A Proclamation or Proscription, set foorth & published by the Arch-duke Albertus, against his Mutinous Soldiers in the Castle of Hoochstrate. Printed at Bruxels.
Faithfully translated into English out of the Dutch Coppy Printed at Middleborough, by the first Originall.
Wherein is also truely set foorth the order of the two Campes, before the stronge towne of Graue: With the yeelding thereof into the hands of his Excellency Graue Maurice: and the conditions agreed vpon on both sides, the 19. of September. Stilo Nouo. 1602.
With other accidents since hapned.
LONDON, Printed for Thomas Pauier, and are to bee solde at his shop in Corne-hill, at the signe of the Cat and two Parrets, neere the Royall Exchange. 1602.
A Proclamation, published and set foorth at Bruxelles, by the Arch-duke Albertus and the Dutches, against their Mutinous Soldiers lying in the Castile of Hoochstrate.
WEE hauing assēbled our boast to reliue ye town of Graue, besiedges by our enemies where ye soldiers of the said Towne do valiantly defend themselues, winning great praise and honour: And our selues in person endeuouring [Page]to aduaunce the businesse: vnderstand, that some of the Soldiers of our foresaid Camp [...] (which was approached very néere vnto the enemies forces) vnder colour of desire to Mutiny, therby to obtaine that which they falsly pretended to be due vnto them, haue in most villanous order, left and forsaken their Auncientes and Cullours, and after many attempts on sundry places, haue by villanous and Traytorous meanes taken the Castle of Hoochstrate: giuing to vnderstand by many, and waighty argumentes, that they deale and holde corespondent with our enemies, and that by them they will help themselues, which by all reason and lawes is forbidden, and neuer before vsed or practised by any other Soldiers. But contrariwise, such as haue héertofore mutined (at such times as the enemy besiedged any of our Townes, or if wee had any occasion to vse Soldiers for our warres) they came out of such places as they possessed, seruing vs with great zeale and obedience. And for as much as the principallest ring-leaders of this treason & villanous acte, are such persons to whom nothing, or very litle is owing, being partly but of late entertained, and partly such as were in the alterations in Deest, Weert and Karpen, where they receiued their count & reckoning for as much as was owing vnto them: yea, & are such people as are accustomed to raise Mutinies, by which meanes they might inioy such summes of money as procéede of the contributions, without doing any seruice vnto vs: and also haue deluded, forced, and animated others to effect this Trayterous action, whereby wee are hindred from effecting the rescue of their besiedged fellows (in armes) and bretheren: and also from all other [Page 3]exploytes which we might accomplish [...] our enemyes, binding vs by these their [...]ings to turne our swoord against them, as against our owne and ciuill enemies: yea, and are more hurtfull then they, in so much as the enemyes force is thereby greatly increased. For as much therefore that this their action is newe, the like before not heard of, vilde, vnséemely, and of ill consequence, and deserueth exemplarily to be punished: So it is therefore, that wee destring to foresée some wholesome remedie for the common profit, and welfare of our vassailes and subiectes: doe ordaine and commaund all our Soldiers and other persons of their company, being in the Castle of Hoochstrate, eyther there or else where, in any other place assembled vnder colour or pretext of Mutiny, that within thrée daies after the publication héereof, they returne to their Auncients and Cullours, or doe present themselues vnto the Gouernours of Leere or of Herentacls to be sent vnto their Cullours or Auncients, where they shal be quietly and ioyfully receiued, as if this alteration had not hapned: promising them in the word and faith of a Prince, that neither now, nor héerafter they shall not for this offence receiue any punishment, nor bee farther examined, no not though they be of ye chiefest & principallest actors of ye said mutiny, but shal be vsed fauourably & louingly, rendring vnto them al curtesie, as vnto such persons, to whom we wish all good. And if it so fall out that they accomplishe not this our fauourable wil & pleasure (the aforesaid 3. dates being expired) we haue from hence forth declared all those which presently remain wt them, as also al others wt héerafter [Page 4]shal ioyne with them, and by these Presents doe declare and pronounce for Rebels, Traitors wicked villaines and mischieuous persōs, as hauing committed crimen lezae Maiestatis in the highest degrée. and for such Rebels and Traitors condemne them to death, and their goods to be forfeited: which we will and commaund to be written vp, and brought into our Treasury of Demaines or profit. Giuing lycense vnto all and euery person of what quallitie, state or condicion soeuer they bee, freely and without any daunger of Lawe, to kill the sayd Muniters, without respect of any person, whether the same bee done priuily, sodenly, or otherwise howsoeuer, and as the same may bee found most easily, and by the best meanes to be effected. And whosoeuer shall performe this our pleasure, and kill any of these Mutiners, shall receiueten crowns or euery head: and for euery head of such as haue béen ordenary Officers, 100. Crownes: And for the heades of such others as they terme by the names of Councellers, Sergeant-Maior, Gouernour of the Cauallery, &c. two hundreth crownes, and for their Electo fiue hundred Crownes. And if so bee that any of their owne company, shall murder or kill any of them, wee pardon his offence, and will cause the aforesaid summes to bee paide him. Furthermore, we ordaine & command, all Iudges and Iustices of our Campes, townes & countryes, to inuentary and take notice in writing, of all the goods (as wel mooueable as inmooueable) belonging vnto the said Mutiners, and what perticularly appertaineth to euery one: And also of their apparrell, and of any other like thing whatsoeuer, belonging vnto their wiues and children all which [Page 5]our pleasure is, shall be deliuered into the handes of our deposetarie Officers of our Campe, and a certificate thereof to bee sent to the Superintendent Iusticer of our said Campe, to the ende that all the same may bee brought into our Treasury of Demaines, whether we appoint the same from hencefoorth to be brought. nd further, wee charge and commaund all and euery person whatsoeuer, which shall haue any money or other thinges belonging to the forenamed Mutiners, or to their Wiues or children, laide to thē to gage, deliuered by exchange, in Deposito, or to be kept, in what maner soeuer it be, that they deliuer not the same vnto them, but that they open and make known the same vnto vs, that the same may bee confiscated as is before said, on paine to forfeit all their goods if any shall conceale the same: and further, to receiue iudiciall punishment. And for as much as the deformity of the offence, and wicked consequence that might therof ensue to other Princes, vnto whom the same might (in time to come) happen in their Campes, if such wicked beginnings and practises should not be punished: Wee solicite and desire the Emperour and King of Spaine, our Lords and bretheren, and all other Kings, Princes, & Potentates, in what places or lands the said Mutiners shal be found, or haue any goods, that they will commaund the same to bee arrested, sending them vnto vs with the aforesaid certificates accordingly, and to the end as is before set downe: and we will be willing at their request, to accomplish the same in our Landes & Lordships, [...]tall times when they shall request the same of vs. Likewise we prohibit and forbid the said wiues, children of the Mutiners, to goe vnto the place & [Page 6]where the said Mutiners are, commaunding them not to deale nor meddle with them, either by word or writting, so long as the said alteration shall continue, on paine of death: permitting all persons whatsoeuer to apprehend and spotle them, which shal not be reckoned for any offence, if so be they go, or that there be any suspicion that they desire to goe vnto their said fathers or husbandes: but wee will and commaund, that within throe daies they depart out of our countries, and not to returne without our caue and lisence first had, on paine as is before said, Also wée commaund, that no man (eyther within our land or wout) vnder colour or pretext of marchants, victulers, seruants or otherwise, shall do any seruice. assist, or carry any victuals, munition or other things, vnto the said mutiners, nor vnto their boyes, seruantes, or horses, or any thing or thinges that concerneth them, no not for their money, on paine of death, and other fines ccording to the discreation of our Iudges, weightinesse of the cause, and quality of the persons: Giuing also our consent, that it shall bee lawfull to kill them, without offence to our lawes, if so be they shall be found Inflagranti. And further we will and commaund that the proper names and surnames, shall be taken out of the Bookes and Registers of the Pay-masters of our said Campe, with their markes, and places where the said changelings or mutiners, & parents were borne: and it more apparant euidence shall séeme needfull, we will and commaund that due information be taken, that it may manifestly be séene what they be that are condemned: and that the said changelings shal be proclaymed in our Palace, and in the places where they are borne and inhabite (as [Page]well in these our Counties, as in the Dominions of the Emperour or the King of Spaine, and other Princes our friendes and confederates) for wicked villaines, traytors & vnprofitable persons, hauing committed Crimen lezae Maiestatis in primo casu. And further more, we will and commaund, to execute against them, their children and successors, the forfeitures and penalties by lawes prouided for all such persons, whereof from hence forward, we pronounce them to be fallen into, and to be condemn-(e [...]e ndall such as shall because of the suppression of this mutinous rebellion, and deliuer into our hands, such as are offendors therein, wee forgiue them. and offer to giue them an honourable recompence: and also vnto all such as shall be ayders and assistantes therein, although they bee of the same mutinous company, and chéefest ring-leaders or Officers amongst them. And to the ende that this our present Proclamation and prescription, without infringement, may be holden and kept, and that all men may take knowledge thereof, as well the Generall of the light horsemen, the Captaine of the handes of Ordinance, Master of the Artilerie, Collonels, Marshals, Gouernours, heads, Captaines and Commaunders, Soldiers and all other men of warre, of what state, condition, quallity, or nation soeuer they be: as also al others our vassalls and subiectes: we will and commaund that the same be published as a publique banishment, and coppy attentique thereof be sent vnto the lycentiate Iohn de Frias, Councellor to the Kings Maiesty, and superintendent of Iustice in the campe in these quarters, that he may put the same in execution accordingly, and to be obserued eyther in part or wholely, [Page] [...] Generall, and to other Officers and persons, vnto whom it shall appertaine, that all places of Iustice as well of townes as villages, may be aduertised of the issue thereof, and himselfe to impart vnto vs the proceedinged héerein, that farther insight may be had, and such order prescribed as shall be néedful for the execution and vpright ordering of all matters before specisied. And like wise wee will and commaund, that an attentique Coppy shall be deliuered vnto Sir Iohn Richarddot Knight, and high President of our Priuy and Secret Councell, and of the Councell of our Councell of State, to the end that he also (so farre as the same both concerne him) cause this our ordinance to bee followed and kept, and to commaund in our name, all Iudges and Officers of our countries in these parts, likewise to performe the same.
In witnes whereof wee haue caused these Presents to be dilligently dispatched, and our Seale thereon hanged.
The description of the two Campes, lying before the strong towne of Graue, besiedged by the Noble Prince Graue Maurice.
THe strong towne of Graue, in the land of Cuycke, lying on the Riuer of Mase, is in compasse, as great as a man can goe about in halfe an houre, belonging to my Lord the Prince of Orenge, and hath of long time remained in the possession of the Spaniards. This yéere 1602. the 18. day of August, his Excellency Graue Maurice of Nassau besledged this towne, and the next day following, layde a bridge ouer the Mase: they of the towne (lisle doubting any such matter) were (according to the truest intelligence) not aboue 1500. Soldiers, and about some 300. Townes-men or Burgers, not very well prouided of victuals and Muni [...]ion: Notwithstanding, the towne is strengly Manited with Bulwarkes, Walles and Ditches, for the last yéere they ioyned to their Walles such Bulwarkes as were seperated from the Towne with a ditch, for theyr greater strength. They lost also a Fort which lay on the other side of the Mase, called Vaine cost or Lost charges: which in truth was of very small force or strength. Moreouer (as soone as his [Page]Excellency approached the towne (they made a Trench round about the Towne, strengthned with certaine poyntes. His Excellency presently made a Batterie, right against the saide Fort, called Lost charges vppon the Causey, and Battered it with the Cannon: whereupon the Enemie forsooke it in the night time, and his Excellencie hauing possession thereof, presently raysed a Mount, and planted seauen peeces of Ordinaunce thereon. At the beginning they of the Towne kept themselues very quiet, shooting little, but made (euery night in a manner) signes and tokens by fire, which they still continue to doe. His Excellencie knowing very well that the Enemie (being in the fieldes) would visit him, did in an incredible strong manner, intrench himselfe against his comming, for hee made all his workes high and with thicke walles. Flancking one vpon the other, and are all doubled, and many three double, with a wide Ditch round about, and in many places high Batteries. Besides these fortifications, hee hath round about him (without the Campe) about foureteene Reduites, wherein Guard is kept, which lye a Musket shot from the vttermost Trenches, euery one garded with 50. Musket shot continually.
The order of our Campe is thus, beginning with his Excellencies Quarter, which lyeth vpwardes the Maze beyond the Towne, where hee hath placed two Shippe bridges ouer the Riuer, and a little beyond them are two Iron chaynes, to hinder the approach of the Enemies Shippes of Fire worke: At this place his Excellency hath raysed sundry high batteries, to withstand the Enemies approach behinde him, and towards the towne hée hath very strong Reduites made on the Causey for his defence. In this his Excellencies Quarter, where also the Graue of [Page 11] Hollocke lyeth) lye most of the Caualery, with the French and Duch Soldiers: The outward part of these workes lye halfe an houres goeing from the Walles of the Towne. The second Quarter of Graue William ioyneth vnto this of his Exellencyes, stretching towards the highest of the Heath, where his Honor lyeth intrenched vpon the high grounds, with diuers Forts ond Batteries, and it is a long halfe houres goeing from the walles of the Towne, to the furthest part of these workes: in this Quarter lye the Vreeses, Scottes, and other Soldiers. The third Quarter is Sir Francis Veares, lyncked hard vnto this other of Earle Williams, reaching foorth downeward towards the Towne euen vnto the riuer of the Maze, where hee hath also the Causie or ditch to his aduantage: heere the Englishmen lye, and haue a bridge also made of Shippes, where mightie store of Shippes lye furnished with Victuals and Munition, and is the place where the Market is kept. Against the Towne beyond the Maze is no speciall Quarter kept, but that the Soldiers as well of the Caualery as of the Infantery come thether ouer the Bridge to guard the same.
On this side, the Ditch or Causey serueth his Excellency for a strong Trench, whereon hee hath made sundrye Reduites. Also hee hath heere made an high battery, (as before is written) from whence with his shot hee may mightilie annoy the Towne, which towards this place declineth and lyeth lowe: and from this place hath Fire workes been sundrye times shot into the Towne. The circuite of the Campe from the English Quarter vnto the Maze in his Excellencies Quarter, will aske aboue fiue houres go [...] ing.
Now when the Enemie had assembled his Troopes, [Page 12]and had remained some fewe dayes in the land of Claue: the 10. of August hee came marching by fayre day light, euen within halfe an houres going to his Excellencyes Quarter, where he pitched his Tentes, and made a Ship bridge ouer the Maze. They of the towne beholding this, made great ioy, and triumphed with their shot: and the said day, sallyed twise out of the towne, on the Quarters of the Vréeses, and some other daies afterwards also, but to their small profit.
His Excellency hath also greatly approached the Towne with running Trenches out of his Quarter, along the edge of the Maze, where it is high, and hath brought the same euen to the Enemies Trenches: The like is done from Graue Williams Quarter, and from Sir Frances Veares Quarter, along the side of the Maze, and are all come euen to the Enemies running Trenches.
Also, his Excellency hath 5. Batteries, from whence he shooteth against the Towne: one before the Maze, two in the English Quarter standing vpon the Ditch, and two on the land side.
Betwéene the 12. and 13. of ugust, about 12. of the clocke in the night, they of the Towne began wonderfully to shoote, from all Quarters till morning, and thereupon made a shoute, and forcecible sallye with sixe hundred men vpon the Vreeses Quarter, but more lustily resisted and driuen into the Towne, leauing many of their men dead behinde them: At the same instant the Enemy behinde also began to approach both with horse and foote: but after he found himselfe annoyed with our Ordinaunce, he wisely turned backe again: The same night was aworthy Captaine of ours (one of his Excellencies Inieners) shot in the Trenches, called Andreas de Roy.
As Sir Francis Veare was giuing order which way the Trenches should be brought, he was strocke in the face with a small bullet, which remayneth in his necke, the wound is (God be thanked) healed though it séemed more dangerous at the first.
The 15. of August (being our Lady day) they thought to effect some great matter, the same day at one of the clocke in the afternoone they salied out with great force vpon the English quarter, forcing themselues with some 700. men to breake thorow, but they were stoutly repulsed, [...]he fight continuing almost an houre long but in the end, the en [...]my was glad to turne his backe, among whome many were slaine with our ordinance, which played vpon them from diuers places. In this sally there were Cap [...]aynes slayne on both sides, with some hundreds of the enimies souldiers. The same time the enemy marched towards our Campe, but came n [...]t verye neare, yet shewing themselues in ample order of battaile amongst the trées right ouer against his Excellencies quarter, but (after he had stayed the discharging of some great shot from our Campe) he turned back: And this was the greatest and fiercest sally that yet hapned since the besiedging of the Towne.
Concerning the enemies Campe, the same remayned there vntill the 22. day of this moneth of August, now and then shewing himselfe: and many skirmidges hapned betwéene them, and those which kept the watches without the Campe, but neuer made attempt with any great force, which our people would gladly haue séene, as well the meanest as the chiefest.
There ran very many from the enemies dayly, which came vnto our Camp, declaring that they were forced so to do by extremity of hunger, that great dearth and pennury was in their Campe, and that they had no money, so that it was impossible for the Admirant to lye long in [Page 6]that place, affirming farther, that if the rest of the enemies, had but confidence of like fauour to be showen by his Excellency, as he had showen vnto them, very few would remaine with the Admirant, yet his Excellency suffereth not any to remayne in his Campe, but giueth them pasport to depart.
The 22. day of August in the euening about 10. of the clock the great Admirant with his mighty campe brake vp, hauing sent away his waggons and baggage before him and followed with all his forces as secretly as he could, without sounding of trumpet or drum. His Excellency being hereof aduertised, early in the morning followed him, with 4000. horsemen, and 1200. Muskettéeres, but they were too farre passed: Thus the Admirant with his great campe departed, leauing his friends in their greatest extremity, and the towne of Graue to his Excellency for a pray.