And seven years with all cruelty continued
Upon our _Flanders_ by the Duke of _Brabant_,
The cause grew thus: during our Earls minority,
_Wolfort_, (who now usurps) was employed thither
To treat about a match between our Earl
And the Daughter and Heir of _Brabant_: during which treaty
The _Brabander_ pretends, this Daughter was
Stoln from his Court, by practice of our State,
Though we are all confirm'd, 'twas a sought quarrel
To lay an unjust gripe upon this Earldom,
It being here believ'd the Duke of _Brabant_
Had no such loss. This War upon't proclaimed,
Our Earl, being then a Child, although his Father
Good _Gerrard_ liv'd, yet in respect he was
Chosen by the Countesses favour, for her Husband,
And but a Gentleman, and _Florez_ holding
His right unto this Country from his Mother,
The State thought fit in this defensive War,
_Wolfort_ being then the only man of mark,
To make him General.

_Mer_. Which place we have heard
He did discharge with ho[n]our.

_Her_. I, so long,
And with so blest successes, that the _Brabander_
Was forc't (his treasures wasted, and the choice
Of his best men of Armes tyr'd, or cut off)
To leave the field, and sound a base retreat
Back to his Country: but so broken both