enemies forces or the mutineers designs were feared and the citizens of Venlo who had hitherto with pertinacy refused a garrison now were persuaded to admit souldiers because of the near-adjoyning danger of Grave About this time Mendosa departed into Spain where he was somewhat strangely received King Philip the father being dead and the son prepossessed by others who accused him for his unfortunate managery of the war and that he had neither sufficiently taken care for Peace nor undertaken or avoided battells as the necessity or contingency of affairs required Upon the forces departing into winter-quarters it fortuned that fourteen troups of the Hollanders fell upon eight of Albertus his troups that were without their officers lying somewhat carelessely not far from Mâ—estricht where they surprised and took most of the Horse in their beds together with five Corners or Horse-colours which were hanged up in the Palace at the Hague and a great number of horses At winter when the seditious began to incroach upon other parts Count Lewis of Nassau was sent with three and thirty troups of horse and twelve hundred foot to wast all the farther parts of the enemies country that denied to pay contribution where he took the town of S. Vâ—t and for a whole moneth together ranging all about burning the Villages and spoiling the Country he did no small damage to the Province of Lutzenburg At this time also the Hollanders had very good success at Sea Fredericks Spinola was coming out of Spain with eight new galleys and Martin Padilia being made Admiral of the Sea was said to be preparing a great Fleet which was suspected to threaten England or Ireland whereupon the Queen sent forth some ships to watch their actions and wait upon their motions and as occasion should offer it self either sink or take them and accordingly they burned two of Spinola's galleys and utterly made them useless at Sesymbra a town of Portugal giving to the slaves therein their liberty and to the rest their lives But for the future to prevent the like damage a great ship of Portugal of the same sort with those they call Carracks was opposed against them laden with precious Merchandises which while the English assaulted and soon after took the rest escaped by flight And Frederick Spinola being long detained in Spain untill he could have his covenants with the King confirmed with his six remaining galleys wherein were nine hundred souldiers and fifteen hundred slaves that rowed in the moneth of October set forth towards Flanders upon news whereof the Queen ordered three Ships to wait upon the English coasts and in the narrow Seas to which the Hollanders joyned four of theirs besides those which guarded the coast of Flanders The English first getting sight of these Galleys gave notice to their Companions but the Galleys making use of the cloudiness and calmness of the weather went so near the English shore that some of the Slaves throwing off their chains leaped into the shallow waters but the Hollanders pursuing the vessels sometimes by the shore other times in the narrow Sea not farre from Graveling with their great Guns sorely bruised two of them and twice or thrice being pressed with the vast bulk of their own Ships they were broken to pieces the Masts Oars and residue of the Ships being torn in pieces floated upon the Sea but their main bulks were swallowed up in the waves Almost two hundred of the men were saved and more of them might have been but that mercy was banished by fear lest the conquered should become more in number then the Conquerors Besides one other of them suffered Ship-wreck at Calais by the unskilfulness of the Pilots two others of them were much shattered with bullets and falling upon the shelves in that coast of Flanders got into Newport the sixth wherein Spinola himself was sailing up and down in the Sea of Zeland at last not without great hazard and throwing over-board much of their lading the slaves being incouraged with hope of liberty arrived at Dunkerk When then Frederick Spinola had joyned these three with the rest which he had before at Scluys aiming to repair both his credit and fortunes from the spoils of Walcheren he was with-held by winterly and contrary blasts of wind and because the Arch-duke being vexed both with forein and intestine Warre refused to denude his Garrisons for the refurnishing those Vessels At this time the Fame and Trade of the Hollanders increased in the Indies to the great detriment of the Portugueses who of old having been the first Finders had now for one hundred years quietly enjoyed those Navigations and out of reverence of the Pope's Donation made to them had extorted and kept the same from the beginning against both the Castilians and other Christian Nations defending themselves therein by force of Arms. These therefore make address to King Philip as the onely column and support of that flourishing Kingdome that he would with an extraordinary Fleet defend those revenues which belonged as well to himself as to the People From hence it came to pass that the Warre which had hitherto been contained within the Netherlands was now passing into another World for the managing and conduct whereof Don Andrew Hurtado Mendosa was chosen who then by chance had beaten Cunala an Indian Pirat about Malabar having used those parts above fifty years and was now with great applause ennobled with a Royal Commission This man being furnished with divers great Galeons and lesser
People Sighs and Tears together with want and the often renewed Seditions of the Souldiers prevailed that now they chose rather a obtain and peaceable Government than the hope of an inlarged Dominion attended with continual Fear But Spinola was the chief Author of that Counsel who a few years having archiev'd great Honour fear'd lest Fortune should turn Retrograde both his own and the King's Credit being at once shipwrack'd if these vast Charges should continue or any Chance should intercept the Ameriâ—â— Revenues without any hope of recovering what he had â—â—bursed so that being overwhelm'd in Debt in stead of a â—ear and honourable Fortune he could see nothing but â—ame and Poverty But in the Vnited Provinces few durst hope for Peace but rather most fear'd it being so instructed from their Parents that all Treaties with a deceitful Enemy were to be shunâ—ed and that War was most safe under whatsoever Qualification and that the great Number of Men subject to them 〈◊〉 well Souldiers as the rest of the Common People were advantaged by Arms Engines Armies and Fleets Nor was it fear'd by a few least as formerly at the beginning of the War so now at the restoring of Peace Antwerp should be chosen as the most commodious Seat for Merchandise and Traffick And when all fear of the Enemy should be taken away the Dissentions of Cities and other Disturbances of the Common-wealth were dreaded Nor were there some wanting especially among those that were more subject to Danger as lying nearer the Enemy who long since while they saw Cities taken by force and none to contradict it and that under a shew of Prudence their Limits were lessned fearing the like might happen to them when it would be too late to seek a Remedy altogether bent their whole studies for Peace But the more Moderate as they thought fit to avoid Treacheries so they likewise agreed to try Whether Arms might be laid aside upon Honourable Terms with the safety of the Commonwealth and preservation of Religion Nor was this time to be omitted when the Enemies Affairs were decaying the Authority of the States was grown more firm by long Obedience and there were two potent Princes as it were at their sides the one offended at the Spaniard the other for many just Reasons displeased with the Pope and therefore would consequently be more cordial to the Hollanders The state of Affairs both at Home and abroad being in this condition Herman Wittenhorsten by the Arch-Duke's Command came to the Hagne about the end of the year The same also before the Armies should march out in the Spring had passed through Gelderland and Holland but with Command onely to commune in private whereof there would be occasion enough given him in regard he was allyed to several of the Holland Nobility either by the Consanguinity of his Ancestors or other Collateral Affinity of Marriages But now John Genard the Secretary coming to accompany him from Turnholt where both of them lived and that place paying Tribute to both Parties caused them to have the more free admittance He deliver'd to the chief of the States what he had in Command from Albertus and Isabella which was to this effect That nothing was more desired by them than the Peoples Peace and that an end might be put to their long and bloody Troubles That the Rights belonging to the Arch-Dukes were not unknown to the States as also that they sought not anything that belonged to others They on the other side should consider what they conceived fit for confirming their Security whether a Peace or a Truce onely and that it was left to them whether they would chuse a publike or a private Treaty from which all unjust and treacherous Dealings should be banish'd But the matter was deferred because they brought no Letters from the Arch-Dukes to the States We shall hereafter relate with care what gradations and progress it had and with what inclination it was managed because this will 〈◊〉 far more expedient for the knowledg of Citizens than the Arts of Fortifications or Excursions of Horse and Foreign Nations at no time before had spoken of the Hollanders with more Honour and Renown The Sixteenth BOOK of the History of the Dutch AFFAIRES THE Winter growing more warm yet very turbulent with high Winds as it made the Hollanders secure from their Enemies Incursions yet hindred not the flowing of the Rivers as if the Heavens had been pleased with the overtures of Peace nevertheless it did same harm in another part by spoyling some Ships near the Texell because the Island was unsafe for Winter stations which Ships were thereby forced to delay the time of their going out into several parts of the World But the Vnited States that they might with the more certainty settle domestick Peace and vindicate their fame after Time had cared their late grown Troubles of Groeninge taken off the necessity of imperious Command and reduced their minds 〈◊〉 a conformity of obedience commanded the Castle which they had built to keep the City in awe to be demolished and pulled down which though formerly it was necessary yet now if it should be continued would not at all suit with the Liberty which they pretended towards all The chief cause of this their so great security was That the Magistrates of the City were such whose fidelity both to them and the publike Religion was well known and a great Garrison was kept therein without charge and without regret Yet for all this had the Souldiers no time of leisure for the Spaniard broke into and burned a small Fort in the Isle of Bommell the Sentinell being hired by them to hold his peace The Captain that Commanded the place was slain who was blamed for this because in not changing his Watches he had given hopes to that Treacherous Design Also the Count Bruyke a younger Brother but in pay under the Hollanders as he rid to his Father's house with a small retinue fell into an ambush of the Enemies his Secretary by chance going before was shot which was a sign of what was following to his Master yet he did not offer to fly but valiantly coped with the Enemy not out of hope to escape but because he was ashamed to be taken After he was slain his body was barbarously wounded the fortune and hatred which they bore towards his Father being executed upon the Son for with the like barbarism was his Father killed by Mendosa's Souldiers But Henry of Nassau going out with a strong Party of Horse to the spoyl of Spinola's men that carelessly Wintered in the Country of Limburg when they hearing of the danger retired into the Cities He took by force Erkelen a Town lying in his way after he had beaten down the Gate with a Petard This is a small Town in Gelderland which out of a sense of its own weakness had of old paid Tribute to both parties But then by chance was become an Enemy to the Hollanders by