Behold what our cardinall of Granuelle was what his life and by what maner of man the Netherlands haue been gouerned the nobilitie disgraced the subiects pilled and ruined and the troubles raised by whom the king suffered himselfe to be abused and misled to the spoyle of his subiects and the desolation of his countries Such an one was he who called himself the prop and supporter of the Romish church I protest here that what I haue said is not to teare his bones out of his graue nor in malice of his prosperitie and greatnesse and much lesse to detract from him or his race whose remainder I would wish they might hereafter grow in all vertue and better carriage than the said cardinall but onely to let the world know in whose hands these good people haue planted the health both of bodie and soule and that by his example they should take heed of the like who by the like meanes would haply aspire to the same end that he did But let vs returne to the course of our hystorie These creations of new bishops and incorporations of the best benefices ministred matter of murmure and discontent to many of all qualities as an innouation brought in without the consent of the states and townes euery one speaking according to his passions yet truly And although they did their best endeauours to install them in their bishoprickes and to mortifie this feare and opinion of the people yet could they neuer satisfie their minds nor yet the Estates Gouernours Magistrates and Officers of townes and prouinces in generall who were the more incensed for that they saw them that were named to be Inquisitors or Diuines of Louuaine and the rest vnfit to preach the word of God although they made a brag that this point was the chiefe cause of this change but accustomed to affaires of state and the gouernment of Princes Countries and Commonweales as Granuelle Vigilius and Nigry so as they had reason to doubt that they would circumuent them and couertly intrap them with the inquisition of Spaine And that which did the more encrease this feare and apprehension in court they had no good audience giuen them and small hope of redresse for any griefes or complaints that they could make but contrariwise they did perceiue that they meant to proceed vsing all the practises they could Hereupon the earle of Horne admirall of the Netherlands thinking to do the king a gratefull seruice writ vnto him the nineteenth of December 1561 aduertising him That the states of Brabant were resolued to send certain deputies vnto him in the name of their abbots who would by no meanes consent that their abbeyes should be incorporate to these new bishoprickes besides other complaints which the states of other prouinces did for that time passe ouer with silence That both the French and Germanes maintained that it was not in the Popes power to take from them or cut off their spirituall iurisdictions especially when it is done without the consent of the archbishop of Rheims and Cologne That besides the Germans did alledge That although the emperour had consented thereunto yet might it not bee done without the liking and approbation of the princes electors and the states of the empire The French said also That although the archbishop of Rheims who was then the cardinall of Lorraine a great supporter of the Inquisition had giuen his consent yet must they also haue a grant from the French king as patron protecter and defender of the realme and of the rights and priuiledges of the French church That the reasons which they produced made the people to murmure seeing they attempted these things without the consent of the Germane and French nations in the middest wherof the Netherlands did lie who should not be able of themselues to make head against one of them Behold the substance of the earle of Hornes aduertisement to the king with diuers others that were sent from other places to preuent it in time Notwithstanding all which aduertisements and reasons sent vnto the king and his counsell of Spaine many of these new bishops were installed and put in reall possession of the churches appointed to them not demanding the consent of the townes but they promised the people wonders to the end they should suffer them In this manner besides the bishop of Ypre were installed and put in possession the bishops of Bruges and Namur of S. Omer of Harlem of Middelbourg finally the archbishop of Macklyn and a long time after the rest hee of Boisleduke all with great danger of some reuolt and sedition of the inhabitants of townes making publike demonstration that they would not endure that contrarie to their antient freedomes and priuiledges they should be opprest by such insupportable innouations of bishops Inquisition and ecclesiasticall iurisdiction They would haue done the like in other townes but they durst not attempt it fearing these speaches of the people who withall vsed some threats to kill them the first day they should make their entries Mens hearts being alreadie distracted and withdrawne from the clergy and their doctrine were vpon this cause much more incensed as well in townes as generally ouer all so as it was then to be feared least the commons should wreake their spleene vpon the priests During this perplexitie of the people for the innouation of new bishops which made the clergie odious to all men the prelats themselues and other church-men did not agree for the antient archbishops bishops whose iurisdictions and preheminences they did restraine and cut off whereof the most part are depending of the empire and princes thereof as Cologne Liege Vtrecht and Cambray with the chapters parishes which they erected into cathedral churches as also those of the abbies other prebendarie dignities made great cōplaints some grieuing that they tooke away the limits of the empire others that they sought to bring in a new and neuer heard of subiection and to alter or take from them their antient foundations possessions and exemptions without any cause or colour at al but for the profit of some priuat men who sought nothing but to inrich themselues Among which discontentments of the clergie the three chiefe abbies of Brabant Tongrelo S. Bernard Affleghem whose abbots were lately deceased did most repine for notwithstanding all the pursute they made in court they could not be admitted to chuse new abbots according to the antient customs priuiledges of the said abbies And vpon their petition which they did exhibit in Spain vnto the king himselfe by their deputies who had reserued such matters vnto himself according to the practise of our cardinall being sent back vnto the court of the Netherlands answere was made them by an apostile of the 27 of Februarie 1562 That they should be satisfied that they had prouided them good prelats that they should thank God that they did honour their prelat with the title of a bishop And this was all they could
or flaming haire as Iâ—…al doth witnesse IVVENAL Cerulaquis stupuit Germani lumina flauam Caesariem â—…adido torquentem cornua cirro Who wonders at the Germans when hee sees Their danke flame-coloured curles and blew dide eyes And withall they did bind vp their haire in trusses like hornes Vitellius being generall of the armie to the emperor Nero in Germanie the Batauiens and Cananifates being in Gaul being sent for to go to Rome their great captaine Ciuilis writ vnto them and countermanded them And as in marching they came neere vnto the troups of Flaccus Ordeonius one of the commanders of the Roman armie they gaue them to vnderstand That for certaine reasons they were resolued not to serue the Romans any more or else they would haue double pay demanding a supply of horsemen the which they said were much diminished in subduing the Bourguignons and Auuergnacs and aboue that the honourable reward which Vitellius had promised them else they would neuer go any more to Rome nor serue the Romans the which they spake at the instigation of their captaine Ciuilis that they might haue some occasion to returne home hauing serued aboue twentie yeares continually without seeing of their houses and families Ordeonius refusing to giue them leaue would haue them to serue still But the Batauiens not respecting his command retired themselues to their captaine Ciuilis to do as he should command them the which Ordeonius seeing he writ vnto Herenius Gallus gouernour of Bonne lying vpon the Rhine in the countrey of the Vbiens which now is the diocesse of Cologne being within four leagues of it that he should cut off the Batauiens passage and that he would charge them behind so as not any one of them should returne into his country The Batauiens Catthes Cananifates their associats had alredie sent an embassage vnto Bonne with letters of this substance To captaine Herenius Gallus health We Batauiens and our companions require you to giue vs free passage to returne into our countrey we haue no war nor hatred against the Romans for whose seruice we haue so often shed our bloud and exposed our liues wherefore now that we are wearie of the wars and of carrying of armes we desire to go and see our deere countrey and hereafter to liue in rest if no man hinder vs in which case wee must make our way by force Those of Bonne hauing a desire to charge them and to stop their passage Herenius their gouernor sent forth a legion of three thousand men with a great number of peasants of the countrey of Treues trained vp in armes Those like men greedie of spoile sallied out by all the ports of the towne to affront the Batauiens being verie few in number in regard of them that came to assaile them the Batauiens shewing their antient courage and valour ioyning so closely together as they could not force them in any part but the Batauiens without feare and with a wonderfull resolution charged this great multitude of Bonne with their small troupe whom they defeated and put to rout chasing this legion euen into their ports the Batauiens pursuing them still of whom they slew so great a number as the towne ditches neere vnto the port were filled one falling vpon another the prease was so great in flying to get into the town Hauing gotten this victorie they past on their way without doing harme to any one leauing Cologne on the one side hauing excused this defeat before Bonne for that they seeking peace friendship with all men had demanded passage the which being denied them they were forced to help themselues as wel as they could and to make their passage by the sword This happened about 70 yeres after the birth of Christ wherof we haue made mention to make known the vertue valour and chiualry which the Batauiens Hollanders and Frisons haue heretofore shewed in the Romans seruice aboue all the nations of the world which antient Hollanders in respect of their valor vertue seeme to be reuiued in those of our time whereof they haue made good proofe in the furious wars which they haue maintained for the space of 40 yeares both by sea by land against all the power of the king of Spain their ancestors not knowing what it was to fight by sea wherin at this day they exceed al others According to the testimonie of some antient writers the Batauien men and women were attired almost alike they did vse to weare a cassock and a cloke vpon it made fast with a great button of gold or siluer the cassock being close to the bodie a thin paire of breeches being plaine downe vnto the knee so as vnder the cloke you might see the proportion of all the members of their bodies Those which did inhabit along the sea coast were couered with the skins of wild beasts wherewith the country at that time being full of woods did abound but the women wore linnen kerchiefs partie coloured checker wise white and purple they had no hanging sleeues like the men their habits were cut away behind to the shoulders before to the breast shewing their bare brests yet they were exceeding modest very chast in mariage euerie one contenting himselfe with his wife The maydens the which is wonderfull aboue all other nations did not marie if they were not pure virgins and if any one were corrupted how rich faire or yong soeuer shee were no man would marie with her when as they did marie they tooke their husbands to be one bodie one soule one life and did not thinke him otherwise in their meere simplicitie They were not accustomed to say where is my husband but where is my loyall The day of their mariage the husband was wont to offer a yoke of oxen to plowe withall a horse bridled and sadled a target and a sword for the warres with which gifts the mariage was confirmed in presence of the father mother kinsfolkes and friends The bridd did learne thereby that shee must beare and endure with her husband whatsoeuer happened and that shee came vnto him to be an aid and companion in all trauels voyages and dangers and to liue and die with him if need were in warre yea in battell The mothers did nurse their babes with their owne breasts beeing a great reproach vnto them to put them forth to nurse if necessitie did not constraine them They did not marie their children vntill they came to ripe age to the end their children might be strong and lustie The yong men might not poule their heads nor shaue their beards vntill they had slaine some one of their enemies or taken his armes forcibly from him to the end that they might know that their naturall reward consisted in the defence of their countrie and in the honour of their ancestours Their feeding was simple and plaine without any spice sauces or other delicacie their ordinarie diet was fruit
one with her attendance in goodly equipage There were in all full 15000. horse as well barded as archers and those of the Emperors house-hold Spaniards Wallons Germaines and other nations marching quite through ths Cittie and going out at another Porte to lodge abroad for there was scarce roome in the Citty to lodge the Maisters The Emperor approching neere the Porte the Chanoins and the foure orders of begging Friars went to meete him conducting him to the great Church which they call Charlemagnes Chappell where in two dayes hee was annointed sacred and crowned with the first Imperiall Crowne the which was of Yron with all the ancient ceremonies and solemnities accustomed the which are particularly described in my great Chronicle Hee remained fiue dayes in the citty of Aix after his coronation sending backe many Noblemen Netherlanders to prouide for the frontiers Then hee returned to Cologne and from thence to Maestricke About that time certaine ships which they called Busses being fishing for Hearing were taken at sea by the commandement of the King of Denmarke and carried to Coppenhagen Adolph of Bourgongne Lord of Beueren high Admirall to the Emperour sent certaine deputies in his Maiesties name vnto the King In this prise of ships there was one of La Vere in Zeeland the which being seazed on by the Danes a storme comming the Marriners of Zeeland became maisters of them whom they kept close vnder hatches vntill they had brought them to la Vere where they were kept prisoners vntill that the deputies had obtained a discharge for their ships from the King of Denmarke which done the Admirall attired the Danes that were brought to la Vere all new and sent them home into Denmarke with good vsage After that the Emperor was parted from Spaine to come into Germany to receiue the Imperial crowne there fell out great troubles for that Don Piedro Giron and others did rise in armes by reason of their freedomes and liberties complaining of the seuere gouernment of the Lord of Cheures whom the Emperour had left in Spaine as if hee would giue all the offices of the Kingdome to the Netherlanders and other strangers excluding the naturall Spaniards So beeing in great numbers both of horse and soote they marched directly towards Valliodolit where without striking stroake or any opposition they carried away Queene Iane the Emperors Mother and all the Councell prisoners to Tordesillas distant but eight leagues from thence The which Cardinall Adrian borne at Vtrecht who had sometimes beene the Emperors Scholemaster seeing hauing beene appointed gouernor with the Admirall of Castille did leauy men also to make head against them hauing first sommoned them by deputies to submit them selues and returne to their accustomed obedience with promises of the Emperors speedy returne To whome they made a bould and a presumptuos answere that they did their duties to marry their Queene widdow to King Philipâ—… mother to the Emperor to the duke of Calabria sonne to King Frederic expelled from Naples to make him King of Castille But being obstinate and not willing to yeeld to any reason they were surprized in Tordesillas and the Queene deliuered out of their hands so as some were punished with death others banished When as Martin van Rossein Lord of Puydroien had discharged for a time the Office of gouernor of Friseland for the duke of Geldre finding that the priuate gouernors captaines and other Officers sought more their owne priuate prosit then the seruice of their Prince or the good of the common-weale and not able to endure it hee parted from Sneck and returned into Geldres acquainting the duke with the causes for the which he would giue ouer his place Wherevpon their was a new gouernor sent into Friseland in his place which was Christopher Earle of Maeurs a man of great respect and authority In the meane time the prolongation of the truce for a yeare beganne to weare away wherevpon it was continued againe for two yeares more During the which the Geldrois did not forbeare to rob and steale both by sea and land the which the poore soules of the Bourguignon were faine to beare beeing forced to obserue the Articles of the contract so as in suffring they had nothing left them but that goodly vertue patience About the time of the Emperors coronation the Geldrois did carry themselues so insolently as without respect of truce or any thing else they tooke the towne of Nicuport right against Schoonhouen in Holland the which they did spoile and burne The Bourguignons vanquished with impatience pursued them so as they tooke some prisoners and among the rest some gentlemen of good houses who were executed and layed vpon wheeles as theeues and robbers The Frisons of the Bourguignon party hearing that the Emperor should hold an Imperiall diet at Wormes in Germany sent their deputies thether Kempo Martua a knight of the councell of Friseland and Sybrand Roorda to beseech his Imperiall Maiesty and the Princes of the Empire that they might be once freed and deliuered from the oppressions and outrages which the Geldrois did them To which petition they had a fauorable answere the Emperor excussing himselfe for that he had no sooner prouided for it with promise to redresse it speedily Afterwards William of Rogendorf the Emperors Lieutenant in Friseland was called away and discharged from his gouernment in his place was appointed George Schenck Baron of Tautenburch who before had beene Drossart of Vollenhof who came the 24. day of March to Leuwarden with ample commission The sayd Lord of Rogendorf was made generall of the armie which Philip of Bourgongne Bishoppe of Vtrecht sent to passe the Zuyderzee and entred into Cuyndert where hauing stayed some-time and made warre against the Geldrois Frisons they went on and came to Lemmer whether the Earle of Maeurs the duke of Geldres lieutenant had afore sent some men to stoppe his passage if happily Rogendorf should offer it Yet notwithstanding any resistance hee past there chased the Geldrois spoiled and ransomed Lemmer and all the Sea-coast towardes the East Rogendorf hauing thus past his troupes into Friseland hee left Nicholas Wilderstroff to commaunde in his place and went to the Court at Brusselles All this was done to vanquish and tire the Frison Geldrois and to drawe them to the Emperours obedience The Emperor thrust on by Pope Leo to suppresse the doctrine of Martin Luther published in the same yeare 1521. his first bloudy Edict against them of the Protestants relligion whome then by a generall terme they called Lutherans which continued in the Netherlands vnto the yeare 1566. since which time vnto this day they haue called them Gueux as in France Huguenots as wee shall hereafter see but the Spaniards yet call them by the name of Lutherans All this time the warre continued in Friseland betwixt the Bourguignons vnder the command of the Baron of Tautenburche in the name of the Emperour hauing ioyned with
should bring in any innouation But they that vse such speeches discouer their grosseignorance or their insupportable malice If there bee any question to giue assistance to the Inquisitors to install the new bishops or to send garrisons into any townes then they can say That if they vse not extreame rigour and great diligence it will not bee possible to maintaine the auncient Religion importuning the Court with their continuall complaints how wonderfully the heretickes doe multiplie But if there be any question to find some mild and fit course to settle the countries quiet without any great effusion of bloud then they say there are so few Huguenots and of so base qualitie as nothing ought to be altered for them So as any man may easily see that their entent is to maintaine themselues onely in their greatnesse were it with the totall ruine of his Maiesties Countries And they that doe earnestly affect the kings greatnesse and the preseruation of his Subiects must reiect them as partiall and suspect and make diligent information and search of the number qualitie and sufficiencie of them that desire to bee the kings faithfull subiects so as they may satisfie and enioy their consciences and without doubt they shall finde a greater number than is generally beleeued Let them looke to the multitude of those that are retyred into England where they haue their publicke assemblies in infinite numbers then let them turne to those that are gone into Fraunce in as great numbers from thence let them muster vp them that are at Francfort Strausbourg Heidelberg Franckendal Cologne Aix Dousbourg Embden Geneua Hambourg Breme and other townes of the East countries without doubt in my opinion they shall find an hundred thousand And as for those that remaine yet in the countrey it is most manifest there are many more There haue beene sometimes seene at an assembly or preaching at Tournay foure or fiue thousand persons The like hath beene knowne at Valenciennes besides those that haue remained secretly in their houses else the garrisons had beene needlesse which haue beene sent thither if the multitude had not beene so great It is thought that Lille hath not many lesse who so will looke into the petie townes and neighbour villages shall vndoubtedly find an infinite number Come into West-Flanders the numbers are wonderfull great notwithstanding any search or pursute which the Deane of Renay hath made Haue we not seene at Messines as I remember seuen or eight hundred countreymen force the prison and deliuer a prisoner and they could neuer discouer who they were I leaue Eand Bruges and Ypre in which notwithstanding are good numbers What multitudes meet together at Antuerpe is apparent and at Brussels where the Court remayneth yet can they not by any meanes keepe them from assembling themselues together in good numbers What shall I speake of the Countries of Holland Zeeland Gueldres and Friseland where it seemeth they haue greater libertie and in truth the officers dare make no more searches nor executions by reason of the great numbers Haue we not seene at Vtrecht an â—…piscopall towne and sull of â—…ich chanons one called Thys or Steuen preach this doctrine publickâ—…ly for the space of a whole yeare in the view of the whole world in despight of all such as did oppose themselues and notwithstanding all their pursute yet could they neuer apprehend him for that all the people did accompanie him both going in and comming out of the churâ—…h so as sometimes hâ—… was carried vpon their shoulders and lodged sometimes in one house sometimes in another Whereby we may see that the number is not so small as some maintaine yea they complaine that they cannot furnish them with ministers and preachers ynough Without doubt if they were gathered together in one place as well those which are â—…tired as they which remaine there would be found at the least two or three hundred thousand If they will haue respect to them that are of the same opinion and yet dissemble attending some change or fitter oportunitie I doe certainely beleeue that all ioyned together would equall the number of the rest So as they which maintaine that the number is so small and that for them they should not alter nor change any thing shew that they haue no sence nor iudgement or else that they would raigne alone in the world Whereas they say That they be all people of base condition The contrary hath beene seene in Germanie France England Scotland and Denmarke whereas not only the common people but also princes and kings haue embraced this Religion and doubtlesse if they might discouer themselues without danger of life and goods they should also find here a great number of gentlemen and others of good sort that would declare themselues to be of their partie But although the number were not so great yea if there were but very few yet it were beâ—…itting the clemencie of a king to haue regard vnto the health of the meanest of his subiects The emperouâ—… Traian was wont to say That he had rather saue one citizen and subiect than defeat a whole armie of his enemies a speech worthy of a Monarch and Emperor Such then as thinke they should not spare to ruine as much as in them lies the bodies and soules of the kings poore subiects shew themselues ignorant what Christianitie humanitie or the clemencie of a king requires the very name whereof makes his fame more glorious than all the trophies and victories that he could obtaine of his enemies But some will say That these men are wicked and prophane and that they corrupt the rest Whereunto I answere That the point of Religion onely excepted whereon it is not my intent here to iudge you shall find that they are otherwise good men fearing God yeelding obedience to the king and magistâ—…ate and doing wrong to no man although there bee some that couer themselues with their name and are not so the which happeneth for that they are not suffered to haue the exâ—…rcise of their Religion as they would and as for the point of their Religion let it be what they please but so it is they are not all persecuted so much for that they follow heresie and errour but for that they are constant and faithfull in that which they thinke conformable to the word of God for they suffer them to beleeue what they please which indeed they cannot hinder so as they will be disloyall and hypocrites And seeing they submit themselues to be instructed by the word of God there is no reason to esteeme them so wicked Moreouer we must in despight of our selues confesse That the greatest and best wits and the most learned men maintaine their partie I will not disgrace the others But if we will lay aside all sauour and affection we shall sind that the most excellent wits haue beene and are of their profession yea the restauration of arts and sciences the which were buried in
are yet in the countrie carrie the king of Spaine grauen in their hearts all that haue receiued any rewards pensions or recompences which are very many besides so many that are voluntarily banished who would come in an instant like pigeons to adoue house the which would not onely be at the king of Spaines deuotion but also all the proctors sollicitors and ministers of seuere decrees By these reasons wee may see what power the king of Spaine hath to hurt vs when as hee hath euen within vs all instruments prepared to ruine vs both in goods bodie yea and in soule if he could and on the other side the French haue no such might Neither doe I doubt but that the king of Spaine and his adherents haue as great a wil to hurt vs as they haue might and power Kings neuer esteeme offences light when they are committed against their owne persons by such as they hold to bee their subiects and therefore they hold their subiects that haue attempted any thing against them guiltie of high treason But when such an insurrection and of so great consequence happeneth as that which wee haue seene in this countrie there is no kind of crueltie but they practise against their subiects for if nothing hath beene omitted that may be called cruel vpon the Indians who owe no obedience what mercie can wee expect in this countrie His chiefe officers haue beene put in prison chased away and their goods seized on and the ordinarie officers haue had no better intreatie his armes haue beene beaten downe an other prince first called in against his will vnto the gouernment and after that another chosen to be absolute lord Shall wee thinke or imagine that hee will euer pardon or forgiue such things He I say who for small pretended faults hath so cruelly intreated men of that honour and reputation by their good counsell and seruice deseruing so well of their countrey as the earles of Egmont and Horne and the marques of Berghes and the baron of Montigni and who hath begunne to persecute me and mine so outragiously for so small matters in comparison of that which hath followed And if God should giue me the meanes after this reconciliation to retire my selfe into some place of safetie although I know not where I may liue more safely than in this countrie yet this infinite multitude of people and so many good men which haue embraced the religion and haue opposed themselues against this crueltie whither shall they retire themselues The duke of Alua going out of this countrie did vaunt that he put to death by the hand of the executioner eighteene thousand men Let vs now compare what had beene done by the inhabitants of this conntrie before the comming of the duke of Alua with that which hath followed and thereby we shall iudge of the kings mind beeing incensed As for particular persons first of all the Clergie which are in number like Locusts will demaund their reuenues their houses and their goods and after them the gentlemen and all other sorts of people but finding it not shall not the poore men of the religion paie for it yea they who did neuer benefit a halfe-pennie by them The said clergie men nobles and others without any reason but onely a poore pretext of religion haue burnt hanged drowned and banished them that had but a little tast of religion and now beeing incensed as much as men may be doe we thinke they will be more merciful seeing they haue not yet cast off the wolues disposition but contrariwise it is more augmented as if one should cast a heape of dried wood into a burning furnace It auailes not to say that many of ours haue excelled measure the which is true and all good and modest men knowe that it was not my fault But doe we thinke the Spaniards can or will make any such distinctions Nay will it not bee a sufficient crime to be condemned to say he is a Christian whereby will follow the ruine and losse of life or at the least of worldly goods All these things cease in regard of the French but if they will obiect that they are affected against them of the religion first they are not all so as the Spaniards and their adherents be who are generally their enemies The French are not incensed they haue no goods to demaund as the Spaniards pretend By these reasons wee may easily conclude that if for these apparant mischiefs it is dangerous to accord with the French as the author of this discourse saith without all comparison it is farre more to bee feared in all kindes with the Spaniard In the meane time I can assure you that hitherto I haue not much busied my selfe to persuade the Estates to enter into any such treatie But many prouinces and townes of consequence propounding and making open declaration that they must of necessitie accord with the one or the other I confesse that if of the two wee must choose one I would rather consent to the one than to the other And withall I adde that euery one that is acquainted with the affaires of Spaine must confesse that the king of Spaine must of force to maintaine his monarchie hold himselfe linckt to the pope the emperour and other catholike princes and potentates The French king on the other side to clâ—…ppe his wings shall bee forced to allie himselfe with them of the religion and by that meanes in fauouring them by their aid hinder their greatnes which seeke to fill the whole world as the king his father did vnto the emperour Charles when as he thought to haue commanded all Europe And as at that time the princes of the empire graue and indicious men did their best and vtmost indeauours to persuade the French king to that resolution whereon depended so great a good for all Germauie so also our duties should bee to doe the like But contrariwise as if we were grieued that these two princes are not ioyntly armed against vs wee doe what wee can to vnite them by all meanes possible not weighing their forces and our owne infirmities If they will also touch our house in particular I am assured that both you my Lord and brother and I haue done so good offices to the king and emperour and that the memorie thereof is so well grauen in their hearts as the remembrance thereof can neuer bee defaced The which I desire not to trie in any sort whatsoeuer but am rather resolued to all extremities for the defence of these countries religion and libertie hoping that God will not abandon me in so iust and necessarie a quarrell for the which I pray vnto him with al my heart Made at Delft the 18. of March 1584. After the yeelding vp of Ypre they of Bruges beginning to looke backe refused to take a garrison from Holland the which the Protestants would willingly haue receiued into their towne but the Catholickes at the instigation of the prince of
beeing now in many places hardly beset and sore incumbred and oppressed and to deliuer the Netherlands and the inhabitants thereof out of miserable thraldome who not long before the wicked and dangerous inuasions of the Spaniards were so rich and flourishing in all kinds of wealth by reason of the great commodities of the sea hauens riuers traffique manuall trades and occupations whereunto they are much giuen and very apt by nature Shee should likewise preserue them from vtter destruction and perpetuall slauerie both of bodie and soule and so effect a right princely and most royall worke pleasing to God profitable for all Christendome worthie of eternall praise honour and glorie and fitting well the greatnesse and state of her princely Maiestie including therein the assured securitie prosperitie and welfare of her owne kingdomes and subiects Which done they presented their Articles vnto her Maiestie with all humilitie beseeching God who is the king of kings to defend protect and preserue her from all her enemies to the encrease of his honour and greatnesse and perpetually to hold and keepe her in his holy protection and safegard This humble petition tending so much to the honour and glory of the most magnificent and royall Queene and princesse in the world was with all thankefulnesse receiued at their hands Thereupon the Queene willed them for that time to depart and in the meane while she assembled her counsell to conferre with them what was to be done in this so vrgent a cause and to haue their aduice touching the same To conclude she found all her subiects generally addicted thereunto saying That shee might not by any meanes altogether abandon or forsake the vnited Prouinces of the Netherlands alledging the great hatred conceiued against her by the king of Spaine for the altering of his Religion in England which he not long before had planted therein which appeared by the treatie of peace made at Chasteau in Cambresis holden in Anno 1559 wherein he was verie slacke and carelesse for procuring the deliuerie of the towne of Calais vnto the English againe the which was lost by meanes of his warres and on the other side he caused the French to deliuer many townes ouer vnto the duke of Sauoy and left her in warre both against France and Scotland without any assistance They shewed likewise the vnkind refusall by him made of passage through the Netherland countreys with munition armes and powder which shee as then had caused to bee prouided and bought by her factor Sir Thomas Gresham vnto whome it was denyed Further That when her Maiestie by her embassadour the lord Vicont Montague desired the king of Spaine to renew and confirme the ancient contracts made betweene his father the emperour Charles the fifth and her predecessours hee would by no meanes bee drawne to yeeld thereunto That hee had suffered the Inquisitors in Spaine to persecute her poore subiects with all crueltie and extremitie and commaunded her embassadour out of Spaine because of his Religion That his gouernour the duke of Alua in the Netherlands had vsed all manner of hostilitie and violence against her subiects arresting both their bodies and goods contrary to the ancient contracts betweene England and the Netherlands That he had sent an armie into her Maiesties kingdome of Ireland and with colours flying inuaded the sayd kingdome vpon a supposed gift thereof made vnto him by the Pope of Rome which hee thereby excused intending also to enterprise the like against the Realme of England as it manifestly appeared by the Iesuite Sanders letters to that end dispersed abroad and by the Iesuite Creyghton who was then a prisoner and many other such like practises also were discouered by the dealings of his embassador Dom Bernardino de Mendosa in England Besides these many forepassed iniuries the Counsell layed before her Maiestie the danger that she was to expect if the Spaniard once obtained merum imperium that is full and absolute authoritie in the Prouinces of the Netherlands how he would alter their Religion breake their auncient priuiledges and subiect them wholly to his will and pleasure which done out of his malitious heart and intent he would easily inuade England with the aide of the multitude of shipping and sailers of those countries together with his Indian treasure first depriuing England of all trade of marchandize with the Netherlands and within the land procuring domesticall dissention and that therefore shee was not as then to let slip the present occasion nor yet to attend vntill the Netherlands were fully planted with Spaniards and Italians for that the warre was not vndertaken against the Netherlands but with a further intent and meaning to make a greater conquest On the other side there was laied before her Maiestie what difficulties and troubles might arise by entring into warre with the king of Spaine as first that thereby shee should breake the auncient contract betweene her and the king of Spaine and that it would not bee well thought on nor by forraine princes esteemed an honourable action to aide and assist the subiect against his lawfull soueraigne and that shee should hardly be able to contend against so mightie a monarch so strong of men money meanes and friendship which he should haue from the Pope domesticall English malecontents and many other his adherents whereby she should haue worke enough in hand to defend her selfe with many other obiections To these reasons aforesaid it was answered that therein shee should breake no contract nor league made with the house of Burgondie for that thereby shee was bound to aide and assist the Netherlands and to vphold them in their auncient lawes and priuiledges and not to permit or suffer strange nations to plant and settle themselues there and so intrude themselues into the gouernment and that if shee let slippe this faire occasion and did not assist them the French might set foot therein moreouer that shee intended not to aide any rebels against their king but to protect and defend her oppressed neighbours whereunto all princes were bound especially for religions cause as the Spaniards had done the like to her in her kingdom of Ireland with her rebels as also to keepe backe and preuent the warre with the miseries and troubles thereon depending if it be not foreseene and preuented and how dangerous and troublesome soeuer the warres be yet were the apparant danger much more and greater to be ouerrunne by forraine enemies and therefore it behoued her the more both in conscience and in honour to seeke to preuent all future danger for that the prouinces of the Netherlands could not be able any long time to withstand the enemies forces without some aide and assistance which beeing once brought vnder his subiection shee should bee assured to beare the burthen vpon her owne shoulders in England which would be much more preiudiciall insupportable and chargeable to her and that therefore it were better to haue and maintaine warre abroad than within the
other things would rest assured of his loue and good affection And how acceptable and welcome this his Ambassador was vnto him These were the King of Spaines demands vnto the Emperor the which will appeere more plainly to what end they tended by the sayd Admirall of Arragons actions being entred into the limits of the Empire with the King of Spaines army as we will shew in the end of this yeare of our Lord 1598 The Estates of the vnited Prouinces had a very expert Maister of their fier-workes called Iohn Bouvier a Liegeois who by his inventions had made sharpe warre against the Spaniard in all the townes which Prince Maurice had beseeged comming to the gouernment vnto that day In May being busie with his seruants to fashion certaine grenadoes or bales of wild fire with other fire workes for prouision in the towne of Dordrecht in the places appointed to that end it happened by misfortune that the fire with the which they do vse to melt the rosine and other consuming and deuouring stuffe fell amongest it and so came to the grenados and balles of wild-fire full of smale cannons charged with bullets heads of nailes which firing one after another made a noise as if a thunder bolt-burst forth and slue the maister and 3. of his seruants carried away the top of the store house with a great terror the which doubled twise hauing some respite betwixt the fire lying smothered in that ruinous matter so as no man durst approch fearing some greater mischiefe the which was much to be doubted for that in the sellars vnderneath there were many barrels of poulder the which were not toucht the nature of fire being rather to mount vpward then downward Yet the losse was very great and the Maister was much lamented of the Prince and States Behold how this diuilish arte required his Maister as the diuill is accustomed to pay his seruants At the same time there was another treason discouered the which was vndertaken at the perswasion of the Iesuites against the person of Prince Maurice by a Flemming called Peter Panne a poore banquerout borne in the towne of Ypre Who vpon certaine speeches deliuered by him and some suspition gathered thereby was apprehended in the towne of Leyden in Holland You may read the whole discourse in his sentence and the progresse of his wretched and treacherous desseigne as followeth Whereas Peter Panne borne at Ypre a Cooper by his trade hauing beene a Broker or banquerout Marchant and at this present a prisoner in the behalfe of the Scout or Bayliffe of Leyden hath confest being out of Yrons and free from torture that some yeares past hee being accustomed to make prouision of Butter for the Colledge of Iesuites at Douay It happened that one Melchior Vande-walle seruant to the sayd Iesuits cousin germaine to the prisoner about fiueteene dayes before Shrouetide came vnto the prisoners house at Ypre requiring him to send Butter for their Colledge And as the prisoner was then absent from his house about his affaires the sayd Vande-walle staied two or three dayes for him during the which time he had speech with Mary â—…oyets his wife who was much addicted to the Iesuites as shee afterwards told him to kill his Excellencie whom hee called Duke Maurice That being returned to his house the sayd Melchior Vande-walle had vsed some speeches to him of it building vpon the prisoners words that he was wonderfully decayed in his estate hauing no meanes to satisfie his creditors The sayd Vande-walle telling him in effect that hee knew how to free all if hee would goe into Holland and finde the meanes to kill his Excellencie And as hee made some difficultie to doe it hee was sollicited by his owne wife there-vnto saying that hee should make no difficultie to kill such seducers and peruerters and that if she had beene a man she would vndertake it and execute it her selfe And yet the sayd prisoner being still in doubt to vndertake such an action the sayd Melchior Vanden-walle desired him to goe with him to Douay to conferre with the Fathers assigning him to the Rector of the Iesuites Afterwards the said Vande-walle being returned to Douay the said prisoner to reckon with diuers persons and to make his businesse straight especially with the said Iesuites at Douay went of Ashwednesday from Ypre towards Lille from thence to Tournay and so to Mons where hee was for a time arrested for debt from thence hee returned towards Tournay and so went back againe to Mons where hee was againe arrested but beeing deliuered hee went to Valenciennes and so to Douay where hee was in the Rogation weeke and did eate three or foure times with the Prouinciall Prouost and Rector of the Iesuites with whom he made his accoumpts so as there was comming to him some fiue pounds sixe shillings starling for the which they referred him to one Nicholas of Lalain a Marchant of hempe That being with the said Prouinciall Prouost Rector of the Iesuits they had some speech againe with him of that whereof Melchior had spoken which was to murther his Excellencie shewing him the meanes that beeing a Cooper by his trade hee should goe into Holland where hee should worke some fiue sixe or eight moneths either at Delft Leyden or at the Hage And in the meane time hee should watch some oportunitie to kill the Prince either with a knife Poynard or Pistoll which hee should buye and carrie in his pocket to vse were it at the Court in the streete or in any other place where he might finde his best aduantage And the more to incourage the Prisoner the Prouinciall made as it were halfe a sermon with a long discourse of the merite of such a worke and what a sacrifice it would be to kill such a man who did seduce yea murther so many poore soules whereby he might purchase Paradise which hauing done hee should finde the meanes to escape and saue himselfe as well as hee could And if it should chance that hee should dye there that hee was assured to goe directly into eternall life and that hee should bee lifted vp into heauen both body and soule with many other intycing words so as in the end by the goodly perswasions and sweete words of the sayd Iesuists wherein they are their crafts masters he suffered himselfe to be so seduced as he vndertooke to put it in execution through dispaire by reason of his debts so as he neuer thought of any danger that might befall him nor of his wife nor children in regard of the profit which he did hope to reape thereby for the sayd Iesuits had promised and assured him that in executing this murther he should haue two hundred pounds starling which should be paied him by the treasure of the towne of Ypre by fifty pounds by the yeare taken out of the hundred pounds which the sayd Iesuits receiue yearely out of that towne by reason of their Seminarie