faithfull Frend HENRY COUNT OF BERKE From our Campe at Boxtel the 16. of Iuly 1629. The Superscription was thus To My Lord the Baron of Grobbendonk Knight of the Order of S. Iames Coronell of a Regiment of Walloons and Governor of the BUSSE But this Letter falling into the handes of his Excellentie he sent it to the Lordes the States Generall of these Unyted Low Countrye Provinces with his advyse and counsell what he thought fitting to be done against the Enemyes plot his Excellentie likewise ordered an Army of Foote and Horse out of his Campe vnder the commaund of Count Otto van Stierum to followe Count Henry and watch what he intended neverthelesse himselfe continueing the Siege before the BUSSE The 18. the Lord van Dieden Governor of Emmerick then commanding in the French Trenches hauing blowne vp a Myne in the greate Sconce which overwhelmed twoo of our men that stood too neere it The French entered finding noe resistance tooke the greate Sconce There were founde in it 16. Hogsheads of Wyne 24. Barrells of Beere greate quantity of Bread and Porke a Boy and a Dog with a Sellar of Yse to coole Wyne or Beere in the heate of the Summer The 19. of Iuly in the morning about three a clocke the Enemy likewise quitted the little Sconce wherein was founde seuerall Armes and Houshouldstuffe The same daye Coronell Harwood commaunding the English Trenches after he had taken the little Sconce went forward and likewise beate the Enemye out of a Traverse which they had made without the Sconce and so they fled to theire halfe Moone which was 250. paces from thence towardes the Towne The English and the French afterwardes releeued one another in approaching and sapping towardes the Towne euerie fourth night and the Dutch hauing the Watch after them one night And so his Excellentie caused some Batteries to be made by the little Sconce which shot vpon the Tenaille Vuchtergate and halfe Moone thereof wee in the meane time sapping forwardes towardes the Tenaille which was the next thing that laye in our waye The 20. Count Otto van Stirum departed out of our Camp with an Army of 1200. Horse and 4000. foote to followe the Enemy The 23. came newes to our Camp that Count Henry with his and the Emperours Forces were got over the Ryver called the Ysell into the Veluw which daunted vs much being the Enemye could runne vp from thence without passing over any more Waters even to the principall Cities of Hollande as he did partlie his dessigne being thereby to make vs breake vp the Siege of the BUSSE and to come to prevent his proceeding But his Excell seeing the Towne could not hould out long sent forth Count Ernst with Coronell Harwood and so many foote and Horse as he could spare out of his Camp to hinder the Enemys comming over the Ryne into the Betu as he afterwardes when he had brought his Forces into the Velu did oftentimes attempt which if he could haue effected would haue beene greatlie to our disadvantage The 26. the Sergeant Major of the French which then had the watch in the Trenches brought a bridge of rushes over the moate of the halfe Moone which laye before the Tenaille and making a Rempart in the halfe Moone the Enemye left it and fled to the Tenaille The 28. the Enemye sallied forth of the Towne in Boates and tooke divers Prisoners whereof some were Burgers that were gone too neere the Towne to see strange things The same daye came into our Camp the Yong Prins of Denmarke with a Regiment of Dutch The 3. of August a Bridge of rushes was brought over the moate of the Tenaille The 4. Monsieur Douchant hauing the Watch in the Approaches aboute noone sprong a Myne in the Tenaille after he had layd twoo Rush-Bridges over the moate thereof and about some 100. of the French went on verie furiouslie into the breach which the myne had made entering it with halfe Pykes But the Enemye resisted them verie stoutlie and slew many being most of them Volontaries and so put them backe by force which Combate his Excellentie sawe standing vpon the Bulwarke of the little Sconce The 6. of August Monsieur de Candale commanding the French Trenches made a sap on the right hand of the Tenaille which did the Enemye much harme afterwardes he caused a Corps de guarde to be made to make shot on the sideway and the daye after sent them manye of Granadoes The same daye Monsieur Pinsen made a Batterie verie neere the Citie from whence he cast them manie Granadoes The 8. Monsieur Maurice Coronell of the Walloones hauing the watch in the Trenches the Enemye left the Tenaille after twoo Mynes were sprong the third being readie and so was taken and a greate Batterie made of it of nine halfe Cannons On the 10. of August Grobbendonk in the night sent forth twoo Souldiers apparrelled like Countriemen with Letters to the Arch-Duchesse each of them hauing a paire of Doves which should haue beene cast vp and flie into the Towne with answer backe againe But their hartes failing them and fearing to be taken by our Men in passing the Line and Watches the one Souldier being more willing then the other drew out his Knife and threatned to kill the other if he would not goe along with him to the Prince and so calling to our Centinells the Guard receiued them in the contents of the Letters were that he could not hould out the Towne aboue three weekes longer and the Burgers for the sauing of their liues and goodes and shunning of sudden danger would force him to a composition and therfore required releife within that time or else it would goe verie hard with them of all which the Prince made good vse To goe on the Tenaille being ours we beganne a new sap from the right point thereof towardes the Enemyes halfe Moone without the Vuchter-Gate running the Approaches by oblique Lines windings and turnings till wee came to the verie brinke of the Moate of the Towne where the Dommell falleth into it making the moate and it aboue 300. foote over and euer as wee got ground so we advanced our Ordinance made Batteries Gards and Blinds for the safegard of our Men there began the first entrance of our mayne Gallerie into the moate to be put ouer into the Bulwarke on the right hand of the Gate on both sides of this Gallerie there were made for the defence of it a small Batterie of twoo halfe Cannon which beate vpon the bricke foundation of the Bulwarke and flankard our Gallerie on both sides the Ordinance likewise which were planted vpon the Tenaille playd vpon the Bulwarkes on each side of the Towne gate to dismount their Ordinance which shot vpon the end of our Gallerie and of our Workemen but the Enemyes Ordinance were so sunke that wee could not come at them From vnder the said Tenaille was also a planke Bridge layd over the Dommell and a Blinde made
time Count Henry of Berck Mustered his Army at Turnhout being in number some 25000. Men foote and horse In the afternoone the French gave fire to twoo mynes more but avayled not The third made such a breach into the Wall of the Horneworke that wee could see the Enemie in it from top to toe And so they should have made an assaulte vpon them but by reason the springing of the myne cast so much earth into the Mouth of the Gallerie that they could not goe forth of it they were prevented and the breach suddenly stoppet againe The 24. and 25. wee did effect little The 26. there was a greate fire in three severall places of te Siege as namely in the Horse Quarter in the English Quarter and in Brederoes Quarter it was suspected to be villany of Traytors but we could not finde them out At this time Count Henry of Berch marching towardes vs lodged his Forces at Sprang Wallwyke Druynen and Loon. At the same time the King of Bohemia came vnto the Siege and went with his Excell into the Trenches and viewed our Approaches Batteries and other Workes The 27. the French passed ouer the moate of the Conterscharpe and made Cannon shott from a Batterie on the right hand of the Gallerie and made on each side thereof a small Batterie The same daye Count Henry of Berch came with his Army to Vlymen and appeared in our sight at seuerall places with his Horse which went vp and downe to viewe our Outworkes In the night they of the Towne caused an Alarme to be made which made vs thinke that the Enemie would haue fallen vpon vs from without and within but they attempted nothing The 28. Count Henry appeared with his Forces in the night neere the Hollands Dyke and by our greate Sconces called the 3. Sisters but we hauing sent them some 10. or 12. Cannonshot they retired backe Our whole Army neverthelesse standing in Battle all the night long The 29. many of the Enemies Souldiers came into our Quarters complayning of greate scarsitie hunger and hardnesse The 30. the Enemye laye themselues in Embuscado neere the Uffrou Sconce and tooke diuers of Waggons and Waggonmen which went forth for Brush Likewise they tooke the House of Hesop and Boxtel where we had some small strength of Souldiers which they let passe with theire Armes and Baggagie into our Camp In the morning came twoo of the Enemies Sloopes to the 3. Sisters and the Hollands Dyke to take measure of the depth of the Water which made our Army to rise in Armes Some more Souldiers of the Enemie comming to vs reported that in theire Campe Cheese was sould for 12. stiuers a pound and a Pot of Beere for 6. stiuers Insomuch that the common Souldiers were allmost famished for want of monnie and foode which caused them to flee from them The second of Iuly Monsieur Fama was shot and dyed of it The Enemye continually buzzing vp and downe sent some 4000. Horse and foote with 800. firelockes each hauing a leather bag of powther to put them into the Towne betweene the Petler Sconce and Count Ernst Quarter and brought along with them Spades Fagots and Plankes to fall vpon a Horneworke of ours not farre from Coudwater but being discovered by our men in the night which stood readie to receaue them the Alarme being giuen They were beate of some of them drowned and others being shot and wounded retreated and lefte some of theire powther baggs behinde them This failling he had other designes by the helpe of twoo treacherous Pesants for the cutting of our Damme The same night these Pesants as theire Guides brought his men along the little Dyke which runnes from the Dam to Boxtel by the Boores Houses but they in the night discovered Generall Cicills Tents which were newly sett vp their harts misgaue them thinking we knew of their plot and so retreated without attempting it parte of a Companie onely hauing the guarde at the poinct vpon the Dyke while the rest of the Companies were drawne to the Line vpon the Heath they might easilie haue effected it Our Men in the morning discouering them as they marched towarde Count Henryes Quarter the twoo halfe Cannons which laye vpon Cicills Batterie let fly at them and slew some of them But to preuent this the next daye his Excell caused abundance of Pallisadoes to be driuē into the Dyke and made a Batterie where they should haue come one and from thence to Berckel Sconce chayned boates togeather ouer the Water setting watch in them by night for the defence of the Damme Count Henry of Berke being then quartered at Boxtel Cromforde and Helforde within an English mile and a halfe of our Line wee were faine to make the nights our dayes and the dayes our nights expecting continually his comming vpon vs with maine Force which oftentimes he attempted but to little effect which lasted aboue three weekes togeather vntill hee left vs. In the meane time the Companies of all Nations beset the Line of Circumvallation some twoo hundred paces distant one from another round about the Army The Horse standing behind them in Battaile readie to receaue him His Excellentie euery night about midnight goeing the grand Round to answere all Alarmes The same night that he intended to put in these firelockes and their powther bags into the Towne and to haue cut the Damme and to haue let in a Sea of water vpon vs which ranne rownde about our Quarters returning from Vlymen with the grosse of his Army he discovered himselfe betimes in the morning assoone as it beganne to be light by the downes and had layd an Embuscado of Musketteirs in a ditch by some trees and behinde the downes he made a halte with his Horse and foote and sends out first some 10. or 12. Horse to entertaine a skermish with some of our Horse which stood readie in Armes without our Line vpon the Heath hauing the Outguarde The Trumpets sounde a Charge and our Cannōs roares from all the Batteries at the Enemye and as the skermish enceased so wee sent them the more Bullets which made divers of their Horsmen to turne vp theire heeles wee seeing oftentimes leggs and Armes flie vp and their Horse roule over one anothers At last there came three troope of Horse which changed Bullets with our Horsemen and still our Ordinance giuing fire among them and our Horse charging them towarde the foote of the downes the fayned a retreate to drawe on our Horse within their Embuscado Monsieur Mauue a French Captaine of a troope of Horse charging home his Horse from the Embuscado was slayne vnder him The Enemy falls out againe with more Horse and takes this French Captaine prisoner The Duke of Bullen seing him thus engaged chargeth with a troope or twoo for to rescue him and while twoo of the Enemyes men were a disputing whose prisoner he should be our Horse charges them againe and drives them to a retreate they not having
time to carry their Prisonner away to end the dispute pistole him and so the Duke brought of his dead bodie This skirmish during a while after Count Henry marched awaye and we to our Quarters The 4. of Iuly in the night the Enemy came vpon our Army intending to breake the stoppage of the Dommel but were prevented and manie of them slayne At this time some Pesants were taken which had led the Enemy shewen them the way through the water howe to come vpon vs as they did seuerall times in the night Whereof twoo were hanged in his Excell Quarter Having made this digression I returne againe to our Approaches before the English came to the laying over of their first Gallerie There the Captaine of his Excell Guard got a dangerous shot in the forhead that he lost his eye Captaine Omkaes a worthy Ingener shewing his bodie too open was snapt of and slaine with a firelocke and Captaine Clarke shot through both his legs and hauing brought over their Gallerie they could not come to the moate of the little Sconce before they had beaten the Enemie out of twoo Traverses and a point which came out of the Conterscharfe in the forme of a halfe Moone on our right hand next the Dommel at the entrance of the Gallerie Over this first Water on the left hand they had a Batterie vpon which Coronell Harwood was shot through his hat The Lord of Oxford standing by The Gallerie being ouer they beganne to sap and made a mine in the Enemyes first Traverse that night which Sir Iacob Ashley commanded in the Trenches desirous of honour he was appointed with some 60. Pikes and Musketteirs to fall on after the Mine was sprong and Captaine Gouldwell as eldest Captaine to second him with more Men before the Mine was blowne vp he gaue the Enemy an Allarme to drawe them on towardes our Mine and the Mine being sprung set on with his Men and beate the Enemie to a retreate out of parte of theire Travers our Men the Enemye giuing fire brauelie one to another a good while but the English lyeing open to the Bulwarke of the little Sconce and their other Traverse were faine to retreate againe into the Mouth of their Gallerie This Mine tooke not well but sprang rather backward then forward and did more hurte to our Men then to the Enemye yet from this earth which was cast vp out of the Enemyes Travers they beganne to sap forwarde which the Enemye seeing at last they quitted it and so became Masters of it and getting a little more elbowe roome they advanced forward to the moate of the little Sconce making Guardes Batteries and Blindes till they came to the very brinke of it where they beganne a second Gallerie The 7. of Iuly in the euening aboute eleauen a clocke Monsieur Douchant Leeftenante to Coronel Chattillon commanding the French Trenches they of the Conterscharfe sallied forth in number about 100. Men and overcame by force of Armes twoo of our Corps de guardes and mayntained them against vs for the space of an houre and then being forced to leaue them in the retreate the Ensigne which commanded them was taken prisoner In the meane time some 200. Men of the Horneworke intended to sallie forth but being discouered returned backe againe The 8. the Enemye blewe vp a Mine vpon the English but did them noe harme The 9. Mons Chattillons Companie hauing the guard in the French Approaches fell vpon the Horneworke of the greate Sconce and founde but 7. or 8. Men in it which did not dispute the matter long quitted it and retired to their Conterscharfe where on their right hand they cut it off and made a small Travers in it whence they gaue fire with their Musketteirs and firelockes vpon them But the French hauing put their Gallerie ouer the moate of the Conterscharfe they came to the second moate of the greate Sconce where they likewise put over a Gallerie into the Faulsebray On the left hand of their Gallerie the Enemye had cut off their Faulcebray to hinder our Workemen and Miners by giuing fire from a small Travers vpon them The 11. his Excellencye caused an inwarde Line to be made towardes the Citie beginning at Pinsens Quarter and so passing by his Excellent Quarter came to Brederoes Quarter and went from thence to Count Ernsts Quarter being fortified with manie Redouts whereby those of the Towne were prevented to come forth vnto our Quarters The 12. Count Morris of Nassau was made Coronel in steede of Monsieur Fama The 14. his Excell gaue order for the repayring of the Watermills neere the Diese and appointed 21. Mathematicall Mills to be made there besides which drewe vp abundance of water from belowe sucking it vp with funnells and casting it vp dismist it selfe vpon the higher Lande making a new currant The Gallerie in Count Ernsts Quarter Numer 5. was appointed to be made the 8. of Iuly but not begonne before the 14. for want of earth vpon which Gallerie the Enemy shot verie hotlie both with Cannon and musketts insomuch that manie of the Workemen in the Mouth of this Gallerie were slayne The Gallerie being brought over the Enemy retired in those places which they had cut off noted in the Mappe Numer 8. 9. but in respect the Scotsh continually went forwarde with sapping along the side of the Horneworke the Enemy was forced likewise to leaue those places The 15. Count Henry of Berke raysed his Army and departed from Boxtel marching towardes the Graue and passed the Mase over the Moakerheath but first sent a Pesant to bring a Letter to the Gouvernor Grobbendonk in the Towne which Pesant was taken in our Army vpon some suspition and the Letter founde and brought to his Excellentie The tennor whereof was as followeth MY LORD Seeing it is vnpossible to overmaster the Enemy in his Workes with that strength which I haue at present in respect he hath fastened himselfe extraordinarily I haue thought good to rayse my Army and departe from hence and to joyne my Forces with those of the Emperours which nowe are readie in Armes and in greate number marching to Wesel as well Horse as Footemen intending to take in hand some remarkable thing whereby the Enemy shall be compelled to fight with vs and that it pleasing God to giue vs the Victorie therein the Citie shall be thereby releeued you in the meane time keeping it yet for a while which I thought fitting at present to giue you notice of Praying when you haue receaued this to drawe vp in the night a greate fire in the steeple of S. Iohns Church stirring it oftentimes and the next daye to let a greate smoke appeare aboue the steeple whereby I maye knowe this Letter was deliuered you and when this Messenger shall returne with your answere that you make the like signe in the night following and with smoke the next daye in the meane time I rest MY LORD Your affected and
Peter Muller with his Comrades broke downe the Pallisadoe and made an entrance The Officers and Souldiers seconded him brauelie and enters the Towne on Sundaye morning the 19. of August 1629. a little before Sun rysing after the guarde was drawne off And cutting off the twoo gardes next adjoyning to that place with small resistance bore vp stiffe to the Market place The Alarme was so suddayne that the Enemies men running too and againe to answere it knewe not our Men from their owne vntill it was to late for them for in the meane space Peter Muller got a smith and opened the Bruynish Gate and let in our Horsemen The Spaniards seeing the Cittie lost fled to the Sconces out of the Towne which they yeelded vpon Composition The brunt being over the Souldiers fell a plundering got into the Spaniards shops and into bitterest Papists and Iewes Houses ransacks the Nunneries breakes downe the Images and got an incredible booty as Count Henry of Berk his plate and chiefest Baggage Monte Cuculies monie and goodes which the Emperour had sent to him and the Riches which the Crawats had got in the Germane Warrs and left there behind them for safetie in their expedition for the Velu To conclude the Foote devyded the spoile and the Horsemen shared Bags and Barrells of Rijcxdollers by hatts full But that which was most remarkeable that Church which they had bolted vp against the Protestants that verie Sunday was made a Prisson for their Officers and Souldiers till on the morrow they were sent to Arnhem The Governor and Officers standing good for the ransom of 1042. Souldiers who the next daye were set ouer the Water with their Wiues and Children Three of the Enemies Captaines were slaine and about 70. Souldiers and we lost but 9. Men in all Besides this there was found in the Towne manie small Barrells of Pistolls and Rijcxdollers for the payment of the Enemies Army 46. peeces of Brasse Ordinance vpon the Walls and 2. in the Market place and 2. in the Magasin and 2. Morters Armes as Corselets Pikes Muskets and Firelockes to arme 5000. men aboue 1000. Barrells of Powther besides this greate store of meale abundance of Corne and other Victuall and provision for their Army which the Lord thus deliuered in our handes On the 24. of August wee had a generall thanksgiving and a triumph throughout the Army in acknowledgment of the greate goodnesse of God for the taking of WESEL The Triumph was made in this manner First the Musketteirs were drawne off from all our Guardes saving the Approaches and out of our Quarters and placed along the inward Line next the Towne some sixe foote distant one from another The Pikes were drawne to the Outline and Outguardes the rest stood by devisions in the Quarters euerie one of them having a Wisp of strawe vpon the head of his Pike to be sett on fire when the signall should be giuen The volley of Musketteirs should begin at Crevecoeur where the Princesse laye and so to Engelen from thence along the Men of warre and the Redoubts by the Busseslote to Monsieur Pinsens Quarter so the French Line the Approaches then to the English from thence to the Lord of Brederoes Quarter and so along to Count Ernests Quarter and so to Count Williams Quarter where it ended betwixt euerie volley the Cannon which laye vpon the Batteries of the Outline those which were drawne out of our Quarters to the heath by the stone Gallowes and those which were in all the Approaches should be shott off The signall was thus about tenne a clock in the night when a Granadoe was shott into the Towne then the first volley should begin and the Wispes of strawe vpon the heads of the Pikes should be sett on fire all which was done accordinglie and made a braue show The volley met with a stop at the first but when it came to the French Line to the Approaches to the English the Lord of Brederoes to Count Ernests Quarter and Count Williams Quarter it ranne well betweene the Volleyes there were about 300. peeces of Ordinance from Crevecoeur and round about our Army discharged Those of the Towne acknowledged afterward that shooting at once with so manie Ordinance out of our Approaches into the Towne did much amaze them and then they beganne to beleeue indeed that WESEL was Geux Though the Governor by all meanes laboured to conceale it from them The 25. of August the Enemie sallied forth into the Workes of Count Ernest and burnt aboute some 20. Posts of his Gallerie The 26. Newes came to vs in the Siege that the Enemye had left Amersford and that the States had layd 1500. Men in it The same daye went forth of our Army twoo Companies of Horse and 200. Firelocks which met with a Convoy of the Enemies goeing to Breda whereof our Men killed some and tooke 40. of them prisoners and some fourescore faire Horses with their Saddles and Pistolls and brought them with good store of munition and match into our Campe togeather with the Lieftennante and the Cornet or Ensigne bearer of the Enemies Troopes which became surtie for the value of the Waggons which our Men left behinde them The 30. A Pesant which had carryed Letters too and fro in and out of the BUSSE and had beene our Prisoner some tenne weekes was condemned and hanged in the Princes Quarter The first of Septemb. the Enemie quitted the Counterscharfe of their Halfe Moone which laye before the Vuchter-Gate The same daye our men attempted to make a Mine into the Bulwarke of the Towne Walls but could not effect it by reason of a peece of Ordinance which the Enemie had sunke wherewithall they slew manie of our Men at the end of the Gallerie The second of Septemb. Monsieur Stakenbrooke Lieftenant of our Horse and the Duke of Bullen with 1000. Horse three hundred Fire-locks and diuers English and French Muskettiers taken out of divers Companies and three halfe French Cannon toward euening were drawne out of our Quarters and marched that night to a small Towne and Castle in Braband called Endhouen some sixe houres going from the BUSSE where some 400. of the Enemies Wardgelders or as wee terme them freshwater Souldiers taken on by those of Flanders who laye lurking there to see if in the night they could haue cutt our Trench vpon the Outline and let in the water vpon vs which stood blanke without our Entrenchment by reason of the stoppage But his Excellentie having intelligence of them prepared this Camisado for them They having advertisement by some Countriemen their freinds of our Mens comming stole awaye in the night and trusted rather to their heeles then to their Armes Yet they were not gone so farre but the Duke of Bullen with his Horse overtooke them and rounds them in a Morrace and by a Ditch and charging vpon them slew about 70. of them the rest cryed out for quarter and because they were such Souldiers the Duke was in
Officers to the Parapet of the Vuchter-Gate sending a Drum which reported that there were some Gentlemen of qualitie overwhelmed and stifled in the springing of our Myne and requested that they might be sought for and burryed His Excellentie then being neere at hand sitting in the Gallerie gaue waye to their request but as indeed the matter being otherwise The Drum came vp againe and requested to speake with some of our Officers and tould them that the Governor Magistracy and Clergie in the Towne were mynded to parley with vs presentlie after came foure Personnes of quality downe the Breach to his Excellencie in the Gallerie desyring foure dayes time to writte to the Archduchesse and if so be they were not releeued within that time they would deliuer over the Citie vpon Composition But his Excellencie denyeing them this request They resolved notwithstanding to treate vpon a Composition and Hostages were receaued and deliuered on both sides In the meane time the Walls of the Citie were blacke of Burgers and Women and Spirituall Personnes to take viewe of our doeings and the danger they were in The 13. of September the Commissioners which the Towne had appointed dyned with the Prince in the afternoone they left their commissiō with the Prince the States and tooke their resolutiō with them The 14. the Aggreement was concluded to render vp the Citie with the Petler-Sconce to vs within three dayes after and so accordinglie was subscrybed by both parties In the meane time came manie thousands of people out of Holland and other Provinces thereabouts to see this famous Siege with the departure of the Enemie out of the Citie The 17. in the morning the Prince of Orenge appointed all his Army to stand in Battle order in euerie Quarter especially those of his owne Quarter as well Horse as foote and placed them in this manner Along Monsieur Pinsens Quarter where the Enemy was to march thorow first stood some threescore Companies of Footemen being Scotsh Dutchmen from Pinsens Quarter along the Hollandes-Dyke stood some 40. Companies of French and neere to the verie place where the Enemy was to march out of our Line stood some 40. Companies of English and without our Line along the heath stood some 30. Companies of Horse This being the Waye which his Excell had ordered for the Enemy to passe thorow Betweene the English and French stood a greate Batterie of twenty Peeces of Ordinance to playe vpon the Heath where his Excell caused twoo Princelie Tents to be set vp for the Princesse the Queene of Bohemia and the Ladies Gentlewomen which were there The Prince sitting on Horsebacke with the King of Bohemia and the Prince of Denmarke and some 40. more whereof most of them were Dukes Earles Barrons Lordes and the rest Coronells and of the Chiefe Commaunders besides this the greate number of our owne Burgers and people which came thither to behould this sight was so greate that they could hardlie gett beere for their monnie and manie of them were faine to sleepe in the feelde vnder the skie for want of better lodgings Nowe to relate the manner of their marching forth First in the morning there marched forth some 50. Horsmen and as manie firelocks and Musketteirs Then followed about eleauen hundred Waggons Karts whereof some 400. of them were loaden with sicke mayned Souldiers and the rest with goods houshouldstuffe Images Clergiemē Women and about eleauen of the clocke came the Iesuites Priests ryding vpon Waggons and some barefooted Monkes and Fryers goeing a foote His Excell being gone to dinner with the King Queene of Bohemia and the rest of the Lordes and Ladies which stood vpon the Batterie in the twoo Tents In the meane time came the Governors Wife in her Koach who was but 3. weekes ould in childbed accompanied with her daughter and her Child lyeing vpon the Nurses lap in the forepart of the Koach Generall Morgan some others courts her and made her staye before his Excell Tent till he with his trayne returned from dinner His Excell comming saluted her and had some small discourse with her and then tooke his leaue and let her passe Towardes euening came the Governor himselfe marching in the midst of his Troopes hee staid long because his Cannon was graveld and sunke into the ground that he could not drawe them away the night drawing on his Excell sent him word by the Sergeant Major Generall that he would send them after him on the morrowe The Governor had ordered his Men by three divisions the first were the Walloones consisting of sixe coulouts being some 400. Pikes firelocks and Musketteirs The second were Burgonians The third greate diuisiō were Highdutches with nine coulours These 3. diuisions were a matter 1400. men Then followed the Governor on Horsebacke and passing by his Excellencie had some small speech with him After the foote came three Troopes of Horse which brought vp the Reare the first was about 70. in number the second about 80. and the last Troope about 90. all well mounted well armed proper Men with red scarfes about them During this Siege the Enemye confessed there were slayne some eleauen hundred Souldiers and not aboue 16. or 18. Burgers by reason they refused to endanger themselues in the Outworkes They had with them according to the Articles of Composition three whole and three halfe Cannon verye faire peeces and twoo Granado Morters They lefte besides these in the Towne some 36. brasse Peeces of Ordinance and sixe Yron peeces the most parte of the Brasse Ordinance being Sling-peeces and Faukenetts and fewe halfe Cannons except some which the noses were brused and shott off And little or noe Powder to speake of which indeed was the principall occasion they yeelded vp their Sconces Traverses Halfe-moones and at last the Citie it selfe sooner then they needed In this Siege there happened manye strange passages which would be too tedious to rehearse onelie twoo things of note I cannot but make the gentle Reader acquainted with first in the Crossebrethren Cloyster a little before the Towne was yeelded there was a Monke in the Chancill sitting in one of the Seats of the Quire and reading in one of his Massebookes about midnight wee shott a Granado into the Towne which fell iust into the Seate where he sate and tooke him his Seate and Booke awaye that scarselie they could finde a Mommock lefte of him onely leauing the tincture of his blood vpon the Wall for a memoriall which is yet to be seene to this daye The second there was a strange shott hapned as in Ostend there was a Cannon Bullet of the Enemyes shott from the downe Batterie iust into the mouth of one of our Cannons which laye vpon the West-Bulwarke charged These twoo Bullets stryking togeather gaue fire to the loose cornes of Powder which were not driuen home Our Cannon went of and sent the Enemy their owne Bullet and ours backe to them againe So before the
to get into the Vuchter-end or bleach feelde In this patch of ground were made Blindes and Batteries to dismount the Enemyes Ordinance which playd vpon our Galleries and Workemen from the Bulwarke on the left hand of the Gate and a peece which they had suuke in their halfe Moone In this Feelde also we began to laye over a second Gallerie on the right face of the Bulwarke but the Enemyes Ordinance from the Bulwarkes on the further side of the Gate shot through it 8. or 10. times breaking some of the posts asunder at the entrance of it into the moate yet at the last our Batterie in that Feelde put them to silence and an English Captaine an excellent Cannonnier dismounted their halfe Cannon that daye the Lord of Oxford had the Guarde after which our Men working more safelie in both the Galleries The 13. manye Granadoes were cast into the Towne which threw downe manie Houses The 15. of August in the night the Enemye had a Stratagem to cutt our Trench by the little Mill and Coudwater betweene Count Ernst and Brederoes Quarter and so to haue let in the Water vpon our Approaches to put this into execution Grobbendonk sent out of the Towne some hundred and fiftie firelockes and spades which stole in the night betweene the Petler-Sconce and Count Ernsts Quarter through the inwarde Line where it was not finished and came to the little Windmill by our out Line and there hauing layd an Embuscado of some of their firelockes in a ditch and behinde some bushes fell to worke apace to cut our Trench some 30. foote broad betweene the Horneworke and the Redouts vpon the Line not farre from that place where Count Henry of Berks Men would haue attempted it before But parte of Captaine Brogs Companie hauing the gard in a Redoubt next vnto them gaue fire and the Alarme being giuen Our Horse which had the gard in a House not farre from thence came vp to charge them and giuing fire likewise from that Redoubt they lefte their worke and retreated backe to their Ambush leauing their Spades and a paire of ould Shoes behind them and as they retreated gaue fire vpon our Horse and slew a Corporall and hurte twoo or three more But by reason of the Morrace and the Ditches our Horsemen could not come to charge them neither durst our foote leaue their Guardes and so they retreated backe againe into the Towne some twoo English mile where they fell a cutting Surelie if they had stayd but one halfe quarter of an houre longer or cut the gap not so broad they had effected the busines they came for because the Water was not passing three ynches lower then the top of the Trench and so should haue let in an Inundation of Water vpon vs. The 16. of August newes came to our Campe that the Enemie had taken Amersford The 17. Count William then commaunding the Quarter and Workes of Count Ernst caused twoo Mines to be blowne vp which were made vnder the Horneworke of the Hintemergate also made twoo assaults vpon the Enemie but prevayled not The 18. in the morning the Enemie sallied forth of the Towne neere Pinsens Quarter and robbed some of the Victualers and so departed the night following the Leeftenant Coronell Sir Edward Vere had the commaund in the Trenches And on Sondaye his Excellence who oftentimes ventered his person very much came downe to the Gallerie to see the Approaches a little before the said Leeftenante Coronell was relieued hee went to shew the Prince the Workes and the Sap the Companies being relieued were drawne off as far as the little Sconce The said Leeftennante Coronell Vere hauing showen his Excellentie the Sap and taking his leaue of him walking off with Sir Thomas Conway being a Tall man came an vnhappie Musketshot through the Blind and shot him behind in his head that it perisht his braynes that night being brought to his Tent within some foure dayes afterwardes dyed whose extraordinarie vallour sufficiencie compleat abilities for a Commander as they were well knowne so was his losse exceedinglie lamented by his Excellentie and the Chiefes of our Army My Lord Generall Vere my Lord of Oxford many Captaines Officers Voluntaries and Gentlemen of quality who had beene at his funerall in Bommell returning home that night The English Regiment had the guard in the Approaches and a civill worthy Gentleman of my Lords Companie of Dort one M. Mollenax that bare the sword of the said Leeftenant Coronell before his corps goeing to see the sap was the first that night which followed him the waye of all flesh my Lord Generall Vere bestird himselfe had all his Officers and Souldiers in readinesse that vpon the first occasion if the Enemie had either sallied out vpon our Sappers or Workemen or if they should haue attempted the firing of the Gallerie they might haue beate them in againe Captaine Rookewood of my Lord Veres Regiment as eldest Captaine executed my Lords commaund with valour and discretion had his Granado-Men at hand and placed diuers Musketteirs vpon all flanks to playe vpon the Enemie and to keepe them vnder for shooting vpon the end of our Gallerie and our Workemen and now and then sent them some Cannon Bullets which shot vpon the topp of their Bulwarke and vpon their halfe Moone to keepe them vnder sometimes sending a Granado into the Towne and throwing Handgranadoes amongst them into their halfe Moone Towardes midnight the Enemie likewise did cast Handgranadoes vpon our Blind next to their halfe Moone and set fire on it which brake out into a greate flame but the vigilency of my Lord Vere was such fearing that the fire might take further hould he gaue order that some Souldiers should take shouells and spades from the Workemen and cast earth and water vpon it which caused it to slake and had twoo or three Granadoemen there which paid them with theire owne coine but sure it was good that the Wind blew Southwest for had the Wind blewe Northwest and had blowne stiff as it did it had not onelie endangered the firing of all our Blindes but also our Gallerie which would haue hindered our Approaches and cast vs a greate deale behinde hand And so this daye and night following the Gallerie and Workes were well advanced This daye Sir Harry Hungate got a marke of honour by a Bullet which shot him thorow his buffe Ierkin and grazed vpon his flesh Before our Regiment had the Watch againe in the Approaches the Gallerie was well advanced and they got about three Posts night and daye it was then my Lord of Oxfords turne to commaund who was made Leeftenante Coronell in Sir Edwarde Veres place deceased The Bridge being layd ouer the Ditch of the Enemies halfe Moone The English began to sap and lodged in the left corner of it because of the Trees that laye a crosse in it This night there was discouered an engine vpon a floate from the furthest parte of their halfe Moone by