dangerous by storms because on both sides it grow larger from the Strait as it were restrained by its own coldness So that the Antients did not without Reason call it sometimes the Dead and other whiles the Frozen Sea For wheresoever it approacheth the Land its condensed Waves congealed into Ice continue a long time and at a great distance to be seen upon the shore nay sometimes the continued congelations of many years may be seen together in one great heap but when the Wind breaks oâ— a remission of cold loosens these conjoyned condensations the several fragments like little Mountains or Islands are violently carryed into the Sea and sometimes meet and dash one against another like two Rocks And this terrour hath beyond measure afflicted Navigators because when they make off from Land in search the narrow Sea whose breath is but two hours Sail but the length contains five dayes passages of a sudden becomes all so concrete that it may be walked upon and when it is thawed the Ice goes not away by degrees but is forced as it were to fall into two Seas There are scarce fifty dayes of ours at the greatest time of hear before the latter Equinoctial and that very time cannot with them be accounted Summer but rather an internal or small relaxation of Winter then indeed you may positively discern the decay of the Ice but longer than that the Frost again approaching will not suffer any Sailings within that time the People did go to Rushia where was seen the remains of some unfortunate Voyage as floating â—lanks and the like whether the returning cold or any other Reason made them appear is uncertain These People also trade beyond the River Obis and there their home-dangers have taught them to Winter and at the â—ccustomed time to go back when the Waters are open and pâ—ssable for them By the same means that the Hollanders had confidence to passe the Streights of Magellan they took Courage through these Straights also to get into the Ocean sometimes by the violent streams of Rivers running into the Sea being carryed out and then as if they doubted what course to hold or if the Wind did but abate by the force of the same Rivers to be carryed back again thus as it were being divided between the Surges of the salt Sea and the pleasures of the fresh Water and anon in their passage from side to side leaving the shore they might see the rolling Waves foaming and dancing in the prosundity of the main Ocean together with several sorts of Monsters for it is wonderful to be told how full that Sea is bestial Animals There are both Sea-Calves and Sea-Dogs and the best of all wild Creatures which is called a Morse of a wonderâ—ul and active fagacity to defend it self yet scarcely penetrable by any blowes It hath seet almost like a Beavor hath a large Body and use lie equally both the Sea and Land for sometimes it is seen to lie upon the Ice and other times to lie at sunning upon the tops of the Banks and Cliffs near the Sea It climbs up but slowly and with great pains but descends with an incredible swiftness The People of those parts set as great a value upon their Teeth as we do upon Ivory The Rushians do say that the divided Sea once past Waygats meets together again and again breaks out from which Speech I cannot affirm whether they intend Tabiâ— or the Scythian Mountain so well known of old and Zemble stretching into the East though a little short do meet or the narrow Sea by which America divided from Tartary doth make out by countenance manners and Customs that those Nations have the same Original From Pitzone a Province of Muscovy as far as the River Obis whatever borders upon the Sea is I cannot say inhabited but perambulated by the Samogitians a kind of Sarmatian People Couâ—agious and Fortunate contrary to the barbarousness of their nature and the inclination of the Clymate 't is true their Countenances are ill favoured and black with smoak with little Eyes and wide Nostâ—â—ls Their Bodies though but of an ordinary size yet are very strong so that they equal in swiftness the most Creatures They content themselves with little and are always in action neither weakened with pleasures and â—yot nor worn out with cares Whereever they go all that they lay their hands on is properly their own nor have they any other kind of Possession then a mind resolved to and content with all hazards and adventures Thus they enjoy all things because they cover nothing Their Arms are according to the Soythian and Parthian manner a Bow and Arrows which they chiefly use against wild Beasts from these they have their Garments made of their Skins wherewith they cover themselves all over both Head and Hands and their Food is the raw flesh of the same Beasts as if they satisfied themselves with the gifts of nature without any addition They are so far from having any delicates that both the use and name of Bread is unknown among them This kind of life they think better than to plow up the Ocean and weary out the over-toyled Earth and still to promise themselves a further accomplishment of their desires being hateful both to our selves and others They know there are Ships but never troubled themselves with the study of making the like but keeping themselves within their own Territories unless as it were by Divine Assistance when the several Elements are consolidated into one Body of Ice Thus they go sorth and return when in a long Hunting they trace their prey as far as Waygats and Zembla They affirmed those places to be two Islands and that they were torn off from the Continent but by a small Arm of the Sea There they have born sway longer than they know themselves because beyond them there is nothing but vast Wildernesses and wild Beasts The Marriners in their second Voyage saw him that boasted himself to be the Prince of all those People a Man who was remarkable neither in Habit nor Majesty his Age being the onely thing in him that deserved respect From Muscovy whose Dominion hath been much increased within few Ages the Rhiphean Mountains encompass them on the back and sides as is believed which being unaccessible by reason of the Snow they call the Girdle of their Land and their poverty is their defence notwithstanding which their Neighbours pay them Tribute the Skins of wild Beasts for indeed they have nothing else and this they do rather out of hatred to than fear of War The appearances of the Coasts of Samogitia Sembla and Waygatsâ— are almost the same in some places dangerous because of Rocks and in other places so even that it is fordable The Ground there is â—offey and full of Marishes but no where Woody no Herbs or Grass fit for any good use grows there whereof in most places nature is prodigall onely here no such thing is ever seen
And this makes it the greater wonder to see the boughs and Bodies of Trees swimming here and there in this place unless it be that the vast Ocean stirred with the very turnings of the shores breaks into those remoter Lands towards the North and so overturns all before it 'T is probable that by such like force the Islands which we now see have been broken off from the Continent of Sarmatian perchance of old jetting out so hither and thither as their sight makes appear What part soever of that Coast our Ships touched upon they perceived sometimes smoak and the foot-steps of men but no Cities nor so much as a Village The inner part of the Country is believed to have Woods and Lakes which are filled and nourished by the perpetual dissolutions of Snow All hereabouts according as the Soyl and water pleased diverse that lurked scatteringly here and there in poor Hovels or in Caves appeared which places served them only for fire to refresh their Bodies against the bitterness of the Weather wherein though they could hardly stir yet would they not be idle The chief nay only Housholdstuff they have is a kind of Sledge which is drawn with incredible celerity by four-footed Creatures not much unlike a Hart sliding as it were in these they trace their prey through the deepest Snows yea and change their Seats All this Region is divided though somewhat unequally between wild Beasts and these Savage men There is abundance of Hares and Wolves both with white Skins Martins also Sables and many other Beasts whose Skins are of great value Here are Beares of a more than ordinary bigness which are made white too by the sharpness of the cold and are beyond expression fierce and ravenous because they want Pasture insomuch as if they but once get a scent of prey neither the fear of Weapons nor the Sea it self can put a stop to their eagerness or lessen their pursuit This mischief miserably lost some of the unwary Seamen that went a-shore nor were their Companions able to help them otherwise than by seeing them eaten and afterwards to seek a too late Revenge Upon the rising part of this Coast was observed a sad division between Religion and profaneness when upon the tops of the Hills on one side innumerable Effigies of the Gods testified both an ignorance of Art and dulness of understanding and on the other Erected Crosses shewed marks of Christianity For the Rushians whom either Tempest or the desire of Trading for Furs had brought into that part of the Continent and among those Islands had been taught Christianity by the Greek Church fix Ages before The Samogitians worship the Heavens and the Stars Deities not worse than others according to their old Custom nor do they believe it lawful to hate those that dissent from them There are some that in those Woods stick not to worship by an unknown kind of Superstition things horrible both to sight and hideous for their dreadful noyse nay and call Snakes and Serpents sacred But the Samogitian Customs are not so barbarous not much differing from those used in Lapland and Finland although some from their name would argue that in former Ages they did eat mans flesh which if we allow there are these to be numbred among those people whose lives were so mollified by age and example shewed an apt inclination of mankind to leave off their old and customary barbarity At the first coming thither of the Hollanders they were fearful meerly our of ignorance they provided for their security either by Arms or flight But after they had tryed out innocence and received some triviall Presents two sacred tyes they called to witness the Sun and their own poverty that they were even against their wills overcome by good turns And if at any time afterwards Fortune smiled upon us we were altogether beholding to the affections of those People which border upon the Sea though it were very necessary that Castles should be built in those passages to preserve the use of that new found Sea and where Ships may have shelter and Harbour if any sudden accident should happen Then if industrious care together with men meet there the Island of Waygats is no less fit for Tillage than those places which are inhabited in the utmost skirts of the Danish Kingdom for as under the very line where the Country is beyond measure hot so those places which being far off at both the Poles or frozen up will both admit humane Inhabitants which by Custom or being born there after the first Plantation will be naturalized to the Clymate contrary to the Opinion of the Antients as experience convinceth us for certainly Nature condemned no part of her self to Solitude so that Groenland being more to the Northward yet may and without question would produce and bear Fruit and Corn according to our manner in Europe 'T is true and equally probable to be believed that at first many places lay desert and unmanured while yet the choycer parts of the Earth would suffice for all But when by little and little either multitude or discord forced men to seek further Habitations the Land demonstrated the Sea and that again discovered more Land Obdor is the next Region to Obis famous for the Effigies and Oracle of a Noble old Woman Beyond the little River Molgomzay there is another greater and a Bank of the same Name whereof the Russians used by Authority not for Trade But all the rest surely is fabulous as That the people of Leucomoria die in the Winter and revive again in the Spring while in the interim the onely Religion of the Inhabitants is performed in the exchanging Commodities exposed to Barter That the mens Bodies are all rough and hairy and their Heads and Faces resembling a Dogs is no less vain surely than those forged Inventions of the Antients who have bestow'd upon some people Horses Feet upon others Ears of such bigness that they cover their whole body so that every where almost the Report of these Things is made more wonderful by additional hear-say yet that some of these and which is confirm'd with more certain Testimony of Truth as Men without Heads who have their Faces in their Breasts either really be such or seem so to be by the shortness of their Necks and their Shoulders sticking up I will not obstinately deny well knowing as in some places the violence of Heat so in other the extremity of Cold hath often warped Nature and made it become deformed From hence it is agreed That the next are the Loppians and the Mountain Imaus and the Tartarian Hordes removed to and fro among the Deserts by a part of whom is Cathay possessed Thence is the way to China and other places in the Eastern part of the World This same Year was made unlucky by Pyrates of Dunkirk who took five and Thirty Ships of Holland sent to Norway for Timber among all which was but one Ship of War but
the Besiegers 〈◊〉 if they should stay it was nearer to attaque Calais a Town of greater value and the ill repaired Fortifications of that City perswaded the Avarice of the Praefects hereto The Duke of Parma formerly destin'd the same thing so did Fontayne afterwards by the advice and perswasions of Laâ—â—â— But the honour of beginning thereof was reserved for a new Governour This most eminent Reward and remain of their Transmarine Expeditions the English kept for two hundred years as the main Port of their Sea which being regained by the Valour of Francis Duke of Guise one Gordon had the Government thereof which he soon after transmitted to a near Kinsman of his own But neither of them had to much care as to amend what was decay'd and become ruinous either by Age or War And the Works were far short of an Age in standing a Stone Wall encompassing the City It hath a little Castle slightly running out with four Platforms there was not a Souldier in it that thought of an Enemy but made it their business to strengthen their Authority while they onely study to inrich themselves by Sea and Land and which is frequent where there is a distraction in Affairs out of a Captainship erect a Kingdom Wherefore neither the King of France though he was fore-warned of the danger by some intercepted Letters could help it he ruling yet as it were but at pleasure and by his Subjects good-will Moreover the Governour hearing it strongly reported that Calais was aim'd at conscious to himself of the defects of the Town admitted two Companies of Holland Souldiers into the Town but no more he himself having six more whereof when Albertus was told the more to spread abroad the Terrour of his Design he commanded several Bands to go out of the Town of Valenciennes under their Captains and in the nearest parts of France to make a great Uprore The Camp-Master-General Christian Roneè the famousest Man among all the French Exiles sent with part of the Army to begirt the Town cut off all the Passages by which onely Relief might come For taking the Bridge whereby the Land-Entrance is straitned he raised against the Wall a Tower which is called a Rice-Bank just at the sides of the Port this same way the Duke of Guise before found into the Town where the Fortifications were long since half fallen down which the danger being not yet fully known every one helped to fasten again being shaken with Cannon plac'd upon the Shore and not defended so long as it ought to have been the Conquerour ascended and won After this the Hollanders Ships which lay upon the Coast of Flanders were driven off that they might not so commodiously assist the Besieged Notwithstanding which among all the Shot the Haven being very large a Ship was convey'd into the Town which deliver'd to the Governour such Workmen as he requested for the mending his Works together with a quantity of Gun-powder and then returned Shortly after the Count St. Paul who had brought 1500 French-men to the Sea-Shore for Relief of the Town was promised by a Sea-man to be put into it but he durst not undergo the danger At last all the Arch-Duke's Forces being met together and fought with upon the Sand-Hills from whence the Besieged being forced forthwith the Suburbs were gain'd Within a while after the Town it self after a three days Siege when the Gate began to be batter'd between the People's Fear and the Hatred of their old Lord because the Governour himself was wanting both in Authority and Counsel was surrendred to the Spaniard The Souldiery retired into the Castle which was held six days during a Truce in hope of Relief And now Prince Maurice with 50 Sail of Ships and a great number of Souldiers was come thither to see what was the Resolution as well of the English as the French But the Count St. Paul marched away and the Earl of Essex was ready with a Fleet to fight the Spaniards if by chance they should offer an Invasion But the Emulation of the People never well agreeing hindred it For the Earl of Essex tryed Mounsieur de Vique the Governour of the next French Garrisons if he would suffer the English to have the Custody of Calais if it were recover'd But the French believed that the English now under a shew of Friendship did clandestinely seek to regain what they had long since gain'd by War However King Henry not minding to leave his Siege but leaving his Army at Payer and doing so either because he despair'd of passage to Calais the Way being cut off by Dutches that let to the Sea he came with 4000 men by the River Samaâ— to Boloyn the next Harbour And there he advised but too late about relieving the Castle of Calais Prince Maurice being desired by the King to come on Land he excused It affirming He was to advise concerning their own Borders 〈◊〉 Home which were left unprovided But while they were arguing almost 300 Souldiers under the Conduct of Campsaâ—â— making use of the Night and the Ebbe of the Sea with great silence marching by Land broke through the Trenches into the Castle giving rather an Example of Courage than any other help to the Besieged for many of them the Forts lying open to the Assailants were killed together with the Dutch Souldiers at their very entrance while the rest of the French being altogether unaccustom'd and unfit so War by an inconsiderate Sally caused the Ruine both of themselves and thers at which time the Governour himself was slain About 60 Hollanders valiantly defending themselves from the Topt of Houses obtained a Grant to be sent away safe The presence of the Arch-Duke caused the Victory to be moderately used who having gained Calais without the loss of many of 〈◊〉 men and being a Town in the uttermost Borders of France augmenting and strengthning with good Works he subjected it to the Government of Flanders the Speech of which Province was agreeable to the same By the Fame of this Victory Arde a Town lying not far off within the Land and formerly a stop to the English invading that Country soon yielded it self to the power of Albertus by which meanâ— there was a passage this way open'd into France with the same Felicity to him as it was much to the blame of the Enemies that they had oppressed them e're they were aware Two Thousand Souldiers marched out of this Town which was indifferently well Fortified having honourable Terms though dishonourably obtained for they did not hold out so long as to endure one Assault being frighted with the dennutiation of Death if they forthwith did not surrender While these Things were doing at last Fayer being subdued by Famine King Henry distributed his Army into all places about and near to Calais lest any of the weaker Cities ' who were surprized with great fear should make a defection to the Conquerour whom the Flandrians intreated being now compelled
Prince Maurice's Camp lying in a wet and unwholesome soil what with diseases and what with runnings away was almost emptied But Fortune recompenced at Sea this slow and protracted Warre at Land from whence since the first Commotions of the Hollanders until these very times that which was reckoned among the great burthens of the Spaniard to wit that his best and choicest Souldiers must of necessity be brought afarre off out of Italy by long Marches into the Netherlands being in the interim of no use though they were an extraordinary charge and burthen was now eased by Spinola for he brought by Sea out of Spain it self into the Ports of Flanders what Forces he had occasion for Twelve hundred Souldiers trained up in the Irish Warres by Colonel Pedro Sarmienti were at Lisbone put aboard eight Ships and some little Barks the charge of all which was given to Pedro Cumiara whose particular instruction among others was this That if he could not get in at Flanders avoiding the coast of France he should goe to the British shore where by the help of the Spanish Embassadour they might have safe harbour and that he should there receive such of the Britans as he had hired and purchased by gifts But the United States that they might for the future restrain the like bold attempts by terrour did command William Hauteene Admiral of Zeland to meet the Spaniards in the narrow Sea towards Bulloyn and without any pity to drown all the Prisoners they took in the Sea Now it is to be observed that the Spaniards were not brought in Ships of Warre but of burthen such as could with most ease lurk upon either the British or German coasts But Hauteene with part of his Fleet coasting about Flanders and with the residue going along the shores of Britain by this means met with whatever passed in the middle of the Chanel Thus passing along at last he met his Enemies about Dover who when they would not strike sail but voluntarily stood in their own defence by shooting part of them were slain the rest escaped either by swimming or the help of English Boats which came in to their succour and took them up Another Ship coming even into the harbor was so beset with two Ships of Zeland that at last they all struck upon the Flats and Quicksands but the Zelanders as they were less in bulk so more light to avoid and escape a danger not onely assaulted but took and brought off the Enemie's Vessel The Mariners according to command were thrown into the Sea the Souldiers and such as had long been in service much complaining of Fortune not that she deprived them of their lives which they knew was but short at the best and whereof they could not in regard of their age hope the long continuance but that they being a people sworn to fight should not die valiantly as Souldiers with their swords in their hands but should be helplessly swallowed up in the all-devouring waves of the Sea The next day some more Ships were taken and one burned all the Souldiers suffering the like severe fate being tied two together which upon a sign given were all at once thrown over-board One saying he had no need of the Enemie's hands to hasten on his death voluntarily leaped into the Sea who though he was unknown among all that obscure company yet was covetous of honor even to his last This slaughter consumed almost the one half of the men and Ships for four of them by the help of the wind got into the Haven yet were many of the men there wounded and slain even by the Enemie's shot But the Souldiers in Dover while these Enemies fought at Sea a great while looking on at last grew angry to have the War brought into their Jurisdiction and shot from the Castle in aid of their late Enemies against their old Friends The Britans recriminating the Hollanders for these attempts were afterwards answered that they did not seek for any Ships in the Rivers of England which yet the Dunkerkers without any notice taken thereof had done but they looked rather at their Enemy growing hot by the force of Victory then either the confines or boundaries of Sea and Land But they could not so easily purge themselves because under pretence of searching the English who contrary to the King's Proclamation made War at Sea they had not long since drawn to their shore the Spanish Ships which were take as a prey by the Hollanders and vindicating King Philip's Embassadour had under pretence of right eluded the force of War But the Spaniards that lately were driven thither by the desperate storms of the Sea before Winter remained there at great charge which was very grievous to their Masters and in the interim while in a miserable condition they continued on the bare shore in poor little cottages by them erected either lived in great poverty or died languishing for not a few of them died of sickness and wounds among whom was Cumiara himself Now arrived out of Italy six strong Regiments by their usual way of marching by Land besides new levies made by the Archduke in the neighbour Kingdomes nor otherwise came the parties to so great strength for Spinola when he was in Spain with the King replete with the honor and authority of taking Ostend had easily persuaded him that this lingring War advantageous to the Enemy might easily have an end set thereto if the King would contract his long-continued gifts and to this purpose he gave for his word and inscribed on all his Ensigns this Motto Jam aut nunquam Now or never Wherefore calling to mind the frequent mischiefs that had arisen by Sedition he required money and two Armies with the one of which he would defend his own limits and with the other would invade Frieseland and to that purpose provided all things necessary in plenty for the Tributes beyond the Rhine being gotten by them would be a great damage to the Enemy besides many Cities now possessed by the Enemy which at present the Rivers defended would become a new bound and there would be need of a strong Army to scatter the Garrisons And this with the greater hope was to be undertaken in regard from thence the very entrails of the Hollanders would lie open to them both by Sea and Land This was wise counsel as the first successes made it seem but the rest being not followed according to hope I will proceed to remember The Generals yet remaining in Flanders while the Prince at Scluys took care to fortify Ysendike and Spinola attempted him with false alarms Count Bucquoy having with a strong party not far from Colen driven the Hollanders Ships out of the Rhine for he had carried with him great Guns passed the River to the great terror of the German Cities round about from whose remembrance the Villanies of Mendosa's time and the many indignities they had suffered were not yet banished At the mustring of the forces the
Nobles s certainly a goodly Company of Exceptions the Liberties also of Towns and Universities and whatsoever the Kings Treasury was indebted to any man being reserved to the Kings pleasure Now having thus laid aside all fear and shame the veâ— utmost intentions and designs of the Spaniards were laid â— pen in their open boastings for the bringing to passe therof that not onely the charges of the Government but if neâ— were Warre should be maintained at the charge of theâ— Provinces and to make this good Alva commands for thâ— present the hundreth part of all the Revenues of the people to be levyed which in it self was very grievous because â— was forcibly commanded by the Souldier which ought â— have been collected according to the Custom of the Country nor did he exempt the Priests from this payment afâ—ter this be takes the twentieth part of Lands and the tenth of all other thing whatsoever sold upon every alienation affirming to the Spaniards that it was necessary thus to tax the Netherlanders that they might the rather think themselveâ— bound in equity to obey being bound by the Law and coâ—quered by Arms and not otherwise capable of Pardon It may easily be imagined that these Impositions haâ— spoyled Merchandizing and broken the connexion of most Arts and Trades by the flight of so many so that the chiefeâ— support of the People was utterly gone for the profit accrewing by buying and selling of Wares using to be dispersed into severall Channels if so great a burden should be come to be a part of the price there would be no Chapmes found to buy when in another place they might have them so much cheaper And if any durst be so bold as to find streight they were seized on by Souldiers and most exquisitely punished Nay some Provinces and Cities being somewhat stubborn and self-willed were sometimes majestically summoned and questioned both what they had done themselves and what they had suffered others to do against the Kings Edicts being objected against them and though the madness of some private persons for the common cause were not compelled to their evill deeds yet were they sentenced that they should be out of the protection of the Law excluded from all publick Counsels and for the future be governed by no other Law than that of the Kings will Nay some were punished for appealing to the King and the intercessions of the Magistrates were restrained by a mulct which they should pay out of their own Estates upon forfeiture with the severity of which examples the rest being terrified did endeavour to redeem themselves from this infinite oppression with a certain sum of money And yet for all these so many and great afflictions the wrath of God was not yet appeased towards these people for their sins but as if the cruelty and avarice of men had not been sufficient for the persecution of a Land most flourishing and opulent both in Wealth and Inhabitants the Ocean breaking over its bounds with such an overflux as the like hath scarce ever been seen before by its inundation made one great slaughter of men and foretold another For this was the time in the small Punctillio whereof the basest of servitude and the highest point of liberty being divided by both names continued equall miseries and misfortunes And now anger suggesting unto the oppressed the desire to free or revenge themselves by Arms they were taught there was no concord so firm and stable as that which is contained within the Bond of private concerns And now that Nation which had so patiently seen her Citizens burnt her Governours slain her Laws Religion and Common-wealth almost to be violently taken away and devoured first consented to take vengeance for the former and to prevent and keep off thâ—se evills that immediately hâ—ng over their heads And so in the City of Bruxels though Alva himself were present and with a strong Guard did sternly exact the tenth yet every one shut up their Shops and Ware-houses scorning to own or confess their slavery though with the perill of their Heads Now were Gibbets and Hangmen prepared for the Rebels as they were termed when news came of the Commotions in Holland which I shall presently declare to you and put a stop to their cruelty The fury and indignation of the People increasing infused new Courage into the Prince of Aurange that he might once more try the fortune of Warre though yet his Confidence flagged till his Resolution became setled by considering that part of Philips Forces were imployed against the Turk and that Spain it self was yet scarce quiet from the disturbances and incursions of the Moors if therefore he could but get Arms himself would be Captain and he hoped through their dissentions he should be able to find or make a way 1571. To that purpose he sends choyce persons to all Princes that professed themselves Reformers of Religion praying them either publickly to take his part or at least to grant him private Ayds towards the support of the common Cause The Deaâ— and Swede positively deny him as fearing to cope with an Adversary more powerful than themselves not durst the Queen of England disturb her Neighbours greatness although the Pope had given Her over to be a prey and Alva for the Genoa Merchants money detained in England for present use and under assurance of repayment beginning a difference and bringing it almost to Pledges sought long agoe a Cause of Warre against that rich Island as was suspected and now lately when there were some troubles in the North part of that Kingdom he sent some to view the Ports that might if opportunity succeeded to his desires upon such occasion be leaders and without peradventure he was a great encourager of the Endeavours of the Queen of Scots against Elizabeth the knowledge of all which things were for the present so dissembled and Spain so far obliged that the Nassavian Messengers were commanded without any delay by a certain day to depart out of the English Territories But in France they who had laid aside the Rites of the Latine Church that they might give credit to the Peace they had were admitted into the Grace and favour of the King and therefore that they might be the better able to assist the Prince of Aurange they add fresh fire to â—e old Burgundian fuel repeating the Controversie that first â—ose in the Council of Trent between these Kings for priority of place urging also against Philip the poysoning of his Wife Elizabeth whose murder ought to be revenged and that he was in Honour obliged to the like for satisfaction of those French Subjects murdered by the Spaniards in Florida a Province of America which Counsel King Charles listning to with greedy ears would have to believe that he was sensible thereof another motive wherewith they enveighed him was upon the Marriage of his Sister agreed with the King of Navarre they gave him cause to think himself deceived therein It was
brought by the Souldiers Labour in the Floud of Issel and thence drowning it self in a Lake which bounded the Frisons and incurvating it self toward the Island Flie runs into the Sea by this same first received Name But the Face of Things and Places here are now so chang'd that there can be no River seen but on the contrary the Sea hath broke in upon the Land and though at first it seem from a narrow Entrance but a little to increase yet a little further you may presently see it open like a great Gulph The beginning therefore of this Country of old called Batavia retains in part its old Name and is called Geldres whose Lordship growing into wideness is bounded by the River Maze and Issel Over-Issel joyns in Neighborhood to thi having on its side the Greater Frizeland running out as far as the River Eemes then turns about its back to other Parts of Germany Below Geldres where it is called Welawe is Utrecht with some Neighbouring Towns which are under the Rule of a Bishop as likewise all Over-Issel untill the Emperour Charles first of all added them to his own Government Next we find Holland now most plentifully stored both with Cities and Villages running out with two Corners in the Wale and the before-mentioned Gulph by little and little getting from the Water on both sides It spreads a large Shore to the Ocean whose more Northerly Parts were sometimes part of Frizeland but partly by Arms and partly by Agreement now joyned to Holland who lying over against the Flie on the West have kept the Speech of West-Frizeland All the Country of Holland is full of many Arms of Rivers and Inlets of Lakes and Water-Courses made by Art and Labour and is more fertile in Pastures than Corn there no is Country abounds more in Fishing and Navigation both in Rivers and the Sea than this Zeland divided into several Islands borders on this being environed with the two Rivers Maze and Scalde on the Back also joyned with Brabant by Honta and by the River Scalde divided from Flanders which among Forreigners hath merited to give the Name to all the Netherlands This Tract of Land lies all upon and open to the Sea even unto Calais and is that part of the Netherlands which is now under the Dominion of the French Some have conjectured that the Danes plying up and down these parts as Piraâ— have left some Reliques of their Speech behind them in the names both of Holland and Zeland but I having perused many Monuments of Antiquity finde this a common name to all the Islands but I believe it was a more proper and peculiar name to a small Region not far from Leyden barred and rough by reason of thick Woods for the name signifieâ— so much This is clear that when those Northern Nations raged over all these parts of the World committing Rapes Murthers and daily depopulations it made these people for their own safety advise together concerning the choosing â— accepting of Princes which they did by the name of Eâ— or Counts who at first were bound to observe their dutieâ— with so much strictness to the French and afterwards to the Emperours of Germany that they had no Lawes of their own distinct Very uncertain it is of what House sprung or â— what Antiquity their first Princes were There is an Opinion vulgarly received that they were sent out of Acqâ—tayne but there are better and stronger proofs that theâ— were Natives who of old in the same place now known bâ— the name of Holland had but narrow limits to their Domnion till by little and little they became so much inlarge as they have been while by Claims from the Female it had severally descended unto the Lords of Henalt Bavaria Burgundy and Austria of which last is come King Philip the Second but in the number of Earls is reckoned the one and thirtieth At this time the greatest difficulty and evill that attended the Warre was that Amsterdam in Holland and Middleburgâ— in Zeland two most flourishing Cities were both repugnanâ— to all the undertakings of both these Provinces their bigness making them beyond Command of the yongling Common-wealth especially because all Alva's care was fixeâ— for their preservation not onely placing in them choyce Governours but strong Garisons of Souldiers On the other side the Isle of Bommell belonging to Geldres encompassed by the Rivers Wale and Maze was drawn into the association and fortified for the defence of Holland Certainly there was not any thing could have fallen out more happily to the management of these Affairs then the coming of the Prince of Aurange for he being well skilled in what was necessary for a good Government made a quiet settlement of whatever was out of order and by discretion and his innate moderation kept their strength together which otherwise would have quickly come to nothing which vertues his very enemies applauded in him for Marquius while he managed the Government of Holland in his absence by his cruelty towards Priests and all other kinds of immodesty had brought a great scandall upon their now growing Liberty for being of a cruel nature himself he spurred on the French who being accustomed to blood and licentiousness revenged the evills which they escaped at home in forraign Service for this Cause as also for some Act of disobedience by the Prince of Aurange his Command he is suddenly taker and accusations framed against him but the times would not permit him to have any further punishment But the Prince of Aurange laying aside his Name of Prince and embracing his Power began with a selected Counsel to bestow Commands set forth Lawes and Constitutions to order and direct the Affaires relating to the Warre both by Sea and Land and in brief to settle all things in the Common-wealth and if any matter of greater moment then ordinary fell out it was taken into consideration by the great Assemby of the States among whom he sate President Whose frequent meetings besides the shew of a popular State were very advantageous in this that more of the whole number might be knit together by parts to that end where before onely six Cities of Holland together with the Nobility did consult of most matters which six Cities were Dordrecht Harlem Delfe Leyden Amsterdam and Gaunte now the Prince of Aurange did admit of twelve more less Towns which without doubt would be faithful to him by whose favour they had obtained the Priviledge of a Suffrage Not truly was it without great foresight that these were made Partners in Counsels in regard they would the more willingly help to bear that burthen of whose use and necessity themselves were Judges their Names and Order follow thus In the South part Rotterdam Gorrichâ—m Scydam Schonhouen and in the Isle of Maze Brill In the North Alemaâ— Horne Enchaysen and also in the Marshes there which aâ— called Waterland Edam and Monkedam and not far thence Medemleke and Purmeren In the place
successful Sarlies disturbing their enterpâ—sed beginnings At this time Prince Maurice had left Groening and was going against Steenewie when heating of the Siege of Kâ—senburg he left Count William to defend the Frizons and himself with a flying Army coming to Arnheynie an Iâ—e of Holland by Signs encouraged the Besieged and likewise from thence sent Messengers that got through the adverse Army unespy'd by Night in a Boat But the Nassaniaâ— Commanders differ'd in Opinion whether they should 〈◊〉 the Enemy in the Field and fight him or passing the River Wael should fortifie themselves and hinder their Adversaries of Provision and make them leave the Works and Guns they had setled upon the side of the Hill by Niâ—â—ghen There was difficulty and danger in both these Attempts for without all doubt the Enemy was stronger in Horse whose Force and Valour they had often tryed both in Fight and Forraging At length Fortune determin'd their Doubt which many times is as profitable as Prudence for the Prince with Count Solms and Sir Francis Vere being brought near the Enemies Camp hid part of the forwardest Regiments with some Troops among the Thickets adjoyning to the way Other part of the Horse were commanded to march a good way forward to draw on the Enemy upon whose approach they were to seem to fly as if they were overpower'd for most of the Italians in Ten Troops among whom was the Duke of Parma's own Lifeguard were come out to pursue them and they were not to face about till they had drawn the Pursuers beyond the River and a narrow Bridge that went over it which being brought to pass according to expectation suddainly they that fled turned again and the others that lay in Ambush coming in they were inclosed and every valiant man among them dyed in the place he stood the rest were scatteringly slain as they were met with onely some few while the Conquerours took the Ensigns and some prisoners alive and the Horses escaped and fled to the Camp With the grief whereof and the loss of so many noble and valiant men not thinking it safe any longer to stay in the Enemies quarters he gave over his vain Siege but pretending that he was commanded to march once more into France and that the great Affairs of theâ— Kingdom were not to be neglected in striving to win a few Forts or Castles in Holland Wherefore sending the Carriages before he Transported his Army having onely built some slight Works upon the River to keep the Nassauians in play least they should fall upon his Rear and as soon as his Army was all over the Water he commanded them to make a stand that they might secure the ships coming after them But the City was highly displeased at his departure some few spoke of him favourably most smother'd their Anger in a threatning silence but the baser sort of people cover'd nothing of their Madness but shew'd their Fury in their Speeches as if they could by them draw back an Old General that fled at the sight of a stripling Enemy Undoubtedly Parma's Mind having always been accustomed to win Honour was grievously afflicted with this Disgrace so that his former Disease now again increasing be together with his Son Ranutio who lately came out of Italy augmented his Fathers Vexation that he should be a Witness of his Misfortune went to the Spaw there among the variety of his present Discontent and former Fortune to drink of the Waters From thence he sent to the Mutinous Spaniards at Diest for pacifying whom he gave a very prejudicial Example to wit That Emanuel Vega a Captain who was more severe than the Villany of the Souldiers would bear should be displaced and another put into his room The Citizens of Nimmeghen did many of them begin to look after Liberty especially after Desperation had multiplied those Evils which before they had scarcely undergone with the Promises and Expectation of better Things For six years before following the Duke of Parma's good Fortune 〈◊〉 by a general Consent but the Faction of a small Party when the Government of the United States after a long time and by much care came to be setled without whose Consent whatever Duty or Obedience they shewed was without any Affection yet they chose Safety and Profit And from that time there began a mutual Commerce between them and the Hollanders who suffer'd the Ships of Nimmeghen to go through the Wael because then the Channel of the Râ— wanted Depth of Water to bear them But in the Garrison were Three Companies one of Forreigners two of men â—ised within the Town for they positively refused to admit of more and as any one offended more heinously the parties of the great Ones they would by vertue of their received Power threatningly restrain or punish the Offenders There wanted now onely a close Siege least the Enemies Forces should lye at lurch about the Maes and that was onely delayed by the excessive increase of Water in the Wael so that there could not be had any use of a Bridge However the Souldier rested not long quiet in his Winter-quarters though they were purposely at a great distance the more to increase the Conquering Enemies Security For Prince Maurice prosecuting his good Fortune draws out of his Garrisons part of the Regiments and with them marches over the Scheldt into the Land of Wase and at the same time the Horse made an Intoad into Brabant And the fifth day after having taken all the Forts thereabouts Hulst a Town in that Province was deliver'd to him The suddainness of the Action amazed the Garrison Souldiers for the Governor by chance was gone out of Town before the Siege upon private occasions of his own and also because the Prince had digged through the Bank to make the River overflow all the adjacent places and by that means stopped the Enemy from assisting them The whole Land of Wase was given to the Souldiers to spoil and pillage until they promised Tribute and sent Hostages to the States for payment of the same But the Neighbours of the Hollanders seeing all the best of their Fruits and other Provisions possessed by the Enemy Prince Maurice's Army being gone as fearing to have bin met with unawares in the Enemies Country by the Duke of Parma cause Mondragâ—io the Governour of the Castle at Antwerp to take Arms who accordingly with the next Souldiers he could get and such as lived about the Maes goes over the Scheldt but not daring to look upon any Town for Count Solms defended them and Repaired the Works he recovered the Forts and Sconces in the Country and Erected some nâ—w ones for the straitning or cutting off Excursions Hereupon the Inhabitants of the Country denyed their promised Tribute supposing and not without Reason that the Clemency of the Enemy would not break its wonted bounds and revenge the injury upon the innocent pledges All things succeeding thus even beyond his wishes the Prince once again drawing his
new Regency be sent out some with Commissions both into England and into Germany to raise Four Thousand Foot and some few Horse These Souldiers supposed to be met by the Enemy at the Rhine though in vain marched safely and unknown to the Enemy But on the contray Ernestus his Musters were impeded by want of Money and other Casualties for the Regiment of Francis Saxon Lawrenburg assembling by little and little within the Territory of Munster part of them being slain by the Hollanders the rest melted away to nothing and Count Oldenburg denied passage to those that remain'd together of them through the Land The Lord of Cimace also gather'd Souldiers consisting of Flandrians and Waloons being partly promis'd that he should be put into Garrison But they that were Listed by Verdugo a great part of them ran away the rest were consumed either by Poverty or Diseases Another Regiment belonging to 〈…〉 tzenburg were kill'd partly by the Enemy and partly by the Boors about Carpen and Aquisgrave Others went aâ—â—y into Hungary to those Wars So that the new raised men being either dispersed or voluntarily departed and the old Souldiers disobedient and refractory all their hopes were 〈◊〉 frustrated and their boasting That they would divide 〈◊〉 Army of Thirty Thousand Men into two parts and thereâ—â—th at once make War on both sides the Rhine came to nothing Whereby Ernestus himself by how much he had raised mens Expectations of him by so much he fell into present Contempt especially when Leasure and Pleasure Idleness and Lust began to be seen as publike stains upon him So that he was lashed at by eminent and most bitter Invectives Besides he overcharged his Fame among the Netherlanders in that he would have imposed Spanish Garrisons upon several of their Cities And was with great Contumacy refused both by them of Namur and Lisle At the first beginning of the Spring marching into the Field Ambushes were laid but in vain for the surprize of two Ciâ—ies which would have been of great advantage Boisledue was the one which very seldom gave opportunity to such undertakings and now preserved by fortune for the Guards had no other notice of the Enemies approach than the falling down of a Stone Maestricht was the other and there also was a miscarriage by the fear of the Captains which the Prince had sent before in a Ship and because there were some Souldiers who unskilled in such Expeditions knew better to pillage than fight unless by chance sometimes we have no more power to command our Courage than Success when a fatall Cowardise and a suddain fear shall weaken and infatuate the Counsel and Courage of those who at another time are Sons of Valour and start back at no danger From hence Prince Maurice went beyond the Rhine resolving to set an end to all those great Enterprises formerly begun in Frizeland to which purpose not only Count William's strength but several new Companies were drawn into a Body leaving behind only Count Hohenlo with two Regiments to guard the Borders of Holland Not long before this Verdugoe's Souldiers while yet the Waters were all covered with Ice assaulted Delphzile a Castle scituate 〈◊〉 the River Ecnus they came on at first in a deep silence 〈◊〉 on a suddain made hideous out-cryes on purpose to reâ—â—â— the Defendants and they rushed on so unadvisedly that 〈◊〉 the Maritime Bank which by the unskilfulness of the Builders being carried beyond the Trench reached the Bulwark there was a sudden tumult and long dubious Fight untill a Neighbouring Ship coming in with Darts and Guns and the valour of the Defendants beat off the assaylants with great slaughter Then the Groeningers sent to Ernestus Gifts with humble Supplications that he would not defer forthwith to send the General and all the Strength of the Army so often promised to avert and prevent the common ruine and destruction of the City But the Prince knowing that he was feared in Brabant and therefore that part of the Enemies Forces stayd there and that another part was engaged in the French War sending before him Pioneers and Engineers as well to secure him in his march as in a Battel if need should be steers his course towards Coevorden He had ten thousand Foot divided into seven Bodies every of whose Flanks and Rere were guarded with Horse It was a new divised Policy that the Souldiers armed with Lances and Pikes and a few Engines or Guns in the Front should break the Enemies Troops for Verdugo put the greatest confidence in that part of his Forces and then the Cavallery being wearied would easily be routed Upon the left side were placed the Carriages and Wagons that brought Provisions to the Besieged with some of the best and stoutest Regiments At the right side they were â—nclosed with Artillery and the River Vidre Verdugo also had drawn up his men in Battel-Array before the Works as if he had desired to see the Strength and Courage of the Enemy knowing he could easily retire into the Coverts of his defences upon occasion Here the Prince took Counsel whether he should break through the Fortified Marshes to the Besieged or seek a more secure way to get to the Castle But 〈◊〉 Spaniard under the silence and covert of the night draws of his Regiments cruelly shattred with long penury and â—â—y to mutiny at the eminent danger together with the Duke of Parma's old Souldiers marching with them towards Oldenzeel there he pitched his Tents and suffered the Souldiers to glut themselves with prey instead of pay wasting the Fields of Germany robbing and stealing with so much more greediness for that they believed they should not stay long there for fear of the Enemy Some of these Souldiers were sent beyond the Eems to Lugen a Town under the King's Command Others were dispatched away to Groening that the common people who are naturally unstable might be kept in awe by them and any danger arising from sudden fear be prevented After the appearance of day had discovered the nocturnal slight and that the Castle was open and the deliverers and Besieged had with joy among themselves and extraordinary thinks to the Prince saluted one another the next thing in design was what had hitherto been aimed at to set upon Groening by force which in the former years they had so sorely teâ—tified Although it was very strongly fortified both with Walls and Bulwarks neither wanted any thing either as to Victuals or other Warlike preparations for defence And not a few of the chief Frizons had rather the City should have continued in the Enemies power than come into their own as believing it would draw the Trade from all parts thither However the Horse being sent away that they might stop all passages against the Enemy as well at Steenwic as at Coevorden and the Bourtange leaving only the Zuâ—phen Regiment to trouble and restrain the Enemy if need should be the great Guns were carryed by Sea The Prince at his
the Netherlanders of the other part returned Answers fit for the time to the Letters Philip had sent them wherein was transmitted what he had determined to this purpose That it was much against thair wills that they should be disunited in their Obedience from the King of whose Justice and Clemency they had had so many Examples unless that it should be taken as a part of their Duty that at their Prince's Command they would acknowledge his true Effigies Thence they fell into Eulogies of their New Lords highly extolling the vertues of him who was present among them as daily seen and no less admiring those of Her who was absent which they had but heard of humbly begging one thing That he would not withdraw his Assistance from them now when their Affairs were in a manner desperate That as to his Care of Religion and his Commiseration his Fame was celebrated even in the most remote Nations who had been obliged to him for many Benefits How much more justly then should they esteem his Goodness who had advised with his most Noble Daughter his most generous Kinsman and them his antient Subjects against that endless Calamity wherewith they are threatned on one side by the Enemy on the other by their own Souldiers no loss grievous than an Enemy And if they might continue fixed to himself and his Son and Heir the Netherlanders would refuse nothing to shew they hâ—re an Honourable Reverence to the same Majesty under what Naâ— soever The Brabanders but chiefly they of Flanders did separately urge and insist That some means might be found of making Peace with the Hollanders but if He would seek from their Obstinacy to heighten their Punishment he must thâ—n seek to win some Princes of the Old Religion and likewise some Ecclesiastical Persons to be willing either by Arms or some other help to give Assistance to the common Cause for even they that hitherto have feared the dreadful Greatness of Spain will think themselves much more equal to it when they shall see that Power divided But all these Things as they were intermingled with Truth and Falshood the Sequel of the History wherein I shall proceed in the next Book will make manifest The Seventh BOOK of the History of the Dutch AFFAIRES THE Vnited States did not delay to adde new Signs of their old Hatred to their Enemy for they set forth an Edict That nothing that was fit either for War or Shipping should be transported either into Spain or any People allyed to them and thereupon followed another whereby a Restraint was laid upon all Home-growing Fruits least while they sought for advantage abroad they should breed a scarcity at Home but Hostile Flanders was forbidden of all sort of Trade Among which Passages the French Peace that had never been well observed disappointed such as greedily sought after Advantage and dealt in Matters of that Nature by abating the Custom and using other Crafty Policies Now also Counsels began to be taken concerning new Arming the Militia as well such as were to be Lanceers as those who had either in the Infantry or Cavalry deserved well by their Experience and use of greater and lesser Guns Besides new Troops were gather'd with the Revenues which had been raised out of the Fields the last Autumn But afterwards when they began to search into the Frauds and false Dealings of the Captains they found by Experience that all their great Noise of Remedies fell short and that it little profited to reduce the Numbers of every Company so long as the same means of Deceit remained whereby the more their Numbers were lessned the more pernitiously they gaped to devour what was possible Moreover the most active and vâ—liant Souldiers of that chaffering Age whom the Captains used to invite over with the hopes of greater Rewards and Pay than they had before were now onely equalled to the rest by this contracted Licentiousness of Defrauding although themselves with infinite Greediness sucked dry the Common Treasury for those uses From hence began frequent running away even to the spoiling of whole Regiments and certainly the Mischief would have increased had it not been stopped by the Enemies Poverty Which Things being perceived at length by the Prince's daily Admonition the States acknowledged the Evils were grown too big for them In this mean while there was a secure Quiet beyond the Rhine which made all the Provinces of the Union as their Tributes increased to consider of a way to gratifie their Governours Prince Maurice and Count William either with the Rewards of Lands or Money though there wanted not some who would have blasted this Testimony of their grateful Minds with the ignominious Name of an Ambitious Prodigality About this time being the second Moneth of the Year hapned a more rare than admirable Thing hereabouts which because real Prodigies were not sufficient was reputed in the account of an Ostent A kind of Whale was found upon the Coast of Holland by certain Fisher-men and drawn ashore by them with Ropes which is a Creature not so much unknown but that many of our Countrey-men that live by the Sea-side are well acquainted both with its Name and Shape The place where it was taken is called Bercheyde between Schevelin and Catwick an old Village drawing its Original from the Cattâ— as the Name testifies from whence not far off is a Passage into the middle Channel of the Rhine and a Castle which is now utterly ruin'd by the Incroachments of the Sea the Ruines whereof may sometimes be seen at a Low Water This Castle is said to be one of the Works of Drusus or rather of Severus to whom our Ancestors by reason of its standing opposite to Brittain gave the Name of Arx Brittanica But to return to the Whale which reached Seventy Foot in length filling all the Shore between the Sea and the Sand-hills to the sight whereof went a vast multitude of People not minding the filthy and nausious Savour thereof for after it was dead upon the Land as it lay the Bowels burst our which so infected the Air thereabout that many of those that went to see it were cast into Diseases by the stench of it and some dyed Certainly to Wise-men nothing could seem less wonderful than one such Creature whereof the vast Ocean contains a Multitude in her immense Profundities cast upon the Shallows by Winter-Storms where at the Ebbe of the Tide it could not get off but discover'd it self by the vain strugling and beaâ—ing of her great Body upon the Flats But among the Vulgar who have liberty to interpret all Things according to their own Fancy and to draw all the Works either of Nature or Chance into Parties and from thence to fore-tell to the Hollanders who were the Conquerors of that Creature rich Spoils and the Victory over their Enemies Others from hence denounce sad and unlucky Omens to them who are follow'd by such Monsters in their own Seas Which Things also
be content in their present estate and not seek change or alteration Observe also what a pernitious Example he induceth who however for Ambition and Dominion sake he hath voluntarily submitted himself to the Yoke commands all Kingdoms to bow to the Pope and calls not onely the People thereof whom he hires to Sedition but the very Kings themselves Rebels Certainly to this man there will never be wanting either a cause or a pretence for War but that he may sometimes want hopes next to God Almighty it lies Great Queen in your Hands and if you resolve with Us to Conquer We shall be ready to run the extreamest Hazards for our Social Fidelity and we hope you will rather maintain your wonted Constancy than neglect Advantage and by the ruine of your Friends promulgate and corroborate the Enemies strength The Consultations upon this Matter in the Queen's Court were various and both Opinions had strong Supporters to know whose Behaviour and Affections will not be from the purpose that it may appear how the Perswaders Authority bore sway in the Publike Counsels The Earl of Essex as we have elsewhere declared being a young man and burning with the desire of Glory was a Liberal Giver beyond the Ability of his Estate wholly spending himself in compassing the Love of the Nobles Commons and Souldiers having no hopes in Peace but putting great Confidence in the Friendship of the Hollanders and therefore he being General of all Forces in England was for the War with Spain affirming That it could not be put off unless at once both the Queen's Security Credit and Charges should all be hazarded On the other side the Lord Burghly from a private Person being called to the Court and advanced to the high Honour of being Lord Treasurer of England minding wholly the Care of the Treasury especially now in the declining of his Age and his Parsimony agreeing with that of the Queen being also very rich and well-grounded in Experience and so by his Authority preceding the others Favour This man with grave Words praising Christian Concord debated among all the doubtful Counsels what was the most pious and honest to be follow'd He said That a present Commodity ought to be preferr'd before the Incertainties of Suspition and that Peace would not be more profitable to the Enemy than to the English and is the strength of out Countrey so little known that it cannot be safe but at the pleasure of the Hollander when in the mean time the French out of common fear and the Hollanders themselves out of their Care of Religion are tyed with stronger Bonds against Danger by Necessity than by a League Besides the Spaniard is willing to be quiet out of a sense of his own infirmiâ—y And then Peace would follow without more ado both in Ireland and elsewhere Queen Elizabeth either really wavering in her Mind or else willing to express all other Things by her fear of Peace made Answer in a very temperate manner That from the beginning she had done nothing without the Advice of her Allies that it was acceptable to her that they had declared their Minds so freely yet there were many and great causes both for her Self and the French that moved them to desire an end of the War and to make her trust to Peace by removing or disbanding her Armies for since the Spaniards old hopes have been crossed by the Netherlanders abjuring him the loss of France and so many other slaughters and misfortunes if he should think fit to re-assume his Arms the same God that had helped them before would she doubted not assist them again to maintain their Right by the Sword but if they thought fit to continue in Arms things more certain ought to be offer'd This thing the Peers of England interpreted thus That there was no Fault more heinous than to defraud the Queen of her Rights and Duties sometimes by Cavillings otherwhiles by deceitful Supplications and Pretences of Poverty which the Wealth of the Cities in Holland and their well-stocked Treasury openly consuted Nor was it more to be endured that the English should lose the Trade of Spain for them and yet they preferr'd their own Gain before the famishing of their Enemies and so make Merchandize of the War At last this Delay was put to the Pacification that Embassadors from both should go to take notice of the French Affairs And to that purpose by the Queen were sent thither the before-mentioned Cecil and Wilks with whom the hopes of Peace was grown dead by being at the Treaty at St. Quintins for the Spaniards preferred by the Name of Allies those whom the French Peace would advantage giving out at last that they onely should be included in the Treaty who observed the Romane Rites in point of Religion The Embassadors from Holland came a little later by reason of contrary Winds The King at this time was at Angeires busie in pacifying Bretayn which is otherwise called Armorica which as yet Duke Mercury one of the Lorrain Princes the Fury of both Parties being asswaged forcibly detained having deliver'd to the Spaniards the Port of Blavette that they might with more ease land with Supplies But he seeing the King's Army prepar'd on the one hand and a Pardon offer'd in the other and knowing well that when an end is put to a War all subsequent Offences are with severity punish'd obtains for himself and his noble Conditions and an Augmentation of Honour The King at this time was happily without a Wife Margaret of Valois being divorced from him but though his Body was exercised in Military Matters yet his Mind was liable to the Darts of Love for he was absolutely taken with one Gabrielis Estraea a Noble Woman but led aside from the Embraces of her vowed Husband This Woman what with her Beauty and what with her sweet Temptations and alluring Arts had so vanquish'd the King that advancing her to the Title of a Dutchess which was then a Novelty in France so heightned her Pride that though but a Concubine she aspired beyond the Greatness and Authority of a Wife And she also was numbred among the Causes that induced the King's Mind to be inclinable to Peace that he might the more securely enjoy his pleasures with her She had a Son by the King that was four years old and at that time called Caesar whom the King with great Obtestations gave in Charge to Mercury this Woman had also by the King a Daughter very young and appoints to the said Mercury a great Allowance of Money and bestowing upon his Son the Dukedom of Vendosme and the Government of Bretaign And now the Embassadors of Holland just arrive and find the King puffed up with these Matters together with the Spanish Pacification and yet if by chance that had failed he had called a Council of the Brittons to consult about the Siege of Blavette Mounsieur Buzanvale who was well-skill'd in Affairs of that sort and one of the
some small Villages All the great Guns both from the Ships at Land were levelled at the Castle but afterwards Captain Molly looking at the matter nearer hand reported that there was a passage through the ruines whereupon they violently run on and though beaten back both by shot and fire thrown among them yet they came on afresh Then did Molly seeing one Torry a Spaniard rushing upon him with a Javelin gently avoiding the stroke catch him in his Arms so that they both fell down together upon the ground where as they lay strugling he called to his next Associate bidding him to shoot the Spaniard in the Head while he held him in his Arms striving which was presently dâ—ne yet but seven being able to get into the Castle they were forced to Retreat in which Captain Molly being found with his Thigh broken was by his Companions carryed off though a long time he resisted it crying out that they should again and with greater valour assayl their Enemies their care of him at present being to no purpose for if they took the Castle they might relieve and take him up at their pleasure when by chance a Tower wherein was a quantity of Gunpowder being shot with a Bullet the Powder took fire and destroyed threescore Portugueses In which affright the Assaylants afresh coming on took the Castleâ— The Women and Children fled into the Rocks which were unpasseable by Armed men but all Victuals and Water being stopped from them they were forced to yield and together with the men that survived the taking of the Castle were transported into the Philippines Thus were the Portugalls driven from their Dominion in the Molucca's save only they had yet one small Fort in the Island Timosa The Hollanders gave not only the King of Tideris his life but granted him all his power lead thereto rather for their Honours than Securities sake But He dissembling amity with the Hollanders made a League with the King of Ternata having no other hopes and then continually laid plots which in time he hoped to bring to pass desiring in the interim as the best means to secure the liberty of the Island that the Castle might he demolished which ought rather to have been kept up and augmented At this time also other Ships returned from the Indies which had been sent thither by several Merchants before they were united into one Company nor did they come without good booty for they had intercepted a Carack coming from Machao at the Island Patany which then a Woman Governed who maintaining that the spoyls taken in Her Kingdom belonged to her made the Hollanders divide the prey with Her which afterwards they redeemed again Part of the Indian Commodities especially Silk is brought out of China a potent and flourishing Empire where it hath ever been esteemed a part of Prudence to forbid an entrance to strangers and the Portugalls residing at the utmost Borders thereof by many Policies affrighted that suspicious People advising them not to admit the Hollanders who were valiant and powerful at Sea to come within their Borders but while by the favour of Neighbour Kings a harmless Voyage was sued fot in the interim by the Merchants of China that frequented Java and other places they participated of the same Commerce Moreover the Hollanders sent to the Indies Paul Carden with Eight Ships the Ninâ—h by chance being burned before it went out And lest their Neighbours should seek to convert to their own uses that Commerce which they had gotten with so much labour and defended in the uttermost parts of Asia the United States did by an Edict declare That no Native of Inhabitant should go into those parts either from home or out of other Lands except such as were Commanded by the Indian Company lately erected in Holland wherein all Objections were answered by the necessity thereof and the like Example and afterwards in following times the same Company was much augmented by new Cautions and severe punishments against offenders as any deceitful practices were detected This Year were Celebrated some Solemn Funerals as of Philip Hohenlo one of the Noble Persons among the Hollanders who dyed among them and of John of Nassau who deceased in Germany Hohenlo was a Man well skilled in War and of an undaunted Resolution but of no great fore-sight in Command although during Prince Maurice's Youth he was wont to lead the Forces but when he saw by the Princes maturity that there was no use of Him at length partly with grief and trouble of mind and partly by the Gout caused by two much repletion he had a slow and lingring death which is very grievous to a valiant mind But Nassau dyed of old Age he was Brother to William Prince of Aurange and with Him shared the antient Inheritance of his Predecessors the Prince enjoying all in France and the Netherlands and He what belonged to their Family in Germany He assisted his Brother with Money while the necessity of his Affairs required it and in the greatest distraction of his business he was not wanting in Counsel He was for a time Governour of Gelderland and the chief Authour of the Trajectine League which was in its time exceedingly necessary Afterwards returning to his own Patrimony he was a continual Assistant to his Sons supporting by Arms his Allyes and Friends of whom Count William Governing the Frizons and Count Ernest about that time marryed to the Duke of Brunswicks Daughter only survived the Counts Philip and Lewis dyed in the War nor was his Off-spring at home any whit less of either Sex Now also dyed Justus Lipsius a Man famons for Learning among the Noblest Wits after he had obtained great Renown from the Precepts of Wisdom and the Roman Gravity and also from a new and concise kind of writing perpetuated the same in his publick Narrations of Halle and Aspricoll And whether He deferred or contemned to answer those Books set out against him his Death so soon following hath left questionable however as well the Hollanders as the Netherlanders did not omit to Celebrate the memory of this worthy Person both in Verses and publick Orations About this time also was a Marriage in the Nassavian Family Solemnized between PHILIP Prince of AURANGE and a Virgin Daughter of the Prince of CONDE of the BORBONIAN Stock by which Affinity the KING as Obliged to Him restored the free Possession of the Town and Principality of AURANGE although the PARLIAMENT of DAUPHINE averred part of the same to be subject to their Jurisdiction and part in general to the Kingdom Before I begin to enter a Work disagreeing to the former discourses I will declare how the Hollanders Affairs were turned from so sharp and long a War unto thoughts of Peace in this year what part of Europe was at Peace and what at War what private or publick motions and inclinations of mind among themselves or their Neighbours when and how that time became every where as it were fatal
durst attempt no further And now the Seige of Malacca coming to their knowledg they hasten thither that they might if possible surprise the empty Ships and take the Enemy as he lay scattered on the shore but Matelisen being forewarned thereof by his Scouts and Spyes prevented them and although he were but a raw Souldier yet he performed the duty of an excellent Captain for first he shipped all his Carriages and Guns then the Jorensian Souldiers and last of all as any Hollander was more distant so he was commanded before the others that lay nearer to enter the Fort that was erected on the shore Now had part of them gotten into the ships and other part was yet on land when the Enemy made a strong Sally out of Malacca but they were soon beaten back and so afterwards the rest with more care got on board As soon as ever the ships saw each other they began a Fight with their Great Guns at a distance the Portugueses avoiding the Fight because the Wind carryed them towards Sumatra which was from the Enemy As soon as day light appeared the next morning and the Wind began to blow from Sumatra Matelisen foreseeing the Enemy would press upon him commanded to weigh Anchor but one of the ships which was named Nassaw when it could not stir the Anchor and delayed to cut their Cables was set upon by two Spanish Vessels and burned but the danger was like to have reached the Authors thereof if the Galleys had not come in and assisted them which kind of help the Hollanders wanted therefore being drawn with ropes fastned to the Galleyes that were rowed they escaped the fire that was now ready to seize them The Holland ships also attempted to succour their fired Vessels which were called the Middleburg and the Orange but the wind presently slacking hindred their course and forthwith Alvares Carvale Henry Norone and Duertes Guerra Portugal Captains with three ships set upon them into which being intangled one among another the Maurice another Holland ship cast fire which utterly consumed Duertes and Carvale with their ships and together with them perished the Middleburg But Matelisen himself with the Admiral assailed Norom fighting with the Orange and so terrified it with shot that at length the torn Vessel in sign of yielding took down the Banner yet for all this he durst not go among the Portugueses preparing to receive him fearing lest any Seaman the Fight being not yet over should turn both their hands and minds to Booty and neglect the Battel Therefore supposing the ship his own and commanding the shot to cease he drew it after him with a rope but Norone the Cable breaking of it self escaping to his companions deceived his too careful and unhappy Prudence But here the Spaniard being weary the Fight began to cease and the Hollanders took great care that they might not by the swiftness of the Tyde be separated and driven below the Enemy The Victory was equal each side having lost two ships whereof the Portugueses indeed were the bigger but the Hollanders loss was the greater their Fleet being the least But the loss of men was not equal for the Hollanders wanted only might whereas many of the Portugueses perished both by fire shot and in the Sea besides a great many that were slain by the furious Seamen contrary to their Captains command as they endeavoured to escape from the fire in a small Boat The next dayes passed in quiet or at least in the exchange of some few bullets when the Hollanders began to want Gunpowder and which was a greater mischief than that the obstinacy of the Seamen had well nigh burst put into a sedition for because by the Law of the society the whole Fleet was not intrusted to all but every one had his own ship delivered to his Trust they whose ships were burned as if they therewith had lost their wages sad and enraged incited others to refuse fighting with fear of the like loss therefore for appeasing their minds as well that their sick men might be refreshed as their torn ships repaired Matelisen withdraws with his Fleet to Jora and there enters into Council with the Kings for strengthening of the Town against any Assaults of the Portugueses Here while he stayed a Moneth a joyful Messenger came to him with news That the Enemy had divided his â—eet part of them being gone as a Convoy to the weaker ships and that there remained at Malacca no more then seven Galleons and three Galleyes Wherefore trying the Marriners sometimes by Threats sometimes by Promises he scarsly prevailed with them Not to let slip out of their hands an occasion so advantagious for the good of their Countrey When they came to Malacca and saw the Bâ—â—â—ies Fleet lye at Anchor under the Protection of the Castle Matelisen that he might draw them out into the open Sea made use of this Policy The outermost of the Enemies ships being called the Nicholas Himself in the Admiral and with two other ships enclosed and cutting its Anchor Cable with a Rope drew it along with them into the Main Sea and because Gunpowder was short with him he appointed they should not make many shots but what they did make to make surely not aiming at the bottom because in that calm Sea he could not well drown a ship but at the hatches and decks and where-evr they saw the men stand thickest Then he commands the ship to be immediately entred and that all they met with should be put to the sword Nor were the Seamen backward in performing the command forgetting his Domestick quarrel as he grew hot with fighting insomuch that they made a greâ—â— slaughter And when Matelisen would have set it on fire being now empty unless by chance some had hidden themselves therein a certain Captain desired the custody thereof but he would not grant it remembring Nâ—rones late escape nor indeed could he for the rope breaking with which it was held the ship returned to its companions In the interim the whole Portugal Fleet that they might save the Nicholas in so great danger weighing their Anchors came out to Sea The Hollanders sometimes waited for them one to one otherwhiles two to one however at last one of the Spanish Vessels was burned another carrying Sebastianâ— Snares yielded it self the rest all torn and bloudy hovered up and down when night intercepted the Victory Famous and full of Honour was the Hollanders Valour and Fortune that day many of the Enemies being slain and of themselves scarce any except such as through greediness of booty drew upon them ruine by commixing with the burning Ship The next morning one ship which was very much shattered appeared having only left a few 〈◊〉 Slaves that towed it which also was delivered the rest returned to the Harbour Matâ—lisen desiring to spoil those likewise that he might perfect so famous a Work was retarded by fear lest being so near the shore he might run a ground and
the Netherlandish Nobles Therefore Albertus notwithstanding the waving of his consent permitted the Provinces severally to meet cherishing those that were discontented in minde with the hope of money from the Indies which the wealthy and successful Spanish Fleet had brought or else of an approaching Peace if the Warre were more eagerly followed for a little time The beginning of the year among the Spaniards was spent in idleness and repose among the sweets and blandishments of mirth while Don Ambrosio Spinola having now the whole command of the Warre he was but newly come from Spain where he had consulted with the King concerning the method of managing thereof had likewise bestowed on him the honour of the Golden Fleece and before the King of Great Britain's Embassadour was sworn to the peace with Albertus Now also was the settlement of the Kingdome of Spain upon the Male issue celebrated with pompous Shews and publick Prayers and Thanksgivings At the height of the Spring and not before Prince Maurice having gathered together his Forces by the direction of the States he undertakes a great work for he went to Antwerp of old the most flourishing City of all the Netherlands and now the general Trade being gone to the Hollanders retaining their formerly-gotten wealth and renown A great hope of glory incited him to the gaining thereof for about twenty years before in the Duke of Parma's time while the Affairs of the Union were wholly unsetled by a long and difficult Siege scarcely grown into a full success yet such was the Victor's vainglorious ostentation as made the World believe that in that one City he had gained the possession of the whole Netherlands It was serious and considerate advice to shut up this large and spacious City with small Forces by overflowing all the adjacent plain Fields with the River Scheld and pitching their Camps on the higher ground but there appeared no sufficient reason of seising the opposite bank of the River on the edge of Flanders Some advised to send Souldiers through the Country by night-marches out of Cazant but Prince Maurice himself chose rather to goe by Ship which while it was preparing with great endevour as fortuned the Enemy immediately grew jealous and gave out in speeches that Antwerp should be attempted This News was received with various affections of the Townsmen part of them rejoycing as if their Liberty was drawing nigh others imagining a scarcity would follow presently began to inhance the price of Victuals and many gathering together their wealth and riches thought to betake themselves to flight But Spinola sending thither some Horse encouraged such as were afraid the same Horse behaving themselves modestly and without injury of the Citizens then viewed all the coast of Flanders which situate over against Antwerp is called Waesenland and left there three thousand foot-Souldiers in Guard that were to wait upon the Enemie's motion for he was not ignorant that the Enemy could not possess the River unless by drowning the Fields and placing Guards he made that coast also his own Wherefore chusing a particular day Prince Maurice with a strong Party went to Bergen op Zoom and Count Ernest of Nassau bringing the rest of the Souldiers in the Fleet out of Zeland came into the Scheld and first of all passing with good success all the Hollanders Forts when he came near Antwerp among the Enemie's Sconces although in the night he could not pass unseen but was forced to assail the Flandrian banks through all the Enemie's Shot but they which kept Guard in those parts being stirred up by the noise of the bullets and covered by the interposition of the banks following the fails Count Ernest the wind beating back the Ships into Brabant was hindred to come and joyn his Forces where he was commanded being otherwise engaged to fight at disadvantage with a resolute and well-provided Enemy However to try his fortune in small boats he transports almost four hundred men that were easily routed by the first shock of the Enemy and other part of them were taken Colonel Dorpen by the violent pursuit of the Enemy leaping armed into the River escaped one danger with another Count Ernest being driven back into Brabant Prince Maurice disappointed of his design compells the Castle of Woude situate not farre from Berck within five daies to surrender which was too mean a prize for so great an Army to look after and too small a reward for them that had before them so great hopes yet some satisfaction it yielded for from thence the Enemy infested the Rivers with Piracies But these great threats happened not onely to be in vain but to fall out quite contrary so that the Hollanders had not of a long time a more unfortunate year While Prince Maurice staid at Woude Spinola though at that time the Court there was full of mirth concerning the English Embassadour was not slow to take into his thoughts more serious affairs among those pleasant diversions but made a Bridge over the Scheld that went towards the Enemy which way soever he should turn by which means he was ready to pursue and therefore was the more severe to those that surrendred Woude as guilty of an over-hasty and cowardly fear so that he punished some of them with death Nor did the United States a little waver and grow afraid at the report of these great Forces approaching with Spinola not resolved whether they had best assault or defend but the Prince persuaded to remain about Rhine lest the Enemy that way should invade the undefended parts of their Dominion And his opinion prevailing command was given to goe into Flanders and to call a Councel at Scluys And now they thought fit to besiege the t'Zas not farre from Gaunt where the waters running from thence fall into the Hont and so into the Sea which if they brought to pass with good success they threatned some Cities but if not yet they would retain there Spinola's strength threatning the cruelty of a grievous Warre to other places Not farre from Ysendike Prince Maurice sate down with his Army which he had brought by Ship to Waterfleet whom Spinola sending some part of his Forces before immediately follows and at a place called Bucholt which was between him and the t'Zas settles himself as a fit place either to oversee or repress the Enemie's endevours Thus they remained a great while in view of each other without any thing done by either save a few light skirmishes of the Horse One time Pompeio Justiniano by Spinola's command entred the marishes in hope to have burned the Sutlers Boats which lay hard by Prince Maurice's Camp but being espied by the Sentinels he was soon met and repulsed In that Region over against Walcheren lies the Fort Patientia in the assault whereof Prince Maurice intended to drive away idleness but Spinola took a little Fort that lay in the middle of the way and joyned it to his Camp with a continued Breastwork but