send them from Sluce to Sea or else through the channell of Iperlee into other Hauens of Flanders He had likewise prepared seuentie flat bottomed vessels in the little Riuer at Waten each of them beeing able to carrie thirtie horse with Bridges fit to ship them he had likewise two hundred more of these Boates though not so big readie in the Hauen of Newport He had rigd two and thirtie ships of warre at Dunkirke wanting mariners he drew diuers from Hambourg Breme and Embden He had two thousand emptie vessels readie at Grauelin which in a short space might be soon fastened together in maner of a bridge with all prouision to make bridges to choake vp hauens and to found them and neere to the Hauen of Newport hee had prepared great heapes of Fagots and other substance to make Gabions in many of his Boates were two Ouens to bake bread he had likewise great numbers of Saddles Bridles and furniture for horse with all sorts of ordnance and munition necessarie thereunto Beside he had a Campe readie not farre from Newport commaunded by Camillo the campe-Campe-Master and thirtie Ensignes of Italians tenne of Walons eight of Scots eight of Burgonians in all fiftie sixe Ensignes euerie Ensigne an hundred men compleat Neere to Dixmuyde hee had sixtie Spanish Ensignes sixtie of Almans and seuen of reuolted English vnder the commaund of of Sir William Stanley The Earle of Westmerland and the Lord Paget English fugitiues were there likewise readie to imbarke In the suburbs of Courtray he had foure thousand horse 900 horse at Watene with the Marquesse of Guastos Cornet who was Generall of the horse Pope Sixtus the fist the better to strengthen the sayd Armie and weaken the Queene of Englands power did for his part doe all he could imploying his spirituall armes as they terme it published his Croizades and Bulls for the aduancement of this enterprise and gaue great pardons which were printed and distributed abroad He had likewise as it is reported giuen the Realme of England to the King of Spaine with this Title of Defender of the Christian faith commaunding him to surprise it on condition that if he should win it he should enioy it as a seodatarie to the See of Rome and to this end the Pope contributed a million of gold or ten ne hundred thousand ducats the one halfe in hand and the other when eyther England or some famous Hauen should bee woon And for the better furtherance thereof the Pope sent an English Doctor called Allen into the Low-countries who should haue had the managing of all Ecclesiasticall affaires He caused a declaration of the Popes to be Printed at Antuerpe confirming his predecessors sentence of excommunication deposing and degrading the Queen of England from all her titles and dignities as an vsurper which for the aduauncement of the enterprise he would haue published in England The Spanyard the better to couer and conceale his practises or else peraduenture to make the world beleeue that his designe was rather for the vnited Prouinces than for England made a solemne treatie of peace with the Queen at Bourbourg in Flanders But the Prouinces Towns and Forts neere to the Sea gaue aduertisements protested and sought all meanes to hinder and breake off this treatie of peace aduising the English rather to stand upon their Gard Yet some in England stood fast for peace or truce as most necessarie profitable for the State of their countrie as well for their traffique nauigation as to cut off the great expence of a long tedious war others by this meanes thought to diuert the fleet from them so to auoid the tempest In a word Parma hereby did lull full diuers Englishmen a sleep who were desirous of peace in the Low countries himselfe thinking on nothing lesse than peace studying how he might conquer England which he had alreadie promised to himselfe Whereupon the English the vnited prouinces were in some sort prepared for defence against the force of this fleet but not according to the greatnesse of the danger for it was giuen out that this great Armada was onely to conuey the Spanish fleet to the Indies and bring it safe home againe which was the rather belieued because the ships being so great some thought that the Spaniards would not hazard them in the narrow seas nere to England In May the French King sent a message to the Queene of England by which hee aduised her to prepare for defence for that he was truly enformed that this tempest wold light vpon her Wherupon the Queene speedily prepared a fleet of her owne ships and that of her subjects sent part thereof to Plimmouth in the West parts vnder the commaund of the Lord Admirall Charles Lord Howard of Effingham now Earle of Nottingham together with Sir Francis Drake Vice-Admirall to the number of 100 saile An other fleet lay betwixt Douer and Calais vnder the commaund of the Lord Henrie Seymer sonne to the Duke of Somerset to the number of 40 or 50 saile All England was in Armes vnder valiant and trusty Captaines And because it was reported that the Spanyards conjoyned with Parma would come vp into the Riuer of Thames a Campe was made nere Grauesend with forts on both sides the Riuer by Frederic Ienibelli an excellent Ingeneir The Queene came in person to the Campe like a second Tomyris or Pallas other Camps were likewise placed in other parts As for the vnited Prouinces of Holland Zeland c. they by a mutuall consent resolued to doe the like But because they vnderstood that the Spanish ships were too bigge to come nere their shallow shoares they were more afraid of Parma and his flat bottomed Boats notwithstanding their own incessiue broiles they made readie a fleet of ninetie vessels which they sent to gard al the Hauens of Flaunders euen from the Scheld and Lillo as farre as Grauelin and had placed strong Garrisons in all their Sea Townes And to make some opposition against the Spanish fleet they sent Captaine Cornelis Lonck of Rosendael with fiue and twentie or thirtie vessels to joyne with the Lord Henrie Seymer and to lye betwixt Calais and Antuerpe But the ships were by Tempest and Northerlie winds enforced to quit the coast of Flanders and to returne into England yet when the tempest ceased they returned with Iustinus of Nassau who was there in person with George le More Vice-Admirall of Zeland being in number fiftie fiue vessels great and small of 80 and two hundred and fiftie tunne excellently well mand with souldiers and mariners beside one thousand two hundred old choyce musquetiers drawne from all the Regiments who were resolute and skilfull in Sea fight This was dore to keepe Parmas fleet from comming forth of the Hauens which was a matter of most importance In the meane time on the nine and twentieth day of May 1588 the aforesaid mightie Nauie sayled forth of the Hauen of Lisbone vnder
to be vnder command of the English Many voluntaries were likewise in this fleet as count Lodwick of Nassau son to count Iohn others An armie of land souldiers was likewise in this fleet of whom the Earle of Sussex was generall In this armie were sundrie regiments commanded by the Earle of Sussex sir Edward Conway Sir Conihurst Clifford Sir Christopher Blunt Sir Thomas Gerard Sir Iohn Winckfield and others The number of the souldiers amounted to 6000 able men among whom were two thousand two hundred old English souldiers brought forth of the low-countries by sir Frauncis Veer chosen forth of euerie companie There were likewise certaine Dutch companies vnder captaine Metkerke and aboue one thousand voluntarie gentlemen among whom was D. Christophero of Portugal sonne to the king D. Antonio Count Lodwick of Nassau commaunded these voluntaries Sir Frauncis Veer was Lord Marshall of the field Sir George Carow Master of the ordnance and sir Conihurst Clifford Serjeant Major This fleet departed from Plimmouth in England on the thirteenth of Iune there were in it one hundred and fortie saile great and small Being come neere to the Spanish coast they had intelligence by a small barke that came from Ireland that in the Bay of Cales in Andeluzia whether they were going fiftie seuen great ships and twentie gallies lay foure great gallions each of them carrying fortie or fiftie pieces of ordnance and in euerie of them six or seuen hundred men two great galleasses of Andeluzia foure great ships of Biscay foure Easterlings certaine great Argozies loden for the most part with ordnance and munition being bound for Lisbone in Portugal where another fleet of thirtie ships was prepared for Bretayne and Calais and money readie for that purpose Beside these there were three great Fregats of two hundred tunne a piece which came from Porto Ricco with the money Besides these ships of warre and gallies there was another fleet of fiue and thirtie ships verie richly loden which were bound for the West Indies readie to set saile in which vessels were aboue sixe thousand pipes of Spanish wines two thousand pipes of oyle fiue thousand weight of wax and all manner of pretious merchandize as cloth silke cloth of gold lace quick-siluer c. And it was reported by the king of Spaines officers this fleet was thought to be worth eleauen or twelue millions of ducats The English fleet hauing notice hereof made towards the Bay of Cales where it arriued on the thirtieth of Iune in the Morning and came to an anker nere to S. Sebastians point from whence they might easily see the Spanish ships and gallies that lay before Cales vnder the two castles The Vice-Admerrall the Lord Thomas Howard and sir Walter Raleigh being sent for by the Councell of warre Raleigh was commaunded to goe before with certaine ships to set vpon some great vessels which as they heard were readie to set saile forth of the Bay of S. Lucars comming thither they found them to lye so nere the shore as they could not approch them and were hindred from doing it by a certaine mist that arose in which the sayd vessels escaped and were by Raleigh so nerely chased to the land as his owne ships were in great daunger to haue runne on ground From thence Raleigh made towards the great fleet which in the meane time had ankored on the thirtieth of Iune in the Morning without the Bay of Cales into which all men especially the Low-countrie fleet thought they would haue directly entred seeing the ships and gallies to lye before the towne vnder the two castles but the English Admerall would not suffer it to be so because he thought the entrance would haue beene verie daungerous as also the assayling of the kings fleet before the towne were woonâ—which if they had done they must haue fought both with the gallions and gallies and beene opposed to the shot from the Towne and castles Thereupon sir Walter Raleigh came to the fleet and went aboord the General the Earle of Essex who was busied in landing his men on the West side of Cales where the Sea was so rough by reason of a West wind as the boats began to sinke neere the ships Raleigh told him it was verie daungerous to land his men because that betwixt them and shore foure gallies lâ—y to keepe them from landing saying That he was verie sorie that he had not first entred the hauen where the Spanish ships gallies lay which by their delay were now encouraged of this the general likewise complayned at whose entreatie Raleigh vndertooke to go and persuade the Admerall to enter which by many forcible reasons he did and cried out Let vs enter Let vs enter wherupon al the ships weighed ankor sailed towards the hauen But night preuented them the sun being alreadie set so as it was then too late to assaile the Spanish fleet that lay aboue a mile and halfe within the riuer as also for that it was a dangerous matter to fight by night in a strait On this consideration they came to an ankor where the canon presently saluted them from the towne and castle The English went to Councel to consult after what maner it were best to assaile the Spaniards the next Morning euerie commaunder striued to haue the vantgard yet they resolued not to hazard the Queenes great ships but vpon vrgent necessitie so as it was thought fit that sir Walter Raleigh with eight of the Queenes leslesser ships six Hollanders and twelue English Merchants ships should haue the vantguard this resolution was oppugned by the Lord Thomas Howard who said that honour belonged vnto him whereupon it was concluded that both of them should goe together So soone as it was day Raleigh would not loose time in weighing ankor but did let them slip and thereby had the aduauntage to let saile first the Spanish gallies discharged all their ordnance vpon him but he made not one shot leauing it to those that followed him and so went directly towards the gallions which lay in the deepest part of the riuer viz. the S. Philip S. Mathew S. Andrew and S. Thomas with two other verie great ships which together tooke vp all the bredth of the riuer Behind these gallions lay 6 others and behind them the gallies nerer the shore where the water was shal lowest and vpon the land stood the castle Puntall which flanked the riuer the lesser English ships assailed the gallies who thundred one vpon another In the mean time the Vice-Admeral the L. Thomas Howard came vp to sir Walter Raleigh with 6 of the Queens ships as nere to the gallions as they could possible discharging all their ordnance and fighting from six of the clocke in the Morning till none with as many ships as the channel could beare During the fight an vnfortunat euent happened in a ship of Rotterdam called the Dolphin where Guillaum Henrick was captaine the powder was by mischaunce set on fire whereby
not after the Spanish manner by force of armes but by Christian means dealing gently with the inhabitants therby seeking to augmēt their nauigation fishing and traffique this way being two thousand German leagues shorter than the Portugals voiage by the cape of Good hope much safer and free from Pirats and lesse subject to diseases because they need not passe the Equinoctiall lyne as the Portugals doe foure times forward and backward The States of the vnited Prouinces caused another voyage to be made and the yere following sent forth seuen ships two from Amsterdam two from Enchusen two from Zeland and one from Rotterdam six were loden with all kind of Merchandize and money euerie ship hauing his committee for traffike the seuenth being a small vessell was commaunded to returne so soone as the others were past the cape of Tabin which they met with before they come to the last point of Tartarie to bring home newes of the other ships Iacob de Heemskerck was committee general of the fleet and William Barrentson chiefe Pilot. Some of them were commanded to winter in those quarters to know how long the winter and yce doth continue hauing to that end prouision with them to make Stoues The most learned Cosmographers doubt not of the passage but onely of the promontorie of Tabins extension more to the Northward which diuers thinke to be impossible because that certain Indians as Plinie writes seuentie two yeres before the birth of Christ were by tempest throwne vpon the coast of Germanie and presented to Quintus Metellus Celer gouernour for the Romans in Fraunce Since then some came into Swethland and others as Dominicus Niger writes came in the Emperour Frederick Barbarossus time in the yeare 1160 and after that as Otho speakes in his Historie of the Goths certaine Indians of the Eastern Indies were cast vpon our coast so as there is hope that by the same way that these people came being aliue and in health and not knowing any place our men being wel furnished of all necessaries may make discouerie or may fal vpon the riuers of Oby and Quian which go farre vp into Tartarie from whence they may more and more discouer countries If this passage could be found out traffike would be changed ouer the whole world for those countries do abound in silke cotton wooll lead tinne copper gold siluer and pretious stones The chiefe aduenturers in this voyage for Zeland are Iacob Valck Tresorer of Zeland Christopher Roelsins pentioner to the States of Zeland with diuers merchants as Balthasar Moucheron and at Amsterdam Peter Plancius Iohn Ianson Charles Dirrick de Osse and many others These seuen ships vpon hope of good successe did altogether on the second of Iulie depart from Texell to the Northward and sayling towards the North-East in an̄ 1595 they found too much yce at the strait of Nassau for by reason of contrarie winds they came thither too late and after sundrie daungers and difficulties without attaining their wished Port returned on the 18 of Nouember the same yeare into the Mase not despairing for all that to find out the passage some other time Whereupon the same voyage was againe attempted the third time by the Magistrats of the towne of Amsterdam because the States of the vnited Prouinces were no longer willing to prosecute that discouerie at the countries cost but promised to giue a good summe of money to him that should find out the same passage who at the beginning of the yeare 1596 manned forth two ships and agreed with the mariners on two conditions viz. what to haue if they performed not the voyage and what recompence they should haue if they found out the way to China promising them great reward if they could discouer the passage They tooke as few married men as could be because they would not haue them to returne home by their loue to their wiues and children before they had prosecuted the journey The Master and Committee for trade in one of the ships was Iacob de Heemskerck and the chiefe Pilot William Barentsoon and in the other Iohn Cornellison Rijp was Master and Committee On the 16 of May 1596 they went from the Vlie but by a North-East wind were with great danger enforced to put in againe And on the 18 of the sayd moneth they pursued their journey and sayled so farre to the Northward as on the 19 of Iune they came to the height of eightie degrees and eleuen minutes where they descried a new countrie whether they bent their course and entred certaine leagues vp into a Bay they supposed this countrie to be Groenland which stands vnder the height of 80 degrees where they found greene grasse cattel feeding vpon it and farre lesse cold and yce than when they were vnder the height of 76 degrees From thence they returned to an Island which they had before named the land of Beares in regard of the great number of white beares they found there nere to this Island the two ships departed from one another Iohn Cornellis sayled backe againe towardes eightie degrees thinking there to find a passage on the East-side of the sayd countrie but that ship did no great matter but returned home into Holland The other wherein William Barentsoon and Heemskerke were sailed towards Noua Zemla where they rounded the coasts to the Northward till they came to an Island called the Isle of Orange in the height of 77 degrees from whence they went Southward where they found much yce so as they could discouer the land no farther and on the last of August went with their ship to land where it was soone frozen so as they were enforced to remain there where they resolued to build an house with timber which they found on the Sea shore into which they carried their victuals and merchandize and there continued all winter where they were extreamely tormented with cold and snow the like whereof was neuer heard The inner walls of this house where these thirteene or foureteene men lay was frozen an handfull thicke onely with their breaths notwithstanding they kept a continuall fire day and night They were likewise much molested with white beares which deuoured some of their men there were store of white foxes which they tooke and did eat All winter long they saw no day nor sunne till the foure and twentieth of Ianuarie 1596 when it appeared a little but on the seuen and twentieth of the said moneth they saw the sunne in his full circumference The 22 of Iune these men departed thence with two great boats which they had prouided and left their ship sticking still in the yce They left a written scrowle in the house put vp into the bandelier of a musket which they hung vp in the chimney wherein was written how they came thither with an intent to goe from Noua Zemla to China how necessitie had enforced them to returne home in two boats In this manner with much trauell miserie and
captiues haue bin freed from the hands the bloudie Spaniards Let the King of Spaine stay our Marchants let him kill and burne our Mariners and suppose that he hath weakenedour countries yet he shall find that wee haue braued him in his owne Realmes and made his Cnaries so wast and desart as of along time he will reape no profit by them and we on the contrary encreased our countries meanes by wealth gotten from him and reuenged our intollerable wrongs wherein by Gods assistance we will still valiantly persist ¶ The taking of the towne of Deuticum in Annno 1599. BEcause the Admerall of Arragons Armie remained for the most part in Brabant his Excellencie like a wise and valiant Captaine laying hold on occasion sent his cousin Count William of Nassau Gouernor of Frizeland with ten companies of horse 24 foot Ensignes with Commission to take forth of sundry Garisons 26 Ensignes more amounting in all to the number of 50 with ordnance and other necessaries for a seege and to doe his best to take the towne of Deuticum from the enemie and thereupon on the 24 of August he came before the towne and on the 25 began to fortifie and intrench himselfe on the 26 he planted two peeces of ordnance and after that one and began to make his batterie whereat they within it being terrified so soone as they were summoned to yeeld craued a parley which was forthwith granted and by their capitulation they were to depart thence on the 27 of August with foure Ensignes commanded by Don Inigo de Otaela who was Gouernor likewise of the Castle of Schuylenbourg which he yeelded vp to his Excellencie fearing if he should delay the matter till the Almanes were ariued who were hourely lookt for that then he could not make his peace at so cheapâ— a rate nor procure so sure a Conuoy These two places thus woone the vnited Prouinces were masters of all the Countrey as far as Rhine and his Excellencie manned Deuticum with a Garison There was 52 barrells of pouder and other warlike munition found in the towne This being done Count William and his souldiers did on the 29 of August returne to his Excellencies campe neere to the Isle of Voorn ¶ The taking of the Towne and Castle of Wachtendonck in An. 1600. WHilest the Archdukes were receiued ouer all Brabant and Flanders as Princes and Lords of those Countreys his Excellencie made an attempt vpon the towne of Wachtendonck Which is a strong place seated beyond Guelderland vpon the Riuer Niers which some twelue yeares since had beene taken from the vnited Prouinces by Count Charles of Mansfelt after two moneths seege His Excellencie one the 22 of Ianuarie lying in the Monasterie of Bebber neere to Cleue assembled 8 cornets of horse and 800 foot vnder conduct of Count Lodwick and Colonell Edmunds who with certaine wagons did before noone begin to march and went the same night to Niekercke neere to Watchtendonck after some repose they went towards the towne where some ouer the yee and others by the dikes gat vp vpon the Townes Rampiers there were not aboue 80 souldiers both in the towne and Castle for the horse Garison was gon a boothaling toward Cologn where they sackt the Castle of Wander-stuyt where they were beaten by certain souldiers of the GarisoÌ„s of Bonne Bruiler His Excellencies souldiers being gotten into the town the alarme was presently giuen but they found no great resistance but with ease became masters thereof That done they placed certaine musketiers vpon the rampiers causing them to shoot continually vpon the Castle and on such as made defence whereby the Gouernor the Lord of Geleyn was hurt in the throat and some other slaine The Gouernor had but 30 souldiers with him and presently sent to the Earle of Bergue that lay at Ruremond for aide who forthwith sent thither all the Garisons neere adioyning but they came too late for Count Lodwick of Nassau was by this time ariued with his troups of horse In the meane time certaine of them alighted from their horse and together with the Lieutenant of his Excellencies coÌ„panie had passed the dikes and gotten vpon the Castles Rampiers where at last they became masters of it promising to some their liues within it A maid that serued the Gouernor and was of a manlie courage did with an yron forke ouerturne a ladder whereon fiue men were ascending In this manner the towne and Castle were taken on the 23 of Ianuarie This towne being seated in the verie middest of the Country where the Spaniard hath great Commaund and in a moorish soyle was verie commodious and fit for ouerthrowing the Admerall of Arragons practises there Not far from thence lay certaine foot Companies of Spaniards which were in great danger to haue beene discouered and beaten for they could not be receiued into Guelder nor other townes in regard of their mutinus disorders This enterprise being fortunaâ—ly atchieued by Count Lodwick and the Scottish Colonell Edmonds did greatly inrich them for all the boores of the Countrey had brought their cheefest wealth thither After that they had giuen order for the safetie of the towne and Castle they departed thence on the 24 of Ianuarie with the Cauallery leauing the Lord of Ryhouen Gouernor of the Towne with all the Infantrie and because the towne was vnprouided of munition Colonell Edmonds went back thither on the 5 of Februarie with a conuoy of all necessary prouisions The 14 of Februarie his Excellencie sent thither againe vnder conduct of Count Lodwick assembling seuenteene cornets of horse and two thousand foot either to send a greater Conuoy to Wachtendonck or else vnder that colour to make an attempt vpon some other towne But in their march intelligence was giuen that Colonell la Bourlotte was vpon a march in Brabant with his owne regiment and that of Achicourt about a certaine exploit The Lord of Sidenisky being at Bommel countermanded Count Lodwick and his forces back to the Isle of Tiell there to stop preueÌ„t Bourlottes attempts Bourlotte thought to haue made vse of some of the mutineers of Hamont but they hauing some bad suspition of him would not march notwithstanding all his faire promises he thought likewise to haue taken away with him part of the Garison of Saint Andrews fort and thereupon on the fifteenth of Februarie he tooke muster of them But those of that Garison hauing receiued no pay of a long time began to mutin the verie same day and though at first they were pacified by faire words yet the same night they fell into a greater mutiny discharging the ordnance and tooke their Captaines prisoners ransacking the Gouernors lodging and other houses The sixteenth they sent their officers whom they had imprisoned together with diuers women and children to Sertoghenbusk Those of Creuecoeur hauing notice hereof and perceiuing that there was no pay for them neither did on the seuenteenth day follow their example began to mutin La Bourlotte by this
Euerard Count of Solms by his lieutenant that of Aeneas de Treston de Trebourg de l'Amovillerie de Langevelt de Ruisse and de Floris de Wijngaerden In the third Battaillon was the regiment of Colonell Huchtenbroeke with his owne companie conducted by Marlin that of the lord of Tempell by Belin his lieutenant that of the sayd Marlin of Dierick de Ionghe de Ruyssenbourg of Iohn de Loon and de Caluart these 26 ensignes made vp the rereward together with 3 cornets of horse His Excellencie stood fast in Battaile vpon the shoare expecting the enemies comming he had sent the gards to the Downes and had drawne some fiftie musketiers forth of the battaile placing them on the shoare and foure troopes of Frizeland musketiers for second with these to flanke the enemies troupes if he had come along the shoare and the better to diuert their approach he had planted fixe demie canon there About eleuen of the clocke the enemies cauallerie approached who were saluted by our canon which made them retire to the Downes when they tarried for their owne ordnance and fanterie that came on verie slowly His Excellencie had enjoyned the lords of Warmont and Duyvenvoord to commaund the ships to shoot into the enemies battailes which was effected the Vice-Admerall of Zeland whose name was Ioostle Moore and Captaine Knoopes made some shot into the enemies battaile who on his part answered them with two demie canon His Excellencie in the meane time abandoned the towne of Newport and caused the bridge to be broken commaunding the rereward to follow him and to place themselues in order he caused two demie canon to be brought vpon the Downes and planted them vpon a little rising meaning with them to scoure the plaines His Excellencie still had the wind and Sun which is no small aduauntage especially on the Downes when the wind blowes somewhat hard as it did all the time of the battaile The enemie being come betwixt the parishes of Westeynde and Willekins Kerck within a small mile of Niewport and two miles from Ostend did likewise plant fiue demie canon and one field piece vpon the shoare then his Excellencie shot into the enemies battaile who answered him presently with the like but the enemie receiuing much hurt by our canon was enforced to retire farther vp into the Downes in regard the Tyde did rise by reason whereof the shoare was so narrow as few men could stand vpon it and then al the boats which lay drie before Niewport began to float and sayled towards Ostend fiue excepted together with the greatest number of those boats that made the bridge which could not be loossened those of Niewport tooke a Carvell and carried it into the towne To defend these boats from the sallies of those of Niewport his Excellencie left certaine troupes of souldiers to skirmish with the Townesmen Then the Archduke began to march athwart the Downes towards the plaine behind them the like did his Excellencie causing his troupes to march against the enemie sir Frauncis Veer led the English pikes and muskets as also the Gards and Frizons and himselfe marched in the formost ranke and was the first man that charged the musketiers of two Spanish regiments he was seconded by Count George Euerard of Solms who led the battaile the French musketiers being diuided into foure troupes he did with three of them charge the musketiers of two Spanish and Italian regiments the said French shot were led by Captaine du Puy Captaine Bruill lieutenant to the Lord la Noüe Captaine Pommared lieutenant to Dommerville and captain Vander-Burch lieutenant to Captaine du Fort. His Excellencie perceiuing that he must needs fight and that he could not auoyd it did valiantly resolue thereon trusting to the equitie of his cause and to God and thereupon commaunded Count Lodwick to charge the enemie with 6 cornets of horse viz. that of his Excellencie Count Henrie and his owne appointing Marcelis Bacx Paule Bacx and Captaine la Sale to second them who brake the enemies horse and put them to rout this done the battaile began on euerie side with a furious batterie which was terrible to behold on the Downes they fought continually from the beginning to the end but in the plaine beyond the Downes by sundrie charges his Excellencie hauing diuided his men into diuers troupes vnwilling to haue them fight all at once The General Veer fought with a battaillon of pikes of two Spanish regiments after that he had repulsed the enemies shot The sayd battaillon was conducted by D. Lewis de Villar and D. Hieronimo de Monroy on the right side the enemie had a wing of horse with which he did much anoy our Vantgard Generall Veer being sore wounded did notwithstanding fight along time leading the English and the 2 Gards but at last retired being seconded by his brother sir Horatio Veer and Captaine Quirin de Blau The enemie charging furiously vpon vs certaine of our souldiers began to flie but it was soone redrest Presently after the first charge these Captaines of horse viz. Coutelor Peter Panier and Batenburch charged the enemies fanterie they were seconded by count Lodwick with six companies of Cuirasses with whom Count Frederic of Solms serued Count George Euerart of Solms with the French did by his Excellencies command charge marching formost in the battaile and diuided into two troupes of which that on the right hand was conducted by Monsr Dommervile lieutenant Colonell of the French and the other on the left hand by Captaine du Sau. This was the second charge of the French fighting with a battaillon of pikes of two regiments the one Spaniards and the other Italians conducted by D. Alonzo d'Aualos and Sapena the Campe Master Count George Euerart retired with the French and brought vp Count Henrie of Nassaus regiment videlicet the Walons of whom Monsr Marquet was Lieutenant Colonell to charge the enemie againe and also the regiment of Suisse by Hans Krijc these two regiments fought with la Bourlotte and the Earle of Bucquoy who commaunded the enemies rereward consisting of three regiments of Walons and Irish. Then his Excellencie commaunded Monsr de Gystelles who conducted the rereward to charge with his owne regiment and that of Huchtenbroeke And the regiment of Count Ernest vnder the conduct of Heusman his Lieutenant Colonell did likewise charge The fight continued doubtfull for three houres space for now one side preuailed and anon another and yet his Excellencies Cauallerie had still the aduauntage of the enemies which gaue backe by little and little and some of them fled towards Niewport and were pursued by our men The enemies Fanterie fought with better vantage on the Downes where they tooke one hill after another from his Excellencies footmen and did mightily endaunger the ordnance Behind the Downes Sir Horatio Veer charged with sixe English ensignes with Captaine Henrie Sutton his Lieutenant Colonell Captaine Louell Captaine Ogle and Captaine Farfax Count Lodwick with tenne horse
was engaged by the enemie captaine Cloet knowing the Earle by his Orange coloured plume charged vpon a companie of Lanciers that were comming to charge the Earle who by this meanes escaped our cauallerie retired to his Excellencie who encouraged the souldiers re-enforcing them with two companies that were with him who constrained the enemie to giue backe His Excellencie sent two cornets of horse to the shore viz. his owne commaunded by Captaine Bael and Generall Veers companie commaunded by Captaine Pembrooke These two companies beeing come to the shoare stayed neere the batterie expecting the enemie Our ordnance charged with musket bullets played vpon the enemie who lost many men and horse and were enforced to quit the Downes and yet they returned againe to the shore and came before the batterie Then the companies of Baell and Generall Veer charged fiercely vpon the enemie who fled and then charged the fanterie likewise so as Baell tooke Sapena prisoner on the Downes and Generall Veers companie D. Lewis de Villar His Excellencies cauallerie on the plaine repulsed the enemie for he did continually put them in order and caused them to charge there where hee saw most need so as in the end our men perceiuing that the enemie began to flie both on the shore and Downes tooke courage and on euerie side charged him who at first began to giue backe and afterward betook himselfe to open flight and thereby our men woon the place of battaile and obtained the victorie diuers pursued the enemie into the Marshes and to the new Dam taking many of them prisoners this battaile was sharpe and bloudie on both sides The Archduke who hardly escaped did in this battaile both of such as were slayne and taken prisoners lose the greatest part of all his commaunders chiefe Lords Noblemen and household seruants together with most of the captaines and officers of his armie videlicet D. Francesco de Mendoza Admerall of Arragon Count Salines D. Lewis de Villar campe-Campe-Master D. Lewis d'Avila D. Pedro de Mendoza Doctour Andrew N. one of his highnesse phisitians Count Charles Rezin one of his Pages D. Gaspar Moragon fiue and thirtie Captaines both of horse and foot two hundred and three Lieutenants ensignes Sergeants Dons Caualiers and others of name to the number of thirtie And beside these we got 8 pieces of ordnance all the munition much baggage and the verie furniture of the Archdukes own Chamber and Cabinet and among other things his Signet and aboue 100 ensignes with certaine cornets and Trumpets The number of the dead on the Archdukes side was 7000 beside those that were afterwards slaine and died of their hurts and his Excellencie lost betwixt two or three thousand accounting those which had beene defeated in the Morning Among other ensignes there was presented to my Lords the generall States a Standerd belonging to 1600 Spanish mutineers made of blew Damaske hauing on the one side in middest of a field the figure of our Ladie in a Sun before whom a Moncke kneeled ouer his head these words in golden letters Aue gratia plena ouer the virgins head was a great golden star and neere to it in golden letters Stella Maris in the middest on her right hand was the figure of a Sun and neere it these letters Electa vt Sol on the left hand the Moone with this inscription Pulchra vt Luna at her feet stood a Turret with these words Turris Dauidis and beneath vpon the hem of the Standard Benedicta tu in mulieribus On the other side was the represention of our Lord Iesus Christ vpon the Crosse ouer his head were these words in golden letters Adoramus te Christe benedicimus tibi in the middest Recordare nouissimatua in aeternum non peccabis and beneath Quia per crucem tuam redemisti mundum All these figures were cunningly wrought euen to the life In this battaile the greatest losse fell to the Spaniards and Italians who were the chiefe strength and glorie of the Spaniards armie who in the Morning did assure themselues of the victorie and that with such confidence as they made no doubt of it but marched on before hoping alone to gain the honour of the day It was a magnificent and gallant victorie for my Lords the generall States his Excellencie and for all the vnited Prouinces but obtayned with much labour and bloud for on his Excellencies side 1000 men were slaine among whom were three Captaines of horse thirteene of foot viz. six English Captaines two Frizons three French one Walon and one Alman with many Lieutenants ensignes and other officers beside some 700 hurt men among whom was the noble sir Frauncis Veer and many other Captaines and officers both of horse and foot As the enemie fleed the Cauallerie came forth of Ostend and slew many of them But his Excellencie who in the battaile had shewed himself valiant discreet for better encouragement to his souldiers had himselfe together with his brother and other Lords there present charged the enemie did in the end reassēble certaine cornets of horse and some foot regiments setting them in order in the place of battaile keeping them for reseruation and seconds if any disorder should arise The enemie being wholly put to rout and night drawing on his Ex. marched to the Church of Westend where with his whole armie he remained that night vpon the plain where the battail was fought and in his Tent supt with the Admerall of Arragon and others who were requested to deliuer their opinions what they thought of these exploits of these new vnexperienced soldiers whom they had so tearmed who could doe nothing but win townes and skonces not daring to shew themselues in open field and whether they thought that they would one day proue tal souldiers with such other like discourses But the Admerall grauely and discreetly knew verie well how to answer and among other discourses at Table concerning the battaile he complained of their owne cauallerie taxing them for not doing their duetie for had not they retreated there was some likelihood that their footmen would haue become Masters of the ordnance with which they might haue obtayned the victorie He complained likewise of their charging all at once and for that they had not reserued some to second the squadrons here and there who should haue put them in order againe when they retreated and with them haue giuen a fresh charge as Prince Maurice had done husbanding his horse and foot not hazarding all his forces at once He highly commended his Excellencie likewise for planting his ordnance but he chiefely praised him for that he had so brauely presented his forces to his enemie sending away all his boats and thereby enforced all his souldiers to fight if they meant to saue their liues and for that himselfe and other commaunders had no more aduauntage than the meanest souldier His Excellencie perceiuing the next day that his souldiers were much burthened with the enemies
others hoping to moue the Archduke to goe and besiege Ostend to free Flaunders from daily contributions and expence it was at for entertainement of so many garrisons and forts vpon passages and to that end offered the Archduke a great summe of money The States of Holland did with all possible speed build a great gallie at Dort to make head against those of Sluce in length eight and fortie paces so soone as it was readie it was in September sent into Zeland it carried fifteene brasse pieces many Bases it was mand with rowers and souldiers the rowers sat vpon benches and were shrowded with a defence which was musket proofe it was called the blacke gallie of Dort the Captains name was Iacob Michielz it was presently sent to Sluce and there recouered a ship taken by the enemie On the 29 of September the Admerall of Zeland and Captaine Legier with this gallie well prouided and certaine shalops went towards Antuerpe and in the night passed by Ordam Fort the garrison supposed they were boats which went to victuall Hulst About midnight comming before Antuerpe they there found the Admerals ship a goodlie great vessell called a Smackseil or Cromsteven so big and strong as the Hollanders had none such it was of the burthen of one thousand eight hundred tunne or more it carried sixteene or seuenteene brasse pieces beside those of Iron and the Bases it had three tier of ordnance one aboue another Captaine Maes the Admerall was then absent this vessell lay opposit to the new Towne towards Flanders point The blacke gallie stemd this ship with her yron beak so forcibly as they could hardly get it out againe but with great danger were faine to saw it off the souldiers in the meane time became Masters of the ship some of them that were in it were slaine others leapt into the water and escaped by swimming The ship being taken our souldiers enforced the two ship Boyes whose liues they saued to tell them where the sailes and other tacklings were which done they fell downe the riuer with the Tide They likewise took two new vessels which daily carried prouision to Bruxels and Malines each of them carrying foure brasen pieces and others of yron with fiue other vessels called Smackes which by chaunce they tooke the same night and with these eight vessels fell downe the riuer towards Lillo hauing gotten aboue fiftie pieces of ordnance a bootie more worth than the gallie Those of Antuerpe hearing the shot th' alarme was presently ouer the Citie and the sooner because our Trumpets vpon the Key sounded the song of William of Nassau so well knowne wherein they recorded the commendation of the late vertuous Prince of Orange Within a while after the Admerall and Count Arenbourg came to Antuerpe to punish the negligence of the Admerall Maes and others and to preuent the like affronts he likewise caused a Fort to be built vpon the Key to defend the ships by night ¶ Captaine Cloet winneth the Castle of Cracow on the 9 of Februarie 1601. THe Castle of Cracow and Lordship thereof being by the last will and Testament of the Countesse of Meurs giuen to his Excellencie as a Lordship vnder the jurisdiction thereof the Duke of Parma in ann ' 1586 had giuen it to Salentino Count of Isenbourg in regard of certaine claime he laid vnto it since when the said Earle had still possest it and placed a certain fellow for captaine there who was called long Huben with 15 or 16 souldiers to gard the Castle which by nature was strong being seated in a fennie soile But Prince Maurice being desirous to enjoy his owne and vnderstanding that the Dikes were frozen in winter commaunded Captaine Cloet a braue and valiant souldier to make an attempt vpon the said castle with three hundred horse of Nimmeghen and certaine foot companies from Watchtendonck The said Captaine according to his Excellencies commaund came to Niewkerke nere to Wachtendonck on the eighth of Februarie whereof the gouernour of Stralen hauing intelligence followed him with fortie horse and 500 foot who in the Morning by day breake did so fiercely assaile Cloets souldiers as 40 of them were surprised ere their fellowes knew it who at last turned backe and perceiued that those of Stralen retired through a certaine narrow way verie aduantagious for footmen against horse the enemy hauing by this time taken 30 of Cloets horsemen prisoners most of whom being of his Excellencies companie were soon released for Cloet thereby incensed took another way by which he intercepted their passage and incountring them at their comming forth of that way vpon a plaine he assailed the Gouernor of Stralen in front behind and ouerthrew many of his horse and foot the rest escaped into a house which he presently encompassed enforced them to yeeld on composition and on condition to pay ransome He freely sent away three hundred and seuentie souldiers and onely detayned the Generall Dulchen gouernour of Straelen prisoner with Captaine Golstein and seuen officers as caution for the rest Cloet lost sixe or seuen men and many of his men and horse were hurt After that the foot companies of Wachtendonck came to Cloet and went forwards towards Cracow and arriued there on the ninth of Februarie at night the horse men alighted and went ouer the yee into the first Court of the Castle thereupon those within it began to shoot but Captaine Cloet shot so terribly vpon the Gate as those within it durst not abide there and then he caused his men to crosse the dike to let downe the draw-bridge and to plant the Perard at the Gate which presently brake it open Whereupon those within yeelded themselues and Castle by day breake Captaine Cloet left his Lieutenant there with fortie men 20 horse til his Excellencies further pleasure were known and returned againe to his garrison hauing performed that which was enjoyned him and by this meanes his Excellencie became Master of this Castle and Lordship ¶ The second siege and taking of the Towne of Rhynberg in Anno 1601. RHynberg is a towne belonging to the Bishopricke of Collein seated on the Southward of the Rhyne eight miles from Collein it is rather small than bigge and fortified with double rampiers well seated both for warre and traffique taking great toll of all goods and Merchandise which come downe the riuer During these warres both parties haue sundrie times fortified it and first in the warre of Collein betwixt the two Bishops it fell into the hands of the vnited Prouinces which a long time held defended it against the atteÌ„pts of the Spaniards freeing the riuer both from the prince of Parma who after the taking of Nuis in anno 1586 did furiously assaile it on the 13 of August and wâ—â— enforced to raise his siege hauing lien three moneths before the towne which he left blocked vp with many Forts as also from the Marquesse Varrabon who pursued continued the said siege in
Armie and lay in Alberts fort where the Campe was fortified and prouided for winter as if it had been a towne and it was called West end The Infanta Isabella lay at Niewport and on the second of August shee came with eighteene Coaches to the campe beeing seene by those of the towne It is reported that whilest the ordnance plaied fircely on both sides herselfe gaue fire to certaine canons which was reputed for a singular honor They fastened wodden platformes to the shoare on the East side which they fenced with Gabions tied with Cables from thence to play vpon the boats which entred the old Hauen They attempted likewise to stop the sluce of the Causey with wood sacks filled with â—and but those filled sacks sank down to the bottom were caried away with the tide so as all that labor was vain After that by the aduice of Captain Catrice who had bin lieutenant to la Bourlotte and had now his place they resolued to giue a generall assault to euerie corner of the towne contrarie to the opinion of the whole Councell of war thinking at a low water to win the West Rampier of the old Towne and there to fortifie themselues but the besieged had prouided for it and the assault being begun Captaine Catrice was shot in the head whereupon it was deferred and yet his wound was not mortall for he was healed for that time From August to September the Archdukes Camp spared for no trauel nor expence to win the towne which they continually battered day and night ouerthrowing certaine fortifications killing diuers and laming others They likewise came at sundrie times into the trenches halfe moones and other workes from whence by the courage and magnanimitie of our souldiers they were beaten with great losse of men They went about by all meanes to choake the Gullet therein vsing all the cunning that man could inuent to keepe victuals from the town but they could not doe it nor yet by all their attemps cause the besieged to yeeld For Generall Vere and all the Captaines were resolued to defend it by all meanes possible and by their sallies did much annoy the enemie both in his Campe and forts At the same time certaine men went about to betraie and deliuer vp the towne to the enemie but they were bewrayed and executed After Haruest the souldiers on both sides were so badly clad as they were much tormented with cold especially the besieged who kept gard without the town in the counterscarps and forts where the waies were verie dirtie which caused diuers English men to runne away others grew sicke and died the Garrison being so weakned as of seuen or eight thousand there were in December but two or three thousand left whereupon Generall Vere wrot to the States for more men The Archduke lying in Alberts fort and the nights waxing long was desirous to make some attempt sending foure hundred of his souldiers on the one and twentieth of December about midnight at a lowe water ouer the Hauen on the West side along the shoare who passing by the Sand hill gaue an alarme to the East side and from thence at a place called Schottenbergh mounted the rampiers killing a sentinell of Gystels companie and by helpe of a great winde fired a curtein or great heape of fagotts which were layed to breake off the Sea waues and to preserue the Bulwarks foot made on the North side at the end of the falce-bray or out-wal beneath the Sand hils point where the foot of it made with fagots burnt three daies and three nights and could not be quenched by reason the enemie shot so fiercely The same night an Italian souldier that had lost his way was taken betwixt the rampiers and pallisadoes This Italian beeing secretly examined by Generall Vere told him that the Archduke hauing intelligence of the Garrisons weaknesse and how the towne had not of a long time beene supplied with men and victuals had speedily sent for all the Garrisons of Brabant Artois and other places and with these was come before the towne with a firme resolution to assault it in sundrie places namely towards the South and West Quadrant and the halfe moones and that Count Bucquoy should assault the Northwest rauelin of the old towne at a low water which hee might easily doe in the night Certaine other Captaines should assaile the Sand hill and two places of the old towne namely the Porcuspine which was a smal rauelin in the counterscarpe which garded a certaine place called the Biere they retained the water of the dikes which is a matter of great importance The other assaults should bee giuen to the works without the towne to the South-South-East ward called the South Quadrant the Polder and East Quadrant to which some three weekes past the enemies had giuen a fierce assault from whence they were driuen with great losse Generall Vere knowing this in particular did on the three and twentieth of December at two of the clocke in the afternoone send foure Captaines to view the Porcuspine and to bring him word whither it might bee defended against the enemies assaults and as the said Captaines were visiting this place Captaine Lewis Couture came thither about three a clocke with commission from the Generall to craue a parley of the enemie and to send hostage from either side This was done vnknown to the Captains but Captaine Couture found the Archduke verie willing thereunto The Generall to excuse this parley alleadged sundrie reasons viz. that he feared the assault because he was weake in men and they of sundrie nations that hee was loath to come to a generall assault and therefore thought good to beguile and amuse the enemie and winne time till cernaine fortifications in the old towne were finished Whereupon hostages were presently sent from the towne vpon the enemies word namely Captaine Ogle lieutenant Colonell and Captaine Farfax to procure that some others might bee likewise sent from the Archduke to treat And the same Euening the Generall sent the Sergeant Major Carpenter commaunding him to let in on the East side of the towne the gouernour of the Sluce Matho Serrano master of the ordnance and Councellor to the Archduke together with Captaine Ottaigno Sergeant Major of a regiment both of them discreet and well experienced persons with promise that in the meane time there should bee a cessation of armes by land on both sides and not otherwise These two Commissioners from the Spaniards were brought by the falce-braye ouer the Sand hill and so caried towards the new towne But a great tumult rising on a sodaine among the Captaines and souldiers especially because this was done vnknowne to them they were by the Generals commaundement sent backe againe the same way without audience and in the meane time the tide was risen so high as they could not passe on the East side but went through the towne towards the West part where they passed ouer in a boat to Count Bucquoys
commonly brought in in great shallops and by that meanes the old Garrison of English and other nations were caried thence in March The Archduke likewise sent for moe men to his Campe with a firme resolution according to his directions from Spaine to continue the siege to the end because it stood him so much vpon as the onely meanes to shut vp the hauens of Zealand and thereby to hinder their fishing and trade yea their passage to and fro into England To effect this he sent for many Gallies from Spain and Italie conducted by Frederico Spinola and hired mariners from Embden and the East parts thereby to take the dominion of the Sea from the Hollanders for it was that which made them able to resist the power of so mightie a Prince This was a matter of great importance not only for the king of Spaines reputation but likewise for the Archdukes Whereupon he sent for more money from Spaine and raised certaine sums in the Countrie He likewise sent abroad for skilfull Ingeneers who were entertained and set on work not sparing for any cost to some of them 100000 crownes were promised These men made sundrie new inuentions to choake the Gullets hauen and to keepe boats from entring as by making plat-formes and Caualliers whereon to plant the Canon by filling boats full of stones and sinking them in the hauen filling baskets full of sand and rowling them into it they likewise made engins of wood and wicker like to Gabions which they tearmed Sawsiges some of them fiftie foot in length and eighteene in height filled with stones and grauell tied together the which they thought by helpe of men to roule into the gullet and with many of these to build a fort They likewise tied diuers woodden beames together and began to make Bulwarkes vpon them which at a full Sea they intended to haue thrust into the Gullet and from those bulwarkes to sinke all ships that passed along with such like other inuentions deuised by skilfull and ingenious men and in this manner did euerie day make some new worke or other But so soone as the enemie finished such inuentions those of the town presently deuised remedies against them either to beat them downe with the canon to set them on fire or to keep their workmen from their labour and when they descried any of these workes they knew well enough how to plucke them into the Sea which at an high water carried them cleane away The siege continuing diuers houses and cabins were built in the campe so as it resembled a new towne by which meanes the enemie was well lodged and the campe towards the West was called the West-eynd In continuance of time the towne was fortified both against the enemies ordnance waues and tempests of the Sea yet the enemie approched by little and little the souldiers cabins were repaired renewed the better to preserue them from the plague and other contagious diseases especially the second yeare of the siege at what time the plague was verie rife both in the Campe and towne The vnited Prouinces notwithstanding this continuall siege which did put them to such infinite charge as our children will hardly beleeue what masse of treasure hath beene spent there viz. in extraordinarie expences one hundred thousand florins a moneth beside the souldiers pay and how these small and weak Prouinces haue beene able without extraordinarie meanes to furnish such expence resolued to keepe and defend the towne so long as they could yea though the siege should continue many yeares The Archduke for continuance of the siege vsed all possible meanes to get money and to that end went to Bruxels in winter and there assembled the States of the Countrie but those of Brabant would giue no money vnlesse his Highnesse did first fulfill his promise to satisfie the mutiners of Artois Hainault and Luxembourg saying that they expected the French so as they of Flaunders onely contributed Those of Brabant likewise craued to bee disburthened of twentie fiue thousand florins a moneth which the champaine Countrie was enforced to giue the Hollanders for their contribution ¶ An Assault giuen by the Archduke on the thirteenth of April 1603 on the Polder East and South Quadrants AFter that the Archduke had continually battered the towne all anno 1602 and by his infinite number of shot done great hurt both to it and the forts slaine many men and yet neuer the neerer to his purpose in regard the besieged made such braue resistance Hee did againe on the thirteenth of Aprill 1603 giue a furious assault on the Quadrants of the East South and Polder so as he tooke them in this manner following The thirteenth of Aprill the wind was so high as it caried away the tops of houses threw down whole buildings and namely the tower where many were slaine The enemy laying hold on this occasion made an assault both on the East and West side with great numbers of men on the East side they pluckt vp about 100 stakes forth of the halfe moone but they were enforced to quit it for they were beaten backe euen to their Quarter they came on the West side as far as the Porcuspine whether they brought two barrells of pitch but they were likewise driuen thence with losse of men They did also with great fury full on the Rauelin of the Polder and were likewise enforced to retreat but they renewed the assault with freshmen and became masters of all these three places videlicet the Quadrants of the East South and Polder notwithstanding that a demy Canon and other iron peeces lay vpon the Polder Quadrant in taking these places they inhumanely slew all they met with the fight lasted some two howers The next day about nine of the clocke at night the besieged gaue a fierce assault to the East Quadrant but were driuen thence with losse of some foure hundred men among whom were many braue souldiers But the enemie in these assaults lost aboue one thousand Continuall trauell and resistance made this truce so famous as it was termed a martiall academie both for Gouernours Officers Captaines and priuate souldiers as also for mariners Pilots Ingeneers Phisitians Surgeons c. so as those who had but continued certaine moneths in this schole became masters in in their arts both for defence and offence Skilfull Ingeneers notwithstanding they had studied a long time in bookes did confesse that in comparison of practize here they were but nouices Phisitians and Surgeons learned more here in a weeke than elsewhere in a yere Pilots and mariners learned here how to guide their vessels to auoid the enemies canon Canoneers were taught here how to plant their ordnance to sink ships vnder saile how to make counter batteries to dismount the enemies Canon which on both sides consumed infinite numbers of men The sixe first moneths the enemie made aboue two hundred and fiftie thousand shot shooting bullets of thirtie or fortie pound weight for all the time the
the Almans promising them great rewards and though Mynes were made on both sides yet he was desirous to get the Sand hill whereupon he gaue an assault by part of the Almans of the regiments of Biglia and Barlaymont and as those that went formost were blowne vp into the ayre by the Townes Mynes and they that followed retiring thereupon hee enforced them to march againe to the charge saying that there were no more mines which they found to be true and so without any resistance took the Sand hill and highly recompenced the Almains hee vsed like meanes against the other forts for all the besiegeds defence consisted in sallies wherby they often draue the enemies forth of those places they had gotten The besieged by meanes of their Ingeneers and by Rafe Dexter the English man who had a long time serued in these countries had behind the bulwarks of the Sand hill and Helmont made a new Sand hill and Helmont which done they diuided the towne in the middest with bulwarks and flankeers a thwart the towne and behind it they likewise intrenched more than a quarter of it towards the Gullet and new hauen with bulwarks and flankeers for their latest retreat naming that place new Troy hoping still to hold out for a time But all these new works being not stedfast and firme could not long resist the Canon for the enemie had alreadie brought his ordnance vpon the Rampiers and battered the new town Whereupon the besieged perceiuing that the Sand hill was lost and that the enemie vndermined the towne neere to the old Church and that it was likely that high tides with an North-east wind would do much hurt because the old towne was their best defence against the Sea they aduertized the Generall States and Prince Maurice who were assembled at Sluce of their condition Their Lordships and his Excellencie considering that by the conquest of Sluce and other places they had now gotten footing in Flaunders and thereby were able to inuade the enemie in his owne Countrie which they had a long time desired and that now Ostend would stand them in no great steed it beeing enuironed and blockt vp with so many of the enemies forts and also a place from whence the Archduke could not annoy them and might easily bee by them recouered so long as they were Lords at Sea These and such like reasons beeing well weighed The States gaue authoritie and leaue to the Lord of Marquet Gouernour of Ostend to capitulate with the enemie for his most aduantage seing themselues were out of feare of the Archdukes forces before Sluce that winter Thereupon the Lord of Marquet with his Councell of war fearing least winter would impaire his composition began to ship away his ordnance munition remainder of victuals and all those whom he supposed might haue hindred the treatie as Preachers Ingeneers Gunners c. Then hee sent two Captaines forth of the town to treat with the Marquis about surrendring it the enemie likewise sending two hostages into the towne At last on the twentieth of September 1604 after much contestation about the ensuing articles the accord was made betwixt Marquis Spinola in name of their highnesses on the one side and the Lord Gouernour Colonels and Captaines in Ostend on the other FIrst that all Church men with their goods and mouables may freely and without impediment depart thence 2 That the Gouernour Colonels Captaines and souldiers of what qualitie or condition soeuer as well within the towne as abroad in the forts the Captaines of ships of war with their officers mariners and souldiers may freely depart with all their vessells loaden or otherwise to Flushing with all their armes ensignes displaied drumes beating match in cocke and bullets in the mouthes together with all their baggage and if they shall want boats for transporting their baggage and hurt men time shall bee graunted them to procure such according as wind and weather will permit which boats shall likewise freely returne 3 That the said Gouernour Colonels Captaines and souldiers may take four peece of ordnance with them and no more without any powder And to this end for better assurance of his Highnesse Captaine Wingaert Lieutenant of the ordnance shall make a reuiew thereof not vnloading any of the boats in the hauen And for conduct of the said boats the Master of the ordnance Gentlemen Conductors Gunners Carpenters Pioners horse and whatsoeuer depends thereon shall freely depart 4 All Officers and Commissaries which haue managed accounts and souldiers pay others may freely depart with the goods armour horse and other things belonging to their office 5 That all Commissaries of victuals and other the States Officers may do the like 6 That the two Captaines Lantscroone and Gystels that were prisoners with all other Officers and souldiers shall be freely released as likewise all Captaines Officers and souldiers belonging to his Highnesse who are prisoners in Ostend Alwayes prouided that the prisoners on either side shall pay their costs and charges 7 That all Burghers victuallers and others in pay or out of pay may likewise freely depart with their armes mouables boats and baggage 8 That the said Gouernour Colonels and Captaines shall this present day deliuer vp to such as the Marquis shall appoint all the old towne with the small plat-formes called Moyses Table and foure hostages in whose stead the said Gouernour Captaines and Colonels shall retaine those whom they haue alreadie 9 The said Gouernour Colonels Captaines souldiers and officers are all of them bound to depart on the two and twentieth of this moneth because it is not possible for them to doe it sooner by reason of foule weather as for sicke and hurt men they may follow after with the baggage 10 If by reason of a contrarie wind the Gouernour Colonels Captaines and souldiers can not depart at the time appointed they shall then be bound to goe their way by land and to that end such wagons as are needfull shall be lent them 11 And for securitie of their persons and boats if foule weather should happen to delay their departure yet that this Article may not be infringed hostages shall be giuen them for their Highnesses who when the boats shall depart shall be safely sent backe to Ostend as also those Hostages giuen by the Gouernour Colonels and Captaines to his Highnesse shall remaine as caution for the aboue said wagons till their returne and shall afterwards be sent safely to Sluce In this manner did the famous siege of Ostend breake vp which continued three yeres and fourescore daies a siege which will be spoken of so long as the world lasteth and will seeme incredible to after ages The accord thus made the enemie entred the old towne and our men into their intrenched workes called New Troy till the two and twentieth of September and then they went away by land according to the capitulation crossing the gullets in sloops and Ferrie-boats Gouernour Marquette the Colonels Captaines and others
he made many shot and suffered them to passe on thinking it rashnesse and indiscretion to suffer himselfe to be boorded with so many gallies at once The foure Hollanders followed them faire and softly and being come neere Graveling about tenne of the clocke at night Gerbrant Iansz-Sael of Horne with his ship of foure hundred tunne encountred one of the gallies called la Lucera which with full faile he boorded on the larboord side so as the poore slaues were in water vp to the middle crying out for mercie not making any resistance then the said Sael discharged two demie canon carrying bullets of foureteen pound weight with which he flew and hurt many A French Pilot being in the gallie whose name was Iohn Evout borne at Niew-Hauen did vnseene get aboord the Hollander and so saued his owne life In this incounter the gallie lost her sailes and oares and had her Helme broken in pieces whereby she became vnseruiceable Captaine Sael vsed all meanes to cleere himselfe from her fearing to be ouer prest with the multitudes that were in her and in the end came cleerely off hauing lost some of his saile Then did Captaine Hartmans ship boord the said gallie the second time thinking that he was the first and saued some fortie of the men and then fell off After this Captaine Sael boorded her againe sending fiue of his men aboord but perceiuing by the lamentable cries of those that were in her that she sanke he tooke in his owne men and for feare of farther daunger would saue no more of them this was about midnight and they continued neere the gallie till they could no longer see her mast aboue water Iohn Adriansz Cant the Vice-Admeral did likewise encounter the Gallie called Padilla which he ouerran and drowned and did great hurt to an other Captaine Gertsz Everts and Iacob Peters Niele with other ships that kept gard hearing the report of the Canon made vp towards them likewise and boorded this Gallie and the rest but fearing to bee endangered by them they onely saued some few to the number of two hundred and no more The rest of the Gallies beeing neere the shoare made no resistance but sought all meanes to escape The Admerall ran on ground neere to the land of Schouwe beeing pursued by a ship beyond West Cappell which gaue her ouer thinking it would perrish by foule weather But Generall Spinola that was in her behaued himselfe so courageously flinging many things ouerboord and promising freedome to the slaues as at last hee arriued with his Gallie at Dunkerke an other came safely to Calice whose men ran away two others that were fore brused by the canon ran on ground on the coasts of Flaunders and there perished Those two which were encountred by the Admerall Cant and Sael perished Cant made relation of what hee had done in Holland Gerbrant Sael of Enchuysen and Hartman did theirs in Zeland to Lord Iaques Maldre who examined the French Pilot and others sending them into Holland where honour was alreadie done to the Captaine that first brought the newes The English Captaines likewise were much discontented for that they had no share in the honor saying they were the first that had discouered and endaungered the Gallies chasing and bringing them vp to the Hollanders Of these eight gallies belonging to Spinola wherewith hee thought to haue tormented these Countries two of them were burnt in Portugall two were drowned and foure ran on ground Herein wee may consider Gods iudgements for these Gallies were the selfe same to which diuers mariners of the low Countries had beene condemned There is one thing among others worthie to be noted how that in Captaine Saels ship who first boorded the Gallie called Lucera the French Pilot saued himselfe who was a verie honest man and had beene three yeares a slaue in that Gallie and others in great miserie and wretchednesse comming with his ship into Spaine which together with his goods were confiscate and himselfe and men put into the Gallies and shauen like Turkish slaues This Pilot had here experience of Gods vengance for all the miserie he had endured seeing the gallie wherein hee had beene a slaue to sinke and Captaine Callido who had tirannized ouer him to haue both his leggs shot off of which hurt hee died in Captaine Hartmans ship This Pilot was a proper man tall and strong and could not bee set at libertie for any ransome till the accord made with the Admerall of Arragon to exchange prisoners on each side at which time hee was freed in companie of others D. Frederico Spinola saued the greatest part of his treasure which was thought to amount to two hundred thousand Ducats which hee presently caused to bee coined at Antuerp with the Archdukes stamp and with it paid the remainder of his souldiers ¶ A rehearsall of what passed betwixt Spinolas Gallies and certaine of the States men of war on the 25 of May 1603. Don Frederick Spinola Generall of the gallies hauing vndertaken to chase away the States men of war which garded the mouth of the Sluce came forth with eight gallies on the sixt and twentieth of May in the morning by day breake anno 1603 the wind beeing West and sailed Eastward betwixt the sand shelues called Pol Francis and the firme land and from thence Westward of the said mouth Certaine of the States men of war did vsually keepe gard thereabouts viz. the vice-Admerall of Zeland Ioost le More who commaunded vnder the Admerall the Lord of Holtain with his ship called the golden Lion and Captaine Logier Pieterzs with his his ship named the Sea Dogge there was likewise the black gallie of Holland commaunded by Iacob Machielz together with the gallie of Zeland called the Arrow commaunded by Cornellis Ians of Gordum A little further off vnder the wind lay an other ship whose master was Crijn Henrick of Ziriczee called the old Sea Dogge commaunding as Captaine In the vice-Admeralls ship and Gallie of Zeland and in either of them were 18 English musketeers of Flushing but in the 2 other ships black gallie of Holland were no musketeers but only their ordinary men Spinola in his 8 gallies and other Fregats besides his ordinarie men had great numbers of musketeers sent from the camp before Ostend These ships of Zeland with the two Gallies perceiuing that Spinola came forth did presently set saile bearing vp against the wind towards the West Spinolas men had a Westerlie wind and the sun for aduantage and passed on to the Northward athwart the Zelanders comming to Wieling where by fiue a clocke in the morning both sides diuide themselues and so the Gallies in good order and with great cries approached the Zealanders two Gallies in one of which Spinola was boorded the vice-Admerall Ioost le More foure other Gallies did the like to Captaine Logier Peters and the Gallie of Holland was set vpon by the rest of the Gallies Hauing thus for a while fought with their