A SHORT AND True Narration of the abhominable and wicked Treasons intended against Goch, Cleef, Emmerick and Rees.
ON the last of Februarie, (by Gods holy & wise prouidence who is an enemie of all Treacherie) came to the knowledge of the Lords Gouernours of Goch, Emmerick and Rees, the murtherous and false Treasons practised by eighteene persons vpon the said Cities, for to bring them vnder the obedience of Marquesse Spinola. To this end, they had purposed to breake a hole in the Towne-walls of Goch, behinde the Nunnerie, for to let in at the appointed houre in the night, the Garrison of the said Marquesse, and in the like manner to betray the other three Cities, at the selfe same time and houre. This execrable intention being reuealed by one Matthias Ceulenaer, (faining himselfe to be one of the Conspiratours for to know their secrets) vnto one of the saide Lords Gouernours, there was a meeting ordained of the saide Lords Gouernours in all hast, in the Citie of Cleef, and consulted how to attrappe these Traytours: whose finall resolution was, that in the night, betweene eleauen and twelue of the clocke, those of Cleef should shoot off two Peeces of Ordnance, and that there-vpon the Gouernours of these sundry places, [Page 4]should apprehend all the Traytours that were discouered. Thus accordingly were apprehended on the second day of March, in the said places, these persons following, Gosen Exkens▪ olde Borgmaister of the Towne, Albert Ʋuyst Counsellour, Iacob Hasenberch, Coenraet Keysers, Peter Exkens, Lenart R [...]elofsoon, Dirick van Heuck [...]lum, Rutger Sheriffe, Father Cornelis, and Father Henry Friars from Gaesdonck (a Monasterie situated some halfe an houres going from Goch) Item, Willem B [...]rbier, Ian Abels, Goert Franck, Thijs the Hatter, Iohn Ʋerlinck, Maister Hendrick Fuyst Licentiat of Cleef, and Matthias Ceulenaer, the discouerour of this Conspiracie, who gaue himselfe willingly into their hands for the better assurance of his safety for this happy Discouerie. All these persons were brought together at Goch; where there was found with the afore-saide Iacob Hasenberg a Roule, wherein he had noted all that he had obserued and heard these foure or fiue yeeres, concerning the Dukes of Brandenburg and Nuyburg, and who were addicted to the Duke of Nuyburg, and who not; and for this purpose frequented daily the publike Innes, that so hee might in due time make vse thereof. Besides this, there were found with him diuers Pasquils or Libels, very vilainously made against the Duke of Brandenburg, and the reformed Religion. Some of the said persons had also written certaine Letters to Marquesse Spinola, and sent them to Brussel [...] by Peter Exkens: and after the apprehension of these Traytours, there came a Letter from Marqu [...]sse Spinola, vnto the said Peter Exkens, which was taken and intercepted by the Lord Gouernour of Goch, the contents whereof are not yet published. Peter Exkens and Iacob Hasenberg were racked, but their confession is not yet reuealed. The time will tell vs, what shall bee further done in this matter, and we will be ready (being aduertised of the truth) to make the same further knowne vnto all those that loue the truth: Thanking God almightie [Page 5]that such Traytours of their owne Countrie, and consequently of their owne Mother, are discouered, to the opening of the eyes of Christian Princes and States, that they trust not too much to the faire inticings of the Papists, and their Princes: But being bound together as a bundle of arrowes, they keepe good watch, that the Wolfe breake not in any farther by his subtill and cruell trickes, to the ruine of Christian Religion, and the euersion of the Estate of the Country of Cleef; as also of the neighbour-places, whom this matter likewise concerneth, which the Lord preserue vs from. Amen.