A generall historie of the Netherlands VVith the genealogie and memorable acts of the Earls of Holland, Zeeland, and west-Friseland, from Thierry of Aquitaine the first Earle, successiuely vnto Philip the third King of Spaine: continued vnto this present yeare of our Lord 1608, out of the best authors that haue written of that subiect: by Ed. Grimeston.

WILLIAM OF BAVARIA, THE 5. OF that name, the 25▪ Earle of Holland, and Zeeland, Lord of Friseland, and Earle of Henault, called the madde.

[illustration]

25. Guilielmus Quintus.

This William did obtaine in nuptiall state, Mathilda of the house of Lancaster. A husband Childlesse, and vnfortunate, Attempted Vtrecht, and did factions stirre, Vnder the names of Hamocons and Merlus, Distracted in his flowre of youth he grew, Since in his age he was vndutious To his graue Mother, whom •…•…e did pursue With many troubles; though she had defects, Yet children to their parents, still must owe Remission of their faults; and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 respects; But death doth on his life, his rest bestow.

AFter this cruell and bloudie battaile fought vpon the bankes of [ A] the old riuer of Meuse, as we haue said, William Duke of Bauaria Palatin of Rhine, Earle of Holland and Zeeland, and Lord of Friseland (according to the accord whereof we haue made men∣tion) was absolute Prince of the said Prouinces: Then after the decease of the Empresse his Mother, did also inherite the county of Henault. Hee had to wife the Lady Mathilda daughter to Henry Duke of Lancaster in England, by whom hee had not any children.

In the yeare 1355. this Earle by the bad aduise of some of his councell, thrust on by [ B] their priuate passions, sent about S. Martins time in winter, to defie the Bishop of V∣trecht, being seconded by many Noblemen, Knights and Gentlemen of the country of Vtrecht it selfe, who ioyning with the Earle for some discontent, did also defie him: among the which were Arnold of Yselstein, Iohn of Culenbourg, Ghysbrecht of Vianen, Iohn of Culenbourg, sonne to Iohn lord of Woudenbourg, Iohn of Haerlaer: Iohn seig∣neor of Langerack, Ghysbrecht of Nyeuwenrood Knights, then the siegneors Iohn of Blomstein, Zouthin Vanden Rhin, Hubert van Schoonhouē, Zuveer vā Nesse, Gerard van Vlyet & the siegniors of Sleydon, and of Dyckelen strangers, came to succor the Earle, which 2. strangers being entred into the territories of Vtrecht, thinking to go to Oud∣water, being vnskilfull in the passages and wayes, they approched too neere the towne [ C] of Montfort, which was of the Bishops party and well affected vnto him, as their soue∣raigne Lord, and depending on him. The Bourgesses of Montfort hauing discouered them (although that Assuerus Vicont of the said towne was not there, being then at Vtrecht) went out in Armes, and fell vpon these two Knights and their traine, whom they defeated and tooke prisoners. Cont William hauing a goodly armie readie, accompanied with a good number of Princes, great Noblemen, Barons and Knights of Holland, Zeeland, Friseland and Henault, entred with ensignes displaied into the terri∣tories of Vtrecht to forrage and destroy it. Approching neere vnto the Towne of Wiickter-duyrstede, he went and lodged ioyning to the village of Motten, where hee camped eight dayes, to see if the Bishop (who was a souldier) would come forth to [ D] giue him battaile, during which time his men spoiled all the villages about. The Bishop would willingly haue hazarded a battaile, if the inhabitants would haue gone forth and followed him to the field. But the Lords of Yselstein, Culenbourg and Vianen, were so well beloued, and had such good correspondencie with the chiefe of the towne, as they would not take armes against Cont William. And withall, those of the great Bourg of Emenesse, were againe reuolted from the Bishop, and ioyned to the Hollanders, cau∣sing themselues to be written among the members of Holland. During the Earles stay in this village of Motten, Iohn of Egmond marched with a troupe of Hollanders to∣wards Bunschoten, those of the towne sallyed forth vpon them, comming to skirmish with them, but they were so well entertained, as they had no better leisure then to [ E] seeke for their towne gates, leauing some seuentie men behind them. This done the Earle returned with his armie laden with good booty. The Bishop much greeued and discontented to see his country ruined euen vnder his nose, sought all the meanes hee could to be reuenged of the Hollanders: And the yeare following 1356. hauing leuied a small armie, went and campt before the Towne of Wesep, the which hee battered in such sort, as hauing made a great breach, the fourth day of the siege hee tooke it by as∣sault, the inhabitants leaping ouer the walles into the ditches to saue themselues: then he tooke the towne and castell of Muyden, a quarter of a league from Wesep, and then returned to Vtrecht halfe reuenged, carrying with him great spoiles and many good prisoners. The same yeare Assuerus Vicont of Montfort (then Marshall of the campe [ F] to the Bishop) by the meanes of Arnold of Yselstein, treated an accord with the Earle of Holland: and reuolting from the Bishop to gratifie the said Earle, hee freed out of prison the siegneors of Sleyden and of Dyckelen, with their squires and all their traine, sending them free vnto the earle, the which the bishop tooke very impatiently, for that

he maintained the said prisoners to be his, the said Vicont being his marshall, whereof [ A] vntill that time he had neuer giuen him any accompt.

A while after Ghysbrecht of Nyenroode, a Knight and a braue Captaine, by the com∣mandement of the Earle of Holland, gathered together a good troope of men, both of foote and horse-back, of the countrie it selfe, (to take reuenge for Wesep and Muyden) hauing drawn them to Naerden, he marched directl to the towne of Zoest, the which he spoiled and burnt: Otto of Lare then Marshall to the Bishop, went forth with all his forces to Emelandt, meaning to fight with Ghysbrecht and his Hollanders. These two Captaines hauing ioyned in fight together, the siegneor of Nyenroode, was wounded almost to the death, and carried speedily out of the presse. Those of the towne of A∣mersfort, who were with the Marshall Otto, were so roughly charged by the Hollan∣ders, [ B] as they began to wauer, and there the said Marshall was slaine with 36. Amersfor∣dins, in the end the Hollanders remained Maisters of the field: then hauing put the siegneor of Nyenroode (being wounded) in a safe place, they retired by the marshes & Fens, and entred safe into Naerden. The bishop marching to succour his Marshall with fresh men, arriued too late.

In the yeare 1357. Cont William reioycing at the victory which his men had gotten against them of Amersfort, entred himselfe in person with his armie into the country of Vtrecht, he camped at Hooghewoert, destroying all that was there-abouts, sending Iohn of Egmond with some troupes, to besiege the Castell of Stephen of Nyeuelt, the which he battered for the space of sixe weekes with great and mighty Engins, where∣with [ C] he brake downe the walles: and although the said siegneor of Nyeuelt were well prouided and furnished of all things, yet he yeelded vp the place by composition to the Earles mercy. The Hollanders hauing it in their power, set fire of it, and ruined it to the ground, hauing receiued no such command from the Earle their Prince.

After all these petty warres and spoiling one of another, in the end by the mediation of some good Noblemen, there was a peace concluded betwixt the Earle and the bi∣shop of Vtrecht, by the which it was ordered, that either of them should returne to his owne home, laying aside armes. That those of the Bourg of Emenesse should returne (as they had been accustomed) vnder the Bishops obedience. That the Lord of Vianen with the assistance of the towne of Vtrecht, should build againe his Castell of Ghoreel. [ D] That all prisoners on eyther part should bee set free without ransome: and especially that the seuen Gunterlins banished out of the towne of Vtrecht, should re-enter freely, that was Henry Vanden-Rhine Prouost of the collegiate church of Saint Ihon in Vtrecht: Pelerin his brother, Iohn of Woerden: Ghysbrecht Gunter Hoogue-land; Gerard and Didier Bolle brethren: Iohn Witten sonne to Rodolphe, and Peter Kanmaker, all which had beene to succor the Lord of Vianen at the siege of Ghoreel, with many others. After this Iohn of Arckel bishop of Vtrecht liued two yeares in rest, without any warres, the which he had not done during all the time that he had gouerned his bishoprick.

In the yeare 1358. on Saint Georges day, Edward the third King of England kept a sollemne feast and open Court for all commers, Princes, Barons, Knights, Ladies and [ E] Gentlewomen, whether William of Bauaria Earle of Holland was also inuited, both by the King and the Queene his Ante, of whom he was honourably receiued with great shewes of loue. At his returne from this voyage into Holland, this poore Prince (I know not by what vnknowne accident) was distempered of his sences and vnderstand∣ing, so as (being very big and strong of all his members) he slue Gerard of Watering∣hen a Knight with one blow with his fist, so as they were forced to shut him vp, and to set good garde vpon him, where he was ke•…•…t for the space of nineteene yeares, vntill he dyed. Hauing before his distemperature gouerned his countries of Holland, Zeeland and Friseland seauen yeares, and Henault two. Foure yeares after him dyed also the Lady Mathilda his wife, who lyes interred in the Abbay of Rhynsbourg by Leyden. [ F]

Notes

• Cont Willi∣ams wife had no 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• 135•…•…. The Earle de▪ fies the bishop of Vtrecht.
• Two strange knights •…•…aken p•…•…oners.
• The Ea•…•…le en∣ters the coun∣try o•…•… Vtrecht with •…•…n ar∣mie.
• 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 f•…•…om the bishop.
• The bishop take•…•… W•…•…p by assault and then Muyden.
• The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Mont•…•…ort 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from the bishop.
• A comb•…•…te betwixt two commander•…•….
• 1357. Cont Willi•…•… himselfe en∣ters into the country of Vtrecht.
• A finall ac∣cord betwixt the Earle and bishop.
• 1358.
• The Ea•…•…le of Holland be∣comes mad.