MIDDLEBOROW.  
A brief Rehearsal of the accord and agreement, that the Captains, Burgises, and Army of MIDDLEBOROW and ARMEW: have made, in yielding themselves to the right high and excellent Prince, the Lord William Prince of Orrange, County of Nassau. etc.  
¶ With a lamentable Discourse of the calamities, great hunger & extreme miseries, that they sustained, before they yielded up the said Towns.  
* Translated out of the ducthe Copy, printed at Dordrecht.  
ANNO 1574.  
¶ Imprinted at London, by Richard Ihones.   

The Copy of the agreement and accord, between the Prince of Orange, & them of Middelborrow and Armew as followeth etc.  
FOr as much as Sir Christopher Montdragon Knight, Lord of Rembicourt, Captain general of the Walloon Soldiers; being instant in the towns of Myddelborrow & Armew: upon request made unto him by the Captain of Strenchamps, coming again out of Prison) by his Letters dated the xuj. day of the same present Mourn, unto the right high & excellent Prince, the Lord William prince of Orrange county of Nassau etc. Beseeching his Majesty to sand his Commissioners unto the Castle of Rammekens (named Seborrow) to parley with them, concerning the yielding up of the afore named Towns and Cities.  
¶ To the which request his Majesty willingly granted: and sent his Commissioners to propose certain Articles and Conditions to the Commissioners of the Lord Mondragon, by the which means, their aforesaid offer to yield up the Towns might be accepted. In consideration whereof, the Commissioners met together at the time appointed, where between them the Conditions and Articles aforesaid were fully concluded and agreed upon on both sides, in manner and form following. etc.  
FIrst, the Lord of Montdragon, shall yield and give over the towns of Middelborrow and Armew, without spoiling of any Fort or demynishinge any strength thereof presently. And also all the Ordinance and munition of Wars, with all such Ships, Goods and merchandise as are therein. Yea, and he with all his Soldiers (such as will not swear unto his excellency) shall immediately avoid out of the Island of Walcheren, taking with them their weapons and Ensigns, with bag & baggage to them be longing, simply and faithfully: not meddling with any other Goods or parcels, what soever to them not belonging. And who that shall transgress the said Ordinance, carrying away more than his own, shall stand to the punishment of the said Prince.  
¶ Moreover, if that the Lord Montdragon do not deliver in safety, within the space of two Months into Holland or Sealande, or some other place, under the jurisdiction of the said Prince, these persons hereafter named: That is to say: Philip of Mariner Esquire, the Lord of Mownte S. Aidegonde, the Captain jacob Simoissen, a Captain that was taken in the HAGUE whose surname is citadel, the Liutenant of the Captain, William of Angeren, and one more, whose surname is Pe in: then shall remain in prison, three Captains, three Liutennauntes, three Ensign bearers, three Sergeants of the Band: & three Corporals, according to the law of Arms until such time as the Persons aforesaid be delivered.  
¶ Likewise it shall be lawful to depart out of the said Town, all Victellers, Gonners, Commissioners, Shippers: jan Coppes, jaques Pardeville, with their Servants, writings, Letters Bag and baggage, what so ever it be, as also the Priests and Monks, and men of Religion, only with their habits (if they will.)  
¶ And his Majesty shall set such good order in the premises, that all those which depart out of the Island with their goods, as is before expressed, shall be shipped over into the Coasts of Flaunders in good safety, promising the subscribed Commissioners and deputies, by their faith and hon●●● to establish and perform in full and ample manner, this aforesaid agreement of the Prince of Orange, and the Lord Montdragon, respectively: & for the more assurance whereof, Pledges on both sides shallbe delivered.  
¶ These foresaid Articles being agreed and concluded in the Fortress of Rammekens, the xix. day of February. ANNO 1574.  
Beneath were written the one after the other: Duttem, Gillis de villain, Anthoni de Gerardt, Francoys de Bouchant, junius de long, Arendt van Dorp, Charles de Boisot. And a little lower was written, We William of Nassou, on the one side: & I Christopher Montdragon Knight, Lord of Rembycourte, of Lus, Gussanuille on the other side: have seen and perused the aforenamed agreement and accord: which with our wills and full consent is concluded. For the confirmation whereof we have promised, & by these presents do promise by our princely words and Honours, to perform and accomplish, and cause to be performed and accomplished, the whole consents of the same in all points and Articles, without gainsaying, or suffer to be gaynsayde, them, or any part of them.  
In witness whereof we have subscribed and Sealed to the same, the foresaid xix day of February in the year aforesaid. And beneath was subscribed. 

Guillam de Nassou.  
Christopher de Montdragon.     

The copy of the Proclamation, set forth by the Prince of Orrange.  
WE William, by the grace of God, Prince of Orrang, County of Nassou etc. Governor of Holland, Seeland Freesland, & Vtreght: understanding that the Burgemasters of the Town of Middelborrow, have simply declared & most humbly have caused to be showed unto us, in the name of themselves, their Cittezins, & the Colonel Montdragon: their extreme muertes, hunger and calamities: have therefore of mere compassion, earnestly moving us to embrace Christian mercy, above rigour and cruelty, thought it good to declare unto them by these presents these Articles following.  
¶ First, the aforesaid Cittezns, such as will swear to us on the behalf of the King's Majesty, shallbe under our obeisance in his majesties behalf as other Cities and Towns: and thereby save and retain their bodies & goods without reproach, or rehearsal of any matters that are past. For the assurance whereof, we shall 'cause a certain number of our Burgises of the towns of Sieri●zee Vlissing: and Camphor to be placed in the same to keep out our Soldiers & Mariners. Intending also by all means possible to suppress & quench the hatred of other towns conceived against them.  
¶ And who so ever is not disposed to be sworn as afore is said, we will choose of them ten men, which we shall keep in the isle of Walcheren, to the end they shall 'cause to be delivered (by what means so ever it be) the Burgemaster with other Cittezins of Harlam in like number.  
¶ The other good Cittizins that are there present, or hereafter shall come, shall henceforth occupy their trade of merchandise: and use and enjoy their rights & Privelidges within their limits, as they have been accustomed in times past, we (only) retaining to ourselves the power to make provision for them of Camphor, Vlissing, and Armew, with other such like places, for all such necessaries as we shall see good and expedient.  
¶ We do you to understand also, that notwithstanding the proposition of three hundredth thousand Gildens, being demanded of us: the Citizens shall pay by general consent, such a reasonable some of Money to the mayntinance of the Army, and helping to drive away the Enemy of our native Land, and Country, according as we shall find it meet to cease them after their ability, not comprehending herein the Vplandysh men which have sustained and followed our adversaries, concerning whom we will here after consider off, and set order for them.  
¶ More over the Citizens shallbe bound to take diligent heed that none of the Merchandise, or spiritual Goods, or any other thing be conveyed privily, digged, or carried away: but shall forthwith, present all such goods & jewels as they shall know to be buried, convated away or given to any Body to keep, or otherwise belonging to spiritual, or other persons, that keep themselves without the Island of Walcheren: and that upon pain of bodily punishment.  
¶ Further, concerning the request of the Burgemasters aforesaid: (namely) that the Citizens, that are fled before this time, might now come again to their goods and possessions: we shall hereafter consider thereof, and dispose the same, as shallbe meet and convenient in that behalf.  
And also, touching the foresaid request of the Burgemaisters, and Commissioners of Middleborrow: concerning priests, spiritual persons, divine service, Churchegoods: and debts, made by occasion of this war: with other points given up by them in writing: the Priests and spiritual persons, shall depart with their habittes upon them: the rest, we shall dispose at time convenient, for the most profit of the City and country, in such reasonable order, as hereafter shallbe thought meet.  
* Given, in the Town of Vlissing, under our hand and Seal: the xix day of February. Anno. 1574.   

¶ Hereafter followeth a short rehearsal of the calamities, great hunger and extreme miseries, that they sustained in Middleborow and Armew, before they yielded up the said Towns.  
WHen they of Middleborow and Armew, saw that there was no more aid: and that all their provision, (aswell fuel, as meat and drink) was consumed: And that their hunger- (which is a sharp Sword) increased more & more: they imagined, how to save their wives & children: which they could not do, because they had admitted more Soldiers, than they were able to govern.  
Moreover, (that is to be lamented) the Colonel & his Soldiers, by great violence, have taken out of the poor citizens Houses, all kind of victuals wherewith they might have sustained the lives of their wives and children, beating them, & handling them most rigorously: yea, taking the bread and victuals, even out of the children's mouths: and carried all the provision of vittaylles, into their Camps and Trenches: not regarding the pitiful lamentations and complaints of the Cittezins. By these means, were the citizens constrained (with their wives and children,) to suffer a most miserable hunger, the space of seven weeks long: so that they were compelled to buy for their meat, Rats, Cats, Mice and Dogs: with the flesh of other Beasts, that are not meet for man to eat, and to pay for the same full dearly. For a pound of Horse flesh, was sold for. xii.d. a quarter of a Dog, was sold for two shillings four d. a Rat viii d. and a Mowce ii d.  
When this kind of sustenance was consumed and eaten: and that there was no more bread left: there wear found within the Towns certain Garners, wherein was Hempseed, and linseed, whereof the Citizens made them dread: And for asmuch, as they could not eat it after it was baked: they did knead it again with water, and baked it (as Wafers) in an Iron.  
But (alas,) by means thereof, the Citizens be so rotten and spoiled in their guts, that it is greatly to be doubted of their lives and healths.  
And when I call to mind, how that (aswell) the Elders, as others, must shut up their children from their neighbours and fellow citizens, I can not refrain me from weeping: As for Example: a woman of good credit, coming from Midleborrow, did most pitifully complain, that she was constrained to shut up her children three weeks long, lest they were taken from her to be killed and eaten. But all this while, the Colonel and his Soldiers lived of the bread and vittaylle that they had taken so long ago, till they wear come to half a pound of bread a day: after that to a quarter of a li. and at the last, to half a quarter of a pound. And finally, the Soldiers (for all their daintiness,) have been constrained to eat with the Citizens the oyllie Cakes. And the fat bellied and well fed Monks in the rich Abbey, died for hunger. Whereby may be considered, what great misery and hunger, the common Cittezins, with their wives and children, most lamentably have sustained.   

❧ To the Reader.  
WE mean not here (good reader) to hide from thee: how fair and fertile this country of Walcheren is: how profitable to all countries near by, that without it, neither Holland, Sealand, Brabande, and Flaunders: yea, the whole Navigation in no wise (can be maintained.  
And for asmuch: as, the poor chased Christians, have now (the space of seven years) been driven, from one Country to an other, & have been greatly tormented under the Cross: not knowing where they might have a resting place. Our God therefore, of his merciful goodness, (as it is evident to every man's sight) hath ordained this land of Walcheren, as a sure lodging and refuge, wherein the may maintain themselves in the time of this Pilgrimage. And thus, beseeching your goodnesses, that we may all together give hearty thanks to God: and to attribute this victory all only unto him, not doubting, but he will so proséede with the other countries that are yet under the Tyranny of the enemy: and so graciously deliver them: to the magnifying of his holy name, and the salvation of their souls. Amen.   

☞ THE CONCLUSION.  
FOr the accomplishment of that point afore rehearsed, making mention of the Lord St. Aldegonde and the other prisoners. The Colonel Montdragon, hath given his Letters of Obligation, that he shall deliver them, and set them at liberty, within two Months, either in Holland, Sealande, or any other place, that is under his majesties jurisdiction.  
For default whereof, on his behalf: the said Colonel, shall yield himself personally, within the foresaid space, into the hands of his excellent Majesty.  
¶ FINIS.  
ix. APRILIS.