go to Fayall the Lord Thomas with his squadron and I with my ship were to go to Graciosa and Sir Walter Raleigh with his either to Pico or Saint George but Sir Walter Raleigh whether of set purpose or by mistake I leave others to judge making with his squadron more haste then the rest of the fleet came to Fayall afore us landed his men and received some losse by the Spaniards that kept the top of the hill which commanded both the haven and the town The Generall with the rest of the fleet came to an anchor before the Island and hearing of Sir Walter Raleighs landing and losse was highly displeased as he had cause it being directly and expressely forbidden upon pain of death to land forces without order from the Generall and there wanted not about my Lord that the more to incense him aggravated the matter seeing the Spanish ensigne upon the hill his Lordship prepared to land with all haste and so about an houre before sun-set came into the town A competent number of men were given to Sir Oliver Lambert to guard the passages and then it was consulted how to go on with the enterprise of forcing them They were entrenched on the top of the hill to the number of two hundred which was so steep that it seemed artillery could not be drawn towards the said trench The night growing on I desired his Lordship to give me leave to go up to discover the place which his Lordship assented unto and so taking two hundred souldiers I set forward the young Earl of Rutland Sir Thomas German and diverse other Gentlemen-adventurers accompanying me At our coming to the top of the hill finding no watch in their trenches we entred them and possessed the hill where we found some of our men slain by the Spaniard The hill was abandoned as we supposed in the beginning of the night unseen or undiscovered of us or those that were placed at the foot of the hill we were all very sorry they so escaped as was also the Lord Generall for there was no following or pursuing them in that mountainous Island The Captain and Officers that landed with Sir Walter Raleigh were presently committed and before our departure thence Sir Walter Raleigh was called to answer for himself in a full assembly of the chief Officers both by sea and land in the Generalls presence Where every one being to deliver his opinion of the crime it was grievously aggravated by the most for my part no man shewed lesse spleen against him then my self The Generalls goodnesse would not suffer him to take any extream course but with a wise and noble admonition forgave the offence and set also at liberty the Captains that had been committed After the fleet had taken the refreshing that Island could afford which was in some good measure we put from thence and for three dayes were plying off and on betwixt Graciosa and the Island of Tercera the ordinary way of the Indian fleet and in the mean time certain were sent a shore by the Generall at Graciosa to draw from the Inhabitants some portion of monie and provisions to redeem them from spoiling They brought word to the Generall in the afternoon that from the Island a great ship was discovered on the road-way from the Indies but they being sent again with some other to make a full discovery at their return which was sudden it was found to be but a pinnace I must confesse in this point I may be ignorant of some particulars because things were not done as they were wont by Council or if they were it was but of some few to which I was not called But in all likelihood there was wilfull mistaking in some to hinder us of that rich prey which God had sent as it were into our mouths Howsoever it was that same night when it was dark the Generall with the fleet altered their course and bare directly with the Island of Saint Michael as it was given out to water A pinnace coming to me in the Lord Generalls name told me it was his pleasure my ship and Dread-nought in which Sir Nicholas Parker was should beat off and on betwixt the Islands of Saint George and Graciosa for that the Indian fleet was expected The Rainbow in which was Sir William Monson and the Girland my Lord of Southamptons ship were to lie by the like order on the North-part of Graciosa willing us if we discovered any fleet to follow them and to shoot off now and then a piece of Ordnance which should serve for a signall to the rest of the fleet This order as I take it was delivered us about ten of the clock at night About midnight or one of the clock those of our ship might hear shooting according to this direction rather in a manner of a signall then a fight toward that part of the Island where the other two ships were to guard which as we after understood was from the Rainbow which fell in the midst of the Indian fleet whom in their long boat they hailed and by the Spaniards own mouths knew whence they were who held them in scorn and in a great bravery told them what they were laden withall The wind was very small so as it scarce stirred our ship but we directed our course as directly to the sound of the Ordnance as we could and so continued all night the morning was very foggy and misty so as we could not discover farre but still we might hear shooting of Ordnance when we listned for it About eight or nine of the clock before noon it began to clear and then we might see as we judged some five or six leagues off a fleet of twenty sails which was much about half way betwixt us and Tercera The wind began a little to strengthen and we to wet our sails to improve the force of it and somewhat we got nearer the Spanish fleet more through their stay to gather themselves together then our own good footmanship All this while the Rainbow and the Girland followed the fleet so neare that they might to our judgements at pleasure have engaged them to fight But their fleet being of eight good Gallions of the Kings the rest merchants of good force though the booty were of great inticement it might justly seem hard to them to come by it and so they onely waited on them attending greater strength or to gather up such as straggled from the rest The Girland overtook a little friggot of the Kings laden onely with Cochinell which she spoiled and I found abandoned and ready to sink yet those of my ship took out of her certain small brasen pieces The Indian fleet keeping together in good order sailed still before us about two leagues and so was got into the haven of Tercera into the which they towed their ships with the help of those of the Island before we could come up to them It was evening when we came thither and
my coming aboard the Gallions were run on ground near the shore and their men some swimming others in their boats began to forsake their ships I was then bold to say to my Lord of Essex that it was high time to send his small shipping to board them for otherwise they would be fired by their own men which his Lordship found reasonable presently sent his directions accordingly and in the mean time sent Sir William Constable with some long boats full of souldiers which his Lordship had towed at his stern since the first imbarquing to have landed in the Caletta But notwithstanding he made all haste possible before he could get to the Gallions two of them were set on fire and the other two by this means saved and taken utterly forsaken of their men who retired through the fennes to porto Saint Maria. The Spanish fleet thus set on ground the prosecution of that victory was committed to and willingly undertaken with the sea-forces by a principall officer of the fleet And because longer delay would increase the difficulty of landing our forces by the resort of more people to Calis it was resolved forthwith to attempt the putting of our men on shore and to that end commandment was given that all the men appointed for that purpose should be imbarqued in the long boats and that my Lord of Essex should first land with those men which could be disembarqued and then my Lord Admirall to second and repair to the Generall who the better to be known would put out his flag in his boat The troops that were first to land were the regiments of the Generalls my own that of Sir Christopher Blunt Sir Thomas Gerrard and Sir Conniers Clifford On the right hand in an even front with a competent distance betwixt the boats were ranged the two regiments first named the other three on the left so that every regiment and company of men were sorted together with their Colonels and chief officers in nimble pinnaces some in the head of the boats some at stern to keep good order the Generall himself with his boat in which it pleased him to have me attend him and some other boats full of Gentlemen-adventurers choice men to attend his person rowed a pretty distance before the rest whom at a signall given with a drum from his boat the rest were to follow according to the measure and time of the sound of the said drum which they were to observe in the deeping of their oars and to that end there was a generall silence as well of warlike instruments as otherwise Which order being duly followed the troops came all together to the shore betwixt Puntall and Calis and were landed and severall regiments imbattelled at an instant without any encounter at all the Spaniards who all the day before had shewed themselves with troops of horse and foot on that part as resolved to impeach our landing being clean retired toward the town The number of the first disembarquing was not fully two thousand men for diverse companies of those regiments that had put themselves into their ships again could not be suddenly ready by reason the boats to land them belonged to other great ships Calis on that side was walled as it were in a right line thwart the land so as the sea on both sides did beat on the foot of the wall which strength together with the populousness of the town in which besides the great concourse of Gentlemen and others upon the discovery of our fleet and alarm of our Ordnance there was an ordinary Garrison of souldiers had taken from us all thought of forcing it without battery and therefore being landed we advanced with the troops to finde a convenient place to encamp till my Lord Admirall with the rest of the forces and the Ordnance were landed Being advanced with the troops half the breadth of the neck of the land which in that place is about half a mile over we might perceive that all along the sea-shore on the other side of this neck of land men on hors-back and foot repaired to the town which intercourse it was thought necessary to cut off And therefore because the greatest forces of the enemies were to come from the land it was resolved on to lodge the better part of the army in the narrowest of the neck which near Puntall is not broader then an ordinary harque-bush-shot To which streight Sir Conniers Clifford was sent with three regiments viz. his own Sir Christopher Blunts and Sir Thomas Gerrards there to make a stand to impeach the Spaniards from coming to the town till he received further order for the quartering and lodging of his men Which done the Lord Generall with the other two regiments and his company of adventurers which was of about two hundred and fifty worthy Gentlemen in all not fully a thousand men advanced nearer the town the better to discover the whole ground before it And as we approached a far off we might perceive the enemy standing in battel under the favour of the town with cornets and ensignes displayed thrusting out some loose horse and foot toward us as it were to procure a skirmish I marking their fashion conceived hope of a speedier gaining the town then we intended and were then about and said to his Lordship at whose elbow I attended that those men he saw standing in battel before the town would shew and make the way for us into the town that night if they were well handled and at the instant I propounded the means which was to carry our troops as near and covertly as might be towards the town and to see by some attempt if we could draw them to fight further from the town that we might send them back with confusion and disorder and so have the cutting them in pieces in the town-ditch or enter it by the same way they did His Lordship liked the project and left the handling thereof to me I presently caused the troop to march towards the other side of the neck of land because the ordinary and ready way to the town lay on that side low and inbayd to the foot of the hilly downs so as troops might march very closely from the view of the town Then I chose out two hundred men which were committed to the conduct of Sir Iohn Wingfield a right valiant Knight with order that he should march on roundly to the enemy where they stood in battel and to charge and drive to their battels the skirmishers but if the enemy in grosse profered a charge he should make an hasty and fearfull retreat to their judgement the way he had gone till he met with his seconds that followed him and then to turn short and with the greatest speed and fury he could to charge the enemy The seconds were of three hundred men led as I remember by Sir Matthew Morgan who were to follow the first troop a good distance and so as both of them till
that my Lord Mountjoy or any subject of England could be thrust upon him without his desire and procurement That therefore as I had good cause to judge that his Lordship had withdrawn much of his favour from me so I humbly desired his Lordship that as by a retrenchment of the condition I was to hold in this journey I held it rather a resignment to his Lordship again of the honour he had given me the last yeare so farre as concerned my particular respect to his Lordship unsought for of me then a service to him so hereafter he would be pleased not to use me at all in any action wherein he was to go chief he would seem to take these speeches of mine as proceeding rather of a passionate discontentment then of a resolution framed in cold bloud and that it would in time be digested and so without any sharpnesse on his part the matter rested The purpose and designe of this journey was to destroy the fleet that lay in Faroll by the Groyne and upon the rest of the Spanish coasts to that end to land our forces if we saw cause as also to intercept the Indian fleet Part of our land-forces were shipped at the Downs we did put into Weymouth to receive those which were to meet us there In that place the Generall called my self and Sir Walter Raleigh before him and for that he thought there remained some grudge of the last years falling out would needs have us shake hands which we did both the willinglier because there had nothing passed betwixt us that might blemish reputation From thence we went to Plymmouth and so towards Spain Where in the height of six or seven and fourty degrees we were encountred with a storme against which the whole navy strove obstinately till the greater part of the ships were distressed amongst which the Generalls mine and Sir Walter Raleighs and Sir George Caryes my main mast being in the partners rent to the very spindell which was eleven inches deep in so much as to avoid the endangering of the ship the Captain and Master were earnest with me to have cast it over-board which I would not assent unto but setting men to work brought it standing to Plymmouth and there strengthened it so that it served the rest of the voiage The Lord Thomas Howard Vice-Admirall with some few ships got within sight of the North-Cape where having plyed off and on three or four dayes doubting that the rest of the fleet was put back because it appeared not he returned also to our Coast. Our stay at Plymmouth was about a moneth more through want of wind then unwillingnesse or unreadinesse of our ships which with all diligence were repaired In the mean time our victuals consuming it was debated in Council whether the journey could be performed or no without a further supply of victuals It was judged extream dangerous and on the other side as difficult to supply the army with victuals which being to come from London and the East-parts of the Realm and be brought up at adventure there being no sufficient store in readinesse would hardly be ministred unto us so fast as we should consume them And therefore it was first resolved to discharge all the land-forces saving those thousand I brought out of the Low-countreys with the shipping they were imbarqued in Then it was further debated in Council how to employ the fleet the purpose of landing the army at the Groyne being dissolved A West-Indian voiage was propounded whereupon every one in particular being to give his advise it was assented to by them all only my self was of opinion it could not stand with the honour profit and safety of her Majestie and the State the fleet being so slenderly provided of forces and provisions that nothing could be exploited there answerable to the expectation would be generally conceived and yet in the mean time through the want of her Majesties Royall navy and other principall shipping of the Realm with the choice Commanders both for sea and land the State might be endangered by an attempt made by the Spaniards upon our own coast whom we certainly knew to have then in readinesse a great power of sea and land-forces in the North-parts of Spain Things thus handled the Lord Generall posted to the Court After his return no more speech was had of the Indian voiage but a resolution taken to attempt the firing of the fleet at Faroll and on the rest of the coast of Spain and to intercept the Indian fleet as in our discretions we should think fittest either when we came upon the coast of Spain or by going to the Islands With this resolution we set forwards directing our course to the North-Cape with reasonable wind and weather yet the fleet scattered for in a manner all the squadron of Sir Walter Raleigh and some ships of the other squadrons followed him who for a misfortune in his main-yard kept more to seaward The Lord Generall whilest he and the rest of the fleet lay off and on before the Cape attending Sir Walter Raleighs coming who with some speciall ships had undertaken this exploit of firing the fleet suddenly laid his ship by the lee which because it was his order when he would speak with other ships I made to him to know his Lordships pleasure He spake to me from the poupe saying I should attend and have an eye to his ship in which at that instant there was an extream and dangerous leak though he would not have me nor any other of the fleet know it Which leak being stopped he directed his course along the coast Southward and about ten leagues from the Groyne called a Council in which it was resolved to give over the enterprise of Faroll which as it was difficult to have been executed on a sudden so now that we had been seen by the countrey it was held impossible and not to linger upon the coast of Spain but to go directly to the Islands the time of the year now growing on that the Indian fleet usually returned And to advertise Sir Walter Raleigh diverse pinnaces were sent out that till such a day the wind and weather serving the Generall would stay for him in such a certain height and thence would make directly for the Azores At this Council his Lordship made a dispatch for England I do not well remember where Sir Walter Raleigh and the rest of the fleet met us but as I take it about Flores and Corvo the westerliest Islands of the Azores where we arrived in seven or eight dayes after we had put from the coast of Spain We stayed there some few daies and took in some refreshing of water and victuals such as they could yield which being not so well able to supply us as the other Islands it was resolved in Council to put back to them and the squadrons for the more commodity of the fleet appointed unto severall Islands The Generall with his squadron was to
VERE'S COMMENTARIES Brave Vere who hast by deeds of arms made good What thou hadst promised by birth and bloud Whose courage ner'e turn'd edge being backt with wise And sober reason sharpned with advise Look Reader how from Neuport hills he throws Himself a thunder-bolt amongst his foes And what his Sword indited that his Pen With like success doth here fight o're agen What Mars performed Mercurie doth tell None e're but Cesar fought and wrote so well Why may not then his Book this title carry The second part of Cesar's Commentary VERI SCIPIADae duo fulmina belli FRANCISCO VERO Equiti Aurato Galfredi F. Ioannis Cunitis Oxoniae Nepoti Brieliae et Portsmuthae Praefecto Anglicarum copiarum in Belgio Ductori Summo ELIZABETHA uxor viro Charissimo quocum Conjunctissime vixit hoc Supremuni amoris et fidei Conjugalis monumentum maestissima et cum Lacrymis Geme Posuit Obijt XXVIII Di 〈…〉 Salutis MDCVIII et anno AEtatis Suae LIIII Sr Francis Vere THE COMMENTARIES OF Sr. FRANCIS VERE Being Diverse pieces of service wherein he had command written by himself in way of Commentary Published by William Dillingham D. D. Vt VERUS in suis Commentariis prodidit Camd. Annal. Mihi sufficit haec summatim è VERI Commentario annotâsse Idem Ibid. CAMBRIDGE Printed by Iohn Field Printer to the famous University Anno Dom. MDCLVII TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFULL HORACE TOWNSHEND BARONET Right Worshipfull I Here present you with the Works that is with the actions and writings of your great Uncle Sir Francis Vere unto which as you have a right by bloud common to some others with you so have you also right by purchase proper and peculiar to your self alone having freely contributed to adorn the Impression wherein you have consulted as the Readers delight and satisfaction so the honour and reputation of your family I have read of one that used to wear his fathers picture alwaies about him that by often looking thereon he might be reminded to imitate his vertues and to admit of nothing unworthy the memory of such an Ancestour Now Sir I think you shall not need any other monitour then your own name if but as often as you write it or hear it spoken you recall into your thoughts those your Progenitours who contributed to it your Honoured father Sir Roger Townshend and your Grandfather the truly Honourable and valiant the Lord Vere of Tilbury men famous in their generations for owning religion not onely by profession but also by the practise and patronage of it whose vertues while you shall make the pattern of your imitation you will increase in favour with God and men and answer the just expectations of your countrey And that you may so do it is the earnest desire and hearty prayer of Sir Your respectfull friend and humble servant William Dillingham To the ingenuous Reader ALthough this book can neither need nor admit of any letters recommendatory from so mean a hand yet I thought it not incongruous to give thee some account of it especially coming forth so many years after the Authours death Know then that some years since it was my good hap to meet with a copy of it in a library of a friend which had been either transcribed from or at least compared with another in the owning and possession of Major-General Skippon which I had no sooner looked into but I found my self led on with exceeding delight to the perusall of it The gallantry of the Action the modesty of the Authour the becomingness of the stile did much affect me and I soon resolved that such a treasure could not without ingratitude to the Authour and his Noble Family nor without a manifest injury to the repute of our English Nation yea and unto truth it self be any longer concealed in obscurity Whereupon I engaged my best endeavours to bring it into the publick view but finding some imperfections and doubtfull places in that copy I gave my self to further inquiry after some other copies supposing it very improbable that they should all stumble at the same stone And so I was favoured with another copy out of the increasing Library of the Right Honourable the Earl of Westmorland which had been transcribed immediately from the Authours own another the Honourable the Lord Fairfax was pleased to afford me the perusal of but that which was instar omnium was the original it self written by the Authours own hand being the goods and treasure of the Right Honourable Earl of Clare but at present through his favour in my possession These Reader are the Personages whose favour herein I am even upon thy account obliged here to remember and acknowledge I have subjoyned Sir John Ogles account of the last charge at Neuport-battel whom I suppose our Authour himself would have allowed being his Lieutenant-Colonel to bring up the reere I have also inserted his account of the Parly at the siege of Ostend both communicated to me by the same friendly hand that first lent me the copy of Sir Francis Vere And for thy further satisfaction I have adventured to continue the story of that siege from the time that our Authour put up his pen to the time that he put up his sword there having first by his example taught others the way how to defend the town Last of all at the end of the book thou wilt meet with the History of Neuport-battel written some time since in Latine by an elegant and learned pen which for the consanguinity of it is here subjoyned But if any shall take upon them to censure him as having translated Sir Francis Vere without acknowledging of him for the Authour I have this to answer on his behalf viz. that as he doth no where deny his translating of him so that he did conceal it we may very well impute it to the desire he had both to afford Sir Francis Vere a more ample and advantageous character then his own modesty would permit him to assume unto himself and also to give in his testimony unto the truth in a matter which others his countreymen had with too much partiality related And this also let me further add that whether he did translate it or not yet this I suppose will not be questioned that very few Authours either ancient or modern have in so narrow a compass so highly deserved of the learned and ingenious Reader as he hath done I will not here mention any thing concerning our Authours life or extraction the one whereof is sufficiently known and for the other I shall content my self with what Sir Robert Naunton hath briefly written of him which I have printed here before the Book which is all but a larger Commentary upon that which he hath there delivered Onely give me leave to be-moan a little our own loss and the Authours unhappiness in this That his Noble Brother having been in courage equal and in hazards undivided should leave him here to go alone
and foot of the army was to attend at the crosse way to favour my retreat My hors-men about noon gave the enemy the alarm and according to their directions made their retreat no enemy appearing whereupon I also retired with the rest of the troop till I came to the crosse way where I found the Count Maurice with his troops In the head of which towards the way of the cawsey with some distance betwixt his troops and mine I made a stand in a little-field by the side of the way where they were at covert We had not been here half an houre but our scouts brought word the enemy was at hand which the Count Maurice's horsemen hearing without any order as every one could get formost to the number of seven or eight hundred they made withall speed towards the enemy I presumed and said they would return faster and in more disorder as it fell out for the enemy coming as fast towards them but in better order put them presently in rout and the greater the number was the more was the amazement and confusion Thus they passed by us with the enemy at their heels laying on them I knew not what other troops they had at hand nor what discouragement this sight might put into the mindes of our men and therefore whereas I purposed to have let the enemy passe if this unlooked for disorder had not happened amongst our horsemen I shewed my troops on their flanks and galled them both with shot and pikes so that they not onely left pursuing their chase but turned their backs Which our horsemen perceiving followed and thus revenged themselves to the full for they never gave over untill they had wholly defeated the troop which was of eight hundred horse of which they brought betwixt two and three hundred prisoners whereof diverse were Captains as Don Alphonso d' Aualos Fradillâ— and others with diverse Cornets and about five hundred horses This defeat so troubled the Duke of Parma that being so forward on his siege and having filled part of the ditch of the fort he retired his army thence and passed the river of Wael a little above Nimmeghen with more dishonour then in any action that he had undertaken in these warres The Calis-journey IN the year of our Lord one thousand five hundred ninetie six I was sent for into England at that time when the journey to the coast of Spain was resolved on which because of the taking of Calis was after commonly called the Calis-journey and returned speedily into the Low Countreys with letters of credence to the States from her Majestie to acquaint them with her Majesties purpose and to hasten the preparation of the shipping they had already promised to attend her Majesties fleet in those seas withall to let them know her Majesties desire to have two thousand of her own subjects as well of those in their pay as her own to be imployed in that action and to be conducted by me to the Earl of Essex and the Lord Admirall of England Generalls of that action by joynt commission The fleet set sail shortly after and my Lord of Essex leaving his own ship imbarqued himself in the Rainbow with my self and some few of his ordinarie attendant servants of purpose as I suppose to conferre with me at the full and at ease of his journey After two dayes sailing his Lordship landed at Beachim near Rye with diverse other Noblemen that he had attending him so far on his journey He took me along with him to the Court and thence dispatched me to Plymmouth whither most of the Land-forces were to march to see them lodged provided of necessaries and trained and ordered which I did accordingly to the great contentment of the Generalls when at their coming they saw the readinesse of the men which were then exercised before them During this stay of the armie about Plymmouth which by reason of the contrarietie of wind was near a moneth it pleased my Lord of Essex to give me much countenance and to have me alwayes near him which drew upon me no small envie in so much as some open jarres fell out betwixt Sir Walter Raleigh then Rear-admirall of the navie and Sir Conniers Clifford Sergeant-major-generall of the armie and my self which the Generall qualified for the time and ordered that in all meetings at Land I should have the precedence of Sir Walter Raleigh and he of me at Sea Sir Conniers Clifford though there were grudging there could be no competition yet being a man of a haughtie stomach and not of the greatest government or experience in Martiall discipline lest ignorance or will might mislead him in the execution of his office and to give a rule to the rest of the high officers which were chosen rather for favour then for long continuance in service to the better directing of them in their duties as also for the more readinesse in the Generall himself to judge and distinguish upon all occasions of controversie I propounded to my Lord of Essex as a thing most necessary the setting down in writing what belonged properly to every office in the field which motion his Lordship liked well and at severall times in the morning his Lordship and my self together he with his own hand wrote what my industrie and experience had made me able to deliver which was afterwards copied delivered severally to the officers and took so good effect that no question arose in that behalf during the journey The wind serving and the troop shipped I imbarqued in the foresaid Rainbow as Vice-admirall of my Lord of Essex his squadron The one and twentieth day after being as I take it the first of July the fleet arrived early in the in the morning before Calis-Malis and shortly after came to an anchor as near the Caletta as the depth would suffer us In the mouth of the Bay thwart of the rocks called Los puercos there lay to our judgement fortie or fiftie tall ships whereof were four of the kings greatest and warlikest Gallions eighteen Merchant ships of the West-Indian fleet outward bounden and richly laden the rest private Merchants Because it was thought these could not escape us in putting to fea the first project of landing our men in the Caletta went on and so the troops appointed for that purpose were imbarqued in our barges and long boats But the wind blowing hard the landing was thought too dangerous the rather for that the enemie shewed themselves on the shore with good troops of horse and foot Notwithstanding in hope the weather would calm the men were still kept in the boats at the ships sterns This day the Generalls met not together but the Lord Admirall had most of the sea officers aboard with him as the Lord of Essex had those for land service and Sir Walter Raleigh was sent to and fro betwixt them with messages so that in the end it was resolved and agreed upon to put the next tide into the Bay
the enemy were engaged might not at once appear to them and to advance with all diligence when the troop before them did retire to meet them charge the enemy enter the town with them peslemesle With the rest of the forces his Lordship and I followed The place served well for our purpose being covert and of no advantage for their horsmen and the directions were so well observed that the enemy was engaged in following our first troop before they discovered the rest and so in hope and assurance of victory being beyond expectation lively encountered they fled in disorder towards the town so nearly followed of our men that most of the horsmen forsook their horses and saved themselves some by the gates others clambering over the walls as did also their footmen our men following them at the heels to the very gate which they found shut against them and men standing over it and upon the walls to resist us The ditch was very hollow but dry out of which was raised a massy rampier with two round half bulwarks the one towards the one sea the other towards the other for height and thicknesse in their perfection but not steeped and scarped so as it was very mountable lying close to the old wall of the town which somewhat overtopped it no higher then in many places a man might reach with his hand To the top of this rampier our men climbed who being for the most part old and experienced souldiers of the Bands I brought out of the Low-countries boldly attempted to climbe the wall from which they beat with their shot the defendants wanting no encouragements that good example of the chiefs could give them the Generall himself being as forward as any Whilest it was hard stroven and fought on that side I sent a Captain and Countrey-man of mine called Upsher with some few men alongst the ditch to see what guard was held along the wall toward the Bay-ward and whether any easier entrance might be made that way or no willing him to bring or send me word which he did accordingly though the messenger came not to me He found so slender a guard that he entred the town with those few men he had which the enemy perceiving fled from the walls and our men entred as fast on the other side My Lord of Essex was one of the first that got over the walls followed by the souldiers as the place would give them leave and such was their fury being once entred that as they got in scatteringly so they hasted towards the town without gathering any strong and orderly body of men as in such case is requisite or once endeavouring to open the gate for more convenient entry for the rest of the troops I therefore foreseeing what might ensue of this confusion held the third body of the men together and with much adoe brake open the gate by which I entred the town and so keeping the way that leads from the gate towards the town joyned to my foot those men I met withall scattered here and there Not farre from the Market-place I found my Lord of Essex at a stand with fourty or fifty men whence I might see some few of the enemy in the Market-place which made me advance towards them without attending any commandment who upon my approaching retired themselves into the Town-house whither I pursued them broke open the gates and after good resistance made by the Spaniards in the upper rooms of the house became Master of it in which I left a guard and went down into the Market-place and found my Lord of Essex at the Town-house-door I humbly intreated his Lordship to make that place good and give me leave to scoure and assure the rest of the town which I did accordingly And though I was but slackly and slenderly followed by reason of our mens greedinesse of spoil yet such Spaniards as I found making head and coming towards the Market-place I drove back into the Fort Saint Philip and the Abby of Saint Francis Those of the Abby yielded to the number of two hundred Gentlemen and others and being disarmed were put into a Chapel and there left guarded Those of Saint Philip it being now in the evening cryed to us that in the morning they would render the place Before which also having put a guard and understanding by some prisoners that there was no other place of any strength but the old town near the Market-place I repaired to my Lord of Essex whom I found in the Market-place and my Lord Admirall with him And after I had made report on what terms things stood where I had been I went to the said old town to visit the guards which were commanded by Sir Edward Conway with part of the forces landed with my Lord Admirall and from thence to that part of the town where we entred And thus all things in good assurance returned to the market-place where the rest of the forces were being held together to be readily imployed upon all occasions Their Lordships went up to the Town-house and there gave God thanks for the victory and afterwards all wounded and bloudy as he was yet undressed gave the honour of Knighthood to Sir Samuel Bagnall for his especiall merit and valour in that dayes service The losse was not very great on either side for as the Spanish troops that stood ordered without the walls got into the town confusedly and disorderly before we could mingle with them so every one as he was counselled by fear or courage provided for his own safety the most flying to the old town and Castle Those that made head after the first entrance being scattered here and there our men as they followed with more courage then order so encountered them in the like scattering manner falling streight to hand-strokes so as it seemed rather an inward tumult and town-fray then a fight of so mighty nations The next day the old town and the Fort of Saint Philip were delivered unto us and the people that were in them except some principall prisoners were suffered to depart with great courtesie shewed especially to the women of better sort There went out of the town Gentlemen and others likely men to bear arms betwixt four and five thousand the brunt of this exploit was born with lesse then a thousand men We could have no help of Sir Conniers Clifford who mistaking his directions went with his troops to the bridge called Punto Zuarro about three leagues distance And my Lord Admirall notwithstanding his Lordsh. used all possible diligence in the landing his men arrived not till we were in a manner full Masters of the town It was long disputed whether the town should be held or no. I offered with four thousand men to defend it till her Majesties pleasure might be known My Lord of Essex seemed to affect to remain there in person which the rest of the Council would not assent unto but rather to abandon and set it on fire
manner would talk and question with me concerning the late journey and though it pleased her alwayes to give credit to the reports I made which I never blemished with falshood for any respect whatsoever yet I thought this forbearance to see my Lord would make my speech work more effectually So soon then as I was able to go abroad I went to the Court which was then at Whitehall and because I would use no bodies help to give me accesse to her Majesty as also that I desired to be heard more publickly I resolved to shew my self to her Majesty when she came into the garden where so soon as she set her gracious eye upon me she called me to her and questioned with me concerning the journey seeming greatly incensed against my Lord of Essex laying the whole blame of the evil successe of the journey on his Lordship both for the not burning and spoiling of the fleet at Faroll and missing the Indian fleet Wherein with the truth I boldly justified his Lordship with such earnestnesse that my voice growing shrill the standers by which were many might hear for her Majesty then walked laying the blame freely upon them that deserved it And some there present being called to confront me were forced to confesse the contrary of that they had delivered to her Majesty insomuch that I answered all objections against the Earl wherewith her Majesty well quieted and satisfied sate her down in the end of the walk and calling me to her fell into more particular discourse of his Lordships humours and ambition all which she pleased then to construe so graciously that before she left me she fell into much commendation of him who very shortly after came to the Court This office I performed to his Lordship to the grieving and bitter incensing of the contrary party against me when notwithstanding I had discovered as is aforesaid in my recuilment his Lordships coldnesse of affection to me and had plainly told my Lord himself mine own resolution in which I still persisted not to follow his Lordship any more in the warres yet to make as full return as I could for the good favour the world supposed his Lordship bare me fearing more to incurre the opinion of ingratitude then the malice of any enemies how great soever which the delivery of truth could procure me The Government of the BRIELL I Stayed the winter following in England in which time my Lord Sheffeild making resignation of his Government of the Briell into her Majesties hands I was advised and encouraged by my good friends to make means to her Majesty for that charge which it was long before I could hearken unto having no friends to relie on For as I had good cause to doubt my Lord of Essex would not further me in that suit so I was as loth to have any thing by his means in the terms I then stood in with his Lordship mush lesse by any other persons that were known his opposers Being still urged to undertake the suit I began at length to take some better liking of it and to guesse there was some further meaning in it and therefore I answered that if I were assured that Master Secretary would not crosse me I would undertake the matter whereof having some hope given me I took occasion one day in the chamber of presence to tell his Lordship as much who answered me that as he would be no mover or recommender of suits for me or any other so he would not crosse me I desired his Lordship of no further favour then might be lookt for from a man in his place for publick respects And hereupon I resolved to have her Majesty moved which Sir Fulk Grevill performed effectually her Majesty as her manner was fell to objecting That I served the States and that those two charges could not well stand together My Lord of Essex was before this gone from Court discontented because of the difficulty he found in obtaining the Earl-Marshalship of England I went therefore to Wanstead to his Lordship in good manners to acquaint him with what I had done who rather discouraged me then otherwise in the pursuit Notwithstanding I waited and followed my businesse hard and one evening in the garden moved her Majesty my self who alleadging as before she had done to Sir Fulk Grevill That it could not stand with her service that both those places should go together I told her Majesty that I was willing if there were no remedy rather to forsake the States service then misse the place I was a suiter to her Majesty for in hers and so for that time her Majesty left me without any discouragement The Earl of Sussex was my onely competitour and for him my Lord North professed to stand earnestly who as soon as I was risen from my knees told me that such places as I was now a suiter for were wonted to be granted onely to Noblemen I answered there were none ennobled but by the favour of the Prince and the same way I took About this time her Majesty being in hand with the States to make a transaction from the old treaty to the new in which the States were to take upon them the payment to her Majesty yearly so much monie as would pay the ordinary Garrison of the cautionary towns it fell in deliberation what numbers were competent for the guard of the said towns wherein before my Lords would resolve they were pleased to call before them my Lord Sidney and my self to hear our opinions addressing their speech concerning the Briell to me whereunto I made such answer as I thought fit not partially as one that pretended to have interest in that Government but as I thought meet for her Majesties service And hereupon Master Secretary took occasion merrily to say to my Lords that they might see what difference there was betwixt the care of Sir Francis Vere a neutrall man and that of my Lord Sidney that spake for his own Government but saith his Lordship he will repent it when he is Governour and then told their Lordships I was suiter for the place and that I should have for it his best furtherance My Lords gave a very favourable applause to Master Secretaries resolution and severally blamed me that I had not acquainted them with my suite and taken the furtherance they willingly would have given me It is true I never made any body acquainted with my suit but Sir Fulk Grevill and Master Secretary From thence forward I addressed my self more freely to Master Secretary and conceived by his fashion an assurance of good issue though I had not a finall dispatch in two moneths after In the mean time my Lord Sidney and my Lord Gray were labouring to succeed me in the States service my Lord of Essex had promised his assistance to my Lord Sidney insomuch as when I told him at his coming to the Court in what forwardnesse I was for the Briell and danger to lose my other
Geule on the East-side the enemy had now so streightened this also by their float of great planks bearing Ordnance on the Geule that they of the town were fain to make a second new haven against the midst of the old town by which means the enemies designes were eluded and the ships of supplies admitted into the town at pleasure This dangerous thrust being so handsomly put by the enemy had no other play left him but to storm which he resolved upon and prepared himself accordingly But in the mean while it will not be amisse to take notice of a passage which happened in the town A French Gentleman disobeying his Serjeant and thereupon causing a great tumult was committed to prison and eight dayes after condemned by a Council of War to be shot to death but because he was descended of a good House all the French Captains interposed their earnest intreaties to Generall Vere and begged his life which was granted upon condition that he should ask the Serjeant forgivenesse this when he could not by any means or perswasion be brought unto he had eight dayes respite granted him to resolve himself which being past and he continuing still as obstinate as ever he was brought forth unto the place of execution and tied to a stake but when once he saw the Harquebusiers ready to discharge he began to be apprehensive of the horrour of death intreating that he might be unbound and promising to perform the sentence ask the Serjeant forgivenesse which he forthwith did and thereupon was released So much easier is it for pride and rashnesse to commit a fault then heartily to acknowledge it A truer courage was that of another in the town during the siege An English Gentleman of about three twenty years of age in a sally forth had one of his arms shot off with a Cannon which taking up he brought back with him into the town unto the Chirurgion and coming into his lodging shewed it saying Behold the arm which but at dinner did help its fellow This he did and endured without the least fainting or so much as reposing upon his bed Not long after on the fourth of December early in the morning the besiegers gave a fierce and sharp assault upon the English trenches which take in the words of one present at it SIr FRANCIS VERE having been abroad the most part of that night was laid down to take his rest but hearing the alarm that the English trenches were assaulted and knowing of how great import that work was for the defence of the town pulling on his stockins with his sword in his hand he ran in all haste unbraced with some souldiers and Captain Couldwell and my self into the work where he found his own company at push of pike upon a turn-pike with the enemie who crying in French Entrez entrez advancez advancez strove to enter that way and sought to over-turn the turn-pike with their pikes and some of his Gentlemen among the rest Lieutenant-Colonel Proud who was afterwards slain at Maestricht slashing off the heads of their pikes which he took notice of and shortly after made him a Lieutenant The enemy being repulsed and beaten off Sir Francis Vere to the end our men might give fire the better upon them from the town and bulwarks which flanked this work both with our Ordnance and sin all shot commanded the souldiers to take some straw from the huts within the work and making wisps of it to set it on fire upon the parapet of the work and upon the heads of their pikes by which light the enemies were discovered so that our men gave fire bravely upon them from the town and the work and shot into their battalions which had fallen on and their men that were carrying off their dead so that upon this attempt the enemy lost a matter of five hundred men which lay under our work and between their trenches The enemy being retreated into his works Sir Francis Vere called me to him and said Boy come now pull up my stockins and tie my points and so returned home again to his rest The next remarkable in the series of this famous siege was that memorable Treatie which Generall Vere intertained with the Archduke which I know none better able to give an account of then Sir Iohn Ogle who had much at stake in the businesse and was well acquainted with the severall passages thereof of which he hath left behinde him this following account Sir Francis Vere his parlie at Ostend written by Sir Iohn Ogle there present AFter the battell of Newport the Archduke Albert desirous to clear Flanders in the year following sate down with his army before Ostend unto which the Lords the States sent Sir Francis Vere their Generall to defend it He having good numbers of men thought it most serviceable for the States to employ them so as he might keep the enemie at arms-end and a fair distance from the town To this purpose he possessed himself of severall advantageous pieces of ground fortifying upon them so well as the time would give him leave but they were morsels as well for the enemies tooth as his and therefore cost both bickering and bloud on both sides till at the last what with numbers artillery and better commodity of accesse he was forced to quit the most of them and that ere he brought them to any perfection of strength whereby to make any resistance Such as were nearest the town and under the succour of his own power as the three Quarriers or squares with some few others he kept and maintained as long as he stayed there yet when by protract of time and casualties of war he found his numbers wasted and himself the enemy creeping upon him so streightned as he was thrust meerly upon the defence he saw he was not in his proper element nor indeed was he for the truth is his vertues being great strong and active required more elbow-room having their best lustre where they had the largest foil to set them off The works of Battel Invasion and the like were the proper objects of his spirit The limits of Ostend were much too narrow for him yet did he there many things worth the observation and reputation of so great a Captain as he was Amongst the rest that of his Parley was of most eminent note and as most noted so most and worst censured and that as well by sword as gown-men yea his judgement which even by his enemies hath often been confessed to be one of the most able that ever our Nation delivered to the world in matters of his profession was in this action taxed and that in print too for his manner of carriage in this businesse Now because I was in some sort the onely instrument he used in the mannaging thereof and best acquainted with all passages I have for the love I owe to truth and his memory thought good to set down in writing what I have heretofore
Church they had shot down to throw amongst them then we had ropes of pitch hoops bound about with squibs and fire-works to throw among them great store of hand-granadoes and clubs which we called Hercules-clubs with heavy heads of wood and nails driven into the squares of them These and some others because the enemy had sworn all our deaths the Generall provided to entertain and welcome them When it began to grow darkish a little before low-water in the interim while the enemie was a cooling of his Ordnance which had playd all the day long upon the breach and the old town the Generall taking advantage of this precious time commanded Captain Dexter and Captain Clark with some fiftie stout workmen who had a rose-noble apiece for a quarter of an houres work to get up to the top of the breach which the enemies cannon had made very mountable and then with all expedition to cast up a small breast-work and drive in as many Palizadoes as possibly they could that his brother Sir Horace Vere and the rest of the Captains and souldiers which he commanded might have some little shelter the better to defend the breach and repulse the enemie when he strived to enter which blessed be God with the losse of a few men they performed This being done Sir Francis Vere went through the sally-port down into the False-bray and it being twilight called for an old souldier a Gentleman of his company to go out Sentinel-perdu and to creep out to the strand between two gabions giving him expresse command that if he saw an enemy he should come in unto him silently without giving any alarm at all He crept upon his belly as far as he could and at last discovered Count Farneze above mentioned wading and putting over the old-haven above their pile-battery with his two thousand Italians which were to fall on first and as they waded over he drew them up into battalions and divisions which this Gentleman having discovered came in silently to Sir Francis Vere as he had commanded him who asked him What news My Lord said he I smell good store of gold chains buff-jerkins Spanish-cassocks and Spanish-blades Ha sayes Sir Francis Vere sayest thou me so I hope thou shalt have some of them anon and giving him a piece of gold he went up again through the sally-port to the top of Sand-hil where he gave expresse order to Serjeant-major Carpenter to go to Helmont and every man to his charge and not to take any alarm or shoot off either cannon or musket-shot till he himself gave the signall and then to give fire both with the Ordnance and small shot as fast as ever they could charge and discharge When the enemy had put over his two thousand Italians he had also a signall to give notice thereof to the Count of Bucquoy that they were ready to fall on whose signal was the shot of a cannon from their pile-battery with a hollow-holed bullet into the sea towards his quarter which made a humming noyse When Generall Vere had got them under the swoop of his cannon and small-shot he powred a volley of cannon and musket-shot upon them raking through their battalions and making lanes amongst them upon the bare strand which did so amaze and startle them that they were at a non-plus whether they should fall on or retreat back again yet at last taking courage and tumbling over their dead bodies they rallyed themselves and came under the foot of Sand-hil and along the foot of the curtain of the old town to the very piles that were strook under the wall where they began to make ready to send us a volley Which Sir Francis Vere seeing that they were a presenting and ready to give fire upon us because indeed all the breast-work and parapet was beaten down flat to the rampier that day with their Ordnance and we standing open to the enemies shot commanded all the souldiers to fall flat down upon the ground while the enemies shot flew like a shower of hail over their heads which for the reasons above-said saved a great many mens lives This being done our men rising saw the enemy hastâ—ng to come up to the breach and mounting up the wall of the old town Sir Francis Vere flourishing his sword called to them in Spanish and Italian vienneza causing the souldiers as they climbed up to cast and tumble down among them the firkins of ashes the barrels of Frize-ruyters the hoops stones and brick-bats which were provided for them The alarm being given it was admirable to see with what courage and resolution our men fought yea the Lord did as it were infuse fresh courage and strength into a company of poor snakes and sick souldiers which come running out of their huts up to the wall to fight their shares and the women with their laps full of powder to supply them when they had shot away all their ammunition Now were the walls of Ostend all on a light fire and our Ordnance thundring upon them from our bulwarks now was there a lamentable cry of dying men among them for they could no sooner come up to the top of the breach to enter it or peep up between Sand-hil and Schottenburch but they were either knocked on the head with the stocks of our muskets our Hercules-clubs or run through with our pikes and swords Twice or thrice when they strived to enter they were beaten off and could get no advantage upon us The fight upon the breach and the old town continued hotter and hotter for the space of above an houre the enemie falling on at the same instant upon the Porc-espic Helmont the West-raveline Quarriers were so bravely repulsed that they could not enter a man The enemy fainting and having had his belly full those on the West-side heat a dolefull retreat while the Lord of Hosts ended our dispute for the town crowned us with victory and the roaring noise of our Cannon rending the aire and rolling along the superficies of the water the wind being South and with us carried that night the news thereof to our friends in England and Holland Generall Vere perceiving the enemy to fall off commanded me to run as fast as ever I could to Serjeant-major Carpenter and the Auditour Fleming who were upon Helmont that they should presently open the West-slute out of which there ran such a stream and torrent down through the chanel of the West-haven that upon their retreat it carried away many of their sound and hurt men into the sea and besides our men fell down our walls after them slew a great many of their men as they retreated and took some prisoners pillaged and stript a great many and brought in gold-chains Spanish-pistols buff-jerkins Spanish-cassocks blades swords and targets among the rest one wherein was enammeled in gold the seven Worthies worth seven or eight hundred gilders and among the rest that souldier which Sir Francis Vere had sent out to discover with as