of them that refused to come by publick Judgement and Choyce he appointed other Substitutes There was a great scarcity of men that did either desiâ— or deserve these savours when most of them seeing the smallness of their strength or out of scruple of Conscience would endeavour to exempt themselves from these matterâ— which seemed to them troublesome and unsafe And thaâ— they might avoid the Odium of falling rashly from their obedience being underpropped by no allyance the name â— Phillip is used in all Cases though positively in opposition to Philips Commands Nor wanted they a President for this even from the Spaniards themselves who being beyond measure oppressed with Taxes when the Emperour Charles was gone into Germany opposed the Kings Deputies or Vâ—royâ—s By such and the like practices did the Germans at fâ— strengthen and associate themselves in the Smalcalde Leagy for the Cause of Religion After whom the French Nobility had by many Writings declared that inferior Magistrates did not falsifie their Allegiance when they fight foâ— the defence of Religion and the Laws and to Protect the lives of Innocents although therein they not onely disobey the Kings Command but resist his Person This did in some small measure help the Nassavians because they took Arms against Alva the King being absent which they would have let alone if he had been there But they who in defence of the Kings Power and Greatness boasted that they would lay down their lives were by a more fatall necessity compelled not onely to bear Arms but to fight many bloody Battels against the same Now were the Roman Ceremonies quite cast out of their Churches and who were of that Judgement were not easily admitted unto any great Offices or Imployments not that there was any Law against them but it was so ordered cut of common Prudence least they bearing a grudge to all that dissented from them might by that Licence probably disjoyn and seperate their own from the publick Cause and the Discipline which was taught at Geneva and here and there dispersedly in the Palatinate of Germany was publickly received and owned but with this difference that many of the same Religion vary in the toleration of divers things for the teachers in this say not onely that Cities and Magistrates were ordained of God for prevention of injuries either to mens Persons or Estates but that he commanded in what manner he would be worshipped but that saith it is enough to worship at large of which duty many being negligent had drawn upon themselves the punishments due for the impieties of other men But on the contrary those people judged it not onely fit to give them all ayd but all of the Religion voluntarily did abhorre the very name of the Laws of the Inquisition and from thenceforth did dispute that no man would willingly go astray neither could any man be forced to believe against his will And that a true opinion in matters of Religion was onely by God infused into the minds of men no devotion being acceptable to him but what is voluntary And that it hath been found true that erroneous opinions have not been stifled so well by force and humane Laws as eaten out by length and process of time Under these pretences and vizors not onely the publick Rites of Religion were despised without punishment but sometimes absurd and impious discourses would be published among these evills of too much liberty Now were the Tributes and Revenues of the Prince Priests and Monasteries together with the Estates of all such as were fled and lived in the Enemies Country and also all Prizes taken at Sea brought into a common Treasury for the publick use 1573. Then were found out the severall names of Taxes imposed on mens Heads and Estates then were invented exactions under the names of Loanes and Impositions laid even on those things which were consumed by use and all these increased more and more as the Warre grew more fierce They bore so great a spleen against Tyrannical Soveraignty that they had rather part with all then pay the Tenth before spoken of There was also found out a new way of gaining from the Enemy which by selling Licences that Provisions and other Commodities might be transported and this profitable Custom is used yet both publickly and privately and though many times forbidden yet never left off There was somewhat also payd out of Merchandizes for Ships of Convoy when Merchants Ships were attended at Sea for their security by Ships of Warre All these things thus setled the lack of money notwithstanding was the main matter because the Spaniards might make incursions into the Hollanders Country first by Vtrecht and Amsterdam and then through Narde for that is the way â—ut of Gellerland Most matters were atchieved by the valour and industry of the Citizens not by hired and forraign Souldiers for there was hardly Provision enough for those already in Service The Captains were yet not skilled in managing their Men and the Men were untoward to be commanded This onely helped them that they had as much skill in the assaulting and taking of Towns as their Enemy Hence it proceeded that Sieges became so long and the main force they used was to starve the Enemy out till by many slaughters and wounds they became more expert having out of each others blood learned perfectly the art of Warre Great was the over-sight of Alva that he did not bend all his force against Zeland in the instant while all things were discomposed and out of order but he was frighted by them as being ignorant of the way of such fights The Spanish Army lay seven moneths about Harlem a City of Holland loosing many thousands of their men as well by the sharpness of the Winter as by the Sword and that time both strengthned and confirmed the minds of men and the State of Affairs and though by a long Siege yet at last after a late and unhappy relief the besieged fell into the cruel hands of their enemies a great part of whom they either hanged or drowned But by this it appeared that it was impossible to overcome them who had been so long getting a Victory and least their Successes should have gone on while the amazement for the late loss continued their own dissertions put an obstacle in the way by a mutiny for want of pay which was an unavoydable evill in those parts though in wages under a most wealthy King By the sufferings and punishments of the Inhabitants of Harlem the Peoples rage was again set on fire in which fury Alemar a Town of Holland lying to the North first made a breach upon the Spaniards strength by beating them off from their Siege and afterwards they received more comforts in their misery for the Nassavians took Gâ—eretruydenburgh by force a Town of Holland extending it self to Brabant and Bossu himself with his whole Fleet was taken while both at Sea and Land he daily did infest West-Frizeland with
who then by chance had observed himself to have received some Injuries from Granuel in assuming to himself and not bestowing the Governorship of Hâ—sdin and the Abbacy of Trully which Egmond had desired for his Kinsman and by him was denied Hereupon many of the Companions of the Order of the Golden Fleece for at this time they were often called to meet together by Margaret that they might Consult about Defending and Fortifying the Borders drew their Collegues into Parties as if these Managements of Affairs tended wholly to all their Disparagements by whose Counsels formerly the Princes Business had so well succeeded After which these Three Noble-men to shun any further Converse with Anthony Granuel whereas they used to sit together in the Senate publikely sell out with him Antony seeing this began to bestir himself to be able to resist those men who were not onely powerful in themselves but strengthned by the Love and Favour of the People To which purpose he drew to his Side by Benefits and Favours Men active and ingenuous among whom were Charles Barlamont and Viglius Zuichâ—m which were also of the same Senate He being the Chief of the Treasury This though not of any great Family yet famous for his Understanding and Knowledge of Affairs was the Chief of the Judges of the Law who by their secret Meetings and private Conferences concerning unknown matters made such an exulcerated Odium appear against them as became the publick sign and token of faction Now Philip before his departure that he might the better settle affairs of Religion had obtained from Paul the fourth then Pope that all His Provinces of the Netherlands should be exempt from the care and charge of forraign Bishops For the Archbishops of Colen and Rhomes which were of old chief Cities that of Lower Germany this of Gallia Belgica had nothing now left them of that so antique division besides the name Their Jurisdiction therefore being taken away together with the Bishops of Leige Triers Oiuburgh Munster and Paterborgh losing also part of their Command and three Bishops in upper Burgundy to wit of Mechlin Utrecht and Cambray renounced and under these many more of whom in the Borders of Brabant Antwerp and Senlis of Gelderland Rurimunde of Flanders Gaunt Ipro and Bruges of Holland Harlem of Zeland Middleburgh of Overissel Daventry of Artoyes also with Audornarum thence Namur Groining and Torney Cities that bear the names of the Countries they stand in This was an antient Custom and much used by the Popes upon the multiplying of people and that Religion might be the more easily taken care of to erect new Bishops Seas so to share among many the burden which grew too great for one and the Emperour Charles minding other things had omitted this care which of old was taken by the Princes of the Austrian Family But the causes of the reviving this Policy or appointment were hated and grown odious almost to all One was that they who should overlook and inquire into the manners of the Clergy and the peoples errors might be more in number and neerer and this the very Authours thereof openly professed complaining that vices did mightily increase by the neglect or connivence of those who should take care to prevent the same Another was imputed to Granvell's cunning who had take from Rome both the Bishoprick of Mechlin and the Dignity of a Cardinall most men guessing in the future that would be as when Priests of old had by Prerogative a right â— suffrage in the Assembly of the States that he being the chiâ— of that number with others which he should by his meaâ— and endeavours allure for the right of naming Bishops wâ— by the Popes granted to the King reserving to themselves onely the right of approbation might by an under-hand confederacy with the Spaniards suppress their liberty When Revenues were to have been setled upon Bishops out of Monasticall Possessions the Abbots were the first that gain sayed that purpose of which society at that time all with free and unanimous consent avowed they would not admit underminers of their Wealth and Authority The Brabanderâ— confederates with these by Books commend the care of the Laws to the Prince wherein they advise that Ecclesiastical Promotions should not be increased without the consent of the Nobility and Commons Hereto we e added many answers of men professing Justice That it was an act of irreligion and profaneness to tear away the pious and charitable liberalities of other men and to question the judgements and integrity of dying persons by diverting their gifts to other uses than they intended them And some of the ancient Bishops especially He of Leige cryed out the Pope was circumvented and with all eagerness prosecuted their right Hereupon many other Cities refused to receive their new Bishops and who were admitted were so generally hated that they could never officiate without mocks and taunts Now the Nobles taking notice of the generall hate of the Netherlanders against Granvell did think it most necessary for the better managing of their publick affairs That there should be a generall Assembly of the State Therefore as often as there hapned complaints of the poverty of their Treasury or of the fear of Seditions for there was much pay behind and due to the Souldier both Horse and Foot and Merchants began to be restrained among Forreigners for publick debts and the Tributes promised for nine years were even now at an end They began to cry up the old Custom of which they said good Princes would never think amiss What marvel is it now that all things were in a deplorable Condition when in all their evills the basest flattery could rob them of their onely remedy The adverse party took notice of all to little purpose therefore it was for them to dissemble how far their malice tended in prosecuting with hatred the man that had been industrious for the King more than they would have had and therefore the Ministers of State under Philip were to inquire out any that were emulous of the Princes Power and who those should be to whom all would submit in this great alteration the Abbots were troubled for their own private lucre sake The Nobility were obnoxious to these and the rest under the notion of the States were doubtfull and in suspence for the use of their temporal usages So that dissembling here modesty and obedience their fore-sight of and providing against dangers and the Lawes left to them by their Ancestors and vertuous Discourses every one did strive to make himself greatest Furthermore those three before named taking the boldness to write Letters to the King denyed it possible to divert the publick ruine of the State unless Perenotte were removed from his abominated Power praying also for themselves an exemption from the Assembly of States but promising very largely as to his Government his Sisters Dignity and the maintenance of the Roman Religion Philip sends them an answer full of courteous
caused them to take an Oath to that purpose contrived that they should take all persons without exception for enemies whom the King should so declare This Oath was taken by Count Egmond Charles Arscot of Croya a person quite unconcerned in the former troubles Charles Baylaymont and his Brothers the Counts Peter Mansfield Governour of Lutzenburgh Count Megem Governour of Gelderland Count Aremberg Governour of Frizeland and the Count of Noricum that in Henault held the place of the Marquess of Berghen And quickly did they begin to make the truth of their Oath appear by their actions Egmond infesting those in Flanders the safeguard of whom he had undertaken The Count of Noricum marcheth against Valenciennes where were others of the Rebels and by Siege forcing them to surrender punished them with great severity by which examples terrified the best and greatest Cities the troubles being thus for a time ended received their appointed Garrison the rest destroying and slaughtering all the remains of those mad people that they could find any where together onely the Prince of Aurange and Hochstraten denyed to change their old Oath by which they were obliged to defend the King and Laws for any other Aurange adding further that his Wife was one of that number which by that Oath were destined to destruction While these things were in agitation the Spaniards as they can see when they have an opportunity did not sluggishly manage that happy occasion And first while the danger was yet scarcely removed it was agreed almost on all hands that the Presence and Majesty of the Prince would be very available for the quieting and composing of all parties the most faithfull and loyall among all the Netherlanders telling and assuring that if the King should send another and not come himself it would produce more hate and lesse obedience which the Emperour Charles the Kings Father well knew when upon a small disturbance onely in the City of Gaunt he made no delay to come thither immediately though at that time France even yet breathed out Warre against him But now a great deal of time was wasted in vain and frivolous Discourses which was the safest way for him to passe by for they suspected France would hardly afford him passage either with or without any Army and a Voyage by Sea was not judged fit in regard of the many certain hazards thereof besides his landing in Zeland might be doubted for they could nor tell how far either the Prince of Aurange or the English might attempt upon his person Therefore the Resolution was that he passe over into Liguria and thence into Germany and there to speak with the Emperour and to try his pulse The Emperour then was Maximilian the Son of Ferdinand who upon consideration had of the Dutch Affaires said that unless Philip would in some measure give place to the present necessity of the times it would be a dangerous undertaking for him by reason of the Princes of the Augustaâ— Confession that were bound to the Dutch Lords by many tyes of friendship allyance and benefits but if any way of moderation might be proposed he offered himself as a Peace-maker between them but this was somewhat ill resented as Augustus Elector of Saxony said who was very great in Caesars favour and allied to the Prince of Aurange by his Brothers Daughter Letters now are sent to the Lady Margaret which declared the Kings approach but not without an Army for so it befitted his Majesty to keep up his Dignity among strangers as also either by the terror thereof to appease all tumults or if any durst stand to contest with him that then he was prepared for the future not to receive but to give Lawes And indeed a little time made it manifest that the Spaniards not content that they were quiet began to look back for revenge by making thâ— Kings anger the meanes to compass their private ends and advantages for they offered as a pretence for enslaving the Dutch that they were all to be looked upon as Traytors either because they had began those novel mischiefs in Church and State or else because they had not brought the persons that durst do such things unto condigne punishment There are also that add the Authority of an Oath formerly made by the Pope to Philip when undertaking the Government he bound himself up to the Lawes that the Netherlands should be governed as America and the greatest part of Italy were And the great credit given to the Duke of Alva's Counsels who was no new fomenter of Tyranny made all men believe that unless so horrid an Example of Rebellion were signally corrected with some remarkable punishments that it would cause others of his Subjects to kick off their Allegiance and therefore that not only the present force but fear of like reward should keep them within their bounds Nor was this so fit time of subjecting the Netherlands to be lost or neglected for all the Kingdoms lying round about do faithfully observe the peace they have made with him and if there were any thought of troubles it was domestick and arise at home Thus were they over-ruled who perswaded Peace and moderation Prince Charles the Son of Philip offering his endeavour for the pacifying and ruling the Netherlands but so much in vain that it did prove to his harm by encreasing those suspitions before conceived against him At last it was declared the King having retired as if upon matters of greater concernment or else upon pretence that he might not be in danger that the Duke of Alva should be sent thither with most ample Authority nor is it to be doubted with what Instructions he being a man alwayes used to Warre and Bloodshed to whom being in Italy the Messengers reported the Companies of old Spanish Souldiers from Naples Scicily Sardinia and Millaine to be joyned with the Horse the Prince of Aurange not thinking it fit to stay any longer goes to Nassau being then possessed by his Brother protesting openly at his departure before a great multitude of people that followed him that he would not stir one foot further in this difference unless he were assaulted or damnified In whose absence the Lady Regent commanded Maximilian Earl of Bossu to take charge of his Lieutenancies Brederode when he had fortified what was his and hovered about Vtrecht near the Rhene and Amsterdam two very wealthy Cities the Prince of Aurange favouring his first attempts either by an under-hand assistance or deceit is shortly after forcibly driven out of the Country Egmond and some other meaner Lords whose minds and fortunes could not suffer banishment were led about with the hope of living till they were brought to their ends untimely but most of the Nobles and many of the Commonalty for fear of the Spaniard though part of them fearing punishment returned being not prepared to fly for Religion went some into the next parts of Germany some into England and some into farther distant Countries the
Companies of men fly about the Streets of the City like Conquerours crying out The Mass used in the Roman Religion is holy for this was the Signall of the Combination when the Townsmen running from their Tables for they were at dinner take their Arms against this sudden tumult the first that went out meeting the Valoysians Body to Body hindered their endeavour of passing further And in a moment more and more gathering together on every side fighting in defence of their Families and Fortunes with notable Courage and Concord they beat all that entred into the City back to the Port whereat they came in There was a horrible slaughter for in that straight they stopped out and hindred the living and those that sled could not escape their pursuers But Valois himself when he understood the infamous madness of his undertaking by the Event made with shame and terrour of Conscience and wanting all things with as many of his Forces as he could get together among many hazards of his life and the grievous loss of what belonged to him he sled by the marshes of the Fields beyond the River Dila This notorious and apparent injury most vehemently incensed the minds of many who before were no lovers of the name of France Nor did Parma and the Netherlanders that were with him omit by Letters to terrifie them laying before them their abominable defection and Revolt and to the oppressions of their new Government were more grievous than of that they shook off saying further that they must bear with the dispositions of their Superiours for a people could be safe that rebelled among so many Kingdoms But if now from this sad experience they would return to their obedience he offered them not onely equall as just Laws but also the Kings mercy and Pardon The Prince of Aurange was sensible that this time of appeasing this â—â—chief was too fit to be laid hold on for the Spanish Affairs and therefore though his Counsel had once proved unfortunate whereby he had lost the main part of his power the Peoples favour yet being asked his Opinion he declares the same with many acknowledgements of error to ave envy the more easily If the Common-wealth could by its own meanes be governed with the same unanimity as the King there would be â— dispute but that we might very well be without the Government of a single Person especially if he be a Forraigne Neither is it now to be enquired after if it be lawfull to desert him who first violated all publick Rights and Law it self of which there was so great care taken by Covenance and pact but they were to minde and observe his strength 'T is truth he hath no great Army but there were in â— to wit the Dukes Possession severall strong and well fortified Cities And the Netherlanders were now to advise whether they had rather continue their Possession to themselves or necessitate their delivery to the Enemy That it was much more convenient since they were by both abused that they should be in the French than the Spanish power for the Spaniards Dominion being well knit together by age would always find Instruments to oppress and enslave them where as the French if they should endeavour such a thing were not able to fit themselves with properties to serve their designs It were better therefore and more safe to assay and try the French who having been once taken tardy will never hereafter seek such an opportunity or if they should would never have impudence enough or courage to put it into action They ought alternately to weigh that in lieu of his own offence the Duke hath done them many kindnesses and to remember that for the last years his single care and pains had both defended their Cities and frustrated the Enemies designs That thus they would not onely revive but altogether such unity as their Warre required if Valois remembred his offence and they forgot it This Speech was seconded by others excusing the imprudence and rashness of Youth adding withall that it may be the greatness of his minde being sprung of Royall Blood and never made stoop to the humility of obedience and perchance too incensed by some contumacious persons he had taken that unfortunate way not with intent to kill and plunder but as their wickedness and mischievous Counsel informed him onely to secure his power and greatness And the King of France had with his promises and some implicite threats commended his Brother herein That therefore the Duke was to be treated with to restore the Towns he had in his power and to withdraw to Dunkirk whither the rest of his men who compounded for the other Towns they had should come to him In the Interim after many and long delayes and while he disputes the restitution of the Towns and Provisions begun to sail the Netherlandish Souldiers that were with him for fear of the multiude who mindful yet of their late danger doubted newer and greater matters and were scarcely satisfied Biron is sent thither Generall of an Army of French to stop the Duke of Parma's Carreer who then by the taking of some Towns had mightily infested and did over-run Brabant But yet the Warre did not go on as it should in his hand who with much adoe was drawn to a kind of Treaty Valois of his own accord finding fault that he had onely the bare name of a Prince that the account and disposall of monies and all other great affairs were concealed from him so that he was not able to gratifie any person And it was no wonder if after the examples of so many others who had been called in by the Netherlanders to assist them and they had found sad experiments of changed desires they had found him who long continuing in suspence concerning it would now depend upon the beck of another but he chiefly and with much regret insisted upon this That they denyed to him onely what was allowed to all other Princes namely that out of the Senate he might have a domestick Councel The use of which Custom John Bodin their Master of Requests had praysed above all others he being a man whose wisdom and affection was well known by his Writing but on the other side the Netherlanders feared nothing so much also the French offered somewhat in favour of the Roman Religion Among all these Disputes Valois being well nigh shut up in Dunkirk when now a new affliction was added to renew his old grief multitudes dying in the Town by sickness he goes thence into France either that he might refresh himself by the change of Ayr or which is most probable that he might recover his Brothers favour between whom yet remained some Seeds of discontent Certainly this Journey was made onely for a time And the Netherlanders as long as he lived never left off sending to him Embâ—ssies to intreat him to send ayd to Flanders in a staggering condition Earnestly beseeching the King also that he publickly would
if it should either rain or snow because the natural moysture and marishness of the ground would be exceedingly increased wherefore the Prince returning Victor into Holland loaden with honourable fame even among forraign Nations he was received by the 〈◊〉 even with an excess of joy The people of old were wont to rejoyce at their Princes good fortune as from Command not obliged by duty They had known the former Prince of Aurang onely in disguise under the Cloud of adverse fortune And in the Earl of Leicester's time they were perplexed between private discords and publick murthers Now only they saw their bounds enlarged by Arms and their Government setled by Rivers and strengthned with fortifyed Towns and yet their Leader requiring no other satisfaction for all his pains and labour than the glory thereof the benefit of the success being wholly left to the Country which looked not only with hope â—ut adâ—â—tion at his youth as if it had been on purpose set apart by the divine Providence for such weighty undertakings And then again casting their unsatisfied eyes upon his countenance they gratefully reverenced that tender Age and 〈◊〉 Blood which had so often thrown it self upon dangers for their defence And without all doubt the Princes good fortune was much forwarded by celerity besides he had learned the exquisite Arts of Fortification both as to the of sensive and defensive part the besieging or defending Towns and as far as the present Age was able to instruct him was well practised in the encamping of an Army The Enemies were nothing so industrious their confidence as it is generally observed breeding carelesness and slouth and sometimes overweening Temeriâ—y They who are weakest in power are for the most part strongest in Counsel as ayming to supply by prudent Resolutions and Industry what is deficient in strength Fame also is a great assistant where the first happy events are multiplyed to the great supportation of liberty But the mayn of all was the strength of Shipping among so many Rivers without which the rest would have profited but little According to Custom the Souldiers wintered in Garrisons from whence many times small parties going out wiâ—h various success brought in booty or were circumvented by the Enemy During which times also stratagems were frequently used for getting of Towns such were they whereby here Gertruydenburg Maestrict and Scluys were offered at and in another part Breda was endeavoured to be taken but the Ambushy being discovered the Armies marched back frustrate of their designs Now was the Sea scowned from Pyrates and the Duke of Parma being for France received joyfully an Embassie sent from the Emperour to mâ— and mediate a Peace But the United Provinces suspected it as they had reason but chiefly because they had intercepted Letters from the King of Spain written concerning it wherefore they shut their eâ— against those old deceits warned by the fresh example of the Arragonians who while they unwarily discoursed of liberty were surprised by craft and drawn into slavery and ruine These People of Spain of old called Tarraconia now â—â—garly Arragon first getting possession of that part of the Country by Arms which barbarous Nations from the other side of the Sea had invaded by the Counsel of such as weâ— esteemed wise among them erected a Commonwealth At the beginning Kings that name and honour being given to a limited power were chosen here by the suffrages of the people afterwards by the Custom of several Nations their Heirs were admitted by Succession to the Government yet obliging them to the observance of the Law whereby they who were then eminent as foreseeing the inconveniencies of a Kingdom conveyed some power to the people whose Authority was to be used in publick Counsels and gave a priviledge of Supreme Magistracy even over the Kings themselves and these boundaries were well observed as long as the Princes were careful to do Right and Justice and made use of no Forces to defend Crimes But afterwards there happening a Conjunction of Kingdoms and all Spain by that means becoming subject to King Philip all mens patience was tryed by the severity of the Inquisition and every thing by new forms of Judgment was disposed and they rather fitted to the pleasure of the Court and Courtiers then squared by the Rule of the antient Law or Prescript order of Justice The Case of Anthony Perez was greatly commiserated by the People who having been employed by King Philip about Eâ—oâ—vedo's death was yet by him falsly accused of but an ordinary fault for which deprived of all Authority and flying from Castile he was yet prosecuted by the Kings rage into this Region for the King hated him because he had been active as a procurer in matters of Love And when he Instruments of wrath impudently opposed the Laws and would by no means suffer Justice they were resisted by force and the first commotions being provoked by force were afterwards nourished by gentle endeavours and dissimulation And as the Tumults begun under a malevolent constellation so the City was perswaded under pretence of the French War to suffer the Kings Army to come through its Borders and to march through Sarragosa the Metropolis of that Region and so to go over the Pyrenean Mountains But instead thereof the Nobles were murthered and every one that either with Tongue or hand had been forward to advance liberty was by revenge marked and for the future nothing remained but a prospect of Tyranny and slavery Although these things are not suitable to my purpose yet I have not neglected to insert them here at such times as they happened that Posterity may compare their fortune and the Netherlanders together that as well the faults of Princes may be known as the People may be instructed that many times the cause is no less to be minded than the Forces of a King While these Transactions were a foot otherwhere the King of France being recruited with German Souldiers and English Auxiliaries besieged Roan Queen Elizabeth desiring that he would inclose the Enemy between the River Seine and the British Ocean this made the French Confederates with Parma take his long stay the worse who being slow in making ready his Warlike preparations or else consulting of some higher design how to augment the dangers at last though late in the year having first received the Town of Fer in pledge he drew near to the Borders of Normandy There were in his Army several new raised men and those Regiments which had lately fallen into a mutiny but now were restored to their Colours being full of booty and having also received their pay which the Duke of Parma very hardly extorted by the encrease of Tributes and selling the right of Commerce to the Enemies the Netherlanders not without cause complaining that their Borders were left naked and their mony and strongest men carryed away to help strangers Pope Gregory sent also Assistance to the French Rebels â— thing not used by
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
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
admired by her neighbours but courted by Embassadours even from the Moors and Sarmatians No man hitherto doubted but that great Commotions would have arisen in England upon the death of the Queen who had never declared any certain Successor for it was believed that although James King of Scotland was the next in bloud yet the ancient hatred of the inhabitants and the private fear of those that had consented to his Mother's death would be an obstacle to him there being several ready in England who boasted themselves to be descended of Royal bloud Then also the power of the English Catholicks was feared lest they should hope for that by Troubles which they could never expect while the setled Authority of the Queen remained the Pope also instigating them as unwilling that a King of the new Religion should be admitted although he were next in bloud Nor was that hope onely grown in the Spaniards who lay at watch for the peoples commotions but the Hollanders also although they had by many good offices before-hand pre-engaged King James upon the connexion of Religion yet by tacite wishes did guess that the imputation of their alliance with him would transferre part of the Warre into Britain But it happened beyond hope and expectation that presently after the decease of Queen Elizabeth the old Councel of the Queen and as many of the Bishops and Magistrates of London as were at present at hand and in readiness proclaimed King James not waiting for the authority of a Parliament for the danger of delay and because Interregnum's do many times in the future by new Laws and Covenants diminish the grandeur and power of Authority Thus without any contradiction the King of Scotland got the possession of England and was the first that within the known Records of any Annals enjoyed the whole Island of Great Britain in one entire and undivided Government The United States did not omit forthwith to send an Embassy to congratulate him for his new access of magnitude having first sent some gratulatory Letters The Embassadours sent by them to the King were Count Henry of Nassau Prince Maurice's brother then a Member of the Councel of the States and General of the Horse next to him was Walrave Brederode thirdly John Olden Barneveldt and lastly Jacob Valcken who died before he returned from this Embassy When they were admitted to audience they spake in this manner We are come hither Great King divided in our selves between Grief And Joy for we have lost Her whose goodness and benefits to us we are not able to express in words but we have found You as the Heir of Her Kingdome so the Imitator of Her Vertues That which formerly we desired and since that by publick supplications decreed to the most happy Messengers of Your new-begun Dominion that now in Your own presence with hearts and voices we beseech and begge of God that this Your reign may be happy and prosperous to Your Self to Posterity to Great Britain and to Vs We begge of You Sacred Sir one thing That You would not suffer the insulting Spaniard to trample upon the necks of the Netherlanders and from thence by degrees to incroach upon the Dominions of others his Neighbours It suits with Your Religion to save so many Assemblies of pious men from that Kingdome of sanguinary Superstition it agrees with Your Justice to defend a Cause allowed of by so many Kings and it is an act becoming Your Prudence to drive away those underminers of Kingdomes and supporters of the Papacy by whose judgement all that You now possess is given to them as a Prey Your Predecessor Queen Elizabeth did this and so we hope will You and that with the greater ease by how much You are in the prime of Your age have a more man-like Authority a more ample Power and a House well setled upon the happy foundation of a hopeful Issue Our fidelity shall in part supply Your Work and Charge by whose prosperity and adversity it hath been made evident that the Spaniards could be conquered 'T is true Peace is a most excellent Jewel and worthy of high estimation among Christians but that that is made with Tyrants and treacherous people is little better then Warre If all they that are joyned in the Cause would unite their wealth he would be deprived of the Netherlands and if that punishment would not yet make him wise he should be driven out of the Sea and all his maritime Dominions which would be no hard matter for the Hollanders and English to effect and this certainly would make him glad to come to a true Peace the best maintainer whereof was equality of Forces Now is the siege of Ostend protracted unto the third year so that having endured so long a misery we humbly intreat You to aid us with supplies for relief thereof for which purpose you may make use of those ships which by the Queen 's command were furnished and instructed with Armes and provisions by us being eleven in number and now wait for nothing but your Royal command Hereto the King very courteously answered as to the matter of friendship but as to the rest he excused himself by the infancy of his Dominion but in time he would see what was best to be done in the interim not concealing that as much as he could he would prefer all counsells tending to Peace for hitherto he had had no difference with the Spaniard and also Philip had voluntarily offered him his assistence if any dispute should have arisen concerning his Kingdome and himself being of a mild disposition and well grounded in all kind of Literature had spent his time in studies rather inclinable to Peace then War And the Archduke being supposed to have made war with the Queen not with the Realm had by Edict forbidden any damage to be done to the English sending home besides all Prisoners they had that were that Countrey-men and soon after he sent Charles Prince of Arenberg Embassador to the King as also the Spaniard sent Don John Baptista Taxis to the same for the promoting a Peace concerning which the year following there was an agreement When the Embassadors of Holland saw they could not prevent it they endeavored to delay it and to give the King some hopes that they likewise might obtain Peace together with their Liberty if the King by procrastinations or delay would suffer the Spanish counsells which yet depended upon the event of a few years to grow towards perfection And this was the discovery of Olden Barneveldt who was throughly versed in all the secrets of the United Provinces producing the Duke of Brunswick's hand whom the Emperor Rudolphus had acquainted with that affair But King James his hast was not at all slackened in making that Peace whereupon the Hollanders onely contended that if they could not obtain a shew of assistence yet that they might not be denied right These their desires were seconded by the French King who was very
which is granted and upon what terms 843.844 Hautcea sent out with a Fleet to intercept the Spanish ships coming out of America and the success thereof 846 Hohenlo Philip his death and character 856 Hollanders averse to Peace 865 Hague Herman Wittenhorsten comes thither from the Archdukes concerning Peace 866 Hollanders averse to Peace and why 876 Obtain a famous Victory at Sea under the command of Jacob Hemskerk at the straights of Gibralter 881.882.883 ad 888 A description of Hercules Pillars 883.884 Hemskerk Jacob Dutch Admiral his speech to the Captains of his Fleet. 884.885 He is killed and his speech at his death 886 Holland Fleet retires to Tituan to repair their ships where they are received with joy 889 Hollanders recal their Fleet from Spain and why 892.896.897 Send Deputies to the King of Britain and for what and his answer to them 894.895 â—â—gue the place appointed for the Treaty 900 Hollanders take a great booty from the Spaniards and how 908.909 I. INquisition the Spanish Inquisition the Original cause and severity thereof one cause of the Dutch troubles 17.18.31 Command sent from Spain to put the same anew in execution 30 Received in the Netherlands and by whom 55 John Don John of Austria sent Governor into the Netherlands his Character 86 He is received by the Netherlanders 86 Accused by them to the King 87 Overthrows the Dutch Army at Gemblin 91 Offers the Confederates Articles of Peace 91 Imbis a great Incendiary at Gaunt his character and death 97.142 John Don John perswaded to Peace and by whom but in vain 99 His Army is recruited he breaks off the Treaty and pitcheth his Army near Namur 100 His death and character 102 103 Imbâ—s moves a new sedition in Gaunt 104.138 Ipre a Town joyns with the United Provinces 110 Issel a City submits to Parma 111 Ipre besieged by Parma 140 It is surrendred to him 142 Issel the derivation of the name 329 Iesuits hated in France and why banished 342 The original description and character of that order 342.343.344 Ireland Rebels there assisted by the Spaniards with a short description of the Countrey 402.403 First invaded by the English under Richard Earl of Pembroke 402 Beginning of a Rebellion there and by whom 403.404 Indies Holland ships first return thence with a description of the Countrey by them made 502.503 Isabella Clara Eugenia betrothed to Albertus and why 529 She writes to Albertus to take possession of the Netherlands which he doth privately 566.567 Iselburg forceably taken by Mendosa 611 Isabella sets an Edict out against the Hollanders and to what purpose 638.639 Isabella Fort besieged by Prince Maurice 687 Indian Company first rise thereof in Holland and the form of ordering the same 733 734 James King of Scotland Successor to Queen Elizabeth in the Throne of England and Proclaimed King 740.741 An Embassy sent to him by the United States and the Embassadors Speech to him with his Answer 741.742.743 Embassadors come to him from the King of Spain and the Archdukes 743 Indian Company send ships to Sea and whither 764.816 848. James King other Embassadors sent to him from the King of Spain and the Archdukes 777 Jesuits banished out of Britain and why but restored in France 780 Indies several ships return thence very rich 815 816 847 A Description of some part thereof 848.849 ad 856 Indian Company confirmed by Edict of the States 856 Indies West a new Company for those parts raised in Holland the Form and Government thereof 870.871 872 Several Opinions thereof 873 874.875 James King sends Embassadors to the Hague who they were and what they did 895 Indies ships come home thence rich and others sent thither 910 Janinus goes into France and for what 929 His Speech in the Councel of the States 941 942.943 K. KNights of the Golden Fleece the Original thereof and causes of their Institution 5â—6 Drawn into Parties and for what and when and by whom 24 King the Presence of the King necessary in the Netherlands to keep the Peace as the Emperor Charls was sensible 42.43 Knodsenburg Fort built and by whom 253 Knodsenburg besieged by the Duke of Parma 270 Relieved by Prince Maurice and the Duke of Parma's men worsted in sight 272.273 L. LOw Countreyes the antient situation and limits the original language Dukes Earls and how they attained and hereditary Succession 3.4 The antient form of its Government untill they fell to the Burganâ—â—ans and after that to the house of Austria 5. â— Liberty chiefly and first sollicited for at Philips departure 22 League between Philip the second of Spain and Henry the third of France and the effect thereof 30 Divers Lords of the Netherlands against the Inquisition and by whom drawn up and when 33 Lutherans formidable in the Netherlands and why 36 Law utterly laid aside and an Arbitrary Power set up and by whom 56.57 Lumey Admiral of the Prince of Aurange's Fleet his character 60.61 Luyden besieged beats off the Enemy 77.78 Lamot Philip reconciled to the King by the surrender of Gravelin draws in many others 105 Lyra won treacherously by Parma 127 Lâ—chem siege thereof raised and why 128 Lorrain Family of Lorraign claims the Crown of France which much troubles the King 152 153 League with England the heads thereof 164 Leicester Earl sent General into Holland his character 165 Much honoured at first by all and why 166 167.176 He grows ambitious and raises Factions 167.168.175.176 He takes ill the meetings of the States and why 174 And returns to England 17â— He comes back to Ostend for the relief of Sluys but marches thence and doth nothing 180.181 He renews the old factions in Holland 181 Endeavors to seize the Government but is prevented 182 He returns to England is forced to abjure his Authority and dyes 183 â—eban the place of meeting the Spanish Fleet. 207 Besieged by the English and Hollanders 239 Leige Bishopric is difference between is and the Hollanders and for what 259.260 Lopeâ— Lodewick his Treason against Queen Elizabeth and by whom 〈◊〉 341.342 Lutzenburg wasted by the French 360 361 Lâ—ere taken by Heraugier and lost again presently 397 398 Leyden in Holland and University when begun and 〈◊〉 Learned Men bred there 464.465.466.467 Lingen Besieged by Prince Maurice 520 521 And delivered together with the Castle â—â—2 Lisbone beset by the Earl of Cumberland with a Fleet and the success thereof 541 Lovestreyn a City that first threw off slavery 626 Lingen Besieged by Spinola and yielded 801 802 803 Lochem Besieged by Spinola and taken 836 Retaken by Count Ernest of Nassau 844 Lipsius Justus his Death and Character 857 Luther his Opinions 951 M. MOntiny John Count Horn's Brother and the Marquess of Berghen sent into Spain and to what purpose With the King's Answer 34 35 Margaret Lady Regent forced to give way to the Times and agree to the Counsel of the Confederate Lords 38 39 She raiseth more Souldiers and why 41 Maximilian the Emperour's
added the frequent Assaults takings and re-takings of Towns and Castles Marches and Re-Marches of Armies till sometimes they met to Battel Passages to and fro by Sea long Sieges and indeed all kind of Martial Discipline improved to the utmost by signal Experiment But these things being done in publike whereby each Party strengthned his own Affairs and turned all occasions into Force I shall more easily accomplish in regard I have them as nearer so more certain and consequently not to be prevented much less amended by others at a greater distance The beginnings of this War though very incertain because much unknown and dark in its occasion many famous Writers have undertaken even in the Latine Tongue to describe But in regard you cannot well understand those without some further Director I thought it not amiss to declare at large the first Causes of those Tumultuous Proceedings which intervened there from the beginning that at one short View Counsels and Policies may be compaâ—ed one with the other together with the Event produced by the same And in truth so great and famous have the Actions there done been that even Strangers have been cuâ—ious in writing thereof and therefore we certainly should be accounted most ingrate to our Countre and envious of the good of our Posterity if we should not give them a most exact Relation of those things which hapned so near them Especially since most of our Modern Writers have too frequently deluded their Readers Credulity with vain and uncertain Rumours as either Party for their own advantage published the same or else if any had Desire or Opportunity of knowing the Truth even such contented themselves to write onely a Diurnall My Design is to lay open and discuss the Peoples Commotions the Consultations of the great Ones and Governours and whence a new Soveraignty sprang where the first determined The People that â— hâ—bit the Land within the Rhene as also on both sides thereof to â—he Seâ— of â—he Morim and the River Amasius on this side called Germany on the other Old Belgium their Country but most of them are beholding to Germany as well for their Language as their Original whence it was that while the Romans strove to bring in their Arts and Commerce these jointly taking Care both of their Liberty and the Warre at once were Companions in Loss or Conquerours Neither did they ever lâ—se the Repute of good Warriors though they most shewed their Vâ—lours either in others Ayd or their own Rebellions But when the Generality of People as it were upon one Sâ—gnal made violent Incursions into the Roman Empire all this â—ract felâ— to the share of the Franks until in the Division of their Power part became the Possessions of the Kings of France and other part the Emperors of Germany claimed as their Right But both when they themselves were from thence far distant sâ—t Governors by the Names of Earls Dukes and the like to rule and defend all the Cities therein saving onely such as for the sake of Religion were given unto Bishops when Christianity began to increase and flourish Such as were sent forth to the Wars in Command were called Dukes to whom Earles or Counts were such as took Care of the Accounts of Subsidies and other Taxes for the Souldiers Pay and were chief Judges But it is a thing hardly credible how both these and those did augment their Power in a short time by these three means their own Valour and Vertue their Princes neglect and Carelessness and the Favour and Good-will of the Provincials For first they got themselves Power and Authority by doing good to all nor did they shew more Audacity and Courage in time of War than Moderation and Religion in Times of Peace In this manner strengthning themselves instead of a Lieutenantship which was all they had at first they attain to themselves a perpetual and Hereditary Dominion which was with the more Facility and Complyance granted to them because when any Wars broke out in those Parts they were the more ready to meet and undergo the Dangers and Hazards thereof in regard they defended their own Territories For in those Times the Seas were almost covered and the Shores even beset and filled with Danish and Norman Fleets Not long after taking a Priviledge either from the Fear or Favour of their Followers or the Breach and Decay of a greater Lordship though they kept the same Resemblance still in Name yet they established a Soveraign and lawful Authority even with the Peoples good-will Lands are set apart for the Princes and moderate Tributes yet enough to support and maintain their Dignity for they gave not themselves over to Covetousness and luxury or those other Crimes which in the Innocency of that Age were scarce known to the World Onely the Desire of Rule and Thirst of Dominion aged almost as Nature they could not excuse themselves from Hence it was they had perpetuall Wars either among themselves or with their Bordering Neighbors for managing whereof they never hired Forrein Souldiers but used their own People who for the safe keeping of their Borders would strive who should be foremost in the Watch and if Ambition or Honour had invited the Prince beyond they forthwith followed him with Alacrity moved thereto as well by the hopes of Praise as Reward The Conquerour bestowing in Gift on his Noblest Souldiers Lands in Fee-Farm and confirming on Cities and Citizens their Franchises Customs Laws and Magistracy the sure Guards and Defences of their Liberty Nor did their Successors take upon them the full power of Government before they had confirm'd by Oath these Grants on whom they were at first bestowed The whole Charge of the Common-Wealth was of old said upon the Shoulders of the Nobility and Governours of Towns which consisted of the Communalty to whom in some places the Clergy were added These where it was necessary met together concerring Embassies These Consulted of the great Affairs of State nor was it lawful without the general Consent of all to set a Tribute or Tax to alter the present state of Affairs nor to much as enhance or debase the value of Coyâ—â— So much Caution was there used even when they had good Princes to prevent the encroaching of Evil Ones The most Noble and Vertuous amongst the Citizens underwent and performed all publike Offices and all Strangers were kept out of the Princes Court the Senate and all other places either of Honour or Profit By the observance of these good Customs long did the Common-Wealth continue fix't on a good Basis But at length by little and little Seditions growing up wasted this flourishing and rich People untill by many Victories Affinities and Treaties most of them were glad to submit to the Burgundian Government who being sprung from a Royal House Warlike Crafty and dating to undertake any thing to Arm his Power from the Dâ—ssâ—nâ—ions of the Nobles Promises to one Threatens another and give Rewards to a Third Thus
lofty pride of Crojac and rapacious dealing of Ceury among whom all things whether temporally honourable or Ecclesiastically Sacred were sold yet not thinking though scarcely by force withhelâ— when they laid down their Command that they had done ought amiss Wherefore by soothing up those that were most powerfull they made a mock of that vain shadow of Empire where Magistracy must either be by the favour or for the good of the People where the Princes can hardly with the most gentle and perswasive blandishments obtain for their most necessary and difficult affairs an inconsiderable pecuniary ayd In vain it is without doubt to talk of the limit of Dominion beyond the Tyrrhene Sea and utmost extents of the main Ocean if the subject must become slaves to their Lords at home Nor yet did they deceive or turn upon those whom their own Country's scarcity and the known modesty of this Nation had drawn into these Netherlands Although the Emperour Charles seriously consulted of the alteration of the State and erecting a Kingdom out of the Cities especially where the Victory at Pavy had in a manner half brought to pass his desire over Flanders and Artoys which by that were totally rent from the French possessions but deterred he was by divers settled Laws and Customs which he durst not abrogate On the other side he would not so make the Spanish Provinces he himself having often averred That if their Pride were joyned with the Dutch Patience they would certainly produce some eminent mischief much blaming his Son who spending his Youth among the Spaniards took no notice of the nature of these people but rather slighted all conveniencies that were offered him for the survey and knowledg of these Regions He was indeed an equal Judge of Vertues and sharer of Honours behaving himself as one and the same Prince to all his People not suffering such daily usurpations here as the Spaniards were free to in their new gained Kingdoms whereat they were troubled endeavouring to be present in these his Netherlands if his Affairs would bear it and it hindred not his taking care for his more immediate necessities He that was heâ—e the Princes Lieutenant had a threefold Classis of Counsellors To the first of whom was the care and managery of Peace and Warr. To the second the distribution of Justice according to Law with the moderation thereof by equity as also the power of judging and determining the publick Controversies of those Regions The third supervised the Treasury and therein took care of the Prince's Wealth or to supply his Necessities That first Councell or Assembly customarily made up of the most noble of the Dutch and eminent and famous for the many great and weighty Affairs there frequently handled we will call by a proper name The Senate To which Philip between the greatness of his Kingdoms and the insinuations of such who flattered the actions of his Youth forming himself to the Spanish Mode and using no other language used to come with an assumed austere gravity few words and eschewing of much company And when his Father had withdrawn himself that he might spend his old age in a private retirement they presently urge him to raise new Imposts in whom the old ambition and thirst of Rule not yet repressed by experiments was such as would scarcely suffer either measure or bounds Nor is it to be doubted but that most beautiful order of Government gave credit to the faith and vertue of the Spaniards How great a desire harboured in the Breasts of Princes to subvert the Law which kept under the violent ebullitions of their power the notable ruines both of Princes and People have left us too many both new and old pregnant examples Of this endeavour and intention of Philip some of the Spaniards themselves were afterwards sensible but the Netherlanders for so for the greater part of them are they to be called being now mastered into obedience but yet not willing to bear an arbitrary Government though they would seem to bear the yoke the better from a long use so that hence were hoped many great and seasonable opportunities against Neighbour Kingdoms both by Sea and Land Nor was there wanting the seeds of future discord for when Philip had undertaken the French Warr invited thereto rather by their Civill Discords than the Peoples will or assistance after many delayes and controvertings a Tax was granted by the States but so as if they had had a power to have denyed it ordaining That the very Collectors Receivers thereof should pay towards the same This was charged upon them as an unaccustomed thing and a crime by them committed against their Liberty which indeed then was but small Hereupon the meeting of the States being interpreted as a Meeting of confederacy was strictly forbidden Nor did the Spaniards doubt to make the offence seem greater some of them â—ffecting honour others minding only rapine which while the Lawes stood they knew would not admit them How necessary it is for wise Princes to keep in possession since by their presence not only the Netherlands formerly but even Spain it self had been kept in good order yet notwithstanding Phillip is perswaded the Peace with France being concluded to take a Journey into Spain or other parts of his Dominions as well because he feared some Troubles in that Kingdom and the encrease of the Turks power at Sea as also because he should be nearer to take a caâ—e of and secure his American Treasures At this time also the ancient and magnificent Nobles appeared glorious in their Dignities but were mean in their Estates either by their own Luxury or the Prince's Policy who under pretence of Honours had by extraordinary Charges exhausted every honourable Person Among all whom William by succession of the Cabellonian Family Prince of Aurange within a Province of France did excell the rest in diligence curtesie and policy but originally descended from the ancient Family of Nassaw in Germany which formerly having contested with the Austrian Family for the Imperiall Wreath afterwards submitted himself under the Patronage of the more fortunate overcomer He was from his tenderest Infancy separated and taken from his Father who professed the German Religion he was the Courts softer-Child and by Charles admitted into his Councells became not only skilled and imployed in the conduct of Warre but in very great Embassies he was renowned by an antient stock of Nobility had many large and rich Possessions in the Netherlands of a great Spirit which embellished it self his wisdom and Prudence equalling his height of Spirit so that he was capable even of the greatest Fortune cruelty and covetousness were absolute strangers with him Valiant in the search of the remotest matters and when found a memory so faithful as ever to retain them by most pleasing allurements growing potent with the People He had the Government of Holland Zealand and Vtrecht and within those bounds his care and power managed all the
their 〈…〉 〈…〉 endeavouring to be present in these his Netherlands if his Affairs would bear it and is hindred not his taking care for his more immediate 〈◊〉 He that was here the Princes Lieutenant had a 〈◊〉 Glassâ— of Counsellors To the first of whom was the care and managery of Peace and Warr. To the second the distribution of Justice according to Law with the moderation thereof by equity as also the power of judging and determining the publick Controversies of those Regions The third supervised the Treasury and therein took care of the 〈◊〉 Wealth or to supply his Necessities That first Councell or Assembly customarily made up of the most noble of the Dutch and eminent and famous for the many great and weighty Affairs there frequently handled we will call by a proper name The Senate To which Philip between the greatness of his Kingdoms and the informations of such who flattered the actions of his Youth forming himself to the Spanish Mode and using no other language used to come with an assumed aâ—stere gravity few words and eschewing of much company And when his Father had withdrawn himself that he might spend his old age in a private retirement they presently urge him to raise new Imposts in whom the old ambition and thirst of Rule not yet repressed by experiments was such as would scarcely suffer either measure or bounds Nor is it to be doubted but that most beautiful order of Government gave credit to the faith and vertue of the Spaniards How great a desire harboured in the Breasts of Princes to subvert the Law which kept under the violent abullitions of their power the notable ruines both of Princes and People have left us too many both new and old pregnant examples Of this endeavour and intention of Philip some of the Spaniards themselves were afterwards sensible but the Netherlanders for so for the greater part of them are they to be called being now mastered into obedience but yet not willing to bear an arbitrary Government though they would seem to bear the yoke the better from a long use so that hence were hoped many great and seasonable opportunities against Neighbour Kingdome both by Sea and Land Nor was there wanting the seeds of future discord for when Philip had undertaken the French Warr invited thereto rather by their Civill Discords than the Peoples will or assistance after many delayes and controvertings a Tax was granted by the States but so as if they had had a power to have denyed it ordaining That the very Collectors Receivers thereof should pay towards the same This was charged upon them as an unaccustomed thing and a crime by them committed against their Liberty which indeed then was but small Hereupon the meeting of the States being interpreted as a Meeting of confederacy was strictly forbidden Nor did the Spaniards doubt to make the offence seem greater some of them affecting honour others minding only rapine which while the Lawes stood they knew would not admit them How necessary it is for wise Princes to keep in possession since by their presence not only the Netherlands formerly but even Spain it self had been kept in good order yet notwithstanding Phillip is perswaded the Peace with France being concluded to take a Journey into Spain or other parts of his Dominions as well because he feared some Troubles in that Kingdom and the encrease of the Turks power at Sea as also because he should be nearer to take a care of and secure his American Treasures At this time also the antient and magnificent Nobles appeared glorious in their Dignities but were mean in their Estates either by their own Luxury or the Prince's Policy who under pretence of Honours had by extraordinary Charges exhausted every honourable Person Among all whom William by succession of the Cabellonian Family Prince of Aurange within Province of France did excell the rest in diligence curtesie and policy but originally descended from the ancient Family of Nassau in Germany which formerly having contested with the Austrian Family for the Imperiall Wreath afterwards submitted himself under the Patronage of the more fortunate overcomer He was from his tenderest Infancy separated and taken from his Father who professed the German Religion he was the Courts foster-Child and by Charles admitted into his Councells became not only skilled and imployed in the conduct of Warre but in very great Embassies he was renowned by an antient stock of Nobility had many large and rich Possessions in the Netherlands of a great Spirit which embellished it self his wisdom and Prudence equalling his height of Spirit so that he was capable even of the greatest Fortune cruelty and covetousness were absolute strangers with him Valiant in the search of the remorest matters and when found a memory so faithful as ever is retain them by most pleasing allurements growing potent with the People He had the Government of Holland Zealand and Vtrecht and within those bounds his care and power managed all the affairs both of Warre and Peace the Law and the Sword but Lamoral Count of Egmond governed Flanders and Artoyes a man of a more open nature and like a Souldier somewhat fierce trusting much to his wealth and strength much to his fame and the truth is had he not too much blamed others in those two famous Victories obtained against the French at St. Quintius and Gravelin he merited an immortal wreath of Honour and Renown These two far outwent all the rest both in the greatness of their charges and honour for Brabant being a common part of the Empire had no proper Governour the rest of the Provinces are mentioned hereafter The Command of the Sea which in it self is most honourable rested advantaged in Mommorency Court of Horn sprung from a noble Family in France These great men thus qualified the Spaniard found he must remove before he should enjoy the Netherlands according to his aymâ— and it seemed the more easie to be done because while they wholly endeavour to attain estimation and Authority and to that end cavel at the Spaniards haughtiness and pride they had already made a breach in friendship in liâ—â— manner the rest of the Nobles in no manner though but comparatively wealthy made factions and most of the meaner sort had shipwrack't their credit either by luxury or among a wanting and necessitated Souldiery In which streights they were not continually thrust out of their power as their enemies expected but they used all their industry and diligence by all wayes and meanes to maintain their dignity many in these publick distempers seeking either to hide or amend their own the vulgar tout were ready for mischief and would commit spoyls on others as they were led thereunto either by their hope or desperation These bickerings among the Belgick Peeâ—s and Nobility discording in affection did in some manner for a while put a stop to the careere of the audacious Spaniard while part take part with the Prince of Aurange
and the others before named others follow the factions of severall great Houses But neither the hatred of Warre the suffering and undergoing its evills the love of peace nor the loss of honours no whit moved the Commons whose whole study was Merchandizing and feasting by the first to get money and by the second prodigally to spend it But they took it heavily to heart that men should be tormented or killed for any manner of worship of God and this was irksome even to those that were not within the fear or danger of that cruelty Long did grief stand wavering between sighes and teares before the incitements of good could 〈◊〉 it 〈◊〉 out Of this matter because to some it ◠〈◊〉 to other onely pretence I will discover it fully 〈◊〉 the very beginning Christian Religion that of old was reverenced for its noâ— simplicity was shortly after set out with the various flourishâ— of congregated Philosophers by the additions of each according to their severall fancies among whom also Jeâ—â— Greeks and others cast in the severall Ceremonies of the particular Countries that so the Majesty of their Religion might the more splendidly appear nor indeed was it without reason but these continuing long free to be used or 〈◊〉 at last admitted by the Opinions of some private Families â— the advice and judgment of some Churches by little and little encreased by use till the Eloquence of the Learned and the suffrages and Decrees of Counsels changed them into necessity and Law which through the ignorance of succeeding times and by subtle and dark disputations and circumâ—â— qâ—utions have been ever since defended In which Interiâ—â— the Bishops of Rome men of an unlimited Authority emuloâ— Constantinople being removed as also the Cities of Asia and Aegypt established a kind of Ecclesiastical Kingdom where in the Cardinalls being as Judges Laterall they have assume the height of Empire and have continued in a long Series of Dominion none in any manner contradicting them because most of the European Nations had received their Christianity from instructors sent from Rome Hence it was that the Riâ—â— and Ceremonies of the Latine Church were all received and the Latine Tongue onely used in all acts of devotion by the Church 〈◊〉 they after they had thus brought all things Sacred 〈◊〉 their own reach set forth new Decrees interpâ—â— the old take the holy Scripture out of the hands of the vulgaâ—â— protesting it a most pâ—â—â—cious thing if an unlearned curiosity should dive into the understanding of so great a Mystery Thus turning all things to their own honour and profit and so great a liberty is given by the Priests that vice is come to the pitch as they themselves confess it wants correcting But by a sudden breaking forth of Learning which dispelled by a new way of preaching the darkness of that age there did appear some who promised as well to reform Religion as the 〈◊〉 and to call all things relating to Religion to the Test of the holy Scripture This was well pleasing to the People who weary of the charges and injuries they underwent did exceedingly rejoyce that now they should no longer serve God and seek for Heaven with anxious dread and in blind obedience but with a more firm and setled confidence and with fewer Precepts Neither were some Princes backward in breaking in upon this Priestly Power which had now almost subjected unto it self the Kingly Diadem But here the Proverb was truly manifested the hand alwayes followes the hurt certain people of troublesome natures that could not endure any quiet what was publickly to be desired they will though private persons extort and now they fall together by the ears about the manner nor will they admit any to compose the differences But it was no easie matter to pull asunder those joynts which for so many Ages had grown together And the discomposed face of Affairs was very displeasing the peoples minds being set a madâ—ing and no apparent way to bring them into order again for here were revived the opinions of Husse in Germany of Wicliffe in England of the Waldenses in France whence by the meeting 〈◊〉 their severall inhabitants by the company of the forreig◠〈◊〉 â—â—diers and by commerce and Trading they were transpersed over the Netherlands and grew common And liberty being allowed of once changing brought in many impious and nefarious Sects Nor would any one believe that there was any Land more fertile in the producing such kinds of Monsters in those times than the Netherlands if he should but throughly look over the villanous and reproachful Speeches of David George of Delph and the seditious sayings of John Bucoldus of Loydem against Christ Both which being Hollanders the one being a Painter of Glass by counterfeiting divine inspirations â—â— more than an ordinary living and begot a Sect to survive him The other a kind of a Taylor who began a Warre and also to set up a Kingdom at Muister but both with unlucky though deserved event I have observed the wisest of Princes to have endeavoured remedies by way of prevention against these contraries in Religion in regard of the greatness of the error and the multitude of the errings As when there hath been equall power sometimes two of a Sect have been brought forth into publick under strict custody of the Law that they might not by that pretence make a disturbance Another time when the Emperour and his Councel have upon heating found cause to condemn any such have been excommunicate and thrown out of the Church And if there were any more haynous mistrust lay upon them then were they also debaâ—red from private meetings But we may not utterly condemn those who punished such as held forth Doctrines obnoxious and dissonant to good manners either by banishment or Sequestration of their Honours and Estates But that Judgment belonged to the Magistrate who by such punishments cannot be said to revenge their own injuries It is granted that Priests may correct those that deviate through ignorance to keep them from participating of the Sacred Mysteries and then too there was a lawful course used for discovery therof facts were punished thoughts went free but to rage and tyranize over the lives of those who have neither forfeited their faith to God nor their Princes seems barbarously inhumane in Bishops and not altogether safe for Princes themselves But the Roman Bishops crept on by little and little to that heighth that they strengthned that Law by terror which was obtained by subtlety which secular Princes favouring too much their greatness made sharp and rigorous as against Traytors for nothing would satisfie them but to have as sharp Laws against such as usurped at their Decrees as if they had Rebelled against God himself by Blasphemy Nor was it onely enjoyned to Bishops to visit their Diocesses but also they were wont when they thought it meet to send Inquisitors with a most ample Power which first began about Four Hundred Years
Language wherein he said that he did not use to set aside Ministers of State without hearing and perpending their cause of Complaint but if he could not have his Revenue upon whose payment he did depend he would that some of them should come to him from whom being present he would take cognizance of the whole matter They earnestly write back again That it was not for them to lay crimes to any ones charge but they believed it was a part of his duty rightly and truly â— have informed his Prince but whether he had so done or not the imminent danger if they should be silent would speak and they hoped that their Births and Merits would gain no lesse credit â— their betters than their words but now chiefty when the absenâ— of Governours from their Charges could not be well admitted The King was much moved at these lines but finding necessary a little to yield he sends secretly to Grannell whom now these fore-going passages began to vex partly aâ— a by-stander and partly as being guilty to himself of the deadly hatred of the people towards him commanding him to depart into Burgundy whither he was ordered to retire for avoyding the danger of his life so much fought and layd wait for by his enemies And a long time after he kept all the Netherlands or the greatest part in fear of his return but few joyning with him in his hopes till at length either by Command or his own free will he went to Rome There they who hitherto had been kept out of office were at the Request of the Regent Margaret recalled in the Senate of Assembly and that they might give some proofs of themselves they begin with all diligence to advise and take notice of choice things of others there was no great need And the praise and thanks of dissembling their Crimes was so much the greater towards them by how much he would divert them from the sense of their evill so that now acting wholly as Victors they had taken all things into their own hands whether belonging to publick accounts or to the Law saying it was the Soveraign pleasure of the Senate and that to it all the other Assemblies ought their Service and Obedience But how many faults do attend where some few bear the Sway and in how little time do they grow ripe The Kings Revenew neglected the Authority of the Law among potent discords laid aside the greatest Crimes and villanies unpunished Honours given for favour either much done through ambition by such as coveted the praise of all or else evils never to be remedied overcharge the Credit of the great ones They dissembled less in point of Religion maintaining it was better taught by perswasion than compulsion till at length they found what they supposed as remedies proved rather food to nourish the Disease But when they granted this in favour of the People whether it were out of their own disposition averse from cruelty or that they suspected under the veil of the Inquisition that there lay hid slavery or danger to the valiantest men I will not undertake to discover But this is most evident that they themselves did not depart from the Ceremonies of the Church of Rome and he who was the chief in all these Consultations in his own Principality of Aurange would suffer nothing in matters of Religion to be changed Besides this and for other weighty Causes Egmond was sent into Spain to pry into the Kings nature and affections and is there received with so much Honour and such high Gifts as no man before him ever had the like Here Philip protests much of affection to the Netherlanders and that he may prevent any desire of his return to them again he sayes he hath resolved in himself for the Turkish Warre and likewise gave him some hope that he would moderate the rigour of the Sentence and Edict of the Bishops least either by severity or impunity he might provoke the Secturies licentiousness whereas in truth he intended to make it far more strict For when first he came into Spain and found there many and some of the chief of the Covent of St. Isidore to think otherwise than they ought of the received Rites and Doctrine he was not onely content to have commanded into the fire Learned men and noble Women but rejoyced to see the same with the terrour whereof having appeased the discords there he believed either the sloth or timidity of his Judges hindred if not envyed him the like success in the Netherlands And at this time Elizabeth his Wife Sister of Charles King of France being sent together with the Duke of Alva to â—ajon whether the same Charles and his Mother Medicos met at a Conference for rooting out innovators and disturbers of Religion he bound himself by some private Covenants to be assistant equally therein The like League was made between Henry and Philip after the Peace of Cambray and this being by the imprudence of Henry discovered to the Prince of Orenge in his Embassy into France as he was by chance â— hunting made him often assert with Protestations that he onely feared those Counsels which were concealed Egmond was scarce returned full of his vain hope but the Kings Letters immediately followed cruelly commanding the Inquisitors to execute judgement upon violators and novelties in Religion adding certain other Assistants to the number of the Judges and though Viglius and many with him perswaded the contrary presently they were published to the great trouble of all mens mindes and shortly after were the Decrees of the Councel of Trent put forth by whom nothing being amended either in Doctrine or Ceremonies some whole Nations separated and fell off from the Church of Rome onely there was a Decree made for reformation of Priests Lives and Manners wherewith indeed they were offended but never cured And truly in the Netherlands those mens lives were most vicious who being admitted into the Sacred Order of Priesthood got nothing thereby but the name and Revenues yet were these men most fierce for the publishing of these Decrees which in some places were obeyed but with exception underwritten to which Philip had consented that they should not derogate from any mans right which was added by reason of Patronages of Churches and bounds of Jurisdictions But the Brabanders with one free consent went further First their Cities and afterwards the Senate or States of their Nation did Declare That this Custome of the Inquisition insensibly creeping in daily in a high manner into their Countries was against the Law by which all their Judgments should be directed and which should set Bounds to the Priesthood wherein they should walk The Constancy of these was followed by others but especially the Common People were infinitely perplexed with the Terrible Rumour of the Spanish Inquisition whose Authority with the King though manifest and its Usage and Example in all Kingdoms how profitable and though commended by the French yet the
Regent enforcing them by one Edict to fly commands them by another to stay So that they being voluntarily departed who were displeased at the present carriage of Affairs and other matters by the notable cunning of a Woman set in order there was a setled Peace such as if nothing further had been coveted might have longer continued The second Book of the Dutch Annals BUT the Duke of Alva retarded somewhat by his Disease but more by the exceeding coldness of the Alps at last being past Savoy reached Burgundy by a Journey not onely tedious and troublesome but accompanied with great wants but there was some satisfaction for the same by the present amendment of his quarters here by whose pleasantness and delight his Army was well increased which notwithstanding there were therein above eight thousand men he kept in a moâ— orderly and strict Discipline The Spaniards then being first shewed the way through so great a Continent of Land After this he met with no kind of stop as far as Lutzemburgâ— the chief of whose Governours he had the King being not wholly ignorant thereof drawn to his party for the better upholding the strength of that broken and disjoynted Dominion At this time as if it had been by agreement Warres broke out in France the King having levyed and taken into pay certain Companies of Switzers under pretence of suspecting some soul play upon his Borders And the truth is Alva's Army had been scouring the places thereabout of all such as took part with and upheld that new Religion so much hated by them All this while there was not a Netherlander stirred whether out of an extraordinary Panick fear or too great Security is doubtful to resist or withstand this furious Invasion for though coming as a Generall in Warre unto a quiet People he was received by the concourse of the People not seeming at all discontented for at the beginning he took to himself no other Title untill Margaret weary of this empty shadow of troublesom honour and thought also to have done much harm to the Government by her feminine imbecillity and so much the rather because she had by polite and well composed Letters presaging many of the future evills disswaded the sending of Alva with an Army by her departure thence wholly left the Regency of the Netherlands to his care and ordering none now doubting but he would now make himself a Magistrate contrary to those Laws by whose rule and with whose safety he could not attain thereto It being provided therein cautiously from antiquity that none but a Netherlander or a Prince of the blood could take that upon him The first Experiment of his Tyrannizing Authority was shewed upon Egmond and Horn who being by Policy wrought to come inâ—o the Court were apprehended and put into Custody and when they demanded the Priviledge of the Golden Fleece to be judged onely by the Companions of that Order their Peers it was not onely denied to them but they were sent out of Brabant with a strict Guard contrary to the Rights and Liberties granted even to the meanest of the Commons And from this time Garrisons were set in the prime Cities of the Netherlands which consisted chiefly of Spaniards who were almost the onely men thereof for other Souldiers were made use of onely in times of danger and upon extraordinary occasions Nay further the Troops of Horse which were mostly made up of the Netherlandish Gentry having some Spaniards thrust in amongst them were sent into France under the Leading of Count Aremberg that by a present Supply they might confirm the League made with King Charles In the interim the Castles are begun to be filled with unarmed and peaceable Citizens and which was most grievous to them of all was That their Thraldom was made use of to raise Monies for supply of their Enemies Expences and Charges When Things had proceeded thus far without any gain-saying there were almost Twelve Judges the greatest part of them Spaniards the rest but Servants to them and in that regard as cruel if not worse then they appointed to call before them all such as had any any hands in the late Commotions or but seemed to wink thereat and to punish them as they saw fit not in the least manner taking notice of them who by the Laws of the Country had a Jurisdiction proper thereunto And this very Thing of enjoying the Judicial Power and consequently that of Life and Death was the main prop of their Authority which adding a Majesty to the Religion before violated Recriminations as hateful to good Princes as they are commodious to Tyrants urge That all Guilty Persons should be pâ— out of the Protection of the Law and that onely the Cruelty 〈◊〉 Alva's Name might be sufficient almost to convince them Thâ— strictness of the Guards set upon the Guilty Persons waâ— the cause of the Death of very many People so that every place carryed the Resemblance of a City sacked and taken by the Sword For there were not onely Armies but by reason of the Troubles many sought Refuge and here put in practice their ill-boding Counsels Here also were some earnestly labouring for Honour and others on the other side by all means avoiding it while the slaughter of the Nobles and all others whose Wealth or Authority grieved them made great Additions by their Deaths to the Authority and by their Fortunes to the Treasury and Prey of the Spaniards And the truth is Alva never dissembled his Intentions for from the very first he protested with great Threats suitable to the Cruelty of his Nature that a few Salmons Heads were of more worth than many Thousands of little Fishes Thus after a new Mode making use of that old Sentence which teaches to strengthen a Kingdom by taking away some of the Heads of the chiefest Common-wealths Men. All the Mischiefs which had intervened here since the first Breach with Granvel unto this time were now objected against Egmond and Horn together with a shrewd Suspition of a Conspiracy between them and the Prince of Aurange to throw the King by Force out of his Dominion over the Netherlands and then to divide them among themselves These two that by all mens confession were most eminent men and as well Renowned by their Actions as the Nobility of their Birth at Bruxels after Divine Service according to the Romane manner had been performed in the publike place of Execution yielded their Necks to the Sword of the Headsman and their Heads for a while after fixed upon Poles was to the Dutch both a lamentable and terrible Spectacle and although the Souldiers every where about in Arms watched but for an Opportunity from the Words and almost Looks of the People yet they bearing the same deeply in Mind the pity of all but the Revenge of the more valiant became setled when the Solemnities of their Funerals were Celebrated and their very Coffins washed with the Tears and Kisses of an incredible
at that time was President of Flanders Lalayne Champigny and divers others who could not digest that the chief management of all Affaires should rest in the Prince of Aurange with whom few were equall in birth none of them like him in Wisdom and Authority Therefore because they see themselves never able to compass the Peoples love as he hath done and that they must come far short of him they begin to fear that if he should come to enjoy that Dignity that he would bring Religion to his own bent and to prevent that they seek to prevent his glory by the splendor of a greater name Rodolphus was chosen Emperour of Germany in the stead of Maximilian his Father who was lately dead His Brother Matthias they by many great promises intreat from the Court not by any open consent of the Emperor for fear of offending the Spaniard The'e men because they had strong Cities and Arms in their power imagined they could easily bring to passe that by their bringing in of this young man who must be beholding to them for that great Honour they should have all things in their power and might in his name execute their own Commands and do what they listâ— all which the Prince of Aurange foreseeing he removed some of these guilty persons from that Council and assured them that they might more confidently hope for a just Government in the lawful Dominion of the States than the particular power of some few And by chance also at this time it fortuned that Arscot the chief Emulator of the House of Nassau swolne big with vain hope offended the Commonalty of Gaunt by some insolent Speeches the people of which City being the most noble of all Flanders but the most averse to Nobility threw him and all his Train into Custody But the Prince of Aurange although Matthias was called in by his Enemies and had come contrary to his desire and that the rest of the Netherlanders had a greater respect towards France yet having regard to the moderation of his Carriage he himself moved the States that they would accept the young man eminent in his Brothers Majesty and of Kindred to the King to protect their Cause wherewith they were thus far pleased that the Government of the Netherlands should be in Matthias but that the Prince of Aurange should be Deputy Governour which at length though unwillingly he accepted by which means their fury who had sought out Matthias onely with hope to have made themselves great by his Dignity was more enflamed The Regency of Matthias is bounded and limited by Laws and Counsellors nor had he power to use any thing suitable to his greatness besides the State and splendor of his life The third Book of the Dutch Annals ALL matters being in this manner setled Warre is proclaimed against Don John at which time the Monethly Revenues arising from Provisions of Victuals amounting to six hundred thousand Florens was brought into the publick Treasury the free disposing whereof as also of Musters and Councels relating to the Warre that they might be the freer from discovery were by the States left wholly to the Senate Then at length the Queen of England began to think the forces of the Netherlanders worthy of her favour though yet she was not without a peculiar fear of troubles in her own State because Don John moved a Marriage with the Queen of Scots by which and the help of his Arms he hoped to get to himself the Kingdom of Britain and this was evident by no small demonstrations wherefore she promised them both men and money for their assistance they giving caution for repayments but yet still they should stick to their pretence that the Netherlanders Provinces would be obedient to Philip. And so she interwove her self into that Common-wealth that no matter of any importance could be done without her knowledge and approbation endeavouring also to strengthen these new Settlements by an universal Concord though some of the Netherlanders laboured earnestly but in vain to provoke the Queen against the Prince of Aurange and perswading now one now another by laying before them the greatness of the danger least they should incline to re-settle the old Possession of the Roman Religion She therefore would give them ayd When She had effected these things She sends Letters to the King desiring him therein to hearken to peace and to moderate his Government by the Rule of the Law but if he would compel his Subjects to take Arms he should not take it ill at her hands the French long since being intent thereto if she prevented the Dutch allyance with that People who were her Enemies and in the interim she did with great pains strive to clear her self from affecting the Soveraignty that belonged to another Henry King of France Sebastian King of Portugall and the Emperour himself were in like manner solicited by the States to move Philip to moderation towards them the last also being sâ—ed to for assistance in their Cause which at that time was in vain In the interim private grudgings and discords increased among the great Ones so that many went thence into Castles and strong Holds scituate in Lutzenburg upon various pretences but the true cause was they interpreted the Honours given to others to be an affront and disparagement to them But Don John being recruited with the coming of the Spanish Forces and a great many Companies of Souldiers brought to him by the Duke of Parma the Son of Margaret late Governess of the Netherlands out of Italy overthrew the Dutch Army which was daily weakened by the going away of their Captains and retreating into Brabant at a place called Gemblim Nor was the Prey gotten by the Victory small especially if we consider it in the success because Lovayne which layd open Brabant on that side Limburg a famous Dutchy and the Metropolis of the Dominion bearing the same name using to make excursions even into Germany and Phillippolis which City the Prince of Aurange when formerly he was Generall of the Kings Army had fortified with new and strong Bulwarks against the French when onely forraign Warres were feaâ—ed as also many other adjacent Towns came in and submitted The King having â—hus conquered them yet thought fit to try them with the hope of Peace the Baron Selles carrying Conditions out of Spain for differing from those made at Gaunt and for which Don John would not alter a tittle which then was enough to make it seem reâ—sonable why they should be denyed for now the Netherlanders began first to know themselves and several Princes did augment their confidence by striving who should first offer them Souldiers and other ayd Here Francis of Valoys Duke of Anjon and Bâ—other to the King of France both before the Peace made at Gaunt and after was often sued to by the Belgick Nobles There Casimire who possessed the Palatinate of Germany both of them by reason of theiâ— yonger Birth being laid side
to the War in regard it was so near Neighbour to Antwerp In the mean time also were some small Skirmishes with little Advantage to either side and not a few English turning Renegades and being contemned by the Spaniard were a good Example to teach others to be faithful to that Party under whom they first served Anon Verdugo was forced to leave Lochem a little Toâ— in Geldars not far from Zutphen which he endeavoured â— win by starving because while he was about it it was thâ—i relieved with fresh Provisions but presently won Steâ— which before had cost so many Lives without any danger by the help of Night and the Townsmens Folly At the time Philip having Valois his Opposit thought he now waâ—ed more strength and care than heretofore and therefore sends to Parma a Recruit of Spanish and Italian Souldiers nor durst any be so bold as to contradict the same notwithstanding the Artoysian Treaty and Agreements averring Thâ— in that Treaty the Obedience of the whole Netherlands was intended of which hope he being defrauded the Bond of the Obligation ceased together with the Cause The Summe of this Army upon Muster was Threescore Thousand Foot Four Thousand of whom would make good Horsemen and these Number remain or rather are increased to this very time whâ—â— Monthly Pay amounted to or rather was supposed to exceâ— Seven Hundred Thousand Florens and that the other Charge of the War came to no less than half as much That therefore Philip sent thither every year over and above the Tributes there raised above Twenty Hundred Thousand so much was consumed by the Spaniard upon the Netherlanders And that no more Money should be carryed over thither they who feared bad Success by the ill Carriage of Affairs there were believed to have hindred it On the other side the States that they might win fame to their new Commonwealth by great and noble beginnings advanced their Yearly Pensions and Tributes which were at present but Four and Twenty to Fourty Hundred Thousand with which Money they raised Souldiers and then had in Arms under the Conduct of Francis of Valois besides Netherlanders French Germans English and Scots The Forces on both sides were very strong but the greatest part of them lay in Garrisons because there being no determined Bounds they were as the Fortune of War required put into Towns which many times even joyned one to another but still kept their Opposition Hitherto Valois hoped for Succours from his Brother for the wasting of those Riches against or for which the Kings of France had for the space of Two Hundred years contested by War to suffering of much hardship yes to the loss of their Bloud and now by Conditions of Peace had made their Enemy equal to themselves But the King himself had no mind openly to denounce War nor privily to send the expected Forces although his Mother Medices had assailed and disturbed the possession of the Portugal Sea And the truth is Philip had prevented him having purchased a means to make Debate wherewith he might perturb the then peaceable Estate of France The stronger Party therefore did openly possess the King with fear advising withall That he should turn his strength against none but the Enemies of the Romane Religion another Party being politickly deceitful under pretence of more wise Counsel denyed that it was â—ther just or profitable for the King who was yet not satisfied iâ— his Successor to exhaust and consume his Treasure for the use of strangers but that he should rather leave both the Netherlanders and the Duke himself too to their poverty untill being drawn dry they would fall from their Capitulations and Contests for Government and submit themselves to the Laws as for the Spaniard though he could not be conquered by others yet he might in good time be overcome by a Neighbour Kingdom These were the Counsels but indeed the King was of his own nature averse to his Brother not that he was offended by him but rather had offended him and mindfull that he had once committed him to hard and close Custody more out of suspition than for any Crimes This cast the Duke head-long upon Counsels dangerous and full of desperation and fatall both to himself and the Netherlanders for when he perceived that they would easily set him at naught since he could not perform with them in the promised ayds and that he was burdened with an 〈◊〉 profitable Principality not forgetting that he ruled onely â— pleasure and that afterward that he was restrained and kept under by the Laws and Authorities of others which is very grievous to them that have been bred in a Kingdom having divers times desired an alteration of the same but not obtaining it he resolves to erect a peculiar power by force and to that end assigns the Towns of Flanders to be possessed and held by the most trusty Garrisons of his Captains Anwerp he takes to himself as the biggest City and that which most favoured the Prince of Aurange to whom he knew he did owe a part of his power by an implicit agreement and where the Deputies of the States were present who were the impediments of his greatness 1583. It is probable the main inciters to this rashness were not onely some secret spies that held Intelligence with the Enemy having their Faith corrupted by moâ—â—â— who offered to the Duke an unquestionable right of Dominion by a Spanish Marriage but also the Frenchmen who pâ—oposed to themselves the ransacking of Cities or greâ—â— Booty Honours which by the Laws they were cebarred â— of which covetousness there are as many Nations found guilty as the Netherlanders had Allyes or Confederates The success answered the Design where the French Garrisons were prevalent and Veward Dendremunde Dixmayâ— and Dunkirk a Sea-cost Town of Flanders excellently seated for French Trassique were taken At Bruges bâ—â— the old and new Governours were outwitted by the extraordinary and most politick ingenuity of the Magistrates wâ— desiring under pretence of consultation the Captains and Leaders to go to the Town-house there kept and detaineâ— them till they had by their Letters Commanded the Souldiers to march out from thence which they for fear of the Armed multitude without grudging did accordingly The danger of Antwerp was greater though some Signs of the bloody event burst forth and with a dissembled suspition of somewhat he did as much as he could hide the concourse of his People from the Prince of Aurange and the Governours of the Town There was the Army both of French and Switzers assembled that the Fort of Endouen being left and the Enemy fled the whole possession of Brabant might be regained To these the Duke going out under the very Walls as if to number them with his Customary Retinue onely about him he Commands the Watches immediately to be killed and the Ports to be set up and seized that so the rest of his Army might have the easier entrance And now seventeen
seek by all means to save himself Nor did Parma omit as having knowledge of the former Actions and provident to prevent the like in time to come to build a Castle that might bridle and keep under the unruliness of the City And now all Flanders being Reduced under his Command save onely Ostend and Scluys two Sea-Port Towns he forwards the increase of Provisions and to ease the Passage of all Souldiers coming thence or going thither he digged a deep Ditch to that part of the Bank where he had pitched his Tents Among all these things those who had the Care of Government in Antwerp implored the Aid of their Allies set new Taxes and raised Souldiers daily both in England and the Netherlands and certainly the Besieged had not like plenty of any thing for besides Sea-men there were Fourscore full Companies of Foot and Sixteen Troops of Horse that defended Brabant But the Senators Magistrates Captains and other Superiour Military Officers too great a Number to Rule well distracted the unseâ—led Government of the City And this Mischief was so much the more pernicious in that the letting in of the Waters and other things necessary to be done for the publick Advantage were hindred and gain-said for fear forsooth of private Dammage The Neighbours who were not so nearly concerned in the danger of the City looking one upon another let slip the Opportunity of relieving the same while yet the Enemy was unsetled and not warm in his Seat When they were at the utmost pinch of Extremity then too late they pleased to be prodigal both of Wealth and Life when it could not advantage any one Truly the vain Expectation of Forreign Aid did chiefly frustrate the Counsels of the Netherlanders who were now driven to such a strait that they would have subjected themselves to other Kingdoms but could not be accepted The King of Spain's Forces were in a short time mightily increased and if he should recover the Netherlands â— should be eased of the Toil and Charge of War they would become Formidable to all near and about them Neither was there now a Prince of Aurange to support them 〈◊〉 fainting under the Burthers or to erect and stir up their Courages quite tyred out with Slaughters unto a hope â— better Times by his own Prudence and Constancy of Miâ—â— For in truth he was of so mild a Nature and withall â— popular that he never seemed to be grateful enough to and for his Liberty and Honour nor would he hide Vices the were fit to be spoken of Above all things he avoided the Suspition of Covetousness for which most did esteem hâ— Judiciously many customarily a person admirable and worthy the highest Honour and Respect in regard of his Age Stock of Nobility and Experience He being gone â— Obedience vanished so that it could not be restored without the main Pillar of Forreign Aid to support it For the Common People did not onely begin to contemn the Authority of the Lords eminent by no powerful Resulgency and lately decayed by so many unfortunate Actions but the Souldiers also grew Refractory to Command and had lost their wonted Diligence and Duty towards their Leaders Aâ—â—â— all which Mischances a ready Way was opened to the Pameneian Subtilty to cover the Slavery he intended under very specious Names Wherefore now Affairs being as it were utterly desperate both the King of France and the Queen of England sent to them such as should not onely condole with them for the Loss of the Prince of Aurange their Captain but should likewise comfort them concerning the Sorrow and Mishap of their other Businesses And this was a Noble Argument that the Neighbour Princes though they would sometimes leave off to Aid the Hollanders with their Wealth and Constancy yet they would not utterly forfiâ—â— them in time of danger But it was much disputed of their two which they should choose for their Defender for the bated Rule and Dominion of the French was freshly remembred in Italy and the Lordly domineering of the English was not forgotten in France and Ireland tasted thereof to this day Among these the People being called to Counsel they are very sparing in imposing and granting Subsidies for there the Laws are of great force and the Monarchical Power is not unlimited But with the French all their Customs are corrupted for mony and he that desires to serve his Country must buy the Employment at a great price The English love hardship and their Laws are very pinching upon words yet no sooner are evills taken care for either to be prevented or removed but immediately by little and little the same is balked by example But the English Religion was the same with theirs which in France by cruel and persidious dealings was laboured to be torn in pieces or utterly extinguished yet on the contrary there were some hopes from the Family of Burbon that valiantly defended that Religion which they professed out these were suddenly dashed in the consideration of the ambiguity of succession there among the pretenders whereto was the Queen of Scots that was wholly devoted to Rome and Spain Thus were present Affairs scanned and the events of future danger rationally deliberated The French prepared a great Power almost equall to that of the Enemy the English raised but small Forces but they were for Sea-service France is preferred but by the voluntary perswasions of the English who confessing themselves the weaker party offered onely necessary ayd in extremity and received their Pledges Thus the necessity of the times prevailed to the forgetting or at least the laying aside those old animosities which had lately been brought freshly into memory by the Duke of Anjou And hence a great Secret was publickly discovered to the World to wit That the Netherlanders could be subject to a Lord but would not bow to the Spaniards 〈◊〉 the demands and particulars were by many degrees more moderate and reasonable then those whereto Francis of Valâ— was formerly obliged and whatsoever their Legates had of private instructions they quickly declared for fear of offence There were taken away also from those things what made their liberty seem hated to wit That it might be lawful for the States to meet without the Kings Command That the Senate should consist all of the Netherlanders That the Governours and Magistrates should be chosen out of those that unnamed and that in conferring and bestowing of all Hoâ—â—â— great respect should be had to those of that Religion which â—â— then onely received in all those parts But some of the Province would not consent to the obliterating of those things After many tedious Disputes of these things and longer Consultations than the necessity of Affairs would bear at present 〈◊〉 lesse against the Kings will than the Netherlanders it was agreed that though they were not as then joyned against the Spaniard now approaching yet they should by one another help settle and confirm their Affairs and States King Henry seemed
but out of them forty or sometimes fewer were picked who afterwards meeting together did consult and deliberate of all things that concerned the Commonwealth and these were called The wise and sober men And if death or banishment took any one or more of them away others are forthwith chosen into the vacant places who are eminent for their Prudence and Riches and the Laws and Ordinances made by this Assembly or Common-Council are by the Consent of the whole City obliging to all so that it is hardly found in an Age that any People gainsay them but are ready rather to fight in defence of the Authority of their Governours These every year nominate severall out of whom are chosen Praefects this Power formerly belonged to the Prince who are to maintain and defend the publick Peace and are called by the People Masters and these at most were four There are seven others that are called by the name of Eschevins do passe Judgment in all differences of private concernment as likewise in criminall matters These Offices are undertaken and performed as a duty incumbent upon them in behalf of their Country with little or no Reward or Salary And to these mens Power and the Counsel of some that are their Assistants who must be well read in the Civill Law all the business of Towns and Cities is referred and by them dispatched with this additional Power allowed to them of making Laws and raising moderate Sums of mony within the verge of their own Jurisdiction from hence the whole Empire as it were assembling these Chiefs together in one Body they who before singly governed the Parts thus associated and conjunct do praeside and rule the whole Nation For three or four times in the year or oftner as the Emergencies of Affairs require there is a Council summoned out of both degrees of the People which is called the Convention of the States But the Nobility because they cannot easily meet from their several Remote Habitations have conferred their Power and Authority upon some few whose Riches and Honour is greater than the rest and they meet in that Great Council in the behalf of all To these in respect of their Quality is only given the priority of suffrage for every one of the meaner Ranks have a Vote equall to them When therefore the Common-Council of any Town hath deliberated at home concerning matters there proposed the Magistrates and some of the Assistants are sent to the great Convention to give them account of what they have so done and thereupon to obtain their permission all other things that may happen either by accident or conveniency are left to their Prudence and Fidelity Wherefore in this great Assembly as all things are discussed which formerly the Princes used to take care and Cognizance of so they assess what Taxes Assesments or other Customs are necessary every year for the bearing and carrying on the Burthen and Charge of the War which is proportionably rated upon every Province according 〈◊〉 their Forces But because this Great Convention is ag◠quickly dissolved the Nobility and chief Magistrates of great Cities may chuse fit men out of themselves that they sitting at the Helm of Government may put in execution the Ed◠and Decrees of the States and oversee all other quotid◠business and in sudden Cases to provide remedy and ◠any thing happen that requires a greater care they may by a Proclamation in Writing summon the Great Assembly of the States This Honour doth generally continue but for time limited But the Dignity of Advocate of Holland is perpetuall He in the times of the Princes was the only assertor of the Publick Liberty and as then is dangers so now the form of the Commonwealth being changed he is in the Convertion of the States and in the meetings of the Deputies he demands their Advice and Judgment he by perswasive Speeches draws points to a head and composeth any difference like to fall out among them This Office was executed very prayse-worthily from the beginning of the War by Paul Busius and after him John Olden Barnevelt had the same and much honoured the same by his proper vertues whereof he gave a most excellent Testimony against the Earl of Leicesters Threats and Policies manifesting himself both a faithfull Counsellor and a person of an invincible Spirit This is in effect the Form of the Government in Holland from whence the Customs of other of the Provinces are not much different Every place hath its proper Overseers of all penalties and forfeitures belonging to the publick Treasury and Judges who are men well skilled in the Laws to whom Appeals might be made from the inferiour Courts of the Town These are they who obtain all lasting and continuall Dignities out of whose number a Prefect is chosen and these are always nominated by the States only But now the Senate takes Cognizance of all things relating to the confederated Union and provides all-things necessary for the War and all that are admitted into it do swear That without any respect of them from whom they are sent they shall advise what shall be most advantagious to the Publick good Now it is to be observed that hither are sent from every Province some particularly from Holland three from Zeland two from Frizeland the like and from every one of the rest one Hithet when there is any more grave and serious matter to be debated the Governours of Provinces are sent for and admitted But because matters of the greatest concornment were from all Antiquity never dispatched without the consent of every severall Province and that was found by reason of the infinite multitude of business and the hazard of long delays to be inconvenient therefore it was agreed that Deputies should be sent with free Commission who should always attend the chief business of State and if any thing hapned there that required more deliberate Consultation and merited maturer judgement that forthwith every one should consult the States of his own Province Every Province which now according to the League sends out of their chief Cities some hath an equall right of suffrage And by turns they successively come to be Presidents And at that time these were the Provinces Guelderland Holland Zeland Vtreche Frizeland within the Vlye and the Lecke and Over-Issel This Deputation hath by little and little assumed to it self the nature of a perpetual Assembly resembling the Confederate or United States and doth frequently use that name And the Power here included and vested in the Deputies for a prelimited time is not prolonged unless by the pleasure and Authority of their Superiours by whom they were intrusted In like manner others of an inferiour Rank are chosen for Sea-Ports and other Towns lying on the Sea-Coast who are by their Judgments and Counsels to order and settle all Navall matters This in brief is the Method and Form of that Common-wealth nor is it congruous only to mind the meaner sort which means
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
strength of their Horses was consumed in the length of their Journey But the greatest damage that fell upon those was that the Horsemen being far from home became licentious committing many robberies and Rapes which either for that Reason or else in regard of their Religion or some other causes mightily turned the Peoples hearts against the Hollanders But the Earl of Buldâ—s having in charge matters of greater concernment but his Forces not able to compass the same not daring to besiege Lutzenburg after he had received the Auxiliary Forces about the latter end of Autumn went to Paris for further Counsel and Instructions And it appeared by the Event that by reason of the constant allowance of Pillage and Rapine the Strength sent for supplies were hastned both with great damage at home and other hazard And that the Enemy came not into the very heart of Holland during the sudden and most sharp Frost following was not the success of their Counsels in their own defence but the evill Fortune and Discipline of their Adversaries For Sedition had spread it self all over the Kings Army and the end of one mutiny was but the beginning of another This madness as well for the generality thereof as the severity of the remedies applyed thereto far surpassed all before it because the Tumults began not in single Regiments but several Nations at once not in the Borders but in the very Bowels of the Netherlands for now hatred had enflamed the Souldiers avarice which is the prime cause of all such extravagancies The Italians a Nation by Nature emulous and spiteful observing that the Spaniards had their Wages payd them in regard there was likewise at the same time pay due to them presently imagined themselves slighted and affronted At first a few of them onely complained That then they lost the esteem of their labours and blood when the Duke of Parma the chief columne of their party and a most just rewarder of vertue in all dyed but although he were dead yet from him the Spaniards possess the benefit and Grandeur that at present makes them insolent That they were now as despicable hurried from place to place at the option of a few who make a stalking-Horse of Ernestus his good Nature and the Kings Wealth But it should suddenly appear that they had Arms wherewith they could challenge their due against all those that defrauded the King of his Treasure neither ought they the Spaniards to be displeased at the Example since they themselves first broke the Ice And if any one resisted them he should find what men Italy bred who before this time had brought in subjection the reall Spayn not that which is now so called being an abominable sink of the basest Nations who reckon Pride and cruelty instead of all other Vertues These first threats were now seconded not onely by Corporals and inferiour bands of men but the valiantest of their Commanders began to speak the same Language with which incouragements as if they had been possessed with some sudden frenzy all the Italian Souldiers marched with their Colours to Sichenen a Town of Brabant which in regard of its strength and Scituation they seized from whence they fetched in booty all about even as far as Bruxels with these many Souldiers of other Nations joyned as French Irish Epirots and even from Italy such as had formerly been in service for the Netherlanders and all under pretence of peace and hope of rewards they refusing to entertain none but Spaniards onely At all these disturbances the Officers were present which in tumults of such nature is very rare as if they had now been about to contest the honour of their Nation not by any right of Authority but so prevalent more or less as they approved themselves notably active in heading the Souldiers rage New men were daily listed and enrolled in the Companies the mark and badge of their faction was a swarm of Bees before which stood the King and this by a military jest and facetious quip they called the Common-wealth They imposed Tribute upon Lands and exacted Toll of all things that were carried out of the Country Prince Maurice and the Hollanders politickly fomented this Sedition for fear least if they should reunite they might receive thereby some unlooked for damage and the rather because there was a very great Frost which had continued rear seventy dayes and had covered with Ice both the Marshes and Rivers that they would bear the greatest and most weighty Carriages Thus while the Enemies Country was tormented on one side with the French War on the other side with mutinies of their own Souldiers first precluding all places to reduce them to poverty and afterwards by raising all Provisions to an excessive price The Treasury was taken into consideration and therefore they being graciously heard who were sent to Prince Maurice declaring that they were not obliged to the Spaniards by any right of Country Kinred or Allyance but only served them for pay which not being given to them they supposed themselves no longer tyed to their defrauders And if any should come to assayl them they would make use of the Law of Nature which hath commended to all Creatures even by instinct self-preservation Thus a Truce was made with them but when they demanded Tribute in the Land of Cuycke where the Prince had some paternal Possessions Herman Count Heremberg was ready to defend the Country people denying the same if the Prince upon his Request would have permitted him But here also the Souldiers necessity who could not so much weaken one side was more prevalent than all the Reason of the unarmed multitude which things when they came to be related at Court as they were by the Spaniards represented to the worst there was a division in Judgments thereupon some averting a necessity of mercy but others replyed that although in some Cases gentleness was necessary to be used towards Souldiers yet these being grown most insolent and having also a national hatred were to be made exemplary least the Souldiery should make it a Custom to mutiny and throw off their obedience as often as they should fail of their pay so soon as it was due Besides this the necessary of the time did incite and provoke the most moderate persons because otherwise when there was the greatest occasion for them they would obey no orders or Commands Among all these advices it was not concealed from them what further rigour was thought upon for them for they according to the subtlety and craft of their Nation had hired Spies who gave them Intelligence of all that passed Nay and some of the Noblemen did voluntarily favour the Italians out of hatred and impatiency of bearing with the Spaniards Victualls Ammunition and all things else fit for War were reasonably provided for them when the Spaniards come into the same Province with a strong patty of Souldiers at first they dissembled the cause of their coming but when they
Commonwealth being now degraded from that was put afterwards to write the Annals of his Country and had therefore an Annual Pension not so much for any great hopes of his Labour as that the Leisure of the Man being of a great Ingenuity and well Learned but of an active and restless Spirit might seem to be employ'd in some Noble Affair The Fourth BOOK of the History of the Dutch AFFAIRES AT the beginning of the Year Ernestus called a Council at Bruxels wherein he discoursed before hand of the great Things he was wont to undertake which at a glance were excellent Matters as if he had intended to confirm their Antient Laws and Customs But power was not given to the States according to the Old Custom of judging concerning the Weal-publike Onely the Bishops and Nobles were summon'd to meet because the Nobility are an Ornament and Authority to Soveraignty and the Clergy are bound to be faithful by the Tye of Religion The Commons are staggering and unconstant being greedy of any kind of Peace and therefore except in the case of Tributes are not to be hearkned to As soon as he had gravely declared the great pains he had taken for the making Peace in all other Things he desired their Counsel Whereupon Areschot a Noble-man of the first Rank in the Netherlands is Reported to have made a Speech in these words Our Fore-Fathers in precedent times not in any manner byassed with Hatred but onely because they were commanded took up Arms against most valiant Nations but chiefly the French nor were they ever frighted at the Dangers or started at the Evils that follow Warre while they fought in Defence of their Princes Greatness And therefore they brought to pass the most difficult Matters by their Valour and Wisdom But now our Arms and Counsels are at little use our Miseries and Calamities are the things wherewith we are best acquainted And this War which is nick-named Civil certainly cannot be believed such especially in the contemplation of the Mortall Jars between Fellow-Citizens and Countrey-men What then Do we desire Peace Certainly it had behoved us long since to have cared for that while those things we would have had preserved had yet remained in being before our Cities were burned our Fields wasted and a generall want had surprized our Families which is like for ought I see otherwise to lye upon them even to Futurity But if yet after thirty years continual slaughters we have not deserved rest yet at least free us from another War Must we go against the French first let us secure our Backs from the Hollanders But if it seem more convenient to take Vengeance on those first and that surely is very necessary let us not blow up our hopes with too much self-conceitedness lest while we court what belongs to another we endanger what is our own But you will say Peace is now offered to us I answer It is so indeed But pray consider what cause of War hath the French And how do the Hollanders drive of Peace No surely I rather believe they are sensibly displeased as well at ours as their own sufferings They cry out let the Forreign Souldiers be all sent away for they are full of cruelty and pride and utterly discordant to our Customs who have no shew of Modesty nor more Fidelity or Conscience than to serve their occasions We say these things are spoken maliciously and by Enemies true yet those things we suffer by them is little else than what Enemies use Ask the people of Artois Inquire of those of Henalt and other Provinces near thereby to whom the Proprietors impute the Dearth of such Fertile Countries They will tell you 't is true the French took away a little but the Spaniards robb'd us of all and the like may be said of all other Forreigners who however they disagree among themselves yet unite to ruine the Netherlanders Thus under the Names of War and Sedition we 〈◊〉 made a Prey but the Injury done to us leaves not off here but we must be delivered to the Rule of Forreigners so stupid 〈◊〉 we our selves accounted by them while our voluntary patience â—kes us become their Laughing-stock whose Lusts and Pleasure if they still prevail above our Complaints and it be thought 〈◊〉 to incourage wickedness by conniving at it we shall at last be forced to do that which the necessity thereof will sufficiently excuse both to the Christian World and to our Soveraign the best of Kings While he was yet speaking the chief of every Degree once round about him with a general Consent and rejoycing That there was one found amongst them that durst publikely speak the Troubles of their Minds But the Spaniards were even mad against him with Fury for divers of them were present Fontain had avoided to be at the Assembly because he was out of hope to be preferred before Areschot and his Pride was too great to follow him So really did he thirst after a real potency that he would not slight the appearances thereof I have observed this very Areschot through all the storms of this War to have adhered to the Spaniard with great candor of heart being such as bearing an unspotted Fidelity to his Prince yet would not make his Honour subservient to the Lusts and Pride of Strangers and being sensible of his own Authority was accustomed ever to use his freedom without check mocking at the King's Ministers because their Arrogance was hated by all but himself was never feared beyond words Wherefore now secured by the greatness of his old Age he cast out those Words which were looked upon as Oracles so highly did they please the Peoples minds Without doubt the Netherlander's Hatred to the Spaniards was never greater since the Peace made at Gaunt and some believed that the Hollanders as much as they could heighthen'd it if as formerly under the old Prince of Aurange So now the Government was not in many hands but one Single Person managed the whole Frame of Authority and all the Secrets of Leagues and Amity The too great power of the Spaniards and the Reciprocal Hatred for the difference of their several Customs were the first causes that inflamed the Netherlander's miseries Fontayne given much to sleep and gluttony and also being taken in the very act of Adultery at Antwerp was Reported to have very narrowly escaped Ruine Stephen Ibarra was a Man of a more approved Ingenuity and Diligence but all his good Qualities were sullied by Pride which also was the cause of an irreconcilable difference between him and Charles Mansfeldt insomuch that Charles had very nigh kill'd Stephen And the Spanish Souldiers took hold of this Pretence to cry out They would be commanded by no other Officers than those of their own Nation Christopher More was a good Counsellour and together with Idiaques ruled Spain but he uâ—urped also the Right of Domestick Power Yet Didaco Ibarra a man of so bold a Spirit that he complained
of his hopes in answering the Event and that the Wall wherein they put their greatest trust for defence was not as it was supposed solid but made up of two Walls which gaped 〈◊〉 in the middle and that the innermost parts of the Castle were by the Enemies Battery laid quite open The Souldiers that marched out that they might not be abused by the Bishop's men were protected by the Spanish Commanders with so much honour that some of them drew their Swords for their Enemies against their Companions in Arms For Heraugier had Covenanted with them not immeritedly fearing lost the Laws of Arms should not be observed by the Leigâ—ois The Bishop was not content to have punish'd those whom he thought guilty of the Stratagem but he took from the City its Auâ— Liberty as suspecting it to be unfaithful to him Nor did he leave off to seek Revenge against Heraugier himself objecting to him Cowardliness and sending a Transcript of soâ—e Letters to the States wherein he had irreverently spoken against them Prince Maurice and such as with him were conscious of the taking of Hoye defended him chiefly among the rest being thus brought in question The possession of this Forreign City was not kept long it being regained the 41 day after it was taken and the benefit of the Fact was lost though the Envy thereof remained And by chance it had hapned that the same day wherein afterwards a Messenger arrived with the News of the Rendition of the place contrary to all men's Expectation the States believing the strength and security of the place had given a rough Answer to the Bishop's Legate to wit That they would deliver Hoye when the Enemy surrendred Berck But the Spaniards added to the possession of Berck that also of Hoye and when they once had it kept it until their Wages were pâ—id and the Enemy removed from those parts and then they thought they might with safety enough deliver it Herein Philip sought the Fame of Piety protesting That he would rather bestow out of his own upon the Church of Leige the most antient in the Low-Countries then that he would under any pretence whatsoever take ought away that was its proper right Four hundred of them that marched out of Hoye with Heraugier were slain by fourscore Horse of the Enemies while being loaden with prey and too covetous to preserve the same they hindred themselves In like manner were they justly punished who going out of the Garrisons in Over-Issell to plunder the Territory of Munster were in the night by the Enemy surprized Among all these Affairs King Henry that he might compell the Enemy lying about Picardy to look to his own business at home commanded his Generall the Count de Bulloine with as great an Army as he could make to enter into that Burgundy which obeyeth the Spaniard by the name of a County taking opportunity from the conveniency thereof because there was the greatest passage for Traffique both â—t of Italy and Germany The first Onsets were very violent with great terrour taking the Towns and killing every where all such as came to resist which at the best made but a tumultuary croud of the People of that Country who had not through the whole course of their lives known what War was so that it might rather be termed a Butchery or Massacre than a War or Fight Yet did not all this make the Spaniard remove his Forces out of France towards the Netherlands but upon knowledge of the danger Velasco Constable of Castele which is an hereditary nâ—me of dignity who then governed Millayne for the Spaniard with a Select number of Horse and Foot drawn out of the Transalpine Garrisons marched over those Mountains of Alpes in the deep of Winter while their tops were covered with Snow and in the passage took some Cities resting at the River Sâ—one where staying for a great Recruit of Horse and other choyce Souldiers of Germany and Spoleto in Italy and hereby giving no opportunity of sight the French Forces began to moulder away Among these hazards and flying Messengers Ernestus his sickness grown more violent by the Winter weather begin to get the upper hand and besides he knew he had incurred the Spaniards hatred yet had not given any satisfaction to the Netherlanders and that his Enemies accused him to the King as a guilt stuck upon him as well his endeavours of War as Peace with the thoughts whereof his grief so encreased that soon after worn away with a lingring Fever and Flux of blood he dyed His death was suspected as it is generally of all Princes but was without any troubles or commotions attending it the hope of peace subjecting the idle and the tedious labour of a multiplyed War employing the rest The Physitians looking with great circumspection into the true cause of his death upon the dissection of his Body delivered their Opinions That there was a Worm in his Reigns then living which gnawed all the parts lying near it The Vacant Government was by Philips Orders supplyed by the Senate among whom the chief management of War and Peace and all other business Foreign and Domestick rested in Fontayne by the name of President for Ernestus a little before his death had by writing committed that charge to him pro tempore by the advice of the other Spaniards and shortly after the King confirmed it Nor was he unfit for so great a place of Honour although otherwise vitious enough as the Affairs of the Netherlands managed by his care witnessed as well as those of other places But the Low-Country Noblemen that could hardly bear him while his power was fat less and but derivative from that of another now received and carryed with envy and disdain the Ensigns of Honour which they took from his hand crying out that certainly their Fore-fathers were Prophets when speaking of this their own Country they foretold that they should in time become a Province to the Spaniard That after Alva and Requesens or which is later Reda for a short time and as it were for a shew they had their own Laws but the same arrogance of the Spaniard quickly returned That now the whole power of peace was in strangers who being equally vicious with their former Lords yet came not near to them in Honour and Dignity Thus every one murmured to himself and some of the more couragious stuck not to speak out to others viz. That it was very grievous and ignominious to all people to be subject to strangers nor is the hatred of Kings so â—itâ— that when the Governments of many several people is to be bestowed they will give to others the Command of them who are willing to be in servitude Therefore Charles Mansfeldt out of a sense of Military Honour finding himself to have been taken notice of with an eye of Enmity as one who had contested first with the Duke of Parma then with Ibarra and now with Fontayne and that he was laid
Philip took Care for his Daughter to whom he was about to give the Low-Countries as also for the Duke of Savoy Hereupon Areschot Mendosa and Aremberg went into France and Mareschal Biron was sent by the King to Bruxels to see Albertus take the Oath where the impotent Mind and Spirit of that great Souldier which was always beyond his Fortune was said to be corrupted into Treachery which afterwards more clearly appear'd All Things on both sides being thus done for the conclusion of the Peace which yet was repined at by some whose Valour and Hopes was nourished by other Mens Evils but all the Commons rejoyced at it not so much for that hereby much Christian Blood would be saved as for that the Law was restored to its power by which they should with security enjoy their Possessions reap the Rents and profits of their Lands and the Ways be all open for free Trading Then was the first day that France could boast of a solid Peace after it had been for 36 Years wasted with War and bathed in her own Blood then was restored to this most antient Kingdom its pristine Face of Beauty and all by the King's Care that the Governours and Magistrates being reduced to Order himself growing powerful by the Excuse of the Catholikes in regard of the Times that he might by Fear or Force compel the Professors of another Religion when in the interim the Netherlanders were left in Arms that they might not onely lose the Hopes of Peace but any interval or solace from their Neighbour's sufferings Yet the King sent back Mounsieur Buzanvale to the Hollanders by which Witness of his Friendship and secret Converse he might confirm his Peace even while there continued by publike Declaration a Forein War The business of France thus finish'd there was no less Experiment of Princely Alliance received out of England by the earnest Desire of Qu. Elizabeth which being related to the States by Sir Francis Vere when at the same time other Embassadors were sent to Albertus as if she would seem still to retain the hopes of Peace of which she said This had been the onely Delay hitherto that she desired to lay down Arms with the same Colleagues for whom at first she took them up And that nothing could be now demanded of her by the Hollanders but onely Right they having given the first cause of War it was necessary if it might be that an end should be put to it by them but if not that for the future they should give their Reasons for the continuance of it And certainly it would be a sufficient Cause for all Princes to envy and hate them that they have been and are the onely Obstructers of the Peace of Europe But God she hoped would not suffer that being deluded by ingrateful Determinations she should be a Pattern to Princes to abstain from helping such a People who bear no Reverence to their Superiours nor take care for Advantage Reputation or Safety of any but themselves The States now thought themselves at one blow almost overwhelmed both for their former and future Charge yet that the Name of an Alliance with England was of such benefit to them that they would submit to such Conditions as the Queen of England being their Superiour in strength would lay upon them Wherefore sending them who had been employ'd in both the former Embassies together with Andrew Ascel who had private Instructions which gave him power of Treating concerning the Monies due to her and concluding about the same even to the Sum of a Hundred Thousand Florens At this time there were divers occasions offer'd themselves to the Queen who already pretended great Fears whereby she was disswaded from War For James King of Scotland of whom Queen Elizabeth made no mention secretly claiming the Inheritance of the Crown Of England did not think himself able enough thereto unless he were supported by some Forein Help Not did there want some who pretending to have found some Letters written by King James that came to the Pope raised from thence great Hatred and Jealousies Moreover the Lord Burghley being grown very weak through Age and Diseases Beseeched her as she loved God to have regard to his dying Words whereby he advised Her That she would give Credit to him now going out of the World that she would without an inforcement of Necessity consult the good of her Kingdom and by the making of Peace in Earth merit the everlasting Peace of Heaven Nor did he omit to declare to her her ill Fortune in America and the fear that was conceived of the Irish Affairs affirming That the Belgick Wars were never to be ended by Conquest As soon as this man was dead and Essex for the avoiding of Envy declined to come to the Council-Table the Court soon appear'd empty of Care and Counsel in Defence of its own Right Whereto the States Embassadours being often admitted they excused themselves by reason of the Times for their not paying of the Queens old Debt due from them professing That as to what related to the Spanish Negotiation they did not intercede whereby the English if they pleased should be hindred more than the Dutch from making use of the Name of any People being in Peace unless they believed it more profitable to compass what they desire by Arms than by Commerce or Trading Neither did they desire but that the League made 18 years before when the Troubles of Antwerp affrighted the English no less than the Hollander yet never faithfully observed should so long after be changed into another form that it might now bind all those which before thought themselves free from the performance thereof Sometime was spent in debating and setling the Sum of the Debt for that the Engish reckon'd their Musters of Men and their Transportation and Wages too high while the other side averred those Musters to be untrue maintaining withall That several Naval Expeditions of the English had cost the Hollanders more than all the Money they ever borrow'd would make a Compensation for At last after Cautions entred it was agreed to the Sum of Fourscore Hundred Thousand Florens The one part of which should be paid by Three Hundred Thousand Florens Yearly during the War And at the end of the War if ought remain'd behind it should be paid by Twenty Thousand Florens Yearly The other moiety should be peaceably appointed when there was a Peace concluded and payment thereof made upon the Surrender of the cautionary Towns In the interim the English should continue their Garrisons therein to the number of One Thousand a hundred and fifty By this Reckoning also the States were to pay every Three Moneths Five Thousand and a Hundred Florens to the said Garrisons besides all other Necessaries fitting for the Souldiers And for the future the Queen's Promise of sending hem more Aid was remitted The English that were in the States Service already or hereafter should be Listed for their Service
Name of King unknown to the Netherlanders being circumscribed by such Limits needs neither to be feared nor opposed The French Greatness indeed if it be necessary to use Examples no otherwise increased than by this that many Collations of Fortune meeting in one no cross Event ever separated or pulled them in sunder whereas on the other part is it not a miserable condition that in Regions involved in and exhausted by Wars in whose Sides lyes a powerful Enemy an envious Neighborhood and Forein Greatness that should be taken away which for a hundred Years had nourish'd it and been as nutriment and the Radical Moysture to a weak and infirm Body We find in History the Emperour Charles when desirous of private Repose by transferring his Worldly Cares on his Son he onely a little anticipated the Gift of the Law himself and his Son both standing in the Great Council of his Nobles that nothing might be wanting of antient Customs But how by a Letter to renounce and by a Letter to assume a Government and by Sight and Speech to seem to set free a People as it were disdained from one Dominion to another and that not virile when it was known from all Antiquity that the Netherlanders accounted it as one of the greatest Mischiefs to be subject to a Woman was an Act of great Rashness Others wished that in good earnest the Netherlanders might in this manner be freed from the Insolence of the Spaniards That if the Council of War were removed the difference of Parties and Factions would easily be reconciled But alas the old Hopes and Arts of Philip were not so easily forgotten as that he would denude both himself and his Posterity of the Netherlands which are the strength of the Spanish Security and serve him as a Castle against Germany France and Brittain But that by laying them a little aside he might diminish his fear he makes use of his Daughters Name to whom is given a precarious Right and a Titulary but naked Profession under a Domestick Trust That by these very Covenants he hath not sufficiently dissembled with these since the Government must relapse onely to his Son proceeding from this Marriage and not to any other Children And although it were not perceived yet it is not to be believed that the Spaniards would have suffer'd this Lady to come from him after a continued Virginity of 32 years unless they had either bâ—lieved or procured her to become barren That it was a shamefull thing that the Netherlanders being a People having Priviledges of their own and by whose Wealth the Austriâ—n Family hath augmented its Greatness in Spain it self and so many other Kingdoms and in a manner laid a Yoke upon the Neck of Mankind should be publikely governed by Forein Laws and deliver'd to the Dominion of such as are subject to the Spanish Power Among all these Discourses other Letters were brought written now from Isabella as Lady Paramount therein Commanding Albertus in her Name to take possession and mutually to take and give an Oath of Obedience and to do all other Things usual in the like Cases for Princes to do This was against the Laws which will That the Entrance into a Government shall be publike Wherefore he not daring according to antient Custom to call a Senate of the Provinces and with them freely to Consult but as if he had had something in private to have said to every one apart on the 15th of August he calls to Bruxels onely the Deputies At the same time there was gather'd about the City a great Multitude of Souldiers to the number of 15000 Foot and 2000 Horse to keep in awe all that would but seem to gainsay thiâ— Design And therefore Richardot in an Oration which he had prepared of purpose for Albertus imputed all the Evils that had befallen to the Netherlanders and the cause thereof to the Prince's Absence Hereupon Masius answer'd for the Brabanters beginning first Rhetorically with such Things as might win the Favour of the New Princes But when he came to the Matter he disputed some Things as if the Antient Commonwealth had yet been in Being desiring such Things to be done as the present Necessity requir'd And it was submitted to by most that Conditions should be prescribed to their Obedience viz. If within three Moneths it appear'd that the Rites of Marriage were performed and that he himself did return into the Netherlands within the Moneth of May in the following Year and that in the mean while nothing was innovated by his Governours or Commanders And that he left as his Deputy-Governour one allied to him by Bloud all should be well And hereupon he Elected as his Deputy the Cardinal Andrew of Austria whose Father was Ferdinand Earl of Tirol the Brother of Maximilian the Fatheâ— of Albertus By the Mothers side he was not so Noble She being Philippa Velsera and descended from a Consular Family in Auspurge a City of Germany Besides all this it was added That all both private and publike Laws and all things use should remain firm by Oath to Philip That the lesser Governments and the Guard and Custody of Castles and Forts and the several degrees of Judges should be new chosen from among the Netherlanders That the King should testifie that in this yielding up of his Right in Fee he had no intent to intrap the Netherlanders That they would take care to pay the German and their own Native Souldiers as far as the Treasury would hear but for the residue and the Forein Souldiers the King should take the Charge thereof upon himself That Albertus should be content with the antient Revenue of the Frinces and should ease the People of their extraordinary Taxes and the constant Service they did in Garrisons and the Charge of quartering Garrison Souldiers And that upon these Terms they should for the time be Obedient But upon the Return of Albertus with his Wife a Solemn Oath should be taken on both sides all the States of the Netherlands being Assembled with whom in the interim Albertus would deal to win them to come to some Conditions with the Hollanders And because this was very earnestly desired and it was thought no absurd Thing to compare like with like in making a Pacification Albertus before his departure who did not think fit out of his Grandezza to send a Princely Embassie writ Letters to the States of Holland and Zeland and their Colleagues wherein he signified unto them his Marriage and the Right of Government translated from the Spaniards to him who was ever studious and willing to make Peace and therefore he hoped there remained nothing on their part which should cause them either to distrust him or the Peace he offer'd them They would therefore do very well and according to their Duty if they would unite themselves to the greater part of the Netherlands having to this purpose left Instructions with the States under his Authority In the same manner did the
to fight in his Defence This Lady had also two other Sisters the one marryed to the King of Poland the other to Sigismund Battor Prince or Vayvod of Transilvania but both very unhappy in their Husbands both their Countries being afflicted with worse than Civil Wars For He of Poland following the Jesuits Counsels by means of his Uncle whose Name was Charles was beaten out of the Kingdom of Sweden the Antient Inheritance of his Fathers And the other perswaded by the same Authors to deny the payment of Tribute to the Turks soon after being unable to defend his Territories was forced to transfer his Principality to the Emperour who gave the Government to his Brother Maximilian That was He who when he possessed the Kingdom of Poland made a Journey against the Swede onely for Forage sake and being afterwards taken Prisoner and quite forsaken by all would yet retain the Name of a King But Batler under the Name of Exchange was sent into Silesia and moreover being Robbed of his Wife as if unable to get Children being soon weary of his wandring Life and mean Fortune he returned to his own Country and at once received both his Old Dominions and his Wife threatning all that durst resist with the Turkish Power which would come in his Aid The Mother of this Margaret was a Bavarian and being the Emperour Ferdinand's Niece had marryed his Son Charles from which Marriage proceeded this Issue So that having 〈…〉 Father and great Uncle by the like Reason she might have a Husband to whom the same great Uncle might be Father Pope Clement being come to Ferrara for he claimed this City the Family of Atesti being extinct and subjected the same rather by Threats and Devotion than Arms when one Caesar by Name but the Off-Spring of an unlawful Bed challenged it and the Proxies of King Philip and his Sister Isabella being ready by Solemn Rites of Marriage he Conjoyned two Leagues by one Nation Going thence to Mantua and Millain they met the Duke of Savoy who also was come to salute his Kindred Thus was one whole Year spent in Italian Complements then they went to visit Sacred Monuments passing frequently by great and rich Cities where the Affections of Friends and Subjects contesting with great Cost and Art the Austrian Greatness was excellently decipher'd in shews and Albertus his own Victories represented to him in Effigie But by reason of the Journey into strange parts yet not absolutely divided from us I will make a short digression and before I repeat the Expedition to the Rhene remember some Things about the Borders which at this time were more than usually troublesome by some occasions of difference among Themselves Edsard Earl of Frizeland beyond the Eemes being offended with the Covenants made at Delfeziel as extorted by Force had appealed to the Emperour The Emperour who could neither approve Forein Decisions in German Affairs not saw the Issue of them which should be adjudged against the Will of a City found yet this Expedient That abrogating the Delfezylian Laws he himself would command in a manner the self-same thing The Earl being thus frustrate of his hope when now he had a great while expected an Augmentation of his Power this Year attempted to sow Intestine Discords in the City already so exhausted by Troubles and Charges that it could not pay the Money owing by Covenant and other necessary Things but by the Assessing of New Taxes Wherefore sending two of his Sons into the City to foment the Tumults they sought out some among the Vulgar that should gather together more who were offended at the Assessments for of 19 Fraternities two refused or else such as differ'd from the Publike Religion with Directions That they should at the Gates resist the Souldiers that were to come in and whom he had sent for to that very purpose though pretending other matters But the Conspiracy being set afoot the Magistrates angry with the Earl's Sons complained of the Father's Treacherous Dealings and putting to death those whom they found guilty of raising the Tumults they banish'd the rest of the popular part of the Faction or else fined them One of the principal Leaders in this Sedition was Gruny a man famous in his Family and of great Alliance being Kinsman among others to Count William He was of Kin by the Father's side to John Funquio who formerly had presided the Belgick Affairs for the Spaniard and not long since under pretence of private Business had come among the Hollanders But being detected to have brought Albertus his Commands to Edsard and asked what they were answer'd Nothing else but to desire Passage for the Spanish Forces through that Country Although it was believed and indeed more congruous to received Judgments that he came to treat of an Exchange concerning the very Right of that County with others in Burgundy or else of Goods in Luizenburg For this cause he being for a while diligently kept at length he was let go upon payment of his Ransom as a Prisoner of War because he had violated the Publike Faith But at this time some of the Funquio's Letters to Edsard were found wherein he was advised That he should not look after Germany or other remote and lingring hopes wherewith he had been so often vainly eluded for nothing but the Spanish Power would ever restore him to his Government but a Reward must be given to the Society that at the time appointed they might have leave to pitch their Camp in the Country and that a Fleet should be brought into the Mouth of the River and the next Bay with which he should sufficiently revenge himself upon his Rebels For which Causes Count William the Governour of Frizeland was desired That he would have in readiness a strong Force to help them in time of need whereof he took Care accordingly And in the interim from the adjoyning Parts commands a Party of well-armed and disciplin'd Souldiers to take an Oath to he faithful to him and then as if they had bin discharged by him he causeth them to go into the City and then to learn what more they could But now the Concord of the Citizens being grown more firm because the Conspiracy was Reported to intend Fire and Slaughter and they were fearful and not skilled in the use of Arms and so wanting the help of a Forein Garrison they Listed and took into Pay 300 men But the Earl as if he had receiv'd not given an Injury of his own accord summons the City to plead their Cause before the Imperial Senate complaining there of many Things as particularly That the Holland Souldiers wasted his Fields that they had inflicted extream punishments upon innocent Persons against whom they ought not to make any Legal Process without him that they had unworthily dealt with his Children and compelled the Youth to make New Promises whereby they should lay aside their Allegiance due to their Prince Thus in words they seem'd onely to mind Legal