_Her_. I must begin then with a War was madeAnd seven years with all cruelty continuedUpon our _Flanders_ by the Duke of _Brabant_,The cause grew thus: during our Earls minority,_Wolfort_, (who now usurps) was employed thitherTo treat about a match between our EarlAnd the Daughter and Heir of _Brabant_: during which treatyThe _Brabander_ pretends, this Daughter wasStoln from his Court, by practice of our State,Though we are all confirm'd, 'twas a sought quarrelTo 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 FatherGood _Gerrard_ liv'd, yet in respect he wasChosen by the Countesses favour, for her Husband,And but a Gentleman, and _Florez_ holdingHis 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.