The furie of the fight. there was no greater slaughter and confusion, it may not be tearmed worthy and comparable unto divers others. But in troth I heard divers report, besides the commendator, who had been at Lapanta and heer, that the fury there was nothing comparable unto this, number to number. For my part, I never saw any thing so furious. I may well speake it, for there are some of good quality yet alive can testifie the same. But for Julian Romero himselfe, I had bin blown up with his Alfere; yet I escaped with as great hazard as any other of his followers. But I will dispute against any souldier, that no fight hath been comparable unto it by sea, these five hundred yeares; saving that before Sluce, fought by our famous King Edward the Third, against the French King and the Earle of Flanders, and that of Lapanta. A briefe Discourse of the Assault committed upon the Person of the most noble Prince In 1579, William of Nassau, Prince of Orange, laid the foundation at Utrecht of the republic of the United Provinces. In 1580, the king of Spain published a furious edict against him, offering a reward of 25,000 crowns for his person, dead or alive. Stimulated by this reward, or rather by religious enthusiasm, John Jauregui, a Spaniard, clerk or servant to Jasper D'Annastro, a merchant of the same country, made an attempt to assassinate the prince, of which the detail is here given. The people of the provinces, by whom William was adored, failed not to solicit Heaven for his recovery from the wound which he received, and to celebrate the day of his convalescence as a solemn festival. Yet their affection was unable to preserve him from the assaults of treachery and fanaticism. Soon after his recovery, a second plot was discovered, from which it appeared, that one Salcedo had undertaken to poison or otherwise murder the Duke of Anjou and the Prince of Orange. And finally, Balthazar Gerard, a native of Burgundy, spirited to the crime by the exhortations of the monks and jesuits, shot the prince with a musket at Delft, 10th July, 1584. He fell, and instantly expired with these words; "God have compassion on my soul, and on this poor people!" The fanaticism of his murderer sustained him amid the dreadful tortures with which the States revenged the death of their great general. See the next article. My lord the Prince of Orange, after he had heard the sermon in the church on Sonday the xviii. day of March 1582, repaired to his house, in the place where sometime the castel of Antwerpe stoode, accompanied with many lords and gentlemen, of whom some dined with him. Immediatelie after he dined openly (as he was wont) in the great hall of the sayd house, my lordes the Counties de Hohenlo, my lords his children, and two of his nephewes, children of my lorde the Countie John of Nassau, the lords of des Pruneaux, and other gentlemen accompanying him. The dinner was passed and spent with many honest communications and speeches; amongst all others, was some speeche had of the cruelties committed by the Spaniards in these Low Countries. A little after dinner, the sayde prince repayred into his withdrawing chamber, intending to go into his bedde chamber with the sayd lords and gentlemen; and as he passed by, shewed them a peece of tapistrie, wherein were livelye set forth the Spanish souldiours. At the sayd instant, a yong man of low stature shot at the sayd prince with a dagge, charged A pistol. I with one only pellet, the shot whereof hit him under the right eare, and passed through the pallet of his mouth, and came forth at his left cheeke, neere unto his upper jaw bone. The saide lorde (as since he hath said many times) did not know what it was, but thought that some parte of the house had fallen, for he felt not himself to be stricken; notwithstanding his sighte was a little while dazled. Immediatelye some of the lords and gentlemen then next at hand, stroke the said yong man twice or thrice into the bodie with their swordes, and so the sayd princes garde drawing nigh, made an end of him with their haulberds. In the mean time, the sayd prince being advertised what had happened, and the rather by feeling the fyre that had taken hold of his haire, and hearing the noise about the murderer, cried out, Kil him not, I forgive him my death! And so turning to sundrie French lords, said unto them, O how faithfull a servaunt doeth his highnesse lose and so was straight ledde betweene two (that helde him up by the armes) into his chamber; for he could goe, and fell not with the blow. The brute hereof wente presentlye over all the towne, which brought most men into a maze, by reason of so sodaine and unloked for a matter; and that in the person of such a one, as among all men was holden and reputed for a deliverer of the countrie; further, because the murderer was presently dead, all men judged that the way to verifie and justifie the facte, was quite shut up. Many and dyverse were the speeches hereof; some through suspicion accusing others, and few hitting upon the truth, and attributing the least to them who were the very authours indeede; so as if suche a deede had bene comitted in manye townes where the people have the bridle at libertie, and may at their pleasure run from place to place, it had bene likelie that some great mischief and inconvenience might have ensued; but in the town of Antwerp (such is the order and obediance that all men do yeeld to their magistrates, coronels, and captayns) immediately al the citizens withdrew themselves to their ensignes ech one in his quarter; and the chaines being drawne, and the body of the gard filled, there was no way lefte for any to departe from his garde but the capitanes. My lord the Duke of Brabant was speedily advertised of this mishappe; and being at the first certifyed of no other than death, he was greatly astonied, and sighing verye deepely, complained to himself of the extreme losse which thereby he sustained; repeating oftentimes, that if the king his owne father had bene alive again, he could not have bene more sorie for his death, than for the death of the said prince. Where on the other side the prince bewayled him no lesse, rehearsing oftentimes these wordes: Alas, poore prince, alas poore prince, what pains must thou yet take! Whiles most part of his servants that were present, as also those which at the brute of the newes were come in, employed themselves about the said L. princes person, his sonne the Earle Maurice notwithstanding his heavie mourning, departed not from the dead corps which he caused to be searched; and first they light upon the dag which was fallen out of his hands, that caused them to thinke that he had no meanes to use a dagger, which they found naked in his breeches. In the meane season the Earle of Hohenlo, for feare of further inconveniance, causing the sayd princes gard and diverse gentlemen to follow him, seased upon the doores of the house, so to keepe all suche as were not verye well knowne from comming in or going forth. The dead corps being further searched, they found about him certaine papers and pamphlets which were delivered to the said Erle Maurice; the which at that instant finding one of the servants of my lord his father, shewed him the said papers, and weeping, saide, Behold what the wicked wretch had about him! Who answered him, My lord, be not discomforted, God is mightie and able to 2 The Compte D'Anjou, brother to Henry II. of France, was then the nominal chief of the confederated provinces; a distinction which he soon lost by a base and treacherous attempt to possess himself of some of their strongest. towns. The Prince of Orange being unjustly suspected of some accession to his design, retired for a time to Delft. 2 This title was assumed by the Duke of Anjou. preserve my lord your father; but keepe these papers wel, for we are greatly troubled about discovering somewhat of this cursed wretch; for otherwise in this town we shal incur great peril. ' To the which he did replie, Alas, I am afrayde least here be some villaine that may take them from me; this yong lord being the rather moved to say so, because there went a speeche through the hall, giving foorth by some, that those which had killed the murderer, were partakers of the fact, and that men might be assured of it; so that the daunger beganne to fall likewise upon the best friendes of the said lord prince, and upon his houshold. Upon this talke of the sayd yong erle, the said servaunt tooke him under his cloke, and said unto him, My lord, go with me, and I will lay your papers in safetie; whiche hee did, bringing him into the rooffe of the house, where committing the said papers to safe custody, he perceived that they were written in Spanish, wherefore he said to the earle, My lord, there is no danger to be feared on your part, returne and cause further searche to bee made; as for me, I go to my lord: which was done. Then the said servant began to certefie every one, that it was a Spaniarde, and that men should leave the misconceived suspition which they had. A while after returned the said yong earl, bringing more papers, crosses, and an Agnus Dei, with a greene wax candle, and two pieces of skin, like unto beavers; which occasioned many to be of opinion, that he had about him some toades and enchantments. The saide servant began to reade the first papers, whiche he founde to be partlye praiers, and partly vowes; and then he brake the cover of a packet of letters, and found that it was written in Spanish, by one Spaniard to another, of the whiche he did certifie everie man, but would not open the rest alone. A little after came the Lord de S. Aldegonde, who had alreadie bene with his highnesse; and being returned, saide to the same servant, we must take advise what is to be done, for there is great trouble in the town. Whereunto he answered, My lord, if it please you, let us withdraw ourselves for a while to communicate therof, I thinke you shal finde counsell readie; and then they wente by themselves because of the great preasse of people that was about them; and the saide lord did open the rest of the saide packet, in which were founde two letters of exchaunge, the one of 2000 crownes, and the other of 877, with letters of advice, all in Spanish, and by Spaniards; the bookes were of services to be performed at certaine set hours; also one jesuits catechisme, and a paire of tables written from one ende to the other. Then praising God, that had given them such light of the matter, the lord de S. Aldegonde resolved to go straight to the town house, and passing by the gard to assure them that it was done by Spaniards, whiche he did hope to verifie; and would carrie with him the writing tables and the most parte of the writings; appointing others to go to his highnes with the other part, to advertise him, and not to depart from his person; which was done. In passing by, the said lord of Saint Aldegonde went also into his highnesse, and shewed him the sayde papers. In the mean time was the first dressing. And the prince was layde in his bedde, and afterward such as were next about him and most skillfull, began to conceive some sparke of hope, by reason he had his sight and spake well, especially because his understanding and judgement was very certaine, also that being forbidden much speech, he wrote stedfast and quicke. While these things were in doing, there came in one of the captaines of the towne, named Lion Petit, demaunding whether he were alive or dead; who, when the sayde servant requested him to let the saide L. prince take his rest for that time, affirming that he hoped of his recoverie, answered, that the people would never be content unlesse he assured them that hee had seene him; whereupon he was caused to enter in; then after some speeches, demaunding what it pleased the L. prince to commaund him, he saide, Commend me hartily to the people, and will them not to trouble themselves, and if it please God to take me to himselfe, that they obey and faithfully serve this prince, for From a suspicion that the assassination had been attempted by domestic traitors. I know none in the worlde better or more meete for them. His highnesse having seen the letters of exchaunge and other the writings brought unto him, commended them to Martini the recorder of the town, who then was with him, to cary them to the magistrate of the towne, and to examine those to whome the letters of exchaunge were directed; in the meane time having assembled the counsel of estate, he dispatched a commission directed unto the general estates, the counsell of estate, the magistrates of the towne, the coronells, captaines, and wardens of occupations, with all diligence to procede, commaunding all men under paine of death to declare what they knewe concerning the sayd murder. Nowe had the magistrate in the meane time (who already had begun to proceede herein, and by the sayd papers and writing tables had found that the murtherer was of the house of a Spaniard, named Jasper d'Anastro) taken order, that all that were in the sayd house should be committed to prison, which was done. But they found that the sayd Anastro himselfe departed the Tuesday before toward Bruges. Then were the coronels and captaines advertised by the magistrate, as also all the inhabitants by their governours, that all this webbe was woven by the Spanyards; wherupon the whole towne grew to quietnesse, remainyng neverthelesse in armes, for the assistance of justice. At the first examination of Antony Venero they could not finde any great matter, but this onely, that they knewe the murtherers person: Howbeit for that he confessed that the same day masse had bene celebrated secretly in the sayd Anastro his house, at all adventures upon suspition they apprehended one Antony Timmerman, of the order of the white friers. Neverthelesse it was decreed, that the murderers body should be set upon a scaffold in the towne to shew it to the people, to the end to know it, which thing was done; but so soone as he was seene in the great market place, every one knew it presently to be the body of John Jauregui, a Spaniard, the servant of Jasper Anastro: yea the sayde Venero seeing him dead, knew him. The next morning the xix. of March, as all the gates of the towne of Antwerp were diligently kept, in the morning the post of Bruges arrived, who having shewed his letters to the guarde of the river gate, there were found letters of the sayd Anastro directed to Venero, which were caried to his highnesse and to the magistrate of the towne. Further the magistrate appointed, that the same day the murtherers body should be quartered, and his head set upon the bulwarke toward Ril, and his quarters upon the foure principall gates, which was done. The next day his highuesse and the counsell of estate decreed, that throughout all the churches there should be extraordinarie prayers unto God for the health of the sayde L. prince. Also by the magistrate of the towne his appointment, the next Wednesday being the 21 of the sayd moneth, was by trumpet proclaimed throughout the towne a generall fast, with commnon prayers: also commandement was given, that every man should that day leave all worke, to the ende to attend fasting and prayer. Anastro his letters were shewed to Venero, who seeing himself thereby confounded and convicted, and being, as by his confession it appeareth, admonished by one of the coronels and others, required paper and inke, and with his owne hand wrote and signed his second confession. The prince thinking the hour of his decease to drawe neare,. dispatched the L. S. Aldegonde with letters directed to the generall estates, wherein, as his last counsel, he wished them to persist in his highnesse obedience, declaring unto them that he judged him to be the onely prince that was most fit for them; according to the tenure whereof, the sayde lordes sent their deputies to his highnesse, to advertise: him of their faithfull affection. Upon Wednesday following was the fast with extraordinary prayers celebrated, and that with such multitude and concourse of people, in. all the churches of both languages, as time out of mind the like numbers of people, I It seems strange that so discerning a man as the prince of Orange should not have perceived the real charac- ter of the Duke d'Anjou. But he thought doubtless that the power of France was absolutely necessary to sup-... port the State against the pressure of the Spaniard; and it could hardly be otherwise purchased than by electing. the king's brother to be the chief of their confederacy. have not bene seene in the churches of Antwerp, neither so many weeping eyes. Howbeit for that the phisitions and surgeons began to conceive some hope of the recovery of the sayde prince, the prayers were partly mixed with thanksgivings for this good beginning, with humble supplication, that it might please God to accomplish his health. Now began the sayde L. princes person to drawe to amendment, and dayly did his highnesse carefully visit him, who seemed, and indeede did take great care for him, as likewise the L. prince did for him, upon everye occasion commending his service. On the other side, the magistrate was as diligent in proceeding against the offenders: so as finally he atteyned to the truth of the whole matter, as it wil appeare in the depositions of the sayd offenders. But the L. prince hearing that they purposed to proceed to definitive sentence, did by writing expreslye commaund the L. of S. Aldegonde, to request the magistrate to punish them with the easiest death that might be, which was done; for by the magistrates sentence the Wednesday 28 of the sayd moneth, they were set at a stake upon a scaffold in the middest of the great market, over against the towne house, and by the hangman strangled, their bodies quartered, and hanged over the chief gates of the towne, and their heads pitched upon two of the great bulwarkes which heretofore were part of the castle. Antony Timmerman the white frier the same day exhibited his second confession, wherein he acknowledged that he had bene of opinion that the sayd Jauregui might with a safe conscience execute the sayd enterprise; but that nowe being better instructed by such good admonitions as had bene given him, he confessed that he had erred, and therefore besought the lords of justice not to forget his sayd protestation, if ever this process were published. Within few dayes after the sayd execution, his highnesse received from sundry places letters which the prince of Parma had written to the townes, wherein he endevored to perswade them to withdraw themselves from his obedience, laying his foundation uppon the death of the sayd L. Prince, whereupon the sayde townes besought his highnesse of counsaile. These were the townes; Brussels, Gaunt, Bruges, Malines, Ipres, Audernarde, Dunkirk, Berghe, and sundry others. Finally the towne of Antwerpe also received the like letters. Anastro also sent letters to the towne of Gaunt, tending to the same ende, which Venero his deposition doth containe; so that he wrote to all places where he had any accesse. All the sayd letters, as well from the prince of Parina as from Anastro, were grounded upon the assurance which they had conceived of the death of the sayd L. prince, whom God hath hitherto neverthelesse preserved, and will still of his mercie keep and preserve, if he please. Hereafter followe, The copies of the writings found about the murderer. The depositions of the offenders. The letters of Anastro and the prince of Parma. The Copies of the Writings founde about the Murtherer. Jesu Christo Nuestro Sennor, y la Virgen sancta Maria nuestra Sennora sean en mi ayuda en esta resolucion hecha para su sanctissimo servicio. Que su magistad tiene dada esta orden por el amor que tiene à estos Flamencos, y por librarlos de las oppressiones en que estan. Si esto se haze, recibirá el Sennor à este pueblo en misericordia, y hara con el las capitulaciones en toda ventaja d'ellos. Offrescer les he que dentro de ocho dias que se haga, los vendra a tomar a misericordia, mediante que al que hiziere este hecho, le traten bien que sera ganancia della villa hazerlo assi, y perdonarle la vida, pues la ha empleada tan en servicio de Dios, y de su Yglesia, y de su Rey, y en honra de toda su nacion: y el que me regalare y tratare bien, se lo pagara su |