the whole Fleet. THe whole fleet together was composed of twelue Gallions of Portugal in burthen seuen thousand seuen hundred thirtie seuen tunne carying foure thousand three hundred and thirtie souldiers 1233 mariners 400 canon with amunition of bullets powder and match Of 14 ships of Biscay commaunded by Iohn Martinez de Ricaldo these ships altogether were of the burthen of 6567 tunne and caried two thousand and fiftie souldiers nine hundred mariners and 270 canon Of 16 Gallions of Castille in burthen 8700 tunne carying two thousand fiue hundred and sixtie souldiers and foure hundred twentie canon Of eleuen ships of Andaluzia in burthen 8762 tun and in them two thousand fiue hundred twentie fiue souldiers 900 mariners 260 canon Of 14 ships of Guipuscoa in burthen 6991 tunne and in them two thousand one hundred and two souldiers 718 mariners 280 canon Of the Easterne fleet with tenne ships in burthen seuen thousand seuen hundred and fiue tunne carying 2900 soldiers 867 mariners and 310 canon Of the fleet of Vrcas 23 in number in burthen 10271 tunne and in them three thousand three hundred and twentie one souldiers 708 mariners and 400 canon Of 22 Pinnaces of Zabras in burthen 1221 tunne and in them three hundred seuentie sixe souldiers fiue hundred seuentie foure mariners and 110 canon Of foure Galleasses of Naples carrying 864 souldiers 500 mariners 200 canon Of foure Gallies which carried foure hundred souldiers and 20 canon In the foure Galleasses there were likewise 1200 Galley-slaues and in the foure Gallies 888 which together make vp the number of 2088 persons And beside the aboue mentioned powder there was beside if any daunger or necessitie should happen 600 quintals of powder So as in the whole fleet there was 130 ships viz. 65 Gallions or great ships 25 Vrcas of the burthen of 500 and 700 tun 19 Pinnaces of the burthen of 70 and 100 tun 13 Zabras with two of Portugal 4 Galleasles and as many Gallies of the burthen of 57868 tun and in them 19295 soldiers and 8450 mariners with 2630 Galley slaues and 2630 pieces of ordnance of all sorts among which were great and middle Culuerings and some great canons There was likewise 20 small vessels called Caruels for the seruice the fleet and tenne Faluas with sixe oares a piece There were in this fleet 124 voluntaries attended by foure hundred fiftie and sixe seruants bearing armes and 238 entertained by the King with 163 seruants There was 177 persons appointed to wait vpon the ordnance with two Ingeneers one phisition one Surgeon and thirtie seruants Fourescore and fiue both phisitions and Surgeons with 180 Churchmen all Dominicans Franciscans Flagellans or Iesuits The Colonell Regiments or Tertios payed by the King in this fleet with the number of men vnder euerie Regiment DOn Francisco de Bouadilla seruing the King as Campe-master generall The Regiment of Sicilie commanded by D. Diego Pimentell vnder whom were 24 Captaines The Regiment or Tertio commaunded by D. Francisco de Toledo vnder whom were 25 Captaines The Regiment of D. Alonzo Luzon vnder whom were 26 Captaines The Regiment of Yssa commaunded by D. Augustino Mexia vnder whom were 26 Captaines Diuers companies or free bands some of which were drawne from the troopes of Castille by D. Iuan de Guzman the others from Portugal by Gaspar Sossa Antonio Perira And those which are called the Suelti or new bands were conducted by the Duke of Sossa So that there were in the aboue mentioned Regiments or Tertios and in the Companies Suelti 171 Ensignes amounting to the number of 18973 souldiers with thirtie more to make vp the number of 19295 with diuers Ministers and officers both of justice and belonging to the Dukes Court to the number of 185 persons In a word the whole fleet consisted of 18937 footmen 8650 mariners 224 voluntaries with 455 seruants that were allowed and 238 other seruants on one part and 163 on an other 167 persons appointed to attend the canon 85 for the Hospitall or sick persons 180 Churchmen of all Orders 22 Gentlemen of the Dukes Court fiftie seruants seuenteene Superintendents Generall of the Armie one hundred seruants belonging to them and to the officers of justice so that in the whole Armie there were 28687 persons besides two thousand eight hundred and eight Gallie-slaues that tugd the oare in the Galleasses and Gallies Prouision of food and nourishment for the sayd Shippes THere was in it 11000 quintals of bisket allowing halfe a quintall monethly to euerie man which proportion would last for sixe moneths foureteen thousand one hundred and seuentie pieces of wine for sixe moneths 6500 quintals of bacon for sixe moneths three thousand foure hundred thirtie three quintals of Cheese eight thousand quintals of all sorts of dryed fish three quintals of Ryce beanes and pease for sixe moneths 11398 jarres of Oyle sufficient for sixe moneths twentie three thousand eight hundred and seuentie jarres of vineger for 6 moneths with 11851 Pipes of water The sayd fleet was likewise furnished with diuers other things as with many tunnes of water spoones dishes woodden cups and other vessels to giue euerie man his allowance candle sticks lanternes okum and other matter fit to stop the shippes if the sea or enemies canon should endaunger them Great number of Leather sackes to keepe powder in linkes torches tallow candles to put in lanternes sackes of Fustian and Canuas woodden hoopes for the vessels eight thousand vessels to draw water and wine in fiue thousand payre of shooes which the Spanyards call Zapatos and eleuen thousand paire of other shooes which they terme Alpargates There was likewise all necessarie prouision for the ordnance at Sea with other necessaries as wheeles for carriages if the canon should happen to be laden with other engines for the easier vnshipping thereof there was likewise store of Banderols and Ensignes with the Kings Armes in them and the portraits of Christ and the Virgin Marie There was seuen thousand Harquebuses a crock with all things belonging vnto them 1000 muskets 10000 launces 1000 partisans and Halberds 6000 short launces or halfe pikes Beside prouision of spades shouels and pickaxes with other tooles for seuen hundred pioners Printed at Lisbone the 20 of May anno 1588. Hauing thus far made a large description of this mightie Spanish Armada wee will for the better strengthening thereof adde therunto the Dukes of Parmas fleet or armie which he had prepared in the Low countries both in the Hauens of Dunkirke Grauelin Sluce and other places which he intended to haue joyned with the Spanish fleet for the better execution of the King of Spaines resolution and designe The Duke of Parma with many thousands of men had caused great and deepe channels to be digd in Flanders as the channell called Iperlee the better to conuey certaine boats from Autuerpe by Gant to Bruges where he had prouided more than an hundred boates called Heudes which he laded with victuals and munition supposing to
likewise taken in Scotland that small aide should be giuen them there and that Norway could yeeld them but bad assistance they tooke certaine fisher boats in Scotland and carried away the men to serue them for pilots and fearing to want water they threw all their horse and mules into the Sea so sayling with a faire wind they passed on betwixt the Orcades the farthest part of Scotland landing in no place bent their course Northward to the height of 62 degrees still keeping 80 leagues from land There the Duke of Medina the Generall gaue commaundement that euerie ship should direct her course towards Biscay and himselfe with twentie or fiue and twentie of the best ships prouided with all necessaries sayled more to Sea ward and so arriued in Spaine but the others to the number of fortie saile or more with the Vice-Admirall bent their course towards Ireland hoping there to take in water and to refresh themselues But the God of Armies who abateth the pride of great ones raiseth vp the humble and hath all authoritie ouer his creatures who commaundeth the Seas windes and tempests caused the Sea to swell and a terrible tempest to arise on the first of September from the South-West which dispersed them for the most part into sundrie places of Ireland where many of them perished and among others the Gallion of Michaell of Oquendo one of the great Galleasses two great Venetian Argozies the Ratta and the Balanrara with diuers others to the number of 38 saile and all their men Some of them with a Westerlie wind came againe into the English Seas some others into England and other some were taken by the Rochellers One great Galleasse the tempest carried into Fraunce to Newhauen where they found ships full of women who had followed the fleet There remained two likewise in Norwey but the men escaped To conclude of one hundred foure and thirtie saile that came from Spaine some three and fiftie of all sorts returned home to wit of foure Galleasses and as many Gallies there returned of each one of ninetie one great Gallions eight and fiftie were lost and thirtie three returned of Pinnaces seuenteene were lost and eighteene returned So that in all fourescore and one Galleasses Gallies and other Ships great and small perished Two of those Gallions that returned home lying in the Hauen were by casualtie set on fire and burnt and others since then met with the like mischiefe Of 30000 men that were in the fleet the greatest part of them were slaine or drowned and most of those that returned home died by reason of the miseries they had indured The Duke of Medina Sydonia being a braue Lord and well experienced vpon whom they had imposed that burthen much against his will laid the fault vpon his Pilots and on want of the Duke of Parmas forces which were not readie He was suffered to goe home to his own house but not to come to Court where it was thought he had much to doe to purge him selfe from the calumnious accusation of his enemies Many other noble men died soone after as D. Iuan Martines de Ricaldo D. Diego de Valdez Michel Oquendo D. Alonso de Lieua D. Diego de Maldonado D. Francisco Bouadillo D. Georgio Manriques all of the Councell of warre Diuers were drowned as among other Thomas Perenot of Granuell of Cauteroy nephew to Cardinall Granuell D. Diego Pimentel Campe-master and Colonell of thirtie two Ensignes remayned prisoner in Zeland with diuers others taken in the same ship D. Pedro Valdez a man much respected in his Countrie was prisoner in England with D. Vasco de Sylua and D. Alonzo de Sayas Many Gentlemen were drowned in Ireland and many slaine by the Irish. Sir Richard Bingham Gouernour of Conach had receiued two hundred of them to mercie but vnderstanding that a troope of 800 of them were landed and in armes he thought it fit for his owne better safety to kill the 200 of whom some escaping carried tidings to the 800 who were likewise going to craue mercie as they sayd but thereby despairing they returned and made readie an old decayed vessell in which they put to Sea where they were all drowned and many Gentlemen with them Yet D. Alonso de Luson Colonel of thirtie two ensignes of the Tertios of Naples with D. Rodrigo de Lasso and two noble men of the house of Corduba were from thence sent into England who were deliuered to Sir Horace Paluicin by them to set the Lord Odet of Teligin at libertie who had beene taken nere to Antuepe and lay in prison in the Castle of Tournay In a word therere was no noble house in Spain which in this fleet lost not either a son brother or kinsman There were aboue 1200 souldiers and mariners prisoners in sundrie places in England with 30 Gentlemen and commaunders whom the Queene released for meane ransome Those ships which escaped from the English and Hollanders and from the Irish rockes and tempests of the Ocean being few in number did after much labour miserie and daunger returne into Spaine leauing behind them as hath beene alreadie sayd so many ships of sundrie sorts so many Lords of note Gentlemen braue souldiers good mariners and others such store of ordnance and warlike munition money plate jewels and other wealth which if it should be seuerally reckoned would amount to an incredible summe of money But by how much this fleet was great strong and potent by so much more likewise was the victorie great and greater occasions haue these two countries to be thankefull to that great and inuincible God to honor and serue him all the dayes of their life for preseruing and defending them from so great daunger In this regard the Queene of England and my Lords the States of the vnited Prouinces did whilest the fleet houered vpon their coasts appoint sundrie dayes of prayer and fasting beseeching God to turne away so great imminent danger from them and their countrie and not to looke vpon their sinnes which had deserued such a punishment but to aide and assist them for the glorie of his name and for or Iesus Christs sa ke seeing it was his owne cause which the Pope and King of Spaine sought to exterminat And because these praiers were made to Gods glorie and in praise of his inuincible power he therefore heard them and graunted their requests And a good while after the fleet was gone namely vpon the 19 of Nouember the Queene in England and my Lords the States in the Low-countries appointed a solemne day for thanksgiuing which was spent in preaching praying and hearing the word of God The Queene of England for so great a deliuerance made a Christian triumph in the citie of London and went with all the Lords and officers of her Kingdome in solemne manner vpon a triumphant Charriot from her Palace to the Cathedrall Church of Saint Paule where the Spanish ensignes and banners were hung vp The
his soldiers to another Corps du gard nere to the Castles great plat-forme where sixteene souldiers more made some resistance who were all slaine This done and a signall giuen Count Hohenlo two houres after came to the Castle with his Excellencies vangard but because the vttermost gate of the Castle could not be opened by reason of the yce his suoldiers entred nere to the Sluce by breaking down a pallisado Hohenlo being entred young Lansauecia made an accord with him to go his way himself soldiers with their liues Within a while after Prince Maurice and his souldiers both horse and foot arriued and with him the Earles Philip of Nassau and Solms Sir Fraucis Veer who commanded the English the Admiral Iustinus of Nassau the Lords of Famas Verdoes and other Captaines And as Count Hohenlo had exhorted the Burghers to returne to the obedience of their auncient Lord and Prince Maurice had giuen order to enter the towne at two gates they sent a drumme who craued leaue that some of the Burgomasters might come and parley who in lesse than an houres space made an accord that the Burghers should redeeme themselues from spoile by paying two moneths wages to the souldiers the summe amounting to 97074 florins In this manner their armes being throwne downe Prince Maurice sent the Lord Vander-Noot Captaine of his gard to seaze vpon the State-house and other places The same night that the first alarme was giuen in the Castle the Marquis of Guasto his horse companie and fiue other ensignes of Italians being affrighted did in disorder breake downe a gate and basely fled forth of the towne notwithstanding that the Burghers who feared the spoile of their goods promised them all ayd and assistance if they would tarrie and defend it but in vaine This was a great disgrace to so noble a Nation which the Prince of Parma reuenged by reproaching the Spaniards some of whom he imprisoned and beheaded certaine captaines among others Caesar Guitra Iulio Gratiauo Guastos Lieutenant whose name was Turlantino and the corporall who had so slenderly searcht the boat The towne and castle of Breda were miraculously taken without any great losse of bloud one onely man being lost who by reason of the darkenesse fell into the water and was drowned of the garrison in the castle fortie were slaine For this victorie all the vnited prouinces and townes gaue publique thankes vnto God in their Churches made bonefires and in memorie thereof coyned pieces of gold siluer and copper with this superscription on the one side how that the towne of Breda had beene on the fourth of March 1590 freed from the Spanish bondage by the conduct of Prince Maurice of Nassau and on the other side was the Dike with the turfe boat which carried the souldiers with this circumscription Readie to win or die and then The reward of an inuincible courage Prince Maurice by the consent of my Lords the States gaue the gouernement of the Towne Castle and Countrie of Breda to captaine Herauguieres with ample commaund to Captaine Lambert Charles the office of Serjeant Major and to other particular Captains and soldiers some of the sayd pieces or medâ—ls in pure gold with sums of money with promise of aduauncement according to euerie mans qualitie and merit the shippers were likewise aduanced and well rewarded The towne was forthwith prouided for according to the Lord of Oldenbbarvelts direction with all kind of muniâ—ion and victuals from Holland for a yeare and a halfe and before ten dayes were expired foure hundred horse and twelue ensignes of foot were sent to lie in Garrison in the towne the Burghers were likewise diuided into fiue companies to keepe good watch And in this manner by Gods assistance the towne is till now preserued from the enemie ¶ Count Mansfelt batters and assaults the Fort of Nordam and is brauely beaten thence on the 14 of May 1590. THe Duke of Parma perceiuing that his Excellencie of Nassau had by a cunning surprisall taken the Towne of Breda from him did for auoyding a greater mischiefe before March was expired said Count Charles of Mansfelt with 40000 men towards Breda to hinder their incursions and secure the Countrie who presently seazed on all the places round about it as Oosterhout Tering and other townes wherein he placed souldiers hee likewise tooke Seuenberghen and other towns where he vsed great crueltie At Terheyden which is a village betwixt Seuenberghen and Breda seated on a little riuer called the Mercke he caused a great Fort to be built with a bridge ouer the riuer thereby to keep victuals from Breda and lay there encamped till the worke was ended thinking thereby to oppresse Breda In May following he besiged the fort of Nordam which my lords the States hold nere to Seuenberghen seated nere the water commaunded by Captaine Mathew Helt who was in the Turfe boat at the taking of Breda And the thirteenth and foureteenth of May the sayd Count Mansfelt battered it with seuen canon made 1200 shot vpon it and gaue a furious assault They did likewise at ful Sea bring a great barke before the Fort mand with good musketiers to anoy the defendants they had bridges likewise wheron to martch to the assault They twice assaulted it and were still repulsed with the losse of two Italian Captaines the one named Horacio Fontano of Modena and the other Giouan Francisco Pageno a Neapolitan with diuers others of name and marke Six or seauen hundred of the enemie died there for by often shooting they fired the barke and as many as were in her were burnt whereupon they were enforced to retire to the great commendation of Captaine Mathew Helt who thereby purchased much honour The vnited Prouinces in the meane time had sent a small Armie into the field vnder the conduct of Prince Maurice and Count Hohenlo with which in May they went to a place called Ouer-Betuwe or High-Betuwe encamping right ouer against NimmegueÌ„ where they built a strong Fort on the banke of the Riuer Waell the better to auoy the Towne they did it likewise to diuert Count Mansfelt from Nordam and to draw him forth of Brabant But Mansfelt not thinking himselfe stong enough came nere to Nimmeguen and hauing intelligence that Prince Maurice his forces began to make a Fort on the further side of the Waell nere to the State-house he marched towards them with his canon beating them thence and ouerthrew the worke new begun an afterwards the better to prouide his armie of victuals he went and encamped on the Mase in the Land of Cuyck So as Prince Maurice tarried there all the Summer to finish his Fort in view danger of the canon of Nimmeguen which with the help of Count Mansfelt plaid furiously vpon the towne Notwithstanding all these difficulties the Fort was made defensiue towards the later end of Iulie and was called Knodsenbourg or Maces-bourg in disdaine of those of Nimmeguen called Knodsendrages which
Charles Vander Noot was gouernor there The Generall States of the vnited Prouinces hauing intelligence of the siege of Ostend sent Colonell Huchtenbrock thither with ten companies and entreated generall Vere to go thither with three thousand men which were expected from England but hee made some difficultie therein beeing laoth to goe without his owne regiment and that of his brother whereupon on the eight of Iulie eight companies were sent vnto him and on the fourteenth of the same twelue other companies which had been at the campe before Berck making vp in all one and twentie companies among whom were six English Generall Vere came thither on the fifteenth of Iuly by night and the next day all sort of munition were brought thither by the Lord of Warmont in despite of the enemies canon the report where of was heard into England for the besieged made counter batteries and often brake the enemies ordnance and dismounted it whereupon two double canon and foure demys were sent to them The fifteenth of Iulie two of the Queene of Englands Ships arriued there with new supplies of souldiers Two daies before Generall Veer his arriuall the besieged had made a furious sallie vpon the enemies in their trenches killing many of them to the number of fiue or sixe hundred who were not well intrenched D. Augustino de Mexia was hurt there and D. Hieronimo de Monroy the Campe-Master was slaine in his Tent the besieged lost some 30 men At the same time or thereabout D. Diego d'Idiaques and D. Iuan Bracamonte Nephew to Count Fuentes D. Pedro de Lojas sonne to the Marquesse de Lojas who brought newes of the Kings daughters birth with diuers others were likewise slaine Sir Frauncis Veer being in the towne as chiefe commaunder gaue direction for all matters diuiding the Dutch companies into two regiments vnder the conduct of the gouernour Vander-Noot and Colonel Huchtenbroecke who commaunded in the old towne The seuenteenth and twentieth of Iulie Generall Veer hauing store of men seazed on a piece of land that lay Southward which he fortified and entrenched placing strong gards in the counterscarpes and forts neere adjoyning The two and twentieth of Iulie the enemies canon did so commaund the Hauen as no boats durst enter but the fiue and twentieth of Iulie the gouernour and the Ingeneer Master Dauid of Orleans with other old and experimented mariners found that the gullet would serue to bring in boats by opening a causey or rampier of the counterscarpe that the sayd boats might lye safe in the towne dikes But the Archduke caused boats to be laden with stones at Niewport and elsewhere which he sanke within and neere the gullet to choake it vp but all the labor was to no purpose Those of Ostend made many curtains to secure their men from the canon they likewise filled the fortifications which were made in the Sea with stakes and crosse beames full of stones the better to diuert the Sea waues from the Towne By this meanes the workes and counterscarpes abroad were fortified like the rampiers of other strong townes being garded with rauelins halfe Moons and forts so as the enemie could not bring his ordnance neere the towne to make a batterie or come to the assault they did moreouer secure the going out and in of the boats so as the vnited Prouinces were encouraged to defend the towne sending thither daily all manner of stuffe and workmen to make it more strong therein sparing for no cost The enemies could by no meanes come neerer the town than by the West side along the downes from whence they fiercely battered it and especially the Sand hill This Sand hill was a Bulwarke of double works one vpon an other hauing round about it sundrie rankes of Pallisadoes from the bottome to the verrie toppe all made of fagotts laide one vpon an other with other Bulwarks neere adioyning for it was made to defend the West side which was the weakest part of the towne together with the hauen on that side This Sand hill was so battered with the canon as it seemed like an yron hill for they shot bullet vpon bullet which strake vpon one an other and sometimes rebounded backe againe Neere to the Sand hill was a causey opposite to the sea extending it selfe as farre as the downes where the enemy lay This causey was defended by a halfe moone and by pallizadoes and the Porcuspine by a verie strong fort which the Archduke caused to bee vndermined the better thereby to approach the towne In that regard the besieged on the fifteenth of Iuly perced the said causey behinde their halfe moone and armed the point of it with planks and fagots against the force of the Sea waues and yet they feared that the same opening would haue done more hurt to the Bulwarkes and other workes than it did this onely enforced the enemy by reason of the water to quit sundrie forts By this meanes the towne became like vnto an Island wholy enuironed with the Ocean Sea beeing diuided the breadth of one hundred foot from the firme land and from the enemy who was in great hope that the Sea the causey being perced would doe more hurt to the towne in winter The vnited Prouinces on the contrarie were assured that God by that meanes would preserue and keepe the towne so as they for their parts vsed all diligence to secure it and at Generall Veres entreatie sent three and twentie foot ensignes more thither after the taking of Rhynberck vnder conduct of Earle Chastillon notwithstanding that there were alreadie nine and fiftie ensignes in the towne beside those who were daily sent from England whose number amounted to 2000 men The enemy shot continually into the towne more than euer into any that was besieged so as many men were dayly slaine The vnited Prouinces in September sent thither in lesse than fifteene daies vnder conduct of the Lord of Warmont Admerall of Holland who with his men of warre garded the Seas one hundred threescore and ten boats laden with all sorts of victuals wine beere bread turfe and fire wood for winter not reckoning fiue hundred and fiftie barrells of powder which were there before the siege the said one hundred threescore and ten boats did likewise bring three hundred seuentie three thousand pound weight of fine and course biscuit seuentie seuen thousand weight of match ninetie eight thousand poundes of musket and harquebuse shot with fifteene thousand yron bullets and all maner of prouision necessarie for defence of the towne so as victuals were so plentifull and cheape there as a pot of wine was solde for a groat and the best for six pence and a tunne of Delfts beere for fiue florins By this meanes the siege of Ostend grew so famous as people came from all parts to behold the besiegers and besieged The Inhabitants of Zealand did for curiositie sake goe boldly thither with their wiues and children All manner of victuals were better
subdued and by what meanes they fell to the Crowne of Spaine is not certainly knowne this only cannot be denied that Forteuentura Fero Lancerotta and Gomera were the first that were taken and the Grand Canarie Palma Tenerifa were long after that Pagans The valour and crueltie of these Islanders their discommodious hauens and dangerous sea coasts caused them so long to hold out against the Christians whom they haue often repulsed with great losse The Fleet directed it course towards the Canaries forcibly to inuade the Grand Canarie and Gomera according to the appointment of my Lords the States The Admerall sent for al the Captains Commanders Pilots to consult with them about the commodities of the said Islands He likewise distributed the Marriners vnder new Captains 130 men vnder euery Ensigne gaue order for all things instructing the captains how to behaue themselues on shoare And because the fleet did daily approach the line comming to the hottest part of the world where too much eating and drinking is very dangerous causing sundry diseases and commonly death the Admerall did verie descreetly moderate his souldiers diet commanding euerie man strictly to obserue it He likewise sent for all the land and sea Captaines to aduise him in what manner to assaile the enemie and towne The 24 of Iune the wind was still North-North-West they went South-South-East so as toward euening they descried Lancerotta and bending their course thither-ward they went East to the South-ward The 25 of Iune in the morning they came neere to Lancerotta and Forteuentura which they might descrie and after noone they doubled it going towards the South-East along the Westerne coasts and about Euening descried the grand Canarie whereupon they struck saile and tarried till the second watch then did againe set forward directing their course Eastward toward the grand Canaries which stands in the height of 28 degrees on the hither side of the line and 155 German leagues to the South East towards the South of Saint Vincents Cape in Portugal being in compasse 260000 paces amounting in all to 26 German leagues On the East side of this Island stands a small town called Allagona wherein are aboue foure hundred houses It is the chiefe Towne of all the Canaries and there the Iudges Courts both Ecclesiasticall and Ciuill with the Inquisitor of Spaine and the gouernor of the Islands for the King doe reside Through the Town runnes a small shallow riuulet which descends from the neighbour mountaines and emptieth it selfe into the sea is in no sort capable of shipping The hauen of the grand Canarie lies foure hundred paces towards the North-North-East of Allagona and is of an indifferent breadth and depth For defence of this Hauen the King of Spaine had caused a strong Castle to be built called Gratiosa All the forts of the grand Canarie were prouided of strong Garrisons munition and other necessaries The 26 of Iune the fleet with a North-East wind entred the Hauen of the grand Canarie and all of them together came to an anker beneath the Castle Gratiosa Thereupon the Spanish Gouernor came with seuen Spanish Companies to the Sea side placing gards vpon the hauen planting three small peeces of ordnance behind certaine bankes to hinder his enemies landing vpon the fleets arriuall the Gastle Gratiosa playd furiously vpon it but the Admerall vice-Admerall and those ships which carried the biggest ordnance drew neere the Castle and requited it with the like Two Spanish ships rode neere the Castle one of which was sunke and the other together with a small barke was brought to the fleet By this meanes the Castle was much weakened and those within it began to be discouraged leauing off their furious shooting notwithstanding that they had alreadie torne some ships and slaine certaine mariners Thereupon the Admerall did presently man his boats and landed his men those ships that could not reach the Castle bent their ordnance vpon the shoar driuing the enemie thence These boats rowed altogether to land-ward where for a while they fought with the enemie The Admerall perceiuing that the enemies would not remoue and that the water was shallow leaped vp to the middle in the Sea and with his men marched brauely against them By this means the Spanish troupes after some slight fight were beaten from the shoar flying towards Allagona together with the Kings Gouernor who lost his leg many were hurt and some 36 of them slaine Of our men the Admerall at his first landing was hurt in the legge with a pike and was in great danger but he was rescued by one of his souldiers who brauely slew the Spaniard that had hurt him The Admeralls Lieutenant Generall was shot into the throat and another Captaine in the head and beside these some 20 souldiers were slaine and wounded The Admerall hauing woon the shoar sent all the boats back againe to the ships to fetch more men to the number of 24 Ensignes which were diuided into seuen troups and marched in order of battaile 21 in front Those in the Castle kept themselues quiet discharging no one shot after our men were landed making signes as if they intended to yeeld which the Admerall vnderstanding went thither with certain Captains and souldiers and at his arriuall without any capitulation at all they yeelded on discretion There were 138 men in the Castle many had bin slaine and some fled thence there were likewise 9 cast peeces in it and 6 of yron with all sorts of munition These 138 men were brought prisoners into the ship which was taken 3 captains except whom the admeral kept nere him to be by them instructed concerning the affairs of the Countrey In this manner Graciosa the strongest Castle not onely of Grand Canarie but of al the other Islands was easily taken which was presently manned with 80 souldiers who threw downe the King of Spaines ensignes and displaied that of Prince Maurice Two Moores were at the same time brought to the Admerall which were taken in the mountaines who because they were found sleeping could giue no certaine aduertisement In the night 24 ensignes went towards Allagona where they diuided themselues into foure troups the first placed themselues beneath the towne the second vnder the neighbour mountaines the third vpon the shoare and the fourth made the rereward These foure troupes stood all night imbattailed and the 27 of Iune by day breake they came all together before Allagona But the townesmen defended themselues and shot fiercely from the Castle which stands on the North side not without some losse on our part Thereupon our men retired behind the neighbour hills where they began to intrench themselues and by that means secured themselues from the Canon Those of Allagona perceiuing our men to be intrenched brought six small Falconets vpon the hills which they charged with woodden bullets and did vs much harme because they had so well planted their peeces Tenne or twelue of our men went vp the
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
much hurt done to the enemie forces as also because during this siege they haue wonne from the Archduke the townes of Rhynberck Graue and Sluce each of which is as much worth and as commodious for these countries as Ostend euer was or could haue beene On the other side seeing this siege was so notable as wee neuer read of the like and that the honour of our gallant Captaines and souldiers in defending it together with their braue exploits do manifestly therein appeare we should do them wrong to paste them ouer in silence Before we come to the description thereof we will first briefely speake of the situation of the towne and the duke of Parmas sundrie attemps vpon it and lastly what moued the Archduke to besiege it for it would be ouer tedious to set downe euerie daies actions there we will only touch the principall occurrences and whosoeuer is desirous to know more wee refer him to a Iournall that hath beene Printed thereof Ostend not long since was a small contemptible towne fortified at first against the enemies incursions with woodden gates and Pallisadoes sixe yeares after videlicet in an 1572 the States of the vnited Prouinces hauing wel considered the scituation and commodiousnesse thereof caused it to be so strongly fortified as the duke of Parma by reason of alteration in the gouernement hauing woon the townes of Dunkerke and Niewport comming before Ostend could not take it for considering with himselfe that he should lose much and winne little by tarrying there after some 5 dayes lying before it he departed thence in anno 1583. Since that time Ostend continuing vnder the States gouernement they haue omitted nothing necessarie for the fortifying and assurance thereof and in anno 1600 it was so well fenced not onely within by renewing and heighthening the bulwarkes and rampiers but likewise without by new dikes and counterscarpes as we may rightly number it among the most impregnable places of Europe for the rampiers within were verie high and diuided by a deepe ditch from the counterscarpes without which tooke all hope from the enemie of being able to force or hold them Beside it seemeth that Nature by this Towne was willing to shew the world some raritie for within these few yeares the Sea hath made it more impregnable than before by a new rupture on the East-side of the towne which they terme the gullet it is in breadth aboue one hundred foot and within the land the depth of two pikes euen at low water and in the Sea where it takes it originall it is not halfe fathom deepe It cannot be denied but it hath euer had a Hauen but the old is not comparable to the new for the old Hauen euerie six houres at an ebbe leaues to that which encloseth the Towne a free accesse and meanes to fill it vp so as no boats can that way enter without great danger The generall States for the better defence of the towne hauing caused the sand hils on the East-side which are neere the Gullet whose height command it to be leuelled the sea at euery Tide doth so fill the leuelled place as the seemeth vnto mans judgement that no meanes can be found to take that Hauen from the towne for commonly at euerie Tide the Sea riseth so high as it extendes it selfe 1200 paces beyond the Towne and at full sea a league into the countrie so as the whole land round about is filled with water together with many dikes and ruptures so that without great daunger a man can hardly passe In a word whatsoeuer might serue for the strengthning and assurance of a towne hath not beene omitted or spared for any cost whatsoeuer for Ostend stands so as it can keepe a great part of Flaunders euerie way vnder contribution whereupon the Flemings haue still gone about to make it theirs and since that the Prince of Parma was enforced to giue ouer his seige before it they haue by all meanes sought to surprise it on the sodaine or otherwise and among others La Motte gouernour of Flaunders in anno 1585 hauing along the sea shore surprised the old towne which was onely fortified with a Raueling and Pallisadoes attempted to fortifie and intrench himsefe there but hee was driuen thence with great losse of men among whom fortie of his Captaines were slaine Againe in anno 1596 after Archduke Albert had taken Calais the States of Flaunders did earnestly solicite him to imploy his forces in besieging Ostend and to that end promised to giue him beside the ordinarie allowance of three moneths three hundred thousand florins to which motion his Highnesse in part seemed to encline taking certaine summes of mony before hand yet hee onely shewed himselfe before the towne and hauing viewed it presently went thence This attempt beeing vaine and perceiuing that stratagems and sodaine surprisals made the souldiers of Ostend more vigilant they watched a time till the Archdukes armie enuaded the fontiers of Holland amusing the States of the vnited Prouinces thereby to diuert their forces from Flaunders and Brabant and then they built seuenteene or eighteene forts about the towne therein following the direction of a reuolted corporall who had a long time serued in Ostend knew what would most annoy them this they did to stop the incursions of those of Ostend and to cut off the contributions which they raised in the countrie But time and experience taught them that the intertainment of the Garrisons which they were to keepe in the said forts amounted to more than the contribution which the townesmen raised vpon the countrie and besides that the roades of them which lay in Gartison in the forts were more hurtfull than the contributions so as at last they were so earnest with the Archduke shewing him the necessitie of the matter and how hee ought to lay hold on that occasion his Excellencie lying then before Berck with diuers other reasons which they alledged as his highnesse was moued to enterprise and beginne this siege and to this end on the fift of Iuly 1â—01 hee sent Count Frederick Vanden Bergh thither as marshall of the Camp with foure regiments of souldiers who encamped on the downes Eastward from the towne and the next day plaied with foure canon vpon it to giue them notice of his arriuall and the same day after noone D. Augustino de Mexia gouernour of the castle of Antuerpe came thither with 5 regiments making vp the number of 8000 men and foure Cornets of horse who encamped on the West side of the town that hee might lie betwixt the forts of Isabella and Albert but those of the towne shot so at him as with losse he was enforced to retire to the downes from whence by little and little hee made his approches with entrenchments and so planted his canon In the towne were one and twentie camps of souldiers of sundry regiments and one companie of Burgers it was well stored with ordnance munition victuals and all necessaries the Lord
our ships asking whether he thought they durst bee so bold as to set vpon him The Master crauing his pardon answered that he thought they durst But the Spanish Admerall would not beleeue him because hee had the aduantage of vs lying vnder defence of the towne and castle as also because hee thought himselfe alone sufficient in his ship the S. Augustine to resist the whole fleet of Hollanders but the successe shewed the contrarie Yet perceiuing that our Admerall made directly towards him hee cut his cable for he was formost before all the ships and fell downe farther into the bay towards the towne so as then the vice-Admerall and three other gallions were before him Admerall Heemskerck perceiuing this did not for all that alter his course but passed on directly before the vice-Admerall and the other gallions which hee left on his left hand hee prepared his ankor and gaue commaundement it should not bee let slip till hee were aboord the Admerall and had stemd him So soone as hee came neere him the Spaniard first of all discharged one of his peeces which flue directly thorow one of our Admerals port holes and did no hurt but only tooke away one of the vpper crosse beames whereupon Admerall Heemskerck presently answered him with two peeces and then forthwith boorded him and let slip his ankor But the Spaniard making a second shot the bullet caried away a young man that was readie to discharge his musket and with all that cursed shot tooke off Admerall Heemskercks left leg and thigh whereupon that excellent souldier fell downe beeing armed from top to toe and the same bullet likewise caried away an other mans right hand who was giuing fire to a peece of ordnance Admerall Heemskerck perceiuing his death grew nigh encouraged and exhorted those that were neere him valiantly to pursue that which they had begun and to elect another in his place recommending his soule to God which were the last words hee spake and so like a gallant Captaine died in his armor In the meane time all the ordnance on our Admerals broad side plaid at once vpon the Spanish Admerall who presently made a volley of small shot vpon our men and was by them answered with the like the noice fire and smoake was so great as wee could neither heare nor see so as the losse of our Admerall was not knowne in our fleet till we had obtained the victorie Captaine Lambert according to the directions which were giuen him followed his Admerall saluting the Spaniard with two peeces from his fore Castle which bullets passed cleane thorow the Spanish Admerall and made great slaughter among the multitude of his men and with the rest of his ordnance made such hauock amongst them as it is impossible to set downe with what furie they fought on both sides for though our men were not halfe so many in number as the enemie yet were they as couragious as Lions and vsed all meanes to bee reuenged on the Spaniards for their tyrannie towards diuers of them this did so animate vs as wee made no doubt of the victorie At what time Admerall Heemskerck made toward the Spanish admerall he was followed by the whole fleet but Captaine Adrian Roest who came behind the Admerall and Captaine Lambert perceiuing that hee was one of the formost and that the vice-Admerall Lawrence Iacobs Alteras who was appointed to boord the vice-Admerall was ten or twelue ships behinde him himselfe alone with a manly courage boorded the vice-Admerall of Spaine This beeing perceiâ—ed by Captaine Simon Iansz of Edam and Captain Cornellis Madder surnamed the faire boore they presently followed him and all three of them so plied the Spanish vice-Admerall with great and smal shot as in lesse than halfe an houre they set her on fire Whilest our men fought wtih the vice-Admerall Captaine Pan likewise came vp to them one of whose men went aboord the vice-Admerall and brought away her Flag that hung in her fore-mast and in recompence thereof had fiftie Rials giuen him after the fight The Spanish vice-Apmerall beeing on fire our men did their best to cleere themselues from her but not without daunger for fire had alreadie taken hold on our ships and in a manner burnt all Captaine Roest Simon Iansz and Cornellis Madders sailes but at last with much to doe they quenched the fire This could not bee done in the Spanish vice-Admerall where euerie man sought meanes to saue himselfe so as shee was burnt downe even with the water her souldiers and mariners beeing some of them burnt and others leaping into the Sea many were drowned and others slain with musket shot and with the stroaks of pikes and swords Captaine Long Henry peceiuing that these trhee Captaines Roest Madder and Simon Iansz fought so brauely with the vice-Admerall assailed the next gallion which lay on the vice-Admerals right hand and with his ordnance plaid furiously vpon her Captaine Iacob Iansz of Edam and Captaine Gerart Euerts seconded him and boorded the said gallion After some fight Captaine Long Henry beeing oppressed with heate did put off his helmet to coole himselfe and was presently shot into the head whereof hee died Those that were in this gallion perceiuing the vice-Admerall to bee on fire and her flag to bee taken downe did presently hang forth an other on the top of their mast as vice-Admerall but it staid not long there for some of our men tooke it downe within a while after this gallion was likewise fired and burnt downe euen with the water The third gallion was boorded by Captaine Copdrayer and the pinnace of Frizland who in a short space sanke her Whilest wee were thus busied with the gallions the vice-Admerall Alteras came vp likewise and though hee boorded none yet hee plaid fiercely vpon them with his ordnance which was not done without some losse to our men The other Spanish ships which lay farther vp in the bay than did the Admerall shot furiously at our men and they at them at last one of those Spanish ships with often shooting did fire her powder and falling foule of one of her fellowes burnt it likewise which the other perceiuing did presently cut their cables and fell downe to land ward where they ran on ground seeking all meanes to escape Often shooting did likewise fire the other ships and with them that of Lubeck Peter William Verhoofe Captaine of our Admerall together with Captain Lambert were still fighting with the Spanish Admeral who at last gaue ouer shooting and hung forth a flag of truce but our men shot still In the meane time that gallion which Captaine Cleynsorgh fought with was likewise set on fire The Captaines Trumpeter did presently clime vp to the top and fetch downe the flag which had hung out longer than any of the rest for which according to the promise which Admerall Heemskerck had made he receiued 100 rials in recompence The Spanish Admerall beeing thus ouercome with losse of many of