Compare 1577 edition: 1 This yeare, by reason of the troubles in the low countries, Anno Reg. 18. 1576 the English merchants susteined great losses diuers waies. For the men of warre that kept the seas,English mer|chants su|steine great losse by sea; and why? aduowing themselues to be reteined with the prince of Orenge, vnder colour to serch for their aduersaries goods, oftentimes boorded the English ships as they met with them on the seas, smallie to the profit of them to whome the same ships and goods apperteined. Some they staied and tooke awaie with them. And at length there was a generall restraint made by the prince of Orenge, that no English ships should passe to or fro the towne of Antwerpe by the riuer of Scheld, such being arrested and detei|ned at Flishing as were comming downe that ri|uer, and other likewise that were bound vp the same time towards Antwerpe.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 The English merchants,The English merchants complaine to the quéene of their wrongs. féeling themselues thus molested and damnified at sundrie seasons, exhibi|ted their complainis to the quéenes maiesties coun|cell, who accordinglie dealt from time to time with the prince of Orenge and his deputies for redresse, but speciallie now vpon this generall restreint. And although great difficultie appeared in the matter, as|well for contenting of the aduenturors of Flishing, as for that there had beene foure ships belonging to the prince arrested and staied at Falmouth:These foure ships were staied for sa|tisfaction of one Simons ship, out of the which a Flishingec had taken cer|teine tuns of Canarie wines. at length yet such English ships as were kept and holden at Flishing were released and sent home; but not till two of the English merchants aduenturors Martin Caltrop & William Go|dard. men of good calling and estimation (hauing first as hath bin said made a certeine maner of protest) were faine to enter into bond for the loane of a summe of monie, and were therewith kept at Flishing till the con|tract in that behalfe might be performed. Whervpon the quéenes maiestie, misliking that hir subiects should be thus hardlie dealt with, armed and set foorth certeine of hir ships, which going to the seas to see that hir subiects might trauerse the same in safetie, tooke diuerse of the Flishingers vessels, and brought them into the English streames. The Flishingers herewith on the other part tooke and arrested other of the English ships,The troubles increase. so that the troubles séemed rather to increase than to be in any wise appeased: although afterwards by sending to and fro, the matter was taken vp, and such order had as was thought to stand verie well for the suertie, commoditie, and good li|king of the English merchants.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 But in the meane time, and before this could be brought to passe, through a disordered mutinie which chanced among the Spanish souldiers, it so fell out, that the states of those low countries agréed with the prince of Orenge, and set themselues wholie against the Spaniards. Wherevpon the yoong count de Eg|mont, the marquesse de Hauerie entered the towne of Antwerpe, with a power of souldiers for the States, and meant to haue kept that towne against EEBO page image 1263 the Spaniards that held the castell.This was the fourth of Nouember, 5500 one with another slain, drowned and burned. But they doub|ting to be inclosed & shut vp by some siege, got more of their fellowes to them, entred the towne by force, & spitefullle killing no small number of people, sac|ked the towne, and put aswell the townesmen as o|thers that were merchants resident there to their ransoms. Amongst other our Englishmen escaped not altogither frée, so as diuerse were spoiled of that they had, and the whole number put to their ransome; although vpon the sending ouer of doctor Wilson hir maiesties ambassador, so much of the ransome as remained vnpaid was promised to be remitted.