subiects of what qualitie or condition soeuer without exception of place or persons III. Each of them shal continue seised of and sâ—all effectually enioy those countries townes places territories and lordships which he now holdeth and possesseth without any molestation whatsoeuer during the said truce in which is to bee comprehended the boroughs villages hamlets and champaine countrie which depend thereon IIII. The subiects of the said Lords King Archdukes and States shall in friendlie sort haue good correspondence with one an other during the said Truce without resenting forepassed iniuries They may likewise frequent and reside in the countries and dominions of each other there in all safetie vse trafficke and commerce both by land sea and fresh riuers This neuerthelesse the said Lord King vnderstands to bee restrained and limited to the Realmes countries territories and lordships which he possesseth in Europe other seas and places whither the subiects of hiâ—â—eighbor Kings and Princes doe trade vpon sufferance And for those places townes ports and hauens which hee possesseth forth of the abouesaid limits the said Lords States and their subiects shall not trade thither without expresse permission of the said Catholike king Yet if it seeme good vnto them they may trade in the countries of all other Princes Potentates and common wealths which will permit them so to doe namely forth of the said limits without any let molestation or impediment from the said Lord King or his officers and subiects 5 V. And because a longer timâ—s required for giuing warning vnto those that are abroad at sea with forces to desist from all hostile actions it is concluded that the truce shall not beginne till within a yeare next ensuing Alwaies prouided that if aduertisement of the said truce may bee giuen sooner that then hostilitie shall cease from that time forward but if after the said terme of an whole yeare any hostile actions shall be vsed the losse and harme shall be restored without delay VI. The subiects of the said Lords King Archdukes and States trading into one an others countries shall not bee tied to pay greater duties and impositions than their owne subiects and those of friends and allies which are least charged VII And the subiects of the said Lords States shall likewise haue the same assurance and libertie in the dominions of the said Lords King and Archdukes as hath beene graunted to the King of great Britaines subiects by the last treatie of peace and secret articles made with the constable of Castille VIII Neither shall merchants masters of ships pilots mariners their ships wares and goods belonging vnto them bee seased vpon and staied by vertue of any generall or particular mandate or for any otâ—er cause whatsoeuer nor yet vnder colour to make vse of them for the preseruation and defence of the countrie yet it is not meant that goods seased vpon by ordinarie way of Iustice in regard of debts bonds and contracts of theirs on whom the said seasure hath beene made and wherein it hath been proceeded according to right and reason shal be herein comprehended Ix. And as for the trade and commerce of the low countries and taxes and impositions which shall be raised vpon merchandise if it bee afterwards found that any excesse is vsed therein vpon first suit made thereupon by either partie commissioners shall bee appointed to order and moderate the matter and though the businesse cannot bee agreed vpon yet shall not the truce therefore bee broken X. If any sentences or judgements haue beene giuen betwixt persons of sundrie sides either for ciuile or criminall causes they shall not be executed vpon the parties condemned nor on their goods so long as the said truce lasteth XI Letters of marque and reprisall shall not be granted during the said time vnlesse vpon just cause and in cases which are permitted by the imperiall lawes and constitutions and according to the order by them established XII None may arriue enter nor continue in the Ports Hauens and Roades of each others Countrie with any number of ships and souldiers which may giue cause of suspition to him vnto whom the said Ports Hauens and Roads doe belong vnlesse they be cast in by tempest or inforced to doe it vpon necessitie and for auoyding daunger at Sea XIII Those whose goods haue beene seazed and confiscate by reason of the warre or their heires shall enjoy the same goods during the truce and of their owne priuat authoritie shall take possession of them by vertue of this present treatie without being inforced to haue recourse to justice notwithstanding all incorporations fiscal engagements gifts treaties agreements and transacts or whatsoeuer renouncing hath beene made in the said transacts to exclude part of the said goods from those vnto whom they are to belong on condition neuerthelesse not to dispose of nor diminish them during the said time vnlesse they be permitted so to doe by the said Lords Archdukes or States XIIII This likewise shall take place to the profit and aduantage of the heires of the late Prince of Orange concerning their right to the Salt pits in the Countie of Burgondie which shal be restored vnto them together with the woods thereon depending And concerning the suit of Castelbelin commenced in the life time of the late Lord Prince of Orange in the Court of Malines against the Catholike Kings Atturney generall the said Lords Archdukes doe sincerely promise therein to doe them justice within a yeare without any delay according to right and equitie XV. If the publike treasurie hath sold any part of goods confiscate those to whom they are to belong by vertue of this present treatie shall tie themselues to be satisfied with the interest of the price and to be payed it euerie yeare during the truce by those that possesse the said goods otherwise it shall be lawfull for them to resort to the land or inheritance that is sold. XVI But of the said Sales haue beene made by order of law for good and lawfull debts of theirs vnto whom the said goods did belong before the confiscation it shall be lawfull for them or their heires vpon cause to redeeme them in paying the price within a yere accounting from the day of this present treatie after which time they shall be no more receiued and the said repurchase being made by them they may dispose thereof as they shall thinke good without further permission XVII Yet is not this repurchase to be in force for houses seated in townes and sold vpon this occasion in regard of the great discommoditie and notable losse which the purchasers should sustaine by reason of change and reparations which may be made in the said houses the examination whereof would be too long and difficult XVIII As for reparations and improuements bestowed vpon other goods that are sold whose repurchase is permitted if they bee sued for the ordinarie Iudges shall therein doe justice vpon knowledge of the cause the inheritance remaining engaged for the summe
in the time of winter in anno 1593 assembled his forces vnder the conduct of his sonne Charles vpon the frontiers of Fraunce nere to Guyse sending them into Fraunce there to employ them In the meane time my Lords the States of the vnited Prouinces sent Count Philip of Nassau into Luxembourg with foure thousand horse and foot hoping to take some townes there as S. Vit and others which he effected not but caused all the garrisons to be drawne forth of Brabant For so soone as the news of his being there came to Bruxels all the horse and foot both Spaniards and Italians were taken forth of the townes of Liere Malines and other places and were sent in great hast to the Countrie of Luxembourg conducted by Count Barlaymont Count Philip hauing notice thereof retired and in the meane time burnt many villages in the Countrie and likewise leuied great exactions in the countrie of Limbourg bringing many places vnder contribution sacking the town of Hanuijt in Brabant and hauing got much money horse and a great bootie they returned to their Quarter In the meane time the States of the vnited Prouinces resolued to besiege the town of Geertrudenberg a dependant on Holland though seated in Brabant nere the Mase on a riuer called the Douge This towne in ann̄ 1589 was by certaine traitors sold to the Duke of Parma for 15 moneths pay notwithstanding all honest and reasonable offers made vnto them whereupon they were all as traitors to the countrie condemned to be hanged wheresoeuer they should be caught most of whom were executed The sayd States had of a long time on sundrie pretences kept victuals from thence by way of licence and in Februarie did cut off a Conuoy of all necessarie prouisions that was going thither and hauing intelligence that the gouernour was gone forth to meet the Conuoy and that two did striue about the gouernement they thought this occasion might greatly profit them and thereupon gaue commission to Prince Maurice to enuiron and shut in the towne with his Cauallerie which he did all the forces being returned from Luxembourg and the captaines hauing re-enforced their companies and on the nine and twentieth of March he begirt the towne both by land and water at such time when the Spaniards most doubted the siege of Sertoghenbusk or Graue And because this siege is verie memorable and famous we will relate the most remarkable matters for the towne was strong manned with more than a thousand old souldiers and well prouided of all necessaries His Excellencie lying before the towne did at first quarter himselfe on the West-side thereof with the regiments of Count Henrie his younger brother of Count Solms Groenevelt and Balfour Count Hohenlo encamped towards the East in a Village called Raemsdone beyond the riuer Douge towards Oosterhoude with the regiments of the Lords of Brederode Lokres and others euerie regiment presently fortifying his Quarter The Spaniards had a Fort abroad within musket shot of the town vpon the causey of Steelhof which secured the passage to the town Count Hohenlo did presently intrench before it brought the channel of the riuer into those trenches and with great danger of his life tooke the free accesse of the fort to the towne from the enemie and planted the canon in an Island opposit to the conuoy and fort Whereupon the captain and garrison perceiuing themselues to be cut off from the towne yeelded the fort on the sixt of Aprill and for their labours were imprisoned by the Marquesse of Varembon The Fort being woon his Excellencie made two bridges ouer the riuer the one on boats verie strong and broad and the other vpon masts that the two campes might helpe one another which by reason of the marshes lay a good mile from each other On both sides the bridges before the towne he placed ships of war to keepe continuall watch For the riuer was as a dike defending a great part of the camps trenches there being diuers water mils and sluces to keepe the dikes of their trenches continually full of water but by reason of the high tides they were often hindred in their workes On the waters side they enclosed the town with an halfe moone made with boats of warre lying at anker made fast by cables and supported by small boats wherein watch was kept Without the said halfe moone ships of warre went too and fro keeping good gard Within it certaine small boats stood sentinel beneath the towne these tooke a Spaniard swimming that carried letters from Count Mansfelt and others his Excellencie gaue him his life and sent him backe to the enemies to tell them how he was intrenched Without the halfe moone towards the West and East of the towne the boats that brought victuals lay and were shrowded from the enemies canon The campe on the water was a German mile in length euerie campe hauing his boats of ammunition and victuals The mariners had likewise their campe apart and behaued themselues valiantly by carrying wodden canons and emptie boats by night nere to the shore and Key to cause the besieged to bestow their powder in vayne whereof they had great need His Excellencies campe on land was enuironed with high rampiers and deepe ditches without with foure great and strong Bulwarkes on each of which lay two canon Such was Count Hohenlos campe extending it selfe two miles in circuit and fortified with trenches bulwarks strong rauelins and broad dikes Without the campe many stakes were pitched in the ground and in each of them an Iron pike called Turkish ambassadors so nere to one another as a man could hardly put his knee betwixt The chief high waies were fortified with strong forts and rauelins stored with ordnance so as an hundred canons were planted there vpon the waies caltraps were laid and deepe pits made stuft full of powder Being thus intrenched abroad against the enemie they likewise began to fortifie themselues against the townesmen bringing their trenches vnder the Towne-walls they planted their canon and made galleries vnder whose couert they might come to the towns rampiers The besieged beside their rampiers and caualleries had two strong rauelins on the Land-side opposit to which lay the Zelanders and souldiers of Vtrechts batterie which did so oppresse the towne as euerie house almost was shaken especially the Prince of Orange his Palace which was vtterly ruined For making of these great workes and fortifications the States had sent certain hundreds of boats prouided of al necessaries and though the boores wrought in euerie place for pay yet most of these great workes were done by souldiers according to the manner of the auntient Romans not by constraint but for daily hire and those dayes they were not vpon the gard each of them was imployed in what labour he best liked getting tenne or fifteen souls a day by meanes whereof they wrought so hard as they made themselues inuincible against the kings power which came to relieue the towne So great good order
captaines and the Auditor of the garrison to Count Solms who had alreadie entred it Prince Maurice count Hohenlo those of the Councel of war were busied in skirmish with Mansfelt so soon as they heard this news they scarce beleeued it thinking the captaines had made a skirmish by chance hauing no commission so to do These commissioners craued but 2 houres respit to send to craue count Mansfelts consent this could not be grāted but when they heard of the state of Mansfelts campe and how that Prince Maurice offered to saue their liues i◠was concluded that they should depart forth of the towne with their swords and baggage as appeareth by this accord following We Maurice Prince of Orange Count of Nassau Catzenelboguen Vyanden Dyetz c. Gouernour and Captaine generall of Guelderland Holland Zeland West-Frizeland Zutphen Vtrecht and Ouer-Yssell Admirall generall haue graunted and by these Presents doe graunt to the Captaines officers and souldiers of the Garrison of Geertrudenberg free libertie to depart with their swords horse and baggage whether it shall seeme good vnto them without any let or impediment to which end fiftie wagons shall be lent them and if they shall need any boats for the king of Spaines officers their seruants hurt men and baggage we will freely cause them to be conducted to Antuerpe so as they will giue sufficient caution to send backe the sayd wagons and boats and so that the receiuers Mathew Daulthat Iohn Fransen and Iohn Mathew will remaine in the sayd towne till they haue deliuered vp their Registers papers and records belonging to their office vnto such as shall be by vs appointed thereunto And concerning the Clergie and Burghers those excepted who haue had an hand in betraying the towne we grant them free libertie to depart with their baggage and promise them by the faith of a Prince that whatsoeuer is aboue mentioned shall without any let or contraction be obserued Giuen in the Campe before Geertrudenberg on the fiue and twentieth fo Iune 1593. Signed vnderneath Maurice of Nassau Notwithstanding this accord thus passed Prince Maurice at their earnest request graunted them their armes Thereupon the same day an hundred wagons went forth of the towne with the baggage hurt people women and children next them followed three Captaines attended by sixteene Ensigne-bearers with their colours which with great reuerence they deliuered to Prince Maurice who highly commended all their colours next them followed the officers with their halberds and some two hundred and fortie pikes and then 384 musketiers and harquebuziers with others to the number of 600 and marched along by Oosterhoudt towards Mansfelts campe Besides his Excellencie suffered three boats laden with silke and hurt men to depart to Antuerpe Three souldiers who had in former time beene consenting to the deliuerie of the towne to the Duke of Parma were by his Excellencies commaund presently hanged After the departure of the enemies souldiers Prince Maurice with his forces entred the towne and found it so well prouided of all necessaries as had it not beene taken in this manner he would haue lost more men in the attempt so as himselfe gaue the glorie vnto God and exhorted others to doe the like His officers found eight hundred pound weight of powder there beside flesh fish bread beare salt and corne of all which they had plentie In this siege three hundred men were slaine and foure hundred hurt He made his brother Count Henrie Frederick gouernour there vnto whom the Prince his father of happie memorie by his testament had bequeathed the towne and the Lord Arent of Duvenvoord his Lieutenant and on a sodaine all the trenches were leuelled Mansfelt perceiued not that the towne was yeelded till such time as he saw our men to displant the canon on euerie side and that the armed men burnt straw vpon their pikes ends Count Mansfelt hauing intelligence of the townes losse raysed his campe on the 26 of Iune and marched by the Lang-straet towards Bommeler-weert thinking by force to haue surprised the Fort of Crevecoeur which stands nere the Mase at the mouth of the riuer Diese opposit to Heele in Brabant But those of Gorcum and Bommell had in part preuented it by stopping the water nere to the sayd fort whereby all the water which runneth by Sertoghenbusk forth of the riuers Dommell and Aa drowned the countrie round about Before Count Mansfelt could come thither Prince Maurice and his troopes were there hindring him from making any fortifications and by fortifying against him enforced him to depart with his ordnance towards Vliemen and Engelen and to encampe on the higher grounds which notwithstanding were presently enuironed with water Those of Crevecoeur Skonse did presently bend all their ordnance thitherward with which they greatly annoyed the enemie who lay open without any shelter and imprisoned by water So as many of them were miserably slaine there Prince Maurice fortified the frontiers and Bommeler-weert he likewise sent forces into Frizeland to Count William and commaunded Count Solms to make a road into Flaunders where the Boores detayned by the Spaniards brought not in their contributions who had fortified themselues nere Hulst and Axell and had likewise intended some enterprise on these two townes and to that end had woon certain soldiers who whilest they should attempt to carrie away the townes cattaile had vndertaken to kill the gard and to make themselues masters of the gates but this was discouered Count Solms on the 24 of Iulie went into the Land of Waes with eight hundred horse and three thousand fiue hundred foot he sent his cauallerie before to a place called S. Iohn ten Steen where the Spaniards forsooke their fort flying to Veer opposit to Antuerpe but thirtie of their horse were taken and the Dorp of Steken was burnt Our cauallerie nere to S. Nicholas encountred with eightie Lorrain horsemen who were beaten and most of them taken prisoners our footmen planted the canon before S. Iames Skonse which yeelded the like did those of S. Iohn ten Steen All this being done in a short space news was brought that Mondragon sent two thousand foot and six cornets of horse from Antuerpe and that tenne more followed them whereupon Coun◠Solms retired racing the forts he had taken and with no great bootie embarked himselfe hauing by this road wherein at first he was too slacke gotten verie small contribution The Towne of Coervoerden is freed from the siege in Anno 1594. THe towne of Geertrudenberg thus taken prouided of all necessaries and order giuen for the gouernement thereof prince Maurice had diuers enterprises vpon sundrie townes and among others on Bruges and Maestricht which for want of good intelligence and fearfulnesse of certaine souldiers had no good successe Count William of Nassau likewise lost no time in Frizeland but did mightily annoy the enemie taking diuers forts as those of Gramberg Wedde c. vsing all meanes to reduce the towne of Groeninguen to extremitie but the sayd
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
houses round about it rasing all the Castles and so in good order himselfe and men left the Towne and returned to their ships We were no sooner gon but the enemies entred it and labored to quench the fire and often times shewed themselues in small troupes whilest our men embarkeed themselues but durst neuer come neere our boats The fift sixt and seuenth of Iuly the fleet remained in the hauen and Road of the graund Canarie as well in regard of contrarie winds and other impediments as also to tarrie for the foure ships which had beene sent to Sea The Admerall in the meane time did carefully visit the fleet and in the places of those commanders that were dead he appointed others He likewise called all the Captaines aboord his ship and conferred with them concerning the commodities of the other Islands of the Canaries Our men burnt one of their owne ships which at the fleets first arriuall had beene battered from the Castle Graciosa the Captaine hauing transported his men and goods into the barke which they tooke in the Road. In this meane time certaine Spaniards came at sundry times to the water side with flags of truce who in a boat were brought to the Admerall and afterwards sent back againe after they had redeemed some prisoners The eight of Iuly in the morning the fleet sailed along the Coast of the Grand Canarie and at the North point met with the foure ships which had beene at Sea So soone as they descried the fleet they weighed anker and did put to Sea with the rest Toward Euening the wind blew hard so as the fleets course was stopt which returned to the South-East point of the Grand Canarie where they all came to an anchor in the view of Tenerif The ninth of Iuly all the boats went on shoar to fetch in fresh water vnseene of the Spaniards The tenth the fleet did againe set saile with a North-West wind and were presently becalmed The 11 of Iuly in the morning the wind againe was faire but comming neere to Tenerif the weather grew calme and verie changeable so as the fleet was dispersed being not able to hold on their course but were enforced to come to an anchor twelue times in one day The twelueth of Iuly the wind was more constant so as the fleet directed it course towards Gomera Gomera is the least Island of all the Canaries and hath a small towne on the South-west part thereof with a strong Castle vpon the shoare Towards euening the greatest part of the fleet came vp together among others the Rere-Admerall Ian Geerbrantson with his white flagge who in the night with two other ships rode neere the towne But those of Gomera began presently to shoot at them so as the said Admerall did speedily fal off and with as many ships as were neere him came to an anchor waiting for the rest of the fleet which was farre off betwixt Tenerifa and Gomera The thirteenth of Iuly before noone the whole Fleet came together and sayled towards Gomera and doubling a poynt to the North-west of the Towne they came to an anchor The Admerall presently sent for all the Captaines and held a Martiall councell acquainting them with what they were to do Thereupon foure Ensignes of souldiers were presently landed in the valley to assault the backside of the towne and to hinder the enemies flight into the mountaines After that the fleet went forward before the towne on which it forthwith bestowed some shot and found no resistance at all Then the Admerall landed 6 Ensignes moe who without any resistance entred the town and Castle For so soone as the enemies descried the fleet they fled away like those of Allagona with their wiues children and goods into the mountaines hauing buried their bells ordnance wines and other commodities heere and there in the fields The foure aboue mentioned Ensignes perceiuing the enemies flight sent a troup of souldiers before to intercept them to take those goods which they caried with them But the Spaniards hauing notice thereof hid themselues in Caues and darke places in a valley incompassed our men Our men thus inclosed on euery side made braue resistance and slue many of the enemie and in the end after a cruell fight made way thorough them and retired to the towne hauing lost some 70 or 80 men among whom were two Lieutenants which had behaued themselues very valiantly one of whom had receiued fiftie wounds in his body After dinner the Admeral placed strong gards euerie where commaunded the souldiers to search the fields where the same night they found diuers pipes of wine In the night our men took a Spaniard who by the Admerals command was committed to the Prouost Marshal to cause him the next day to discouer such goods as were hid but about midnight by negligence of his keepers he escaped so fled into the mountains The 14 of Iuly in the morning our men shipt all the enemies goods and after dinner found three bells more which were buried in the fields The 15 of Iuly in the morning 10 or 12 of our men running rashly vp the hils were enuironed slaine by the enemy The same day the Admerall made a Generall muster and those ships which were not double mand and victualled began to deliuer vp the remainder of their munition souldiers to the other ships in exchange the sick and hurt men were stowed in them and preparation made to send them home into the Low-Countries to carie newes of their victories and purchase gotten from the enemie euen in his owne Countrey After dinner our men found two great peeces of ordnance the one sixteene foot and a halfe long and the other 14 foot The 16 of Iuly after dinner the enemie shewed himselfe sundry times scoffing at the defeat of our men in the valley and in derision bad them to come fetch their muskets which they had left behind them Thereupon the Admerall would haue landed certain souldiers mariners to assaile the enemie the next day in the coole of the morning but in the night a great tempest arose so as the fleet in regard the ships lay neere together had like to haue suffered shipwrack had not some of them fallen off farther to seaward and there anchored so as by this meanes the former determination was hindred and peraduenture the mischiefe preuented which might haue befallen our men if they had gon vp into the mountaines to the enemie The 17 of Iuly 300 men were sent to the said valley to visit the enemie who keeping himselfe hid our men returned bringing with them two small brasse peeces and two barrells of pouder which they found buried in the ground The 18 of Iuly they shipt all the enemies goods those ships which were appointed for execution of such enterprises as were to be made in the King of Spaines remotest dominions were stored with such proportion of Canarie wines as befitted the length of their voyage The
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
twentie vessels Whilest the fleet lay there the Duke of Medina sent aduertizement to Parma diuers Gentlemen went on shore to refresh theÌ„selues among others the Prince of Ascoli a braue young Lord who as some say was base sonne to King Philip who went to land in a happie houre because the ship wherein he came from Spaine did within a while after perish in Ireland with all her men The Duke of Parma hauing intelligence that the fleet lay vpon the coast of England made great hast to make one in person in that enterprise resigning the gouernement generall of the Countrie to old Count Mansfelt Himselfe went on Pilgrimage into Haynault to our Ladie of Halles and from thence returned towards Bruges where hee arriued on the seuenth of August The next day riding towards Dunkirke where his ship tarried for him he heard the report of the Canon betwixt the two fleets and the same night comming to Dixmuyde he had intelligence of the successe On Tewsday the ninth of August about noone he came to Dunkirke euen when the fleet was alreadie past none of his Ships daring to goe forth to giue them the least hope of aide because they were afraid of the thirtie fiue Hollanders that lay in gard vnder the conduct of the Admirall Iustine of Nassau which were excellently prouided of good mariners and beside the ordinarie souldiers with 1200 braue musquetiers and lay only there to keepe Parmas fleet from issuing out of the Hauen which was a matter of greatest importance As for the great ships they feared them not because the Sea was too shallow in those parts Beside all Parmas forces were not readie nor imbarked onely 700 reuolted English vnder Sir William Stanleys commaund were shipt and thought to get the aduantage by landing first in England His other souldiers were male content and vnwilling especially the mariners who were few in number the prouision likewise of Beere Bread and victuals was not yet readie nor imbarked The mariners were so afraid of the Hollanders as they ran away dayly fearing least the soldiers would enforce them to doe that which they knew could not be done Then they wanted Gallies from Spaine which might haue beaten the Hollanders from the coasts of Flaunders The Spanish fleet lying thus at anker before Calice the better to consult with the Duke of Parma concerning their enterprise they concluded to execute their designe on Friday the twelfth of August the night being darke The Admiral of England with the chief of his Councell determined to enforce them to weigh anker and to be gone or else to burne their fleet whereupon they appointed eight of their vnseruiceablest vessels to bee filled with wild fire and other combustious matter charging the ordnance in them vp to the mouth with small shot nayles and stone which on Sunday the seuenth of August in the afternoone they sent with the wind and tyde after that the men that were in them had forsaken and fired them directly vpon the Spanish fleet which fire did in the night so terrifie them supposing them to be some of those internall ships full of powder and wild fire with the Ingeueer Frederic Ionibelli had made vse of some three yeares before at Antuerpe against the Prince of Parmas bridge ouer the Scheld as crying out The fire of Antuerpe the fire of Antuerpe they presently cut their cables and in confusion did put to Sea In this amazement the Captaine of the great Galleasse fell soule of the cables of another ship and lost her tudder and beeing not able to saile without it was carried by the force of the Sea vpon the sands just before Calice whether it was pursued by certayne English Pinnaces which plaid vpon her vvith their ordnance but durst not boord her which the Lord Admirall perceiuing sent his great Pionace with two hundred souldiers vnder the commaund of Captaine Preston who all of them together boorded the Galleasse where the Generall D. Hugo de Moncada made braue defence for a while hoping of some succour from land but at last he was shot in the head and slaine and diuers other Spaniards with him part of whom leapt into the Sea thinking to escape by swimming who were all drowned The visitor Generall D. Antonio de Manriques with some others escaped and carried the first newes home into Spaine This great Galleasse wherein vvere three hundred slaues and foure hundred souldiers was for three houres pillaged wherein fiftie thousand Duckets of the Kings vvere found The English would at last haue burnt her but Gorâ—â—n the Gouernour of Calice would not permit it as a matter tending to the hurt and prejudice of his Towne and Hauen and with his canon plaid vpon the English The same day being the eight of August as the Spanish fleet sell againe into order it was again fiercely assailed by the English right ouer against Graueling where they voluntarily lost their aduauntage of the wind chosing rather to let the wind driue them before Dunkirke than to open themselues or change their order resoluing onely on defence Though the English had gallant tall ships yet but 22 or 23 of them were comparable to the Spanish which were ninetie But the English had the aduantage by being lighter better of saile so as they came oftentimes within a pikes length of them and discharged their whole tyre of ordnance vpon them and then their smal shot continuing it the whole day till their powder and shot began to faile and then they held it no discretion to boord the Spaniards who still kept themselues together in close order the English beeing satisfied with chasing them from before Calice and Dunkirke and keeping them from joyning with the Duke of Parma The Spaniards the same day receiued much hurt losing many men and had diuers of their ships shot through They likewise with their ordnance plaid fiercely vpon the English but did them no great hurt for they lost few men and neuer a Shippe or man of note and in all that time and in the whole journey they lost but an hundred men and yet Sir Frauncis Drakes ship had beene shot aboue fourtie times and his Cabbin twice shot through And towards the end of the fight a Gentlemans bed whereupon hee rested himselfe beeing weatie was taken from vnder him by a great shot And as the Earle of Northumberland and Sir Charles Blunt afterwards Lord Mountioy and Master Henrie Nowell sat at meate a demie Culuerins shot flew through the cabbin and ouerthrew 2 men The like accidents happened in other ships which wold be tedious to recite yet it appears that God did wonderfully assist the English For as the Lord Admirall wrote to the Queene there was no likelihood that the English in mans judgement and according to the apparance of the circumstances should haue dared to approch the Spaniards but that God had an admirable hand therein vnto whom they willingly ascribed all the honour of their
of the preseruation of so braue a souldier than of any gaine bootie or prisoners so that seuentie prisoners who had been taken at the beginning of the fight and were not yet carried into the towne were in all hast slayne yet some escaped The arriuall of our men opened Parker a large way to escape from the enemie whilest they were busied in fight the Lord Willoughby and the Generall Wilford came from Holland who without entring into any house sallied forth with great numbers of foot to reskew the horse who after they had brauely executed their enterprise returned towards the towne in good order being pursued by the enemies who were extreamely grieued that Parker escaped from them Parker had receiued certaine musket shot on his armour but was not hurt because it was of proofe Where the heat of the fight had been great heapes of dead men and horse lay Of our horsemen some foure or fiue were slaine but many were hurt and the losse of horse was great It is reported that two hundred of the enemie were slayne This was done on the fiue twentieth of September after dinner Whilest the horsemen fought with the enemie the masons broke downe a certaine wall of the remainder of the Abbie because the enemie should not make vse of it against the towne Presently after this fight the enemie shortned and tooke in his campe which he had at first much amplified and enlarged forsooke the high Northgeest strongly fortifying and entrenching himselfe both to the South and Northward of the towne to defend himselfe from our sallies for he expected no such dealing and neuer thought that there had bin so great courage and valor in those of the town Towards euening the Drossart Burgomasters sherifs assembled themselues with whom joyned the captaines Vere Scot Baskeruile Salisburie to consult together what was necessarie for the preseruation of the town And euer after they obserued this order that the gouernour and chiefe of the Councell of war did once a day meet at the state house to conferre of matters concerning the present estate of the town which was a matter verie commendable especially in a town besieged For by this means all difficulties were at first easily remoued that did arise at such a time betwixt the souldiers and Burghers when any thing is done by mischaunce on one part or other to the prejudice of either Euer since then the Magistrat to shew his diligence did daily meet twice namely at eight of the clocke in the morning and two of the clocke after noone The lord Willoughby requested the magistrat that the Burghers might arme keep Corps du gard in the streets and the matter was brought so far forward as captaines officers were chosen but by reason diuers excused thēselues through want of armor which the mutinous French had taken from them in former time nothing ensued thereof On the 28 of this moneth Sir Tho Morgan who had bin gouernor of the town returned from England The Queen and my lords the states had sent him to be gouernor in Sir William Druries place The states had a while before sent Lancelot Parisijs commistarie of the musters enjoining him to tel the Councel of war magistrats that it had pleased her Ma. to write vnto them of late as likewise to the lord Willoughby that it was her expresse wil pleasure that Morgan shold be gouernor and to this end they likewise sent her Ma. letters by the said Lancelot And in this respect they wold herein doe nothing contrary to her Ma. command The contents of whose letters was that hauing intelligence how the Duke of Parma had attempted to besiege Berghen-op-Zoom in that regard she thought it fit to giue the gouernement of the town to Sir Thom. Morgan the better to assure it against the enemies power and that her pleasure was to haue him forthwith installed in Druries stead who had lately bin recōmended to her by the states not that she in any sfsort doubted of Druries loyaltie and valour but Morgans long experience in war together with the peoples loue towards him had caused that alteration The cause why the Queene spake thus of the peoples loue towards Morgan and the recommending of him to my lords the states was because my lord Willoughby did not greatly affect Morgan Sir Thom. perceiuing this that he could not build vpon Willoughbies fauor for the gouernement of Berghen that there were diuers that sued for it found means to get the fauor of the magistrats and Burghers by whose means he obtained letters of recommendation to her Ma. both from the states and comminalty of Berghen The Lord Willoughby in the meane time had by sundrie practises established Drurie in the gouernement but because it was done without the States consent they therefore wrote vnto the Queene that no opposition might be made against her highnesse commaund After Morgans arriuall sundrie quarrels arose not onely betwixt the two Gouernours but among the Captaines and souldiers The English held more with Drurie than Morgan the Low-countrie men and Scots tooke Morgans part Willoughby fauoured Drurie against Morgan and therefore he gaue the gouernement of the towne to Morgan but made Drurie captaine of the Forts saying he did so because her Majestie spake onely of the towne and not of the Forts Morgan on the contrarie maintained it to be a verie absurd matter because the towne and forts depended one vpon an other and neuer had different gouernours Count Solms and Generall Villers came opportunely from Zeland whilest the gouernors contested about the gouernement and exhorted them to peace and concord Yet for all that Drurie commaunded the Forts of the Hauen and Morgan the Towne Those of Druries faction were likewise placed in the Forts Drurie came not often into the towne and spake seldome to Morgan but there was still some quarrell or other he did also highly complaine of the Magistrats and my Lords the States who were much displeased with this discord especially because their authoritie and command was directly contemned euery man feared that some inconuenience would ensue The nine and twentieth of this moneth the imposition vpon wine beere was let to ferme which was payed during the siege as in time before The next day Willoughby made an other sallie vpon the North side of the Campe and though he vsed the same order and meanes as at the first sallie yet he did no great matter for the enemie behaued himselfe more wisely and would no more be surprised from behind the hill of Varibogart as at first the footmen kept within the trenches of their Campe or behind the bushes not farre off and did no more assaile our men as before Our footmen stood in battaile vvithin musquet shot of the Towne yet the Cauallery incountred one an other and the fight was sharp on both sides our men gaue a braue charge and the enemie made gallant resistance each did their best Poolies
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
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
they had deserued death yet he saued their liues and ransomed them at 3900 florins the officers excepted and on the twelft of October suffered two hundred men to depart thence on promise no to beare armes on this side the Mase for the space of three moneths Two thousand and three hundred florins was demaunded for one hundred twentie three of Broeckbuyse souldiers himselfe excepted who payed one thousand fiue hundred florins for his daughters ransome beside that which he gaue for his ensigne Boetselaer For the ransome of Captaine Gardots officers and souldiers which were seuentie seuen one thousand sixe hundred florins were demaunded The Burghers ransome was forgiuen them at the entreatie of the Lord of Tempell in regard of their losse sustayned by fire and they in recompence gaue his Excellencie three tunne of Rhenish wine and yet the towne I know not by what meanes was all burnt fiue or six houses and certaine Cabins excepted The siege and taking of the Townes of Enschede Oldenzeel and Ootmaersen on the eighteenth one and twentieth and three and twentieth of October 1597. HIs Excellencie hauing in this manner by continuall labour and Gods helpe woon this impregnable towne in nine daies for it was supposed to be stronger than Berck Meurs or Groll and giuen order for repayring the rampiers at the Countries cost he did againe giue some little rest and refreshing to his souldiers in regard of a great and laborious journey he purposed to make towards Enschede Oldenzeel and Ootmaersen which would hardly be effected in foure dayes but by his great speed the armie arriued before Enschede on the 18 of October which was fortified with an earthen rampier and two dikes the one without the other within where the captaines Vasques and Grootvelt sent two men to his Excellencie to view his ordnance after that the towne had been summoned and afterwards treated with him whereupon he licenced them to depart beyond the Mase on condition not to serue the king of Spaine for three moneths next ensuing and granted them a Conuoy to the sayd riuer According to which agreement they departed thence on the 19 of October in the Morning and were in number one hundred and tenne men for a while before some 50 men that had gone forth a boot-haling had beene beaten and taken prisoners by his Excellencies souldiers on the 9 of October The next day his Excellencie brought his armie before Oldenzeel and presently sent two regiments viz. that of Count Solms and that of Count Henrie his brother with certaine horse and foure piece of ordnance to Ootmaersen which they summoned but Captaine Otho de Sande with some 30 of the towne of Oldenzeel that were there refused to yeeld it on the 21 of October the canon was planted before Oldenzeel and after three volleys had been discharged they surrendred the towne vpon the same agreement as those of Enschede and 130 men presently departed thence Two falconets 2 yron pieces 800 weight of powder 200 of match with 112 bullets some other prouisions were found in the town From thence he went to Ootmaersen which he presenâ—ly summoned but the towne being manned with sixe companies viz. Generall Billyes the Drossart Egmonts the gouernour Boymers Herman de Ens Borchgraue and Eylkema they aunswered That if they should on a sodaine yeeld the towne they knew not how to aunswer it Thereupon his Excellencie presently caused trenches and batteries to be made and discharged certaine volleis whilest the platformes were preparing for the batterie which being readie and the Burghers fearing some greater mischiefe certain men came forth of the towne on the 22 of October at night viz. Captaine Borchgraue Egmonts ensigne and the two Burghomasters of the Towne who after some parley compounded with Prince Maurice the same night at eleuen of the clocke according to the agreement of those of Euschede it was likewise concluded that all ecclesiastical persons might at their owne choyce either stay or depart The next day in the Morning the garrison left the towne which consisted of foure hundred men and laid the fault on the Burghers feare and euill will on their owne want of souldiers His Excellencie hauing vanquished these old captaines and soldiers did on the 23 of October make his entrie into the towne together with the Princesse of Orange who for certaine important affaires was come to the campe and count William of Nassau where he found three brasse pieces many of yron and about seuen thousand weight of powder and placed the companies of the Drossart Sallant Iaques de Meurs in garrison there making the said Meurs gouernour and sent Captaine Potters companie to Euschede so as his Excellencie in fiue daies manned three townes with garrison and woon the whole Countrie of Twente The foure and twentieth of October he sent to view the riuer called Dinckele and made a passage ouer it sending the Drossart Sallant with tenne Cornets of horse and sixe foot companies of Frizons to prepare the way toward Lingen and to enuiron the said towne The same day the three young Earles of Benthem together with Count Weda came to his Excellencie at Oldenzeel the like did the Commissioners of the gouernement of Munster His Excellencie likewise sent Captaine Euuoot de Bout with Letters to the officers neere adjoyning crauing their helpe in making a bridge ouer the riuer Amisa He resolued likewise by the aduice of the generall States deputies Councell of State and those of the countrie of Ouer-Yssel to raise the Rampiers of the Townes of Euschede and Otmaersen which within a while after was done ¶ The taking of the towne and castle of Lingen in Anno 1597. PRince Maurice on the six and twentieth of October led his armie from Odenzeel and comming with the vantgard to Northoorn he went to BentheÌ„ Castle with the Princesse of Orange accompanied with Brabantina of Orange who with other Nobilitie was come to take her leaue where they were verie honourably kindly entertained by the earle of Benthem the Countesse Palatine the dowager who remained there from whence the Princesse departed the next day and his Excellencie went neere to Emsbuere where his armie lay which on the 28 of October crossed the riuer Amisa and went before the towne and castle of Lingen Lingen is a frontier towne seated in the farthest part of the low-countries it is a Seignorie wherein is a towne castle and 4 villages which the Emperor Charles the fifth vsurped by confiscation in the yeare 1546 together with the Countie of Teckelenbourg and the Seigniorie of Reyden which he took from count Conrade of Teckelenbourg who had an hand in the league of Smalcald making war vpon him and was therefore condemned as a rebell Whereupon the emperour gaue the said countie and Seignorie to Maximilian of Egmond Count of Buren in recompence of his good seruice Afterward the earle was reconciled to the Emperour on this condition that Lingen should remaine to Count Buren
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
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
quarter with some excuse promising to send back our hostages who returned not to the towne the same night Generall Vere the next day at one of the clocke after midnight in regard of the tumult among the Captaines and souldiers sent for all the Captaines French Scottish and Dutch and after long debating on the Garrisons weaknesse and great want of men to defend the old and newe towns with all the counter scarps rauelins South and East Quadrants together with the halfe moone beyond the Gullet standing towards the Southwest hee craued their aduice by what meanes all these places might bee defended from the enemies assaults demaunding whither the Captaines thought it not fit to race and abandon those workes which were alreadie forsaken vnknown to the Captaines together with the falce-bray or lesser Sand hill where they had alreadie planted one canon and a demy and caried fiue barrels of powder thither the same day All of them thought it fit to race the South Quadrant which was least hurtfull to the towne and to send the men to more needfull places and yet this was not effected because fiue companies came from Zealand on the fiue and twentieth of December The falce-bray which should haue beene abandoned was neuerthelesse by consent of certaine Captaines and in presence of Captaine Saint Clare the Scot vnknowne to the Generall mand with sixe musketâ—ers of Saint Clares companie two other companies beeing appointed to second them if the enemie should giue an assault The next day at nine of the clocke in the morning the Generall sent againe for the French Scottish and Dutch Captaines to his lodging where in presence of Colonell Loone hee made his Apologie in French declaring to what intent hee entred into communication with the enemie the Reader may see the excuses hee alledged in a letter hereafter ensuing which hee wrot to the States The same day and in the same assemblie it was concluded to demaund hostages and commissioners from the enemie for assurance of those which had beene sent from the towne whereupon two Captaines Iohn le Rijck and Charls Cassart with Captaine Saint Clare the Scot were sent to receiue the two aboue mentioned hostages and Commissioners viz. Serrano Gouernor of the Sluce and captaine Ottaigno the Sergeant Major who craued to hasten the businesse being sent into Ostend for none other purpose They were answered that in regard it was verie late and diuers Captaines alreadie vpon the gard they must haue patience till the next day The same night the fiue aboue mentioned companies from Zeland arriued and because it was Christmas day the Archduke sent a Spanish Captaine with a trumpet and a letter to his Commissioners wherein hee willed them to hasten the matter by all possible meanes Captaine Rijcks fetcht the letter and gaue it to Serrano who thereupon was verie earnest for dispatch hee was entreated to stay till eleuen of the clocke and then hee should receiue all content this answere he presently sent to the Archduke In the meane time the fiue companies which came from Zelland entred the towne viz. that of Captaine Iohn Pottey the companie of the Lord Iustine of Nassau those of the Lord Vandernoot Captaine Iohn Piron the younger and Captaine la Corde These fiue companies beeing come into the towne Generall Vere about noone gaue this aunswere to Serrano and Ottaigno how he could not denie but that being ouertaken by want of wind faire weather and other accidents hee had beene enforced to inuent meanes to helpe himselfe and men and through want enforced to come to some agreement But perceiuing that the States of the vnited Prouinces had so well reliued and furnished him with all necessarie prouisions hee could not as then proceed any farther in this treatie with his Highnesse and therefore had no more to say vnlesse some new necessitie should vnluckily surprize him and enforce him againe to craue parley hoping that his Highnesse as a vertuous Prince would not take this deniall to proceed any farther in the treat in bad part for beeing a souldier hee could doe no otherwise for maintenance of his owne honour and that this sleight was commonly vsed among souldiers Thereupon the Spanish commissiioners went their way The Archduke was much displeased with this warlike policie and grew exceeding angrie with some of his owne seruants who had counselled him thereunto By this sleight a rumor was bruted abroad how that Ostend capitulated and it was so confidently beliued as in the Courts of France England that of the States of Holland and Zealand nothing was knowne to the contrarie till such times as they receiued letters from Generall Vere The Burgers of Gant Bruges Dunkerke and Newport came with their wiues and children to the campe thinking that the towne would yeeld but they were all deceiued This did so incense the enemies as they resolued more by passion than reason to giue a generall assault The States of the vnited Prouinces were amased at this treatie and neuer thought that the English souldiers would haue so slipt away through the carelesenesse of their Captaines who gaue them passeport so as fortie fiftie sixtie and more at a time returned into England who were lustie and in health whereupon men and other necessarie prouisions were sent thither which did encourage the besieged The Archduke tired with lying so long before Ostend and deceiued in his vaine hope was persuaded by his Councell to giue a generall assault ere greater forces entred the towne and to this end hee did satisfie and pay manie of his mutiners and vnwilling souldiers making great preparation for an assault hoping to surprise the Sand hill there to entrench himselfe and become master of the old towne appointing the seuenth of Ianuarie 1602 in the afternoone at a low water the time for execution Colonell Gambiotta the Campe master was to assault the new towne and Count Ferneste with Captaine Ottaigno the Sand hill and falce-bray The gouernour of Dixmuide the Porcuspine an other the West and South Quadrants and the North Rauelin and Count Bucquoy with two thousand men was to assault on euerie side Count Triuulcio Alonzo d'Avalos and other troops were readie to helpe and second those that should stand in need the cauallier likewise hauing an eye euerie where The Archdukes felfe stood behinde the batterie of the key and the Infanta was in Isabellas fort This thus appointed a certaine Italian whose lot was to bee one of the first that should giue the assault fearing the daunger swam ouer the hauen by night with his sword in his mouth and declared to generall Vere the enemies resolution concerning the assault whereunto he gaue the more credit because the precedent day and night their ordnance had without intermission plaid vpon the towne so as he gaue order for defence fortifying all places transporting the ordnance and planting seuen great morters at the entrance of the hauen charged with stones and musket shot commaunding his men carefully to doe their
were not readie for such an attempt In the end they resolued to turne backe and besiege the towne of Graue and there to attend the Admeralls armie Thereupon his Excellencie departed the next day beeing the tenth of the said moneth in the selfe same order as before towards Aix and places neere adioining The heate of that day was so intollerable as many souldiers though the iournies were not long died of faintnesse by the way and others were so weake as they were enforced to tarrie behind yet in the coole of the euening they came to the camp the enemie in all the march giuing no alarmes to our men either by day or night The 11 day the heate continued so as his Excellencie stirred not that day but refreshed his armie The 12 the armie lodged vpon the heath before the towne of Hasselt The thirteenth at Helchteren the fourteenth at Lille the fifteenth at Hees where his Excellencie sent a trumpet to the enemies souldiers at Eyndhouen commaunding them to depart thence which was done The 16 the armie lodged before Helmont Stiphent and vpon refusall to depart which the enemies garrison in Helmont Castle made his Excellencie commaunded a volley of six canon to play vpon it whereupon they presently capitulated and went thence The 17 the armie rested at Vden the 18 at Cassell Esteren Reken and Welp and at last before the towne of Graue which his Excellencie besieged and tooke as shall appeare in the following description ¶ The siege and taking of the towne of Graue in the land of Cuyck in anno 1602. HIs Excellencie according to the resolution of the Generall States brought his armie before the towne of Graue the chiefe Citie of the land of Cuyck seated in Brabant vpon the Mase in former time it belonged to Guelderland but was afterward reduced vnder the gouernment of Brabant beeing ingaged to Maximilian of Egmont Count of Buren The Prince of Orange of happie memorie mariying his daughter bought it together with all that depended thereon and enioyed it a long time but after the pacification of Gand certain Almain troopes lying in garrison there for the Spaniards were driuen thence by the Princes forces together with the helpe of the Burgers The Prince of Parma did afterwards besiege it in anno 1586 vnto whom the Lord of Hemert deliuered it vp Since then the towne beeing strong by nature was better fortified with Bulwarks Rauelins and Counterscarps and is now one of the strongest places of the Netherlands Antonio Gozales the Spaniard was Gouernour there who fearing and expecting a siege D. Inigo d'Otaiola a verie skilfull Captain brought forces thither most of them beeing Italians and Spaniards with some German Companies vnder commaund of Pangus Gallais of Tiroll Lieutenant to Colonell Tyssing amounting to the number of one thousand and fiue hundred men beside the Burghers the towne was well stored with ordnance munition and victuals His Excellencie beeing come before the towne disposed his quarters after this maner himselfe encamped on the West side of the towne on the banks of the Mase on which a bridge was made of two hundred and thirtie paces in lenght Count William lay on the South side of the towne and the English vnder Generall Vere on the West side where another bridge was likewise made ouer the riuer whither diuers boats came presently forth of Holland loden with victualls and all other necessaries for a siege In the meane time newes was brought that the Admerall of Arragon had broken vp his campe at Thynen and was comming with 20000 horse and foot into the Countrie of Liege and from thence to Ruremond and Venlo with an intent by one means or other to releeue the Graue Whereupon his Excellencie spent some time in fortifying his campe abroad especially on that side where it was most likely the enemie would come And the whole circuit of the campe round about the Towne on both sides the Mase partly by reason of the Marshes and partly to enclose certaine high and eminent places which were not fit to be left abroad least the enemie should seaze on them and thereby giue some aduantage was wholly intrenched and fortified with Skonces and Pallisadoes Batteries were likewise made vpon the principall wayes where ordnance was planted Certaine engins were likewise directed to giue signals by fire that the quarters might in the night aduertise one another if any alarme should be giuen All the time from the sixe and twentieth of Iulie till the 3 of August was spent in these fortifications and works which were verie great and many But then in the Euening the musters being taken and certaine wagons and horse for draught sent away they began to make their approches The Admerall in the meane time tarried neere Venlo making shew as if he meant to crosse the Mase to goe to besiege Rhynberck thereby to draw his Excellencie from the Graue who in time preuented him sending his cousen Count Ernest of Nassau with sixteene foot companies thither The Admerall hauing notice hereof departed from Venlo and by easie journeys came on slowly putting men into the towne of Gennep which belonged to the Duke of Cleues The tenth of Iulie he lodged at great Lynden within halfe an houres journey of his Excellencies quarter and there encamped drawing his Campe forth in length as farre as the Mase where he made a bridge and Heumen Castle which he tooke and fortified intrenching his campe before and planting diuers canons The Garrison of Graue had at times made sallies vpon the approches but verie slowly at first yet after they perceiued succours they came forth with greater furie as on the thirteenth day in the morning by day breake hauing first made some signall by fire so as it was thought that the enemie would haue assailed the campe but nothing was done whereupon the enemie was beaten back into the towne with great losâ—e and with little or none at all on our side The fifteenth day the enemie did againe make shew to assaile our campe whereupon the towne garrison made a furious sallie vpon the English Quarter and was againe beaten back in this skirmish wee lost an English Captain In the meane time the enemies souldiers namely the Italians did in great troopes come and yeeld themselues to his Excellencie in regard of the great want and misery they endured and told him that the Admerall approched with his ordnance neere to his Excellencies Quarter on which he meant continually to shoot and thereby enforce him to dislodge vpon this aduertisement diuers fortifications were made whereby this mischiefe was preuented The twentieth day at night the enemie made some shot from a far off both vpon the bridge ouer the Mase and into his Excellencies Quarter hurting two or three men and within a while after he began to dislodge his troopes who caried ladders spades mattocks and other preparations with them comming downe to our trenches betwixt two skonces which stood in the middest betwixt his
victualers After that Admeral Heemskerck had taken order for all things necessarie for the fleet on the nine twentieth day they departed all together from Wight but the Admeral with fiue ships at his going forth beeing carried away with the Tyde ranne on ground so as they were enforced to tarrie there one Tyde the weather beeing faire and Sea calme the Vice-Admerall passed onward with the rest of the fleet and told the Admerall that hee would tarrie for him at Plimmouth At floud the Admerall began to float and come off being followed by the other ships and two dayes after arriued in the Hauen of Plimmouth where he would not stay but shot off a warning piece to cause the rest to follow him which was done The whole fleet being together they went with a Westerlie wind towards the coasts of Portugal and Spaine so as on the tenth of Aprill they came to the height of nine and thirtie degrees neere to the riuer of Lisbone The Admerall assembled his Councell of warre nad concluded to carrie the whole fleet into the Riuer to take and destroy all the Caracks and gallions that lay there But the Admerall hauing true intelligence by certaine spies whom he had sent before with a small English ship towards Lisbone that most of the Caracks were alreadie gone from thence and those that were there to the number of eight or nine not readie and all their ordnance on shore vnderstanding likewise by certaine French and English which came from S. Lucars Cales that 16 gallions were alreadie gone thence for the West-Indies and that ten of them were yet in the streit of Gybraltar with certaine other men of war waiting for the low-countrieships which were to comeforth of the streit for they knew that many of them were readie to come therupon the Admerall changed his former determination meaning to seeke out the said fleet in the streit and to that end bent his course to Seaward to get the height of Cape S. Vincent whither beeing come hee met with a ship of Flushing which on the 22 day came forth of the streit the master told the Admeral that in the night he had bin among the Spanish fleet but was cleared from it in the Morning which as he thought directed it course towards Cales for by a Westerly wind they were constrained to come forth of the streit The Admerall receiuing this intelligence held on his course and on the 24 of Aprill sayled neere the riuer of S. Lucars and bay of Cales but they could haere no newes of any ships for the Admerall was resolued to fight with them though they had beene in the riuer of S. Lucars or bay of Cales The euening of the same day he receiued certaine newes of the Spanish fleet by a French man who the same day came from the roade of Gibraltar who certified the Admerall of the fleets being there and of their number and order The same Euening because the wind was Easterly hee bent his course to the the Southward towards the coasts of Barbarie and from thence hee turned towards the coasts of Spaine Comming into the Streit the Admerall called his Captains aboord and acquainted the Councel of war with that which the Frenchman had told him giuing order for all things necessarie and at last couragiously resolued to assaile and destroy the Spanish fleet and thereupon gaue this direction that himselfe with Captaine Moye Lambert would boord the Spanish Admerall the vice-Admerall Alteras and Captaine Bras were appointed to boord the vice-Admerall and so the other ships two together should set vpon the other gallions The two Brigantines with the Barke were commaunded to passe vp and downe thorow the fleet that if any gallions or ships would attempt to escape they should stop their passage and fight with them but the victuallers were to keepe a loofe off and not to come neere the fight This done hee exhorted all the Captaines to beare themselues valiantly to purchase honor telling them that himselfe would be the first should lead them the way whereupon they all promised and swore to follow him though it should cost them their liues and then euery man returned to his ship About noone they descried the enemie in the bay before the towne of Gibraltar lying in the roade vnder couert of the Castle and townes ordnance to the number of two and twentie vessels videlicet nine great and mightie gallions and foure men of warre beside a great ship of Lubeck of foure hundred tunne called the spotted Cow that lay in the roade tarrying for a wind to go to Cales there were moreouer 4 French ships and three which they had taken viz. 2 of Enchuysen and one of Rotterdam whose Mr. called Gouert English was prisoner aboord the Spanish Admeral They had manned all these ships with souldiers against the comming of our fleet For the Duke of Lucars hauing intelligence of our arriuall and passage before S. Lucars and Cales did presently dispatch a post to Gibraltar to warne the Spaniards of our approach the like he did to those of Calsi whereupon they had strengthened their fleet with three hundred souldiers among whom were one hundred Cauallieros that came voluntarily to doe seruice to the Admerall who had seuen hundred men in his ship and the Vice-Admerall foure hundred and fiftie The other gallions were well stored with ordnance and in each of them two hundred and fiftie men at least beside the mariners the first great gallion was called S. Augustin and in her was the Admerall of the whole fleet called D. Iuan Alvares d'Avilas borne at Estâ—rgas an old and experienced Captaine who had a long time serued the King of Spaine at Sea in the time of D. Iohn of Austria The Admerals sonne was Captaine of that gallion The second gallion wherein the Vice-Admerall commaunded was called our Ladie de la vega The third being the Rere-Admerall was termed The mother of God The fourth S. Anne The fifth oâ—r Ladie of the rule The sixth our Ladie of the conception The seuenth Saint Christopher The eighth our Ladie of sorrow The ninth Saint Nicholas The tenth our Ladie of Rosaries The eleuenth our Ladie of O. The twelfth S. Peter In a word they were well prouided of Saints but they did them smal good Our Admerall hauing descried the Spanish fleet giuen order for all matters and prayed vnto God for his ayd and assistance made directly towards them He displayed and made fast his ensigne with nailes because no man should take it downe and promised an hundred Reals to him that would bring him the ensigne of the Spanish Admerall exhorting his souldiers to doe their best protesting that whatsoeuer they could take from the enemie should bee their owne this did greatly animate them but especially the couragious valour of their Admerall so as they desired nothing more than to fight The Spanish Admerall descrying our fleet called for the Master of Rotterdam whom hee kept prisoner shewing him
hill but returned without any exploit one excepted which fell into the Spaniards hands who did cruelly cut him into foure quarters This inhuman crueltie incensed our men and caused them the same night to doe the like to a Spaniard The Admerall perceiuing the enemies great resistance caused fiue peeces of ordnance to be brought from the Castle which he had woone therewith to make a batterie and by Canon shot to enforce the Towne to yeeld Those of Allagona made a counter batterie attempting by their shot to driue their enemy thence and to enforce him to giue ouer his worke But our men did valiantly perseuer and in a short space planted the batterie notwithstanding that diuers of them were slaine by the townesmen and that night planted three Canon and shot fiue or six vollies into the Towne The 28 of Iune at night the 24 ensignes were embattailed 15 in front and by day break euery man went to his appointed place making preparation to assault the towne the same day The two other peeces were likewise planted on the batterie foure to batter the North Castle and the fifth to play vpon the Falconets and presently began a furious batterie on all sides Foure did continually batter the Castle so as those of Allagona were much annoyed and were enforced to place wooll sacks and barrells full of stones vpon the Castle by that meanes to shadow themselues But this in steed of profiting did most annoy them for when the bullets touched the barrells of stones they scattered them abroad and slew as many as stood neere them So as by this means the Castle before noone was wholly ruyned and the enemies pride abated wherupon the Admerall presently sent foure companies vp to the hils to driue the enemy from those Falconets and to set fire on the Citie gates But they within it perceiuing the extreame danger and their enemies furious assault abandoned the Towne and Castle and with their wiues children money iewells and whatsoeuer they could carrie with them fled into the mountaines The Admerall perceiuing that the enemie fled from thence caused two ladders to be forthwith brought from a Church that stood without the towne the first was too short yet on the other himselfe was the first man that mounted the walles and was courageously followed by his souldiers some ranne presently to the Castle where they found fiue brasse peeces and tooke downe the King of Spaines ensigne displaying that of his Excellencie The enemy had made a mine in the towne gate which as our men came before the walles was blowne vp of it selfe and did hurt to no man they had likewise scattered great store of gunpowder heere and there but our men did sier it And in this manner Allagona the chiefe of all the Canaries was by Gods fauour forcibly taken on the 28 of Iune about noone by foure and twentie Dutch ensignes after it had beene beseeged two dayes battered with Spanish ordnance and scaled with her owne ladders The Admerall hauing most of his men in the towne did againe embattaile them in a void place fifteen in front whither the foure Companies which he had sent along by the hill side to enter the towne came vnto him bringing with them a man of Flushing whom they had freed from prison The Admerall together with him and other Captaines went to the prison of Allagona where they found thirtie six prisoners whom they presently released The Spaniards had carried one English man and a Dutchman away with them into the mountaines who had already been committed to the holy house as they terme it and were condemned to be burnt Toward euening all the souldiers and mariners of the fleet came to the towne and sackt it certaine houses and goods excepted which the Admerall had seized on for his owne vse That night all the Captaines with their companies were lodged in houses apart and kept good gard euerie where for the enemie did often shew himselfe vpon the hills The 29 of Iune in the morning certaine mariners did rashely ascend the hills whom the enemie which was skilfull in the waies and passages surprized and for the most part slew Toward Euening 300 men marched toward the Castle on the South side of Allagona but so soone as the Spanish Garrison saw our men they presently fled to the mountaines In this Castle our men found three canon with other munition and it was manned with some few of our men In the night the Spaniards came secretly downe the hill surprized our centinell and slew him The last of Iune by day breake our men begun to ship the wines and other goods About noone fiue Spanish Captaines came to our centinells with a little flagge in signe of peace and were brought to the Admerall and after they had conferd with him were againe sent back to the mountaines The enemie often times sent in this manner onely to spie what we did whereupon the Admerall would no more speake with any that came but on the second of Iuly proclaimed by sound of Drum that euery centinell shold send back all such as came from the mountaines with flags of truce The first of Iuly a Sermon of thanksgiuing was made in the great Church of Allagona by a minister of the Reformed Religion by whom thankes was giuen to God for their victory obtayned earnestly beseeching him daily to increase it for the glorie of his holie name and benefit of his Church The same day the Admerall sent foure ships to Sea as well for other respects as to trie their good fortune and to lie in waite for certaine Spanish chants The second of Iuly the Admerall commanded that no man without leaue should attempt to goe vp into the mountaines because that the souldiers rash and vnaduised incursions had caused diuers of them to fall into the enemies hands After dinner one of our Brigantines tooke a small Spanish Fisher boat neere to the Island Forteuentura wherein were 7 men which were presently brought to the Admerall who imprisoned them The same night the rest of the goods were shipt and the third of Iuly by day breake our men carried away the Bells ordnance and munition which the enemie had left in the towne aboord their ships making all things in a readinesse for their speedy departure from the grand Canarie that they might put their other enterprises in execution The Admerall notwithstanding the great danger in the mountaines whether the enemie was fled had determined to assaile them and to take away those goods which they had carried thither To this end on the fourth of Iuly in the morning 2000 men marched vp towards the enemie and gaue him a furious charge but after some slight encounter the enemie retired farther vp into the hills into Caues and obscure places by rough and vnknowne waies and our men returned without any exploit and with losse of some 70 men The same day the Admerall did fire the Town of Allagona with all the Cloisters Churches and