send them from Sluce to Sea or else through the channell of Iperlee into other Hauens of Flanders He had likewise prepared seuentie flat bottomed vessels in the little Riuer at Waten each of them beeing able to carrie thirtie horse with Bridges fit to ship them he had likewise two hundred more of these Boates though not so big readie in the Hauen of Newport He had rigd two and thirtie ships of warre at Dunkirke wanting mariners he drew diuers from Hambourg Breme and Embden He had two thousand emptie vessels readie at Grauelin which in a short space might be soon fastened together in maner of a bridge with all prouision to make bridges to choake vp hauens and to found them and neere to the Hauen of Newport hee had prepared great heapes of Fagots and other substance to make Gabions in many of his Boates were two Ouens to bake bread he had likewise great numbers of Saddles Bridles and furniture for horse with all sorts of ordnance and munition necessarie thereunto Beside he had a Campe readie not farre from Newport commaunded by Camillo the Campe-Master and thirtie Ensignes of Italians tenne of Walons eight of Scots eight of Burgonians in all fiftie sixe Ensignes euerie Ensigne an hundred men compleat Neere to Dixmuyde hee had sixtie Spanish Ensignes sixtie of Almans and seuen of reuolted English vnder the commaund of of Sir William Stanley The Earle of Westmerland and the Lord Paget English fugitiues were there likewise readie to imbarke In the suburbs of Courtray he had foure thousand horse 900 horse at Watene with the Marquesse of Guastos Cornet who was Generall of the horse Pope Sixtus the fist the better to strengthen the sayd Armie and weaken the Queene of Englands power did for his part doe all he could imploying his spirituall armes as they terme it published his Croizades and Bulls for the aduancement of this enterprise and gaue great pardons which were printed and distributed abroad He had likewise as it is reported giuen the Realme of England to the King of Spaine with this Title of Defender of the Christian faith commaunding him to surprise it on condition that if he should win it he should enioy it as a seodatarie to the See of Rome and to this end the Pope contributed a million of gold or ten ne hundred thousand ducats the one halfe in hand and the other when eyther England or some famous Hauen should bee woon And for the better furtherance thereof the Pope sent an English Doctor called Allen into the Low-countries who should haue had the managing of all Ecclesiasticall affaires He caused a declaration of the Popes to be Printed at Antuerpe confirming his predecessors sentence of excommunication deposing and degrading the Queen of England from all her titles and dignities as an vsurper which for the aduauncement of the enterprise he would haue published in England The Spanyard the better to couer and conceale his practises or else peraduenture to make the world beleeue that his designe was rather for the vnited Prouinces than for England made a solemne treatie of peace with the Queen at Bourbourg in Flanders But the Prouinces Towns and Forts neere to the Sea gaue aduertisements protested and sought all meanes to hinder and breake off this treatie of peace aduising the English rather to stand upon their Gard Yet some in England stood fast for peace or truce as most necessarie profitable for the State of their countrie as well for their traffique nauigation as to cut off the great expence of a long tedious war others by this meanes thought to diuert the fleet from them so to auoid the tempest In a word Parma hereby did lull full diuers Englishmen a sleep who were desirous of peace in the Low countries himselfe thinking on nothing lesse than peace studying how he might conquer England which he had alreadie promised to himselfe Whereupon the English the vnited prouinces were in some sort prepared for defence against the force of this fleet but not according to the greatnesse of the danger for it was giuen out that this great Armada was onely to conuey the Spanish fleet to the Indies and bring it safe home againe which was the rather belieued because the ships being so great some thought that the Spaniards would not hazard them in the narrow seas nere to England In May the French King sent a message to the Queene of England by which hee aduised her to prepare for defence for that he was truly enformed that this tempest wold light vpon her Wherupon the Queene speedily prepared a fleet of her owne ships and that of her subjects sent part thereof to Plimmouth in the West parts vnder the commaund of the Lord Admirall Charles Lord Howard of Effingham now Earle of Nottingham together with Sir Francis Drake Vice-Admirall to the number of 100 saile An other fleet lay betwixt Douer and Calais vnder the commaund of the Lord Henrie Seymer sonne to the Duke of Somerset to the number of 40 or 50 saile All England was in Armes vnder valiant and trusty Captaines And because it was reported that the Spanyards conjoyned with Parma would come vp into the Riuer of Thames a Campe was made nere Grauesend with forts on both sides the Riuer by Frederic Ienibelli an excellent Ingeneir The Queene came in person to the Campe like a second Tomyris or Pallas other Camps were likewise placed in other parts As for the vnited Prouinces of Holland Zeland c. they by a mutuall consent resolued to doe the like But because they vnderstood that the Spanish ships were too bigge to come nere their shallow shoares they were more afraid of Parma and his flat bottomed Boats notwithstanding their own incessiue broiles they made readie a fleet of ninetie vessels which they sent to gard al the Hauens of Flaunders euen from the Scheld and Lillo as farre as Grauelin and had placed strong Garrisons in all their Sea Townes And to make some opposition against the Spanish fleet they sent Captaine Cornelis Lonck of Rosendael with fiue and twentie or thirtie vessels to joyne with the Lord Henrie Seymer and to lye betwixt Calais and Antuerpe But the ships were by Tempest and Northerlie winds enforced to quit the coast of Flanders and to returne into England yet when the tempest ceased they returned with Iustinus of Nassau who was there in person with George le More Vice-Admirall of Zeland being in number fiftie fiue vessels great and small of 80 and two hundred and fiftie tunne excellently well mand with souldiers and mariners beside one thousand two hundred old choyce musquetiers drawne from all the Regiments who were resolute and skilfull in Sea fight This was dore to keepe Parmas fleet from comming forth of the Hauens which was a matter of most importance In the meane time on the nine and twentieth day of May 1588 the aforesaid mightie Nauie sayled forth of the Hauen of Lisbone vnder
cheape there than in Holland or Zealand in regard they paid no imposition The Duke of Holst brother to the King of Denmarke with Count Iohn of Nassau Count Hohenlo and the Earle of Northumberland came from England thither to view the manner of the fortifications Count Saint Paul Gouernour of Picardie was likewise onward on his way thither but by a contrarie wind was caried into Zealand yea Henry the fourth the great French king came in August to Calais to vnderstand the particularities of that siege from whence hee sent one of his Lords to visite the Archduke who likewise sent Count Solre to the king Count Chastillon a gallant noble and valorous Lord nephew to the great Admerall of France commaunded the French forces in Ostend and as by vnluckie chance hee stood on the top of the Sand hill viewing the Gabions in companie of the gouernour the Lord Vander Noot Colonell Huchtenbroeck gouernour of Saint Andrewes fort and Brog Lieutenaunt Colonell to the Scots with diuers other gentlemen the scalpe of his head was caried away with a canon bullet so as the braines and bones flew in the face of Huchtenbroeck Captaine Brog and others Within a while after namely on the last of September the said Colonell Huchtenbroeck was likewise slaine and was much lamented as also a French Captaine named Pomarend It would bee an impossibilitie to set downe the names of all the Captaines which dyed both within and without the towne together with the sundrie accidents which daily happened there with so small terrour and amazement as is almost incredible custome wholy banishing feare Among others a souldier bought a loafe of bread which hee held vp in his hand shewing it to one of his fellowes and in the meane time a bullet tooke away the one halfe of it whereupon the souldier merrily sayd that there was some good fellowship in him that made that shot because hee left him some bread and tooke not all away An English gentleman of the age of twentie yeares had in a sallie his right arme shot off with a Canon bullet hee tooke it vp and carried it along with him to the Surgeons who drest him which done hee tooke his arme with him to his lodging where without beeing sicke or distempered he held it in his left hand saying this is the arme which to day at dinner serued the whole bodie An other souldier hauing his arme shot off and beeing verie weake was led away by two of his fellowes as hee went along an other bullet tooke away one of his legs of which hurt he presently dyed those two which led him being in no sort hurt A Grocer standing in his shop was slaine with a great shot and beeing laid in a coffing the bodie was caried away with a Canon bullet A yong man beeing on horse backe his horse was slaine vnder him with a bullet which entred at his hinder parts and came forth at his brest and yet himselfe had no harme onely his breeches were torne a sunder betwixt his legs with the wind of the bullet A Sea Captaine beeing in conference with one who layd his arme vpon the Captaines shoulder it was taken away by a great shot the Captain hauing no hurt but only astonied with the wind of the canon It fell out likewise oftentimes that the enemie discharging his ordnance the bullet flew into the mouth of our canon which was charged and setting it on fire two bullets were sent backe in steed of one Diuers other strange accidents happened there among so manie millions of shot for the first ten weeks both from the town and enemies campe more than threescore thousand Canon shot were spent beside fire-works to burn downe the town building which tooke no great effect in regard the houses were low Now this is not strange for the meaning of the Spaniards was to win the towne with their ordnance and to make it a heape of stones and ashes but the besieged shot as much as the enemies dismounting their canon and tearing downe their forts For there was neuer any place among Turks Heathen or Christians where so manie shot haue beene bestowed on either side the canons beeing so worne and the holes made so wide as the like hath not bin seene The foureteenth of August Generall Vere beeing on the Sand hill was hurt in the head with a wodden splinter and because his wound was daungerous the surgeons told him that he must withdrawe himselfe to some quiet place free from the noice of ordnance whereupon hee went from Ostend and remained for a time in Zealand The besieged made braue sallies wherein the enemies were still put to the worst the foure and twentieth of August our men made two sallies the first by the English alone the second by Dutch and English of whom some nine or ten were slaine and thirtie hurt but of the enemies many moe were slaine who still repulsed our men and when their foot men were too weake they made vse of their horsemen among whom the ordnance made great slaughter so as this siege was verie bloudie and long as it shall appeare by the sequell of the Historie The enemies were often at variance among themselues because many of their attemps had no good successe They were intrenched in the West downes in seuen or eight trenches the one higher than the other according to the nature of the ground their trenches beeing conioyned with fagots and sand further off from these they had made an other trench with platformes for their ordnance which extended as far as their fort in the ruined churchyard betwixt the forts of Grooten-dorst aud Isabella standing on the riuer Yperlee where likewise Saint Clares fort stood and part of the camp of the Southern quarter from whence they had made a way with fagots as farre as the Eastern campe Count Frederick Vandenbergh had made a trench to the Southward opposite to the Englishmens trenches on the Polder well fortified with ordnance and batteries D. Augustino de Mexia with some eight thousand men commanded that quarter on the East side of the town neere to the bridge was another campe likewise wherein lay two thousand men vnder Count Frederick Beside they had a companie of reuolted English commaunded by Captaine Floud and foure cornets of horse Three thousand men did euerie night gard the camp Captaine Catrice had chiefe commaund of the trenches with one Simon Antonio Matheo Serrano was lieutenant generall of the ordnance D. Lewis d' Auila Balthazar Lopes D. Iuan Panrache were Sergeant Majors of the Army The Regiments of the Earles Solre Bucquoy Frisin Achicourt and others where there who agreed but badly with the Spaniards whose intollerable pride they could not endure The mutinie in certaine forts was not wholy quieted but the mutiners were sent to Saint Winocks Bergue till they might receiue their full pay which came too late so as they reduced the whole countrie vnder contribution Archduke Albert was in person in the
printed that the Countries might seriously looke to what they were to doe To the high illustrious honorable noble learned wise and discreet Lords good freinds and neighbours the Prelats Princes Earls Lords Gentlemen and Cities of Brabant Flaunders Artois Hainalt Valenciennes Lisle Douay Orchies Namur Tournay Tournesis and Malines representing the bodie of the Netherlands vnder the Spanish or Archdukes gouernment To all of them in generall and to euery of them in particular MY Lords wee doubt not but that your Excellencies do still remember the louing remonstrances and exhortations which we haue often made vnto you wherein we intreated you maturely to consider and well weigh the determination and end of the Spaniards and their adherents enemies to the State lawes priuiledges goods and persons of the Netherlands viz. their originall and rooted determination which is so base and hurtfull as it wholy tends to the entire ruine of the Inhabitants of these Countries We know very well notwithstanding that the said determination is likewise among you held indubitable that some of your Excellencies haue beene drawne thereunto partly by your owne good natures and partly by persuasions that matters might bee redressed and amended by meanes of the Archdukes and presence of their Highnesses But because we are well assured of the Spaniards and their adherents continuance in their determination for ruine of the Netherlands and subiecting them for euer to the Spanish yoake that they might beare rule ouer the consciences bodies lawes and goods of the inhabitants thereof and that the Archduke can no way helpe it this is the reason why wee cannot bee of your opinion And not to precipitate your Excellencies nor our selues into a certaine continuall and irreparable ruine we haue found out this to be the best remedie still to continue with a constant courage in the laudable resolution taken from the beginning by the chiefe persons and members of the whole Netherlands of all estates and conditions and beeing assured of the aide and assistance of God and that of Kings Princes and Republiks with whom wee are in league as also on the equitie of our cause wee doe patiently expect good successe especially by your Excellencies directions and discreet gouernment and will voluntarily vndergoe all difficulties daungers and expences requisite for maintenance of so holie commendable honourable and necessarie resolution Nor can the base and deceitfull conueyance of the low Countries made to their Highnesses euer moue vs to any alteration we hauing in that regard after the said conueyance seriously by letters and word of mouth conferring with your commissioners requested and exhorted your Excellencies to bee carefull on your side for the managing and gouernment of affaires of State and war both within and without the Countrie wee are well assured that if it bee duely considered and not with a passionate spirit that none will iudge otherwise but that the said deceitfull conueyance doth vndoubtedly tend to the assured ruine of all the Netherlands and the inhabitants thereof Your Excellencies doe perceiue vnderstand and effectually feele what is past and may easily iudge of that which is still likely to ensue so as wee think it needlesse to writ more amply vnto you of it onely we louingly intreat exhort and earnestly request your Excellencies to remember the laudable reputation purchased by your predecessors certaine hundreds of yeares past which they haue left vnto vs as a rule which is to bee Protectors and defendors of the liberties and lawes of the Netherlands in common and of the members townes and inhabitants thereof in particular and to consider whether the contents of the said idle and vnworthie conueyance and of the treatie which ensued it doth agree with the duetie wherewith your Excellencies are tied to your houses estates posteritie and especially to your Countrie Yf so which wee by no meanes think wee will pray vnto God to enlighten your Excellencies and to giue you a better and cleerer iudgement But if your Excellencies perceiue that the said pretended conueyance made for necessitie and to auoide a greater mischiefe bee deceitfull and dishonorable and as an infamous blot to the Netherlands if likewise yee vnderstand that the Spaniards and their adherents proceedings which haue ensued thereupon and are till now growne from bad to worse both in affaires of state and war as wee know that the most of your Excellencies do are preiudicious and intollerable and so by consequence your Excellencies are not bound and tied to them as repugnant to the common good the lawes and priuiledges of the Netherlands If your Excellencies doe likewise consider that all forcible extremities all prohibitions of trade and commerce all deuises and practises to entangle the Majestie of England and the vnited prouinces doe more and more come to light and are not onely repugnant to this resolution but bring forth cleane contrarie effects That the treacherous attempts on the Townes and Castles of the French king giue great occasion to take speedie reuenge That libels and rimes wherewith they seeke to make the French King and his affaires odious to the common people and call in question the rightfull successions of the Crownes of France and England are but vain propositions only tending to incense their Majesties and that they goe about in vain to raise tumult sedition amongst the people of the Low-countries considering that whilest they are at quiet and liue vnder obedience their condition thanks be to God is an hundred times better and more safe than that of the common people vnder the king of Spaine and Archdukes and that they haue no occasion to distrust their lawfull superiors or their actions but on the contrarie the Spaniards and Archdukes subjects perceiuing that all their affaires doe daily impaire that the authoritie of the States Prelats Princes Lords Gentlemen and townes of the Prouinces both in general and particular are without any respect trodden vnder-foot that they defend themselues onely with strangers in contempt of all good Patriots and that not onely in the chiefe garrisons townes and forts but generally in all matters some few excepted they seeme to proceed formally and in apparence the which without all question they will soone leaue off if they were once absolute Lords so that the Prouinces and people should not be onely without trade wealth and nauigation but euen the third part of the Inhabitants would bee depriued of necessarie meanes to liue the chiefe cities made Doue-coats the Countrie villages ruined and the people eaten and consumed to the verie bones by souldiers who are so badly payed as mutinie in one place is no sooner quieted but two worse than it breakes forth in another so as it is to be feared that in the end all will become desperate In which regard we intreat your Excellencies effectually to embrace the necessarie remedies and so to handle the matter as their Highnesses may be persuaded to depart from the Netherlands and to procure themselues a more quiet and certaine portion
continued by himselfe Forasmuch as officers and Magistrats are appointed in Townes and places according to the prerogatiues respectiuely giuen to the Lords Townes Villages by the Princes of these Countries In this regard we cannot violate them But his Excellencie for the better seruice of these Countries will prouide that the Magistrats and officers bee honest and well qualified people And for that which concerneth the establishment of Counsellors Commissioners of Townes and Colledges His Excellencies meaning is to conferre with the States about these matters as he shall find it to be expedient for the seruice and commoditie of the Countrie He will likewise giue order that the Townes and Forts of Block-zijl and Cuyndert shall be fortified maintayned garded and prouided of all necessaries He will by all meanes preuent and hinder that no sedition arise among the inhabitants This belongs to the Gouernour of the Prouinces and to the ordinarie officers and Magistrats thereof And because the Commission for Captaineship of the Castle of Medenblick was by his Excellencie graunted onely by Prouiso he intreats his Excellencie to giue and confirme it absolutely vnto him Forasmuch as the Captaineship of the of Castle Medenblick is an ordiofficenarie of the Countrie which according to the priuiledges therof cannot be administred but by any such an one as is born in the Low countries his Excellencie cannot graunt it contrarie to the sayd priuiledges seeing that the Generall was not borne there Done by aduice at the Hague the 21 of Ianuarie 1588 and subsigned By me William Mostaert All this thus done those of Medenblick continued obstinat the souldiers mutined and would not depart till they had receiued the arrerages They disarmed the Burghers and caried their armes to Gouernour Senoys house and enforced them euerie weeke to giue them pay My Lords the States sent the Lords of Famas and Swevenseell Peter Kyes Burgomaster of Harlem and Master Adrian Antonie Burgomaster of Alckmaer to them who presented the arrerages to the mutinous souldiers and greater pay than to any other that serued the States but they would neither giue audience to these Commissioners nor to other which were sent after them but went a boothaling vp and downe the Countrie constrayning the Boores in hostile manner to pay them their entertainement which to speake truely was a matter of great consequence and might easily haue ruined all North-Holland if my Lords the States had not in time preuented it who resolued by force to master these mutines giuing ample power to his Excellencie to put it in execution who together with the Marshall Villers who was newly set at libertie from his imprisonment brought certaine companies of souldiers Burghers of neighbour towns and some ships of warre before the Towne who did in such sort besiege and nerely presse it as those within it began to remember themselues and so to consider the present daunger as they began in some sort to change their minds And perceiuing that the Earle of Leycester had wholly giuen ouer the gouernement and had surrendred into the generall States whose authoritie by their resolution did dayly increase and that they could not but expect some great mischiefe in recompence of their obstinacie the matter was at last so handled by meanes of Sir Henrie Killegrew the Lord Willoughby and other English Lords as those of Medenblick hauing beene besieged till the Moneth of Aprill the Generall Senoy and his soldiers made an accord with his Excellencie and deliuered the Towne into his hands The Generall and souldiers went forth of the Towne with passeport which his Excellencie and his troopes entred where he ordered all matters necessarie for the better assurance of the Towne Generall Senoy went to Alckmaer where with sundrie reasons hee would haue excused himselfe Those of Medenblick and others did greatly endammage him in his goods whereupon in anno 1590 he went into England to make his complaint to her Maiestie who in the yeare 1592 propounded his case to my Lords the States by her Agent Thomas Bodley on the fist day of Iulie which propositions were by them amply resolutely answered to the Agents satisfaction During these ciuile and intestine troubles as well in Holland Zeland and other Prouinces by certaine innouators and some English who sought their owne particular profit more than their Queenes honour newes was brought that on the twentie ninth of May 1588 the dreadfull renouned mightie and inuincible Spanish Armada lanched forth of the hauen of Lisbone and sayled towards the Groyne to execute her King and Councels Commission And because it was so extraordinarie and potent a fleet as to speake indifferently thereof it was sufficient to haue destroyed and subuerted whole Kingdomes and Countries we will as well as we can make a description thereof which we haue taken forth of the most autentick Authors to the glorie of God who looking vpon these countries in the middest of their troubles with the eyes of his mercie did free and preserue his seruants from so mightie a fleet and from so many bloudie hands thereby shewing how weake humane strength is when it is not fortified and supported by his strong and mightie arme who beeing Lord of all creatures can onely by his winds and tempests ruiue and ouerwhelme the hautie and proud resolution together with the King of Spaines whole power So as verie few ships of so potent a fleet returned safe home into their Countries A true description of the most mightie Armada set forth by Philip the second King of Spaine which being assembled in the Riuer before Lisbone the chiefe citie of Portugall sailed towards the Low-countries the 29 and 30 of May 1588 vnder the conduct and commaund of the Duke de Medina Sidonia appointed by the King of Spaine as Captaine Generall thereof PHilip the second of that name King of Spayn hauing with small aduantage made war in the Low-countries for the space of 21 yeres did with his Councel resolue once more to inuade those Countrieâ— by sea supposing that notwithstanding he had in former time attempted to make himself master therof by sea had bin euer enforced to retreat because he had not attempted it with power sufficient for this cause he was desirous at once to imploy all his forces the rather because England was his enemie so as he resolued first to inuade England which Escouedo Secretarie to D. Iohn of Austria some other malitious Spanyards together with some rebellous Englishmen supposed would be sooner won than Holland Zeland maintaining it to be more profitable for the king to inuade England and the Low-countries by sea than continually to entertaine a mightie fleet for defence of the voyages to the East West Indies against the English and Hollanders For execution of which resolution each of the Kingdomes in Spayne for their part haue rigd and mand as many gallions galleasses gallies other vessels as the King and his Councell
conduct of the Duke of Medina to the Groine in Galicia which is the nearest Hauen to England where it tooke in more men and munition By the way a tempest arose which scattered them The Duke and some eightie sale kept together the rest followed by little and little except 8 which had spent their masts Of foure Portugal Gallies one escaped the rest were taken by an Englishman called Dauid Guyn wherein D. Diego de Medrena was slaine The fleet being refreshed at the Groyne commanded daily by the Kings Letters to depart did set fayle on the 21 of Iulie and held on it course till it came within kenning of England from thence by small boats they sent word to the Duke of Parma of their arriuall aduising him to embarke his forces for England They were discouered by an English Pinnace at the same time whē the English fleet lay at Plimmouth who supposed that the former tempest wold delay the enterprise of the Spanish Nauie wherupon the Lord Admiral of England receiued letters from the Qu how she had intelligence that the Spanish fleet wold not come forward or at least not in a lōg time that therfore the Admiral shold do well to discharge some of the great ships and send them away But he hauing receiued newes of their approch on the 29 of Iulie at foure of the clocke in the afternoone gaue speedie comaundement that the whole fleet should put forth of the hauen that the souldiers should bee embarked which was not done but with great difficultie The Lord Admirall the same night came in to the road with sixe ships and the next day by noone which was the 30 of Iulie they descried the Spanish Nauie which with a South West wind bent it course as it seemed directly towards Plimmouth but when they perceiued the English were forth of the hauen they passed on forward Here according to the opinion of some sufficient and vnderstanding men the Spanish fleet committed a great error for D. Alonso de Leyuas aduice was to haue gone and assaulted Plimmouth for therein was great likelihood of good successe seeing that the English were vnprepared had bad intelligence of the Spanish Nauie whereby they might haue surprised them on the sodaine That the hauen was verie fit and commodious for the aduauncement of their design that there they might haue made some trial of their valor had some proose of the strength of the English fleet the peoples affection and that by giuing an alarme to those parts the chiefe strength of the countrie would haue bin drawne thither and Parma therby haue had better meanes to haue come forth with his forces But their instructions from their king and his Councel forbad it who expresly commāded them not to enterprise any thing by the way but onely to joyne with Parma and together with his troopes and vessels to make an attempt vpon Margate which they thought might bee easily done which would haue so amazed the English Low-countrie fleet as each of them would haue withdrawne themselues to their own defence to keep their countries Hauens from inuasion It is reported that some of the chief of the Spanish commanders which were skilful in Nauigation among whom were the Vice Admiral D. Iuan Martin de Ricaldo Diego Flores de Valdez others had protested that it would bee an hard matter to follow those instructions especially in a Commission with such restrictions alleging that in such enterprises many matters were to be considered as the wind time and tyde to come forth of the Hauens of Flaunders into England with the places roads and deepenesse thereof which are subject to wind other hazards therfore verie dangerous But they were strictly tied to their cōmission which was to come to an anker before Calais where the prince of Parma should meet them with his flat bottomed boats and other munition which vnder the couert and protection of the great Nauie should passe on and land their forces in some part of the downes But as some of the Spanish prisoners reported their principall project was vpon the Riuer of Thames where they might on each shoare land their men and by passing vp the Riuer surprise the Citie of London the Metropolis of the kingdome whether the lesser vessels might follow them seeing that London not strong but rich mightie and populous and the inhabitants therof vnacquainted with warre might at the first encounter bee easily terrified They did likewise hope that the Queene should be badly obeyed and that some discontented faction might arise of Roman Catholikes According to their instruction and commission they went forward often aduertising the Duke of Parma of their arriuall and intention and so vpon the thirtieth of Iulie they passed Plimmouth The English forthwith followed and got the wind of them by which meanes they might assaile the Spanish fleet themselues not be assailed by it so that the two fleets made towards one another The next day beeing the one and thirtieth of Iulie the English came within musquet shot of the Spanish fleet The English admiral thundred with his ordnāce vpon the Spanish Vice-Admiral who perceiuing themselues to be greatly annoyed by the English Canon fell into a close forme of an halfe moone hoysting their sailes but halfe mast high because they would not fall soule one of an other Anon one of the Galleasses was fore opprest by certaine ships and their battaile so assailed as the chiefe Gallion of Sicile wherein was D. Pedro Valdez which D. Basco de Sylua and D. Alonzo de Sayas with diuers other noble men brake her mast against another ship so as she could not follow and the fleet would not stay to rescue her but left her behind The English Admirall looking on Valdez ship and supposing that there were no men in her went on with as many ships as hee had neere him beeing loth by night to loose the fleet For Sir Frauncis Drake who that night carried the lanterne gaue chase to fiue great ships diuided from the fleet and finding them to be Merchants of Norway let them goe so as the English Admirall did all that night follow the Spanish lanterne thinking himselfe among his owne men and in the morning finding that he was in the middest of his enemies he withdrew himselfe from so great daunger The morrow after which was the first of August Sir Francis Drake met with Valde◠ship wherein himselfe and foure hundred and fiftie men were and sent to hale her Valdez for his owne honor would haue propounded certaine conditions which hee sent to Drake who aunswered that he would not spend the time in treaties but if he would yeeld he should find fauour and on the contrarie if he would fight hee should find him a souldier Valdez and his people perceiuing that they were fallen into Drakes hands and moued by report of his fame yeelded themselues and found fauor Valdez with his gentlemen and
some fortie or fiftie followers went aboord Drake and the rest were carried to Plimmouth where they remayned a yeare and halfe till they had payed their ransome or were exchanged for others Valdez comming into Drakes presence kissed his hands told him that they had all resolued to die if they had not bin so happie to fall into his hands whom hee knew to bee noble and curteous and famous for dealing well with his vanquished enemie so as he doubted vvhether his enemies had more cause to loue him for his valour or feare him for his fortunate exploits which had alreadie attained to the highest degree Sir Francis Drake did curteously imbrace him and caused him to eat at his owne Table and sleepe in his owne Cabbin where Valdez reported vnto him their strength how that the four Gallies were dispersed that they had thought to haue entred the hauen of Plimmouth without feare of the English Nauie which they supposed durst not haue made resistance and so haue become masters at sea They likewise admired the valor of the English who durst with so few small vessels approch their inuincible Nauie get the wind of it with other such like discourses Valdez and his followers were afterward carried into England he was a man much respected in his countrie kinsman to the same Valdez who in an 1573 had besieged Leyden in Holland In his ship some of the kings treasure was amounting to the summe of 55000 Ducats in siluer which was all pillaged The same day the Vice-Admirall Oquendo his ship was fired where was great store of powder and munition all the vpper deck was burnt with all the men of whom few were saued It was taken and carried into England with many men in her halfe burnt and yet all the powder which was in hold was saued which was a matter to be admired In the meane time the English Lord Admiral in his ship called the Arke had that night so far followed the Spanyards as in the morning he found himselfe in a manner alone in the middest of his enemies so as it was foure a clocke after noone ere all his fleet came vp to him Some say that D. Hugo de Moncada Generall of the foure Galleasses did at the same time with great earnestnesse intreat the Duke of Medina to giue him leaue to boord the Lord Admirall which the Duke would in no sort permit being loth to passe the bounds of his Commission Tewsday the second of August the fleet being before Portland the wind turned to the North so as the Spanyards had a prosperous gale but the English did againe get the wind of them their ships being lighter and of better saile By this meanes the Spaniards then seemed more to incline to fight than before to speake truth that dayes fight was most fierce and bloudie In the middest of the fight the English Admirall cried out aloud to Captaine George Semmer saying ô George what dost thou wilt thou now forsake me or wilt thou deceiue my opinion of thy valour which words did so inflame him as hee assayled the enemie so furiously as that day he woon greatest commendation But the English hauing with all sorts of ordnance sought with them from morning yet ceased not the Spanyards did againe inclose themselues in order of battaile whereby their enemies perceyued that they onely sought meanes to defend themselues and to goe to their appointed place nere to Dunkirke there to joȳne with the Duke of Parma who vnder protection of those great vessels might execute his designe with more safety In this fight a great Venetian Argozey perished The English fleet in the meane time did dayly encrease grew strong by ships and men that came to it forth of all hauens seeking to win honour and to doe good seruice to their Countrie among whom were diuers noble men and others of great note as the Earles of Oxford Cumberland Northumberland of Knights Sir Thomas Cecill William Hatton Walter Raleigh Horacio Palauicino Gentlemen Henrie Brooke Robert Carie Charles Blunt Ambrose Willoughbie Henrie Nowell Thomas Gerard Robert Dudley Edward Darcy Arthur Gorges Thomas Wood William Haruey many other noble gentlemen so as they were in number some hundred saile being come nere to Douer they were increased to an 120 which for the most part were too small to boord the Spanyards except some twentie two of the Queenes great ships The mariners and souldiers amounted to the number of eleuen thousand men The third of August the Sea being calme and without wind the fight was onely betwixt the English the Galleasses which were rowed with oares therin had the vauntage but it did them small good The English were busied in making Chain shot wherwith to cut a sunder their oates tackings they likewise sent a shoare for more powder which they extreamely wanted hauing at the beginning spent much in vayne of which they afterwards complained The same day a Councell was held wherein was resolued That the English fleet should be diuided into foure squadrons the one vnder my Lord Admirals conduct the other vnder Sir Frauncis Drakes the third vnder Hawkins the fourth vnder Captaine Frobiser The Spanish ships in sayling kept a close order of 3 or 4 ships in ranke not farre one from another and the greater vessels enclosed them The fourth of August the fleet beeing come before the Isle of Wight the English Lord Admirall did fiercely assaile the Spaniards with his best ships as the Lyon wherein was the Lord Thomas Howard now Earle of Suffolke the Elizabeth Ionas wherein were the Lord Sheffield and Sir Robert Southwell the Lord Admirals sonne in law the Beare and Victorie commaunded by Iohn Hawkins and the Gallion Leycester by Captaine George Fenner All these made vp directly towards the Spanish Admirall who with the greatest part of his ships lay in the middest of the fleet where a fierce fight was begun for beeing within 3 or 400 paces nere to one another they gaue each other their broad sides and discharged all their ordnance at last the Spaniards got the wind and once againe joyned themselues together In the meane time Martin Frobiser Captaine of the Triumph with some few others had brauely performed a daungerous fight with the Spanyards the Admirall came to reskew him and found that he had valiantly behaued himselfe and made a discreet retreat without any great losse So as the next day being the fist of August the Admiral knighted him and diuers others Saturday the 6 of August towards night the Spanyards came to an anker before Calais it seemed they resolued to stay there to joyne with the Duke of Parmas forces The next day being the seuenth of August the moone was at full so that at twelue a clocke it was full sea at Calais and at eleuen at Dunkirke The English likewise ankored within Canon shot of them whether the Lord Henrie Seymer brought his fleet of
twentie vessels Whilest the fleet lay there the Duke of Medina sent aduertizement to Parma diuers Gentlemen went on shore to refresh theÌ„selues among others the Prince of Ascoli a braue young Lord who as some say was base sonne to King Philip who went to land in a happie houre because the ship wherein he came from Spaine did within a while after perish in Ireland with all her men The Duke of Parma hauing intelligence that the fleet lay vpon the coast of England made great hast to make one in person in that enterprise resigning the gouernement generall of the Countrie to old Count Mansfelt Himselfe went on Pilgrimage into Haynault to our Ladie of Halles and from thence returned towards Bruges where hee arriued on the seuenth of August The next day riding towards Dunkirke where his ship tarried for him he heard the report of the Canon betwixt the two fleets and the same night comming to Dixmuyde he had intelligence of the successe On Tewsday the ninth of August about noone he came to Dunkirke euen when the fleet was alreadie past none of his Ships daring to goe forth to giue them the least hope of aide because they were afraid of the thirtie fiue Hollanders that lay in gard vnder the conduct of the Admirall Iustine of Nassau which were excellently prouided of good mariners and beside the ordinarie souldiers with 1200 braue musquetiers and lay only there to keepe Parmas fleet from issuing out of the Hauen which was a matter of greatest importance As for the great ships they feared them not because the Sea was too shallow in those parts Beside all Parmas forces were not readie nor imbarked onely 700 reuolted English vnder Sir William Stanleys commaund were shipt and thought to get the aduantage by landing first in England His other souldiers were male content and vnwilling especially the mariners who were few in number the prouision likewise of Beere Bread and victuals was not yet readie nor imbarked The mariners were so afraid of the Hollanders as they ran away dayly fearing least the soldiers would enforce them to doe that which they knew could not be done Then they wanted Gallies from Spaine which might haue beaten the Hollanders from the coasts of Flaunders The Spanish fleet lying thus at anker before Calice the better to consult with the Duke of Parma concerning their enterprise they concluded to execute their designe on Friday the twelfth of August the night being darke The Admiral of England with the chief of his Councell determined to enforce them to weigh anker and to be gone or else to burne their fleet whereupon they appointed eight of their vnseruiceablest vessels to bee filled with wild fire and other combustious matter charging the ordnance in them vp to the mouth with small shot nayles and stone which on Sunday the seuenth of August in the afternoone they sent with the wind and tyde after that the men that were in them had forsaken and fired them directly vpon the Spanish fleet which fire did in the night so terrifie them supposing them to be some of those internall ships full of powder and wild fire with the Ingeueer Frederic Ionibelli had made vse of some three yeares before at Antuerpe against the Prince of Parmas bridge ouer the Scheld as crying out The fire of Antuerpe the fire of Antuerpe they presently cut their cables and in confusion did put to Sea In this amazement the Captaine of the great Galleasse fell soule of the cables of another ship and lost her tudder and beeing not able to saile without it was carried by the force of the Sea vpon the sands just before Calice whether it was pursued by certayne English Pinnaces which plaid vpon her vvith their ordnance but durst not boord her which the Lord Admirall perceiuing sent his great Pionace with two hundred souldiers vnder the commaund of Captaine Preston who all of them together boorded the Galleasse where the Generall D. Hugo de Moncada made braue defence for a while hoping of some succour from land but at last he was shot in the head and slaine and diuers other Spaniards with him part of whom leapt into the Sea thinking to escape by swimming who were all drowned The visitor Generall D. Antonio de Manriques with some others escaped and carried the first newes home into Spaine This great Galleasse wherein vvere three hundred slaues and foure hundred souldiers was for three houres pillaged wherein fiftie thousand Duckets of the Kings vvere found The English would at last haue burnt her but Gorâ—â—n the Gouernour of Calice would not permit it as a matter tending to the hurt and prejudice of his Towne and Hauen and with his canon plaid vpon the English The same day being the eight of August as the Spanish fleet sell againe into order it was again fiercely assailed by the English right ouer against Graueling where they voluntarily lost their aduauntage of the wind chosing rather to let the wind driue them before Dunkirke than to open themselues or change their order resoluing onely on defence Though the English had gallant tall ships yet but 22 or 23 of them were comparable to the Spanish which were ninetie But the English had the aduantage by being lighter better of saile so as they came oftentimes within a pikes length of them and discharged their whole tyre of ordnance vpon them and then their smal shot continuing it the whole day till their powder and shot began to faile and then they held it no discretion to boord the Spaniards who still kept themselues together in close order the English beeing satisfied with chasing them from before Calice and Dunkirke and keeping them from joyning with the Duke of Parma The Spaniards the same day receiued much hurt losing many men and had diuers of their ships shot through They likewise with their ordnance plaid fiercely vpon the English but did them no great hurt for they lost few men and neuer a Shippe or man of note and in all that time and in the whole journey they lost but an hundred men and yet Sir Frauncis Drakes ship had beene shot aboue fourtie times and his Cabbin twice shot through And towards the end of the fight a Gentlemans bed whereupon hee rested himselfe beeing weatie was taken from vnder him by a great shot And as the Earle of Northumberland and Sir Charles Blunt afterwards Lord Mountioy and Master Henrie Nowell sat at meate a demie Culuerins shot flew through the cabbin and ouerthrew 2 men The like accidents happened in other ships which wold be tedious to recite yet it appears that God did wonderfully assist the English For as the Lord Admirall wrote to the Queene there was no likelihood that the English in mans judgement and according to the apparance of the circumstances should haue dared to approch the Spaniards but that God had an admirable hand therein vnto whom they willingly ascribed all the honour of their
citizens of London in their liueries stood on both sides the street as she passed along Her maiestie and Lords gaue thankes vnto God and were present at a publike Sermon made in the Church-yard tending onely to thansgiuing and so with great acclamations of people that besought God to graunt her a long and prosperous life to his honour and ruyne of her enemies shee returned in the same manner as she came In this manner did this magnificent great and mightie Armada termed the inuincible and such an one as in many hundred of yeares the like had not beene seene vpon the Ocean vanish into aire to their great confusion which sent it forth in anÌ„ 1588. Whereupon the Queene of England was congratulated by all Princes her friends and neighbours and many millions of verses composed in her honour The Prince of Parma in 1588 besiegeth Berghen-op-Zoom And rayseth his siege and departeth the same yeare BErghen-op-Zoom is a Towne in the Duchie of Brabant the first and chiefest of the 17 Prouinces in the Low-countries In time past it was but a Seignorie but in anno 1533 the Emperour Charles the fist honoured it with the title of Marquisat It is the first Towne which yee leaue vpon the left hand as yee goe from Roomerswaell and Tholen which are townes of Zeland towards Antuerpe It hath beene a Merchant Towne not onely in our predecessors dayes but there are yet some liuing that haue so knowne it in their time whether Spanyards Frenchmen Almans English and Scots came to traffique It is seated in the middest of the mightie Nertherland Prouinces viz. of Brabant Flaunders Holland and Zeland It iâ— not the least part of the first for it is within sixe houres journey of Antuerpe the chiefe Merchant Citie of the Prouince The three other are opposit to it viz. Flaunders towards the South Holland towards the North and Zeland towards the West It hath also a verie good Hauen which diuides the South Countrie from that of the North for so are both the countries named scituate on each side of the Hauen which lieth but 535 foot from the towne where it turneth towards the West and diuiding it selfe into two armes it openeth it selfe runneth into the towne One of the Armes towards the South serueth certaine water mils and salt pits which now are within the town that towards the North makes the towns Hauen Berghen is in circuit 10175 foot beside the Bulwarks There is a verie high earthen rampier dikes round about it it is likewise in some places fortified with palisadoes in other parts which hedges wals on top of the rampiers there are also diuers new bulwarks made for the towns defeÌ„ce And though it be now miserably dissigured by the breaking downe of many faire and goodlie houses yet it hath at this day aboue 1000 that are inhabited diuers others ruined by war are daily new built to be made haibtable there are faire and large streets in it 3 faire market places the great market fish market and corne market there is likewise a goodlie Church in it The Marquis his court is a great ornament to it The rich Cloyster of Nuns is coÌ„uerted to an Hospital for the hoÌ„spital without the towne together with other buildings were ruined in time of war After that all Brabant Berghen-op-Zoom excepted by the duke of Parmas conduct was reduced vnder the Spanish gouernement the troopes of his Excellencie and my Lords the States made diuers incursions into the countrie especially then when the Duke of Parma had assembled all his forces at Dunkirke there waiting for the Spanish fleet Those of Brabant Flaunders and other prouinces vnder the kings obedience seeing and vnderstanding the defeat of the Spanish Armada and feeling to the quicke the spoyle which the souldiers of Berghen daily made protested against the Duke of Parma and made complaint that all the townes of Brabant obeyed the King Berghen-op-Zoom excepted which was a verie nest of theeties and receptacle of raskals from whence forces were daily sent to surprise poore trauellers and merchants that brought prouision that the same mischiefe did likewise often light vpon their Burghers who were vndone by imprisonment and great ransomes yet this might in some sort be tollerated prouided they might liue securely in their Townes but Beâ—ingh in the Countrie of Liege Viluord and Geldernack in Brabant could witnesse the contrarie hauing beene taken and sackt That by reason of Berghen all the Villages were vnder contribution and those that refused to pay it were burnt their houses ransackt cattell carried away and themselues made prisoners Yet if the Duke of Parma would bring his victorious Campe before Berghen wherewith hee had woon so many Townes the enemies joy conceiued by the retreat of the Spanish fleet vvould bee soone conuerted to sorrow And Berghen once taken a way would then lie open to surprise the Islands of Zeland one after an other at least Berghen and the Isle of Terthole might bee taken both at once These vvere the Barbanders complaints It is not to be doubted but that the Duke of Parma vvas much grieued at the flight of the Spanish fleet and for that he could not swallow England which he had alreadie deuoured in conceipt as appeares by the preparation which he caried with him to Dunkirke seruing rather to be carried away in triumph into England than by force to surprise so mightie a kingdome He was likewise badly beloued in the court of Spaine for not assisting the fleet in necessitie Now that he might in some sort wipe off this staine which blotted his reputation he enterprised to reduce the towne of Berghen vnder his commaund From that time diuers reports thereof were currant not onely in the Low-countries but also in England whereof her Majestie aduertised my Lords the States by letters dated at Greenwich the seuen and twentieth of August 1588. At the beginning of September when there was no more hope of the fleets returne and that the Duke of Parma was come backe from Flaunders into Brabant all men held it for certaine that some attempt would be made vpon Berghen Certaine horsemen of Bacx his companie sent forth for discouerie brought backe with them two prisoners who confidently reported that there was nothing more certaine than that Berghen should be besieged One of the prisoners was a Gentleman and an officer belonging to the ordnance and the other was master of the munition when our men tooke them nere to Eckeren castle and askt them whether they were going they answered that they went to the kings camp that lay before Berghen Being brought to the towne they assured vs that all things were in readinesse to besiege vs that before they were taken the armie was on the march and that they verily thought to haue found it before the town and wondered to find the contrarie they likewise affirmed that there were 36000 men horse and foot in Parmas campe The 9 of the said moneth of August the
anno 1566 had presented the supplication He had continually borne armes for the countrie and was now master of the ordnance he was verie much lamented The towne of Ootmaersen was battered with the canon and enforced to yeeld on composition on the thirtieth of Iulie like the towne of Steenwijck That done his Excellencie did in August besiege Coevoerden those within it burnt the houses nere adjoyning perceiuing that Prince Maurice with his trenches made his approch hap taken away the sluces from them and drawne the water forth of the dikes taken the Counter-scarp of the Castle broken down the bridge Count Frederick of Berghen hauing prouided all places round about did with a strong garrison enter into it himselfe it was a strong towne and famous for the situation thereof it was artificially fortified on such foundations as the Lord of Senoy had formerly begun to lay Prince Maurice his souldiers being vpon the Counter-scarp did for their defence make a gallerie in the dikes vnder couert whereof they might easily come to the rampier to digge and Myne without daunger of the enemies canon which they soone effected by the helpe of a Cauallier they made they did also beat down a Rauelin with much to do sundrie Mynes were made in the rampiers which still sunke the besieged made counter-mynes which by taking aire were vnprofitable yet our men did not giue ouer myning fired some of them whereupon an assault was giuen so as they got vpon the rampiers where by meanes of the Cauallier they fortified themselues tooke from the besieged all meanes of defence as they had done at Steenwijck They within the towne began to be discouraged hoping still for succor they likewise wanted water and other necessaries The Councell of State of the vnited Prouinces hauing intelligence that the Duke of Parma made preparations to enter Frizeland leuied a regiment of supplies vnder the commaund of Colonel Stolberg who passed Muster nere to a place called Heerenberg in the presence of Count Hohenlo For Count Philip of Nassau was sent into Fraunce with three thousand men and the Queene of England had likewise called away her forces to send them into Fraunce and were alreadie departed from the armie and gone as farre as Swoll but vpon intelligence of the Duke of Parmas comming they were countermaunded Count Philip in the meane time and his troopes returned opportunely from Fraunce who were sent to Garrison in Holland to be refreshed And the old Garrisons were presently sent to the armie and other some to Grauenweert the better to anoy and stop Parmas passage The armie was but weake and by reason of the bad waies the campe could not be well prouided of victuall and munition Verdugo gouernour of Frizeland for the Spaniards had earnestly solicited the duke of Parma for men and money which in great abundance was at the same time sent from Italie thereupon Parma graunted that the regiments of Count Charles of Mansfelt Mondragon Gonzaga the two regiments of Arenberg and Barlaymont with certaine horse and ordnance should march to his ayd with these he crossed the Rhyne making a Fort on the other side of the riuer and so marched towards Groll and from thence to Oldenzeel where they arriued on the third of September Verdugo hauing assembled all the forces in the countrie nere adjoyning and vnderstanding the want and extreamitie of those of Coeverden marched towards Herderberg where he thought to haue encamped but changing his mind on a sodaine he went to the Dorp of Vlsen and from thence to Imlichen in the countie of Benthem not farre from Coeverden in a place commodious for victuals Prince Maurice hauing intelligence thereof sent three hundred horse to view and skirmish with them but he could not draw them forth of their aduauntage he tooke a certaine boore whom hee suspected to carrie letters to the enemie wherein he was not deceiued for the boore feaâ—ing to be hanged deliuered them vnto him wherein Verdugo acquainted those of Coevoerden how hee intended the next day to come and relieue them through Count Hohenlo and the horsemens quarter For he was enformed of the scite and estate of his Excellencies campe by a gentleman whose name was Iohn Steenwijck who had told him that it was an hard matter to approch the towne whereupon he made choyce of this morish place as least garded and suspected Prince Maurice strengthened this place with men and ordnance which was planted on the high way through which the enemie was to passe and standing thus secretly on his gard Verdugo came on with all his forces wearing white shirts vpon their armour and on the seuenth of September at night they gaue in vpon the trenches in their seuerall places crying victorie victorie But his Excellencie Count Hohenlo and Count William of Nassaw with their troopes did beat them back and in their retreat the canon played vpon them many were slaine vpon the place many men and horse stucke fast in the mud 136 were the next day found dead in the place and two and fiftie horse many were carried away hurt Two and fortie wagons full of dead and hurt men were conducted by foure cornets of horse towards Oldenzeell In a word three hundred men were slayne On his Excellencies part onely three were slaine and sixe hurt and Count William of Nassau was hurt in the bellie but not dangerously Verdugo thus put to rout did the next day make great prouision of fagots to make a way through the Marshes and the countrie wayes beeing many and verie narrow he made shew as if hee would haue intrenched the passages and by that meanes cut off victuals from his Excellencies camp But at last those of Coevoerden perceiuing their succour to faile began to parley and in the meane time Verdugo did againe shew himselfe in battaile and came to view his Excellencies trenches and fortifications who came from receiuing and welcoming the English to his Campe. These two Armies hauing thus viewed one another Verdugo discharged two canon Those of Coevoerden aunswered him with two more which done he marched towards Velt-huyse in the countie of Benthem Those of Coevoerden being thus forsaken and continually battered to the great losse of their souldiers our men by meanes of their myne being lodged on their rampiers and curtaines resolued to compound His Excellencie was likewise willing to grant them any reasonable conditions in regard Verdugo lay not farre off and might haue attempted somewhat to his prejudice as also because the countrie and wayes were verie bad and vnfit for bringing of victuals to the campe and on the 12 of September graunted them this accord following The commissioners were Evert de Ens Christophero de Vasques and Alonzo de Marteny Captaines of the Cauallerie Prince Maurice in fauour of Count Frederick of Berghen his louing cousen doth by these Presents permit and suffer him together with the Captaines officers and souldiers of the garrison of Coevoerden to depart with their ensignes armes
losse fell to the Merchants the king had some wealth in it as quicke siluer warlike munition his Imposts and Alcaualles which together with all his ordnance he lost The English and Dutch mariners saued certaine goods and canons which they tooke forth of the ships bottoms The earle of Essex had appointed the colonels sir Coniers Clifford Sir Christopher Blunt and sir Thomas Gerard with their regiments to march towards the East side of the Island where was a bridge called Ponte del Suazzo ouer which men passed forth of the Isle into the firme Land to guard that passage and to keepe out those of the terra firma from entring that way not farre from whence the people were assembled in great troopes but when they perceiued the English to be there and knew the town was already lost they fled These English regiments perceiuing none to be on the other side and knowing that Cales was taken returned to the town without any order or commaundement so to doe leauing no guard at the bridge leauing the castle neere to the bridge vntaken which the Hollanders call Herods house For want of a guard at the said bridge the gallies in that place passed on to Seaward The Dutch mariners before their departure went and assailed that fort from whence the Spaniards flying they tooke and sackt it and brought thence diuers pieces of ordnance The two companies of Spanish souldiers that with some Citizens were retired to the castle hoping for ayd from Andeluzia and the firme land being aduertized that the English had taken and made good that bridge and passage which was vntrue did by night send the Corrigidor and other Magistrats to sir Edward Conway who summoned them to yeeld and agreed to pay one hundred and twentie thousand ducats for their ransome besides losse of all their goods and to this end gaue fortie of the principall among them for hostages who were afterwards carried into England those that retired from the towne into the castle with those that were in it before were in number eight or nine thousand persons both men and women The best and noblest sort of women were courteously vsed and suffered to depart thence with their children and baggage the like was done to the Clergie and Nuns The wealthy towne was wholly sackt and the bootie great which was carried to the ships It is thought that the king lost at the same time 1200 pieces of ordnance besides armour sufficient for fiue or six hundred men which was taken forth of his Arsenall there The Spaniards perceiuing what the English intended by spoyling the towne which was not to keepe the towne long began to take courage to shake off the feare which had seazed the prouinces neere adjoyning especially the great citie of Ciuill which was in an vproare so as if an armie well conducted had marched thither and to other townes and places likewise as S. Lucars S. Marie Porte Puerto Reale c. it would haue found small resistance But they saw that the bootie and spoile of Cales was to the English as a great and sauorie morcell to glut their hunger who continuing tenne or twelue dayes in the towne and hauing carried the bootie to their ships did hourely expect when the Generals would commaund them to hoist sailes and depart homewards A Councell was held whether it were conuenient still to keepe the towne and Island the earle of Essex the Marshall Veer and most of the gentlemen were of opinion to tarrie there with three thousand men and thought that the Island might be easily kept which would proue a sharpe thorne not onely in the foot of so great a Monarke but euen in his side and thereby diuert all the warres of Europe thither where the English might daily receiue prouisions from the Leuant Italie and Barbarie and if the worst should happen they might easily procure a good and honourable composition and with that towne make an easie exchange for Calice in Fraunce But thereupon various opinions were vttered for the Sea Captaines and the lord Admerals Councell oppugned it shewing their want of victuals and if they should remaine there they must be enforced to fetch prouision from England and the Low-countries which is too farre off or else from Barbarie where the king dwelt an hundred leagues vp in the countrie Hereunto the Admerall added that he would not aduenture and engage his Princes honour and reputation so sleightly Sir Frauncis Veer said That by tarrying there they should doe a pleasing and acceptable seruice to the Queene and that victuals would soone be brought from Holland that the towne and Island were strong and might easily be made stronger that the towne stood well to receiue supplies from Barbarie and to that end they would make vse of and employ D. Christophero of Portugal c. but all this was to no purpose Thereupon a generall search was made through the whole fleet to see what store of victuals was left wherewith to furnish the garrison till more could be brought but they found a small quantitie for euerie ship had imbezeled hid as much as it could fearing want and in the towne through bad husbanding of victuals they were verie skarce for the souldiers spoiled all and knockt out the heads of wine vessels which they found in cellers and warehouses making like wast of other prouision In this respect euerie man cried out to go home whereupon the lord of Warmont Admerall of Holland reuiewed his victuals and offered to bring as much from his fleet as would suffice the garrison and two thousand men for a moneth and that himselfe would likewise remaine there But the earle of Essex found neuer a ship of the Queens willing to stay there nor yet victuals for two moneths so as he was enforced much against his will to abandon Cales whereof at his comming into England he excused himselfe Before his departure he made aboue fiftie Knights among whom were the Lord of Warmont Admerall of the Hollanders Count Lodwick of Nassau Peter Regemortes Melchior Leben and likewise Captaine Metkerke before his death the rest were English Hauing thus continued some thirteene dayes in Cales in old time called Gades they departed on the fifteenth of Iulie Essex according to his commission commaunded the towne to bee burnt and especially whatsoeuer might any way serue for the furnishing forth of a fleet as masts poles cordage and cables whereof there was great store and in this manner they did set saile carrying with them two of the kings great gallions with certaine prisoners fortie hostages for the townesmens ransom which amounted to the summe of 120000 ducats It is heretofore mentioned how that the gallies fled to the bridge called Ponte del Suazzo where the English thought they could not haue passed yet by breaking the bridge they found a way into the Sea where they did set vpon the taile of the fleet and tooke a Fliboat of Holland loden with horse and
Captaines was signified from the Admerall by shooting off a piece of ordnance and by displaying in the sterne two of the Princes ensignes The same night the fleet did againe set saile doubled the point of Zartenes there comming to an anchor expecting the Vice-Admeral of Amsterdam But all that night they could not descrie her so as in the Morning on the thirtieth of May they went forward with a Northwest wind shaping their course East-North-East and about Noone they came neere to Beuersier with a faire wind which did blow from West-North-West but towards night they were becalmed In the euening the formost ships tooke off some of their sailes tarrying for those that were hindmost The last of May by day breake they came in ken of the Isle of Wight directing their course Eastward with a Westerlie wind About Noone the ayre was cloudie so as the Fleet durst not approach the shoare but lessened their sailes putting to Sea The first of Iune in the Morning they descried Gausteert directing their course towards Plimmouth and there stayed tarriing for the two Brigantines they had sent abroad who whithin a while after came to the Admerall whereupon another martiall Councell was held after which the fleet with full saile shaped their course South-South-East but towards Euening the ayre began againe to be cloudie and the night was verie calme The ninth by day breake the whole fleet came vpon the coast of Galicia neere to Viuero and holding their course North-East to the Northward and North-North-East towards Euening they came right ouer against the Cape Ortegall which lyeth some 11 German leagues from the Groyne In the night the wind â—urnd North-East and by North and being come to the height of 44 degrees 24 minutes the said Cape stood off from them 5 leagues South-East to the Southward The tenth of Iune they set saile with a South-West wind towards East-South-East along the shoare towards the Groyne which they descried about Noone making all things readie to assaile it It is a Sea towne in Galicia standing in the height of 43 degrees and twelue minutes on the North-side of the line opposit to England and Ireland one hundred and fifteene German leagues from Plimmouth being seated on a triangular Cape in a deepe and spacious Bay where not onely the sayd Towne hath a goodlie Hauen but Ferol Ponta de Mas Pitança and Fontuna haue the goodliest and most commodious Ports of Christendome In which regard the king of Spaine had lately fortified it with many Castles and there and at Ferol he rigd his fleet for England Ireland and the Netherlands together with that of this present yeare In some sort to hinder the preparation of that Spanish Fleet and there to destroy the King of Spaines ships and meanes the Admerall Vander-Does was commaunded to assaile the Groyne with his fleet To this end on the eleuenth of Iune the wind being North-West to the Westward the six aboue mentioned ships went before towards the Groyne to see how things were there ordered directing their course South-South-East towards the Cape de Prior where they stayed to the Southward of the Towne Those of Ferol descrying these ships sent forth two shalops to know what they were because the day before they had seene the fleet at Sea These ships went before the wind to attend these shalops which suspecting somewhat kept aloofe off and would not come neere but our men cried out aloud saying that they came from Hambourg and that they were loaden with marchants goods and onely wanted a pilot to carrie them into the Groyne By this means our men got one of the shalops to come aboord and tooke a Spaniard but those that were in it made all the hast they could to escape The Spaniard whome they had taken prisoner was one of the Kings seruants and was come the same day from the Groyne He being brought to the Admerall told him that some 4000 foot certain horse with 36 carts of siluer readie coyned 300 pipes of wine were come to the Groyn to furnish the future Spanish fleet After dinner the whole fleet came before the Groyne where they met with the Vice-Admerall of Amsterdam The Groyne and the aboue mentioned Castles were well prouided of strong garisons ordinance munition and other necessaries hauing a long time before had intelligence of the comming of this fleet by Hispaniolized French and Dutch The Admerall Vander-Does at his first ariual did presently with all his ships fall beneath the towne casting anker at 13 12 and 21 fathom Those in the towne and Castles plaid furiously with their ordnance vpon our men so as in a short space they made more than 200 shot Beneath the towne 12 great Gallions lay with certaine other French ships which likewise discharged their ordnance vpon vs yet their shot did no hurt to our fleet onely one vessell was spoiled The Admerall perceiuing such resistance sent for all the Captaines and Officers to come aboord his ship to consult together how they might best assaile the enemie yet in regard the Citie was so well prouided they thought it not fit to hazard the whole fleet or for one town to lose their good fortune in atchiuement of other enterprises And therefore the fleet went thence not medling with the towne and because it was verie calme weather they caused their boats to towe their ships lying still open to the shot both from the towne and castle which did them no harme Toward euening the wind rose so as the whole fleet was vnder saile holding their course South-South-east towards Cape Saint Vincent that they might on a sodaine surprise Saint Lucas Saint Lucas is a towne in Andaluzia on the Southern coasts of Spaine at the mouth of the Riuer of Seuill in the height of 39 degrees 40 minutes but the Admerall Vander-Does being already gon beyond S. Lucas left off that enterprise because the time was to far spent the wind stood faire for the Canaries making preparation to inuade those Islands which are in number 7 viz. the graund Canarie Palma Tenerifa Forteuentura Fero Gomera and Lancerotta They are not far one from another and are seated betwixt 27 and 30 degrees from the line they are all called Canaries after the name of the fertilest of them heretofore called Canarie and now the Grand Canarie These Islands by ancient writers were in former times termed the fortunate Islands in regard of the aboundance of all necessaries and fruitfulnesse of the soile producing all things fit for the sustenance of mans life but especially the grand Canarie Palma and Tenerifa which do not onely produce all necessaries in aboundance but likewise sugars wine and oile and such like commodities wherewith they store Europe and other Countries These Islands haue been a long time subiect to the Spaniards who now remaine there and are not inhabited by their auncient inhabitants who now are all rooted out But by whom and how they were
prisoners and wounded men that all the victuals were lost in the battaile and that they could get none by reason that the boats were gone marched with his whole armie towards Ostend to refresh it sending the wounded to places where they might be cured discharging his souldiers of the enemies prisoners He brought his armie to S. Maries Church neere to Alberts fort and himselfe went into Ostend where he presently caused publike thankes to be giuen to God for this notable victorie himselfe and whole Court being present at it He remayned certaine daies at Ostend to order matters and to prouide for the better execution of his enterprises He caused all the prisoners to be brought together viz. the Admerall of Arragon D. Lewis de Villars with many other Captaines and officers whom for the most part he shipt for Holland he kept some one hundred and fiftie prisoners still in Ostend and among them diuers hurt men to exchange them for his owne souldiers whom the enemie had taken The glorie of this victorie belongs to God alone who hath not onely beene pleased thereby to maintaine as he hath wonderfully hitherunto done the just and lawfull cause of the vnited Prouinces for the conseruation of his Church but hath likewise pleased to abase the hautie and insolent courage of the Spaniards learning them to feele his mightie arme and letting them know how daungerous it is to kicke against the pricke To this onely God the Lord of hosts who in the battaile hath taught his Excellencies hands to fight and so admirably exalted his countenance that day be honour praise and glorie for euer To conclude we must of necessitie hereunto add that which certaine Historians mention how that justly vpon the same day the second of Iulie 1600 some three hundred and two yeares before viz. in anno 1298 one of the Archduke Alberts predecessours called Albert of Austria like him had with his power defeated one of Prince Maurice of Nassaus predecessours called Adolfe of Nassau Emperour of the Romans whereby we may see how that by this meanes the house of Nassau hath reuenged the wrong done to it by that of Austria This is a matter worthie of note and we may be well assured that though God deferre for a time yet he can and will aid and assist those that put their trust in him ¶ The Lord Iohn of Duyuenvoord Admerall of Holland fighteth with the Gallies of Sluce and puts them to flight WHilest Prince Maurice his armie marched in Flaunders there were some fortie or fiftie flat bottomed boats and and other vessels loden with munition and victuals which on the fiue and twentieth of Iune did set saile from Zeland toward Ostend these had a man of warre for their conuoy whose Captaine was called Adrian Baucker he being come before Blauckenbourg was becalmed the gallies of Sluce perceiuing it foure of them came forth and assailed the fleet and tooke twentie of the boats but most of the men escaped some of these vessels they burnt and carried the rest away with them The man of warre made what resistance he could but the calme made him like an vnplumed bird The Gallies approached the ship but did not boord her thinking to sinke her with their shot or else enforce her to yeeld she was in sundrie places shot thorow and began to leake and without the helpe of men and women that came aboord her from other boats and with scuppets tubs and their verie hats emptied forth the water she would haue beene in danger of sinking by this meanes she was kept aboue water and when the gallies came neere her she plaied so terribly vpon them with her ordnance as they were enforced to giue backe The ship hauing at last lost three and twentie men among whom was Captaine Baucker and most of the rest wounded the men cried out desperatly saying That rather than they would yeeld to the enemie they would blow themselues vp and set the ship on fire Hereupon the gallies left her and with great harme and losse of men returned to Sluce with a good bootie and the ship went backe to Flushing The next day being the sixe and twentieth of Iune the Lord Iohn of Duyvenvoord Admerall of Holland with sixe ships of warre called Cromstevens or Smackseylen all well prouided sailed from Zeland towards Flaunders to conuoy one hundred and fiftie vessels laden with ordnance and warlike munition for the armie This fleet being come before Sluce and the wind verie calme foure gallies came forth and presently the wind rising the men of warre came so neere them as they did not onely anoy them with their ordnance but with their small shot whereupon they were constrayned by force of oares to returne backe againe against the wind one of the gallies was shot vnder water and did for a long time lye vpon one side till the leake was stopt A certaine Turke of Constantinople a verie valiant and skilfull man being a slaue in one of the gallies had his chaine wherewith he was fastened broken a sunder by a canon shot himselfe not hurt and perceiuing that he was loosse leapt into the Sea with a piece of his chaine and with great daunger of his life for they shot terribly at him swam to the Zelanders ships and in swimming shewed his chaine whereupon the ships tooke him in being aboord he acquainted them with the gallies intent and losse They afterwards clothed him and presented him to prince Maurice who askt him if he would serue but he hauing great meanes at Constantinople craued a passeport vnlesse they would make vse of him for a Patron of a gallie to command the Spanish slaues which charge he had in former time taken vpon him But the Netherlanders hauing neuer vsed to imploy any infidell would not then begin but gaue him a passeport for England whither he went and from thence to Barbarie and so by land to Constantinople where by the way he acquainted Princes and Kings and the great Turke his Lord with the wars of the Christians ¶ The Admeralls ship of Antuerpe and seuen other ships are taken by the Captaine of the Blacke Gallie on the 29 of Nouember 1â—00 MY Lords the States and his Excellencie perceiuing the great losse they sustained by the gallies of Frederick Spinola which lay at Sluce resolued likewise to build and set forth certain gallies and with them to anoy their enemies Whilest they were making readie the gallies of Sluce came not abroad wanting slaues to row for the Zeland ships had slaine most of them many of them likewise were dead in winter with extremitie of cold and those prisoners of the vnited prouinces whom they had taken and made slaues could not suddenly be brought to handle the oare They likewise sent into Hungarie to buy Turkish prisoners but they knew not by what meanes to transport them into the Low-Countries Whereupon the foure Estates of Flaunders were about to buy the sayd Gallies and slaues of Spinola and to build
the commissioners of the illustrious Lords the States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces made in anno 1609. TO conclude the description of all the aboue mentioned victories which almightie God the author of all goodnesse hath granted to these vnited Prouinces vnder the valorous conduct of his Excellencie of Nassau I haue likewise thought it fit to adde hereunto the articles of truce and cessation of armes agreed vpon and concluded at Antuerp on the 9 of Aprill 1609 for the terme of twelue yeares for if I should set downe at large the beginning and progression of this treatie viz. how the Archdukes themselues sued for it by meanes of the Lord Vander Horst Father Ney and other deputies and commissioners what propositions were made and reasons alledged both to my Lords the States his Excellencie and others to moue and persuade them thereunto and the States answers thereupon and then afterward what was done on either part the articles deliuered on both sides the reasons and difficulties which ensued together with all the dependances therof it would be a labour long and tedious and if any bee desirous to see these things at large wee refer them to the Chronicles of Emanuell Demetrius and other bookes and will onely here set downe the articles agreed vpon and concluded by the commissioners on either side THe illustrious Princes Archduke Albert and Isabella Clara Eugenia hauing on the 24 of April in aâ—no 1607 made truce and cessation of armes for 8 moneths with the noble Lords States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces in qualitie and reputing them for States Prouinces and free countries to which they pretend no claime this truce was to bee ratified with like declaration by the Catholike Kings Maiestie so farre forth as it might concerne him and the said ratification and declaration was to be deliuered to my Lords the States within three moneths after the said Truce which was done by letters patents of the eighteenth of September in the same yeare and speciall procuration was moerouer graunted to the sayd Archdukes the tenth of Ianuarie 1608 as well in his Maiesties name as theirs to doe whatsoeuer they should thinke fit for procuring a firme peace or truce for many yeares By vertue of the said procuration the Archdukes by their letters of Commission bearing date the seuen and twentieth of the said moneth had named and appointed deputies and Commissioners to treat in name and qualitie as abouesaid consenting and agreeing that the said Truce should be prolonged and continued at sundrie times as namely on the twentieth of May till the end of the yeare 1608. And hauing often met with the Commissioners of my Lords the States who had also Commission and Procuration from them dated on the fifth of Februarie the same yeare yet for sundrie great difficulties which arose they could not agree on peace Hereupon the Embassadours of the most Christian Kings of Fraunce and great Britaine of the Princes and Palatines of Brandenbourg Marquis of Ausbach and Lands-grave of Hesse sent into these parts from the said Kings and Princes to further so holie a work perceiuing that they were readie to depart and dissolue the treatie had on certaine conditions propounded a peace for many yeares which conditions were set downe in writing and giuen from them to either partie requesting and admonishing them to conforme themselues thereunto And as other difficulties arose hereupon in that regard the Lords whose names hereafter follow did on the 9 of April 1609 meet together The Lord Ambrose Spinola Marquis of Benaffro knight of the order of the Golden fleece Councellor of State and warre to his Catholike Majestie Campe-Master and Generall of his armies c. The Lord Iohn Richardot knight Lord of Barli Councellor of State and first President of his Highnesses priuie Councel c. Iohn Mancicidor Councellor of warre and Secretarie to his Catholike Majestie The reuerend Father Frier Iohn Ney Generall Commissarie of the order of Saint Francis in the Netherlands and the Lord Lodwick Verreycken knight Audiencer and chiefe Secretarie to their Highnesses by vertue of Letters Procuratories from the said Lords Archdukes on the one side to treat aswell in their own names as in that of his Catholike maiestie with William Lodwick Earle of Nassau Catzenellenboghe Vianden Dietz c. Lord of Bilsteyn gouernor and captaine generall of Frizland of the towne of Groninghen the Ommelands and Drenth c. The Lord Walrauen lord of Brederode Vianen Castellain of Vâ—recht lord of Ameyde Cloetinge c. The lord Cornellis de Gent lord of Loenen Meynerwick Castellain and Iusticer of the Empire and town of Nimmeghen The lord Iohn Oldenbarneuelt Knight lord of Temple Rondentijs c. Aduocate and keeper of the great seale charters and registers of Holland and East Frizland The lord Iames Maldere knight lord of Heyes c. the chiefe man representing the Nobility in the States and Councell of the Countie of Zeland The lord Gerard de Renesse lord Vander Aa Streefkerck Nieuleckerland c. Gellius Hillama Doctor of the laws ordinarie Councellor in the councell of Frizland Iohn Sloeth lord of Sallick Drossart of the Countrie of Vallenho and Castellain of the lordship of Cuynder and Abell Coenders of Helpen lord in Faen and Cantes in names of the said lords States in vertue likewise of their letters of commission on the other part These by the mediation and aduice of Peter Ieannin knight Baron of Chagni and Montheâ— Councellor to the most Christian King in his Councel of State and his extraordinarie Ambassador with the said lords States and the lord Elie de la Place knight lord of Russy Castellain of Machault Councellor likewise in the said Councell of State and ordinarie gentleman of the kings chamber baylie and captaine of Vitrie le Francois and his ordinarie Ambassador resident with the said lords States Sir Richard Spencer knight ordinarie gentleman of the king of Englands priuie chamber and his extraordinarie Ambassador with the said lords States and Sir Ralph Winwood knight the same kings ordinarie Ambassador and Councellor of State to the said vnited Prouinces all these made an agreement in manner and forme following I FIrst the said Lords Archdukes doe declare as well in their owne names as in that of the king of Spaine that they are content to treat with the said Lords generall States of the vnited Prouinces in qualitie and reputing them for free Countries Prouinces and States to which they pretend no claime and to make with them in the names and qualities aboue said as by these presents they doe truce on these conditions hereafter mentioned II. Namely that the said truce shall bee of force firme and inuiolable for the terme of twelue yeares during which time there shall bee a cessation from all hostile actions in what manner soeuer betwixt the said Lords King Archdukes and generall States both by Sea and land and fresh riuers in all their kingdomes countries territories and dominions and for all their
North land causie and prepares to be gone A skirmish with the enemie The Duke of Parma raiseth his siege from before Berghen Willoughbie pursues the enemie The Lord Willoughbie honoureth the Captaines with the order of knighthood The townesmen giue thankes to God for their deliuerance The situation of the towne of Tilemont By whom how and after what manner Tilemont was surprised The garrisons of Heâ—sden and Geertrudenberg beat â—â— enemie were to Tilbourg Certain souldiers of Zeland defeat a country in Flaunders The Lord Gerard of Rassingem â—old the Lordship of Breda to the Duke of Brabant in anno 1326. The Lord of Polanen buyes Breda in anno 13â—1 on the first of Aprill A piece of coine so called The Priuiledges of the â—ountrie of Breda Engelbrecht Count of Nassau marrie◠〈◊〉 heirâ— bâ—â—anâ—n 〈…〉 Breda 〈◊〉 141◠〈◊〉 of the lands of 〈◊〉 house of Nassau An attempt propounded vpon Breda The enterprise is resolued A generous act of Math Helt The souldiers imitating the Troyans drew in their owne ruine After what maner they assailed the Castle The Castle is taken His Excellencie entreth the Castle The town yeelds to his Excellencie The Duke of Parma sends Count Mansfelt against Breda Count Mansfelt makes a Fort at Terheyden Count Mansfelt doth in vavâ—â— bâ—â—â—â— and assault the Fort of Nordam Why the Foâ— termed Knoâ—senbourg The Castle of Turnholt taken on the second of Aprill Westerloo taken in May. The Fort of Zutphen taken on the 24. of May by counterfeit Boores. Count Philip of Ouersteyn slaine before Zutphen A variant act of Captaine Metkerks ensigne A single combat betwixt the Lord of Ryhoue and an Albanese before Deuenter Those of Deuenter craue parley The bodie of Rowland Yorke is hung upon the gallowes His Excellencie departs from Deuenter He takes Delfzyll Skonse the 12. of Julie The Fort of Opslach woon The Fort of Imitill woon Parma makes preparations to encounter Prince Maurice Parma besiegeth Knodsenbourg on the 13 of Julie The sort of Auwarder â—â—jâ—l taken the last of May. Contentâ—â— beâ—â—â—t tâ—ose of Groeniâ—gâ—â—n The great 〈…〉 Those of Graninguen capitulate The strait of Nassau found out to the North-Eastward in anno 1595. People of the Eastern Indies throwne in former time by tempest vpon the coast of Germanie Perpetual night in Noua Zemla all winter till the 27 of Ianuarie The Hollanders trade to the Indies and to Iana in anno 1â—96 The Hollanders returne home the 11 of August 1597. The Rhyne and other riuers ouerflow the bankes in Februarie and March The Queene of England sets forth a fleet vnder the conduct of the Lord Admirall and Earle of Essex The vnited prouinces send 24. ships of warre to serue the Queen of England vnder the conduct of the Lord of Warmont The English fleet comes before Caâ—es on 30 of Iune The English fleet letteth slip of faire occasion to haue taken the ships loden for the Indies The Spanish fleet runneth on ground The earle of Essex landeth his men and the Hollanders take the castle of Puntall The Earle of Essex winneth Cales on the second of Iulie Two millions of Gold offered for the ransome of the fleet but too late The Spaniards burne their rich fleet The Citizens of Cales ranjome themselues for one hundred twentie thousand ducats The towne of Cales is sackt The Admeral of Holland offereth the English at Cales victuals for a month and with his fleet to stay with them Cales is abandoned and burnt on the 15 of Iulie The English doe againe loose the oportunitie of meeting with the IndiaÌ„ fleet notwithstandding that the Hollanders offered their seruice The Queene of Englands letter to the Lord of Duvenuord than king him for his good seruice The manner of the enemies march Count Varax slaine A Roman called Septimius Fabius was found wounded and halfe dead among the dead bodies and yet by carefull looking to recouered his life The States resolue to set forth an armie His Excellencie takes Alpen on the 8 of August The towne of Berck is battered with 35. pieces of ordnance on the 19 of August Berck yeeldeth vpon the 21 of August A mutinie in the towne of Gâ—lder on the 22 of August Tâ—â—se of Coloign demaund the towne of Rhynberck Camillos Fort is abandoned 〈…〉 Groll is yeelded upon the 2â— of September The great and famous grandson of Groll de paris theaâ—e on the 28. of September Brevoort seated in a moorish place is assaulted on the 8. of October Those of Brevoort are put to ransome Enschede yeeldeth on the 18. of October Oldenzeel besieged Oâ—denzeel is battered and yeeldeth on the 21 of October A description of the towne of Lingen Count Frederick of Berguen yeeldeth vp Lingen on the 12 of Nomember * A piece of ordnance so called I hardly in this beeleue my Authour The expence of his Excellencies campe at Bommell A description of the Groyne Description of the Canaries Those of Allagona forsake the town which is taken by the Admerall Vander Does Generall Vander-Does dyeth in the fleet Supplies sent to Creuecoeur are defeated Those of Sertoghenbusk seeke to releeue Saint Andrewes fort Saint Andrews fort capitulateth and agrees with Prince Maurice on the sixt of May. The greatest part of the garrison of saint Andrewes fort serue Prince Maurice The excuse of the Garrison of Saint Andrews fort An vnfit comparrison betwixt those of S. Andrewes fort the garrison of Gertrudenberg The cause why the armie went into Flanders Count Solmes is before Niewport They fight for three houres space vncertain of victorie The enemie is put to rout Articles in regard whereof those of Rhynberck yeelded on the 30. of Iulie His Excellâ—ncie takes the towne of Meurs and fortifies it Venice in time past the staple for merchandâ—se broâ—ght from the Eastern Iudies From thence the trade is remoued to Lisbone The Portugals by force seeke to keepe the Hollanders from comming to the East Indies Fâ—r what cause the Portugals rieged forth a fleet in the Indies Captaine Sylua slaâ—ne The pirâ—te Cunall and his Castle are taken The Hollanders resolue to assaile the fleet and to relieue Bantam A particular rehersall of the strength of the Portugal fleet Sir Frauncis Vere entreth Ostend on the 15. of Iuly Thâ—se of â—â—ten◠〈…〉 by 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 dâ—â— Nâ—â—t Description of â—â—â—waâ—ke called Sâ—andâ—â—ll Many men and much prouision are sent to Ostend The Lord Chastillon Colonell Huchtâ—nbroâ—ck and others slain in Ostend The Garrison of Ostend changed The States letters for contributions