Captaines was signified from the Admerall by shooting off a piece of ordnance and by displaying in the sterne two of the Princes ensignes The same night the fleet did againe set saile doubled the point of Zartenes there comming to an anchor expecting the Vice-Admeral of Amsterdam But all that night they could not descrie her so as in the Morning on the thirtieth of May they went forward with a Northwest wind shaping their course East-North-East and about Noone they came neere to Beuersier with a faire wind which did blow from West-North-West but towards night they were becalmed In the euening the formost ships tooke off some of their sailes tarrying for those that were hindmost The last of May by day breake they came in ken of the Isle of Wight directing their course Eastward with a Westerlie wind About Noone the ayre was cloudie so as the Fleet durst not approach the shoare but lessened their sailes putting to Sea The first of Iune in the Morning they descried Gausteert directing their course towards Plimmouth and there stayed tarriing for the two Brigantines they had sent abroad who whithin a while after came to the Admerall whereupon another martiall Councell was held after which the fleet with full saile shaped their course South-South-East but towards Euening the ayre began againe to be cloudie and the night was verie calme The ninth by day breake the whole fleet came vpon the coast of Galicia neere to Viuero and holding their course North-East to the Northward and North-North-East towards Euening they came right ouer against the Cape Ortegall which lyeth some 11 German leagues from the Groyne In the night the wind â—urnd North-East and by North and being come to the height of 44 degrees 24 minutes the said Cape stood off from them 5 leagues South-East to the Southward The tenth of Iune they set saile with a South-West wind towards East-South-East along the shoare towards the Groyne which they descried about Noone making all things readie to assaile it It is a Sea towne in Galicia standing in the height of 43 degrees and twelue minutes on the North-side of the line opposit to England and Ireland one hundred and fifteene German leagues from Plimmouth being seated on a triangular Cape in a deepe and spacious Bay where not onely the sayd Towne hath a goodlie Hauen but Ferol Ponta de Mas Pitança and Fontuna haue the goodliest and most commodious Ports of Christendome In which regard the king of Spaine had lately fortified it with many Castles and there and at Ferol he rigd his fleet for England Ireland and the Netherlands together with that of this present yeare In some sort to hinder the preparation of that Spanish Fleet and there to destroy the King of Spaines ships and meanes the Admerall Vander-Does was commaunded to assaile the Groyne with his fleet To this end on the eleuenth of Iune the wind being North-West to the Westward the six aboue mentioned ships went before towards the Groyne to see how things were there ordered directing their course South-South-East towards the Cape de Prior where they stayed to the Southward of the Towne Those of Ferol descrying these ships sent forth two shalops to know what they were because the day before they had seene the fleet at Sea These ships went before the wind to attend these shalops which suspecting somewhat kept aloofe off and would not come neere but our men cried out aloud saying that they came from Hambourg and that they were loaden with marchants goods and onely wanted a pilot to carrie them into the Groyne By this means our men got one of the shalops to come aboord and tooke a Spaniard but those that were in it made all the hast they could to escape The Spaniard whome they had taken prisoner was one of the Kings seruants and was come the same day from the Groyne He being brought to the Admerall told him that some 4000 foot certain horse with 36 carts of siluer readie coyned 300 pipes of wine were come to the Groyn to furnish the future Spanish fleet After dinner the whole fleet came before the Groyne where they met with the Vice-Admerall of Amsterdam The Groyne and the aboue mentioned Castles were well prouided of strong garisons ordinance munition and other necessaries hauing a long time before had intelligence of the comming of this fleet by Hispaniolized French and Dutch The Admerall Vander-Does at his first ariual did presently with all his ships fall beneath the towne casting anker at 13 12 and 21 fathom Those in the towne and Castles plaid furiously with their ordnance vpon our men so as in a short space they made more than 200 shot Beneath the towne 12 great Gallions lay with certaine other French ships which likewise discharged their ordnance vpon vs yet their shot did no hurt to our fleet onely one vessell was spoiled The Admerall perceiuing such resistance sent for all the Captaines and Officers to come aboord his ship to consult together how they might best assaile the enemie yet in regard the Citie was so well prouided they thought it not fit to hazard the whole fleet or for one town to lose their good fortune in atchiuement of other enterprises And therefore the fleet went thence not medling with the towne and because it was verie calme weather they caused their boats to towe their ships lying still open to the shot both from the towne and castle which did them no harme Toward euening the wind rose so as the whole fleet was vnder saile holding their course South-South-east towards Cape Saint Vincent that they might on a sodaine surprise Saint Lucas Saint Lucas is a towne in Andaluzia on the Southern coasts of Spaine at the mouth of the Riuer of Seuill in the height of 39 degrees 40 minutes but the Admerall Vander-Does being already gon beyond S. Lucas left off that enterprise because the time was to far spent the wind stood faire for the Canaries making preparation to inuade those Islands which are in number 7 viz. the graund Canarie Palma Tenerifa Forteuentura Fero Gomera and Lancerotta They are not far one from another and are seated betwixt 27 and 30 degrees from the line they are all called Canaries after the name of the fertilest of them heretofore called Canarie and now the Grand Canarie These Islands by ancient writers were in former times termed the fortunate Islands in regard of the aboundance of all necessaries and fruitfulnesse of the soile producing all things fit for the sustenance of mans life but especially the grand Canarie Palma and Tenerifa which do not onely produce all necessaries in aboundance but likewise sugars wine and oile and such like commodities wherewith they store Europe and other Countries These Islands haue been a long time subiect to the Spaniards who now remaine there and are not inhabited by their auncient inhabitants who now are all rooted out But by whom and how they were
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
conduct of the Duke of Medina to the Groine in Galicia which is the nearest Hauen to England where it tooke in more men and munition By the way a tempest arose which scattered them The Duke and some eightie sale kept together the rest followed by little and little except 8 which had spent their masts Of foure Portugal Gallies one escaped the rest were taken by an Englishman called Dauid Guyn wherein D. Diego de Medrena was slaine The fleet being refreshed at the Groyne commanded daily by the Kings Letters to depart did set fayle on the 21 of Iulie and held on it course till it came within kenning of England from thence by small boats they sent word to the Duke of Parma of their arriuall aduising him to embarke his forces for England They were discouered by an English Pinnace at the same time whē the English fleet lay at Plimmouth who supposed that the former tempest wold delay the enterprise of the Spanish Nauie wherupon the Lord Admiral of England receiued letters from the Qu how she had intelligence that the Spanish fleet wold not come forward or at least not in a lōg time that therfore the Admiral shold do well to discharge some of the great ships and send them away But he hauing receiued newes of their approch on the 29 of Iulie at foure of the clocke in the afternoone gaue speedie comaundement that the whole fleet should put forth of the hauen that the souldiers should bee embarked which was not done but with great difficultie The Lord Admirall the same night came in to the road with sixe ships and the next day by noone which was the 30 of Iulie they descried the Spanish Nauie which with a South West wind bent it course as it seemed directly towards Plimmouth but when they perceiued the English were forth of the hauen they passed on forward Here according to the opinion of some sufficient and vnderstanding men the Spanish fleet committed a great error for D. Alonso de Leyuas aduice was to haue gone and assaulted Plimmouth for therein was great likelihood of good successe seeing that the English were vnprepared had bad intelligence of the Spanish Nauie whereby they might haue surprised them on the sodaine That the hauen was verie fit and commodious for the aduauncement of their design that there they might haue made some trial of their valor had some proose of the strength of the English fleet the peoples affection and that by giuing an alarme to those parts the chiefe strength of the countrie would haue bin drawne thither and Parma therby haue had better meanes to haue come forth with his forces But their instructions from their king and his Councel forbad it who expresly commāded them not to enterprise any thing by the way but onely to joyne with Parma and together with his troopes and vessels to make an attempt vpon Margate which they thought might bee easily done which would haue so amazed the English Low-countrie fleet as each of them would haue withdrawne themselues to their own defence to keep their countries Hauens from inuasion It is reported that some of the chief of the Spanish commanders which were skilful in Nauigation among whom were the Vice Admiral D. Iuan Martin de Ricaldo Diego Flores de Valdez others had protested that it would bee an hard matter to follow those instructions especially in a Commission with such restrictions alleging that in such enterprises many matters were to be considered as the wind time and tyde to come forth of the Hauens of Flaunders into England with the places roads and deepenesse thereof which are subject to wind other hazards therfore verie dangerous But they were strictly tied to their cōmission which was to come to an anker before Calais where the prince of Parma should meet them with his flat bottomed boats and other munition which vnder the couert and protection of the great Nauie should passe on and land their forces in some part of the downes But as some of the Spanish prisoners reported their principall project was vpon the Riuer of Thames where they might on each shoare land their men and by passing vp the Riuer surprise the Citie of London the Metropolis of the kingdome whether the lesser vessels might follow them seeing that London not strong but rich mightie and populous and the inhabitants therof vnacquainted with warre might at the first encounter bee easily terrified They did likewise hope that the Queene should be badly obeyed and that some discontented faction might arise of Roman Catholikes According to their instruction and commission they went forward often aduertising the Duke of Parma of their arriuall and intention and so vpon the thirtieth of Iulie they passed Plimmouth The English forthwith followed and got the wind of them by which meanes they might assaile the Spanish fleet themselues not be assailed by it so that the two fleets made towards one another The next day beeing the one and thirtieth of Iulie the English came within musquet shot of the Spanish fleet The English admiral thundred with his ordnāce vpon the Spanish Vice-Admiral who perceiuing themselues to be greatly annoyed by the English Canon fell into a close forme of an halfe moone hoysting their sailes but halfe mast high because they would not fall soule one of an other Anon one of the Galleasses was fore opprest by certaine ships and their battaile so assailed as the chiefe Gallion of Sicile wherein was D. Pedro Valdez which D. Basco de Sylua and D. Alonzo de Sayas with diuers other noble men brake her mast against another ship so as she could not follow and the fleet would not stay to rescue her but left her behind The English Admirall looking on Valdez ship and supposing that there were no men in her went on with as many ships as hee had neere him beeing loth by night to loose the fleet For Sir Frauncis Drake who that night carried the lanterne gaue chase to fiue great ships diuided from the fleet and finding them to be Merchants of Norway let them goe so as the English Admirall did all that night follow the Spanish lanterne thinking himselfe among his owne men and in the morning finding that he was in the middest of his enemies he withdrew himselfe from so great daunger The morrow after which was the first of August Sir Francis Drake met with Valde◠ship wherein himselfe and foure hundred and fiftie men were and sent to hale her Valdez for his owne honor would haue propounded certaine conditions which hee sent to Drake who aunswered that he would not spend the time in treaties but if he would yeeld he should find fauour and on the contrarie if he would fight hee should find him a souldier Valdez and his people perceiuing that they were fallen into Drakes hands and moued by report of his fame yeelded themselues and found fauor Valdez with his gentlemen and
twentie vessels Whilest the fleet lay there the Duke of Medina sent aduertizement to Parma diuers Gentlemen went on shore to refresh theÌ„selues among others the Prince of Ascoli a braue young Lord who as some say was base sonne to King Philip who went to land in a happie houre because the ship wherein he came from Spaine did within a while after perish in Ireland with all her men The Duke of Parma hauing intelligence that the fleet lay vpon the coast of England made great hast to make one in person in that enterprise resigning the gouernement generall of the Countrie to old Count Mansfelt Himselfe went on Pilgrimage into Haynault to our Ladie of Halles and from thence returned towards Bruges where hee arriued on the seuenth of August The next day riding towards Dunkirke where his ship tarried for him he heard the report of the Canon betwixt the two fleets and the same night comming to Dixmuyde he had intelligence of the successe On Tewsday the ninth of August about noone he came to Dunkirke euen when the fleet was alreadie past none of his Ships daring to goe forth to giue them the least hope of aide because they were afraid of the thirtie fiue Hollanders that lay in gard vnder the conduct of the Admirall Iustine of Nassau which were excellently prouided of good mariners and beside the ordinarie souldiers with 1200 braue musquetiers and lay only there to keepe Parmas fleet from issuing out of the Hauen which was a matter of greatest importance As for the great ships they feared them not because the Sea was too shallow in those parts Beside all Parmas forces were not readie nor imbarked onely 700 reuolted English vnder Sir William Stanleys commaund were shipt and thought to get the aduantage by landing first in England His other souldiers were male content and vnwilling especially the mariners who were few in number the prouision likewise of Beere Bread and victuals was not yet readie nor imbarked The mariners were so afraid of the Hollanders as they ran away dayly fearing least the soldiers would enforce them to doe that which they knew could not be done Then they wanted Gallies from Spaine which might haue beaten the Hollanders from the coasts of Flaunders The Spanish fleet lying thus at anker before Calice the better to consult with the Duke of Parma concerning their enterprise they concluded to execute their designe on Friday the twelfth of August the night being darke The Admiral of England with the chief of his Councell determined to enforce them to weigh anker and to be gone or else to burne their fleet whereupon they appointed eight of their vnseruiceablest vessels to bee filled with wild fire and other combustious matter charging the ordnance in them vp to the mouth with small shot nayles and stone which on Sunday the seuenth of August in the afternoone they sent with the wind and tyde after that the men that were in them had forsaken and fired them directly vpon the Spanish fleet which fire did in the night so terrifie them supposing them to be some of those internall ships full of powder and wild fire with the Ingeueer Frederic Ionibelli had made vse of some three yeares before at Antuerpe against the Prince of Parmas bridge ouer the Scheld as crying out The fire of Antuerpe the fire of Antuerpe they presently cut their cables and in confusion did put to Sea In this amazement the Captaine of the great Galleasse fell soule of the cables of another ship and lost her tudder and beeing not able to saile without it was carried by the force of the Sea vpon the sands just before Calice whether it was pursued by certayne English Pinnaces which plaid vpon her vvith their ordnance but durst not boord her which the Lord Admirall perceiuing sent his great Pionace with two hundred souldiers vnder the commaund of Captaine Preston who all of them together boorded the Galleasse where the Generall D. Hugo de Moncada made braue defence for a while hoping of some succour from land but at last he was shot in the head and slaine and diuers other Spaniards with him part of whom leapt into the Sea thinking to escape by swimming who were all drowned The visitor Generall D. Antonio de Manriques with some others escaped and carried the first newes home into Spaine This great Galleasse wherein vvere three hundred slaues and foure hundred souldiers was for three houres pillaged wherein fiftie thousand Duckets of the Kings vvere found The English would at last haue burnt her but Gorâ—â—n the Gouernour of Calice would not permit it as a matter tending to the hurt and prejudice of his Towne and Hauen and with his canon plaid vpon the English The same day being the eight of August as the Spanish fleet sell againe into order it was again fiercely assailed by the English right ouer against Graueling where they voluntarily lost their aduauntage of the wind chosing rather to let the wind driue them before Dunkirke than to open themselues or change their order resoluing onely on defence Though the English had gallant tall ships yet but 22 or 23 of them were comparable to the Spanish which were ninetie But the English had the aduantage by being lighter better of saile so as they came oftentimes within a pikes length of them and discharged their whole tyre of ordnance vpon them and then their smal shot continuing it the whole day till their powder and shot began to faile and then they held it no discretion to boord the Spaniards who still kept themselues together in close order the English beeing satisfied with chasing them from before Calice and Dunkirke and keeping them from joyning with the Duke of Parma The Spaniards the same day receiued much hurt losing many men and had diuers of their ships shot through They likewise with their ordnance plaid fiercely vpon the English but did them no great hurt for they lost few men and neuer a Shippe or man of note and in all that time and in the whole journey they lost but an hundred men and yet Sir Frauncis Drakes ship had beene shot aboue fourtie times and his Cabbin twice shot through And towards the end of the fight a Gentlemans bed whereupon hee rested himselfe beeing weatie was taken from vnder him by a great shot And as the Earle of Northumberland and Sir Charles Blunt afterwards Lord Mountioy and Master Henrie Nowell sat at meate a demie Culuerins shot flew through the cabbin and ouerthrew 2 men The like accidents happened in other ships which wold be tedious to recite yet it appears that God did wonderfully assist the English For as the Lord Admirall wrote to the Queene there was no likelihood that the English in mans judgement and according to the apparance of the circumstances should haue dared to approch the Spaniards but that God had an admirable hand therein vnto whom they willingly ascribed all the honour of their
citizens of London in their liueries stood on both sides the street as she passed along Her maiestie and Lords gaue thankes vnto God and were present at a publike Sermon made in the Church-yard tending onely to thansgiuing and so with great acclamations of people that besought God to graunt her a long and prosperous life to his honour and ruyne of her enemies shee returned in the same manner as she came In this manner did this magnificent great and mightie Armada termed the inuincible and such an one as in many hundred of yeares the like had not beene seene vpon the Ocean vanish into aire to their great confusion which sent it forth in anÌ„ 1588. Whereupon the Queene of England was congratulated by all Princes her friends and neighbours and many millions of verses composed in her honour The Prince of Parma in 1588 besiegeth Berghen-op-Zoom And rayseth his siege and departeth the same yeare BErghen-op-Zoom is a Towne in the Duchie of Brabant the first and chiefest of the 17 Prouinces in the Low-countries In time past it was but a Seignorie but in anno 1533 the Emperour Charles the fist honoured it with the title of Marquisat It is the first Towne which yee leaue vpon the left hand as yee goe from Roomerswaell and Tholen which are townes of Zeland towards Antuerpe It hath beene a Merchant Towne not onely in our predecessors dayes but there are yet some liuing that haue so knowne it in their time whether Spanyards Frenchmen Almans English and Scots came to traffique It is seated in the middest of the mightie Nertherland Prouinces viz. of Brabant Flaunders Holland and Zeland It iâ— not the least part of the first for it is within sixe houres journey of Antuerpe the chiefe Merchant Citie of the Prouince The three other are opposit to it viz. Flaunders towards the South Holland towards the North and Zeland towards the West It hath also a verie good Hauen which diuides the South Countrie from that of the North for so are both the countries named scituate on each side of the Hauen which lieth but 535 foot from the towne where it turneth towards the West and diuiding it selfe into two armes it openeth it selfe runneth into the towne One of the Armes towards the South serueth certaine water mils and salt pits which now are within the town that towards the North makes the towns Hauen Berghen is in circuit 10175 foot beside the Bulwarks There is a verie high earthen rampier dikes round about it it is likewise in some places fortified with palisadoes in other parts which hedges wals on top of the rampiers there are also diuers new bulwarks made for the towns defeÌ„ce And though it be now miserably dissigured by the breaking downe of many faire and goodlie houses yet it hath at this day aboue 1000 that are inhabited diuers others ruined by war are daily new built to be made haibtable there are faire and large streets in it 3 faire market places the great market fish market and corne market there is likewise a goodlie Church in it The Marquis his court is a great ornament to it The rich Cloyster of Nuns is coÌ„uerted to an Hospital for the hoÌ„spital without the towne together with other buildings were ruined in time of war After that all Brabant Berghen-op-Zoom excepted by the duke of Parmas conduct was reduced vnder the Spanish gouernement the troopes of his Excellencie and my Lords the States made diuers incursions into the countrie especially then when the Duke of Parma had assembled all his forces at Dunkirke there waiting for the Spanish fleet Those of Brabant Flaunders and other prouinces vnder the kings obedience seeing and vnderstanding the defeat of the Spanish Armada and feeling to the quicke the spoyle which the souldiers of Berghen daily made protested against the Duke of Parma and made complaint that all the townes of Brabant obeyed the King Berghen-op-Zoom excepted which was a verie nest of theeties and receptacle of raskals from whence forces were daily sent to surprise poore trauellers and merchants that brought prouision that the same mischiefe did likewise often light vpon their Burghers who were vndone by imprisonment and great ransomes yet this might in some sort be tollerated prouided they might liue securely in their Townes but Beâ—ingh in the Countrie of Liege Viluord and Geldernack in Brabant could witnesse the contrarie hauing beene taken and sackt That by reason of Berghen all the Villages were vnder contribution and those that refused to pay it were burnt their houses ransackt cattell carried away and themselues made prisoners Yet if the Duke of Parma would bring his victorious Campe before Berghen wherewith hee had woon so many Townes the enemies joy conceiued by the retreat of the Spanish fleet vvould bee soone conuerted to sorrow And Berghen once taken a way would then lie open to surprise the Islands of Zeland one after an other at least Berghen and the Isle of Terthole might bee taken both at once These vvere the Barbanders complaints It is not to be doubted but that the Duke of Parma vvas much grieued at the flight of the Spanish fleet and for that he could not swallow England which he had alreadie deuoured in conceipt as appeares by the preparation which he caried with him to Dunkirke seruing rather to be carried away in triumph into England than by force to surprise so mightie a kingdome He was likewise badly beloued in the court of Spaine for not assisting the fleet in necessitie Now that he might in some sort wipe off this staine which blotted his reputation he enterprised to reduce the towne of Berghen vnder his commaund From that time diuers reports thereof were currant not onely in the Low-countries but also in England whereof her Majestie aduertised my Lords the States by letters dated at Greenwich the seuen and twentieth of August 1588. At the beginning of September when there was no more hope of the fleets returne and that the Duke of Parma was come backe from Flaunders into Brabant all men held it for certaine that some attempt would be made vpon Berghen Certaine horsemen of Bacx his companie sent forth for discouerie brought backe with them two prisoners who confidently reported that there was nothing more certaine than that Berghen should be besieged One of the prisoners was a Gentleman and an officer belonging to the ordnance and the other was master of the munition when our men tooke them nere to Eckeren castle and askt them whether they were going they answered that they went to the kings camp that lay before Berghen Being brought to the towne they assured vs that all things were in readinesse to besiege vs that before they were taken the armie was on the march and that they verily thought to haue found it before the town and wondered to find the contrarie they likewise affirmed that there were 36000 men horse and foot in Parmas campe The 9 of the said moneth of August the
he that carries it should aduaunce it as high as he could and although the enemie was not far from them vpon S. Gertrudes mount yet the lord Willoughbie wold not return ere he had from aboue wel viewed and considered the depth of that way where he found no markes or signes of any Mine The ninth of Nouember the Earle of Northumberland and generall Norris came from England with a gallant traine of gentlemen At their arriuall all the ordnance great and small was discharged and the great Bell was rung The Earle came to see the Low-countries and Berghen-op-Zoom Generall Norris was by her Majestie sent to my Lords the States to procure some aid for D. Antonio King of Portugal for the Queene prepared a mightie fleet to re-establish D. Antonio in his kingdome from whence he had beene expulsed by the Spaniards Vchtenbroeck with fiue or sixe horse galoped forth of the gates towards the Sautwech before the enemies campe and there tooke two horsemen prisoners and a victualler with a waggon laden with beere who in despite of the enemie and before his face they brought to the Towne And to giue some delight to the Earle the English did the next day determine to make a sallie the footmen sallied vpon the enemies campe by the Mine at the powder gate for in hast they had made a Bridge ouer the Dike These at Holweghen did skirmish with the Italians that lay vpon Saint Gertrudes mount the horse sallied at Wouwe gate Parker stayed vpon Wijngaert hill and Poolie in the plaine towards Bourghvliet The brethren Bacx were not there for they had no warning of the sallie The Almans which were encamped on the Rabergh came downe into the plaine at the foot of the hill and made a stand not farre from Wijngaerts hill many retired behind the hedges and bushes others allured our men to come forward Captaine Veer with some thirtie souldiers driues away the Almans from their place of aduauntage Parker assailes and pursues them as farre as the Rabergh and suffereth few of them to escape A young Gentleman Captaine of a foot companie beeing on horsebacke and charging together with Parker was taken prisoner being carried by the furie of his horse into the middest of the enemies campe and was afterwards exchanged for D. Iuan de Mendoza both of them being almost of one age All prisoners that were taken did constantly affirme that the Duke of Parma determined to raise the siege On the eleuenth of Nouember a generall sallie was made on Steenberghens side by all the horse and foot some few excepted who here and there garded the gates and the Rampiers Generall Balfort with sixe hundred choyce souldiers both Dutch Scotch came thither at the same time from Tholen Captain Veer conducted the free booters that were to begin the skirmish Captaine Marcelis Bacx with his harquebuziers marched directly towards the enemies camp Balfort embattailed his troops on the highway of Steenberghen Those of the towne stood in the plaine on the right hand of that highway towards the West The Lanciers went somewhat on the one side towards the Sand-Wegh The footmen which went before with captaine Veer shot furiously vpon the enemies who shewed himselfe open aboue from their fortifications Certaine of the enemies horse made a braue sallie and were as brauely saluted with small shot and forthwith enforced to returne to their campe with losse of some of their horse In this manner was the time spent the enemie still continuing himselfe in his trenches which were too strong for vs to breake into Our men returned into the Towne thinking they had woon honour enough in that for two houres space they had dared the enemie to fight and in a manner halfe assayled their Campe. Of Captaine Veers souldiers foure were slayne and 12 hurt with the enemies shot On the twelfth of Nouember the enemie did set fire on the North part of the campe he likewise burnt the castle of Halteren and the next day about tenne of the clocke before noone they depart from Riselberg and Northgeest where they stood a long time in battaile till their lodgings were burnt and their baggage carried away to the Southward In their march nothing was seen but their ensigns tops by reason of the said hils But comming nere the Ball on the high way called Habergue which leads into Berghen wood there they discouered themselues openly There were they grieuously tormented by the canon from the rampier of the woodden gate It was delightfull to behold how their battaile was broken at euerie shot our canon made so as at last they were enforced to breake their order and to diuide themselues All the night following nothing was heard but the noice of drummes and trumpets to fauour the retreat of the wagoners which brought away the baggage Before day breake the campe towards the South was likewise seene all on fire the enemie retired towards Calmthoudt placing sentinels on diuers hils to giue them intelligence if the townesmen sallied forth So soone as it was day the Lord Willoughbie went forth at Wouwe gate with one and twentie ensigne on foot and all the cauallerie taking two falconets along with him The enemies sentinels seeing this doe presently retire our men doe speedily seaze on the enemies trenches and campe the fanterie makes a stand on the Raberg the cauallerie galops after the enemie and fell in vpon the rereward mocking scoffing them to prouoke them to fight But al this being in vain they returned for it was enough for them to haue reproched the base retreat of so great a Kings campe which was no better than a manifest flight some straungers that were found in the campe were slain two or three women excepted whose liues were saued The Lord Willoughbie assembled all the horse and foot companies captaine Marcellis Bacx excepted who was absent pursuing the enemie with part of the cauallerie whom he sent to seeke intending to honour him among the rest for his valour But being not found and the intended ceremonie not to be delayed because he would performe it in the enemies view the Lord Generall turned towards Veer Knollis Parker and Poolie his countriemen and likewise towards captaine Paule Bacx a Dutchman speaking thus vnto them Seeing it is an auntient and laudable vse that those who haue behaued themselues valiantly in the warres should receiue some acknowledgement of their valour and for that mine owne eyes are witnesse of your prowesse whereof I take the enemie to witnesse who hath often to his great losse made triall what souldiers you are Our illustrious Ladie the Queenes Maiestie of England whose Lieutenant Generall I am and whose commaundement I will now performe doth honour each of you with the order of knighthood and touching all of them gently with his sword vpon their shoulders he sayd Receiue from her Maiestie this remembrance of her good will and affection which all of you by your valour haue deserued
Februarie goe to the Hague to Prince Maurice where they resolued with a certain fellow called Adrian of Berghen that was woont to carie turfes into the castle to vndertake the matter Hereupon Herauguieres was sent to the Lord Iohn Oldenbarneveldt Aduocat of Holland who conferred with him not onely concerning mony and things necessarie for the enterprise but how to prouide for and keep the town being once taken Herauguieres gaue order to the shipper to make readie his boat which was deep flat lay in a Dorp called Leure a mile from Breda that he might conuey 70 men into her Round about and on the vpper part of the boat rewes of Turfe like bricke were orderly placed of a good height Being thus prepared they resolued to execute the enterprise on the 25 of Februarie but the frost hindred them certaine daies not without great daunger of being discouered For the execution of this enterprise Herauguieres had chosen sixteene of Count Philips souldiers vnder the commaund of Captaine Iohn Logier of Mons. de Famas souldiers that lay at Heusden commaunded by Captaine Iohn Fernet sixteene two and twentie souldiers of Mons. de Liers which lay at Klundert commaunded by his Lieutenant Mathew Helt and 24 of his own companie commanded by Gerard Preys all yong men bold and resolute Herauguieres thought to haue imbarked himselfe and men the same night but he could not meet with the shipper whereupon in despaire he would haue burnt the boat for feare of being discouered But at last withdrawing himselfe he returned the next night hauing aduertised Prince Maurice thereof who with his souldiers in boats lay at Klundert On Monday the 26 of Februarie at night they entred the Boat and remayned in it till Thursday Morning not beeing able to goe backward or forward by reason of the frost and a contrary wind enduring extreame cold and wanting victuals not being prouided for any long time so as they were enforced in the night to leaue the boat and to retire to Nordam Herauguieres was enforced to endure many murmuring speeches of his souldiers but by faire words and his owne example he appeased them propounding daunger and shame profit and honor to them and thereby caused them to resolue to vndergoe all daunger with him Hauing well refresht themselues one whole day in the Fort of Nordam on Thursday the first of March at night they returned to the boat staying within a quarter of a mile of Breda and in this manner continued from Friday till Saturday Morning at tenne of the clocke before the Herons wood nere to the Castle where the boat went on ground so as they were enforced to tarrie till an high water During their abode there the boat tooke in a leake through which the water entred in such abundance as the souldiers stood vp to the knees in it which had like to haue killed them all being come into the enclosure of the Castle the which so soone as the boat entred was shut after them the leake miraculously stopt of it selfe Whilest they lay there a Corporall came to search the boat where finding nothing he went his way and by Gods special prouidence the souldiers coughed not and yet many of them were so hoarse as they could hardly refraine from it Among others Lieutenant Mathew Helt was so tormented with the cough as fearing thereby least the enterprise would be discouered he drew forth his ponyard intending to haue slaine himselfe The third of March in the afternoone at high water the castles sluce was opened so as the boat entred and because the yce hindred and stopt it the Italian souldiers did helpe to draw it as the Troyans did the Greekes woodden horse Beeing thus entred the Serjeant Major about euening commaunded that turfes should be distributed to the Courts of gard which was done so as in a short space so great a quantitie of them was carried away as the decke began to lie bare this did greatly aflict them in the boat But the shipper being a craftie fellow perceiuing that all the Corps du gard were furnished and pretending wearinesse gaue money to his mate to goe and drinke with the porters not meaning to vnlade any more till the next day and in deed the Serjeant Major had commaunded him hauing some suspition that his Excellencie was about some enterprise to go lie in the towne whereupon he went forth and aduertised Prince Maurice thereof Some cunning spies had made the gouernor Lansavecia beleeue that Prince Maurice determined to make an attempt vpon Geertrudenberg and thereupon he went thither with corne and other prouisions Night being come the watch set and all things quiet the other shipper to drowne the noyce which the souldiers made in the boat did often plie the pumpe as though it had receiued a great leake by reason of the yce thus beguiling them till towards midnight Now the time being come namely about eleuen of the clocke at night Herauguieres in Gods name exhorted his souldiers to begin their enterprise commaunding the shipper still to plie the pumpe whilest he vnshipt his men whom he diuided into two troopes the one vnder the conduct of Captaines Lambert and Frenet commaunding them to march to the South-West part of the Hauen and himselfe with the rest went along by the store-house towards the Gard that were at the gate which openeth into the Towne Marching in this manner before his people he met with an Italian souldier vnto whose demaunds he gaue none aunswer but tooke him by the throat willing him to hold his peace dâ—maunding of him how strong the Garrison was who told him that there were three hundred and fiftie men in all but he perceiuing his deceit told him that he knew verie well that there were but fiftie men in it and though there should be many moe it now behoued them to fight and so marched towards the Sentinell who askt Qui vala but Herauguieres making no answer struck him through the body with an half pike whereupon the alarm was giuen for those of the gard and round began to make resistance and to defend themselues in the Corps du gard only an ensigne came forth and assayled Herauguieres whom he hurt in the arme yet was by him beaten downe to the ground he commaunded his soldiers to shoot at the gate and windowes so as they that were within begged their liues which in so important and dangerous a season was denied The alarme by this time was come to Paulo Antonio Lansavecia Lieutenant to his father the enemie was beaten into the middle part of the Castle which was strongly garded from whence they sallied where sixe and thirtie of Paulo Antonio his men were slaine so as they were enforced to reenter Fernet was likewise hurt Th' alarme was likewise giuen in the towne and some began to set fire on the Castle gate notwithstanding that Herauguieres played vpon them with his shot The place being made good he went with
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
captiues haue bin freed from the hands the bloudie Spaniards Let the King of Spaine stay our Marchants let him kill and burne our Mariners and suppose that he hath weakenedour countries yet he shall find that wee haue braued him in his owne Realmes and made his Cnaries so wast and desart as of along time he will reape no profit by them and we on the contrary encreased our countries meanes by wealth gotten from him and reuenged our intollerable wrongs wherein by Gods assistance we will still valiantly persist ¶ The taking of the towne of Deuticum in Annno 1599. BEcause the Admerall of Arragons Armie remained for the most part in Brabant his Excellencie like a wise and valiant Captaine laying hold on occasion sent his cousin Count William of Nassau Gouernor of Frizeland with ten companies of horse 24 foot Ensignes with Commission to take forth of sundry Garisons 26 Ensignes more amounting in all to the number of 50 with ordnance and other necessaries for a seege and to doe his best to take the towne of Deuticum from the enemie and thereupon on the 24 of August he came before the towne and on the 25 began to fortifie and intrench himselfe on the 26 he planted two peeces of ordnance and after that one and began to make his batterie whereat they within it being terrified so soone as they were summoned to yeeld craued a parley which was forthwith granted and by their capitulation they were to depart thence on the 27 of August with foure Ensignes commanded by Don Inigo de Otaela who was Gouernor likewise of the Castle of Schuylenbourg which he yeelded vp to his Excellencie fearing if he should delay the matter till the Almanes were ariued who were hourely lookt for that then he could not make his peace at so cheapâ— a rate nor procure so sure a Conuoy These two places thus woone the vnited Prouinces were masters of all the Countrey as far as Rhine and his Excellencie manned Deuticum with a Garison There was 52 barrells of pouder and other warlike munition found in the towne This being done Count William and his souldiers did on the 29 of August returne to his Excellencies campe neere to the Isle of Voorn ¶ The taking of the Towne and Castle of Wachtendonck in An. 1600. WHilest the Archdukes were receiued ouer all Brabant and Flanders as Princes and Lords of those Countreys his Excellencie made an attempt vpon the towne of Wachtendonck Which is a strong place seated beyond Guelderland vpon the Riuer Niers which some twelue yeares since had beene taken from the vnited Prouinces by Count Charles of Mansfelt after two moneths seege His Excellencie one the 22 of Ianuarie lying in the Monasterie of Bebber neere to Cleue assembled 8 cornets of horse and 800 foot vnder conduct of Count Lodwick and Colonell Edmunds who with certaine wagons did before noone begin to march and went the same night to Niekercke neere to Watchtendonck after some repose they went towards the towne where some ouer the yee and others by the dikes gat vp vpon the Townes Rampiers there were not aboue 80 souldiers both in the towne and Castle for the horse Garison was gon a boothaling toward Cologn where they sackt the Castle of Wander-stuyt where they were beaten by certain souldiers of the GarisoÌ„s of Bonne Bruiler His Excellencies souldiers being gotten into the town the alarme was presently giuen but they found no great resistance but with ease became masters thereof That done they placed certaine musketiers vpon the rampiers causing them to shoot continually vpon the Castle and on such as made defence whereby the Gouernor the Lord of Geleyn was hurt in the throat and some other slaine The Gouernor had but 30 souldiers with him and presently sent to the Earle of Bergue that lay at Ruremond for aide who forthwith sent thither all the Garisons neere adioyning but they came too late for Count Lodwick of Nassau was by this time ariued with his troups of horse In the meane time certaine of them alighted from their horse and together with the Lieutenant of his Excellencies coÌ„panie had passed the dikes and gotten vpon the Castles Rampiers where at last they became masters of it promising to some their liues within it A maid that serued the Gouernor and was of a manlie courage did with an yron forke ouerturne a ladder whereon fiue men were ascending In this manner the towne and Castle were taken on the 23 of Ianuarie This towne being seated in the verie middest of the Country where the Spaniard hath great Commaund and in a moorish soyle was verie commodious and fit for ouerthrowing the Admerall of Arragons practises there Not far from thence lay certaine foot Companies of Spaniards which were in great danger to haue beene discouered and beaten for they could not be receiued into Guelder nor other townes in regard of their mutinus disorders This enterprise being fortunaâ—ly atchieued by Count Lodwick and the Scottish Colonell Edmonds did greatly inrich them for all the boores of the Countrey had brought their cheefest wealth thither After that they had giuen order for the safetie of the towne and Castle they departed thence on the 24 of Ianuarie with the Cauallery leauing the Lord of Ryhouen Gouernor of the Towne with all the Infantrie and because the towne was vnprouided of munition Colonell Edmonds went back thither on the 5 of Februarie with a conuoy of all necessary prouisions The 14 of Februarie his Excellencie sent thither againe vnder conduct of Count Lodwick assembling seuenteene cornets of horse and two thousand foot either to send a greater Conuoy to Wachtendonck or else vnder that colour to make an attempt vpon some other towne But in their march intelligence was giuen that Colonell la Bourlotte was vpon a march in Brabant with his owne regiment and that of Achicourt about a certaine exploit The Lord of Sidenisky being at Bommel countermanded Count Lodwick and his forces back to the Isle of Tiell there to stop preueÌ„t Bourlottes attempts Bourlotte thought to haue made vse of some of the mutineers of Hamont but they hauing some bad suspition of him would not march notwithstanding all his faire promises he thought likewise to haue taken away with him part of the Garison of Saint Andrews fort and thereupon on the fifteenth of Februarie he tooke muster of them But those of that Garison hauing receiued no pay of a long time began to mutin the verie same day and though at first they were pacified by faire words yet the same night they fell into a greater mutiny discharging the ordnance and tooke their Captaines prisoners ransacking the Gouernors lodging and other houses The sixteenth they sent their officers whom they had imprisoned together with diuers women and children to Sertoghenbusk Those of Creuecoeur hauing notice hereof and perceiuing that there was no pay for them neither did on the seuenteenth day follow their example began to mutin La Bourlotte by this
of the enemie wanting all necessaries as money garments c. so that necessities had enforced them to reuolt besides they had done their dutie in holding out six weeks expecting aid and other necessaries and yeelded not so long as there was any hope of reliefe and in recompence of their good loyal seruice were to looke for nothing but losse of their pay and arrerages wanting money and meanes to cloth themselues and because the losse of the place should not be imputed to their mutinie nor themselues reproached for it they therefore resolued to serue the States of the vnited Prouinces Neither had they done as they said like to those of Geertrudenberg who sold the towne to their enemie for tenne moneths pretended arrerages and fiue moneths present pay being in no want of money nor apparell for they caused boats vpon the Riuer and the Champaine Country to pay contribution being neither besieged nor pressed by the enemie nay their Lords vnto whom they were sworne would haue maintained and defended their honour and loyaltie giuen them pardon and pasport yea whatsoeuer in equitie they would haue demanded yet all this was to no purpose with them but prouoked by their enemies they did in hatred enuy and couetousnes sell the towne to them whereupon they were in derision termed merchants and banished both by name and surname rewards being proposed to such as could take them and were euery where punished by the gallowes to serue for an example to others In this manner Saint Andrewes great fort which had cost so much money and before with so great an armie had layen a long time encamped fell into the hands of his Excellencie and vnder commaund of the States of the vnited Prouinces a fort which had put the enemie in great hope to haue bin able from thence in winter time vpon the yce to conquer Holland The cause why it was so easily taken proceeded from the Spaniards too much profuse large expence of money who vndertooke more than their treasure could performe and in making a bad account did in that Prouince build a mightie fort to command and bridle their own countrey so as the Archdukes reteined nothing of all their two yeares conquest but only Berck and the vnited Prouinces on the contrary had taken Emmerick which was more profitable to them than Berck to the Archduke yet these two townes belonged to neither of them his Excellencie and my Lords the States did within a while after restore Emmerick to the Duke of Cleues ¶ A Description of whatsoeuer was done from day to day in Flanders in the army of the most Illustriuos Prince Maurice of Nassau Accompanied by the noble high and mightie Lords my Lords the States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces in An. 1600. the 17 of Iuly THe enemie of the vnited Netherland Prouinces with sundry forts hauing blockt vp the Towne of Ostend being master of all the sea coasts of Flanders and thereby for the space of certaine yeares done incredible hurt to the loyall inhabitants of the said Prouinnes and other neighbor Realmes trading by sea my Lords the generall States after the yeelding vp of this great mightie fort of Saint Andrews neere to Rossem in the Isle of Bommell being desirous to pursue the victorie which God had so fauourably giuen them there and elsewhere in the beginning of this yere after mature consultation therupon with the Illustrious Lord Prince Maurice of Orange Count of Nassau Catzenelboge Marquis of Vere and Flushing c. thought it fit by common consent to transport their whole Armie and power into Flanders there to trie their good fortune vpon the enemeie and if it were possible to execute their determined proiects for freeing the sea Coasts with this resolution that the said Lords for the better aduancement of their affaires would in person assist his Eccellencie in this Armie and new expedition The 17 of Iune after that 2000 great and small vessells were rigd forth of diuers places and Hauens of Holland and Zeeland to transport the Armie with victualls warlike munition wagons Horse for draught and all other necessaries His Excellencie went from the Hague to Rotterdam so to Dort from whence he caused all the fleet to saile to Rammekins in Zeeland which was the Rendezvous The 18 of Iune my Lords the Generall States viz. The Lord Iames of Egmont Lord of Kennebourg Schipluy and Maeslant Iohn Oldenbarneuelt Lord of Tempel and Groynenelt Aduocate and keeper of the seale of Holland and West-Frizeland Iacob Huygens Vander Dussen Bourgomaster of the towne of Delft Master Nicasius Sille Doctor of the Lawes Councellor and Pentioner to the towne of Amsterdam M. Geraert Coren Bourgomaster of the Towne of Alkmaer M. Iacob Boellenssz Burgomaster of Amsterdam and Counsellor of State M. Iean de Santen Counsellor and Pentioner of the towne of Middelbourg M. Ferdinand Alleman Counsellor of State M. Nicolas Hubert Burgomaster of the towne of Ziriczee M. Gerart de Renesse Lord of Vander Aa M. Abell Franckena Doctor of the Lawes M. Egbert Alberda Burgomaster of the towne of Gronningue M. Cornellis Aerssen Register to my Lords the Generall States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces All these with their traine departed from the Hague about fiue of the clock in the morning and came to Rotterdam where they imbarked themselues and sailed the same day to Saint Annes-Lant where they came to an anchor tarrying for the tide The 19 day because the wind was contrarie they could that night but reach to Armuyde and because the tide was spent they were therefore enforced to cast anchor there likewise The twentieth about fiue of the clocke in the morning the said Lords landed at Armuyde and from thence went to Flissingue to visit his Excellencie who lay at anchor before Rammekins where so great an armie and such numbers of boats lay as no man liuing euer saw the like together at one time The same day a consultation was had before Rammekin how to transport the army safely into Flanders for execution of the determined proiect and all things being well maturely considered after that sundry matters were propounded in regard the wind was contrarie and for other difficulties which might arise at sea they at last resolued because they would not long bee idle nor put the countrie to vnnecessarie expence nor yet giue the enemie time to fortifie himselfe in those quarters to land the whole armie at Philippine and from thence to march thorough the Countrie betwixt Gaunt and Bruges towards Ostend According to which resolution his Excellencie on the 21 day departed with the armie towards Philippine a fort which the enemie yeelded vpon the first summons to Count Ernestus of Nassau who commanded the fleets vantgard The two and twentieth of Iune about noone his Excellencie ariued with his Armie at Philippine the vantgard hauing alreadie taken the fort from whence the garrison to the number of thirty or fortie were departed without
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
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