two peeces of Artillery and in it were twelve hundred choise souldiers picked out of all the Nations and this he assigned to Camp-master Antunes who was one of the valliantest and oldest souldiers of all Flanders A little behinde this followed two other Battalions of Foot with two peeces of Artillery likewise in the Fronts of each of them the one Spaniards under Camp-master Menesses the other Italians under the two Camp-masters Justinian and Branchatchio These two Battalions stood on equal brest but at a befitting distance one from another After these came another greater Battalion of Foot and because it was the last it had two peeces of Artillery on the Rear thereof and it was led on by Count d' Emden a German Camp-master and by Monsieur d' Ashshurt a Walloon Camp-master The Horse were placed on both the Flanks divided into divers Squadrons two whereof which were the greatest and which were called the reserve as being reserved for the greatest need were commanded by Cavalier Bentivoglio and Luca Cairo both of them Italians and who were the ancientest Captains On the Front of the Cavalry and in the Van stood Velasco their General on the right hand and Melzi Lieutenant General on the left And because the Enemy were much superior in Horse their wings were sheltered with long and redoubled Files of Carts which were likewise furnished with some Files of Musketteers and with a peece of Artillery on each side Spinola chose no particular place for himself that he might be at liberty to turn whither he listed This was the order of the Catholick Camp and in this manner they still drew nearer the Town and though they had all a great desire to fight yet Spinola to confirm it the more in them by shewing his own forwardness added such incitements as upon such an occasion was most requisite he told them That the preservation of Groll was not onely in dispute now but even the like of all that they had purchased at the price of so much blood and labour on the other side the Rhine That therefore they must either dye or relieve it But that he believed though the Enemy were more in numbers then they yet they would not come to the tryal of a battel That it was not numbers but valour that got the victory And had they not newly tryed even in those very parts that Count Maurice would still keep sheltered between Ditches and Rivers not ever coming forth to open battel And more of late at Reinberg when did he shew any true good will thereunto Let them then according to their custom play their parts valiantly That he would not fail on his behalf nor would he forget to let the King and Arch-dukes know their several good services and endeavour their reward But these exhortations needed not For Count Maurice were it either by express orders from the Confederate Provinces or for some particular sense of his own or that in reason of war he being so great a Commander it ought indeed to have been done he would not lead forth his Army into the field nor put himself upon the trial of a Battel And not being sufficiently fortified to attend the Catholick Camp within his Trenches he resolved to retreat and first staying in a certain place where he was safe on all sides he afterward withdrew from the Town and led his Army into other parts And Spinola after he had furnished the Town with what was necessary for the defence thereof did the like And sending his souldiers to their Garrisons he himself past back again over the Rhine and came to the Arch-duke at Brussels Spinola's designs had then been really very great as may be gathered by what we have said And though by reason of the unexpected difficulties which arose the success did not correspond to expectation yet these two affairs of Reinberg and Groll proved such as doubtlessly the one may be numbred amongst the noblest Sieges and the other amongst the most famous Reliefs that the War of Flanders had till then produced THE HISTORY OF THE WARS OF FLANDERS Written by CARDINAL BENTIVOGLIO The Third Part. BOOK VIII The Contents The opinion of the Popes of Rome in advantage to the affairs of Flanders A suspension of Armes insues in those Provinces They then fall to a setled Treaty that they might come either to a settlement of a perpetual Peace or of some long Truce The reasons why the King of Spain and the Arch-Dukes do incline to bring the Affairs to some accommodation Great consultations hereupon had in the Confederate Provinces The Emperors King of France and King of Englands sense therein Count Maurice his declared opposition yet the Treaty proceeds and Deputies on both sides meet The Businesses are propounded Great difficulties in those of the Indies and afterwards in other things Whereupon all Treaty of Peace soon ends They therefore enter upon the second Consideration Viz. Of a long Truce The Ambassadors of France and England labour hard therein Count Maurice does what he can again to interrupt it Yet the Treaty is held on foot by the said Ambassadors And the Ambassadors of France doe particularly stickle very servently therein Divers difficulties arise on the Spanish side And great diligence is had to overcome them Which at last is done and a Truce for twelve years is concluded IN this condition were the Affairs of Flanders when the year 1607 began the forty sixth year wherein those miserable Provinces had been so long and so surely agitated with the troubles of war was now on foot Nor for as many Treaties of agreement as had been begun was it ever possible to bring any of them to a good result The hottest negotiation was that of Cullen wherein Gregory the thirteenth had imployed an extraordinary Nuntio as was then shown that those Provinces might take into consideration the prejudice which the Church had suffered in Flanders by occasion of the Wars And on the contrary what benefit she might reap by the introducing of some sort of accommodation His successors did still retain the same sense And more modernly Clement the eighth in his having endeavoured and procured a peace between the two Kings did amongst his other ends ayme at making so good a corrispondency between them as that France might for the time to come afford all favorable assistance to the new Principallity of Flanders and might reduce the affairs of those Provinces to some peaceful end Leo the eleventh who succeeded Clement in the Pontifical See did abound yet more in the same sense as he who being imployed as Clements Legat in France had been the chief instrument of making that peace But being suddenly snatched away by death he could not witness it by his endeavours After him Paul the fifth was Pope a Prince very zealous in exercising the Pontificial office endowed with great worth and goodness and who being make Cardinal by Clement had drunk in the same sense of labouring peace in Christendom
always had the same end they have not so soon been entred but they have been beaten out to their slaughter and shame and to our everlasting glory and honour And upon all these occasions experience hath sufficiently shewn how much valour exceeds numbers order before confusion and what advantage th y have who fight out of the zeal of honour over those who bear arms only for rapines sake The same will certainly be seen in this present conflict since our conditions and the conditions of our enemies are not the same Ours by being bred so many years in the wars and the knowledg how to defend a good cause being added to the favour of the cause which we defend and that of the Enemy in bringing new men to all military actions and in basely maintaining wicked causes under rebellious Captains The narrownes of the place makes much for our advantage which will not suffer their Horse which are more then ours to have too much the better of us and yet ours shal be so well fenced by Foot as that advantage shall supply the other default And that weak Trench which the Enemy have raised for defence of their Foot what doth it argue but an abjest fear in them an evident desire rather of flight then of fight We on the contrary shall assault them with our wonted resolution and undauntedness shall assuredly have the like success as formerly in overcoming and they in runing away This Speech of Avila's was received with great acclamations by the souldiers Whereupon he with the other field-Officers disposed their orders thus For the more safety-sake he placed the foot towards the River on the right hand and divided them into proportionable squadrons lining the Pikes with shot where it was most convenient He divided the horse likewise on the left side into divers squadrons and munited them toward the field-side with a good wing of Spanish and Walloon musketiers the better to break the enemies greatest force which was to be expected on that part The Camp-masters Consalvo di Bracamonte Fernando di Tolledo and Christopher Mandragone who had brought with him his Walloon Regiment which did remarkable service that day had the chief command of the foot And the chief places in the Cavalry were supplyed by Bernardino di Mendoza and John Baptista de Marchesi del Monte with whom were other Captains of try'd valour The German Harquebusiers under Schinck were placed in the front together with those of other Nations and after them the Lanciers which made up the greatest body of the horse and this was so executed as if the enemies Rutters should charge upon the Harquebusiers the Lanciers might charge them To boot that the wing of Musketiers which flankt the Kings horse on the outside might be of great use to break their first violence as hath been said The enemy this mean while had not omitted any thing which might make for their advantage in the battel Lodovick had his brother Henry with him who had likewise a warlike spirit But Christopher one of the sons of the Prince Elector Palatine was of great preeminence in their Army He commanded all the horse and the whole Government of the Camp was almost equally had between him and Lodovick They left some foot-companies to defend the Trench which hath been spoken of and which lay nearer the river on the left hand On the right hand they composed a great squadron of the other foot in good order and extended their horse towards the hill as far as the narrowness of the place would permit them and made thereof one choice squadron apart wherein were the two Generals and Count Henry Which made it be doubted whether they did this to be in that part of the battel where victory was most to be hoped for or in case they should be worsted so to make their way sooner through the enemy and joyn with Orange who was already come with great forces to Niminghen The two Generals as they ordered their squadrons were not wanting in encouraging their souldiers They affirmed that this was the day which must free the Flemish from slavery the Germans from jealousies and which would throw a thousand rewards upon them the souldiers for obtaining the victory of which no doubt was to be made That the new Spanish Governour trusting little in himself and peradventure less in his men would not be in person where the greatest danger was That he was constrained to draw his people out of their Garisons almost by force who howsoever came rather with a mind to mutiny then to fight and were so lessened in their numbers as they were able to make but a very weak body of an Army How much did they exceed the enemy especially in horse And how great would their storm be That when the victory should be got on this side it would the more safely be had on the other side where the foot would notwithstanding so signalize themselves as they needed no other to assist them in overcoming That the enemy being routed and made to fly Flanders was to be wholly at their disposal And what Laws would not she be ready to receive having the Prince of Orange with his forces on one side theirs on the other or when they should be all joyned together Holland and Zealand invincible Provinces in the defence of their Country would certainly share in the fruits of so happy a success as also every other Province which would cordially joyn with them in the same Cause That in such Provinces as would prove refractory the sword should do what fair means could not effect and as they should be joyfully received by those so should they find rich pillage in these That every souldier should therefore enter the combate with firm resolution of being victorious And that adding one incitement to another every one of them should think they were looked upon by the eyes of both the Germanies which expected by means of their valour that day the one to recover what she had lost the other to keep what she had feared to lose When both Armies were ordered in manner aforesaid they began to skitmish Avila advanced 300 foot part Spaniards part Walloons against those who guarded the Trenches on the other side who coming forth with a proportionable number received the Kings men with much stoutness but these as being more experienced began to get advantage over the others driving them back into their Trenches and endeavouring to fall in with them Here the fray grew hotter and each side received new courage accordingly as they received new succours But the Kings men still prevailing they at last got upon the Trenches and of them Captain Diego di Montesdock was one of the first that was slain Then the chief squadron of the enemies foot began to move Whereupon the others making a stand who before began to give back they fell all again a fighting and for a while did manfully withstand the Kings men whose squadrons
in recognition of his being also resolved to adhere unto the King and for his having drawn the City of Roan to do the like To boot with these Governours of Provinces the Marisnal of Bullion and Monsieur de Sanseval had a great influence upon the Forces within the same Frontiers but the chief command lay in the Duke of Nevers All these Commanders used the greatest industry they could in gathering together such Forces as might suffice to keep Dorlan from falling into the King of Spains hands Fuentes was this mean while incamped before the Town And it was argued in the Councel of VVar whether were the better to begirt it on the Towns side or on the Castles and at last it was resolved that they would bend all their forces against the Castle For that being won they might much more easily take the Town Amidst which contrariety of opinions whilst Monsieur de la Motte in order to his office was viewing where he should fittest dispose of his Batteries he was casually shot in the eye with a musket and slain A great loss For Flanders had not a more experienced Commander in Arms nor who had passed with greater approbation through all offices even from the meanest to the greatest The winning of the Castle being then resolv'd upon divers Forts were raised on that side in such places as were most requisite to secure their quarters on the outside the Works which were to be made within They fell presently to making Trenches On one side which was of greatest concernment the Spaniards Burgonians and Walloons were so fervent at their work as they soon fell into the Ditch Hernando Teglie Portacarera Serjeant-Major of a Spanish Brigado did in particular merit great praise herein To become masters of the Ditch more easily it was necessary to take a little Ravelin from the besieged To this end the Spaniards and the rest made a furious assault upon the Ravelin which was so well sustained by the French as the success was doubtfull for some hours But those without being still reinforced by new men they took the Ravelin at the last and lodged in it The Town was thus begirt when Fuentes came to know that the French came to relieve it The Admiral Villiers had brought 400 Horse a little before this to this purpose out of Normandy and a great number of Horse was raised to the same end in the neighbouring Frontiers by Saint Paul Bullioun and Sansevalle The besieged desired only to be succour'd by 800. or 1000 Foot And though the Duke of Nevers was diligent in his endeavours likewise to secure the Town as soon as might be with new men yet he maturely judged that it was needfull to assemble yet greater Forces together whereupon the succour might be better grounded To the which he was the rather moved for that he knew Fuentes had received considerable Recruits from the Flemish and Walloons But the French Commanders confiding in the Cavalry which they already had and which consisted of prime Gentry sent word to Nevers who was at S. Quintains that he should no longer delay endeavouring the succour and that undoubtedly they would effect it with the Forces which they had Going therefore from Amiens which is the chief City of Picardy and which is within a short dayes journey of Dorlan they moved with 1500 Horse and 1000 Foot intending to convey the Foot into the Town and that the Horse should make their way When they were come within sight of the Spanish Camp Fuentes and the rest of his Commanders thought that this was rather to make a discovery then to fight But when they saw that the real intention of the French was to endeavour the succour with those men Fuentes getting on hors-back and in that posture suddenly sending for the rest of the Commanders to Councel they resolved to leave the Trenches well provided and to march and meet the Enemy with the rest of the Army And Fuentes foretelling the certainty of the Victory This said he may be termed a French Butado Do they think to find us asleep within our quarters or that we be not able to sustain that double assault which they peradventure intend to make at once these from without and the besieged from within I believe they will soon find they are deceived and that this their design partakes much more of fool-hardiness then of courage Then taking all requisite or der for the defence of their Trenches and particularly for withstanding the Assault which the besieged might make he drew forth the rest of his men into the field observing first in what order the Enemy marched They had made three almost equal bodies of Horse The first was led on by Admiral Villiers the second by Monsieur Sansevalle and the third by Count San Paul and the Marshal Bullion Under the shelter of these Horse the Foot marched on the right hand and in such order as they might easily disjoyn and get into Dorlan when the Horse should have opened them the way Thus came the French marching on and Fuentes ordered his Camp thus On the right hand he formed a Squadron of Flanders Train-band Horse which in their several Companies might come to 6 0 Curasiers and who upon this occasion were commanded by Count Bossu He placed the Light-Horse on the left hand under the command of Ambrosio Landriano who was Lieutenant-Generall of the Horse the Duke of Pastrana who was Generall and who was a little before returned from Spain being not well then He himself kept in the midst with his wonted Guard of Lances and Carabins and followed by a great many Personages of great Port amongst which were the Duke d'Umale the Campmaster Generall Ronye the Princes of Simai and Avelino the Marquis Barambone and divers others of the best quality that were in the Camp The Foot were divided in the most advantagious places and there was therof particularly one little flying Squadron of Spaniards which might be ready to turn wheresoever occasion should most require Fuentes having thus ordered his Army Villers advanced and with great fervencie charged the first Squadrons of the Light-horse Those first Squadrons which were all Spaniards and Italians did not stand the charge of the French but wheeling about were disordered and almost made to run The second Squadrons did then advance who were Spaniards led on by Carlo Colonna and fiercely setting upon the French on the Flank they came to close fight The French Vanguard being thus advanced Sanseval made forwards with the Battel against him came Landriano with the rest of the Light-horse which were placed there And here began a fierce and bloody conflict where Villers Sanseval and the rest of their Company fighting couragiously the Spaniards Light-horse were again disordered Fuentes gave the sign then to the Curasiers who charged so close and home upon the French Horse as they beat them back and the rest of the Horse being rallied together and come in to them they at
of so many other Rivers which fall every where into it it divides it self into two branches each of them almost of equal greatness with it self These two branches frame the ancient Iland of the Battavians and at this hour it continues the corrupted name of Bettow That of the right hand doth for a good space keep the name of Rheine till assuming the name of Lech it goes with other waters and with other names thorow Holland till it looseth it self in the Sea The left branch as soon as it parts from the Rheine takes upon it the name of Wahal continuing which name for a long space it at last joyns it self with the Mause But these two Rivers are not well joyned when they part again and do not rejoyn till they have made an Iland of some good circuit which is called Bomel taking its name from the chief Town therein Having formed this Island these two enter not long after joyntly into Holland where together with other Rivers dispersing themselves into divers Gulfs and carrying as it were new Seas into the Sea they at last by many spacious mouths disgorge themselves and falls into the Ocean Upon the very point of this great Island of Bettow stands Schinks Sconce and is raised there with so much advantage both of Nature and Art as greater is not peradventure seen any where else Four leagues lower upon the Banks of Wahal is the City of Niminghen seated with her great Fort on the right hand bank Descending much lower from thence where the Mause and Wahal meet first together you finde the Fort Worden and presently the other point of the Island called Bomel formed by the Mause and Wahal in manner aforesaid The Town of Bomel stands upon the banks of Wahal about the midst of the Island on that side the River it self secures it sufficiently And it is provided with necessary defences on the other side And this may suffice for the abovesaid discription Cardinal Andrea not willing to keep longer out of the field mustered the whole Army about the end of April in the parts of Rheine towards Emrich and to satisfie them in some degree gave them one pay And upon discourse what was to be undertaken the Councel of war were of several opinions They all agreed that in the first place Wahal was to be past over and that they were to advance as far as they could into the Enemies Country But divers were the opinions concerning what they should fall upon The Admiral of Aragon was very earnest for the straitning of Schinks Sconce And what greater acquisition said he can we make It is the most important seat of the Rhine By this Key the passage of greatest consequence thereabouts is opened and shut So as when we shall have fixt our foot there we may endeavour other acquisitions in those parts and hope to atchieve them with much safety When we shall be entred first into the Island we must draw a great Trench from one branch of the River to the other so as the Fort shall not be able to be succoured by land If the Enemy will send any relief by way of the Rivers they must send it against the streame so the effect thereof may easily be hindered by armed barks on both sides Such a fiege considered with all its circumstances will doubtlessly prove difficult but when it shall be effected as it is to be hoped it will be the more difficulties we meet with the greater will our honour be So many weighty objections were made against this the Admirals opinion both for bringing the Army into the Island by reason of opposition which might be made by the Enemy and for their not being able to keep out succour by water wherein the enemy did so far exceed them in power as many of the Councel thought it would prove a desperate siege They instanced in the Duke of Parma for example who when the sconce was hardly tenable would never endeavour to take it Others advised to go at the same time against Niminghen and against its Fort on the contrary shore Thinking that so great an Army might undertake both these sieges at once But in this the opposition which they should find in passing the Wahal to besiege the Fort was considered As also that the Duke of Parma was sate down before it and forced to raise his siege And that the difficulties in besieging Niminghen would afterwards prove much greater A City of a large circuit and which as it was well munited would be well defended Others finally propounded that passing lower over the Mause as they might easily do the Army should march into the Island of Bomel and should try to take the Town situated as hath been said upon the Banks of Wahal Thinking that by the taking thereof they might command the whole Island as also the Pass of that River The City of Balduke which was then in the Kings hands is very near the Island of Bomel Wherefore it was considered that the making of this purchase would be very advantagious for that City and that it might be the better kept when it should be united to that Frontier The Cardinal inclined to this resolution and keeping it very secret it was resolved that to cosin and divert the enemy they would seem to besiege Schincks Sconce Count Frederick di Berg parted thus from Emrick with 7000 fot and 1000 horse and came almost within Canon shot of the Sconce on that side and the Cardinal passing over to the other side of the River with the rest of the Army made the Admiral advance in like manner towards the Fort. They then began to play upon it furiously from both sides with many pieces of Artillery not being able notwithstanding to do any thing but batter and indamage it Upon this motion of the Kings Camp Count Maurice made his move also and came to within sight of the Fort. He doubted that the Kings men would effectually pass over Wahal and get into the Island to begirt the Fort by land Wherefor he immediately fent away a great number of Pyoniers that they might raise a Trench towards the suspected shore whereby the passage of the Kings men might be the more impeded He afterwards manned it sufficiently for defence and sent 80 English into the Fort. And passing himself afterwards with a great part of his Army into the Island he totally secured it The Kings men continued notwithstanding to play incessantly upon it nor were those of the Fort less slow in letting fly at them And because the seat thereof is low Count Maurice caused a great Platform to be raised without and placed some great Canon upon it whereby he so much indamaged the Kings men on that side the Admiral was as he slew above four hundred of them in a few days The Enemies Camp being by the Spaniards cunning thus imployed the Cardinal had in the interim sent the Campmasters Zapena Estenly and Barlotta with their Spanish Irish and
was remarkable in Flanders particularly for this Siege which we now describe It lasted above seven moneths the accidents were as various as the time was long and they doubted oft-times most of the victory who at last got it We notwithstanding will only set down the chief accidents which hapned there the dignity of the story it self so requiring it and the worthiness of future things calling us with too much reason from observing every smaller accident But to return to the Siege As vigilant as the Kings men were in providing that victuals might be safely brought to the Camp the Enemy were altogether as industrious in endeavouring to hinder them To this purpose they sent a good number of souldiers to possess themselves of one of the most important Passes towards Naerden and Amsterdam And they were led on by one Antonio Pittore who had the chief hand in the surprisal of Mons when Count Lodovick of Nassaw entred it as we then observed But notice hereof being brought to Amsterdam the Townsmen sent forth souldiers enough to hinder the success who meeting with the enemy routed them and slew many of them in particular Antonio Pittore was there slain and the Spaniards in scorn of his misdeed threw his head into the City together with the head of another who was called the King and who was much esteemed of by the Harlemists Who incenst by this action were not long in resenting it They chose out twelve of those prisoners which they had of the Kings Army and cutting off their heads they put them into a barrel and rouling it down the walls made it fall into the Spaniards Trenches with this Inscription upon it This Tribute of the tenth penny is sent by the Harlemists to the Duke of Alva and foruse-mony they have sent the twelfth This cruel act was answered by another no less cruel from without for some of their men were in their sight hung up by the head and the heels and they soon after served some of the Kings men with the same sauce So much doth the fury of war inrage mens minds especially of such war where rebellion is punished on one side and maintained on the other This mean while the number of souldiers within the City was mightily increased Besides the Townsmen there were there 4000 foot many of which were Germans French and English And Orange ceased not to labour hard in all the neighbouring Countries the raising of so potent a succour as by open force might make the Spaniards raise their siege The besieged growing therefore daily more jolly made frequent excursions and made one so fierce against the German quarter of the Kings Camp as they drove them from one house wounded and slew many of them and put all the rest into great confusion They sallied forth yet more furiously a few days after against the Spanish quarters and indeavoured mainly to recover the Ravelin which they had lost and so far forward did their courage carry them as they had almost nailed up the Canons mouths as they stood upon the battery But being valiantly withstood they re-entred the City without reaping any advantage The action was notwithstanding very gallant and cost much bloud on both sides Frederick on the contrary still incouraging his men the more resolved to raise the Ravelin which they had taken so high as it might command and hinder the Works within and having caused much earth to be brought to that purpose he planted two pieces of Artillery upon it but the good did not answer expectation so well did the besieged behave themselves on that behalf The Kings men grew this mean while every day fewer by reason of their sufferings Signor della ressoniera who had the charge of the Artillery was dead of sickness Signor Norchermes being wounded could not have such diligence used in his cure as was requisite many other Spanish Officers of quality were found missing as also many of other Nations And in fine the affairs of the Army were reduced to such terms as the success of the business began greatly to be feared Yet the Duke of Alva's instructions to his son were still more peremptory Though in case the siege should draw out in length he had written effectually to Spain to have two old Brigades of that Nation sent him who were then in Italy and raised new men in the neighbouring County of Burgundy Frederick delayed not then to make one tryal more before his men were consumed Resolving therefore to give a fierce assault in divers places at once against that side which ran from St Johns gate to that of la Croce and to the other of Sill on which side as we have already said the Kings men had opened their Trenches made Batteries and wrought in the Ditches the determination was thus put in execution The three Spanish Camp-Masters Roderigo de Tolledo Julian Romero and Consalvo de Bracamonte took upon them to assault with the souldiers of their Brigades one of them the gate de la Croce and the other two the two next sides on the right hand and on the left Signor de Bigli with some Walloons of his Regiment was appointed against a Work which fenced St Johns gate and such orders were given as were requisite so to annoy those within at once both from the Ravelin and the fittest places of the Ditch as they should not be able to hinder those without who were to get upon the Breach All these directions were valiantly performed by the Kings men but the besieged shewed no less valour on their side running with vigilancy and courage whether soever danger called them So as it behoved the Kings men at last to fall off with a considerable loss for above 300 of them were slain and in particular many of Bigli's men who met with the geatest difficulties and most resistance In this assault Roderigo de Tolledo was sorely wounded and Captain Lorenso Perea was slain with some other inferiour Officers It cannot be said how afflicted the Kings Camp was at this unfortunate success And the affair growing every day more doubtfull Frederick thought good to hear the opinion of the chief Commanders herein Many of them shewed very little hopes of any good success That the difficulties of the siege were now greater without then within That the cold was very extream and the season a greater enemy then the enemie's self That they suffered all other greater straits in their lodgings and in their victuals That their men were but few being more consumed by sufferings then by action That on the contrary there was great plenty of all things in the City that they were every day strengthened with new aids and appeared still more obstinate in their defence whence it was to be concluded that either the siege was never to have an end or if it were to have any the conqueror would at last be greater losers then the conquered That it was then better to withdraw the Army as soon
go on with this endeavour the Pope determined to send John Baptista Castagna Archbishop of Rossano to be present there on his behalf A man of great fame for the many Nunciatures which he had with much reputation discharged Who was afterwards created Cardinal by the same Gregory and after Sextus Quintus ascended though but for a very few dayes to the Popedom Otto Henrico Count of Suarzemburg was by the Emperor deputed to this Negotiation together with two other Commissioners And the King himself would likewise send some Personage of quality thither which was Charles of Aragon Duke of Terranova one of the chiefest and most esteemed Subjects of Sicily and joyned some Flemish Deputies with him The Duke of Cleves and Bishop of Liege by reason of their neighbourhood sent likewise particular Deputies on their behalfs to the same Treaty All these together with the two abovesaid Electors met about the beginning of May at Colen to treat of the aforesaid business The Heretical faction of the Flemish Rebels were unwillingly brought to listen to this endeavour and they particularly Orange used all possible means to disturb it for they feared that such Mediators would favour much more the Churches and the Kings cause then theirs But because the Catholick part was as yet maintained by the Rebels the contrary part could not sufficiently withstand the necessary deputation to the Treaty Wherefore by authority of the Archduke Mathias as Governour of the Confederate Provinces and chiefly by their own a good many Deputies were chosen to this purpose and the Duke of Ariscot for their Head and these met at the appointed time and in the same place with all the rest There was great expectation had of this Treaty but it was soon known that the event would not be answerable For coming to the Treaty they fell upon the same difficulties which were formerly met withall when the Emperor likewise interceded in the Conference at Breda Nay they were the greater on the Rebels behalf for that they thought they had got advantage by the since succeeding novelties They therefore appear'd more resolute then ever in point of Religion that they would have Liberty of Conscience especially in Holland and in Zealand which were already the Heretick Sanctuaries And for what concerned their obedience to the King they would mingle so much of advantage therein for themselves as the Government should partake much more of a Commonwealth then of a Principality And even then it was seen that the common sense of the Rebels was to bring themselves to that form of Free-government which now the United Provinces of those Countries enjoy after having totally withdrawn themselves from the obedience of the Church and King Those who intervened in the Treaty used all diligence to moderate the difficulties and to bring them to some fair agreement but all was but lost labour especially for what concerned Religion for the stiffer the Deputies of the Flemish Union were for the Liberty of Conscience the more resolute were the Royalists in not admitting that any Religion save the sole Catholick should be professed throughout the whole Country For all things else the King would have been willing to have used those same favours towards such Sectaries as would depart the Country which were so largely offered in the Conference at Breda But the contrary Deputies sometimes cunningly dodging sometimes plainly denying and most commonly turning the Proposals into bitter complaints against the former Spanish Governours and against the whole proceedings of that Nation shewed apparently at last that the Rebels would by no means be drawn from their former resolutions Wherefore there being no hopes of agreement the Treaty after some moneths broke up In which because the same things were treated of which were discust formerly in the Conference at Breda and afterwards in Gaunt in the Peace concluded amongst the Provinces and lastly with Don John in what was lately establisht between them and him therefore to shun the prolixity of saying the same things over again here we have only given you an incling of what may suffice to know what was done in this new Meeting at Colen Yet in it the Kings cause was greatly justified in that the Duke of Ariscot resolved to take part no longer with the Rebels as did also some of their Commissioners especially those of the Ecclesiastical Order who at last discovered plainly that Orange and the other Fautors of the Heretical faction would have beaten down too much the Kingly Authority together with the Catholick Religion Whilst they were in Colen upon the Treaty of Peace they did not any whit omit the managing of Arms in Flanders The Prince of Parma had ended the Siege of Mastrick as you have heard Upon the which he got another considerable place which was Malines This City was in the Rebels hands but therein was a great dissention amongst the Citizens some of which won by the Prince wrought it so as they conveyed in some of the Kings men by stealth and drove out the States garrison The Village of Villebruck which the States had fortified as being a place of importance between Antwerp and Brussels fell likewise into the power of the Prince And on the contrary the Rebels grew every day stronger beyond the Rhine The Count of Rinemberg commanded for the States in Friesland Who not only in that Province but every where else thereabouts endeavoured the advantage of the Flemish Union Deventer in the Province of Overisel was fallen into his hands and afterwards Groninghen more luckily And on this side the Gaunteses in their particular war against the Malcontents had by surprise recovered the Town of Menin And the Malcontents had made themselves masters of Alst. Insomuch as the Hostility grew hotter then ever on each side The Agreement being made between the Prince of Parma and the Walloon Provinces and all the Foreign Souldiers being sent out by the Prince according to the Articles the Kings Forces were so weakned as the Prince could no longer be Master of the Field nor besiege any considerable place The Walloons laboured to gather men together who might be sufficient for their numbers to prevail over the Enemy But neither had they sufficient monies for their expences not other such preparations as their need required there was particularly such wants in point of the Cavalry as the Prince was inforced to keep some Italian horse called Albanois under the name of his Guard to which the Walloons had given way till such time as they could raise so many of their own men But howsoever the contrary Forces were no whit the stronger For the Flemish having likewise cashier'd their foreign Aid their Forces were but weak and those without any Commander in chief of their own Country The Count Bossu was dead a little before and the other principal Walloons who were most considerable next to him had imbraced the Kings side Archduke Mathias young in years and yet younger in experience could only undergoe a
his own men too and when he should feign as if he intended to joyn battel to avoid it even when the two Armies were nearest falling on and to gain the Pass over the Rivers on the upper side and so free Paris from the siege This was the design which he thus executed He made the Marquis of Renty advance with the Vantguard and with him were the Prince of Semay and George Basty with most of the Horse all of them almost Lanciers He placed the Duke of Mayn in the Battel with the greatest strength of Foot and put Monsieur de la Motte in the Rear with the rest of the Foot and Horse As for his own person he would not oblige himself to any one part but be at liberty that he might the better effect what he intended Having caused the Army to move in this manner and giving out that he would draw the Enemy to battel he gave order to the Marquis of Renty that when he should be come to the top of the Hills he should descend slowly and should extend the Lanciers on both sides in large wings the more to obfuscate the eyes of the Enemy He commanded him therewithall not to offer or to accept of any occasion of fighting without some new orders from him and that he would in the mean time let him know what should happen from time to time The Army of the League appearing thus the King of Navar thought verily that they came with an intention to fight and all his Captains were of the same mind insomuch as it is not to be exprest how much they were overjoyed and especially the King in seeing that offered which they had so much coveted His Army was then suddenly put into the best and most advantagious order that could be and was likewise divided into a Vantguard a Battel and a Rearguard over each of which the King appointed a Head reserving leave to himself to be every where where need should most require The Marquis of Renty marched this mean while in the same order as he was commanded by the Duke and after him followed the Duke Du Mayn When Renty had extended the Lances and darkned the sight of the Enemy Fernese made then no longer delay but coming up to the Duke Du Mayn and taking him by the hand said unto him with a merry and smiling countenance We shall have fought very well and have overcome too if we relieve Paris He then commanded Renty to halt in that place but yet still to make as if he meant to fall on till the night should come Then turning the Battel into the Van and ordering La Motte to follow so as Renty might fall into the Rear he bent on the left hand towards the Marn and towards La Laigne which was not far from thence resolving to make himself master of that Town He then acquainted Renty with his design and commanded that Trenches should be raised both there and every where else towards the Enemy and Fortifications to the end that the resolution which he had taken might not be disturbed by the Kings Army Drawing towards night near Lagny he staid at Pompona a Village within less then half a mile of that Town giving order that the whole Army might be assembled thereabouts and with all diligence might there munite themselves The King this mean while could not imagine why Renty first halted and then returned back Nor could he ever perswade himself that the Duke of Parma in the face of such an Army as was his should assault Lagny especially the Town being on the other side of the River and the passage over the Bridg in the Governour of the Towns hands He therefore advanced some Troops of Horse to discover the Duke of Parma's design who being entertained by George Basty returned as uncertain as before In which time the Duke causing the Fortifications about his Camp to be made with incredible vigilancie he brought them to such a pass as he thought he might now prepare to batter the Town Lagny lies as it hath been said on the left side of the River on the right hand on which side were both the Camps there is an open Borough just over against it to which men pass from the Town over the said Bridg. Fernese suddenly possest himself of the Borough or Suburbs and that very night which was the 5. of September planted ten Peeces of Cannon there to play from that opposite side without delay upon the Town Monsieur de la Fin had the keeping thereof and had 1200 French in garrison who seemed all very ready to defend it hoping chiefly in the King who was so very near them La Fin thought the Duke would doe little good with his Battery the Bridg being between him and them which would hinder the assault But he was soon deceived For the Duke causing a Bridg of Boats to be thrown over the River three miles more upward he past over a good number of Foot and sent over George Basti with them with some Troops of Horse he ordered the Foot to prepare for the assault so soon as the Battery should have made its operation The King of Navar storm'd at this success when he came to know it and would not willingly suffer Lagny to be lost whilst he looked on Some of his Captains propounded that he should pass over the River and go with his whole Army to the relief of that Town Others were of opinion that he should go with all his Forces against the Works which the Enemies Camp had begun to make and should endeavour to throw them down and to fight the Duke The first advice was very dangerous for the Duke of Parma might assault the Kings Army and defeat some of them at least as they past over the River And the second might be thought bootless for the Dukes Works especially towards the Enemies Camp were already raised to a good heighth and so well guarded as there was small hopes of forcing them any where The King notwithstanding took the second advice and having drawn out his Army into large Squadrons came to assault the Army of the League but he found it in so very good order within its Fortifications which were continually increasing as he was at last forced to retreat and much to his grief to see the Town of Lagny not long after storm'd taken and plundred before his eyes for so indeed it was For the Duke of Parma having given order that a Battery should be planted against the Town and that his men should pass over in manner aforesaid caused the Walls of the Town to be immediatly plaid upon abundantly and preparation to be made at the same time for the Assault The Walls were but weak of themselves and had no Rampiers wherefore a sufficient Breach being soon made the aforesaid Souldiers strove who should first get upon the Breach The French for a while shewed equal courage but being overcome by the first number and by new
thought it fit he should do so that he might seem to put the greater esteem and confidence in him and to keep him from falling into any precipitate accommodation in his Treaties with the King in France The Army going therefore from La Fera came marching in great order to Laon. Betwixt these two places there lies a great Wood on the left hand called Crepy taking its name from a little Town hard by The Colleagues Camp coming out of this Wood into the open Champian drew near the Kings Trenches There lay also between the two Camps another lesser Wood in view whereof the Colleagues lay Their intention was to possess themselves of that Wood and to advance so advantagiously on that side as that they might the easilyer from thence bring succour into the Town Which designe being by the King discovered he resolved to oppose them with all his might Skirmishes grew therefore very hot between them the one endeavouring to enter the wood the others to keep them out The former placing their chiefest hopes of relieving the Town in making themselves masters of the wood And the others the greatest security of their siege in defending it But the skirmishes growing continually hotter one of them turned almost into a set battel In hazardous adventures Barlotte the Walloon Campmaster was rather rash then daring This man advancing with his Regiment into the wood charged the Kings men so home as he made them withdraw a good way within not without the slaughter of many of them It was not long ere fresh aid came in on the Kings part Wherefore the Walloons were forced to give back when the Campmasters Augustin Messia a Spaniard and the Marquis of Trevico a Neopolitan appeared with their Brigades in their defence and did vigorously sustain the conflict which was no less vigorously sustained on the French side by the Baron of Birouns coming in with new men Who being made Marishall of France after the death of the Marishall his Father shewed himself to merit the title of his Son much more by valor then bloud The son was naturally very fierce and herein only it was to be wished he had had a little more of his fathers circumspection The advantage growing still greater on that side by Birouns coming in du Main came in likewise to assist his men and soon after Mansfield came in too And the King himself coming in on the other side the conflict did so increase as it was now almost turned to a set battel the Commanders in chief of both Armies being present at it and if not all at least the most select men of both the one and the other Camp The King had much the better in horse but by reason of the thickness of the wood there could but small use be made of them On the contrary the Colleagues Camp was much the superior in foot if not in number at least in goodness but neither could they make use of that advantage within the wood which they might have done in the open field For the same straitness and narrowness of situation did not admit of the forming of squadrons nor of their orderly moving The fight was therefore much more confused then regular And thus it continued with much slaughter on both sides the victory remaining very uncertain till the night coming on both sides were forced to retire unto their quarters The King removed afterwards with a great body of men to another quarter where he might better keep the enemy from entrance into the wood But their Camp began already to suffer very much in point of victuals For the Kings Cavalry scouring the Country continually the Colleagues came by their victuals upon hard terms And just at this time as Nicolas Basti was bringing a good quantity of provision with a strong Conduct from Noyon he was set upon by the Duke of Longueville who with such forces as he had with him soon routed him and to boot with his provisions took from him his carriages and draught horses They afterwards endeavoured to get some with greater forces from la Fera. To which purpose great store of victuals Munition and whatsoever else the Colleagues stood in need of being provided a select number of Spaniards and Italians were sent from their Camp to bring them the more safely But this their second endeavour proved no more fortunate then did the former For the King being advertised of this preparation and that the business was to be effected by night he commanded Marishal Biroun to impede them Who having secretly ordered an Ambuscado in a very opportune place did with such violence and so unexpectedly set upon the adverse party as that being overpowred in numbers they were forced to give ground and leave all their victuals and whatsoever else in Birouns hands Yet the Spanish and Italian foot resisted stoutly for a great while making use of their Carriages for their defence and turning their faces wheresoever the assault was hottest In so much as not endeavouring to save themselves by running away they were almost all of them slain upon the place But they died not unrevenged for they flew above 200 of the Kings men and wounded above as many more The Colleagues by reason of these two unfortunate events lost all hopes of being able to effect their intended succour wherefore they resolved to raise their Camp and to retreat They were minded to rise privately by night but this was not to be done without great difficulty they having an Army so near them so much superior to theirs and which particularly did so far exceed them in horse by which they might upon such advantage assail them on the Reer and on the Flanks as they retreated Mansfield inclined therefore to retreat privately by night but Du Mayne thought it would reflect too much upon their reputation not to retreat by day light Betwixt these two differences of opinions it was resolved that the Camp should move by night and that the Van and Battel being advanced in that silent season the Reer should march by day and that the greatest resistance should be made where the greatest danger should lie Thus then was the Army divided The chief care of the Van with which the Baggage was to go and the greatest part of the Artillery was given to Camp-master Barlotte Mansfield guided the Battel and Du Mayne brought up the Reer this was notwithstanding to be turn'd into the Van if it should have any occasion to face about upon the Enemy who were to fall upon them on that part and certainly if ever the Duke Du Mayne proved himself to be both a gallant Commander and a good Souldier it was at this time That he might make the better resistance he kept with him the flower of the infantry which were for the most part Spaniards the rest Italians and who divided into well ordered Squadrons of Pikes and Musketteers was to sustain the violence of the Enemies Horse when they should charge hotlyest upon them
thereof together with the Prerogative of calling himself Prince of Cambray Baligni being thus become Lord of that City he began to be diligent in fortifying it and muniting it with Bulwarks Arms Ammunition and Victuals He foresaw the Tempest which was likely to fall upon him from the King of Spains Forces in Flanders if ever any occasion thereof should be offered And doubtlesly as that was the greatest advantage which France had reaped in those parts during the troubles of Flanders so could not the King of Spain benefit himself better upon that Confine then by reducing Cambray to its former condition In former times the City of Cambray had been as it were a strong Bulwark to the whole Walloons Country against the French assaults on that side And the Emperour Charls the fifth the better to secure himself thereof had by the Archbishops good will who was Lord both spiritual and temporal of that City built a strong Castle there which was better furnished and fortified afterwards by Baligni He kept the two neighbouring Provinces of Hennault and Artois in great subjection grieving them with quartering indamaging them with inroads putting them to pay contributions and using other great violences against them such as if greater could not have been used by a declared enemy at least not by a bad neighbour They therefore greatly desired to see that Town return under the King of Spains devotion And had offered all possible assistance to Count Fuentes to make him the willinglier resolve upon that enterprise But in the mature agitating thereof in the Councel of War there was some opposition found and there was great ambiguity in Votes Monsieur de la Motte General of the Artillery and a man of long experience and known valour was particularly against the Enterprise He said That the Kings forces were not as then strong enough to be thought proportionable for such a siege That the City of Cambray was of a very large circuit and very well munited with flanks and ditches on all sides That the City was secured by a very strong Citadel and that it was to be believed that neither the Citadel nor City would want either men ammunition or victuals requisite to make resistance That on the contrary the Kings Forces being well considered it would clearly appear that they were not sufficient so to begirt such a Town as that as it ought to be That if it were not well surrounded with Trenches it could not be kept from being relieved and say it should be perfectly incompassed was it not to be believed that all means possible would be used by France to force those Trenches That lesser Interests gave way to more urgent necessities That there could be none of greater consideration for France then to keep Spain from making so important an acquisition That therefore it was necessarily to be supposed that the King of France laying aside all other affairs would bend all his Forces to keep the City of Cambray in Baligni 's command which was as much to say as in his own That the agreement between him and Du Main was still in hand which the King would endeavour the more that the concord might be made in such a conjuncture of time Neither would the United Provinces lose that oportunity but seeing the Spanish Arms in Flanders more languishing now then ever they would certainly apply themselves to some important siege which they might as easily effect as designe These were the Objections made by Monsieur de la Motte against the Enterprise But the new Camp-master-General Ronye was very stiff for it shewing himself the more to be a Spaniard in his opinion lest he might be thought to be too luke-warm as being a Frenchman He said That the Provinces of Hennault and Artois had made large promises of assistance toward the effecting of the Enterprise And that it was to be hoped all the rest of the Walloons Country would concur thereunto That therefore the Kings Forces might be so increased by such and so opportune helps as they might be sufficient to make such a siege and manage it as it ought to be That the City of Cambray seemed very much to hate Baligni and that he was acknowledged by the people thereof rather as a Tyrant then a Prince Wherefore by reason of the iealousies within he would be the less able to withstand the forces without That it was doubtlesly to be believed the French would not omit doing of any thing which might keep the Town from being lost But that the King was already so deeply ingaged in Burgony and was so prest upon on one side by the Duke du Main and on the other by the Constable of Castile as he would hardly free himself of that trouble That the King being held in play so far off there was small fear to be had of his Captains that were nearer hand And what a madness would it be thought in the Duke du Main if when he might better his condition the more amidst Arms he should so slightly forgoe them That if in the mean time the United Provinces should make any opposition they might be met with forces sufficient to suppress them That all men were usually set upon in their highest designes by hopes and fears That in this hope was to have the upper hand And why should they not hope to find a friend of Fortune since their Cause was so just For what remained that the recovery of Cambray was of so great consequence as all the expences the King of Spain had been at in the present occurrences of France might be thought well imployed if only thereby Flanders might be again possest of such a Bulwark as this in that so suspitious corner Fuentes inclined to this opinion being naturally full of high thoughts and desirous to innoble his Government by some extraordinary success He therefore acquainted the Provinces of Hennault and Artois with this his resolution moving them the more to assist him He easily drew over likewise the Cities of Torney and Lillo with the Countries which lie more inward upon the Walloons to be of the same mind But the Archbishop himself seemed more desirous of this Enterprise then all others VVho also offered some monies towards the effecting of it hoping by the King of Spains power and protection to return to his City and enjoy his former Government thereof VVhilst these aids were preparing and that divers other necessary provisions were made to the same purpose Count Fuentes resolved to enter Picardy with those men which he had already gathered together so parted from Brussels about the beginning of June Being come upon the Frontier his first design was to get Chatelet a strong place and so near Cambray that unless he could bereave the enemy of it it might much hinder the intended enterprise He treated likewise at the same time with the Town of Han to get it into his hands it being a place seated advantagiously likewise thereabouts Monsieur
Varras got notice of it He had with him the Marquis of Trevico's Italian Brigado which was commanded by his Serjeant Major Count Sols his new Regiment of Germans and two Walloon Brigadoes of Barlotta and Assicount These Germans and Walloons were also without their Commanders and were Governed by other inferior Officers Nicholas Basti Commanded the horse which were all Spanish and Italian Count Varras having discovered the Enemies march and thinking that he had not sufficient Forces to fight him in the Field knowing also that Turnaut as being an open Village was not a place for defence resolved to go to Herentales a Town which he might easily get unto being but three hours easie march from Turnaut Yet he would retire by day lest if he should have marched by night his retreat might have seemed a running away Thus resolved and sending out his baggage by night upon the break of day Varras left Turnaut and made his men march in this manner He devided the foot into three squadrons in the first he placed the Walloons in the second the Germans and in the third the Italians But that which at their first going out was the reer if the enemy should come upon them was to be the van The horse were placed on the right hand where the field was more free and a great wood served for a sufficient defence on the left hand Maurice hearing of this removal he suddenly advanced with all his horse and with 300 musketiers behind so many Curassiers en Croup and the Curassiers advancing foremost with the musketiers en Croup he gave them order to charge the enemy home in the reer and that they should endeavour to hold them play till his foot should come up With Maurice were the Counts of Hollack and Solm Colonel Vere an English-man and divers other Commanders of great experience and valour The Kings Horse valiantly opposed the like of the Enemies and the Squadrons facing about did likewise sustain the first charge of the Enemy But all Maurice his Horse coming in and soon after his Foot the Kings Horse being no more in number could make no longer resistance So as these being routed the rest were discouraged though Count Varras galloping here and there and in every place shewed all the proofs of valour and undauntedness which could be desired of him upon such an occasion And finally pressing forwards amongst the Italians when he saw their Squadrons begin to flie he was suddenly slain and he failing the Kings men were wholly overcome and the Enemy had the total victory over them The Walloons fought not that day according as they were wont to doe and the Germans made but little resistance And therefore the most that were slain or wounded were Italians In all there were above 1200 slain and almost as many taken There were 37 Colours lost and a great part of the Baggage There were not above 100 of the Enemy slain And Maurice wan such a Victory with the loss of so little blood as made much for the advantage of the Consederate Provinces and for his own Honour in War After this mischance the Cardinal failed not suddenly to provide for the necessities of Brabant by sending in many Horse and Foot He was about likewise to make many great new Levies But the King was in so great scarcity of monies as the Cardinal could not make provisions so soon nor yet so fully as the necessity of the Flanders affairs required and much more those which were of so great concernment on the part of France Nor was it long ere an occasion arose in France which being one of the most remarkable which the wars of France or Flanders hath produced in point of Surprise and Siege you shall have a particular diligent account thereof in the next Book THE HISTORY OF THE WARS OF FLANDERS Written by CARDINAL BENTIVOGLIO The Third Part. BOOK IV. The Contents The Spaniards surprise the City of Amiens by stratagem The King of France immediately besiegeth it The chiefest successes thereof and of the Defence are related The Cardinal-Archduke goes himself in person with a powerfull Army to relieve the besieged but being kept off by the Enemies forces the Town returns at last into the Kings hands who presently fortifies it with a strong Castle The Cardinal retreats to Artois and from thence passeth into Flanders Here he visits Ostend but not attempting any thing he returns to Brussels and puts his Army in garrison The acquisitions this mean while made by Count Maurice to the great advantage of the Confederate Provinces are related Nor is it long ere Peace is declared between the two Crowns so as the Kings Forces are now at liberty to attend only the proper affairs of Flanders At this same time great consultations are had in the Court of Spain about a Marriage propounded between the Cardinal-Archduke and the Infanta Isabella the Kings eldest daughter with the giving of the Low-Countries to the Infanta for her portion The King inclines thereunto out of many good reasons and therefore will have it effected The Archduke parts from Flanders to go for Spain and Cardinal Andrea d' Austria stayes in his place The Cardinal-Archduke is not well gone when the King of Spain dyes and his son Philip the Third succeeds him To whom the King had also a little before destined the Archdutchess Margaret of Austria for Wife HErnando Teglio Portocarrero was Governour of Dorlan being left there by Count Fuentes after the taking of that place as chosen by him for one of the best Souldiers that the Spanish Nation had in Flanders Portacarrero not satisfied with the bare custody of Dorlan wherein he was extraordinarily vigilant he oft-times issued out with his Garrison and assaulting the Enemy sometimes in open fields sometimes by ambushes now preying upon their Cattel and then setting their Villages on fire he was almost become the Terror of that Frontier But neither did his thoughts end here He had an earnest desire to doe some great action for the Kings service in those parts by which he himself might likewise acquire reward and glory Amiens is the chief City of Picardy and Dorlan is not above seven leagues distant from it This neighbourhood afforded occasion to Portacarrero to penetrate almost â—â—urly into what was done in Amiens and thereabouts That City had appeared much for the League and being now fallen into the Kings hands it coveted much to have its antient priviledges observed and especially that the City should be governed by Personages of their own Inhabitants and by their own proper Forces Nor would the King the present condition of affairs considered doe any thing to the contrary Thus the City was its own Guardian And though there were a great number of Citizens who had listed themselves under Colours yet were they not any way disciplind according to custom in the handling of their Arms nor were they so vigilant as they ought to have been in guarding their Gates The Country
Army was sheltred on the right hand by the Channel of the River and on the left by the Carriages and Baggage which joyned together in a long Train by three and three did shelter and secure that Flank Thus was the Spanish Camp ordered It was argued at the same time in the Kings Camp by his Councel of War what they were to do in this behalf Some were for going out of their Trenches with all their Forces and giving battel in the field And Marshal Biroun was stiff of this opinion saying That the Kings Horse was far superior to theirs both in number and goodness that they ought likewise to hope very well of their Foot so as what better occasion could there be wisht for to fight the Enemy and get a glorious victory That the whole Genius of France was naturally addicted to such fights as these and particularly the King himself who excelling each other man in all military qualities had only overcome himself in this in knowing how to win so many and so dangerous battels That the present Victory being got not only Amiens but whole Picardy would be the Kings and with what advantage might they afterwards assault the Enemies frontiers of Flanders and carry those mischiefs thither wherewith France had been so long afflicted Marshal Biroun as we have often said was naturally very fierce and fell often upon businesses which partook much more of precipitation then boldness And amongst other things it was observable how much he differed from the opinion of the Marshal his late Father who no less couragious but much more circumspect then his son had in the siege laid by the King to Roan some years before as we then told you perswaded the King to keep the Duke of Parma from relieving the Town by defending his own Works But divers others of the Councel were of another opinion chiefly the Duke Du Mayn who was a compleat Commander and was thought to be the best that was then in France He in a grave and considerate manner said thus That the Kings end in this siege was to recover Amiens and not to call all France thither to see him vainly defie the Enemy in a Battel And what military wisdom was it that taught to provoke Fortune unnecessitated which was always deceitful in all Feats of Arms and chiefly in the success of a Field-battel Then let the King enjoy those advantages which his Trenches gave him and suffer the Spaniard to come and assault them at their pleasure For finding them well defended they would either not assault them or if they should it would be in vain Nor was it to be feared that those within would move at the same time both by reason of the same opposition of the Kings Trenches and for that they were already reduced to so small a number as they were hardly able to man the remainders of their own Defences Thus the Enemy soon despairing of ever effecting the succour the King without any further danger would happily compass his desired end of the siege This opinion carried it But howsoever the King desirous himself to see at a near distance in what posture the Spanish Camp marched went out with the greatest part of his horse which meeting with the Enemy afforded occasion of skirmishes which lasted for a while no advantage appearing on any side and the King wheeling about came in good order back to his Trenches The Spanish Camp still advanced till from the top of a little Rise within two Cannon-shot of the Enemy it made them a gallant and stately spectacle and passing forward from thence came almost within musket-shot of the Enemies Trenches The French thought for certain that the Spaniards would assault them insomuch as many of the meaner sort of them began to waver many of the Victuallers and those who had care of the Baggage transported by blind fear went to convey their goods to the other side of the River for their more safety sake This disorder began also amongst some of the more ordinary souldiers which manifestly appeared in the ambiguous form of defence which they put themselves in Which the Admiral of Arragon and Count Sora perceiving who led the Van of the Spaniards horse they failed not suddenly to advertise the Cardinal thereof and did earnestly perswade him not to lose so advantagious an occasion of assaulting the Enemy But Count Mansfield who had the first place under the Cardinal and some other of the Commanders were absolutely of a contrary opinion He said That it would be manifest rashness to give so upon the Enemies Works That the tumults which were seen there might be caused by some occasional confusion which the French Commanders would soon remedy That if they should resolve to present Battel and consequently come out of their Works it should be accepted and a good end hoped for But that to assault the Exemy within their own Fortifications with so much advantage to them would be to adventure that Army to too evident a blow and all Flanders to too manifest danger The Cardinal thought this the safest councel which he resolved to follow though the whole Army was generally of opinion That if the Enemy had been assaulted then with due resolution they should have met with but small resistance and that together with the sudden relieving of Amiens the Cardinal might peradventure have obtained one of the greatest victories that the Spaniards had of a long time gotten over the French The French Commanders had this mean while provided for the abovesaid disorders and the King coming himself in person to where it behoved most to secure the Trenches he furnisht them with such men as were most valiant Nor herewithall content he went forth with all his Horse and dividing them into many Squadrons he extended them a great space and sheltred those parts of his Trenches which were most threatned by his Enemies to defend them so much the better Then letting his Artillery flie furiously against the Enemy he did so prejudice them as they resolved to remove from that so near place and went to another where they were sufficiently sheltred The night came on this mean while and the Cardinal staid there with all his Army resolving to accost the Enemy again the next day and to provoke them to battel The night past over more quietly then was expected the so very nearness of two so powerfull Armies being considered Nor did the Cardinal fail to draw near with his as formerly to that of the Enemy But the King being stedfast to his former resolution and preparing in like manner as before to defend his Trenches he would not lose his advantage The Cardinal having staid with his Army drawn out into Battel-array as long as he thought fitting resolved at last totally to retreat considering that he could come by victuals but too hardly in those parts and that the other incommodities which his Army suffered in those quarters were too great Turning therefore his Van into
his place with other subordinate Officers Before the Confederates incamped about it the two Counts of Lippa and Hollach had made great offers to the Garrison to perswade them to put it into their hands shewing that they had a community of blood which did also render the interests of the Nation common between them But the Garrison though they had failed in their obedience yet would they not be failing in their faith wherefore they rejected all offers and betook themselves manfully to defend the Town Nor did they come short in their deeds For the German Camp having sate down before the Town and besieged it many dayes they found the Defendants still more stout and resolute in making resistance wherefore they were at last forced to rise from before it little to their honour Count Lippa did notwithstanding raise a Fort on the opposite side of the River and put many men into it to incommodiate that Town and intending to besiege it again if it should be needfull From Reinberg the Camp past to Res which was the only Town almost that remained to be restored to the Duke of Cleves and the Kings party gave continual hopes that it should be speedily restored But the Germans either not believing them or else desirous to doe somwhat with their Arms resolved to besiege it The United Provinces did still press them very much and shewing that they had a great desire to be interessed in their cause they sent a certain number of Horse and Foot to Count Hollach to be imployed in their service Count Lippa incamped then before Res about the end of August and besieged it on all sides Ramiro di Gusman a Spaniard commanded in chief therein and had with him little more then 80 Souldiers some Spaniards some Germans some Walloons Just over against the Town on the other side of the River there stood a Fort to secure that Pass the better so as some Souldiers must also be imployed there And because the Garrison was not sufficient to defend both the Town and Fort the Governour sent to the Admiral desiring him that he would with all speed send him some more men The siege being begun the Germans fell to fortifie their quarters where it was most behovefull The Count de Lippa was quartered on the lower part of the River and Count Hollach above These were the two chief Quarters and both of them began to open their Trenches Count Hollach an old Souldier and one well verst in sieges would have had them have past some men over the Rhine and so at the same time to have straitned the Fort which was possest by the Kings men on the other contrary shore fearing left by that way as it not long after hapned the besieged might receive succour But were it either through ignorance or through the emulation of the other Commanders his advice was not followed The Trenches were quickly so far advanced as they were not long in falling joyntly to their Batteries A great Bank ran along the River to defend the Town and the circumjacent grounds from being thereby overflown Upon the highest part of this Bank the two Counts caused divers Peeces of Artillery to be planted by which commanding the Town they began to play upon it furiously afar off Then placing many great Guns nearer hand they came to a nearer oppugnation wherein Count Hollach being better verst all things were better performed on his side He plaid particularly upon the point of a walled Bulwark and at the same time advancing with his Trenches he was confident he should soon be able to make a happy assault there The Garrison was not this mean while idle but had endeavoured by frequent sallies to incommodate the Enemy in divers sorts Yet were not the numbers of their Souldiers any wayes answerable to their need of defence Wherefore Gusman continually sollicited the Admiral to send him some succour which was ere long done for 700 choise Foot coming at the silentest time of night to the banks of Rhine where the aforesaid Fort stood they past over the River and got without any disturbance into the Town This increase of Forces did so increase their courage that were within in the Town as they resolved to sally out suddenly with good numbers and to assault the Count de Lippa's quarter where there was less opposition made The one half of the Garrison sallying out in three equal Squadrons they assailed the Enemy on that side with such resolution and valour as they not being able to resist them began quickly to give back and soon after to fall into manifest disorder The more these were disheartened the more were the others encouraged So as the first blow being seconded by another and the Garrison continuing still manfully to fall upon them they made the Enemy forgo many of their Trenches and coming to their Batteries they unhorst some of their Peeces they nail'd up some others and being of necessity afterwards to retreat they carried a Demy-Canon in triumph with them into the Town In this action about 200 of the Enemy were slain and but very few of the Garrison This bad success did much augment the discords between the German Commanders one complained of another but almost all of them blamed Count Lippa and the weakness of his government And the confusion disorder and fear was so generally spread throughout the whole Army as no obediance being given nor discipline observed the Commanders were forced two dayes after to raise the siege More shamefull councel could not have been given nor could it have been more shamefully followed For the Camp retreating without any manner of order and the Souldiers striving who should get furthest from the walls of Res much Baggage was left in their Quarters many Carriages left in the fields and some Barks loaded with victuals abandoned upon the River Nor failed the Garrison to come out upon such an occasion but fell upon those that went away last slaying many of them putting many of them to flight and rendring the Retreat still more base and more confused The Army having raised this their siege came before the City of Emrick but being here still molested by the souldiers of Res and the discords amongst the Commanders still increasing and the complaints amongst all the rest the people began to disband and afterwards wholly to dissolve The United Provinces sent Count William of Nassaw Governour of Friesland to the German Camp a very grave and valiant man and who was full cousin German to Count Maurice that he might endeavour to compound the differences and to reduce them to some better discipline but he could do but little good So as Autumn being already advanced and great store of rain being fallen in such sort as the Army could no longer keep the field about the end of November it of it self did wholly disband and to compleat their disorders a good part thereof did at last mutiny for want of monies as they retired to their own