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 countries , by want of pay and other misseintreaties , 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 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 chastisement 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 consideration 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 assistance 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 Brabant & Flanders lost , & since the death of the duke of Aniou , & of the Prince of Orenge , 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 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 contries , 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 action , 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 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 shal be 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 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 action 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 condemned 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 preuent al tongues that might insinuat any pretence in hir Maiestie , for other townes then comprised in the contract ( a thing broadly and lewdly spoken among them the last yeare ) did still put ouer this businesse to themselues , as they that had good meanes to worke this by the going betweene of the Magistrate of Dort , next neighbour to Gertrudenbergh , and following his owne affaires and charge all March and Aprill , & principally the restablishment 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 continued 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 not the Magistrate of Dort vtterly giuen ouer the matter , without effecting any thing according to th' act of authorisation 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 Gertrudenbergh , a towne so greatly importing the prouince of Holland & the generalitie , as they had remonstrated many times to him , 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 conduct , 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 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 demaund 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 vpon the place all things might take better end , whereunto his Lordship hauing partly consented 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 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 consideration 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 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 vpon this their demaund , he left with them at their request Sir Iohn Wingfeld for entertainement of some better order : & so departed from 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 alteration 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 appointment of that alteration , which hapned through want of pay and other euill vsage , is now requited with this ingratitude and disacknowledgement 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 country 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 Ostend finding it selfe threatned with siege by th' enemy , called the L. Willughby thither : 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 Zeland , or rather in worse , by reason the soldiours now refused the reckonings offred to them , without also giuing eare or any reuerence at all to Count 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 commissions , 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 Gertrudenbergh , 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 Count Maurice of Nassau , according as already he manifested the same by appointing and bringing home into their duotion to their contentment 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 commissions . 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 England would neither take them into protection nor procure assurance of their persons & pay : besides other aduertisements by letters of the 19. of this moneth , to his Lordship from 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 , notwithstanding 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 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 burden 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 dangers which he hardly escaped within that towne in May last , nor perceiuing th' extreme perils now also imminent 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 , notwithstanding 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 possession 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 wrong done him in his honor . For heretofore when he was Gouernour of Berghes op Zoom , they shamed not to calumniat his actions as if he had 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 , 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 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 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 content 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 Schenk , 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 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 companies , 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 second 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 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 country , 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 contented . 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 gouernement 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 commissaries being daily therein occupied , his Lordship then might grow to finish that businesse aswell for reforming the companies as for giuing their oth according 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 diligence , as the whole paiment being quickly made , he proceeded according to his former commission 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 extant to be seene , and for more plaine euidence are extracted in th' end . What a foule placcat then is this , publishing to the world against al truth , that forsooth the Lord Willughby had redressed those companies 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 comming from 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 conteined in the treaty ) before Colonel Schenck , in the gouernment of Gertrudenbergh : he grew desirous to requite courtesie with courtesie . 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 substance , this , that forsomuch as he had beene forced to intermedle in this affaire , and to enter the towne for appeasing th'alteration there , & that God of his goodnes had so blessed his actions 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 conseruation 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 precedent 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 Gertrudenbergh , the words , I say , of this promise being so cleere to the contrary , so confirmed also by these circumstances , 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 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 , 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 Gertrudenbergh 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 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 , transported him selfe from 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 themselues , & 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 induce them to conserue a towne so much importing religion and all the country . What could the Lord Willughby do more for bringing a good gouernment 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 comming 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 from 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 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 , 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 , that Count Maurice of Nassau with some of the Deputies of the States about the beginning of Nouember , 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 vpon 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 conseruation of both these townes for this time , as th'enimy withdrew his artillery by night from the North dike , it pleased the deputies of the counsell of Estate , and of the States of Holland and Zeland to passe ouer from 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 comming 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 circumstances 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 licence , 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 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 ( {quod} 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 .