De rebus belgicis, or, The annals and history of the Low-Countrey-warrs wherein is manifested, that the United Netherlands are indebted for the glory of their conquests, to the valour of the English, under whose protection the poor distressed states, have exalted themselves to the title of the high and mighty ...

The First BOOK.

I Shall here begin to Declare that more setled Course of Affairs, wherein Prince Maurice, having attained the Chief Command of the Army, drew up himself the whole Managery of all Businesses. The Commonwealth had still the same Face, Religion was controverted with like Animosity, the War sharply maintained with equal Obsti∣nacy, and all hopes of Peace utterly laid aside; so that now the Series of Things was indeed, in respect of its Actions,

various, but in it self, not at all intricate: England was as∣saulted by Spanish Forces, and France greedily thirsted after, not with a covetous Eye, or vain Wish onely, but by the sad Threats of a Malicious War. It cannot be denied, but that his Treasury is exceeding great, yet not sufficient to maintain so many Wars at once; from hence becoming sensible, of all the Evils of Poverty. During this time, both the Minds and Forces of the Low-Countrymen, had some ease and respite, Leagues and Alliances were begun with several Kingdome, and in part again broken off: There the Praefects and Gover∣nours often changed, and at last the Regent himself; Confi∣dence not resting assured in the meanness of her Guard, and Treacheries most ignoble abounding every where: Whereas here, by the Vigilance and Ingenuity of one Captain, not onely Danger was escaped, but Arms advantaged; the Na∣vall and Maritime Power increased infinitely, and at once in Strength against the Enemy, and in Reputation amongst others: so that now it might credibly be believed, that in the Equa∣lity of both Parties, the War would now grow doubtful; for this time made it appear, that the smallest things might be waited on with humane hope, and that it was never too late to be helped by a Miracle. I am about to publish, according to the Method of History, what things have certainly been seen and heard; nor am I ignorant, how odious it is afresh to being in mind these things among them, whose Hatred is yet raging; where by the positive and impartial Assertions of Truth, you may happily by the Enemy be accused of Flattery, and to your own Side not seem altogether free from untruths: But the Judgment and Reward of my Fidelity will proceed from Posterity; And if God have, in Mercy, appointed any End to this grievous and bloudy War, it may chance there will be some, who drawing Arguments from hence, may give an Account thereof with greater Security, and more Elo∣quence. In the interim, let it be for the benefit of such, as being far remote from the knowledge of our Troubles, may

know the value of their own Peace, from the Evils suffer'd by others, and may hence learn Documents of War, whereof, though not in Civil Discords, they may the more fortunately make use of against a Barbarous Enemy. But it is very dif∣ficult to set down Things as they were really done, because the absent, many times, are quite forgot, and the present too much praised: As that most offends the Reader, so this makes the Writer more blame-worthy. Besides, the follow∣ing Age doth many times, either out of forgetfulness, or the potency of the Conquerour, leave out, or at least fall short of, the exact Discovery of their Knowledg: But if it be necessa∣ry for those Things to be publikely mention'd, it will be ad∣vantageous to the Writer, that he lived among those, who may well be ashamed, if they allow not to him that Liberty, which they promised to all. Adde also, that many of the Events happen'd hereabouts; and he hath the greater advantage and reason to admire the mean beginnings of this increasing Common-wealth.

* 1.1THE Great Year, according to the Account of Christendom, One Thousand Five Hundred Eighty and Eight, and which Astrologers had sore-told to be the last of the World, was now come: Certainly, either that Art is vain, and it must be reckon'd among the Follies of our rash Credulities, that we suppose our selves able to comprehend Futurity, or else it is an Errour of such, who do not rightly understand the many vast Intriques of Destiny: As a part of the Caelestiall Threats, the Spanish Great Fleet was looked up∣on, which, while he had Peace with the Turk, and saw France embroiled in a Civil War at Home, he made great hast to set out: For it was not enough, that they who had been Conquerors of so many Kingdoms, and subjected the New World so long, should win a little Nation to their Empire by mutual Conflicts, unless with Scandalous Language, they abused the Government thereof by a Woman. But the English∣mens

Confidence, encouraged the Low-Country men, and the Bulwark of the Sea made the English-men confident to repell Force by Force; for they had not yet forgotten the Names of Saxons, Danes, and Normans; nor were insensible, that whoever entred an Island, seldom failed to win the possession thereof: For the Kings of England, because they had been troubled with Civil Wars, to prevent future danger in time to come, upon like occasions, dismantling all Garrisons, Forts, and Castles, had laid the Kingdom open to Forreign Invasion; Then besides, what signified their weak Bodies, and Minds made effeminate by a long Peace and Luxury, being without Leaders, without Cavalry, against the well-disciplin'd Power of the Spaniard; and those that under the Duke of Parma's Conduct, had for so many years been Victorious? Thus did they threaten Revenge to such as should not assist them, but the rest some Respite should be given to. Now, as it is the Cu∣stom of greedily ambitious and covetous men, promising their Hopes a larger and more extended progress, they destin'd to themselves the interdicted and excommunicated Kingdom of Scotland and Denmark, intending afterwards to make use of English Force••, and withall of their Natural Hatred against France, at such time as that Kingdom should be em∣brewed and even lye wallowing in her own Bloud: As for the rest of Europe, divided among so many Petty Princes, and never like to be united or cemented, by any good Corre∣spondence or Harmony, it would of course become a Prey to their Conquering Swords. But men of more serious and modest Judgments could not believe they were so vain, as to promise themselves so great Success, though but in Imagina∣tion; but rather supposed they might endeavour to try their Fortune at Sea against all Nations on the Coasts thereof, and to spread abroad among all People, a great, though not a cer∣tain Terrour of them; or else, for a time, to compell all Py∣rates to keep within their lurking Places, and themselves to bear away all commerce. And the Pope (whose name at this time

was Sixtus the 5th) had encouraged & set on the Spaniard by his Bulls to Conquer England, which the Simplicity of some of her former Kings had made Tributary (as was said) to his Triple-Crown. He therefore following the Examples of many Popes his Predecessors, who first, by the Discords of Princes, had usurped a Right over Kingdoms, and then over Kings themselves, exposed England to the Conquest of whoever would undertake it; as if Queen Elizabeth had taken the Go∣vernment thereof without any Right, and detained the same by the Slaughter of the Nobles, and the slavish fear of the People; urging moreover, besides the Crime of her Heresie, the stain of Bastardy, as being born in Adultery, which had been endeavour'd to be concealed with the Veil of a Di∣vorce. These, and many other things were mention'd in the Ball, inviting all men to be assistant to such an Expedition, and absolving from all Tyes her Subjects, whether of Oath, or othe••wise; That they should seize and take her alive, if possible; but if that could not be, then to kill her. And, as a Reward, to en∣courage the perpetrating so nefarious an Act, Impunity was granted for the same on Earth, and Pardon from God, and other such like Enormous Fooleries, which now are onely imposed upon the Ignorant, as a Shadow of Power; and in∣deed, are no otherwise looked upon by them. However, this may surely be believed, that there were many principal men in England, who were much troubled at the present state of Affairs there, whose Affection to the Spaniard, Bernardinus Mendosa, who, under the Name of an Embassadour, had lain there for many years, as a Spy in the Court, by his vain Boast∣ings had discovered: But whatever his Thoughts were, it appeared true afterward, that however the English Catholicks might differ in Religion, yet there was none of them so im∣prudent, as to trust their Lives and Fortunes to the undistin∣guishing Sword of a Forreign Conquerour. In all the Parts and Coasts of Spain, and in Italy where the Spaniard had Command, there were raised and armed Twenty Thousand

Men, and One Hundred and Fourty Ships, part of them of an almost incredible Bulk and Burthen, which afterwards pro∣ved the main cause of their Destruction. Among these, there were many Galeons, and Galeasses, which built high, with many Turrets and Cabines, like Cities or Castles ra∣ther than Ships, were Rowed with Three Hundred Oars, co∣ver'd over Head against the Shot, and casting of Darts, or other like things, and their Belly and Sides made very strong, the better to be able to bear the Violence of the Waves: Marriners were hired almost from all Nations to put into them, and they were Victualled with full Provisions for Six Moneths, besides a very great Mass of Coin, provi∣ded for a War at Land, was in them, and Cannon, and other great Guns for the Land-Service, to the Number of Five and Twenty Hundred. And all this Preparation, the Work of so many Years, was publish'd in Print, to their own Glory, and the Terrour of others, that it might evidently appear a suffi∣cient Demonstration of the Spaniard's Wealth and Great∣ness.

Now though there were some that would have had Warre proclaimed with a Herald, yet others thought the Right of Claim from the Pope's Sentence, would make out but a lame Title. But so great was their Confidence, that the whole∣some Counsel both of the Duke of Parma, and the Marquess of Santa Cruz, was disapproved; which was, That the first Care should be to get some Part belonging to the Hollanders, be∣cause all Flanders could not yield one safe Harbour for a Fleet, against the Hazards both of Warre, and the Sea: But most advised, That the surest Victory would be gotten by Delay, un∣less the Army were presently landed at the Thames, to assault the City of London.

The Charge and Command of this whole Fleet was com∣mitted to Don Alphonso Perez Gusman. Duke of Medina Si∣donia, a Person meriting that Honour, as well by the Nobility of his Bloud, as any other thing whatsoever; and, under him,

many Gentlemen of the noblest Families in Spain, and infi∣nite others of inferior Gentry, had entred themselves as Soul∣diers, but at their own charges, induced as was supposed, not so much by the covetousness, as the assurance of getting very great booties. It was constantly reported, that they divided among themselves, as the reward of their pains in the War, beforehand, as well Honours, as Lands and Houses. There were taken among the spoyls of their Ships, many Ropes, Halters, and other Instruments of death and slavery, which they, as not doubting the Event, had prepared for such as they should conquer.

The Spring growing now very forward, they met at Lis∣bone, whence driven into a Haven in Gallicia, they wanted three Ships, which by a cruel Tempest, together with Slaves that rowed them, getting their liberty, were thrown upon the Coast of France; In the mean while, the Duke of Parma, upon whom depended the principal part of the Expedition, with above thirty thousand Horse and Foot, lay in Flanders, having cut great Ditches, for the easier carriage of all his Forces to the Sea-Towns. He had brought thither eight and twenty Vessels, serving to ayd other Ships of Burthen, and to hold his men, besides near four hundred Flat-bottomed Boats, that might without hindrance come close to the Shore, part of them being bought, and the rest built by inces∣sant Labour and working night and day; He had ready also, Bridges for the better and more safe transporting Horses and Men on a sudden, as soon as the Spanish Fleet had entred the Sea; But neither the English or Hollander made any provi∣sion to prevent the danger of so great a War approaching, thinking they had been driven back by the Wind, or else vainly imagining, that Ships of such Bulk and Burthen, would never venter, or run the hazard of their narrow Seas. Finally, some did not stick to affirm, that this was only a Convoy for the Indian Fleets return, although the King of

France, upon very good Intelligence, publickly declared, both the strength and intent of the Fleet.

Thus did they flatter themselves with Reports and Con∣jectures, not sensible of the greatness of the danger they were in, till it was afterwards avoyded. The Hollanders, notwith∣standing, mustred all their Ships and Seamen, as well private as publick, and fitted them for War, and when they had so done, they in a manner besieged all the Ports of Flanders, that they might stop the Duke of Parma from coming forth; of the rest they had no great doubt: At last, and almost too late, the Queen, who had hitherto been lulled into security by a Treaty of Peace, now claps all that were suspected to wish innovation in Religion, either into Islands, or Marsh∣lands, and fills the Thames Banks on both sides, whereever it was thought the Enemy might land, with Horse and Foot on a sudden gotten together; She comes also and views, yea by words, encourages the multitude, that made indeed a goodly appearance, but had been much inferiour in the use of their Arms, to the Duke of Parma's Souldiers, if he could have come: However, to animate all, there were some who compared all the Queens actions, with those of the most fa∣mous Women, however fabulous; n••y, they did not stick to equall her to Tomyris her self, or the Queens of the Ama∣zons, or that notable piece of Feminine Valour in the same Island of old, Queen Boadicia. Her Fleet, whereinto also she had taken all private Ships fit for Service, She thus disposed.

The Lord Seymor, had the Command and Conduct of the lesser Vessels, in the Downs, and at the Thames mouth; the greater being in number one hundred Ships, and which for the most part traded up and down in the Spanish Seas, were in Harbour at Plymouth, from whence, when occasion should be, they could with ease come out to meet and fight the E∣nemy, over whom, the chief Command, as Admirall, was

given to the Lord Charles Howard, Earl of _____ _____ . The Vice Admirall was Francis Drake, (afterwards Knighted,) a Man eminently famous for his Victories at Sea, the fame whereof, he carryed with him in the compassing of the World, and most worthy in this great danger, to be called by his Country to her assistance. The Enemies Fleet was not far off from England, when the Queen, who herein had been deceived by false Rumours on purpose invented and sent out of Spain, Commands by her Letter, the Lord Admi∣rall Howard, that in regard She was informed, that the Fleet was not coming, or at least would be a long time before they came, that he should unarm and discharge the best of her Ships. He had scarcely performed her Command, before the Spanish Fleet appeared, when it was no small care and pains to the Admirall, to recall his Souldiers, who had without or∣der or fear, taken liberty to be absent from their Quarters and duty, as supposing they had leave to do so. And no less was the Spaniard over-seen, in that he did not immediately fall on, when he might have taken them so unprovided, and at unawares. But the Commanders that were afterwards taken Prison is, though they blamed themselves for that over-sight and folly, yet were heard to excuse the same, by the strict∣ness of the orders laid upon them, and the nicities they were to observe in all points prescribed, then which nothing hath caused the loss of more fair opportunities. For Philip would not have his Fleet run any hazard, untill the Duke of Parma, by putting likewise to Sea, had doubled the terrour of their approach. But the Lord Seymor, and the Hollanders Ships joyning together, kept him close in Dunkirk, that he durst not venter to break through with his smaller Vessels; nor could the Spanish Fleet, though by that means it had escaped the following disasters, come so near the shore, being full of shelves and Quick-sands, as to drive away the Enemies Ships, that were much more light and nimble: And that was a thing of great consequence at that time, that no men did so

much as suspect, that the Spaniards (possessed as it were with a fatall and stupid blindness to their own ruine) had neg∣lected to furnish their Ships with many things which were necessary for them, out of hopes to have them from the Duke of Parma.

Now it is to be noted, that his Ships, or the greatest part of them, had few or no Seamen, and the Reason thereof might be, besides the avarice of their Prefects and Gover∣nours, that there were very few Seamen, either bred in, or be∣longing to any of those Netherlandish Cities under his Domi∣nion. And the Baltick Cities were not able to supply the number he wanted; and especially, for that all who were forced aboard by the Spaniards, took the first opportunity they could find to run away.

In this Interim, the English Fleet was gotten together a∣gain, and with very much difficulty, and hard Labour, by reason of a cross Wind, at last got out from Plymouth, that they might at a distance annoy the Enemy. In which kind of fight, it easily appeared, whether was more advantageous, the Ships of great and heavy Burthen, or Vessels more nim∣ble and expeditions to turn and wind at all Assayes, for few of the English Ships were equall in bigness, to those of the Spaniard, but being more nimble, and apt to sail, they could at any time get the wind of the Enemy, and either go for∣ward or backward at pleasure; and if the Wind changing, drove them as it were upon the Enemy, by fetching a com∣pass, they eluded their expectation. And now there being a calm, so that the Enemy could easily come forward by the help of their Oars, they did not shoot common round Bul∣lets, but chained shot, wherewith expanding themselves, they not only tore their Sails and Tackle, but broke their Oars: by which means the Spaniards could not come forward, or if they could, yet they kept back, not having a mind to fight. Their Ships were drawn into a long Rank, with extended horns, which as it made their Progress very slow, so also it

made them more lyable to the English Cannon to be spoyl∣ed; And then if any Guns more sharply annoyed them, they drew in their Mooned and crescent Squadrons into the Body of the Fleet, and that one might not go before another, bore less Sayl, neither could this be done altogether with safety, as was experimentally found by them, their Ships often falling foul upon one another, in their making such Tryals. And this hapned to Valdez, a great Spanish Captain, and of the same Family with that Valdez who is memorable for the Siege of Leyden. For a Ship of Sevill, carrying eight hundred men, under his Commadd, fell foul upon another with such impetuosity, that the Fleet was necessitated to leave it, having lost her Mast, that she alone might not hinder the course of the rest.

This being encompassed and assayled on every side, yield∣ed it self to Sir Francis Drake, and the Men in her, saved by his mercy, contended in prayse of their Conquerour, even to flattery. At the same time, the best Ship of Biscay, whereof Michael Oquendo was Captain, took fire. Some report, that the Man being a Netherlander, and that either mindful of his Country, or angry that he saw himself suspected, toge∣ther with those that begun the fire, upon the approaching of the flame, leaped into the Sea. Few of the Men were saved, but the lower parts of it, being untouched by the fire, became a booty to the English. Presently after, they missed a Ship of Venice, and severall other smaller Vessels.

During this, the English Fleet augmented with Recruits, and the flocking thither of the Nobility, who did strive by their forwardness to manifest their affection to the Queen, was in many divisions spread over the Sea, so that which way soever the Enemy steered his course, he was still sur∣rounded, and in every place torn with continuall shooting; wherewith so much Gunpowder had been spent, that the••e began to be a great scarcity thereof; and with that want, they were ever after, during the whole Conflict, oppressed; till

at length, some was gotten from Holland: without which the Kingdom of England at that time could not have bee•• defended.

Now had the fight continued without ceasing, at a distance, for the space of eight dayes (for the English Souldiers being fewer, and not able to cope with the Spaniard, had shunned, by all means, a close fight) and on the eighth of the Ides of August,* 1.2 they were come to the Streights of the narrow Sea, between England and France; Here the English Fleet, which you may remember, I told you be∣fore, was divided, met altogether, containing of Seamen and Souldiers, together eleven thousand, and having left the Ha∣landers to guard the Coast of Flanders: The Spaniards cast∣ing Anchor, waited for the Duke of Parma, and with him some lighter Ships, near to Calais, when he in the mean while, void of all hope, and not knowing what to do, makes proces∣sion about the Churches, attended with many vowes; In this perplexity of mind, whether he aymed at the Lieute∣nancy of Britain, or any higher Title, since it hapned other∣wise, and is variously reported, I will leave it to every mans opinion: But now the Spaniards sent from their Fleet into Flanders, severall Noblemen, among whom, was the Prince of Asculum, (whose Mother careless of her own Credit, had made the King suspicious of his being true born) to consult of the common affair, whose passage being hindred, that they could not return, by that means they escaped that gene∣rall ruine, wherein so many were afterward involved; for by the Queens Command, who now began to be in no doubt, but the Enemy, as soon as the Moon left shining, chusing a duskish night, would if possible, joyn their Forces, in this manner brought a great confusion into the Spanish Fleet, that had set up their rest another night in that narrow Sea.

Eight English Ships filled with Engines, containing Stones and Gun-powder, and other combustible matter were, being fust fired, sent among the Enemy, the Sea and Wind both

favouring the Design: But the Spaniards, being mightily amazed with the glistering of the Flame (for they percei∣ved it came towards them, and gave a great Light over all the Sea) cut their Cables, and get out to Sea: In which Surprize, and violent Fear, one of the greatest Ships, com∣manded by Hugh Moncada, entangled with another Ships Cables and forced thereby to a Disorder, was by the Violence of the Sea, and Force of the Wind, driven aground on the French Coast, and there the Sea-men and Souldiers, of whom there were in her, besides those that Rowed with Oars, Four Hundred, hoping for some Relief from the Continent, held the English, now invading and assaulting them with Ladders, in a long Fight, till Moncada, and many others, being kill'd, the Ship was taken, and by the space of three whole hours spoiled.

But the Governour of Calais would not suffer it to be bur∣ned, that he might preserve the Shadow of a Friendship, the King of Spain not having yet publikely professed himself an Enemy to France, though it was believed, he had at this time a Design upon that very Town. The King lost there in rea∣dy Money Fifty Thousand Ducats, and Three Hundred Slaves were set at liberty. A few of the Ship-men escaped out by swimming, and were the first that brought into Spain the News of the Miscarriage of the whole Voyage.

The Fleet, thus scatter'd with a Panick Fear, is Rallyed again near Gravelin, the next Town of Flanders; and though very much gall'd and batter'd with the Guns, and other Mi∣litary Engines of the English, yet they could not be forced to break their Orders any more: In this Conflict chiefly, the Spanish Design was ruin'd, and brought to nothing; for divers of their Ships being shot through with great Bullets, for that they could neither plug up the Holes or Breaches, nor free them from Water by their Pumps, were swallow'd up in the devouring and merciless Waves; Particularly, one Biscayan Ship, that was very fiercely assaulted, while the Captains

within it, between Valour and Necessity, dissent in Counsel even to their Extremity, was immerged in the Sea. Two Por∣tugeze Vessels, being brought into the Mouth of the Ʋly••, (for the Wind had driven them thither, they in vain striving to get out to Sea) fell upon the Coasts of Zealand, as if it had been the Design of Providence, that they who were equal∣ly ingaged in the Danger, should likewise between them di∣vide the spoil.

The one of these Ships was called the Philip; the other, was named the Matthew. Didaco Piementel commanded this, and Francisco de Toledo the other, both of them Collonels▪ that, the chief men in it being gotten away in the Ship-Boat, the Flushingers had; but Piementel scorning to fly, and refusing the Boat sent to him for that purpose, after he had, with the loss of many of his Men, endured great Extremity from their Guns, deliver'd himself Prisoner to the Power and Protecti∣on of Peter Douse, who being Commander in Chief of the Holland Ships in these Parts, hung up in the Church at Ley∣den an Ensign taken from the Spaniards, of an unusual Big∣ness, as a Trophy for the Peoples Insultation. Both these Ships, all things being taken out of them that were fit for use, were left to the Submersion of the Ocean. And now the Hollanders and Frizelanders were informed, that the whole Fleet of the Enemy was passing along by their Coasts, where∣upon they fearing, that they intended to get into the Mouth of the Eemes, hasted to take away all Land-Marks, by the sight whereof, Men sailing at Sea, avoided the Shallows of those Places.

The Spanish Commanders, thus worsted in so many En∣counters, and all throwing the blame from themselves, upon the Duke of Parma, began to consult about their Departure; although they plainly saw, that the danger thereof must be overcome with many other Hazards: For back again, all the Narrow Seas were beset; so that there remained but one help, which was to compass all the Northern Parts of Bri∣tain,

where the Rugged Ocean, not broken by the Land, is not onely boysterous, but very seldom passed without the danger of Shipwrack. And if they had then been hindred, so great a Fear, both of the Sea, and their Enemies, had seized upon them, that it was reported, the Duke of Medina-Sidonia be∣gan to advise, whether he should yield up the Fleet, and make Propositions for saving their Lives. But the English, onely watching what course they took, least they should fall upon Scotland, or enter the Danish Seas, as soon as they perceived them leave all that Coast, would not, by following them, ran into the same danger with them, since they onely sought a way for their flight through that great Ocean, resting very well content with the Honour of driving away the Fleet, and saving their Country. For when they would eagerly have pur∣sued them, they were (as I told you before) hindred, for want of Gun-powder. But they sent the Lord Seymor back in good time, that he, joyning with the Hollanders Fleet, should repel all the Duke of Parma's Endeavours; the rest, having for a while been tossed with a Tempest, at length got safe into England, though not without danger.

The Glory of the Greeks and Romans, who, of Old, made good all their greatest Affairs by Navall Victories, was, with∣out doubt, at this time, equalled by the Fortune and Valour of the English, though the Conquest was slowly and safely gotten, without the joyning in a close and intermingled Battel. And, in the event of this Contest, it is very remark∣able, that in all the time they fought with the Spaniards, there was not one considerable Ship lost, nor above one hun∣dred killed or destroyed, either by the Sea, or the War; when all this while, the Spaniards underwent all kinds of miseries; for having lost near five Thousand Men, and their best Ships, many of those that remained, being either sick or wounded, and wanting all things, they were at length glad to throw themselves, for safety, into the merciless Fury of a most impetuous and stormy Sea, where they threw over∣board

their Horses, Cattel, and much other Goods, to lighten their Ships against the insulting Waves. Then the Duke of Medina Sidonia gave Order to such as came up to him, that they should steer their Course between the Orcades, and some other Islands in that Sea, to the Ports of Biscay. Himself with some few Ships that were in better case than the rest, makes his way to the Great Sea, the rest went not far off from Ireland; some of whom, by various stress of Weather, brought back again, were cast, some upon the Coast of Eng∣land, some of France: Many driven into Norway, were then dashed in pieces against the Rocks; and another part there∣of, by a boysterous and raging Storm, was whi••led into the furthest part of the North, and the yet unknown World. The King of Scotland performed the Laws of Peace and Hospita∣lity to all that were cast upon his Dominions; Two and Thirty were cast away upon the Irish Flatts, and the adja∣cent Sea, and the men labouring to save themselves, we•• slain by the Inhabitants, because they were more in number, than consisted with their safety to shew mercy to; the rest were followed even into their Country, by the implacable. Fury of Revengeful Fate, where two of them were burnt i•• the very Port or Harbour; and others, by like Mischances, destroyed; onely Thirty remained, that carryed Provisions, and of Ships of War, out one of all that late so great Fleer, bringing home the Commander in Chief. Many of the No∣bles, and not a few of the common sort, died soon after their Return, either by the Diseases they contracted in so trouble∣some and unfortunate a Voyage, or else out of grief of Mind, that while they looked upon themselves as Conquerours, they should be subdued by the peevishness of Fortune. The great∣ness of their Loss appeared in this, that the King was forced to shorten the time of Mourning by Edict, that he might hide from the publick view the Misfortune thereof, that had filled so many Noble Families, with Funerall Obse∣quies.

Some of the Prisoners, both in England and Holland, were Ransomed; others had their Liberty given them freely. Ma∣ny times men learn Piety from Fear, and the Event of a Thing hanging in doubtful suspence, makes them run to their Prayers: But here Publick Thanksgivings were Ordered to be given to God for this Victory: and the Queen her Self, being carryed in Triumph, according to the antient manner, made a Speech to the People; wherein she shewed, That a greater benefit could never be received from the Divine and Eter∣nal Providence of God, whereby to make out, how weak and vain all Humane Strength is, against the Power of Heaven. And the Hollanders reaped another Benefit from this common Dan∣ger, because, after this, they had the more Friendly Society of the English, who hitherto were wont to boast, that they had supported those Allies onely out of meer Humanity.

But the Duke of Parma, while the Remainders of the Shipwrackt Fleet were getting home to Spain, being cast from his accustomed Felicity, into a Gulph of Misery, and thrown from the heighth of Confidence, to the bottom of Despair, rather by the impulse of others, than his own Ad∣vice, because he began to be hated, is drawn to besiege Ber∣••••op. Zome; The Brabanters urged him, That he should not suffer one Town, whence daily Inroads were made by their Troops of Horse into their Country, and laid wast their Fields, to infest them, and put a stop to all his Victories. Although he was not well pleased to remove the Army, now burthensom to ex∣hausted Flanders, to any other place, least out of Shame or Fear, if it should refuse, it should seem there was no rely∣ing upon their Assistance: But if Fortune would once more become favourable, and the Design should succeed, thereby a way would be made into the Isles of Zeland, and so to carry the War into Holland, the next way, as he thought, to revive those hope, which he had too confidently before relyed on, and lost. For that Town being rarely scituated on the Bor∣ders of Brabant, at a little distance overlooks Zeland; not

far thence is the River Schelde, into which the Zome (from whence the Town is so named) falleth, whereby the Town hath a long, but somewhat inversed, or winding, Haven. It was in a very flourishing condition, by continual Commerce, under the Command of a Noble Family, bearing its Surname, untill by the Neighborhood of Antwerp, and the Mischiefs of War, it decayed; having been taught woful Experience, both by the Enemy, and those who remained there in Garri∣son. But when it came to be annexed to the Ʋnited States, though sometimes indanger'd by Treachery, yet now was •• first ••et upon by Force and a Siege. Thol, an Isle and Town of Zeland, is divided from the Territory of Berghen, by an Arm or Branch of the Scheld; which being convenient, for the passage of the Forces, least, if it should be left to the Hollanders, it might hinder the Siege, Montig••y and Octa∣vius, of Kindred to the Count Mansfeldt, were sent before to possess it; who, coming upon a suddain, together with fly∣ing Reports given out, as if the War were intended against Hosden, they lead Eight Hundred Souldiers over the Fords, hoping to have privily surprized the Coast or Border of Ze∣land; but the time of the Waters slowing being not well ob∣served, (for then it flowed) a few men easily worsted all those Defendants, endeavouring with staggering Foot-steps, by reason of the Mud, to go forward: In the mean time, the M••sketiers they had left in Brabant, de••ended themselves under the Defence and Shield of the Bank (for so the place proved to them) But presently, by the care of George Eb••rard, Count Solmes, that was Governour of the Island, and the noi∣sing abroad of the danger, the multitude of his men increa∣sing put the Enemy to flight, and drove them into the Whirl∣pools, where, without possibility of help, they perished; the Captains themselves hardly escaped by swimming. The natural Marishness of the place, being very Watry, and some∣what deep, destroyed, as some report, Four Hundred Men; and if any part of their Bodies, being yet alive, appeared

above Water, presently with Darts, or other Things cast at them, they were killed; in all this Encounter, there being of the adverse Side but one man kill'd, which is almost miracu∣lous to relate; and from thenceforth the Island was strength∣ned with Castles, Guards, and other Military Engines of De∣fence. Hereupon, the Duke of Parma taking another Reso∣lution, that by shutting up their Haven, he might straighten the Townsmen of Provision, with his great Army he besieg∣ed their Works, placing Guards in all places near about them; and where his Men were by any means separated, he made Bridges, to unite the passages to each other. With all which, the Citizens of Berghen were nothing terrified, nor were as if they had been besieged, because both Souldiers and Aid, with all other things necessary for Defence, were plentifully brought to them out of Zeland, and the Neigh∣bouring Cities of Holland, they fought either with Horse or Foot, as if it had been two Camps one against another, many light Skirmishes, but never without drawing bloud from the Enemy: Nor was the Souldiers Valour onely exemplary, but the Townsmens Labour, spent in fortifying the place, was notable; but most laudable of all, was the Concord between the Captains and the Magistrates, whereby they raised Mo∣ney without grumbling by extraordinary Taxes. But a differ∣ence beginning among the English Commanders (who had a great strength in that Garrison) and every thing else, be∣sides that of Trouble, was publikely setled by Prince Mau∣rice, and the Deputies of the States, brought thither by a strong and safe Convoy. Between the Town and the River Scheld were two Castles; on the one side sufficiently defended by Bulwarks; on the other, by the Estuary of the Sea; and for the Battery on that of the North side, the Duke of Parma did, though in vain, endeavour by his great Guns to divide it from the Town, to hinder all passage and Trade by Sea; and he was induced to that Care and Charge by the hope of Treachery, which the Italian Policy is often eluded by: Two

Spanish Captives sollicited a Cook or Victualler, at whose house they were kept, and an English Souldier that used to frequent the house, (his name was Grimston) to betray the Castle; which passage, because it is worthy to be known, I will relate. They, although they could well enough in their own Natures digest any kind of Lucre, yet so they resolved, that if they could get any thing, they would rather cozen their Enemies than their Friends; and with this conclusion, they come to the Governour, tell him of the Design, and de∣sire his Instructions, which he gives them in this manner, That both of them should take opportunity to go to the Duke of Parma, that he might not flight their Endeavours; or rather, which hapned, that he might under the Vizor of Observance be cir∣cumvented. The Duke binds them to him by Oath, and for their present Fortune, loads them both with Gifts and Promises; and when yet he durst hardly trust them, unless themselves in the Plot incurred some personal danger, it was agreed, that they should be bound between two Armed Souldiers, with naked Daggers in their Hands, that should go to the Fort, but kill them before, if they perceived any Intention of De∣ceit.

Thus imagining there had been caution enough used, and that having slighted their own, they would not decline the Aid and Protection of Strangers: Upon this Confidence therefore Three Thousand Men, and among them many of great quality, were drawn out to undertake the seizing of the Castle; The Gate was open, till fifty were entred, and thus far the Event made good their Promises: But then presently a Port-Cullis, the Ropes that held it being cut, was let down, and all that were come in, were kill'd or taken; nor did the Spanish Keepers mind the killing of the two bound Traytors, being amazed with suddain fear, and dreading the Fury of present Revenge. But the excluded Multitude, seeing they could not make any way back, though they pressed and thronged with all their might, turning Despair into Valour,

they scaled the Bulwark, running through the Trench which was now empty, by reason of the Ebbe, and were now past the first Palisadoes, through the Breast-work within, whence driven with Fire-Balls, Hand-Granadoes, and their Fire∣works, prepared by those within, fore-warned of the Design, and flying whither they could, fell into Ambuscadoes, and other Traps laid for them, and so were destroy'd; a great part of them were slain, and they that escaped slaughter, the Tide now coming in, and by their ignorance of the place were smother'd in the Mud: The Duke of Parma finding himself thus deceived, and that the Cruelty of the Weather wore out his men by Diseases and Death, when now, in the latter part of Autumn, the Plains were, by frequent Rains, turned into Pools, and the Rampires ready to fall, by reason of the Mire, first he left his Works, then deserted his Camp, and a long time afflicted with the scarcity of many things, but at last with the want of all, but especially of fresh Water, he was forced, by little and little, to break up his Siege, which he had for six Weeks vainly continued: but least it should seem that he had done nothing, he left some few places forti∣fyed against Excursions. But the Townsmen of Berghen, nothing hindred thereby, after that very much inriched them∣selves, by frequent Booties taken from the Enemy, and began again to re-flourish, being under the peculiar Obedience of Prince Maurico; for the States gave him this, and other places, which had follow'd the Enemies part, in lieu of those paternal Inheritances of his own, which the Spaniard held from him. The Duke of Parma all this Winter, quarter'd his men in the Village of Brabant, by means whereof that Country was wasted, though not so soon as Flanders.

At the beginning of the Spring, the Lord of Cimace (the Duke Areschots Son) was sent by the Prince of Parma, with a Selected Band of Souldiers, to besiege Bonne, where Schenck not having men enough to defend it, but sending to the Prin∣ces of Germany for Aid, laying before them the danger of

that famous City, when they returned neither to himself, not to Truxius, any Forces to resist the Enemy, it being their In∣terest, that under the pretence of War in the Netherlands, the Spanish Power should not invade all that was near them, and by that means, by little and little, incroach upon their Right; for powerful Empires are wont to take first one thing, then another, till at length they seize the whole; their being now no Remedy to help themselves, but by sending him present Supplies, and out of the common fear to asso∣ciate and joyn their Powers; concluding thus, That if they would defend and protect him, he would preserve and keep Bonne for them: But this Rhetorical Demand; was answer'd with a Souldier-like Resolution, in the Name of the Germans, •• such Tearms as he little expected. [But We, say they shal not embroyl our selves in other mens Quarrels for your sake, ha∣ving been better instructed by the many improspering Aids so often into France: The Differences of the Provinces are ambi∣guous among themselves, but would prove certainly very dan∣gerous to any Forreigners that should interlope. Some of our Number have never medled with the Netherlands, the benefit whereof they are well satisfied in, not willing to be rewarded as the King of France was, for sending his Brother thither; and Katharine of Medices, for aiding Antonio. And now, when the same Spaniards seek Amity and a League, shall we go to incense Philip? who himself being a part of us, by his great Pos∣sessions in Germany, restored to their Seats the German Bi∣shops: Nay, rather it behoves us to submit to his Potency, with the desire of Peace, than exasperate his Fury to the Triall of a Warre.]

Thus being frustrate of his hope, while both the English and Hollanders being otherwise taken up, denyed relief to greater necessities, as well as to him: he exhorts the Souldi∣ers left in the Garrison, to keep off the Enemy, which they might with safety, and valiantly to endure the Siege; which accordingly they did, and killing Baptista Taxis, an eminent

Spanish Commander, and comming off Victors in many Sal∣lies, after the Enemy with six moneths toyl and hazard, had in a manner beaten down all the Fortifications, and the be∣sieged suffered great hunger, he delivered the City upon ho∣nourable Conditions, into the Power of the Bishop, a Bava∣rian, for that name was used, though Spanish Souldiers entred into, and held the City. Hence Count Mansfeldt is com∣manded, who in the beginning of Autumn, had carryed a Recruit to the Lord Cimace's Forces, the Siege being now ended, to attaque with part of the same Wacttendonc, a Town that lies in the upper part of Gelderland, near the little River Nersa; The Garrison consisted of some Companies of Shenckes men, and the scituation of the place being very marshy, and the depth of Winter made the coming to an assault very difficult. But the ground being raised by the Be∣siegers, unto the heighth of a little Hill, from whence they should look down upon the Houses, and the Bullets shot from that place at some times, and at other times fire cast thence into the Town, so infested the Townsmen, whom another fear had likewise possessed, least the coming of a great Frost should make all those moyst and wet places, by Ice, passea∣ble for the Enemy, that they perswaded the Souldiers not to stand out, hopeless of any second Relief, (because the For∣ces of their Allyes were small, and a great way off) and ha∣zard all their lives and fortunes. However, the Town was defended till the very end of the year, the continuing of the Siege till which time, what with the extremity of the wea∣ther, and what with want of necessaries, cost many thousand of the Besiegers lives, though at last they compassed their in∣tentions, by the getting of the Town.

At this time, by reason of the great expense, charge, da∣mage, and losse of the Spanish Fleet, which had wonderfully exhausted the Kings Treasure, the Army had been a long time without any pay, by reason whereof, there were fre∣quent Seditions; and the hopes of great plunder allured

many to revolt to the Enemy, so that the Hollanders, safe with∣in their Rivers, a little enlarging their bounds, did without danger or detriment, make incursions into the Enemies Country. But the States of these parts, while they shunned new, fell into their old, pressures: for some who had been in Arms under the Arch-Duke Matthias, and the Duke of Anjon, Francis de Valois, and boldly usurping the name of Princes strangers, by publick Authority, seized all the Dutch Ships that were in or about Scotland: But an Embasse being sent to the Princes, informed them of their error, as •• understanding the Customs of Holland; for the Hollanders though they assisted divers Cities with their Forces, yet they never made themselves lyable to any debts by them contract∣ed, for they were only subject to the Authority of the Prince of Aurange. Neither did they now rightly demand from the confederate States, what those Provinces did owe, which had receded from the League.

This I thought fit to insert, because by such Speeches, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 did refell those prejudicial exactions, and occasion there was given, of covenanting with the Commanders that re∣mained, with an Oath, concerning their old debts to be paid by certain portions, to the great ease of the Commonwealth.

Among these things, partly by a common fear, and partly by the Prisoners of Utrecht, who thought to remedy their folly by pertinacy, the differences begun by the Earl of Leicester burst out fresh.* 1.3 But the Carrison Souldiers of Gertruydenburg, consisting of one thousand five hundred Foot, and three hundred Horse, because they had u∣surped a greater Licence from the occasion of the discords, than they supposed could be pardoned, and fearing an Infamy among their fellow Souldiers, would not be reduced to order, but remained arrogant by the Neighbour-hood of the Enemy. At the beginning of their Sedition, though they turned out their present Officers, and elected whom they pleased, yet they would not hearken either to the Duke of Parma's Let∣ters

or Messengers: Afterwards some Agents for the Enemy, being mingled amongst them, their ignorance not minding them, and those Agents sent to the Hollanders to treat with them, upon their return, setting forth the threats they had heard, to the worst, with the fear of punishment, they not only became enemies themselves, but provoked others to be so; so that contempt made them outragious, after Willoughby, the Colonel of the English Auxiliarias, under pretence of appeasing the Souldiery, had in truth made his Kinsman Wingfield the head of the Sedition, according to the Advice of the Town, and bestowed the pay sent by the States so as he might oblige, or make sure, such as were suspected, not by any certain Rule, but as he hoped to have them upon occasion, whereupon the Souldiers mocked at them, as being deceived by them, and abused what they had, as if it had been booty. And as soon as the Captains, and the Souldiers, by their ex∣ample, had spent this money in riot and excess, they sent forth parties of Horse every way, to plunder and bring in booty from the Country. Nay, they retained all Ships that came within their reach, without any distinction of friend or foe; nor did they spare the Provinces that were absolutely at peace.

Thus passing the Winter, they were solicited to treache-which would procure an easie Pardon for all their crimes, by Odourdo Lanzavecchia, the Governour of Breda: for (as he said true,) the manner of their offending was dangerous, and that might be urged for an excuse to the Duke of Parma, which neither the English, or Hollander, would ever admit of. This Counsel, they, being now ready to receive any impres∣sion of evill, hearkened to, and according to the Custom of Sedition, were inraged with all that perswaded otherwise: And forthwith all of them, as it were possessed with a sudden Frenzy, seize all the Townsmens Arms, some few in that mad multitude not daring to speak for fear. The name of Englishmen is pre ended for all this uproar, as well by the

Captain••, and most others of that Nation, as by the D•• Souldiers themselves. And the more insolent they grow, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 more is impunity offered to them by Letters from the States, who began to fear the worst, desiring them to return to their Colours, forgetting all those discords which publike erro•• and the malice of fate had thrown amongst them, and that they would do an acceptable piece of Service to the Common∣wealth, if they would put an end to those disturbances, al∣though they did not begin them. But their Consciences acc••∣sing them of all their evill deeds, made them afraid to give credit to this Invitation. Hereupon, it was put to the questi∣on on, if an Army should be prepared against these Rebels, who so arrogantly slighted the Commands and Authority both of the States, and of Prince Maurice. Some would not have the Souldier to be further incensed with danger, alleadging, time and opportunity would better cure such distempers, whose violence cannot long continue.

On the other side, it was affirmed, that they made a mock∣ery at patience and lenity, and should they stay till the ene∣my, with whom even then they privately treated, was admit∣ted openly into the Town? if Pardon were offered to them, with terrour attending it, as it would encourage the good, so would it compel the rest to repent: Thus of late, Mede••leks was restored by the penitence of the Souldiery, after the E∣nemy had long hoped for it, with a fruitless expectation; It matters not, said others, which course is taken to save the place, for men resolved to be treacherous, would still con∣tinue in the same mind, whether you leave them to them∣selves, or seek to win them by perswasions. Wherefore, it the beginning of the Spring, Prince Maurice gathered toge∣ther, as many Forces as he could, both by Sea and Land, though not sufficient for a Siege, and with them marches thi∣therward: At the first approach, a battery was made against the Town with Cannon, which was answered with the like by the Rebels, little being then done, but that among the rest,

Justus Villiers was killed, who was a great Souldier, for∣merly Governour of Ʋtrecht, and now Camp-master, and the Person that had instructed the Princes youth in Military Dis∣cipline, and all Warlike Affairs. And when they perceived the Prince intended to storm the place forthwith, having now beaten down the Bulwark, and laid open the Town, they di∣verted that eminent danger, and turned it aside under the cloak of a Treaty, and the day following, what with the over∣flowing of the Rivers, and what with the Rayn, the intended agreement was never perfected: Besides, there was news, that Lanzavecchia, with a select number of Souldiers, was approaching at the instigation of Wingfield; nor did that Englishman want words to perswade the accomplishment of the Treason. But calling the people together, speaks to them to this effect, [Yon see them here (saith he) whose Bul∣lets and fire never were thrown with like fury against the Walls of an Enemy, and therefore have been so much more dangerous to as, and now they threaten as presently with the Sword, and we all as enemies, by their unanimous consent, are designed either to slaughter or punishment, But yonder are they who come to preserve us, from whom we many merit both favour and reward: It is no•• is your hand fellow Souldiers, whether to run the hazard of yielding to the one, or to give and receive a benefit from the others.]

This Oration was applauded generally, they who were near with their words, and the rest with a kind of soft and whispering noyse, signifying their consent.

Prince Maurice being not prepared for a long Siege, re∣solved to depart, and the rather, because he would not seem to necessitate that treacherous yielding of the Town to the Enemy, which he could not prevent or hinder. But yet he sent Letters to them, to try if either respect of honesty, or fear of Infamy, could yet prevail on any of them.

But that mercinary People received them with scorn, es∣pecially for that the Duke of Parma, had, besides payment of their so long elapsed Wages, bestowed among them also a Donative. It is reported, that then he began to clear up his countenance, which had been long clouded with grief, wh•• from a high Tower in the taken City, he could see Dort, and those other places of his hope, at the beginning of the Wa•• It pleased him to look upon, and Command the first of all the Holland Cities, after 12. years reduced into his power. And such was the over-hastiness of his exaltation, that the•• being yet none of his Souldiers entred the Town, he trusted his person to them, whom of all other, being admitted; •• ought for that very cause, to have suspected, and some w•• in very great fear, lest taking hold of so great an opportuni∣ty, they should again have proved treacherous to him: Be there was no time to mention such a thing, and therefore 〈◊〉〈◊〉 have been dangerous to be spoken of; They delivered the Town to him, not to his party, least they should deceive both. Few of the men either returned to England, or their old obedience, though some did; but the rest, according to their number, as the Duke of Parma had seperated them; did very great service in the Warres, never assuming to them∣selves any but in Victory; for being prescribed as Traytors, and Renegadoes, they had forfeited all their priviledges of Souldiers by their crimes. Nay, their villany was condemn∣ed by those who re••ped the benefit of their Treason, by whom they were long after yeered with the name of Mer∣chants, scarce any of them coming to a naturall and timely death; and if so, yet not without Infamy. Many were af∣terwards taken in other Cities, and according to Martial Law executed.

The Souldiery to whom the Duke of Parma delivered the possession of the City, made many valiant excursions, and severall times in a short space fought very fortunately, sur∣prizing three Troops of Prince Maurices Horse, as they were

negligently scattered up and down near Boisledue. From hence it appeared very necessary to take in all the adjacent places, and accordingly, the care thereof was committed to the in∣feriour Commanders. Besides Gertruydenburg, there are two other Towns belonging to the jurisdiction of Holland, and lye now beyond the Maes. But Hesdin, formerly was con∣tained in the Maes•• before the waters were conveighed away by a new Channel, reputed a part of the antient County of Teisterbant, under the Allegiance and Patronage of the Prin∣ces of Cl••ve, who afterwards transferred their might to the Hollander. But the Town of Settenberg, of old part of Stri∣de••land, it is seperated by a River, and therefore, as to the matters of Religion, it is under the care of the Bishop of Leige, nor of the Bishop of Ʋtrecht, as the rest of Holland is; It had proper Princes of its own, yet so, as they were to do homage to the Princes of Holland, and severall Villages above Gertruydenburgh have very antiently been subject to them; is having been the Custom of valiant Nations, when they conquer, to passe the next River, and make the further Banks thereof the bounds of their Empire; notwithstanding all which, the Br••banters have a long time, but to no purpose, challenged both Gertruydenburgh and Hesdin, to belong to them: But now Count Aremberg with ease prevailed over Settenberg, being very meanly fortifyed, and so the more rea∣dy to be spoyled by any Armies; but he could not keep it, because the Hollanders were in possession of Nordam, and the other adjacent places.

Charles Mansfelt being sent against Hesdin, attempted also Bommel, the head of the adjoyning Isle, and encompassed with double branches of the Maes and Wael, there meeting, by the guilt and treacheries of some of the Townsmen: But the Treason being discovered and punished, he straightly be∣sieged it as he had begun, resolutely keeping his first design∣ed Station near to Hemerte Castle, though the River breaking over his bounds, had, by its excessive increase, over-flowed all

the Fields: And now Hesdin whs not so much afraid of Fo•••• as Famine, it being defended against the Enemy, who had encompassed it about at a great distance by Famarsh, who was a man of undanted Resolution, and would not doubt to undergo the greatest Extremities: But Prince Ma••ia prevented it, who gathering a sufficient Number of Men from the next Garrisons, brake through where the Enemy was thinnest, bringing in all things, whose want was feared. These things thus done; Mansfeldt with Ships, Guns, and other Warlike Engines, set upon, having carryed thither some part of his Army, the Castle Holow, in the Isle of Bommel. In this place there was Endeavour, strength, and sufficiency of Defence; but Sidenborg, by a too hasty yielding, took away all occasions both of Hope and Fear; He seemed to lay 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fault thereof upon the Souldiers, and that with the great Confidence, because many of them had been kill'd; the Spa∣niard, as they marched out, cruelly butchering them, without the Knowledg or Consent of their Captains, with the Gar∣rison of this place, and of Creveceur over against it; which being destroy'd by Count Hohenlo, the King's Officers had re-builded, entring the Island at the meeting of the River Maes, and a little Rivulet call'd Dise; they wasted the open Fields, and all other indefensible places, both of Forts and Castles, not well knowing which way they should evade; the Rivers being swell'd with Showers; tearing down the Fortifications begun, at the very ending of the Island, over against Gorrichou. Afterwards, by other Directions, invading divers places beyond the Wael; now they come to Gelder∣land, anon they trouble Ʋtrecht, and last of all the Island Vo••rne, not far from Bommel; and two years before strength∣ned by the Nassauians with a Castle, where hearing this Count Hohenlo, with a selected Party of Horse and Fod•• drew nigh, with an intent to fight them, Mansfeldt afraid of the Report, in regard there was no possibility of his stays after he had consumed the Spring and the Summer in vain;

••at the best, but Trivial Matters; wherefore re-passing the Maes, by the suddain madness and fury of a Spanish Regi∣ment, for want of their Pay, which he endeavour'd to appease, was like to have been slain. Saurius Laeva was their Col∣lonel, and beloved as well by the Souldiers as by Mansfeldt himself, though they had lately had some difference in words: Nay, there were some that did believe the Prince of Ascu∣lus, and Duke of Pastrana, had under-hand, in hatred to the Duke of Parma, encouraged the Sedition. Without doubt, the Parmian Prince, excelling all the Spanish Commanders in Glory, and the Greatness of his Atchievments, had contract∣ed upon himself great Envy; and the rather, because he openly shew'd a greater Respect to, and put a stronger Con∣fidence in the Italians; from whence it came to pass, that some would no less find fault with his Vertues, than Mis∣carriages which were but accidental; openly affirming, that he betray'd the Spanish Fleet; that all his Endeavours against the Netherlanders were nothing worth; and many other such like Things.

But his Conquering so many of the Provinces, being the greatest part of the Netherlands, and the unwearied and stre∣nuous Labour taken by that People against him, were clan∣destinely represented to the King, as much as might be, to his disadvantage, though under the shew of praise and admira∣tion: Nor had their fear of him been vain, if his Life had been prolong'd, to the detriment of the Spanish Empire, least being famous for War, and his Clemency in Governing, for which even his Enemies loved him, he should (as many then Reported) alter and change his present Possession for Portu∣gall, belonging of Right to his Son. Certainly, either Philip, as it is the Nature of Kings, being apt to be timorous and suspectful, himself frustrated his Fortune, while he over-char∣ged him with Honour, or else necessitated by reall Poverty, did restrain his excessive Charges: However it was, the Prince of Parma, on the one side, by Care to provide against

all those Evils that Penury uses to bring forth, and on the other, over-toiled with the Weight of present Affairs, fell sick, which caused him to go into Germany, to the Span Wa∣ters: And after this time, he was never perfectly in Health, nor was fortunate in his Undertakings, as before. For which cause the Italians, a Nation infinitely jealous, and taking for Truth, whatever they imagine, reported that the Spaniards had poyson'd the Duke; and the Bruic thereof, seeming to be made out by their other Cruelties prevailed; but chiefly, because every one is willing to believe any Evil of a Spa∣niard: But this was not without some shew of Reason; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Prince Maurice having intercepted divers Letters, among the rest had those, wherein Parma was grievously accused •• King Philip, which the Prince sent to him. But he, as it were, not minding this Kindness of his Enemy, nor returning 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Thanks, invited the Inditer of those Letters, one John M•••• to a Feast, which he did not long over-live, which gave new matter for Discourse. (This More was he, that with great Cunning, Policy, and many Largesses and Bribes, had pro∣moted the Spanish Affairs in France) and this manner of Talk was the more frequent, because he, who was believed the Minister of Revenge, had not any Reward, but rather was cast out of Favour. Upon this occasion, the Duke sent ••••∣chardot into Spain, to clear him of those Aspersions cast upon him, because he did not aid the Spanish Fleet; The King publikely heard him, and the Duke of Medina-Sidonia that was likewise accused, and seemed to pardon both the Dukes.

The Tumult of the Souldiers, a little before mention'd, being appeased, with the punishment of a few, and the Re∣giment disbanded, though it had been long in the War, M••••∣feldt was commanded, with seventy compleat Ensigns, to•• directly thence to take Berck on a suddain. That City belong∣ing to the Bishop of Colen, had now been strongly fortifies three years, from the time the Duke of Parma depart••

thence: Truxius and Nienarius, having lately gotten it, That having referred his cause, This his Quarrell, to the Ʋni∣ted States, had deliver'd the disputed Possession thereof to them, as indifferent Judges and Moderators between them. But at the beginning of this Year, the Hollanders being stron∣ger than they in Horse, made a Bridge over the Rhine, and furnish'd it with Souldiers and Provisions: For this cause, at the Request of the Bishop (who came in person to the Duke of Parma) Varembonius, the Governour of Gelderland for the King, was sent with part of the Army, to see if he could reduce it, either by force of starving. In their Journey thi∣ther, he fell upon, but not without loss, the Castle of Blybeke, (this place Collonel Schenck, not minding propriety, chal∣lenged to himself, as his own by Conquest) for the Garrison, consisting of old and well-disciplin'd Souldiers, a whole Moneth endured the Thunder of their Cannon and other Guns, valiantly returning them the like, had made a more than equal Slaughter, untill a greater loss hapning upon some few, and by the Death of their Captains, being at variance, (after they had turned out the rest) and their Ammunition beginning to fail, they let the En••my have the place. One Remarkable Thing was observed in this Victory, to wit, a Woman found among the dead Bodies, that had, in Man's Habit, and with a Masculine Courage, followed the Warre: The like to this was frequently observed at the beginning of the Troubles; nor did any Age formerly produce so many such Examples: For as the Minds of People were stirred up to the War, by the frequent naming of God, the Country, and the Prince, so even the distinction of the Sexes was laid aside, that the practice of Hatred and Revenge, might with more freedom be made use of: But Schenck's Nature always inclined to Cruelty, w••th the Conjunction of his Loss and Shame together, was now more inraged: This pl••ace, taking away his Goods, he set on fire; but chafed without measure because he had not Souldiers enough to relieve the Besieged

in Berck, however drawing together all both Horse and Foot that he could make, he fortified a place upon the Bank of the Rhine, not far from the Town call'd Reux, in spight of all Varembonius his Endeavours to the contrary, from whence he conveyed into the Town of Berck all the Forces he had received. Afterwards, receiving Intelligence, that Ver∣dugo was coming with more Forces, by speedy Matches be came upon them at unawares, at the River Lup, in the Fields of Westfalia, with a furious slaughter; so that they fled, and left to him the Money that they were carrying into Frize∣land to pay the Souldiers. Not content herewith, but grows more confident by his Success, he threatned to storm and sack Nieumegen by Night, (for he bore a spleen to the Town;) and, to that purpose, in a Dark chosen for that end, sending his Cavallery before, and some few Ferry-Boats, which the Souldiers carryed, and passing the Wael, he came to that part of the City, which was onely strong by the Rivers Curr•••• that way: commanding his nimblest men to break down the Fences of one of the Houses that stood backward upon the Bank, that entring there, they might disperse themselves through the City in Troops, and so set upon and win the Gates: But by chance, in the House where this Stratag•••• was executed, (for it was not the same House which Schenck had before marked, the mistake being easily made by the darkness of the Night) there was a Wedding; so that im∣mediatly a great Outery being made there, the Townsmen were Allarm'd, and beset the House, driving back such as came out thence with Arms, and shooting at them with Guns: The Multitude got new Courage with the approach of Day; but Schenck's Men being few, in the narrow passa∣ges were shut, and not knowing which way to go for fear, cruelly slain: Their Collonel himself standing upon the Bank, was not able to withstand their flight; sometimes en∣couraging all; another time, some particular persons by Name, That they would go through with their Noble Underta∣kings,

and by a valiant Assault, open the way for others to follow them. But all would not make them stop their flight: And to perfect their Ruine, there hapned another fatal Mischance to them; for the Boats which they had brought with them from their Garrison, were by the force of the stream of the Water, carryed before it was Day below the City, so that such as fled Could not come at them.

This over-born with the strength and Weapons of their Enemies, and the few Boats that were left, not able to con∣tain all with the Weight and Tumult of those that crowded into them, sunk, and many of them were drowned in the Ri∣ver, among whom their Collonel, heavily laden with Arms, was one. This was the end of Collonel Schencke, a man, exceeding most of his time in noble and generous Courage; his Family and Descent was not mean, but yet the Glory of it was much inlarged under the Prince of Parma. Afterwards the Earl of Leicester made him a Knight, and bestow'd on him many other Military Honours; for Wisdom and Va∣lour he merited high esteem, but yet would subject himself neither to Laws nor Customs; for which, the Souldiers of For∣tune honoured him, but the Magistrates and Common People hated his Name; his Disposition, though it had been fierce and untract••ble in his Youth, yet now, in his latter time, it began to grow more mild and flexible: His Body, when found by the Victors, because he had left them, and gone over to the States, was exposed to publike shame and laughter. But the Revenge of the Souldiery, forced them to alter the Scene, for they severely punished all Captives that came to their hands, belonging to Nieumegen: Yet for all that two years it lay unburied, untill by the taking of the Town by Prince Maurice, it had a decent Interment. Nienarius also, about the same time, was kill'd by chance, while he was care∣lesly viewing some Instruments or Engines of War: A Man certainly, of an unblameable Conversation, though at last coming into the War. Truxius thus deprived of both his

Chief Commanders, by whose Valour and Conduct, the good Fortune of his Party had hitherto been upheld, at length left off the War, but especially because the Enemy had won Berck, where a long Siege, spun out until the following year, with the loss of much Bloud, at last got the Victory for the Spaniards: But Schemk's Souldiers, though they had re∣ceived heir Arrears, and were entertained into Pay anew among the rest, yet mad with grief for the loss of their Col∣lonel, in earned a Sedition; because that Island being in their hands, would easily procure them a Chapman within the Bounds of the Rhine. Nothwithstanding this, the Hollanders took great Care afterwards to relieve Berck, though with no other hope, than to make the Enemy lose time, since they could not hinder his taking the City: Count Falcosteine be∣ing sent with Two Thousand Men, besides some choice Horse, according to this Advice, was follow'd by Varen••∣nius, as soon as in his Journey, having taken the Castle be∣fore-mention'd, he had passed the River, yet with no intent to fight, though he were much the stronger, but onely design∣ing to fall upon their Rear as they marched; and finding 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Opportunity for the same, was at the first received by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Francis Vere, commanding then two English Companies new∣ly raised, with which he sustained the Brunt and Heat of the Charge, until the Horse came in, and shortly after all the Foot Colours. Here was a great slaughter, considering the Number of Combatants; and the choicest the best men of the Enemies being slain, there were taken a great number of Horse, with one Cornet, and Ten Foot Colours: Some few fled, and escaped with their Captain. Vere having given this famous Testimony of his Valour and Judgment, was shortly after prefer'd to the highest Dignitie, to his great Renown.

Varembunius laid the blame upon Charles Mansfield, (for he was present also) for the greatest part of this loss, though he had brought to him, at the time of this Fight, some Com∣panies

out of the Isle of Bommell; because lately, both of them suing for the same Command, wherein Charles being denyed and the other preferred, it was said, he now deserted him, a emulous of his Glory. But by this means, the Conquerour-afterwards brought in safely to the Besieged all their Car∣riages, both with Provision and Men; they also having near the same time made a lucky Sally into the next Quarter of the Enemies Leaguer; and this done, returning through by∣ways, they escaped any danger intended to them by the Enemy. And now the Besieged were in so good condition, that they slighted the Enemies Forces, though of late much recruited, until the Spaniard had by force taken a Castle near to Rees, that was their onely hopes of Succour, and supply of Provisions: Three Months after this, in the next year, the Winter continued, when the Hollanders, considering seriously with themselves, that they had not Forces enough to relieve a place so far distant from them, as occasion would require, came at length to this last Result; That the Town should be surrendred upon Honourable Conditions: And thus the Duke of Parma obtained Berck, and not so contented, he clandestine∣ly sought to get Bonne and Nuisse, Cities belonging to the Dutchy of Cleves; and this he did with the more Confidence, in regard of the Prince's Age and Infirmity, having also won many of the Nobles to be his Pensioners. Thus he got Pos∣session of Arnhem, not far from the Rhine; Not was Aquis∣grave, a free City of the German Empire, let alone at peace, among so many broils; for Philip claiming the Custody of that City, as antiently belonging to the Princes of Brabant, (for he endeavour'd to hide his Ambition of being Lord, under the Title of Guardian thereof) by his Edict banish'd many of the Inhabitants, who had forsaken the Roman Reli∣gion: But their stay being bought off, with a Sum of Money given to the King's Commanders, content onely to have wa∣sted and forrag'd the Fields, left the City, until many years

after, the Fury of several Parties falling upon, Germany, this City, among the rest, was seized, under the pretence of Right.

While the Armies thus range about the Maes and the Rhine, and meeting Parties skirmish and fight every where, the Mauricians got exceeding much Booty: for the Hope wasted all the Enemies Country with Fire and Sword, car∣rying away all manner of Provisions, having either kill'd or driven away all those ••hat defended it. But notwithstanding all this, the most cruel Battails were at Sea, because the Hol∣landers being stronger there, had absolutely taken away all things that were wont to be Chaffer between Equals in Power, by which means, the Spaniard had lost all benefit of Exchange. After this, if any Enemies could prevail so much in strength, as to infest all that Traded at Sea by Rob∣bery, they were called Pyrates. Hence it came, that the Fl••∣drians, provoked by their frequent Losses, and such as fled out of the Hollanders Ships, conscious to themselves of any great Crime, (as such men generally are fierce) out of a desire both of Revenge and Prey, put to Sea, and not onely seized unarm'd Trading Ships, but many times indanger'd the more able: Many times it fell out, (and it is not to be forgotten, be∣cause it equall'd the greatest Adventures of Antiquity) that when any one part had, by Boarding the others Vessel, inter∣mingled their Companies, they in danger, rather than be ta∣ken, would, with Gun-powder, blow up both themselves and the Enemy; so much do they care, who despair of Life, not to dye unrevenged.

The Kingdom of Spain, which hither••o had been undistur∣bed, in the midst of all her Neighbour's Troubles, now first began to be sensible of a War brought Home to her; for the English, accompanied with the Hollander's Ships and Soul∣diers, adven••urously Forage all the Sea-Coasts of Gallicia; afterwards they re-settle Don Antonio in his Kingdom, pitch∣ing

their Camp about Lisbone: The Queen sent out six of her Ships on this Design; the rest being One Hundred and Twenty, Sir Francis Drake Commanded: General Norris had the Conduct of the Foot Souldiers; the Prey taken, to be divided between them: And so great was their good Suc∣cess at the beginning, that Albertus of Austria, who was Governour of the City, in the Name of King Philip, had pre∣pared himself for flight: But by the Advice of some private persons, in regard of the doubtfulness of the Portugezes Al∣legiance, the small Provision they had of things necessary, and that several Diseases raged among them, springing chiefly from intemperate Drinking, they went away, and left all things unsetled; whether because King Antonio was not able to perform the vain Promises he made of the Peoples Affe∣ction to, and the Moors Assistance of him; or that their too suddain Departure spoiled the Design, is yet in doubt.

But sure it is, the Hollanders were not hearkned to, who had both offered and shewed themselves ready, to defend and keep all the Castles and Forts on the Sea-Coast, as well as the Entrance into the Kingdom.

As soon as ever the Siege was broke up, presently all who had at this time been observed by the Spaniard, to wish for a Change, were very severely punished. But the English did nothing more, unless that they made appear the weakness of the Spanish Grandezza, in that they were never hindred by them, either at their Landing, or during their stay; nor ever resisted them in the Demand or taking of their Forts or Castles; and a Fleet of Germans coming from the Baltick Ci∣ties, being met and taken as Prize, gave occasion to those Peo∣ple, by Legates, and Writing to contest among themselves, whether Provisions, wherewith People being at Peace with them, do help the Enemy, may rightfully be taken as Prize, and disposed of accordingly.

And now France, divided into parties, was ingaged in •• like quarrel, after the King had caused to be slain the Duke of Guise, the head of that publike defection, nor did the King long survive Guise, being soon after assassined by a Monk; he was the last of the name and Family of Valois, in whose re∣venge, as also of the Duke of Guise, the whole Kingdom was divided into Arms. Without doubt, by the Customs of France, the right of Succession belonged to the Family of Bour••••, But Henry the head thereof, Prince of Bearne, who was call∣ed by the name of King of Navarre, though hardly enjoying any thing besides the name, for that the Spaniard had vio∣lently wrested it away, he, I say, professing the Religion which they call Reformed, though he promised equall Ju∣stice to both, had drawn to him all the Nobility, but the Cities and Towns would not receive or own him; But when he de∣clared himself a Catholike, the face of Affairs were on a sud∣den 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 ly∣ing 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 mar∣ryed Isabella, the Daughter of Henry the Second, King of France, by whom he had a Daughter, a Person most fit to go∣vern 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 Wo∣man'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 particu∣lar 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 neces∣sary 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 di∣structive 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: Af∣terwards, 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 threat∣ning 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 conclu∣ded a mutual League to extirpate all Religions which had be∣gun or increased, either by impunity or War. But the French Peers, hating the Guisian Potency, that they might not be∣come 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 car∣ryed 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 re∣ceive 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 o∣ther 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 de∣sirous 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 accustom∣ed 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, ac∣cording 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 inca∣pacitated them, either got or lost all, and this was the only hindrance of Peace. But on the other side, the Spaniards ha∣ving a King that wished the same things in hatred to the Bel∣gick liberty, and who was now grown old in the enjoyment of his Territories, by the keeping abroad so great Forces, ne∣ver feared the Netherlandish Solitudes, especially having Pre∣sidents, 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 them∣selves, who had never faltered in point of Religion, disliking their Customs, some of whom having been before circum∣vented and deluded with the hope of better things, becom∣ing an example to the rest, that they would with all violence exercise their malice, as mistrusting the breach of Peace, un∣der that notion, to hide their revenge.

Thus a War, no less cruel than civill Wars use to be, con∣tinued, 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 E••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 oppor∣tunities of daring one another, they spent the remainder of the Year.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1588.
• * 1.2

  Au. 6.
• * 1.3

  1589.