their ease then ours were and had store of fire nether did their bread fayle till the day that they departed Spinola attended upon with a notable troupe of Nobilitie betwixt the inward circle of the cittie and the trenche the conqueror him selfe beheld the beautifull pompe of his glorious triumphe He curteously saluted all the Captaines at their going forth and first Naslauius the Gouernor venerable for his gray haires his wife and children the sonn of Emanuell of Portugal and two bastards of Prince Maurices and they againe with constant composed countenāces and voices and with a modest enclining of the banners saluted him No ignominious voice of prouoking one another was once heard but smiled with fauorable countenancs The companies being past all opprest with the congratulations of all the standers by and runing thick together admitted the duties of common curtesie no more cheerfully then modestly according to euery ones due praise for his labor assigned and industrie in so great and so long difficultie of the siege Iohanes Medices was sent to Isabella the Infanta of Spaine who related to her the ioyfull departure of the garison to whom Isabella gaue a rich collour of gould and adia mant being indeed a Princely reward Ferdinandus Guzmannus master de campe of a Spanis Regiment was sent with the same newes into Spaine to Philip the fourth Theodorus Camargius Coronell carried the first newes of the rendring of the cittie into Germanie to the Emperor Ferdinandus The Count of Anholt hearing of Mansfelds departure from the campe dismissed with his presently followed him The fame of the victorie diuulged into France England Italie and Germanie was scarcely beleeued euen by frendes A short fable was spread abroad by the enimies of the conuoyes of Breda and was cryed about by the voice of a common ballet-seller and sould in a printed pamphlet the same day wherein the newes was brought of the rendring therof yea euen from Spaine also letters were brought from the Kinge into the low-contries in which Isabella was admonished that she should consider againe and againe whether it were not more to the purpose to recall Spinola from so long and doutfull a siege so sharply did many write into Spaine to their acquaintance in high authoritie of the dispaire of getting the cittie Isabella the Archdutches resolued her selfe to goe in person to the cittie that was wonne and to visit the soldiars that had ouercome Spinola only keeping the gates of the citie command ther houses villages the tower and the church to be made cleane went to meete Isabella three leages from the cittie Almost all ther horse ether was sent before to Antwerp to bring her on her way or were placed in the midle way to receiue her and she was entertained coming with great ioy and with a triple discharging of the Canons as with a daunce of ioy The footemen diuided into diuers squadrons reioyced with no lesse signe of noice and of shouting upon the gate of Hage thorough which Isabella entred into Breda an Epigrame set upon the gate was reade that taking away the litle word of enuie it pleased him to soften PHILIPP VS HISPANIAE REX GVBERNAN TE ISABELLA CLARA EVGENIA OBSIDENTE SPINOLA HOSTIB VS FRVSTRA IN SVPPETIAS CONIVRANTIB VS BREDA VICTOR POTITVR All the greater ordinances of the cittie went off once twice and the third time The Archdutches forbid bon-fires or any other publique shew of ioy to be made in respect of the reuerence she bore to God till first she had caused Sacrifice to be offered vnto him the day following in the great Church as to the chiefe Author of the victorie The next day therfore Alphonsus Cardinall of Cueua Ambassador of the Kinge of Spaine first said Masse Isabella her wayting dames maides and all the people being present From Masse Isabella went about the Church to behould if any were left of the oulde monuments of religion She found here and there emptie places of the pictures of sepulchers steps of hereticall pietie against their Ancestors that were dead Yet found she whole the notable tombe of Englebert the secon dsomtimes Count of Nassau builded by Henrie his nephue of white and black marble Another which was of Engelbert the First and of Iohn of Nassau the picture of our blessed lady set theron being taken downe and defaced which was done by the instinct of a Sibell Henrie Boxhornes preacher of the word in Breda some times a Flamen priest of Iupiter amongst the high Priests She to wit by the oracle of Sibill after the sixt month of the siege of Breda prophecying that the cittie should yeld it selfe to the enimie vnlesse they would throw downe a picture of the virgin Marie kept at that time in that place which the religion of many of our very holie ancestors had worshiped so many yeares agoe in that cittie but others ignorant in religion durst not wronge it being at that time safe and sound In which thinge I know not what I may cēsure most to be reprehended whether the patience of the benumed Senat and people in suffering so great a wickednes as the treadding of antiquitie vnder foote or their stupiditie in beleeuing or the impudent boldnes of a meane woman against the picture of the blessed virgin consecrated by the noble predecessors of the Nassaues and set upon his tombe for memorie to posteritie An Epigrame or two of the fore-passed taking of Breda being written on the walles of the church iniurious to God and the Catholique Kinge were put out and these were set in their place to signifie the yeare wherin Breda was recouered AMBROSI SPINOLAE VIGILANTIA BREDA EXPVGNATA The sacred ceremonies being ended the tower of the church by night lighhtned almost with an innumerable number of lāternes and fires were seene to burne euen from Holland All the cittie shone with bon-fires and with barrells of pitch Then all the canons shot off againe And which was a more beautifull spectacle there was a circle of continuated shining fires for the compasse of two and thirtie miles thorough the circuit of the interior trenche which Spinola hauing set with stakes straw and fagots commanded the soldiars to gather together and to burne them perpetuall flashes of smale shott shining betwixt which like vnto starres a far off sodainly shining and vanishing made a most pleasant sight The liberalitie also fo Isahella that excellent Princesse shined towards the Church of Breda and towards two Religious orders of Capucins and priests of the Societie of IESVS no lesse then her pietie in sparing and praying to God to gaine that cittie It was the common voice of all that the Infanta by her perpetuall prayers and those of her court and of other places by there cōtinuall prayers in the fortie houre prayers to be made in all the Churches and by powring out her almes amongst the miserable wonne Breda and not with weapons And truly that the
tvvelfmonthes before vve couled come to besiedge the tovvne soo that there might be no necessitie to deminish the prouision made for the soilders For the vvinnenge of this tovvne vvhen many thenges did incorage the Marques Ambrosio Spinolas minde many thinges also did vvithdravv itt First the oportunitie of the place did great lie enduce him bothe for the hindring of the frequent enuations of the enemies horsmen into Brabant whiche from thence they moste comodiously desingned to whate parte they pleased As also for the hindereng of al nauegasion betwext the adioyning townes of Breda And the borderinge townes of the confines of Holand and Zeland VVhich is tought to haue beene don with no smale dificultie by reason of some townes that were taken neere at hand with encredible losh to the enemy Further more many other comodities did allure him to attempt to take this towne rather then any other to witt the Zoile of the suburbs fitt for making his trinches and fortificationes eyther to make assault or to entrench Hauing a riuer fit to pass ouer and easili to be damned up whiche being don they who were besiged might easilie be kept from prouition They had woodes nere at hande the fildes were fertile for feedinge Lastly this was considered that Breda being taken Bergen up Som and other townes neere at hand might be taken the more easily On the contrarie the strenght of the towne that was so fortified both be endustrie and nature did discorage him But espesially the great dificultie of transportinge vituales a far of when eyther the enemies was to be a voided with a greate convoy for al oure citties were distant great days Iurneyes on foote or that they might want vituales nor was there behinde them any commoditie of riuer whiche coulde be sayled with shipes to beare prouision vnlesh Breda beinge neere at hand as it were the theator of the enemies citties could be bloked up It was doupted whether that with a great number of VVagones vvith longe and combersom vvayes be reason of the winter prouision and vitualles might be broght vnto us which was manifest coulde nether be don without adoble garde of soilders nor withoute greate danger This was the state of the lowe contries at this time and of oure affaires Filip the fourth King of Spaine did forbid that any peace shoulde be made withe the confederated states Iudgenge that truce to be more hurtful then warr The Archduces Isabela Clara Eugenia Infanta of Spaine wife of Albertus that excelent Prince deceased thought it a disgraseful thinge that the army wherwith the Kinge florisheth in the lowe contries should be Idel and withoute Implomient the repulce of Bergenop some was not reuenged whiche being retained after the sidge the enemies gloried Germanie being quiet from warres rested The strenght of the bastard Mansfelt yea and his verie name was almost extent There was intire pease betwext the Kinges of France and Ingland with the onely enemies of the confedrated prouences there was Iuste cause of hatred Herupon warr was intended against them not for desire of rule but for desire of reestablissinge of religion and recoueringe of there owne Spinola in the 21. of the monthe of Iuly in the yeare athousande six hondereth twentie foure goinge from Bruxeles the time of the yeare beinge proper for warr he corne being reepe gathered an army But he kept him self so reserued in this affaire that although he fulli resolued to besiedge Breda yet if he perceiued it hard to be effected perhapes with a greater army a sit fel oute sent oute by the enemy he oute of euerie place wherin he lay might be able As he iudged fit for the present good to vndertake the same turninge his armye whiche way soeuer it shoulde please him The armie was deuided into thre pattes making a sheow to goe into diuers places of set purpose to deceiue the enemie Spinola goinge oute of his Iourney be montague where that sacred tēpel is of the moother Virgin renoumed troughout the worlde with so many miracles the misteries of the cristian religion being dulie performed and his deuosions beinge made at oure ladie is aulter for the army led the foote men one way and Lodouicus Velascus Count of Zalazarius General of the horse led the horsmen an other way Iohn brauius de laguna gouernor of the castel of Anwourpe with those that came frō markland Ioyned with thies trupes not far from turnehoute whiche Gonzalus de Cordoua master de campe general had gouerned The army beinge hire mustered by Spinola and being founde lesh then it was supposed neuerthelesh he had greate hope of there valor for beinge all chosen men There were in the whole fiftine regimentes consisteng of ahondereth foure score and eightine companies of horse thirtie nine troopes Breeflie eightine thousand in the whole Number II. Num. 2. SPECIMEN OPERIS CORNVTI A. Frons operis cornuti B. Fossa lata passus xxx C. Receptaculum D. Murulus terreus E. Fossa altera F. Lorica decliuis G. Vrbis mocnia H. Fossa moenium I. Opus nouum post aduentum nostrum in Gilsam externis munitionibus circumductum a Bredanis interna allo passuum CXL K. Lorica seu brachia tria fronti et cornibus munitionum praestructa L. Fossa M. Seps sudium in decliui Lorica circum fossam And thies vvere the firste vvoorkes added to Graue Maurish force vverby those of Breda began to doupt the siedge Spinola came to Gilsh a villadge distant from Breda tvvo houres iourney vvith his army Here he consulted vvith many masters de campe touchinge the beseeging of this tovvne asked the opinion of euery one vvhat they tought of the siedge of Breda eche one dissuadeth the assault they afirmed the tovvne to be fortified vvith most strōge vvourkes That the standing vvater as often the tovvn esmen listeth ouerflovveth al the suburburbs the tovvne to be deuided into many partes by the riuer The garison to be increased vvith tvventie eight companies of foote oure armies for ther smale number vvas scarce correspondent to so great an assault vvherunto number vvas no lesh needfull then valor And if the enemy should come behinde to assaulte the army before vve had vvon so stronge atovvne vve muste of necessitie eyther goe a vvay vvith disgrace or so smale an army be exposed to adoble perill both before and behinde The Marques Spinola hauing heard the opinion of the masteres de campe knovving that some stoode for the comanders and others for Inferior officeres and that him selfe vvas freely to dispose vvhat vvas principalli to be don and was to do al thinges according to direction remained in the same place and Informed Isabella the Archiduces whate the opinion of the masteres de campe were She hauinge vnderstoode of so great augmentasion of the garison of Breda made answer that she vvould not tempt fortune with the danger of so many valiāt men that she should be much to blame if shee
contayned in this couenant who soeuer shall be absent ether for their owne or the citties affaires that they may freely returne into the cittie and enioy the couenants that ar made The contry people also who fled into the cittie shall be suffered to retyre them safely into the contrie XIII He who being of another religion within the time of two yeares agreed vpon shall dye in this cittie that he be buried in some honorable place within an orchard in the cittie or else according to the will of his kinred that the corps be carried out of the cittie where pleased him XIV The decrees of the Senat and all the ordenances of the capitall seate not hitherto forbidden be estableshed and take effect XV. VVho soeuer heretofore hath lent mony to the cittie shall be suffered to receiue the rent and to make exchange And yearely that their reuenewes and their other affaires be assisted by the Senat by whom the reuenewes ar to be paid All these thinges whatsoeuer in this agreement ar decreed and written ar agreed vnto ratified and confirmed by the Marquis Spinola and ar subscribed vnto by the legats of the cittee the same Marquis promising that he will endeauor that it be also ratified by the most Excellent Infanta of Spaine sealed with her broade seale within fifteene dayes Giuen the second of Iune 1625. Many whose dispositions were bent to more sharper courses hearing of so good and so fauorable conditions admired the Clemencie of Spinola towards the enimie and some also blamed this pardon They said that this should haue bene handled more seriously and ether to haue put the besieged to the sword or not to haue receiued them to mercie but vpon rendring vp their armes who by their wilfull pertinacitie had brought them selues vnto that point that they had died of hungar if they had bene shut vp but two dayes longer And why should such fauorable conditions be offered them of our free accord to whom euen to giue them their liues was to grant them to great a benefit That at least Spinola shoulde haue expected a litle whilst that had hapned vnto them which ordinarie happens to men thorough their ouer-much partinacitie to make them seeke that and earnestly to beg it which at the first they contemned and that they should first haue craued a composition before of our owne accords it should haue bene offered to them Next why the vnhappie part of the cittisens should be suffered to goe forth safe with their houshould stuffe and their goods before that mony were paid by the Senat to the Catholiques remayning which was ex torted by publique and common oathe to make the workes and to pay the soldiars stipend So wisely seemed they to complaine who tied to their priuat opinions ar wont to measure with the selfe same measure euen the waightiest matters of gouerment not vnderstanding that princes ar to take another course whose principall endeuours ought to be to gaine renowne and the peoples good will But Spinola houlding them to be more wise who ar more gentle in crueltie and that the fame of clemencie was to be preferred before the name of seueritie not ignorant how much better it was for the common good spedely to release then longer to detayne the Kinges armie before Breda by reason of the sturres of French Italians Germans and Danes made more account of the gaining of a litle time then of the no great spoiles of all Breda or of so smale disgrace of the enimies who yet perhaps would haue defended them selues mindfull of that old prouerb That it is better to be at the latter end of a feast then at the beginning of afray And truly he iudged it more expedient to prefer the Maieste and clemencie of his Kinge whose person he bore in this place then ether his owne glorie or desire of reuenge That he held it for a dishonor of so great a number of prouision left behinde and but litle gon away for testimonie of his longe patience and approued vertues there remayned in the cittie fortie three pices of ordnance musquets four hundred fiftie wherof also a hundred and fiftie were suffered to be carried in the place of those that were ouercome hargubushes three hundred of poudre a thousand one hundred thirty fiue pounde matche thirtie four thousand pound of greater balles two thousand of lesser an exceeding number of balles of leade fortie thousand pounde mouldes to make balles of leade fifteene granados two thousand one hundred of greater which they call Bombars three hundred fortie four engines made to cast fire a hundred and fiftie thirtie barrells of pitche poudre brimstone bitumen six barrells of great nayles long forkes of iron eleuen thousand of stakes with double forkes an innumerable number shouells four thousand pickayes or iron pikes to open the earth sixteene hundred whele-barrowes which ar driuen by the hande to carry earth a thousand fiue boates four rolles of cable-ropes fortie graples horscollers a hundred and thirtie four score couple of cart-ropes instruments made of fire also innumerable one linnen bridge or made of canuas gabians of wood or hurdles behind which the canons ar placed very many nor fewer to dispatch the hastie bridge Of all which a written catalogue was giuen to Thomas VVingardius master of the Artillerie Now the detts of the cittisens remayning Spinola beleeued that the States ought to haue so great care of as of their owne credit and authoritie which should be vtterly lost in the common wealth if they but once deceiued any one of the beseeged cittisens and therfore he was not carefull hereof Vpon the fift of Iune the day was appointed for the coming forth of the enimies garrison VVherfore Spinola forbad that none by soldiarlike frumpes or gibes should vse any disgrace to those that departed so modestly did he suppose the victorie was to be vsed Aboundance of wagons and boates being prepared for that day our soldiars were set to watch at three gates of the cittie and of the castle Count Hermanus Bergues with fiue companies of horse went before the companyes of the garison departing vnto Gittenbergue Also betwixt euery ten wagons went a litle company of our horse for the sauegard of the bagage The troupes of horse of Bergaignius led another company of horse who inclosed them behinde In these two scarcely were there any horse besides the ensignes so greatly were the horse decayed The foote men went in the midst Amongst these Iustinus went on horsback one of the beseeged Carolus Philippus le Count accompayning him Euery Captaine had his owne company The Coronels went before the troupes The coulors wer borne displayed the Trumpets sounding before them The number of the foote were three thousand for the sick were carryed away in boates Truly they were a gallant companie whether one respect their persons or their weapons and of greater beautie then ours were to wit they were lodged more stately and more at
diuine succours were more present then humane stratagems none can denie for to whom shall we refer this benefit receiued but to her so well knowen pietie to whom we may rightly proclaime that saying One vvoman hath vvrought confusion in the house of Nabuchodonosor Isabella therfore came into the cittie as a restorer of the ancient religion into the campes as to bestow in those dayes the gifts and guerdons of a Captaine She ordained an Anniuersarie Masse in honor of the dreadfull Sacramēt who began first in the eue of the rendring of Breda and the garison went out on the octaue She gaue to the Capucins to buy a housein Breda four hundred poundes To the priests of the Societie of Iesus who were diuided into four quarters of the campe procuringe the health of the soldiars soules during all the time of the siege she ordained to giue fiue hundred pound to helpe to defray the charges of buying a colledge which she bestowed on them by way of almes To the repayring of an ould Abbie of Nunnes and ruines of the Church of Ginick which Maurice caused to be burnt she gaue no smale somme of monie All which arguments of singular Religion when Alphonsus Cardinall de la Cueua Ambasador of the King of Spaine did signisie vnto the supreme head of the church Pope Vabanus the eight the pope wrote vnto him in this manner following Our beloued sonne health and Apostolicall benediction we felt those your last letters to be those golden phials full of odors which recreat the soules of those that ar in heauen and comfort the diseases of those in earth we tooke breath a litle tossed in the height of the raging sea when we vnderstood Religion to triumphe in the towne of Breda God is not forget-full of his mercies and legions of Angells asist those Princes which fight for heauen verely this victorie is obtained amongst so many conspiring aydes of impietie and difficulties euen of nature it selfe strugling against it that although it will remayne in all ages a famous document of warlick fortitude yet let it be reputed to be the benefit of that almightie warrior For not only the force of the enimie is domted but euen the very raging of the floods And now doth the Prince of Austria gather the excellent frutes of so great a triumphe whilst with powerfull forces she fortifieth religon Nether suPpose we that could be more prudently prouided for then by the duties of Priests and endeuours of those Religious families which yee made manifest in repayring the Abbie of the Cittie And you we blesse perpetually who first the Angels applauding and the Church reioycing performedst the dreadfull Sacrifice of the Masse vpon those Altars which of late heretical temeritie had polluted Furthermore we praise your pietie when being adorned with the purple of Roman splendor shew your selfe worthier in this present occasiō of so great a priesthood Pious purposees may bring you into participation of this triumphall glorie for the fortitude of the Soldiar doth exterminate impietie frō the walles of the cittie the pietie of the Priest from the mindes of the people Only wishing honor to your name we perpetually promisse you our patrocinie Giuen at Rome at S. Maries the Greater vnder the fishers ringe the 11. August 1625. the second yeare of our Pontificat Isabella hauing performed the duties of Religion commanded a whole monthes wages to be paid to the soldiars in the campes and a thousand garments to be made by the name of a donation Then in the ensuing dayes she went about to behould the workes both of the inward and outward trenche as a Reuerencer both of warre and of Religion In the meane space Spinola with a great conuoye set the citie in order spoiled by so long a siege and disposed the houses for placing the garison Isabella placed the Barron of Balancone Master de campe of the Burgundians for Gouernor to rule the cittie The virtu of that man his modestic and vigilance were so well knowen without enuie that the soldiars of all nations affirmed that office of right and merit to belong vnto him The cittisens who had heard only by report of his fame designed the gouerment to him and humbly besought it might be deliueuered him thus virtue cannot be concealed and being knowen is beloued Then was the Senat appointed for the people Henricus Montens from whom the same was taken wrongfully was created Burgermaster excellent in the knowledg of law graue for his gray haires who also administred that office when the cittie by fraude of a fraighted boate was last taken from the Kinge he alwayes was a true maintayner of his fatheres Religion Cornelius vander Locht a man of a peaceable cariage and a keeper of the ancient faith was giuen to him for Collegue The other Senators in virtu and faith had bene approued be the common wealth To the cittisens the same forme of gouerment and lawes were appointed as were to the cittie of Bolduke although at first for many reasons all of them could not be kept The Senat with the furtherance of the Magistrates gaue a publique schoole to be gouerned by the Professors of the Societie of IESVS which order Phillip Duke of Arscote by the commandment of Isabella the Archdutches be her letters was put in execusion All thinges so set in good order the conuoyes being dispatched a gard of three thousand foote and seauen companies of horse being designed the trenches ditches and workes with which Spinola had encompassed the cittie he commanded to be throwen downe worthie to haue bene kept and to haue bene shewed to posteritie but for his vse who was the chiefest of so great a victorie obtayned else should for euer haue remayned Then the armie being sent before by some spaces the Infanta was accompanied to Antwerp The footemen being diuided vnto squadrones betwixt Hooghstrate and Breda saluted her passing by with the applause of militarie ioy The horsmen not far from Hooghstrate placed in the great plaine by Henrie of Bergues skirmished with militarie sports like as in earnest war Fifteene companies set here and there one against another by a mutuall en countring and a fayned fight exhibited that comely aspect of war as the vnexpert almost frame to them selues in their minde The sounding of the Trumpets the runing and retyring of the horses the raising of the dust from the ground the glistering of head-peeces and breast plates the brandeshing of the naked swordes the shoutes of those that ran together the fire and the smoke and the sounde of the gunnes discharged and the eccho of the greater cannons playing also a far off lastly all the spectacles of a fight saue blood and slaughter Metuenda voluptas Spectanti pulcherque timor And which was most beautifull of all Henrie of Bergues him selfe armed from top to toe runing as it were for helpe betwixt two Princes his frendes VVolfangus VVilhelmus Duke of Bauaria Iuliers Oliue