CERTAYNE NEWES OF THE whole discription, ayde, and helpe of the Christian Princes and Nobles, the vvhich for the comfort and deliueraunce of the poore Christians in the low Countries, are gathered together, and are novve vvith their armies in the fielde.
Drawen and Copied out of a letter, sent vnto vs out of the same Campe.
For her sinnes are gone vp to heauen, and God hath remembred her vvickednesse.
Revvard her euen as she revvarded you, and geue her double according to her vvorkes.
And poure in double to her, in the same Cup vvhich she filled vnto you.
¶ Printed at Dordrecht. 1574.
¶ Translated out of Dutche into English, the. 12. of April.
BEloued Reader, wée finde in the olde and auncient Histories & Monuments, and that amongst all other wise Monarchies & kings, wee reade howe the great and mightie Caugnista, king of Egypt, when he sawe that he should dye, he called vnto him his seuen sonnes, and hauing a Quiuer of Arrowes bound in a bundel, commaunded them one after another to breake them in péeces, the which when it was not possible for them to do, he caused the bundel to be vnloosed, and caused them to be scattered one from the other, cōmaunding eche of them to breake one of them, which then was very easie to be done: he wyllyng to teache his seuen sonnes by this example, that if so be they were deuided in the kingdome, & kept not them selues within the bondes of vnitie and concorde, that then they easily shoulde be consumed, broken in péeces, and thrust out of their Empire. In like maner we reade of the olde Granduellis, howe hée left this for a Testament in his last will, [Page 2] vnto that mightie Emperor Charles the fift, that if so be his Maiestie woulde prosper in the Romaine Empyre according to his wyll, that then he shoulde endeuour him selfe to the vttermost of his power, to raise all hatred and discorde to be betwéene the elected Princes, and the other Princes of the Empire, that in the meane time, while they were at strife, and warred one with the other, then the Eagle might eate and deuour them all: this subtile practise hath that Antechrist of Rome, this seuen yeres here in these lowe Countries, and about ten or twelue yeres in Fraunce, not without greate bloodshedde and vtter ruine of both these Countries practised: And except that the Almightie God with his strong arme had turned them from vs, that hellishe Dragon, with the water that procéedeth out of his mouth, woulde haue drowned and deuoured vs vp: And that this was their practise, we may perceiue, for if they had once ouercome Fraunce, and these lowe Countries, they woulde procéede further, against all the Princes and Nobles vnder [Page 3] the Empyre, which haue and dooe confesse the Gospell, spoyling them of all dominion and libertie, yea, and of their liues also, as it may manifestlye appeare by the blooddy execution of that tyrannish Counsell of Trent, and the Spanish Inquisition, which spareth neither Dukes, Earles, nor Lordes, of what state soeuer they be, but against all promise, fayth, and fidelitie, like most wicked periurers, haue most pitiously murdered, beheaded, and taken their liues from them.
By the which, through the illumination of God, there are mooued the chéefest Protestant Princes of the Romane Empyre, who foreséeing what might come to passe, haue thought that if they shoulde nowe holde their peace and be styll, and not assist their fellowe members of the faith, in the time of their néede, that then so soone as the tyraunt had quenched his yre in Fraunce, and in these lowe Countries, with sheadding of Christian blood, and murdering all Magistrates and subiectes, vnto the which he aspireth, that then hée woulde also procéede againste [Page 4] them, and not put vp his blooddy sworde into the Scabberde, tyll that he had rooted out of all landes, all those that denie the Pope, and acknowledge Christ onely to be the head of the Church.
And albeit that the godlye and Christian Magistrates knowe of a suretie, that Almightie GOD, with his mightie hande, can deliuer his Church, without the assistaunce of any man, neuerthelesse we may finde in holy writyng, that God by his appoynted Magistrates, hath alwayes defended the same, and specially, howe the father of all the faithfull, our father Abraham, when hée heard that his brother Lot, and all his goodes and householde were taken and caryed away captiue, hée arose vp with all his power and pursued the enemyes and slewe them, & deliuered those that were taken with all theyr goodes, and restored to euery man his owne, so that if all examples that could bée shewed should here bee brought in, it would bée tedious for the Christian Reader: but this must wée wel note and vnderstande, that God hath giuen the [Page 5] sworde into the Magistrates hand to defend the good and innocent, and to punish the wicked and vngodlye, Yea, that most vnchristian Emperour Traianus, when hée ordained any Pretor, and gaue to him the sword of iustice, would say thus vnto him, Vse thy sworde against mine enemies, in iust causes, and if I my selfe doo otherwise then iustice, vse thy power vppon mée also.
Let vs then Christian Reader, geue thanks vnto the almighty God, who hath raised vp these godlye Princes and Magistrates, to be meanes for to deliuer his poore afflicted people, the which for theyr sinnes, haue this while béene worthelye punished.
And therefore are we bound to pray to God from the bottom of our hearts, that hée wyll gouerne with his holye Spirite these Princes and Nobles, whiche are gathered nowe togeather for our ayde and comfort, that they maye in all theyr enterprises, seeke nothing elles but the glorye of God, the honour of his holye name, and the commodity of al Christendome, [Page 6] and that the Deuillishe, Popishe, and Antechristian Kingdome may bée rooted out and vtterly destroyed. Amen.
❧ The discription of the Princes and Nobles which are nowe gathered togeather, and haue to their aduantage the Citie of Maseike: where as it is nowe very cōmodious for them to passe ouer the Mase by Shippe into Brabant.
AND therefore Christian Reader, that thou mayest Prayse the great and maruailous goodnes of God, who as hée hath the hearts of all Princes and gouernours in his hande, and hath not onely moued them to ayde and assyst vs, but also hath made them willing to turne that great tyranny backe from vs, which truly the Pope by his enterprises would [Page 7] haue brought on vs, and all other Godly Christians, in what Lande or dominion soeuer they were: wée haue therefore for your comfortes, caused theyr names, and Armies with theyr preparations of Rutters and other Souldiers, here vnder to bée written, that ye thereby Christian Reader might haue better entelligence thereof as followeth:
Duke Magnus, brother vnto the mightye and Renowmed King of Denmarke, a Noble man, and verye expeart in the Warres, hée amongest all other is chosen chiefe Generall of the fielde, and ouer all the rest of the other, wyse Marshall Princes and Nobles, and hée hath vnder his owne gouernment. 2500. Horse, and 4000. Gunners.
Duke Hans Cazimirus, and Philip Land grane of Hessen, they haue bothe 1500. Horse, and. 10. Ensignes of Souldiours.
Duke Christopher, Sonne vnto the [Page 8] Palsgraue, hath. 2500, Horse, and. 4000. Gunners.
Graue Lodwicke, Graue Iohn, Graue Hendrik of Nassow, Brethren vnto the renowmed Prince of Orrange, they haue betwéene them. 4000. Horse, and. 8000. Gunners.
Item Graue Lodwick hath beside these 900. Light horsemen, and. 2000. Gunners, which shoote with Corriers.
Also there is the renowmed and Elected Prince, Duke Augustus, althoughe not in his owne person, yet with his fauourable aide, he is with the aforenamed Armye. And vnto these also are ioyned the Duke of Saxon, and the Duke of VVymeren, for that as yet they are vnmustered, we can adde no certaine number.
The other Armie.
Besydes these, Iulius Duke of Bruynswick, a very Ritche and mightye Lorde, pitying the state of the poore Christians, and being one that hath a true loue vnto the Gospell of Iesu Christ, and a verye enemye vnto the Antechrist of Rome, hath ioyned him selfe, and geuen his consent to this great preparatyon of these Warres, and hath appointed the expert and couragious, Graue of Svvartzenborch, so bée generall ouer his Armye, which doe gather them selues togeather in fielde betwéene Paterborne, and Soest in VVestphalen, and hath vnder his gouernment these that follow:
Mandersloe hath vnder his band. 4000 Ruitters, and two bandes of Souldiours, and there followeth vnto these Armies daylye, many Barrons, Squyers, and Gentlemen, with other credible Marchauntes and Citizens, the wich being [Page 10] moued with a Godly zeale, doo not herein séeke anye of theyr owne profite or gaine, but rather the glorye of God, and the commoditye of the whole lande and Prouinces, & that the consciences of the poore captiues that are in Babilon, vnder the handes of that mighty Hunter Nemrod, which is the Pope of Rome, might bée deliuered.
¶ The Conclusion.
For as much beloued Reader, that the almighty God hath so mercifully appeared vnto vs, and hath offered this his present benefites & helpe, Let vs not make small account thereof, or lightlye regard it, but rather let vs with a Godly life and conuersation, in prayer and thankes geuing, attend and wayte on the good wyll & pleasure of God, not murmuring and saying, that the maintenance of so many Ruitters and souldiours doth impouerish, and bring the whole countrey into great miserye, for this wée may assure our selues, and therein take comfort, if so bée [Page 11] the Tyrant shoulde get the vpperhande, they wil not bee content with our Cities, Landes, goodes, and possessions, but they would force our Wiues, rauishe and defile our Daughters, kyll our young men, murther our olde men and women, and with penurye and hunger, famishe our Children and sucking Infantes, and so bring vs into such an euerlasting thraldome and bondage, that wée should haue wished rather to haue died, if it were possible a thousand times, then to lyue any longer in such a myserable captiuitye & misery. Therfore most deare christians, let vs thinke, although wée are hindered a yere or two, of our goodes & occupying, for to withstand the enemye, wée know and hope notwithstanding, that God by such meanes wyll giue vnto vs his holy word and Gospell, which is not to bée bought for any worldly goodes or treasure: and for as muche as wée hope, that once within these fewe dayes, God wyll driue the Tyraunt away from vs, and blesse vs with all maner of blessinges, wée lyuing godly and in his feare, our countrey [Page 12] shall prosper in all godlinesse and other kynde of occupying, the which God graunt vnto vs for his sonne Christes sake. Amen.
1573