willing me the night before with my troops of horse and foot of that countrey to beset the town on the same side of the river it standeth On the same those of the town held a fort which made my Lord of Leycester loose many men and much time before he could get it This fort I thought necessary to take from the enemy before he had knowledge of our purpose to besiege him and because I wanted force to work it by open means I put this sleight following in practise I chose a good number of lusty and hardy young Souldiers the most of which I apparelled like the countrey women of those parts the rest like the men gave to some baskets to other packs and such burthens as the people usually carry to the market with pistols and short swords and daggers under their garments willing them by two or three in a company by break of day to be at the ferry of Zutphen which is just against the fort as if they stayed for the passage boat of the town and bad them to sit and rest themselves in the mean time as near the gate of the fort as they could for avoiding suspition and to seize upon the same as soon as it was opened Which took so good effect that they possessed the entry of the fort and held the same till an officer with two hundred souldiers who was laid in a covert not farre off came to their seconds and so became fully Master of the place By which means the siege of the town afterwards proved the shorter The siege of DEVENTER IN the siege of Deventer by reason of the shortnesse of a bridge of boats laid over the ditch for our men to go to the assault the troops could not so roundly pass as had been requisite and so were forced to retire with no small losse The Count Maurice was so discouraged that he purposed that night to have withdrawn his Ordnance I desired that he would have patience till the next day and resolve in the morning to begin the battery again for five or six volleys and then to summon them assuring him that I would guard the bridge that night if the enemy should attempt to burn it as they did though in vain The Count Maurice liked well of the advise and it had good successe for upon the summons they yielded Their town had no flank on that part the wall which was of brick without any Rampire was in a manner rased to the foundation the town so close behinde it that they could not make any new defences which as they might be just causes of discouragement to the besieged so they made me confident that with this shew of perseverance they would yield The Count Herman of Bergh who commanded the town was sore bruised with a Cannon There marched of the enemy out with him seven or eight hundred able men amongst which was an English Gentleman whom for his using unreverent and slanderous speeches of her Majestie I had long held in prison out of which he had during that siege made an escape he was excepted in the composition taken from them and executed as he well deserved not for his first but second offence The defeat given to the Duke of Parma at KNODSENBVRGHFORT IN the year of our Lord one thousand five hundred ninetie one whilest the Count Maurice was busied in Friezland and with good successe took many forts as Delfziel and others about Groninghen The Duke of Parma passed with his armie into the Betow and besieged the fort on that side the river upon the ferry to Nimmeghen Whereupon the States countermanded the Count Maurice with their forces who being come to Arnheim incamped in the Betow right over against that Town The Duke still continuing his siege the States who were then present at Arnheim desirous to hinder his purpose if it were possible in their assembly to which I was called with the Count Maurice propounded the matter and insisted to have something exploited though we layed before them the advantage the enemy had of us in the number of his men the strength of his encamping as well by the site of the countrey as intrenchments so as much time was spent and the council dissolved without resolution upon any speciall enterprize albeit in generall the Count Maurice and the men of war agreed to do their utmost endeavour for the annoying and hindering of the enemy I had observed by the enemies daily coming with good troops of horse and forcing of our scouts that they were likely to bite at any bait that were cunningly laid for them and therefore having informed my self of the wayes and passages to their army and projected with my self a probable plot to do some good on them I brake the same to the Count Maurice who liked my devise well and recommended to me the execution thereof giving me the troops I demanded which were one thousand two hundred foot and five hundred horse The distance betwixt the two armies was about four or five English miles to the which there lay two ready wayes serving for the intercourse betwixt Arnheim and Nimmeghen the one a dike or cawsey which was narrower and most used in winter by reason of the lownesse and myrinesse of the countrey the other larger both hemd with overgrown woods and deep ditches Near half a mile from the quarter this cawsey was to be passed to come to the other way which led to the main quarter of the enemy where most of his horse lay About two thirds of the way from our camp there was a bridge to this bridge I marched early in the morning sending forthwith towards the enemies camp two hundred light and well mounted horse with order to beat the guards of the enemies horse even to their very quarter and guards of foot to take such spoil and prisoners as lay ready in their way and so to make their retreat if they were followed more speedily otherwise an ordinary marching pace In the mean time I divided my footmen into two parts whereof one I laid near the hither side of the bridge in a place very covert the other a quarter of a mile behinde and in the rereward of them the rest of my horse If the enemy came in the tayl of our horse whom for that purpose I had appointed as before said to come more leasurely that the enemy might have time to get to horse I knew they could bring no footmen and therefore was resolved to receive betwixt my troops of foot all the horsemen they could send But if they pursued not our men in the heat I judged they would either come with good numbers of both kinde of men ordered or not at all and if they came with good advice that they would rather seek to cut off my passage near home by taking the cawsey and higher way then to follow me directly For the better preventing whereof the Count Maurice himself with a choice part of the horse
charge and who were Competitours to succeed me he plainly said that he had given my Lord Sidney his promise to procure him a Regiment in the States service I answered that the command of the Nation belonged to me by Commission that there was as little reason for my Lord to be under my authority as for me to yield my authority to him that in respect of his Government he was as uncapable of that charge as my self By this again I found his Lordships care to hold me back notwithstanding my Lord Sidney had soon made an end of his suit But my Lord Gray stuck longer to it and was earnester insomuch as there passed speeches in heat betwixt him and me and yet in the end such was the favour of the Prince that I enjoyed both the one and the other charge In the same year one thousand five hundred ninety seven about the latter end of September I passed into the Low-countreys took and gave the oaths that are usuall betwixt those of Holland the Governour and Townsmen of the Briell and so was established in that Government The action at TVRNHOVLT THat winter one thousand five hundred ninety and seven the enemy lying at Turnhoult an open village with four thousand foot and six hundred horse one day amongst other speeches I said to Mounsieur Barnevelt that they did but tempt us to beat them which it seemeth he marked for shortly after the States resolved to make an attempt on them and gave order to the Count Maurice to that end to gather his forces together which at one instant shipped from their severall garrisons arrived with great secresie at Gertrudenberg in all to the number of six thousand foot and one thousand horse whereof some two hundred came from Flushing with Sr Robert Sidney which troop because he desired should march with the rest of the English in the love and respect I professed and truly bare to him I made offer to him to command one of the two troops the English forces were then divided into which he refused not THE ACTION NEAR TVRNHOVLT The night was very cold insomuch as the Count Maurice himself going up and down the quarter with straw and such other blazing stuff made fires in some places with his own hands by the corps-du-guard Sir Robert Sidney and I got us into a barn thronged with souldiers to rest because there was no sleeping by the Count Maurice who was disposed to watch whence I was also called to attend him In the morning we set forward and by break of day came within a faulcon-shot of Turnhoult where the troops were put in battel whence sending some light horse towards the town to discover word was brought that the enemy had caused his baggage to march all night and that now the rereward of their troops were going out of the town whereupon the Count Maurice caused our vanguard to advance to the town with which he marched By that time we were come to the town the enemy was clear gone out of it and some musket-shot off on the way to Herentalls beyond a narrow bridge over which one man could onely go in front they made a stand with some of their men and galled our scouts which followed on the track The Count Maurice made a halt half way betwixt the bridge and the town where I offered to beat the enemy from this passage if he would give me some men alleadging that this was onely a shew of the enemy to amuse us whilest he withdrew the body of his forces and therefore this required a speedy execution Hereupon he appointed me two hundred muskettiers of his own guard and the other Dutch companies with Officers to receive my commandments saying that he would second me according as occasion should serve with which I went directly towards this bridge near which I found the Count Hollock who that journey commanded the horse He told me of an easier passage over that water and offered me guides but the distance agreed not with the necessity of the haste and therefore I excused my self of altering my way which he took in very ill part insomuch as not long after he wrote unto me a letter of expostulation as if I had failed in the acknowledgment of his authority which he pretended by an ancient Commission to be Lieutenant-Generall of Holland and consequently of all the forces which I answered in good and fitting terms to his contentment And so placing my men in the best places of advantage to command the bridge I made them play at the enemy who soon forsook the bridge being so narrow as afore-said and of a good length I durst not adventure at the first to passe my men over it the rather for that the countrey on the other side was very thick of wood but after a little pause I thrust over some few foot and by a foard adjoyning though very deep and difficult I sent some few horse to discover vvhat the enemy did and causing mine own horse to be led through the said foard went my self over the bridge from which some half a harquebush-shot I found a small fort of pretty defence abandoned into which I put my footmen which were first passed and sent for the rest to come with all diligence In the mean time taking my horse I rode with some few officers and others after the enemy whom we soon espied some whiles marching otherwhile standing as if they had met with some impediment before them which we thought was caused by the number of their carriages The way they marched was through a lane of good breadth hemmed in with thick underwoods on both sides fit as I thought to cover the smalnesse of the number of my men Whereupon as also on the opinion the enemy might justly conceive that the rest of our troops followed at hand I took the boldnesse and assurance to follow them with those two hundred muskettiers which I put into the skirts of the vvood So as betvvixt them and the high-vvay in vvhich the enemy marched there vvas a vvell-grovvn hedge My self vvith about some fifteen or sixteen horsmen of mine ovvn follovvers and servants kept the high-vvay advancing tovvards the enemy giving in the mean time the Count Maurice advise vvhat I savv vvhat I did and vvhat an assured victory he had in his hands if he vvould advance the troops I vvas not gone tvvo musket-shot from this fort but some choice men of the enemy whom they had appointed to make the retreat discharged on us and our men again ansvvered them and pressing upon them put them nearer to their hindermost body of pikes under the favour of vvhich they and such as from time to time vvere sent to refresh them maintained skirmish vvith us When they marched I follovved vvhen they stood I stayed and standing or marching I kept within reach for the most part of their body of pikes so as I slew and galled many of them and in this manner held them play
and for the reputation of the Count Maurice this being the first enterprise wherein he commanded in person as chief it could not be abandoned but with much reproach without the knowledge and order of the States General and that therefore they were first to be informed in what state things stood I undertaking in the mean time the defence of the place Which counsel was followed and I used such industry both in the intrenching of the island and planting artillery that the enemie in the end desisted from the enterprise The relief of RHINBERGH IN the year of our Lord one thousand five hundred eighty nine the town of Bergh upon the Rhyne being besieged by the Marquesse of Warrenbon and distressed for want of victuals I was sent to the Count Meurs governour of Gelderland by the States with nine companies of English At my coming to Arnheim where he lay in a storehouse of munitions in giving order for things necessary for his expedition the powder was set on fire and he so sorely burnt that he died within few dayes after The States of that province called me before them told me in what extremity the town was the importance of the place and facility in succouring it desiring me to proceed in the enterprise which I did willingly assent unto and they appointed seven companies of their own nation to joyn with me which were to be left in Bergh in lieu of so many other companies to be drawn out thence To the Count Oversteyn a young Gentleman and then without any charge as a kinsman follower of the Count of Meurs they gave the command of twelve companies of horse With these troops we passed to the fort Caleti made by Skink over against Rees where finding the carriages appointed for that purpose ready laden with provisions we marched towards Bergh taking our way through a heathy and open countrey and so with diligence surprizing the enemie who lay dispersed in their forts about the town in full view of them put our provisions into the town and so returned to the said fort by Rees the same way we had gone The second relieving of RHINBERGH AFter some dayes refreshing it was thought good by the States new provision of victuals being made who in the mean time had advice how things had passed that we should with all speed put in more provisions being advertized that the enemie gathered great forces in Brabant under the conduct of the Count Mansfeldt for the streight besieging of the Town which made us hasten and withall take the ordinary and ready way near the Rhine-side but because it was shorter and not so open as the other and so more dangerous if perchance the enemie with his full power should encounter us and because there were upon it certain small redoubts held by the enemie we took along with us two small field-pieces When we came within two English miles of Bergh at a castle called Loo which stands on the side of a thick wood within musket-shot of the way we were to take through the said wood being very narrow and hemmed in on both sides with exceeding thick underwoods such as I guesse as those dangerous places of Ireland the enemy from the castle first shewed themselves and then came out towards the place along the skirt of the wood to gall our men and horses in their passage with such bravery as I might well perceive they were not of the ordinary garrison I first sent out some few shot to beat them back giving order to our vantguard in the mean time to enter the passage and the Dutch footmen to follow them and the horsmen and carriages with orders to passe with all diligence to the other side of the place and then to make a stand untill the rest of the troops were come up to them keeping with my self who stayed in the rereward fiftie horse and six trumpeters and all the English foot In the mean time the enemie seconded their troops of shot with to the number of four or five hundred in so much as I was forced to turn upon greater numbers with resolution to beat them home to their castle which was so throughly performed that afterwards they gave us leave to passe more quietly When the rest of the troops were passed I made the English enter the streight who were divided into two troops of which I took an hundred men with six drums placing them in the rereward of all my self with the fifty horse marching betwixt them and the rest of the English footmen This streight is about a quarter of an English mile long and hath about the middle of it another way which cometh into it from Alpen a small town not far off When we were past this crosse way we might hear a great shout of mens voices redoubled twice or thrice as the Spanish maner is when they go to charge but by reason of the narrowness and crookednesse of the place had no sight of them I presently caused the troops to march faster and withall gave order to the trumpeters and drums that were with me to stand and sound a charge whereupon there grew a great stilnesse amongst the enemy who as I afterward understood by themselves made a stand expecting to be charged In the mean time we went as fast from them as we could till we had gotten the plain then having rid to the head of the troops who were then in their long and single orders and giving directions for the embatteling of them and turning their faces towards the streight and the mouths of the pieces also and so riding along the troops of English towards the place I might see from the plain which was somewhat high raised over the woods which were not tall the enemy coming in great haste over a bridge some eight score within the streight with ensigns displayed very thick thronged together and in a trice they shewed themselves in the mouth of the streight My hindermost troops which were then near the streight were yet in their long order and with the suddennesse of the sight somewhat amazed in so much that a captain well reputed and that the very same day had behaved himself very valiantly though he saw me directing as became me often asked what he should do till shortly and roughly as his importunity and the time required I told him that I was never lesse to seek that he therefore should go to his place and do as I had commanded till further order and so doubting the enemie would get the plain before my troops would be throughly ordered to go against them I took some of the hinder ranks of the pikes and some shot vvith vvhich I made out to the streights mouth a great pace vvilling the rest to follovv vvhereupon the enemy made a stand as it vvere doubtfull to come on and so I came presently to the push of pike vvith them Where at the first encounter my horse being slain under me vvith the blovv
of a pike and falling on me so as I could not suddenly rise I lay as betvvixt both troops till our men had made the enemy give back receiving a hurt in my leg and divers thrusts vvith pikes through my garments It vvas very hard fought on both sides till our shot spreading themselves along the skirt of the vvood as I had before directed flanked and sore galled the enemie so that they could no longer endure but vvere forced to give back vvhich they did vvithout any great disorder in troop and as they vvere hard follovved by our men turned and made head manfully vvhich they did four severall times before they broke and at last they flang avvay their arms and scattered asunder thrusting themselves into the thickets for backvvards they could not flee the vvay being stopped by their ovvn men I commanded our men not to disband but pursue them and passing forward easily discomfited the five hundred horsmen who presently left their horses fled into the bushes amongst whom it was said the Marquesse of Warrenbon was in person for the horse he was mounted on was then taken amongst the rest The horsmen who fled into the thicks we followed not but went on the straight way till we encountred with the twenty four companies of Neopolitans who discouraged with our successe made no great resistance We took eighteen of their ensigns and made a great slaughter of their men till we had recovered the bridge before mentioned of them My troop being small of it self made lesse by this fight and lesser by the covetousnesse of the souldier whereof a good part could no longer be kept from rifling of the enemie and taking horses I thought good not to pursue the enemie further then the said bridge where having made a stand till our men had taken the full spoil of all behinde us the enemy not once so much as shewing himself and night growing on I made my retreat and two hours after sun-set came with the troops into the town of Bergh This fight was begun and ended with one of the two English troops which could not exceed four hundred men the other which Sir Oliver Lambert led onely following and shewing it self in good order and ready if occasion required the Netherlanders remaining in the plain with the horsmen and the Count Overstein The enemy lost about eight hundred men and by an Italian Lieutenant of horsmen who was the onely man taken alive I understood that the Count Mansfeldt was newly before this encounter arrived and had joyned this forces with those of the Marquesse of Warrenbon in which were all the Spanish regiments making two hundred and twenty ensigns besides other forces so as the whole strength was supposed thirteen or fourteen thousand foot and twelve hundred horse of their oldest and best souldiers They had intelligence of our coming but expected us the way we had taken before and made all speed to impeach us by cutting off this passage sending those harquebuizers we first met with by the castle to entertain us in skirmish Presently upon my coming to Bergh though in great pain with my wound we fell to deliberation what was to be done we knew the enemies strength and the danger we were to abide in returning and to stay in the town were to hasten the losse of it by eating the provisions we had brought of the two we chose rather to return and so giving order for the change of the garrison and refreshing our men and bestowing those who were hurt on the empty carriages by the break of day the morning being very foggy and mistie we set forward in as secret manner as we could taking the opener and broader way without sight of any enemy till about noon that some troops of horse discovered themselves a far off upon a very spacious heath and gave us onely the looking on so that without any impeachment we arrived that night at the fort before Rees The relieving of the Castle of LITKENHOOVEN IN the year of our Lord one thousand five hundred and ninety the castle of Litken-hooven in the fort of Recklinchusen in which there was a garrison of the States souldiers being besieged by the people of that countrey aided with some good number of the Duke of Cleves the Bishops of Colen and Patebournes souldiers which they call Hanniveers The States gave me order with some companies of English foot to the number of seven or eight hundred and five hundred horse to go to the relief of the said castle which I accepted and marching with all possible speed in good hope to have surprized them at unawares and arriving there one morning by break of day I found that the chief troop was dislodged and that they had wrought hard upon a fort before the entry of the castle in which they had left good store of men I did expect to have found them without any intrenchment and therefore had brought no provision of artillery or scaling ladders without the which it seemed very dangerous and difficult to carry it by assault being reared of a good height with earth and then with gabions set thereupon of six foot high made almost unmountable And to besiege them I had no provision of victuals so that I was to return without making of any attempt or to attempt in a maner against reason which notwithstanding I resolved to adventure And therefore dividing the English troop into eight parts I conveyed them as secretly as I could so as two of these troops might readily assault every corner of the said fort being a square of four small bulwarks but with a distance betwixt the two troops to give on each corner with a signall of drums at which the first four troops should go to the assault and another signall to the other four troops to second if need required Whilst this was in doing I sent a drum to summon them of the fort to yield who sent me word they would first see my artillery I saw by their fashion there was no good to be done by entreaty yet to amuse them I sent them word the artillery was not yet arrived if they made me stay the coming of it I would give them no conditions they answered that I should do my worst At the very instant of my drums return I gave the signal and the troops speedily gave upon the fort as I had appointed them though they did their utmost endeavours they did finde more resistance then they were able to overcome neverthelesse I gave them no second till I might perceive those within had spent their ready powder in their furnitures at what time I gave the second signal which was well and willingly obeyed and gave such courage to the first troops that the assault was more eager on all hands in so much that one souldier helping another some got to the top of the rampires at which the enemy gave back so as the way became more easie for others to climbe to the top
and foot of the army was to attend at the crosse way to favour my retreat My hors-men about noon gave the enemy the alarm and according to their directions made their retreat no enemy appearing whereupon I also retired with the rest of the troop till I came to the crosse way where I found the Count Maurice with his troops In the head of which towards the way of the cawsey with some distance betwixt his troops and mine I made a stand in a little-field by the side of the way where they were at covert We had not been here half an houre but our scouts brought word the enemy was at hand which the Count Maurice's horsemen hearing without any order as every one could get formost to the number of seven or eight hundred they made withall speed towards the enemy I presumed and said they would return faster and in more disorder as it fell out for the enemy coming as fast towards them but in better order put them presently in rout and the greater the number was the more was the amazement and confusion Thus they passed by us with the enemy at their heels laying on them I knew not what other troops they had at hand nor what discouragement this sight might put into the mindes of our men and therefore whereas I purposed to have let the enemy passe if this unlooked for disorder had not happened amongst our horsemen I shewed my troops on their flanks and galled them both with shot and pikes so that they not onely left pursuing their chase but turned their backs Which our horsemen perceiving followed and thus revenged themselves to the full for they never gave over untill they had wholly defeated the troop which was of eight hundred horse of which they brought betwixt two and three hundred prisoners whereof diverse were Captains as Don Alphonso d' Aualos Fradillâ— and others with diverse Cornets and about five hundred horses This defeat so troubled the Duke of Parma that being so forward on his siege and having filled part of the ditch of the fort he retired his army thence and passed the river of Wael a little above Nimmeghen with more dishonour then in any action that he had undertaken in these warres The Calis-journey IN the year of our Lord one thousand five hundred ninetie six I was sent for into England at that time when the journey to the coast of Spain was resolved on which because of the taking of Calis was after commonly called the Calis-journey and returned speedily into the Low Countreys with letters of credence to the States from her Majestie to acquaint them with her Majesties purpose and to hasten the preparation of the shipping they had already promised to attend her Majesties fleet in those seas withall to let them know her Majesties desire to have two thousand of her own subjects as well of those in their pay as her own to be imployed in that action and to be conducted by me to the Earl of Essex and the Lord Admirall of England Generalls of that action by joynt commission The fleet set sail shortly after and my Lord of Essex leaving his own ship imbarqued himself in the Rainbow with my self and some few of his ordinarie attendant servants of purpose as I suppose to conferre with me at the full and at ease of his journey After two dayes sailing his Lordship landed at Beachim near Rye with diverse other Noblemen that he had attending him so far on his journey He took me along with him to the Court and thence dispatched me to Plymmouth whither most of the Land-forces were to march to see them lodged provided of necessaries and trained and ordered which I did accordingly to the great contentment of the Generalls when at their coming they saw the readinesse of the men which were then exercised before them During this stay of the armie about Plymmouth which by reason of the contrarietie of wind was near a moneth it pleased my Lord of Essex to give me much countenance and to have me alwayes near him which drew upon me no small envie in so much as some open jarres fell out betwixt Sir Walter Raleigh then Rear-admirall of the navie and Sir Conniers Clifford Sergeant-major-generall of the armie and my self which the Generall qualified for the time and ordered that in all meetings at Land I should have the precedence of Sir Walter Raleigh and he of me at Sea Sir Conniers Clifford though there were grudging there could be no competition yet being a man of a haughtie stomach and not of the greatest government or experience in Martiall discipline lest ignorance or will might mislead him in the execution of his office and to give a rule to the rest of the high officers which were chosen rather for favour then for long continuance in service to the better directing of them in their duties as also for the more readinesse in the Generall himself to judge and distinguish upon all occasions of controversie I propounded to my Lord of Essex as a thing most necessary the setting down in writing what belonged properly to every office in the field which motion his Lordship liked well and at severall times in the morning his Lordship and my self together he with his own hand wrote what my industrie and experience had made me able to deliver which was afterwards copied delivered severally to the officers and took so good effect that no question arose in that behalf during the journey The wind serving and the troop shipped I imbarqued in the foresaid Rainbow as Vice-admirall of my Lord of Essex his squadron The one and twentieth day after being as I take it the first of July the fleet arrived early in the in the morning before Calis-Malis and shortly after came to an anchor as near the Caletta as the depth would suffer us In the mouth of the Bay thwart of the rocks called Los puercos there lay to our judgement fortie or fiftie tall ships whereof were four of the kings greatest and warlikest Gallions eighteen Merchant ships of the West-Indian fleet outward bounden and richly laden the rest private Merchants Because it was thought these could not escape us in putting to fea the first project of landing our men in the Caletta went on and so the troops appointed for that purpose were imbarqued in our barges and long boats But the wind blowing hard the landing was thought too dangerous the rather for that the enemie shewed themselves on the shore with good troops of horse and foot Notwithstanding in hope the weather would calm the men were still kept in the boats at the ships sterns This day the Generalls met not together but the Lord Admirall had most of the sea officers aboard with him as the Lord of Essex had those for land service and Sir Walter Raleigh was sent to and fro betwixt them with messages so that in the end it was resolved and agreed upon to put the next tide into the Bay
my coming aboard the Gallions were run on ground near the shore and their men some swimming others in their boats began to forsake their ships I was then bold to say to my Lord of Essex that it was high time to send his small shipping to board them for otherwise they would be fired by their own men which his Lordship found reasonable presently sent his directions accordingly and in the mean time sent Sir William Constable with some long boats full of souldiers which his Lordship had towed at his stern since the first imbarquing to have landed in the Caletta But notwithstanding he made all haste possible before he could get to the Gallions two of them were set on fire and the other two by this means saved and taken utterly forsaken of their men who retired through the fennes to porto Saint Maria. The Spanish fleet thus set on ground the prosecution of that victory was committed to and willingly undertaken with the sea-forces by a principall officer of the fleet And because longer delay would increase the difficulty of landing our forces by the resort of more people to Calis it was resolved forthwith to attempt the putting of our men on shore and to that end commandment was given that all the men appointed for that purpose should be imbarqued in the long boats and that my Lord of Essex should first land with those men which could be disembarqued and then my Lord Admirall to second and repair to the Generall who the better to be known would put out his flag in his boat The troops that were first to land were the regiments of the Generalls my own that of Sir Christopher Blunt Sir Thomas Gerrard and Sir Conniers Clifford On the right hand in an even front with a competent distance betwixt the boats were ranged the two regiments first named the other three on the left so that every regiment and company of men were sorted together with their Colonels and chief officers in nimble pinnaces some in the head of the boats some at stern to keep good order the Generall himself with his boat in which it pleased him to have me attend him and some other boats full of Gentlemen-adventurers choice men to attend his person rowed a pretty distance before the rest whom at a signall given with a drum from his boat the rest were to follow according to the measure and time of the sound of the said drum which they were to observe in the deeping of their oars and to that end there was a generall silence as well of warlike instruments as otherwise Which order being duly followed the troops came all together to the shore betwixt Puntall and Calis and were landed and severall regiments imbattelled at an instant without any encounter at all the Spaniards who all the day before had shewed themselves with troops of horse and foot on that part as resolved to impeach our landing being clean retired toward the town The number of the first disembarquing was not fully two thousand men for diverse companies of those regiments that had put themselves into their ships again could not be suddenly ready by reason the boats to land them belonged to other great ships Calis on that side was walled as it were in a right line thwart the land so as the sea on both sides did beat on the foot of the wall which strength together with the populousness of the town in which besides the great concourse of Gentlemen and others upon the discovery of our fleet and alarm of our Ordnance there was an ordinary Garrison of souldiers had taken from us all thought of forcing it without battery and therefore being landed we advanced with the troops to finde a convenient place to encamp till my Lord Admirall with the rest of the forces and the Ordnance were landed Being advanced with the troops half the breadth of the neck of the land which in that place is about half a mile over we might perceive that all along the sea-shore on the other side of this neck of land men on hors-back and foot repaired to the town which intercourse it was thought necessary to cut off And therefore because the greatest forces of the enemies were to come from the land it was resolved on to lodge the better part of the army in the narrowest of the neck which near Puntall is not broader then an ordinary harque-bush-shot To which streight Sir Conniers Clifford was sent with three regiments viz. his own Sir Christopher Blunts and Sir Thomas Gerrards there to make a stand to impeach the Spaniards from coming to the town till he received further order for the quartering and lodging of his men Which done the Lord Generall with the other two regiments and his company of adventurers which was of about two hundred and fifty worthy Gentlemen in all not fully a thousand men advanced nearer the town the better to discover the whole ground before it And as we approached a far off we might perceive the enemy standing in battel under the favour of the town with cornets and ensignes displayed thrusting out some loose horse and foot toward us as it were to procure a skirmish I marking their fashion conceived hope of a speedier gaining the town then we intended and were then about and said to his Lordship at whose elbow I attended that those men he saw standing in battel before the town would shew and make the way for us into the town that night if they were well handled and at the instant I propounded the means which was to carry our troops as near and covertly as might be towards the town and to see by some attempt if we could draw them to fight further from the town that we might send them back with confusion and disorder and so have the cutting them in pieces in the town-ditch or enter it by the same way they did His Lordship liked the project and left the handling thereof to me I presently caused the troop to march towards the other side of the neck of land because the ordinary and ready way to the town lay on that side low and inbayd to the foot of the hilly downs so as troops might march very closely from the view of the town Then I chose out two hundred men which were committed to the conduct of Sir Iohn Wingfield a right valiant Knight with order that he should march on roundly to the enemy where they stood in battel and to charge and drive to their battels the skirmishers but if the enemy in grosse profered a charge he should make an hasty and fearfull retreat to their judgement the way he had gone till he met with his seconds that followed him and then to turn short and with the greatest speed and fury he could to charge the enemy The seconds were of three hundred men led as I remember by Sir Matthew Morgan who were to follow the first troop a good distance and so as both of them till
Michael I sent up to the steeple Sir William Constable and some other Gentlemen then about me to see what they could discern who all agreed that they saw troops and as they guessed some Ensignes I willed Sir William Constable to hasten to his Lordship and tell him what he had seen I had yet remaining with me about five hundred souldiers of these I sent out sixty whereof thirty shot were to go as covertly as they could to a Chapel a great musket-shot from the town on the way the enemy was discovered with order upon the enemies approach to give their volley and suddenly and in haste to retire to the other thirty that were placed half way betwixt them and the town and then all together in as much haste and shew of fear as they could to come to the town where I stood ready with the rest of the men in three troops to receive them and repulse and chase those that should follow them This order given my Lord of Essex with the Earl of Southampton and some other Lords and Gentlemen came to the Market-place where he found me with the troops His Lordship enquired of me what I had seen I said I had seen no enemy but what others had seen his Lordship had heard by their own report and might if it pleased his Lordship send to see if the sentinell continued to affirm the same His Lordship made no answer but called for Tobacco seeming to give but small credit to this alarm and so on horseback with those Noblemen and Gentlemen on foot beside him took Tobacco whilest I was telling his Lordship of the men I had sent forth and order I had given them Within some quarter of an hour we might hear a good round volley of shot betwixt the thirty men I had sent to the Chapel and the enemy which made his Lordship cast his pipe from him and listen to the shooting which continued I told his Lordship it were good to advance with the troops to that side of the town where the skirmish was to receive our men which his Lordship liked well and so went a good round pace expecting to encounter our men who unadvisedly in lieu of retiring in disorder maintained the place which the enemy perceiving and supposing some greater troop to be at hand to second held aloof with his main force for the high-way to the town lay by the Chapel and no other passage for a troop by reason of the strong fence and inclosure of the fields but sent out light men to skirmish Thus perceiving that our men held their ground we stayed our troops in covert in the end of two lanes leading directly to the high-way Those of the Island as we were certainly enformed could make three thousand fighting men well armed and appointed besides the ordinary Garrison of the Spaniards Of that number we supposed them because they had sufficient time to gather their strength together and for that they came to seek us and therefore as on the one side we were loth to discover our small number to them unlesse they provoked us by some notable disorder or necessity in the defence of our selves so we thought it not good to lessen our men by imbarquing of men till the night was come that silence and darknesse might cover our retreat And for these reasons I opposed their heat that propounded to charge the enemy and their haste that would needs have the men shipped without delay In the beginning of the evening which ended the skirmish keeping our sentinels in the view of the enemy his Lordship began to imbarque some troops and so continued till about midnight that the last troop was put into the boat his Lordship seeing all imbarqued before he went aboard but those forelorn men which made the last retreat which were committed to Sir Charles Percy with whom I imbarqued without any impeachment of the enemy or shew to have discovered our departure His Lordship made the young Noblemen and some other principall Gentlemen Knights as Sir William Evers Sir Henry Dockwray Sir William Brown and a Dutch Gentleman that accompanied me that voiage in my ship We were no sooner aboard but that the wind blew a stiff gale so as some were fain to forsake their anchors and with this wind we put for England which continuing vehement drave us to the leeward of our course towards the coast of Ireland I got in my ship an extream leak which kept both my pumps going without intermission many dayes and nights before I got to harbour wherewith my company were much wearied and discouraged even to despair which made me keep aloof from the other ships lest the hope of their own safety might make them neglect that of the ship The fleet kept no order at all but every ship made the best haste home they could which as it might have proved dangerous if the Spanish fleet which was then bound for our coast had not been scattered by the same weather so it was in some sort profitable to us for some of our smaller shipping which were driven most leeward toward the coast of Ireland met with two or three of the Spanish ships full of souldiers which they took by which we not onely understood at our coming to Plymmouth their purpose to have landed at Falmouth with ten thousand men but saw the instructions and orders of the sea-fights if they had met with us which was so full of perfection that I have ever since redoubted their sufficiency in sea Cases The fleet arriving thus weather-beaten at Plymmouth his Lordship posted to the Court leaving my Lord Thomas now Earl of Suffolk my Lord Mountjoy and the rest of the Officers there and shortly came provision of monie with Commission to the said Lords Sir Walter Raleigh and my self to see the same issued and distributed by common advise for the repairing victualling and sending about the fleet to Chattham and entertaining of the thousand men I had brought out of the Low-countreys which were then disposed along the coast of Cornwall and after sent into Ireland Which businesse dispatched I passed by post to London and near Mary-bone-parke I met with Sir William Russell in his coach who being my honourable friend then newly returned from Ireland where he had been Deputy I lighted to salute him with much duty and affection who stepping out of his coach received me with the like favour with whom whilest I stood bare-headed being in a sweat I got cold which held me so extreamly that for three weeks after I could not stirre out of my lodging I understood my Lord of Essex was at his house at Wanstead in great discontentment to whose Lordship I gave presently knowledge of my arrivall as also that I would forbear to attend his Lordship til I had been at Court which then I hoped would have been sooner then it fell out my sicknesse would permit For I supposed at my coming to Court her Majesty after her most gracious
at the least four hours till I came to an open heath which was from the bridge about some five or six English miles sending in the mean time messenger upon messenger to the Count Maurice and the Count Hollock for more troops And it pleased Sir Robert Sidney himself who also came up to me and looked on the enemy when he saw the fair occasion to ride back to procure more forces But all this while none came not so much as any principal officer of the armie to see what I did On the left hand of this heath which is little lesse then three miles over were woods and inclosed fields coasting the way the enemy was to take in distance some musket-shot and a half Along these I caused my muskettiers to advance and as they could from the skirts of the heath to play upon the enemy which was more to shew them and our men that were behinde by hearing the shot that we had not forsaken the enemy then for any great hurt we could do them My self with some thirty or fourty horse that were come up to me to see the sport following them aloof off The enemy seeing no grosse troop to follow them began to take heart put themselves into order in four battalions their horsmen on their wings advancing their way easily When we had in this manner passed half the heath our horsmen in sixteen troops for they were so many began to appear behinde us at the entry of the heath not the way we had passed but more to the right hand coasting the skirts of the heath a good round pace This sight made the enemy mend his pace and gave us more courage to follow them so as now we omitted no endeavour which might hinder their way falling again into skirmish with them For they fearing more those that they saw afar off then us that followed them at their heels being a contemptible number to them that might see us and tell us mended still their pace I therefore sent messengers to those horsmen for of our footmen there was no help to be expected to tell them that if they came not with all speed possible the enemy would get into the streight and fast countrey in which there could be no good done on them They were not above two musket-shot from the mouth of the streight when the Count Maurice with six companies of horse came near unto us that followed the enemie in the tail The other horsmen because they fetched a greater compasse and came more upon the front and right flank of the enemie were further off I sent to the Count to desire him to give me those horsmen And in the mean time to give the enemie some stay I made a round proffer to charge the rereward under the countenance of that second with those horse and foot I had which took good effect for they knowing no other but that all the troops were also ready to charge made a stand and seeing our horsmen on the right wing to grow somewhat near put themselves into a stronger order My messenger returning from the Count Maurice told me he would speak with me to whom I made haste and as the time required in few words having delivered my minde he gave me three companies of horse to use as I should see cause with which I went on the spur for the enemie was now marching again and was come even into the entry of the streight The other horsmen with the Count Hollock seeing me go to charge did the like also so that much about one instant he charged on the right corner of their front and on their right flank and I with my troops on the rereward and left flank so roundly that their shot after the first volley shifted for themselves for their pikes being ranged in four battels stood one in the tail of another not well ordered as in that case they should have been to succour their shot and abide the charge of the horsmen and so charged their pikes not breaking through them at the first push as it was anciently used by the men of arms with their barded horses but as the long pistols delivered at hand had made the ranks thinne so thereupon the rest of the horse got within them so as indeed it was a victory obtained without fight For till they were utterly broken and scattered which was after a short time few or none died by handy-strokes The footmen defeated our horsmen disordered as they had been in the charge and execution followed the chase of their horsmen and baggage which took the way of Herentalls I foresaw that the enemies horse that had with-drawn themselves in good order and untouched of us at the beginning of the fight would soon put to rout those disordered men and therefore made all the haste that I could to the mouth of the streight there to stay them Where finding the Count Hollock I told him he should do well to suffer no more to passe so riding forward on the other end of the streight where it opened on a champain I overtook Sir Nicholas Parker who commanded the three companies of English horse under me who had some thirty souldiers with the three Cornets with these I stayed on a green plot just in the mouth of the streight having on either hand a roade washy way with purpose to gather unto me those that came after me and relieve our men if the enemie chased them I had no sooner placed the troop but I might see our men come back as fast and as disordered as they went out passing the streight on either hand of me not to be stayed for any intreaty The most of our men passed and the enemy approaching Sir Nicholas Parker asked me what I meant to do I told him attend the enemy with our troop there Then saith he you must be gone with the rest and so almost with the latest the enemy being upon us I followed his counsel and so all of us great and small were chased through the streight again where our troops gathering head and our foot appearing we held good and the enemy without any further attempt made his retreat There were taken between fourty and fifty ensignes and slain and taken of the enemy near three thousand and their Generall Signieur de Ballancy and Count de Warras died on the place THE BATTEL AT NEVPORT A.D. 1600. The Battel at NEWPORT IN the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred the enemies forces being weak and in mutinies and his affairs in disorder the States resolved to make an offensive warre in Flanders as the fittest place to annoy the enemy most and to secure their own State if they could recover the Coast-towns which was the scope of their enterprise As this action was of great importance so were the meetings and consultations about it many To which though unworthy my self was called where amongst other things the facility of the execution coming in question it was
opinion of our fear or take the opportunity of our stay to fortifie upon the passage to Ostend to cut off our victuals and retreat I alleadged that their army that had been gathered in haste brought into a countrey where they intended no such war could neither have provision of victuals with them for any time nor any magazines in those parts to furnish them nor other store in that wasted countrey and in that latter end of the year to be expected so as fear there was none that they should seat themselves there to starve us that had store of victuals in our shipping and the sea open to supply us with all sailing winds And as for the vain courage they should get by our supposed fear after so long a march with climbing up and down those steep sandy hills in the extreamity of heat wearied and spent before they could come to us and then finding us fresh and lusty and ready to receive them in our strength of advantage it would turn to their greater confusion and terrour They persisted and as it were with one voice opposed so as in the end I was moved to say that all the world could not make me change my counsel The Count Maurice was pleased to like of it resolving not to passe any further towards the enemy and for the ordering of things reposed so much trust in me as that he believed they were well without viewing the places or examining the reasons of my doings but returned to give order to the rest of the army which as the water ebbed he enlarged to the sea-ward next the which the horsmen were placed and six piece of Ordnance advanced into the head of the vanguard In this order we stayed and the enemie though still in the eie moved not forward for the space of two hours and then rather turning from us then advancing they crossed the downs rested other two hours at the foot of them towards the land which confirmed their opinions that held he would lodge But we found reasons out of all their proceedings to keep us from wavering For it was probable to us that the enemy over-wearied tired with that night and dayes travell and seeing us passed the haven of Newport wherein to have hindered and prevented us was the greatest cause of his haste whilest he saw us stirring and ordering our selves might hope that we that were fresh now passed and engaged to fight would advance the rather to have the help of our troops with the Count Ernest if perchance he were retired to Ostend which the nearer the fight were to that place might be of most use to us or else if we had heard of their defeat vve vvould be dravvn on vvith revenge But vvhen they savv that vve held our place not moving forvvard being out of that hope and not provided to make any long stay for the reasons before mentioned they might resolve to refresh themselves and then to advance towards us for which that side was more convenient then the bare sea-sands Withall we considered that their chief trust resting in their footmen which were old trained souldiers and to that day unfoiled in the field they would the rather attend the growing of the tide which was then at the lowest that the scope of the sands might be lesse spacious and serviceable for horsmen About half-floud they crossed again the downs to the sea-sands and marched forward sending some light-horsmen far before the troop one of which as we supposed suffered himself to be taken who being brought to the Count Maurice told him aloud that Count Ernest was defeated and that he should presently have battel augmenting the number bravery and resolution of their men The losse of our men we understood before and therefore were carefull to have few present at the hearing of the prisoner whose mouth being stopped by the Count Maurice his order the rest that heard it bewrayed it either in vvord or countenance to the souldier The enemy grovving nearer and nearer and their horsmen coming in the head of their troops in a competent distance to have been dravvn to a fight I vvould very vvillingly have advanced the horsmen of the vanguard near to them and vvith some choice and vvelmounted men have beaten in their carabins skirmishers to their grosse vvith purpose if they had been charged again to have retired in haste with the said vanguard of horse betwixt the sea and the vanguard of foot and having drawn them from their foot under the mercy of our Ordnance and engaged to the rest of our horse to have charged and followed them resolutely This advise could not savour to that young Nobleman that was not well pleased with the power the Count Maurice had given me over his charge and therefore was not by him put into execution who chose rather as the enemy advanced leasurely so he in like sort to recuil towards the foot This counsel of mine taking no better effect and their horsmen now come within reach of our Cannon I made the motion to have them discharged which was well liked and so well plied that we made them scatter their troops and in disorder flie for safety into the downs which had doubtlesse given us the victory without more adoe if our horsmen had been ready and willing to have taken the benefit of that occasion Their footmen out of our reach kept on their way alongst the sands and the sooner to requite us advanced their Ordnance a good distance before them and shot roundly at us and did some hurt The water now grew very high so as both we and they were forced to streighten our front and the enemy whether of purpose as aforesaid to fight with more advantage as he took it with his foot in the downs or to avoid the shot of our Ordnance for he could not be so carelesse as to be surprised with the tide and so driven to this sudden change put all his forces as wel horse as foot into the downs which his horse crossed to the green way betwixt the low-lands and the downs All our horsemen stood with our rereward hereupon our vanguard altering order our battel and rereward passed into the downs and in the same distances backward sidewise as they had been on the sands on my left hand before ranged themselves so as the front of the three bodies of foot filled the breadth of the downs all the horsmen being placed on the green way betwixt the low-land and the foot of the downs not in any large front but one in the tail of another as the narrownesse of the passage enforced I found a fit place on the top of a hill from whence the green way on the inside of the downs might be commanded with Ordnance on which by the Count Maurice his order two demi-Cannons were presently mounted The enemy growing very near I told the Count it was time for me to go to my charge asking him whether he would command
me any more service he said no but to do as I saw cause willing us the Chiefs that stood about him to advise him in what part of the army he should be personally whereunto we all answered that for many reasons he was to keep in the rereward of all which he yielded unto So I went to the vanguard and after I had viewed the readinesse and order of the severall troops the enemy now appearing at hand I the better to discover their proceedings and for the readier direction upon all occasions as also with my presence to encourage our men in the abiding of the first brunt took my place in the top of the foremost hill before mentioned where I resolved to abide the issue of that dayes service as wel because the advantages of the ground we had chosen were to stand upon the defence as also for that in that uneven ground to stirre from place to place as is usuall and necessary in the execution and performance of the office of a Captain where the countrey is open and plain I should not onely have lost the view of the enemy upon whose motions in such cases our counsels of execution depend but of my troops and they of me which must needs have caused many unreasonable and confused commandments The enemies forelorn-hope of harquebuziers having gotten the tops of the hills and places of most advantage on the other side of this bottom before mentioned began from thence to shoot at us whilest their vanguard approached which now growing near at hand five hundred Spanish pikes and shot mingled without ensignes or precise order gave upon the place where my self was and very obstinately for the space of a great half-hour laboured to enter and force it favoured with more store of shot from the tops of their hills the grosse of their vanguard standing in some covert from the shot with me on the other side of the bottom In the mean time the vanguard of their horse advanced along the green way so often mentioned betwixt the low-inland and the Downs towards our horse that stood more backward against the flank of our battel Our two pieces of Ordnance were discharged from the top of the hill to good effect and well plyed and when they came nearer and thwart our right flank the five hundred Frison-muskettiers who as I have before said were onely destined to bestow their shot that way did their part and so galled them that upon the first proffer of a charge which our horsmen made they were put to a disordered retreat even to their troops of foot our horsmen following them in the tail who were fain there to give them over At the same instant I gave order that a hundred men should be sent from the foremost troop of foot I had layed as aforesaid in the Downs to have given upon the left flank of the enemy if he attempted to passe by us upon the sands and as covertly as they could to approach and give upon the right flank of those that were in fight with me When they were come up and at hands with the enemy I sent from the hill where I was by a hollow descent some sixty men to charge them in front which amazed the enemy and put them to run our men chasing and killing them till they had passed the bottom and came to the grosse of their vanguard from which were disbanded anew the like number as before who followed our men and seized on some heights that were in the bottom somewhat near us covering their pikes under the shadow of the hills and playing with the shot from the tops upon our disbanded and skirmishing men I sent to drive them from thence being loth they should gain ground upon us one of the same troops from whence I had drawn the hundred men before mentioned with order onely to make that place good This was a bloudy morsell that we strave for for whilest our men and theirs were not covered with the hanging of the hills as they advanced or were chased they lay open to the shot not onely of those that were possessed of those little hills but of the other higher which poured in greater tempests upon them so as the souldiers that I sent hasted as for their safety to get the side of the hill and the enemy for like respect abode their coming with resolution so as in an instant as the hill was round and mountable the men came to handy-blows upon the whole semicircle of it with much slaughter on both sides till in the end the enemy was forced to retire In the mean time the battel of the enemies foot were come up to the grosse of the vanguard which as it had taken the right hand of the Downs so the battel with some distance betwixt them though even in front having been well welcomed with our shot from the tops of the hills stayed in as good covert as the place would afford sending fresh men to beat ours from those grounds of advantage in the bottom so as ours beginning to give back I sent a new supply to make good the place in this bottom sometimes getting and sometimes losing ground The fight was still maintained with new supplies on both sides wherein I persevered though with losse of men because the advantage the ground gave me to beat as well upon their grosse as their loose fighting men made the losse farre greater on their side my design being to engage their whole force upon my handfull of men which I employed sparingly and by piece-meal so to spend and waste the enemy that they should not be able to abide the sight of our other troops when they advanced The horsmen of their battel and ours encountered but somewhat more advanced toward the enemy our men having gotten courage with the first successe so as our fore-mentioned Frison-muskettiers could not so well favour them but our horsmen being put to retreat the enemy in the pursuit being saluted by them were stopped and drew back Their rereward now come up even with the other two bodies for so I term them because their ensignes remained together though most of the men were drawn from them and in fight and the ensignes barely attended advanced on the left hand of the battel and spreading the breadth of the Downs they were to my troop rather on the corner of the right flank then a front and our battel and rereward upon which they directly fronted a musket-shot behinde my troop toward which it seemed they intended to advance First we gave as much to them as we could spare from our hills but when they began to open upon my Frison-muskettiers which as before is said could onely bestow their shot on our rigthtflank and till that time had done no service but against their horse they were exceedingly galled so as they staid suddenly and amazed or ashamed to go back seeing none to chase them in a bottom of some small covert bestowed themselves
sending out some skirmishers along the Southermost part of the Downs against which some loose men were sent from our bodies but our muskettiers that shot standing and without fear from their rests galled them most The horsmen of the rereward shewed themselves on both sides and some little bickering there was and so they retired out of the footmens reach This was a strange and unusuall fight for whereas most commonly in battels the successe of the foot dependeth upon that of the horse here it was clean contrary for so long as the foot held good the horse could not be beaten out of the field though as it fell out they might be chased to them All this while the fight continued without intermission hotter and hotter betwixt the other two troops of the enemies and me both of us sending fresh supplies as occasion required to sustain the fight Insomuch as the whole troops of the English were engaged to a hand-fight in the foresaid bottom saving those few that were placed on the hills and on the enemies part also few were idle And now I saw was the time to give the enemy a deadly blow his grosses being disbanded as well in occupying places of height and advantage to annoy us as by those that were sent to dispute the places in question For their onely strength now consisted in their loose men which any few horse charging on a sudden in that bottom would have put to flight and being followed pesle-mesle with our foot would never have had means to have rallied gathered themselves together again On the other side I knew that without further succours their numbers would weary and eat us up in the end I therefore at once sent to the Frison-footmen of the vanguard to advance and to the Count Maurice to tell him how things stood and to desire him to send me part of the horse of the battel and because I saw the enemy presse gain upon our men more and more I sent again messenger upon messenger In the mean time to give our men the more courage I went into the bottom amongst them where riding up and down I was in their eyes both doing the office of a Captain and souldier and with much adoe we entertained the fight though the enemy encroached and got upon us At my first coming I got one shot through my leg and a quarter of an hour after another through the same thigh which I then neither complained nor bragged of nor so much as thought of any Chirurgeon for I knew if I left the place my men would instantly quail I therefore chose not having been used to have my troops foiled to try the uttermost rather then to shew them the way to flee hoping still for the coming of the Frisons and the horse I sent for But their haste was so small that my men overlaid with number forsook the place notwithstanding my best endeavour to stay them hasting along the sands towards our Cannon the enemy following them hard I was forced seeing them all going to go for company with the last uneasily and unwillingly God knows and in the way my horse fell dead under me and upon me that I could not stirre I had neither Officer Gentleman nor servant about me to give me help Sir Robert Drury by chance came and a Gentleman being a servant of his called Higham drew me from under the horse and set me up behinde his Master which help came very seasonably for the enemy being near at hand when I fell by this means I was saved out of their clutches Thus I rode to the Ordnance where I found my brother Horace and the most of the officers that were living with some three hundred foot I made them stand from before the Ordnance and willed the Cannoniers to discharge upon the enemy that now swarmed upon the sands and at the same instant my own companie of horse and Captain Balls coming thither I willed them to go to the charge and my brother with the foot to advance and second them home This small number of horse and foot made an exceeding great change on a sudden for the enemy in hope of victory followed hard and being upon the sands where horse might serve upon them were soon routed most cut in pieces they rest saving themselves by flight as they could in the downs our men both horse and foot followed them Their battels where their ensignes remained began to stirre and rouse themselves rather for defence then to revenge their followes for they advanced not Our men from the top of the hills who had kept their places from the beginning having by this means a fair mark plyed them with shot our English souldiers on all hands with new courage resorted to the fight and finding these battels very small thin by reason of the men they had sent to supply the fight especially of shot which in these uneven places were of most service pelted them with our shot and pressing upon them made them recuile The Count Maurice seeing things on these termes caused the battel to advance and his horsmen to make a proffer upon the enemies upon which sight without attending any strokes the enemy routed and was chased out of the field In this last charge I followed not for seeing the successe upon the sands and knowing that my directions in the prosecution of the victory would be executed I could easily judge that the work of that day was at an end And therefore began to care and provide for my self who all this while having been undressed the bloud leaking from me at four holes together with a dangerous disease that had long held me had made me extream weak and faint The enemy lost above one hundred and twenty ensignes most of his foot slain not many of his horse lost On our side in a manner the whole losse fell upon English of which near eight hundred were hurt and slain eight Captains slain the rest all but two hurt and most of my inferiour Officers hurt and slain In the rest of the army there was no losse at all to speak of especially amongst the foot I dare not take the whole honour of the victory to the poor English troop of one thousand six hundred men but leave it to be judged by those that may give their censure with lesse suspition of partiality I will onely affirm that they left nothing for the rest of the army to do but to follow the chase and that it hath not been heard of that by so small a number in a ground so indifferent whereof the onely advantage was the choice and use of the same without help of spade or other instrument or engine of fortifying so great and so victorious an army as the Archdukes had been so long wrastled withall and so far spent Yet this victory had been as assured with lesse losse and touch of reproach if to give ground to a stronger may be subject to a disgracefull imputation
North-side towards the sea It should seem that having broken and scattered the enemie who as Sir Francis Vere himself relateth were by them driven into the Downs and seeing Sir Horace Vere also to have taken his way thither they thought it perhaps convenient to hover thereabouts and to hold an eye upon ours and the enemies actions the rather because they might discern Sir Horace Vere now making a new head and so seeing us charge charged also with us which was not disagreeable to their first directions given and mentioned by Sir Francis Vere And this by all probable conjecture must also be the cause why Sir Francis Vere in his discourse maketh no mention of Sir Edward Cecil for he not having his direction from him to charge but from his Excellency as himself hath told me Sir Francis Vere being ignorant thereof and himself likewise not at the charge in person whereby he might take notice of any mans presence would not as appears expose himself to interpretations by making any further relation touching particulars then what might receive credit either from his own eyes or commandments This charge through the hand and favour of God gave us the day what followed is before already set down by that great and worthy Captain Sir Francis Vere CLement Edmonds that learned and judicious Remembrancer of the City of London in an observation of his on the sixth book of Cesars Commentary making it his designe to draw the exact effigies of a good General though he could not be far to seek for an exemplar while he had Cesar so nigh him yet found reason to borrow the best lineaments of his piece out of the actions of Sir Francis Vere And to say truth the whole picture there drawn is so like him that it does most lively represent him with at least a three-quarter-face which is more then the painter it seems could do And lest you should any longer doubt whether it be his picture you shall finde his very Motto expressed in it But because it casts so strong a reflection upon this battel of Newport without reference to which Sir Robert Naunton thought neither he nor his Noble Brother could be taken to the life I have thought good here to give the Reader a copie of it I Have already handled this practice of a pretended fear which the History doth so often recommend to our consideration and have shewed the inconvenience of over-light credulity leading such easie weeners to a disappointment of their hopes and consequently to the hazzard of their fortune I will now proceed to that which is further implied in this relation and respecteth the chiefest duty of a chief Commander and that is what specially is required of a Generall in the carriage and direction of a battel Concerning which point as there is nothing more materiall to the effecting of any businesse then opportunity of time conveniencie of place and an orderly disposition of the MEANS according to TIME Place so in question of encounter or waging battel the duty of a Leader may be included in these three circumstances Concerning the qualitie of the place as the chiefest and first respected in the choice of a judicious directour the whole scope of the Romane discipline from the time of their first Kings even to the last of their Emperours did alwayes aim at the advantage of place as a necessary help for the obtaining of victorie which I have already noted in the Helvetian action Yet forasmuch as the wisedome and experience of those times did deem it a circumstance of such importance give me leave once again to inforce the use thereof by these examples Habetis milites saith Labienus in this place quam petiistis facultatem hostem iniquo atque impedito loco tenetis praestate eandem nobis ducibus virtutem quam saepenumero Imperatori praestitistis Ye have fellow-souldiers that opportunitie which ye desired c. Whereby he cleareth himself of all imputation of ill direction as having performed the uttermost duty of a Commander and given such helps by the advantage of the place as are requisite to an easie victory leaving the rest to the execution of the souldiers Cesar at the losse he received at Dirrachium cleared himself to his souldiers in this sort Quod esset acceptum detrimenti cuivis potiùs quà m suae culpae debere tribui locum securum ad dimicandum dedisse c. The damage that was received was to be attributed to any body rather then him he had chosen them a safe place of fighting c. And as it followeth in the seventh Commentary being imbattelled upon the side of a hill right over against the army of the Galles which stood likewise in a readinesse to entertain the Romane valour he would not suffer his men to hazzard themselves in the passage of a bogge of fifty foot in breadth lying between both the armies but rather perswaded his souldiers disdaining the confrontment of the enemie to endure their contumely rather then to buy a victory with the danger of so many worthy men and patiently to attend some further opportunity Which passage of Cesar even in the said terms as it is there related was urged to good purpose by Sir Francis Vere in the year one thousand six hundred at a consultation before the battel of Newport For the army of the Netherlanders being possest of the Downs which are small swelling hils rising unevenly along the sea-shore upon the coast of Flanders and the enemy making a stand upon the sands at the foot of those hils and so cutting off the passage to Ostend it was disputed by the Commanders whether they should leave the Downs and go charge the enemy where he stood imbattelled upon the sands or attend him in the fastnesse of the Downs whereof they were possest The whole Council of war were earnestly bent to forsake the Downs and to hazzard the fight on equall terms as impatient that their passage and retreat to Ostend should be cut off But Sir Francis Vere well knowing how much it imported the businesse of that day to hold a place of such gain and advantage perswaded Count Maurice by many reasons and specially by this of Cesar which I last alledged not to forgo the help of the Downs but to expect the enemy in that place and so make use of that benefit upon the first encounter rather then to adventure the successe of the battel in worse terms in hope of clearing the passage and shewing also many probable conjectures that the enemie would not continue long in that gaze Wherein as his opinion then prevailed so all that were present were eye-witnesses both of the truth of his conjecture and the soundnesse of his judgement For the enemy within a while after coming on to charge the troops of the States was received with such a counterbuff from the hils and were violently beaten back in such rude manner as our men had the execution of them for the space of a
delivered by their commandments to the Lords the States-Generall in their Council-chamber as also sometime after that to the Prince Maurice of Nassau and the Earl William his cosen concerning this matter Yet ere I come to the relation it shall not be amisse to wipe away two main aspersions which I have often met withall by way of objection and are as well in every mans mouth as in Emmanuel of Metteren his book The first and that is the word it lucked well judging the fact by the event but reservedly condemning the purpose for had not the shipping come say they as it did what would have become of the town he would have given it up Colonel Utenhoven a man of note and yet living one of their own Nation a Governour of a Town knows better and the following Treatise shall also make it appear otherwise and that he had not the least thought of rendring the town though succour had not come to him at all this point therefore shall here need no further inlargement The second is That he might have carried the matter otherwise and have drawn lesse jealousie upon himself by acquainting the Captains with it sooner considering it was done without the privity of the Lords the States nor was it fitting to bring an enemy through such secret passages This at the first view seems to say somewhat as borrowing strength from the common proceedings in other ordinary Governours who upon the point aswell of Parley as Article ere they enter into either with an enemy consult first as it is fit with the Captains of the Garrisons and this it seems was likewise expected here But upon what reasons was he such a Governour he was a Generall he had Governours under him Did he intend as commonly others do to deliver the Town he meant nothing lesse as is partly before and shall be hereafter largely proved What account did the States ever require of him what disgrace was there given him more then a free acknowledgement of his singular carriage and judgement in the mannaging of a businesse of so great importance True it is there was at first a kinde of staggering amongst the best which the mist of some partiall information from some male volent person in Ostend had brought them to but this was soon cleared first by his own letters in brief and after by me more at large if not to the most of them yet I dare say to the most discreet and judicious amongst them But let us now see whether it had been either necessary or convenient that the secret of this stratageme should have been revealed sooner either to the Lords the States or Captains of the Garrison To me it seems that it had been to the States preposterous to the Captains dangerous nay more repugnant to sense and common reason and that for these reasons following The project it self was but an Embryo and had been a meer abortive had he delivered himself of it before the attempt of the enemy for from thence it must receive both form and being now that was uncertain and unknown unto him especially the time he could therefore have no certain befitting subject to write to the Lords the States of this matter till the deed were done and the project put in practise which so soon as it was be presently dispatched a messenger giving them a due account of the cause of his proceedings and that to their contentment It was a stratageme whose power and vertue confisted wholy in secrecie it was also a thread whereon hung no lesse then the States Town his own honour and the lives of all them that were with him therefore in reason did not admit the least communication for the best pledge you can have of a mans secrecie is not to open your thoughts unto him Lastly if he would have forgot himself so much as to have committed a secret to the trust of many could he yet promise himself that he should not meet with opposition would they instantly have been all of his minde would no man suspect the handling Why did they then after and that when it was consummated and finished I have heard Colonel Utenhoven say That if the Generall should have made the proposition he had broken the enterprise and he knew best the Captains inclinations for he was the mouth betwixt the Generall and them to clear those jealousies he saw them apprehend in him It was therefore the safest and best way that could be taken to set this businesse abroach rather without their knowledge then flatly against it and to hazzard the interpretation of the action rather then the action it self Besides who ever yet knew the Generall Vere so simple or so weak as to avoid military forms where they were necessary or expedient Wanted he judgement his enemies will not say it Had he not will he had too many of them too great to lay open himself to their malice he was a better mannager of his reputation then to give them so palpable so grosse an advantage to build their scandal on It was the publick service and his own judgement that led him into this course wherein if there were any danger for his part it lay on my head which he ventured for the safetie of all It seems then that as it was not necessary so had it been exceedingly inconvenient that the book of this secret should have been sooner unclasped before it was set on foot or to the Lords the States before it was accomplished I come now to the relation leaving the branch in the objection touching the bringing in of the enemie as not worthy to receive an answer About the twelfth of November it began to freez exceedingly the wind being North-west where it remained till Christmasse or after blowing for the most a stiff gale often high and stormy in this time no shipping came unto us or succours out of Holland or Zeland nor could they for the wind nor had we any for some few weeks after Our men munition and materials wasted daily the sea and our enemy grew both upon us At the spring-tide we looked still when that would decide the question touching the town betwixt us and our adversaries so exceeding high it was and swelling through the continuance of the North-west wind which beat flat upon us and brought extraordinary store of waters from the Ocean into those narrow parts Hands we could set very few to work our places of guard were so many our numbers so small and those over-watched Two thousand and an hundred men was our strength the convenient competency for the town was at least four thousand for workmen our need was more then ever for the whole town with the new forts therein lately begun by the Generall who fore-saw the storm lay more then half-open insomuch that in divers places with little labour both horse and foot might enter The North-west raveline our Champion against the sea was almost worn away The Porcupine or Porc-espic not
For as he must be allowed a great share in these actions recorded by his Brother so were his own services afterwards when General of the English so eminent and considerable that they might easily have furnished another Commentary had not his own exceeding modesty proved a step-mother to his deserved praises He was a religious wise and valiant Commander and that which quartered him in the bosome of the Prince of Orange he was always succesfull in his enterprises sometimes to the admiration both of friends and enemies Take an instance or two When he took Scluys there was one strong hold first to be taken which he found some difficulty to overcome and that was the opinion of his friends of the impossibility of the enterprise And for his enemies Spinola himself were he now alive would I question not do him the right which he did him in his life-time and bear witness of his gallant retreat with four thousand men from between his very fingers when with three times that number he had grasped up the Prince and his men against the Sea-shore And because the proficiencie of the Scholars was ever accounted a good argument of their Masters abilitie I shall make bold with their leaves here to give you a list of some of his Henry Earl of Oxford Thomas Lord Fairfax S. Edward Vere Lieut. Col. S. Sim. Harcourt Ser. Maj. S. Thom. Dutton Captain S. Henry Paiton Captain S. John Burroughs Capt. S. Thomas Gates Captain S. John Conyers Captain S. Thomas Gale Captain S. William Lovelace Cap. S. Rob. Carey Captain S. Jacob Ashley Captain S. Tho. Conway Capt. S. John Burlacy Captain S. Tho. Winne Captain S. Ger. Herbert Captain S. Edw. Harwood Capt. S. Mich. Everid Captain Besides divers others whose effigies do at once both guard and adorn Kirby-hall in Essex where the truly religious and Honourable the Lady Vere doth still survive kept alive thus long by special providence that the present age might more then read and remember what was true Godliness in eighty eight And as for her Lord and Husband who died long since though he left no heir Male behind him to bear his name yet hath he distributed his bloud to run in the veins of many Honourable and Worshipfull families in England for his daughters were The Right Honourable Honourable and vertuous The Countess of Clare The Lady Townshend now Countess of Westmorland The Lady Paulet The Lady Fairfax and Mistris Worstenholme Whose pardon I crave for making so bold with their names but my hope is they will be willing to become witnesses unto their Uncles book though a war-like birth and to let their names midwife it into the world Thus Reader have I given thee a brief account of this piece and so recommend me to Sir Francis Vere W. D. Sir Robert Naunton in his Fragmenta Regalia p. 41. VERE Sir Francis Vere was of that ancient and of the most noble extract of the Earls of Oxford and it may be a question whether the Nobility of his House or the Honour of his atchievements might most commend him but that we have an authentick rule Nam genus proavos quae non fecimus ipst Vix ea nostra voco c. For though he was an Honourable slip of that ancient tree of Nobility which was no disadvantage to his vertue yet he brought more glory to the name of Vere then he took bloud from the family He was amongst all the Queens Sword-men inferiour unto none but superiour to many of whom it may be said To speak much of him were the way to leave out somewhat that might add to his praise and to forget more that would make to his honour I find not that he came much to the Court for he lived almost perpetually in the Camp but when he did none had more of the Queens favour and none less envied for he seldome troubled it with the noise and alarms of supplications his way was another sort of undermining They report that the Queen as she loved Martial men would court this Gentleman as soon as he appeared in her presence and surely he was a souldier of great worth and Command thirty years in the service of the States and twenty years over the English in chief as the Queens General And he that had seen the battel at Neuport might there best have taken him and his Noble brother the Lord of Tilbury to the life The Contents BOmmeler-Waert Pag. 1. The relief of Rhinbergh p. 3. The second relieving of Rhinbergh p. 4. The relieving the Castle of Litken-hooven p. 10. The surprise of Zutphen-Sconse p. 17. The siege of Deventer p. 18. The defeat given the Duke of Parma at Knodsenburgh-Fort p. 20. The Calis-Journey p. 24. The Island-voyage p. 45. The Government of the Briel p. 68. The Action at Turn-hoult p. 72. The battel at Neuport p. 81. Sir Iohn Ogles account of the last charge there p. 106. Clement Edmonds Observation p. 112. The siege of Ostend p. 118. The continuation of it p. 131. Praelium Nuportanum per Is. Dorislaum p. 179. The effigies of S. Fr. Vere and then that of the Lord Vere before the Title-page S. Fr. Veres Monument next after the Epistle to the Reader The mapp of the Sea-coasts and then that of the Low-countreys pag. 1. The mapp of Cadiz and the Islands Azores p. 24. The Action at Turn-hoult p. 72. The Battel at Neuport p. 80. The effigies of S. Iohn Ogle p. 106. The mapp of Ostend p. 118. ERRATA Page 27. line 8. dele in the. p. 32. lin last put the parenthesis after Caletta pag. 132. lin 22. for spilt read split p. 147. l. 16. r. among the rest came that A MAPPE OF THE SEA COASTS A MAPPE OF THE LOWE COVNTRIES Sr HOR 〈…〉 E since Baron of Tilbury THE COMMENTARIES OF Sr. FRANCIS VERE BOMMELER-WAERT IN the year of our Lord one thousand five hundred eighty and nine the Count Charles Mansfeldt having passed with part of his armie into the Bommeler-Waert the rest lying in Brabant over against the island of Voorn prepared both troops to passe into the said island with great store of flat-bottomed boats his artillerie being placed to the best advantage to favour the enterprise The Count Maurice had to impeach him not above eight hundred men the whole force that he was then able to gather together not being above fifteen hundred men whereof the most were dispersed alongst the river of Wael fronting the Bommeler-Waert to impeach the enemies passage into the Betowe Of these eight hundred men six hundred were English of which my self had the command These seemed small forces to resist the enemy who was then reckoned about twelve thousand men and therefore the Count Maurice and the Count Hollock one day doing me the honour to come to my quarter put it in deliberation whether it were not best to abandon the place whereunto when others inclined my opinion was That in regard of the importance of the place
the enemy were engaged might not at once appear to them and to advance with all diligence when the troop before them did retire to meet them charge the enemy enter the town with them peslemesle With the rest of the forces his Lordship and I followed The place served well for our purpose being covert and of no advantage for their horsmen and the directions were so well observed that the enemy was engaged in following our first troop before they discovered the rest and so in hope and assurance of victory being beyond expectation lively encountered they fled in disorder towards the town so nearly followed of our men that most of the horsmen forsook their horses and saved themselves some by the gates others clambering over the walls as did also their footmen our men following them at the heels to the very gate which they found shut against them and men standing over it and upon the walls to resist us The ditch was very hollow but dry out of which was raised a massy rampier with two round half bulwarks the one towards the one sea the other towards the other for height and thicknesse in their perfection but not steeped and scarped so as it was very mountable lying close to the old wall of the town which somewhat overtopped it no higher then in many places a man might reach with his hand To the top of this rampier our men climbed who being for the most part old and experienced souldiers of the Bands I brought out of the Low-countries boldly attempted to climbe the wall from which they beat with their shot the defendants wanting no encouragements that good example of the chiefs could give them the Generall himself being as forward as any Whilest it was hard stroven and fought on that side I sent a Captain and Countrey-man of mine called Upsher with some few men alongst the ditch to see what guard was held along the wall toward the Bay-ward and whether any easier entrance might be made that way or no willing him to bring or send me word which he did accordingly though the messenger came not to me He found so slender a guard that he entred the town with those few men he had which the enemy perceiving fled from the walls and our men entred as fast on the other side My Lord of Essex was one of the first that got over the walls followed by the souldiers as the place would give them leave and such was their fury being once entred that as they got in scatteringly so they hasted towards the town without gathering any strong and orderly body of men as in such case is requisite or once endeavouring to open the gate for more convenient entry for the rest of the troops I therefore foreseeing what might ensue of this confusion held the third body of the men together and with much adoe brake open the gate by which I entred the town and so keeping the way that leads from the gate towards the town joyned to my foot those men I met withall scattered here and there Not farre from the Market-place I found my Lord of Essex at a stand with fourty or fifty men whence I might see some few of the enemy in the Market-place which made me advance towards them without attending any commandment who upon my approaching retired themselves into the Town-house whither I pursued them broke open the gates and after good resistance made by the Spaniards in the upper rooms of the house became Master of it in which I left a guard and went down into the Market-place and found my Lord of Essex at the Town-house-door I humbly intreated his Lordship to make that place good and give me leave to scoure and assure the rest of the town which I did accordingly And though I was but slackly and slenderly followed by reason of our mens greedinesse of spoil yet such Spaniards as I found making head and coming towards the Market-place I drove back into the Fort Saint Philip and the Abby of Saint Francis Those of the Abby yielded to the number of two hundred Gentlemen and others and being disarmed were put into a Chapel and there left guarded Those of Saint Philip it being now in the evening cryed to us that in the morning they would render the place Before which also having put a guard and understanding by some prisoners that there was no other place of any strength but the old town near the Market-place I repaired to my Lord of Essex whom I found in the Market-place and my Lord Admirall with him And after I had made report on what terms things stood where I had been I went to the said old town to visit the guards which were commanded by Sir Edward Conway with part of the forces landed with my Lord Admirall and from thence to that part of the town where we entred And thus all things in good assurance returned to the market-place where the rest of the forces were being held together to be readily imployed upon all occasions Their Lordships went up to the Town-house and there gave God thanks for the victory and afterwards all wounded and bloudy as he was yet undressed gave the honour of Knighthood to Sir Samuel Bagnall for his especiall merit and valour in that dayes service The losse was not very great on either side for as the Spanish troops that stood ordered without the walls got into the town confusedly and disorderly before we could mingle with them so every one as he was counselled by fear or courage provided for his own safety the most flying to the old town and Castle Those that made head after the first entrance being scattered here and there our men as they followed with more courage then order so encountered them in the like scattering manner falling streight to hand-strokes so as it seemed rather an inward tumult and town-fray then a fight of so mighty nations The next day the old town and the Fort of Saint Philip were delivered unto us and the people that were in them except some principall prisoners were suffered to depart with great courtesie shewed especially to the women of better sort There went out of the town Gentlemen and others likely men to bear arms betwixt four and five thousand the brunt of this exploit was born with lesse then a thousand men We could have no help of Sir Conniers Clifford who mistaking his directions went with his troops to the bridge called Punto Zuarro about three leagues distance And my Lord Admirall notwithstanding his Lordsh. used all possible diligence in the landing his men arrived not till we were in a manner full Masters of the town It was long disputed whether the town should be held or no. I offered with four thousand men to defend it till her Majesties pleasure might be known My Lord of Essex seemed to affect to remain there in person which the rest of the Council would not assent unto but rather to abandon and set it on fire
first ebb It was my turn then to have the vanguard which made me carefull not to be wanting in my duty so as in due time my troop was at the place appointed And because the water was not yet passable I went my self to the Count Maurice to know his further pleasure whom I found by the bridge with most of the chief officers of the army whither not long after news was brought unto him that the enemy was passed the Downs and marching towards us which strook him into a dump I told him that all possible speed must be used to passe the forces before the enemy was possessed of the other side of the haven that therefore I would go to my troop to take the first opportunity of the tide desiring him to give me his further order what I was to do when I had passed the haven he willed me to do in all things as I saw cause my self calling to him the Count Lodwick of Nassaw who then commanded the horse as Generall he bad him go along with me and follow my directions So I left the Count Maurice and went to my troop and so soon as the tide served I passed my men as they stood in their battalions The souldiers would have stripped themselves to have kept their clothes dry as I had willed them when I crossed the haven first but then I thought it not expedient the enemy being so near at hand And therefore willed them to keep on their clothes and not to care for the wetting of them for they should either need none or have better and dryer clothes to sleep in that night When the troop of the vanguard was passed I left the footmen standing ranged in their order betwixt the Downs or sand-hills and the sea and with the horse advanced towards the enemy whom we might discover afar off coming towards us by 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 we could by industry get of the enemy for by the situation of the countrey that skill and dexterity we presumed to excell our enemies in which was the apt and agile motions of our battalions was utterly taken from us For the space betwixt the sea and the sand-hills or Downs was commanded by the said hills which are of many heads reared and commanding one another containing so much breadth in most places that our troops could not occupy the whole and every where so confusedly packt together so brokenly and steeply that the troops could neither well discern what was done a stones-cast before them nor advance forward in any order to second if need were And on the other side of the Downs towards the firm land if the whole breadth were not possessed the enemy might passe to the haven of Newport where our bridge and most of our shipping yet lay on the dry ground and spoil and burn them in our view All which inconveniences I was to prevent Finding therefore a place where the hills and Downs stood in a manner divided with a hollow bottom the bottom narrower and the hills higher to the sea-side and North then towards the in-land and South which ran clean thwart from the sea-sand to the in-land the Downs also there being of no great breadth so that we might conveniently occupy them with our front and command as well the sea-shore as the way that lay betwixt the low in-land and the foot of the Downs In that place on the hither side of that bottom I resolved to attend the enemy and therefore having caused my troop to advance I drew from the whole vanguard about one thousand men viz. two hundred and fifty English-men the Count Maurice his guard and of such other companies as usually marched with it two hundred fifty and of the Frisons five hundred which were all muskettiers the other two troops consisting of shot and pikes The English and fifty of the Counts guard I placed on the top of a hill that lay more advanced then the rest which being steep and sandy was not easily to be mounted and in the top so hollow that the men lay covered from the hills on the other side and might fight from it as from a parapett Just behinde this hill about one hundred paces was another far more high on the top of which also I placed the other two hundred men of the troop of the guard on which also with a little labour of the souldier they lay at good covert These two hills were joyned together with a ridge somewhat lower then the foremost hill which end-wise lay East and West and broad-wise looked towards the South or in-land and commanded all the ground passable on the out-side very steep loose sandy and ill to be mounted within hollow in which I placed the five hundred Frison-muskettiers giving charge to the Officers to bestow their shot onely to the Southward when time should serve which was directly on our right side and flank as we then stood turned towards the enemy Betwixt those two hills on the left hand or flank looking towards the sea I placed in covert in places for the purpose so near the sea-sand that they might with ease and good order in an instant break into it two of the four troops of the English making about seven hundred men ranged with their faces to the Northvvard looking directly from our left flank If the enemy adventured to passe by us to the other troops I meant to leave them in his eie Upon the sands more Easterly then the inmost of the two hills I ranged in a front with a space betwixt them the other two troops of the English and a pretty distance behinde them more to the seaward the Frisons in four battalions two in front with a space to receive betwixt them one of the other two battalions that stood behinde them the files and spaces betwixt the troops as close as might be conveniently to leave the more space for the ranging the other troops with a competent distance betwixt each troop so as one troop shadowed not another but all might be in the enemies eie at one instant And thus the vanguard occupied about one third part of the downs leaving the rest to be manned as occasion should serve by the other troops and on the left hand uttermost to the sea and more advanced I placed the horsmen I had scarce done this work when the Count Maurice with the chief Commanders of the army came to the head of my troops where on hors-back and in the hearing of all standers by which were many he put in deliberation whether he should advance with his army towards the enemy or abide their coming Those that spake as in such cases most men will not seem fearfull counselled to march forward for that they thought it would daunt the enemy and make the victory the more easie whereas in attending him he would gather courage out of the
the top of the Downs upon it which notwithstanding my best industry did much hurt amongst my men till the work was raised and thickened This plot put in reasonable defence and part of the supplies of the men granted by her Majestie now arrived I began to cast up a redoubt upon the like piece of ground for firmnesse but not fully half so big as the former lying about half a harquebuse-shot Southwest from the angle of the Poulder close to the river that passeth from the said angle Westward which served well to covert the Poulder on that side and to flank the West-face and South-flank of the West-square The Poulder thus assured from sudden attempts I began to raise in the said Poulder a rampier to resist the Cannon on the in-side of the old chanel from the ditch of the Poulder-ravelin of the counterscarp to the angle aforesaid of the Poulder which broad-wayes lay due West and end-ways North and South and the redoubt upon the said angle I raised of a good height Cannon-proof in the form of a Cavallier to command over the said rampier of the Poulder All this while the enemy lying still without making any approaches or intrenchments or attempting to hinder my works otherwise then by his Cannon-shot of which he was no niggard Having as I supposed in this manner well provided for the safe defence of that quarter I was desirous to draw some of the enemies from the sand-hils to dwell by us in that low watery ground to the South-west and South of the river that runneth from the West to the Poulder which I knew would cause great expence great labour and much losse and consumption of men on which besides the plots of ground I had taken no trench nor approach nor lodging could be had but such as was forced onely about a harquebuse-shot Westward from my redoubt on that side and upon the same river was a pretty round height of ground on which sometimes they of the town of Ostend had held a redoubt to the South-west South environed with a plashie moor into which by the creeks the water flowed so as the greatest part of the tide it was not passable From this plot of ground I could discover the back of their approaches on the Downs and from it with Cannon could annoy them as wel there as in their shipping and boats by which their army was supplied from Bruges and other ports of the countrey If they suffered me to take this height and fortifie it I had gotten two speciall advantages the annoying of them and the securing of my works on that side which after I might have maintained with fewer men if I were impeached by their sudden planting of Ordnance and batteries I knew they would possesse the ground and piece-meal engage themselves more and more in those drownd lands which was the other of my drifts This piece of ground to move and provoke them the more upon St. Iacques day being the Saint the Spaniards as their Patrone do most superstitiously reverence in the forenoone I first sent as it were to view and discover and anon after I sent for men and set them on work and drew down in a readinesse under the favour of my outermost redoubt two hundred souldiers to make head if the enemy came down to the other side of the river to hinder my workmen with his shot The enemy no sooner perceived my men to work but he turned certain pieces of Ordnance upon them from the Downs and shot at us as did also those of the fort of Grootendorst But being farre of the plot small and the men observing the shot bowing their bodies in the hollownesse of the old trench did little harm Their foot-men in a great rage as it seemed to me of themselves kindled with zeal without direction or order from their Chiefs came down towards the river side amain not armed men in battel and troops but shot scatteringly as every one could first and readiliest take his furniture others with faggots in their hands whereof they had store in their approaches began here and there in confused manner to raise a trench from the Downs to the river for other trench and covert they had none so as they were a fair marke for our artillery from the town and our muskettiers from the West-square and the South-west redoubt which spared no powder Besides the two hundred muskettiers I had placed with me under the favour of smal banks on the edge of the river held them back when they came nearer hand so as after much shooting and hurt done the most of the day being spent they gave over molesting us And that night I put the place into so good defence against the attempts of handy-strokes that I left a guard in it and workmen to add more strength to it In the morning betimes the enemy began to batter it with two Cannons which the same night they had planted on a little height of ground on the other side of the plash directly West and about the fourth part of the way to their fort called Grootendorst from whence they also shot with a couple of demiculvering and thus they continued the whole day insomuch as our new work to them-ward was laid flat and our men forced for safeguard to make hollow trenches in the said redoubt About an hour before sun-set troops were seen to march from Albertus towards Grootendorst which I gathered was to make an attempt upon the said redoubt in the beginning of the evening before the breach could be repaired for which purpose the water being ebbed the time served very fitly I saw by their earnest proceeding that there was no striving to keep and maintain that plot and therefore resolved to give way but so as I would seem to be forced from the place And therefore as I did set men on work in the beginning of the evening to repair the breach to have confirmed the enemy if he had forborn his attempt that night in the opinion that I would maintain the place so I gave order to the Officer I left in it with some eighty men to hold good watch on the side of the plash if the enemy attempted to passe to shew himself on the brink of the said-plash with his shot and discharge upon them leaving his pikes by the fort with order if they advanced to make his retreat to the South-west redoubt and there to hold good Which directions were not well observed for the Officer forthwith when he had sight of the enemies approach which was about two houres within night leaving his pikes in the redoubt he with the shot made for the plash-side and discharged at the enemy who being strong in number and resolved continued their way the Officer still retiring hard to the redoubt and skirmishing with him as if his purpose had been rather to have drawn the enemy into some danger then to save himself and his troop by a timely retreat Which is
an errour that many in like cases fall into to their utter destruction when fear to have their valour called in question maketh them against all reason fight against a stronger enemy and engage themselves where they have neither purpose nor hope to obtain the victory Those of the redoubt staid the return of their men whom the enemy pursued so hard after he had gotten footing in the firm ground that they both at an instant came to the redoubt and by the way of the breach which yet lay open entred and overthrew soon our men who so taken at unawares thought it safer to fight then to run away others they overtook before they could get over the Palisadoes on the other side of the redoubt so as most of our pike-men were lost but few or none of the shot who holpen with the darknesse of the night and their good diligence escaped Upon the alarm having given order for some troops to follow I hasted to the South-west redoubt near which I met with these scattered men which I stayed and took with me into the said redoubt to which the enemy even now approached following their fortune and hoping of like successe and on the other side of the river toward the Northward from under the favour of the bank to which of purpose they had also drawn muskettiers to flank and beat in the back our men as they should shew themselves to resist the attempt of their men on the other side of the water so as of the supplies that came from the town I re-inforced the guard of the said redoubt by which means as also the difficulty they found in passing their grosse over the creeks with some losse to us yet much more to them they retired to the redoubt they had gotten A Continuation of the siege of OSTEND HEre endeth or rather here breakes off Sir Francis Vere his Commentary for he continued in his government of Ostend for many moneths after but whether it was because he thought it needlesse to give the world any further account of it who were all by this time become as it were spectatours eie-witnesses of what he did or whether he thought that it being so well known to many some other would carry on the relation if the world should think it needfull or what ever else the reason was I do not finde that his pen ever went any further yet because there were many things afterwards performed by him worthy of observation and because the Reader may perhaps have a Curiosity to see the end of the story I shall here presume to subjoyn a brief account of the chief passages in the sequel of that action according to what I have met with recorded by others to my hand that so we may bring off Sir Francis Vere with honour from so great an engagement and deliver him safe from the exceeding hazzard of that employment and this the rather because I think this was the last action of consequence wherein he was imbarqued Generall Vere had no sooner taken a sure footing to himself fitted the scene whereon the bloudy tragedy was afterwards to be acted but he gave a pledge of his resolution to abide by it refusing to quit his lodgings notwithstanding that the enemies Cannon had pierced them through with many a shot and quite battered down a little tower belonging to them But though his enemies Cannon could not enforce him to abandon so much as his own lodging yet did his own by shrewd mishap constrain him to withdraw himself for a time out of the town for on the fourteenth of August being wounded in the head with the blow of a Cannon that spilt in the discharging he removed into Zeland to be cured of his hurt The enemy having gotten intelligence hereof made no small expressions of joy and triumph discharging many a peal of Cannon whereby if they hoped to fill the hearts of the besieged with terrour and consternation and to beat them from their former resolution they were very much mistaken for the brave English souldiers observing what storms of great shot came daily rolling into the town the besiegers having already discharged little lesse then thirty five thousand Cannon-shot against it and perceiving by the story that all the houses were like ere long to be beaten about their ears and so were likelier to endanger them by their fall then any way to secure and protect them from the fury of the enemies artillery they advised themselves to take this course There was a green plot of ground in the town commonly used for the market-place which was something higher then the rest of the streets here did they earth themselves digging it hollow and fitting themselves with cabbins and lodgings within the ground The like did they by another void piece of ground upon the South-West whereby as they thought themselves secure from the enemies battery being confident they would not shoot mattocks and pickaxes so did they sufficiently testifie their own resolution rather to interre themselves in the graves which they had digged then to quit their possession of the place unto the enemy Hereupon the besiegers shifted sails and suiting their counsels to the disposition of the English souldiers who are sooner won by fair means then by foul shot arrows with letters into the English quarters promising ten stivers a day to such as would serve the Archduke against the town but these offers were slighted by the English who hated falsnesse as much as they contemned dangers this devise was looked upon by those of the town as the product of languishing counsels which having already spent all their pouder came a begging for the conclusion And if the Archduke had then given over the siege I question not but the world would generally have excused him for what should he do he had made his approaches as near unto Sand-hill as was possible for the haven which was the most probable place of doing any good upon the town and therefore he had ever since the beginning of the siege bent the most of his great shot upon it if it were possible to have made a breach but all had hitherto produced no other effect then the fortifying of the Sand-hill bulwark in stead of beating it down for by this time it was so thick stuck with bullets that the Ordnance could scarcely shoot without a tautologie and hitting its former bullets which like an iron wall made the later fly in pieces up into the air Yea the bullets in it were so many that they left not room to drive in Palisadoes though pointed with iron and some there were that would have undertaken to make the bulwark new if they might have had the bullets for their pains Besides when ever they meant to assault it they must resolve to force seven Palisadoes made of great piles within the haven before they could come to the foot of the bulwark and if they were not intercepted by the springing of a mine or two
the Cannon in it dismounted lest it should be spoyled by our own in Helmont which flanked it and the whole face of Sand-hil This False-bray was that dangerous passage mentioned in the objection going before which I thought to have passed over but am since otherwise advised It lay at the foot of Sand-hil in the eye of the enemy and was therefore as well known to them as to our selves and so was the way to it for they saw daily our entry to the guard to be through a covert-gallery forced through the bottom of the said hil it was so narrow that two men armed were the most could passe in front when you were come out of it you were presently at the havens side and the new town without discovering any guard passage or place of importance such as might any wayes give the least advantage to an enemies observation and was in truth in nothing else secret but that it was covered over-head from the eye of the heavens otherwise there was no passage about the whole town lesse prejudiciall then that There is a bolt of the same quiver likewise fallen into Emmanuel de Metterens book There the Generalls judgement is forsooth controlled and by the providence of Captain Sinklyer and some others as they think much bettered The Generall all there is said to have neglected the False-bray and that in a time when it was needfull to have defended it but Captain Sinklyer with other Captains provided for it But how provided for it Sinklyer with six muskettiers undertook it the Captains promised him two Companies to second him the place could contain one good one But why muskettiers alone and not pikes since they would make it good why but six and that against the fury of an army what knowledge would they teach our Cannons to spare the Scots and kill the Spaniards being joyned pesle-mesle It is ridiculous Captain Sinklyer if he lived would be angry to have his judgement thus wronged and printed so small as to undertake the defence of the False-bray when the Bulwark it self was assaultable But I leave these poore detractions that bewray onely the detractours weaknesse and so return to the matter On the two Bulwarks formerly mentioned Helmont and Sand hil with the mount Flaming-burgh he placed store of Artillery and Mortar the Mortars most of all at Helmont and much Ordnance for that as I said before scowred the avenue of the enemies coming upon the Sand-hil and the old town When he had thus ordered his affairs for defence he began to betake him to his stratageme which indeed was our best shelter against that storm He sent Captain Lewis Courtier who spake good Spanish into the Porcupine or Porc-espic the nearest place of guard to the enemy with order to desire speech with some of them he called twice or thrice or more but none answered him so he effected nothing The Generall displeased thereat sent me to the place on the same errand I called but no man answered beat a drum but they would not hear upon that I returned to the Generall and told him they expected form if he would speak with any of them I must go without the limits of our works he desired it but fearing they would shoot at me I put it to an adventure Coming to the havens-side I caused the drummer to beat and at the second call one answered me After a little stay the Governour of Sluys Mattheo Cerano came to me each made his qualitie known to the other I my errand to him that the Generall Vere desired to have some qualified person of theirs sent into the town to speak with him he this to the Archduke I attended his return which was speedy and with acceptance he told me of his affection to our Nation bred and nourished through the good correspondency and neighbour-hood betwixt the Lord Governour of Flushing Sir Robert Sidney and him He would take it as a courtesie that the Generall Vere would nominate and desire him of the Archduke to be imployed in this businesse This was performed and at our next meeting agreed that I should be a pledge for him that each should bring a companion with him that he with his should have Generall Veres I and mine Don Augustinoes word for our safety that during the Treaty no hostility should be used on land that against low-water we should finde our selves there again at the same place This done we parted each to his home I told the Generall what had passed he perswaded and that earnestly with the Netherlandish French and Captains of other Nations to have some one of them accompany me in this action the rather to avoid that interpretation which he fore-saw would follow being mannaged by him and his English onely but they all refused notwithstanding he assured severall of them his purpose was no other then to gain time where my self can testifie that coming to him almost at low-water to know his further pleasure I found him very earnest in perswading with an old Captain called Nicolas de Leur to whom I heard him say Je vous asseure n'est que pour gaigner temps I was not then so good a Frenchman as that I durst say I well understood him neither the purpose he had with him since I have learned both better This man refused as well as the rest whereupon the Generall in a choler willed to take with me whom I would my self for he would appoint none I took my old companion and then familiar friend Captain Fairfax Cerano and Ottanes were then at the water-side when we came Simon Anthonio and Gamboletti both Colonels or Maistros del campo brought them over on horsback to us on the other side Don Juan de Pantochi Ajudante received us and Don Augustino de Mexia at the battery behinde which was the army ranged ready for the assault These two brought us to the Archduke who was then come to the approaches and accompanied as became so great a Prince we performed those respects were fitting he vouchsafed us the honour to move his hat and being informed by one Hugh Owen an Englishman but a fugitive of our names and families as also that I could speake Spanish he conjured me as I was a Gentleman to tell him if there were any deceit in this handling or no I told him if there were it was more then I knew for with my knowledge I would not be used as an instrument in a work of that nature he asked me then what instructions I had I told him none for we were come hither onely as pledges to assure the return of them to whom he had given his instructions he asked me again whether I thought the Generall meant sincerely or not I told him that I was altogether unacquainted with his purpose but for any thing I knew he did Upon this we were dismissed and by Don Augustino whom Don Juan de Pantochi ever attended brought to his lodging and there honourably and kindly
Church they had shot down to throw amongst them then we had ropes of pitch hoops bound about with squibs and fire-works to throw among them great store of hand-granadoes and clubs which we called Hercules-clubs with heavy heads of wood and nails driven into the squares of them These and some others because the enemy had sworn all our deaths the Generall provided to entertain and welcome them When it began to grow darkish a little before low-water in the interim while the enemie was a cooling of his Ordnance which had playd all the day long upon the breach and the old town the Generall taking advantage of this precious time commanded Captain Dexter and Captain Clark with some fiftie stout workmen who had a rose-noble apiece for a quarter of an houres work to get up to the top of the breach which the enemies cannon had made very mountable and then with all expedition to cast up a small breast-work and drive in as many Palizadoes as possibly they could that his brother Sir Horace Vere and the rest of the Captains and souldiers which he commanded might have some little shelter the better to defend the breach and repulse the enemie when he strived to enter which blessed be God with the losse of a few men they performed This being done Sir Francis Vere went through the sally-port down into the False-bray and it being twilight called for an old souldier a Gentleman of his company to go out Sentinel-perdu and to creep out to the strand between two gabions giving him expresse command that if he saw an enemy he should come in unto him silently without giving any alarm at all He crept upon his belly as far as he could and at last discovered Count Farneze above mentioned wading and putting over the old-haven above their pile-battery with his two thousand Italians which were to fall on first and as they waded over he drew them up into battalions and divisions which this Gentleman having discovered came in silently to Sir Francis Vere as he had commanded him who asked him What news My Lord said he I smell good store of gold chains buff-jerkins Spanish-cassocks and Spanish-blades Ha sayes Sir Francis Vere sayest thou me so I hope thou shalt have some of them anon and giving him a piece of gold he went up again through the sally-port to the top of Sand-hil where he gave expresse order to Serjeant-major Carpenter to go to Helmont and every man to his charge and not to take any alarm or shoot off either cannon or musket-shot till he himself gave the signall and then to give fire both with the Ordnance and small shot as fast as ever they could charge and discharge When the enemy had put over his two thousand Italians he had also a signall to give notice thereof to the Count of Bucquoy that they were ready to fall on whose signal was the shot of a cannon from their pile-battery with a hollow-holed bullet into the sea towards his quarter which made a humming noyse When Generall Vere had got them under the swoop of his cannon and small-shot he powred a volley of cannon and musket-shot upon them raking through their battalions and making lanes amongst them upon the bare strand which did so amaze and startle them that they were at a non-plus whether they should fall on or retreat back again yet at last taking courage and tumbling over their dead bodies they rallyed themselves and came under the foot of Sand-hil and along the foot of the curtain of the old town to the very piles that were strook under the wall where they began to make ready to send us a volley Which Sir Francis Vere seeing that they were a presenting and ready to give fire upon us because indeed all the breast-work and parapet was beaten down flat to the rampier that day with their Ordnance and we standing open to the enemies shot commanded all the souldiers to fall flat down upon the ground while the enemies shot flew like a shower of hail over their heads which for the reasons above-said saved a great many mens lives This being done our men rising saw the enemy hastâ—ng to come up to the breach and mounting up the wall of the old town Sir Francis Vere flourishing his sword called to them in Spanish and Italian vienneza causing the souldiers as they climbed up to cast and tumble down among them the firkins of ashes the barrels of Frize-ruyters the hoops stones and brick-bats which were provided for them The alarm being given it was admirable to see with what courage and resolution our men fought yea the Lord did as it were infuse fresh courage and strength into a company of poor snakes and sick souldiers which come running out of their huts up to the wall to fight their shares and the women with their laps full of powder to supply them when they had shot away all their ammunition Now were the walls of Ostend all on a light fire and our Ordnance thundring upon them from our bulwarks now was there a lamentable cry of dying men among them for they could no sooner come up to the top of the breach to enter it or peep up between Sand-hil and Schottenburch but they were either knocked on the head with the stocks of our muskets our Hercules-clubs or run through with our pikes and swords Twice or thrice when they strived to enter they were beaten off and could get no advantage upon us The fight upon the breach and the old town continued hotter and hotter for the space of above an houre the enemie falling on at the same instant upon the Porc-espic Helmont the West-raveline Quarriers were so bravely repulsed that they could not enter a man The enemy fainting and having had his belly full those on the West-side heat a dolefull retreat while the Lord of Hosts ended our dispute for the town crowned us with victory and the roaring noise of our Cannon rending the aire and rolling along the superficies of the water the wind being South and with us carried that night the news thereof to our friends in England and Holland Generall Vere perceiving the enemy to fall off commanded me to run as fast as ever I could to Serjeant-major Carpenter and the Auditour Fleming who were upon Helmont that they should presently open the West-slute out of which there ran such a stream and torrent down through the chanel of the West-haven that upon their retreat it carried away many of their sound and hurt men into the sea and besides our men fell down our walls after them slew a great many of their men as they retreated and took some prisoners pillaged and stript a great many and brought in gold-chains Spanish-pistols buff-jerkins Spanish-cassocks blades swords and targets among the rest one wherein was enammeled in gold the seven Worthies worth seven or eight hundred gilders and among the rest that souldier which Sir Francis Vere had sent out to discover with as
had the succours of horse or the foot I called for come sooner to us wherein I will charge and accuse none but the messengers of their slacknesse An Account of the last charge at NEWPORT-battel by Sir John Ogle Sr. IOHN OGLE Lieutenant Colonel to Sr. Francis Vere In this retreat of ours there wanted no perswasions as well by Sir Francis Vere himself as some others to move our men to stand and turn for we saw a kinde of faintnesse and irresolution even in those that pursued us nearest And it is certain if we may call any thing certain whose effects we have not yet seen that if then we had turned and stood we had prevented that storm of fortune wherein we were after threatned at least we had saved many of our mens lives But such apprehensions of fear and amazement had laid hold of their spirits as no perswasion of reason could for that time get any place with them Sir Francis Vere with his troop formerly mentioned took his way towards the Cannons along the sands where he by his Chirurgeon they by their fellows might hope for succour I being faint and weary through heat and much stirring took some few with me and crossed into the downs there awhile to rest me till I should see how the succeeding events would teach me to dispose of my self either by direction or adventure I was no sooner come thither but I met with Captain Fairfax and young Mr. Gilbert who soon after was slain near unto us there we consulted what we should do but the time and place affording no long deliberation taught us to resolve that the best expedient for our safety was to endeavour the speedie increase of our little number which we had with us I think they were thirty men having brought which to a reasonable competency our further purpose was to give a charge when we should finde it most expedient that so with our honours we might put an end to those uncertainties the fortune of that day had to our judgements then thrown upon us It was not very long ere that our little body was multiplied to better then an hundred men for the loose and scattered begun of themselves without labour to rally unto us so much prevails union even in a little body for whilest to it the broken and disbanded ones do willingly offer themselves for safetie and protection they themselves by adding of strength to that body not onely increase the number thereof but do give and take the greater security to themselves and others We were all this while within lesse then musket-shot of a grosse of the enemy which stood in a hollow or bottom within the downs the hills about it giving good shelter against the drops of our shot for the showers of them as also of the enemies were spent and fallen before but neither were they so high nor so steep that they could forbid entry and commodions passage of charging either to our horse or foot This grosse had not many wanting of two thousand men in it and spying as it should seem our little handfull which at the first they might peradventure neglect or contemn in regard it was so small a number now begin to gather some bulk and strength thought it not unfit to prevent a further growth and to this end sent out an hundred and fifty men with colours closely and as covertly as they could along the skirt of the downs next the inland and South-ward with purpose to charge on the flank or back of us which they might very conveniently do as we then stood These men were advanced very nigh us ere we descried them when lo just upon the time of their discovery and our men ready to fall upon them comes Sir Horace Vere on horsback from the strand it should seem from the pursuit of the enemy whom the horse had scattered mentioned by his brother Sir Francis Vere and with a troop of some two hundred men marched along the downs towards us In this troop there were with him Captain Sutton his own Lieutenant-Colonell Lowel that commanded Sir Francis Vere's foot-company and some Lieutenants Morgan also came to us about the time that Fairfax and I joyned unto him and these were the officers that were afoot in the last charge The disbanded troops of the enemy seeing us strengthened with such supplies thought it their fittest course to hasten them the same way they came forth towards us Captain Fairfax and I would have charged but Sir Horace Vere willed us to joyne our troops with his and said we should go together and give one a good charge for all upon that great troop which we saw stood firm before us We had now with us our troops being joyned about some five ensignes amongst which was mine own which after was lost in the charge but recovered again by my officer The vigilant judicious eie of Prince Maurice his Excellency was it should seem upon our actions and motions all this while for as I have been enformed he seeing us make head said to those that stood about him Voyez Voyez Les Anglois qui tournent a la charge and thereupon gave present order to Dubois then Commissary-generall for the Cavallierie to advance some of the horse to be ready to attend and fortifie the events that might happen upon this growing charge This I have not of knowledge but from such hands as it were ill beseeming me or any man to question the credit of one of that ranke qualitie and reputation Our troop now the disbanded troop of the enemies marched both towards this grosse almost with equal pace saving that their haste was a little greater according to the proportion of their danger if they had fallen into our clutches being then much too strong for them ere they recovered the shelter of their own grosse yet such haste they could not make but that we were with them before they had wholly cast themselves into their friends arms who opening to receive them facilitated not a little of our charge the passage who then fell in pesle-mesle together amongst them Much about this time came in the horse namely the troops of Vere Cecill and Ball who rushing in with violence amongst them so confounded and amazed tâ—em that they were presently broken and disjoynted which being done the slaughter was great to them on their side as the execution easie to us on ours This rupture also of theirs was not a little furthered by the Archdukes own troop of Harquebusiers which having advanced somewhat before this grosse on the skirt which lay betwixt the inland and the higher downs was so encountered by Cecil and his troop who had as then received order by Dubois from his Excellency to charge that they were forced with confusion to seek succour amongst their foot Cecil following them in close at their backs Vere and Ball as I take it charged at the front by us having crossed into the downs from the sands and
well defensible At all these places could the enemy come to push of pike with us when they list at low water This was our condition neither was the enemy ignorant thereof nor unmindfull to lay hold on his advantage preparing all things from all parts fitting for the advancement of his purpose that was to assault the town Our Generall saw their provision and power and his own weaknesse but could prevent none of them otherwise then by practice his industry slept not his vigilancy appeared by his daily and nightly rounds he made about the town and works his courage was the highest when his forces lowest for even then he manifestly made it known so much that of his store he furnished plenty to others One day going about the walls he began to discourse of our being pressed and said He cared not what the enemy could attempt upon him he was in one of the strongest quarters of the town when he spake this and not unwilling that such as of themselves saw it not should be kept ignorant of the danger that hung over their heads The Captains and the Officers he commended for their care and industry in their watch and guard more to stir them up unto it then really to congratulate that vertue in them he said A Captain could receive no greater blow in his reputation then to be surprised divers other speeches he used tending to incouragement disswading from security and often amongst them interlaced the strength of the town I at the first perceiving not his mask began to put him in minde of some of the former particulars the whole towns weaknesse and the Archdukes opportunity but he told me quickly by his eye he would not have their strength touched in such an audience so slighting my speeches he continued his pace and a la volée his discourse till he came to his lodging there he called to me alone and brake to me in these terms I perceive you are not ignorant of our estate and therefore I will be more open and free with you What think you are we not in a fine taking here ha I will tell you Captain Ogle there was never man of my fortunes and reputation both which have been cleared hitherto plunged in greater extreamity then I am now here we discoursed of our condition before mentioned whereupon he inferred That he was like a man that had both courage and judgement to defend himself and yet must sit with his hands bound whilest boyes and devils come and box him about the ears Yet this I will tell you too said he rather then you shall ever see the name of Francis Vere subscribed in the delivery of a town committed to his custody or his hand to the least article of treaty though with the Archdukes own person had I a thousand lives I would first burie them all in the rampier yet in the mean while judge you of the quality of this our being I told him that I thought if he were in his former liberty he would bethink himself ere he suffered himself to be penned up in such a cage again he made no reply but addressed himself to his businesse and I to mine What his thoughts now were I will not enter into unlesse I had more strength to reach them Sure I am they wanted no stuff to work on for the bone he had to gnaw upon required as good teeth as any were in Hannibals head to break it and had not his been such all the hands we had there could not have plucked it out of our own throats Not long after this the Generall calls a Council of the Colonels and chief Officers there he propounded these two points First whether with the numbers formerly mentioned we could in time of assault sufficiently furnish all parts Secondly or if not whether in such an extremity we ought not to borrow the troops imployed for the guard of the Quarriers to the preservation of the town This was more to sound our judgements then of any necessity for him to seek allowance of his actions from them for Generalls use not to ask leave of their Captains to dispose of their guards what they are to quit and what they are to keep Our numbers they confest were too few yet must the Quarriers at no hand be abandoned but how to hold them sufficiently and to provide for those places on which the fury of the storm was like to pour it self forth no man gave expedient The voyces were severally collected and when it came to me I said That seeing our case standeth as it doth our breaches many and great our numbers few to defend them my opinion was that when we should see the cloud coming we quit the Quarriers for I know they were ordained for the custody not to endanger the losse of the town that of inconveniences the least must ever be chosen that it were ill-husbandry to hazzard the principall to save the interest and as little discretion to let the fire run on to burn the palace whilest we are busie preserving the lodge The two Colonels Roone and Sir Horace Vere who spake after me for the chief speake last were of the same minde differing onely in some circumstances not in substance of opinion That the other were so scrupulous in this point is to be thought proceeded rather from ignorance of our estate and danger or else an apprehension grounded upon common opinions which was lose the Quarriers lose the town or it may be the fear of the interpretation that the Lords the States would make of such an advise and that fear was likely to be the greater because perhaps they were not furnished with strength of reason to maintain their opinion or else they might finde it fittest to lay the burthen on his shoulders that was best able to bear it the Generall himself After this council there passed some few dayes till it was near Christmasse The Archduke was himself in person in the camp the assault resolved on and the time the preparations brought down to the approaches and the army they onely stayed for low water to give on Here began the Generalls project to receive being till now it had none neither was it now time to call the Captains to a new council either to require their advice or to tell them his own He had his head and his hands full ours had not aked now had not his waked then more for our safeties then ours could do for our own He bestirred him on all sides his powers were quick and strong within him and those without he disposed of thus His troops he placed most on Sand-hill Porcupine or Porc-espic the North-east Raveline the forts and curtain of the old town these were the breaches the other guards were all furnished as was then fitting according to our numbers The Quarriers held their men till a Parley was commenced and by it they secured The False-bray was abandoned by order as not tenable in time of assault