10 of October stilo nouo for to giue hearty thankes praise and glory vnto the Lord for all these vndeserued blessings and vncessantly to pray that he will giue vnto the Inhabitants of S'hertogenbosh the true knowledge of his holy Gospell and to send to that and true and faithfull Teachers Also that the Almighty God will be with the Army of this State as a Lord of all things for to beate away the Enemies out of our Dominions and to continue his blessings ouer vs Also that hee will defend from all euill and dangers his Excellency the Prince of Orenge and to multiply his daies wtih wisdome blessings and felicity and to conserue his person and all his Army in health to the glory of his holy Name and increase of his holy Word Therefore we require c. In the Hage Septemb. 24. 1629. In the Towne are chosen new Magistrates and the old are released from their Oathes done to the King of Spaine And Sir Philips de Thienen Coronell ouer the Regiment of his Highnesse van Brederode is put as Commander ouer the Garrison The Burgers are also releafed from their Oath vnto the King of Spaint and tooke their Oathes vnto these Lands A Iournall or Day-register of that which is happened within the Towne of S'hertogenbosh during the last siege Written by one of the Spanish side ON the last of Aprill 1629 the Enemies came vnto the Sconce Creueceur 150 ships strong The first of May they came to Orten and did presently intrench themselues from Orten to Hintem from Hintem to Dungen and to Gastell from Vucht to Vlymen vnto the Bosh-sloot where they brought about 50 ships with Bauens and further at Engelen where they laboured very earnestly The 5 there came from Breda along Flymen into the Towne betweene 8 and 9 hundred men which went vp to the middle in water The 6 we shot with a peece of Ordnance from the great Sconce amongst 15 Horsemen of which some were flaine The 10 the Captaine Dirck Busschieter with 12 men did pierce thorow the Coe-wall which the Enemies being strong 59 men thought to hinder our comming thither but were forced to retire with the losse of two men In 14 dayes there is from without happened but very little for they did nothing else but intrench themselues At this time the Butter began already to be worth 10 or 12 Stiuers and yet hardly could any be gotten Whereupon the Gouernour and Magistrates did command that all Honey-sellers spice-bread-makers should no more vse or boile any Honey vpon penalty of 100 Dollers to be paid by them that shall bee sound in fault because they would eate the Honey vpon their bread The Souldiers could hardly get any victuals for that they were so deare wherefore it was commanded that the Porke should be sold for 6 stiuers a pound a pound of Butter for 6 stiuers and a pound of Cheese for 4 stiuers Vntill the 20 the Prince Fredericke Henricke had not shot with Ordnance vpon the towne but because many houses were to be broken downe many trees for to be vsed for his fortification The 22 the Prince caused to shoot vpon the Orten-gate nine shots of Canon We saw also a battery made by the Enemies at Hintem Tho same day there went out two Messengers of ours which returned for Brussels but could not get through for that the towne was already beset The same day all the houses were visited and all the Corne that was in the towne was set downe together with the number of all the dwellers The 23 in the morning we saw in the ayre ouer the Towne about Orten two Raine-bowes with the backe one against the other with two Sunnes between the said Raine-bowes the one aboue the other what the interpretation is God knowes The 24 our Souldiers brought in 14 Horses of the Enemies which altogether were sold for 28 Gilders yet more 3 horses of the Enemies for 4 stiuers and 8 pence yet another for 3 stiuers a little Carre of Hay did cost 60 Gilders The Enemies did shoot againe vpon the Towne and two messengers arriued heere thorow the Leager their report was kept secret from the Burgers we bought a horse for a stiuer and Mr. Pauwels gaue a stiuer for the 4 shooes There was a Horse sold for a pipe of Tobacco for which they could haue had 12 pound Flemmish two moneths before The 26 a Herring cost halfe a stiuer an Egge one stiuer a pound of Beefe 5 stiuers Mutton 8 stiuers The 27 was published that no body should cut downe any wood which was in their Gardens vpon penalty of 100 Ducats because the same must be vsed on the Workes in the Walkes The same day the Enemies did shoot thorow the holy-Crosse-gate into the house of Mary Grietmakers The 28 we fell vpon the enemies Quarters at Vucht and 5 men were slaine The 29 we fell out by the Vuchtergate on the Hamer and at night at 11 of the clocke wee tooke from the enemies a Corps de Guarde wherein they kept watch The same day wee skirmished a long time with the Enemies The 30 we made an vndermine through the walls of the Towne safely to march towards the Hintemer gate vpon the Watch This day the Enemies shot very much and a shot came thorow the steeple of S. Iohns Church and also through the steeple neere the Boome The 31 the Enemies did shoot aboue 110 shot with halfe Curtowes by which some of the Burgers houses and the Bishops house was damnified though in this moneth there were none slaine by the shooting of Cannons but onely Captaine Ratelo and a Gunner was hurt The Mils haue also till now ground The 1 of June the Captaine Dommell bergen gathered his Companie for the first time This day night the Enemies did shoot very fiercely vpon the batteries and were approached to the Hintemer gate more then halfe a Musket shot where there were many Souldiers on both sides hurt and slaine The second on Whitson Eue wee shot very fiercely vpon the Enemies specially from the Hintemer-gate and the out-works so that euery Muskettier did shoot 30 40 or 50 shots whose brests were so blew that they could not continue any longer The Enemies did shoot downe with their Ordnance many rare out-workes of S. Iohns Church Here arriued a messenger from Brussels whereupon there was at night a fire made upon the steeple of the said Church for a token that the said Messenger was safely arriued The 3. vpon Whitsonday we bought Beefe yet for 7 and 8 stiuers a pound Murton for 8 9 10 stiuers The 4 we fell out of the Towne vpon the Enemies Trenches towards Vucht and defeated many of them And on the Hintemer gate an ancient Souldier had his head shot off The 5 on both sides aswell out as vpon the great Sconce was very fiercely shot wherein the Dutch which were come out of Breda did defend themselues very manfully wherefore they did mock those
of the Bosh saying that they were fit to fetch Marchants and Boores where they doe not feare to bee beaten The same day Peter Cabusins Constable broght from the little Sconce into the Towne 2 halfe Curtowes Before the Vuchter-gate a man had his legges shot off and a Boy which came from the Sconce to the Towne to fetch there a bottle of Wine was slaine in the Vuchter gate At the same day the siluer S. John on the Vuchter gate his backe was shot in pieces The 6 a woman dwelling at the figne of the Hand-bow being in her chamber both her legs were shot off The 7 the Enemies came so neere vnder the little Sconce that they in the Workes did drinke one to another with a Kanne of Beere and Tobacco which they did giue one to another with their pikes and fell prefently to shoot againe The Beggins that were in the Cloisters did make Cushions for the Souldiers and the priests made hearts to hang about their necks The 8 and 9 they shot very fiercely one against the other On the 10 the Enemies shot thorow S. Johns Church and did hurt a man which was confessing his sinnes the same day a mans head was shot off and also a Souldiers eare there were shot to this day 1000 shot The 11 the Enemies came neere vnto the Sconce before the Vuchter-gate and tooke in the Hornenworke with maine force The 12 was shot on both sides very fiercely on the Hintemer gate The 13 and 14 we did still continue our shooting and tooke in some Workes from the Enemies and brought into the Towne 2 Rondasses At night the Enemies did set the Captaines house on fire with their Granads in the little Sconce where also flew vp 4 Barrels of Gunpowder and 100 Granads The 15 the Enemies thought to fill the ditch of the little Sconce but were hindred of it by ours where there were slaine that night aboue 30 of the Enemies and of ours were but 2 hurt On the same day it was published at all corners of the streets that euery one should break off the Lead which was about their houses and to bring it into the Towne-house as also from the water and pissing-places which the Magistrates would begin first and they that did not performe it should forfeit both life and goods The 16 at night ours made a salley out with shallops vpon the Enemies Trenches where they defeated 2 Sentinels with some Souldiers one that stood a fishing had both his leggs shot off The 17 we fell out on the Hintemer gate vpon the stone Bridge and defeated many of the enemies we brought also in the Towne many armours and a Serjeant of theirs The 18 we tooke on the place called Muntell an Enginier which was about his Workes and we did cut off both his eares The 19 wee skirmished fiercely one against another The 20 the Enemies thought to lay a bridge between both the Sconces with Bauins and Deale boards which we did set on fire with pitch hoopes and caused the Enemies to retire The 21 the Enemies did fall very fiercely vpon the workes of the little Sconce The 22 the Enemies did all their endeuours to get in our Horne-worke but were forced to retire And the Ancient Cornelis Berberts was killed with a shot which came from the Enemies The 23 early in the morning the Enemies came twcie vpon our Workes of the Sconce but were forced to retyre they caused a Mine to spring but did no hurt we did kill many with Flayles wherewith the Corne was beaten we got two that were hurt from the Enemies which we brought in the Hospitall to be cured The same day after dinner the Enemies came againe vpon our Workes causing a Mine to spring together with one of ours they played thereupon with halfe Courtowes shooting fifteene shot vpon ours of the Sconce there we very fiercely skirmished and the Captaine Endenhouldts went first on with his souldiers giuing them good courage whereby he had got great honour and defeated many men The 24 there was very fiercely shot on both sides and were throwne in the great Sconce eleuen Granads which Sconce was very much battered so that the wals were almost filled with bullets The 25 Colonell Bastocke was kild vpon the out-workes of the Sconce who hath at all times carried himselfe very valiant On the same day and on the 26 the Enemies did nothing else but fill the ditches with wet Bauins of trees part of which ours fetcht out againe About this time our horsemen did fetch grasse from the Doncke which ours did dry and made hey of it in the towne some Burgers hauing the watch on the Orten-gate of which some were a drinking in the house of Hanshen Vangenuchten where there came a Bullet of an halfe Courtowe through the top which made a breach that a horse could haue gone through it but there was no body hurt The 27 we did nothing else but fiercely shoot and fight The 28 we did fall out vpon the Enemies Trenches and vpon their battery but we found there no Ordinance for that they euery night tooke away the same And ours fetcht out of the ditches aboue 300 Bauins The same day we played with our Canon vpon the Enemies Workes and we heard and saw as the speech went the souldiers of Count Henry vandenbergh vpon the Broome field The 29 ours did shoot very fiercely out of the town and fetcht againe at night about 300 Bauins out of the Ditches of the little Sconce where were slaine two of our Souldiers The same day a womans two legges were shot off and a boyes thumbe The 30 we heard much shooting about Dungen by which we vnderstood that the Kings and Imperiall troopes were neare whereupon we shot very fierely from the towne At the same time there came ouer fiue Dutch souldiers complaining that in three dayes they had not eaten any bread and would serue the Emperour Betwixt the 30 and 31 the Enemies fell fiercely vpon the Horne-worke of our Sconce and played very fast vpon them but ours caused them to retire in which were slaine a Captaine and a Sergeant of ours The first of July we got tidings that the Spanish vpon the Dungen had gotten many prisoners of the Enemies which was esteemed to be aboue 200 souldiers and 50 Wagons besides some horsemen The same day the Enemies did shoot through the Priests Church in the Quire and also in Saint Iohns Church in the Organs but did small hurt The 2 a woman which was a drawing a Kanne of Beere was shot with a Bullet of a Canon which tooke away her apron from about her belly and brake the Kan in pieces without any more hurt The 3 the Enemies shot ouer the Market place that the Bullet came in a Chamber of the house at the signe of the world Also twice through a Mill. At night in the Enemies Leaguer was an alarme with Drumme beating and sound of Trumpets because Count Henry vanden bergh
prayed very fiercely with Ordnance and Muskets vpon them The 4. there was slain a Burger named John Hendrixson as he was a measuring the Priests Corne in the Laught which was the first Burger that was killed the second Burger was called Yougen Coert which the same day being at the Orten-gate was shot in the head The 5 the Enemies threw Granads into the little Sconce so that the Church being a little Chappell fell downe The Enemies were also very forward with the filling of the Ditch of the great Sconce The 6 at night 4 of our Land-souldiers went out in the enemies Workes and did set on fire some Sconce-kornes because they kept no good Watch. If we had bin strong we had done a notable exploit The 7 being the Bosh Faire at night we fell out of the towne in the enemies trenches when they did fill the ditches some of ours were slaine and some hurt on both sides The 8 ours fell on the Enemies workes on the Hintemer gate where was kild a Captaine also many of the Enemies from the 8 till the 14 the enemies attempted nothing vpon the Sconces and Towne but shooting and working those of the Sconce did also work against them and separated the Sconce About this time two messengers went out to wit Iohn Pleyte and Awy Awy for to try if they could go thorow the Leager but saw no meanes to doe it so they came backe againe The same day one of our Ancients which in a salley was taken prisoner came out of the Leager home againe with a faire Hat and feather and a siluer Sword he said that it was giuen him by the Prince who had also made him good cheere Also ours brought in some prisoners being in poore clothes they were English and Scotchmen The 14 the Kings Corne was sold to euery one that would haue it for 18 Gilders the Mett the Souldiers got Bread Cheese Beere at the Kings allowance The 15 a pound of Mutton was sold for 18 stiuers The 16 and 17 the enemies shot very fiercely vpon the great Sconce making tryall to take the same but were manfully resisted The 18 in the morning at 5 of the Clocke ours caused a Mine to spring retired then toward the towne whereupon the Enemies tooke in the said Sconce One of Captaine Dirck's souldiers being before the Holy Ghost vpon the wall was shot with a Canon in 4 or 5 pieces The same day a soldier being on the Sconce was shot in the head that his braines flew out so that he knew not himselfe and we could see nothing but that he was dead whereupon his Compagnons that were with him carried him into the Church-yard laying him in a Chest to bury him comming there hee lifted vp his armes and legges and rose vp out of the Chest to the great wonder of those that were with him who carried him into the Hospitall there to be cured The same day in the Shilders street a womans head was shot off and a Boy through the body as he sate a weaning The same euening ours did retire out of the little Sconce to to the towne fearing the enemies would fall vpon them and for that they were needfull in the towne At night we fell out vpon the Leager of the enemies and defeated 4 Sentinels and we brought through the Leager two messengers hauing each some Pigeons with them for to bring vs tydings for that we had not had any Messenger in a moneth because that the enemies Sentinels did stand very close together and betweene them some water-spaniels which during the Warres neuer was seene the like The 19 Marcelis Andreesen standing at watch on the Orten-gate had one of his legs shot off the same day there came two Drummers hauing with them some pickled Herrings to distribute amongst their Friends The 20 the Enemies did shoot very fiercely thorow S. Johns Church and vpon the rowne The 21 there came againe into the towne 2 Drummers to release some prisoners who had againe some pickled Herrings for to giue away they tooke with them many Horses which wee had taken from them and were sold amongst the Enemies because we had no food for them the same Drummers brought tydings that in the Leager some messengers that were sent by Count Henry vanden bergh towards the towne were to suffer death The old pickled Herrings were for 4 5 and 6 stiuers a peece Beefe for 9 and 10 stiuers a pound a bushell of Turneps which before the siege was sold for a stiuer was sold for 5 6 and 9 stiuers At that same day there came some other Drummers which also brought some Limons and Herrings to giue away The 22 the Constable Hans den ouden Clerk's Head was shot of On the same night there came a Enginier vpon the Doncke before S. Johns Gate for to measure something the which our Soldiers got and brought in and was in great danger to lose his life At that time the enemies shot fiercely with Ordnance The 23 the Burgers on the Orten-gate shot fiercely vpon the Enemies This day the Magistrates denyed for the first time Gunpowder amongst the Burgers And one called Groen sitting talking before his doore had one of his legs shot off The 24 from the Hintemer gate and Vuchter-gate were shot by ours aboue 300 shot vpon the Enemies The 25. on S. Iames day our Souldiers brought in 7 Boores and a Boy which they had fetcht neere vnder the Enemies quarters if the Boy had not cryed they would haue gotten a Waggon with women who were come to see This night departed many Companies of the Enemies and ours were in their Cops de guardes where they found no body They brought a shallop full of Wheele-barrowes Shouels Deales and Wood. The 26 the Burgers watches were altered out of the Gates they were now commanded to goe vpon the steeples on the walles of the Towne The same day the Enemies made a great falley vpon our Halfe-Moone where there were slaine many of them and 7 of ours with 10 hurt yet we were forced to leaue the fame The 27 our souldiers fell out and brought in againe some Wheelbarrowes and other things with some prisoners and Horses but the Gouernour commanded that wee should bring in no more Horses because wee had no food for them within the Towne The 28 a Bakers man comming at night homewards going to bed fell from the Chamber who rose vp and went againe to the Chamber and to bed who in the morning was found dead and buried the next day the Clarke hearing the dead sighing called some men and there came presently by hundreds together to open the Graue to fetch the man out a Batchelor tooke him by the hand and drew him out of the Chest but hee was dead and remained dead his cheekes were very red and the blood ran out of his mouth which many hundred men did see whereupon the whole towne was in alteration On this day fresh butter was sold one Gilder a
pound and salt butter 30 stiuers a couple of yong Pigeons for 24 stiuers a Pullet a rixdoller a pound of Mutton 20 and 24 stiuers candles 12 stiuers a pound an Egge two blancks The 29 and 30 the enemies shot with Arrowes such as we shoot with Bowes This day the Sho omakers and Lether-sellors did dry their Hides because there was no tallow to be gotten the Tallow of the beasts was sold for 12 stiuers a pound which we melted together with oyle of Turneps to be eaten vpon bread Also Mustard was mingled with oyle of Turneps to be eaten with bread the Horses which were brought in did eat the leaues of the trees and the Constables did beat them from the walls into the ditches of the town those that could not swim ouer were drowned The last day of the same moneth the Enemies shot in pieces on of the Mills The first of August the Enemies shot very fiercely with Cannon and Muskets vpon the Towne and the Burgers did much wonder that the Souldiers did keep watch in the Fish-market S. Iohns and the Orten-gates which were the best Watches The 2 the Enemies did a manfull salley on the Counterscarp before the Vuchter-gate but were forced to retire with great losse of theirs and 4 of our s. The same day a childs head was shot off and a womans legge At this time the Ecclesiasticall persons as Paters of the Iesuites priests Friers S. Iohns Monkes Baselers and others did all together make vp two Counterscarps or workes behinde the Sistets of Orten We got also tydings that the Imperialists were come into the Betuwe and that they had taken Reuen and Wagemingen but we afterwards vnderstood the contrary The 4 the enemies shot two shots neere the Powder-steeple so that a Mill fell downe The same day the Enemies made a salley vpon the foremost Workes on the Vuchter-gate with about 500 Frenchmen amongst which were many Gentiles and Voluntiers there were slaine many of them and they were forced to retire The Enomies shot many Granads vpon the Molen-brugger-wall so that euery one did retire from thence farther into the Towne The 5 the Enemies caused a Mine to spring and they fell in the fore-worke but were forced with the losse of some Souldiers and Voluntiers to retire backe againe The same day the enemies did send for their slaine hurt men among which were many Gentiles The 6 there was much shooting on both sides vpon and out of our foreworke The Enemies killed with a shot from the Donck 5 men on the Vuchter-gaete and some lost their armes and legges there were so many Granads shot into the towne that the people were forced to retire deeper into the towne and were much afraid the Enemies fetcht the earth with whole Baskets from the fore-worke and besides approached still The 7 the Captaine Campagne commanded a great many prisoners of the Enemies to goe to the Donck with the which he ran ouer vnto the Enemies with this Campagne lodged alwaies the Drummers and hee knew all that which passed by the Gouernour in the towne which we doe not doubt but that he hath manisested it vnto the Prince they shot so fiercely with Granads that we did not respect the shooting of the Ordnance and there were daily slaine so many men that I leaue to set downe the number The 8 the Enemies came into our foreworke which we left to saue our Souldiers because there were daily many killed The same day the Gouernour and Magistrates caused the Burgers to be assembled propounding that the Vuchteren wall should be entrenched and the houses puld downe vnto which the Burgers were vnwilling saying if we could not hold the Sconces and out-workes and if our walles of the towne cannot resist what shall it be when our houses are broken downe and we loose our grounds And they said also you haue broken downe without our consent the Wind-milles you may also doe this if it doe like you The 9 there was offered by the Gouernour and Magistrates that whatsoeuer Burgers or voluntaries would goe with the souldiers in the Trenches for to resist the Enemies that they may doe it freely whereupon some said if we doe it it is more then reason that wee should receiue the Kings money and bread The 10 and 11 the Enemies shot many Granads which caused great pitifull cryings and dammage The 11 the Gouernours and the Magistrates caused the Burgers againe to be assembled propounding that it was certaine that Captaine Compagne had manifested vnto the Enemies the state of the towne and that there should be chosen Commissioners some out of the Clergy some out of the Councell of Warre the third from among the Burgers what they would ordaine to make and to breake that same should be accomplished vnto which the Burgers would not condiscend therefore the Gouernours and Magistrates required of them that they would subscribe an Act that they could not coudescend vnto the cutting off of the Vuchteren wall nor also would not goe to the Trenches of which there was nothing done The Clergie was also assembled for to furnish money for the payment of the souldiers The 12 the Enemies shot very fircely with Granads of which one fell in the Crosse-brothers-Church the which destroyed all the seates and all the Glasses in the same Church A Monke of about 80 yeeres of age was crushed in pieces so that there was found nothing but one of his legges and a piece of his head This day there went three Messengers out of the towne from which the Pigeons did returne The same day there were buried in the towne two French Counts the one did serue the King and the other the States The 13 there was very fiercely shot and at night were sent into the towne 11 Granads which did great hurt to the houses and men so that euery one was in feare the same day the Gouernour and President assembled with the Lord Bishop to what end is vnknowne to the Burgers whereupon followed that at night there went out about one thousand men for to cut through a damme but could not be brought to the effect They brought in some prisoners and killed some This night the Granads did much hurt to the men and houses The 14 in the morning the Enemies shot very fiercely into the towne with Grenads that it was very lamentable to see and rained some houses of some the heaues and tops were damunified very much The 15 the Enemies plaid very fiercely with their Canon The 16 the Enemies shot aboue 300 shot vpon the Vuchter gate and street and about 25 Granads so that the people could not goe quietly in the streets the Crosse-Brothers were faine to retire out of the Cloyster and went by the Fryers to dwell and to doe their seruice We got this day good tidings whereupon was commanded vnto the watches to let flye all their Ancients as well vpon the gates as the walles for a token that we yet were well minded and
couragious The 17 the Enemies did nothing else but shoot with Ordnance and threw 20 Granads in the towne The 18 the Enemies brought many Bauins for to fill the ditch They did also a sally vpon our Workes before the Graefse-gate which did endure from about 11 of the clock at noone vntill 6 of the clocke at night where there were slaine and hurt many on both sides Also there were some vpon the walles but were forced to retire The 19 there were sent 5 Granads vpon the Vuchteren-wall and then it was very quiet but were brought neere the towne about 50 Wagons with Bauins they shot but with three pieces of Ordnance though at night againe with Granads so that the dead men which were buried were digged out of their graues The 20 the Enemies shot very fiercely vpon the Vuchter-gate and the Bulworke that there fell great breaches out of the said bulworke in the ditches Also some Sconce-kornes fell downe the same day assembled the Gouernour President and the Captaines of the Burgers with the Lord Bishop but to what end remaineth secret This day the Enemies did a sally vpon the Works without the Graefse-gate where they were beaten backe and many men were slaine and hurt The 21 the Enemies did againe a sally vpon the said Worke which ours were forced to leaue The 22 the souldiers of the Captaine Dirck de leeue brought in three horses with a Cornet which they tooke prisoner as they say from Wyckde duersten by whom we vnderstood that Count Henry vander bergh had taken Amersfort and three dayes after pillaged it and left it Also that the Enemies had taken with an enterprise the towne of Wesell The 23 the Enemies shot againe very fiercely with Canon but no more with Granads whereof wee were glad the Gouernours and Magistrates did ordaine that the Burgers in the morning and after dinner should worke three houres At night the Enemies did make Bone fires and ioyfull tokens for the taking of Wesell they plaid also with Ordnance and Muskets that neuer was seene the like The 24 the Enemies did come very neere with their approaches The 25 the Enemies shot with granads vpon the fish-market so that euery one did put their houshold-stuffe into the sellors and themselues went deeper in the towne The 26 the Enemies did fill a part of the Ditches of the towne and approached euery day very much they threw with Granads by which was set an house on fire vpon the which they shot very fiercely by which meanes many Burgers and souldiers were slaine there came tidings that the Enemies had taken Santvliet but was not true The 27 in the morning betimes two posts were sent to Brussels which tooke with them pigeons we had not had in 7 weeks any tydings nor Messengers this day ours brought in the Drossart of Gorcums-man with a braue horse who said that Gount John of Nassaw was with 16000 men about Endhouen and that it was intended vpon Heusden This day the Enemies were very much busie to fill the ditches and shot very fiercely vpon Saint Iohns steeple and with granads in the Hintemer street which caused great hurt on men and houses The 29 the Enemies began againe to shoot with granads specially vpon the Priests Cloister where were some houses altogether destroyed this day there came a pigean in the towne which was a token that the said Posts were come through the Leaguer and out of danger The same day the Gouernour and Magistrates did command that the Vuchteren wall should be cut off and the Magistrates gaue Beere vnto the Pyoners the Gouernours diuided also muition bread amongst the needy Burgers if the towne should be releeued that then they should pay it againe within halfe a yeere if not they should not pay for it There was also sold Oyle Stock-fish Ryse and other victuals that were bought for the Garrison this was done for to get money The Oyle was sold for 25 stiuers the Kanne a pound of Ryse 4 stiuers Stockfish 4 ½ stiuer a pound The 30 the Enemies were busie to fill vp the ditches with Bauens of which we set some on fire The Enemies were so bold that some looked ouer the Walles which came not well to passe for them The 31 we began to lose our courage some Burgers refused to watch and others to worke thereupon the Magistrates cōmanded that the Burgers should watch of two nights one and vnto those that did worke was giuen Beere Bread and Cheese for that they should be the more willing The first of September there rose great alteration amongst the Burgers who dwelled vpon the Vuchteren wall because there was giuen order to make a Ditch on the Orchen and through a Field behinde Iacob Gysbrechts in that manner to cut thorow the said Wall whereupon the Burgers being 20 or 30 in number went to the President Henry Fransen van gessell complaining vnto him of the same who gaue them for answer Beate them away if they be there The 2 the same persons went into the Town-house where they got no contentment according to their minde returning homewards said There lye our Armes we will not watch but keepe our Houses and Vuchteren Wall which was of more importance then their watching or working The Enemies shot so fiercely vpon the Coc-wall with Ordnance and Granads that many houses were throwne downe there came also a bullet thorow St. Iohns Church which damnified the whole Organs in our Ladies Quire The 4 the Enemies shot so many Granads vpon the Vuchteren wall that no body could keepe him there for feare of being hurt the like was euery where in the towne The Enemies came with their Galleries neere our out-workes which we haue before the Vuchter-gate ouer the ditch into our Bulwarkes The 5 6 7 and following dayes the iealousie of the Burgers did more and more increase against the Gouernour his brother-in-law and the President Many said publikely We were commanded to prouide our houses vpon great penalties and now there is no Powder We haue many yeeres brought vp Fortification mony and Subsidies for to fortifie the Walls and towne now we are well serued we haue a rich Gouernour a rich President c the which haue cozened vs very much and such like iniurious words whereupon followed that vpon the 9 and 10 the Enemies tooke in the halfe-moone before the Vuchter-gate and ours were retired into the Towne The 11 in the morning there sprung a Mine in the great Bulwarke which did make such an alteration amongst the Burgers that each cryed for to parly wherupon some were committed and a great many of the Burgers ran vpon the Walls putting off their Hats and so the composition was agreed vpon and subscribed on the 14 and the Gouernour with the Garrison and many Ecclesiasticall persons and some Burgers marched out of the Towne on the 17 whereupon there was in the towne great heauinesse FINIS
War with a great number of Souldiers of Foot and Horse for to secure the Betuwe and other places from his Designe the 25 and 28 those within haue with two shallops brought into the Towne some prisoners The 28 arriued in the Leager the yong Prince of Denmarke who will stay there a while The 3 of August the Rush bridge was brought ouer The 4 we tooke in the Tanaille before the Vuchter gate notwithstanding those within did beate vs out againe The 7 at night the said Tanaille was taken and presently there was made a Battery of the same The 10 at night there came two Boores out of the towne each with a couple of Pigeons and 3 Letters which Letters were brought to the Prince the tenor of them was that they were to be relieued within 3. weekes the 13 14 15 was on both sides very fiercely plaid with Ordnance and some Granads were throwne into the Towne which caused great outcries in the same Those within came out vpon the Trench northward of Brederodens Quarter neere the water-milles thinking to cut thorow the same which being almost done they were beaten backe againe Between the 17 and 18 those which came out with some shallops vpon the Battery betweene Pinsens Quarter and the great Sconce spoiled the victualers but found no Ordnance because it is euery night brought vnder the great Sconce and so returned backe into the Towne The 19 there was a Mine sprung in the Hornenworke neere the Hintemer end which killed many men notwithstanding those within defended themselues three seuerall times and kept the Victorie After that his Highnesse Count Ernst had well beset the Betuwe and other places neere the Issel streame for to hinder the comming of the Enemies which were already falne in the Velewe with braue and chiefe men well considering of all things thereupon the Prince also did send thither men of Horse and foot as many as his Excellency could well spare shewing himselfe day and night fearing not any danger euery where in the vttermost of the Workes and batteries then there came on the 20 this joyfull Letter from the Worthy Worshipfull man of Warre Otto van Gent and Oyen Lord of Dieden c. vnto the Illustrious Prince of Orenge MY Lord The bearer hereof my Cousin Mederode commeth to bring your Excellency report of the good successe of the taking of the Towne of Wesell The Enemy did leaue at that same time 2 Forts or Sconces without staying that wee should shoot vpon them They haue bored to the ground their ships of Warre and hauing some Bridges vpon the Rhyne I haue burnt part of them which were not fit Here is a great number of Ordnance and 13 or 14 Boats set vpon Waggons I haue for the better assurance of the Towne sent vnto the Gouernors of Rhees and Emericke that they would send me some Companies of Foot And if your Excellence thinketh fit I wish to haue a great many more men wherewith c. In Wesell in haste August 19. 2629. My Lord Your Excellencies humble and obedient Otto van Gent and Oyen Whereupon there was a generall Thankesgiuing through all the Leager for this Victory and we haue made Bonfires after the Leager manner as followeth His Excellency commanded that none should begin before the Signall of the Jacht before Creueceur was done The Princesse was her selfe vpon the Walles of Creueceur and the Yacht play'd his Canon then those of the Fort Creueceur did play with 18 Peeces and played those of the Redouts along the Bosh-sloot then the Lord Pinsen then the great and little Sconces and then the Ordnance about the Quarter of the Prince of Orenge then after those the Quarter of Brederode from his Fort against the Pettler then his highnesse Count Ernst with his whole and halfe Curtows as also at Orten When the Ordnance had thus played at all places then beganne likewise all the Muskettiers of the whole Leaguer Those of the Quarter of his Princely Excellency beganne first and then they followed Eastward the one after the other round about the Leager as a running Fire The Pike-men and seruants of the Horsemen did carry burthens of Straw vpon their Pikes and staues going so through all parts of the Leager that it made a great light When the second charge of the Canon began was cast into the Towne a Morter the ships lying by hundreds together along the Diese did make Bonefires with pitch-Barrels and did hang out Lanthorns vpon their Masts In summe it was like as if the whole Leager had bin on fire The 26 at night went forth 2 companies of Horsemen and 200 Fire lockes which met by the way a Conuoy that went for Breda of which ours killed some and brought prisoners with them 40 men and about 80 Horses well furnished Also a Ritmaster and a Lieutenant with a Cornet for the Waggons was giuen security The 30 a Boere or a carrier of letters was hanged here in the Leager after he had beene imprisoned about 10 weekes Betweene the 30 and 31 the Gallery on the West side of the Vuchter-gate was brought ouer and the ninth binte of the other Gallery on the South side of the said Bulwarke which the â—4 was appointed to be made was brought ouer The first of September ours that were in the Bulwarke began to breake from the said Bulwarke in the Walles of the Town which was about 12 foot thicke and there to make a Mine On this day Monsieur Stakenbroeck and the Duke of Bouillon with ten Cornets of Horse three Peeces of Ordnance and some hundred Fire-lockes are marched toward the little towne called Endhouen and got the same with the Castle which lyes there on the second of the same moneth with agreement or composition About 200 men which did withdrawe themselues from thence in a Moore neere that place part of them were defeated by the Duke de Bouillon and about 160 were brought prisoners into the Leager Betweene the 9 and 10 in the morning the Illustrious Prince did ride towards the Mine which he did cause to spring and it did work well springing to the Vuchter-gaete The English had the Watch there who fell vpon the Enemy with a great courage and did so beate them out of the same that thee were forced to retire and leaue the Halfe-Moone they defended themselues at the first well but ours fell on with a false Alarme likewise fell the Enemies with all their forces vpon vs ours did retire somewhat backe so that the Enemies were deceiued thinking that they had the Victory whereupon our second Mine sprung so that armes and leggs flew in the Ayre whereupon ours fell on againe and did beat them by force out of the halfe-moone as aforesaid so that we tooke in all their workes on the Vuchter-gate in which halfemoone we began to worke at 3 of the Clocke because those of the Towne should not shoot in it we beganne also presently to mine in the stone Bulwarke where on
the 11 our Mine sprung wherevpon by the command of his Excellency some of ours did fall onely to see what countenance the Enemies held which came presently backe againe and our Souldiers presently lodged in the breach of the Mine Thereupon came a Drummer from the Enemies hee pretended to aske leaue to dig out two Captaines which they said were on led in our Mine the Prince who was present in the Workes commanded to be looked for them which was also performed vnto those that looked for them was giuen a Couinex-daller by the Spanish but it was not therefore that they did it because the Drummer came presently againe requiring to speake with some of our Officers to report vnto the Prince to treat of a Composition whereupon there came presently 4 persons of quality out of the Town to the Illustrious Prince who sate in the Gallery vpon a little bench being accompanied with some chiefe men though few in number speaking there with the said prince requiring foure dayes meane while they would send vnto the Infanta and in case of default of releeuing in that time would treat of the rendition of the town which was denyed vnto them notwithstanding they fell to a treaty of a parly and they haue on both sides sent Hostages meane time many Burgers and Ecclesiasticall persons shewed themselues vpon the Walles On the 13 of the same moneth those of the Bosh did dine with the Illustrious Prince and after dinner did returne with the Princes Coaches backe againe into the Towne and ours came againe out of the same towne those of the Towne did leaue their Commission with vs the which together with the resolution of the Prince the high and mighty Lords the States did carry with them into the Towne On Friday the 14 after dinner about 4 of the clocke the Composition of the rendition of the mighty and renowned Towne of S'hertogenbosh is absolutely concluded in the Leager in the House where the Illustrious Prince was lodged and was by both parties subscribed to the great ioy of ours aswell among the chiefe as common Inhabitants The Committies are ioyfully departed one from another and those of the Towne after they had subscribed the Composition departed with the Princes Coach to the Towne which were these to wit Fr. Michael Episcopus Buscobus Fr. Johannes Moores Abbas Bernensus Johannes Hermans Deccanus Buscobus R. van Voorn T. vanden Velde R. van Ireneuen B. Loef vanden Sloot Henrick Somerts Peter Huberts Hercalt Heuel Meane while there came in the Leager many thousand of Burgers from seuerall Townes and places to see the braue Siege the Illustrious and Couragious Prince of Orenge and the departure of the Enemies out of S'hertogenbosh of which many were forced to lye all night in the Field The 17 the Prince caused the men of Warre to bee armed and there were made 2 Tents neere the towne wherein were the Illustrious Prince of Orenge being accompanied with his Princesse his Maiesty of Bohemia and his Queene the Prince of Denmarke besides 40 aswell Dukes Counts as Barons where those of the Towne did march by them First there came a Company of Horse of ours where those of the towne did passe neere then followed the Waggons and Carres with sicke persons baggage Iesuites Nunnes and Friers of all sorts betwixt these was Grobbendoncks wife in a Coach who was but three weeks out of Childbed with whom the Prince had a long Discourse At last at night followed the Gouernour sitting vpon a Horse betweene 2 Coronels of ths States the Footmen were 22 Companies being about 2000 men strong together with the sicke and hurt persons whereof there were not aboue 1200 in health there followed also three Companies of Horse braue and well armed Of our side marched againe into the Towne the Guard of the Illustrious Prince the Company of my Lord Beuerweert and also the Company of my Lord Wits besides some other Companies Also in the Petler Sonce many Souldiers On the 18 there was put an Orenge Ancient on the steeple of S. Iohns Church there came many thousand Burgers from without into the Towne the Burgers within were reasonably well contented saying that they had not had want of victuals during this Siege but onely of Butter and Cheese which was very deare On the same day came his Princely Excellencie himselfe into the Towne but returned presently againe to the Leager Many of the high and mighty Lords the States generall and Deputies of the same are come into the Towne with Coaches and were welcommed of the Magistrates and are lodged at the signe of the Sunne On Wednesday the 19 of this moneth the Gospell of God was preached in 3 Churches and his Princely Excellency his Maiesty of Bohemia together with the Prince of Denmarke being present in Saint Iohns Church where were baptized three children to which the said Potentates were Godfathers namely his Maiestie of Bohemia of the first child called Amelia his Princely Excellency of the second child named Iohannes and the Prince of Denmark of the third child called Mauritius The Lord God saue and blesse from henceforth his Princely Excellency who hath carried himselfe in this siege as a valiant and braue Souldier fearing no danger but presenting himselfe alwaies personally to the encouragement of his Souldiers and terrour of his Enemies There was neuer seene in any siege in this Countrey so many Dukes Barons Gentiles and Voluntiers which did come out of seuerall Kingdomes and places but onely before this Towne of which no body can speake enough being all done in a short time And that the Enemies must giue him the honour that when he came there with his great and strong Armie he could attempt nothing vpon him but sent a Letter into the Towne and so went away For this great Victorie which the Lord God hath this yeere giuen vnto these Lands there is by the high and mighty Lords the States generall ordained and commanded to keepe a Fast and day of Prayer whereupon they gaue out this Letter Welbeloued c. WHereas it hath pleased the Almighty Lord God to shew vs his exceeding great mercy and compassion ouer these Lands that he not only hath stayed the great forces of the Enemies the which according to all appearance were like to breake thorow in the midst of the heart of our Land with destruction of goods and liues of the Inhabitants together with the reformed Religion as also of the liberties lawes and priuiledges but that he aboue all this hath greatly blessed these Lands with the taking of the Towns of Wesell and S'hertogenbosh to the increase of his holy Word and comfort of many which haue beene many yeeres vnder the tyranny of the Spaniards Therefore the high and mighty Lords the States haue found very necessary to bid and command a generall fasting day in all the vnited Prouinces Countries Shires and their associate Townes and places to be on Wednesday next within 14 daies which shall be the