Now to answer all objections; I doubt not but it will be alleged that the Castle bestowed the said cannon shot at the town; because they of the town did not shoot at the Prince of Orange's ships, which lay within sight thereof: but alas it is easy to find a staff when a man would beat a dog.
For the truth is, that those ships did no greater hurt either to the town or Castle than friendly to waft up [convoy] all manner of grain and victuals for the sustenance of the said town: which even then began to want such provisions by reason that the said Spaniards had built a Fort on [the] Flanders side upon the same river [the Scheldt]; and thereby stopped all such as brought victual to the said town; burning and destroying the country near adjoining, and using all terror to the poor people, to the intent that Antwerp might lack provision.
And about the same time also, the Spaniards cut off a bridge, which was the open passage between Antwerp and Machlen [Malines], at a village called Walem [Waelhem], a manifest proof of their plain intent to distress the said town, and to shut up the same from the rest of Brabant: since they were walled in with the river on the one side; and on that other the Spanish horsemen occupied all the country, and so terrified the poor people as they durst not bring their commodities to the same.
All this notwithstanding, the chief rulers of the said town of Antwerp appeased the people; and put up [with] these injuries until they might be better able to redress them.
Soon after, the Spaniards, assisted by the treason of certain High Duches [Germans], entered the town of Maestricht upon a sudden; and put the same to sack: killing and destroying great numbers of innocent people therein. A thing to be noted. For that Maestricht had never revolted; but stood quiet under their garrisons, as faithful subjects to their King [Philip II]: and the one half thereof pertained also unto the Bishop of Liege, who had yet meddled nothing at all in these actions.
The chief rulers and people of Antwerp (perceiving thereby the cruel intent of the Spaniards; and doubting [fearing] their Duche [German] garrison, which was of the Count Oberstein's Regiment, as they were also which betrayed Maestricht) began to abandon the town, leaving their houses and goods behind them; and sought to withdraw themselves into some place of safer abode.
Whereat the Estates, being moved with compassion, and doubting that the town would shortly be left desolate, levied a Power of 3,000 Footmen and 800 or 1,000 Horsemen [mostly Walloons and Germans]; and sent the same, under the conduct of the Marquis D'Havré, the young Count [Philip] d'Egmont, Monsieur de Capres, Monsieur de Berselle [or Berselen], Monsieur de Gogines, and other Nobles and Gentlemen, to succour and defend the town of Antwerp against the cruel pretence [designs] of the said Spaniards.