them returned into Spaine For which vpon the one and twentieth of October the people by tolling of a Bell were called to Church to giue thankes vnto God Sermons were made both morning and euening At night all the ordnance in the town and forts were discharged and the souldiers vpon the rampiers thundred forth many volleys of small shot so that nothing could bee heard in the towne for the noice of trumpets drums and bels They which had no harquebuzes fastened wispes of straw to the end of their pikes which they did set on fire holding them vp into the aire so as the towne and forts seemed to burne for beside the fire which the souldiers made others were kindled on the Rampiers and in the towne The souldiers cried out to the Spaniards how that the Spanish fleet was comming to helpe them to win the North for t euer after the enemie began to lose his courage A certaine boat laden with corne thinking to enter the Hauen was by the wind driuen vpon the North head the enemie shot at this boat and toucht it thrice yet no man was hurt and at last by the mariners diligence it was brought into the towne Euerie day there were skirmishes and euerie houre some new matter or other was performed in the plaine betwixt the town and enemies camp But the Burghers being tired with continuall labour complained saying that they could doe no more whereupon gouernor Morgan aduised the magistrats to impose some tax vpon euery Burgher and with the money hire labourers to end the worke The Burgomaster Manteau assembled the great Councell and propounded to them the gouernours demaund This great Councell is composed of the new Councell viz. of the Magistrats then in authoritie and of the old namely of such as haue beene Burgomasters Sherifes receiuers and counsellers chosen out of euery companie who haue a place in this great Councell The Gouernours demand was allowed and the Burghers were discharged from their labour and the worke which was imperfect was within a while finished There was great want of planks so as they were enforced to teare vp diuers new floares to serue for the workes which after the siege the towne paid for But this want together with that of other necessaries being not fully supplied the Burghomaster Sudland was on the sixe and twentieth of October sent into Holland not onely to my Lords the States but to the magistrats of the town of Dort who during the siege shewed themselues verie affectionat to the good of the towne Certaine Scots lay in a Burghers house called Iohn Dyalle who among other things fit to burne pluckt vp a piece of timber called a summer which supported the whole frame whereupon the whole house fell downe vpon them and slew 3 of them thereupon proclamation was made on paine of life that no souldier should breake vp any timber in any house On the Rampiers of the towne and forts pitch barrels full of chips and straw were placed to giue light if the enemie should in the night make any attempt vpon the towne The seuen and twentieth of October the great bell was rung to publish the Faire or free Mart not in hope that many people would come to it but because the towne is bound so to doe for feare of loosing the priuiledge of the Mart. During this time which continued sixe weekes all fugitiues may boldly come thither traitors theeues and banished men excepted and no man is called in question for debt but onely for that which he shall fall into during the Mart. The day following his Excellencie came into the towne by his presence to encourage the souldiers and Burghers to view the fortifications and to take order for all necessaries belonging to the siege The same day the imposition heretofore mentioned was much raised which did in no sort please the Burghers who vnderstanding that my Lords the States were come into the Isle of Tholen sent the Burgomaster Manteau and William Frauncis the old Burgomaster to them these at tenne of clocke at night went in the companie of his Excellencies seruants to Venusdam and preuailed so farre with my Lords the States as they promised to giue them three thousand florins towards the fortification of Berghen and they receyued one thousand eight hundred in hand The morrow after the Burgomasters departure the enemie forsooke the causie of Matteberg Those of the Island perceiuing it did without any noyce set fire on the enemies campe The time was not long ere the enemie would be enforced with great disgrace and losse to retire For despairing to take the towne he could expect no lesse but to haue his campe ruined by little and little with continuall sallies canon shot from the towne raine foule weather and sicknesse which ensued whereupon on the thirtieth of October hee forsooke the Northland causie Those of the Gueux Gullet were the first that perceiued his departure and came with their boats to their causie where they found none but one Alman who was fast a sleepe who beeing awaked and perceiuing his fellowes to be gone fell vpon his knees and sued for his life then did our men presently breake the bridge ouer the Gullet of Dryanneland Vpon the thirtieth or one and thirtieth of October at night the enemie with fourteene great shalops went to Sea-ward to see if they could take any bootie yet they took nothing but a poore fisherman of Romerswael about noone returned from whence they came our men of warre though they were vndersaile could not ouertake them for they still kept in the shallowest waters His Excellencie Count Solms my Lords Barneâ—velt Egmont Valck Vosbergue and diuers others did the same day come to the Towne The souldiers that they might shew their valours to the sayd Lords made a fallie forth of the North side of the Towne but in vayne because the enemie would not come forth The Burghers Fort was not yet ended The mony before mentioned being graunted by my Lords the States the imposition was lessened and certaine Boores hired to end the worke Our men planted two canons on a certaine place called Boeten-verdriet with which they scoured the valley betwixt the high and nether Northgeest and shot into the enemies Campe so as sometimes with one shot they ouerthrew tents barrels of wineâ— tunnes of Beere and men all at once The enemie to redresse this inconuenience made many Gabions in the valley but to small purpose In the meane time a rumour was spred that the enemie had made a Mine from Holweghen as farre as the towne Dike to blow vp part thereof and though most men thought it a vaine and idle reeport yet because the water in the South Dike was on the sixt of Nouember fallen one foot this fable was receiued for truth The Lord Willoughby with two or three other went directly to Holweghen this way is so low as a man from thence can scarce discerne the top of a pike notwithstanding that
with twelue cornets of horse yet the garrison would not giue place nor leaue the Towne Whereupon his Excellencie the next day came thither in person with fiue and twentie cornets of horse fiue and thirtie foot ensignes and foure demie canon which when they within it saw they deliuered vp the towne to the true Lord prince Maurice who placed a strong garrison in it gaue order for fortifying of the Castle causing fiue bulwarkes to be made there which cost more than 100000 florins The twelfth of August with great magnificence he was receiued into the towne as Lord of the Countrie with all due ceremonies he was afterwards receiued into the Castle of Cracow which he likewise caused to be fortified in which he spent eight and twentie thousand florins keeping aboue 2000 men at worke there so as these two places were made exceeding strong and cannot be taken but in Summer or in time of great drought ¶ A description of a long fight at Sea in the Eastern Indies neere to the Citie of Bantam betwixt fiue ships of Holland and the Portugals mightie fleet in Anno 1601. IT is notorious to the whole world that the Staple or principall Mart of Spices as Pepper Cinamon Cloues Nutmegs Macis Ginger and other medicinable drugs of pretious stones as Diamonds Rubies Turkois Emeralds Saphirs and others of Pearle and infinit other rich Merchandise which are only found in the East Indies and from thence brought into these parts hath chiefely beene for many hundred yeares in the famous and magnificent city of Venice where they were woont to be bought and sold and from thence sent abroad ouer all Europe so as the sayd citie and republike flourished and was euerie where famous in regard of the said traffique These Spices drugs and other strange things were transported by Sea from Alexandria to Venice but they were first brought by land to Alexandria with great and incredible cost and danger as well by reason of the long and tedious way as the great Conuoys which the Carauans vsually had to secure them from the incursions of the Arabians who lay in wait vpon the waies All these merchandises were burthened with these great costs and expence to the profit and aduantage of those who transported them from the Indies to Alexandria from theÌ„ce to Venice and from Venice to other parts of Europe where these things were much desired and could be brought hither by no neerer way nor by any other meanes but by land and by these Corâ—uans But within these few yeares by the resolution of certaine bold and valiant Sea men who contemned all the fearefull and tempestious dangers of the winds and seas and endured infinit miseries torments and aduersities a new way hath bin discouered altogether vnknowne to our predecessours by which we may goe to the said Indies by Sea viz. in sailing round about Afrike in view of the Cape of good hope and passing from thence to the other side of Afrike betwixt it the Isle of Madugascar in coasting sundrie Islands the red Sea Arabia foelix and the Persian Sea as farre as Calicut or Goa or else from the said Cape directly towards the strait of Sunda leauing the Isle of Madugascar with many moe on the left hand By this means the said spices druges and other costly merchandize haue beene brought into Europe with farre lesse charge and difficultie so as in Venice the trade hath begunne to decay and doth now flourish in Portugall in the Citie of Lisbone so as wee may say it is remoued from one towne to an other and that it is at this present wholy and alone in the said Citie for all other places must rate their wares according to the price made in Lisbone And because the Realme of Portugal and namely the citie of Lisbone hath for certaine yeares had the said traffique as it were proper to themselues both because they were the first which discouered and found out the said way as also for that their king gaue a certaine summe of mony to the Emperour Charles to buy this priuiledge that the Spaniards should in no sort goe that way by this meanes the said citie of Lisbone with the inhabitants of the whole kingdome are become so rich as perceiuing the great profit which their kingdome and people obtained by this trade haue sought all meanes to appropriat to themselues alone this traffique by sailing into those parts And to this end haue not onely subdued diuers townes prouinces and entier kingdomes in the Eastern Indies subiecting them by force of armes and continually bridling them on euerie side by forts and castles but haue likewise made leagues and alliance with other Kings Princes and Potentates of the Eastern Indies whom they could not subdue as it seemed according to the report which came from thence hither none should trade thither but themselues This notwithstanding some fewe yeares since certaine ships of the vnited Netherland Prouinces tracing the Portugals did likewise passe the Cape of good hope and arriued in the East Indies where by experience they found the contrarie of that report which the Portugals had caused to bee bruted how that none but themselues might trade into those Countries for diuers kings and Islands where the said spices and other costly merchandizes grew were either mortall enemies to the Portugals or else so inclined as they would not to satisfie them prohibit others from trading into those parts which the Portugals considering and being incensed with the Hollanders arriual did with great expence set forth the aboue mentioned mightie fleet to enforce the Kings of those Countries and free Islands where these spices growe not to giue them comfort to trade with any but themselues and on the other side to keepe the Hollanders from landing or taking in fresh water and in a word to assaile and incounter them in such sort as no newes might be caried home of them into Europe Now because this famous incounter and sea battaile happened but in the yeare 1601 and the said fleet was readie in anno 1599 wee will briefely set downe how this Armada was imploied in the interim of the two yeares because for the noueltie thereof it deserues it The king of Calicut beeing a mortall enemy to the Vice-Roy and Portugals of Goa and other places of the Eastern Indies they armed against each other both by land and sea The King had a certaine Indian in his seruice called Cunall a man so fortunat in all his enterprises and piracies as in a short space hee became so famous and wealthie by his continuall booties gotten from the Portugals as those who followed his partie seeing these happie beginnings made him King He had a castle and place of retreate on the coasts of Malauar called by his owne name Cunall or Cuchall where after hee had forsaken the king of Calicuts partie he did so continew his thefts and robberies for the space of 50 yeres with good successe as in
he could not dismise his souldiers but that it behoued him to retaine them for the defence of his owne person In this regard the said generall States the Councell of State his Excellencie of Nassau in qualitie aboue said together with the States of Holland and West Frizeland did on the 28 and 29 of Ianuarie last past determine to write to the said Generall That according to the said order he should keepe but an hundred and fiftie souldiers in the towne and send the rest to gard the frontiers An order was likewise taken the same day that the hundred and fiftie souldiers appointed to remaine in Medenblick and others going to their appointed garrisons should presently receiue a moneths pay Concerning which my Lords the States generall the Councell of State his Excellencie of Nassau and the States of Holland dispatched letters on the twentie ninth and thirtieth of the said moneth among which the contents of the Councell of States letters was That the Generall should obey his Excellencie of Nassau So that it seemes that indirectly and in contempt to hinder the effect of the said commaundement the Generall according to his former actions and rash speech boasted That he had conquered and kept the townes of North Holland Words not onely tending to the diminution of the late Lord Prince of Orange his reputation by whose meanes and good conduct those countries had beene defended and preserued but to the great dishonour of all good people of the townes and countrey of North Holland and West Frizeland who in regard of the Generall his Commission and for the said late Lord Princes sake had willingly receiued and entertained him then when he wanted and was vnprouided of all things and who according to his owne speech had verie valiantly defended themselues saying not long before That he had rather see the ruine of the countrey than to desist from his determination and purpose so as he raised sedition and mutinie among the souldiers in the towne of Medenblicke the which hee was not ashamed to write of to the Councell of State which spread it selfe so far abroad as the Commissarie that was sent thither the same day of the stir to craue the execution of the said commaundements receiued an answer from the Generall That he could not rule the troupes being so disordered And the souldiers who since their last pay had receiued more monethes means than the other Ensignes and whose monethlie pay still ran on said That they would not goe forth of the town till they had first receiued their full pay for seuentie two monethes of which seuentie two monethes they had alreadie receiued the two third parts according to the generall resolution made anno 1581 by the generall States in the towne of Amsterdam in presence by the consent of my Lord the Prince of Orange The Burguers of Medenblick who for the good of the countrey had euer borne themselues loyally and were to be defended by the souldiers were by them disarmed and enforced without delay to carrie their armes to the towne-house where the Generall was and not the souldiers alone but the Captaines and Officers were constrained to giue weekely as much as their entertainment amounted to This disobedience riot disorder rebellion and mutinie in Medenblick without any vrgent necessitie caused the garrisons of other townes and places which were worse paid to doe the like so as the whole countrey was in a verie dangerous estate And after that his Excellencie of Nassau and my Lords the States of Holland and West Frizeland were aduertised that matters did euerie day grow worse and worse at Medenblick the said Generall giuing them no aduertisement thereof his Excellencie and the States of Holland and West Frizeland who were most interessed therein thought good to send beside his Excellencie certaine noble men to the townes of those countries to prouide for the redresse of those disorders His Excellencie being come to the towne of Alckmaer did by letters request the said souldiers to send some among them to him to treat of their affaires and end them But at the same time namely on the sixteenth of Februarie anno 1588 the Generall with the Captains Christal and Wolfswinckel being in the said towne the better to deceiue the souldiers vnder a fauourable pretence for the maintenance of his particular designe and to keepe them at his owne deuotion made a manifest complot That none of them either in whole or part should go forth of the towne till such time as not onely they but likewise all the said Generalls regiment being partly in Guelderland Frizeland and Ouer-Yssell had receiued their full and entire paiment whereof by letters they likewise aduertised the Captaines that lay in Harderwijc Campen and other townes which were signed and sealed by the Generall and the said Captaines Chrystall and Wolfswinckell and those whom they had sent forth of Medenblick with the said complot and treatie were enioyned to induce other Captaines and souldiers to doe the like For a second colour the Generall persuaded the Captaines and souldiers that they were sworne to the Queene of England which without direct vsurpation on the State of the countrey could not be true seeing that her Maiestie neuer would pretend any right to these countries for she onely promised to aid these countries during the warre with certaine forces of horse and foot vnder promise that the money lawfully by her disbursed and knowne to the Commissioners should by the States be repaied vnto her and thereupon the towne of Briell and forts thereunto belonging with the towne of Flessingue and castle of Rammekins haue beene deliuered ouer to her Maiestie as cautions onely for her assurance which she still keepes for the States of the country her Maiestie pretending no right to the said towns other than for assurance as plainely appeares by the contents of the treatie made with her wherein is expressly conditioned That the Gouernours Captaines Officers and souldiers Burguers and inhabitants of the towns should not only sweare vnto her Maiestie for assuraance of the restitution of the money which she was to disburse but likewise to the States for conseruation of their right in all other matters which they had expresly reserued to themselues forth of the said assurance And as concerning her Maiesties promise for greater aid beside the garrisons of the cautionarie townes seeing that the same was onely promised by her Maiestie for the seruice of the countrey it was expresly conditioned in the last article of the said Treatie That both the Generall Colonels Captaines Officers and others should take the oath of fidelitie to the States alone as they had done before any Treatie was made with her Maiestie reseruing onely the homage which was due vnto her And with this reseruation the Colonels Morgan Chester Generall Norris with other English Colonels Captaines haue successiuely since the beginning of the warre embraced the seruice of these countries So that it is a verie strange thing to see
lord Willoughby General of the English came to Berghen and had made Sir William Drury knight gouernor of the towne The next day they mustered had in all 12 ensignes of foot 9 of which lay in the towne the other 3 in the forts besides 4 cornets of horse The Dutch captaines were Paul Marcelis Bacx brethren the English were commaunded by captain Parker captain Pooly who was cornet to my lord Willoughby From Holland they receiued a certaine quantitie of powder The Forts whereof we now spake are vpon the hauen which being too farre off from the townes defence sundrie Forts were made to secure it For the hauens mouth lieth 532 foot from the towne from S. Iames his gate it extends 535 foot towards the North and from thence falleth into the Scheld In this turning stands the first which is called the little Fort because it is lesser than any of the rest The other Fort lieth 3320 foot from the head and is called Valkenbourg by the first Captaines name that kept it from thence ye goe to the North Fort distant from the Houdt-port two thousand nine hundred and sixtie foot In Southland nere to Valkenbourg stands the new Fort diuided onely from Valkenbourg by the Dike and this Fort lies open behind By a conduit they can emptie the water of the Dike into the hauen or keepe it in at their pleasure From the new Fort they haue made a new dike as farre as the towne which is commonly called the new hauen Right ouer against the lesser Fort the sluces of the hauen of Northland were opened to keepe the enemie from accesse to the North for t The Lord Willoughby went into Holland to my Lords the States to take order for al necessarie prouisions for the town But before his departure he conferred with the Magistrat and appointed the towne to be diuided into eight quarters and euerie quarter to be commanded by a sherife to ouersee the Burghers and to looke that they laboured in the fortifying of those parts of the towne that were weakest The Burgomasters for that yeare were Frauncis Manteau and Peter Suidlants the Sherifes were William Frauncis the old Burgomaster Cornelius Iohn Cornelius Denis Marke Martin Adrian Iohn Iohn Clarke and Cornelius of Heusden The receiuers were Marin Nicholas the old Burgomaster Nicholas de Ranst When the sherifs vpon important businesse could not ouersee the workmen then some of the chiefe Burghers of euerie quarter supplied their places Foure dayes after the Lord Willoughbies departure the Burghers began at S. Iames his gate as ye go from the head to the new worke making first a trench vpon the bank or causey which leads from the same gate to the new hauen All along the hedge which is planted from the powder tower to the woodden gate fortifications were likewise made in manner of trenches they did also labor verie diligently in other places On the high way from Wouwe some of the enemies horse were descried wherupon the sentinel on the watch tower rang the alarm bell Sir William Drury the gouernour made a sallie and caused the enemie to retire All the horse troopes in the towne followed the gouernour who with those forces that sailled with him pursued the enemie euen to Wouwe part of the horse and foot made a stand at the entring of the heath of Wouwe and the Downes of Berghen In the meane time the gouernour returned hauing lost one of his horsemen and two horse for he went as farre as the Churchyard of Wouwe where he skirmished with many of the enemies Diuers condemned this his attempt saying that he had greatly endaungered himselfe and the towne by his too greedie desire of fight For the enemie was superiour to him in strength and he had too farre engaged himselfe to returne with safetie to the towne if the enemie should haue assailed him Returning from this sallie he caused the bridge at the Bulwarke of Helstede to be broken down for they that had vndertaken the works had made a bridge ouer the dike to fetch earth from the hill of Varij-Bogaert to make an end of their worke Cornelius Iohn the cities sherife sent messengers from the comminaltie of the towne into Zeland to aduertize my Lords the States that the enemie threatned to besiege the towne of Berghen and to that end lay with his campe at Wouwe and that the towne was badly prouided of necessaries for maintenance of a siege and that therefore the magistrats of Berghen besought them of aid and assistance in their necessitie as their neighbours and confederats that the cause was common for if Berghen should bee lost the Islands of Zeland would bee mightily endaungered The next day which was the 14 a boat came from Zeland loden with plankes and other necessaries And because the States of Holland Zeland those of the town of Dort did during the siege carefully send prouision of all necessaries to the towne In that regard I will truly say that it was wel prouided of corne butter cheese salt herring salt fish hay straw oates powder plankes nayles lead bullets match pike oziertwigs to make gabions c. The Zelanders sent fiue Culuerins of Portugal each of them carrying a bullet of 26 pound weight they were of those which Peter Vander Does Vice-Admirall of Holland found in the Gallion of D. Diego Pimentell which he tooke nere to Blankenberg and brought to Flushing The enemies horse shewing themselues againe on the high way of Wouwe were soone put to flight by our men because their number was not great About the same time diuers fires were seene betwixt Rosendael Calmthout made by such as went from Calmthout towards Steenberghen to assemble all their forces to go and inuade the land of Tertholen as it afterwards appeared For the night before the 17 of September great numbers of the enemie vnder the conduct of the Lord of Montigni went along the bank called Matreben to a place called Eendrecht meaning to surprise the Island All the causey of Tertholen especially where the water is so low as the riuer may be crossed is fortified with a trench and forts well mand with soldiers are made in many needfull places The Count of Solms was gouernour of the Island There where the enemie thought to passe is a large extent of ground where on Tertholens side are 3 forts the one Southward towards Tholen called the Botshoost that in the middest is called Papen-mutse or priests cap because it is square and the third stretching Northward is stiled the new Weer or passage The water being low certaine ensignes attempted to passe ouer to the Fort of Papen-mutse But the water was not so shallow as they imagined and the current was verie strong so that diuers of them were drowned and slaine by our mens shot some of them notwithstanding passed ouer and being protected by the banke made signes to their fellowes to come ouer But all this beeing to no purpose because the rest
purpose his meaning was to haue returned into Fraunce and to haue become one of the reformed religion in some Congregation or other and to haue so delt with the Consistorie as he would haue obtayned letters of recommendation to get him accesse to the Prince and by that meanes to perform the deed Being tortured likewise before he confest that he had acquainted Doctor Gery Warden of the Friers at Tournay with his purpose After his torture he confessed that the sayd Frier had incouraged him and giuen him his blessing promising to pray to God for him That the Iesuit of Treues had likewise assured him that if he died in the attempt he should be reckoned in the number of martyrs He had likewise imparted the same to 3 other Iesuits Being againe tortured he sayd that he was a poore fellow seeking some means to aduance himselfe That he had acquainted the Prince of Parma with his plot who appointed the Counsellor Assonuille to conferre with him who vpon the difficultie of the matter told him that he should doe great good seruice to the King of Spayne and that the Prince of Parma allowed thereof so as if he performed it he should receiue the recompence proposed in the proscription but if he shold be taken he aduised him by no means to make any mention of the Prince of Parma He told Assonuille that he would change his name and call himselfe Francis Guyon son to Peter Guyon put to death for Religion and his goods confiscat and so being a poore fellow and wanting meanes but yet affectionat to Religion he would goe to the Princes Court and the better to insinuat hee would present him his seruice and those sealed Blankes all this did Assonuille consent to and vehemently exhorted him to performe it intreating him againe not to make any mention of the Prince of Parma for diuers respects and perceiuing him resolute in the attempt he sayd vnto him Goe my sonne if thou performe this the King will keepe his promise with thee and thou shalt purchase immortall fame He should beside haue the Prince of Parma for his friend that the sayd Prince had seene those blankes and was content they should be vsed but Count Mansfeldt should change and alter his seale and haue it no more engrauen in the forme of a Lozenge with diuers other instructions which Assonuille gaue him Whereupon the sayd Baltazar aunswered that he hoped so well to counterfeit himselfe to be of the reformed Religion as to get into the seruice of some Secretarie thereby to find some oportunitie to present letters to the Prince to signe and in the meane time to kill him with his ponyard After his torture he still continued in one mind that he was not sorie for the fact but if it were againe to be done he would attempt it though it should cost him a thousand liues All these confessions both those that he had voluntarily set down in writing and those that he made vpon the torture seen heard my Lords of the great Councell those of the Prouinciall appointed to examin and judge the prisoner together with the magistrats of Delft pronoūced sentence against the said Baltazar as followeth Baltazar Gerard borne at Villesans in the franche county of Burgondie hauing confest to haue attempted to kill the illustrious and mightie Lord the Prince of Orange and to this end obtayned certaine Blankes from Count Mansfeldt and conferred with the Counsellour Assonuille in Tournay sent to him by the Prince of Parma who had promised him that if the Prisoner should execute the sentence of proscripion against the Prince of Orange the King of Spayne should pay him the recompence proposed in the sayd proscription together vvith the summe of fiue and twentie thousand Ducats that the sayd prisoner should call himselfe Frauncis Guyon and make shew of beeing affectionat to the reformed Religion to haue the better accesse to the Princes Court That the sayd Prisoner according to this resolution came thither vnder the name of Frauncis Guyon and on the ninth of Iulie bought two Pistols which on the tenth day he charged whilest my Lord the Prince was at dinner and returning hung them at his girdle and hid them vnder his Cloke And as the sayd Prince after dinner was going forth of the Hall to ascend the staires leading to his Chamber he discharged one of the Pistols wherewith he slew the sayd Lord Prince This being an execrable deed and abhominable treacherie perpetrated against the person of so illustrious a Prince of happie memorie the offendor ought not to escape vnpunished but is to be seuerely chastised to serue for an example to all others In this regard my Lords aboue named hauing well and maturely weighed the confession of the sayd prisoner and considered euerie circumstance thereof haue by these presents condemned and doe condemne the sayd Baltazar Gerard to be led to a scaffold erected before the State-house of the sayd Citie there first to haue his right hand wherewith he committed this so execrable fact burned betwixt two burning yrons and afterwards his flesh to be burnt and torne off with burning pincers in sixe seueral parts of his bodie as legges armes and other fleshie places and lastly to be quar ered aliue his bowels and heart to be taken forth and throwne in his face his head cut off and his quarters to be set vpon the foure Bulwarkes and his head vpon a pole to stand vpon the Schoole-Tower behind the Princes house and all his goods to be confiscat This sentence was pronounced in the State-house of the Citie of Delft the 14 of Iulie anno 1584. Signed A vander Moer On Saturday the foureteenth of Iulie hee was publikely brought to a scaffold set vp in the Market place of Delft where he was executed according to the sentence with admirable patience shewing the same courage and resolution he had at first he would not conferre with any Minister when his hand and flesh was burnt and torne off he made no noyse nor seemed at all to be moued and in this manner was quartered and his head set vpon a pole which was afterward secretly stollen away After this illustrious Prince was thus slayne by the hand of this wretched Bourguignon his bodie by the commaundement of my Lords the States of Holland Zealand Frize land Vtrecht was magnificently buried in the new Church of Delft where his tombe is now to be seene His funerals were solemnized after this maner First the Burguers of Delft armed went before next them the Trumpets after them followed eight horse trapped with black downe to the ground behind euerie horse went a Gentleman bearing a banner representing the Armes of the sayd Lord Princes Signiories with Scutchions on euerie Horse The first Horse was led by two Gentlemen the one called Gerard de Schoten and the other Paule Wijts representing the Citie of Breda The banner with the Armes of Breda was borne by Philip
some fortie or fiftie followers went aboord Drake and the rest were carried to Plimmouth where they remayned a yeare and halfe till they had payed their ransome or were exchanged for others Valdez comming into Drakes presence kissed his hands told him that they had all resolued to die if they had not bin so happie to fall into his hands whom hee knew to bee noble and curteous and famous for dealing well with his vanquished enemie so as he doubted vvhether his enemies had more cause to loue him for his valour or feare him for his fortunate exploits which had alreadie attained to the highest degree Sir Francis Drake did curteously imbrace him and caused him to eat at his owne Table and sleepe in his owne Cabbin where Valdez reported vnto him their strength how that the four Gallies were dispersed that they had thought to haue entred the hauen of Plimmouth without feare of the English Nauie which they supposed durst not haue made resistance and so haue become masters at sea They likewise admired the valor of the English who durst with so few small vessels approch their inuincible Nauie get the wind of it with other such like discourses Valdez and his followers were afterward carried into England he was a man much respected in his countrie kinsman to the same Valdez who in an 1573 had besieged Leyden in Holland In his ship some of the kings treasure was amounting to the summe of 55000 Ducats in siluer which was all pillaged The same day the Vice-Admirall Oquendo his ship was fired where was great store of powder and munition all the vpper deck was burnt with all the men of whom few were saued It was taken and carried into England with many men in her halfe burnt and yet all the powder which was in hold was saued which was a matter to be admired In the meane time the English Lord Admiral in his ship called the Arke had that night so far followed the Spanyards as in the morning he found himselfe in a manner alone in the middest of his enemies so as it was foure a clocke after noone ere all his fleet came vp to him Some say that D. Hugo de Moncada Generall of the foure Galleasses did at the same time with great earnestnesse intreat the Duke of Medina to giue him leaue to boord the Lord Admirall which the Duke would in no sort permit being loth to passe the bounds of his Commission Tewsday the second of August the fleet being before Portland the wind turned to the North so as the Spanyards had a prosperous gale but the English did againe get the wind of them their ships being lighter and of better saile By this meanes the Spaniards then seemed more to incline to fight than before to speake truth that dayes fight was most fierce and bloudie In the middest of the fight the English Admirall cried out aloud to Captaine George Semmer saying ô George what dost thou wilt thou now forsake me or wilt thou deceiue my opinion of thy valour which words did so inflame him as hee assayled the enemie so furiously as that day he woon greatest commendation But the English hauing with all sorts of ordnance sought with them from morning yet ceased not the Spanyards did againe inclose themselues in order of battaile whereby their enemies perceyued that they onely sought meanes to defend themselues and to goe to their appointed place nere to Dunkirke there to joȳne with the Duke of Parma who vnder protection of those great vessels might execute his designe with more safety In this fight a great Venetian Argozey perished The English fleet in the meane time did dayly encrease grew strong by ships and men that came to it forth of all hauens seeking to win honour and to doe good seruice to their Countrie among whom were diuers noble men and others of great note as the Earles of Oxford Cumberland Northumberland of Knights Sir Thomas Cecill William Hatton Walter Raleigh Horacio Palauicino Gentlemen Henrie Brooke Robert Carie Charles Blunt Ambrose Willoughbie Henrie Nowell Thomas Gerard Robert Dudley Edward Darcy Arthur Gorges Thomas Wood William Haruey many other noble gentlemen so as they were in number some hundred saile being come nere to Douer they were increased to an 120 which for the most part were too small to boord the Spanyards except some twentie two of the Queenes great ships The mariners and souldiers amounted to the number of eleuen thousand men The third of August the Sea being calme and without wind the fight was onely betwixt the English the Galleasses which were rowed with oares therin had the vauntage but it did them small good The English were busied in making Chain shot wherwith to cut a sunder their oates tackings they likewise sent a shoare for more powder which they extreamely wanted hauing at the beginning spent much in vayne of which they afterwards complained The same day a Councell was held wherein was resolued That the English fleet should be diuided into foure squadrons the one vnder my Lord Admirals conduct the other vnder Sir Frauncis Drakes the third vnder Hawkins the fourth vnder Captaine Frobiser The Spanish ships in sayling kept a close order of 3 or 4 ships in ranke not farre one from another and the greater vessels enclosed them The fourth of August the fleet beeing come before the Isle of Wight the English Lord Admirall did fiercely assaile the Spaniards with his best ships as the Lyon wherein was the Lord Thomas Howard now Earle of Suffolke the Elizabeth Ionas wherein were the Lord Sheffield and Sir Robert Southwell the Lord Admirals sonne in law the Beare and Victorie commaunded by Iohn Hawkins and the Gallion Leycester by Captaine George Fenner All these made vp directly towards the Spanish Admirall who with the greatest part of his ships lay in the middest of the fleet where a fierce fight was begun for beeing within 3 or 400 paces nere to one another they gaue each other their broad sides and discharged all their ordnance at last the Spaniards got the wind and once againe joyned themselues together In the meane time Martin Frobiser Captaine of the Triumph with some few others had brauely performed a daungerous fight with the Spanyards the Admirall came to reskew him and found that he had valiantly behaued himselfe and made a discreet retreat without any great losse So as the next day being the fist of August the Admiral knighted him and diuers others Saturday the 6 of August towards night the Spanyards came to an anker before Calais it seemed they resolued to stay there to joyne with the Duke of Parmas forces The next day being the seuenth of August the moone was at full so that at twelue a clocke it was full sea at Calais and at eleuen at Dunkirke The English likewise ankored within Canon shot of them whether the Lord Henrie Seymer brought his fleet of
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
of them fled away they were enforced to take the water where they were all drowned And as those which were in the water striued to passe ouer their fellowes who stood vpon the causey on Brabant side shot furiously vpon those of the Island yet they slew but one of our men which was a common soldier of Berchens companie but the enemie lost 200 men When the enemie first offered to passe ouer there were scarce fortie of our men to oppose them but within a while after Captaine Lagro of Tholen came thither with his companie And though those of the Island had fortunatly repelled the enemie yet they thought not themselues free from daunger knowing that he had not idlely made that attempt but that he intended to surprise the Isle of Tholen thereby to molest those of Berghen together with all Zeland assuring themselues that it would not bee long ere he returned againe and perhaps the next night following And because they wanted men to furnish all places they requested those of Berghen to send Adrian Guillaume and George Brissaulx with three hundred men vnder their commaund to them This Adrian Guillaume had in the first wars of Zeland beene Admirall of Ziericzee and was then Lieutenant General to Count Solms ouer al the forces of Zeland Brissaulx was son to Iames Brissaulx a verie good religious man who in former time had bin Burgomaster of Bruges These two were sent from the States of Zeland to Berghen so soone as they vnderstood that the enemie meant to march towards the Towne The nineteenth of September the Drossart returned from Amsterdam where he had bought great store of planks and other necessaries fit for fortification For besides his place of Drossart which next to the Marquis is the highest degree in Berghen the fortifying of the towne and sorts was committed to him His name was Elias Lion sonne to Doctor Albert Lion a verie learned man who for the space of foure and twentie yeares had beene chiefe professor of the ciuile law at Louayne and was at that time Chauncellor of Guelderland and chiefe Counsellor to my Lords the generall States of the vnited Prouinces The night following being the 20 of September the enemie came to Raberch and about noone returned to Wouwe Nothing at that time was done on either side for it rayned all that night and likewise at noone after the enemies departure The Magistrats sent certaine commissioners into Holland and Zeland to my Lords the States to acquaint them with the state of the Towne and to craue aid Cornelius Iohn the Townes sherife went to Zeland and Adrian Guillaume the Secretarie into Holland The two and twentieth of the said moneth by day break there was an alarme the trumpets sounded drums were beaten and the alarme bell was rung For the gouernour had assembled a troope of souldiers to reenforce the morning gard because the enemie was wont to make his attempts about that time when the gard is most drowsie wherewith hee had not acquainted the horsemen who had the gard vpon the market place Some of them going through the streets met with these souldiers and demanded who they were and whether they went but one among them giuing a discourteous aunswer they returned to their officers acquainting them therewith they not knowing the matter and thinking all was not well did presently giue the alarm The gouernor tooke this in bad part and complained to the Captaines of the wrong done vnto him therein seeing his soldiers were assembled by his commaundement The Captaines of the horse answered they were ignorant that it was done by his commaund and that they ought to haue beene made acquainted therewith in regard of the state of the Towne Thereupon proclamation was made that none should dare to ring the alarme bell without expresse charge from the gouernour The next day the souldiers spoiled Generall Fremins baggage He had beene gouernour of Wouwe Castle and about a certaine quarrell that arose betwixt him and a Merchant of the same Castle came into Holland to complaine to my Lords the States to haue him cassierd and likewise to make prouision of all necessaries for keeping of the sayd Fort. The States had giuen him great store of musket and faulconet bullets match and barrels of powder But before the said Fremins returne the Merchant had alreadie driuen all those sorth of the Castle which tooke Fremins part and had secretly made an accord with the enemie Within a while after about the seuenteenth of Ianuarie 1589 he sold the castle to the enemie for 20000 crownes and himselfe retired into Fraunce Vntill then Fremin had carefully kept all these things But as he was readie to depart and had shipt all the souldiers who had an inckling thereof thinking they had found a just cause of excuse because it was against the law of Armes to carrie away such things forth of townes besieged seised on all the munition together with his owne goods and made bootie of it beeing neuerthelesse enforced to restore backe the greatest and best part thereof The next day after the enemie was discouered vpon the highway from Wouwe marching directly towards the towne Our horse and foot made a sallie vpon him but as they approched the Downes of Berghen the enemie turned vpon the right hand and went along the sandie way towards Riselberg and Nortgeest where he incamped And because the water of the channell which some did improperly terme the riuer of Zoom was kept in by the sluces of the womens gate and that of Steenberghen all the fields betwixt Wouwes gate and that of the women were drowned so as none could goe from Wouwes gate to the North quarter Our men returned againe to the towne and fallied sorth at Steenberghen gate with displayed ensignes alluring the enemie to fight who had enclosed himselfe in his campe The morrow after he encamped towards the South extending his camp from S. Gertrudes hill as farre as the vale therein comprehending Burghvliet Zudgeest the Raberg and part of Berghens wood which lies Eastward from the towne The Raberg is so termed because that Rat in the Dutch tongue signifieth a wheele whereon malefactors are broken and executed and vpon that hill execution was commonly done The enemie within a day or two alter his arriuall burnt the gallowes vpon the hil Southward from the towne as yee goe towards Antuerpe S. Gertrude is worshipt by superstitious people because as they say she preserues them from rats and mice In former times she was patronesse of the town and it is said that she was Ladie of the whole countrie of Berghen Her chappell which in time past stood vpon the hill nere to the drowned countrie of Southland gaue it that name The vale is part of the arable grounds which lie betwixt the wood towne and champaine countrie extending it selfe partly towards the West and in part towards Wouwes gate The Southgeest is an high place and Burghvliet was a village where a castle
stood which was burnt by the French as hath been said Those of Tholen had placed thirtie men in the castle of Halteten which tooke it name from the village not that they thought them strong enough to resist the enemie but onely to serue for Sentinels to those of the Island and to giue them notice of the enemies approch The souldiers being threatned by the enemie yeelded vp the castle on safety of their liues and goods The same day two horsemen were slaine with the canon from Reigers-tower one of them was a man of note and was afterwards buried at Antuerpe with 800 torches About the same time we receiued supplies from all parts My Lords the States notwithstanding that the Isle of Tholen was to be prouided for sent vs great numbers of Hollanders and Scots Those of Flushing Briell and Ostend sent vs store of choice souldiers There came likewise fourescore men from Gertrudenbergh conducted by an English captain called Brock these men had forsaken the States pay and serued among the English Besides all this sixe ensignes of foot came to vs from England about the first of Nouember So that the number of soldiers which at the beginning of the siege were in all both horse and foot but one thousand fiue hundred as appeared by the muster rolls did before the enemies departure amount to fiue thousand The Captaines of the horsemen perceiuing the enemie to be encamped thought it necessarie to make some sallie forth vpon him whilest they might doe it telling the gouernor Sir William Drurie that it behoued them now at first to giue the enemie some affront and that it would greatly disgrace them if they should not make some proofe of their valour But others of a contrarie opinion sayd that euerie victorie was vncertaine and that if they should chance to be vanquished by the enemie it would greatly endaunger the Towne and that if themselues should ouercome the enemie might easily beare that losse that they had to doe with a mightie and victorious enemie that it was true that sallies are commonly thought prejudicious to the besieged but it was only in such places where the enemies were few in number and where the besiege might in such sort be shut in by the enemie as he could not easily receiue new supplies but our numbers were great enough and we might daily receiue fresh supplies from the vnited Prouinces by meanes of the commodiousnesse of our hauen Captaine Paule Bacx made answere We likewise are not ignorant quoth he how it behoues vs to deale wisely therein we know verie well that the enemie hath a mightie and victorious campe and many men we likewise haue often made triall what souldiers they are But if it shall not please the gouernour to graunt the demaunds of the Captaines of the horse for my part let this mightie and victorious enemie make his approches and at last for I will vse his owne words come and draw vs by the eares one by one forth of the towne into his campe This speech being not allowed of by many he went his way without any further talke But the gouernour called him backe together with the rest that were there present and said seeing your request tends to the good and preseruation of the Towne I will no longer denie it Then euerie man went and armed himselfe no drum was beaten nor trumpet sounded to call the troopes together but each man gaue notice to his fellow of the sallie and forthwith at the houre appointed they were all readie together A Gentleman of Holland whose name was Vchtenbreck cornet to captaine Paule Bacx was sent forth to draw the enemie into the field betwixt the camp towne he was seconded by 14 or 15 harquebuziers who went altogether towards the campe Nere to the towne dikes there is a low way which stretcheth from Steenberghen gate as far as Helst point and it is ouerlookt by the hill of Varigobart which ends nere to this point and there makes a vallie The Lanciers went this way towards the sayd vallie holding downe their lances keeping them from the enemies sight who was encamped on the Rijsselberg and Northgeest The Harquebuziers of Marcelis Bacx kept themselues close to the Lanciers Captaine Paule Bacx and his brother led the vantgard being followed by the lord Willoughbies cornet captain Parker The enemie hauing descried this small troope comming with Vchtenbroeck sent certaine musketiers to encounter them In the field where Vchtenbroeck and his soldiers lay there were many hedges which diuided one field from another these did the sayd musketiers make good and whilest they skirmished with Vchtenbroeck our men which were behind Varibogart hil perceiued it being verie glad of so faire an occasion rod a full galop vpon the enemie sound their trumpets and with their swords and lances euery man did his best The musketiers were beaten from their shelter and were enforced to quit their armes and to craue that they might be taken prisoners many of them were slaine and many taken for they were so encompassed by our men as they could not escape The enemie taking pitie on his people sent three cornets of horse to rescue them who were soone put to rout by the two brethren Bacx that led the vantgard and enforced to retire to Rijsselberg from whence they saw their musketiers slain and taken prisoners During the fight certain prisoners were sent into the towne among whom was a young gentleman Nephew to that Groesbeke who in former time had beene bishop of Liege surnamed Amsterode and was Lieutenant generall to a Regiment of Almans who had receiued a great wound in the face Our men determined to returne backe to the towne so soone as they should haue executed some notable enterprise vpon the enemie not meaning to tarrie till the whole force of the campe shold fall vpon them being too weak to resist and to speake truely they had woon honour enough and might freely haue returned with their prisoners in triumph which they had done but for captain Parkers couragious resolution who could not be satisfied with the flight of the enemies horse which at their ease beheld the vsage of their owne men so as charging them in a place where they had great aduantage he repulsed them once or twice but as himselfe was likewise constrained to retreat to the hil where the enemie stood to driue them thence where the whole campe was by this time in armes and the enemies cauallerie receyuing both new aid and courage making a fierce charge vpon him he and his troope were in danger either to haue bin oppressed with multitude or to haue been taken prisoners thrice did the enemie lay hold on Parker and thrice did he free himselfe from them and brauely defended himselfe with his sword The brethren Bacx and captaine Poolie perceiuing the daunger wherein captaine Parker was and being spurd forward by a desire of honour galoped into the thickest throng of the enemies making more account
he that carries it should aduaunce it as high as he could and although the enemie was not far from them vpon S. Gertrudes mount yet the lord Willoughbie wold not return ere he had from aboue wel viewed and considered the depth of that way where he found no markes or signes of any Mine The ninth of Nouember the Earle of Northumberland and generall Norris came from England with a gallant traine of gentlemen At their arriuall all the ordnance great and small was discharged and the great Bell was rung The Earle came to see the Low-countries and Berghen-op-Zoom Generall Norris was by her Majestie sent to my Lords the States to procure some aid for D. Antonio King of Portugal for the Queene prepared a mightie fleet to re-establish D. Antonio in his kingdome from whence he had beene expulsed by the Spaniards Vchtenbroeck with fiue or sixe horse galoped forth of the gates towards the Sautwech before the enemies campe and there tooke two horsemen prisoners and a victualler with a waggon laden with beere who in despite of the enemie and before his face they brought to the Towne And to giue some delight to the Earle the English did the next day determine to make a sallie the footmen sallied vpon the enemies campe by the Mine at the powder gate for in hast they had made a Bridge ouer the Dike These at Holweghen did skirmish with the Italians that lay vpon Saint Gertrudes mount the horse sallied at Wouwe gate Parker stayed vpon Wijngaert hill and Poolie in the plaine towards Bourghvliet The brethren Bacx were not there for they had no warning of the sallie The Almans which were encamped on the Rabergh came downe into the plaine at the foot of the hill and made a stand not farre from Wijngaerts hill many retired behind the hedges and bushes others allured our men to come forward Captaine Veer with some thirtie souldiers driues away the Almans from their place of aduauntage Parker assailes and pursues them as farre as the Rabergh and suffereth few of them to escape A young Gentleman Captaine of a foot companie beeing on horsebacke and charging together with Parker was taken prisoner being carried by the furie of his horse into the middest of the enemies campe and was afterwards exchanged for D. Iuan de Mendoza both of them being almost of one age All prisoners that were taken did constantly affirme that the Duke of Parma determined to raise the siege On the eleuenth of Nouember a generall sallie was made on Steenberghens side by all the horse and foot some few excepted who here and there garded the gates and the Rampiers Generall Balfort with sixe hundred choyce souldiers both Dutch Scotch came thither at the same time from Tholen Captain Veer conducted the free booters that were to begin the skirmish Captaine Marcelis Bacx with his harquebuziers marched directly towards the enemies camp Balfort embattailed his troops on the highway of Steenberghen Those of the towne stood in the plaine on the right hand of that highway towards the West The Lanciers went somewhat on the one side towards the Sand-Wegh The footmen which went before with captaine Veer shot furiously vpon the enemies who shewed himselfe open aboue from their fortifications Certaine of the enemies horse made a braue sallie and were as brauely saluted with small shot and forthwith enforced to returne to their campe with losse of some of their horse In this manner was the time spent the enemie still continuing himselfe in his trenches which were too strong for vs to breake into Our men returned into the Towne thinking they had woon honour enough in that for two houres space they had dared the enemie to fight and in a manner halfe assayled their Campe. Of Captaine Veers souldiers foure were slayne and 12 hurt with the enemies shot On the twelfth of Nouember the enemie did set fire on the North part of the campe he likewise burnt the castle of Halteren and the next day about tenne of the clocke before noone they depart from Riselberg and Northgeest where they stood a long time in battaile till their lodgings were burnt and their baggage carried away to the Southward In their march nothing was seen but their ensigns tops by reason of the said hils But comming nere the Ball on the high way called Habergue which leads into Berghen wood there they discouered themselues openly There were they grieuously tormented by the canon from the rampier of the woodden gate It was delightfull to behold how their battaile was broken at euerie shot our canon made so as at last they were enforced to breake their order and to diuide themselues All the night following nothing was heard but the noice of drummes and trumpets to fauour the retreat of the wagoners which brought away the baggage Before day breake the campe towards the South was likewise seene all on fire the enemie retired towards Calmthoudt placing sentinels on diuers hils to giue them intelligence if the townesmen sallied forth So soone as it was day the Lord Willoughbie went forth at Wouwe gate with one and twentie ensigne on foot and all the cauallerie taking two falconets along with him The enemies sentinels seeing this doe presently retire our men doe speedily seaze on the enemies trenches and campe the fanterie makes a stand on the Raberg the cauallerie galops after the enemie and fell in vpon the rereward mocking scoffing them to prouoke them to fight But al this being in vain they returned for it was enough for them to haue reproched the base retreat of so great a Kings campe which was no better than a manifest flight some straungers that were found in the campe were slain two or three women excepted whose liues were saued The Lord Willoughbie assembled all the horse and foot companies captaine Marcellis Bacx excepted who was absent pursuing the enemie with part of the cauallerie whom he sent to seeke intending to honour him among the rest for his valour But being not found and the intended ceremonie not to be delayed because he would performe it in the enemies view the Lord Generall turned towards Veer Knollis Parker and Poolie his countriemen and likewise towards captaine Paule Bacx a Dutchman speaking thus vnto them Seeing it is an auntient and laudable vse that those who haue behaued themselues valiantly in the warres should receiue some acknowledgement of their valour and for that mine owne eyes are witnesse of your prowesse whereof I take the enemie to witnesse who hath often to his great losse made triall what souldiers you are Our illustrious Ladie the Queenes Maiestie of England whose Lieutenant Generall I am and whose commaundement I will now performe doth honour each of you with the order of knighthood and touching all of them gently with his sword vpon their shoulders he sayd Receiue from her Maiestie this remembrance of her good will and affection which all of you by your valour haue deserued
valiant Lord he caused the towne to be fortified with large Rampiers and in anno 1534 both in the Castle and round about the towne he caused fiue great bulwarkes to be made which defended one another together with verie deepe dikes During these warres foure rauelins more haue beene made and before euerie gate an halfe moone so as this towne among those of the low or plaine Countrie is held one of the strongest in all the Netherlands In former time after the racing of the aboue mentioned Castle the Lords of Breda opposit thereunto nere to the Market place at this day called the Herons nest began to build a Palace and Castle where Count Henrie of Nassau afterwards suffering part of the old building to stand stil caused a new court and stately Palace to be built moated round about and without that a verie sumptuous edifice with a verie lordlie gallerie supported by pillers of blew stone with a gilded frontispice within the Court are many goodlie Chambers a large and stately Hall builded on Pillars with an artificiall winding staires of blew stone which cunning workemen hold for a master-piece in the Hall there is likewise a Chappell There is a verie goodlie Armorie stored with all sorts of Armour and much ordnance and among others diuers old cast pieces which a king of Hungarie had in time past giuen to the house of Nassau in recompence of their good seruice done to him against the Turke There were in it likewise 52 great canons and small field pieces which the Emperour Ferdinand gaue to the last prince and Lord of Breda which since then haue beene taken away by Duke d'Alua Among the most remarkable matters of Breda as well auntient as moderne these are much to be obserued How that the lord and countrie of Breda in time past a Lord and countrie diuided from the Duchie of Brabant hath beene joyned to the said Duchie in the time of Henrie of Lorraine c. And the Lord Godfrey of Breda who in an' 1212 hauing receiued of the said Duke the moitie of the custome of the Sheld in Fee together with Shakeloo and Ossendrecht did likewise promise to his Lord that himselfe and heires with their castles countrie and people shold faithfully serue the Duke and his heires In this manner the Monday after S. Valenties day the lord Gerard of Rassingem Liedekerk Lens hauing sold the Lordship possessions of the whole countrie of Breda with the appurtenances to Duke Iohn of Brabant the said duke Iohn by consent of his son Godeuart and his eldest daughter Ioan Countesse of Haynault and Holland did againe on the first day of Aprill 1351 sell the said countrie of Breda with the appurtenances to the Lord Iohn of Polanen the yonger Lord of la Lecke to enjoy it as his lawfull inheritance for the summe of 3400 Hallinghen Breda is the chiefest Towne of the Countrie and among other priuiledges and iurisdictions hath an Exchequer or Court fiscall which is common and vndiuided whereunto the towne of Steenberghen and the sixteene Villages of the Countrie of Breda with those of Eyckeren Mercxem Schoten Loehout and Oostmaell make their appeales And beside the sayd Court there is a seat of Iustice belonging to a Sherife before whom vpon the first summons the Burghers and inhabitants are to appeare together with those of Tettering Molongracht Sandberg Vijfhuyse and the Haegh-strate None may appeale from the sentence giuen in either of these Courts to any other Court of justice They haue held this priuiledge in our time For in the daies of the Emperor Charles the 5 the said emperor only in stead of this priuiledge granted to those of Breda the same priuiledge as other chief towns had viz that sentences giuen at Breda might be reformed but not appealed from How and when those of the house of Nassau obtained the lordship of Breda doth hereafter follow The aboue mentioned Lord Iohn of Polanen died in the yeare 1377 left a son named Iohn Lord of Lecke and Breda who left a daughter named Ioan married to Engelbrecht Count of Nassau in an̄ 1414 he died left a son called Iohn Count of Nassau Dietz and Vianden who was Lord of Breda died in the yere 1475 leauing by his wife Marie Countesse of Loon heire to Heinsberg to a 3 part of the Duchie of Iuliers Engelbrecht Iohn brethren who diuided the lands left thē by their parents so as the eldest son Count Engelbrecht had for his part all the lands which were in the Low-countries on this side the Rhyne viz. the countie of Vianden the Lordships of S. Vijts of Dudeldorp and Mijllen with all the lands in Brabant Holland in the country of Liege wherein were comprehended the Countrie and Towne of Breda and Earle Iohn had for his share all the countries and Lordships beyond the Rhyn the countries of Nassau and Dietz and by his wife Catsenelle boguen which was adiudged his in anno 1548. This diuision was made in this condition that the male children should be heires to both of them the better to vphold the house of Nassau from whence they were descended In this maner the town and countrie of Breda was peaceably gouerned by their Lords the Counts of Nassau for the space of 184 yeres flourishing in traffick vntill the 11 of Aprill 1567 when the Prince of Orange was enforced by the Duke of Aluas comming in great sorrow and perplexitie to abandon his subjects of Breda to retire into Germanie and after his departure the reuenues of Breda being seazed on by the duke d'Alua the said country town was brought vnder the wretched gouernement of the Spaniards and afflicted with sundrie garrisons till that in anno 1577 the town of Breda returned againe vnder the gouernement of his lawfull Lord and so continued for the space of 4 yeares and being afterwards taken by the prince of Parma 1581 he kept it til the yere 1590. We will now set downe after what maner by Gods assistance it was freed from the Spanish yoke The prince of Parma al the forces being in the yere 1590 busied in the French wars wherby his vnited Prouinces had some rest my Lords the States laid hold on this occasion and by valorous dexteritie tooke the towne and castle of Breda in manner following Count Philip of Nassau gouernor at that time of Worcum and Louvesteyn had by Prince Maurice his aduice conferred with a certaine Gentleman of Cambray called Charles Herauguieres Captain of a foot companie about an enterprise vpon the castle town of Breda telling him that diuers mariners vassals to the country of Breda and house of Nassau for loue affection to their lord had offered their seruice herein they being accustomed to carie turfe wood into the castle vnder that color fit to make some attempt This was propounded to Herauguieres who hauing well considered all daungers did towards the later end of
which was commaunded by Sir Frauncis Veer a gentleman of a noble house a gallant souldier and more fauoured of the Low-countries than all other strangers whatsoeuer Prince Maurice thus prepared made shew as if he intended to besiege Sertoghenbusk or Geertrudenberg sending many souldiers to Breda and diuers boats vpon the Mase which caused the Duke of Parma to giue the more credit to it because as hath been sayd that the States had alreadie taken the Castles of Turneholt and Westerloo as places of retreat with diuers other signes which made him likewise to fortifie the garrison of Geertrudenberg and commaunded those of Sertoghenbusk to fortifie their towne but they refusing to receiue a garrison he fortified some waies nere adjoyning Prince Maurice in the meane time had secretly sent certain souldiers vnder the conduct of Sir Francis Veer towards Doesbourg commaunding him to begin the enterprise and himself went speedily to Vtrecht and from thence to Rhene and Arnham and there crossing the Veluwe towards Zutphen On the three and twentieth of May nine souldiers were sent on the further side of Yssell towards the Fort of Zutphen foure of them clad like Boores and the other fiue like countrie women with butter cheese and eggs These at the opening of the Ports stood before the Fort nere which a sufficient number of souldiers were hidden So soone as the gate was opened the greatest part of the souldiers who had watched that night came forth and crossed the water to goe to the towne These counterfeit Boores leaned vpon their staues and they which were disguised like women sat vpon the ground offering their commodities to the gard who beheld them without any suspition till one of the women drew forth a Pistoll and shot one of them which done these counterfeits threw off their disguise assailed the enemie and seazed on the gate The souldiers that were hid hauing heard the report of the Pistoll ran speedily to the rescue of their fellowes forced the gard and gate and so tooke the Fort taking twelue souldiers prisoners that remained behind this was done on the 24 of May in the Morning The Fort thus surprised his Excellencie did not faile the next day to enuiron and besiege the towne of Zutphen On the sixe and twentieth of the said moneth Count William of Nassau came thither and the seuen and twentieth they were busied in shutting in the towne intrenching themselues and making a bridge ouer the Yssell The eight and twentieth of May eighteene great canon were planted in three seuerall places with such speed and dexteritie as is almost incredible all these were discharged thrice which amounted to foure and fiftie shot Then they sent to summon the Towne the Burghers in their answer craued time to consult which was denied so as they sent two Captaines to craue three dayes respit to haue an aunswer from Verdugo the townes gouernour this was likewise denied and no time of consultation giuen them whereupon the same day beeing the 30 of May they made an accord viz. that the garrison should depart the same night with their ensignes armes and baggage together with all Ecclesiasticall persons and such Burghers as were willing to be gone had free libertie so to doe Those which would tarrie whether they were Clergie men or others should enjoy the same benefit as the other inhabitants of the vnited Prouinces did A Conuoy was giuen them as farre as Deuenter with certain horse wagon which their Lieutenant Colonel obliged himselfe to send backe Young Count Philip of Ouersteyn was slaine there at the beginning as he approched too nere the gate to take a prisoner Those of the towne were dragging away his bodie but it was taken from them by force and honourably buried in Arnham according to his degree He was a braue and gallant young Lord. This strong towne was taken on a sodaine vnprouided of strong garrison there being in all but sixe hundred men in it the circuit whereof is verie large For they thought themselues not able to defend so great a breach as so many canons would haue made they did likewise want powder and victuals Prince Maurice presently entred it at the verie same time as Count Solms brought the companies of Zeland to him So short a time was spent in taking the Towne and Fort as the news thereof was sooner heard than that of the siege The siege and taking of the Towne of Deuenter together with sundrie Forts and Castles in the Land of Groeninguen in Anno 1591. SO soone as his Excellencie had taken the towne of Zutphen stored it with all necessaries and giuen order for the gouernement thereof he made hast to pursue his victorie laying hold on so faire an occasion so as the verie same night he sent to begirt the towne of Deuenter seated two miles from Zutphen and foure from Zwoll on the right side of the riuer Yssell The Canon according to the vsuall celeritie was likewise shipt and carried to Deuenter the whole armie presently followed His Excellencie made two bridges ouer the Yssell and on both sides of the riuer planted eight and twentie canons and hauing made some shot he sent to summon the towne but they within would not heare tell of yeelding so as on the ninth of Iune the batterie began which in a short space had beaten downe a great quarter of the wall nere to the Key This wall was double and on the inside thereof was a thicke earthen Rampier It being thus beaten downe certain flat bottomed boats were sent into the Hauen on which a Bridge was made to goe to the assault for which the English Scots and Dutch were in readinesse euerie Nation vnder his commaund striuing who should march first All things beeing readie the Bridge proued too short so as they could not continue the assault Some that went forward gaue a furious assault to the breach on which Captaine Lamberts ensigne first leaped and was there shot Captaine Metkerks ensigne did the like and perceiuing that he was not followed leaped backe with his colors in his left hand and sword in the right and escaped with his owne ensigne and that of the other who was shot In the towne were seuen companies to defend the breach on whom the canon often plaied and did great hurt The gouernour Count Harman of Bergue lost an eye and Captaine Muller standing nere him had his head shot off Colonel Nicholas Metkerke sonne to the president of Flanders a braue and valiant gentleman was shot vpon the breach he was much lamented for the next day after the towne was taken he died together with another captaine There likewise happened a matter worthie of note viz. a single combat betwixt two braue souldiers one of them was Lewis of Cathulle Lord of Ryhoue borne in Gant and the other a Gallant Albanese horseman who comming forth of the towne made a braue and like Goliah dared any man to fight asking if none durst breake a launce
with him His Excellencie commaunded that no man should aunswer him but the Lord of Ryhoue being not able to endure his braues entreated the Generall to giue him no leaue to abate his pride who presently ran vpon him doing great matter with their launces they proceeded to other weapons The Albanese vnknown to Ryhoue had a pistol who with his sword charged the Albanese and did almost cut his hand off that held the Pistoll which he let fall to the ground was by Ryhoue taken prisoner The Albanese confessing himselfe vanquished did put his chaine of gold vpon Ryhouens necke and was afterwards set at libertie by his Excellencie and sent backe to the Gouernour hauing receiued a just guerdon for his pride and ouerweening Nothing being done that day the morrow after the bridges were made longer and preparation made for the assault Those of the town thereupon craued a parley of the Lord of Famas Master of the Ordnance who asking them if they meant truely graunted it whereupon they sent forth two Captaines the one a Spaniard and the other a Walon and on our side the Captaines Vander-Noot and Lenimp were appointed to capitulate The tenth of Iune they agreed to deliuer vp the towne after the same manner and on such conditions as those of Zutphen and the soldiers both horse and foot departed with their armes and baggage It is reported that Count Harman notwithstanding his hurt would not consent to yeeld but hauing lost many men and wanting munition he suffered himselfe to be persuaded by the bishop especially when he had intelligence that Count Hohenlo leuied forces in Germanie Prince Maurice gaue kind entertainement to his cousin saluted him and caused him to be layed in his owne couch and carried towards Groenninguen for they were brother and sisters children In this manner were the two strong townes the chiefe of two Prouinces taken in a short space with a small armie wherein the wisedome of the commanders mightie prouision of ordnance with the souldiers willingnesse did greatly preuaile The bodie of Rowland Yorke who had betrayed Zutphen was digged vp and hung in the coffin vpon the gallowes His Excellencie hauing taken Deuenter made it sure did on the sixteenth of Iune goe with his armie towards Frize-land with an hundred and fiftie boats together with the ordnance They passed along before Enchuysen and Harlingue And vnderstanding that Verdugo with forces waited for him at Steenwijc hee went through the Land of Groenninguen where first he encamped but meeting with sundri edifficulties there he raised his campe and marched towards Delfziâ—ll which is a skonse seated at the mouth of a Riuer which comes from Groenninguen runnes through a place called Dam into the Riuer Amisse and there makes a good Hauen In this place the canon was planted and after some small batterie the Skonse was summoned to yeeld they within it when they saw the preparations did on the twelfth of Iulie yeeld fiue brasen canon were found there and sixe pieces of Iron two hundred and thirtie men went their way with foure hundred women and children Those of Frize-Land fortified and enlarged this Skonse had an intent to haue made it a towne of great extent and to haue giuen it large priuiledges therby to draw the Burghers from Groenninguen this for diuers considerations was not effected From Delfzijll Skonse the armie went to a Fort called Opslach seated on a Riuer called New zijll the which was likewise besieged and summoned to yeeld but notwithstanding that they within it were loath to heare tell of any composition they were enforced to depart with white rods in their hand being one hundred and fiftie men strong From thence the campe turned towards Imitill a Fort standing betwixt Zudhorne Mid-wold on the new-dike within a mile of Groenninguen this fort was battered with 12 canon and yeelded There were 250 souldiers in it of whom 30 came from Delf zijll They left all their armes behind theÌ„ which were giuen to the English After that they likewise took the Fort of Littelbert which yeelded so soone as they within it saw the canon planted ¶ The Duke of Parma is defeated in the Betuwe before Knodsenbourg on the 24 of Iulie 1591. WHilest his Excellencie obtained all these great victories and that Almightie God who helpeth the afflicted assisted these countries and augmented their meanes as many as knew the king of Spaines strength did not a little maruaile that the Duke of Parma did so easily loose these Forts and strong Townes without attempting their conseruation But we as becometh vs doe attribute all this vnto God and say with the kinglie Prophet Not vnto vs o Lord but to thee belongeth all honour and glorie for it hath pleased thee by the weake forces of the Netherlands to abate the pride and arrogancie of the Spaniards Yet because Parma was in some sort desirous to shew himself diligent in his gouernement and to let the world see that he meant to recouer his lost sheepe on the 22 of Iune he departed from Bruxels towards Tyenen Maestricht Ruremond to make an offensiue warre and there had intelligeÌ„ce of the losse of Deuenter He had likewise taken great pains to appease the Spanish Mutiners in Diest and elsewhere that he might take them along with him but they continued obstinat He did beside leuie what forces he could sending the Prince of Ascoli into France to strengthen it more by words than deeds He sought moreouer to secure the towns of Venlo Nimmeguen Geldres and other places and so crossed the Rhyn making a bridge at Rees borrowing boats of those of Wesel to transport his soldiers from Nuys Berck and other places the most of whom cried out for mony The forces which were leuied in the country of Liege came to him so as he had 5000 foot 2500 horse with store of ordnaÌ„ce munition With these forces on the thirteenth of Iulie he went to Nimmeguen where he made a bridge ouer the Waell in the night went into the Betuwe with 3000 foot and 400 horse with some ordnance where he began to batter Knodsenbourg he caused the Lord of Barlaymont with his regiment to encampe towards the East and Count Octauian of Mansfelt to the Westward the Cauallerie was quartered in a village called Lent La Mot made his fortifications and planted nine canon with which on the 22 of Iulie he made 280 shot he caused the horsemen to bring fagots with them to fill the dikes the better to march to the assault Those within the fort made braue resistance with their canon did beat backe the enemie with losse of certain hundreds of them among whom were diuers Spanish Captaines There Count Octauian of Mansfelt was likewise slain with Frederico Caraffa the Neapolitan Achilles Tressino of Vincenza For the besieged were well prouided of ordnance and all maner of munition La Mot afterward made a Mine and battered but
towne being taken the commissioners of Coloigne by vertue of their letters of credence would haue had our men to haue left it to them saying it was theirs this could they neuer obtayne of the Spaniards though it had beene promised with oaths But in regard it was woon with so great cost to the vnited Prouinces and that neither his Excellencie nor commissioners of the Councell had any authoritie to graunt their demaunds it was flatly denyed and they were referred to the Generall States The next day after the towne was yeelded which was the one and twentieth of August Count Herman came to Gelder with 2000 foot and eight cornets of horse the fanterie was conducted by D. Alonzo de Luna gouernor of Liere the cauallerie by D. Francisco de Padiglia their intent was to haue put succors into Berck but vpon intelligence that it was yeelded he returned to Arsen neere the Mase which he crost still thinking on the defeat at Turnholt he sent foure hundred men to the towne of Meurs beside the 200 whom he had alreadie sent thither from Maestrecht two dayes before And the better to secure the sayd Garrison hee comaunded Captaine Arnult Boecop Lieutenant to the gouernour to abandon Camillos fort and to retire with his men into Meurs which the sayd Boecop did with such hast on the 15 of August at night as hee left three pieces of ordnance behind in the fort viz. one canon a demie canon and one field piece ¶ The taking of the Towne and Castle of Meurs in Anno 1597. PRince Maurice hauing intelligence that Count Herman and his forces had crost the Mase did on the six and twentieth of August goe to view the town of Meurs with 12 cornets of horse and some tenne thousand foot and returning by Camillos fort he resolued to assault the towne of Meurs and to that end the cauallerie being returned which conuoyed Count Hohenlo and his wife the Countesse of Buren towards Germanie he commaunded the boats to go vp the riuer towards Camillos fort and himselfe with all his forces on the 28 of August marched towards Meurs hauing 60 foot companies and 21 cornets of horse and the same day quartered two camps before the towne one and the greatest before the gates of which one was called the Kerck-port the other Hâ—enport where himselfe lay with 49 ensignes of foot and all the horse the other before the gate of the new town where the lord of Clotting lay with 6 ensignes of his owne regiment 5 ensignes of the regiment of Frizeland vnder the commaund of Generall Duyvenvoord At their arriual were some skirmishes before the church without the gate which the enemie kept till night when as 2 companies of Scots came to releeue the Frizons The next day they intrenched themselues and at night they began the trenches with 15 foot ensigns viz. 5 of the Frizeland regiment 4 English ensignes foure Scotish two of count Solms regiment the Frizons lay before the gate called Steen-port the Scots with count Solms his ensignes before Kerck-port and the English betwixt the two gates The same night Captaine Waddell the Scot was slayne in the trenches His Excellencie had brought twelue canon with him which on the last of the sayd moneth hee caused to bee planted and the next day began the batterie The night following the trenches were brought from the Frizons quarter to the verie brinke of the dike which was narrow and nothing deepe And for that in regard of the raine and foule weather they were not come so forward in other places therefore the canon plaid not on the 2 of September his Excellencie thinking to haue quartered himselfe vpon the verie dike and by fauour of the canon and helpe of bridges to passe ouer the dike to the townes Rampiers But before this could bee effected the Gouernour of Meurs a Spaniard whose name was Andrea de Miranda beyond all expectation wanting powder sent a drumme in the afternoone to Prince Maurice crauing to haue hostages sent in exchange of those whom hee would send to surrender the towne and castle to him His Excellencie sent the Lord of Gistelles thither who was Lieutenant Generall to Count Solms together with Captaine Ingelhauen who conferred with the townes commissioners which were Captaine Muchet and Captaine Boecop Lieutenant to the Gouernor and after long disputation about graunting three dayes respit which the besieged craued to expect some succours they at last concluded to deliuer vp the towne and castle The next day which was the third of September after that the Gouernours wife was come for whom Prince Maurice had sent a trumpet to a place called Lint in the countrie of Couloign with certaine wagons they went their way according to the accord being eight hundred and thirtie men among whom were certayn Spaniards and likewise an Ensigne-bearer of the castle of Antuerpe with their ensignes armes and baggage and a small piece of ordnance belonging to Count Meurs his Excellencie hauing graunted them fortie wagons for which Captaine Boecop was caution Sixe pieces of ordnaunce were found in the castle 4 of batterie one canon of an extraordinarie weight one demie canon and two field pieces Foure great cables made at Couloign were likewise found in the Storehouse of eight thousand weight which were for seruice of the ferrie boats In this manner did his Excellencie in a moneths space win three townes and three Castles from the enemie videlicet Alpen Berck Meurs and Camillos Fort with all the boats vpon the Rhyne and in the sayd places found aboue fiftie and foure canon among which were eleuen for batterie and the rest of different bignesse as hath been sayd The siege and taking of the townes of Groll and Goor on the 28 of September 1597. AFter that Prince Maurice had spent some time in repairing the dikes and rampiers of the town of Meurs and in leuelling the trenches he went thence with his whole armie on the eighth of September he had sixe thousand foot and one thousand fiue hundred horse beside mariners and others that attended the ordnance and a great traine following the armie Hauing in hast made a bridge ouer the Rhyne of one hundred yards in length the armie crossed the riuer the same day and lodged that night betwixt the Lippe and Rhyne The next day crossing ouer the Lippe he marched by Wesell and went to Bruynen in the countrie of Munster From thence on the tenth of September he passed along by Boecholt lodged that night at Alten neere to Brevoot which hee sent to view But vpon intelligence that Count Iohn of Limbourg and Stierum lay in Groll with twelue ensignes of foot and three cornets of horse his Excellencie went thither the next day And on the eleuenth of September hee quartered his campe in a square forme towards the West end of the sayd towne which was fortified with fiue Bulwarks so as it seemed his Excellencie would haue enough to doe yet he made
such hast in a short space as he inuironed the towne with trenches and other workes that none could enter in or issue forth and perceiuing that the towne would not bee taken but by force he caused seuen galleries to be made which are couered wayes by which men passe ouer the dikes to the rampiers the better to enter two bulwarkes and to that end made two principall batteries and two lesser ones to play in such sort vpon the rampiers as none should dare to stand vpon them the better therby to further the worke His Exccellencie at his arriuall before Groll hauing intelligence that the enemie had not mand the Towne of Goor he caused it to bee taken placing a foot companie in garrison there About the same time eight ensignes of footmen arriued at the campe In the meane time certaine light skirmishes were made but to small purpose they laboured hard neere to the gate called Beltemorport to draine the water forth of the ditches which at last was done by night on the fiue and twentieth of September His Excellencies Master of the fire-workes did his best to shoot wild-fire into the towne the which at last he did at three seuerall times videlicet on the foure and twentieth of the said moneth in the night which if the Burghers had not laboured to quench a great part of the towne would haue beene consumed to ashes for the souldiers ran to the rampiers and suffered the houses to burne so as moe than fortie houses were burnt downe to the ground and on the fiue and twentieth of September after dinner as many moe Though the townesmen had made an halfe Moone in the bulwark called Lebelder and begun another in that of the Hospitall perceiuing their ditches to be drie their towne much annoied by fire and that 7 galleries were brought euen to the verie rampiers after that Groll had beene twice summoned they sent their commissioners to his Excellencie on the eight and twentieth of September who conferring a long time with him would not bee drawne to graunt them their horse and ensignes yet at last he graunted it and was content they should depart with their goods and armes on condition that they should not beare armes on this side the Mase against the vnited Prouinces for the space of three moneths and should deliuer vp al the bookes writings and records of the countrie to those of Gelders and the countie of Zutphen thereupon he gaue them wagons and a conuoy as farre as the Rhyne and was content to suffer the Clergie and others to remaine freely there or else to depart thence at their owne pleasures The eight and twentieth of September in the Morning after that his Excellencies gard with those of count William of Nassau and Count Hohenlo together with some ninetie wagons for the baggage had entred the towne those within it departed thence in the afternone the sick wounded excepted who were carried thence in wagons Captaine Bodbergue with his cornet and some eightie horse led the vaunt-gard after them followed one hundred and twentie wagons with an incredible number of women boyes and baggage next them followed Sanchio de Leva and his troopes together with fiftie three horse after him twelue ensignes of footmen of the companies of the Earles of Stierum Count Henri of Berghen Euert de Ens Cortenbag Malagamba Francisco de Robles de Rykin de Sande de Fournean de Decken de Wormes de Sickinga all of them amounting to twelue They marched thus first ninetie foure musketiers went before after them two hundred and thirteene armed pikes next the twelue ensignes and eightie officers and then two hundred pikes and eightie musketiers making vp together the number of seuen hundred and fifâ—ie foot and two hundred thirtie and fiue horse In the rereward was the Cornet of captaine Paul Emilio Martinenga consisting of fiftie launces and fortie foure Carabins All these were conuoyed forth of the campe by foure cornets of horse marched towards the Rhyne beyond Emmerick an hundred men were slaine in this siege There was but one demie canon three culuerings with certaine bullets and smal store of powder found in the towne His Excellencie hauing thus by great speed and Gods assistaunce woon this strong Towne in eighteene dayes mand it with six foot companies and gaue the gouernement thereof by Prouiso to the Lord of Dort causing the dikes and rampiers to be repayred the sorts and galleries to be broken downe and trenches to be filled and then gaue some ease and refreshing to his wearie souldiers ¶ The siege and taking of the towne and castle of Brevoort on the 12 of October 1597. HIs Excellencie like a victorious Prince pursuing his victories did on the 1 of October set forward with his armie came before the town stroÌ„g castle of Brevoort where hauing intelligence the next day by one that came forth of the town that the lord of Aenholts company conducted by lieutenant Broekhuysen seemed to take the Burghers partie against captain Gardots companie he sent a trumpet on the second of October to summon the town to yeeld but the Serjeant Major made aunswer That they kept the towne for God and the king of Spaine and in his quarrell would liue and die Whereupon his Excellencie gaue order to assaile it and to that end caused trenches and three platformes to be made before the two gates and on the West-side to plant the canon on It was effected with incredible speed considering the place was seated in a moorish soile for notwithstanding the continuall rayne and bad wayes round about the towne which made their approches to be almost impossible his Ex. so preuayled by fagots on which he made wayes to bring on the ordnance as he planted it and had all things readie on the 8 of October to assault the towne On the ninth day he discharged three volleys and afterward offered composition to the townesmen who in derision crauing twentie foure houres respit twentie canon played with such furie vpon a bulwarke before the sayd gates from nine of the clocke in the Morning till three at afternoone as those within beeing terrified did first beat their drummes and placed their hats vpon their pikes heads and at last with their wiues came to the rampiers and craued parley But the besiegers being in the trenches tooke two halfe Moones that were before the two gates and the Scots had almost forced a way through the gate called Mester-port whereupon they within the towne ran confusedly to the castle and forsooke the breach made in the bulwarke which was first taken by the pioners and those that were neere the bridges not any one of them that stood readie for the assault hauing broken their rankes one souldier excepted who mounting it and seeing no bodie there made signes to his fellowes who presently followed him so as those within were enforced to yeeld themselues to his Excellencies mercie who presently imprisoned them and though
But within a while after as Count Nicholas of Teckelenbourg vncle to Conrade that was deceased called the matter in question as a fee belonging to the Duchie of Guelders the Emperour againe tooke it into his owne hand and disposed of it afterward according to his owne pleasure This towne was well fortified with Bulwarkes Dikes and a strong garrison for beside foure strong bulwarkes in the Castle the towne had double rampiers and dikes with foure bulwarkes and three rauelins and six hundred souldiers in garrison comprehended in three foot companies and one Cornet of horse vnder the conduct of Count Frederick of Berguen the Drossart Indevelt Laukema Verdugos Lieutenant with all other necessaries belonging to a siege Count Frederick had caused certaine houses that stood nere the towne to be burnt because the enemie should not seaze on them The next day the besieged made a salley burnt a mill which stood without the towne and skirmished with the Scots who did beat them in againe In the night as our men began to make their approches those in the towne and castle did nothing all that night and most part of the next day but discharge their ordnance so as the whole towne seemed to be on fire The thirtieth of October sixe ensignes of Frizons came to the campe and the besieged about eight of the clocke the same euening did with one thousand fiue hundred men assaile the gard of Frizons where captaine Peter Leenwaerd his Serjeant and two or three souldiers were slaine after which the townesmen with some losse retired The one and thirtieth of October and first of Nouember certaine canons were planted and our men began to batter the fortifications the better thereby to make their approach The night following we made a batterie with sixe canon and the souldiers marched the same day euen to the dike of the rauelin before the gate called Molen-port The second of Nouember nineteene boats came to Embden loden with ordnance and munition and passed along by a place called Oort notwithstanding the opposition of the castle which belonged to the Earle The third and fourth of Nouember the approches on euerie side were aduaunced so as the souldiers before Molen-port came so farre into the rauelin as they found a Myne which the townesmen had made and some of them tooke their hats and filled them with gun powder which beeing perceiued by the besieged they flung forth wild-fire vpon our souldiers which burnt diuers of them together with certaine Myners this happened on the 5 of Nouember The same day the Embassadors of Denmarke arriued viz. the Chanceller Witfelt and the Lord Barnekou with a great traine and strong Conuoy they came from the Hague and passed by Swoll to come and see the campe visiting the trenches but not without admiration wondering at and commending our skill in martiall matters The next day they departed thence and were strongly conuoyed towards Dulmenhorst The same day the workes were well aduaunced and the 6 of Nouember three galleries were made which were bargained to be done the one for one thousand six hundred the other for one thousand fiue hundred and the third for one thousand foure hundred florins this money was more bountifully bestowed because the States of Holland had sent 10000 florins to the campe for payment of the workes so as before Molen-port and Leuckport our men were gotten into the rauelins to leuell the causies which kept the water in the dikes The seuenth and eighth of Nouember the besiegers began to seaze vpon the rauelins before the gates and to let forth the water The ninth of Nouember artillerie and munition came to the campe whereupon three dayes after his Excellencie made another batterie with foure and twentie pieces of ordnance vpon the castle and after that vpon the twelfth day he had battered the fortifications for eight houres space and vnder fauour of the canon began to vndermyne two bulwarkes he summoned the towne thereupon the townesmen craued an houres respit for consultation and a cessation of the ordnance and Myne but his Excellencie would giue them no time so as they demanded two hostages for two of their men whom they would send vnto him the one was Verdugos Lieutenant and the other Euert de Ens and late in the Euening a composition was made That they should depart the next day with their horse armes Cornet ensignes and baggage and should crosse the Rhyne and Mase according to the agreement of those of Oldenzeel deliuering vp all their papers and writings concerning the demaines of the Countrie to his Excellencie crauing fiftie wagons for their first dayes journey and that all the officers and Burghers might remaine six weekes in the towne to end their businesse and afterwards with passeport to goe whither they should please This capitulation was made in the presence of the Earles of Lunenbourg Lippe Swartzenbourg and Benthem who were come to the campe to salute Prince Maurice The same night count Solms Count Lodwick and Count Ernestus went to sup in the castle with Count Frederick of Berguen and his brother Adolph and returned at night to the Campe where gards were euerie where placed The thirteenth of Nouember Count Frederick requested that he might remaine there that day which was graunted on condition that his men should leaue the Castle and Captaine Martin Cobbe with his companie was sent into the Castle and Captaine Telinghen with his companies into the Towne where they found one canon two demie canons one Coluering three demie Culuerings one Falconet and two morters with 12000 weight of gunpowder The foureteenth of Nouember the garrison went away it consisted of 500 foot and one Cornet of 50 horse and the first night they lodged at Salsbergue in the land of Munster The same day his Excellencies troopes began likewise to march the horsemen through Munster towards Berck and the Fanterie to Swoll there to be imbarked for Holland The fifteenth of Nouember his Excellencie Count William and the rest of the armie departed from Lingen and went that night to Vlsen where the next day they separated themselues each one going to his garrison Prince Maurice in all his exploits is highly to be commended for his great and continuall speed wisedome and skill in martiall matters hauing in three moneths space obtained such great and notable victories for in these actions beside the Danish Embassadours and the commissioner of the townes and Countries of Cologne Munster and Osnabrugge there were two Dukes nine Earles with many other Lords and Noble men which came in person to his campe to salute and congratulat him and to be eye-witnesses of his victories and valour In these actions he did in a short space vanquish two thousand men on the farther side of the Rhyne in the townes of Berck Alpen and Meurs and on the hither side thereof sixe and twentie foot companies and foure Cornets of horse all old souldiers vnder the conduct of two Earles sundrie old Colonels
dike to run into the Waell It is reported that fifteene thousand of the enemies diuided themselues into three troopes and cast lots which of the three should first crosse the water hauing many boats for that purpose so as their whole number might easily haue passed ouer at thrice this should haue beene put in practise vpon the foure and twentieth of Iune in the Morning before day breake being Mid-Summer day but it was not effected Those of Midel-weert Varick Heesselt and Opinen stood all night in good order expecting the enemie who stirred not His Excellencie did often send certain horse musketiers and armed pikes to prouoke him but he would not come forth of his hold The Admerall of Arragon sent D. Ambrosio Landriano with most of the horse and the regiment of D. Lewis de Villar to preuent the frequent incursions of those of Litsenhall The first of Iulie the enemie made aboue fiue hundred great shot but did not hurt a man of ours The second of Iulie the Englishmen that lay at Haeften the French that were at Weerdenbourg and Nerines and sixe ensignes of the garrison of the Isle of Hemert called Hemertschen-weert marched vp higher His Excellencie hauing in vayne long expected the enemies comming did on the fourth of Iulie by day breake send three thousand men towards Herwaerden there to make an half moon in the enemies view Herwaerden is seated on a plaine or leuel ground higher than all the trenches in the Isle of Voorn there did our men presently fortifie themselues making an halfe Moon which they fenced with pallizadoes This worke beeing in some sort defensible his Exc. sent more men before at last followed them himselfe Our men laboured verie hard from foure of the clock in the morning till six at night without any let of the enemy but when the halfe moone was almost finished he then shewed himselfe with certaine troups of horse and foot thinking thereby to draw our souldiers into an ambuscado who vpon intelligence that a great troupe of horse lay behind a banke would not go forth The enemy within a while after returned with 2500 Spanyards and Italians who vnder the conduct of Zapena gaue a furious assault to our halfe moone and with them a great number of monks and Clergie men who came with crosses and banners to encourage them but our men did valiantly defend the halfe moone and repulsed the enemie notwithstanding his fierce assault in which many of them had gotten ouer the palizadoes fighting hand to hand with our men and killing one another with push of pike Those of Voorn Varijck and Heesselschen-weert did continually with their canon and small shot play vpon the enemies so as in the end they were to their great disgrace enforced to retire leauing moe then 700 dead men behind them among whom were diuers Captaines and Commanders beside those that were hurt of whom 150 died in Sertoghenbusk This assault continued two houres long and yet there were but 8 of our men slaine and some 20 hurt The enemy had brought two field peeces to batter the halfe moone but did not hurt one man of ours and in his retreat lost 96 men among whom one of the aboue mentioned monks was found being armed with many holy reliques which did him no good he died with his armes full of palizadoes which he had valiantly pluckt vp The same day the enemies with 2 demy canon which were sent them sanke one of our boats neere to Herwaerden but the men were saued some six or seauen excepted that were slaine and hurt The 5 of Iuly la Bourlotte with a troupe of horse 400 musquetiers lay in ambush thinking to draw our Cauallery thither which were vpon the gard before the towne of Bommell But our men mistrusting the matter because the enemy came on with so few gaue back till they were safe from the ambuscado and then fell vpon them putting them to rout and tooke the Baron of Rosne prisoner and an Italian Captaine that presently died of his hurts whose bodie was afterwards redeemed His Excellencie likewise began to fortifie the Island or Widdel-weert called Nat-gat on Herwaerden side and all the Villages round about it with trenches The seuenth of Iulie a second halfe Moone was begun vpon the Litsenham and was conjoyned to the first by wings the better to secure the bridge which was afterward placed betwixt Voorn and Herwaerden They likewise made a new wing at Herwâ—erden towards the enemies bridge extending it abroad round about the village from whence we might easily discerne it so as our men did daily approach nearer it watching for a fit opportunitie to cut it off from him The 8 of Iulie his Excellencie and his whole Court remoued from Bommel and went to Voorn quartering himself at the head of the Island whither his owne gard and those of Count William and Count Hohenlo presently followed him The armie of the States were busied in making two sundrie bridges of boats The first on the third of Iulie vpon the Waell from the Isle of Tiell to the Isle of Voorn The second on the 8 of Iulie from Voorn to Herwaerden on which tenne ensignes of Scots and the Lord of Gistels with twelue other ensignes of his regiment passed ouer the same day towards Herwaerden The enemie being fearefull and jealous of his bridge transported it on the ninth of Iulie to the old place betwixt Heel and Creuecoeur His Excellencie on the 12 of Iulie sent three thousand fiue hundred foot and 1000 horse towards Litsenham to assaile the enemy who not appearing our men returned bringing hack with them 40 horse and foure prisoners The Spanish horsemen so soone as ours were gone from Litsenham shewed themselues on the bank but were soone beaten thence by our canon The same day a French lord sonne to a great man of France was shot into the head before Herwaerden and dyed of his hurt he was much lamented both of his Excellencie and his whole Court The fifâ—eenth day the Bridge was remoued from Herwaerden and placed higher betwixt the Isle of Voorn and Litsenham vpon the Mase ouer which 6000 foot and 1800 horse passed towards Litsenham to raise the enemie who lay dispersed vp and downe at Lit Kessell and Maren The enemie was in those Villages on Litsenham and Herwaerdens side strongly entrenched but on the other side verie slenderly so as our men were to fetch a compasse about to assaile the enemie behind But the French that were in the Vant-gard being impatient of delay and desiring a speedie victorie assailed the enemie in front where he was strongly fortified At the first arriuall of our men the enemie stood before his trenches offering skirmish but was soone beaten in againe and one of his captains taken prisoner and carried away into the Isle of Voorn These thus defeated our men did valiantly assaile the enemies trenches but by reason of the hight of their fortifications and great nuÌ„bers of their men we did
of the enemie wanting all necessaries as money garments c. so that necessities had enforced them to reuolt besides they had done their dutie in holding out six weeks expecting aid and other necessaries and yeelded not so long as there was any hope of reliefe and in recompence of their good loyal seruice were to looke for nothing but losse of their pay and arrerages wanting money and meanes to cloth themselues and because the losse of the place should not be imputed to their mutinie nor themselues reproached for it they therefore resolued to serue the States of the vnited Prouinces Neither had they done as they said like to those of Geertrudenberg who sold the towne to their enemie for tenne moneths pretended arrerages and fiue moneths present pay being in no want of money nor apparell for they caused boats vpon the Riuer and the Champaine Country to pay contribution being neither besieged nor pressed by the enemie nay their Lords vnto whom they were sworne would haue maintained and defended their honour and loyaltie giuen them pardon and pasport yea whatsoeuer in equitie they would haue demanded yet all this was to no purpose with them but prouoked by their enemies they did in hatred enuy and couetousnes sell the towne to them whereupon they were in derision termed merchants and banished both by name and surname rewards being proposed to such as could take them and were euery where punished by the gallowes to serue for an example to others In this manner Saint Andrewes great fort which had cost so much money and before with so great an armie had layen a long time encamped fell into the hands of his Excellencie and vnder commaund of the States of the vnited Prouinces a fort which had put the enemie in great hope to haue bin able from thence in winter time vpon the yce to conquer Holland The cause why it was so easily taken proceeded from the Spaniards too much profuse large expence of money who vndertooke more than their treasure could performe and in making a bad account did in that Prouince build a mightie fort to command and bridle their own countrey so as the Archdukes reteined nothing of all their two yeares conquest but only Berck and the vnited Prouinces on the contrary had taken Emmerick which was more profitable to them than Berck to the Archduke yet these two townes belonged to neither of them his Excellencie and my Lords the States did within a while after restore Emmerick to the Duke of Cleues ¶ A Description of whatsoeuer was done from day to day in Flanders in the army of the most Illustriuos Prince Maurice of Nassau Accompanied by the noble high and mightie Lords my Lords the States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces in An. 1600. the 17 of Iuly THe enemie of the vnited Netherland Prouinces with sundry forts hauing blockt vp the Towne of Ostend being master of all the sea coasts of Flanders and thereby for the space of certaine yeares done incredible hurt to the loyall inhabitants of the said Prouinnes and other neighbor Realmes trading by sea my Lords the generall States after the yeelding vp of this great mightie fort of Saint Andrews neere to Rossem in the Isle of Bommell being desirous to pursue the victorie which God had so fauourably giuen them there and elsewhere in the beginning of this yere after mature consultation therupon with the Illustrious Lord Prince Maurice of Orange Count of Nassau Catzenelboge Marquis of Vere and Flushing c. thought it fit by common consent to transport their whole Armie and power into Flanders there to trie their good fortune vpon the enemeie and if it were possible to execute their determined proiects for freeing the sea Coasts with this resolution that the said Lords for the better aduancement of their affaires would in person assist his Eccellencie in this Armie and new expedition The 17 of Iune after that 2000 great and small vessells were rigd forth of diuers places and Hauens of Holland and Zeeland to transport the Armie with victualls warlike munition wagons Horse for draught and all other necessaries His Excellencie went from the Hague to Rotterdam so to Dort from whence he caused all the fleet to saile to Rammekins in Zeeland which was the Rendezvous The 18 of Iune my Lords the Generall States viz. The Lord Iames of Egmont Lord of Kennebourg Schipluy and Maeslant Iohn Oldenbarneuelt Lord of Tempel and Groynenelt Aduocate and keeper of the seale of Holland and West-Frizeland Iacob Huygens Vander Dussen Bourgomaster of the towne of Delft Master Nicasius Sille Doctor of the Lawes Councellor and Pentioner to the towne of Amsterdam M. Geraert Coren Bourgomaster of the Towne of Alkmaer M. Iacob Boellenssz Burgomaster of Amsterdam and Counsellor of State M. Iean de Santen Counsellor and Pentioner of the towne of Middelbourg M. Ferdinand Alleman Counsellor of State M. Nicolas Hubert Burgomaster of the towne of Ziriczee M. Gerart de Renesse Lord of Vander Aa M. Abell Franckena Doctor of the Lawes M. Egbert Alberda Burgomaster of the towne of Gronningue M. Cornellis Aerssen Register to my Lords the Generall States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces All these with their traine departed from the Hague about fiue of the clock in the morning and came to Rotterdam where they imbarked themselues and sailed the same day to Saint Annes-Lant where they came to an anchor tarrying for the tide The 19 day because the wind was contrarie they could that night but reach to Armuyde and because the tide was spent they were therefore enforced to cast anchor there likewise The twentieth about fiue of the clocke in the morning the said Lords landed at Armuyde and from thence went to Flissingue to visit his Excellencie who lay at anchor before Rammekins where so great an armie and such numbers of boats lay as no man liuing euer saw the like together at one time The same day a consultation was had before Rammekin how to transport the army safely into Flanders for execution of the determined proiect and all things being well maturely considered after that sundry matters were propounded in regard the wind was contrarie and for other difficulties which might arise at sea they at last resolued because they would not long bee idle nor put the countrie to vnnecessarie expence nor yet giue the enemie time to fortifie himselfe in those quarters to land the whole armie at Philippine and from thence to march thorough the Countrie betwixt Gaunt and Bruges towards Ostend According to which resolution his Excellencie on the 21 day departed with the armie towards Philippine a fort which the enemie yeelded vpon the first summons to Count Ernestus of Nassau who commanded the fleets vantgard The two and twentieth of Iune about noone his Excellencie ariued with his Armie at Philippine the vantgard hauing alreadie taken the fort from whence the garrison to the number of thirty or fortie were departed without
other armes than their swords The same day his Excellencie in fiue houres space landed all his forces which done he dismissed the boats willing them presently to be gon for feare least after the armies departure the enemie by fire or otherwise should endanger the vessells Then he mustered his Armie and found it to consist of twentie thousand strong and able men His Excellencie likewise rode throw the Armie and demaunded of the souldiers if any among them could complaine for waâ—â— of pay and if any one had not receiued money he willed him to speake because my Lords the States were there present to giue them all contentment They all answered that they were well satisfied saying that they would liue and dye for them and in their seruice The same day the States departed from Flushing towards Philippine and arriued there at the same time as the armie was landed Then they began to dispose the Regiments and to place them euerie one vnder his commaunder and the souldiers were furnished with six daies victualls which they were to carie along with them The three and twentieth day the Armie marched from Philippine towards Assenede a village not far from the t'Sasse of Gant where the vantgard before the arriuall of the whole Armie did by composition take a certaine Castle wherein were some fortie men Those of t'Sasse hauing laid an ambuscado tooke thirtie or fortie of our men prisoners our souldiers likewise towards the euening brought Priests Bailies and other prisoners to the army most of whom they had taken from before Gant The foure and twentieth in the morning the armie departed from Assenede towards Eeckeloo scituate on the passage betwixt Gant and Bruges where seuen hundred souldiers had gone ouer the same morning that we arriued there at night those souldiers were drawne forth of the forts before Ostend to man the t'Sasse because the enemie feared wee would haue besieged the same place The 25 we went from Eeckeloo to Male neere Bruges where our men brought away much cattel and many prisoners from before the towne The 26 we came within Canon shot of the Citie of Bruges and marched towards Iabbeke Those of Bruges with their ordnance plaied vpon our Armie all that day yet did no great harme but onely slew one of his Excellencies Muleters They shewed themselues likewise with certaine troups of horse but durst not come forward so as if our men had bin willing to haue fought with them they could not haue done it with any aduantage On the way betwixt Bruges and Iabbeke his Excellencie had intelligence that the Garrison was fled from Oudenbourg so as on the 27 day the armie marched from Iabbeke thither whither he sent two Companies of souldiers because the fort stood vpon the passage towards Ostend Those which liue in the forts of Plassendale Bredene were likewise fled those of Bredene left 4 peece of ordnance behind them burnt the houses cabbins munition and other necessaries hauing not once seene the enemie My Lords the Generall States with their traine accompanied by Count Solmes with 8 Cornets of horse and the Regiments of French Walons and Swisses together with the Colonells Gistels and Huchtenbroeck who that day marched in the vantgard went on and arriued the same afternoone at Ostend and his Excellencie in the meane time remayned with his armie at Oudenbourg In all our march we found the villages naked and forsaken diuers goodly houses ruyned not one boore to be seene but only the Sexten of Eeckeloo and his wife with two aged and sick persons vnapt for flight The Boores that were hidden in the woods shewed themselues very cruell to some of our souldiers that were scattered here and there vpon the wayes and were fallen into their hands so as our men displayed the bloudie Ensigne which did in no fort hinder their crueltie to vs ward Our souldiers tooke great store of cattell so as flesh was better cheap and more plentiful in the armie than either wine or beere The first night we lay at Assenede a pot of beere was worth six pence the second night at Eeckeloo twelue pence and the next night at Male and Iabbeke eighteene twentie and twentie six In this iourney three Cowes were offered for one pot of beere and yet it could not be gotten At Male a Cowe was sold for three groats and after she was milked he that sold it would haue giuen seuen pence for the milke Whilest we made this iourney by land it hapened on the 24 of Iune that some fortie boats laden with victualls and other prouision conuoyed onely by Captaine Adrian Banckerts man of war sayling from Flushing towards Ostend were set vpon by the Gallies of Sluce who on the fiue and twentieth day tooke aboue twentie of the said boats which being vnladed they burnt The said Captaine did what he could to free them from the enemie but himselfe and one and twentie of his men were slaine in the fight and his ship though much brused arriued at Ostend with some of the hurt men The six and twentieth day the Admeral the Lord of Warmont ariued safely in the Hauen of Ostend with the cheefe fleet wherein were victualls ordnance munition and other necessaries yet by taking of the aboue mentioned boats the Country receiued a great losse which fell for the most part vpon some particular persons who procured it to themselues by being so hastie and not tarrying for the cheefe fleet the which consisted of many braue ships of war To returne to that which was done on land Count Solmes on the eight and twentieth of Iune with eight Cornets of horse and fiue foot Regiments with which troups the day before he had led the vantgard went to beseege the fort called Albertus which stands vpon the Downes some houres iourney from Ostend on the passage towards Niewport it was not very great but well built and strong The nine and twentieth day hauing battered it with foure demy Canon and made a passable breach Captaine Neron that lay there in Garrison did beat his Drum and craued parley in which it was granted that the Garrison should depart thence with their armes and as much baggage as they could carrie away with them but on condition to leaue their Ensigne behind them promising not to serue in Flanders for six moneths The last of Iune the said Earle with the vantgard according to his Excellencies direction went to beseege the Hauen of Niewport and tooke the forts there his Excellencie earely in the morning the same day marched with his Campe from Oudenbourg towards Nieuwen-dam a fort not far from Niewport to take it But his iourney being stopt by reason of water he returned by an other way ouer the Downes towards Albertus fort and the next night tarried there with his Armie The first of Iuly early in the morning his Excellencie marched thence with his Camp towards Niewport and presently gaue directions as well as the situation of the place would
giue him leaue for inclosing and beseeging the towne After dinner my Lords the Generall states receiued news how that Archduke Albert had leuied tenne thousand foot and one thousand fiue hundred horse was come to Oudenbourg Hereupon foure of our Companies that lay in the forts of Bredene and Plessendale withdrew themselues not tarying his comming and the Garrison that was in Oudenbourg which consisted of six foot Companies and two Cornets of horse left there by his Excellencie were enforced to yeeld it vp on composition The like did two Companies that lay in a fort at Snaeskerck vnto which Garrison though the enemie had promised good quarter and that they should depart with their armes and baggage onely leauing their Ensignes behind and the capitulation signed by the Archdukes selfe yet they brake their promise for first diuers horse and foot of the Garrison of Oudenbourg breaking their rancks slew many of them hurt others and disarmed the rest and for a testimonie of their treacherous and bloudie nature did most villanously murder the two Companies that lay in Snaeskercke contrarie to their word and promise Some few souldiers that escaped hauing brought these newes to Ostend my Lords the States did in post aduertise his Excellencie thereof that he might be in readinesse and presently sent more men to Albertus fort which they furnished with victualls munition and other necessaries The second of Iuly the bloudie battaile neere to Niewport was fought whereof we will speake in the next description The third of Iuly about nine of the clock in the morning his Excellencie came in person to Ostend bringing Don Francisco de Mendoza Admeral of Arragon with him as his prisoner And after that my Lords the states had congratulated his Excellencies victorie he requested that generall thankes might be giuen to God which done himselfe with the Admerall dined with the states the armie remayning on the Downes beyond Albertus fort The same day and the day before diuers prisoners men of note brought from the Armie to Ostend were slaine both within and without the Towne by the remainder of the Scots and other souldiers in reuenge of the wrong and crueltie committed by the Enemie vpon our men contrarie to their promise and Law of armes The fourth and fift day whilest the armie refresht it selfe his Excellencie remained in Ostend in consultation with my Lords the states The same day we were busied in burying our dead looking to the hurt and sick souldiers sending them to places where they might be healed in deliuering prisoners Many horse armes and much bootie taken in the battaile were sold many Spanish cloakes cassocks with store of apparell were likewise taken which were not vnwelcome to our men The sixt day in the morning his Excellencie returned with his armie to Nâ—ewport and lay before the towne in the same quarter where he had formerly rested not being able that day nor the night following to doe any notable exploit by reason of the continuall rayne and foule weather After dinner order was taken for sending the prisoners into Holland and likewise the Admerall who by some of the States was conducted aboord the man of wâ—rs Brigantine His Excellencie on the seuenth day receiued letters from Count Frederick of Berguen wherein he craued libertie to send some to search among the dead bodies for some Captaines and chiefe Commanders and for buriall of the dead in the place of buriall Towards Euening the Admerall Iustine of Nassau came to the States with letters of credence from his Excellencie contayning certaine propositions wherein he craued their resolution but the said Lords thinking it necessarie to confer with his Excellencie sent for a conuoy About the seuenth day we tooke from the enemie a certaine halfe moone standing before the towne on the North side of the hauen which was taken with losse of six or eight men on either side The eight day in the morning a Conuoy of foure Cornets of horse ariued and the said Lords departed from Ostend to the Campe before Niewport where they consulted with his Excellencie concerning those propositions which the Admerall of Nassau had made vnto them the day before In the euening 25 souldiers with Lopestaues and halfe pikes were sent to leape the dikes carrying with them two Wagons each of them loden with one boat and other prouision to set on fire on some bridgâ—s on the Southeast side of the towne which in part was effected but not wholly The enemie the same day made great fires vpon the townes steeple and discharged many shot froâ— a Rauelin on the North-side of the towne to hinder the approach of our men wee afterwards vnderstood by prisoners and others that supplies were the same night brought into the towne and in that regard those fires were made The ninth day after that the States had dined with his Excellency they returned againe to Ostâ—nd crossing the hauen on foote ouer a bridge leauing their wagons and conuoy behind to follow them the enemie made many shot at them but did no harme to any man Whilest the wagons passed ouer the said Lords walked on foot for a while vpon the Downes where they saw such numbers of dead bodies as was lâ—mentable to behold His Excellencie hauing intelligence the same Euening that Colonell La Bourlotte was onward on his way with two thousand souldiers to trie if he could enter into Niewport did presently double all the gards and gaâ—e directions to hinder the enemies attempt if it were possible The 10 and 11 dayes no notable matter was done but onely our approaches were set forward as well as the bad and raynie weather would permit The 11 day at night the foot Regiment of the Marquis Varrabon entred the town and the next day they made three fires vpon the tower The twelueth the enemie made a salley vpon our trenches and with such fury as our souldiers were enforced to retire to the principall gards and then the alarme being giuen our men began to skirmish and did in such sort assarle the enemie as they draâ—e him in disorder to the towne gates and slew the Lieâ—tenant Colonell two Captaines and certaine souldiers of the same Regiment The Marquis his Regiment hauing entred the Towne and others likelie euerie day to enter in regard we could not inclose the towne on one side by reason of the broken lands and other inconueniences his Excellencie found many difficulties in continuing the seege and therefore on the 13 of the said moneth he went earlie in the morning to Ostend to propound these difficulties to the States and to craue their aduise After some conference it was thought fit seeing that Generall Wijngaerdens Regiment was newly arriued with fiue new Cornets of horse wherewith our Campe was strengthned to continue the siege and thereupon after that his Excellencie and my Lord his brother had dined they returned to the Campe. During his Excellencie abode in Ostend the enemie had made another sallie on Count Ernestus
of Nassau his Quarter but not so fierce an one as that of the day before and was presently repulsed with losse of Commanders and souldiers The 14 and 15 wee were busied in making three small forts there where our batterie was to be made thereby to assure the Canon and in the meane time the ordnance that was landed was againe sent to the ships My Lords the States perceiuing their presence at Ostend and in those parts to be to no great purpose made all things readie for their departure the next day and to this end the Aduocate Barnenelt went to his Excellencies Campe after dinner to confer with him once more returning the same night to Ostend The sixteenth of Iuly in the morning the Admerall of Nassau came to Ostend from his Excellencie propounding new difficulties to the States for continuance of the seege whereon hauing consulted they wrot back to his Excellencie that they wholy referd it to his owne discretion to proceed therein as he should find it most profitable for the Countries seruice and if he did breake vp his Campe to giue carefull directions for the timelie imbarking of the munition ordnance and other necessaries for preuenting of greater mischiefe with this answere they dismissed the Admerall About fiue of the clock in the Euening my Lords the States being embarked in the hauen of Ostend and word brought them that his Excellencie was come thither in person accompanied by my Lord his brother Barneuelt the Lord of Santen and others were set on shore and had some conference with his Excellencie which done they tooke their leaues and returned to the ships His Excellencie had shewed them sundry reasons why he thought it not fit to continue the Armie any longer before Niewport and therefore resolued to depart thence and to lead it before the forts about Ostend and first to assault Isabelles for t and then the rest The States hauing taken their leaue set faile about six or seuen of the clocke the same euening and arriued on the 17 day in the Morning at Middelbourg where they resolued to goe to Berghen-op-Zoom and there gaue audience to the commissioners of the generall States of the Prouinces on the other side assembled at Bruxels viz. the lord Gerart of Horne Earle of Bassingeri Philip of Pentinck lord of Vicht the Drossart or Magistrat of the land of Montfort and Master Henrie de Coâ—t pentioner of the citie of Ypre and to this end sent them passeport writing vnto them to meet at Berghen-op-Zoom on Thursday the 20 of Iulie these letters were sent in post to gouernour Bacx that he might send them away by a Trumpet with commaundement to make readie the Court against their comming and to prepare lodging for both parties The eighteenth and nineteenth of Iulie the States tarried at Middelbourg taking order for whatsoeuer was necessarie for the Common-wealths seruice Letters likewise were brought from Ostend certifying them that his Excellencie had on the 17 of the same moneth begun to breake vp his campe had brought his armie neere to Ostend to besiege the fort of Isabella The 20 of Iulie early in the Morning the generall States departed from Middelbourg to Berghen-op-Zoom where they arriued the same Euening whither the commissioners of the other side likewise came the same night within an houre after their arriuall being in number 23 who supped that night in the companie of the said Lords at the gouernours house The 21 day they deliuered their letters of credence and commission and after dinner an answer was prepared for them At night the commissioners supt with the said Lords whither the gouernour and some of the Magistrats were inuited and hauing receiued their answer in an enclosed letter whereof a coppie was giuen to each of them they departed thence on the 22 day verie early in the Morning The Magistrats of Berghen did that day at dinner feast my Lords the States who in the afternoone embarked themselues and sayled till they came before Saint Annes-land where they came to an ankor tarrying for the Aduocat Barnevelt and the Burgomaster Vander Dussen who were goneto a place called Saint Martins Dike to visit Count Hohenlo who was sicke meaning to returne the next day to the States The three and twentieth day the said lord Barnevelt being returned they weighed ankor and set saile but hauing a contrarie wind the said lords landed in the countrie of Putte and by crossing certaine passages arriued the same night about tenne or eleuen of the clocke at the Hague leauing their baggage with the ensignes and cornets woon at the battaile of Niewport to follow after which were brought the next day in the afternoone to the Hague The said ensignes cornets and some Trumpets were on the eight and twentieth of Iulie hung vp in the great hall of the court for a perpetuall remembrance of so famous and notable a victorie graunted by God to these countries ¶ A true description of the bloudie battaile betwixt Prince Maurice of Nassau and the Archduke Albert of Austria woon neere Niewport in Flanders the 2 of Iulie Anno 1600. THe Archduke vpon intelligence that his Excellencie lay before Niewport did speedily march with his armie towards the Downes the verie same way that his Excellencie had gone intending to passe on directly to Niewport His Excellencie vsing all meanes possible to hinder his comming and to win time did on the 2 of Iulie by day break send his cousen count Ernest of Nassau forth of the armie with 2 foot regiments Scots Zelanders 4 cornets of horse vnto whom the States according to his Excellencies direction added certaine companies of the garrison of Ostend to stop the enemies passage ouer the bridges lying vpon a water on the high way towards the Downes neere to Alberts fort But the enemie before their arriuall had alreadie taken the bridge passed ouer his chief force our men being too few to hinder his passage to the Downes and our regiments being engaged by the enemie too weake to make resistance against their whole armie yet after a braue fight like valiant souldiers they were at last put to rout the whole losse falling on the Scots who lost all their Captaines and commaunders and 800 of themselues were slaine vpon the place among whom were eleuen Captaines many Lieutenants and other officers vpon this victorie the Archduke wrot to Bruges that he had defeated Prince Maurice his vantgard and so engaged the rest of his Armie as he could not escape whereupon Bells were the same day rung at Bruges and afterwards in other townes as though they had already wonne all but to their great losse they soone perceiued the contrarie This ouerthrow did greatly perplex the States and others that were in Ostend considering the great danger the Common-wealth might haue sustained if any mishap had befallen our Campe which lay on both sides the Hauen diuided one from an other And because in such extremities when human helpe seemeth
was engaged by the enemie captaine Cloet knowing the Earle by his Orange coloured plume charged vpon a companie of Lanciers that were comming to charge the Earle who by this meanes escaped our cauallerie retired to his Excellencie who encouraged the souldiers re-enforcing them with two companies that were with him who constrained the enemie to giue backe His Excellencie sent two cornets of horse to the shore viz. his owne commaunded by Captaine Bael and Generall Veers companie commaunded by Captaine Pembrooke These two companies beeing come to the shoare stayed neere the batterie expecting the enemie Our ordnance charged with musket bullets played vpon the enemie who lost many men and horse and were enforced to quit the Downes and yet they returned againe to the shore and came before the batterie Then the companies of Baell and Generall Veer charged fiercely vpon the enemie who fled and then charged the fanterie likewise so as Baell tooke Sapena prisoner on the Downes and Generall Veers companie D. Lewis de Villar His Excellencies cauallerie on the plaine repulsed the enemie for he did continually put them in order and caused them to charge there where hee saw most need so as in the end our men perceiuing that the enemie began to flie both on the shore and Downes tooke courage and on euerie side charged him who at first began to giue backe and afterward betook himselfe to open flight and thereby our men woon the place of battaile and obtained the victorie diuers pursued the enemie into the Marshes and to the new Dam taking many of them prisoners this battaile was sharpe and bloudie on both sides The Archduke who hardly escaped did in this battaile both of such as were slayne and taken prisoners lose the greatest part of all his commaunders chiefe Lords Noblemen and household seruants together with most of the captaines and officers of his armie videlicet D. Francesco de Mendoza Admerall of Arragon Count Salines D. Lewis de Villar Campe-Master D. Lewis d'Avila D. Pedro de Mendoza Doctour Andrew N. one of his highnesse phisitians Count Charles Rezin one of his Pages D. Gaspar Moragon fiue and thirtie Captaines both of horse and foot two hundred and three Lieutenants ensignes Sergeants Dons Caualiers and others of name to the number of thirtie And beside these we got 8 pieces of ordnance all the munition much baggage and the verie furniture of the Archdukes own Chamber and Cabinet and among other things his Signet and aboue 100 ensignes with certaine cornets and Trumpets The number of the dead on the Archdukes side was 7000 beside those that were afterwards slaine and died of their hurts and his Excellencie lost betwixt two or three thousand accounting those which had beene defeated in the Morning Among other ensignes there was presented to my Lords the generall States a Standerd belonging to 1600 Spanish mutineers made of blew Damaske hauing on the one side in middest of a field the figure of our Ladie in a Sun before whom a Moncke kneeled ouer his head these words in golden letters Aue gratia plena ouer the virgins head was a great golden star and neere to it in golden letters Stella Maris in the middest on her right hand was the figure of a Sun and neere it these letters Electa vt Sol on the left hand the Moone with this inscription Pulchra vt Luna at her feet stood a Turret with these words Turris Dauidis and beneath vpon the hem of the Standard Benedicta tu in mulieribus On the other side was the represention of our Lord Iesus Christ vpon the Crosse ouer his head were these words in golden letters Adoramus te Christe benedicimus tibi in the middest Recordare nouissimatua in aeternum non peccabis and beneath Quia per crucem tuam redemisti mundum All these figures were cunningly wrought euen to the life In this battaile the greatest losse fell to the Spaniards and Italians who were the chiefe strength and glorie of the Spaniards armie who in the Morning did assure themselues of the victorie and that with such confidence as they made no doubt of it but marched on before hoping alone to gain the honour of the day It was a magnificent and gallant victorie for my Lords the generall States his Excellencie and for all the vnited Prouinces but obtayned with much labour and bloud for on his Excellencies side 1000 men were slaine among whom were three Captaines of horse thirteene of foot viz. six English Captaines two Frizons three French one Walon and one Alman with many Lieutenants ensignes and other officers beside some 700 hurt men among whom was the noble sir Frauncis Veer and many other Captaines and officers both of horse and foot As the enemie fleed the Cauallerie came forth of Ostend and slew many of them But his Excellencie who in the battaile had shewed himself valiant discreet for better encouragement to his souldiers had himselfe together with his brother and other Lords there present charged the enemie did in the end reassēble certaine cornets of horse and some foot regiments setting them in order in the place of battaile keeping them for reseruation and seconds if any disorder should arise The enemie being wholly put to rout and night drawing on his Ex. marched to the Church of Westend where with his whole armie he remained that night vpon the plain where the battail was fought and in his Tent supt with the Admerall of Arragon and others who were requested to deliuer their opinions what they thought of these exploits of these new vnexperienced soldiers whom they had so tearmed who could doe nothing but win townes and skonces not daring to shew themselues in open field and whether they thought that they would one day proue tal souldiers with such other like discourses But the Admerall grauely and discreetly knew verie well how to answer and among other discourses at Table concerning the battaile he complained of their owne cauallerie taxing them for not doing their duetie for had not they retreated there was some likelihood that their footmen would haue become Masters of the ordnance with which they might haue obtayned the victorie He complained likewise of their charging all at once and for that they had not reserued some to second the squadrons here and there who should haue put them in order againe when they retreated and with them haue giuen a fresh charge as Prince Maurice had done husbanding his horse and foot not hazarding all his forces at once He highly commended his Excellencie likewise for planting his ordnance but he chiefely praised him for that he had so brauely presented his forces to his enemie sending away all his boats and thereby enforced all his souldiers to fight if they meant to saue their liues and for that himselfe and other commaunders had no more aduauntage than the meanest souldier His Excellencie perceiuing the next day that his souldiers were much burthened with the enemies
prisoners and wounded men that all the victuals were lost in the battaile and that they could get none by reason that the boats were gone marched with his whole armie towards Ostend to refresh it sending the wounded to places where they might be cured discharging his souldiers of the enemies prisoners He brought his armie to S. Maries Church neere to Alberts fort and himselfe went into Ostend where he presently caused publike thankes to be giuen to God for this notable victorie himselfe and whole Court being present at it He remayned certaine daies at Ostend to order matters and to prouide for the better execution of his enterprises He caused all the prisoners to be brought together viz. the Admerall of Arragon D. Lewis de Villars with many other Captaines and officers whom for the most part he shipt for Holland he kept some one hundred and fiftie prisoners still in Ostend and among them diuers hurt men to exchange them for his owne souldiers whom the enemie had taken The glorie of this victorie belongs to God alone who hath not onely beene pleased thereby to maintaine as he hath wonderfully hitherunto done the just and lawfull cause of the vnited Prouinces for the conseruation of his Church but hath likewise pleased to abase the hautie and insolent courage of the Spaniards learning them to feele his mightie arme and letting them know how daungerous it is to kicke against the pricke To this onely God the Lord of hosts who in the battaile hath taught his Excellencies hands to fight and so admirably exalted his countenance that day be honour praise and glorie for euer To conclude we must of necessitie hereunto add that which certaine Historians mention how that justly vpon the same day the second of Iulie 1600 some three hundred and two yeares before viz. in anno 1298 one of the Archduke Alberts predecessours called Albert of Austria like him had with his power defeated one of Prince Maurice of Nassaus predecessours called Adolfe of Nassau Emperour of the Romans whereby we may see how that by this meanes the house of Nassau hath reuenged the wrong done to it by that of Austria This is a matter worthie of note and we may be well assured that though God deferre for a time yet he can and will aid and assist those that put their trust in him ¶ The Lord Iohn of Duyuenvoord Admerall of Holland fighteth with the Gallies of Sluce and puts them to flight WHilest Prince Maurice his armie marched in Flaunders there were some fortie or fiftie flat bottomed boats and and other vessels loden with munition and victuals which on the fiue and twentieth of Iune did set saile from Zeland toward Ostend these had a man of warre for their conuoy whose Captaine was called Adrian Baucker he being come before Blauckenbourg was becalmed the gallies of Sluce perceiuing it foure of them came forth and assailed the fleet and tooke twentie of the boats but most of the men escaped some of these vessels they burnt and carried the rest away with them The man of warre made what resistance he could but the calme made him like an vnplumed bird The Gallies approached the ship but did not boord her thinking to sinke her with their shot or else enforce her to yeeld she was in sundrie places shot thorow and began to leake and without the helpe of men and women that came aboord her from other boats and with scuppets tubs and their verie hats emptied forth the water she would haue beene in danger of sinking by this meanes she was kept aboue water and when the gallies came neere her she plaied so terribly vpon them with her ordnance as they were enforced to giue backe The ship hauing at last lost three and twentie men among whom was Captaine Baucker and most of the rest wounded the men cried out desperatly saying That rather than they would yeeld to the enemie they would blow themselues vp and set the ship on fire Hereupon the gallies left her and with great harme and losse of men returned to Sluce with a good bootie and the ship went backe to Flushing The next day being the sixe and twentieth of Iune the Lord Iohn of Duyvenvoord Admerall of Holland with sixe ships of warre called Cromstevens or Smackseylen all well prouided sailed from Zeland towards Flaunders to conuoy one hundred and fiftie vessels laden with ordnance and warlike munition for the armie This fleet being come before Sluce and the wind verie calme foure gallies came forth and presently the wind rising the men of warre came so neere them as they did not onely anoy them with their ordnance but with their small shot whereupon they were constrayned by force of oares to returne backe againe against the wind one of the gallies was shot vnder water and did for a long time lye vpon one side till the leake was stopt A certaine Turke of Constantinople a verie valiant and skilfull man being a slaue in one of the gallies had his chaine wherewith he was fastened broken a sunder by a canon shot himselfe not hurt and perceiuing that he was loosse leapt into the Sea with a piece of his chaine and with great daunger of his life for they shot terribly at him swam to the Zelanders ships and in swimming shewed his chaine whereupon the ships tooke him in being aboord he acquainted them with the gallies intent and losse They afterwards clothed him and presented him to prince Maurice who askt him if he would serue but he hauing great meanes at Constantinople craued a passeport vnlesse they would make vse of him for a Patron of a gallie to command the Spanish slaues which charge he had in former time taken vpon him But the Netherlanders hauing neuer vsed to imploy any infidell would not then begin but gaue him a passeport for England whither he went and from thence to Barbarie and so by land to Constantinople where by the way he acquainted Princes and Kings and the great Turke his Lord with the wars of the Christians ¶ The Admeralls ship of Antuerpe and seuen other ships are taken by the Captaine of the Blacke Gallie on the 29 of Nouember 1â—00 MY Lords the States and his Excellencie perceiuing the great losse they sustained by the gallies of Frederick Spinola which lay at Sluce resolued likewise to build and set forth certain gallies and with them to anoy their enemies Whilest they were making readie the gallies of Sluce came not abroad wanting slaues to row for the Zeland ships had slaine most of them many of them likewise were dead in winter with extremitie of cold and those prisoners of the vnited prouinces whom they had taken and made slaues could not suddenly be brought to handle the oare They likewise sent into Hungarie to buy Turkish prisoners but they knew not by what meanes to transport them into the Low-Countries Whereupon the foure Estates of Flaunders were about to buy the sayd Gallies and slaues of Spinola and to build
Charles Vander Noot was gouernor there The Generall States of the vnited Prouinces hauing intelligence of the siege of Ostend sent Colonell Huchtenbrock thither with ten companies and entreated generall Vere to go thither with three thousand men which were expected from England but hee made some difficultie therein beeing laoth to goe without his owne regiment and that of his brother whereupon on the eight of Iulie eight companies were sent vnto him and on the fourteenth of the same twelue other companies which had been at the campe before Berck making vp in all one and twentie companies among whom were six English Generall Vere came thither on the fifteenth of Iuly by night and the next day all sort of munition were brought thither by the Lord of Warmont in despite of the enemies canon the report where of was heard into England for the besieged made counter batteries and often brake the enemies ordnance and dismounted it whereupon two double canon and foure demys were sent to them The fifteenth of Iulie two of the Queene of Englands Ships arriued there with new supplies of souldiers Two daies before Generall Veer his arriuall the besieged had made a furious sallie vpon the enemies in their trenches killing many of them to the number of fiue or sixe hundred who were not well intrenched D. Augustino de Mexia was hurt there and D. Hieronimo de Monroy the Campe-Master was slaine in his Tent the besieged lost some 30 men At the same time or thereabout D. Diego d'Idiaques and D. Iuan Bracamonte Nephew to Count Fuentes D. Pedro de Lojas sonne to the Marquesse de Lojas who brought newes of the Kings daughters birth with diuers others were likewise slaine Sir Frauncis Veer being in the towne as chiefe commaunder gaue direction for all matters diuiding the Dutch companies into two regiments vnder the conduct of the gouernour Vander-Noot and Colonel Huchtenbroecke who commaunded in the old towne The seuenteenth and twentieth of Iulie Generall Veer hauing store of men seazed on a piece of land that lay Southward which he fortified and entrenched placing strong gards in the counterscarpes and forts neere adjoyning The two and twentieth of Iulie the enemies canon did so commaund the Hauen as no boats durst enter but the fiue and twentieth of Iulie the gouernour and the Ingeneer Master Dauid of Orleans with other old and experimented mariners found that the gullet would serue to bring in boats by opening a causey or rampier of the counterscarpe that the sayd boats might lye safe in the towne dikes But the Archduke caused boats to be laden with stones at Niewport and elsewhere which he sanke within and neere the gullet to choake it vp but all the labor was to no purpose Those of Ostend made many curtains to secure their men from the canon they likewise filled the fortifications which were made in the Sea with stakes and crosse beames full of stones the better to diuert the Sea waues from the Towne By this meanes the workes and counterscarpes abroad were fortified like the rampiers of other strong townes being garded with rauelins halfe Moons and forts so as the enemie could not bring his ordnance neere the towne to make a batterie or come to the assault they did moreouer secure the going out and in of the boats so as the vnited Prouinces were encouraged to defend the towne sending thither daily all manner of stuffe and workmen to make it more strong therein sparing for no cost The enemies could by no meanes come neerer the town than by the West side along the downes from whence they fiercely battered it and especially the Sand hill This Sand hill was a Bulwarke of double works one vpon an other hauing round about it sundrie rankes of Pallisadoes from the bottome to the verrie toppe all made of fagotts laide one vpon an other with other Bulwarks neere adioyning for it was made to defend the West side which was the weakest part of the towne together with the hauen on that side This Sand hill was so battered with the canon as it seemed like an yron hill for they shot bullet vpon bullet which strake vpon one an other and sometimes rebounded backe againe Neere to the Sand hill was a causey opposite to the sea extending it selfe as farre as the downes where the enemy lay This causey was defended by a halfe moone and by pallizadoes and the Porcuspine by a verie strong fort which the Archduke caused to bee vndermined the better thereby to approach the towne In that regard the besieged on the fifteenth of Iuly perced the said causey behinde their halfe moone and armed the point of it with planks and fagots against the force of the Sea waues and yet they feared that the same opening would haue done more hurt to the Bulwarkes and other workes than it did this onely enforced the enemy by reason of the water to quit sundrie forts By this meanes the towne became like vnto an Island wholy enuironed with the Ocean Sea beeing diuided the breadth of one hundred foot from the firme land and from the enemy who was in great hope that the Sea the causey being perced would doe more hurt to the towne in winter The vnited Prouinces on the contrarie were assured that God by that meanes would preserue and keepe the towne so as they for their parts vsed all diligence to secure it and at Generall Veres entreatie sent three and twentie foot ensignes more thither after the taking of Rhynberck vnder conduct of Earle Chastillon notwithstanding that there were alreadie nine and fiftie ensignes in the towne beside those who were daily sent from England whose number amounted to 2000 men The enemy shot continually into the towne more than euer into any that was besieged so as many men were dayly slaine The vnited Prouinces in September sent thither in lesse than fifteene daies vnder conduct of the Lord of Warmont Admerall of Holland who with his men of warre garded the Seas one hundred threescore and ten boats laden with all sorts of victuals wine beere bread turfe and fire wood for winter not reckoning fiue hundred and fiftie barrells of powder which were there before the siege the said one hundred threescore and ten boats did likewise bring three hundred seuentie three thousand pound weight of fine and course biscuit seuentie seuen thousand weight of match ninetie eight thousand poundes of musket and harquebuse shot with fifteene thousand yron bullets and all maner of prouision necessarie for defence of the towne so as victuals were so plentifull and cheape there as a pot of wine was solde for a groat and the best for six pence and a tunne of Delfts beere for fiue florins By this meanes the siege of Ostend grew so famous as people came from all parts to behold the besiegers and besieged The Inhabitants of Zealand did for curiositie sake goe boldly thither with their wiues and children All manner of victuals were better
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
Excellencies and Count William of Nassaus quarters intending as it seemed there to breake in and attempt to put forces into the towne But considering that his Excellencie stood on his gard and that all his men were in armes hee presently retired in great feare and attempted nothing leauing certain ladders and tooles behind him which our men tooke and brought to their quarter This attempt beeing vayne the Admerall without sound of trumpet or drum departed thence in the night and marched towards Cuyck which his Excellencie perceiuing the next morning would presently haue followed him but was staied by a thick mist which arose whereby the enemie had sufficient time to get far enough After his departure a rumour was spred how that hee was gone to Rhynberck whereupon Count Ernest was sent thither againe the second time and yet nothing ensued for the enemie remained neere Venlo attempting to put a garrison into it which the townse men for a time refused in regard of the disorder which souldiers vsually doe commit where they once are masters The ninth of September the Generall States whose names here follow departed from the Hague and on the eleuenth day arriued at his Excellencies Campe before Graue The Lord Iohn of Renesse Lord of Wulp the Lord Iohn of Oldenbarneuelt Lord Temple Cornelis Frans Wittes Burgomaster of Dort Arent Meynertsz Burgomaster of Harlem Iacob Vander Dussen Burgomaster of Delft Gerart Keg eling Burgomaster of Ter Goude Bartholt de Vloswijck Burgomaster of Rotterdam Nicolas Iacob Simons Burgomaster of Horn Albertus Ioachimi of Zealand the Lord Hottinga of Frizeland Doctor Scherf of Ouer-yssell Iohn Reingers ten post of Gronningue and the Ommelands Corneillis Aerssens the Register And of the Councell of State Iacob Boelejz of Amsterdam Ferdinand Alleman of Zealand Ecko Everts Boners of Frizeland Lauwijck of Ouer-yssell George de Bie Tresorer and Christiern Huygens Secretarie After the enemies departure our men on euerie side approched the towne the counterscarp being euen with his Excellencies quarter so as our men partly by galleries made ouerthwart the dikes and partly by vndermining mounted the chiefe bulwark in Equall height with the towne Rampiers From Count Williams quarter the galleries stretched to the middest of the chiefe towne dike and the English were come as far as the enemies fortification on that side beeing readie to assaile it and make themselues masters of the chiefe dikes Those in the towne perceiuing this and considering that succours failed them did on the eighteenth day send a drum to craue a parley whereupon hostages were sent from both sides and on the 19 day an accord was made in forme following FIrst that the Gouernour Captaines officers and souldiers both horse and foot together with sick people shall come forth of the town with their horse armes baggage and goods Enseignes displaied drum beating match in cocke and bullets in their mouthes Secondly for better carying away of their baggage sick and wounded men his Excellencie shall lend them one hundred and fiftie wagons as farre as Diest 3 They shall leaue two Captaines as hostages for assurance of the returne of the said wagons horse and wagoners 4 His Excellencie will giue them passeport and conuoy to carrie them safely to Diest 5 Those souldiers which haue in former time serued the States shall enioy the benefit of this treatie like other souldiers of the sayd garrison 6 That all prisoners shall be released on both sides of what estate or condition soeuer in paying their charges 7 The Kings officers both of war and justice shall freely depart with their baggage such as cannot follow the troopes it shall be lawfull for them to tarrie longer in the Towne and at their departure boats shall be lent them to Mastricht Prouided that they giue caution for them 8 That all officers of victuals warlike munition and ordnance shal be bound to deliuer the sayd victuals munition and ordnance to such Commissioners as his Excellencie shall appoint to receiue them without diminishing or wasting any of them or else this treatie to be broken 9 The Gouernour shall promise to be a meanes to their Highnesses that what the Magistrates and Burghers of the sayd Towne haue lent to the sayd gouernour Captaines and Souldiers may be presently repaid 10 The said Gouernour Captaines officers and souldiers shall depart the next day which if it cannot be so soone the sayd Gouernour shall suffer two thousand men whom his Excellencie will appoint to enter the Castle and Bulwarke behind it Granted in the Campe before the Towne of Graue the nine twentieth of September 1602. According to this agreement the enemie on the twentieth of September went his way and gaue place to our men their number was eight hundred beside two hundred that were hurt The Church being clensed and purified from superstitious images diuine seruice and a Sermon was made there after the manner of the reformed Churches with Prayers and thankes giuing to God in the great Church in presence of his Excellencie the generall States and other Lords on the two and twentieth of September being Sunday Vpon the eight and twentieth of the sayd moneth a solemne Sermon and exhortation was made in the same Church about the inauguration and reception of his Excellencie as Lord of the towne of Graue and land of Cuyck the which after the sermon was presently solemnized in the market place before all the people And after that order was taken for keeping of the towne whereof the Baron of Sidnisky was made Gouernour and for the gouernment and fortifying thereof the Campe was dissolued on the last of September his Ex. returned to the Hague and the souldiers were sent to their garrisons A supplication together with the points and articles of reconciliation of the towne of Graue with his Excellencie Count Maurice of Nassau as Lord of the towne and generall of the army of the vnited Prouinces His Excellencie hauing wel viewed and considered these points together with the Lords generall States of the vnited Prouinces hath granted and disposed of them according as is here noted vpon euery article FIrst a generall Pardon of what soeuer is past from his Excellencie and the said Lords States in behalfe of the Burghers and inhabitants of this towne both those that are gone away from thence and those that remaine still as well for matters of religion administration of offices as otherwise without any exception no man to bee punished or taxed for any thing heretofore done And therfore his Excellencie in qualitie abouesaid shall take the burghers and inhabitants of this towne aswell ecclesiasticall as ciuill into his protection and as their Lord vse them with all loue and gentlenesse His Excellencie grants this demaund Secondly confirmation and continuation of the townes priuiledges in the same manner as before the troubles and afterwards during the life of my Lord the Prince of Orange of happy memorie his Excellencies father and Lord of the towne His Excellencie doth likewise grant his request
which hath beene bestowed on reparations and yet it shall not be lawfull for the sayd buyers to claim the law of retention thereby to be paied and satisfied for them XIX If any fortifications and publique workes haue beene made on either side with leaue and authoritie of superiours in places which are to bee restored by this present treatie the owners of them shall be bound to satisfie themselues with the estimat which the ordinarie Iudges shall make residing as well in the said places as in the iurisdiction thereof vnlesse the parties doe willingly agree among themselues XX. Concerning goods belonging to Churches colledges and other holie places in the vnited Prouinces which haue beene members depending on Churches benefices and colledges vnder the Archdukes obedience that which hath not beene sold before the first of Ianuarie 1607 shall be restored and surrendred vnto them and they shall make reentrie into them by their owne priuat authoritie without any minister of Iustice and shall enioy them during the truce but shall not dispose of them as it is heretofore mentioned And for those which haue beene sold before the said time or giuen in payment by the States of any of the Prouinces the reuenew of the price shall be paid vnto them euerie yeare by the Prouince which hath made the said sale or giuen and assigned the said goods The like shall bee done and obserued by the said lords Archdukes XXI Those vnto whom their goods confiscate are to bee restored shall not bee tied to pay the arrerages of the rents for the time they haue not enioyed them and if they be sued or molessed for it they shall be sent away acquited XXII No man shall likewise sue for goods sold or graunted to haue them ordered according to the debts whereunto the possessors are bound by treaties made thereupon with the interests of moneys for entrance if any haue bin giuen XXIII Iudgements giuen for goods confiscate together with such parties as haue acknowledged the Iudges and haue beene lawfully defended shall hold good and those that are condemned shall not bee suffered to contradict them vnlesse by ordinarie meanes XXIIII The said Lords Archdukes and States shall each of them for their parts appoint officers and magistrates for administration of Iustice and gouernment in townes and strong places which by the present treatie ought to bee restored to the owners to enioy them during the truce XXV Moueable goods confiscate before the conclusion of this present treatie shall not be subiect to restitution XXVI Moueable actions which haue beene set ouer by the said Lords Archdukes or States to the profit of particular debtors before the first of Ianuarie 1607 shall be of no force on either side XXVII The time which hath run on during the warre beginning since the yeare 1567 till this present shall not be reckoned to bring in prescription betwixt those which bee of sundrie sides XXVIII Those who during the war are retired into neutrall countries shall likewise enioy the fruit of this truce and may reside where they shall think good and returne home to their auntient dwellings there to remaine in all safetie obseruing the lawes of the countrie and not vpon occasion of residing in any place whatsoeuer shall they be endamaged in their goods or themselues depriued ef enioying them XXIX No new forts shall bee built in the Netherlands on either side during the truce xxx The Lords of the house of Nassan shall not during the said truce bee pursued or molested in their persons or goods either for debts owing by the late Prince of Orange since the yeare 1567 till the day of his death or for arrerages fallen during the seisure of goods therewith charged XXXI If any particular persons shall do aught against the truce by commaundment of the said Lords King Archdukes or States the harme shall be recompenced in the same place where the breach was made if they be taken there or else where they dwell and shall not be pursued elsewhere either in bodie or goods in any sort whatsoeuer neither shall it bee lawfull for them to take armes and breake the truce vpon this occasion yet they may vpon manifest denial of Iustice vse ordinarie meanes by letters of marque and reprisall XXXII All disingheritings made by occasion of the late hostilitie are declared void and of none effect XXXIII The subiects and such as dwell in the dominions of the said Lords Archdukes and States of what estate and condition soeuer they be are declared capable of succeeding one an other as well by the testament as ab intestato according to the custome of the places And if any successions haue heretofore fallen to any of them they shal therein be defended and maintained XXXIIII All prisoners taken in warre shall be deliuered on either side without ransome XXXV And that this present treatie may be better obserued the said Lords King Archdukes and States doe interchangeably promise to imploy all their forceâ— and meanes to secure all passages seas and nauigable riuers from the incursions of Pirates theeues and robbers and if they shall apprehend any such then sharpely to chastice them XXXVI They doe moreouer promise to attempt or doe nothing nor suffer any thing to be done to the hurt of this preseut treatie directly or indirectly and if any be done to amend it without any difficultie or delay And for obseruing of all this aboue mentioned they doe mutually oblige themselues namely the said Lords King and Archdukes their successours and for validitie of the said obligation doe renounce all lawes customes and whatsoeuer is conâ—rarie thereunto XXXVII This present treatie shall be ratified and approued by the said Lords King Archdukes and States and their Letters of ratification deliuered to one another in due maner and forme within foure dayes And concerning the Catholike Kings ratification the said Lords Archdukes haue promised and shall be bound to deliuer it within 3 moneths in due manner and forme also to the end the said Lords States their subjects and people may effectually and in all safety reape the fruit of this present treatie XXXVIII The said Treatie shall be published in all places where it shall concerne presently after the ratification made by the said Lords Archdukes and States and from this time forth all hostilitie shall cease This made and concluded in the Citie of Antuerpe the ninth of Aprill 1609 and signed by my Lords the Embassadours of the most Christian Kings of Fraunce and â—â—at Brittaine as mediators and by the Commissioners of my Lords the Archdukes and States it was signed vnderneath by P Ieannin Elie de la Pluce Ric. Spencer Rafe Winwood Ambrose Spinola the President Richardot Iu. de Mancicidor Frier Iohn Ney L. Verreyckin William Lodwick Earle of Nassau W. Brodero de Cornellis de Gent Iohn de Ordenbarnevelt I. de Malderee G. de Renesse G. de Hillama Iohn Sloet Ab. Coenders And because within a while after certaine obscure difficulties were found
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
of Turnholt where his Excellencie caused his souldiers to rest a while Count Varax and the lord of Bolanson with 4 regiments of foot and 5 companies of horse had intrenched themselues in Turnholt he hauing intelligence that his Excellencie was so neere did by the aduice of his Councell cause the baggage to be laden by night and sent it away before intending by breake of day to follow with his whole armie and to retire safely to Herentals His Excellencie in like manner on the 24 of the said moneth early in the Morning did set forward marching still in his order when the waies would permit him The cauallerie bearing long Pistols made the vaunt-gard and was diuided into sixe troopes The two first in each of which were foure cornets were somewhat seperated and yet still flanked one another that on the right hand was conducted by the Earles Hohenlo and Solms After them followed two other troopes each of them consisting of three Cornets marching likewise somewhat diuided from the rest to bee the better able vpon any occasion to receiue the former into their rankes or else they to bee by them receyued in like manner His Excellencie followed the Cauallerie with two other troopes marching as the rest did somewhat diuided The footmen were diuided into eight troops viz. presently after the horsemen followed two squadrons verie neere to one another after them three and then two all of them marching in like manner as the former After them followed two demie canon with other field pieces placed betwixt the munition wagons and drawne by those that ordinarily had charge thereof together with certaine mariners Next them followed the rest of the foot troops enclosing the battel still marching in this order when the ground would permit them otherwise they troopt closely together fitting thēselues to the waies waters bridges that lay betwixt Rauels Turnholt His Excellencie being come before Turnhoult which was abandoned thought good by the aduice of the sayd earles other captaines to set forward speedily towards the enemie onely with the horse and to let the foot troopes follow to leaue the canon nere to the mill of Turnhoult guarded by part of the footmen This did his Excellencie presently put in execution but meeting with a little narrow way full of water beneath Turnhoult where the enemie had left forces to defend the passage he forthwith sent certain musketiers thither vnder the conduct of sir Francis Veer and the lord Vander Aa Lieutenant of his guard These enforced the enemie to quit the passage whereupon his Excellencie went forward and presently came to a plain champaine where he descried followed the enemie that fled in this manner Their baggage went before towards Herentals garded by certain souldiers next followed the battell The caualerie for the most part was gone before viz. Nicholo Basta D. Iuan de Cordoua Alonzo Dragon Guzman and Grobbendonck After them followed foure regiments diuided one from another the first was the regiment of Almans vnder Count Sultz the second La Mott his old regiment commaunded at that time by the lord of Achicourt the third was the regiment of La Barlotte the fourth of Neapolitans vnder the Marquesse of Treuick On the right hand sometime two cornets of horse marched and sometime on the left on the left hand were trees neere which was a small riuer running from Turnhoult It was not long ere they were ouertaken but by reason of the bad wayes and a valley ful of water which lay betweene the enemie and the States forces our men had no fit opportunitie as yet to assaile them Sir Francis Veer with a few horse certain musketiers entertained the enemies rereward with skirmish therby hindring him from his intended flight till they came to the farther end of that valley of water then the earles Hohenlo and Solms as first at the battaile perceiuing a certaine place of aduantage betwixt them and Count Varax fearing likewise least the enemie would entangle a narrow passage wherein his baggage was alreadie entred told his Excellencie That it was more than time to assaile the enemie whereupon a signal being giuen they charged him The earles Hohenlo and Solms with 4 cornets of Breda gaue in on the enemies right side those of Berghen-op-Zoom vpon the enemies hindmost regimēt so as the Neapolitans being last were the first that were assailed by Marcelis Bacx and his brother accompanied by Du Bois Done two captaines Count Hohenlo and Solms with the 4 cornets of Breda charging directly the enemies first regiment to which their cauallerie was alreadie turned backe meaning to charge those of Berghen in flanke did verie opportunely preuent them and putting them to rout went on and fell vpon Count Sults regiment with such furie as the enemies were onely content to make slight triall of their valour and betaking themselues to flight left Alonzo Dragon his cornet behind them His Excellencie perceiuing that the charge was alreadie giuen sent sir Robert Sidney and sir Frauncis Veer who till then had entertayned the enemie with continuall skirmish with certaine horse to cut off the enemies rereward The rest of the cauallerie stayed neere to his Excellencie to succour and releeue the first if need should be till at last perceiuing a manifest aduantage all of them in a manner fell into the battell Count Varax Generall of the enemies armie was slaine vpon the place and all his men beeing on euerie side fiercely assailed fell to open flight which was to no purpose as beeing on the one side incompassed by our cauallerie on a plaine ground and on the other with a riuer and trees so as few of them could escape to the narrow way and aboue two thousand of them lay dead vpon the playne and foure hundred were taken prisoners all this was done in so short a space as the States footmen notwithstanding all their hast could not come in in time but before their ariual the horsemen had gotten the victorie The enemies cauallerie perceiuing they could not well escape some of the brauest and most resolute among them to the number of 40 caused a trumpet to sound a charge and fel vpon those whom in disorder they saw busied in pillage making shew as if they intended to giue a fresh charge vpon our men whereupon some of our timerous cowards fled towards the footmen who were comming forward Prince Maurice lookt after his troopes of horse which he had reserued for succours but in vayne whereupon he commanded the prisoners to alight from their horses who earnestly begged for mercie saying That there was alreadie sufficient bloud spilt to finish the victorie yet diuers of them were slaine and then we perceiued the want of our troopes of succours but euerie man making hast towards his Excellencie especially Marcelis Bacx and Edmunds the enemie was so amazed as he againe betooke himselfe to flight Eight and thirtie ensignes were taken there together with D. Alonzo de Mondragons cornet