THE Articles of the giving over of the large, ample, and imperial City of GROANING.  
Also the Articles and conditions, whereupon his Highness, and the honourable William Ludowick Earl of Nassow, at this present, with the advice of the Counsel of the Estates of the united Provinces, are content to agree unto: for reducing and reconciliation of the City, Citizens, and Indwellers of the said City of Groaning.  
Likewise the agreement, concluded between his Highness, and the chief Lieutenant Laukema, with the Captains, Commanders, and common Soldiers, being in Garrison within the foresaid City.  
Done the xxi. and xxii. of July, 1594. With repetition of the besieging of the same.   depiction of the capture of Groningen 
Printed at London by john Wolf.   

¶ The Articles of the giving over of the imperial City of Groaning.  
THE excellent Prince and Lord Morrice of Nassow, etc. having rescued Coeverden, where the common Enemy with all his power on foot and on horseback, had line all the Winter, and strengthened himself with sundry Trenches, against the insurrection of our people, hath notwithstanding not tarried the coming of our Camp, but hath left the Castle of Coeverden, with all her Trenches and Camps.  
Which done, his Highness came before Groaning, the 20. of May, viewed the City, and summoned it. Their answer was, that they should first lie a year & a day before it, and then should summon the same. There should you have seen many kinds of carriages, in very great quantity, of rafters, posts, Deals, planks and boards, wherewith many Ships were laden. There was ten Ships sent from Gorcum with boards, besides many hundreds which came from Swoll and other places, and were bespoken.  
There came to the Camp before Groaning, from my Lords the States, under the conduct of his Highness, about one hundred and forty Ensigns of footmen: as high Dutch, Englishmen, Scots, Netherlanders, and Fréeslanders. The Freeslanders under the conduct of William Earl of Nassow. There was viii. Ensigns presently sent before the Fort at Aurikeizill, to take in the same: for they held out stoutly, and attended for five Ensigns, that came with bridges & Ladders for the assault.  
And standing ready to employ all their might thereon, there came three other Ensigns from the other side, with bridges, many bundles of Bulrushes bound together in sacks, pitched and nailed under Tables made of Deale-bords, over which they ran to the wall of the Fort. They which had no Ladders, did stick their daggers in, and climbed up by them. The people seeing that they were over-fallen, cried for grace, but it was too late: for they had spoken very obprobrious words to the Dromster, wherefore they were all overcome, and of one hundred and thirty, there was not five left alive. Which was no small fear to them of Groaning▪ as also the driving out of their folk out of the Trench at Hogherbrug. So that they of Groaning, were constrained to drive their cattle under the Town wall, where they could not all be kept, but some were fed with Hay in the City. There was about fourscore of those without, which were taken by our men.  
After this, they issued forth of the City in sundry places upon our men, with the help of five Ensigns of Soldiers, that lay in Shutendiepe, which place is strongly defended severally from the City, lying upon the water called the Vaert▪) which the Colonel made at that time. With this their issuing out, they did our folks very much harm. But after we had made our Trenches, digged our Lope-ditches, & strengthened the same, their left they of their issuing out.  
Great was the carefulness of his Highness and my Lords the States, in the fortifying and making sure of our Camp, towards all quarters, where any fear was of assaulting. And then employing all their force against the City, with digging and placing of their Ordinance. Yea, in three places they came to their very wall, so that in two places, they digged and undermined twenty and thirty foot within their Wall. They within rested not, but defended themselves: insomuch that through their manifold shooting, there was found above two thousand pellets.  
Hereby is to be conjectured, that they shot four thousand shot at the least, with great Ordinance. For at the beginning they were provided with four hundred Barrels of powder, which were lessened to fifty, and yet were not they of the best.  
Upon the Gate called the Herren Port, were eight great pieces placed, and wholly shot of. There were many houses shaken, and spoiled with the Ordinance, and sometimes with fireworks out of the Camp, and balls of wildfire, which in sunder places did set their houses on fire: whereupon presently followed pellets of stone, and hailshot mingled with wildfire. Whereby the hearts of the Citizens began here and there to faint, and were brought to such point, that they took pledges one of another.  
The Rulers were brought to such extremety, and to adgraviate the matter, (not so much through the besieging, but by certain Soldiers of Sluiten-deepe, which were let into the City,) that they were forced to hold their hands, which made a rumour in the City, insomuch that some lost their lives by it. This being stilled and pacified, the Soldiers had afterwards no good rest or quietness for want of sleep, by reason of their continual watching. The chief of them was occasion hereby to write to Don Verdugo, for a supply of Soldiers, munition, and money. One of the carriers of these Letters was slain, and hanged up against the City: the other was pardoned, because he bewrayed the secrets of the City.  
Upon the roundel (which was made long ago, and in the time of Duke Daline, called The Castle,) were also eight great pieces of Ordinance planted, one of the corners whereof was wholly shot down, and so made unfenceable. His Highness through his diligence and endeavour going here about to see the manner, a shot light upon his Trench, that those which stood hard by him, were thereby sprinkled in their faces.  
One of the three mines under the said roundel, named Ravelin, was digged, which being perceived by them of the City, was countermined, by which our men entered, placing of their powder, and alarm presently given. Whilst they of the City were setting of their watch at the said Ravelin, the powder was by a train suddenly set on fire, with such thundering noise and dust, that for the space of three hours, one man could not see another. The chiefest Lieutenant was also slain.  
The Reader may well think, how arms, legs and and whole bodies of men, were blown away in the air, for two of them fell into our Trenches, whereof one was yet alive. This Bulwark broke and fell down, according as we wished, and hath made a brave bank. Also the way filled up between Ravelin and the City, our men crept in, without losing of any one man: where they found six pieces of Ordinance, and certain men wrapped up in the earth, which were yet alive. The same day in the Evening in setting of our watch, we lost eight Soldiers.  
They in the City seeing this, were at their wit's end, as if the day of judgement had been come. Straightways john den Boer, or john the Clown, was sent out with a Taber and a pipe, yet that day all was not ended. But the next day, they of the City, upon good assurance and promise of his Highness, came forth in four several companies, that is to say, the Clergy, the Magistrates, the chiefest of the Soldiers, and the men of Occupations. One of them would not trust another. Hereupon his Highness said unto them, Look what you agree to, is wholly given you through my liberality: for I count myself assured of the City. In the end, after many debatings, the xxij. day of julie, these Articles following were agreed upon.  

1. First, that his Highness for the first time, may displace the Magistrate, and place him again, and the sworn Commonalty, at his pleasure.  
2. That the Gilds or Companies shall in that respect, be set a side, that they shall have nothing to say in the policy of the City. But the Counsel shall deal therein with the sworn Commonalty, such as the Counsel will use thereunto.  
3. That his Highness may put Soldiers into the City at his pleasure: but yet in such manner as is used in Freesland.  
4. That the City shall renounce the King, and declare him their enemy. And also be seized with Imposts or any others, as the Cities in Freeselande.  
5. That no other Religion be suffered, but only the true reformed Religion.  
6. That during these wars, his Highness shall yearly choose out five of the sworn Communality, which shall appoint the Counsel.  
7. That the Garrison of the Enemy shall pass over the Rhine, leaving their Ensigns behind them. And swearing in three months not to serve on this side the same.   
But his Highness afterwards, at the intercession of certain Gentlemen, bid the Ensigns to be given them at their departing.  
Touching all other Articles, the same shall remain at the disposition of the general Estates. The Lord give his highness long life, that thereby all they may be forced which exercise Spanish tyranny, and oppress the good.  
Almighty GOD be thanked for his grace and favour, and this great victory, for ever and ever. Amen.   
FINIS.