Appendix: September 1568 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers Foreign: Elizabeth, Volume 9, 1569-1571. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1874.

'Appendix: September 1568', in Calendar of State Papers Foreign: Elizabeth, Volume 9, 1569-1571, (London, 1874) pp. 599-600. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/foreign/vol9/pp599-600 [accessed 19 April 2024]

September 1568



Sept. 5.	2263. Baptista Spinola.
	Bond between Baptista Spinola and William Davison, the Queen of England's agent in the Low Countries, to provide for the repayment of 12,121l. 4s. advanced by the former.— 5 Sept. 1568.
	Draft. Endd. Lat. Pp. 3½.
	2264. Movements of the Prince of Orange.
	1. "The true report of the Prince of Orange's doings from the first time of his encamping to the last time of my departure from him at Ribemont, near to St. Quintins in France." The Prince having mustered his forces marched towards the Meuse, where a great brawl happened between the Almains and the Burgundians and French, wherein were a great number slain and hurt on both side, the Almains losing 200 men. After this, the camp lay hovering for many days in one place. Whilst the Prince was practising with those of Liege for a passage over the Meuse by chance a few Spaniards were slain, amongst whom the writer saw two whom no shot of harquebuss could hurt, though they had no armour, but as soon as one drew a sword and struck them they yielded and confessed that by a writing of sorcery which they carried they were saved. Those Spaniards were hanged a little while after. The Prince having found a ford passed over with his whole army, and on the third day with great courage and devout prayer marched towards Maestricht to give battle. "The day was fair and sure it was a noble sight to see the order of our field and bravery of horsemen." The Duke of Alva beholding their courage entrenched his camp in a thicket and would not engage. Gives account of marches in which the Duke privily followed the Prince's camp, and as he found advantage annoyed them, but still refused battle. At length, upon great policy, he made show of battle wherein the Prince lost 2,000 men and divers captains, and the Spaniards 300. About 200 prisoners taken by the Duke were put into a house and burnt before their faces. This conflict made many run away, but the peasants slew all whom they took without mercy, because the reiters had always spoiled their houses and wrought them much injury. The next day the Prince sought another battle but the Duke marched towards Louvain. Flight of the Prince's reiters at the sight of some French reinforcements whom they mistook for Spaniards The Prince after this took counsel with the French which made the reiters angry and the Almains cry out for money, and other occasions bursting out he was fain to withdraw from Flanders and return in haste towards Tirlemont and the country of Liege. All this while and long before by means of the Duke's proclamations and policies the camp stood in extreme want of victuals; the reiters always took what could be found, and the Prince himself had neither wine, beer, or bread a long season, waters were poisoned, and "meal infected with sorcery and witchcraft," and all mischiefs that might famish the army put in execution, and for six weeks the whole camp was disquieted and void of relief.
	2. The Prince confessed to a great friend of his own that he little thought the merchants of Flanders had been so false, and said that he was deceived in many and that none kept promise and "touch" with him. Refusal of the reiters to besiege Liege. The Duke of Alva declines again to give battle. All this season, which was no small time, they burnt town and village, church and chapel, and left nothing standing which might be overthrown because the country fled and took away victuals, the want whereof bred great misery. After a long time they encamped before Chateau Cambray, but the soldiers refused to give the assault so they retired in great disorder. The soldiers forsook their captains, saying that they would not serve daily in such misery and wretchedness. From [Aunay] St. Benoit almost to Laon, which is six leagues, the camp covered the country lying where lodging might be had in town or village. The hugeness of the camp amazed so the French that twenty-four leagues long they fled, and plucked down all the chief bridges in the highway towards Paris.
	Endd. Pp. 6⅓.