bank At Avala his first advancement he found some of the Enemy who had opened the Sluces to overflow the Country and saw that the water entred already in abundance But putting them to flight suddenly he made the Sluces be shut and kept as they ought to be The Duke himself advanced this mean while together with Vitelli Norchernes and some few others who came in fight of the Enemies quarters He understood by the Spies that they were in some disorder as well for that they saw his Army so neer as that Lodovicks men were almost all of them tumultuous and so ill paid as some uprore was already feared in the Camp The first Spaniards had this mean while drawn the Enemy forth to skirmish who not thinking that the body of the Army was so neer thought they might easily break the forerunners There was no long delay made Two great Squadrons of Foot for as much as the narrowness of the place could permit vigorously assaulted the Spaniards by whom they were no less vigorously withstood The Dukes Van this mean while advanced and look how much courage this added to the Catholicks so much did it lessen in the Hereticks They then would have retreated but being hotly pursued by the Spaniards they began basely to run away and the Spaniards followed them so close at the heels as they fell in with them at the same instant into their quarters where the Dukes men shewed no less valour nor the Enemy any more resistance who being still more imbased and thinking only how to save themselves fell every where into disorder and confusion The rest was not to be termed fighting but execution The Spaniards more greedy of blood then booty by reason of the slaughter which the others had committed the preceding battel put as many of the Enemy as they could unto the sword but there were almost as many drowned as slain for seeing they could not escape the fury of the sword they blindly threw themselves into the River which was very large and deep in that place It was said that Lodovick swom it over with much adoe and that 7000 of his men perisht the rest ran away some here some there in so great terror as there hardly was left any remainder of that Army Few of the Dukes men were flam And the Battel was such as certainly few will be the like wherein the vanquished were more indamaged and the vanquishers less THE HISTORY OF THE WARS OF FLANDERS Written by CARDINAL BENTIVOGLIO BOOK V. The Contents Orange enters Flanders with great Forces raised in Germany The Duke of Alva goes to meet him They lie many dayes in the face of one another Orange at last gives way and must quit the Country The Duke returns triumphant to Brussels His necessity in matter of monies occasioned by a great reprisal made thereof in England He therefore resolves to impose unusual grievances Commotions which insue thereupon A general Pardon proclaimed by him The Arch-Dutchess Anne of Austria passeth through Flanders to marry with the Catholique King The Flemish are scandalized at a Statue of the Dukes which was set up in the Citadel at Antwerp The Castle of Lovestein is surprised by Orange his followers but is suddenly recovered by the Spaniard Lumay more luckily takes the Bril A particular Description of Holland and Zealand The troubles of Zealand Sancio d'Avila goes to the succour of Middleburgh Valentiennes fals into the Hugonots hands who not long after are made to quit it By their assistance Lodovick steals into the City of Mons and prepares to maintain the siege THe Duke of Alva after having obtained so notable a victory return'd to Groninghen and staid there some dayes the better to secure it from any new danger He therefore munited it according as was requisite And because he feared danger more from within then from without he left a Citadel begun to be built there according as he intended at first the better to bridle the Inhabitants From thence he past to Utrecht whose Province is as it were incorporated in Holland He thought to have stayed there some time the better to secure the affairs of Holland But the news which he heard from divers parts of Orange his approach or preparation so to do made him go from thence much sooner then he had intended From thence he went to Balduke giving at the same time such order as was requisite for the gathering together of the Army and the reinforcing it with Foot and Horse To this end he fill'd up the German and Walloon Regiments and added another Regiment of Walloons under Christophero Mandragone a Spaniard and commanded that the Train-Bands of Flanders which came to about 2000 Horse should be in a readiness This sort of Militia distinguished into Companies of Curasiers and Harquebusiers under the chief Lords of the Country was of great 〈◊〉 in time past but afterward it lessened much in reputation When there is need to make use thereof the charge is given apart to some one chief Lord of the Country who knows no other Superior then the Generalissimo of the Army Whilst the Duke was preparing in this manner the Prince of Orange used no less diligence in gathering together great Forces to enter Flanders with them where it might be more for his advantage He had received very considerable helps but more in men then mony from the aforesaid Princes and Free-Towns of Germany To boot with the German souldiers he and his adherents had assembled together a good number of those Flemish and Walloons who had left the Country and some French He was upon the banks of the Rhine with all these people part whereof were taken into pay and part were a taking in intending to pass the River and then to thrust into Ghelderland or Brabant as it hath been said and fix himself in the best parts of the Country He was not to expect any obstacle in his passing over the Rhine not wanting means to doe so in many of his friends territories in Germany His greatest difficulty lay in passing over the Mause which did wholly appertain unto the King of Spain except the State of Liege which was also wholly a Catholick Country and almost incorporated into the Kings Dominions But he hoped to possess himself of some important place upon that shore which might secure his passage both for his entrance if he should advance and for a safe retreat if he were necessitated to turn back Orange having thus mustered his whole Army together he past freely over the Rhine above Colen about the end of August and then over the Mosel at Trovers And winding to the right hand he advanced towards the Country of Juliers confining upon the Kings Provinces of Ghelderland and Limburg and upon the State of Liege The common report was that his Camp consisted of 20000 Foot and 9000 Horse all of them Germans except the aforesaid Flemish Walloons and French With Orange was his Brother Lodovick Count Hostrat
therefore resolved not to suffer him to tarry long in Friesland When he had certain information that the enemy did not stir he entred into Groninghen and having refresht his men he led them out of the City and drew near the enemies Camp The Duke gessed just as it fell out To wit that Lodovick when he should be faced with â—o powerfull an Army when he should see himself in danger to want victuals and that he should not be able to retreat when he would better weighing his designes he would prevent these difficulties and without more adoe resolve upon retreat Lodovick at last resolved to do so and that he might do it without loss of men or reputation he effected it thus that very day towards the evening he sent away his baggage before after it his foot and left the horse for the last having taken order for breaking down the bridges which were over the river to the end that the Spaniards might not follow him The Duke had foreseen this and to be the more sure he gave order that Robles the camp-master with 400 Walloons should possess himself of a certain house conveniently seated to discover the enemies goings the retreat was then apparently seen the Duke made no delay he forthwith sent forth 400 Spaniards of the Neopolitan Brigado to assault the great trench which was formerly spoken of which was so wel perform'd as they drove away those that defended it who suddenly firing the bridges repast over the river The night now drew on and the enemy was already so far advanced and in so good order as the Dukes men could do them no great harm Yet some Spaniards and Walloons waded over the river where it was shallowest but they met with such hindrances by the squadrons of the enemies horse and by the narrowness and badness of the ways as they could make no further progress But few of the enemies were slain in this action yet were they much discouraged and confused therwith seeing themselvs so boldly set upon After this rather flight then retreat Lodovick continued his march backward towards East Friesland intending for as much as was conceiv'd to stay notwithstanding on this side the river of Embs in some good situation and as near Embden as possibly he could that by the nearness of the river and the City he might come the better by victuals and come what would come secure his last retreat By which means he stil thought he might compass his intention either of keeping the Duke of Alva busied or to keep with his former hopes in Friesland if the Duke should in some other parts oppose his brother He thought he might likewise believe that the Duke would not touch upon Germany nor hazard the want of victuals or suffering of other incommodities in a Countrey which appeared openly averse unto him And howsoever he thought he should be able so wel to fortifie himself as the Duke should not so easily dislodg him the second time as he had done the first To boot with the river which fenced him on the one side the Country was almost altogether impassable since it hardly allowed conveniency to be marcht upon and that upon the banks and muchless to fight And moreover the river swelling much more then ordinarily at a high tide the Country might easily be overflown by means of certain sluces which cutting the banks of the same river in divers places are usually opened or shut by the Inhabitants according as the sea swels or lessens This was Lodovicks designe So he pursued to march after his first retreat and did advance so far that very night and some days after as at last he quarter'd in a great village on this side the Embs call'd Geminghen He might first have staid in another call'd Rheeden and have had the passage over the Embs more coÌ„modiously there also by reason of a bridg which was nigh at hand but it was known that he would stay on this side the river and yet as near as he could to the City of Embden for the reasons which have been already spoken of On the other side the Duke continued his purposes which were to follow Lodovick to the Embs and to endeavour by all means possible to send him back routed and defeated into Germany that so he might be the freer afterwards to turn back upon Orange He therefore made his Army march leaving almost all the new raised horse in Groninghen because they could not be serviceable in those parts He lodged the first night in a Village called Sclotenem and not hearing any news of the enemy nor of good conveniency for victuals for all that Country was against him he was inforced to stay two days in that place He doubted that Lodovick might be tarryed in Rheeden that he might enjoy the oportunity of that near bridg which secured unto the passage over the River Knowing afterwards that he was past further on the Duke liked the business much better and staid his Camp in Rheeden securing that pass for himself Here he at last had certain advertisement that the Enemy were lodged in Geminghen From Rheeden to Geminghen at some 8 miles distance there runs a continued bank which serves as a curb to the River whereby the better to tame the swelling thereof occasioned by the sea The Duke was to make his men march upon this Bank if he would defeat the Enemy Divers Channels ran into the River which had houses and bridges upon them for the use and service of the Country people who in the summer time which now it was had some abidings not so low nor not so muddy as in the Country Lodovicks Quarters were thus fortified He had the Town of Geminghen upon his back on his left side the River and on his right the open fields fortified with Trenches where the situation would allow it On the Front the Bank it self somewhat distant from the River gave the entrance which without was cut in two by two Ravelins and better guarded within by two peeces of Artillery In this so strong place he either did not expect or did not fear the Duke Who desirous to try all wayes to fight and defeat him resolved to goe to him He sent some Horse before under his natural son Fernando who had the charge of the Horse and made the houses and bridges still as he marched be taken to secure his retreat upon all occasions From hence he advanced Sancio d' Avila with 50 Horse and 500 Harquebusiers all of them Spaniards and sent the two Camp-masters Romero and Londonio after him with each of them 600 Spanish Foot part Harquebusiers part Musquetiers and with two Companies of Lances commanded by Cesar d' Avalos and Curtio Martinengo The rest of the Army marcht in this order The Spaniards were the Van the High-Dutch followed next and the Walloons brought up the Reer inclosed by some Troops of Horse the Files were very strait for they could not march well but upon the
then meet withall which should be sent by Sea from Spain to Flanders Which succours were to be esteemed the speediest and most profitable the others-which were to be expected by land being so far off and so chargeable to convoy that Orange had long governd both those Provinces having great store of wealth and adherents in them that therefore it was to be believed that out of so many considerations of his own advantage he would indeavour to lay the chief seat of the Rebellion there That therefore the Frontiers towards Germany and France being secured the best that might be they were presently to turn with all their forces toward Holland and Zealand That from thence the chiefest head of this new Hydra arose And that it was not to be doubted but that the hardest difficulty being once overcome the rest would afterwards prove much more easie This opinion of Vitelli was grounded upon very solid reasons But amongst others Norchermes was rather of a different then of a repugnant mind He was held to be the ablest souldier of all those Provinces He was Governor of Hennault and therefore adding his own privat ends to the publick considerations he propounded the recovery of Mons in the first place He said That that City might be recovered by a short siege and also all the designes which Orange and the Hugonots could have upon those Frontiers of Germany and France be easily broken That turning the Kings Forces suddenly from thence upon Holland and Zealand they might be there time enough to allay the Rebellion which was there begun Nor was this resolution to be taken so much out of conveniency as out of necessity That the loss of Mons was of too great importance That by the opportunity of its situation the Enemy might make it very strong and make it as it were a Piazzad Armi from whence they might infest the whole Countrie of Walloon and also the two neighbouring Provinces of Brabant and Flanders which were the two largest and most opulent Provinces of all the Low-Countries And how could they be sure but that so many Forces of the Enemy might make further progress in those Frontiers That it was not possible to furnish all the Kings Towns in those parts with all things necessary And though the chiefest should make resistance doubtlesly the weaker would not be able to do it which notwithstanding being quickly fortified by the Enemy would make way for their further entrance on other sides into the Kings Provinces How much would they then molest the Countrie every where and what other commodities would they there receive whereby to maintain themselves the Towns would then be burnt on all sides the fields fill'd with amazement the Inhabitants with horror and to boot with the prejudice the Kings affairs should suffer how much should he thereby suffer in his honour In my opinion then we must in the first place recover what is lost and seek to prevent other greater losses which our Enemies may occasion unto us in our Frontiers upon Germany and France This being done all the Kings Forces may the easilier march to the reducing of Holland and Zealand to their former obedience One success will bring on another and we ought to expect as good successe in the second as we have reason to hope for in the first The Duke was of this opinion He thought he should be able to settle the Kings affairs so soon in one place as he might have time enough to secure them on the other To the which he was the more incited out of a desire not to permit the French to nestle so much as any one minute in Flanders And no less out of the bitter hatred which he and the Prince of Orange bore each to other as well for privat as publick respects as hath been said He therefore desired to oppose him as soon as might be and to drive him now again out of the Countrie more shamefully then he had done before The business of Mons being then resolved on he forthwith dispatcht away some Troops of horse thitherward to hinder the coming of any others thither from France and sent afterwards his son Frederick de Tolledo thither with 4000 foot and 800 horse accompanied by Vitelli and Norchermes Towards the end of June these people appeared within sight of the City and possessing themselves of the fittest places round about it did as it were besiege it at a large distance The City of Mons receives its name from its situation which in that Language signifies a Mountain or Hill but the rise of the earth is there so gentle as it cannot well be said to be mountainous 'T is a very Noble City as well for the concourse of people as for Commerce it hath many good houses in it and there sits the Kings Councel which administers Justice to the Countrie all which Prerogatives gives it the precedency over all other Towns of that Province It commands large and spacious fields round about it which may be questioned whether they abound more in Pasture or Tillage Nor is the Territory thereof less rich in Woods nor generally indeed all the rest of the Province The City is stronger by natural situation then by manual industry It is cut thorough on the lower side by a little rivolet called Trulla which as soon as it goes out of it fals into another somewhat bigger called Hayne which crossing through the Province before it be gotten quite out fals likewise into the Scheld The besieged this mean while sought only how to furnish themselves with victuals which they were not well provided of The Harvest was then ripe wherefore they determined to make a stout sally thereby to afford leasure for the cutting down of the nearest Corn and for the bringing of it into the City The Kings men were not backwards in opposing them so as a very fierce skirmish insued But fresh succours coming still into the latter the defendants were forc'd at last to retreat and Vitelli as he was pursuing them was shot with a musquet in the leg Genlis was not this mean while idle on the French behalf he had with very great diligence gathered together a considerable strength of horse and foot wherewith he marched speedily to relieve the besieged The Province of Hennault looks towards the South on Champania and Picardy in France so as the speediest and easiest succour was hoped for from thence Genlis his designe was to draw so near Mons as that he might put thereinto a good number of soldiers and then to go himself with the rest of his Forces and joyn with the Prince of Orange The Admiral Coligni who was the principal Architecture of all the plots hatched by the Hugonots as well within France as out of it had exhorted him to goe immediately to find out Orange Count Lodovick had signified the like unto him from Mons both of them being of opinion that the body of the Army conducted by Orange being rendred so
forage with divers other Captains of horse he could not guide himself as he ought to have done but suffering himself to be surprised in a narrow passage wherein he was inforced to fight he was quickly routed by the enemy and lost many of his men He himself and divers other Captains were taken prisoners and of 400 of the Kings horse which were in this conflict very few were saved The Duke was mightily displeased hereat but yet he did not give over his siege but streightned the Fort more and more when express Orders came to him from Spain whereby the King did precisely command him that leaving such Forces in Flanders as should be sufficient for defence he should pass again with all the rest as soon as might be to succour the Catholick League in France This Order being received the Duke prepared presently to rise from before the Fort. In his retreat his men were to pass over the Wahall not without danger of being indamaged by the enemy But he with very great forecast soon secured himself from all danger For causing a great Trench to be suddenly raised and making it be continued even to the River with redouts and flankers to shelter and defend his men at their imbarking if the enemy should go about to hinder them he passed over the River without any obstacle Count Maurice not being minded to molest him by reason of the difficulty he saw he should have to do it At this retreat wherein the Duke won great applause it being done in the face both of the Fort and of the Enemies Camp was Prince Ranucchia the Dukes eldest son who was then come from Italy to serve under his father in Flanders And he was not only present at the success but had his share in the execution thereof it being his fathers pleasure that he should be the last man that should see the retreat compleated The Army being brought safely over to the other side the Duke came to Niminghen This City would never accept but of a very slight foreign Garison to preserve it self in the greater liberty and because it thought it was able to defend it self of its self alone The Duke was greatly displeased hereat And knowing that there had been already some underhand dealing in the City in favour of the enemy he used all possible diligence to get the Inhabitants give way to the augmenting of their Garison but he could not prevail with them wherefore he went his ways and left Verdugo the better provided with Forces to the end that if need should require he might the easilyer succour that City It was now about the end of July and because the Duke had received good by the the Spaw waters formerly he went thither again to seek help for the Dropsie which daily threatned him more and more Being come thither he began to give all requisite Orders for the raising of Horse and Foot in Germany in Burgony and in the Low-Country it self to the end that he might leave sufficient Forces for defence in Flanders and yet carry such a strength of men with him as the succour which he should now bring unto the League might exceed the former Count Maurice this mean while did not omit making further advancements Leaving the abovesaid Intelligences on his behalf on foot in Niminghen he went from thence to go where he might make his designs the more advantagious by their being the less expected Great was the accommodation he had of transporting his men from one place to another by Rivers and Sea-gulfs Imbarking about the midst of September with 4000 Foot and 600 Horse he unexpectedly landed with them in the Province of Flanders and fell upon the Country of Walse to take the Town of Hulst This is a place lowly situated and of great concernment for it commands all the Country thereabouts The Kings men for the better defence of that Town guarded some neighbouring places which Count Maurice soon made himself master of Then begirting the Town wherein there was but a small Garrison and but slender provision of all things else he soon brought the Inhabitants to Parley and afterwards to surrender the Town Colonel Mandragone Governour of the Citadel of Antwerp was upon his way to relieve it and the Duke had so wrought with the Spanish Mutiniers though they were not yet altogether appeased as they were content to joyn with Mandragone But the Surrender prevented the Succour Wherefore the Kings men returned back and the Town was by Count Maurice furnisht with all things necessary He then imbarked his Army again and recruiting it both with Foot and Horse he overran all the Maritime Coasts of Flanders threatning Newport and Dunkirk but did this rather more to deceive the Royalists then for any setled design he had in those parts His true design was to turn upon Niminghen to use all possible means to take it Wherefore reentring by the same way of the Rivers and Maritime gulfs into Ghelderland about the midst of October he staid in the Wahal and throwing over a Bridg near Niminghen to the end that he might have that passage free and that he might the better be victualled he disposed of his Camp thereabouts At the same time that he prepared with Forces without Inelligences were held on his behalf within the Town which had so good success as there was little need of the Forces without The Garrison which consisted of some few Germans and Walloons went sometimes out but were not able to make any considerable opposition Verdugo was at this time also moving though not so soon as need required for his Forces were no ways answerable thereunto Wherefore those who favoured Count Maurice taking occasion upon his delay began to make a Tumult This boldness soon spread from a few to many who still increasing the commotion drew all the rest to be of the same mind and they all agreed to surrender the City To which Maurice was as gracious as could be desired in the Conditions which were established on both sides at the Surrender He then entred the City and was received with great honour And before he went from thence he did largely repay this honour to Schincks bones making them be interr'd with much pomp in the chiefest Church and in the very Sepulcher of the former Dukes of Ghelderland Count Maurice having added this last acquisition of so great concernment to the so important former went to the Hague in Holland where the Ordinary Deputies of the General Union of the Provinces had already made the place of their constant abode and where he was received with unexpressible demonstrations of joy and affection For though he had not met with any great opposition in the atchievements which he had made yet he had shewed so great vigilancie in his Command such advisedness in his Councels and such vigor in Execution as doubtlesly he might even then be expected to prove that Gallant Commander which our Age for his so many other
foot There is in Roan a great and valiant Garison and the Citizens though not accustomed to Arms are yet ready upon all occasions to take them up Wherefore then say I again shall we expect a double assault of such Forces between weak and distant works and where our horse which do so far exceed those of the enemy shall not have those advantages which they may have in the field I therefore advise by all means to give the enemy battel in the field It hath formerly been seen that the Duke of Parma hath always shun'd it He will certainly be now of the same opinion And why should not we be as forward to provoke him to battel as he is backward thereunto his foot may be thought somewhat the better but our horse are almost twice as good as his and may so advantegiously spread themselves in these spacious fields of Normandy as the Flemish may oft-times have reason to wish themselves within those Dikes Ditches and Channels which are so frequent in those Countries Hence it is that sieges are there so much used And what greater glory can we have then to see battels more frequent here Where true Military force and worth is manifested on the bright Theatre of the day not amidst blind Trenches and buried Mines and base fighting in ditches but in open field between Squadron and Squadrons between Colours and Colours both of Foot and Horse orderly drawn out For what remains the former reasons will be equally valid now When your Majesty shall once have won the battel the war will soon be at an end And say that any misfortune should befall you you may without much difficulty gather new forces and take the field again But it may assuredly be hoped that the misfortune of the war or to say better the punishment of Justice will fall upon your Enemies who joyned together by the true reason of Interest and the false pretences of Religion imbrace the wickedest and most unworthy Cause that was ever at any time imbraced and defended These two opinions being duly weighed the King on the one behalf thought that the Siege being so far advanced was not to be abandoned and on the other side he thought he did so far exceed the Enemy in Horse as he might spare a considerable strength thereof to go against the Enemy and so infest them as that they should either not be able to advance or atleast too late to relieve the Town But the event shewed that the not wholly adhering to either the one or the other advice made them both prove unfortunate The King having taken the abovesaid resolution resolved to go himself in person with 5000 Horse to encounter the Army of the League and the mean while left the Marshal of Byroun with all the rest of his Forces who should continue to straiten Roan as much as he could With these people the King went first to Chasteauneufe and then to Aumaile Towns which confine upon the Provinces of Normandy and Picardy He was not well got out of Normandy when he was advertised by his Scouts that the Enemy were well advanced into Picardy The Army of the League marched in the same manner as by the Duke of Parma's orders it had done the time before The Foot were placed in the midst the Horse with long wings in the Flanks and the Garriages on both sides without Monsieur de la Motte together with his place of Generall of the Artillery was Campmaster Generall of all the Flanders Souldiers and the same office was discharged in the proper Forces of the League by Monsieur Rony a valiant Souldier and great Commander and who had a particular dependencie upon the Duke du Mayn Each of them were very carefull in keeping the whole Camp in order and in securing their quarters and yet the Dukes of Parma and of Mayn ceased not to be every where in their own persons The Vantguard was led on by the young Duke of Guise who had with him two French-men of experienced valour the Baron of Scatres and Monfieur de Vitry In the Battel were the Dukes of Parma and Mayn the Duke of Montemarchiano and Count Vaudemonte and the Rear guard was guided by the Duke du Male and Count Saligni Prince Ranucchio marched usually with the prime Horse in the Van and Marquis Vasto took his place most commonly there also who repenting his having given over his former place of Generall of the Horse in Flanders to command the Horse in the State of Milan being to that purpose gone the year before into Italy was now born by a desire of glory come to serve as a private Voluntier in the Duke of Parma's second expedition into France Ten peeces of Artillery did precede the Vantguard and from the Front thereof was thrust forth a flying Squadron composed of Spanish and Italian Foot who might be ready either to stand or charge the Enemy according as occasion on either sort should require The Army of the League made but short marches that they might the better keep their ranks fortifie their quarters the better and to keep their souldiers from being weary So as the Camp came not till the beginning of February near to Aumail where as was said the King of Navar was himself in person Here the Scouts of both Camps met to learn news but the King not very well satisfied with the tidings which his Scouts brought would be an eye-witness thereof himself The King was so naturally given to waging battel as oft-times wholly forgetting himself he would be present upon the most common occasions and would therein meet with the most frequent dangers as it now befell him and thus it was The King going out of Aumaile with 500 Horse gave order that the Baron Jury and Monsieur de Laverdein should follow him with more Horse and with 400 Dragoons and commanded likewise that the Dukes of Nevers and of Longneville should be ready with the rest of the Horse which were in Aumaile The King advancing further then he ought to have done with the first Horse fell upon the Scouts of the Enemies Camp which he easily routed and put to flight but George Basti coming in soon after with a great body of other Horse charged those of the King so home as the King himself was in apparent danger and so much the more for that his person was known by many tokens This danger forced the King to retreat which he did the hardlier for that the Enemy charging him still more the greater was the slaughter of his men The Enemy endeavoured all they could to cut off the Kings way on all sides and to take him prisoner He on the contrary sustaining their force with incredible courage endeavoured to bring himself as soon as he could into safety In this interim many of his stoutest men dropt by his side nor could the King himself scape unhurt for as he descended a little rise whilst he gave back he was shot with
Souldiers he reviewed the Place very attentively and endeavoured to put it into such a posture as that Mansfield might have time to prepare succour and to endeavour how to introduce it On the other side Count Maurice thinking that his outward Fortifications were sufficient to keep him from so doing bent himself with all his might against the Town within When the Duke of Parma had got the Town he caused a Fort to be raised upon the chiefest Bank on the side of Donge The Fort was near enough the Town and guarded a Pass of great importance From the very first that Maurice had begun the Siege he had propounded unto himself to take this Fort which from the name of a neighbouring Village was called the Fort of Steenlo And giving the care thereof to Count Hollack the few Souldiers that were within it having made a slender resistance abandoned it From this Fort Maurice began to ply the Town with Cannon-shot nor contented with several Batteries by Land he did the like by water loading to that purpose many ships with great guns which were placed on the one side in the Donge and on the other in fitting places in the Merwe and were well joyned together The Town was continually plaid upon with above 60 piece of Canon Amidst these hard dealings which the besieged met withall on all sides they did not notwithstanding omit manfully to defend themselves They oft-times fallied boldly out upon the enemy and supplying their paucity in number with their valour they endeavoured to hinder their works as much as they could and to use all other means to retard the siege Messieres was the first no less in pains taking then in command being both within and without continually where occasion most required But with unfortunate success at last for ere many days were over he was slain with a Canon-shot The Garison substituted Monsieur de Gisan in his place who was the eldest Captain and held for the valiantest who failed not to continue the like diligence and labour The Town was notwithstanding straitned every day more then other and the danger of the loss thereof every day increased unless it were all the sooner relieved which both General Mansfield and Count Fuentes had from the first beginning of the siege effectually apply'd themselves unto But the Kings Forces were so weakened by the diversion of France as it was requisite to recruit them with new levies both of horse and foot and this could not be done without time and many other difficulties Mansfield had therefore given out orders for the speedy raising of Germans Lorainers and Burgonians and took divers Plemish and Walloons into pay within the Country also To boot with these provisions of men he provided likewise for all other things that were necessary And passing with Fuentes into Antwerp that he might be the nearer bringing relief he resolved to go from thence immediately about it But by reason of the aforesaid difficulties his marching thitherward proved so late as it was judged almost impossible to force those Fortifications which the enemy had so advantagiously raised against the Town Amongst the Maxims of War none is more practised then to endeavour to raise one siege by the diversion of another The Commanders who were with Mansfield did therefore consult whether that it were not better to besiege Breda then to endeavour the relief of Getringberg so to force Maurice to raise that siege the better to defend himself from the danger of the other To perswade unto the diversion it was shewed how well the enemies had fortified themselves and how well their Trenches were munited on all sides in so much as there being but very small hope of ever overcoming them it would be but in vain to endeavour it That therefore the only means was to try a diversion to which purpose none was more fit then to sit down before Breda with all the Kings Forces It was represented that Breda was of so great concernment both in respect of the publick union as also for Count Maurice his private considerations as doubtlesly the enemy would not suffer such a place to be lost wherefore it was to be believed that Maurice would raise the present siege and presently run to disturb the other And finally it was taken for granted that the enemy had come with so great Forces before St. Getringberg as it was to be believed Breda was but ill provided for and therefore the Kings men should be the better incouraged to go against it But many other weighty reasons were urged to the contrary And first it was said that the enemy were already so advanced in their siege as they would not by any means abandon it And that therefore it was the rather to be believed that when they should see Breda threatned they would lay the closer siege to St Getringberg so to make themselves the sooner Masters of it and afterwards apply themselves suddenly to relieve Breda It was added that they might easily do the one or the other for that if St. Getringberg were not quickly succoured the Town would be surrendred before Breda could be well besieged and that then the enemy might turn with all their Forces to the defence thereof That this way of oppugning was of it self to be thought very difficult for that the enemy since the surprisal of Breda had fortified it and provided better for it and was affirmed that in reason of war the Kings Army was not to be brought between such a Town and so great Forces as were in the enemies Camp Through all these contrarieties it was resolved that the better course would be to endeavour by all means possible to relieve St Getringberg for that peradventure the difficulties in doing it would not prove so great as was thought for and that howsoever they ought rather to endeavour the succour though in vain then by undertaking a vain siege be doubly shamed by the loss of Getringberg and by the not getting of Breda These last reasons prevailed in the Councel of War To boot that the Kings then Forces being well considered they were not thought to be such as whereupon to ground so weighty a designe in hopes to execute it For when Mansfield had sufficiently provided for all such places as it was judged the enemy might assail he could not muster above 8000 foot and 2500 horse Resolving then howsoever to endeavour the relief with these men he pitched upon Turnault for his Rendezvouz and brought his Camp thither about the end of May. Turnault is an open Village but the greatest and most populated that is in all Brabant It lies in equal distance almost a days journey from Antwerp and from Getringberg Here again it was taken into consideration by the Kings Camp on which side they should meet with least difficulty in bringing in the succour And through Intelligence which they had they resolved to go with all their men into Steeloune which lay near the enemies Trenches On this
be freed of the Taxes which are imposed upon us we shall fight no longer for the interests of others but for what concerns our selves And in fine all the good and all the bad will be our own which in defence of the common liberty we shall hereafter find This discourse wrought so upon the minds even of those that were most affectionate to the King as they knew not how to gainsay it The no appearance of succour was particularly of great force Nor is it to be believed how much indignation it wrought not only in Groninghen and the parts thereabouts but in all other places which were under the Kings obedience to see that his own affairs in Flanders were by him almost wholly abandoned to sustain those of France which did daily decline The chief of the Magistracy and of the Communalty went therefore to Count Maurice to agree with him touching the surrender of the City And being very graciously received the Agreement was made and these were the most essential Conditions thereof That the City of Groninghen together with the neighbouring Country which makes up that Province should for the future be under the obedience of the States-Generall representing the Body of the Confederate Provinces That it should oblige it self to the Union of this Body by being a particular member thereof for the time to come and that it should submit it self to those Lawes wherein the other Provinces were joyned for the defence of their common Cause That the City of Groninghen and all the aforesaid Country should enjoy their antient priviledges and all their former immunities That that City and Province should by the authority of the States Generall receive Count William of Nassaw for their Governour and that for the present five or six Foot-Companies should be permitted to come into the City to prevent all occasion of Tumults which might happen there That there should be Liberty of Conscience for matter of Religion in that City and Country but that that which was called the Reformed Religion should be exercised there publikely and no other That the City and Province should concur in contributing such taxes as did correspond with their abilities for the maintenance of the Souldiery and for other necessary expences concerning the common Cause That it should be free for any man to transport himself and goods into whatsoever place he would provided it were not in the Enemies country That the Government of the City should depend as formerly upon the Magistracie and that the Magistrate should be changed according to custom taking an oath to be true and faithfull to the States Generall as the other Cities under the Union had done These were the chief Articles of Agreement which were made with those of Gronin hen And as for the Foreign souldiers which were entred into the City they were permitted by Count Maurice to march forth honourably with their Arms and Baggage but upon promise not to serve the King of Spain for three moneths space on that side the Rhine The City was surrendred about the end of July and Count Maurice made his entrance into Groninghen afterwards with all military pomp and solemnity And leaving Count William there for the better ordering of all things in that City and Province he within a few dayes removed his Army from those parts and went himself unto the Hague Where it cannot be expressed with what applause and honour he was received by the States General for having so much increased the advantages of the Union on that side the Rhine by an acquisition of such consequence Whilst affairs went thus in Flanders the Forces which were on the aforesaid Frontiers of France were not idle The Duke du Main was Governour of Burgony the Duke of Guise Governour of Champania and the Duke d' Umale Governour of Picardy all of them being of the house of Lorain and upon whose personages the League did principally depend some discord was already faln out in their former Union and finally the Duke of Guise would be kept no longer from moving some Treaty of agreement with the King since he had imbraced the Catholick Religion and after his so many atchievements which had made him now be almost generally acknowledged for King of France Neither was the Duke du Main much averse from coming to a Composition with him But he endeavoured to negotiate with his sword in hand that he might thereby get the better conditions Only the Duke d'Umale were it either that he was more firm in his former adhering to the League or that he was a back friend to the King for some private respect of his own was resolved to come to no accommodation with him but rather in case the League should wholly cease to go into Flanders and put himself wholly into the King of Spains hands To this end he favoured the Flemish Forces more then ever in his Government of Picardy But such partiality was of no great availment For the Kings reconciliation with the Apostolick See being then mainly negotiated in Rome the League declined daily in so much as even almost whole Picardy was already come over to the King To get the full possession whereof the King was a little before entred into that Province with a potent Army and had laid siege to Laon. The City of Laon being very strong both by situation and Manual Fortification the Duke du Main did much indeavour the not losing of it To boot that the Count of Sommariva du Main's eldest son being within the Town and one that defended it who though he were but very young then was notwithstanding of great expectation the Father did the more desire to see his son free together with the Town To this purpose du Main was gon himself to use what diligence might be with the Archduke And returning with new and very strict Orders to Mansfield that he should use all the means he might for the preservation of the Town they joyned both their Forces together which were notwithstanding so weak as they exceeded not 8000 foot and 700 horse The Rendezvouz being made at la Fera which is within four leagues of Laon they marched from thence about the end of June with a resolution of relieving the besieged There was a choice Garison in Laon of 1200 foot and 30 horse nor were the Inhabitants less willing to make defence then were the Garison The King had about 12000 choice foot and 4000 horse which were the very flowre of his Army And having already taken and fortified his quarters he was very diligent in advancing his Trenches and other usual Works The besieged shewed all manlike resolution to resist which they witnessed by frequent sallies to the which they were the more encouraged by the expectation of relief so near at hand In the Colleagues Camp which still held the exterior Title of the League though it were almost wholly composed of Flemish Forces the Duke du Main commanded in chief the Archduke having
assigned to him being come with his men to whom were joyned certain VValloon foot and horse near Sichem he began to straiten the mutiners His chief end was to take from them those contributions which they gathered from all the adjacent parts But he could not so easily compass his intent for the mutiners horse scouring the Countrey where it was most necessary secured their Passes and brought victuals as formerly into Sichem This Town lies upon the River Demer and the mutiners for the better securing of that Pass had raised a good Fort there and sheltered it with a lesser Velasco goes against these Forts indeavouring first to take the weaker that he might have the lesser difficulty in winning the other But were it that the Spaniard had bin too immature in their moving or that the mutiners made too stout a resistance the Spaniards were forced to retreat leaving above 200 of their men dead behind them amongst which divers Captains and Officers and particularly Pietro Portocarrero very near akin to Fuentes Velasco going then more deliberately to work about the one and the other of these Forts and beginning to begirt them with trenches and usual works the Mutiniers resolved to abandon them Yet could not the people that were within them retreat to Sichem in so good order but that some of them were routed and many slain and wounded The Forts being lost the Mutiners were much less secure in the Town and their difficulties of coming by victuals increasing every day they were already brought into great straits They therefore betook themselves to more strait intelligence with Count Maurice and sending some of their men to Breda where he then was they at last obtained of him that they might be permitted to come thereabouts under the shelter of Breda and Getringberg till they saw what resolution the Archduke would take with them They desired no more then this nor to more then this did Maurice oblige them They parted thus from Sichem about the midst of December and marched still in good order till they came to within the Territories of Langhestrat within the Enemies Country where they were received with all security Their affairs being brought to this pass the Archduke Fuentes and all the rest of the Kings Officers were of opinion that their former resolutions against them were to be mitigated to keep them from falling into greater precipices Therefore it was moved that the same meaâ—â— of accommodation might be used with them as was used with the others which was not by them refused So with Count Maurice his permission who ever treated them with much humanity without ever endeavouring in the least manner to tempt them to violate their loyalty Count John Jiacomo Belgioso a Gentleman of Milan was oft-times by them received who was imployed to this end by the Archduke The agreement was That they should go to Tilemone a place which did belong unto the King in Brabant That they should keep there with all fitting security That some Spaniard should be left with them for hostage till such time as they should be satisfied and that when they should have received their pay they should return unto their former service Francisco Padiglia was therefore given them for an hostage and so they went to Tilemone where they staid above a year such difficulty was found in raising moneys to satisfie them there never having been any mutiny wherein there were more Captains inferior Officers Souldiers who received great advantages of pay and other old Soldiers who likewise had large pay then there was in this This mean while the year ended with the divulging of a memorable Navigation thoroughout Europe which the Hollanders and Zealanders had that year found out of finding a nearer cut to the East Indies by the North. They had already wrought themselves into the East Indies by the wonted way of the South Though they had not apply'd themselves to so far remote and so laborious Traffick till after the Crown of Portugal was come again into the King of Spains hands Before this happened they by their neer hand and commodious navigations frequenting often the Coasts of Portugal and especially their chief Port of Lisbone did much to their advantage partake of the Merchandises which were more peculiar to the Indies But when the King of Spain succeeded to that Crown and forbad all manner of Trade to the Hollanders and Zealanders with Spain or Portugal they resolved they would go themselves into the East Indies by the same way of the South which the Portugals had at first so happily discovered and still more happily pursued This enterprise proved very hard unto them at the first finding themselves to seek in the immencity of so long a voyage and no less in the knowledg of winds seas and people which they had never before practised nor seen The greatest obstacle which they met withall was in the opposition made unto them by the Portugeses who being the only men who had formerly sailed upon those seas and given what Laws they listed to that Commerce could not admit of any associates therein much less of enemies and such enemies But the Flemish growing the more hardy in the pursuance of their enterprise by how much they were withstood at first have at last proceeded so far therein as as it is well known to all men the Crown of Spain could not be more indamaged then it hath been by them in those parts Nor could this satisfie their hatred to that Crown or yet their own thirst after gain Hoping by one good success for the like happiness in others they were not long in trying whether they could not by the same means work themselves into the VVest Indies and get footing there And truely therein either their fortune or their audacity or rather their singular skill in Navigation hath been such as having at last tamed and overcome the Ocean they have landed there on divers sides have built Forts there established Garisons and gotten no less advantage in those Western Indies then they had formerly got in the Eastern Nay it may be said to be greater by how much the occasion of enjoying it there hath been the greater Out of hopes especially that they may ransack the Spanish Plate-Fleet which through that immence way by sea is every year brought into Spain Or at least that they may so annoy them as the danger of the passage growing every voyage greater their trouble and expence in making them might likewise daily increase Designes which have in a good part been since effected For to boot with the great increase of expence which the Crown of Spain hath been forced to be at since to maintain the Empire of those Seas and Lands their Fleets have been indangered more then once and the necessity of having them safely convoyed hath made the passage much more difficult and expensive then it was before Though it may be said on the contrary that all these oppositions have served to make
three or four times miserably lacerating the souldiers which were near at hand and indammaging those that were further off It was impossible to keep the Enemy from being succour'd by way of the above mentioned Channels wherefore the more to encourage his men the Cardinal resolved to draw nearer the Camp and lodged in the Fort Fuentes From thence he went to view both the Channels and consultation was had how the use thereof might be taken from the enemy But the two Forts of Maurice and Nassaw did too much intricate the business In so much as all their indeavours in that point proved to no purpose For by night and especially at the high tides some boats by the said channels did continually bring victuals into the Town the Enemy being still incouraged by these advantages made out a great sallie against the Campmaster Mendosa's Trenches and did so resolutely assault them as they killed above a hundred Spaniards and clog'd some of their Artillery Mendosa after this fortified his Trenehes better and the rest of the Kings men grew more wary in theirs And being more vigilant then formerly in keeping out relief which was convoyed in by the Channels the Kings men took some of their boats and by the example thereof bridled the boldness of the rest Velasco's Spaniards and Trevico's Italians did this mean while eagerly attend to advance against the wall that was plai'd upon and being already entred into the ditch they endeavoured as much as in them lay to fill it up wherein the enemy manfully opposed them So as there was not any day that past which brought not forth some contest nor no contest which drew not the best bloud on both sides Mines and Counter-mines were used by these and those And all was done that Art could instruct both on the offensive and defensive part upon such an occasion The Kings men were this mean while notwithstanding so far advanced as they lodged at the foot of the wall which being continually plaid upon seemed as if it might be soon assaulted But the Cardinal understanding that the enemy had undermined it on sundry parts to blow up the assailants as they should mount the breach and that they had provided themselves within with a new and strong defence it was therefore judged better by the Councel of War to use countermines and to defer the assault for some few days This was the condition of the siege and these the difficulties which appeared of ending it when the Count de Solm gave the Cardinal to understand that he would listen to some honourable Treaty of surrendring up the Town The Cardinal greedily imbraced the offer and that the surrender might be all the sooner made he willingly granted all whatsoever large conditions to the Count as well for himself as for the Garison and for the Inhabitants And the agreement being made the Town was delivered up to the Cardinal about the end of August About 2500 souldiers marched out of Hulst besides those that were in the two Forts of Maurice and Nassaw Wherefore so numerous a Garison being considered and that of so select Souldiers and that by reason of the plenty of all provisions the Town might have held out longer it was thought that Solm had received express orders not to delay the delivering up thereof that so he might preserve those men for the Confederate Provinces other greater affairs The Cardinal went from Hulst to Antwerp where after he had tarried awhile he went to Brussels full of glory and reputation for the so many noble enterprises which he had undertaken and so happily atchieved in the beginning of his Government When he was come thither the first thing he did was to pay the Mutiniers of Tilemone that he might the sooner make use of so good a strength of men Though when they had received their pay a good part of them returned to Italy to enjoy the moneys in quiet at home which they had got by so long and bloudy service The Arms which on the behalf of France an Flanders lay then on that Frontier were not this mean while idle The Marishal Biroun commanded the French and the Marquis of Barambone the King of Spains men as hath been said in its proper place Nothing considerable had notwithstanding been done all this while But soon after the surrender of Hulst there happened an incounter of concernment Which ws this Biroun was resolved to enter the Country of Artois with soome troops of horse and to overrun it as far and in as hostile a manner as he could Barambone had notice hereof who with a good number of horse likewise went to meet Biroun Scouts being sent out to make the usual discoveries on both sides Biroun haulted and placed the greatest part of his in ambush in an opportune place This mean while Count Alfonso Montecucully Captain of a Company of Lanciers came up He immediately charged Biroun who being afterwards overlaid with the rest of Barambones horse retreated till he had drawn the Enemy into the Ambush The French came forth then very fiercely and Biroun fighting according to his wonted valour more then any of the rest Barambones men were soon routed and put to flight he himself and Montecucully were taken prisoners and Count John Jacamo Belgioso who was there also with his Company of Lanciers was sorely wounded The Marishal was much incouraged by this success who therefore endeavoured to do the aforesaid damage and greater also to the Frontiers of Artois But meeting still with such opposition as was sufficient to break his designs and the winter coming on he retreated with his men into their Garisons as did also the Spaniards Now began the year 1597. in the beginning whereof there happened another successe in Flanders which was of great dammage to the King of Spain's Party During the siege of Hulst the United States had caused Brabant be infested and overrun in so much as a good part of that Country to keep themselves from further evil had submitted to pay contribution by means whereof the States did so much the more easily maintain their Garisons of Breda St. Getrinberg and of other Towns which they were Masters of in that Province This grievance was likewise felt in Campagne VVherefore the Cardinal as soon as he was returned to Brussels he sent Count Varras General of the Artillery with 4000 foot and 300 horse to Turnaut a Town which lies towards Campagne to free the Country as he did from the contributions which they paid Look how much the Kings party was thereby eased so much were the United Provinces perplexed Nor was Count Maurice slow in endeavouring to regain the same advantage VVherefore gathering together with great speed and secrecy 6000 foot and little less then 1000 horse and making the Rendezvouz near Breda he marched with these men about the end of January towards the Royalists who were in Turnaut Maurice could not make the aforesaid preparation neither so soon nor so secretly but that Count
be in the dry ditch of the great Ravelin of Montecourt that they might the more privatly go from thence and assault the enemy upon greater advantage And because the horse now did not much service abroad he added only 30 Curassiers to the foot who might behave themselves according as occasion should require The appointed hour being come the sign of issuing out was given by a Canon shot The first assault was strangely resolute and fierce But the Trenches being much better provided and defended then the former time and especially by a good part of a Picardy Regiment which were almost all old souldiers great resistance was made mingling themselves couragiously one with another in fight and many falling interchangeably on both sides Yet the besieged receiving new recruits of men they entred the Trenches committing still more slaughter and advancing so far as they came to a chief Redout and endeavoured to nail up some pieces of Artillery But being manfully opposed by a great Court of Guard of Swissers which were there and a great number of other souldiers flocking thither from several other parts of the Camp they were forced to think of retreating wherein the Curassiers proved not useless for they likewise sallying out and giving upon many of the enemy who had disbanded themselves in the first fights they slew many of them and were moreover of great assistance in helping their companions to retreat This combat lasted for above three hours and from without Biroun shewed his wonted undauntedness and amongst other Cavalliers of the Kings Camp Prince Janville did in particular win great praise 500 of the Kings men were slain and about 200 of the besieged together with very many wounded on both sidesr After this the King caused the works so speedily to be advanced as they came within a few days almost to the Ditch And they might be still better inforced on his part for his loss of souldiers and Pioners was soon remedied by the supply of others and the King had now an Army of 24000 foot and 6000 horse together with aboundance of all other things necessary for the continuation of the siege But howsoever he was very desirous to see it soon at an end For news came every day of great succour which were coming from the Cardinal and it was every day discovered that the besieged would hold out till the last gasp It was not long therefore ere the French came to the Chemine Convert and blowing part of it into the air with secret mines and winning the rest by fierce assaults they lodged in the counterscarp From whence indamaging the Ditch by their Artillery and at last falling thereinto they strove to make themselves masters thereof Which was very stifly disputed for though those within had lost their uppermost defences yet those below were industriously repaired from whence they did in sundry manners miraculously resist the assailants The chiefest part of the siege being then reduced hither it is not to be said with how much obstenacy and fierceness they fought on both sides those within relying upon the expected succour and those without willing to prevent it The one desirous to recover what was lost the others to keep what they had got The assailants fighting whilst the King looked on and the adversaries as if the Cardinal had been present And both sides so set on fire by wonted emulation and by innate hatred one to another as were it only in that respect their very souls could not be more incensed They fought no longer therefore with harquebuses and muskets nor yet with swords but with shorter weapons as daggers and pistols Stones hailed down from the walls and fires of divers sorts And on the contrary the enemies batteries playing incessantly had so skarrified the Platform as there was but very little space left for the defendants to keep upon Portacarrero began therefore to make inward retreats by half moons and other good defences And he had thought also to have thrown up a great Trench more inward upon the inside of the River which past with one of its branches through the City neer enough to the wall that was plaid upon That after the loss thereof and of the new retreats which he was making he might yet make what opposition might be And because many of the defendants were already slain and many lay languishing of their wounds many being likewise dead of sickness Portacarrero had oft-times renewed his intreaties to the Archduke that he should no longer delay sending relief Nor did the Cardinal omit any diligence that was requisite to that purpose Avilo's Italians were already upon their march for Flanders as also the new raised Germans nor had the Cardinal omitted any possible means for raising such monies as were necessary upon such an occasion The King of France was fully informed of all this Wherefore quickning himself he did so inforce the works in the ditch as his men made themselves fully masters of it They then fell to mining that they might blow up the wall and the better order their assaults which they were shortly to make The besieged were already reduced to these straits when Portacarrero undertook another business to damnifie the assailants The River entred on that side with two branches into the City He therefore resolved to block up the Arches of the Bridg with great beams of wood fastened together so as the water might regorge back again into the fields and might particularly fall into the ditch which was oppugned as might easily be expected by the situation of the place Nor failed he in his design For the River being thus withstood threw her waters abroad into the neighbouring parts incommodiating the Kings men who lodged there and falling with such violence into the aforementioned ditch as made the French hasten out of it and spoyled almost all their Works The Kings Camp was much confused at this unexpected accident But the King calling his Councel of War resolved to turn two great batteries against two Towers the one on the one side the other on the other side of the Gate Montrecourt hoping that the ruins thereof when they should be beaten down should fill up the ditch which they stood over and where the River chiefly entred into the oppugned Ditch and kept there The batteries proved very furious Nor was it long ere the Towers falling and that passage being filled up the water began to forbear running there Moreover the Beams and Summers of wood not being able any longer to withstand the violence thereof the River returned to its former natural course and the Ditch being thus soon dry the French returned thither with more ardency then ever to their former oppugnation The falling of the Towers had almost beaten down the great Ravelin in so much as those defended it could no longer be succoured unless it were by a narrow Bridge which had Clothes hung up on both sides the more to blind the passage But that served but for a mark
the Rearguard he made his Army march leasurely and in good order off The French endeavoured more then once to indammage the Rear but the Flying-Squadron facing about and with miraculous discipline now handling their Pikes now their Muskets and being sheltred by the Horse likewise on both sides all the Enemies assaults proved vain Thus they marched for above two houres after which the Cardinals Camp being free from all molestation took up its quarters with all security and was by degrees divided in the neighbouring Frontiers of Artois At the Armies retreat the Cardinal signified to the besieged in Amiens that it being impossible to relieve them they should immediately surrender the City and not lose any more men to no purpose He infinitely praised their pains and promised them reward leaving them to make such conditions as they could at the surrender Which when they came to be treated of were granted them by the King in as ample manner and upon as honourable terms as could be by them desired He highly commended the worth they had shewed in defending themselves which had made the like of his Army appear in oppugning them The Marquis Montenegro marcht out of the Town with 800 sound Souldiers and above as many more that were wounded and was very graciously received by the King at his coming forth as also the other Commanders that came out with him When the King came into Amions he presently caused a strong Citadel to be designed there which was soon after built that it might serve for a greater curb to the people and be a greater safety to the City Then leaving Picardy he went to Paris where he was received with great applause by that multitude of people for his new atchieved glory in having so happily conducted so difficult a Siege for having hindred so powerfull a Succour and recovering a City of so great consequence to the interests of that Kingdom The Cardinal Archduke being retreated to Artois he presently sent some of his Forces to take Montalin the onely Town which remained in the French hands within the precincts appertaining to Calis and from whence Calis was much incommodiated The care of the enterprise was given to the Admiral of Aragon who finding the place not very strong nor yet well guarded took it within a few dayes The King of France was already gone from Picardy nor was it known that he had as then any further end upon that Frontier Wherefore the Cardinal resolved to leave Artois likewise and to give some satisfaction to the Province of Flanders which did very much desire that Ostend might be besieged The Cardinal would therefore go thitherward himself and causing the Town to be well surveyed he thought it was impossible to keep it from being succour'd Wherefore as also because Autumn was already well advanced the Cardinal determined to leave the enterprise till a better conjuncture Nor having any other in which it was fitting to imploy his Army at that time wherein there was hapned a new Mutiny again he resolved to send it to its winter-quarters and came himself with his Court about the end of November to Brussels But the United Provinces lost not the opportunity this mean whiles which offered it self so favourably to them The Cardinal by reason of the siege of Amiens being gone with so many Forces towards the Frontiers of France and having left the peculiar affairs of Flanders in a forlorn condition Count Maurice took presently to the Field And having speedily raised about the beginning of August an Army of 10000 Foot and 2500 Horse together with a great Train of Artillery and whatsoever else was requisite for his designed ends he went to besiege Reinberg a Town situated upon the left side of the Rhine It had but few Souldiers in Garrison and was but weakly provided of all things else Wherefore Maurice coming without any difficulty to the Walls and playing upon them with his Cannon he forced the besieged in a few dayes to surrender the Town From thence he went to before Mures a Town not far from thence but somwhat remote from the Rhine And meeting with the like weak defence he with the like easiness won it He this mean while had thrown a bridg of Boats over the Rhine and passing with all his Army to the other side he sate down before Groll a strong Town both by nature and art He found some greater resistance there yet many provisions being wanting which are most necessary for sustaining a siege having dryed the Ditch on one side and threatening a furious Assault he forced the Defendants to deliver up the Town From thence he turned to Oldensel a weak Town which he therefore soon took And no Town remaining now at the Kings devotion in those parts but Linghen a place well flanked and fortified by a good Castle Maurice incamped before it and besieged it straitly on all sides Count Frederick de Berg defended it which he did very valiantly for many days But that place being but ill provided as were the rest he was forced to surrender it upon very honourable conditions So to boot with Reinberg and Mures all the whole Country on the other side the Rhine fell in a short time under the Dominion of the United Provinces which in acknowledgment of so advantagious successes did forthwith give the same Town of Linghen with the Territories thereunto belonging which make up a very noble Lordship to Count Maurice and to his heirs for ever About the end of Autumn Maurice returned with his men to their quarters and passing himself afterwards to the Hague he was received there with demonstrations of great joy Which afforded new occasions to such Provinces as were yet obedient to the King to complain and grieve considering that for the interests of France which were very uncertain the self-affairs of Flanders were so much neglected And they were more scandalized that to defend the Catholick cause in that Kingdom for the advantage of strangers the same cause was abandoned in the Kings own Country suffering so great a part thereof to fall into the hands of Rebels and Hereticks who by all the most desperate means would implacably maintain their double perfidiousness against the Church and King Thus ended this year and the year 1598 insued memorable for two of the greatest events which could then have hapned The one Peace concluded between the two Kings after so bitter war and the other the Marriage between the Cardinal Archduke and the Infanta Isabella the King of Spains eldest daughter to whom the King her Father gave the whole Low-Countries for her Dowry As concerning the Peace Pope Clement the eight had mediated it awhile before moved thereunto by the same zeal whereby he had already so happily reconciled the King of France to the Apostolick See and afterwards indeavoured to reconcile the two Kings by making such a peace as might conduce to the establishing of universal quiet in Christendom To this purpose having first wisely
his place with other subordinate Officers Before the Confederates incamped about it the two Counts of Lippa and Hollach had made great offers to the Garrison to perswade them to put it into their hands shewing that they had a community of blood which did also render the interests of the Nation common between them But the Garrison though they had failed in their obedience yet would they not be failing in their faith wherefore they rejected all offers and betook themselves manfully to defend the Town Nor did they come short in their deeds For the German Camp having sate down before the Town and besieged it many dayes they found the Defendants still more stout and resolute in making resistance wherefore they were at last forced to rise from before it little to their honour Count Lippa did notwithstanding raise a Fort on the opposite side of the River and put many men into it to incommodiate that Town and intending to besiege it again if it should be needfull From Reinberg the Camp past to Res which was the only Town almost that remained to be restored to the Duke of Cleves and the Kings party gave continual hopes that it should be speedily restored But the Germans either not believing them or else desirous to doe somwhat with their Arms resolved to besiege it The United Provinces did still press them very much and shewing that they had a great desire to be interessed in their cause they sent a certain number of Horse and Foot to Count Hollach to be imployed in their service Count Lippa incamped then before Res about the end of August and besieged it on all sides Ramiro di Gusman a Spaniard commanded in chief therein and had with him little more then 80 Souldiers some Spaniards some Germans some Walloons Just over against the Town on the other side of the River there stood a Fort to secure that Pass the better so as some Souldiers must also be imployed there And because the Garrison was not sufficient to defend both the Town and Fort the Governour sent to the Admiral desiring him that he would with all speed send him some more men The siege being begun the Germans fell to fortifie their quarters where it was most behovefull The Count de Lippa was quartered on the lower part of the River and Count Hollach above These were the two chief Quarters and both of them began to open their Trenches Count Hollach an old Souldier and one well verst in sieges would have had them have past some men over the Rhine and so at the same time to have straitned the Fort which was possest by the Kings men on the other contrary shore fearing left by that way as it not long after hapned the besieged might receive succour But were it either through ignorance or through the emulation of the other Commanders his advice was not followed The Trenches were quickly so far advanced as they were not long in falling joyntly to their Batteries A great Bank ran along the River to defend the Town and the circumjacent grounds from being thereby overflown Upon the highest part of this Bank the two Counts caused divers Peeces of Artillery to be planted by which commanding the Town they began to play upon it furiously afar off Then placing many great Guns nearer hand they came to a nearer oppugnation wherein Count Hollach being better verst all things were better performed on his side He plaid particularly upon the point of a walled Bulwark and at the same time advancing with his Trenches he was confident he should soon be able to make a happy assault there The Garrison was not this mean while idle but had endeavoured by frequent sallies to incommodate the Enemy in divers sorts Yet were not the numbers of their Souldiers any wayes answerable to their need of defence Wherefore Gusman continually sollicited the Admiral to send him some succour which was ere long done for 700 choise Foot coming at the silentest time of night to the banks of Rhine where the aforesaid Fort stood they past over the River and got without any disturbance into the Town This increase of Forces did so increase their courage that were within in the Town as they resolved to sally out suddenly with good numbers and to assault the Count de Lippa's quarter where there was less opposition made The one half of the Garrison sallying out in three equal Squadrons they assailed the Enemy on that side with such resolution and valour as they not being able to resist them began quickly to give back and soon after to fall into manifest disorder The more these were disheartened the more were the others encouraged So as the first blow being seconded by another and the Garrison continuing still manfully to fall upon them they made the Enemy forgo many of their Trenches and coming to their Batteries they unhorst some of their Peeces they nail'd up some others and being of necessity afterwards to retreat they carried a Demy-Canon in triumph with them into the Town In this action about 200 of the Enemy were slain and but very few of the Garrison This bad success did much augment the discords between the German Commanders one complained of another but almost all of them blamed Count Lippa and the weakness of his government And the confusion disorder and fear was so generally spread throughout the whole Army as no obediance being given nor discipline observed the Commanders were forced two dayes after to raise the siege More shamefull councel could not have been given nor could it have been more shamefully followed For the Camp retreating without any manner of order and the Souldiers striving who should get furthest from the walls of Res much Baggage was left in their Quarters many Carriages left in the fields and some Barks loaded with victuals abandoned upon the River Nor failed the Garrison to come out upon such an occasion but fell upon those that went away last slaying many of them putting many of them to flight and rendring the Retreat still more base and more confused The Army having raised this their siege came before the City of Emrick but being here still molested by the souldiers of Res and the discords amongst the Commanders still increasing and the complaints amongst all the rest the people began to disband and afterwards wholly to dissolve The United Provinces sent Count William of Nassaw Governour of Friesland to the German Camp a very grave and valiant man and who was full cousin German to Count Maurice that he might endeavour to compound the differences and to reduce them to some better discipline but he could do but little good So as Autumn being already advanced and great store of rain being fallen in such sort as the Army could no longer keep the field about the end of November it of it self did wholly disband and to compleat their disorders a good part thereof did at last mutiny for want of monies as they retired to their own
joyn wirh the great Bulwark of the old Ostend called the Sea Bulwark This Bank served to obviate the prejudice which the high-tyde which their outward fortifications might suffer thereby on that side but because they saw that the Catholicks made use thereof the better to advance with their works in that place they resolved first well to secure their aforesaid Fortifications with other materials and afterwards cut gaps in the Bank in divers places and thereby made the Catholiks dispair of advancing any further there This mean while the works on Bredene's side were not slacked when Count Frederick was gone to the quarter of St. Clara the Arch-duke had put Count Buckquoy into that of Bredene he forthwith advanced a little redout to which he added another greater and called it St. Charles whereupon placing some peeces of Artillery he began to prejudice the Enemies Barks which entred on that side into Ostend The Channel there divided it self into two parts the one whereof entred into the chief ditch of the Town and the other into the narrower ditch which shut up the Strada Coperta on the outside The Enemies Barks were therefore so plaid upon by the Artillery from the new Redout as they were forced to get into the Town by the chief Channel But this was no considerable damage by reason of the more commodious ingress which the Barks had and because the Artillery of the Redout shot from so far off as they did but little harm Wherefore the Archduke resolved that a great Bank should be led towards the master Channel from the Redout which was afterwards called a Fort which should be brought so near the shore side as that a Fort being there raised and well furnished with Artillery the Enemies might be as well hindred from making use of their Barks on that side of Bredene as they were on the other of S. Alberto These were the works about Ostend But at the same time Count Maurice suffered not his Army to be idle Having taken Reinberg he went to before Balduke hoping either to get a place of that concernment or to make the Archduke remove from before Ostend Incamping therefore before that Town he began to begirt it but with some leisure by reason of the great compass thereof Monsieur de Grolendunk a valiant Souldier and one the best esteemed of all Flanders was Governour thereof That City would always defend it self by its own Citizens who had always proved themselves very faithfull to the Church and King yet were not they of themselves able to defend themselves against so great and manifest a danger wherefore the Governour advertised the Archduke of what condition he was in and prest very much to be relieved The Archduke found himself in a great strait fearing lest his Forces were not sufficient at the same time to maintain the Siege before Ostend and to relieve Balduke Yet taking heart and leaving only so many men as might keep the Siege from rising he sent Count Frederick de Berg towards Balduke with 7000 Foot and 1500 Horse giving him order by all means to relieve the Town He likewise got the Italian Mutiniers at Verte to joyn many of their Souldiers to those of the Count. And therefore having got together a reasonable good body of an Army he seemed as if he would fortifie a certain Town called Helmont within four leagues of Balduke But dispatching away privately by night Count Jovanni Giacomo Belgioioso Commissary-Generall of the Horse by a certain way not well observed by the Enemy with 1000 Horse and 800 Foot he gave him order to convey those Foot into Balduke and to back them if need should be with the said Horse No order could be better given nor better pursued For the 800 Foot having with much resolution forced a Pass wherein they met with some opposition entred all into Balduke and did so secure that City as November being now near at an end and the season being colder then usual Maurice resolved to give over the Siege and to retreat Balduke being thus luckily relieved the Archduke turned to begirt Ostend with all his Forces And it so fell out as at this time it was thought that the Town would for certain have been surrendred For about the end of December a terrible storm at Sea did so shatter the Town in divers parts and especially the old Town as the Inhabitants despairing to resist an assault which upon this occasion they did expect began to parley and Hostages were delivered on both sides for observancie of what should be agreed upon But soon after this unfortunate chance there fell out another so favourable by the access of new men to the besieged together with all manner of provisions as they would treat no longer of surrendring saying they could no longer doe it with their honour The Archduke being thus deluded of his so firm hopes of having the Town gave order that a great Battery should be raised against the Old Town which had been most prejudiced by the Tempest That part was therefore furiously plaid upon and there was such a breach made especially in the Sea-bulwark as they hoped to make a happy assault Which was thus ordered The Campmaster Durango was to go against the Sea-Bulwork with the Spanish Foot and the Campmaster Gambaloitta a Milanese and Knight of the Order of St. John against another neighbouring Flank on the left hand with the Italian Foot These two Camp-masters were accompanied by divers of the best Captains of the Army and the Foot of divers other Nations were mingled with the Spanish and Italian Foot The assault was to begin about the coming on of night when the Tide was at the lowest And Count Bucquey was likewise ordered to pass over the Channel on the side of Bredene and to sall with his men upon the wall that was there beaten down To divert the Enemy on more sides it was commanded that Alarms should be given every where against the Town And the Archduke chose Augustine Messia Governour of Antwerp Citadel who had for many years before been a Campmaster amongst the Spaniards and ever held in good esteem to see these Orders well observed When they came to the Assault the Assailants behaved themselves gallantly and used all means to get upon the wall and though many of them fell down dead and wounded and that the horror of night which already came on made their dangers the more terrible yet did it serve rather to set the Catholicks on fire then to make them cool in their fight But there appeared no less resoluteness of resistance in those within For opposing themselves valiantly on all sides and being very well able to doe it as having so many men and such store of all other provisions they stoutly did defend themselves on all sides Upon the coming on of night they had set up many Lights in divers parts of the Town whereby they the better maintained the places assigned unto them did with more security hit
thereabouts and began to fortifie himself in a certain part shewing clearly that he intended to begirt that Fort. But it was so well provided to make defence by Spinola as there was no fear of losing it Nor was he long in appearing thereabouts himself Spinola had with him thirteen thousand Foot and three thousand Horse with great provision of all other things He fortified himself also and the Armies were so neer one another as daily skirmisher past between them At this time came the three Brigadoes which were expected from Italy But the other which came by Sea from Spain had not the like Fortune Pietro di Sermiente who was Camp-master thereof conducted it in eight ships and meeting with many great ships of Holland in the English Channel which lay waiting for him he was assaulted by them and after a fierce fight most of the Spanish ships with the men that were in them were taken by the Enemy The Camp-master saved himself with the rest of the ships and souldiers and got to Dunkirk At the same time the Germans and those of the neigbouring Nations were likewise raised Wherefore the Arch-duke resolved Spinola should no longer delay to put the design in execution which was agreed upon in Spain which was to pass the Rhine to advance into Friesland and to make some great diversion against the Enemy on those parts Count Frederick de Berg stayed therefore only with such Forces as might suffice to oppose Maurice and Spinola went from the Province of Flanders and coming to Brussels past with all speed to make his randezvouz at Mastrick Prince Avelino conducted over the Neopolitans and returned presently for Italy Francisca Colonna Prince of Palestrina was then in Flanders being a little before come thither from Rome and there was likewise Andrea Matteo Aquaviva Prince of Caeserta who came thither likewise about the same time One of the two Neapolitan Brigadoes was given to Colonna and Alessandro di Monti was Camp-master of the other Count Guido St. Georgio commanded the Lombard Brigado and Christophero de Conti d' Emden was the principal of the German Colonels Before Spinola came to Mastrick he had dispatched away Count Buckquoy General of the Artillery to begin a Fort upon the right side of the Rhine which was the most suspected The place he chose was neer Casesuert a little Town belonging to the Arch-bishoprick of Cullen Here Buckquoy began to build the Fort whither it was not long ere Spinola came who hastning the work caused it soon to be erected with a Line of five Flanks and raised another lesser one on the other side towards Cullen The Arch-duke and Spinola kept their intentions of passing with their Armies over the Rhine very secret and therefore the Arch-duke seeming to his own Captains as if he had some other design had ofttimes had it argued in Councel whether it were better to endeavour the recovery of Sluce or Graves or to besiege Berghenapzome or rather Breda never touching upon the true design Upon the variety of these Proposals there was variety of opinions and the Arch-duke had industriously wrought it so as that the Enemy might be advertised of these consultations to make them the less suspitious that they intended any thing beyond the Rhine nor did his thoughts abuse him for the Enemy being thus deluded and out of other respects not beleeving that the Catholicks would put on so bold a resolution they were not time enough to relieve the Towns which Spinola begirt and took in those parts as shall be related this so speedy march of Spinola's towards the Rhine made the Enemy beleeve he would besiege Reinberg and the same opinion was conceived in the Catholick Camp which did not yet know the true design Of all others Count Maurice beleeved the like who therefore had made Count Ernestus march away with good Forces to the end that the fortifications of that place might be by him so strengthned both without and within as there might be no fear of losing it This mean while the two aforesaid Forts were finished by Spinola by which that passage of the Rhine was secured He then no longer deferred the making known whither the Catholick Camp was bent but calling a Councel of War he said That the King and Arch-duke had resolved to carry the war to the Rebels own homes and more inward if they could That so strong an Army was prepared to this purpose That to this purpose monies were prepared to maintain the Army And that to the same end he had already secured the passage over the Rhine That the determination was to enter the Enemies Country towards Friesland and particularly to make use of all their power to take the Town of Linghen in those parts That his Highness pleasure was that this design should by all means be kept secret that so it might be the easilyer effected and that there was almost no doubt to be made of it That they knew the Town was at this time but ill provided the Enemy never having dreamed that it could at such a distance and so at unawares be assaulted by the Catholick Forces That it was true it was a great way off and that they were to pass through a great part of the Neutrals Countries where it might be feared they might suffer for want of victuals But that there was already great provision made thereof and that they were to march through that Country with such discipline as the souldiers being no ways troublesome and having sufficient monies for plenty of victuals they need fear no want That for what remained the taking of such a Town would be of very great importance That Count Maurice had still fortified it better that it lay in the Havens of Friesland almost upon the Confines of Germany and that if once they should get footing there wherefore might they not hope that this happy success might be insued by many more happy The Councel of War did much approve of this advice and it was likewise very chearfully received by all the Souldiery The Army was compounded of the usual Nations and consisted of 16000 Foot and 3000 Horse They were particularly to pass over a great part of the neutral Countrey of Cleves and Westphalia And to the end that all things might be the fairlyer carryed on both in them and in all other places of the like nature Spinola had with him the Count di Lora one of the chiefest and best esteemed Lords of all Flanders who was to negotiate with the Magistrates of each Town and to give them all due satisfaction To secure the passage of the Rhine and the Army also on their back Count Bucquoy had the charge of the new Forts having 6000 Foot and â—00 horse with him From whence Spinola marched away with the rest and began to enter into the Countrey of Cleves and after into Westphalia He marched still orderly and with so exquisite and severe discipline as victuals were brought unto the Camp in
come thither and having made some tryal found both the water so high and the opposition made by the Enemy so great as he failed in his defigne Whilst Marquis Spinola laboured thus on the other side of the Rhine Bucquoy had also gathered his Army together on this side in Brabant and passing the Mause over against Moch kept there Moch is an open Village not above four leagues from the Wahal Bucquoy's intention was to attempt a passage in a certain place which lay just in the midst between Schincks Sconce and Niminghen he had caused a great many of Barks proportionable to the designe to be carryed upon Carts to put them into the River and to put thereinto men sufficient to make way through the contrary shore Amongst other Commanders Camp-master Justinian was with Bucquoy who imployed him in attempting the said Passe Justinian going therefore with 4000 Foot two pieces of Arrillery and necessary Barks for the transporting of them prepared to put the designe in execution But he found the Enemy no less ready to oppose him on that side the Wahal then they had been on the other side of Ysel The River was much greater and much more rapid then usual Wherefore the Marriners could not govern their Barks as they would have done nor were their Artillery of any advantage to them for the contrary shore was better furnished therewithall and therefore all attempts proving vain Justinian retyred to joyn with the rest that were with Bucquoy Spinola having notice hereof knew there was no more hopes of passing over either in the one or in the other place he resolved then not to part from those places where he was without making himself Master of some place of importance The chiefest Towns the Enemy had thereabouts were Zutfen and Deventer both of them seated upon the Ysel but so munited both by the River on one side and by their Fortifications on the other side as they required longer time and greater Forces then Spinola then had to offer at the winning them Besides Maurice kept with his Army almost in the midst between them Nor was it to be doubted but that he might be at liberty to succour which of the Towns he would The Town of Groll is not far from thereabouts and though it were not to be compared with the other two it was notwithstanding to be esteemed a place of great consequence both in it self and because by the scituation thereof the other two Towns of Oldensel and Linghen which were won the preceding year might be the better sheltered Spinola therefore resolved to apply himself to this siege And the designe being approved of in the Councel of War he marched towards it on the beginning of August Groll lies in a plain and on the one side thereof runs Berchel a little River but sufficient to serve for a good defence to the Town on that side on the other side the Line was well Flanked and beyond the chiefest Ditch stood other Flanks with Ditches likewise Spinola distributed his quarters out on three sides with his usual division of Nations to boot with the Irish who in Queen Elizabeths time were naturally inclined to fight under the Catholicks Colours in Flanders many English and Scots did the like now Which was permitted by the new King who succeeded her to witness the good intelligence which he held with the King of Spain and the Arch-dukes The siege being begun and the Catholicks striving to end it as soon as they could they came with their Trenches in three dayes to the Ditch which invironed the Half-moons without Then the several Nations strove a main who should first pass over it in which some bridges of cloath extended upon rafters and little casks did great good a device invented by the Engineer Targone The first Ditch being past over some contest was had and not without the loss of much blood before they could get the Half-moons but the Assailants making themselves masters of them also betook themselves to storm the chief Line nor were their Batteries this mean while Idle assisted by which they possessed themselves of the greatest Ditch and came to the aforesaid Line Those within laboured as much as they could to make good their defences but all of them being at last beaten down by the batteries from without they knew it would be but vain to make any further resistance and therefore resolved to deliver up the Town and thus in nine dayes space Spinola took it Having gotten this place much sooner then he expected and thinking that he had yet time enough to attempt some other Town of better consequence he bethought himself of Reinberg which had been several times taken and retaken by the King of Spain and the Arch-dukes and by the United Provinces But being last taken by Count Maurice he had fortified it much better them formerly it was particularly the year before and this very year fearing least one of Spinola's chief ends about the Rhine might be to besiege that Town This was very much approved of in the Councel of war and it was hoped that it might be soon effected Spinola's Army was so diminished by reason of the unusual troubles which it had undergone as his Forces alone were not sufficient to undertake such an enterprise wherefore he writ to Bucquoy to come with all speed to him Bucquoy drew first near Reinberg on that side which lies towards Brabant and Spinola soon after came on the other side which looks towards Friesland When Maurice had discovered the design he suddenly dispatched away his brother Henry with two thousand Foot and two hundred Horse into the Town and began to make fitting provisions to come to the full relief thereof himself This mean while all the Catholick Forces came on both sides the Rhine insomuch as about the end of August Spinola incamped himself formally before the Town on both sides Reinberg is seated on the left hand of the Rhine which is thought to be one of the most advantagious situations which is to be had about that River To her former ancient and but ill flancked Line was added a second which had a great number of Ravelins Half-moons and other greater and lesser Flanks which were all accompanied with a Ditch and Strada Coperta Nor did the outward Rampires end here but a third Line was almost finished with new works flanckt and of a large circuit to the end that embracing so much compass abroad the inward fortifications might be the better sheltered and defended Not far from the shore where the Town is situated an Island of small circuit riseth in the River in it there was a Fort with four flancks to which other fortifications were added which took up almost the whole Island And a Fort was likewise placed on the other side of the shore but with greater Flancks with Trenches and other defences near it The siege began hottest on this side for they desired first to bereave the Enemy of the Fort on the
which when they should be joyned to those of Flanders the businesse though it might be somewhat slower would certainly be more secure But on the other side many of the chief Commanders were altogether for trying the new passage saying That give the safety of the passage for granted there was little else to be doubted That the more to facilitate the success they were to chuse the quietest hours of night under a faithful Guide well practised therein What damage was to be feared in the dark from rash and blind shooting That the difficulty would rest in coming to land wherein the Kings mens greatest danger lay and the Enemies greatest advantage That notwithstanding when they should be brought face to face why should not the like success be looked for from them both The Kings men according to their wonted resolution would assuredly either overcome or dye especially when they should know they had no third choice to make having the Enemy on their face and upon their backs so great a water But on the contrary the Enemies who were for the most part mercenary cowardly-minded and greater cowards of their hands thinking rather how to flie then how to fight would long for nothing more then to forsake the firm land and to retire into their close holes when they should have fearfully abandoned the open fields That this mean while the Fleet would play her part and landing the men by another way who were destin'd to the enterprise they could meet with no other disturbance That when they should have got good footing thus in Zealand the maritime Forces which were to be sent from Spain would have the easier entrance that this must needs precede that and the one be guided by the other That fortune did for the most part rather favour bold resolutions then such as were too cautelous And so it was to be hoped for now The rather for that her favour would be accompanied with the justice of the Kings forces tending to so good an end and by the Souldiers valour in making use of them upon so worthy an occasion 'T was evidently seen that to make this passage would prove very dangerous yet the Commendador after having been again well assured of the ford resolved to try it being very desirous and also full of hopes to get the aforesaid Eastern Islands and especially that of Scown which lay nearest the Sea which was very considerable in it self and very proper to secure those ships the better which were shortly expected from Spain Within it is the Town of Ziricsee the greatest Town in all those Eastern Islands and where the Commendador chiefly intended to establish the Kings Forces on that side He then without delay put 3000 Souldiers into the Island of Tolen which lies nearest Brabant as hath been said and composed them of Spaniards Dutch and Walloons in equal numbers and went himself thither afterwards the more to encourage the expedition by his presence He made Sancio d' Avila Admiral of the Navy which was assembled thereabouts and resolved to imbarque half his men in it which when they should be landed were to be commanded by Christopher Mandragone The other half composed likewise equally of the abovesaid three Nations were destin'd for the passage which was to be taken from the furthermost point of Filislant where the Channel was broadest For there at the low ebb the ground was highest so as though the passage were the longer it was the more easie With the 1500 Foot were 200 Pioniers to the end that those together with these might the sooner fortifie themselves when they should be come to land They imbarked all of them first in the Island of Tolen that afterwards they might divide themselves in Filislant in such order as hath been said At their imbarking the Commendador presented himself before the Souldiers and especially before those who were to wade over the Channel and in a grave manner-did thus encourage them He said That the hardest enterprises were most familiar to them that many of these very men had been in the two-precedent actions that therefore they went to dangers which they had formerly experienced that they should remember this was the same cause that they served the same King and that they were to meet with the same enemies that therefore they could not doubt but that they were to be seconded by Divine favor by Princely reward and by that advantage which they had always had over those who were Rebels to the Church and King That they were such against whom they now were to fight that the Foreiners who were joyned with them were of more mercenary souls then hands so as all instigation to fight ceasing in them they would strive who should run fastest away At these words they all chearfully imbarked themselves that were to tarry in the ships and the rest went in little Boats to the Island of Filislant Here the Fleet staid till the rest had passed over the Channel John Ossorio d'Uloa a Spaniard one of the valiantest Captains of that Nation and one who of all the rest did most counsel that enterprise led on the men and would himself make the passage They waited the coming of the night which was Michaelmas-Eve and upon the beginning of the ebb Osorio entred the water the very next after the Guides and was followed first by the Spaniards next by the Dutch and then the Walloons after them came the Pioners and Captain Paralta a Spaniard closed up the Files with a Company of the same Nation The Files consisted not of above two or three Souldiers at the most a-breast to the end that being so strait or narrow and walking upon the highest shelves the Adversaries might have the greater difficulty in encountring them and hindring their passage The Enemy stood this mean while upon their watch having already clearly pry'd into the Spaniards design Wherefore when they knew they had begun to wade they ordered their Boats likewise in long Files especially the least both on the one and the other part against the Spaniards Flank they then began to play upon them a good distance off with their Artillery and nearer hand with their Muskets but did them but little hurt by reason of the obscurity of the night The success altered with the change of the Tide the Enemies Boats were not able to come near the Spaniards whilst the Ebb was low but when the Flood began and that as the Tide rise the Enemies Boats drew nearer the Kings men were then divers times in great straits for they were at one and the same time to hasten their passage to keep their Files in order to contend against and to overcome the waters and chiefly to resist the Enemies assaules who were not content to gaul them with their Muskets and Harquebuses but they annoyed them nearer hand with Iron-hooks and struck and molested them with other instruments which they had provided for that purpose endeavouring by all means possible to hinder
sight of their own works and under the shelter of their own Canon might easily repress the violence of the Spanish souldiers whereas the others not having any of those helps must trust only to their courage and to their swords Don John knew this very well and advancing with all his squadrons in order to give battel he staid a while to try again whether the enemy would accept of it But failing in his designe he caused a retreat to be sounded and withdrew his foot in good order from the fight This action was on the first day of August it lasted many hours with equal valour and slaughter though the Flemish pretended to be victors and that the Kings men not being able to compass their ends were worsted Don John departed then from thereabouts and resolved to put himself wholly upon the defensive part in some strong situation which might joyn his quarters with the City of Namures hoping that the tempest of so many contrary Forces would soon vanish and that then he might have his share of the advantage He considered that though the ends of England Frrnce and Germany were the same in general either to make the King of Spain lose the Low-Countries or at least to keep them troubled with war yet their several particular ends did very much differ The Queen of England aimed at some particular conquest of her own especially in those Maritine parts of Holland and Zealand and she could not any ways tollerate those advantages which were to redound to France out of the ruining of Flanders The French on the contrary were very jealous of those aids which were lent unto the Flemish by the English The Germans ends were rather plunder then purchase who when they should have overrun the Country wanting mony to maintain themselves they would soon be inforced to return to their own homes Amongst the Flemish themselves Orange had likewise his particular ends The Archduke Mathias had his ends also and the whole body of the Provinces was greatly divided in its parts as well in point of Religion as in their obedience to the King For those parts which were infected with heresie seemed well inclined totally to throw off the Spanish Government and those which remained Catholicks desired to be rid of the Spaniards and other foreigners but yet still to remain in their obedience to the Crown of Spain So as amongst such diversity of ends Passions and Opinions Don John verily believed that this machination prepared and plotted against him would soon dissolve and that he might afterwards meet with many happy occasions whereby to maintain the cause of the Church and King with honour and advantage And really at that time the two Provinces of Hennault and Artois began to fall out with the Province of Flanders and particularly with the City of Gaunt which is the chief Town thereof The two abovesaid Provinces had always kept firm to the Catholick Faith together with the rest of the Walloons Country which contains all that large Frontier which lies along the whole body of Flanders towards France In the Peâ—ce of Gaunt which was so solemnly concluded by the States General and which was afterwards confirmed by Don John in his agreement with them the Walloon Provinces had laboured more then all the rest for all advantages to the Catholick Religion nor were the people thereof ever inclined to forgoe their obedience to the King so long as they might enjoy their ancient Priviledges and he according to the form of their former Government On the contrary the two Provinces of Holland and Zealand had still fomented the new Sects and the more the Country was troubled the more did they labour to make the evil thereof be felt every where These were Orange his inward drifts and his efficacious Councels And to his industry in knowing how to give them the favour of the times had added great Authority in him to make them be received Briefly his end was to increase the heretical faction and still to alienate the Flemish further from the Spaniards out of those reasons that we have often mentioned Wherefore minding the conjuncture of times he thought it now a very fitting season to bring together the two Armies which came from Germany and France the one of which was composed almost altogether of Lutherans and the other in a great part of Calvenists The Sectaries were not then idle in Flanders Some of them joyned together and presented the States with a Petition in the names of them all wherein under the most specious pretences that they could find out they desired that liberty of conscience might be permitted throughout the Country There wanted not those who opposed this request but the contrary side prevailed Nor had Orange forborn tacitly to infuse a great fear suggesting that upon the coming up of so many Forces who profest the Reformed Religion it was not good to deny that to the pressures of intreaties which might easily be afterwards gotten by force of arms And because the peace of Gaunt made against this the sense thereof was so wrested as that the peace was judged rather favourable then contrary to this sort of concession Yet the Provinces of Hennault and Artois and the rest of the Walloon Countries were firm for the sole exercise of the Catholick Religion But the Provinces of Brabant and Flanders did for the most part give way to the liberty of conscience This mean while the Palatine John Casimire was come as hath beeen said and Alanson drew still nearer on the other side Whereupon the Sectaries boldness increasing not contented with many Churches which were assigned to them but resolute to have the best and the greater number they brought affairs to that pass as on a sudden there was hardly any Churches left for the Catholicks And because one presumption usually cals on another after they had usurped the Churches they came soon after to the driving out of Votaries and their fury and madness grew to be such as there was hardly any safety to be found for any Catholicks Those who had any zeal of true religion in them were therefore highly scandalized hereat and the Walloon Provinces fell particularly into such commotion by reason of these novelties as they began to separate themselves from the rest first in their Councels and then in their executions The Flemish souldiery was maintained by the Countries contribution mony And by the same moneys provision was to be had in a great part for the pay and other necessaries of the foreigners The Provinces of Hennault and Artois becoming therefore refractory to this contribution the States began to be in great straits for money and to foresee the disorders which would quickly insue hereupon They used all means industry and authority to overcome the aforesaid difficulties but they increased rather every day for the occasions thereof did so likewise The Catholicks in those parts stormed mightily complaining That under false pretences of liberty Flanders was now faln
endeavour to compose the differences between those Provinces and Leicester and free the Flemish from those jealousies which they seemed chiefly to be fallen into by reason of him This mean while the sharpness of the winter was over wherefore the Duke of Parma resolved to take to the field again He much desired to cleanse the Province of Flanders so throughly as that the Enemy might be masters of no place there They had still therein as hath been said Ostend and Sluce The Duke therefore resolved first to besiege the latter that he might afterwards doe the like to the other according as he should find opportunity His Camp was at this time very much lessened for many of his Souldiers were lost in the so many expeditions of the last year and many were imployed in guarding the Towns that were newly taken He thought notwithstanding that he might besiege Sluce with but a moderate number of Souldiers that Town standing as it were in the midst of Marish places and having but little dry ground about it where it was requisite to take the Passes and to defend them He therefore resolving upon this try'd first to deceive the Enemy by feigning another enterprise He sent Il Signor d'Altapenna together with Marquis Vasto into the utmost Confines of Brabant and gave them so many Horie and Foot as he thought necessary for that purpose They went their wayes and with several appearances infused fear into the Enemies in those parts in so much as Count Maurice and Count Hollack came suddenly thither Having made this diversion Fernese turn'd presently upon Sluce and towards the end of May incamped before it Sluce does not lie altogether upon the Sea-side as doth Ostend but a little more within land yet there runs a Channel on the right hand of it whereinto the Sea enters and is large enough to receive any whatsoever Vessel on the other sides thereof some other lesser Channels joyn with this greater so as there is but little manageable earth unless it be of one side only which is towards the part called Bruges because it lies nearest to that City An Island of about two leagues about lies almost over against Sluce between the bigger Channel and some others on that part which fall all of them into the Sea and it is called Cassante Sluce might be relieved by Sea from Flushing particularly by this Island and by Land from Ostend which lies upon the same Sea coast towards the West about some five leagues from Sluce Flushing lying much upon the same distance towards the East The Enemy had a Fort midway between Ostend and Sluce which was very commodious for bringing succour to the besieged on that side which was called the Fort Blanchemberg When the Duke was incamped about the Sluce he forthwith went about to take the Fort. The Enemy had not provided very well for it as well for that they were busied about other things of greater necessity as for that they did not expect the Kings Forces at that time thereabouts This Fort being set upon by the Kings men made not much resistance yet those within it would wait till the Cannon was brought which when they were presented they made no further defence The Fort being left well guarded the Duke returned presently to his already begun enterprise He had not much above 8000 Foot with him and but a very few Horse for there was no need of any more in that so low and watery situation Many of his Souldiers were gone to the diversion which was to be made by Altapenna and the Marquis Vasto The Quarters being taken and fortified the first thing the Duke did was to plant a Fort upon the Island of Cassante in a certain bending of the greater Channel which washeth Sluce By it succour might be brought from Sluce And because the Fort was not able to hinder the bringing of it there were some great Barks placed in the midst of the Channel fastned one to another and well furnisht with Mariners Souldiers and Artillery whereby the passage of the Boats with which the Enemy might endeavour to relieve the Town was so much the more disturbed The Duke the better to defend the Boats made some Works over against them on each side of the River The Channel was not notwithstanding above three quarters of a mile over and as for the rest no relief could be brought by them Yet to be the surer on that side the Duke sent some Horse and Foot into the Island of Cassante to watch over all the proceedings of the Enemy on that side which was nearest Flushing He then bent towards the taking of the Town He could not accost it as hath been said save only on the side towards Bruges and the ground was there likewise very soft Min heer Groneveld was Governour of Sluce a valiant Souldier as he very well proved himself to be in this defence He had with him 2000 good Souldiers part of which were sent unto him by the Governour of Flushing at the first appearing of the Kings men No sooner then did the Kings men begin to approach but that the Defendants issued out in accustomed sallies to oppose them The Fort of Bruges was well fortified with good Flanks and the besieged had likewise raised a Fort without the Gate to keep the Kings men the further from the Ditch Fernese knew that this Fort was by all means to be won which he resolutely went about It was oft-times assaulted and as oft stoutly defended but at last the Enemy were glad to quit it Hereby the Royalists had the better conveniencie to make their approaches The Marquis of Renty had the chief care of the Trenches who was one of the chief Lords of Flanders and of most credit for valour and fidelity By him the Works were with great vigilancie led on but being too fervent and forward therein he was ill wounded and was inforced to withdraw from thence Monsieur de la Motte succeeded in his place a man of quality likewise and of like valour and fidelity But he proved no more fortunate for as he was with equal fervencie surveying the Works he received so dangerous a wound in one of his Arms as to save his life it was cut off In the defence of the Trenches John d' Aquila a Spanish Camp-master together with many Captains and Souldiers of inferior condition were so sorely hurt as the Royalists could not pay dearer for their endeavours on that side And yet they suffered very much on another side To come to the Trenches the Kings men were of necessity to pass over a Bridg which lay so open to the wall of the Town as those within might with great safety to themselves shoot at them The Royalists placed a great Cloth before it so to make the Enemy shoot at less certainty But notwithstanding this the damage was very great which they received and continued so to be till the Royalists had advanced further and so bereft the
Treaty of accommodation in the Affairs of Flanders Which it may be believed she was chiefly perswaded unto thereby to try whether she could avoid the Tempest of Arms which the King of Spain already threatned her withall She thought the King of Denmark might be a fitting Instrument for this purpose wherefore she turned her self to him Nor was he backward therein but readily imbracing it sent John Ronsovio forthwith to Brussels who was well received by the Duke of Parma and was afterwards well approved of by the King of Spain The Schools from whence the negotiations of Princes proceed are always full of deep mysteries And though it be desired their hidden and reserv'd ends either cannot or ought not to be penitrated into It was notwithstanding conjectured that the Queen and King desired interchangeably to delude one another in this kind of negotiation so as those provisions which were making on both sides might be a little slackned The United Provinces seemed most averse to this kind of negotiation For their answer to Leicester who had sundry times made several proposals to them about it was resolutely this That they would never return again under the King of Spains obedience and that though the Queen should abandon them they would not notwithstanding desist from doing what they could in their own defence even till the last gasp But whatsoever should come of it or what ever the end of this Treaty might be the King and Queen resolved to set it on foot and chosing Burborg a little Town between Dunkirk and Gravelin for the place they sent some perticular Commissioners thither to that end In the Kings name there did intervene Count Aremberg Knight of the golden Fleece Mousieur de Campigni Lord Treasurer and John Richardotto President of the Councel of Artois And for the Queen the Earl of Darby Knight of the Garter and two others of her privy Councel whilst arms were handled in Flanders in one part and this Treaty was in hand in another many frequent consultations had been had and were yet had in Spain touching in what manner the King should rescent the injuries done unto him by the Queen of England The King had been provoked long before this by the Queen of England by her continual fomenting the troubles of Flanders yet he thought he might dissemble the offence because she dissembled the injuries But the King was so moved at this last action wherein she had by so many helps so openly revived the rebellion of Flanders when it was almost extinguished as he thought he could no longer forbear shewing how ill he took it by declaring open war against her Yet openly to make war upon England was of great consequence to the affairs of Spain so as the King before he would resolve thereupon would have it very well disputed by his ablest ministers of State Alvaro di Bassano Marquess of Sancta Croce a Personage very much cryed up for Naval Militia was one of those that perswaded him most to this enterprise he bore a great command at this time over the Kings Fleets in the Ocean and by reason of his imploymenr hoped it would fall to his share to be the prime man in this famous expedition Wherefore whilst they were treating one day of this business in presence of the King he spoke thus When I consider most mighty Prince the glory and advantage of the proposition in hand and the hopes of seeing it happily effected I confess I cannot forbear exhorting your Majesty with all the power and efficacy I have by all means to lay hold of it your Majesty may chiefly glory in the August Cognomen of most Catholick and that you have much more made it good in your actions then used it in your Title What greater glory can you then desire then in the first place to restore so great and so noble a Kingdom as is England to due obedience to the Church and to the ancient veneration of the Altars And what greater renown then to beat down Heresie there where her most rebellious ensignes are raised up that Island being made as it were an inexpugnable Sanctuary thereof How much hath Piety and Religion flourish'd formerly in that Kingdom How many Catholicks are there yet there And how do they long to see an end of that bitter persecution which they suffer there And to proceed to the advantage of the proposal It is well known that Spain can reap no greater advantage then in being no longer opposed by England From thence are the Indies infested and your Fleets threatned From thence is the Rebellion of Flanders fomented and the manifest usurpation of the Dominion therefore aspired unto And finally From thence proceeds all the greatest damages which the Crown of Spain suffers at this present and from thence will the greatest evils alwaies derive which shall at any time hereafter befall it And for the happy success of the enterprise why should not your Majesty assure your selfe thereof Your Forces at Sea have formerly been most powerful How much more formidable wil they be made now by the addition of Portugal And your resent succession to that Kingdom does plainly denote that God hath been thereby pleased the more to facilitate this enterprise 'T is then to be beleeved that the Spanish Fleet by Sea will be of that Potency as it will not to be withstood by all the maritime Forces of England though assisted by Holland and Zealand The Army by land which the Duke of Parma hath lately increased in Flanders may at the same time correspond with the Fleet which shall come from Spain When the Channel shall be possest by your Fleet the Army may be easily conveyed over into the Island where when it shall be landed and all your Majesties Forces joyned what shall withctand them from entring suddenly into the heart of the Kingdom For it being an Island nature defends it onely by situation no use being made to fortifie it by industry When this shall be once done and England 's fomenting be ceased it is not to be doubted but that the Rebellion in Flanders will soon cease likewise Fire lasts as long as do the materials where with it is fed when those fail the greatest fires go out and end in ashes John Idiaques one of the Kings Officers most imployed in Court at that time appeared in Councel to be of a contrary opinion Idiaques had been for many years Ambassador first at Genua then at Venice and after his return to Court the King had always imployed him in managing the most important affairs of the Crown He spake thus The first thing that is to be taken into consideration most mighty Prince is in my opinion the difficulties of the undertaking which is now in dispute And to speak my mind freely I think them so great as there is but very little hope of good success England as every one knows is so situated hath such Forces such Inhabitants and is governed after so peculiar a
Varras got notice of it He had with him the Marquis of Trevico's Italian Brigado which was commanded by his Serjeant Major Count Sols his new Regiment of Germans and two Walloon Brigadoes of Barlotta and Assicount These Germans and Walloons were also without their Commanders and were Governed by other inferior Officers Nicholas Basti Commanded the horse which were all Spanish and Italian Count Varras having discovered the Enemies march and thinking that he had not sufficient Forces to fight him in the Field knowing also that Turnaut as being an open Village was not a place for defence resolved to go to Herentales a Town which he might easily get unto being but three hours easie march from Turnaut Yet he would retire by day lest if he should have marched by night his retreat might have seemed a running away Thus resolved and sending out his baggage by night upon the break of day Varras left Turnaut and made his men march in this manner He devided the foot into three squadrons in the first he placed the Walloons in the second the Germans and in the third the Italians But that which at their first going out was the reer if the enemy should come upon them was to be the van The horse were placed on the right hand where the field was more free and a great wood served for a sufficient defence on the left hand Maurice hearing of this removal he suddenly advanced with all his horse and with 300 musketiers behind so many Curassiers en Croup and the Curassiers advancing foremost with the musketiers en Croup he gave them order to charge the enemy home in the reer and that they should endeavour to hold them play till his foot should come up With Maurice were the Counts of Hollack and Solm Colonel Vere an English-man and divers other Commanders of great experience and valour The Kings Horse valiantly opposed the like of the Enemies and the Squadrons facing about did likewise sustain the first charge of the Enemy But all Maurice his Horse coming in and soon after his Foot the Kings Horse being no more in number could make no longer resistance So as these being routed the rest were discouraged though Count Varras galloping here and there and in every place shewed all the proofs of valour and undauntedness which could be desired of him upon such an occasion And finally pressing forwards amongst the Italians when he saw their Squadrons begin to flie he was suddenly slain and he failing the Kings men were wholly overcome and the Enemy had the total victory over them The Walloons fought not that day according as they were wont to doe and the Germans made but little resistance And therefore the most that were slain or wounded were Italians In all there were above 1200 slain and almost as many taken There were 37 Colours lost and a great part of the Baggage There were not above 100 of the Enemy slain And Maurice wan such a Victory with the loss of so little blood as made much for the advantage of the Consederate Provinces and for his own Honour in War After this mischance the Cardinal failed not suddenly to provide for the necessities of Brabant by sending in many Horse and Foot He was about likewise to make many great new Levies But the King was in so great scarcity of monies as the Cardinal could not make provisions so soon nor yet so fully as the necessity of the Flanders affairs required and much more those which were of so great concernment on the part of France Nor was it long ere an occasion arose in France which being one of the most remarkable which the wars of France or Flanders hath produced in point of Surprise and Siege you shall have a particular diligent account thereof in the next Book THE HISTORY OF THE WARS OF FLANDERS Written by CARDINAL BENTIVOGLIO The Third Part. BOOK IV. The Contents The Spaniards surprise the City of Amiens by stratagem The King of France immediately besiegeth it The chiefest successes thereof and of the Defence are related The Cardinal-Archduke goes himself in person with a powerfull Army to relieve the besieged but being kept off by the Enemies forces the Town returns at last into the Kings hands who presently fortifies it with a strong Castle The Cardinal retreats to Artois and from thence passeth into Flanders Here he visits Ostend but not attempting any thing he returns to Brussels and puts his Army in garrison The acquisitions this mean while made by Count Maurice to the great advantage of the Confederate Provinces are related Nor is it long ere Peace is declared between the two Crowns so as the Kings Forces are now at liberty to attend only the proper affairs of Flanders At this same time great consultations are had in the Court of Spain about a Marriage propounded between the Cardinal-Archduke and the Infanta Isabella the Kings eldest daughter with the giving of the Low-Countries to the Infanta for her portion The King inclines thereunto out of many good reasons and therefore will have it effected The Archduke parts from Flanders to go for Spain and Cardinal Andrea d' Austria stayes in his place The Cardinal-Archduke is not well gone when the King of Spain dyes and his son Philip the Third succeeds him To whom the King had also a little before destined the Archdutchess Margaret of Austria for Wife HErnando Teglio Portocarrero was Governour of Dorlan being left there by Count Fuentes after the taking of that place as chosen by him for one of the best Souldiers that the Spanish Nation had in Flanders Portacarrero not satisfied with the bare custody of Dorlan wherein he was extraordinarily vigilant he oft-times issued out with his Garrison and assaulting the Enemy sometimes in open fields sometimes by ambushes now preying upon their Cattel and then setting their Villages on fire he was almost become the Terror of that Frontier But neither did his thoughts end here He had an earnest desire to doe some great action for the Kings service in those parts by which he himself might likewise acquire reward and glory Amiens is the chief City of Picardy and Dorlan is not above seven leagues distant from it This neighbourhood afforded occasion to Portacarrero to penetrate almost â—â—urly into what was done in Amiens and thereabouts That City had appeared much for the League and being now fallen into the Kings hands it coveted much to have its antient priviledges observed and especially that the City should be governed by Personages of their own Inhabitants and by their own proper Forces Nor would the King the present condition of affairs considered doe any thing to the contrary Thus the City was its own Guardian And though there were a great number of Citizens who had listed themselves under Colours yet were they not any way disciplind according to custom in the handling of their Arms nor were they so vigilant as they ought to have been in guarding their Gates The Country
a Spaniard was Governour of Graves and he had with him about 1500 Foot of several Nations good men but not so well provided as they ought to have been with necessaries for defence Yet the Governour and Garrison did with equal courage prepare to defend the Town hoping that the Town might in good time be relieved from the Catholick Camp Maurice turn'd first of all upon the aforesaid little Redout and playing furiously upon it took it within a few dayes He then began with great fervencie to begirt the Town on all sides and advancing with his Trenches on three sides he accompanied them with three Batteries nor was it long ere he came to the ditch But those within shewed themselves no less valiant both in making use of Counter-batteries in defending the ditch and in endamaging the enemy by their fallies It was argued this mean while by the Captains of the Catholick Camp whether it were better directly to relieve the Town or by assieging some other place make Maurice raise his siege It was thought a hard matter immediately to relieve the Town for the Catholick Camp-stood in need of many things to accost the enemy and they could not so soon make provision thereof But it was yet thought harder to be able to besiege any of the Enemies Towns for they must then pass the Mause and provide great store of Victuals and Ammunition for their Army whereof as also of all other things they knew the Enemy had great abundance They at last resolved to relieve Graves to which purpose the Admiral went presently to Ruremonde which is a City standing upon the Mause not far from Graves and which was therefore better able to furnish such things as they needed but yet they could not make such hast thereof but that many dayes were spent therein From Ruremonde the Admiral went for Venelo a good Town standing likewise upon the Mause that he might enjoy the oppertunity of the River by means whereof victuals might be the more easily brought to the Army From thence he marched strait upon the Enemy but as he drew neer their fortifications he found them such and so far advanced as he was clean out of hope of doing good upon any of them yet he knew that one of their quarters was neither so well fortified nor so well guarded as were the rest wherefore he resolved to try whether he could relieve the Town by that way or no. He therefore ordered John Tomaso Spina formerly a Neapolitan Camp-master that advancing unexpected by night towards that quarter with a thousand Italian Foot he should endeavour to force the Enemies Trenches and to get with that relief into the Town And that Spina might have a safe retreat in case he should not succeed therein the Admiral commanded Camp-master Simon Autunes to follow Spina at a proportionable distance with one other thousand Spanish Foot To divert the Enemy as much as it was possible from the defence of that quarter he likewise ordered that Marquess Spinola should move with two thousand Foot at the same time against the opposite quarter and should give a counterfeit hot Alarm to the end that the Enemy might the likelyer give over the defence of the other aforesaid quarter All these orders were fully observed but without any fruit for Spina found the aforesaid quarter so well defended as he was forced presently to retreat nor did the Marquis his fained assault on the other side any thing avail for though the Enemy flocked thither in great numbers yet the other defence against which Spina had made the true assault was not a whit weakned After this ill success the Admiral dispaired of any more succoring the Town wherefore he resolved to retreat Yet did not the besieged forbare defending themselves for many dayes making the business much more bloody to the besiegers But having no hopes of relief they at last resolved to yeild and upon the best conditions they could get delivered the City up to Count Maurice A little before the surrender of Graves upon the retreat of the Catholick Camp there began a mutiny in it amongst the Italians which every day increasing quickly became one of the greatest and most dangerous that had yet happened in Flanders The mutineers endeavaured first to possess themselves of Diste and not being able to get in there went hastily towards Hostrat a small Town in Brabant but provided of a Castle and so near Breda as they might receive succour from that Town of the Enemy if the Arch-duke should use violence against them which the Arch-duke was resolved to do that he might once more try whether he could by severe means remedy that mischief which grew still worse by being fairly proceeded with and truly they gave too much accasion of it at this time for growing every day more perverse then other and being in a short time gotten to be two thousand Foot and a thousand Horse there could be no mischief done by excursions which they did not nor any other sort of hostility which they did not threaten Being therefore declared Traitors and Rebels the Arch-duke resolved to proceed by force against them which when they discovered they began to fortifie themselves so in the Town and Castle of Hostrat and did still receive such advantages from the Enemies parts thereabouts as all the endeavours to suppress their audacity by force proved vain as shall be afterwards shewed nor did there any thing else of military action succeed that year The next year being 1603 they resolved in the Court of Spain to reinforce the Army in Flanders as much as they could possibly It was by this time clearly seen that the marriage between the Arch-duke and Infanta would prove steriâ— Wherefore it being considered in Spain that the Provinces of Flanders would again revert to that Crown they therefore treated of providing for the necessities of those Provinces with the Kings Name Authority and monies as in case of a Country that were intirely his Count Frederick was returned to Flanders with three Gallies only as we told you He had in this his second voyage to Spain so negotiated in that Court as the King being willing vigourously to assist the affairs of Flanders was resolved that the two brothers Frederick and Ambrosius Spinola should levy twenty thousand Foot and two thousand Horse that these should be attended by a proportionable number of Artillery And in fine that there should be an entire Army raised apart which should be commanded by them alone and which might be imployed where the most advantagious occasion should require When Frederick was come to Sluce his brother the Marquess came to him nor was it long ere orders came from Spain for them to raise the aforesaid men and because they were to be composed of Germans Italians and other new Flemish the Marquess went about the end of March into Germany being to go afterwards for Italy and the mean while Frederick stayed to infest the Enemy upon the
Coast of Flanders with his Gallies But a new unfortunate fight soon bereft him of his life and overthrew his whole design whereby he did notwithstanding the more highten those wherein his brother still continued and brought him afterwards to the greatest exaltation that might be atchieved in the millitary profession Frederick putting forth with eight Gallies well maned met with two of the Enemies Gallies and three other men of war The season was then softned into a calm and therefore the sail vessels stood immoveable Frederick taking this advantage assaulted the Enemies vessels on divers sides which did not fail to defend themselves the Gallies and round vessels giving each other such interchangeable assistance as the one sort of them could give to the other and for a while the conflict was very fierce Many fell of each side yet the Catholicks were still more advantaged by the calm when on a sudden the winde rose which made so much for the contrary vessel of sail as winding about in several sorts and pouring down Canon shot upon Frederick's Gallies he himself received a shot from one of them in his side whereof he suddenly dyed This happened about the end of May at which time the Marquess having given requisite orders in Germany for the raising of two Regiments of Foot went from thence to Italy to take two other Brigadoes of Foot there also into pay and to return afterwards with all these men to Flanders But his brothers death did so disorder the first designes as for divers difficulties the men could not be raised though the King continued the same commands of his brother upon the Marquess who quickly returned to Flanders with all demonstration of honour and esteem to his person Yet the Gallies were then almost of no longer use for the Marquess was soon after imployed as you shall hear in the enterprise of Ostend but before it was taken Sluce was lost which drew after it the the loss of the Gallies The Marquess in the interim indeavoured to preserve the men which he brought with him the year before from Italy but because they were much diminished as was likewise the whole Army the Arch-duke gave out orders for the raising of new Horse and Foot resolving to turn the greatest strength thereof that he could against the mutineers The Duke d' Aumale raised one thousand Horse the greatest part Lorrainers Three thousand Dutch were raised in Germany The Walloon Brigadoes were fild up and two other Brigadoes came to Flanders from Italy the one of Spaniards under Inico di Borgia and the other Neopolitans under Lelio Brancatchio Knight of St. John the people that could be soonest raised being assembled together and the season being already fit for the field the Arch duke sent Count Frederick di Berg against the Mutineers with 7000 Foot and 3000 Horse The Mutiniers were got into Hostrat where what by means of their own Fortifications and what by the aid which they received from the Enemies neighbouring parts they seemed little to value any force that could be brought against them They were above 2000 Foot and were grown to have 1500 Horse all good men of several Nations though the most were Italians Yet Count Frederick began to set so close to them as beginning now not to trust any longer in their own forces alone they sought to be openly backt by those which Count Maurice had oft-times offered them It hath been known in other Mutinies many times how much more prejudicial his own Souldiers have been unto the King then those of his Enemies but in this of Hostrat the excess of disobedience did degenerate into such a degree of infamy as the example thereof ought ever to be abhorred The Mutiniers were not ashamed in their Treaty between Count Maurice and them to bargain in this manner with them That they should be taken by Count Maurice into the protection of the United Provinces That to this purpose they should be by him defended against the violence of the Spaniards That on the other side they the Mutiniers should fight under him as long as the Army should lie in the field that year That in case they should agree with the Archduke they should not for four moneths space bear Arms against the United Provinces That if the Town and Castle of Hostrat should not be thought to be sufficient some good Town should be assigned unto them by the United Provinces and that their safety should by all other means be provided for The Agreement being thus made Count Maurice went presently into Hostrat with many Forces to secure the Mutiniers And their affairs grew quickly to such an advantage as Count Frederick being forced first to stand rather upon his defence then otherwise was at last necessitated to remove from thereabouts and to retreat Nor did Maurice lose this occasion Hostrat is very near Balduke against which it was clearly seen that Count Maurice had sundry times plotted his greatest designs Marching therefore speedily against Balduke he incamped about it and disposing of his quarters in sundry parts he gave one of them to the Mutiniers apart The Archduke was mightily troubled at the news hereof He feared as I told you upon another occasion that he had no sufficient Forces both to continue the Siege of Ostend and sufficiently to succour Balduke But that which most moved him was That upon other occasions that City not desirous to admit of any external Garrison was resolute to defend it self with its own peculiar Forces which were not thought sufficient for the security of such a place of too great a circuit and which had need of men trained up in Arms and not in City-affairs Just at this time were come the two Brigadoes of Borgia and Brancatchio which were expected from Italy Joyning therefore these men to those which were formerly with Count Frederick the Archduke ordered that Frederick should with all diligence follow Maurice and should by all means endeavour to hinder him in his intended Siege Maurice could not in so short a time possess himself of all such places about it as the Siege did require So as it was not hard for Frederick to make himself master of one of them by which he drew as near as was needfull to Balduke and secured such intercourse as was necessary with the City He immediately endeavoured to put in a strong Garrison into the City but the Citizens seemed unwilling as before to admit of them Maurice knew this and hoped that some dissention would arise thereupon and from dissention some tumult in the Town and that this tumult might produce some other disorder which might make for his advantage He therefore continued to fortifie himself both without towards the fields and on the inside towards the City raising good Forts and Redouts every where and accompanying them on all sides as was fitting with Trenches Ditches and all other most advantagious Fortifications Count Frederick did the like on his part yet thinking the City to
and of still preserving that between the two Crowns particularly in respect of the service that Flanders might receive thereby Paul sat at the helm of the Universal Goverment of the Church this very year of 1607 which was the second year of his Popedome Cardinal Maffeo Barberino was then Nuntio in France who was a little before promoted to the Cardinals Cap together with Jovanni Garzia Millino Nuntio of Spain with divers others of great merit amongst which the same Cardinal Barbarino by the eminency of his deserts came afterwards to the Supreme dignity of the Church and continues still happily therein These two Cardinals did in the name of Pope Paul the fift do all the best offices they could still better to establish the aforesaid Peace between the two Kings But great were the difficulties which were met withal on the behalf of France in order to the Affairs of Flanders by reason of the near confederacy which was between the United Provinces and that Crown Yet Cardinal Barberino took often occasion to put the King in minde how much it became him to see the pride of the Flemish Rebels abased He told him how that they had alwaies conspired together with the Hugonots of France and the French Hugonots no less fervently with them that each of these had at all times with mutual intelligence favoured the others rebellion That in point of Religion Calvenism raigned equally in them both a Sect which was no less an Enemy to temporal Monarchy then to the supreme premecy of the Church and that it had already been seen and was still seen to what end the Politick Government of the Hugonots did tend and particularly by their so many Towns of safety wherein doubtlessly their onely ayme was to make a separation of themselves from the State and to bring the Government of Holland into France These reasons together with divers other which the same matter did administer prevailed much with the King But because the Cardinal knew very well how desirous the Pope was to fasten the two Crowns close together by all possible means he bethought himself of uniting them together by marriage They had both of them several sons and daughters and though they were very young yet by the example of so many remote espousals which had at all times insued between great Princes in order to the Publick good he thought the negotiation hereof ought very suddenly to be commenced The Pope approved of his purpose and gave order to the Cardinal that he should as dexterously as he could set on foot the Treaty there in France Monsieur de Villeroy was then chief Secretary of State in the Court of France a State Minister very much versed in the management of the weightiest affairs of that Crown wherefore by reason of his place and the particular esteem that he was in with the King of all the other State Officers the Cardinal did most usually negotiate with him He therefore made the first overture to him and thought he found such a disposition in him thereunto as he began afterwards to move it to the King who seemed to approve of it from the very first The Pope was hereat very well pleased and so much the more for that the like introduction being by his order made by the Cardinal Milino in Spain upon the same motives which Cardinal Barbarino had made use of in France he found alike inclination there also applying himself especially to the Duke of Lerma who was in chiefest favour and authority with the King of Spain And though by reason of the tender years of the Princely progeny and for divers other reasons the business past no further at that time yet the same Pope having at other times set the negotiation more maturely on foot it was at last to the great honor of the Holy See and to the great glory of his endeavours perfected and consummated in two mutual marriages between those two Crowns But amongst Barbarino's main motives and Paulus quintus his chief ends this was one that by the near alliance of the two Crowns for both their general welfares a third marriage might be made by joyning a second son of Spain to a daughter of France and by placing this young couple near the Infanta Isabella who might succeed in the Principallity of those Provinces now that there was no hopes of succession between her and the Arch-duke and this would at the same time have redownded to the advantage of the affairs of Flanders and without doubt it might be thought that no tye would have proved more tenacious then this to unite both the Crowns together by interchangeable advantages and to make Flanders injoy the benefit which by the precedent marriage between the Arch-duke and the Insanta Isabella was hoped for as well in matter of Religion as in point of State and which for want of succession did not afterwards insue A thought which the Pope himself alwaies had and which often was made known to us in the time of our Nuntioture in Flanders to the which he was chiefly moved by the example of what had been done in the case of the same two Princes by Philip the second a King of great piety and prudence and by the same considerations which were then discerned in Clement the eighth who was so worthy and so zealous a Pope These intercessions which were so efficatious made in the name of Pope Paul to the two Kings still to establish more good intelligence between them made much then for the service of the affairs of Flanders There was a Treaty begun that Winter touching some suspention of Arms that they might afterwards come if it were possible to some former negotiation either of a perpetual Peace or of a long Truce The Authority which the King of France had with the United Provinces could not be greater then then it was and it was plainly seen that no overture made by the Spaniards would have been listend unto by those Provinces and would much less have had any good end without his appearing and particular favour therein Wherefore it was not to be doubted but that the aforesaid intercessions would greatly help to dispose that King to favour so much the more the negotiation which was already begun and which afterwards by his authority chiefly was concluded and ended in a Truce of twelve years as shall hereafter be related though through the wonted jealousies of Princes he seemed at first rather averse then willing thereunto At this very time were we destined to be Nuntio in Flanders and came to Brussels just when the suspention of Arms was which afterwards past into a greater Treaty Before the suspention was had which was about the beginning of May no military action was done that deserves any relation We will therefore fall to give you an account of all the aforesaid negotiation and because when the Truce was established we did then compose a full historical Narration thereof apart which was afterwards printed