IT is holden a point of some perilous con­sequence, to breede grudging in a ser­uant toward his master. This is principal­ly preuented by that Scripture, forbid­ding vs to detain the wage of him whom we set on worke. But as the rules of holy Scriptures are not precisely kept in priuate matters, through mans corruption and otherwise: euen so falleth it out in more publike affaires, as for example, in the case of Brakeley fortresse, and of the townes of Heusden and Gertrudenbergh, where the men of warre in garrison for the general Estates of the vnited Prouinces in the Low coūtries, by want of pay and other misseintrea­ties, month February, March, 1588 about February and March 1588. fell so farre more and more miscontent, as notwithstanding the broyle of Brakeley quenched by Counte Hohenloes siege, & that of Heusden redeemed by a great summe of mony for pay already farre runne: yet still that of Gertrudenbergh seemed desperat, the garrison there refusing once to deale either with generall or parti­cular States, or with Count Maurice of Nassau, no more then with Count Hohenlo their last gouernor, as is declared by the placcard it selfe and many other proofes. But forsomuch as this placcard specifieth in plaine language that those soldiours couered these their dealings vnder her Maiesties name, taking ther­of also further occasion by some letters and persons [Page 2] sent to them from the Lord Willughby Gouer­nour generall &c. And forsomuch as some malici­ous and enuious at her Maiesties greatnesse, and at the weale and repose of her subiectes & good neigh­bours, are not ashamed to publish this: that, So as men vse the name of her Maiestie and of her ministers, it is tollerated without paine and chastise­mēt to do euill in those prouinces, as if her Maiestie and ministers made way to wickednes: we must call those euill tounged men to some better cōsideration of the roiall affection and zeale wherewith her Ma­iestie proceedeth, in fauouring & assisting at al needs and seasons, by all meanes that God putteth in her princely hands, those prouinces & Estates represen­ting soueraingty there. To beginne with the warres in time of the late prince of Orenge of honorable me­mory, you shall find in the contract made by ma­ster Edward Dier for her Maiestie, what assistāce was accorded to that prince and country: besides that e­uery porte of her kingdom, gaue free passage out & in to all such as assisted or fauoured him. It is well knowne how the Marquesse of Haurech being sent 1578. by the States general, obteined of the Queene great summes of mony in prest, which are not yet sa­tisfied. And if we shall but only name the latter wars, since Brabāt & Flanders lost, & since the death of the duke of Aniou, & of the Prince of Orēge, I say since Antwerpe lost, & the succourlesse negotiation with the French king broken of, when all things so des­peratly wauered in those prouinces: it will most cleer­ly appeare with what cheerefulnesse hir Maiestie not [Page 3] sparing hir Nobilitie, imployed all meanes to con­serue those countries and States. All this with a most sincere and heroical mind, not so much as accepting the offers to hir made of those countries. So farre is hir Maiestie from suffering or wittingly and willingly winking at such euils in those cōtries, whose gratious endeuour hath bin with no lesse care of hir neigh­bours in all their extremities then of hir owne king­doms. But going thus slyly about to obscure hir most high & honorable actiō, you barke at the ful Moone or rather seeke to shadow the sunne, whose brightnes breaketh foorth through all cloudes and is glorious in heauen and earth. Smaller starres perhaps, such as Barons and Lords, though their honor shineth by hir soueraigne light, yet may they seeme to suffer some darknesse by these cloudie oppositions or mists rather smoking out of diches, except they labor som­what in declaration of their owne cleerenesse.

This maketh the Lord Willughby Gouernour generall of hir Maiesties succours in those prouin­ces, to say in defence of his honour: First, that this placcard, as in many things else, so affirming him to haue sought by letters and messengers, to maintaine them of Gertrudenbergh in mutine, doth notably forge and counterfait. For howsoeuer it were free & lawfull for him to send thither, hir Maiestie and those prouinces being by vertue of precedent contract friends to friends, & enemies to enemies: vpon what reason or ground could he send thither. Sith at the generall States instance to hir Maiestie, he had alrea­die charge and commandement from his soueraigne [Page 4] Mistresse to accomplish their desires, for Narden, Medenblicke, La Vere, and Armude, according as he performed the same one after an other to their full and whole contentment, and to the stopping of these wicked mouthes in this behalfe, that speake thus slanderously of the Lord Willughby. For like as his obedience and faithfull seruice is apparant in hand­ling th'affaires of these foure places: so certaine and manifest it is, that for the towne of Gertrudenbergh, he neuer conceiued nor intended to do ought that might displease hir Maiestie and the States, with ex­treme hazard to his wife, children, and all such ho­nors and meanes as by Gods mercy vnder hir blessed gouuernment he enioyeth in England. What if that garrison would treat with none saue with the Lord Willughby on hir Maiesties behalfe? Should that re­downd to his dishonour, and not much rather to the encrease of hir Maiesties greatnesse, who by Gods grace winneth such reputation among these straun­ger soldiours, that albeit they neuer reaped other be­nefit or reward from hir, then by vertue of the conse­deracie of treatie with those prouinces: yet they chu­sed rather to hold that towne in hir Maiesties name vnto the generalitie then to rendre to th'enemy, though they alledged many occasions of such rendre giuen them, which they did afterward more particu­larly discourse in writing, and which shalbe more largely spoken of hereafter. If then there be any spice of dishonor in this action, it must light on them, who by disorder, carelesnes, and fault of due pay to that garrison, suffered things there to runne to that vtter­most [Page 5] that to saue the place, these disorders and con­fusions suffered and wrought by them could not be redressed but by th'autoritie charge, expence, and great trauell of hir Maiesties seruants. Had the Lord Willughby caried this actiō by his owne proper au­thoritie, in deed, he should hardly haue answered it to his soueraigne Mistresse and the States, as hauing exceeded his commission and therefore to be con­dēned for ambitious, and not content with his owne charge. But it is farre otherwise as the very placcard sheweth. For being many times required and prayed aswell by the generall States, the councell of Estate, Conte Maurice of Nassau & the States of Holland, as also by the Magistrat of Dordrecht, to suffer him­selfe to be imployed about appeasing Gertruden­bergh, the Lord Willughby neuerthelesse to preuēt al tōgues that might insinuat any pretence in hir Ma­iestie, for other townes then comprised in the con­tract (a thing broadly and lewdly spokē among them the last yeare) did still put ouer this businesse to thē ­selues, as they that had good meanes to worke this by the going betweene of the Magistrate of Dort, next neighbour to Gertrudenbergh, month April and following his owne affaires and charge all March and Aprill, & principally the restablishmēt of a councel of Estate, which had long time ceassed, and th'appointment of Medenblick and Narden, he euer more excused him selfe as long as he might. And surely he had cōtinued his excuses both for the former reasons, and also for. that being come from the quieting of Medenblicke, God visited him at Haghe with a long sicknesse, had [Page 6] not the Magistrate of Dort vtterly giuen ouer the matter, without effecting any thing according to th'act of authorisatiō to them giuen 7. Aprilis afore­said, and therupon the Lord Willughby againe most earnestly sollicited euen by Counte Hohenlo, as ap­peares by his letters the last of the same Aprill and o­ther letters afterward, requiring that he would do his best for some appointment with Gertrudenbergh: forsomuch as (said he) we perceiue no other meanes left, the garrison there hauing signified by their let­ters of the 20. and the Magistrate of Dort by theirs of the 28 of the same Aprill, that the soldiours of Gertrudenbergh would treate with none, but with the Lord Willughby in hir Maiesties name. This was th'occasion that at last his Lordship hauing atchieued the States desire at Medenblick and Nar­den, being as loth to faile in any parte of his ende­uour for preseruation also of Gertrudēbergh, a towne so greatly importing the prouince of Holland & the generalitie, as they had remonstrated many times to him, month May he tooke his iourney without any promisse ma­king in the world about the 6. of May toward Dort, to aduise with the Magistrate there, how this stirre of Gertrudenbergh might be quieted. According to aduise there, he aduertised the garrison of Gertru­denbergh the 7. following, that he was there arriued wishing them to send deputies according to the let­ters of safe cōduct, which his Lordship sent them. But that garrison standing vpon excuse for sending depu­ties, and beseeching the same Lord Baron to come to them in person, his Lordship because he would [Page 7] not farther endaunger those affaires, being yet so smally come on, sent thither Sir Iohn Wingfield knight, M. Thomas Wilford Sergeant maior of the English, & George Gilpin secretarie of Estate there, accompanied with M. Ioos Menin counsailor pen­sioner of Dort, & Dirick Geerbrantsen Stoop, who wrought in such sort with them of Gertrudenbergh, as they sent deputies to Dort the 9. of May, who presently vpon their arriuall exhibited to the Lord Willughby, a certaine discourse signed and sealed, conteining the reasons of their miscontentment, & therewithall, certaine articles demaunding security to themselues for any thing doone in this alteration. Vpon which articles of assurance after good delibe­ration and communication first had with the Magi­strate of Dort, certaine points were apostilled, but yet without agreeing any thing definitiuely to that garrison, which might be interpreted preiudiciall, ei­ther to the generall of the country, or the particular of Holland: yea, quite to the contrary, his Lordship sharply by word and writing blamed their vnreaso­nable demaūd to be paid from hir Maiestie, to whom hitherto they had done no particular seruice. Their deputies stood herevpon, that forsomuch as these matters could not determine at Dort, it would please the Lord Willughby to come personally to Gertru­denbergh, that so vpō the place all things might take better end, whereunto his Lordship hauing partly cōsented with the Magistrats aduise of Dort, depar­ted the 13. of May, with intention yet not to enter the towne of Gertrudenbergh, but lying in his boate [Page 8] before the towne to negociat from out of his boate with the garrison. But by occasion of a treason the next night before discouered, which had bene prac­tised by Captaine Fournet and Marke Albanois, both which suffered therefore afterward, the Lord Wil­lugh by was driuen to enter the towne that very day, & that without hostages or any other assurance, saue the signed writing of the Deputies of Dort and Ger­trudenbergh, or else the towne was to fall in more danger then euer before.

If two moneths and more before this time, the sol­diers of this garrison for want of pay, had changed their Colours tearing and renting their Cornets, En­signes and Banderols from their lances and standarts, as this placcard rehearseth, we leaue it to the cōside­ration of all men, yea of these euill speakers, and euen of these which did impertinently reproch a certaine promise neuer thought of, together with th'apostilles of the ninth of May, we leaue it I say to all good consideration, whether the Lorde Willughby might not iustly doubt of his owne safety, being now in the handes of a sort of warlike malcontents, with­out one farthing to content them. But being taught by experience in such cases to make vertue of ne­cessity, his Lordship caried himselfe so with them, as by Gods grace and th'assistance of the Deputies of Dordrecht he calmed their choler, and brought them so farre on, as to yeeld their demand in writing the foureteenth of May, which was one and thirtie moneths pay, releasing all surplus.

They insisted vpon ready mony, but were brought [Page 9] by the Lord Willughby, yet so farre further on as to giue one moneths day: notwithstanding their altera­tion had already continued two moneths. About which matter his Lordship not hauing other com­mission saue to heare and vnderstand, after he had required them to hold all good and soldiour like dis­cipline, while the States & Count Maurice of Nas­sau being aduertised might resolue vpō this their de­maund, he left with them at their request Sir Iohn Wingfeld for entertainement of some better order: & so departed frō Gertrudenbergh the 15. of May, without promise of one halfe penie to them. What a strange thing is this then, that together with these occurrents should come to be alleaged the apostilles of the 9. of May, as if by them had growen some pre­iudice to the countrie, sith all that passed at Dort was but to make way to these affaires, & to the Lord Willughbies iourney toward Gertrudenbergh, and sith that by the apostilles nothing was to that garri­son agreed definitiuely, but the finall accord concer­ning that alteratiō differred more thē two moneths, that is to say, till the 26. and 27. of Iulie following, whereof the States and Count Maurice of Nassau hauing signed that contract are not ignorant. What shall we say to these calumnies? No nouelty, a thing well knowne to the whole world, that is that the Lord Willughby being entreated to mediat in this extreme necessitie, and at his owne charge to pre­pare an appointmēt of that alteration, which hapned through want of pay and other euill vsage, is now requited with this ingratitude and disacknowledge­ment [Page 10] together with a practise of persuading lies a­gainst him to the people, specially in that point of th'apostilles by which I say, it is notorious that no damage could come to the coūtry nor to any person in particular. For Count Maurice of Nassau being aduertised of all this by the Secretary of Estate Ge­orge Gilpin, thanked the Lord Willughby therefore by expresse letters of the 11. of that moneth.

The rest is in substaunce, that the Lord Wil­lughby after his departure from Gertrudenbergh the 15. of this moneth, aduertising the States and Count Maurice of Nassau, of the soldiors foresaid demaund and of the time which by his meanes they gaue for satisfaction, he went to Walckerland at their instance also, specially of the States of Zeland, for to appoint th'affaires of Vere & Armude, which townes but specially Vere, the States of the country and Count Maurice of Nassau did hold as good as besieged. This Zeland busines at the first seemed to promise speedy dispatch. But at this very time Ostēd finding it selfe threatned with siege by th'enemy, cal­led the L. Willughby thither: month June so was the contract of Vere staied till about the 20. of Iune. Hauing atchie­ued these things to the great contentment of the States of Zeland and of Count Maurice of Nassau, the Lord Willugh by hir Maiesties generall sailed vp to Holland to the counsaile of Estate, where being arriued, it was told him that Gertrudenbergh mat­ters stood in the same plight he left them at his going downe to Zelād, or rather in worse, by reason the sol­diours now refused the reckonings offred to them, [Page 11] without also giuing eare or any reuerence at all to Coūt Maurices letters of the 29. of May in his Lord­ships absence, written to put them in mind how the towne of Gertrudenbergh apperteined to his late Lord & father, after whose death he was coheire with his brethren and sisters who had no way offended the garrison there: and that therefore he desired to send commissioners to treat with them vpon their pre­tenses.

Hereupon the States generall & they of Holland particularly, renewed their earnest request for his Lordships emploiment in this appointment of Ger­trudenbergh: because, they said, they knew no other remedy. To which end also Count Maurice of Nas­sau gaue him autentike copies of two cōmissions, the one dispatched by the States generall the 2. of Iune, the other by the States of Holland the 3. of the same, pourporting that Count Maurice as Gouernour of Holland & proprietary of Gertrudēbergh, shuld treat with them of that towne iointly with the Lord Wil­lughby or by meanes of his Lordship onely: with re­strainct neuerthelesse that by whatsoeuer appoint­ment to be made, the towne must not be separated fro the prouince of Holland, according as the com­mission conteineth. The Lord Willughby seing him selfe this pressed on euery side, ouercome with the desire which he knoweth to be in hir Maiestie his Mistresse, who taketh nothing more to hart then to defend al those prouinces with euery of their townes and places, and greatly caried in his owne affection to do all good office and pleasures to the States and [Page 12] Count Maurice of Nassau, according as already he manifested the same by appointing and bringing home into their duotiō to their cōtentmēt the towns of Medenblick and Narden in Holland, and of Vere and Armude in Zeland, he yeelded to assist the com­passing of this appointment according to those cō ­missions. And this did he the rather moued by letters of the 10. of Iune to Count Maurice of Nassau from S. Iohn Wingfield knight, conteining that the soldi­ours there had threatned that they would quickly find a soueraigne Prince, sith the Queene of Englād would neither take them into protectiō nor procure assurāce of their persons & pay: besides other aduer­tisements by letters of the 19. of this moneth, to his Lordship frō the Magistrat of Dort, how the soldiers of that garrison began to speake of hearkening to the enimy, & of a purpose to receiue the enimies letters whensoeuer they should be sent, notwithstāding that hard before they had hanged vp Captein Fournet & the Albanois with others for a particular treason. So then to preuent these apparant dangers and vpon these their earnest instances the Lord Willughby accompanied Count Maurice of Nassau & the De­puties of the States, hauing commission of the se­uen and twentith of Iune, from the States of Hol­land, to promise to that garrison 20. moneths pay or two hundred thousand florins. Comming thus be­fore Gertrudenbergh to appease this alteration they proceeded so farre remaining still in their boates, as diuers times offer of the said summe was made to the deputies of the garrison the 28. of this moneth. But [Page 13] the day following, the Lord Willughby seing them refuse this offer and to stand obstinatly vpon foure & twentie moneths pay as appeeres by their writing: he could not but maruaile with some disdaine, wher­upon he sent a sharpe letter into the garrison, and yet not so content, he declared by word to Count Mau­rice of Nassau, and the States deputies there, and to them of Dort, that for his particular he held it best sith the soldiours stood so obstinate, rather to assaile the towne by force then to burdē the prouinces with such a summe. Or else that if in further treaty with them they would articulate, that his Lordship with his gard might enter the towne for conduct of the mony to be paid them, that he would vpon that e­uent do his best to bring the towne into the Countes hands as owner thereof.

This proposition throughly deliberated in coun­sell, it was answered by the Count and all the depu­ties, that (notwithstanding th'enemy had then no ar­my at hand that might induce the garrison to change party) yet to attend th'euent of the forcible attempt were too too hazardous, and to promise any more they wanted commission. Whereuppon the said Lords, Count, Lord Willughby and deputies of the States, departed from the flote before Gertruden­bergh, and went to the Haghe without any finall composition of this alteration. Lo here that pro­mise for which some slanderers do find fault with hir Maiesties Lord Lieutenant Generall, as if neither remembring the ten thousand dāgers which he hard­ly escaped within that towne in May last, nor per­ceiuing [Page 14] th'extreme perils now also imminēt there, he would most vnaduisedly presume to promise by him selfe alone to render that towne, and therupon make sir Iohn Wingfield to giue his hand to Count Mau­rice of Nassau, which selfe same towne all the vnited Prouinces thought not good to set vpon by force, but rather by their departure seemed to abandon, notwithstāding his Lordship then promised his best offices to bring it about to their desire, if they had li­ked to follow his aduise. In which emploiment he of­fered him selfe with the very same affection to do pleasure and seruice to Count Maurice of Nassau & the States, as he had done in the other foure townes which they presently held in possessiō to their whole contentement. Meden­blicke. Narden. La Vere. Armude.

To speake truly and certainly of these occurrents, we must stay vpon the manage of euery affaire as it passed from day to day, in which behalfe he that cou­ched and signed the placcard either erreth of misin­formation, or else misreporteth of malice. An abuse offered to none somuch as to his owne Maisters, blindfolding their eies as if they saw not that which all the world seeth: and therfore, forsooth, men must vpon great paine be forbidden to say that which is apparantly true, that is, That certaine particular per­sons who were the very cause of that towne lost, se­ing their owne fault irreparable, will needes colour their excuse by the Lord Willughby. And this is not their first wrōg done him in his honor. For here­tofore whē he was Gouernour of Berghes op Zoom, they shamed not to calumniat his actions as if he had [Page 15] had some sinistre drift against that towne, which his Lordship held alwaies very deere. Berghes op Zoom defended. But that this their imagination was a false lie, fell out euident, when with the perill of his life (all glory be to God) the towne was mainteined against a roiall army of the enemy.

To proceed with the towne of Gertrudenbergh, it makes well for our purpose to shew how the same towne was yet further preserued, though as good as giuen ouer by the retraict of Count Maurice and the States as aforesaid, as appeeres by the daily handling of those matters. You must vnderstand that after the States generall, the counsaile of Estate, Count Mau­rice of Nassau, and the States of Holland had better waighed this matter in counsell at the Haghe, month July the L. Willughby was againe required in full counsel the 9. of Iuly, to send Richard Allen an English Gentle­man (which his Lordship did) togither with com­missarie George Matrut, to declare to the garrison at Gertrudenbergh, that within fewe daies they should haue their demaund, and that in the meane while they should beare themselues in all fidelity and good discipline. And forsomuch as in this Interim the state of Gertrudenbergh was in great wauering, and ther­upon might ensue an vtter breach without fit reme­dy prouided, it was thought good that the deputies of the generall States, Count Maurice of Nassau, the Lord Willughby, the deputies of Holland and of Dort for their particular, should vpon the 24. fol­lowing, be all before the towne of Gertrudenbergh, where came to them into their boates the deputies [Page 16] of that garrison, with certaine points & articles con­cerning a finall accord and their owne assurance. Which being considered in counsell were finally set downe for agreed the 26. following, and signed by Count Maurice of Nassau as proprietary of that towne and Gouernour of Holland, and by the Lord Willughby for hir Maiesty. For, as for the States you vnderstand already that the garrison would not once treat with them. Now whereas in the second apo­stille vpon there foresaid article was comprised, that the horsemen in the garrison should be made into one Cornet of 100. lances, and 50. carrabines onely, and their footemen into one Ensigne of 150. and no more, so as the residue might range themselues vnder the companies at hir Maiesties charge in Berghen or otherwhere, the whole garrison being aduertised thereof by their deputies, found themselues greatly interessed, and setting forth the 27. of Iuly following their griefes and difficulties, declared that they neuer meant to be seperated one from an other, for which purpose they had condicioned in their second article that they might retaine their garrison, adding there­to that the halfe of their soldiors could not be ordred vnder one Cornet and one Ensigne, and that also the same should be to them great charge and expense to go seeke seruice in an other garrison. Which point Count Maurice and the States finding hard to be re­solued, without being vpon the place among the sol­diours, especially their number being yet vnknowne, they left all to the Lord Willughbies discretion, gi­uing thereof to the soldiours an act signed by the [Page 17] Count and iointly by the Lord Willughby at th'in­stance of the States. Here is the conclusion of finall treaty with them of Gertrudenbergh vntill the very day, made in the boates before the towne.

Now for th'execution of this treaty you must vn­derstand, that the soldiours being somewhat better contented with this last apostill, the Lord Willugh­by went his way from the flote toward Gertruden­bergh, at th'instance of Count Maurice of Nassau & the States, and according to the second article of the treaty: where after hostages deliuered aswell on the part of the Magistrat as of the garrison there, his Lordship entred but very reasonably attended, taking immediatly such order with that forlorne state, that vpon the 28 of this moneth, commissaries Orsemall, Parasis and Matrut, deputed thereto by the Count & the States, began to make paiment. And albeit the Lord Willughby might well haue sought the go­uernment of that towne for him selfe, or in his ab­sence for sir Iohn Wingfield according to the cōtent of the treaty, articul. 3. yet to cleere him of all ambi­tion aswell for his owne part (being highly contented with the Honor hir Maiestie vouchsaueth him) as al­so for sir Iohn Wingfield his neere allie: his Lord­ship did by letters of the 28. of that moneth to the counsell of State, which had commission to gouerne the prouinces, beseech them and that vnfainedly that they would bestow that gouernment on Colonell Schēk, who had sued for it. This done, the Lord Wil­lughby forthwith euen the selfe same day aduertised Count Maurice of Nassau, who was then gone from [Page 18] the flote to Dort, that to reduce and redresse those men of warre into conuenient order (which thing yet the very next day before was resolutely left to the Lord Willughbies discretion in regard of those diffi­culties before moued by the garrison) there were no other way but to content them by making one Cor­net of 200 lances, and one of 100 Carrabines: one company of foote of 200. one other of 150. which thing though his Lordship had already, as is before said, authority by discretion to do, yet did he write that he would not do it without first knowing the Countes aduise, according as also he neuer attemp­ted any thing in the world about reducing and refor­mation of these men of warre till first and formost ha­uing receiued two of his letters, conteining his aduise before imparted with the deputies of the States first at Dort then at Haghe. But so soone as his Lordship had receiued those letters he set on hand to reforme & reduce those cōpanies, as the necessity, the coun­try seruice, his owne Honor and the holding of that treaty required: yet still according to the Counts ad­uise, as before said, conteining a generall clause that his Lordship might dispose of things as appeeres by th'originalles of 28 and 30 of this moneth. Things being so farre on, to finish likewise the rest, his Lord­ship, according to the secōd article of the treaty, pro­pounded to the garrison the draught of an oth to be taken by them, in such maner and forme as they of hir Maiesties succours had done, that is to say, to the States generall &c. euen as the commissaries them­selues had set it downe. The soldiours hearing but the [Page 19] name of the States generall, cried hand ouer head tu­multuously that they had not contracted with the States, neither would they in any sort sweare to thē. The Lord Willughby perceiuing that to auoid one difficulty was to fall into an other, finding himselfe in some perplexity as being their alone, not assisted by any of that coūtry, was forced to alter the draught of the oth by omitting the name of States generall: because otherwise the mony already paid and to pay being within the towne had bene vtterly lost, besides all this negotiation ouerthrowne and his Lordships person to come in exceeding danger. Yet would not he passe further herein, finding the soldiours reasona­bly well satisfied by putting out the names of the States generall, till he sent immediatly both the othes drawne as they were to Count Maurice of Nassau, declaring to him that as by the first it was impossible to quiet those men of warre, so by the second their was good likelihood they might be cōtented. Count Maurice wrote backe by expresse letters of the last of Iuly that he allowed well of this alteration: signify­ing also ioinctly with the States of Holland to his Lordship, that they found it not good to giue the gouernemēt of Gertrudenbergh to Colonel Schenk. Hereupon the Lord Willughby went on, giuing or­der for that which remained, that so the whole pai­ment being once made as equally and as much for the countries profit as was possible, the foresaid cō ­missaries being daily therein occupied, his Lordship then might grow to finish that businesse aswell for reforming the companies as for giuing their oth ac­cording [Page 20] to those ample commissions which alrea­dy his Lordship had. The rest seemed of ready dis­patch. But the mony not being ready, and if it had beene ready, yet not being sufficient to pay the sol­diours (as the commissaries appointed for the pay­ment can well witnesse at this day) the Lord Wil­lughby was faine to aduertise Count Maurice of Nassau, the counsell of Estate, the States of Holland and the Magistrat of Dort respectiuely, to th'end that they might presently make prouision for it, as by his Lordships letters of the 2.3.5. & 6. of August folow­ing appeareth. Count Maurice first communicating this with the States, answered that the mony was not yet all leuied, earnestly desiring the L. Willughby to deale with the Magistrat of Gertrudenbergh & Dort to take vp that which wanted, and the States of Hol­land would assume and vndertake to repay it. This re­quest according to letters to him thereof, his Lord­ship performed with such diligēce, as the whole pai­mēt being quickly made, he proceeded according to his former cōmission to redresse the companies, cau­sing them to take that very oth which (once againe I say it) Count Maurice of Nassau had not onely ap­proued, but therewithall had sent the garrison a ge­neral pardon, which was to them vpon th'instant de­liuered according to the first article of the treaty,

This is the plaine course and very true cariage of these affaires, so to be proued by al & euery th'instru­ctions, commissions, letters & warrants before men­tioned, as they are yet extāt to be seene, and for more plaine euidēce are extracted in th'end. What a foule placcat then is this, publishing to the world against al [Page 21] truth, that forsooth the Lord Willughby had redres­sed those cōpanies as him selfe listed, giuing them an oth to their liking vpon his owne head. But his com­missions & sincere actions are so euident to the con­trary, as by allegation of them the people themselues may easily iudge the truth, & we neede speake therof no more. Yet thus much more then neede, that ouer & besides all the particular ordonances & warrants already spoken of, according to which his Lordship gouerned him self, he hath more ouer to shew an act of thankesgeuings for all his sincere actions, which Count Maurice of Nassau and the States of Holland iointly gaue him before his cōming frō that towne: a thing alone that may mainteine his Honor & repu­tation with all the world. And that yet so much the more, because in the conclusion of the same act, the Count and States do confesse and say, as by other the like they had done, that the Lord Willughby was emploied in appeasing this altered towne of Gertru­denbergh at their great instance and earnest sute, ho­ping that hir Maiestie of England (so are the words of the act) wil take it in very good part, because say they, by this his imploiment the prouince of Holland and consequently all the countries had receiued a very principall benefit. The Lord Willughby finding him selfe this kindly thanked by this act, and considering how Count Maurice of Nassau & the States of Hol­land had preferred S. Iohn Wingfield (though yet it were no more thē cōteined in the treaty) before Co­lonel Schenck, in the gouernmēt of Gertrudēbergh: he grew desirous to requite courtesie with courtesie. [Page 22] Whereupon, voluntarily, franckly, and to shew that he neuer affected that gouernment neither for him selfe nor any other (for as for sir Iohn Wingfield he was there established by Count Maurice) he then & not before, made promise vnder his hand, in substāce, this, that forsomuch as he had beene forced to inter­medle in this affaire, and to enter the towne for ap­peasing th'alteratiō there, & that God of his goodnes had so blessed his actiōs as to bring thē to passe, that for all this he would pretend nothing for himselfe in the towne, but euer would be ready, as far as were in his power, to restore it to Count Maurice of Nassau: so as againe the Count would performe & hold what was promised to the soldiours there, for conseruatiō of their liues, wiues and children, according to that which was also hir Maiesties desire. Here appeeres sufficiently that Count Maurice of Nassau had pas­sed to the garrison a former promise, by the precedēt contract, the promise of the Lord Willughby ha­uing relation to a promise formerly made to the gar­rison, as the very letter of his promise plainly shew­eth. Let the world iudge how honestly these men deale in giuing the people to vnderstand against all truth, that the promise made by the Lord Willugh­by should go before the treaty with Gertrudēbergh, the words, I say, of this promise being so cleere to the contrary, so confirmed also by these circūstances, as the meanest handicrafts man on earth ignorant of all policy may easily iudge that this promise of the Lord Willughby was rather the close and period of all this businesse, referring it selfe to the precedent [Page 23] treaty. Before that treaty a man may well iudge by these occurrents, that things could not haue beene so reduced, and how it might haue beene afterward compassed, let men iudge by that which followeth. The Lord Willughby then, vpon his entry into the towne hauing by Gods good grace, conducted th'af­faires to this point, & being no lesse desirous to pur­sue this course of his sincere actions, caused the sol­diours to restore to the Magistrat and burgers of the towne their armes, a poinct yet not mentioned in the treaty, and so being called away for hir Maiesties ser­uice, month August he went from thence about the eight of Au­gust to Haghe, for the continuall setting forward by his presence, as much as in him might lie, the go­uernment of the counsaile of Estate. But the doubt of Berghen op Zoom and Ostend not yet being ouer past but encreasing rather, because the Spanish fleete drew neere, it was thought good that his Lordship should transport presently to Middleburgh, for gi­uing order to those two townes as neede should re­quire. Now forsomuch as in such cases it is a neces­sary point to haue men of warre, and the rather for that hir Maiestie had already sent for 1000. soldiours into England vnder the leading of Colonel Morgan; the Lord Willughby forthwith about the 15 of this moneth of August, sent for 200 horses from Gertru­dēbergh to be emploied as neede should fal out. And by many aduertisements in diuerse places, their was great apparance that those 200 horse would haue come forth of the garrison. But vpon newes that the Lord our God had giuen hir Maiesty victory against [Page 24] the better part of the Spanish fleete, and that the rest were chased Northward, the garrison esteeming the great danger to be well ouer, began to excuse by let­ters of the 17. of August, alleaging certein difficulties yet to be discussed betweene them and the townes­men, namely an oth of fidelity from the burgers for assurance of the towne and themselues, which once done they would be commanded any where either for seruice of hir Maiestie or of the vnited Prouinces of the Low countries. While these things passed, the Lord Willughby seing Ostend quit from an immi­nent siege by ouerthrow of the Spaniards, month September transpor­ted him selfe frō Middelburgh to Berghen op Zoom in the beginning of September, from whence he ad­uertised Count Maurice of Nassau of certaine intel­ligence that Gertrudenbergh was not yet assured through some ielous feare in the soldiours (for feare of punishment euermore tormenteth th'offendor) & that therfore it were good there to stablish a coun­sell of warre for recouering in of the soldiours by litle and litle, otherwise the towne would certeinly be­come a denne of freebuters. Now if after these oc­currents & aduertisements, Count Maurice of Nas­sau and the States established there no counsaile of warre, they must impute it to thēselues, & the rather for that not one of them during nor since the treaty, would or durst euer to this day once looke into the towne, not so much as to accompany and assist the Lord Willughby in this waighty affaire, nor yet af­terward by courteous conuersation & enterteinment to bring the garrison out of this ielous feare, and to [Page 25] induce them to cōserue a towne so much importing religion and all the country. What could the Lord Willughby do more for bringing a good gouernmēt into the towne then before his departure to cause the soldiours (though no such matter were in the treaty) to restore to the Magistrat and Burghers their armes againe? what could he do more then call foorth 200 horses as vpon so good occasion he did? Verily these three things thus falling out, who would doubt of his dutie and not hold it assured?

The placcat maketh mention of certaine powlder, whereunto we answere shortly that it was neuer vsed in hir Maiesties seruice, but withdrawen to the profit of the States and the country, one part during Ber­ghen op Zoom besieged, & the other part in Zeland. The substance of that which remaineth may be said in few wordes.

The Duke of Parma, being disappointed of his at­tempt in Flanders vpon the cōming of the Spanish fleete wel beaten, he thē besieged Berghen op Zoom with so puissant an army as for many yeares before he had not the like, where the Lord Willughby was engaged, from the 24 of this September vntill the 13 of Nouember, inclusiuely following. AT the begin­ning of this siege his Lordship thought good to send for 100. of foote men frō Gertrudenbergh to the suc­cour of Berghen op Zoom. But they made difficulty to come aswell for that th'enemy lay neere them, as also for the iust feare they had, least they should not be permitted to returne after the siege leuied (which yet should haue beene a breach of the contract with [Page 26] them) by reason whereof his Lordship was faine to promise them free returne. By these soldiours which were the best trained in all the troupes, and other sol­diours sent for from Ostend, Vlissing and Briel, month October and specially by the succours which it pleased hir Maie­stie to send thither in October, the towne was defen­ded. The placcat saith in this part, month November that Count Mau­rice of Nassau with some of the Deputies of the States about the beginning of Nouēber, did put the Lord Willughby in remembrance of his promise, that accordingly he would bring the towne into the Countes handes. What needed such hasty remem­brance of a thing, which hitherto (as appeereth by al former occurrences) could not haue possibly beene done? And now in the time of Berghen besieged, what apparance was their of bringing it to passe, or what reason to demaund it? euen now, I say, when Count Maurice of Nassau with the deputies of the generall States, & the counsell of Estate lay vpō their gard in defence of the country of Terthole, & might looke vpon th'enemy in his campe before Berghen, within which the Lord Willughby was fast shut vp, & the better part of hir Maiesties forces with him. Al men of sobre iudgement will reckon those remem­brancers vnseasonable, when, to attempt it, was to suffer the losse of Berghen op Zoom, withall incon­ueniences thereon depending, and yet with great ca­sualty of effecting ought at Gertrudenbergh. Well, God almighty so disposing all things for conseruatiō of both these townes for this time, as th'enimy with­drew his artillery by night frō the North dike, it plea­sed [Page 27] the deputies of the counsell of Estate, and of the States of Holland and Zeland to passe ouer frō Ter­thole to Berghen op Zoom, (for by th'enimies artil­lery withdrawne the riuer of Volsemer was freed) a­mong whom the chiefe were, M. Iames Valcke coun­sailor of Estate, M. Iaspar Vosberghe counsailor of Holland, & M. Iohn Barneuelt aduocat of the States of Holland, who were right welcome to the Lord Willughby, not onely for their speciall degrees and places which they held but also for cōming as good signes of some more liberty like to be now, that th'e­nimies artillery was caried away, in which respect they passed their dinner at the Court of the Lord Willughby in ioility & harty cheere. In this doubtful time, the circumstāces of our businesse then in hand requiring no new matter to be set abroach which might call vs from thinking how to take order by all meanes still to resist that siege continued, the campe not rising from Berghen op Zoom till ten daies after, yet needes must Berneuelt at any hand that after­noone make great complaints against Gertruden­bergh, alleging that during this siege they had taken certeine marchandises going for the country of the enimy, by name for Breda, Rosendale & other places thereabouts, and which had paid all rights due for li­cēce, which taking of theirs because it was an offence against a resolution and ordinance of the States ge­nerall, the garrison must therefore be well punished according to their fault. And forsomuch as they could not be easily punished (as he said) except the towne might come to the States hands, he therefore [Page 28] desired the Lord Willughby to remember his pro­mise, and his Lordship not hauing leisure to breath from continuall resisting, th'enimies army still being before Berghen, he must forthwith bethinke how to bring Gertrudenbergh into the Counts hands, or els (ꝙ Barneuelt) I know how otherwise to bring it vn­der the States, protesting that he rather wished Ger­trudenbergh to fall into th'enimies hands then to re­maine in that case. These indiscreet wordes vttered with lowde speech in great chaufe of choler and bit­ternesse, comming to the soldiours eares of the garri­son of Gertrudenbergh, whereof there were, as you haue heard, one hundred in the towne of Berghen op Zoom, it was no neede to bid them to make hast home to their garrison so soone as euer th'enemy had raised his campe, neither could all the offices and in­ducements of the Lord Willughby stay them, his Lordship hauing in truth, lost all his former interest, credit, and wonted power of persuasion with them, by meanes of this kinde of broad speech from Barne­uelt, & hauing now no other way but faire meanes to vse toward them, because before their comming out from Gertrudenbergh thither, they were promised a free returne.

Th'enimy raising campe from Berghen the 13 of Nouember, as is said, the Lord Willughby tooke or­der for that which was to be done after the siege, and transported him selfe to Dort, where sir Iohn Wing­field who also had bene somewhile at Berghen in the siege, came to see his Lordship the 19 of this moneth, and told him that the soldiours of Gertrudenbergh [Page 29] for more part were vpon point of an other mutine, by reason of Barneuelts lowd & opē speech at Berghen, being such (said they) as they perceiued they were not sincerely and plainly treated withall in Iuly last, & therefore sith, by Barneuelts speech, it seemed that the States pretended to recouer into their hands the towne of Gertrudēbergh, belike, to thrust in another garrison, they would on the other side aduise for their owne surety. The Lord Willughby hearing this, sent backe S. Iohn Wingfield to Gertrudēbergh present­ly, aswell for preuention of all inconueniences likely to fall by his absence, as also to declare to that garri­son that they should do well to giue no heede to such speeches, but to cōtinue their good and faithfull ser­uice, and, as for his Lordship, he would endeuour no thing more hartily with the States then to set for­ward by all meanes whatsoeuer might serue to th'ac­complishment of the treaty. Thus much being deli­uered by sir Iohn Wingfield, though it were very ac­ceptable to the soldiours, yet ceased they not by faire words to win away the Burgers armes, for their assurance & safety, as they said. For, the offendor still casteth all backe reckonings. Some taking pleasure to speake euill, go no further then these termes of the placcat, and seeing this conference at Dort, are not ashamed to say against a direct truth, that all this was by former consent of the Lord Willughby. But all the world may see the vanitie of this abuse, by his Lordships letter of the 25 of this Nouember, sharply blaming there former attempt, with expresse commandement on hir Maiesties behalfe to render [Page 30] the armes before taken from the burghers. Where­unto if they obeied not, the fault must be laid vpon Barneuelts brauing speeches at Berghes, which re­newed such doubtfull feares in those soldiors braines as caused all this mischief following.

And if we had not thus euidently where to lay this fault, yet all men of good and sound iudgement know you may not pike these quarels at other men by such extrauagant presumptions & circumstances, who by better proofes setting forth the truth can cleere thē ­selues. For to proceede by circumstances and pre­sumptions, a mā might euen so iudge that Barneuelt (whose signature was th'autētike warrāt to passe this placcat) were the greatest traitor in the land, because some will not let to say that he wrote to Richardot president of the Duke of Parmas counsaile of Estate, that he the same Barneuelt would so carie the affaires of the States of the vnited Prouinces in the Low countries, that they should fall into the hands of the King of Spaine. And could any man wish a better cōcurrence of circūstances or more euident proofe, then the selfe same way that he taketh? to wit, to drawe drie the thresors of those Prouinces already so farre in arrerages, and all to leuy secretely an army wherewith to assaile by water and land a towne con­federated with the generality, bringing to the bou­chery all the best soldiours of that country. A man may easily iudge by what faithfull and martiall ad­uise the men of warre of that country, left their trenches to th'enimy before Gertrudenbergh, nei­ther rased nor throwne downe, as also vpon what rea­son [Page 31] Count Maurice of Nassau might not be suffered to accord with the garrison of Gertrudēbergh, when the minister of the Church there & the Schoute be­seeching mercy, offered to Count Maurice reasona­ble conditions on the part of the towne and garrison. Wherfore would not Barneuelt accept those offers, except it were thereby to do th'enimy good seruice, and therewithall also to be aduenged of Dort where he hath borne and doth beare a particular hatred, be­cause that town did euer greatly respect the Queene and could neuer approue all th'actions of some cal­ling themselues deputies to the States of Holland, & least of all did Dort allow this rash siege most vnad­uisedly enterprised and performed. On the other side, experience now sheweth, what a speciall piece of ser­uice Barneuelt did to the Spanish king, whē he main­teined by open speach in publique assemblies sundry times to certeine ministers of the Gospell, deputies for the Church of Holland in sommer 1587. that it was a great abuse & most pernicious errour to thinke that the vnited Prouinces were not sufficiētly able, in richesse, and puissance, to mainteine, conserue and defend themselues against the common enimy, with­out any neede of succours from the Queene, or any other Princes aide in the world. This vaine counsaile brought all that country into a terrible confusion & mutinery of soldiours, bereuing it of all authority, counsaile, leaders, soldiours and mony, making it a contempt to all neighbours. Euery politique man then may iudge Barneuelts deedes to agree well with his letters. Likewise Greffier Cornelius Aerssens, [Page 32] who signed this placcat, being heretofore exami­ned and atteinted of treason, and thereupon sus­pended from his office and restrained to his house in Vtrecht, for writing and holding correspondēcy with th'enimy, namely with the Magistrat of Bruxels pro­mising him seruice and friendship, we shall not need more particularly to discourse after what sort he had before that time sent his wife secretly to Antwerpe carrying an other womans name for laying of the better fundation to all his correspondence, with such a pasport as to that end he him selfe had dispatched and signed.

Now to go to the offer made by Sir Iohn Norris, and the comming of M. Bodley counsailor of Estate in the Low countries, which the placcat mētioneth; first you must vnderstand that those two persons for the places which they held, if they could aduance the matter of Gertrudenbergh, it was either by force or faire meanes, by deedes or by wordes. As for any in­ducement by faire meanes, it is already shewed to how litle purpose that had bene, by reasō that though the garrison was content to giue some eare, yet tho­row Barneuelts brauing former speeches they refu­sed to giue trust or credit vnto any thing propoun­ded, making full accompt that we went about to en­trap them, as the said Lord Ambassadour found by experience, when he thought to haue drawen from them some soldiours for Portugal seruice, according to such counsaile and aduise as the Lord Willughby had before giuen to that effect. To bring any thing there to passe by force, was not thought good during [Page 33] the alteratiō, which yet had it seemed good, could not haue bin done during the siege before Berghē op zoō for the reasons already spoken of. After th'enemy gone from Berghen op Zoom, to go against Gertru­denbergh with the soldiors hauing endured the siege togither with those others which had lien abroad in Tertholen beaten with raine and wether, was a thing neuer propounded, the said Ambassador neuer de­claring any charge from hir Maiestie for besieging a­ny towne confederated with the generality, but for gathering a certeine proportiō of soldiors according to his enstructions for the seruice of Portugal. Wach­tēdonck. And had he had other charge, as he had not, month December yet the Duke of Parmas cāpe (after th'enimy gone frō Berghen op Zoom) being before Wachtendonck vntill the same lost about the 27 of December, did set them a worke so as there was no leisure to set vpō Gertrudenbergh, though they would neuer so faine haue forced it. Fi­nally when after S. Iohn Norris departure they assai­led Gertrudenbergh not making the Lord Willugh­by of their counsaile but by all meanes concealing it from him, and (which is more) without the priuity & counsaile of the counsaile of Estate, & so cōsequent­ly quite against the treaty with hir Maiestie, we see to our griefe how well they sped.

month January, 1589 To proceed to the moneth of Ianuary 1589 fol­lowing, certeine complaints comming to the Lord Willughby concerning contributions out of the country of Breda belonging to the Princesse of O­renge, about which they of Gertrudēbergh were said to demeane themselues somewhat inordinately: his [Page 34] Lordship forthwith sent thither one of his folke able to redresse th'abuse if any there were, and therein was so much done, as not onely all complaints ceased, but the Princesse had, to hir desire and contentment, re­stitution of all goods remaining at Gertrudenbergh since Count Hohenlos gouernment. What could the Lord Willughby do more for all parts? well, the placcat saith on, that the garrison of Gertrudenbergh seing the contributions, which they dealt with, suf­fised not for their pay, and that (according to their treaty) the time of their compt and reckoning for satisfaction of that which wanted, drew neere, to wit, February following: they gat certeine Magi­strats of the towne to go to the Haghe, to signifie from them all this matter to the States generall and counsaile of Estate, for some conuenient order there­in. The Magistrates so endeuored as the 25 of Ianua­ry they obteined for the garrison a good and profita­ble resolution. That is to say, in effect, that the States & counsaile of Estate of the vnited Prouinces of the Low countries intēded to giue reasonable satisfactiō to thē of Gertrudenbergh, within ten daies after the first six moneths which should expire the 15 of Fe­bruary following. Likewise Count Maurice of Nas­sau by the 27 of the same moneth, sent them worde that they should haue all maner reasonable content­ment. The Lord Willughby in this meane while ma­king a iourny to Vlissing, and after his returne falling into some infirmity, gaue neuerthelesse continually the best order that could be (for performing hir Ma­iesties commandements and the countties seruice) [Page 35] to transport for England one after an other the soldi­ours appointed to the Portugal voiage, and specially the horsemen remaining. This businesse almost all dispatched, it pleased hir Maiestie to honor him with hir letters of permission to come home into England for some short while, according to his long sute for the same. In which letters hir Maiestie signifying a care that the matter of Gertrudenbergh should be discretely hādled, month February the L. Willughby caused thereof an extract translated into French to be deliuered to the generall States the 18 of February together with certeine memorials from him selfe to that purpose, praying that it would please the States general to ad­uise how that garrison might be somewhat conten­ted, offering his owne seruice in that behalfe, with more ample declaration, that in that seruice, togither with such as might please them to depute of their as­sembly and of the counsaile of Estate, he would em­ploy him selfe as zealously, sincerely, and affectionat­ly as he had euer done in seruice of hir Maiestie and that country. Hereto it pleased not the States to vouchsaue any answere at all, though a matter mini­string good cause of contentment to them, for hir Maiesties princely desire & good wil shewed therby, as also to employ the Lord Willughby, who for satis­fying hir Maiesties commandements and his owne dutie, offered his seruice: the rather for that in Ianua­ry past they had already resolued to satisfie that gar­rison in some reasonable sort. Well, not receiuing any answere, he wrote his second memorials to the same ende the 21 following. Whereunto he was [Page 36] answered by way of apostille (quite contrary to the resolutiō of the 25 of Ianuary past) that the deputies of the generall States had none authority from there superiours to deale with the garrison of Gertruden­bergh, and that so much the lesse as the Lord Wil­lughby had not (said they) performed his promise of bringing the towne to Coūt Maurices hāds, without which the country was not to pay this summe suffi­ciēt to do greater seruice to hir Maiestie & the coun­try: not leauing out in this resolution such abuses as had passed in that towne. To this apostille the Lord Willughby answered summarily, how the treaty of Gertrudenbergh had passed from the beginning to th'end, making good proofe also that therein he had beene not the alone actor but a third person, warran­ted by diuers commissiōs to accord them, who with­out his comming betweene would neuer haue agre­ed, because things were come to such extremity for want of paiment which the States ought to haue made in time and place. In which emploiment no more then in any other, his Lordship proued that he neuer receiued any thing from them to induce this promise, but was so farre from making any such pro­mise before the contract with Gertrudenbergh, that quite contrary, it was long after, as appeeres by the very words thereof making expresse relation to that former promise of Count Maurice of Nassau to thē of Gertrudenbergh at the treaty making for preser­uation of their liues, wiues and children. His Lord­ship farther set foorth in this answere, the offices he had doone in reforming th'abuses befallen in that [Page 37] towne so often as euer they came to his eare.

This resolution of the States cutting of all hope of there further treaty with Gertrudenbergh, yet to preuent the apparant breach and vtter disunion, if that garrison should come to any inckling of that which had thus passed, and to leaue nothing vndone for accomplishing all the good pleasures and com­mandements of hir Maiestie his Mistrisse, his Lord­ship made his iourney for England by the way of Gertrudenbergh. Where finding them in reasonable disposition, expecting cōtentment according to the resolution of the 25 of Ianuary, he by nourishing this their hope, brought them so farre on (notwitstanding the ielousie they had conceiued of him) that by his persuasion they promised vnder their hands, to giue ouer all medling with contributions and publique re­uenues, aswell within their towne as in the country adioining, thereby preuenting all farther complaints and making manifest to hir Maiestie and all others, that they sought not to be maisters of the generall contributions and other reuenues, but rather desired one or two thresurers to be appointed for recept thereof, allowing them but there compt and recko­ning from six moneths to six moneths according to the treaty, as appeereth by their originall declaration giuen to the L. Willughby to be signified to hir Ma­iestie that she might be pleased to giue notice therof to Dort their next neighbour, because they coueted nothing but good neighbourhood & amitie with all. These things thus well brought about, the L. Wil­lughby being well apaid to haue holden the matters [Page 38] in so moderate termes, tooke ship from Gertruden­bergh to Midleburgh in Zelād about the 3 of March, from whence after order giuen for some things con­cerning onely the English nation, his Lordship went to Vlissing to embarke for England. But while he staid there for a good wind, month March tidings came the 15 of March that Count Maurice of Nassau & the States had besieged Gertrudenbergh. The Lord Willugh­by could but wōder at it, & wrote expresly to Count Maurice of Nassau that sith he purposed thus to be­siege the towne, he might yet haue giuen him some litle watchword that so he might haue withdrawē his brother in law and sister there, which thing to do his Lordship had many times heretofore offered, aswell in particular as to the States generals themselues be­fore his comming away fro the Haghe. But notwith­standing his Lordships letters, on went the siege, and that with great extremities quite against the treaty of the 26 and 27 of Iuly passed and the generall pardon thereupon: yea without any regard of their owne re­solution of the 25 of Ianuary last, whereby they had promised to that garrison reasonable cōtentment: fi­nally not suffering their hardned hartes to be entrea­ted by the Christian beseechings & lamētable teares of the Minister of the gospell there, & of the Schout which were sent frō out of the towne to make suppli­cation for mercy and pitie, so fell the towne most vn­happily into the hands of the Duke of Parma.

By this iournall manage of matters & by these alle­gations and probations, we trust that as in the con­science of all men it may be most truly said, and with­out [Page 39] boast on the part of the Lord Willughby that next after God, vnder the name of hir Maiestie & the princely respect wherein she is holden, the towne of Gertrudenbergh had beene so many moneths kept through his Lordships trauaile and good offices: euē so we may hope that these worst speakers of him, now seeing the truth disclosed, will let the blame of this great losse rest vpon them that were causers of it. And so much the rather because such as were then in Gertrudenbergh do say that during the siege, the so much vrged promise of the Lord Willughby, was sent in to the besieged from th'assailants, with a false date later then the originall, as if one would haue done a thing for the nonce to prouoke them to yeeld the towne to th'enimy. And least this our often men­tion of the generall States of the vnited prouinces in the Low countries, should be misenterpreted to any derogation of their reputation, honour and authori­tie: all Princes, States, Lords, Gentlemen, Counsai­lors, Magistrates, & all persons in particular of what­soeuer qualitie, estate or condition, are most humbly praied and desired with all reuerence and instance, not to conceiue, by occasion of this discourse, any o­ther opinion then right good of the generall States of those prouinces lawfully assembled, nor yet, by oc­casion hereof, once to speake otherwise then wel and right honorably either of themselues in generall or particular, or yet of their actions or comportements. For, the purpose of this discourse is chiefly to touch the slanders and slanderous insinuations of the plac­cat against the Lord Willughby. As for the case be­tweene [Page 40] the States & the garrison of Gertrudēbergh, as we meane nothing lesse thē to determine or to de­bate it, but leaue thē to be iudged according as they deserue, euen so do we not pursue the placcat for the disproportionable and vile valuatiō of English Gen­tlemen, Capteins, & Soldiours there with the rest, by a few more or lesse gildres or Florins: neither for the iniquity thereof in proclaiming and banning them to death vniudged & vnheard, not so much as summo­ning them who in an equall court are ready to come in to answer, & therfore can not be said contumaces or refusing to be iustified: nor yet for the inhumanity thereof, in exposing them to the violence of euery bloody hand: nor yet for the barbarisme thereof, in prouoking and rewarding such perilous cōfusions & priuat violences; besides other vntruths, impertinen­cies, & disorders more like to come out of some Spa­nish vessell of the same humor with him that penned the Turkish Bann against the late right worthy Prince of Orenge, then to passe with the consent of th'ono­rable States generall in a iust assembly, or to be de­creed in any other Christian court. This were a la­bour apart. We will leaue these wrongs to the righ­teous and almighty iudge of the world, whom we be­seech on behalfe of the States to shew thē such grace and fauour as by their owne proper forces with th'as­sistance of their good neighbors, they may be hable to mainteine their state, to th'aduancement of Christs Gospell and th'enlargement of his Church Sobeit.