Book X, Chapter 62

THe Inquisition threatned, wrought in […]etherlanders feare,
And Signes of altring Regment in their ancient State appeare.
As ful-fead Children with their Foode, by Peace this People play,
Till, in world-matchles Wealth, did them Securitie betray.
They hearing what King Philip meant against their State, did minde
What in the Fables Morall of the Stock and Storke we finde:
For in the Ladie Regent, and her Brother Philips Corse,
Their hearts presāg'd like diff[…]ence […] twixt Rigor and Remorse.
Arm'd was the Duke of Al[…], who by warres, by wiles, by […]
Shuld cōquer, circūuent, cōsume, those Lands, their Lords, the Good.
These to haue his sufficed not the Spanish King, vnlesse
He Monarchize their Land, their Lawes, and Liberties depresse.
The other Part their Consciences and Priuiledges pleades,
Nor other cause than only thus to Armor Either leades:
For There, else-Where, and euer Spayne, when Spayne wold Scepters lurch,
Concludes for Spayne, though euer Spayne begins for holy-Church.
No Armie was as yet ariu'd, when as the Belgies send
To Philip their Submission, and their Loyaltie defend.
If ought were done contrarie to his Edicts (as indeede
Weare some too busie Protestants did order-les proceede)
They did transpose that Fault vpon those Innouators rude,
Protesting all that Subiects should: and humbly too they sude,
(Vouching his Father, Vncle, Kings, and Emperors of old,
Who let their Liege-men, diffring from their own, Religion hold)
To suffer Consciences in them to God-wards vncontrold.
For which, and for their Charters, did they offer Masses large,
And euermore to vndergo all Truage, Taxe, and Charge.
But Theirs to alter quite in all was it that Philip ment:
To plague therfore those seauenteene Shires was war-flesht Alua sent.

This, like a pleasing poysning Aspe, to act as he did arme,
At first Ariuall, Pardons did for passed Crimes proclaime.
That tractable kind People so he to his bent did frame:
Who wear not then by hostile Meanes men easily to tame.
He thus of them possest, did then, by she Degrees, surprise
Their Townes, puts Garisons in them, built Cittadels likewise,
Inducts the Inquisition, and strange Imposts did deuise,
Cals pardon'd Crimes in question, faines the Guiltles to offend,
And thus an Aspe, and poysnous more, prou'd Alua in the end.
For why? ambitious men seeke, get, possesse, and practise State,
With restles minds, by fawning Meanes, enuide, in haughtie rate.
This priuiledged Prouince, and this Paradized Earth,
Thus stripped of her golden Fleece, and faintly drawing breath,
Was phisickt of Elizabeth, who with her English Balme,
Then much the poysnous biting of that Spanish Aspe did calme:
Euen Pittie preaching thus to her, that Nature is reuerst,
When as her selfe is not amongst her owne Consorts disperst.
She to that Countries Father, to that honorable Knight,
The Prince of Orange (armed then in Christ his cause to fight,
And for his Countries Weale) permits first Voluntarie Aides[…]
And lastly, when that neighbour Fier too neerly her inuaides,
And their extreame Oppression did her Charitie inuite,
(By Ambassies Spayne often mou'd to doe the Belgies right,
Howbeit touching Peace in vaine) she franklier friends their Cause,
Who were inforced to defend their Faith, their Liues, and Lawes,
Against their Soules and Bodies foes, and (which might all perceaue)
Our cause was handled then in theirs, then theirs were ours to leaue,
And (which had often ayded vs in many a Field and Fleete)
In ancient Loue with Burgundie to breake, was thought vnmeete.

How thence tyrannous Alured was reuoked, all too late,
When pitiously declined was their flourishing Estate:
Ere which Oppression, where the King had countles Profits thence,
Now Ownes he nothing there, not held with infinit Expence.
The Slaughters, Sackings, Mutinies, the Kings Vice-Gerents sence,
How Horne, & Egmōd, Coūties braue, through Aluas Athisme spead,
How Orange, through our Soueraigns Aids preuaild, how lastly dead,
How Anioy also, through her Meanes, became that Peoples head,
How now her Highnes only-selfe, next God, doth them secure,
Her valiant Warriors there, whose Laudes might special Pens allure,
And here mean-while should ours, saue that I cannot but deuine,
Their Chiualrie to be reseru'd for higher Muse than mine,
To which though some we leaue, yeat (by their leaues) of some is sayd
Themselues they haue misgouern'd, and their Companies be[…]rayd,
Some More regard of Tents, and Trash, in their Retreats haue made,
Then of our craised men, may such Conductors low be laide,
And some too ruthles, rioteus, and of their Charge r[…]misse,
Haue starued vp in number moe than Foe-slaine number is:
Thus some of some report, perhaps not true in all as told:
But somewhat somewhere faulteth, for no fier, no smoake be bold.
To be officious getteth Friends, plaine Dealing hated is:
Yeat better plainly to reproue, than fainedly to kisse:
We cannot also loue our Friends, and flatter their A-misse:
How these and thus-like passed Thear we ouer-passe it heere.
Note in our Queene, Religion wrong'd, it selfe did euer cheere:
And whear the Spanish Nimrod hunts in Monarchie to hold
All Christendom, through God, that Drist she chiefly hath controld.
Nor did, nor doth, nor shall it need, that thus to her be told:
Who would to God, but works no good, who seeketh fame by ease,
Comes short of both, no lesse than Mappes to very Lands and Seas.

Not only thus, but in this while, her Fleetes haue oftentimes
Set prosprously her Men on Shore, euen in the farthest Climes:
Whēce haue they brought, by fayr Cōmerce, great riches to our Land,
Or glorious Spoyles from such as did their peace or Prowse withstād,
Of which shall be digested here the Progresse, in some parte,
Though stately be the Subiect, and too slender be our Arte.