send them from Sluce to Sea or else through the channell of Iperlee into other Hauens of Flanders He had likewise prepared seuentie flat bottomed vessels in the little Riuer at Waten each of them beeing able to carrie thirtie horse with Bridges fit to ship them he had likewise two hundred more of these Boates though not so big readie in the Hauen of Newport He had rigd two and thirtie ships of warre at Dunkirke wanting mariners he drew diuers from Hambourg Breme and Embden He had two thousand emptie vessels readie at Grauelin which in a short space might be soon fastened together in maner of a bridge with all prouision to make bridges to choake vp hauens and to found them and neere to the Hauen of Newport hee had prepared great heapes of Fagots and other substance to make Gabions in many of his Boates were two Ouens to bake bread he had likewise great numbers of Saddles Bridles and furniture for horse with all sorts of ordnance and munition necessarie thereunto Beside he had a Campe readie not farre from Newport commaunded by Camillo the Campe-Master and thirtie Ensignes of Italians tenne of Walons eight of Scots eight of Burgonians in all fiftie sixe Ensignes euerie Ensigne an hundred men compleat Neere to Dixmuyde hee had sixtie Spanish Ensignes sixtie of Almans and seuen of reuolted English vnder the commaund of of Sir William Stanley The Earle of Westmerland and the Lord Paget English fugitiues were there likewise readie to imbarke In the suburbs of Courtray he had foure thousand horse 900 horse at Watene with the Marquesse of Guastos Cornet who was Generall of the horse Pope Sixtus the fist the better to strengthen the sayd Armie and weaken the Queene of Englands power did for his part doe all he could imploying his spirituall armes as they terme it published his Croizades and Bulls for the aduancement of this enterprise and gaue great pardons which were printed and distributed abroad He had likewise as it is reported giuen the Realme of England to the King of Spaine with this Title of Defender of the Christian faith commaunding him to surprise it on condition that if he should win it he should enioy it as a seodatarie to the See of Rome and to this end the Pope contributed a million of gold or ten ne hundred thousand ducats the one halfe in hand and the other when eyther England or some famous Hauen should bee woon And for the better furtherance thereof the Pope sent an English Doctor called Allen into the Low-countries who should haue had the managing of all Ecclesiasticall affaires He caused a declaration of the Popes to be Printed at Antuerpe confirming his predecessors sentence of excommunication deposing and degrading the Queen of England from all her titles and dignities as an vsurper which for the aduauncement of the enterprise he would haue published in England The Spanyard the better to couer and conceale his practises or else peraduenture to make the world beleeue that his designe was rather for the vnited Prouinces than for England made a solemne treatie of peace with the Queen at Bourbourg in Flanders But the Prouinces Towns and Forts neere to the Sea gaue aduertisements protested and sought all meanes to hinder and breake off this treatie of peace aduising the English rather to stand upon their Gard Yet some in England stood fast for peace or truce as most necessarie profitable for the State of their countrie as well for their traffique nauigation as to cut off the great expence of a long tedious war others by this meanes thought to diuert the fleet from them so to auoid the tempest In a word Parma hereby did lull full diuers Englishmen a sleep who were desirous of peace in the Low countries himselfe thinking on nothing lesse than peace studying how he might conquer England which he had alreadie promised to himselfe Whereupon the English the vnited prouinces were in some sort prepared for defence against the force of this fleet but not according to the greatnesse of the danger for it was giuen out that this great Armada was onely to conuey the Spanish fleet to the Indies and bring it safe home againe which was the rather belieued because the ships being so great some thought that the Spaniards would not hazard them in the narrow seas nere to England In May the French King sent a message to the Queene of England by which hee aduised her to prepare for defence for that he was truly enformed that this tempest wold light vpon her Wherupon the Queene speedily prepared a fleet of her owne ships and that of her subjects sent part thereof to Plimmouth in the West parts vnder the commaund of the Lord Admirall Charles Lord Howard of Effingham now Earle of Nottingham together with Sir Francis Drake Vice-Admirall to the number of 100 saile An other fleet lay betwixt Douer and Calais vnder the commaund of the Lord Henrie Seymer sonne to the Duke of Somerset to the number of 40 or 50 saile All England was in Armes vnder valiant and trusty Captaines And because it was reported that the Spanyards conjoyned with Parma would come vp into the Riuer of Thames a Campe was made nere Grauesend with forts on both sides the Riuer by Frederic Ienibelli an excellent Ingeneir The Queene came in person to the Campe like a second Tomyris or Pallas other Camps were likewise placed in other parts As for the vnited Prouinces of Holland Zeland c. they by a mutuall consent resolued to doe the like But because they vnderstood that the Spanish ships were too bigge to come nere their shallow shoares they were more afraid of Parma and his flat bottomed Boats notwithstanding their own incessiue broiles they made readie a fleet of ninetie vessels which they sent to gard al the Hauens of Flaunders euen from the Scheld and Lillo as farre as Grauelin and had placed strong Garrisons in all their Sea Townes And to make some opposition against the Spanish fleet they sent Captaine Cornelis Lonck of Rosendael with fiue and twentie or thirtie vessels to joyne with the Lord Henrie Seymer and to lye betwixt Calais and Antuerpe But the ships were by Tempest and Northerlie winds enforced to quit the coast of Flanders and to returne into England yet when the tempest ceased they returned with Iustinus of Nassau who was there in person with George le More Vice-Admirall of Zeland being in number fiftie fiue vessels great and small of 80 and two hundred and fiftie tunne excellently well mand with souldiers and mariners beside one thousand two hundred old choyce musquetiers drawne from all the Regiments who were resolute and skilfull in Sea fight This was dore to keepe Parmas fleet from comming forth of the Hauens which was a matter of most importance In the meane time on the nine and twentieth day of May 1588 the aforesaid mightie Nauie sayled forth of the Hauen of Lisbone vnder
conduct of the Duke of Medina to the Groine in Galicia which is the nearest Hauen to England where it tooke in more men and munition By the way a tempest arose which scattered them The Duke and some eightie sale kept together the rest followed by little and little except 8 which had spent their masts Of foure Portugal Gallies one escaped the rest were taken by an Englishman called Dauid Guyn wherein D. Diego de Medrena was slaine The fleet being refreshed at the Groyne commanded daily by the Kings Letters to depart did set fayle on the 21 of Iulie and held on it course till it came within kenning of England from thence by small boats they sent word to the Duke of Parma of their arriuall aduising him to embarke his forces for England They were discouered by an English Pinnace at the same time whē the English fleet lay at Plimmouth who supposed that the former tempest wold delay the enterprise of the Spanish Nauie wherupon the Lord Admiral of England receiued letters from the Qu how she had intelligence that the Spanish fleet wold not come forward or at least not in a lōg time that therfore the Admiral shold do well to discharge some of the great ships and send them away But he hauing receiued newes of their approch on the 29 of Iulie at foure of the clocke in the afternoone gaue speedie comaundement that the whole fleet should put forth of the hauen that the souldiers should bee embarked which was not done but with great difficultie The Lord Admirall the same night came in to the road with sixe ships and the next day by noone which was the 30 of Iulie they descried the Spanish Nauie which with a South West wind bent it course as it seemed directly towards Plimmouth but when they perceiued the English were forth of the hauen they passed on forward Here according to the opinion of some sufficient and vnderstanding men the Spanish fleet committed a great error for D. Alonso de Leyuas aduice was to haue gone and assaulted Plimmouth for therein was great likelihood of good successe seeing that the English were vnprepared had bad intelligence of the Spanish Nauie whereby they might haue surprised them on the sodaine That the hauen was verie fit and commodious for the aduauncement of their design that there they might haue made some trial of their valor had some proose of the strength of the English fleet the peoples affection and that by giuing an alarme to those parts the chiefe strength of the countrie would haue bin drawne thither and Parma therby haue had better meanes to haue come forth with his forces But their instructions from their king and his Councel forbad it who expresly commāded them not to enterprise any thing by the way but onely to joyne with Parma and together with his troopes and vessels to make an attempt vpon Margate which they thought might bee easily done which would haue so amazed the English Low-countrie fleet as each of them would haue withdrawne themselues to their own defence to keep their countries Hauens from inuasion It is reported that some of the chief of the Spanish commanders which were skilful in Nauigation among whom were the Vice Admiral D. Iuan Martin de Ricaldo Diego Flores de Valdez others had protested that it would bee an hard matter to follow those instructions especially in a Commission with such restrictions alleging that in such enterprises many matters were to be considered as the wind time and tyde to come forth of the Hauens of Flaunders into England with the places roads and deepenesse thereof which are subject to wind other hazards therfore verie dangerous But they were strictly tied to their cōmission which was to come to an anker before Calais where the prince of Parma should meet them with his flat bottomed boats and other munition which vnder the couert and protection of the great Nauie should passe on and land their forces in some part of the downes But as some of the Spanish prisoners reported their principall project was vpon the Riuer of Thames where they might on each shoare land their men and by passing vp the Riuer surprise the Citie of London the Metropolis of the kingdome whether the lesser vessels might follow them seeing that London not strong but rich mightie and populous and the inhabitants therof vnacquainted with warre might at the first encounter bee easily terrified They did likewise hope that the Queene should be badly obeyed and that some discontented faction might arise of Roman Catholikes According to their instruction and commission they went forward often aduertising the Duke of Parma of their arriuall and intention and so vpon the thirtieth of Iulie they passed Plimmouth The English forthwith followed and got the wind of them by which meanes they might assaile the Spanish fleet themselues not be assailed by it so that the two fleets made towards one another The next day beeing the one and thirtieth of Iulie the English came within musquet shot of the Spanish fleet The English admiral thundred with his ordnāce vpon the Spanish Vice-Admiral who perceiuing themselues to be greatly annoyed by the English Canon fell into a close forme of an halfe moone hoysting their sailes but halfe mast high because they would not fall soule one of an other Anon one of the Galleasses was fore opprest by certaine ships and their battaile so assailed as the chiefe Gallion of Sicile wherein was D. Pedro Valdez which D. Basco de Sylua and D. Alonzo de Sayas with diuers other noble men brake her mast against another ship so as she could not follow and the fleet would not stay to rescue her but left her behind The English Admirall looking on Valdez ship and supposing that there were no men in her went on with as many ships as hee had neere him beeing loth by night to loose the fleet For Sir Frauncis Drake who that night carried the lanterne gaue chase to fiue great ships diuided from the fleet and finding them to be Merchants of Norway let them goe so as the English Admirall did all that night follow the Spanish lanterne thinking himselfe among his owne men and in the morning finding that he was in the middest of his enemies he withdrew himselfe from so great daunger The morrow after which was the first of August Sir Francis Drake met with Valde◠ship wherein himselfe and foure hundred and fiftie men were and sent to hale her Valdez for his owne honor would haue propounded certaine conditions which hee sent to Drake who aunswered that he would not spend the time in treaties but if he would yeeld he should find fauour and on the contrarie if he would fight hee should find him a souldier Valdez and his people perceiuing that they were fallen into Drakes hands and moued by report of his fame yeelded themselues and found fauor Valdez with his gentlemen and
twentie vessels Whilest the fleet lay there the Duke of Medina sent aduertizement to Parma diuers Gentlemen went on shore to refresh theÌ„selues among others the Prince of Ascoli a braue young Lord who as some say was base sonne to King Philip who went to land in a happie houre because the ship wherein he came from Spaine did within a while after perish in Ireland with all her men The Duke of Parma hauing intelligence that the fleet lay vpon the coast of England made great hast to make one in person in that enterprise resigning the gouernement generall of the Countrie to old Count Mansfelt Himselfe went on Pilgrimage into Haynault to our Ladie of Halles and from thence returned towards Bruges where hee arriued on the seuenth of August The next day riding towards Dunkirke where his ship tarried for him he heard the report of the Canon betwixt the two fleets and the same night comming to Dixmuyde he had intelligence of the successe On Tewsday the ninth of August about noone he came to Dunkirke euen when the fleet was alreadie past none of his Ships daring to goe forth to giue them the least hope of aide because they were afraid of the thirtie fiue Hollanders that lay in gard vnder the conduct of the Admirall Iustine of Nassau which were excellently prouided of good mariners and beside the ordinarie souldiers with 1200 braue musquetiers and lay only there to keepe Parmas fleet from issuing out of the Hauen which was a matter of greatest importance As for the great ships they feared them not because the Sea was too shallow in those parts Beside all Parmas forces were not readie nor imbarked onely 700 reuolted English vnder Sir William Stanleys commaund were shipt and thought to get the aduantage by landing first in England His other souldiers were male content and vnwilling especially the mariners who were few in number the prouision likewise of Beere Bread and victuals was not yet readie nor imbarked The mariners were so afraid of the Hollanders as they ran away dayly fearing least the soldiers would enforce them to doe that which they knew could not be done Then they wanted Gallies from Spaine which might haue beaten the Hollanders from the coasts of Flaunders The Spanish fleet lying thus at anker before Calice the better to consult with the Duke of Parma concerning their enterprise they concluded to execute their designe on Friday the twelfth of August the night being darke The Admiral of England with the chief of his Councell determined to enforce them to weigh anker and to be gone or else to burne their fleet whereupon they appointed eight of their vnseruiceablest vessels to bee filled with wild fire and other combustious matter charging the ordnance in them vp to the mouth with small shot nayles and stone which on Sunday the seuenth of August in the afternoone they sent with the wind and tyde after that the men that were in them had forsaken and fired them directly vpon the Spanish fleet which fire did in the night so terrifie them supposing them to be some of those internall ships full of powder and wild fire with the Ingeueer Frederic Ionibelli had made vse of some three yeares before at Antuerpe against the Prince of Parmas bridge ouer the Scheld as crying out The fire of Antuerpe the fire of Antuerpe they presently cut their cables and in confusion did put to Sea In this amazement the Captaine of the great Galleasse fell soule of the cables of another ship and lost her tudder and beeing not able to saile without it was carried by the force of the Sea vpon the sands just before Calice whether it was pursued by certayne English Pinnaces which plaid vpon her vvith their ordnance but durst not boord her which the Lord Admirall perceiuing sent his great Pionace with two hundred souldiers vnder the commaund of Captaine Preston who all of them together boorded the Galleasse where the Generall D. Hugo de Moncada made braue defence for a while hoping of some succour from land but at last he was shot in the head and slaine and diuers other Spaniards with him part of whom leapt into the Sea thinking to escape by swimming who were all drowned The visitor Generall D. Antonio de Manriques with some others escaped and carried the first newes home into Spaine This great Galleasse wherein vvere three hundred slaues and foure hundred souldiers was for three houres pillaged wherein fiftie thousand Duckets of the Kings vvere found The English would at last haue burnt her but Gorâ—â—n the Gouernour of Calice would not permit it as a matter tending to the hurt and prejudice of his Towne and Hauen and with his canon plaid vpon the English The same day being the eight of August as the Spanish fleet sell againe into order it was again fiercely assailed by the English right ouer against Graueling where they voluntarily lost their aduauntage of the wind chosing rather to let the wind driue them before Dunkirke than to open themselues or change their order resoluing onely on defence Though the English had gallant tall ships yet but 22 or 23 of them were comparable to the Spanish which were ninetie But the English had the aduantage by being lighter better of saile so as they came oftentimes within a pikes length of them and discharged their whole tyre of ordnance vpon them and then their smal shot continuing it the whole day till their powder and shot began to faile and then they held it no discretion to boord the Spaniards who still kept themselues together in close order the English beeing satisfied with chasing them from before Calice and Dunkirke and keeping them from joyning with the Duke of Parma The Spaniards the same day receiued much hurt losing many men and had diuers of their ships shot through They likewise with their ordnance plaid fiercely vpon the English but did them no great hurt for they lost few men and neuer a Shippe or man of note and in all that time and in the whole journey they lost but an hundred men and yet Sir Frauncis Drakes ship had beene shot aboue fourtie times and his Cabbin twice shot through And towards the end of the fight a Gentlemans bed whereupon hee rested himselfe beeing weatie was taken from vnder him by a great shot And as the Earle of Northumberland and Sir Charles Blunt afterwards Lord Mountioy and Master Henrie Nowell sat at meate a demie Culuerins shot flew through the cabbin and ouerthrew 2 men The like accidents happened in other ships which wold be tedious to recite yet it appears that God did wonderfully assist the English For as the Lord Admirall wrote to the Queene there was no likelihood that the English in mans judgement and according to the apparance of the circumstances should haue dared to approch the Spaniards but that God had an admirable hand therein vnto whom they willingly ascribed all the honour of their
citizens of London in their liueries stood on both sides the street as she passed along Her maiestie and Lords gaue thankes vnto God and were present at a publike Sermon made in the Church-yard tending onely to thansgiuing and so with great acclamations of people that besought God to graunt her a long and prosperous life to his honour and ruyne of her enemies shee returned in the same manner as she came In this manner did this magnificent great and mightie Armada termed the inuincible and such an one as in many hundred of yeares the like had not beene seene vpon the Ocean vanish into aire to their great confusion which sent it forth in anÌ„ 1588. Whereupon the Queene of England was congratulated by all Princes her friends and neighbours and many millions of verses composed in her honour The Prince of Parma in 1588 besiegeth Berghen-op-Zoom And rayseth his siege and departeth the same yeare BErghen-op-Zoom is a Towne in the Duchie of Brabant the first and chiefest of the 17 Prouinces in the Low-countries In time past it was but a Seignorie but in anno 1533 the Emperour Charles the fist honoured it with the title of Marquisat It is the first Towne which yee leaue vpon the left hand as yee goe from Roomerswaell and Tholen which are townes of Zeland towards Antuerpe It hath beene a Merchant Towne not onely in our predecessors dayes but there are yet some liuing that haue so knowne it in their time whether Spanyards Frenchmen Almans English and Scots came to traffique It is seated in the middest of the mightie Nertherland Prouinces viz. of Brabant Flaunders Holland and Zeland It iâ— not the least part of the first for it is within sixe houres journey of Antuerpe the chiefe Merchant Citie of the Prouince The three other are opposit to it viz. Flaunders towards the South Holland towards the North and Zeland towards the West It hath also a verie good Hauen which diuides the South Countrie from that of the North for so are both the countries named scituate on each side of the Hauen which lieth but 535 foot from the towne where it turneth towards the West and diuiding it selfe into two armes it openeth it selfe runneth into the towne One of the Armes towards the South serueth certaine water mils and salt pits which now are within the town that towards the North makes the towns Hauen Berghen is in circuit 10175 foot beside the Bulwarks There is a verie high earthen rampier dikes round about it it is likewise in some places fortified with palisadoes in other parts which hedges wals on top of the rampiers there are also diuers new bulwarks made for the towns defeÌ„ce And though it be now miserably dissigured by the breaking downe of many faire and goodlie houses yet it hath at this day aboue 1000 that are inhabited diuers others ruined by war are daily new built to be made haibtable there are faire and large streets in it 3 faire market places the great market fish market and corne market there is likewise a goodlie Church in it The Marquis his court is a great ornament to it The rich Cloyster of Nuns is coÌ„uerted to an Hospital for the hoÌ„spital without the towne together with other buildings were ruined in time of war After that all Brabant Berghen-op-Zoom excepted by the duke of Parmas conduct was reduced vnder the Spanish gouernement the troopes of his Excellencie and my Lords the States made diuers incursions into the countrie especially then when the Duke of Parma had assembled all his forces at Dunkirke there waiting for the Spanish fleet Those of Brabant Flaunders and other prouinces vnder the kings obedience seeing and vnderstanding the defeat of the Spanish Armada and feeling to the quicke the spoyle which the souldiers of Berghen daily made protested against the Duke of Parma and made complaint that all the townes of Brabant obeyed the King Berghen-op-Zoom excepted which was a verie nest of theeties and receptacle of raskals from whence forces were daily sent to surprise poore trauellers and merchants that brought prouision that the same mischiefe did likewise often light vpon their Burghers who were vndone by imprisonment and great ransomes yet this might in some sort be tollerated prouided they might liue securely in their Townes but Beâ—ingh in the Countrie of Liege Viluord and Geldernack in Brabant could witnesse the contrarie hauing beene taken and sackt That by reason of Berghen all the Villages were vnder contribution and those that refused to pay it were burnt their houses ransackt cattell carried away and themselues made prisoners Yet if the Duke of Parma would bring his victorious Campe before Berghen wherewith hee had woon so many Townes the enemies joy conceiued by the retreat of the Spanish fleet vvould bee soone conuerted to sorrow And Berghen once taken a way would then lie open to surprise the Islands of Zeland one after an other at least Berghen and the Isle of Terthole might bee taken both at once These vvere the Barbanders complaints It is not to be doubted but that the Duke of Parma vvas much grieued at the flight of the Spanish fleet and for that he could not swallow England which he had alreadie deuoured in conceipt as appeares by the preparation which he caried with him to Dunkirke seruing rather to be carried away in triumph into England than by force to surprise so mightie a kingdome He was likewise badly beloued in the court of Spaine for not assisting the fleet in necessitie Now that he might in some sort wipe off this staine which blotted his reputation he enterprised to reduce the towne of Berghen vnder his commaund From that time diuers reports thereof were currant not onely in the Low-countries but also in England whereof her Majestie aduertised my Lords the States by letters dated at Greenwich the seuen and twentieth of August 1588. At the beginning of September when there was no more hope of the fleets returne and that the Duke of Parma was come backe from Flaunders into Brabant all men held it for certaine that some attempt would be made vpon Berghen Certaine horsemen of Bacx his companie sent forth for discouerie brought backe with them two prisoners who confidently reported that there was nothing more certaine than that Berghen should be besieged One of the prisoners was a Gentleman and an officer belonging to the ordnance and the other was master of the munition when our men tooke them nere to Eckeren castle and askt them whether they were going they answered that they went to the kings camp that lay before Berghen Being brought to the towne they assured vs that all things were in readinesse to besiege vs that before they were taken the armie was on the march and that they verily thought to haue found it before the town and wondered to find the contrarie they likewise affirmed that there were 36000 men horse and foot in Parmas campe The 9 of the said moneth of August the
Captaines was signified from the Admerall by shooting off a piece of ordnance and by displaying in the sterne two of the Princes ensignes The same night the fleet did againe set saile doubled the point of Zartenes there comming to an anchor expecting the Vice-Admeral of Amsterdam But all that night they could not descrie her so as in the Morning on the thirtieth of May they went forward with a Northwest wind shaping their course East-North-East and about Noone they came neere to Beuersier with a faire wind which did blow from West-North-West but towards night they were becalmed In the euening the formost ships tooke off some of their sailes tarrying for those that were hindmost The last of May by day breake they came in ken of the Isle of Wight directing their course Eastward with a Westerlie wind About Noone the ayre was cloudie so as the Fleet durst not approach the shoare but lessened their sailes putting to Sea The first of Iune in the Morning they descried Gausteert directing their course towards Plimmouth and there stayed tarriing for the two Brigantines they had sent abroad who whithin a while after came to the Admerall whereupon another martiall Councell was held after which the fleet with full saile shaped their course South-South-East but towards Euening the ayre began againe to be cloudie and the night was verie calme The ninth by day breake the whole fleet came vpon the coast of Galicia neere to Viuero and holding their course North-East to the Northward and North-North-East towards Euening they came right ouer against the Cape Ortegall which lyeth some 11 German leagues from the Groyne In the night the wind â—urnd North-East and by North and being come to the height of 44 degrees 24 minutes the said Cape stood off from them 5 leagues South-East to the Southward The tenth of Iune they set saile with a South-West wind towards East-South-East along the shoare towards the Groyne which they descried about Noone making all things readie to assaile it It is a Sea towne in Galicia standing in the height of 43 degrees and twelue minutes on the North-side of the line opposit to England and Ireland one hundred and fifteene German leagues from Plimmouth being seated on a triangular Cape in a deepe and spacious Bay where not onely the sayd Towne hath a goodlie Hauen but Ferol Ponta de Mas Pitança and Fontuna haue the goodliest and most commodious Ports of Christendome In which regard the king of Spaine had lately fortified it with many Castles and there and at Ferol he rigd his fleet for England Ireland and the Netherlands together with that of this present yeare In some sort to hinder the preparation of that Spanish Fleet and there to destroy the King of Spaines ships and meanes the Admerall Vander-Does was commaunded to assaile the Groyne with his fleet To this end on the eleuenth of Iune the wind being North-West to the Westward the six aboue mentioned ships went before towards the Groyne to see how things were there ordered directing their course South-South-East towards the Cape de Prior where they stayed to the Southward of the Towne Those of Ferol descrying these ships sent forth two shalops to know what they were because the day before they had seene the fleet at Sea These ships went before the wind to attend these shalops which suspecting somewhat kept aloofe off and would not come neere but our men cried out aloud saying that they came from Hambourg and that they were loaden with marchants goods and onely wanted a pilot to carrie them into the Groyne By this means our men got one of the shalops to come aboord and tooke a Spaniard but those that were in it made all the hast they could to escape The Spaniard whome they had taken prisoner was one of the Kings seruants and was come the same day from the Groyne He being brought to the Admerall told him that some 4000 foot certain horse with 36 carts of siluer readie coyned 300 pipes of wine were come to the Groyn to furnish the future Spanish fleet After dinner the whole fleet came before the Groyne where they met with the Vice-Admerall of Amsterdam The Groyne and the aboue mentioned Castles were well prouided of strong garisons ordinance munition and other necessaries hauing a long time before had intelligence of the comming of this fleet by Hispaniolized French and Dutch The Admerall Vander-Does at his first ariual did presently with all his ships fall beneath the towne casting anker at 13 12 and 21 fathom Those in the towne and Castles plaid furiously with their ordnance vpon our men so as in a short space they made more than 200 shot Beneath the towne 12 great Gallions lay with certaine other French ships which likewise discharged their ordnance vpon vs yet their shot did no hurt to our fleet onely one vessell was spoiled The Admerall perceiuing such resistance sent for all the Captaines and Officers to come aboord his ship to consult together how they might best assaile the enemie yet in regard the Citie was so well prouided they thought it not fit to hazard the whole fleet or for one town to lose their good fortune in atchiuement of other enterprises And therefore the fleet went thence not medling with the towne and because it was verie calme weather they caused their boats to towe their ships lying still open to the shot both from the towne and castle which did them no harme Toward euening the wind rose so as the whole fleet was vnder saile holding their course South-South-east towards Cape Saint Vincent that they might on a sodaine surprise Saint Lucas Saint Lucas is a towne in Andaluzia on the Southern coasts of Spaine at the mouth of the Riuer of Seuill in the height of 39 degrees 40 minutes but the Admerall Vander-Does being already gon beyond S. Lucas left off that enterprise because the time was to far spent the wind stood faire for the Canaries making preparation to inuade those Islands which are in number 7 viz. the graund Canarie Palma Tenerifa Forteuentura Fero Gomera and Lancerotta They are not far one from another and are seated betwixt 27 and 30 degrees from the line they are all called Canaries after the name of the fertilest of them heretofore called Canarie and now the Grand Canarie These Islands by ancient writers were in former times termed the fortunate Islands in regard of the aboundance of all necessaries and fruitfulnesse of the soile producing all things fit for the sustenance of mans life but especially the grand Canarie Palma and Tenerifa which do not onely produce all necessaries in aboundance but likewise sugars wine and oile and such like commodities wherewith they store Europe and other Countries These Islands haue been a long time subiect to the Spaniards who now remaine there and are not inhabited by their auncient inhabitants who now are all rooted out But by whom and how they were
cheape there than in Holland or Zealand in regard they paid no imposition The Duke of Holst brother to the King of Denmarke with Count Iohn of Nassau Count Hohenlo and the Earle of Northumberland came from England thither to view the manner of the fortifications Count Saint Paul Gouernour of Picardie was likewise onward on his way thither but by a contrarie wind was caried into Zealand yea Henry the fourth the great French king came in August to Calais to vnderstand the particularities of that siege from whence hee sent one of his Lords to visite the Archduke who likewise sent Count Solre to the king Count Chastillon a gallant noble and valorous Lord nephew to the great Admerall of France commaunded the French forces in Ostend and as by vnluckie chance hee stood on the top of the Sand hill viewing the Gabions in companie of the gouernour the Lord Vander Noot Colonell Huchtenbroeck gouernour of Saint Andrewes fort and Brog Lieutenaunt Colonell to the Scots with diuers other gentlemen the scalpe of his head was caried away with a canon bullet so as the braines and bones flew in the face of Huchtenbroeck Captaine Brog and others Within a while after namely on the last of September the said Colonell Huchtenbroeck was likewise slaine and was much lamented as also a French Captaine named Pomarend It would bee an impossibilitie to set downe the names of all the Captaines which dyed both within and without the towne together with the sundrie accidents which daily happened there with so small terrour and amazement as is almost incredible custome wholy banishing feare Among others a souldier bought a loafe of bread which hee held vp in his hand shewing it to one of his fellowes and in the meane time a bullet tooke away the one halfe of it whereupon the souldier merrily sayd that there was some good fellowship in him that made that shot because hee left him some bread and tooke not all away An English gentleman of the age of twentie yeares had in a sallie his right arme shot off with a Canon bullet hee tooke it vp and carried it along with him to the Surgeons who drest him which done hee tooke his arme with him to his lodging where without beeing sicke or distempered he held it in his left hand saying this is the arme which to day at dinner serued the whole bodie An other souldier hauing his arme shot off and beeing verie weake was led away by two of his fellowes as hee went along an other bullet tooke away one of his legs of which hurt he presently dyed those two which led him being in no sort hurt A Grocer standing in his shop was slaine with a great shot and beeing laid in a coffing the bodie was caried away with a Canon bullet A yong man beeing on horse backe his horse was slaine vnder him with a bullet which entred at his hinder parts and came forth at his brest and yet himselfe had no harme onely his breeches were torne a sunder betwixt his legs with the wind of the bullet A Sea Captaine beeing in conference with one who layd his arme vpon the Captaines shoulder it was taken away by a great shot the Captain hauing no hurt but only astonied with the wind of the canon It fell out likewise oftentimes that the enemie discharging his ordnance the bullet flew into the mouth of our canon which was charged and setting it on fire two bullets were sent backe in steed of one Diuers other strange accidents happened there among so manie millions of shot for the first ten weeks both from the town and enemies campe more than threescore thousand Canon shot were spent beside fire-works to burn downe the town building which tooke no great effect in regard the houses were low Now this is not strange for the meaning of the Spaniards was to win the towne with their ordnance and to make it a heape of stones and ashes but the besieged shot as much as the enemies dismounting their canon and tearing downe their forts For there was neuer any place among Turks Heathen or Christians where so manie shot haue beene bestowed on either side the canons beeing so worne and the holes made so wide as the like hath not bin seene The foureteenth of August Generall Vere beeing on the Sand hill was hurt in the head with a wodden splinter and because his wound was daungerous the surgeons told him that he must withdrawe himselfe to some quiet place free from the noice of ordnance whereupon hee went from Ostend and remained for a time in Zealand The besieged made braue sallies wherein the enemies were still put to the worst the foure and twentieth of August our men made two sallies the first by the English alone the second by Dutch and English of whom some nine or ten were slaine and thirtie hurt but of the enemies many moe were slaine who still repulsed our men and when their foot men were too weake they made vse of their horsemen among whom the ordnance made great slaughter so as this siege was verie bloudie and long as it shall appeare by the sequell of the Historie The enemies were often at variance among themselues because many of their attemps had no good successe They were intrenched in the West downes in seuen or eight trenches the one higher than the other according to the nature of the ground their trenches beeing conioyned with fagots and sand further off from these they had made an other trench with platformes for their ordnance which extended as far as their fort in the ruined churchyard betwixt the forts of Grooten-dorst aud Isabella standing on the riuer Yperlee where likewise Saint Clares fort stood and part of the camp of the Southern quarter from whence they had made a way with fagots as farre as the Eastern campe Count Frederick Vandenbergh had made a trench to the Southward opposite to the Englishmens trenches on the Polder well fortified with ordnance and batteries D. Augustino de Mexia with some eight thousand men commanded that quarter on the East side of the town neere to the bridge was another campe likewise wherein lay two thousand men vnder Count Frederick Beside they had a companie of reuolted English commaunded by Captaine Floud and foure cornets of horse Three thousand men did euerie night gard the camp Captaine Catrice had chiefe commaund of the trenches with one Simon Antonio Matheo Serrano was lieutenant generall of the ordnance D. Lewis d' Auila Balthazar Lopes D. Iuan Panrache were Sergeant Majors of the Army The Regiments of the Earles Solre Bucquoy Frisin Achicourt and others where there who agreed but badly with the Spaniards whose intollerable pride they could not endure The mutinie in certaine forts was not wholy quieted but the mutiners were sent to Saint Winocks Bergue till they might receiue their full pay which came too late so as they reduced the whole countrie vnder contribution Archduke Albert was in person in the
Frontiers payd nothing towards this contribution for they were very poore and behind hand so as none but these 13 Prouinces and Townes contributed namely Brabant Flaunders Artois Haynault Valenciennes Lille Douay Orchies Holland Zeland Namur Tournay Tournesis Malines and Vtrecht yet we must not thinke that the rest are excluded from conuocations and generall Assemblies The Low Countrey is in circuit 340 Flemmish Leagues or one thousand Italian or English miles There are more than two hundred walled Cities in it and one hundred and fifty Townes which haue the priuiledge and iurisdiction of Cities with aboue 600 Villages but during these long warres they haue been very much lessened and ruined And to giue satisfaction to the curious reader I will here set downe a generall number whereby he may know how many townes and villages there are in euery Prouince Namely in the foure Dutchies Townes Villages Brabant 26. 700. Luxembourg 23. 1169. Limbourg 5. 123. Guelders 24. 300. In the eight Counties Townes Villages Holland 33. 400. Zeland 10. 101. Flanders 35. 1178. Artois 12. 754. Haynault 24. 950. Namur 4. 184. Zutphen   The Marquisat   In the fiue Seigniories Townes Villages Vttrecht 5. 70. Frise. 11. 345. Ouer-Ysell 11. 101. Gronninghe 1. 145. Maliues 1. 9. In old time before the Natiuitie of Christ the Romans and Iulius Caesar comprehended this countrey vnder Gaule Belgik or Belgia a name imposed vpon it by her neighbors because the Inhabitants were hawty and bould people not induring the losse of their libertie or preiudice of their customes and priuiledges So that as Caesar writes they are the strongest and valiantest nation of the Gaules They had in those dayes sundrie names as Germans Batauians Frisons Aduatici Menapians Atrebates Neruins and Morini c. The Germans are at this day called Almans the Batauians are the Hollanders and partly those of Guelders the Frisons those of Frise the Aduatici those of Antuerp the Menapians partly those of Guelders and Cleue the Atrebates those of Arras and places neere adioyning the Neruins those of Tournay the Morini Flemings c. Concerning the scituation of the sayd countries it is for the most part champaine except the Prouinces of Luxembourgh Limbourg Namur and Haynault where the countrey is hilly and part of Brabant Flanders Guelders and Ouer-Ysell is sandie All the Prouinces are generally fruitfull and those which lye to the Southward beare some vines The higher parts of the countrey afford pleasant groues of all sorts of trees the Champayne abounds with all kind of cattell the woods are stored with birds fowle the Sea and riuers are full of fish there are braue and goodlie horses bred in Flanders Holland Zeland Friseland though the ayre be grosse and moist yet in all places the Sea side except it is good and wholesome It is a countrey which for traffique is commodiously seated for all the chiefe countries of Europe in regard of her great Riuers as the Rhyne which descendeth from the mountaines of Swisserland and diuiding it selfe into three branches runneth through Germany some part of the Netherlands emptying it selfe into the German Ocean next the Danubium it is the greatest ryuer of Europe the Meuse runnes from the mountaynes of Burgundy as farre as Langres the Scheld comes from Picardie and Vermandois Besides the Sea doth so fauour them as in two dayes two nights they may saile from home to Norway and in fiue or sixe dayes to Denmarke and from thence to Swethland Westward they may in few houres goe into England and from hence along the coast of Fraunce into Spayne and to the East and West-Indies For this cause the Low Countries especially Holland and Zeland are very rich in shipping wherein the greatest part of their power all their traffique and wealth consists so as it is almost incredible to beleeue that sometimes there are seuen or eight hundred great Ships readie to set sayle into the East besides those which goe towards the West into England France Spayne Italy the Islands and along the coast of Africk and to the East West Indies all of them being well manned and prouided Besides merchants ships there are many hundred other which in the countrie language are termed Buysen Doog-booten and Crabbens with which they goe a fishing for Herring Cod and Salmon When they goe to fish for Herrings there will be sometime seuen or eight hundred of these Buysen or Booten which euery yere make three voyages to Sea so as the wealth which the Inhabitants of this countrey get by Sea is not to be reckoned nor the Mariners numbred which liue thereby for the townes and villages abound in women and children which do nothing but weaue Nets and in great multitudes of people whose occupation is to build ships The Netherlanders are for the most part tall strong faire and cleane timbred Euery Prouince doth a little participat with her neighbours dispositions as those who dwell towards the East doe somewhat resemble the Easterlings those of the South the Almans they in the West the French Their apparell is comely but not so costly as the Germans who therein follow the curiositie and new fashions of their neighbours they are giuen to drink but not so much as the Almans nor so vsually as three or fourscore yeares agoe they are of a setled iudgement and constant in all their affaires seldome wauering either in prosperity or aduersity they are witty and industrious and apt to inuent all maner of arts to comprehend and teach them and therein surpasse all other Nations they are neuer idle but euer in action much addicted to trade of merchandise the which more than other nations they seek through the whole world they are very seruiceable to all men and not so proud and ambitious as other people But they are naturally sparing and louers of gaine which makes them willingly see other countries so as in euery place a man shall find Dutchmen The women are likewise verie seruiceable and giue themselues to all sorts of worke which in other Countries seruants will refuse to doe they likewise trade in merchandise and in al honest maner conuerse with men they detest adultery notwithstanding that they often want their husbands companies this may perhaps seeme strange to diuers Nations They soone learne and speake all maner of Tongues their antient speech is high Dutch vpon the Frontiers of France they speak Wallon a corrupted Language their Speech is rough but very rich and perfect surpassing all other Languages in antiquitie and perfection for it hath more than 2170 words monosillables as Simon Steuin of Bruges witnesseth in his booke called the Rudiments of the art of weighing where he sets them downe thereunto adding a discourse concerning the worthinesse of the Low Dutch Tongue fit to be read of all those that loue the sayd Language which is in a maner the very same that was spoken 1700 yeres agoe in
continued by himselfe Forasmuch as officers and Magistrats are appointed in Townes and places according to the prerogatiues respectiuely giuen to the Lords Townes Villages by the Princes of these Countries In this regard we cannot violate them But his Excellencie for the better seruice of these Countries will prouide that the Magistrats and officers bee honest and well qualified people And for that which concerneth the establishment of Counsellors Commissioners of Townes and Colledges His Excellencies meaning is to conferre with the States about these matters as he shall find it to be expedient for the seruice and commoditie of the Countrie He will likewise giue order that the Townes and Forts of Block-zijl and Cuyndert shall be fortified maintayned garded and prouided of all necessaries He will by all meanes preuent and hinder that no sedition arise among the inhabitants This belongs to the Gouernour of the Prouinces and to the ordinarie officers and Magistrats thereof And because the Commission for Captaineship of the Castle of Medenblick was by his Excellencie graunted onely by Prouiso he intreats his Excellencie to giue and confirme it absolutely vnto him Forasmuch as the Captaineship of the of Castle Medenblick is an ordiofficenarie of the Countrie which according to the priuiledges therof cannot be administred but by any such an one as is born in the Low countries his Excellencie cannot graunt it contrarie to the sayd priuiledges seeing that the Generall was not borne there Done by aduice at the Hague the 21 of Ianuarie 1588 and subsigned By me William Mostaert All this thus done those of Medenblick continued obstinat the souldiers mutined and would not depart till they had receiued the arrerages They disarmed the Burghers and caried their armes to Gouernour Senoys house and enforced them euerie weeke to giue them pay My Lords the States sent the Lords of Famas and Swevenseell Peter Kyes Burgomaster of Harlem and Master Adrian Antonie Burgomaster of Alckmaer to them who presented the arrerages to the mutinous souldiers and greater pay than to any other that serued the States but they would neither giue audience to these Commissioners nor to other which were sent after them but went a boothaling vp and downe the Countrie constrayning the Boores in hostile manner to pay them their entertainement which to speake truely was a matter of great consequence and might easily haue ruined all North-Holland if my Lords the States had not in time preuented it who resolued by force to master these mutines giuing ample power to his Excellencie to put it in execution who together with the Marshall Villers who was newly set at libertie from his imprisonment brought certaine companies of souldiers Burghers of neighbour towns and some ships of warre before the Towne who did in such sort besiege and nerely presse it as those within it began to remember themselues and so to consider the present daunger as they began in some sort to change their minds And perceiuing that the Earle of Leycester had wholly giuen ouer the gouernement and had surrendred into the generall States whose authoritie by their resolution did dayly increase and that they could not but expect some great mischiefe in recompence of their obstinacie the matter was at last so handled by meanes of Sir Henrie Killegrew the Lord Willoughby and other English Lords as those of Medenblick hauing beene besieged till the Moneth of Aprill the Generall Senoy and his soldiers made an accord with his Excellencie and deliuered the Towne into his hands The Generall and souldiers went forth of the Towne with passeport which his Excellencie and his troopes entred where he ordered all matters necessarie for the better assurance of the Towne Generall Senoy went to Alckmaer where with sundrie reasons hee would haue excused himselfe Those of Medenblick and others did greatly endammage him in his goods whereupon in anno 1590 he went into England to make his complaint to her Maiestie who in the yeare 1592 propounded his case to my Lords the States by her Agent Thomas Bodley on the fist day of Iulie which propositions were by them amply resolutely answered to the Agents satisfaction During these ciuile and intestine troubles as well in Holland Zeland and other Prouinces by certaine innouators and some English who sought their owne particular profit more than their Queenes honour newes was brought that on the twentie ninth of May 1588 the dreadfull renouned mightie and inuincible Spanish Armada lanched forth of the hauen of Lisbone and sayled towards the Groyne to execute her King and Councels Commission And because it was so extraordinarie and potent a fleet as to speake indifferently thereof it was sufficient to haue destroyed and subuerted whole Kingdomes and Countries we will as well as we can make a description thereof which we haue taken forth of the most autentick Authors to the glorie of God who looking vpon these countries in the middest of their troubles with the eyes of his mercie did free and preserue his seruants from so mightie a fleet and from so many bloudie hands thereby shewing how weake humane strength is when it is not fortified and supported by his strong and mightie arme who beeing Lord of all creatures can onely by his winds and tempests ruiue and ouerwhelme the hautie and proud resolution together with the King of Spaines whole power So as verie few ships of so potent a fleet returned safe home into their Countries A true description of the most mightie Armada set forth by Philip the second King of Spaine which being assembled in the Riuer before Lisbone the chiefe citie of Portugall sailed towards the Low-countries the 29 and 30 of May 1588 vnder the conduct and commaund of the Duke de Medina Sidonia appointed by the King of Spaine as Captaine Generall thereof PHilip the second of that name King of Spayn hauing with small aduantage made war in the Low-countries for the space of 21 yeres did with his Councel resolue once more to inuade those Countrieâ— by sea supposing that notwithstanding he had in former time attempted to make himself master therof by sea had bin euer enforced to retreat because he had not attempted it with power sufficient for this cause he was desirous at once to imploy all his forces the rather because England was his enemie so as he resolued first to inuade England which Escouedo Secretarie to D. Iohn of Austria some other malitious Spanyards together with some rebellous Englishmen supposed would be sooner won than Holland Zeland maintaining it to be more profitable for the king to inuade England and the Low-countries by sea than continually to entertaine a mightie fleet for defence of the voyages to the East West Indies against the English and Hollanders For execution of which resolution each of the Kingdomes in Spayne for their part haue rigd and mand as many gallions galleasses gallies other vessels as the King and his Councell
likewise taken in Scotland that small aide should be giuen them there and that Norway could yeeld them but bad assistance they tooke certaine fisher boats in Scotland and carried away the men to serue them for pilots and fearing to want water they threw all their horse and mules into the Sea so sayling with a faire wind they passed on betwixt the Orcades the farthest part of Scotland landing in no place bent their course Northward to the height of 62 degrees still keeping 80 leagues from land There the Duke of Medina the Generall gaue commaundement that euerie ship should direct her course towards Biscay and himselfe with twentie or fiue and twentie of the best ships prouided with all necessaries sayled more to Sea ward and so arriued in Spaine but the others to the number of fortie saile or more with the Vice-Admirall bent their course towards Ireland hoping there to take in water and to refresh themselues But the God of Armies who abateth the pride of great ones raiseth vp the humble and hath all authoritie ouer his creatures who commaundeth the Seas windes and tempests caused the Sea to swell and a terrible tempest to arise on the first of September from the South-West which dispersed them for the most part into sundrie places of Ireland where many of them perished and among others the Gallion of Michaell of Oquendo one of the great Galleasses two great Venetian Argozies the Ratta and the Balanrara with diuers others to the number of 38 saile and all their men Some of them with a Westerlie wind came againe into the English Seas some others into England and other some were taken by the Rochellers One great Galleasse the tempest carried into Fraunce to Newhauen where they found ships full of women who had followed the fleet There remained two likewise in Norwey but the men escaped To conclude of one hundred foure and thirtie saile that came from Spaine some three and fiftie of all sorts returned home to wit of foure Galleasses and as many Gallies there returned of each one of ninetie one great Gallions eight and fiftie were lost and thirtie three returned of Pinnaces seuenteene were lost and eighteene returned So that in all fourescore and one Galleasses Gallies and other Ships great and small perished Two of those Gallions that returned home lying in the Hauen were by casualtie set on fire and burnt and others since then met with the like mischiefe Of 30000 men that were in the fleet the greatest part of them were slaine or drowned and most of those that returned home died by reason of the miseries they had indured The Duke of Medina Sydonia being a braue Lord and well experienced vpon whom they had imposed that burthen much against his will laid the fault vpon his Pilots and on want of the Duke of Parmas forces which were not readie He was suffered to goe home to his own house but not to come to Court where it was thought he had much to doe to purge him selfe from the calumnious accusation of his enemies Many other noble men died soone after as D. Iuan Martines de Ricaldo D. Diego de Valdez Michel Oquendo D. Alonso de Lieua D. Diego de Maldonado D. Francisco Bouadillo D. Georgio Manriques all of the Councell of warre Diuers were drowned as among other Thomas Perenot of Granuell of Cauteroy nephew to Cardinall Granuell D. Diego Pimentel Campe-master and Colonell of thirtie two Ensignes remayned prisoner in Zeland with diuers others taken in the same ship D. Pedro Valdez a man much respected in his Countrie was prisoner in England with D. Vasco de Sylua and D. Alonzo de Sayas Many Gentlemen were drowned in Ireland and many slaine by the Irish. Sir Richard Bingham Gouernour of Conach had receiued two hundred of them to mercie but vnderstanding that a troope of 800 of them were landed and in armes he thought it fit for his owne better safety to kill the 200 of whom some escaping carried tidings to the 800 who were likewise going to craue mercie as they sayd but thereby despairing they returned and made readie an old decayed vessell in which they put to Sea where they were all drowned and many Gentlemen with them Yet D. Alonso de Luson Colonel of thirtie two ensignes of the Tertios of Naples with D. Rodrigo de Lasso and two noble men of the house of Corduba were from thence sent into England who were deliuered to Sir Horace Paluicin by them to set the Lord Odet of Teligin at libertie who had beene taken nere to Antuepe and lay in prison in the Castle of Tournay In a word therere was no noble house in Spain which in this fleet lost not either a son brother or kinsman There were aboue 1200 souldiers and mariners prisoners in sundrie places in England with 30 Gentlemen and commaunders whom the Queene released for meane ransome Those ships which escaped from the English and Hollanders and from the Irish rockes and tempests of the Ocean being few in number did after much labour miserie and daunger returne into Spaine leauing behind them as hath beene alreadie sayd so many ships of sundrie sorts so many Lords of note Gentlemen braue souldiers good mariners and others such store of ordnance and warlike munition money plate jewels and other wealth which if it should be seuerally reckoned would amount to an incredible summe of money But by how much this fleet was great strong and potent by so much more likewise was the victorie great and greater occasions haue these two countries to be thankefull to that great and inuincible God to honor and serue him all the dayes of their life for preseruing and defending them from so great daunger In this regard the Queene of England and my Lords the States of the vnited Prouinces did whilest the fleet houered vpon their coasts appoint sundrie dayes of prayer and fasting beseeching God to turne away so great imminent danger from them and their countrie and not to looke vpon their sinnes which had deserued such a punishment but to aide and assist them for the glorie of his name and for or Iesus Christs sa ke seeing it was his owne cause which the Pope and King of Spaine sought to exterminat And because these praiers were made to Gods glorie and in praise of his inuincible power he therefore heard them and graunted their requests And a good while after the fleet was gone namely vpon the 19 of Nouember the Queene in England and my Lords the States in the Low-countries appointed a solemne day for thanksgiuing which was spent in preaching praying and hearing the word of God The Queene of England for so great a deliuerance made a Christian triumph in the citie of London and went with all the Lords and officers of her Kingdome in solemne manner vpon a triumphant Charriot from her Palace to the Cathedrall Church of Saint Paule where the Spanish ensignes and banners were hung vp The
anno 1566 had presented the supplication He had continually borne armes for the countrie and was now master of the ordnance he was verie much lamented The towne of Ootmaersen was battered with the canon and enforced to yeeld on composition on the thirtieth of Iulie like the towne of Steenwijck That done his Excellencie did in August besiege Coevoerden those within it burnt the houses nere adjoyning perceiuing that Prince Maurice with his trenches made his approch hap taken away the sluces from them and drawne the water forth of the dikes taken the Counter-scarp of the Castle broken down the bridge Count Frederick of Berghen hauing prouided all places round about did with a strong garrison enter into it himselfe it was a strong towne and famous for the situation thereof it was artificially fortified on such foundations as the Lord of Senoy had formerly begun to lay Prince Maurice his souldiers being vpon the Counter-scarp did for their defence make a gallerie in the dikes vnder couert whereof they might easily come to the rampier to digge and Myne without daunger of the enemies canon which they soone effected by the helpe of a Cauallier they made they did also beat down a Rauelin with much to do sundrie Mynes were made in the rampiers which still sunke the besieged made counter-mynes which by taking aire were vnprofitable yet our men did not giue ouer myning fired some of them whereupon an assault was giuen so as they got vpon the rampiers where by meanes of the Cauallier they fortified themselues tooke from the besieged all meanes of defence as they had done at Steenwijck They within the towne began to be discouraged hoping still for succor they likewise wanted water and other necessaries The Councell of State of the vnited Prouinces hauing intelligence that the Duke of Parma made preparations to enter Frizeland leuied a regiment of supplies vnder the commaund of Colonel Stolberg who passed Muster nere to a place called Heerenberg in the presence of Count Hohenlo For Count Philip of Nassau was sent into Fraunce with three thousand men and the Queene of England had likewise called away her forces to send them into Fraunce and were alreadie departed from the armie and gone as farre as Swoll but vpon intelligence of the Duke of Parmas comming they were countermaunded Count Philip in the meane time and his troopes returned opportunely from Fraunce who were sent to Garrison in Holland to be refreshed And the old Garrisons were presently sent to the armie and other some to Grauenweert the better to anoy and stop Parmas passage The armie was but weake and by reason of the bad waies the campe could not be well prouided of victuall and munition Verdugo gouernour of Frizeland for the Spaniards had earnestly solicited the duke of Parma for men and money which in great abundance was at the same time sent from Italie thereupon Parma graunted that the regiments of Count Charles of Mansfelt Mondragon Gonzaga the two regiments of Arenberg and Barlaymont with certaine horse and ordnance should march to his ayd with these he crossed the Rhyne making a Fort on the other side of the riuer and so marched towards Groll and from thence to Oldenzeel where they arriued on the third of September Verdugo hauing assembled all the forces in the countrie nere adjoyning and vnderstanding the want and extreamitie of those of Coeverden marched towards Herderberg where he thought to haue encamped but changing his mind on a sodaine he went to the Dorp of Vlsen and from thence to Imlichen in the countie of Benthem not farre from Coeverden in a place commodious for victuals Prince Maurice hauing intelligence thereof sent three hundred horse to view and skirmish with them but he could not draw them forth of their aduauntage he tooke a certaine boore whom hee suspected to carrie letters to the enemie wherein he was not deceiued for the boore feaâ—ing to be hanged deliuered them vnto him wherein Verdugo acquainted those of Coevoerden how hee intended the next day to come and relieue them through Count Hohenlo and the horsemens quarter For he was enformed of the scite and estate of his Excellencies campe by a gentleman whose name was Iohn Steenwijck who had told him that it was an hard matter to approch the towne whereupon he made choyce of this morish place as least garded and suspected Prince Maurice strengthened this place with men and ordnance which was planted on the high way through which the enemie was to passe and standing thus secretly on his gard Verdugo came on with all his forces wearing white shirts vpon their armour and on the seuenth of September at night they gaue in vpon the trenches in their seuerall places crying victorie victorie But his Excellencie Count Hohenlo and Count William of Nassaw with their troopes did beat them back and in their retreat the canon played vpon them many were slaine vpon the place many men and horse stucke fast in the mud 136 were the next day found dead in the place and two and fiftie horse many were carried away hurt Two and fortie wagons full of dead and hurt men were conducted by foure cornets of horse towards Oldenzeell In a word three hundred men were slayne On his Excellencies part onely three were slaine and sixe hurt and Count William of Nassau was hurt in the bellie but not dangerously Verdugo thus put to rout did the next day make great prouision of fagots to make a way through the Marshes and the countrie wayes beeing many and verie narrow he made shew as if hee would haue intrenched the passages and by that meanes cut off victuals from his Excellencies camp But at last those of Coevoerden perceiuing their succour to faile began to parley and in the meane time Verdugo did againe shew himselfe in battaile and came to view his Excellencies trenches and fortifications who came from receiuing and welcoming the English to his Campe. These two Armies hauing thus viewed one another Verdugo discharged two canon Those of Coevoerden aunswered him with two more which done he marched towards Velt-huyse in the countie of Benthem Those of Coevoerden being thus forsaken and continually battered to the great losse of their souldiers our men by meanes of their myne being lodged on their rampiers and curtaines resolued to compound His Excellencie was likewise willing to grant them any reasonable conditions in regard Verdugo lay not farre off and might haue attempted somewhat to his prejudice as also because the countrie and wayes were verie bad and vnfit for bringing of victuals to the campe and on the 12 of September graunted them this accord following The commissioners were Evert de Ens Christophero de Vasques and Alonzo de Marteny Captaines of the Cauallerie Prince Maurice in fauour of Count Frederick of Berghen his louing cousen doth by these Presents permit and suffer him together with the Captaines officers and souldiers of the garrison of Coevoerden to depart with their ensignes armes
baggage which lagged behind And because the Englishmens commission imported that they should visit all Sea Ports and destroy all ships and warlike prouisions they did in their returne homewards saile to the hauen of Faroo where they landed part of their men and most of the Hollanders from whom the countrie people fled whereupon they tooke and brought away with them whatsoeuer they could Being come nere to S. Vincents cape and hauing committed two notable errors first because they did not in time assaile the Spanish fleet before it was burnt The second for that they had thus abandoned Cales the earle of Essex requested the Lord Admerall not to fall into a third but to saile towards the Azores to meet with the East West Indian fleet which at that time was readie to arriue but by reason of a contrary wind this likewise was rejected Yet afterwards when the earle came neere to Lisbone he propoundeth this matter againe offering to send home those ships that had taken leakes and wanted victuals with the hurt and sicke men But the Lord Admeral and sir Walter Raleigh contradicted it both by writing word of mouth and when they came to view what ships were willing fit there were none that would vndertake the matter but that of the Earle of Essex and the Lord Thomas Howard together with sir Frauncis Veer and the Low-countrie fleet which offered it selfe and had beene by the earle of Essex accepted if the Lord Admeral wold haue giuen leaue to those two ships and some eight or tenne English vessels more but his Lordship thought it not fit so sleightly to aduenture the Queenes ships These various opinions set downe in writing the Noble earle propounded them in England for his owne excuse and in this maner was the third gallant occasion lost for if they had gone to the said Islands and made some small stay they had met with a most rich Indian fleet which arriued there 12 or 14 daies after Passing along the coast of Portugal they would not meddle with the citie of Lisbone hauing no such commission but onely to visit the hauens and Sea Ports whereupon they went to Cornua and Ferol where they found few ships and small prouision After that they held their last Councell namely Whether they should likewise visit the hauens of S. Andrew and S. Sebastian with others neere adjoyning where certaine Spanish men of warre were reported to lye but the Admerall and Sea Captaines flatly gaine-said it complaining of want of victuals saying That the Queenes ships might be in daunger to runne on ground in those places so as the earle of Essex could not herein preuaile who would willingly haue assaulted the towne of Cornua but euerie man cried out to returne home taking vpon them to excuse the said earle and so sailed towards England leauing the earle and the two gallions behind which were scattered by tempest together with the Low-countrie fleet which stayed with him to the end Beeing thus arriued in England about mid-August they gaue vp an account of their voyage and being taxed for letting slip those faire occasions they excused themselues by the forementioned reasons and it was found by experience That two Generals hauing equall power and commaund doe commonly hinder many gallant and noble enterprises The Admerall of the Low-countries returned home with his fleet and brought backe the English souldiers that had beene chosen forth of euerie companie together with some bootie and threescore pieces of ordnance hauing lost the Fliboat of Rotterdam called the Dolphin with all her ordnance The preparations of this fleet stood the vnited Prouinces in more than fiue hundred thousand florins The Queene of England in signe of acknowledgement did on the 14 of August in anno 1598 send a letter to the Admerall of Holland in forme following MY Lord of Duvenuord the report of the Generalls of our armie who are safely returned from the coasts of Spaine concerning their seruice who haue obtayned so notable a victorie doth attribute a great part thereof to the valour industrie and good will which your seâ—fe and our other friends of the Low-countries vnder your conduct haue showne in the whole course of this action This hauing filled our heart with exceeding ioy content hath likewise begotten a desire in vs to communicate vnto you by writing that which we conceiue therof and hauing none other meanes at this present to expresse our good will we haue thought good to make vse thereof till some fitter occasion be offered And for our better discharge herein wee know not where to begin for that the greatnesse of each partie surmounteth the others merit The loue and diligence which my Lords the States haue vsed in this action doth witnesse vnto vs That the sincere affection we haue euer borne to the vnited Prouinces and benefits bestowed vpon them haue not bin ill imployed Your valour skill and good conduct manifested in this seruice are so many euident signes that your selfe and whole Nation deserue all fauour and defence of Christian Princes against those that would tyrannize ouer you But the honour and faithfull friendship which you my Lord Admerall haue shewed to our louing cosen the Earle of Essex in his home returne at such time as hee was by night scattered from the fleet and destitute of all ayd and assistance your selfe tarrying with him conducting him to our Hauen of Plimmouth doth declare your wisedome and loyaltie preuenting by your owne patience and labour all mischiefe that by falling on one of the Generals of our fleet might haue spoyled and disgraced the whole victorie Moreouer your zeale and affection to vs ward doth encrease our debt towards you the knowledgement whereof is so deepely imprinted in our heart as we thought good by these Letters to make some part of satisfaction the which wee entreat you to impart to the whole companie of our friends vnder your command letting them vnderstand beside that they may be well assured that as heretofore we haue giuen sufficient testimonie of our sincere affection towards their countrey we are now by their valour and merit more incited to augment and encrease our loue in euerie part as it becommeth a Princesse who acknowledgeth the vertue and desert of so worthie a Nation as yours and so we will continue your verie louing friend Signed Elizabetha Regina ¶ A description and rehersall of the victorie which his Excellencie obtayned of the enemie on a plaine called Tielsche-Heyde neere to Turnholt in an 1597. AFter the departure of the illustrious high and mightie lord Prince Maurice of Nassau c. from the Hague on the one and twentieth of Ianuarie 1597 he arriued on the two and twentieth of the same at Geertrudenberg there finding his armie readie consisting of 6000 both horse and foot with all things necessarie for his enterprise he went speedily and without rumour the next day to a village called Rauels some league distant from the jurisdiction
commonly brought in in great shallops and by that meanes the old Garrison of English and other nations were caried thence in March The Archduke likewise sent for moe men to his Campe with a firme resolution according to his directions from Spaine to continue the siege to the end because it stood him so much vpon as the onely meanes to shut vp the hauens of Zealand and thereby to hinder their fishing and trade yea their passage to and fro into England To effect this he sent for many Gallies from Spain and Italie conducted by Frederico Spinola and hired mariners from Embden and the East parts thereby to take the dominion of the Sea from the Hollanders for it was that which made them able to resist the power of so mightie a Prince This was a matter of great importance not only for the king of Spaines reputation but likewise for the Archdukes Whereupon he sent for more money from Spaine and raised certaine sums in the Countrie He likewise sent abroad for skilfull Ingeneers who were entertained and set on work not sparing for any cost to some of them 100000 crownes were promised These men made sundrie new inuentions to choake the Gullets hauen and to keepe boats from entring as by making plat-formes and Caualliers whereon to plant the Canon by filling boats full of stones and sinking them in the hauen filling baskets full of sand and rowling them into it they likewise made engins of wood and wicker like to Gabions which they tearmed Sawsiges some of them fiftie foot in length and eighteene in height filled with stones and grauell tied together the which they thought by helpe of men to roule into the gullet and with many of these to build a fort They likewise tied diuers woodden beames together and began to make Bulwarkes vpon them which at a full Sea they intended to haue thrust into the Gullet and from those bulwarkes to sinke all ships that passed along with such like other inuentions deuised by skilfull and ingenious men and in this manner did euerie day make some new worke or other But so soone as the enemie finished such inuentions those of the town presently deuised remedies against them either to beat them downe with the canon to set them on fire or to keep their workmen from their labour and when they descried any of these workes they knew well enough how to plucke them into the Sea which at an high water carried them cleane away The siege continuing diuers houses and cabins were built in the campe so as it resembled a new towne by which meanes the enemie was well lodged and the campe towards the West was called the West-eynd In continuance of time the towne was fortified both against the enemies ordnance waues and tempests of the Sea yet the enemie approched by little and little the souldiers cabins were repaired renewed the better to preserue them from the plague and other contagious diseases especially the second yeare of the siege at what time the plague was verie rife both in the Campe and towne The vnited Prouinces notwithstanding this continuall siege which did put them to such infinite charge as our children will hardly beleeue what masse of treasure hath beene spent there viz. in extraordinarie expences one hundred thousand florins a moneth beside the souldiers pay and how these small and weak Prouinces haue beene able without extraordinarie meanes to furnish such expence resolued to keepe and defend the towne so long as they could yea though the siege should continue many yeares The Archduke for continuance of the siege vsed all possible meanes to get money and to that end went to Bruxels in winter and there assembled the States of the Countrie but those of Brabant would giue no money vnlesse his Highnesse did first fulfill his promise to satisfie the mutiners of Artois Hainault and Luxembourg saying that they expected the French so as they of Flaunders onely contributed Those of Brabant likewise craued to bee disburthened of twentie fiue thousand florins a moneth which the champaine Countrie was enforced to giue the Hollanders for their contribution ¶ An Assault giuen by the Archduke on the thirteenth of April 1603 on the Polder East and South Quadrants AFter that the Archduke had continually battered the towne all anno 1602 and by his infinite number of shot done great hurt both to it and the forts slaine many men and yet neuer the neerer to his purpose in regard the besieged made such braue resistance Hee did againe on the thirteenth of Aprill 1603 giue a furious assault on the Quadrants of the East South and Polder so as he tooke them in this manner following The thirteenth of Aprill the wind was so high as it caried away the tops of houses threw down whole buildings and namely the tower where many were slaine The enemy laying hold on this occasion made an assault both on the East and West side with great numbers of men on the East side they pluckt vp about 100 stakes forth of the halfe moone but they were enforced to quit it for they were beaten backe euen to their Quarter they came on the West side as far as the Porcuspine whether they brought two barrells of pitch but they were likewise driuen thence with losse of men They did also with great fury full on the Rauelin of the Polder and were likewise enforced to retreat but they renewed the assault with freshmen and became masters of all these three places videlicet the Quadrants of the East South and Polder notwithstanding that a demy Canon and other iron peeces lay vpon the Polder Quadrant in taking these places they inhumanely slew all they met with the fight lasted some two howers The next day about nine of the clocke at night the besieged gaue a fierce assault to the East Quadrant but were driuen thence with losse of some foure hundred men among whom were many braue souldiers But the enemie in these assaults lost aboue one thousand Continuall trauell and resistance made this truce so famous as it was termed a martiall academie both for Gouernours Officers Captaines and priuate souldiers as also for mariners Pilots Ingeneers Phisitians Surgeons c. so as those who had but continued certaine moneths in this schole became masters in in their arts both for defence and offence Skilfull Ingeneers notwithstanding they had studied a long time in bookes did confesse that in comparison of practize here they were but nouices Phisitians and Surgeons learned more here in a weeke than elsewhere in a yere Pilots and mariners learned here how to guide their vessels to auoid the enemies canon Canoneers were taught here how to plant their ordnance to sink ships vnder saile how to make counter batteries to dismount the enemies Canon which on both sides consumed infinite numbers of men The sixe first moneths the enemie made aboue two hundred and fiftie thousand shot shooting bullets of thirtie or fortie pound weight for all the time the
attempt vpon S. Vit the tenth all the troopes came before S. Vit and lodged at Meve-dorpe and the same night approached the Towne Colonel Marquet commaunding the troopes The eleuenth day those of S. Vit began to parley and an accord was made that the souldiers of the garrison both horse and foot should depart thence with their armes and baggage and should sweare not to beare armes for the space of two moneths in the Countrie of Luxembourg this was accomplished and the Burghers compounded for reasonable ransome The twelfth they marched forward and lodged at Iulligh the thirteenth they came before Bastoigne the 14 they still remained there and Captaine Marcelis Bacx was sent to S. Huberts burning the Countrie all along the fifteenth they went from Bastoigne and lodged at Housnegen or Hardengue the 16 at Pedro-dorf neere Dechery where Dommer vile the same night began his approaches and the next day the Burghers compounded for a reasonable ransome from whence certaine horse were sent to demaund contributions as far as Luxembourg being conducted by Captaine Cloet The 18 19 and 20 of Nouember they remayned at Vitterdorf Wolset or Walset and on the one and twentieth marched towards Dopwiell the 22 at Andanach in Iuliers the 23 at Gheldorp there rested the foure twentieth day whither the troopes which had been at S. Vit viz. 50 horse and 200 foot came to them The 25 and 26 they lodged at Korcum the seuen and twentieth at Nedertzier the eight and twentieth and nine and twentieth at Wanlor the thirtieth of Nouember the troopes of Brabant diuided themselues and went to Graue and the rest went to Couborch and the second of December to Nieumeghen Thus in a moneths space they ouerran the whole countrie without any resistance enforcing it to contribute because the Gouernour Count Peter Ernest of Mansfelt had commaunded that no contributions should bee paied whereupon our men burnt diuers houses and villages none beeing found to ransome them The Archduke sent forces to stop their iourney but wanting money they staid by the way consuming and wasting the countrie as enemies Count Lodwick brought away manie prisoners gentlemen and boores and among others the Abbot of S. Haberts they all paied ransome This voiage ended euerie man returned to his winter Garrison ¶ A description of a fight at Sea betwixt seuen of the States men of war and six Spanish Gallies the third and fourth of October Anno 1602. THe States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces did vnder command of the Admerall Opdam send forth certaine warlike vessels to serue the Queene of England foure of them were commaunded to wait for six Gallies which D. Frederico Spinola brought from Spaine to ioyne with the rest that lay at Sluce in Flaunders These were the names of the Gallies vnder Spinola the first the Admerall S. Lewis whose Captaines name was Cardinalin and in her an other Captaine called Castalis d' Avila with a companie of souldiers The second S. Iohn in which Vergas was Vice-Admerall and in her two Captaines with companies of souldiers The third Padilla the Captaines name was Hasso and in her an other Captaine with a companie of Portugal souldiers The fourth la Lucera and the Captaines name Calliado with other companies of Portugal souldiers and Captaines The fift S. Philip and in her D. Rodrigo de Naroys Captaine of a companie The sixt S Iacento and in her Lewis de Camours with an other companie of souldiers so as there were in all nine ensignes videlicet two of Spaniards and seuen of Portugals to the number of nine hundred men beside one thousand and fiue hundred slaues euery Galley caried three brasse peeces and no more And notwithstanding that the Hollanders were aduertified of the comming of these Gallies yet the Lord of Opdam was vpon necessity constrained to goe for victuals into Holland leauing the vice-Admerall Iohn Adrian Cant for General in his ship called the moone accompaned with Gerbrant Iansz Saell of Horne in a ship of 4 hundred run called Bansome together with Captaine Henry Hartman in the Lionesse of Rotterdam and Gerbant Iansz in the hope of Enchuysen These were appointed by the Queene to goe towards the West parts but were staied to meete with these Gallies one of the Queenes ships called the Hope vnder the commaund of Sir Robert Mansell with her Pinnace called the Aduantage vnder Captaine Ionas were likewise commaunded to waite for these Gallies These concluded that the vice-Admerall Cant and Captaine Gerbrant Adriansz Sael should lie at anchor in the downes where an other of the Queenes ships lay called the Answere vnder Captaine Breadgate Sir Robert Mansell and his Pinnace lay at Sea betwixt Douer and Calaice and not far from them the other two Hollanders Lying thus in wait Sir Robert Mansell on the third of October about noone descried the Gallies and they him but the ayre being misty they sought to creepe along the coast of England or if the worst should come to passe perceiuing that the two Hollanders lay neere them they entended to boord and take them for the prisoners confessed afterward that they did not respect two or three men of war Yet it seemed that they were afraid of the Queenes ships for they turned backe hoping in the night to passe on along the coast of Dunkirke or Niewport Sir Robert perceiuing this sent his Pinnace towards Calaice and the coast of Flaunders to warne the Hollanders to stand vpon their gard and to stop the Gallies passage Hee likewise did his best skill to keep them in sight the like did the two Hollanders who were neerer betwixt him and the Gallies and thus they gaue them chase till sun set Then did the Gallies set saile againe so as the two Hollanders were behinde them Sir Robert Mansell obseruing their course and assured that they would fall into the hands of the other two Hollanders and the Queenes ships which lay in the downes hee shaped his course towards the coasts of France that hee might get before them ere they should recouer Flaunders still bending his course towards the Sands called Goeyingen to meet with them there The Queens ship and the two Hollanders Cant and Sael hauing discried the Gallies made vp towards them and fiercely began to shoot but the weather being calme the gallies out-stript the ships but within a while after a strong gale blew from the North-East and then the Hollanders with full saile gaue them chace two or three houres long The gallies were come so neere Douer rockes as diuers Turkish slaues found meanes to breake their chaines and leaping into the Sea escaped by swimming and so freed themselues from their bondage Sir Robert Mansel being neere to Goeyingen espied a gallie making away a pace and comming within musket shot of her he discharged thirtie piece of ordnance vpon it whose Masts he brake in pieces and heard a lamentable crie in her This done he saw the other fiue gallies comming vp towards him on whom