Archives ou correspondance inédite de la maison d'Orange-Nassau (première série). Supplément

76.
W. Herlle à Lord Burghley (ms. la.¹). Relation de l'assassinat du Prince d'Orange à Anvers.

*_** ‘William Herle was occasionally employed in public affairs.’ Corresp. of Leicester, London, 1844, p. 76.

Upon sunday the eighteenth of this month, the Prince of Orange having heard as well the minister of Turney² preach in the castle

1 Lansdowne. Nous devons cette pièce, qui se trouve à Londres dans le Musée Britannique, à l'obligeance de Sir H. Ellis et de feu M^r Dedel, Ambassadeur des Pays-Bas.

2 Tournai.

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⁺church appendant to the Prince's house, he took home to dinner, among others, Mons^r Dellavall and Pruneaux, where passing the time with sundry discourses, and with intention to have supped at the general banquet that Monsieur¹ had prepared at S^t Michelles to the States General and to the Magistrates and Coronelles of Andwarpe, in commemoration of the same his byrthe day.

The dinner ended, the Prince passing out of the great chamber with the Count of Hollock, and the said Dellavall, and followed by the troop, he took occasion upon Lavalles speech, who commanded the tapestry of the chamber, to say sundry things about the same, and in beholding the tapestry as he went, was ready to have entered the second chamber, having his eyes still fixed upwards, when suddenly a person of small stature and less representation (of the age of three or twenty four years, ill clad², and of face pale, drawing to a black melancholick colour, shaven saving the upperlip, whence a thin black hair began to issue) presented himself, as though he had some request to exhibet, and once being put back by a halbender, still persisted and suddenly discharged a pistol (that he held unseen) at the Prince, which by reason of overcharging recoiled in his hand and made the piece and pollet³ to mount upwards from his level, taking the Prince between the ear and the end of the jaw of the right side, passing clean through the left cheek, without offence to the arterye, the jaw, tongue, or tooth (as yet hitherunter is said), saving that a little it grated upon one tooth (a providence of God most admirable) whereat the Prince nether staggering, nor astonyed, beheld the fellow, till he amazed with his own fact, and, bound as it were to the place by a divine power, let his dag⁴ fall to have made away, whereat one Bonnyvet stabbed him into the breast, and then was he presently slain in great fury by the company, much against the Prince's will, who cried still to save him, but in vain, for he had in less than a moment thirty three mortel wounds given him. The perturbation that followed within the Prince's house was so great and dolorous as scarce can be expressed. The poor Princess, overcome with vehement passion, did swoon continually, the children confounded with tears and cries troubled all the place, and the rest of the friends and

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1 le Duc d'Anjou.

2 clothed.

3 bullet.

4 the old name for the pistol. (H. E).

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⁺family present were utterly perplexed, as though they hat not only seen the Prince already dead, but themselves exposed to the sword of the enemy. But in the mean time the Prince was had to his bed and dressed by a singuler surgeon of his own called Skon Thomas, who, doubting that the bullet had been poisoned (as it was not), did temper his medecine to resist the same.

Next they sent in post to Herentalles for the only surgeon of this country called Hans of Herentalles, brother to that Dyryck that served some time Sir Thomas Gresham and next her Majestie.

And herewith Monsieur was advertised by the younger Erle of Egmont (as fast as he could run from the Prince's lodging) of the strange and fearful accident that was happened, which did wonderfully appal and terrify Mons^r for the sundry events that depended there of, and for the compassion that he had both of himself and the Prince, in this sudden action, and lastly overcome with affection resolved into tears, not able to be appeased in half an hour, sobbing and uttering that he had lost his father, his chief hope and assurance, and the worthiest personage for wisdom and perfection that ever was, inveighing therewith against the tyranny and vileness of the King of Spain.

During this while the town was in an uproar and confusion, promising no better than a miserable and bloody end there of; the alarm was sounded every where, and suddenly the gates shut, the walls and bulwarks occupied with armed men, the marketplaces taken, the corps de gardes set in every street, and all others commanded to keep their houses. The people crying out for their Prince, their father, and only succour and right hand, whom they named to be murdered by the French, and that he was already dead, wishing that England had never conducted such pests, who had not been rcceived here but in the assurance that they conceived of the Queen of England's good mind, confirmed by the countenance of such honourable personages as accompanied Mons^r and the rest hither.

But the report of the Prince's death still increasing, by messengers that were informed, the people were converted into plain fury and precipitation, threatening then Mons^r, the French, and the Papists (who had the same day been at their first mass) that not one

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⁺of them should be left alive, running hereupon by violent troops to the Palace and to the Castle to do some execution, whom followed upon the spur the cornet of horse that is of the town burghers, and truly, if this desperate attempt had been differed till night, the same had been easily executed at the banquet, and Mons^r with his train noted for it, and consequently the rage and conceit should have directed those hands that had been once embrewed in blood.

The French for fear retired to the safest part of their lodgings and Mons^r sent for the General Norris, but the messengers could not pass the streets, Mons^r wishing many times with great affiance that [la nobre¹] Angloyse were by him.

The coronells of the town, upon the first brute of the Prince's death, repaired to the Castle with exceeding diligence, giving orders to the Captains to chain the streets, and to draw their forces to their known quarters, and that all the Gilds and Fraternities should be warned and in readiness to be employed. At the Castle they were assured by Mons^r S^t Aldegond that the Prince was alive, and there was hope of recovery, and that the person pretending this foul murder was a Spaniard and no Frenchman, showing them writings and charms found about him in this Spanish tongue, and therefore that the Captains and people should be advertised here of, to stay disordres, and especially to have a care for the guarding of Monsieur's person, and defending that no insolence should be used to the French, nor to any, which charge with very good order and gravity was observed, and the people, that were in fury and marching, returned to keep order in their own streets, placing certain of their principal bands about S^r Michells, to assist any necessity that Mons^r might have, where upon, to win benevolence, Mons^r refusing the guard of his Switzers, desired that some of the Gilds might be sent, to whom he would commit himself and the Pallace, which was exteemed a confidence, and pleased the Coronells well. But, to say truly, the apprehension is great that is of eithers side, and many diffidences have been discovered by this.

The coronells then and other principal personages were admitted into the Prince's chamber, to whom he made a very loving and

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1 noblesse.

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⁺pithy oration, showing that this subornation against his life proceeded not from Monsieur nor from any French devise, but directly from his capital enemy the King of Spain; commending Mons^r for the excellency of his nature, for the affection he bore unto the State of these Countries, and for his ability and wisdom to be the only Prince that could and would conserve them, exhorting them reciprocally to love, embrace, and serve him in all duty and loyalty, as they tendered their security, welfare, and estimation; to whom he said appertained the Government of these Countries, as to their natural Sovereign, by their own election, and to whom he would assure again their faith and allegiance, as a thing most sincere and perfect, and in case that J (sait he) do die of this hurt (as men be mortal that be most sound, much more I that am thus infirm), I charge you in the zeal that I have ever borne you, to be observers of my advice for your own good, commending to your love and protection, and to the States General of this land, my wife and children, as sure pledges of my heart, and services ever done and still desirous to be done unto you.

Which speech of his was received with tenderness towards his person, and inclination in show to obey him thoroughly, yet the States General will not proceed to deliberate of any matter touching Mons^r and the propositions made by him, till the said Prince of Orange be restored to some better disposition and integrity, the journey also intended to Gaunt by the said Mons^r being deferred till then.

Immediately after the hurt of the Prince, they dispatched messengers to Bruxelles, to warn them of this accident and to stand upon their guard, for that the town is great and mined with many factions, and not perfected in fortfication by a great deal, to that which may be required either for defence or was projected for strength.

The like advertisement they have sent since to all their towns and garrisons elsewhere, as well in Flanders and Brabant, as in the remoter parts, keeping all the passages by water and land guarded, and the gates of this town continually shut, even from admitting of daily provisions therein, to the end that the enemy may neither have intelligence from thence by practise within doors, nor prevail of any advantage abroad, by surprise or lack of order.

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⁺Now, to return to this fellow again that was slain upon his wicked enterprise, it was found that by overcharging of his said pistol the stock was broken in his hand, and had rent the brawne of the same from the thumb douwnward with a great and terrible gash. In his pocket was a naked dagger which he had never the assurance to use after: about him were had two dried toads and some powder of musk, which was judged in the beginning to have been poison: a Bull of the Pope's, promising pardon for all faults both done and to be done whatsoever: a charme whereby he was persuaded to have been invisible after the fact: a shirt of superstition set with crosses and characters hallowed at the Lady of Chartres to keep him from death, wound, and imprisonment: a writing expressing his enterprise to be done against certain seditious Flemish heretics: first for the glory of God, next to revenge his King, thirdly to deliver certain godly men out of prison, fourthly for the honour of his nation, and lastly for his own immortality: it was not true that he had any letter about him of the Spanish Ambassador's residing at Paris....

On Sunday, about 5 of the clock, Monsieur went to visit the Prince, between whom was a very sweet entertainment, much to the comfort and assurance of Mons^r to see the courage and resolution of the said Prince, and the principles that he instructed him in, by whose advice he dispatched that night one messenger to Her Majesty, and another to his brother, to signify unto them the truth of the accidents happened. To morrow shall be a general fast and prayers for the healing of the said Prince.

Touching the state of the Prince's person this is to be considered both of the person and the hurt. First that he is of years given to surfeits and had at that dinner committed some extraordinary excess; further that he is one, whose head and spirits do labour continually and was never hurt before.

The hurt is in such a part as will be hard to kill the fire, and therefore, to divert inflammations, they have let him blood twice since the hurt. They have dressed him also twice yesterday, and do find that the swelling decreaseth, at least wise they say so, and that at the latter dressing some white matter appeared. He is forbidden to speak, but he hath written since, above three sheets of paper with

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⁺his own hand of some special matter, and doth now admit very few to see him.

[Votallys] Mons^rs doctor hath the chief charge of him for phisick, being esteemed singular in the wounds that do come by fire or by bullet, where of he hath written a treatise, and to him is joined Mons^rs surgeon, and one Gasper, a surgeon of this town, with the other surgeons before recited.

It is thought impossible but that the artery is touched with the bullet, or with the accidents of the fire, which if it be, it is then a cure uncureable. He can very hardly swallow, and till the tenth day be passed, nothing can be assured; for his life depends of the accidents that will appear in the mean time, either by fever or imposthumation.

Which humble discourse I do beseek your Lordship in all speed to impart with her Majesty, and with my Lord Treasurer, and M^r Secretary, being thorough informed of that I write and therefore have sent this my servant to your Lordship of purpose, praying you for the importance of the cause and the occasions that do daily break forth, to return me present answer. Wherewith I humbly finish, assuring your Lordship that I will do her Majesty, when I have heard from you, service of importance, as it imports her indeed to have a trusty, diligent and sufficient person here at this instant. The 20 of March, Andwarpe, 1582.

Your Lordship's most humbly,

W. Herlle.

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