haue hindred or prevented vs was the greatest cause of his hast whilst also he saw vs stirring ordering our troupes he might hope that wee that were fresh now passed engaged in fight would advance the rather to have the helpe of our troupes which were with Couut Ernest if perchance he were retyred to Ostend towards which the neerer wee were to fight to that place it might be of more advantage vnto vs or else if wee had heard of their defeate then wee might be drawne on to revenge But when he sawe that wee stood held our place not moving out of the hope that they were not provided to make any longe staye for the reasons before mentioned might resolue to refresh themselues a litle then to advance towards vs seing that side was for that purpose more advantagious then the bare sea sands withal wee considered that they made a halt to rest their footemen which were all ould exercised Souldiers to that daye vnfoiled in the feild they would attend rather the growing of the tyde which was then at the lowest ebb that the scopes of the sand might be lesse spacious seruisable for Horsemen Now about halfe floude they crossed the Downes againe to the seasands marched forwards sending some light horsemen farre before the troups to discover one of which as wee supposed suffred himselfe to be takē who brougt newes to his Excie tould him alone that Count Ernest was defeated and that he would presently giue him battaile augmenting the number braverie resolutiōs of their mē The losse of our men being vnderstood before wee were carefull to haue few present at the heareing of this prisoners report whose mouth being stopped by the Princes order not with stāding they hearing it bewrayed it both in word countenāce to the souldiers The Ennemie advancing neerer neerer their Horsemen came in the head of their trouppes in a compitent distance to haue bene drawne to a fight Sr Francis Vere would willingly haue advanced the Horsemen of our Vantgard neere vnto them with some choise well mounted men haue beaten in their Carabines shit mishers to their grosse with purpose if they had bene over charged againe to haue retyred in hast with a sett Avantgard of Horse betwixt the sea the Vauntgard of foote having drawne them from their foote vnder the mercy of our Ordināce would haue engaged the rest of our horse to haue charged followed them resolutely This advise liked not to the young noblemen who was not well pleased with the power which his Excie had giuen to Sr Francis Vere over this charge therefore was not by him putt in execution who choose rather as the Ennemie advanced leisurely to retreate likewise towards our foote This councill of his takeing noe better effect the Horsemen nowe comming within the reach of our Cannon Sr Francis Vere made the motion to haue them discharged which was liked so well spent that wee made thē scatter their troupes in somedisorder fly for safety which had doubtlesse given vs the victorie without any more adoe if our Horsmen had bene ready willing to haue taken the advantage of this occasion Their footemen out of our reach kept on their way alongst the sands the soner to requite vs advanced their Ordinance a good distance before them and shott roundly at vs and did some hurt The water now growing very high wee they were both forced to strengthen our Front the Ennemie of purpose as aforesaid was driuen to fight vpon Sr Francis Veres advantage which he tooke with his foote in drawing them into the Downes where all our Horse stood with our Reere herevpon our Avauntgard altering order our Battaile and Reere passed into the Downes in the same distance backwards as they had before raunged themselues vpon the sand on the left hand so as the front of our three bodies of foote filled the bredth of the Downes not in any large front but in the reere one of another as the narrownesse of the passage enforced thē where Sr Francis Vere found a fitt place on the topp of a hill frō whence the greene waye which lay on the greene side of the Downes might be commāded by our Ordnance vpon the which hill by his Excies order two demy-Canons were presently mounted The Ennemy drawing very neere then Sr Francis Vere tould the Prince it was nowe time for him to goe to his charge and asked his Excie if he would command him any further seruice he said noe but to doe as he saw cause willing vs the chiefes that stood about him to advise him in what part of the Armie he should be personnally wherevnto wee all answered that for many reasons he was to keepe in the Reere all which his Excie yeelded to And so Sr Francis Vere takeing his leue of the Prince he went into the head of the Avantgard and after he had viewed the readinesse and order of the seuerall troupes the Ennemy now appearing at hand that he might the better discouuer their proceedings and for the readiest execution of his commaunds vpon all occasions Sr Francis Vere after he had encouraged his men in abyding the first brunte tooke his place in the topp of the foremost hill before mentioned where he resolued to attend the issue of that daies seruice aswell for the advantage of the ground he had chosen there to stand vpon his defense as alsoo because it was an even ground where he might stirre from place to place as is vsually and necessarily for the executing and performing the duty of a Captaine where the Countrie lying open and plaine he should not onely haue the sight of the Ennemie vpon whose motions in such cases the Councill of execution depend but also the view of his troupes and they of him which might haue caused many vnreasonable and confused Commaunds if it had bene otherwise The Ennemies forlorne hope of Harquebusiers having gotten vp to the topp of the hills and places of most advantage on the other side of the bottome before mentioned began to shoote from thence at vs whilst our Avantgard approched who now growing neere at hand fiue hundred Spaynards Pikes and short mingled without Ensignes or precise order gaue on vpon the place where Sr Francis Vere stood and very stoutly for the space of a great halfe hower labouring to enter and force it but he succoured it with more store of shott from the topps of the hills The grosse of their Avantgard standing in some covert from the shott which flew from Sr Francis Veres troupes on the other side of the bottome In the meane time the Vauntgard of the Ennemies horse advanced alonge the greeneway so often mentioned betwixt the hills the Downes towards our horse that stood more backwards vpō the flanks of our Battell wherevpon our two peeces of Ordinance were discharged from the topp of the hill to
good effect and well spent and when they came neere and thwart our right flank the 500 Frizons Muskettiers who as is said before were onely desired to bestowe their shott that way did their parts and so gauled the Ennemie vpon the first proffer of a charge For the Prince seing the Ennemies horse advance commanded presently Count Lodwick to charge them namely with his Excies owne troupe Prince Henries and Count Lodwijcks who being seconded by these Horse Captaines Marcelis Bacx Paul Bacx and Monsieur La Sael their troupes as you maye see in the figure brake the Ennemies horse and putt them to a disorderly retreate After this the Battell began on all sides and the Ordnance from both sides played furiously one vpon an other The fight from the first beginning to the end of the Battaille continewed not onely in the Downes but also vpon the shirt of the Downes and in the bottome on the other side of them with diverse charges And therefore his Excie diuided his men into small troupes and divisions that he might bring the more men to fight at a time and to charge the Ennemie when occasion offred it selfe The fight growing hotter hotter Sr Francis Vere giving two Regiments of Spaynards their bellie fulls namely Don Lewes de Villars and Don Ieronimos de Monroy beating their Muskettiers to a retreat The Ennemie seing that advanced both his Battell and his Reere to bring them likewise to fight His Excie perceiving our men thus engaged in the fight caused also our Battell to advance gaue order to Count George Everard of Solmes to lead it on who with three French divisions of Muskettiers charged two Regiments of Spaynards and Italians The French Officers that led them on were these Captaine Du Puy Captaine Du Brâ—il Monsieur La Noue his Lieutenant Captaine Pommaride Monsieur Dommerville his Lieutenant Capt. Vander Burch Monsieur Du Forts Lieutenant The most of these came to handie blowes in the Downes being the first charge which the French made After this first charge of the Battell these Horse Captaines also namely Contelier Peter Panny and Battenburch charged the Ennemies Foote the Prince sending Count Lodwijck with sixe troupes of Curassiers to second them being accompained with Count Frederijck of Solmes His Excie gaue order againe that Count George Edward of Solmes should giue a second charge with the French who had the Avantgard of our Battell who were diuided into two troupes that on the right hand was led on by Monsieur Dommerville Lieutenant Coronell and that on the left hand by Captaine Sau. This was the second charge the French made who fought with a Battaillion of the Ennemies Pikes consisting of two Regiments the one was a Spanish Regiment commaunded by Don Alphonzo d' Avalos the other an Italian couducted by Iasper Sapena Maestro del Campo Count George Everard of Solmes retyring with these French was once more commaunded by the Prince to leade on Prince Henry of Nassaw his brothers the Wallons Regiment called the new Geux commaunded then by his Lieutenant Coronell Monsieur Markett the Swisser Regiment also commaunded by Hans Krick went on with them and fought stoutly doeing good seruice These two Regiments encountred and fought against Barlotte the Count de Bucquoy who commaunded the Ennemies Reere guard which consisted of three Walloon Regiments and some Irish Companies His Excie likewise commaunded Monsieur de Gistelles being of our Arreregard to goe on with his Regiment as also the Regiments of Coronell Huchtenbrooke that of Count Ernest commaunded by Monsieur Haysman his Lieutenant Coronell with these fiue Regiments Count George Everard Solmes charged the Ennemie as aboue said This fight lasted about three howers longe the Victorie being doubtfull on both sides sometimes the on side winning and otherwhiles the other side loosing ground The Princes Horse in charging the Ennemie putt them often to the worst of it our horse had continuall the advantage vpon them driving some of them to a retreate as farre as Nieuport The Ennemies foote fought with more advantage vpon the Downes then ours made the Princes men to quit on downe after an other so that our Ordinance was in hazard of loosing To returne againe to our Avantgard Sr Francis Vere gaue order that a hundred men should be sent froÌ„ the foremost troupes which he had layd as is aforesaid in the Downes to haue giuen on vpon the lest flanke of the Ennemie if they had attempted to passe by vs on the Sand and as covertly as they could to approch and fall on vpon the right flanke of those that were in fight with him when they were come vp and at hand neere the Ennemie he sent secretly by the hills where there was a hollow discent some sixty men more to charge them in their front which amazed the Ennemie much and made them run away our men following them charged and killed them till they had passed the bottome and came to their grosse from which they disbandied 500 Spaynards more the like number as before who followed our men and seized vpon some heights that were in the bottome some what neere vnto vs Their Pikes standing vnder the shaddow of the hills they played with their shott from the topp of them vpon our disbanded and skirmishing men Sr Francis Vere to driue them from thence being loath they should gaine ground vpon him sent more men out of the same by-waies from whence he had drawne the first before mentioned giuing then onely this order to make good that place This was a bloodie morsell which wee stroue for For whilest our men and theirs were not covered with the hanging of the hills as they advanced or wee chased so they lay open to the shott not onely of those that were possessed of those litle Hills but of the higher also who powred in a great tempest of short amongst theÌ„ so as these Souldiers which Sr Francis Vere had sent hasted for their safety to get the heath side of the hills The Ennemie also for the like reason abode their comming with the like resolution and so in a moment as the hills were rounde and mountable our men can to handie blowes vpon the whole demy Circle of them with much slaughter on both sides but in the end the Ennemie was forced to retire In the meane while the Ennemies Battaile of foote were come vp to the grosse of their Avantgard which as it had taken the right hand of the Downes so the battaile with some distances betwixt them though in an euen front having bene well gauld and beaten with our shott from the topp of the hills stood all in good covert as the place would afford froÌ„ whome they sent fresh men to beate ours from those grounds of advantage in the become As our men began to giue back Sr Francis Vere sent new supplies to make good that place in the bottome sometimes getting otherwiles loosing of ground The fight was still mainteyned with fresh
de Lasso were al Lanciers but only one troup of Harquebussiers as namely the Admirant of Arragon his troupe Don Iuan de Braccamontos Don Iuan de Silvas Don Phillepoos de Arrelanos Don Ferdinando de Guavaras Don Guillielmos de Verdugos Il Conte Giacomo Belgiosos il Cavelloro Vicontes and Carolos de Sangros all Lanciers Il Conte de Salines Capitano Ryferheyâ—s Capitano de Forests Curassiers Michel de Telles Ian van Cepates Nicolas de Blyer and Captaine Franasco de Royes to which were ioyned 600 horse more that had mutined at Diest making in all some 25 hundred Horsemen The Enemies Battaillons of Foote consisted of three Spanish Regiments under the command of Don Ieronimo de Monroy Don Iasper de Sapenas and Don Lewes de Villars Regiments There were also two Italian Regiments vnder the Conduct of Don Alphonso de Avillos The two regiments of the Count of Bucquoy as that of Burlottes and Bestocks the Count de Bucquoy commanding the reere divers other companies drawne out of the regiments of Count Frederick vander Berke The Marqnesse of Varrabons the Earle of Barlamonts The Lord of Archicourt Balansons and others Their army consisted of some 15 thousand foot and 25 hundred horse besides their Mutiniers all old and experienced souldiers and were also divided into three Brigadoes as the Avantgard the Battell and the Reere as the two figures following here vnto annexed shall Demonstrate Now before the Armies mett it was consulted wherein the Armie should be first employed either in takeing the Forts which the Ennemie held in the lowe and broken grounds about Ostend or in the seige of Nieuport the latter being resolued vpon the States who had all this while marched and abode with the Armie departed to Ostend to take the Fort Albertus and to open the passage betweene that Towne and Nieuport Prince Maurice with the rest of the Armie leaving the Fort of Ouldenbourgh the others which the Ennemie had forsaken well garded as behouefull because without forcing them the Ennemy could not come vnto vs but with fetching a great compasse marched by Hemskerck towards a Fort called the Damme lying vpon the River that goeth to Nieuport but finding the Countrie weake and Moorish and not able to carry the weight of our Carriages and Artillerie returned by a small village not farre from Hemskerck and lodged there thence crossed through the Meddowes towards the sea side filling many ditches laying bridges to passe over the waters whereof that Countrie is full and so with much adoe wee gott to the Downes by the sea side and encamped about a Canon shott from the Fort Albertus which was before rendred vp to Count Solmes Earely in the morning wee marched along the sea side towards Nieuport And at the ebbe waded over the river on that side which maketh the Haven of that Towne and so encamped there and spent two or three daies in quartering and entrenching our selves in places of advantage for our owne safetye and the beseiging of the Towne laying a stone-bridge over the narrowest of the Haven for our Carriages and troupes to passe too and fro at all times as occasion required The Archduke having vnderstood that his Excie was satt downe before Nieuport gathered a head and marched with all expedition with his Armie towards the Downes passing the very same waye which his Excie did that he might the soner relieue Nieuport In the meane time his Excie was advertized from those of Ostend and Ouldenhourg that the Ennemy with good troupes of horse and foote were come and lodged neere the Fort wherevpon consulting the opinions were diverse most of them agreeing that it was onely a Bravado made by Ribus who as wee heard before had gotteÌ„ vp in the land some 4000 men together neere vnto Sluce to divert vs from our enterprize and that then vpon our Rmovall towards him he would make his retreate to the Sluce againe But Sr Francis Vere was of the opinion that it was the grosse of their Armie and how it was very needefull without any delay to march thetherwards with our Armie also least the Fort the rest fell into the Ennemies hands who might then come and lodge at our backs cut of our passage to Ostend to the extreame annoyance of our Armie That in vsing diligence to prevent the Ennemie froÌ„ takeing these Forts wee might at once block vp beseige those which the Ennemy held in the lowe drowned lands being an Enterprize equall with that of Nieuport While these things were thus a disputing that night came Messenger vpoÌ„ Messenger to the Prince to give him to vnderstand first that the Ennemy had Cannon that those of the Fort were summoned in the Archdukes name afterward it was yeelded to him vpoÌ„ conditions Thrice that night vpon general false alarums Sr Francis Vere was called vp from his rest which confirmed him in his former opinion that the Ennemie was comming towards vs and that the Fort being yeelded into the Ennemies hands it was needfull that the whole Armie with all speede should returne over the water to stop the Ennemy from gayning the passage our selues had made through the drowne land and to possesse the same which was the shortest and the readiest waye the Ennemie had to the Downes and sea side These reasons of Sr Francis Veres his Excie liked not but resolving to foreslow the Ennemie as much as possibly might bee that hee might gaine the more time therefore the second of Iuly at the breake of the day he sent from the Armie before Nieuport his Nephew Cosen Count Ernest of Nassaw with two Regiments of foote the one Schots the other Zealanders with foure troupes of horse makeing some 2000 footemen 500 horse with some Ordnance materialls to entrench vpon the passage vnto whome the States sent out also according to his Excies order some companies out of the garnison of Ostend and those which came out of the Forts of Ouldenborg Plassendale and Bredene to hinder the Ennemie from passing the Bridges which laye over certaine waters vpon the waye as you goe toward the Fort Albertus the Prince saying he would followe second them with the rest of the Armie in due times But before they came thither the Ennemy had seized vpon those Bridges and having passed over them with the choise of his Armie it was impossible for so small a number to hold vp stopp the Ennemies passage towards the Downes the afore said Regiments being engaged in fight with the Ennemie finding themselves too weake to resist any longer so puissant an Armie after they had brauely defended themselues and carryed themselves like good Souldiers were at last put to flight the most lost falling then vpon the Scotch aswell vpon their chiefes Captaines as Gentlemen and private Souldiers who fought it out stoutly soo that there were slaine about 800. dead vpon the place amongst the which there were eleuen
supplies on both sides so that Sr Francis Vere perceiued though with the losse of men yet with this advantage of ground he did not onely beate vpon the grosse of the Ennemie but also gaue fire vpon their loose fighting men which made the losse farre greater on the Ennemies side his maine dessigne being so as to engage their whole force vpon his handfull of men made him employ his men sparingly and by peece meale of purpose to spend and wast the Ennemie that they should not be able to abide the sight of our other troupes when they advanced as is said the Horsemen of the Ennemies Battaile and ours encountred together but somewhat more advanced towards the Ennemie Our men having comfort with the first successe our Frizon Muskettiers before mentioned could not so well fauour our men but our Horsemē being putt to a retreate the Ennemie persuing them yet were so saluted by our men that they were driven back The Ennemies Reerward now coming vp with the two other boddies for so Sr Francis Vere termed them because their coullours remayned together most of their men being drawne from them and engaged in fight they attending their Ensignes advanced boldly on the left hand of their Battaile and spreading the bredth of the Downes they stood as it were to Sr Francis Vere his troupes rather on the corner of his right flanke then a Front and so fronted directly vpon his Excies Battaile Arreregard some Muskett shott behinde Sr Francis Veres troupes towards which it seemed they intended to advance first wee gaue fire to them as much as wee could from the hills but when they began to open vpon the Frizon Muskettiers who as is said before were onely to bestow their shott on our right side till that time had done noe seruice but against their horse the Frizons gauled the Ennemie exceedingly which made thē stopp suddenly as amazed or a shamed to giue back seing none to chaze them in a bottome of so small a covert Herevpon they sent out some shirmushers alongst the Southermost parts of the Downes Against which also some loose men were sent from our other bodies but our Muskettiers which gave fire vpon them standing shott without feare from their rests gauled them most of all The Horsemen of the Reeregards on both sides shewed themselves and some bickering was betwixt them but the Ennemies Horse retyred out of the footemens reach This was a strange and an vnusuall fight For whereas commonly in a Battaile the successe of the foote depended most on that of the Horse Here it was cleane contrarie for so long as the foote held the place good the Horse could not be beaten out of the feild though as it fell out they might be chazed to them All this while the fight without intermission continued hoter and hoter betwixt the other two troupes of the Ennemie and Sr Francis Vere his men each sending fresh supplies as occasion required to maintaine the fight so that now the whole troupes of the English came to handie blowes in the aforesaid bottome saving some few that were placed on the hills on the Ennemies side few were idle Now was the time which Sr Francis Vere saw to giue the Ennemie a deadly blowe his grosse being disbandied aswell in occupying places of the heath as takeing advantages to annoy vs by those that were sent to dispute the places in question for their onely strength consisted in their loose men which a few Horse charging on a sudden in the bottome would then haue putt them to flight and being followed pellmell with our foote they could neuer haue bin relieued nor gathered themselues together againe On the other side Sr Francis Vere knew well without further succour their numbers would wearie and eate out his men in the end And therefore at once he sent to the Frizon Footemen that were of the Avantgard to advance and withall to his Excie to give him to vnderstand how things stood desiring to send him part of the Horse of the Battell to second him And seing the Ennemie pressed gayned ground vpon his men he sent againe messenger vpō messenger for men none coming he imputeth it to the slacknesse neglect of the messengers In the Interim to giue his mē the more encouragement he went himselfe into the bottome amongst them where ryding vp Downe he did in their eyes and with much adoe entertained fight with thē though the Ennemie encroached and gott ground vpon him At his first comming into the bottome he was shott through his legge and a quarter of an hower after he gott an other shott through the thigh of the same legge which he neuer complained of nor so much as thought vpon a Chirurgian for he knew if he left that place his men would instantly quaile he therefore choose rather not being vsed to haue his troupes foiled to try the vttermost cast and not to show them the way to flie hoping still for the comming of the Frizons and the Horse which he had sent for but hast was so small that his men being overlayd with numbers they forsooke the place not withstanding he did his best endeavour to haue stayed them hasting along the Sands to our Cannon the Ennemie following them hard he was forced seing them all goe to retreate he with the last came of easely and vnwillingly God knoweth as he went his Horse fell dead vnder vpon him having neither Officers Gentlemen or servants about him to giue him any helpe Sr Robert Drurie by chance came and a Gentleman a servant of his called Higham and Sr Iohn Ogle drew him from vnder his Horse sett him vp behinde his Master which helpe came very seasonable for him the Ennemie being so neere at hand when he fell and so by this meanes he was saued out of their clutches from thence he rode to our Ordnance where finding his brother Sr Horace Vere most of the Officers that came thether with some 300 Foote he made them stand from before the mouth of the Ordnance which were laden with Musket Bullets and willed the Cannoniers to discharge vpon the Ennemie which swarmed now vpō the Sand the Canon being discharged made a great slaughter and lane amonge the Ennemies Horse and Foote At the same instant his Excie sent two Cornets of Horse to him namely his owne cōmaunded by Captaine Ball and Generall Vere his owne troupe commaunded by his Captaine Pembroke who comming thither he willed them to giue them a charge and withall gaue order to his brother Sr Horace Vere to advance with his foote and send the Ennemy packing This small number of Horse and foote gathered together on a suddaine gaue a great charge for the Ennemie in hope of victorie followed vs closse and being vpon the Sands where horse might come to serue they were soone routed cutt in peeces the rest saved themselues by flight as they could in the Downes Our men both Horse and
Captaines many Lieutenants and Officers The Arch-duke having gott this Victorie wrote to Brugges that he had over throwne the Avantgard of Prince Maurice and that he was so farre engaged with the rest of his Armie that they could not escape out of his hands in so much that this day they began to triumph at Brugges and the adiacent Townes in ringing their bells as though they had gayned already the Victorie Now the newes of this defeate put the Lords the States into a great perplexity considering what a danger the countrie was in if any misfortune should happen to our Armie which laye before Nieuport and encamped on both sides of the Haven the Souldiers being separated one from an other which droue them into a great feare And therefore being in such an extremitie when all humaine meanes failed them they tooke their refuge to the Lord of Hosts by prayes and assembled themselves and all their traine with diverse Officers and people of the Towne of Ostend into their chambers where their Minister Vtenbogaert made prayers vnto God for the preservation of the person of his Extie the Lords Chiefes and Commandours which were with him yea the whole Army that God would be pleased to give them a happie successe The Archduke being encouraged with this advantage and defeate which he gott so quickly over our men marched in all hast towards Nieuport imagining to finde his Extie and all his Army so amazed by this overthrow that he might easely put our men to route But God had his eye of providence vpon the State of these Countries and the defense of his Church in them giving his Excie such wisedome that he commanded away all the shipping boates from Nieuport towards Oftend with all gave order that all his troupes should be ready to passe the Havē of Nieuport at a lowe water to gett on the other side with a couragious resolution to make head against the Ennemy to give him battell according to which his Excie went from troupe to troupe to animate and encourage his Souldiers That seing they had the sea on the on side and the Ennemies Armie on the other side betwixt them and saw that there was now noe meanes in the world to escape but to fight it out and beate through their Armie considering that his Exties reputation depended thereon yea all their honours their liues and the good of the countrie lay now all the stake that now they would carry thēselues brauely couragiously with assurance that God would give them a blessed issue The like also did all the chiefs Commanders Captaines to there Souldiers Prince Henry now his highnesse did likewise encourage also his Wallons or new Geux being of his Regiment to doe the like The rest of the Armie was commanded to march to the water side by the breake of day to passe over the Haven with the first ebbe being then Sr Francis Veres his turne to have the Avantgard which made him carefull not to be wanting in his duty so as in due time his troupes were at the place appointed and because the water was not yet passable he went to his Excie to know his further pleasure whome he found by the bridge with most of the chiefes Officers of the Armie where not longe after newes was brought him that the Ennemies Armie was passing the Downes and marching towards vs wherevpon Sr Francis Vere advised his Excie that all possible speede must be vsed to passe the Furrs before the Ennemy was possessed of the other side of the Haven His Excie willed him in all things to doe as he saw cause and calling to him Count Lodewijck of Nassaw who then commanded the Horse as Generall badd him goe along with Sr Francis Vere and follow his directions so Sr Francis Vere left the Prince and went to his troupes and as soone as the tyde serued he passed his men which stood there in three Battailions The Souldiers would haue stripped themselues to have kept their cloaths drie as Sr Francis Vere willed them when he crossed the haven first but afterward thought it not expedient the Ennemie being so neere at hand and therefore he willed them to keepe their cloaths on and not to care for wetting them seeing they should neede none that day or else haue better and dryer cloaths to sleepe in that night Count Lodwijck passed first with his fiue Cornets of Horse whereof two of them were Harquebussiers and advanced towards the Ennemie and entertayned shirmish with two of the Ennemies troupes and then followed all the rest which were scare gott over on the other side of the shore but they saw the Ennemie stand in full Battaille betweene them and Ostend insomuch that if the Ennemie had but advanced he might haue prevented his Excie from passing his foote over the haven Now the Ennemy not knowing how many of our men were passed over the haven because of the great dust which arose and blinded their sight made a halte a longe time by the sea shoare which gaue his Excie time leisure to passe over the English Frize Regiments with his Excie gard Count Hohenloes all commanded by Sr Francis Vere Then followed the French Regiments the Walloues Swissers which made the Battaile as is said commanded by Count George Everard of Solmes and after them almost all the rest of the horse The Regiment of Count Ernest Gistelles Huchtenbrookes made the Reere The Regiments of Gistelles and Vtenbrooke which were vnder the Conduct of Count George Everard of Solmes were left before the Towne of Nieuport to block it vp with charge to stand vpon their gards and vpon his Excies first order to beready to passe over the bridge which was made with boates and plankes ouer the haven of Nieuport how the Armie was disposed into the Vantgard Battaile Reere as yow haue heard already When the troupes of the Vauntgard were passed Sr Francis Vere left the footemen standing ranged in their order betwixt the Downes or Sandhills and the sea and with the horse he advanced towards the Ennemie whome wee discouered a farre of comming towards vs alonge the sea side not to engage a skirmish or fight but to choose a fit place to attend them in which was now the onely advantage wee could by industrie gett of the Ennemie for by situation of the Countrie that skill and dexterity wee presumed to exceede our Ennemies in which was the apt agile mo - of our Battaillions was vtterlie taken from vs for the space betwixt the sea and the Sandhills or Downes was commanded by the Sandhills which consisted of many heads reared and commaunding one an other conteyning so much bredth in most places that our troupes could not occupie the whole and every where so confusedly packed together so broken steepe that our troupes could neither discouer what was done a stones cast before them nor advance forward in any order to second one another if neede required And
on the other side of the Downes towards the firme land if the whole bredth were not possessed the Ennemy might passe to the Haven of Nieuport where our bridge and most of our shipping yet lay on the dry ground and so to spoyle and burne them in our View To prevent then all these inconvementes Sr Francis Vere went to finde out a place where the hills and Downes stood in a manner divided with a hollow bottome narrow and the hills higher to the sea side North then towards the Iland South part which ranne cleane thwart from the sea sands to the Iland the Downes being there also of no great bredth so that wee might conveniently occupie thē with out front commaund the sea shoare and the waye that laye betwixt the lowe Iland the foote of the Downes on that place which was on the higher side of the bottome Sr Francis Vere resolued to attend the Ennemy there and therefore causing his troupes to advance drew from the whole Avantgard about a 1000 men to wit 300 English the Princes guard such other companies as vsuaily march with it 250 and of the Frizons 500 which were muskettiers two troupes consisting of shott and pikes the English and 50 of his Excies guard they laced on the topp of the hill that lay more advanced then the rest which being steepie and sandie was not easely to be encountred in the topp so hollowe that the men laye covered from the hills on the other side might shoote from it as from a Bulwarke Iust behinde this hill some 100 paces frō it was another farre more higher on the toppe whereof Sr Francis Vere placed 200 men of the troupe of the gard in which also with a litle labour of the Souldiers they laye in a good covert these two hills ioyned together with a ridge somewhat lower then the foremost hill which endwaies laye East and West and broadwaies looked towards the South and Inlands and commaunded all the ground passable on the outside steepe loose sandie ill to be encountred within the hollow he placed 500 Muskettiers giving charge to the Officers to bestowe their shott onely to the Southwards when time should serue which was directly on the right side and flanke as wee then stood turned towards the Ennemie Betwixt these two hills on the left hand or flanke which looked towards the sea Sr Francis Vere placed 700 men in covert places for that purpose to be neere the sea sand that with ease and good order in an instant they might breake out into two or foure troupes all which were English The Ennemie ranged their forces to the Northwards directly on our left flanke so they adventured to passe by vs to the other troupes with intent to leaue them in his eye more Easterly vpō the sands then on the Inermost of the two hills which Sr Francis Vere perceiving ranged in a Front with a space betwixt them the other two troupes of the English And a pretty distance behinde them more to the sea-wards ordered the Frizons in foure Battaillions two in front with a space to receiue betwixt them one of the other Battallions that stood behinde them And the files intervals behinde the troupes as close one to another as conveniently might bee to leaue the more space for the ranging of the other Battaillions with a compitent distance betweene each division so that one troupe might not shaddow an other but that all of them might be in the Ennemies eye in an instant insomuch that the Avantgard tooke vp about one third part of the Downes leaving the rest to be manned by the other troupes as occasion should require on the left hand the outtermost towards the sea more advanced were the horsemen placed This worke was scare done when as his Excie Prince Maurice with the rest of the chiefs Commandours of the Armie came to the head of Sr Francis Veres troupes where his Excie in the hearing of many putt it in deliberation whether he should advance towards the Ennemie with his Armie or attend their comming Those that spake as most men in those cases will not seeme fearefull councelled him to march forwards for they thought it would daunte the Ennemie much make the Victorie more easie whereas in attending him he would gather courage out of an opinion of our feare by takeing the oppertunity of our staye to fortifie vpon our passage to Ostend so cut of our victuals retreate Herevpon Sr Francis Vere alledged that their Armie having bene gathered vp in hast brought into a Countrie where they intended noe such warre could neither haue provisiōs of victuals with it nor any Magazines in those parts to furnish them therewith nor any store in that naked Countrie in the latter end of a yeare could be expected soo that there was noe feare that they should setle themselues there to starue vs who had store of victuals in our shipping the sea open to supply vs with all sailing windes with the vaine courage they should gett by our supposed feare after a longe march comming vpon vs downe those sandie steepe-hils in the extremity of heate would be wearied spent before they could come vnto vs then finding vs fresh lustie ready to receiue them in the strength of our advantage in all reason it would turne to their greater confusion terrour They persisted in their opinion as it were with one voice oppossed it so as in the end Sr Francis Vere was moved to saie that all the world could not make him to change his opinion His Excie was pleased to like of it resolving not to passe any further towards the Ennemy for the ordering of things reposed so much trust in Sr Francis Vere that he beleeued they should be well done without viewing the places or examining the reason of his doings But his Excie returned to giue order dispose of the rest of the Armie which as the water ebbed his Excie enlarged to the Seawards next the which the Horsemē were placed sixe peeces of Ordinance advanced planted in the head of the Avantgard having the advantage both of the winde the Sunne on our side gaue order to Mons Warmont Mons. Duvenvord that they from our men of warr should giue fire with their Ordnance vpon the Ennemies Battallions that stood vpon the strand In this order wee stayed the Ennemie though stil in our sight moved not forwards for the space of two howers then rather turning from vs thē advancing they crossed the Downes rested there two howers at the foote of the Iland which confirmed their opinions that he would lodge there But wee found reasons to the contrarie out of their proceedings to keepe vs from wavering for it was probable that the Ennemie was harryed out tyred with that nights march daies travell And seing wee were passed the Haven of Nieuport to