//

LIBRARY

lluoloiiical m i n a x y ,

PRINCETON, N. J.

The Stephen Collins Donation.

No. Case ,

No. Shelf, c Z

No. Book ,

2 -GO- rO n

.

1

.

'

.

\

Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2018 with funding from Princeton Theological Seminary Library

https://archive.org/details/historyofunitedn02motl_1

THE EARL OF LEICESTER.

Frontispiece, VoL II

HISTORY

OF THE

UNITED

FROM THE DEATH OF WILLIAM THE SILENT TO THE SYNOD OF DORT.

WITH

A FULL VIEW OF THE ENGLISII-DUTCH STRUGGLE AGAINST SPAIN, AND OF THE ORIGIN AND DESTRUCTION OF THE SPANISH ARMADA.

By JOHN LOTHROP MOTLEY, LL.D., D.C.L.,

O OP. RESPONDING MEMBER OF THE INSTITUTE OF FRANCE, AUTHOR OF “THE RISE OF THE DUTCH REPUBLIC.”

VOLUME II.

NEW YORK:

HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS,

321 to 335 PEARL STREET.

18 6 1.

I

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight hundred

and sixty, by

John Lothrop Motley,

in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.

CONTENTS OF VOL. II.

CHAPTER IX.

PAG3

Military Plans in the Netherlands — The Elector and Electorate of Cologne — Martin Schenk — His Career before serving the States — Franeker Univer¬ sity founded — Parma attempts Grave — Battle on the Meuse — Success and Vainglory of Leicester — St. George’s Day triumphantly kept at Utrecht — Parma not so much appalled as it was thought — He besieges and reduces Grave — And is Master of the Meuse — Leicester’s Rage at the Surrender of Grave — His Revenge — Parma on the Rhine — He besieges and assaults Neusz — Horrible Fate of the Garrison and City — Which Leicester was un¬ able to relieve — Axel surprised by Maurice and Sidney — The Zeeland Regiment given to Sidney — Condition of the Irish and English Troops — Leicester takes the Field — He reduces Doesburg — He lays siege to Zutphen — Which Parma prepares to relieve — The English intercept the Convoy — Battle of Warnsfeld — Sir Philip Sidney wounded — Results of the Encounter — Death of Sidney at Arnlieim — Gallantry of Edward Stanley . 1

CHAPTER X.'

Should Elizabeth accept the Sovereignty? — The Effects of her Anger — Quarrels between the Earl and States — the Earl’s three Counsellors — Leicester’s Finance- Chamber — Discontent of the Mercantile Classes — Paul Buys and the Opposition — Keen Insight of Paul Buys — Truchsess becomes a Spy upon him — Intrigues of Buys with Denmark — His Imprisonment —

The Earl’s Unpopularity — His Quarrels with the States — And with the Norrises — His Counsellors Wilkes and Clerk — Letter from the Queen to Leicester — A Supper-Party at Hohenlo’s — A drunken Quarrel — Hohenlo’s Assault upon Edward Norris — Ill Effects of the Riot . 61

CHAPTER XI.

#

Drake in the Netherlands — Good Results of his Visit — The Babington Con¬ spiracy — Leicester decides to visit England — Exchange of parting Com¬ pliments . . 100

IV

CONTENTS OF YOL. II.

CHAPTER XII.

PAGE

Ill-timed Interregnum in the Provinces — Firmness of the English and Dutch People — Factions during Leicester’s G-overnment — Democratic Theories of the Leicestrians — Suspicions as to the Earl’s Designs — Extreme Views of the Calvinists — Political Ambition of the Church — Antagonism of the Church and States — The States inclined to Tolerance — Desolation of the Obedient Provinces — Pauperism and Famine — Prosperity of the Republic — The Year of Expectation . Ill

CHAPTER XIII.

Barneveld’s Influence in the Provinces — Unpopularity of Leicester — Intrigues of his Servants — Gossip of his Secretary — Its mischievous Effects — The Quarrel of Norris and Hollock — The Earl’s Participation in the Affair —

His increased Animosity to Norris — Seizure of Deventer — Stanley appointed its Governor — York and Stanley — Leicester’s secret Instructions — Wilkes remonstrates with Stanley — Stanley’s Insolence and Equivocation — Painful Rumours as to him and York — Duplicity of York — Stanley’s Banquet at Deventer — He surrenders the City to Tassis — Terms of the Bargain — Feeble Defence of Stanley’s Conduct — Subsequent Fate of Stanley and York — Betrayal of Gelder to Parma — These Treasons cast Odium on the English — Miserable Plight of the English Troops — Honesty and Energy of Wilkes — Indignant Discussion in the Assembly . 136

i

CHAPTER XIY.

Leicester in England — Trial of the Queen of Scots — Fearful Perplexity at the English Court — Infatuation and Obstinacy of the Queen — Netherland En¬ voys in England — Queen’s bitter Invective against them — Amazement of the Envoys — They consult with her chief Councillors — Remarks of Burghley and Davison — Fourth of February Letter from the States — Its severe Language towards Leicester — Painful position of the Envoys at Court— Queen’s Parsimony towards Leicester . 189

CHAPTER XY.

Buckhurst sent to the Netherlands — Alarming state of Affairs on his Arrival — His Efforts to conciliate — Democratic Theories of Wilkes — Sophistry of the Argument — Dispute between Wilkes and Barneveld — Religious Toler¬ ance by the States — Their Constitutional Theory — Deventer’s bad Counsels

CONTENTS OF YOL. II.

v

PAGES

to Leicester — Their pernicious Effect — Real and supposed Plots against Hohenlo — Mutual Suspicion and Distrust — Buckhurst seeks to restore good Feeling — The Queen angry and vindictive — She censures Buckhurst’s Course — Leicester’s Wrath at Hohenlo’s Charges of a Plot by the Earl to murder him — Buckhurst’s Eloquent Appeals to the Queen — Her perplexing and contradictory Orders — Despair of Wilkes — Leicester announces his Return — His Instructions — Letter to Junius — Bameveld denounces him in the States . . . 215

CHAPTER XVI.

Situation of Sluys— Its Dutch and English Garrison — Williams writes from Sluys to the Queen — Jealousy between the Earl and States — Schemes to relieve Sluys — Which are feeble and unsuccessful — The Town Capitulates — Parma enters — Leicester enraged — The Queen angry with the Anti- Leicestrians — Norris, Wilkes, and Buckhurst punished — Drake sails for Spain — His Exploits at Cadiz and Lisbon — He is rebuked by Elizabeth. . . 260

CHAPTER XVII.

Secret Treaty between Queen and Parma — Excitement and Alarm in the States — Religious Persecution in England — Queen’s Sincerity toward Spain — Language and Letters of Parma — Negotiations of De Loo — En¬ glish Commissioners appointed — Parma’s affectionate Letter to the Queen — Philip at his Writing-Table — His Plots with Parma against England — Parma’s secret Letters to the King — Philip’s Letters to Parma — Wonderful Duplicity of Philip — His sanguine Yiews as to England — He is reluctant to hear of the Obstacles — and imagines Parma in England — But Alexander’s Difficulties are great — He denounces Philip’s wild Schemes — Walsingham aware of the Spanish Plot — which the States well understand — Leicester’s great Unpopularity — The Queen warned against Treating — Leicester’s Schemes against Barneveld — Leicestrian Conspiracy at Leyden — The Plot to seize the City discovered — Three Ringleaders sentenced to Death — Civil War in France — Yictory gained by Navarre, and one by Guise — Queen re¬ calls Leicester — Who retires on ill Terms with the States — Queen warned as to Spanish designs — Results of Leicester’s Administration . 286

CHAPTER XVIII.

Prophecies as to the Year 1588 — Distracted Condition of the Dutch Republic — Willoughby reluctantly takes Command — English Commissioners come to Ostend — Secretary Gamier and Robert Cecil — Cecil accompanies Dale to

VI

CONTENTS OF VOL. II.

PAGE

Ghent — And finds the Desolation complete — Interview of Dale and Cecil with Parma — His fervent Expressions in favor of Peace — Cecil makes a Tour in Flanders — And sees much that is remarkable — Interviews of Dr. Rogers with Parma — Wonderful Harangues of the Envoy — Extraordinary Amenity of Alexander — With which Rogers is much touched — The Queen not pleased with her Envoy — Credulity of the English Commissioners — Ceremonious Meeting of all the Envoys — Consummate Art in wasting Time — Long Disputes about Commissions — The Spanish Commissions meant to deceive — Disputes about Cessation of Arms — Spanish Duplicity and Procrastination — Pedantry and Credulity of Dr. Dale — The Papal Bull and Dr. Allen’s Pamphlet — Dale sent to ask Explanations — Parma denies all Knowledge of either — Croft believes to the last in Alexander — Dangerous Discord in North Holland — Leicester’s Resignation arrives — Enmity of Willoughby and Maurice — Willoughby’s dark Picture of Affairs — Hatred between States and Leicestrians — Maurice’s Answer to the Queen’s Charges — End of Sonoy’s Rebellion — Philip foments the Civil War in France — League’s Threats and Plots against Henry — Mucio arrives in Paris — He is received with Enthusiasm — The King flies, and Spain triumphs in Paris — States expostulate with the Queen — English Statesmen still deceived — Deputies from Netherland Churches — hold Conference with the Queen — and present long Memorials — More Conversations with the Queen — National Spirit of England and Holland — Dissatisfaction with Queen’s Course — Bitter Complaints of Lord Howard — Want of Preparation in Army and Navy — Sanguine Statements of Leicester — Activity of Parma — The Painful Suspense continues . . . 353

CHAPTER XIX.

Philip Second in his Cabinet — His System of Work and Deception — His vast but vague Schemes of Conquest — The Armada sails — Description of the Fleet — The Junction with Parma unprovided for — The Gale off Finisterre — Exploits of David Gwynn — First Engagement in the English Channel — Considerable Losses of the Spaniards — General Engagement near Portland — Superior Seamanship of the English — Both Fleets off Calais — A Night of Anxiety — Project of Howard and Winter — Impatience of the Spaniards — Fire-Ships sent against the Armada — A great Galeasse disabled — At¬ tacked and captured by English Boats — General Engagement of both Fleets — Loss of several Spanish Ships — Armada flies, followed by the Eng¬ lish — English insufficiently provided — are obliged to relinquish the Chase — A great Storm disperses the Armada — Great Energy of Parma — made fruitless by Philip’s Dulness — England readier at Sea than on Shore — The Lieutenant-General’s Complaints — His Quarrels with Norris and Williams — Harsh Statements as to the English Troops — Want of Organization in England — Royal Parsimony and Delay — Quarrels of English Admirals —

CONTENTS OF YOL. II.

Yll

PAGE

England’s narrow Escape from great Peril — Various Rumours as to the Armada’s Fate — Philip for a long time in Doubt — He believes himself victorious — is tranquil when undeceived . 453

CHAPTER XX.

Alexander besieges Bergen-op-Zoom — Pallavincini’s Attempt to seduce Parma — Alexander’s Fury — He is forced to raise the Siege of Bergen — Gertruy- denberg betrayed to Parma — Indignation of the States — Exploits of Schenk — His Attack on Nymegen — He is defeated and drowned — English-Dutch Expedition to Spain — Its meagre Results — Death of Guise and of the Queen-Mother — Combinations after the Murder of Henry III. — Tandem fit Surculus Arbor . 537

.

V

1

THE UNITED NETHERLANDS.

CHAPTER IX.

Military Plans in the Netherlands — The Elector and Electorate of Cologne — Martin Schenk — His Career before serving the States — Praneker Uni¬ versity founded — Parma attempts Grave — Battle on the Meuse — Suc¬ cess and Vainglory of Leicester — St. George’s Day triumphantly kept at Utrecht — Parma not so much appalled as it was thought — He besieges and reduces Grave — And is Master of the Meuse — Leicester’s Page at the Surrender of Grave — His Revenge — Parma on the Rhine — He besieges and assaults Neusz — Horrible Fate of the Garrison and City — Which Leicester was unable to relieve — Axel surprised by Maurice and Sidney — The Zeeland Regiment given to Sidney — Condition of the Irish and English Troops — Leicester takes the Field — He reduces Doesburg — He lays siege to Zutphen — Which Parma prepares to relieve — The English intercept the Convoy — Battle of Warnsfeld — Sir Philip Sidney wounded — Results of the Encounter — Death of Sidney at Arnheim — Gallantry of Edward Stanley.

Five great rivers hold the Netherland territory in their coils. Three are hut slightly separated — the Yssel, Waal, and ancient Rhine, while the Scheldt and Meuse are spread more widely asunder. Along each of these streams were various fortified cities, the possession of which, in those days, when modern fortification was in its infancy, implied the control of the surrounding country. The lower part of all the rivers, where they mingled with the sea and became wide estuaries, belonged to the Republic, for the coasts and the ocean were in the hands of the Hollanders and English. Above, the various strong places were alternately in the hands of the Spaniards and of the patriots.

Thus Antwerp, with the other Scheldt cities, had fallen into Parma's power, but Flushing, which controlled them all, was

VOL. it. — B

2

THE UNITED NETHERLANDS.

Chap. IX.

held by Philip Sidney for the Queen and States. On the Meuse, Maastricht and Roermond were Spanish, hut Yenloo, Grave, Meghem, and other towns, held for the commonwealth. On the Waal, the town of Nymegen had, through the dexterity of Martin Schenk, been recently transferred to the royalists, while the rest of that river's course was true to the republic. The Rhine, strictly so called, from its entrance into Nether land, belonged to the rebels. Upon its elder branch, the Yssel, Zutphen was in Parma's hands, while, a little below, Deventer had been recently and adroitly saved by Leicester and Count Meurs from falling into the same dangerous grasp.

Thus the triple Rhine, after it had crossed the German frontier, belonging mainly, although not exclusively, to the States. But on the edge of the Batavian territory, the ancient river, just before dividing itself into its three branches, flowed through a debateable country which was even more desolate and forlorn, if possible, than the land of the obedient Provinces.1

This unfortunate district was the archi-episcopal electorate of Cologne. The city of Cologne itself, Neusz, and Rheinberg, on the river, Werll and other places in Westphalia and the whole country around, were endangered, invaded, ravaged, and the inhabitants plundered, murdered, and subjected to every imaginable outrage, by rival bands of highwaymen, enlisted in the support of the two rival bishops — beggars, outcasts, but high-born and learned churchmen both — who disputed the electorate.

At the commencement of the year a portion of the bishopric was still in the control of the deposed protestant elector Gebhard Truchsess, assisted of course by the English and the States. The city of Cologne was held by the Catholic elector, Ernest of Bavaria, bishop of Liege ; but Neusz and Rheinberg were in the hands of the Dutch republic.

The military operations of the year were, accordingly, along the Meuse, where the main object of Parma was to

1 Meteren, xiii. 235vo.

1586.

THE ELECTOR AND ELECTORATE OF COLOGNE.

3

wrest Grave from the Netherlands ; along the Waal, where, on the other hand, the patriots wished to recover Nymegen ; on the Yssel, where they desired to obtain the possession of Zutphen ; and in the Cologne electorate, where the Spaniards meant, if possible, to transfer Neusz and Rheinberg from Truchsess to Elector Ernest. To clear the course of these streams, and especially to set free that debateable portion of the river-territory which hemmed him in from neutral Germany, and to cut off the supplies from his starving troops, was the immediate design of Alexander Farnese.

Nothing could be more desolate than the condition of the electorate. Ever since Gebhard Truchsess had renounced the communion of the Catholic Church for the love of Agnes Mansfeld, and so gained a wife and lost his principality, he had been a dependant upon the impoverished Nassaus, or a supplicant for alms to the thrifty Elizabeth. The Queen was frequently implored by Leicester, without much effect, to send the ex-elector a few hundred pounds to keep him from starving, as “ he had not one groat to live upon/’ 1 and, a little later, he was employed as a go-between, and almost a spy, by the Earl, in his quarrels with the patrician party rapidly forming against him in the States.

At Godesberg — the romantic ruins of which stronghold the traveller still regards with interest, placed as it is in the midst of that enchanting region where Drachenfels looks down on the crumbling tower of Roland and the convent of Nonnenwerth — the unfortunate Gebhard had sustained a con¬ clusive defeat. A small, melancholy man, accomplished, religious, learned, u very poor but very wise/' comely, but of mean stature, altogether an unlucky and forlorn individual,2

1 ‘ Leyc. Corresp.’ 378.

3 “When I spake of the Elector here,” said Leicester, “ I assure you he is a very wise gentleman ; and if it were possible to set him in his place again, these countries were soon at

quiet . He is exceeding poor, and

great pity. Believe me, my Lord, he is worthy to be esteemed. He doth greatly love and honour her Majesty.

I would to God your Lordship could but procure her Majesty to bestow 500 or 600 pound on him for a token. I have received more comfort and good advice of him than of any man here. He is very virtuous, and very sound in religion ; very grave, and a comely person, but of a mean stature. His adversary doth all he can to put the King of Spain into his territories, yea,

4 THE UNITED NETHERLANDS. Chap. IX.

he was not, after all, in very much inferior plight to that in which his rival, the Bavarian bishop, had found himself. Prince Ernest, archbishop of Liege and Cologne, a hanger- on of his brother, who sought to shake him off, and a stipendiary of Philip, who was a worse paymaster than Elizabeth, had a sorry life of it, notwithstanding his nominal possession of the see. He was forced to go, disguised and in secret, to the Prince of Parma at Brussels,1 to ask for assistance, and to mention, with lacrymose vehemence, that both his brother and himself had determined to renounce the episcopate, unless the forces of the Spanish King could be employed to recover the cities on the Khine. If Neusz and Rheinberg were not wrested from the rebels, Cologne itself would soon be gone. Ernest represented most eloquently to Alexander, that if the protestant archbishop were reinstated in the ancient see, it would be a most perilous result for the ancient church throughout all northern Europe. Parma kept the wandering prelate for a few days in his palace in Brussels, and then dismissed him, disguised and on foot, in the dusk of the evening, through the park-gate.2 He encouraged him with hopes of assistance, he represented to his sovereign the importance of preserving the Rhenish territory to Bishop Ernest and to Catholicism, but hinted that the declared intention of the Bavarian to resign the

even into Cologne itself. He is very poor, and weary of his keeping that place with such charge. His bishopric of Liege is all spoiled also with these wars, and he no longer able to main¬ tain his charges. A small matter would set up this man now. He hath many friends in Germany, and more of late than ever he had.” Leicester to Burghley, 28 Eeb. 1586. (S. P. Office

MS.)

Lord North had also conceived a favourable opinion of Truclisess, whom he spoke of as a “rare gentleman, notably furnished with excellent gifts, religious, and worthy of all honour and estimation.” North to Burghley, 28 Eeb. 1586. (S. P. Office MS.)

1 Parma to Philip II. 28 Eeb. 1586. (Archivo de Simancas, MS.) Compare Strada, II. 426.

5 Parma to Philip II. (MS. last cited.) Compare Strada, who ap¬ pears to be very much mistaken in representing the Elector Ernest as having been dismissed by Parma with great state, and with a magnificent escort of Belgian nobility, — “ because no mask can ever entirely disguise a prince, and because suns, even when under a cloud, have more spectators than ever.”

“Nempe nulla larva totum princi- pem tegit ; immo soles, etiam isti quum deficiunt, tunc maxime spectatores ha- bent,” and so on, II. 421.

MARTIN SCHENK.

1586.

5

dignity, was jorobably a trick, because the arcbi-episcopate was no such very bad thing after all.1

The archi-episcopate might be no very bad thing, but it was a most uncomfortable place of residence, at the moment, for prince or peasant. Overrun by hordes of brigands, and crushed almost out of existence by that most deadly of all systems of taxations, the ‘ brandschatzung/ it was fast becoming a mere den of thieves. The ‘ brandschtitzung' had no name in English, but it was the well-known impost, levied by roving commanders, and even by respectable gene¬ rals of all nations. A hamlet, cluster of farm-houses, country district, or wealthy city, in order to escape being burned and ravaged, as the penalty of having fallen into a conqueror's hands, paid a heavy sum of ready money on the nail at command of the conqueror. The free companions of the sixteenth century drove a lucrative business in this par¬ ticular branch of industry ; and when to this was added the more direct profits derived from actual plunder, sack, and ransoming, it was natural that a large fortune was often the result to the thrifty and persevering commander of free lances.

Of all the professors of this comprehensive art, the terrible Martin Schenk was preeminent ; and he was now ravaging the Cologne territory, having recently passed again to the service of the States. Immediately connected with the chief military events of the period which now occupies us, he was also the very archetype of the marauders whose existence was characteristic of the epoch. Born in 1549 of an ancient and noble family of Grelderland, Martin Schenk had inherited no property but a sword. Serving for a brief term as page to the Seigneur of Ysselstein, he joined, while yet a youth, the banner of William of Orange, at the head of two men-at-arms. The humble knight-errant, with his brace of squires, was received with courtesy by the Prince and the Estates, but he soon quarrelled with his patrons. There was a castle of

1 “ Porque no le esta tan mal el electorado.” MS. letter of Parma last cited.

6

THE UNITED NETHERLANDS.

Chap. IX.

Blyenbeek, belonging to his cousin, which he chose to consider his rightful property, because he was of the same race, and because it was a convenient and productive estate and residence. The courts had different views of public law, and supported the ousted cousin. Martin shut himself up in the castle, and having recently committed a rather discreditable homicide, which still further increased his unpopularity with the patriots, he made overtures to Parma.1 Alexander was glad to enlist so bold a soldier on his side, and assisted Schenk in his besieged stronghold. For years afterwards, his services under the King’s banner were most brilliant, and he rose to the highest military command, while his coffers, meantime, were rapidly filling with the results of his robberies and c brandschatzungs.’ “’Tis a most courageous fellow,” said Parma, “but rather a desperate highwayman than a valiant soldier.”2 Martin’s couple of lances had expanded into a corps of free companions, the most truculent, the most obedient, the most rapacious in Christendom. Never were freebooters more formidable to the world at large, or more docile to their chief, than were the followers of General Schenk. Never was a more finished captain of highwaymen. He was a man who was never sober, yet who never smiled. His habitual intoxication seemed only to increase both his audacity and his taciturnity, without disturbing his reason. He was incapable of fear, of fatigue, of remorse. He could remain for days and nights without dismounting — eating, drinking, and sleeping in the saddle ; so that to this terrible centaur his horse seemed actually a part of himself. His soldiers followed him about like hounds, and were treated by him like hounds. He habitually scourged them, often took with his own hand the lives of such as displeased him, and had been known to cause individuals of them to jump from the top of church steeples3 at his command'; yet the pack were ever stanch to his orders, for they knew that he always

1 Meteren, xiii. 231, ‘ Levensbeschry- ving Nederl. Mannen,’ vol. ii. in voce. Strada, II. 633, et aliunde.

2 Parma to Philip II., 6 June, 1585. (Arch, do Sim. MS.)

3 Archer, in Stowe, 139.

1586. HIS CAREER BEFORE SERVING THE STATES. 7

led them where the game was plenty. While serving under Parma he had twice most brilliantly defeated Hohenlo. At the battle of Hardenberg Heath he had completely outgene- ralled that distinguished chieftain, slaying fifteen hundred of his soldiers at the expense of only fifty or sixty of his own. By this triumph he had preserved the important city of Groningen for Philip, during an additional quarter of a century, and had been received in that city with rapture. Several startling years of victory and rapine he had thus run through as a royalist partisan. He became the terror and the scourge of his native Gelderland, and he was covered with wounds received in the King's service. He had been twice captured and held for ransom.* Twice he had effected his escape. He had recently gained the city of Nymegen. He was the most formidable, the most unscrupulous, the most audacious Netherlander that wore Philip's colours ; but he had received small public reward for his services, and the wealth which he earned on the high-road did not suffice for his ambition. He had been deeply disgusted, when, at the death of Count Penneberg, Verdugo, a former stable-boy of Mansfeld, a Spaniard who had risen from the humblest rank to be a colonel and general, had been made governor of Friesland. He had smothered his resentment for a time however, but had sworn within himself to desert at the most favourable opportunity. At last, after he had brilliantly saved the city of Breda from falling into the hands of the patriots, he was more enraged than he had ever been before, when Haultepenne, of the house of Berlaymont, was made governor of that place in his stead.

On the 25tli of May, 1585, at an hour after midnight, he had a secret interview with Count Meurs, stadholder for the States of Gelderland, and agreed to transfer his mercenary allegiance to the republic. He made good terms. He was to be lieutenant-governor of Gelderland, and he was to have rank as marshal of the camp in the States' army, with a salary of twelve hundred and fifty guilders a month. He agreed to resign his famous castle of Blyenbeek, but was to

8

THE UNITED NETHERLANDS.

Chap. IX.

be reimbursed with estates in Holland and Zeeland, of the annual value of four thousand florins.1

After this treaty, Martin and his free lances served the States faithfully, and became sworn foes to Parma and the King. He gave and took no quarter, and his men, if captured, “paid their ransom with their heads/’2 He ceased to be the scourge of Gelderland, but he became the terror of the electorate. Early in 1586, accompanied by Herman Kloet, the young and daring Dutch commandant of Neusz, he had swept down into the Westphalian country, at the head of five hundred foot and five hundred horse. On the 18th of March he captured the city of Werll by a neat stratagem. The citizens, hemmed in on all sides by marauders, were in want of many necessaries of life, among other things, of salt. Martin had, from time to time, sent some of his soldiers into the place, disguised as boors from the neighbour¬ hood, and carrying bags of that article. A pacific trading- intercourse had thus been established between the burghers within and the banditti without the gates. Agreeable relations were formed within the walls, and a party of townsmen had agreed to cooperate with the followers of Schenk. One morning a train of waggons laden with soldiers neatly covered with salt, made their appearance at the gate. At the same time a fire broke out most opportunely within the town. The citizens busily employed themselves in extinguishing the flames. The salted soldiers, after passing through the gateway, sprang from the waggons, and mastered the watch. The town was carried at a blow. Some of the inhabitants were massacred as a warning to the rest ; others were taken prisoners and held for ransom ; a few, more fortunate, made their escape to the citadel. That fortress was stormed in vain, but the city was thoroughly sacked. Every house was rifled of its contents. Meantime Haultepenne collected a force of nearly four thousand men, boors, citizens, and soldiers, and came to besiege Schenk in the town, while,

1 ‘Nederl. Mannen,’ &c., ubi sup.

2 Doyley to Burghley, June 24, 1586. (S. P. Office MS.)

1586.

FRANEKER UNIVERSITY FOUNDED.

9

at the same time, attacks were made upon him from the castle. It was impossible for him to hold the city, hut he had completely robbed it of every thing valuable. Accordingly he loaded a train of waggons with his booty, took with him thirty of the magistrates as hostages, with other wealthy citizens, and marching in good order against Haultepenne, completely routed him, killing a number variously estimated at from five hundred to two thousand, and effected his retreat, despe¬ rately wounded in the thigh, but triumphant, and laden with the spoils to Yenlo on the Meuse, of which city he was governor.1

u Surely this is a noble fellow, a worthy fellow/' exclaimed Leicester, who was filled with admiration at the bold marauder's progress, and vowed that he was u the only soldier in truth that they had, for he was never idle, and had suc¬ ceeded hitherto very happily." 2

And thus, at every point of the doomed territory of the little commonwealth, the natural atmosphere in which the in¬ habitants existed was one of blood and rapine. Yet during the very slight lull, which was interposed in the winter of 1585-6 to the eternal clang of arms in Friesland, the Estates of that Province, to their lasting honour, founded the university of Franeker. A dozen years before, the famous institution at Leyden had been established, as a reward to the burghers for their heroic defence of the city. And now this new proof was given of the love of Netherlander, even in the midst of their misery and their warfare, for the more humane arts. The new college was well endowed from ancient church- lands, and not only was the education made nearly gratuitous, while handsome salaries were provided for the professors, but provision was made by which the poorer scholars could be fed and boarded at a very moderate expense. There was a table

1 Meteren, Strada, Nederl. Mannen, ‘ &c., ubi sup. Bor. II. 699, 100. Bruce’s ‘Leyc. Corresp.’ 79, 139, 141, 167, 227, 265, 475. Lord North to Burghley, Feb. 28, 1586. (S. P. Office MS.) Lei¬

cester to Burghley, same date. Ibid. MS. Leicester to Burghley and Wal- singham, 15 March, 1586. Ibid. MS.

2 Leicester to Burghley and Wal- singham. MS. ubi sup.

10

THE UNITED NETHERLANDS.

Chap. IX.

provided at an annual cost to tlie student of but fifty florins (51.), and a second and third table at the very low price of forty and thirty florins respectively. Thus the sum to be paid by the poorer class of scholars for a year’s maintenance was less than three pounds sterling a year. The voice with which this infant seminary of the Muses first made itself heard above the din of war was but feeble, but the institution was destined to thrive, and to endow the world, for many successive generations, with the golden fruits of science and genius.1

Early in the spring, the war was seriously taken in hand by Earnese. It has already been seen that the republic had been almost entirely driven out of Flanders and Brabant. The Estates, however, still held Grave, Megem, Batenburg, and Venlo upon the Meuse. That river formed, as it were, a perfect circle of protection for the "whole Province of Brabant, and Farnese determined to make himself master of this great natural moat. Afterwards, he meant to possess himself of the Khine, flowing in a parallel course, about twenty-five miles further to the east. In order to gain and hold the Meuse, the first step was to reduce the city of Grave. That town, upon the left or Brabant bank, was strongly forti¬ fied on its land-side, where it was surrounded by low and fertile pastures, while, upon the other, it depended upon its natural foss, the river. It was, according to Lord North and the Earl of Leicester, the u strongest town in all the Low Countries, though but a little one.” 2

Baron Hemart, a young Gueldrian noble, of small experi¬ ence, in military affairs, commanded in the city, his garrison being eight hundred soldiers, and about one thousand burgher guard.3 As early as January, Farnese had ordered Count Mansfeld to lay siege to the place. Five forts had accord-

i

1 Bor, II. 612.

2 North to Burghley, 29 May, 1586. S. P. Office MS. Leicester to Queen

Elizabeth, 16 June, 1586. S. P. Office MS.

3 Bor, II. 'TOt, 708. Hoofd, Yerv. 154, 155. Strada, II. 410. Wagenaar, viil 126.

1586.

PARMA ATTEMPTS GRATE.

11

ingly been constructed, above and below the town, upon the left bank of the river, while a bridge of boats thrown across the stream led to a fortified camp on the opposite side. Mansfeld, Mondragon, Bobadil, Aquila, and other distin¬ guished veterans in Philip's service, were engaged in the enterprise. A few unimportant skirmishes between Schenk and the Spaniards had taken place, but the city was already hard pressed, and, by the series of forts which environed it, was cut off from its supplies. It was highly important, therefore, that Grave should be relieved, with the least possible delay.

Early in Easter week, a force of three thousand men, under Hohenlo and Sir John Norris, was accordingly despatched by Leicester, with orders, at every hazard, to throw April _£ reinforcements and provisions into the place. They 1586^ took possession, at once, of a stone sconce, called the Mill-Fort, which was guarded by fifty men, mostly boors of the country.1 These w.ere nearly all hanged for u using malicious words," and for u railing against Queen Elizabeth," 2 and — a sufficient number of men being left to maintain the fort — the whole relieving force marched with great difficulty — for the river was rapidly rising, and flooding the country — along the right bank of the Meuse, taking possession of Batenburg and Bavenstein castles, as they went. A force of four or five hundred Englishmen was then pushed forward to a point almost exactly opposite Grave, and within an English mile of the head of the bridge constructed by the Spaniards. Here, in the night of Easter Tuesday, they rapidly formed an entrenched camp, upon the dyke along the river, and, although molested by some armed vessels, succeeded in establishing themselves in a most important position.3

On the morning of Easter Wednesday, April 16, Mansfeld, perceiving that the enemy had thus stolen a march upon him,

1 Occurrences from Holland, April,

1586. (S. P. Office MS.)

21 v

2 Ibid. Compare ‘Leycest. Corresp.’ p. 218, April 5, 1586.

3 Occurrences from Holland, MS.

12

THE UNITED NETHEKLANDS.

Chap. IX.

ordered one thousand picked troops, all Spaniards, under April-, Casco and other veterans, to assault this advanced 158g!0 post.1 A reserve of two thousand was placed in readi¬ ness to support the attack. The Spaniards slowly crossed the bridge, which was swaying very dangerously with the current, and then charged the entrenched camp at a run. A quarrel between the different regiments as to the right of precedence precipitated the attack, before the reserve, consisting of some picked companies of Mondragon's veterans, had been able to arrive. Coming in breathless and fatigued, the first assailants were readily repulsed in their first onset. Aquila then oppor¬ tunely made his appearance, and the attack was renewed with great vigour. The defenders of the camp yielded at the third charge and fled in dismay, while the Spaniards, leaping the barriers, scattered hither and thither in the ardour of pursuit. The routed Englishmen fled swiftly along the oozy dyke, in hopes of joining the main body of the relieving party, who were expected to advance, with the dawn, from their position six miles farther down the river. Two miles long the chace lasted, and it seemed probable that the fugitives would be overtaken and destroyed, when, at last, from behind a line of mounds which stretched towards Batenburg and had masked their approach, appeared Count Hohenlo and Sir John Norris, at the head of twenty-five hundred Englishmen and Hollanders. This force advanced as rapidly as the slippery ground and the fatigue of a two hours' march would permit to the rescue of their friends, while the retreating English rallied, turned upon their pursuers, and drove them back over the path along which they had just been charging in the full career of victory. The fortune of the day was changed, and in a few minutes Hohenlo and Norris would have crossed the river and entered Grave, when the Spanish companies of Bobadil and other commanders were seen march¬ ing along the quaking bridge.

1 Strada, II. 413, seq. Hoofd, Vervolgh, 154, 155. Occurrences, &c. MS. Bruce’s ‘ Leycest. Corresp. 223, 226.

1586.

SUCCESS OF LEICESTER.

13

Three thousand men on each