losse fell to the Merchants the king had some wealth in it as quicke siluer warlike munition his Imposts and Alcaualles which together with all his ordnance he lost The English and Dutch mariners saued certaine goods and canons which they tooke forth of the ships bottoms The earle of Essex had appointed the colonels sir Coniers Clifford Sir Christopher Blunt and sir Thomas Gerard with their regiments to march towards the East side of the Island where was a bridge called Ponte del Suazzo ouer which men passed forth of the Isle into the firme Land to guard that passage and to keepe out those of the terra firma from entring that way not farre from whence the people were assembled in great troopes but when they perceiued the English to be there and knew the town was already lost they fled These English regiments perceiuing none to be on the other side and knowing that Cales was taken returned to the town without any order or commaundement so to doe leauing no guard at the bridge leauing the castle neere to the bridge vntaken which the Hollanders call Herods house For want of a guard at the said bridge the gallies in that place passed on to Seaward The Dutch mariners before their departure went and assailed that fort from whence the Spaniards flying they tooke and sackt it and brought thence diuers pieces of ordnance The two companies of Spanish souldiers that with some Citizens were retired to the castle hoping for ayd from Andeluzia and the firme land being aduertized that the English had taken and made good that bridge and passage which was vntrue did by night send the Corrigidor and other Magistrats to sir Edward Conway who summoned them to yeeld and agreed to pay one hundred and twentie thousand ducats for their ransome besides losse of all their goods and to this end gaue fortie of the principall among them for hostages who were afterwards carried into England those that retired from the towne into the castle with those that were in it before were in number eight or nine thousand persons both men and women The best and noblest sort of women were courteously vsed and suffered to depart thence with their children and baggage the like was done to the Clergie and Nuns The wealthy towne was wholly sackt and the bootie great which was carried to the ships It is thought that the king lost at the same time 1200 pieces of ordnance besides armour sufficient for fiue or six hundred men which was taken forth of his Arsenall there The Spaniards perceiuing what the English intended by spoyling the towne which was not to keepe the towne long began to take courage to shake off the feare which had seazed the prouinces neere adjoyning especially the great citie of Ciuill which was in an vproare so as if an armie well conducted had marched thither and to other townes and places likewise as S. Lucars S. Marie Porte Puerto Reale c. it would haue found small resistance But they saw that the bootie and spoile of Cales was to the English as a great and sauorie morcell to glut their hunger who continuing tenne or twelue dayes in the towne and hauing carried the bootie to their ships did hourely expect when the Generals would commaund them to hoist sailes and depart homewards A Councell was held whether it were conuenient still to keepe the towne and Island the earle of Essex the Marshall Veer and most of the gentlemen were of opinion to tarrie there with three thousand men and thought that the Island might be easily kept which would proue a sharpe thorne not onely in the foot of so great a Monarke but euen in his side and thereby diuert all the warres of Europe thither where the English might daily receiue prouisions from the Leuant Italie and Barbarie and if the worst should happen they might easily procure a good and honourable composition and with that towne make an easie exchange for Calice in Fraunce But thereupon various opinions were vttered for the Sea Captaines and the lord Admerals Councell oppugned it shewing their want of victuals and if they should remaine there they must be enforced to fetch prouision from England and the Low-countries which is too farre off or else from Barbarie where the king dwelt an hundred leagues vp in the countrie Hereunto the Admerall added that he would not aduenture and engage his Princes honour and reputation so sleightly Sir Frauncis Veer said That by tarrying there they should doe a pleasing and acceptable seruice to the Queene and that victuals would soone be brought from Holland that the towne and Island were strong and might easily be made stronger that the towne stood well to receiue supplies from Barbarie and to that end they would make vse of and employ D. Christophero of Portugal c. but all this was to no purpose Thereupon a generall search was made through the whole fleet to see what store of victuals was left wherewith to furnish the garrison till more could be brought but they found a small quantitie for euerie ship had imbezeled hid as much as it could fearing want and in the towne through bad husbanding of victuals they were verie skarce for the souldiers spoiled all and knockt out the heads of wine vessels which they found in cellers and warehouses making like wast of other prouision In this respect euerie man cried out to go home whereupon the lord of Warmont Admerall of Holland reuiewed his victuals and offered to bring as much from his fleet as would suffice the garrison and two thousand men for a moneth and that himselfe would likewise remaine there But the earle of Essex found neuer a ship of the Queens willing to stay there nor yet victuals for two moneths so as he was enforced much against his will to abandon Cales whereof at his comming into England he excused himselfe Before his departure he made aboue fiftie Knights among whom were the Lord of Warmont Admerall of the Hollanders Count Lodwick of Nassau Peter Regemortes Melchior Leben and likewise Captaine Metkerke before his death the rest were English Hauing thus continued some thirteene dayes in Cales in old time called Gades they departed on the fifteenth of Iulie Essex according to his commission commaunded the towne to bee burnt and especially whatsoeuer might any way serue for the furnishing forth of a fleet as masts poles cordage and cables whereof there was great store and in this manner they did set saile carrying with them two of the kings great gallions with certaine prisoners fortie hostages for the townesmens ransom which amounted to the summe of 120000 ducats It is heretofore mentioned how that the gallies fled to the bridge called Ponte del Suazzo where the English thought they could not haue passed yet by breaking the bridge they found a way into the Sea where they did set vpon the taile of the fleet and tooke a Fliboat of Holland loden with horse and
printed that the Countries might seriously looke to what they were to doe To the high illustrious honorable noble learned wise and discreet Lords good freinds and neighbours the Prelats Princes Earls Lords Gentlemen and Cities of Brabant Flaunders Artois Hainalt Valenciennes Lisle Douay Orchies Namur Tournay Tournesis and Malines representing the bodie of the Netherlands vnder the Spanish or Archdukes gouernment To all of them in generall and to euery of them in particular MY Lords wee doubt not but that your Excellencies do still remember the louing remonstrances and exhortations which we haue often made vnto you wherein we intreated you maturely to consider and well weigh the determination and end of the Spaniards and their adherents enemies to the State lawes priuiledges goods and persons of the Netherlands viz. their originall and rooted determination which is so base and hurtfull as it wholy tends to the entire ruine of the Inhabitants of these Countries We know very well notwithstanding that the said determination is likewise among you held indubitable that some of your Excellencies haue beene drawne thereunto partly by your owne good natures and partly by persuasions that matters might bee redressed and amended by meanes of the Archdukes and presence of their Highnesses But because we are well assured of the Spaniards and their adherents continuance in their determination for ruine of the Netherlands and subiecting them for euer to the Spanish yoake that they might beare rule ouer the consciences bodies lawes and goods of the inhabitants thereof and that the Archduke can no way helpe it this is the reason why wee cannot bee of your opinion And not to precipitate your Excellencies nor our selues into a certaine continuall and irreparable ruine we haue found out this to be the best remedie still to continue with a constant courage in the laudable resolution taken from the beginning by the chiefe persons and members of the whole Netherlands of all estates and conditions and beeing assured of the aide and assistance of God and that of Kings Princes and Republiks with whom wee are in league as also on the equitie of our cause wee doe patiently expect good successe especially by your Excellencies directions and discreet gouernment and will voluntarily vndergoe all difficulties daungers and expences requisite for maintenance of so holie commendable honourable and necessarie resolution Nor can the base and deceitfull conueyance of the low Countries made to their Highnesses euer moue vs to any alteration we hauing in that regard after the said conueyance seriously by letters and word of mouth conferring with your commissioners requested and exhorted your Excellencies to bee carefull on your side for the managing and gouernment of affaires of State and war both within and without the Countrie wee are well assured that if it bee duely considered and not with a passionate spirit that none will iudge otherwise but that the said deceitfull conueyance doth vndoubtedly tend to the assured ruine of all the Netherlands and the inhabitants thereof Your Excellencies doe perceiue vnderstand and effectually feele what is past and may easily iudge of that which is still likely to ensue so as wee think it needlesse to writ more amply vnto you of it onely we louingly intreat exhort and earnestly request your Excellencies to remember the laudable reputation purchased by your predecessors certaine hundreds of yeares past which they haue left vnto vs as a rule which is to bee Protectors and defendors of the liberties and lawes of the Netherlands in common and of the members townes and inhabitants thereof in particular and to consider whether the contents of the said idle and vnworthie conueyance and of the treatie which ensued it doth agree with the duetie wherewith your Excellencies are tied to your houses estates posteritie and especially to your Countrie Yf so which wee by no meanes think wee will pray vnto God to enlighten your Excellencies and to giue you a better and cleerer iudgement But if your Excellencies perceiue that the said pretended conueyance made for necessitie and to auoide a greater mischiefe bee deceitfull and dishonorable and as an infamous blot to the Netherlands if likewise yee vnderstand that the Spaniards and their adherents proceedings which haue ensued thereupon and are till now growne from bad to worse both in affaires of state and war as wee know that the most of your Excellencies do are preiudicious and intollerable and so by consequence your Excellencies are not bound and tied to them as repugnant to the common good the lawes and priuiledges of the Netherlands If your Excellencies doe likewise consider that all forcible extremities all prohibitions of trade and commerce all deuises and practises to entangle the Majestie of England and the vnited prouinces doe more and more come to light and are not onely repugnant to this resolution but bring forth cleane contrarie effects That the treacherous attempts on the Townes and Castles of the French king giue great occasion to take speedie reuenge That libels and rimes wherewith they seeke to make the French King and his affaires odious to the common people and call in question the rightfull successions of the Crownes of France and England are but vain propositions only tending to incense their Majesties and that they goe about in vain to raise tumult sedition amongst the people of the Low-countries considering that whilest they are at quiet and liue vnder obedience their condition thanks be to God is an hundred times better and more safe than that of the common people vnder the king of Spaine and Archdukes and that they haue no occasion to distrust their lawfull superiors or their actions but on the contrarie the Spaniards and Archdukes subjects perceiuing that all their affaires doe daily impaire that the authoritie of the States Prelats Princes Lords Gentlemen and townes of the Prouinces both in general and particular are without any respect trodden vnder-foot that they defend themselues onely with strangers in contempt of all good Patriots and that not onely in the chiefe garrisons townes and forts but generally in all matters some few excepted they seeme to proceed formally and in apparence the which without all question they will soone leaue off if they were once absolute Lords so that the Prouinces and people should not be onely without trade wealth and nauigation but euen the third part of the Inhabitants would bee depriued of necessarie meanes to liue the chiefe cities made Doue-coats the Countrie villages ruined and the people eaten and consumed to the verie bones by souldiers who are so badly payed as mutinie in one place is no sooner quieted but two worse than it breakes forth in another so as it is to be feared that in the end all will become desperate In which regard we intreat your Excellencies effectually to embrace the necessarie remedies and so to handle the matter as their Highnesses may be persuaded to depart from the Netherlands and to procure themselues a more quiet and certaine portion
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
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
19 the Admerall fired the townes cloisters and houses neere adioyning abandoned the Island and shipt his men whereupon the Spaniards presently came forth of their starting holes to the towne and quenched the fire as those of the Grand Canarie had done The 20 the fleet remayned in the Road of Gomera receiuing instructions from the Admerall what course they should hold he sent for all the Captaines highly thanked them for their good and faithfull seruice and earnestly intreated them to proceed from good to better The 21 of Iuly he sent againe for the Captaines and Commanders and courteously tooke leaue of those which were to returne home making Iean Gerbrantzon their Admerall cōmanding them to follow him and to obey his commandements Then the fleet was seperated and failed with a Northerlie wind The Admerall Vander-Does with 36 ships held on his course South-South-East towards the kingdoms of the Western Indies Iean Gerbrantzon with 35 ships and an Easterly wind sayled home-ward Iean Gerbrantzon till the 24 of Iuly kept his whole fleet together but they were afterward dispersed by continuall tempests and contrarie winds taking sundry courses vnder sundry Admerals euery man striuing who should first get home Sixteene of these ships vnder their Admerall Frederick Arentz did on the eight and twentieth of August in the height of thirtie six degrees and twelue minutes to the Northward of the line meet with two small Spanish ships going from Capo Blanco towards Wolvis In those ships were seuen and fortie men and among those a Spanish marchant fortie seuen Muskets foure peeces of ordnance and were loden with sundry commodities amounting to the value of 60000 ducats and had in them beside foure tun of trayne Oyle and Arabian Gums and two thousand one hundred and fortie Rialls of siluer plate These thirtie fiue ships came altogether about the eight ninth and tenth of September into sundery Hauens of the Low-Countries and were with great ioy welcomed home But Generall Vander-Does with his thirtie six ships went towards the Coasts of Affrick and Guiney along by the Islands of Cape Vert and so to S. Thomas which is an Island vnder the equinoctiall line where they forcibly landed but the inhabitants with their goods fled into the mountaines our men by entrenching and approaches which they had learned in the Low-Countries tooke the Castles The inhabitants did afterward come downe from the mountaines being seuen thousand in number and assailed our men but the Generall repulsed and slew many of them In the end the Island and Towne of Pauoasan with the Castles were sackt and the booty carried to the ships They found an hundred brazen peeces there nine thousand chests of browne Saint Thomas sugar one thousand foure hundred Elephants teeth much Cloth Cotton and other marchandize with a very great sum of money But hauing beene long at Sea and the ayre very vnwholsome and pestilentiall for our men who could not temper and moderat their dyet in that hot Countrey nor absteine from fruits a disease or burning feauer in those parts termed la Madorca which commonly fals on those that come from Europe seazed on them some of them had their grease melted in their bodies as if it had been molten butter as appeared by diuers that were opened many died boath on shoare and at Sea of this disease and among others the Generall Vander-Does which was a great losse to the fleet and vnited Prouinces for he was a valiant Gentleman and skilfull in the art militarie both by land and sea His men buried him in an house in the Island deepe in the ground and then burnt that house with others to the end his bodie might not be found There died likewise his Nephew George Vander-Does sonne to that learned Gentleman Iean Vander-Does Lord of Nortwijck with diuers other land and sea Captaines to the number of fifteen and some 1200 Souldiers and Mariners After their death Captaine Cornelius Leynsen tooke vpon him the Commaund of the fleet and hauing embarked all the goods together with the Gouernor D. Francisco de Meneces he failed homeward sending seuen of his best ships with one Brigantine vnder the conduct of the Captaines Hartman Broer and others to the coast of Bresill with instructions what to doe Himselfe being likwise sick did in Februarie 1600 bring home his ships with the bootie and many prisoners His men were so sick and weake as certaine of his ships through want of men stayed in France others in England and one in Ireland Among the rest one ship that was weakly manned wanted a Pilot the ayre being mistie came to Sluce where it was taken there was in it some money and some foure or fiue hundred chests of sugar The aboue mentioned seuen ships vnder the conduct of Captaine Hartman went to Bresiill where they likewise met with good booty doing great hurt to the enemie and returned home n anno 1601. There was hope that this fleet would haue done great mattsrs but they could not meet with the Spanish fleet which went from Cales to the West Indies and then things fell not out according to their expectation for they were ouertaken with sicknesse by being enforced by contrarie winds to stay long in those hot Countries Their owne profit was not so much to them as the losse was to their enemies They haue put the King of Spaine to great expence they haue purchased honour and made Spaine iealous of other such like inuasions and putting it in feare of losing his Indian fleet These are the principall matters done by this fleet wherein if we consider the experience of the pilots discreet conduct of the Captains and valour of the souldiers we cannot but admire especially if wee looke vpon the great victories obtained by them whose fame hath qualified the Spaniards crueltie against our sea-men and themselues braued the enemy in his owne land and before Groyne declared the admirable strength of the vnited Prouinces and haue sought out the King of Spains future fleet wherewith he thought not only to haue caused the Low-countries but all Europe to tremble hauing challenged and dared it to fight euen in so many townes and castles of Spaine and hath beside so easily woon the Grand Canarie the mightiest of al the Islands the taking whereof cost the last King of Spaine many tun of gold many braue experienced souldiers which Sir Francis Drake could not effect notwithstanding that he in a maner tooke all the sea townes and castles of the Westerne Indies and terrified the whole Spanish world Who would euer haue thought that Allagona the chiefest Citie of all the Canaries wold haue been so easily taken that Gomera would haue been woon without any resistance and his Garrison slaine Is it not a great matter that the whole Island of the Grand Canarie and Gomera haue been ruined the townes castles and houses burnt the ordnance an munition and other commodities brought thence that such great number of poore wretched
quarter with some excuse promising to send back our hostages who returned not to the towne the same night Generall Vere the next day at one of the clocke after midnight in regard of the tumult among the Captaines and souldiers sent for all the Captaines French Scottish and Dutch and after long debating on the Garrisons weaknesse and great want of men to defend the old and newe towns with all the counter scarps rauelins South and East Quadrants together with the halfe moone beyond the Gullet standing towards the Southwest hee craued their aduice by what meanes all these places might bee defended from the enemies assaults demaunding whither the Captaines thought it not fit to race and abandon those workes which were alreadie forsaken vnknown to the Captaines together with the falce-bray or lesser Sand hill where they had alreadie planted one canon and a demy and caried fiue barrels of powder thither the same day All of them thought it fit to race the South Quadrant which was least hurtfull to the towne and to send the men to more needfull places and yet this was not effected because fiue companies came from Zealand on the fiue and twentieth of December The falce-bray which should haue beene abandoned was neuerthelesse by consent of certaine Captaines and in presence of Captaine Saint Clare the Scot vnknowne to the Generall mand with sixe musketâ—ers of Saint Clares companie two other companies beeing appointed to second them if the enemie should giue an assault The next day at nine of the clocke in the morning the Generall sent againe for the French Scottish and Dutch Captaines to his lodging where in presence of Colonell Loone hee made his Apologie in French declaring to what intent hee entred into communication with the enemie the Reader may see the excuses hee alledged in a letter hereafter ensuing which hee wrot to the States The same day and in the same assemblie it was concluded to demaund hostages and commissioners from the enemie for assurance of those which had beene sent from the towne whereupon two Captaines Iohn le Rijck and Charls Cassart with Captaine Saint Clare the Scot were sent to receiue the two aboue mentioned hostages and Commissioners viz. Serrano Gouernor of the Sluce and captaine Ottaigno the Sergeant Major who craued to hasten the businesse being sent into Ostend for none other purpose They were answered that in regard it was verie late and diuers Captaines alreadie vpon the gard they must haue patience till the next day The same night the fiue aboue mentioned companies from Zeland arriued and because it was Christmas day the Archduke sent a Spanish Captaine with a trumpet and a letter to his Commissioners wherein hee willed them to hasten the matter by all possible meanes Captaine Rijcks fetcht the letter and gaue it to Serrano who thereupon was verie earnest for dispatch hee was entreated to stay till eleuen of the clocke and then hee should receiue all content this answere he presently sent to the Archduke In the meane time the fiue companies which came from Zelland entred the towne viz. that of Captaine Iohn Pottey the companie of the Lord Iustine of Nassau those of the Lord Vandernoot Captaine Iohn Piron the younger and Captaine la Corde These fiue companies beeing come into the towne Generall Vere about noone gaue this aunswere to Serrano and Ottaigno how he could not denie but that being ouertaken by want of wind faire weather and other accidents hee had beene enforced to inuent meanes to helpe himselfe and men and through want enforced to come to some agreement But perceiuing that the States of the vnited Prouinces had so well reliued and furnished him with all necessarie prouisions hee could not as then proceed any farther in this treatie with his Highnesse and therefore had no more to say vnlesse some new necessitie should vnluckily surprize him and enforce him againe to craue parley hoping that his Highnesse as a vertuous Prince would not take this deniall to proceed any farther in the treat in bad part for beeing a souldier hee could doe no otherwise for maintenance of his owne honour and that this sleight was commonly vsed among souldiers Thereupon the Spanish commissiioners went their way The Archduke was much displeased with this warlike policie and grew exceeding angrie with some of his owne seruants who had counselled him thereunto By this sleight a rumor was bruted abroad how that Ostend capitulated and it was so confidently beliued as in the Courts of France England that of the States of Holland and Zealand nothing was knowne to the contrarie till such times as they receiued letters from Generall Vere The Burgers of Gant Bruges Dunkerke and Newport came with their wiues and children to the campe thinking that the towne would yeeld but they were all deceiued This did so incense the enemies as they resolued more by passion than reason to giue a generall assault The States of the vnited Prouinces were amased at this treatie and neuer thought that the English souldiers would haue so slipt away through the carelesenesse of their Captaines who gaue them passeport so as fortie fiftie sixtie and more at a time returned into England who were lustie and in health whereupon men and other necessarie prouisions were sent thither which did encourage the besieged The Archduke tired with lying so long before Ostend and deceiued in his vaine hope was persuaded by his Councell to giue a generall assault ere greater forces entred the towne and to this end hee did satisfie and pay manie of his mutiners and vnwilling souldiers making great preparation for an assault hoping to surprise the Sand hill there to entrench himselfe and become master of the old towne appointing the seuenth of Ianuarie 1602 in the afternoone at a low water the time for execution Colonell Gambiotta the Campe master was to assault the new towne and Count Ferneste with Captaine Ottaigno the Sand hill and falce-bray The gouernour of Dixmuide the Porcuspine an other the West and South Quadrants and the North Rauelin and Count Bucquoy with two thousand men was to assault on euerie side Count Triuulcio Alonzo d'Avalos and other troops were readie to helpe and second those that should stand in need the cauallier likewise hauing an eye euerie where The Archdukes felfe stood behinde the batterie of the key and the Infanta was in Isabellas fort This thus appointed a certaine Italian whose lot was to bee one of the first that should giue the assault fearing the daunger swam ouer the hauen by night with his sword in his mouth and declared to generall Vere the enemies resolution concerning the assault whereunto he gaue the more credit because the precedent day and night their ordnance had without intermission plaid vpon the towne so as he gaue order for defence fortifying all places transporting the ordnance and planting seuen great morters at the entrance of the hauen charged with stones and musket shot commaunding his men carefully to doe their
Infanta lay at Newport if she heard not the repot of the Canon shee was male-content and commaunded her Gunners to shoot continually The besieged were not much indebted to the enemy but in the first 20 moneths discharged 100000 shot 18000 of the enemies were slaine the first twentie moneths as well by the ordnance and extreame cold which they endured the first two winters as by sallies sicknesse and miserie And in the towne sixe or seuen thousand died though the number was not well knowne for sicke and wounded men were sent away the like did the enemie who sent his to the next townes and hospitals Notwithstanding all these batteries and that many in the town died of the plague and through want yet the besieged were visited by their freinds kinsfolks wiues and children which came forth of Holland and Zealand and went thither as to a festiuall Some Captaines brought their wiues and children thither Gentlemen and great Lords came thither from Fraunce and England to see the fortifications All the three yeares that the siege continued the besieged kept the fift of Iuly holieday beating their caudrons in steed of bels discharging all their ordnance and that day a solemne sermon was made wherein thankes was giuen to God for preseruing them so long a time from their enemies entreating him still to do the like Sundrie sallies and assaults were made store of fire-works were throwne into the enemies Campe and plat-formes which were made of sagots Among others a certaine Ingeneer called Pompey the Romain inuented sundrie meanes to choake the gullet but all his labour was to no purpose The besieged had made an halfe moone on the farther side of the Gullet to defend the going in and out of the boats and to keepe them safe in the towne dikes and the better to skale the said stalfe moone this Pompey had framed a bridge for assault mounted on foure great brasen wheels like to a Chariot on which this bridge was to bee drawne it bended in the middest and rested on a great mast one hundred and fiftie foot long whereon this bridge might bee drawne vp and let downe It was made of Cables and small cords twined together on small masts The fore part was drawne vp along the mast like a drawe bridge which being brought neere to the town they would haue let fall ouerthwart the dikes vpon the Rampires this bridge was drawne by forty horses With this bridge which they termed the luy-wagon or idle wagon they thought to haue assaulted the halfe moon beyond the gullet The besieged perceiuing it to come forwards did with their Canon shot break one of the wheels before it could be mended had erected masts vpon the counterscarp of the halfe moone that when their bridge should bee let fall it might rest vpon the said masts this being perceiued by the enemy he gaue ouer his inuention In Iune 1603 D. Rodrigo Lasso came from Spaine and brought newes that Marquis Ambrose Spinola brother to Ieronimo Spinola that was slaine in the Gallies before Sluce had after his brothers death couenanted with the king of Spaine to take vp great sums of money for his Majesties seruice on certain assurance and conditions viz. to haue the chiefe authoritie and soueraigne commaund at the siege of Ostend with ample power from the Archduke and not to bee enuied of the other commaunders in the armie of-what nation soeuer The said Marquis beeing come into the low Countries with this commission vndertooke the charge and presenly reformed many matters deposing sundrie officers placing others in their steds carefully prouiding monie and setting diuers skilful Ingeneers on work by whose help he hoped to take the towne for the besieged had long since lost all their fortifications and workes abroad The Marquis presently caused mynes to bee made and assaults to be giuen The Sea and high tides caused by a North-east wind which blew on the first day of March did great harme spoiling and carying away the mines trenches and conterscarps The besieged though they dayly receiued supplies of men and other necessaries yet the sixe last moneths they were mightily annoyed by the continuall batteries and sustained great losse for after Collonell Huchtenbroeck the Lord of Gystels the Gouernour beeing slaine in March who was a braue and valiant gentleman and much lamented Colonell Loon succeeded him who within a while after was likewise slaine and after him many other Captaines which had the chiefe commaund next Colonel Berendrecht whom Colonell Vtenhove succeeded and left the towne beeing hurt At last when the towne had been a long time without Gouernour the Lord of Marquet was sent thither on the tenth of Iune 1604 hee was the last Gouernour there Dauid of Orleance the Ingeneer was shot in the towne and went his way into Holland to bee healed But master Rafe Dexter the Englisman a valiant and skilfull person taried there still This change of gouernours hindred the prosperous successe of many matters their good Decrees being not well obserued some of which we will here set downe It was decreed for preuenting controuersies betwixt victuallers That no wares or victuals should be sold till they had first continued foure and twentie houres in the Market place All souldiers were likewise forbidden to play at Dice or Cardes on paine of eight daies imprisonment and fasting with bread and water No officer might come vpon the gard being drunke on payne of loosing his place and armes because that many souldiers went to the enemie the townesmen offered fiftie crownes to him that could bring in such an one either aliue or dead The enemies in regard diuers of their men came to our side caused their horsemen to keepe continuall gard yet it was to no purpose at all In Aprill May and Iune Marquis Spinola vsed all speedie meanes to take the Towne that he might goe and relieue Sluce sparing neither men nor money Among others Captaine Catrice was slaine he was a man of great experience in martiall affaires diuers other commaunders Colonels and Captaines were likewise slayne they also tooke the Porcuspine and approached daily by assaults and Mynes The twelfth of Iune Spinola blew vp a Myne neere to the Polder Bulwarke which buried many of his men aliue thereupon he gaue an assault wherein certaine hundreds of his men were slayne and some fortie or fiftie of the besieged The sixteenth of Iune the besieged made a fierce sallie vpon the Pioners draue them away Diuers other assaults Mynes and sallies were made that Summer by meanes whereof they came at last euen to the Dikes they likewise stopt vp the old hauen with Fagots In August they vndermyned the Sand hill and approached the other Bulwarkes by means of their platformes from whence they shot fiercely In the end Spinola resolued in September to assault the chiefe Bulwarke the Sand hill and finding the Spaniards and Italians vnwilling to march in regard of the daunger they had before beene in he resolued to make vse of
D' Essinga their Lieutenaunt generall and with him the Lord of Termes and some fortie French gentlemen with diuers English and French companies vnder Castillions commaund who made such resistance as Spinolas men were enforced to retire some two hundred of them beeing slaine and of them many men of note among others were Count Feltri the Marquis of Renty sonne to Count Solre his wife of the house of Lalayn sonne to that renowned Lord the Lord of Montigni and the Marquis of Renty newly come from Italy D. Alonso Borgia young Mantenon a French man beside a Colonell and many others slaine and wounded whom they carried away in carts this was done on the seuenteenth of August the enemie beeing reenforced with the squadron of the mutineers who were newly reconciled to the Archduke and did helpe to encrease the number of the dead The eighteenth of August those of Sluce hauing intelligence of the defeate of their supplies began to talke of an accord and sent to craue cessation of armes till they might know the Archdukes pleasure which was not graunted then they craued leaue to carrie away the gallies ordnance and slaues but they receiued this answer that they should haue three daies respite the first day to depart with their armes and baggage the second day only with heir swords and if they tarried till the third day they were then to expect all rigor whereupon the next day they were content to depart on these conditions following FIrst That all Ecclesiasticall persons might safely depart with the ornaments of their Church goods and moueables 2 That the gouernour Serrano all Captaines officers and souldiers together with all Captaines of Gallies and mariners should with their baggage armes and ensignes drumme heating and match in cocke depart to Dam and in giuing hostages should haue boats and shalops 3 That the gouernour and Aurelio Spinola shall deliuer to his Excellencies commissioners all the gallies barkes and Fregats ordnance powder and munition without any deceit 4 That all slaues without exception shall be set at libertie and may goe whether they please 5 That all prisoners on both sides shall ransomlesse be set free the gouernour and Aurelio Spinola shall vse meanes that Captaine Say and other mariners in prison at Sertoghenbusk Captaine Iohn de Raet and his men prisoners in Woud Castle likewise three mariners of Breda prisoners at Gaunt shall all of them be released in paying a moneths meanes and for performance hereof the sayd Spinola shall oblige his owne person to returne againe his prisoner 6 None shall be molested for debts which the gouernor or others owe to the Burghers but the said gouernour shall promise to make full payment and satisfaction to them at Bruges 7 That all officers and surueyors may likewise depart with their writings the townes Registers excepted 8 The Commissaries of victuals and those of the Admeraltie c. may doe the like 9 The gouernour shall the same night deliuer vp the Castle whither his Excellencie will send two hundred men to keepe it 10 That the garrison shall the next day leaue the towne Giuen in the Campe before Sluce the nineteenth of August Anno 1604. The twentieth of August the Spaniards left Sluce beeing in number three or foure thousand men well armed and one thousand foure hundred slaues most of them Turkes who were all set at libertie some of them tarried with the Spaniards many went into Fraunce and England but such as returned from thence into Holland were for the most part sent home in a Ship of Barbarie many of them had eaten no bread in Sluce of a long time but fed on old shooes boots parchment and on an herbe called Soutenell whereof wee haue heretofore spoken dogs cats mise and rats were good meat There were found in the towne threescore and ten great peece of ordnance both of brasse and iron beside those in the forts also ten or eleuen gallies and all their furniture which was no smal victorie The Generall States and his Excellencie made Count Henry of Nassau youngest sonne to the Prince of Orange of happie memorie Gouernour of all their conquests in Flaunders and appointed the Lord Vander Noot for his Lieutenant who went and remained in Sluce The said States did presently giue order for the fortifying of their new conquests as well at Sluce as at other places neere adioyning some were rased and other fortified they resolued to make nine forts neere to Coxie S. Catherines Oostbourgh and Weeld Castle and before Sluce an halfe moone and three bulwarks before a channell which comes forth of the Sea At Isendike they likewise caused fiue great bulwarks to be made and there enclosed a great quantitie of ground which they meant to make impregnable and as big as a towne or an other Ostend Count Lodwick Gunther of Nassau who had maried the widow of the Earle of Valckensteyn and Broeck fell sick at Sluce and died there hee was sonne to old Count Iohn and brother to the Earles William and Ernest of Nassau hee was but a young Lord and yet had done braue seruice to the vnited Prouinces hee was much lamented His Excellencie and diuers others fell sick there likewise The vnited Prouinces hauing woone Sluce and thereby gotten meanes to war in Flaunders and to transport it into the enemies Countrie thought that the losse of Ostend would not bee so hurtfull as before and therein they were not deceiued for all the world knowes how greatly the enemies haue wronged themselues and profited our countrie by attempting to win that town by force for now in steed of one entrance the Lords States thanks bee to God haue gotten three ¶ The taking of the strong Castle of Woud in anno 1605. HIs Excellencie on the three and twentieth of May 1605 went with great numbers of horse and foot to Berghen-op-Zoom and appointed Count Ernest of Nassau to come from Zeland by boat with fourescore foot companies and to saile vp the Scheld that both of them together might make an attempt vpon Antuerp but the Earle hauing a continuall contrarie wind could not land there where his Excellencie had appointed him If the Earle could haue landed his men at Clapperdijke he might happily haue obtained his desire but the wind was so contrarie as it was impossible for him to doe so but hee was enforced to land them neere to Oosterweel and so went forward towards his Excellencie by land who◠lay with his armie at Eeckeren sending back the boats which had brought the souldiers which at their returne shot at the forts of Ordam and Peerle and among others shot the gouernour of Ordam This enterprise hauing no good successe his Excellencie resolued to goe with his armie and besiege the Castle of Woud and thereupon departed on the eight and twentieth of May from Eeckeren Woud Castle is strongly fortified with Bulwarks and seated within a mile of Berghen-op-Zoom in a fenny place and therefore naturally strong It is one of the chiefest