fiue other Cornets Launciers and Hergoletters Albaneseis and Wallons Count Arenbergue carried the Commission and marched before with Bracamount and other bands of footmen giuing charge to Count Meguen to follow him speedily with the rest Count Arenbergue being arriued within two leagues of Count Lodowick and vnderstanding his forces would haue staid from Count Meguen who would haue been with him that night The pride of Bracamount and diuers of his Spaniards was such as valuing Lodowicke and his forces as nothing they vrged Count Arenbergue with hainous words Insomuch that a number of the basest sort of the Spaniards began to call him cowardly traitour although Count Arenbergue was a valiant expert Captaine and onely would haue staied for more forces For he knew and all the world with him that Lodowicke was a most valiant obstinate executioner who alwaies directed his troupes to fight in good order and so resolutely that at an encounter with the French he and Count Maunsfelt made a discreet valiant retreit The Admirall and his Frenchmen being defeated Bracamount and his Spaniards vrged the Count to approach Lodowicke who was lodged in a Village by Groning hauing on both sides broad high waies both towards Groning and his enemies At the end of the lane towards the enemie there was a great heath with three high waies entring vnto it True it is Lodowickes companions were Germans but of the best sort for fiue hundred of his horsemen were Gentlemen that accompanied him and his brother Count Adolfe of Nassau for good will All his rest were a thousand horsemen which he led himselfe Count Arenbergue being approached Count Lodowickes quarters diuided his horsemen on both sides of his footmen which marched in one squadron conducted by Bracamount Hee placed some fiue hundred shot before his squadron the rest on both his sides Count Arembergue himselfe led the right wing of the horsemen his Lieutenant of Frizeland the left wing He commanded the Herguleters to march before the forlorne shot of his battell on foote and with some fiftie Herguleters to keep as nigh Lodowickes quarters as they could and to keepe centinell at the entrie of the lane into the plaine Count Lodowicks Curriers hauing discouered them at the Nuse Lodowicke aduanced out of the Village commanding two hundred reysters to displace Arenbergues Curriers and to stand in the mouth of the streight Lodowick came with all his forces placed his Lieuetenant Henrick Vausican with a squadron of Pikes some thirtie score in the plaine halfe of his shot on both sides of his squadron aduanced the two hundred reysters thirty score before his battaile placed his brother Count Adolfe with 600. Reysters on the right wing of his battaile and so many more with one of his best Captaines on the left wing the rest hee hid in two squadrons in both the out-lanes leauing in the middle lane a good squadron of pikes with some three hundred shot in the hedges on both sides He gaue charge to the two hundred Reysters to skirmish with all courage gaue directions to his brother to retire softly as the enemie approached himselfe standing with some seuen hundred of the best horsemen hidden in the right lane from the enemie and gaue order to the other wing to run through the pikes which stood in the middle mostlane who had directiōs to shift themselues ouer the hedge as though they were defeated His directions were no sooner giuen but Arenbergues Curriers and his were together by the eares and the Nassauians forced to retire vnder their battels of pikes Arenbergue aduanced with all speed both horse and foote Being neere Bracamount and his Spanish cryed to Count Arenbergue to charge withall Arenbergue and his Lieuetenant charged at once According to direction Count Adolfe retyred bringing Count Arenbergue who had by far the greatest wing on Count Lodowicke So did the other bring Arenbergues Lieuetenant through the lane where the pikes were Lodowicke giuing signe to his Reysters in the third lane to charge withall chargeth himselfe and found Count Arenbergue and his Lieutenant good cheape by reason they were out of order in running after Adolfes troupes His Lieuetenant Henrick Vausichan was broken by the Spanish and Wallons but at the sight of their horsemen which were in route their courage quailed in such sort that valiant Lodowicke ranne thorow them cheape In this place the Count of Arenbergue was slaine all or most of the Tertia de Sardinia slaine or taken prisoners with a number of Wallons and Geldreis Diuers Spanish Captaines escaped by recouering their horses which were led not farre from them So did diuers Wallons and many of their horsemen by reason Lodowicke executed the most of his furie on the Spanish footemen At the returne of the Spanish Captaines that escaped Duke D' alua executed them as I shewed in my discourse of their discipline for vrging their Generall to their ouerthrow Count Lodowicke assayes Groning and the Duke D' Alua ouerthrowes him at Dam in Frizeland AFter this Count Lodowicke ransacked Frizeland at his pleasure insomuch that he besieged the faire and rich Towne of Groning Duke D' Alua hearing this dispatched his Martiall otherwise called Master of the Campe generall Chiapin Vitelli with sufficient troupes of horsmen and footmen being ioyned with Count de Meguen to stop Lodowickes course Duke d' Alua vsed all diligence to gather his whole forces who marched with all speed after Vitelly Vitelly being arriued by Groning Lodowicke retired his siege into one quarter resoluing to giue Vitelly battaile to which end he sent his Trumpets to Vitelly to dare him a small riuer being betwixt both Vitelly kept the passages brake the bridges answered Count Lodowicke hee had no order to giue battaile but to discharge the Towne of Groning delaying the Count politickely and telling his messengers I will send vnto my Generall to obtaine his good will your Master may be assured hauing leaue a battaile will be my first businesse Duke d' Alua being arriued with his faire armie within a daies iourney of Vitelli Count Lodowicke retyred into Iemming a Village by Nuse-heile towards Emden breaking the bridges after him At the end of the Village towards the enemie he left Henrick Vausichan his Lieuetenant with all his infanterie being some eight thousand which were encreased by reason of his good successe at the last battaile This Iemming was a place enuironed with waters sauing two or three large wayes which came into it from Groning On euery way Count Lodowick made trenches placed strong guards ranged his horsemen in foure squadrons making what meanes he could to fill ditches to enlarge grounds to make waies for his horse to fight out of the high wayes in diuers of the meadowes towards Nuse-heile By reason of the streights his horsemen stood behinde the footmen in the great wayes Henrick Vausichan hauing intrenched himselfe reasonably strong with fiue thousand men to defend the place
that it was a place not worthy to be kept meaning not sufficient to withstand so great an enemy any long time If that bee true we were not very great Captains at that time for then without fellowe hee was accounted our chiefest souldier By this time the Prince had gotten a sure footing in Holland so as all places of any importance were his Duke d' Alua assieges Harlem where many disasters fell on both sides which siege may be called the tediousest dearest and painfullest of any in those daies DVke d' Alua seeing the people generally ready to reuolt with the lest shew the Prince could make resolued to gather his forces and to charge the Hollanders with all fury swearing to his Captaines and souldiers that the spoile of Holland shold be theirs vpon condition they would execute all they found Hauing prepared a mighty army with all necessaries hee dislodged out of Brussels towards Holland Beeing arriued at Newmegen hee passed the riuers of Wale and Rhyne in the dead of winter and against all reason marched from Arnam towards Vtrick His high Marshall or Master of his Campe generall was Chiapine Vitelly Don Iohn de Mandosa was Generall of his horsemen his Generall of the artillery Mounsieur d' Cressoneir his masters del Campe were Baptista de Mounte Dorkus Iulian Romero Iohn Francisco d' Baldeso Lanchio Auila and Mondragon There were with him also many other of Nobility and Gentlemen of quality as well Italians Almaines Burgonians and Netherlanders as also of Spanish Being arriued at Amsterdam he commanded his sonne Don Frederick Chiapine Vitelly and Mandosa to march with the vanguard and to engage the towne of Harlem In such sort that nothing could passe from it to Leyden or to any other place by land Hauing placed foure regiments of Almaines and Wallons well entrenched in the wood hard by the towne and in the waies towards Leiden Don Fredrick placed himselfe with a Spanish Tertio or Regiment well intrenched in a village and a strong house betwene the towne and the sea and so lodged the rest of his companies that the towne sallies were cutte off sauing on the one quarter which was meadowes marish towards the Meere In the towne were the most of the Princes best Captaines namely Mounsieur d' Saras Steuen Butch Balford Smith with diuerse others of the Scots French Almaines and Wallons Amongst whom were some 200 English in sundry Companies without any Ensigne of their owne The garrison in the whole might be some three thousand souldiers They caused also about sixe hundred Burgesses to carry armes besides two thousand and more of all sorts of people sufficient to supply the place of pioners of which were some three hundred women all vnder one Ensigne The womens Captain was a most stout dame named Captaine Margaret Kenalt Hauing diuided the towne into quarters and giuing charge of euery quarter vnto a principall chiefe they fell to working in great numbers on the weakest parts of the Citie and mended continually some part of the fortifications In such sort that within one month their towne was three times stronger then the first houre the enemy encamped before it They kept also two small sconces on the mouth of the water that ranne from the towne into the meere which assured the passage that waies by which meanes they receiued daily all manner of commodities that pleased the Prince the States of Holland to send them The Prince kept at Delfe in Holland He chose for his Lieutenant of the wars the Baron of Battenburgh for Generall of his horsemen and Marshall Mounsieur de Carlon for Admirall of the Meere for that seruice one Noris Brand. By reason of the Spanish long delaies in their resolutions about their martiall affaires the Prince dispatched away his chiefes with some fiue thousand souldiers and about sixty boyes and cromsters of which sixe were galliots and friggats This army arriued at the Cage within three leagues of Harlem a place inuironed with waters where because the Spanish could not attempt by reason the Prince was master vpon the waters the Baron Battenburgh furnished Harlem at his pleasure with all necessaries There stood in the mayne right against it on the Meere side a village named the Sase where hee landed and entrenched very strongly In that place he encamped with some six hundred horsemen and the most of his foote-men At the Cage there was no danger wherefore he anchored his shipping hard by the shore leauing for their guard six hundred souldiers with the Admirall and one Ashilers By this time Duke d' Alua arriued before the towne with his whole forces artillery and munition amounting in the whole neere to thirty thousand of which might be some thousand fiue hundred horsemen He needed no great cauallery by reason he was assured there would bee but few against him Also those grounds did not serue for great troupes of horsemen to fight in After viewing the strong seate of the Baron of Battenburgh and perceiuing no good could be done vpon his troupes to affront him hee aduanced Iohn Battisto del Mounte with fiue Cornets Italians who entrenched strongly with sixteen Companies of footmen in a village called Hellingham halfe the way betwixt both our companies Afterwards he began to make his approaches carefully sparing neither pioners nor cost to spare his souldiers Before hee planted his battry the towne made many braue sallies killed a great number with small losse to themselues Once they carried diuers Ensignes out of their enemies trenches nayled sundry peeces of battery After placing his battry and playing furiously he gaue two sharp assaults which were defended worthily by the besieged to the enemies great losse of whom a great number of quality were slaine and hurt and amongst others the braue master of the Campe Iulian Romero lost his eye with a hargabushado The enemy often possest the breach but beeing entred their halfe moone I meane the trench which the defendants made ouerthwart the breach within they were murdered like dogges The defendants had diuers fowlers and other peeces loaden with nailes and small shot which they placed on the corners of their halfe moone Those were discharged full against the enemies being entred vpon the breach Also they had placed a great number of small shot in houses both high and lowe full of Cannoners who flanked the halfe moone and besides the halfe moone was double manned with Musketiers Calliuers Duke d' Alua his losses were so great that perceiuing the braue resolution of the defendants hee gaue ouer his assaults and began to myne and to approach carefully with sape and other stratagems Sometimes he would mount Cages on masts made with plankes and such deuices of musket proofe In those hee would place diuers musketiers who by reason of their height did beate into the trenches of the halfe moone
Baron made a stand After conferring with his Captaines hee tooke resolution to deferre their dessigne and returned with our Campe to Sase The besieged being in great distresse for victuals especially for munition and finding the ill conduct of our Generall and Chiefes dispatched out of town their Captaine Mounsieur de Saras and Hauton his Lieutenant who passed with great danger and were forced to swimme many ditches hard by the enemies guardes Being arriued at the Sase bearing with them the townes resolution which was at the first sight of our Campe to sallie on the enemies trenches and so either to receiue their wants into the towne or to escape how they could Saras hauing conferred with the Prince and Baron at Leyden returned to the Sase where they tooke a full resolution either to dye or succour the towne Hereupon they dislodged from the Sase with our armie named before hauing with them some sixe hundred waggons loaden with victuals and munition with skonces made of boards of the proofe of Muskets which ranne on wheeles hauing in them places to play with sundry field-pieces which skonces were to ioyne and to open as pleased our Enginer euery fiue and tenne pases Being all ioyned together I meane in one it might couer at the least three hundred men This skonce was to be drawen with horses on both sides and in the middest vntill we were ingaged with the enemies smal shot then to be pushed vvith poales by the force of men Being parted vvith all necessaries and arriued betvvixt their Campe at Hellingham and the sea the enemies tooke the alarum in all their quarters Arriuing vvithin sight of their Campe they kept their men very close vvithin their trenches and on the side of the vvood so that vve could not see them Our men vvithin the tovvne had made a great salie through the Curtaine in such sort that they might issue out where there was neither guard nor trench of the enemy But a traytour leaping ouer the walls in the night discouered all their intent Whereupon the enemy prepared great quantity of straw which beeing made wet they set on fire in sundry places at such time as their Curriers gaue the alarum of the approach of our army when the townsemen were ready to sally out by which meanes the townesmen could neither see the approaching of our armie nor knew what time they ought to sally So the enemie directed fiue thousand of his best footemen and three hundred horsemen to charge the townesmen if they sallied and the rest to charge our Campe if it were possible vnknowne to the townesmen And so they did by their gouernement and fine stratagem For at the sight of our armie being within two Musket-shot of their trenches Duke d' Alua caused the 5000 footemen and 3 hundred horsemen to discouer themselues before the breach which our men had made in the curtaine withall he commanded the braue Baron Chiffero and Iohn Battisto del Mounto who had quited Hellingham with all his horsemen and was newly arriued in their Campe with others to march on the sea-sands vntill his artillery went off in vollies then to cut into the high wayes betwixt Harlem and our Campe at Sase hauing with them some fiue hundred horsemen and about fiue thousand footemen Also he commanded his master of the Campe Iulian Romero Del Mount Donkus the Barons of Likes of Capers of Frunsberke and Poule Viler to leape ouer the trenches with their regiments and charge our army at the discharging of his artillerie Also Don Iohn de Mendosa generall of his horsemen who was hidden as I said before was commanded to charge our horsmen at the going off of the artillery The Duke with the rest of his army stood in battell within the trenches Our Generall and Chiefes placed our Waggons to frontier the fairest places where their horsemen could charge vs our Wallons Dutch and Flemmish stood within the Waggons in good order of battaile all in one squadron with our horsemen on both the sides towards the enemies our English French and Scots stood some twenty score before the front of our battaile As we were basie in placing our engines I meane our skonces and waggons their artillery went off and withall the enemies presented in all quarters as they were directed At this sight God knowes our courage much abated Notwithstanding the Baron of Battenburgh and Mounsieur de Carlo charged Mendosa he hauing better then eight hundred horsemen and ours not sixe hundred At which charge Mounsieur de Carlo generall of our horsemen was slaine with many others of our best men At that instant the Baron Chiffero and Iohn Battisto came on the spurre towards the Baron of Battenburgh leauing their footemen marching with all speede on the side of ours Vpon their approach the Baron and our horsemen ranne into our Waggons with all the enemies horsemen in their tailes Then Iulian and the rest named before draue in the English and French shot winning our skonces and Waggons and our battell brake and ranne towards the Meere By reason of meadowes ditches diuers escaped into our Nauie which anchored not farre off vnder a strong skonce whose boats rowing from our ships saued many But the Baron our Generall was slaine after he had recouered our battaile with the most part of our men All or the most part of our Cornets ensignes artillery munition waggons engines and baggage were lost Thus were wee ouerthrowen with ill directions and ignorant gouernement What Prince or estate would direct their men of warre especially being more then halfe their owne Countrimen to attempt aboue 26000 good souldiers well intrenched gouerned with great Captaines not being in the whole 6500 footemen and of those halfe poore spirited Burgesses Or what Generall or Captaine would vndertake it vnlesse he were ignorant and without iudgement in martiall affaires Some will say had our friends perished in the towne without blowes it had beene our shame I doe confesse it hauing any reason to fight But being sure to perish both it was our greatest shame to attempt it If wee had kept our selues vndefeated and giuen order to the towne to haue compounded with the enemie their composition had beene the better But being defeated the townesmen were faine to yeeld to the mercy of Duke d' Alua. For the sight of our Ensignes and Cornets so quailed their courage that hauing no other remedy they yeelded to his mercy within foure dayes after our ouerthrow But he executed the most part of them most cruelly sauing the Almaines of Stinbaghs regiment who compounded for the most part to serue the King and Balfort with a few Scottish men who to escape Duke d' Aluaes cruelty promised to kill the Prince of Orange but being arriued with the Prince he confessed his promise and serued him faithfully long after The Spanish mutinies Mounsieur de Herges repulseth them
of these Countries we must obay him as we did the Duke of Sauoy and others Touching our gouernment resolue your selfe he will not neither shall alter it more than the rest of his predecessors before him haue done For your selfe if it please you to stay I dare aduēture my credit to make all wel with the King And assure you doth Duke D' Alua lay hands on you I will not endure it Withall he hurled before the Prince and the rest the Kings letters wherein was no want of dissimulation nor of promise of forgiuenesse onely to be assured to bring them sound asleepe vntill Duke D' Alua should awake them Herewith the Count told the Prince resolutely that he would not quite the King If he would not stay it would grieue him to see his house ouerthrowne The Prince answered Cousin I haue been too long by his Fathers chamber and doe know the Kings humors too well and their Spanish gouernement to conceiue that they will pardō such persons as a number of vs here be after entring into such actions as we haue done against them Good Cousin doe you forget how Duke D' Alua was wont to say vnto Charles the fift Hombres muertos no hazen guerra Dead men make no warre For these reasons and diuers other farewell I will not stay their iustice nor trust to their courtesies For house it makes no matter I had rather be a Prince without houses then a Count without a head During these treaties and delayes diuers brawles and bickerings fell out in Antwerpe betwixt them of the religion the Martinists and Papists Twice or thrice a weeke great numbers would bee in armes sometimes before the Gouernesse Court sometimes before the Prince of Oranges house but often or continually in places of greatest note Although the Prince was most politicke yet his courage was nothing cōparable to a number of others if it had without doubt hee might haue hazarded to haue surprized Antwerpe Hauing done it he might haue engaged the rest of the Country For in Gant and in the great Townes was faction for Religion especially throughout the most of the Villages and Countries where was preaching defacing of Images in many places Insomuch that the Papists and Martinists drew them of the Religion out of Antwerpe Notwithstanding they gathered together at a Village hard by Antwerpe called Osterwell where they preached in great numbers in such sort that the Gouernesse and all hers stood in doubt whether it were best to hazard their defeate there or to stay for more forces Being cōsidered how they encreased daily resolution was taken to charge them where they were Intelligence being brought them that the Papists and Martinists with a number of Souldiers did salie to defeat them Notwithstanding they were voyde of any men of conduct or souldiers gaged vnder ensignes or Cornets and all or the most Craftesmen Mechanicks or poore peasants yet they resolued to fight making head with good courage against their enemies But for want of heads to direct them default of armes and munition they were defeated in plaine field Iudge you what they would haue done being in the Towne of Antwerpe hauing with them a Prince of Orange who had with him continually two or three hundred Gentlemen diuers of charge and conduct Besides he was Gouernour of the Towne neuer without a good partie so as the Gouernesse and hers durst not lay hands on him although they knew him an enemy and a fauourer of the Religion To say truth he cloaked it what he could Insomuch as all their parties being often in armes in the great places himselfe went to the strongest which were the Papists and Martinists protesting to them to liue and dye with the Gouerness religion Without doubt his meaning was touching the Gouernesse to be true to his Country and to liue and dye with the Religion For amongst them of the religion hee had diuers instruments some of his best Gentlemen and Captaines who God knowes at that time had but little skill in warres notwithstanding they were assured by them of his good will in such sort that they would haue marched often against the others but for the Princes perswasions to the contrary Sometimes he would tell them their enemies were more in number and in charging them they should ingage their Towne wiues children and goods assuring them if they would goe forward the basest sort would ransacke their houses Since I heard the Prince say that if hee had knowne the warres then so well as he did since he would haue ranged on their sides wishing then his valiant brother Count Lodowicke in his place Pitie or feare ouerthrew the Prince often as I will shew hereafter Great warriers account the pitifull Captaine a foole in warres and neuer cruell vntill hee masters his enemie then hee must bee bloudy to execute if hee cannot liue in safetie This order continued vntill the newes came that Duke D' Alua was marching Then it was high time for the Prince to shift for himselfe Before he arriued the Prince was in Germanie After moouing the whole state of the Empire except the house of Austria hee found little comfort at their hands sauing the Count Palatine of the Rheine and his owne house of Nassau Not without meruaile for those flegmatique people will second no body without money before hand assurance to be payd monethly especially being gaged to serue the weakest partie When they come into the field they will endure neither hardnes nor wants without their due guilt When they haue ioyned battaile they haue often cryed guilt hurled their weapons from them and suffered their enemies to cut them in pieces I doe perswade my selfe all Potentates and estates hyre them onely fearing their enemies would haue them Without doubt if one side hath them and not the other likely it is master of the field they come in such multitudes of Horsemen as no Christian Nation besides is able to furnish Else perswade your selfe 500. hundred of either English Scottish Burgundians Wallones French Italians Albaneses Hungarians Poles or Spanish is worth 1500. Almaines Duke D' Alua being arriued in Loraine Count Peter Ernest Gouernour of Luxenburgh feared him but like a wise politicke man sent vnto him to offer him all seruice Notwithstanding hee kept himselfe in his strong Townes of Luxenburgh and Tyonuill hauing garrisons at his deuotion the Gouernours and Captaines either his kinsmen or assured friends Neither would hee suffer Duke D' Alua to enter those Townes or any other vnder his gouernment of any strength except onely his owne person with so many more as the Gouernours could dispose of at their pleasures Duke D' Alua knowing this man to be a very expert valiant Captaine would not offend him but rather pleased him all that hee might Insomuch as hee procured diuers fauourable letters from the King to encourage him of their good meaning towards him fearing
for want of masters to keepe them and to complaine of their guests abuses seeing also they could not carrie away the one quarter of their goods the most part resolued to stay Desiring the Counts leaue to signifie vnto their friends in Antwerpe aud Brussels how they were constrained to stay perforce in the towne meaning by that meanes to excuse themselues vnto Duke d'Alua whom they feared aboue all the world Euery day some of Lodowickes horsemen ranne vnto the ports of Brussels and vp and downe the Countries as pleased them spoiling and wasting what they listed Often they had great skirmishes but alwaies they defeated their enemies with halfe their numbers in such sort that d'Aluaes Captaines made ambushes for them fiue hundred at a time and the others would passe through them being scarse halfe their numbers This continued some time but d'Alua hauing gathered his forces dispatched Chiapin Vitelly with the most of his Caualrie and certaine regiments of footmen giuing him charge to inclose the towne in such sort as the garrison could not sally forth Being approached Mounts Lodowicke sallied accompanied with the Lord of la Noue and Poyet Sir William Morgan and diuers other aduenturers of good qualitie with all his horsmen halfe his footmen leauing Mounsieur de Roueres in the towne well accōpanied with the rest Being past his Counter scarfe he left Mounsieur de la Noue who gaue order vnto fiue hundred Harquebusiers to hide themselues close in the high wayes some hundred score from the gates Poyet and la Noue stood with two squadrons of horses a little before them either squadron being of an hundred and fiftie the rest the Count commanded to go to ingage the enemy to skirmish Mounsieur de Roueres caused diuers pieces of artillerie to be transported from other Mounts vnto the Mounts that commanded the field towards the enemie The enemie aduanced brauely both horse and foote at which sight Lodowickes Curriers encountred theirs with sundry Cornets But they forced the Nassawians to retire and double their pases towards la Noue and Poyet At this sight la Noue aduanced desiring the Count to giue order to Poiet to stand and the Harquebusiers to keepe close telling him I know the enemy will repulse mee notwithstanding I will charge with your leaue in my retreit let the ambush of shot discharge their voles then Poyet may charge the better cheap The Curriers being hard at hand la Noue aduāced crying to his company Courage turne bridle And withall charging some 400. Launciers Herguleters gaue thē the retreit into our squadrons which aduanced to re-encounter la Noue At whose sight la None retired bringing the enemies full vpon the ambush of shot which gaue them such a salue of Harquebushes that happie was hee that retyred first Withall Poyet charged very couragiously in such sort that the enemies doubled their pases towards their battell At whose retreite the Count wisely retyred his footmen into the towne with his horsemen in good order In the meane time Mounsieur de Roueres forgot not to plague them with his artillery The Generall of the horsemen and Vitelly aduanced their battaile remained halfe of horse foot in armes vntill their quarters were entrenched which they did in a short time For they were furnished with a great number of pioners and all necessaries in such sort that in lesse then fortie howers they assured the one halfe of the towne from salying forth Notwithstanding the ports towards Valentia and Hauery were cleare There stood an Abbey or Cloyster some halfe an English mile from the towne on a little riuer which ran frō the towne to the Cloister The place was not strong nor able to abide the Cannon Neuerthelesse it was necessarie to be kept for betwixt it and the Towne there was good store of grasse and corne with other necessaries to feed horses and cattel Besides they were assured the enemie would attempt this place first Therfore to winne time it was most necessarie to be kept Into this Cloister Mounsieur de Poyet desired to goe with some eight hundred Harquebusiers Although the Count and the rest were loath to hazard his person Notwithstanding the other alleaging himselfe to be but the third person in the towne desired and perswaded them that halfe their footemen should not goe to keepe any place without the company of a principall Chiefe To fulfill his desire it was granted him referring all vnto himselfe being entreated not to engage himselfe further then he might well retyre and assured that Lodowick the rest would quite the towne and all to follow him although they were sure to perish Mounsieur de Poyet hauing possest the place and furnished with about tenne dayes victuals vsed all meanes to strengthen himselfe By this time Vitelly had made the quarters towards Brussels very strong in such sort that two thousand were sufficient to guarde it against tenne thousand For he made there good forts about a quarter of a league one from another with strong trenches that ranne from fort to fort that no horsemen could sally ouer them And their footemen durst not passe those guardes for feare of the Counts horsemen Vitelly dislodged with all his horse and foote sauing the guards which he left in his forts and remained in battaile betwixt the ports of Valentia and Hauery vntill he erected a large fort like vnto the others Hauing left two regiments of footmen in it hee retyred with his Caualrie and the rest of his footemen vnto the next Village some halfe a league off leauing neere halfe his troupes in guard that they might be sure vntill the arriuall of Duke d'Alua Who beganne to set out from Brussels with the rest of his armie artillerie munition and baggage that night about two howers before day The towne and cloyster hauing intelligence sallied out from both quarters some eight hundred footemen with all their horsemen to giue a camisado vnder the conduct of Mounsieur de Roueres Being met in one place they gaue furiously into Vitellies quarter and forced his guardes into their place of armes Mendoza being lodged apart with most of the Caualrie gathered presently his horsemen in order and gaue resolutely into Vitellies quarter which was in danger to be runne through with this Camizado Mounsieur Roueres like a discreete souldier had left one of his best Captaines short of the enemies quarter with some three hundred of his best shot and a hundred and fiftie horsemen for his retreit which saued him and the most of his troupes Mendoza charged Roueres in such sort that happie was he who could returne first Comming vnto his ambush they peppered Mendoza and his horsemen with a salue of Harquebushes that turned them backe vpon the other At which instant the hundred and fiftie horsemen charged them on their backes By that time Vitelly and the most of
shoare where the Commendador stoode many were fast on the sands diuers were burnt the rest made all the sailes they could to recouer the riuer of Antwerpe Amongst these was Santio d'Auila notwithstanding he had grounded his own vessell in seeking to come to fight The Nassawians followed them into the riuer of Antwerpe defeating and taking many as they ranne away By the Spaniards owne reports they lost in this battaile aboue threescore saile of all sorts forty seauen ensignes aboue sixe hundred brasse pieces of which aboue 200. were taken out of the Cittadle of Antwerpe slaine and taken aboue six thousand souldiers and mariners Few were saued that came to their hands but all or the most that were taken were slaine or drowned Amongst many of their Commanders and men of good account their Admirall Beauoir was slaine valiantly at the push of pike So was Santio Dauilaes vice Admirall The victorious escaped not scotfree For their Admirall Boiset lost his right eye with the blowe of a pike the Admirall of Holland sore hurt with a shot in the thigh Boenyre Boisets vice Admirall was slaine with many other of good marke besides at the least sixteene hundred souldiers and mariners Thus was tke battell of Romers-wall begunne and ended Perhaps some will say because there was no greater slaughter and confusion it may not be tearmed worthy and comparable vnto diuers others But in troth I heard diuers report besides the Commendador who had been at Lapanta and heer that the fury there was nothing comparable vnto this number to number For my part I neuer saw any thing so furious I may well speake it for there are some of good quality yet aliue can testifie the same But for Iulian Romero himselfe I had bin blown vp with his Alfere yet I escaped with as great hazard as any other of his followers But I will dispute against any souldier that no fight hath been comparable vnto it by sea these fiue hundred yeares sauing that before Sluce fought by our famous King Edward the third against the French King and the Earle of Flanders and that of Lapanta FINIS The Spanish counsaile touching the Lowe Countries Duke D' Aluaes commission The intelligence of the Prince of Orange His policie Cardinall Granuill taketh a boxe vpon the eare Count Egmonds nature The Prince of Oranges fauour popular The Kings letters Peter Maunsfelt and the Lord Barlemount will not signe Count Egmond repenteth Is pacified Combination of the Nobility with the Prince Egmond offended Charles Maunsfelts councell concerning Egmond To take the streights against Duke D' Alua. The forces of the Lowe Countries The disposition of the Neatherlanders Egmond draweth all to the Spaniard The Prince of Orange seeketh conference with Egmond His aduertisement Egmonds answere The Kings dissembling letters The Princes reply The Protestants at Antwerpe Their ouerthrow at Osterwell The Prince of Orange his Ouersight Hee openly taketh part with the Papists Perswadeth the Protestants to quietnesse A pitifull Captaine The Prince of Orange into Germany Duke D' Alua arriueth in Loraine Count Maunsfelt vpon his guarde Duke D' Alua courteth him Duke D' Alua surpriseth the chiefe of the Nobility Count Charles Maunsfelt flyeth Duke D' Alua pursueth him Duke D' Aluaes trechery against Count Maunsfelt The Prouost of Arden the instrument Charles Maunsfelt meets the Prouost Killeth him Goeth into Fraunce Count Lodowicke into Frizeland Count Arenburge and Count Meguen sent against him Bracamount master of the Campe. The pride and insolency of certaine spaniards Lodowicke a braue commander Lodowickeâ— forces The order of the Spaniards Lodowickes order to traine out the enemy The Spanish discipline Lodowicke besiegeth Groning Vitelli in ayde of Groning Is dared to battaile by Lodowicke Refuseth and yet giueth hope thereof D' Alua approcheth Lodowicke retyreth Fortifieth himselfe at Iemming Seeketh to stop the enemy Relieueth his Curriers His Germans cryed for guilt and are payed by the Spaniards His braue resolution in greatest distresse The valour of Count Adolfe Count Lodowicke defeated Adolfe slaine The cause of Lodowickes dating Vitells The Prince of Orange towards Brabant Commeth to Liege D' Alua sendeth to Liege Liege enemy to the Prince Sendeth forces to affront the Prince The garrison there annoyeth the Prince Louaine refuseth a Spanish garrison But yet yeeld him money victuals The Prince retyreth His policy to keepe his army from mutinie He commeth to Valentia Auoydeth the danger of his mutinous souldiers Biddeth d' Alua battaile Hee hanged one of the Trumpetters Refuseth to fight Vitelly persuadeth to fight The danger of the losse of the battaile to the Spaniards The Prince marcheth to the place assigned Count Lodowicke hath the vantgard and beats in the Dukes guards Counselleth to force his tents D' Alua followeth Vitelly cutteth off straglers Is forced to run by Lodowicke D' Alua retyreth The Prince in Fraunce The causes of the Princes bad successe What townes are defensible The Duke D'Aluaes error in not building fortifying the the Cittadle of Flushing England Scotland Fraunce Germany Mercenaries Italie Venice Genua The great houses Clergy Portugall Denmarke Sweden The Hauns townes Poland D'Aluaes pride The massacre of Paris Lodowicke craueth ayde in France Obtayneth the Kings consent The French humors M Secretary Walsingham Lodowicke dispatcheth his instruments to Mounts The stratagem for gaining the towne The surprizing of Mounts Lodowicke entreth the town Assembleth the Magistrates He speaketh to them The Papists perplexed The spaniolized Mountâ—is depart with good leauâ— The King of France his aduertisement to Duke D'Alua D'Alua distrusteth the FreÌ„ch Lodo wicke disarmeth such as he distrusted Hee giueth theÌ„ leaue to depart They choose to stay and for what causes Lodowicks horsmen spoyle the Country Chiapine Vitelly encloseth Mounts Lodowicke sallieth and in what order Poyet and la Noue in ambush Roueres left in the towne The first medley La Noue chargeth Retyreth to draw the enemy to the ambush The ambush sheweth it selfe Poiet chargeth Lodowicke retyreth his footemen into the Towne The enemies order for entrenchments The holding of an Abbey without the towne For what cause Fortifieth the place Vitelly finisheth his worke begunne Maketh a new for t D'Alua setteth forth Roueres salyeth vpon Vitellyes quarter Mendoza succoureth the quarter Roueres order for retreit Roueres retyreth Duke D'Alua arriueth Entrencheth himselfe Battereth the Cloyster Payet abydeth one dayes battery and retyreth by night Battereth the towne The furie of the batterie A breach made Preparation to the assault Iulian Romero hath the poynt Preparation of the defendants The assault The retreit Iulian Romerees danger losse The Counts losse Roueres slaine D'Alua will no more assault The ouerthrow of Ianlis Duke D'Aluaes forces Chiapine Vitellies ambush to entrap Ianlis His order to traine him to it The order put in execution The French fall into the ambush The disorder of the French march Mouy escapeth I anlis prisoner Executed at Antwerpe D'Aluaes order against his arriuall
against the enemie planted diuers field peeces which flanked the quarter where the enemie must attempt Hearing Duke D' Aluaes Curriers aduanced within the sight of the Nassawians guardes Lodowicke sent two hundred Reysters to re-encounter them giuing them charge to stoppe their course what they could to winne time to strengthen his trenches w th were in working with all his hands Being re-encountred both these Curriers fell into a hot skirmish Iulian Romero hauing the vantguarde with Robelos seconded their Curriers with some foure or fiue hundred Horguleters in such sort that the Nassauians were forced to retyre on the spurre At the sight whereof Lodowicke passed some foure hundred Reysters commanded by a valiant man who charged the Spaniards into the squadrons which Iulian and the other led beeing foure regiments of Spaniards and Wallons The grand Prior Duke D' Aluaes sonne commanded the battaile hauing with him don Iohn de Mendosa Generall of the horsemen with Vitelly They passed with all speed through the vaunt-guarde some seuen hundred Lanciers which chaced the Nassawians into their infantrie And withall Iulian and Robelos aduanced with all speed so did the grand prior with his battaile and Duke D' Alua with his sonne Don Frederico accompained with diuers others of great quality seconded the battaile in great march Lodowicke giuing courage to his infantry the base villaines as I shew'd you before cryd gilt gilt according to their simple and olde base customes Iulian and Robelos being Pell mell with them they hurled downe their weapons crying Liue Spaniard bone Papists moy Notwithstanding Lodowicke recouered his horsemen who beganne also to shake and to crye for money True it is at the first approach of Duke D' Alua in Frizeland foure dayes before the horsemen beganne to murmure and to counsaile Lodowicke to returne to Emden Lodowicke seeing this disaster pulled off his caske desiring his horsemen to follow him or to stand to beare witnesse how honestly his brother stoode with some fiue hundred horsemen desiring him to charge those Launces which aduanced hard before them Count Adolfe did it with great courage although halfe his squadron quitted him At which instant Lodowicke cryed to his horsemen All you that haue a humor to liue follow mee Withall he gaue the spurres Some three hundred horsemen followed him the rest ranne away Notithstanding his brother and himselfe with lesse then sixe hundred Reysters draue aboue eight hundred Launciers besides Herguleters into their vanguarde of foote By that time the Spanish Generall of horsemen was arriued with great troupes which soone mastered the Nassawians in which place Lodowicke was hurt very sore in two or three places and his horse also Notwithstanding hee escaped with wonderfull hazard by swimming a riuer and recouered Emden His brother Count Adolfe with the most or all the Gentlemen that followed him were slaine or taken so that scarce fortie escaped of both their troupes All or the most of his infantrie were taken and slaine sauing a troupe which made a composition being strongly entrenched with Henrick Vausichan Notwithstanding the Spanish vsed them cruelly according to their cowardly deserts putting all or the most to the sword winning all their artillerie munition baggage This ouerthrow recōpenced double Lodowicks victorie But without doubt had the base people fought followed Lodowickes directiōs the losse had bin the Spaniards the seate of the Nassauians was such Besides I forget to speake of a ditch which Lodowicke commanded to bee cut in such sort that the water could haue assured their quarter within lesse then tenne howers This valiant Count had reason to draw Vitelli to battaile knowing in retyring before greater forces the courage of his base souldiers would quaile But hauing intelligence of Duke D' Aluaes approach and finding the mindes of his men failing hee had greater reason either to retire without ingaging a fight or to haue fortified a strong passage where hee might haue made head safely vntill the Prince his brother would haue succoured him with more supplies This hee might haue done considering the time and warning hee had since the arriuall of Vitelli vntill the comming of Duke D' Alua principally since the ouerthrow of Arenbergue finding Groning not to bee taken and seeing forces encreasing daily against him But giue him his worthy right to correct his deedes I may bee compared vnto a counterfeit Alexander on a Stage better then to the valiant and discreete Count. The Prince of Oranges first iourney into Brabant TOuching the Prince of Oranges iourney into Brabant I can speake no more than this By the ayde of the Count Palatine of the Rhyne and his own house of Nassau which ingaging the greatest part of his owne Countrey of Nassau he leauied some tenne thousand Reisters and twelue thousand Launce-Knights With those and some two thousand Ramassees of Watlons French and Flemmings fugitiues but a number of them braue Gentlemen of good quality especially the Count of Holdestocke being entred Cleueland the Prince bent his course towards the riuer of Mase resoluing to passe the said riuer by the great and rich Towne of Leige making account to finde some good partie in that Towne Besides diuers of the other Townes of Brabant Flaunders and other Prouinces promised him assistance in case hee would encounter D. D' Alua in the field Hauing passed the Mase being encamped by Liege D. d' Alua vnderstanding his meaning by good espy-alls before his arriuall sent some Captaines of quality who were expert in those affaires both to the Bishops and to the Clergie to aduertise and direct them to defend themselues assuring them if neede required hee would hazard battaile for them This Towne being Neuter and of the Empire onely gouerned by Priests and such men with the assistance and counsaile of Duke D' Aluaes instruments beganne to shew themselues rather enemies then well-willers vnto the Prince Insomuch that diuers sacked and spoyled some baggage and victuals loosely guarded which passed vnder their fauours The poore Prince seeing himselfe so vsed by the Liegrois was vncertaine what to imagine fearing the rest of the Townes would doe the like hauing but small store of munition of his owne and little hope to procure from others Also Duke d' Alua fronted him with a faire armie but not comparable to his especially in horsemen for the Prince had more then double his numbers Notwithstanding Duke d' Alua was on the surest hand by reason all the Townes and passages were at his deuotion Diuers skirmishes passed betwixt both parties but the Prince could neuer ingage Duke d' Alua to battaile by reason he would bee sure to be strongly entrenched especially being in the field and lodged often vnder the fauour of his Townes Hauing intelligence that the Prince meant to enter Louaine to front him in his passage he sent his great Captaine Robelos and Mondragon with some twentie ensignes of footemen Spanish