always had the same end they have not so soon been entred but they have been beaten out to their slaughter and shame and to our everlasting glory and honour And upon all these occasions experience hath sufficiently shewn how much valour exceeds numbers order before confusion and what advantage th y have who fight out of the zeal of honour over those who bear arms only for rapines sake The same will certainly be seen in this present conflict since our conditions and the conditions of our enemies are not the same Ours by being bred so many years in the wars and the knowledg how to defend a good cause being added to the favour of the cause which we defend and that of the Enemy in bringing new men to all military actions and in basely maintaining wicked causes under rebellious Captains The narrownes of the place makes much for our advantage which will not suffer their Horse which are more then ours to have too much the better of us and yet ours shal be so well fenced by Foot as that advantage shall supply the other default And that weak Trench which the Enemy have raised for defence of their Foot what doth it argue but an abjest fear in them an evident desire rather of flight then of fight We on the contrary shall assault them with our wonted resolution and undauntedness shall assuredly have the like success as formerly in overcoming and they in runing away This Speech of Avila's was received with great acclamations by the souldiers Whereupon he with the other field-Officers disposed their orders thus For the more safety-sake he placed the foot towards the River on the right hand and divided them into proportionable squadrons lining the Pikes with shot where it was most convenient He divided the horse likewise on the left side into divers squadrons and munited them toward the field-side with a good wing of Spanish and Walloon musketiers the better to break the enemies greatest force which was to be expected on that part The Camp-masters Consalvo di Bracamonte Fernando di Tolledo and Christopher Mandragone who had brought with him his Walloon Regiment which did remarkable service that day had the chief command of the foot And the chief places in the Cavalry were supplyed by Bernardino di Mendoza and John Baptista de Marchesi del Monte with whom were other Captains of try'd valour The German Harquebusiers under Schinck were placed in the front together with those of other Nations and after them the Lanciers which made up the greatest body of the horse and this was so executed as if the enemies Rutters should charge upon the Harquebusiers the Lanciers might charge them To boot that the wing of Musketiers which flankt the Kings horse on the outside might be of great use to break their first violence as hath been said The enemy this mean while had not omitted any thing which might make for their advantage in the battel Lodovick had his brother Henry with him who had likewise a warlike spirit But Christopher one of the sons of the Prince Elector Palatine was of great preeminence in their Army He commanded all the horse and the whole Government of the Camp was almost equally had between him and Lodovick They left some foot-companies to defend the Trench which hath been spoken of and which lay nearer the river on the left hand On the right hand they composed a great squadron of the other foot in good order and extended their horse towards the hill as far as the narrowness of the place would permit them and made thereof one choice squadron apart wherein were the two Generals and Count Henry Which made it be doubted whether they did this to be in that part of the battel where victory was most to be hoped for or in case they should be worsted so to make their way sooner through the enemy and joyn with Orange who was already come with great forces to Niminghen The two Generals as they ordered their squadrons were not wanting in encouraging their souldiers They affirmed that this was the day which must free the Flemish from slavery the Germans from jealousies and which would throw a thousand rewards upon them the souldiers for obtaining the victory of which no doubt was to be made That the new Spanish Governour trusting little in himself and peradventure less in his men would not be in person where the greatest danger was That he was constrained to draw his people out of their Garisons almost by force who howsoever came rather with a mind to mutiny then to fight and were so lessened in their numbers as they were able to make but a very weak body of an Army How much did they exceed the enemy especially in horse And how great would their storm be That when the victory should be got on this side it would the more safely be had on the other side where the foot would notwithstanding so signalize themselves as they needed no other to assist them in overcoming That the enemy being routed and made to fly Flanders was to be wholly at their disposal And what Laws would not she be ready to receive having the Prince of Orange with his forces on one side theirs on the other or when they should be all joyned together Holland and Zealand invincible Provinces in the defence of their Country would certainly share in the fruits of so happy a success as also every other Province which would cordially joyn with them in the same Cause That in such Provinces as would prove refractory the sword should do what fair means could not effect and as they should be joyfully received by those so should they find rich pillage in these That every souldier should therefore enter the combate with firm resolution of being victorious And that adding one incitement to another every one of them should think they were looked upon by the eyes of both the Germanies which expected by means of their valour that day the one to recover what she had lost the other to keep what she had feared to lose When both Armies were ordered in manner aforesaid they began to skitmish Avila advanced 300 foot part Spaniards part Walloons against those who guarded the Trenches on the other side who coming forth with a proportionable number received the Kings men with much stoutness but these as being more experienced began to get advantage over the others driving them back into their Trenches and endeavouring to fall in with them Here the fray grew hotter and each side received new courage accordingly as they received new succours But the Kings men still prevailing they at last got upon the Trenches and of them Captain Diego di Montesdock was one of the first that was slain Then the chief squadron of the enemies foot began to move Whereupon the others making a stand who before began to give back they fell all again a fighting and for a while did manfully withstand the Kings men whose squadrons
were in it were most of them English Foot part of those that Leicester had brought over with him and their Commander in chief was the Lord of Hemert a Dutch-man The Enemy did very much strive to preserve that place and Leicester prepared to relieve it He to that purpose sent out a good proportion of Horse and Foot and the Kings men were not wanting in making such opposition as was needfull though they had not men enough as then to keep those that were within from making excursions and hinder the designs which the Enemy had without During this uncertainty of the Siege on the one side and of the Succour on the other there hapned divers actions and skirmishes one of which proved very bloody The English intended to relieve the Town chiefly by the way of a greater Dike which ran along the Mause and to this purpose they had fortified themselves upon the Duke had likewise prepared divers Barks upon the River Wherefore taking their time they began to march with some Squadrons of Foot and advanced very boldly towards the business The Royalists were very watchfull on their part and resolving to keep back the succour they likewise marched boldly to encounter the Enemy The business was very hot for a while till the English began to give back and to retreat which made the Kings men the more forward in advancing but being too jovial in their pursuit they did so discompose themselves as being set upon by a fresh Squadron of English Foot they were driven back and routed with much slaughter The most of these were Spaniards of Don John d' Aquila's Brigado and the loss was great for there was slain above 200. of which seven Captains together with divers inferior Officers Yet could not the English force the Dike which was first possest by the Spaniards but by their favorable success they succored the Town by some Boats by the way of the River and so made them continue the longer in their vigorous defence The P. of Parma was much displeased with this success wherefore he gave present order to Altapenna to leave the Siege of Nuis for the present to come to that of Graves And he himself came thither soon after in person and brought the whole body of the Kings Army with him the sooner to end this Siege May was already over and the Prince being exceedingly desirous to end the Siege of Graves that he might the sooner go to those of Venlo and of Nuis he caused great haste be made in finishing the Trenches Batteries and whatsoever else might the sooner expedite the making of Assaults Great speed was then made of all the Works in so much as within few dayes two Batteries were raised and a dozen Peece of Artillery placed upon each of them wherewith they began to play upon the Town the one was placed on the River side the other on the Lands side The former plaid upon a Flank wherein the Enemies chiefest defence on that side lay but they might notwithstanding resist a long while And the Earl of Leicester being already come first to Utricht and then to Arnhem with good Forces he gave the besieged good hopes of being relieved when the Lord of Hemert with some of his Captains being poorly timerous began to treat of a surrender Nor did the Prince refuse to give them any Conditions they could desire that he might the sooner rid his hands of that enterprise He came forth then with safety to Persons Arms and Baggage but he soon repented his doing so for not many dayes after Leicester put him and all the Captains that partook with him in the Surrender to an ignominious death The siege of Graves being so happily ended Fernese went suddenly to that of Venlo He had then a very gallant Army For he mustered above 20000 foot and 3000 horse all choice men And the several Nations whereof they consisted vyed which should outdoe other in each Military action Fernese being incamped before Venlo he quickly took and fortified all the chiefest Avenues without and then turned himself to begirt those within with his wonted works A certain Island which they had fortified served the besieged for a good defence on the river side Fernese would by all means deprive them of this advantage And because the river was not fordable and that it was not sufficient to annoy the defendants in the Island barely by Artillery he made four of the greatest Barks that were in those parts to fall down from Mastrick resolving to assault them therewithall nearer hand On their flanks he raised a firm parapet of planks the better to secure the souldiers who were to enter into them and he put into each of them a Company of Spanish foot with a Captain over each Company The Barks accoasted the Island on divers sides and the order which was given them was That the souldiers which were within them should all of them make the attempt at one and the same time and that they should be seconded from the river side by the Artillery Nor could the event have proved more luckie For the Fort being played upon from the river side by the Artillery the Spaniards discharging of their muskets their landing and the driving of the enemy from the Island was almost done at one and the same instant There were but few of them slain the rest saved themselves in some boats This infused much terror into the besieged But they were incouraged by Leicester and chiefly by Schinck who had his wife and a sister within the Town wherefore his private Interest concurring with the common Cause he did all he could to bring in some succour But Fernese had so shut up all the Passes as it was too hard a matter to effect Yet Schinck did several times endeavour it till all hopes being lost he gave over the designe The Kings men this mean while played furiously upon the Town from several parts and those Nations who before strove who should advance furthest strove now who should be the first to give the assault But the defendants not willing to expect it resolved to yield The Conditions were almost the same that were given at Graves From hence Fernese went with all speed to before Nuis And with him did the Elector of Cullen joyn at whose intreaties it was that the Army marched thither The Town was already a little curbed by some Forts but those within had not forborn making of many stout fallies and seemed still more resolute to defend it This Town lies upon the Rhine as you have heard and the River makes an Island just in the face of it not far from the walls of the Town Here the enemy had particularly fortified themselves and from thence Fernese would by all means drive them The care of this was given unto he Spaniards who did attempt it boldly But the enemy issuing out with like courage made good the Island and slew some of the Spaniards Who notwithstanding returned more resolutely
in recognition of his being also resolved to adhere unto the King and for his having drawn the City of Roan to do the like To boot with these Governours of Provinces the Marisnal of Bullion and Monsieur de Sanseval had a great influence upon the Forces within the same Frontiers but the chief command lay in the Duke of Nevers All these Commanders used the greatest industry they could in gathering together such Forces as might suffice to keep Dorlan from falling into the King of Spains hands Fuentes was this mean while incamped before the Town And it was argued in the Councel of VVar whether were the better to begirt it on the Towns side or on the Castles and at last it was resolved that they would bend all their forces against the Castle For that being won they might much more easily take the Town Amidst which contrariety of opinions whilst Monsieur de la Motte in order to his office was viewing where he should fittest dispose of his Batteries he was casually shot in the eye with a musket and slain A great loss For Flanders had not a more experienced Commander in Arms nor who had passed with greater approbation through all offices even from the meanest to the greatest The winning of the Castle being then resolv'd upon divers Forts were raised on that side in such places as were most requisite to secure their quarters on the outside the Works which were to be made within They fell presently to making Trenches On one side which was of greatest concernment the Spaniards Burgonians and Walloons were so fervent at their work as they soon fell into the Ditch Hernando Teglie Portacarera Serjeant-Major of a Spanish Brigado did in particular merit great praise herein To become masters of the Ditch more easily it was necessary to take a little Ravelin from the besieged To this end the Spaniards and the rest made a furious assault upon the Ravelin which was so well sustained by the French as the success was doubtfull for some hours But those without being still reinforced by new men they took the Ravelin at the last and lodged in it The Town was thus begirt when Fuentes came to know that the French came to relieve it The Admiral Villiers had brought 400 Horse a little before this to this purpose out of Normandy and a great number of Horse was raised to the same end in the neighbouring Frontiers by Saint Paul Bullioun and Sansevalle The besieged desired only to be succour'd by 800. or 1000 Foot And though the Duke of Nevers was diligent in his endeavours likewise to secure the Town as soon as might be with new men yet he maturely judged that it was needfull to assemble yet greater Forces together whereupon the succour might be better grounded To the which he was the rather moved for that he knew Fuentes had received considerable Recruits from the Flemish and Walloons But the French Commanders confiding in the Cavalry which they already had and which consisted of prime Gentry sent word to Nevers who was at S. Quintains that he should no longer delay endeavouring the succour and that undoubtedly they would effect it with the Forces which they had Going therefore from Amiens which is the chief City of Picardy and which is within a short dayes journey of Dorlan they moved with 1500 Horse and 1000 Foot intending to convey the Foot into the Town and that the Horse should make their way When they were come within sight of the Spanish Camp Fuentes and the rest of his Commanders thought that this was rather to make a discovery then to fight But when they saw that the real intention of the French was to endeavour the succour with those men Fuentes getting on hors-back and in that posture suddenly sending for the rest of the Commanders to Councel they resolved to leave the Trenches well provided and to march and meet the Enemy with the rest of the Army And Fuentes foretelling the certainty of the Victory This said he may be termed a French Butado Do they think to find us asleep within our quarters or that we be not able to sustain that double assault which they peradventure intend to make at once these from without and the besieged from within I believe they will soon find they are deceived and that this their design partakes much more of fool-hardiness then of courage Then taking all requisite or der for the defence of their Trenches and particularly for withstanding the Assault which the besieged might make he drew forth the rest of his men into the field observing first in what order the Enemy marched They had made three almost equal bodies of Horse The first was led on by Admiral Villiers the second by Monsieur Sansevalle and the third by Count San Paul and the Marshal Bullion Under the shelter of these Horse the Foot marched on the right hand and in such order as they might easily disjoyn and get into Dorlan when the Horse should have opened them the way Thus came the French marching on and Fuentes ordered his Camp thus On the right hand he formed a Squadron of Flanders Train-band Horse which in their several Companies might come to 6 0 Curasiers and who upon this occasion were commanded by Count Bossu He placed the Light-Horse on the left hand under the command of Ambrosio Landriano who was Lieutenant-Generall of the Horse the Duke of Pastrana who was Generall and who was a little before returned from Spain being not well then He himself kept in the midst with his wonted Guard of Lances and Carabins and followed by a great many Personages of great Port amongst which were the Duke d'Umale the Campmaster Generall Ronye the Princes of Simai and Avelino the Marquis Barambone and divers others of the best quality that were in the Camp The Foot were divided in the most advantagious places and there was therof particularly one little flying Squadron of Spaniards which might be ready to turn wheresoever occasion should most require Fuentes having thus ordered his Army Villers advanced and with great fervencie charged the first Squadrons of the Light-horse Those first Squadrons which were all Spaniards and Italians did not stand the charge of the French but wheeling about were disordered and almost made to run The second Squadrons did then advance who were Spaniards led on by Carlo Colonna and fiercely setting upon the French on the Flank they came to close fight The French Vanguard being thus advanced Sanseval made forwards with the Battel against him came Landriano with the rest of the Light-horse which were placed there And here began a fierce and bloody conflict where Villers Sanseval and the rest of their Company fighting couragiously the Spaniards Light-horse were again disordered Fuentes gave the sign then to the Curasiers who charged so close and home upon the French Horse as they beat them back and the rest of the Horse being rallied together and come in to them they at
Forts which we had taken would have so long entertained the Enemy till the Town being as we know but ill provided might have faln into our hands The Fortune of war alters the condition of affairs in a moment and so she hath dealt with us upon this occasion But we ought to thank her for it because that suddenly altring the face of affairs she hath proved more favourable to us when it was to be feared she might have proved more averse And truly if the Arch-Duke weighing affairs better on his behalf had made his Army stay betwixt Newport and Ostend in what straits should we now be All hereabouts unless it be Ostend is the Enemies Country we should not have been able to have got thither And then being enforced to have retreated by Sea with how much advantage might the Enemy have assaulted us Clean contrary the advantages will now lie wholly on our side They come wearied with marching short in numbers blinde with rage and with the very fury of mutineers Did they peradventure after this mornings tumultuous action think that we either buried in sleep or born away by fear would either not have taken up Arms at all or else have thrown them away without any waies disputing the business Will this be the first time that our Forces shall have beaten theirs Nay I hope this shall prove the most noble victory that we ever got of them Our men are as good as theirs we exceed them in numbers and we will take the most advantagious place to fight upon But still our greatest advantage must lye in our Arms and courage I for my part will be in all places and from this time forward I declare my self unworthy the prerogatives of a Commander if upon this occasion I be not equally forward in all danger with every common Souldier And that there may be no escaping out of the Battel I have given order that all the ships stand off at Sea far from the shore That I might make the Victory certain I have chosen to adde despaire to hope In fine my Souldiers we must this time either overcome or die with our swords in our hands This discourse was received by the Army with joyfull acclamations and all readiness to fight was shewn Then Maurice gave out his Orders He assigned the Van to Colonel Sir Francis Vere the Battel to Count Solme and the Rear to Monsieur de Temple mixing together the Souldiers of all the several Nations He disposed of the Horse of which Count Lodovick de Nassaw was Generall some on the Front and some on the Flanks and kept no particular place for himself resolving to be at his liberty of transferring himself wheresoever the greatest need should require He had with him his brother Henry a Youth of 16 years of age and the Duke of Alsatia the Prince of Henault and Count Coligni Grandchild to the late Admiral of France together with divers other young Gentlemen of great quality who were come a little before from the Heretick Countries into Flanders to be trained up under him in the exercise of Arms would keep near his person The Armies met upon the Sea-shore From thence more towards the Land appears great Hills of Sand which seem to be on purpose placed by Nature to keep the Land from being swallowed up in those low situations by the Seas when they are most tempestuous Those little Mountains of Sand lie all along the Coast of Flanders and are called Downs The Sand is there moveable and is easily raised by the wind which makes them the more troublesom to be dealt with The Tide began to flow when the Armies marched wherefore they were forced still to draw towards the Downs and in fine the Main Battel must be given there To boot with the Catholicks being wearied and fewer in number the Sun was then going towards the West on which side the Enemies Camp was and therefore his beams gave upon the Catholicks faces which were on the East side It was in July and the hottest hours had very much inflam'd the sands and there was then likewise a little wind stirring which raising the sand did much more incommodiate the Catholicks Camp then it did their Enemies Count Maurice placed some Peeces of Artillery between the Downs and the Sea-shore where the high Tide had left way for his better advantage on that part He possest himself of the highest parts of the Downs where on one of the most advantagious sides he likewise placed some Peeces of Artillery And having all these advantages expected that the Enemy should come and assault him Nor were the Catholicks long in coming The Archduke in few words endeavoured still to encourage them to the conflict He put them in mind of their former victories of the service they did to God to the Infanta to himself and to the King of Spain And that as he himself would be an eye-witness of their this dayes behaviour they might with more security expect to be largely recompenced The Mutiniers Horse gave the first assault who led by the Admiral through that passage which remained then betwixt the Downs and the Sea met with a fierce encounter and were quickly very much indammaged by the Enemies Artillery placed with the aforesaid advantage At the same time almost did the Foot fall on on both sides upon the Downs betwixt whom happened one of the fiercest fights that hath any time been known The Spanish Mutiniers were on foot in the Front of the first Catholick Battalion who together with the rest gave miraculous testimony of their valour And the Enemies Van began already manifestly to give ground for Sir Francis Vere who commanded them being wounded and many of their first Ranks slain the rest observed orders no longer But new Souldiers of the Battel coming in to reinforce the Van the latter was sustained by the former and the fight continued more hot then before Their Muskets and other Fire-weapons being discharged they came to closer fight to the push of Pike and managing of their swords Various but equally fierce were the instigations on each side They fought out of Honour and out of Hatred as if what for hope what for despair they had been mad Each side hoped to overcome and as if they had despaired at the same time they would rather die then be vanquished You might therefore see the Squadrons of each side to billow up and down like waves sometimes advancing sometimes giving back the place whereon they fought being full of dead and wounded men and the fighters full of sweat blood and fierceness And by this time all the Forces of both sides were joyned in Battel But the disadvantage on the Catholicks behalf was too great Tired men fought against those that were fresh and the excessive heat of the sand made them more sensible of their weariness they suffered likewise more by the dust and by the sun Yet did they valiantly make good their party when the Catholick Horse
Flanks they brought the besieged to bethink themselves rather of surrendring then of defending themselves Yet divers parties passed before they treated of surrender in one of which Signior di Tortes a Walloon Camp-master an ancient and highly esteemed souldier was slain All possible military worth being thus exprest the besieged condescended at last to treat of delivering up the Town and having obtained the most honorable conditions from Spinola which they could desire they in the beginning of October delivered the Town up into his hands Above three thousand Foot and one hundred and fifty Horse marched out of the Town in good order besides those who were wounded which were above seven hundred five hundred of which dyed On the Catholick sides more men were slain and hurt and the siege lasted but little longer then a moneth Spinola had not well ended this siege when as the souldiers retreated a new mutiny began to be discovered which was endeavoured to be remedyed first by fair means and then by foul but all proved to no purpose Their number increased in a short time to two thousand what Foot what Horse and fomented as usually by the Enemy they went to the parts about Breda and did there secure themselves to boot with the diminution of the Army by reason of these men many more were lost in the late enterprises so as the Catholick Army was very much lessened Wherefore Maurice made use of this occasion He having brought his Army suddenly together he turned towards Friesland thinking to recover some of the Towns that were lost and with firm belief that he might do it before the Catholick Army could bring succour His first assault was against Lochem a Town not able to make any defence and therefore he took it in three dayes space From thence he threw himself upon Groll and besieged the Town Spinola was very much troubled at this unexpected resolution of Maurice he considered the danger that Groll might run as for Lochem the matter was not much but he could not endure that a place of such consequence as was Groll and which he had won but a little before should fall again so quickly into the Enemies hands He therefore inclined to relieve it but propounding it to the Councel of war they were most of them against it The season was now too far advanc'd to transport the Army again beyond the Rhine And if they had suffered so much in those low situations but a little before whilst it was yet Summer how much greater would their sufferings be now about the end of Autumne Then how many hardships had they undergone in the last siege That therefore the Army required som rest after so sore labour That it was to be considered how much it was lessened a part thereof being mutinied the rest but little satisfied and there being two great a scarcity of monies to content them Wherefore what certainty could there be of bringing them so soon into the field again That they were also to pass through Countries of the Enemy or at least such as were suspected That they should finde the Enemy very strong and already fortified about the Town so as it would be little less then rashness to assault them And if the Catholick Army should chance to be endangered what other Forces had they to relieve them And consequently into what danger would the affairs of the King and Arch-dukes fall These were very efficatious reasons but it was no less efficatiously urged on the contrary That upon this occasion the loss of Groll was not onely to be considered but the manifest danger of lofing Oldensel and Linghen also And how could it be doubted but that Groll being eut off from them and the other remaining open and without such an aid both of the other Towns must be inevitably lost In which case the King nor Archdukes having no Towns at all beyond the Rhine what would it avail them to have Reinberg on this side which was taken chiefly for the securing of that passage Were these to be the advantages these the glories of two fields which had cost so much Treasure blood and trouble That then since the question was now whether whatsoever they had beyond the Rhine was either to be lost or to be preserved it must consequently follow that they must endeavour by all means to overcome those difficulties which presented themselves to the contrary That Armies were made use of in severer seasons and upon lesser necessity That if the Army might receive some relief it might be believed they would willingly undergo this new trouble That whether the Country were foe or Neutral they would march in such order as by means of their Forces in the former and their good Reglement in the other the souldiery should be sensible of no sufferings That succour was therefore by all means to be carried with all possible speed That it was not possible the Enemy should so soon have fortified themselves on all sides Wherefore being resolutely assaulted in some of their weaker quarters it might very possibly be they would not wait the encounter That uncertainty alwaies attended Armies And that if in so many not altogether so unecessary occurrances Commanders did adventure themselves much more ought they to do so in these where manifest necessity did not admit of any more circumspect resolutions In wise debates it is seen that a few weighty reasons prevail over the numbers of a great many to the contrary Spinola was of this opinion the particular consideration was of too great force with him that if Groll should be lost Oldensel and Lingben would be lost likewise almost unavoidably Wherefore he resolved to attempt the relief This resolution being taken and the Arch-duke approving thereof he came to Reinberg and passing over the Rhine began to march towards the Enemies Camp He could not muster above eight thousand Foot and twelve hundred Horse all of them notwithstanding people long experienced in Arms and who came readily to their colours to be made use of upon this occasion Count Henry de Berg was at the defence of Groll but with a far less Garrison then the Town required He therefore made known the apparent danger of losing it if it were not all the sooner relieved nor did Spinola fail to march as fast as he could insomuch as about the midst of November he drew near the Enemy Maurice by reason of the so short time had not yet sufficiently fortified his quarters nor did he believe that Spinola would have put on so bold a resolution being to meet with so many difficulties therein when the Catholicks camp was come to the Enemies Trenches and when Spinola spyed out their weakest situation he turned thitherward The design was to fall on at the same time both those who brought the succour from abroad and those that expected it from within Spinola thus ordered his Army he made a flying Squadron which according to his custom he placed in the Front with
thither from all parts Merchants and Plebeians Gentry and Citizens to put their hands to the building of this Temple The Prince of Orange to boot with his being Governor of Holland and Zealand and of a part of Burgundy was likewise Governor of Antwerp In the tumult which had hapned in that City he had endeavoured that it might appear he had used all dilligence to impede them he himself came often thither in person and when he could not be there himself he sent the Count of Hostrat thither 'T was known that Orange his authority in that City was very great so as few thought that he would make use thereof according as occasion did require And when they saw Hostrat adhere unto him they thought they were both of the same mind Orange had likewise gone into Holland and Zealand to appease the tumults which had ensued there in matter of Religion presently after that of Antwerp But his endeavours there availed but little likewise by reason of the maligne constellation of times or they were but little sincere by his own peradventure more maligne contrariety Great was the commotion which had ensued in Gaunt the chief City of Flanders where the hereticks had likewise insolently introduced the use of their heresie as also in almost all the other considerable places of that Province Egmont who was Governor thereof had been there too in person and because his presence had done but little good he began to be suspected as well as Orange Though it was considered by some in their justification that in the Province of Groninghen where Count Aremberg was Governour and in Ghelderland and Zutfen which were Governed by the Count Mega both of them being esteemed great Catholicks and faithfull to the King The like revolts were seen in matter of Religion and like difficulties in removing them but howsoever those two were chieflyest suspected since they exceeding the rest so far in Authorities 't was thought that the tumults fomented by them had made all the rest prove likewise remediless THE HISTORY OF THE WARS OF FLANDERS Written by CARDINAL BENTIVOGLIO BOOK III. The Contents The King is highly offended for the novelties happened in Flanders A letter from Montigni to Count Horne the Regent resolves to take up Arms. A meeting of Orange Egmont and others in Terramond Valentiennes is befieged is reduced So is Antwerp The Regent enters Antwerp well provided of Arms. A great disposition throughout the whole Low Countries to quiet Consultations in Spain upon the affairs of Flanders two opposite Orations made unto the King by the Duke of Feria and the Duke of Alva the King resolves at last to send an Army into Flanders And gives the command thereof to the Duke of Alva upon newes hereof Orange retures into Germany Alva enters the low Countries he forthwith imprisons Egmont and Horne The Dutchesse of Parma departs for Italy The Duke of Alva is Governour of the Low Countries THus went the Affairs in Flanders at this time in the interim newes was brought to Spain of the so many and so strange innovasions happened of late in those Provinces nor can it be said how much the King and his Councel were troubled thereat Wherfore the Marquess of Berghen and the Lord Montigni could not be admitted to Audience before the King the King did not only seem not to approve of what had bin done in Flanders to the so great prejudice of the Catholike Religion and his regal Authority but he discovered a great indignation against the Flemish and a firm intention to chastise them and because such a designe required time and time dissimulation therefore the King yielding in this conjuncture to the force of necessitie writ unto the Regent That she should endeavour by all means possible to compose the tumults the best she might incouraging her notwithstanding to use force when she should think it were a fitting time to do so To this end some monies were sent from Spain and thereupon it was taken into consideration that for the present some Alman and Walloone forces might be raised till time should better advise what was to be resolved on touching the sending of Spanish forces and the like of other nations subject to the Crown of Spain into Flanders by reason then of these orders which were come in secret and much more by reason of the manifest appearing necessity of providing by Arms against the tumults which had already happened and to those of greater danger which might insue the Regent resolved to raise a good number of souldiers and to place them under such Commanders as she might confide in the speediest and neerest Levies which could be made abroad were the High Dutch and in Flanders the Walloones The Regent had not as then any other souldiers then those who a little before she had assembled to secure Brussels from tumults and for the more safety of her own person which might be about 500 Walloone foot and 100 Harquebusiers on horse back under the Command of Ernestus Count Mansfeild She did then without any delay give order for the raising of the aforesaid forces to wit the Lower Almans in two Regiments under the Counts of Aremberg and of Mega and two Regiments of the Upper Almans under Count Erbestin and Baron Shamburg The Walloones were divided into three Regiments one of which was given to Charls Count Mansfield son to Ernestus another to the Count De Reules and the third to Monsieur De Hierghes son to the Lord Barlemont to boote with these foot order was given for the raising of some horse The opinions of those of the Councel of State touching the raising of Arms were different Those of greatest Authority amongst them did not seem to incline thereunto alledging that instead of taking away jealousies which was of most importment this would be the way to increase them Others thought this remedy requisit since faire means had hitherto prevail'd so little but the Regent would adhere unto the latter opinion and shewed how that it was the more necessary for that it was known a little before that the confederats had divers projects on foot to raise men also and that to this effect divers correspondencies had already been had between them and the neighbouring parts of Germany and France This preparation for Arms did much trouble such who thought they might be used against them The Hereticks who had so many wayes offended had reason to fear and the better sort of the Petitioners and the rest of their order who had licentiously run upon so many novelties had almost as much cause to fear but Egmont Orange and Horne were in private no lesse troubled hereat they being suspected to have continually fomented the disorders more then the other Lords Their names were publikely torn to pieces in Spain and they were already called Traytors oftner then Subjects This opinion which the King and the whole Court had of them all three and in general of all the Flemish had
therefore resolved not to suffer him to tarry long in Friesland When he had certain information that the enemy did not stir he entred into Groninghen and having refresht his men he led them out of the City and drew near the enemies Camp The Duke gessed just as it fell out To wit that Lodovick when he should be faced with â—o powerfull an Army when he should see himself in danger to want victuals and that he should not be able to retreat when he would better weighing his designes he would prevent these difficulties and without more adoe resolve upon retreat Lodovick at last resolved to do so and that he might do it without loss of men or reputation he effected it thus that very day towards the evening he sent away his baggage before after it his foot and left the horse for the last having taken order for breaking down the bridges which were over the river to the end that the Spaniards might not follow him The Duke had foreseen this and to be the more sure he gave order that Robles the camp-master with 400 Walloons should possess himself of a certain house conveniently seated to discover the enemies goings the retreat was then apparently seen the Duke made no delay he forthwith sent forth 400 Spaniards of the Neopolitan Brigado to assault the great trench which was formerly spoken of which was so wel perform'd as they drove away those that defended it who suddenly firing the bridges repast over the river The night now drew on and the enemy was already so far advanced and in so good order as the Dukes men could do them no great harm Yet some Spaniards and Walloons waded over the river where it was shallowest but they met with such hindrances by the squadrons of the enemies horse and by the narrowness and badness of the ways as they could make no further progress But few of the enemies were slain in this action yet were they much discouraged and confused therwith seeing themselvs so boldly set upon After this rather flight then retreat Lodovick continued his march backward towards East Friesland intending for as much as was conceiv'd to stay notwithstanding on this side the river of Embs in some good situation and as near Embden as possibly he could that by the nearness of the river and the City he might come the better by victuals and come what would come secure his last retreat By which means he stil thought he might compass his intention either of keeping the Duke of Alva busied or to keep with his former hopes in Friesland if the Duke should in some other parts oppose his brother He thought he might likewise believe that the Duke would not touch upon Germany nor hazard the want of victuals or suffering of other incommodities in a Countrey which appeared openly averse unto him And howsoever he thought he should be able so wel to fortifie himself as the Duke should not so easily dislodg him the second time as he had done the first To boot with the river which fenced him on the one side the Country was almost altogether impassable since it hardly allowed conveniency to be marcht upon and that upon the banks and muchless to fight And moreover the river swelling much more then ordinarily at a high tide the Country might easily be overflown by means of certain sluces which cutting the banks of the same river in divers places are usually opened or shut by the Inhabitants according as the sea swels or lessens This was Lodovicks designe So he pursued to march after his first retreat and did advance so far that very night and some days after as at last he quarter'd in a great village on this side the Embs call'd Geminghen He might first have staid in another call'd Rheeden and have had the passage over the Embs more coÌ„modiously there also by reason of a bridg which was nigh at hand but it was known that he would stay on this side the river and yet as near as he could to the City of Embden for the reasons which have been already spoken of On the other side the Duke continued his purposes which were to follow Lodovick to the Embs and to endeavour by all means possible to send him back routed and defeated into Germany that so he might be the freer afterwards to turn back upon Orange He therefore made his Army march leaving almost all the new raised horse in Groninghen because they could not be serviceable in those parts He lodged the first night in a Village called Sclotenem and not hearing any news of the enemy nor of good conveniency for victuals for all that Country was against him he was inforced to stay two days in that place He doubted that Lodovick might be tarryed in Rheeden that he might enjoy the oportunity of that near bridg which secured unto the passage over the River Knowing afterwards that he was past further on the Duke liked the business much better and staid his Camp in Rheeden securing that pass for himself Here he at last had certain advertisement that the Enemy were lodged in Geminghen From Rheeden to Geminghen at some 8 miles distance there runs a continued bank which serves as a curb to the River whereby the better to tame the swelling thereof occasioned by the sea The Duke was to make his men march upon this Bank if he would defeat the Enemy Divers Channels ran into the River which had houses and bridges upon them for the use and service of the Country people who in the summer time which now it was had some abidings not so low nor not so muddy as in the Country Lodovicks Quarters were thus fortified He had the Town of Geminghen upon his back on his left side the River and on his right the open fields fortified with Trenches where the situation would allow it On the Front the Bank it self somewhat distant from the River gave the entrance which without was cut in two by two Ravelins and better guarded within by two peeces of Artillery In this so strong place he either did not expect or did not fear the Duke Who desirous to try all wayes to fight and defeat him resolved to goe to him He sent some Horse before under his natural son Fernando who had the charge of the Horse and made the houses and bridges still as he marched be taken to secure his retreat upon all occasions From hence he advanced Sancio d' Avila with 50 Horse and 500 Harquebusiers all of them Spaniards and sent the two Camp-masters Romero and Londonio after him with each of them 600 Spanish Foot part Harquebusiers part Musquetiers and with two Companies of Lances commanded by Cesar d' Avalos and Curtio Martinengo The rest of the Army marcht in this order The Spaniards were the Van the High-Dutch followed next and the Walloons brought up the Reer inclosed by some Troops of Horse the Files were very strait for they could not march well but upon the
difficulty in being received But being got into the town and greater mislikes arising amongst the Citizens they came from words to blows nor did the quarrel end till the Town by military licentiousness was sackt This success drew after it very bad consequences For every Town in Holland seemed to share in this sacking of Roterdam and the example shewn therein by one Town to another extended it self suddenly from one Province to another The affairs were notwithstanding for that time appeased there by Count Bossu Lumay growing bold by this prosperity and growing stronger by new men who came in unto him went to get further footing thereabouts especially in some other place upon the Mause But divers of the Kings souldiers being assembled together hindred all his further attempts at that time Orange prepared this mean while to march with his Forces from Germany He was to this purpose in a Town of his called Dilimburgh near the Rhine and endeavoured again to make all that side of the Country joyn with him And seeing that fortune began already to smile on him in Flanders by this success of the Bril he thought it good to allure men yet more by writing He and his brother Lodovick did therefore publish a Manifesto the tenor of which was to this purpose They shewed how much they were obliged by Nature and Honour not to suffer their Country to be opprest They said that the King being abused could not remedy those things which were concealed from him They added to the past miseries by greatly exagerating the present calling the Duke of Alva's introduced grievances Tyrannies and things till then unheard of in Flanders They endeavoured by specious titles even of doing service to the King to make the Country incline to them and particularly to secure the Catholicks in matter of Religion And in fine they strove to be so zealous of the publike good as others should not fear that any of their own private ambition were hidden underneath it The Duke of Alva seeing these beginnings delayed not to take new men into pay He gave order for the speedy raising of 6000 Walloon Foot under 3 Camp-masters to wit the Messieurs of Capres Bevoir and Liques and he gave out other Commissions to the same effect He was chiefly jealous of Zealand by reason of the particular correspondencies which Orange held there who was formerly Master of many places there of importance The Ilands of that Province are full of Havens but Flushing is the chiefest This Town stands further into the Sea then any other on that side which looks towards Spain and commands the mouth of the Channel where it is seated The Duke sought to secure himself of this Haven which opens and shuts the chief ingress into that Country by a Citadel which he caused to be built there but which was not yet made defensible Neer Flushing stands the Ramechins a little Castle but well fortified And more inward Ramua an open Town but which hath one of the best Havens of all the North. Between Flushing and Ramua a little within land stands Middleburgh the greatest and chiefest City for traffick in all Zealand as hath been said and which therefore makes its own Iland called Walcheren the noblest of all those Ilands The City holds communication with the Sea by a large Channel cut out by hand and receives all commodities from thence The Duke of Alva having these jealousies of Zealand he in the first place endeavoured to secure Flushing and suddenly dispatched thitherward Captain Osorio d' Angulo with three companies of Spanish Foot Nor did the Duke conceive amiss The marching of these people being heard of at Flushing the Townsmen resolved not to receive them into the Town and boldly did as they resolved The Souldiers being come neer the Town the people within took up Arms ran to the gates and shut them up Exclaiming that they came to raise by force the new Impositions and moreover to sack Flushing as they had done Rotterdam Nor were they content to keep out the Kings Souldiers but imprisoning Captain Pacieco a Spaniard who had the care of ordering the new Citadel and after having treated him abusively in divers sorts they cut off his head and hung it up for a publike spectacle in the market-place This opposition accompanied with such sad circumstances forced Osorio to quit the Island and to retreat as he did to some place of safety expecting new Orders from the Duke who was extremely troubled at this success But it cannot be said how glad Orange was of this and how much his Fautors rejoyced every where They all of them applied themselves with all diligence to send men into Flushing and in a few dayes many High-Dutch and French came and were there received and the Queen sent some Souldiers privatly thither from England Jerolomo Lorâ— of Seras born at Breda came thither afterwards who was made Governour of the Town by Orange and he gathering together 3000 Souldiers did better establish the Insurrection of that Town The Tumultuaries expecting from hence better progress they without any gainsaying took Ramua and Vere a considerable place not far from thence and all other places of lesser importance So as of the whole Iland of Walcherin only Middleburg and the small Castle of Ramechins remained to the King Wherefore the Tumultuaries desiring to be masters of the whole Iland and hoping to be so they resolved to besiege Middleburgh and sate down before it with those men which they had whose numbers increased daily The Duke hearing of this so great revolt feared very much that Middleburgh would also be lost He knew that there were but few of the Kings Souldiers within it and that many of the Citizens were but ill enough inclin'd Wherefore he suddenly sent the Signeur de Beavoir thither with 400 old Walloon Foot for the new Souldiers of his Regiment were not as yet raised Beavoir was received into the City And because to boot with the small number of Souldiers the City was but ill munited and victuall'd the Duke gave order to send speedily a powerful succour thither he commanded that many ships should be made ready in Antwerp and that the greatest strength of Spaniards and Walloons that could be had should be mustered and that the Rendezvous should be at Berghen ap Zoom Berghen is but a few leagues distant from Antwerp the River of Zoom runs by it which not far off fals into the Scheld So as it is a place of importance in it self and was then the fittest from whence to send that succour To encourage the enterprise the Duke sent his son Frederick to Berghen and with him Signior Norchermes and here all things were preparing which were needfull for the above-mentioned enterprise But news coming every day of greater danger if Middleburgh were not suddenly secured therefore it was requisite to send away an indifferent aid since there was not time allowed for a plenary succour Sancio d' Avila was chosen
even one of the chiefest of all Flanders That from that Line of the Confines which was towards France it lay far enough inward in the Kings Territories but yet not so far but that it might be easily succour'd from without That it might easily be made very strong being on one side in a very low and spongy situation and well provided of Walls and Ditches on all other parts That being near the very Province of Flanders and that of Brabant it might easily further the Tumults both in the one and the other of them and consequently make the fire more lasting which was to be kindled in so many parts He therefore with much fervency apply'd himself to the sudden regaining of it and hoped well therein by his having so easily recovered Valentiennes He saw that Lodovick of Nassaw might be succoured on two sides to wit by the way of Germany by the Forces which Orange prepared and by the way of France by the Forces raised by the Hugonots these were doubtlesly the nearest and therefore likely to be the speediest The Duke therefore resolved to make his quickest opposition on this side of France hoping that when he should have interrupted that succour he might more easily impede the other but such and so grievous commotious happened suddenly in Holland as they put upon him new and greater necessities and rendred him much perplext touching what he was to resolve upon The Town of Eachusen had there led the way first to open disobedience which Town lies very opportunely for situation as lying upon the point of a great Gulf which the Sea makes in Holland towards the North and no less for the quality thereof and number of shipping which are continually built there and which makes it one of the best and most esteemed Arsenals of all that Province Nor was it long ere other greater revolts followed For Dort Harlem Leyden Gouda and almost all the other Cities and chief Towns did at once the like except Amsterdam which continued then and long after in Allegiance to the King Great raising of Arms was likewise heard of in Germany and that Orange having past the Rhine grew still stronger in men intending to enter Flanders again by the same way he did before To obviate so many evils which threatned him in so many several parts the Duke of Alva betook himself suddenly to raise great levies both of horse and foot and gave order for the taking of 5 or 6 thousand horse into pay in High Germany the chief care whereof was had by Henry Duke of Brunswick formerly imployed by the King upon like occasions by Salentine Count of Isemburg Archbishop of Cullen who shewed himself very faithfull to the Catholick Cause and the Crown of Spain and by Peter Ernestus Count of Mansfield who came originally from Germany and who had yet many friends and kindred of great esteem there he gave order for the raising of 18 thousand foot in six Regiments to wit 3000 in the Upper and 3000 in the Lower Germany The first were taken into pay by Ottone Count of Erbestein by George Baron of Fronsberg and by Nicholas Purvighliere all of them natives of the same Country And the latter by Giles Count of Barlemonte by Maximilian Count of Bossu and by Lancelot Count of Mega all of them the Kings Vassals in the Provinces of Flanders These levies required great store of money whereof the Duke was very much exhausted But he had represented unto the King the affairs of Flanders to be in so dangerous a condition as he was in some sort presently furnisht therewithall for his necessities and the King promised him to see him continually furnisht with what should be requisit for maintaining the Churches Cause and his own which was now become one and the same in those Provinces The new Insurrections which had happened in Holland bore with them very bad consequences to boot with the former in Zealand And the Novelties which had succeeded and which still grew greater in the Frontiers towards Germany and France required powerfull and speedy remedy The Duke of Alva consulted therefore with the chief Commanders of the Army to what part it was best to bend the Kings Forces or if by dividing them they might suffice for both occasions 'T was generally thought that there were not enough to be divided And as for the turning to the one or the other place Marshal Vitelli Camp-Master-General who was greatly esteemed in the Army as well for the prerogative of his Place as for his Valour was of opinion that they were to bend all their Forces immediately towards Holland and Zealand saying That by good reason of War Forces were to be turned thither where their imployment was of greatest consequence And how much did it most import first to secure the Maritine Country That in those parts which lay more inward in the Country the people were neither so infected with Heresie nor so inclin'd to Rebellion And though some loss might be suffered by the Forces from Germany and France it was to be hoped that they might be easily regain'd That the Hugonots Forces were of no substance of themselves nor was it to be thought that the King of France would favour them if for what might concern the good of Spain at least for what might respect the service of his own Kingdom so grievously infested by them That the heretick Forces of Germany which were to enter Flanders were to be esteemed of the same nature being tumultuously raised ill provided of men and worse of money more ready to pillage then to fight and that prey and pay failing they would soon forgoe their obedience and insteed of carrying their Colours against their enemies they would turn them against their Commanders That for these reasons it was to be believed that the noise was greater then the blow would be from either of both those parts and that those foreign Forces being soon scattered by the opposition made by the Kings Towns which to that purpose were with all diligence suddenly to be munited Mons would easily be recovered as also whatsoever other damage might insue in any other part upon those Frontiers But on the contrary how firmly was heresie radicated both in Holland and Zealand how much were the people alienated from their former devotion to the Church and to the King That by reason of the Sea and Rivers Merchandise did very much abound there as also monies and victuals and that every Town there was so strong by Nature that allow but a little time to Industry every Pass would require an Army to overcome it and every Siege almost an Age to finish it That by the opportunity of the Sea new Forces might continually be sent unto the Rebels on those sides from Germany and France But especially from England And they being Masters of the Maritine parts what advantages might they by other designes work unto themselves in the more inward Countries What difficulties would the succours
intentions To this end he sent forth Roderigo Zappata with a party of Harquebusiers Which when the Harlemists saw they forth with sallied out couragiously and made the Spaniards retreat and in this action Zappata lost an arm This did not flacken but did more inflame the Spaniards They therefore soon after assaulted the Forton two sides at once and the Harlemists came forth the second time to defend it But the number of the latter was neither equal to the others nor yet their valour so as they did rather yield then fight And the Spaniards ceased not till passing over the ditch upon the ice and still pressing harder upon the Harlemists they entred the Fort joyntly with them where they slew many and easily drove out the rest The Spaniards incouraged hereby drew near the City and begirt it on sundry parts The Kings Army consisted not of above 12000 foot but all of them choice souldiers and mightily puft up by their so many prosperous successes There were about 6000 Spaniards 3500 Germans and the rest Walloons They brought but 400 horse to the siege part Lances part Dragoons which were as many as they needed respect being had to the Country and to the season As Frederick advanced and as he divided his quarters he understood that Lumay came from Leydens side to bring a good succour to the City He brought with him the remainder of the German Regiment which was raised by Muller and some other Companies of French and English which might make 3000 foot with some pieces of Artillery and some victuals Frederick hearing this hasted to meet the enemy a thick cloud favoured both the parties each of them thinking the better to conceal themselves by the obscurity thereof and to fall upon the contrary party at unawares But the event proved better for the Kings men The encounter was near the Town of Berchenrode where the business lasted not long for the Kings men were so much the better both in numbers valour and diligence as the enemy were quickly routed Many of them were slain and the rest disperst they lost their Artillery many Colours all their Baggage and all the provision which they brought Frederick returning to order the siege chose for his quarters a certain Hospital with some few houses of a Burrough which answered upon one of the Gates of the City called de la Croce and kept with him all the Spaniards On this side a great battery was soon prepared But this situation which was the most commodious for quarter was not so for battery for the Gate was fenced by a good Ravelin and the Wall was there also more defensable On the side opposite to them which looked towards Leyden the rest were quartered with little or no commodity of covert But the Wall being weaker on that side and worse flankt therefore the oppugning on that side might be the easier This error was rather despised then not known The Spaniards could not perswade themselves but that the Harlemists would throw open their Gates at the very first thunder of their Canon as they had done in other places which they had lately taken And they were the more confirmed herein by their double good success of taking the Fort and keeping back the relief So as not observing the Military proceedings in sieges and too scornfully neglecting to make their Trenches so to draw near by degrees as is usual under their Rampires they resolved to fall immediately to the battery of the said gate de la Croce and of its Ravelin They placed sixteen piece of great Canon against that side and on the 18 of December began a very fierce Battery So great was the first days rain as they of Harlem could hardly work upon the Ravelin and the Gate But the night following they did so well provide for all things necessary as they manfully made good the defence to the great praise in particular of Captain Steinback Mullers Lieutenant who had the custody of the Ravelin They continued therefore to play more fiercely with their Canon from without Il Segnor della Cressoniera commanded the Artillery and Captain Bartolomy Campi an Italian was chief Ingenier of the Army a man greatly esteemed in that profession The souldiers seemed very desirous to proceed to the assault They were eg'd on by anger hatred and desire of booty but especially by finding so obstinate a resistance in the Harlemists The Ingenier Campi made a portable bridg and the ruines being still made greater by the Batteries the Tolledan not contented with the commodity which the ice afforded him commanded that the bridg should be thrown over the Ditch Yet for the better discovery he made Captain Francisco Vargas advance with 150 Harquebusiers all Spaniards The rest of the foot staid not to expect orders but ere it was time to fall on they advanced Three could hardly march abrest upon the bridg yet the souldiers striving who should enter first thereupon and eagerness prevailing more with them then discipline they came in such disorder as one hindred another and they could not advance because the breach was not so great as that the bridg could reach unto it This mean while a furious tempest of musquet-shot of fire and of Canon powred down upon them from the City they lying open with their squadrons upon the side of the ditch and making themselves too near a mark for the wounds which they received Yet were they so transported with the fury of assaulting as forgetting their obedience to their Commanders they would not retreat Insomuch as the Camp-master Romero who was both greatly beloved and feared by them was forc'd to go to them and bitterly chiding them to say What rashness or rather what Frensie is it that causeth you doe thus Are these errors learnt in the Duke of Alva's Military school Doe men go to assaults by the air Will you suffer your selves thus to be slain when you are not able to fight being made a But or rather a laughing-stock to these Rebels who secure within their Rampiers mock you whilst they wound you Shall you not have occasions enough to punish their perfidiousness Lay aside now then that violence wherewith you are blinded I who have so often shar'd with you in victory will at this time share willingly with you in loss Thus at last they retreated but they left little less then 200 dead behind them whereof one Captain and some Ensigns The Spaniards by this success found their error of their opinion touching the taking of Harlem So as finding it now to be as hard as they thought it easie before they resolved to forgo all manner of action till they were largely provided of all things necessary to lead on the siege at leisure To this end such orders as was requisite were given in the neighbouring Cities of Amsterdam and Utricht But it was not so easie to bring provisions to the Camp because the Rebel Hollanders infesting all the wayes did all they could to hinder them
which when they should be joyned to those of Flanders the businesse though it might be somewhat slower would certainly be more secure But on the other side many of the chief Commanders were altogether for trying the new passage saying That give the safety of the passage for granted there was little else to be doubted That the more to facilitate the success they were to chuse the quietest hours of night under a faithful Guide well practised therein What damage was to be feared in the dark from rash and blind shooting That the difficulty would rest in coming to land wherein the Kings mens greatest danger lay and the Enemies greatest advantage That notwithstanding when they should be brought face to face why should not the like success be looked for from them both The Kings men according to their wonted resolution would assuredly either overcome or dye especially when they should know they had no third choice to make having the Enemy on their face and upon their backs so great a water But on the contrary the Enemies who were for the most part mercenary cowardly-minded and greater cowards of their hands thinking rather how to flie then how to fight would long for nothing more then to forsake the firm land and to retire into their close holes when they should have fearfully abandoned the open fields That this mean while the Fleet would play her part and landing the men by another way who were destin'd to the enterprise they could meet with no other disturbance That when they should have got good footing thus in Zealand the maritime Forces which were to be sent from Spain would have the easier entrance that this must needs precede that and the one be guided by the other That fortune did for the most part rather favour bold resolutions then such as were too cautelous And so it was to be hoped for now The rather for that her favour would be accompanied with the justice of the Kings forces tending to so good an end and by the Souldiers valour in making use of them upon so worthy an occasion 'T was evidently seen that to make this passage would prove very dangerous yet the Commendador after having been again well assured of the ford resolved to try it being very desirous and also full of hopes to get the aforesaid Eastern Islands and especially that of Scown which lay nearest the Sea which was very considerable in it self and very proper to secure those ships the better which were shortly expected from Spain Within it is the Town of Ziricsee the greatest Town in all those Eastern Islands and where the Commendador chiefly intended to establish the Kings Forces on that side He then without delay put 3000 Souldiers into the Island of Tolen which lies nearest Brabant as hath been said and composed them of Spaniards Dutch and Walloons in equal numbers and went himself thither afterwards the more to encourage the expedition by his presence He made Sancio d' Avila Admiral of the Navy which was assembled thereabouts and resolved to imbarque half his men in it which when they should be landed were to be commanded by Christopher Mandragone The other half composed likewise equally of the abovesaid three Nations were destin'd for the passage which was to be taken from the furthermost point of Filislant where the Channel was broadest For there at the low ebb the ground was highest so as though the passage were the longer it was the more easie With the 1500 Foot were 200 Pioniers to the end that those together with these might the sooner fortifie themselves when they should be come to land They imbarked all of them first in the Island of Tolen that afterwards they might divide themselves in Filislant in such order as hath been said At their imbarking the Commendador presented himself before the Souldiers and especially before those who were to wade over the Channel and in a grave manner-did thus encourage them He said That the hardest enterprises were most familiar to them that many of these very men had been in the two-precedent actions that therefore they went to dangers which they had formerly experienced that they should remember this was the same cause that they served the same King and that they were to meet with the same enemies that therefore they could not doubt but that they were to be seconded by Divine favor by Princely reward and by that advantage which they had always had over those who were Rebels to the Church and King That they were such against whom they now were to fight that the Foreiners who were joyned with them were of more mercenary souls then hands so as all instigation to fight ceasing in them they would strive who should run fastest away At these words they all chearfully imbarked themselves that were to tarry in the ships and the rest went in little Boats to the Island of Filislant Here the Fleet staid till the rest had passed over the Channel John Ossorio d'Uloa a Spaniard one of the valiantest Captains of that Nation and one who of all the rest did most counsel that enterprise led on the men and would himself make the passage They waited the coming of the night which was Michaelmas-Eve and upon the beginning of the ebb Osorio entred the water the very next after the Guides and was followed first by the Spaniards next by the Dutch and then the Walloons after them came the Pioners and Captain Paralta a Spaniard closed up the Files with a Company of the same Nation The Files consisted not of above two or three Souldiers at the most a-breast to the end that being so strait or narrow and walking upon the highest shelves the Adversaries might have the greater difficulty in encountring them and hindring their passage The Enemy stood this mean while upon their watch having already clearly pry'd into the Spaniards design Wherefore when they knew they had begun to wade they ordered their Boats likewise in long Files especially the least both on the one and the other part against the Spaniards Flank they then began to play upon them a good distance off with their Artillery and nearer hand with their Muskets but did them but little hurt by reason of the obscurity of the night The success altered with the change of the Tide the Enemies Boats were not able to come near the Spaniards whilst the Ebb was low but when the Flood began and that as the Tide rise the Enemies Boats drew nearer the Kings men were then divers times in great straits for they were at one and the same time to hasten their passage to keep their Files in order to contend against and to overcome the waters and chiefly to resist the Enemies assaules who were not content to gaul them with their Muskets and Harquebuses but they annoyed them nearer hand with Iron-hooks and struck and molested them with other instruments which they had provided for that purpose endeavouring by all means possible to hinder
atleast to disorder their passage Yet the Kings mens courage increasing as did their danger they marched on in good order and made resistance at the same time turning their Pikes upon the assailants and shewing most courage where most dauger lay Indeed the Night made very much for them for the Enemy could go but blindly to work and with great disorder in the dark which made them guide all their actions more by chance then by advice The Kings men then having still kept their order and made manfull resistance where it was needfull past over the Channel in such a space of time as they were not to receive any other disturbance neither from the increasing of the Tide nor from the Enemies Barks Having escaped this danger they thought to have met with a much greater in getting to land For the Enemies who were all of them almost Mercenaries and of the aforesaid Nations stood upon the shore ready to oppose them But scarcely staying the first assault made by the Royalists they basely ran away and shamefully forsaking the shore retreated to some parts more inward in the Island where some of them had fortified themselves Yet this action of the Royalists was accompanied with some misfortune for the Pioners being overtaken with the Tide not being able to go further on nor yet to go back time enough were almost all of them drowned And for the same reason Captain Peralta with his Spanish Company could not enjoy the commodity of the passage but was forced to return to the Navy Of the rest who made the passage Captain Isador Pacecco was slain together with some Souldiers of lesser account and some other that were wounded perisht in the water For what remains the Enterprise all the circumstances considered was certainly one of the most memorable that ever the war of Flanders produced and such a one as deserved indeed rather to have been beheld by day-light then to have the lustre thereof lost by the obscurity of the night John Rivas a Spaniard who in the time of our being in Flanders was Governour of the Castle and Citadel of Cambray was in this action of Ziricsce as also in that other of Tergoes as we touched upon in that place He hath not only often related both these passages to me but comparing them together he concluded that in his opinion that of Tergoes was in one consideration more to be preferr'd as being a novelty never before tryed and this last in another respect as having met with much greater difficulties When the Kings men were past over they forthwith gave the appointed signe to their ships which without any considerable opposition put also to shore and the men being landed went presently to joyn with the rest and without any difficulty drive the Enemy out of the whole Island of Dwellant The Channel which divides this from the other Island of Scown was yet to be waded over where their chief intention of getting footing was that they might come by Zurrichsee That Channel is almost a league over and therefore required new resolutions and courage for the passing through it especially for that the Enemy stood on the contrary bank in a posture of opposition Mandragone would needs make one here as also Sancio d' Avila who was with him Whereupon the Royalists being encouraged by the example of two such Commanders with their wonted daring overcame all the difficulties of the passage and the Enemy in their endeavouring to withstand them shewed likewise their accustomed cowardliness Running basely away they retired to Zurickzee and there joyned with the Townsmen to sustain the Siege which they expected The town of Zurickzee stands not far from the aforesaid Channel which divides the Island of Scown from the other of Dwellant On that side a lesser Channel cut by hand enters into the greater and so the Town enjoyes the Sea as it were within its own bosom The ground about it is very low and by the cutting of some banks it may easily be overflown on all sides the walls thereof are but weak and the Ditch very ordinary The Inhabitants hoped much in the relief which Orange had promised them as also in that which they expected from the season of the year which drawing towards winter made them believe that the Royalists would not be wel able to bear with the bitterness thereof The enemy had fortified themselves in three other places upon the shore-side and on the North in the Villages of Brouversaven and Bommene in each of which there was a commodious Haven and on the South upon a certain point of land which lies between the Village of Borendam and the Town of Zuricsee The Kings men would first make themselves masters of these Forts They found no resistance in that of Brouversaven from whence they went to the other upon the aforesaid point of land and falling to the Assault more out of eagerness then good advice they lost 60. Spaniards amongst which Captain Peralta was slain and some other Dutch and Walloons Irritated therefore by Anger and no less by shame they prepared to make a more orderly assault But the Defendants not staying for it forsook the Fort and setting it on fire went to Zirickzee Bommene yet remained which was the best munited and according to appearance ought to have been the best guarded Captain Lye a French-man a stout souldier commanded within He had with him the Flower of all the Foreigners who all of them shewed equal resolution with him to defend themselves and to recover the honour lost in the last actions The Fort was inexpugnable at high Sea because the Sea-water came then into the Ditch and likewise into a Channel which cut through a good part of the Fort on the other side so as at that time the Enemies ships might both greatly assist those within and molest as much those without When the Kings men came near it they advanced with their Trenches and set up a great Battery near unto it from whence they plaid for two whole dayes against the Fort Then at the next Ebb they made a fierce assault which the besieged did as couragiously withstand and made the oppugners retreat at last with much loss for above 150 of them were slain and twice as many hurt The Kings men angry to be beaten back with so great a loss resolved to fall upon the Fort the next day on sundry parts at once but the like resolution was found in the assailed as was in the assailants both of them resolving either to die or to overcome The Kings men at the Ebb set upon the Fort in divers parts and those within running to all places and shewing much undauntedness were not wanting in defending themselves manfully on all side Equal fear and hope did both encourage and discourage both of them but with contrary effects the Royalists feared the coming of the new tide and hoped to force the Fort first the Defendants on the contrary hoped to defend themselves till
to suffer something in accommodating them then to run hazard of greater dangers by going about to punish them too severely I heartily wish that in the like cases as also in divers others of the world Necessity prevailed not too much above Reason Kingdoms give way and Empires bow to this force To this we must now likewise submit The Spaniards are too much incensed to see Flanders every where so hatefully bent against them they storm already for being declarea Enemies how much more will they doe so when they shall be declared Rebels The other Spaniards will flock to defend the Mutiniers and will make this a common interest And with whom is it that we shall contend What Nation is there to be found which hath been longer trained up in Arms more acquainted with blood and more accustomed to fight and overcome To what a rage will despair carry them I therefore am of opinion that this wound is to be cured by the accustomed ways Armies as well as humane bodies are liable to infirmities And if this may be easily cured we ought not by danger of so great an impairment make it our selves incurable The Reasons alleadged by Vightio and divers others other Considerations offered by the two Counts did no whit avail to alter the opinion of the opposite part of the Councel which was the more numerous and the more powerfull But these accusing the other of perfidiousness injuriously said that they were Spaniards and no longer Flemings and broke forth into open threats against them Nor were they long in putting them in execution taking new pretences and still palliating the appearances thereof the more they imprisoned the three above-named Councellors as also Signior d' Asonville and made the Duke of Ariscot President of the Councel I hey then proclaimed on Edict of Rebellion against the Spaniards the Contents whereof was in substance this That all the mischiefs of Flanders had proceeded from the Spaniards That to have the total domination thereof they had taken away the government from the Dutchess of Parma and given it to the Duke of Alva That from that time forward the Country was opprest in all parts by sad and fatal chances Amongst which that of Mutinies was to be accounted among the most fatal That one of these was now on foot in the very heart of the Provinces and that under pretence of having their Pay the Spaniards design was generally to devoure the substances and to drink the blood of all the Flemish That therefore the Councel of State which by order from the King did now govern judging it necessary to withstand with Arms this threatening ruine had therefore put on the most convenient resolutions That notwithstanding in this so great necessity there were some Councellors who shewed themselves averse to the common good so as the rest had thought fit to secure them That the Spaniards desired now more then ever to bring in the Inquisition into Flanders That out of their zeal to the Kings service the Councel of State had published this Edict whereby the aforenamed Spaniards were declared Rebels to the King and whereby it was ordered that they should be pursued every where and slain as Enemies The Edict concluded with an invitation to all the Provinces to joyn in the same sense and opinion since the same was the cause amongst them all It is not to be believed how much the minds of the Flemish were moved after this publication and how as if the Edict had been a general Trumpet which had summoned them they strove who should shew themselves readiest to goe against the Spaniards and drive them out of the Country The Councel of States chief intention was to call together the States Generall to the end that the resolutions which they had already taken might be of greater authority as also those which they should hereafter take Nor was there need of any great trouble herein At the very first invitation every Province except that of Luxenburg as hath been said shewed themselves willing to meet in this General Assembly either by express Deputies or by open consent In Governments where the Kings Prerogative and the Subjects Priviledge doe interfere the one fide is usually glad to get the advantage of the other And therefore in Flanders Princes have alwayes been unwilling to have the Generall Assembly of the Provinces meet it being a time wherein they pretend rather to give Laws then to rceive them And on the contrary the Provinces have always imbraced such occasions wherein by the meeting of their whole body together they might keep the power of Princes within its precincts And the Flemish did this now the more readily for that they thought it a fit conjuncture of time having no Kingly Governour amongst them who might oppose them or at least be over them When then the Edict against the Spaniards was published and the convocation of the States Generall made Hostility began suddenly on all sides The chief design of the States was to have Mastrick and the Citadels of Antwerp and Gaunt in their possession hoping that by their examples the other Castles would soon doe the like On the other side the Spaniards studied chiefly how to keep all the aforesaid strong Holds and Towns but especially Mastrick and the Citadel of Antwerp for the reasons above mentioned Many Souldiers were mustered together in Gaunt to besiege that Castle and a greater number were gathered together in Antwerp because they thought that would prove the harder work The Governour Champigny and Colonel Erbestine had already discovered themselves to be for the States and received all that came into the City who were sent from them But the States chief endeavour was to keep the Spaniards and also such Germans as adhered to them from meeting together The Walloons as natives of the Country did already intirely obey the orders of the Flemish Nay after the surrender of Ziricsce those Walloons who were at the taking thereof seased upon their Colonel Mandragone and kept him forth-coming The Flemish Commanders did then to the aforementioned end shut up all the Passes and fortified them and placed many men about them in sundry parts The Spaniards on the contrary were very diligent in getting together as many of their Forces as they could and to quarter themselves in some of the most commodious parts in Brabant From this opposition of designes they came quickly to the like of arms and the first effect thereof fell out about Lovain The Spaniards had assembled together a good strength of horse in the parts about Mastrike towards the Country of Liege and came towards Lovain that they might get to Alst and by new endeavours try whether they could get the mutiners from thence or no and make them joyn with the other Spaniards Which they refused to do till they should have received their full pretended pay The Councel of State had notice of this their moving and speedily dispatched away the Seignior di Glimes with
both with anger and shame John de Navarese was their head under the title of Elect who had always used his best indeavours though still in vain to make them joyn with the other souldiers He did not let slip this occasion but calling the multitude into the Piazza said thus unto them And what shall we expect more you hear the sound of the shot that are made against the Castles of Gaunt and Antwerp Shall we suffer these that are really rebels to God and the King boast that thy have though falsely laid the imputation of rebels upon us shall we suffer them to bereave us of two such important strengths and which keep their perfidious necks under so just a yoke will it not be in their power afterwards to punish us and shall not we then receive correction instead of inflicting it What will our pertinaciousness of not joyning with the rest serve us for then So instead of getting our pay in monies we shall be paid shamefully with bloud But we have yet time enough to revenge us if we can but know our own strength and manfully make use of our hands I am then of opinion that without any delay we depart from hence and that we hasten to relieve the Castle of Antwerp which is of greater importance then that of Gaunt And that when we shall have secured that Fort we may with the same fervor suddenly assault the City I doe not any wayes doubt the Succour and I hope for all good success in the Assault We know that the Besiegers are almost all of them Townsmen who astonished at our arrival and much more at our assault will immediately run to their houses and to their Magazine of Merchandise Here we shall quench our just thirsts with their blood and our no less just longing after their wealth Antwerp alone will put us into possession of all the Northern wealth and by the Plunder of one City we shall enjoy the spoils of many Provinces But this is an opinion my Companions which would be sooner put in execution then given the worth thereof consists in expedition For if we shall put off time and that the Castle be the mean time well begirt what will it avail us then to have taken such a resolution when meeting with insuperable difficulties we shall not be able to effect it The Elect would have said more when the Mutiniers violently interrupted him and with a loud voice as if it had proceeded but from one mouth began to cry out To Arms To Arms And running from all parts rather to snatch them then to take them up they resolved to march immediately towards the Citadel of Antwerp There were not many houres of day-light left and 't was upon the 3. of November 1576. Having then taken up their Arms and each of them commanding rather then obeying they hastily left Alst intending to enter the Citadel the next morning and then suddenly to assault the City They could not notwithstanding get thither till after noon because they were longer in passing the Scheld then they had thought which while they were passing over Vargas and Romero came luckily to the same place with 400 Horse and some Foot and being joyned together they quickly entred the Castle by the Relief-gate Sancio d' Avila would have had those that had come from abroad to have taken some refreshment before they should have fallen upon the Enemies Trenches but all of them shewing the eagerness of their minds by their eyes cry'd out We must immediately goe out and either dye or sup this night in Antwerp The number of those that came from without and those that were in the Castle came to somewhat more then 3000 Foot and 500 Horse They made not any long delay The Foot being put in order they went out of the Citadel and were divided into two parts the one under the Camp-master Romero the boldest and most fortunate at execution that peradventure came ever out of the Spanish Nation and the other to doe that honour to the Mutiniers under Navarese The Souldiers of both parts being of Companions become Rivals marched with such violence against the Enemies Trenches and assaulted them with such resolution as the Flemish began at the very first to be troubled and to shew manifest signs of fear and of running away The failing of courage in the one increased the like in the other so as redoubling their force they quickly put the Enemy in such disorder and confusion as not being able longer to make good their Trenches they were forced to retreat and forsake them The Antwerpians who were come to defend them fled immediately away never looking back but the Walloons and Germans sometimes facing about retreated less shamefully This mean while the Spanish Foot pursued them more hotly by the two chief wayes which lead from the Citadel to the City and being followed by the Horse and beating down whatsoever withstood them they came to the Piazza where the Town-House stands which was very sumptuously built and to which the whole North might very well give then the precedencie and honour of Merchandise This Piazza was built about with many noble structures Here the Antwerpians made a stand and some Dutch and Walloons joyning with them endeavoured with new Forces to make head but being again broken and routed a good many of them got into the Town-House and into the Houses about the Piazza and striking the Spaniards who were below with much advantage from the windows above they forced them to finish their victory by fire since it would either be too hard or require too much time to doe it by the sword Thus on a sudden was a fire kindled which in a short time devoured the goodliest part of so gallant a City All the Piazza's streets and nooks fell into their absolute power who confounding Imprisonments with Death had not hands enough to doe both Many Flemish of good quality did notwithstanding save themselves and amongst others the Marquis of Haure brother to the Duke of Ariscot saved himself and fled over the Scheld as did also Campigni the Governour of the Town The Baron Erbestein had not the like good fortune for the Boat wherein he was with his Arms on overturned in the water so as he was drowned Infinite others sought to shun the Enemies rage by the same way but either not finding Boats so ready at hand or not being able to get so many thereinto they were made a miserable prey either to the water or to the sword Others in a blind madness threw themselves over the walls and perished in the City-ditches Others more advisedly hiding themselves in the secretest places of their houses trusted Fortune with their safety And many in a generous despair rather seeking out danger then shunning it chose sooner to die then to out-live so sore a misfortune both private and publike Count Egmont the Lord of Capres and Goygni and divers others considerable persons together with almost all the
sight of their own works and under the shelter of their own Canon might easily repress the violence of the Spanish souldiers whereas the others not having any of those helps must trust only to their courage and to their swords Don John knew this very well and advancing with all his squadrons in order to give battel he staid a while to try again whether the enemy would accept of it But failing in his designe he caused a retreat to be sounded and withdrew his foot in good order from the fight This action was on the first day of August it lasted many hours with equal valour and slaughter though the Flemish pretended to be victors and that the Kings men not being able to compass their ends were worsted Don John departed then from thereabouts and resolved to put himself wholly upon the defensive part in some strong situation which might joyn his quarters with the City of Namures hoping that the tempest of so many contrary Forces would soon vanish and that then he might have his share of the advantage He considered that though the ends of England Frrnce and Germany were the same in general either to make the King of Spain lose the Low-Countries or at least to keep them troubled with war yet their several particular ends did very much differ The Queen of England aimed at some particular conquest of her own especially in those Maritine parts of Holland and Zealand and she could not any ways tollerate those advantages which were to redound to France out of the ruining of Flanders The French on the contrary were very jealous of those aids which were lent unto the Flemish by the English The Germans ends were rather plunder then purchase who when they should have overrun the Country wanting mony to maintain themselves they would soon be inforced to return to their own homes Amongst the Flemish themselves Orange had likewise his particular ends The Archduke Mathias had his ends also and the whole body of the Provinces was greatly divided in its parts as well in point of Religion as in their obedience to the King For those parts which were infected with heresie seemed well inclined totally to throw off the Spanish Government and those which remained Catholicks desired to be rid of the Spaniards and other foreigners but yet still to remain in their obedience to the Crown of Spain So as amongst such diversity of ends Passions and Opinions Don John verily believed that this machination prepared and plotted against him would soon dissolve and that he might afterwards meet with many happy occasions whereby to maintain the cause of the Church and King with honour and advantage And really at that time the two Provinces of Hennault and Artois began to fall out with the Province of Flanders and particularly with the City of Gaunt which is the chief Town thereof The two abovesaid Provinces had always kept firm to the Catholick Faith together with the rest of the Walloons Country which contains all that large Frontier which lies along the whole body of Flanders towards France In the Peâ—ce of Gaunt which was so solemnly concluded by the States General and which was afterwards confirmed by Don John in his agreement with them the Walloon Provinces had laboured more then all the rest for all advantages to the Catholick Religion nor were the people thereof ever inclined to forgoe their obedience to the King so long as they might enjoy their ancient Priviledges and he according to the form of their former Government On the contrary the two Provinces of Holland and Zealand had still fomented the new Sects and the more the Country was troubled the more did they labour to make the evil thereof be felt every where These were Orange his inward drifts and his efficacious Councels And to his industry in knowing how to give them the favour of the times had added great Authority in him to make them be received Briefly his end was to increase the heretical faction and still to alienate the Flemish further from the Spaniards out of those reasons that we have often mentioned Wherefore minding the conjuncture of times he thought it now a very fitting season to bring together the two Armies which came from Germany and France the one of which was composed almost altogether of Lutherans and the other in a great part of Calvenists The Sectaries were not then idle in Flanders Some of them joyned together and presented the States with a Petition in the names of them all wherein under the most specious pretences that they could find out they desired that liberty of conscience might be permitted throughout the Country There wanted not those who opposed this request but the contrary side prevailed Nor had Orange forborn tacitly to infuse a great fear suggesting that upon the coming up of so many Forces who profest the Reformed Religion it was not good to deny that to the pressures of intreaties which might easily be afterwards gotten by force of arms And because the peace of Gaunt made against this the sense thereof was so wrested as that the peace was judged rather favourable then contrary to this sort of concession Yet the Provinces of Hennault and Artois and the rest of the Walloon Countries were firm for the sole exercise of the Catholick Religion But the Provinces of Brabant and Flanders did for the most part give way to the liberty of conscience This mean while the Palatine John Casimire was come as hath beeen said and Alanson drew still nearer on the other side Whereupon the Sectaries boldness increasing not contented with many Churches which were assigned to them but resolute to have the best and the greater number they brought affairs to that pass as on a sudden there was hardly any Churches left for the Catholicks And because one presumption usually cals on another after they had usurped the Churches they came soon after to the driving out of Votaries and their fury and madness grew to be such as there was hardly any safety to be found for any Catholicks Those who had any zeal of true religion in them were therefore highly scandalized hereat and the Walloon Provinces fell particularly into such commotion by reason of these novelties as they began to separate themselves from the rest first in their Councels and then in their executions The Flemish souldiery was maintained by the Countries contribution mony And by the same moneys provision was to be had in a great part for the pay and other necessaries of the foreigners The Provinces of Hennault and Artois becoming therefore refractory to this contribution the States began to be in great straits for money and to foresee the disorders which would quickly insue hereupon They used all means industry and authority to overcome the aforesaid difficulties but they increased rather every day for the occasions thereof did so likewise The Catholicks in those parts stormed mightily complaining That under false pretences of liberty Flanders was now faln
advantages He was not ignorant of these the passions of the Commonalty but knowing very well how to make use of them he was not offended that the vulgar should vent them and maintaining such correspondencie as was needful with the graver sort and minding with them the carrying on of the common designs he slackned not a whit from his fervencie in advancing Alansons affairs When the first Ceremonies of the new Principality were ended in Antwerp Alanson past by Sea with Orange into the Province of Flanders and made his solemn entry first into Bruges and then into Gaunt Here they stayed expecting the Forces which were to come from without and to reinforce those that were within Those Souldiers which were first sent to succour Odenhard were now almost within sight of Gaunt But Fernese being past from hopes to manifest effects had received the Militia which was expected from farthest abroad which consisted of two Brigadoes of Spanish Foot under the Camp-masters Christopher Mandragone and Peter Paze and of two other Italian Brigadoes under the Camp-masters Camillo de Marchesi del Monte and Mario Cardoine together with many Troops of Horse of both those Countries He then delayed no longer but picking 6000 Foot and 2000 Horse out of the Army he went to find out the Enemy His Quarters were as hath been said near the wals of Gaunt in a Village well intrenched At first the Enemy seemed not to refuse battel they drew out in good order but went not far from their Trenches not from the shelter of the wals of the City which were well furnisht with Artillery Yet did not the Royalists cease advancing but skirmisht with the Enemy hoping that as the skirmish should grow hot they might be brought to a full battel But the Enemy making valiant resistance and yet loth to lose his advantage kept still in good order till at last they resolved to draw nearer to the wals of Gaunt as to a place of more safety The Kings men advancing charged the Enemy very fiercely and they facing about and sustaining the Charge with their Horse retreated very valiantly and in good order to where they would be Alanson and Orange stood upon the wals looking upon this action and encouraging their men without and assisting them with the Artillery from within they made their Retreat the more noble and the more secure This Combat lasted many hours being much more then a bare skitmish and much less then a joyn'd Battel The Kings men lost most and of the Italians Ferrante Gonzaga was in particular grievously wounded Of the Enemies amongst others Monsieur de Sansoval and Monsieur de Rochepot won great praise both of them being French Gentlemen that were come with Alanson The Enemy being retreated Fernese did for a while keep his men in good order that he might to their faces taxe the Enemy for refusing battel all that day and challenge them to it again But seeing they did not stir he resolved at last to retreat also and to bethink himself of somwhat else 'T was said that those Forces which were to come from France into Flanders to serve Alanson were a gathering up about Cambray Fernese therefore turn'd his men thitherward to oppose them But understanding afterwards that the said French were resolved to enter by Dunkirk he being more at liberty begirt the Castle of Cambresis and took it He then threatned to besiege Cambray but they were only threats For winter now drawing on hindred him from prosecuting his design and moreover necessity called upon him to oppose the Enemy elswhere who seeing Fernese so far off and hoping thereby to reap some advantage assaulted and took Gaesbeck in Brabant and soon after they likewise took the Town of Mega upon the Mause But Fernese returning speedily upon them he retook Gaesbeck took Nienove and secured Lira which was in some danger Verdugo this mean while continued making further progress on the other side the Rhine He had tryed the Town of Lochem and had lain some moneths about it but not being able to get the Town by siege he easily took Stenwick afterwards by surprise On the contrary the Enemy had stormed the Town of Hasselt situated upon the River Haa and much advantaged their affairs on that side But the whole body of both Armies was reduced to this side the Rhine And now after so long expectation Alansons men were come They were not in all above 3000 Switzers Foot 2500 French Foot and 1000 French Horse Their Leaders had brought them into Flanders by the way of Dunkirk And because winter was already begun 't was fitter thinking of putting them into garrisons then of drawing them into the field Their chief Commander was the Duke of Mompensiere a Prince of the blood-royal and with him was the Marshal Biroun a very gallant Gentleman and who was highly esteemed throughout all France for his valour in war The men were distributed to winter in Dunkirk in Newport in Ostend in Bruges in Dixmund and in Terramonde and in some other part of the Country of Vas all which were garrisons within the Province of Flanders Alanson having been solemnly received in Bruges and in Gaunt was come to Antwerp Here all the other French Commanders that were newly come staid with him But when they saw how little account was made of Alanson that he hardly enjoyed the bare title of Soveraignty that the Government was wholly in Orange his hands that the Flemish did already discover themselves not very well minded towards the French and that in effect they did not pay the Duke the monies which they had promised him for the maintenance of his men nor did adde such men of their own as were needful to his It is not to be exprest how much the Marshal amongst others fretted within himself as also did the other Commanders that were come with him Those who were of best esteem with the Duke and who were come first in with him were likewise sensible of the same shame and anger insomuch as some of the forwardest of them could no longer contain themselves Entring then into a very secret consultation they resolved to perswade the Duke to ground his new Principality upon Arms since the other Form of exercising it which was prescribed him was altogether vain and unworthy Monsieur de Fervaches a Gentleman of a very Noble family very discreet and stout and who during the Civil wars of France was also made Marshal of that Crown was in great favour with the Duke This man easily arrogating unto himself the chief place in this design took upon him the care of propounding it to the Duke and taking a fitting time spake thus unto him How much most gracious Sir had we who have the honour to enjoy the prime places in your Highness his service rather never have come into Flanders then in coming hither find the Royal blould of France so much vilified consider Sir your birth and then fee whether your present condition here
Churches which were ruined either before or upon the occasion of this siege That the City should be fuly restored to her antient priviledges and to all her former liberty and prerogatives of Traffick That in the mean while she was to pay 40000 pounds sterling to help to relieve the Army for the so much pains and expence which it had been at in that siege That the Antwerpians should give way to the receiving into the City and longing of 2000 foot and 200 horse in Garison till it should be seen what resolution should be taken in Holland Zealand and the other confederate Provinces of turning to the Kings obedience which if they should do the Prince promised to free the City of all Garisons and not to remake the Citadel as it was before That prisoners on all sides should be set at liberty except Monsieur de Tiligni concerning whose person the Prince was of necessity to receive some particular Orders from Spain and that the Signor de Aldegonda should promise not to bear Arms against the King of Spain for the space of one year These were the chiefest Articles of the surrender to which many others were added touching the restitution of Goods the restoring of Traffick and Merchandizing to the City and divers other petty interests which respected the accommodation and satisfaction of the Inhabitants This agreement being made the Prince for his greater applause in having made such an atchievement received the Order of the Golden Fleece which the King had sent him a little before The Ceremony was performed in the Fort St Philip accompanied with all the greatest Military celebration of joy and Jubilee and 't was done by Count Mansfield one of the antientest of that Order in all Flanders The Prince entred afterwards solemnly into Antwerp not only as a Conqueror but in Triumph he appeared in stately Arms on horseback many horse and foot in arms went before him and many in the like sort followed him Long files of armed foot were on each side And a little before him was all the flowre of the Nobility on horseback whereof there were very many then in the Army Thus he entred by the Cesarian Gate where he was received by the Magistrate by the heads of all the Orders of the City and by an infinite number of common people He found many Arches many Statues many Colums erected in divers parts with whatsoever else of glory could be shewn upon the like occasion by the conquered to such a Conqueror He then returned all due thanks to God in the chiefest Church and being still accompanied with both Military and City-like acclamations he lighted at the Castle and staid awhile in Antwerp to put in order such things in the City as stood in most need thereof THE HISTORY OF THE WARS OF FLANDERS Written by CARDINAL BENTIVOGLIO The Second Part. BOOK IV. The Contents The Cities of Gaunt Brussels Malines and Niminghen return to the Kings obedience The Confederate Provinces are hereupon in so great straits as they offer the Queen of England the Soveraignty of their Provinces that they may the more freely enjoy her protection The Queen accepts not of the offer but takes upon her their defence much more then formerly In lieu whereof she hath some of their Towns deposited in her hands The Earl of Lester arrives in Holland sent by her as Supreme Head of the Confederate Provinces The Prince of Parma resolves to march into the field He besiegeth Graves and takes it He continuing his victories takes Venlo Nuys passes the Rhine and succours Zutfen Lester looking on Distastes between Lester and the United Provinces The Duke of Parma continues his acquisitions takes Sluce a place of mighty importance During the heat of War an endeavour is moved between the King of Spain and Queen of England to accommodate in some sort the affairs of Flanders but the endeavour is thought but artificiall on both sides The King this mean while considers whether he ought to make open War upon the Queen or no. Consultations had hereupon in Spain The King at last resolves to set upon England with most powerfull forces Preparations made hereupon in Flanders and in Spain Preparations made by the Queen The Spanish Fleet begins to move and with an unhappy beginning is detained many days by a great tempest it comes to the English Channel The English Fleet hasts to incounter it The Spanish ships begin to suffer prejudice Fire-boats like those of the siege of Antwerp The Spanish Fleet is afraid of them and grows into great confusion At the same time the sea grows rough and makes the disorder the greater Some of the Spanish ships are lost and the rest at last are forced to return for Spain A horrible tempest ariseth which occasions the loss of many of their ships as they return and their whole Fleet is parted torn and shattered by the fury of the sea THese were at this time the advantages of the Kings Forces We told you before that ere Antwerp was taken Gaunt Brussels and Malines were reduced And not to interrupt the siege of Antwerp we forbore as then to acquaint you with what befell them if at least they may be called sieges For they were taken by only stopping up their Passes and keeping the Cities from victuals on all sides We will now briefly relate the several successes together with what insued in other parts during the siege of Antwerp After that the City of Bruges was faln into Fernese's hands Gaunt began to suffer great scarcities especially of victuals The Confederate Provinces held two places of very great importance on that Maritine Coast of Flanders to wit Sluce and Ostend And because relief might be sent from thence to Gaunt Fernese after the getting of Bruges endeavoured to possess himself of all the Passes thereabouts so as there could no communication be had between Gaunt and those two places and the success was answerable to the designe Those of Gaunt not being able to receive any help from abroad fell suddenly into great necessities yet they continued still to be contumacious And persisting in their opiniatracy against the Church and King they seemed as if they would rather undergoe any thing then submit themselves again to the Kings obedience and to the Catholick Religion On the other side Fernese though already busied about Antwerp ceased not to use all diligence to reduce those of Gaunt to the utmost necessity of Famin. Wherefore scouring the Country round about with his horse and destroying all every where he kept those Inhabitants from receiving any help or security from without their own walls There were not wanting many in the City who were well minded towards the Church and King Famine increasing then every day more and more those that were better inclined took occasion to lessen the obstinacy of the most contumatious which Fernese had formerly indeavoured to moderate by many gratious offers And so finally to keep from falling into greater mischiefs the
then before and at last the defendants were forced to yield Fernese allotted all that side to the Spaniards to accost the Town on that part and planted a good number of Canon against the walls On the land side he placed the Italians with a like battery in other places he likewise set those of other Nations against the Town in so much as the besieged were soon brought into great straites One battery play'd after another and sometimes they plaid all together The wall towards the river was very well desended by a great Tower◠but the Spaniard did assault it so fiercely as at last they lodged themselves there Whereby the Town was still more infested on that side and was still in more danger to be taken Nor had the Italians reduced them to lesser straits on their side Wherefore the besieged failing in their courage and the Governour of the Town being sorely wounded they began to think of surrendring The Army was much incensed against this Town for they found that the Townsmen were inclined to receive in the enemy besides many of the Inhabitants were hereticks and were still openly disposed to favour that aforesaid Apostate Bishop Truxes Whilst then there was a cessation of Arms by agreement and that they were upon Treaty of Surrender and that they were weighing the Conditions The Spaniards and Italians despising all good Military 〈◊〉 assaulted the Town with blind fury on two sides at once The enemy astonished hereat endeavoured as much as they could to desend themselves but had no good success For the Royalists being thereat more incensed after they had over come all obstacles entred the Town in a hostile manner and in excess of anger which soon turned into down right fury they put all they met with to the sword Nor did bloud satisfie their cruelty Neglecting the avarice of plunder they fell to fire the Town which they did in so many places as the Town which was almost wholly built of wood was suddenly all on a fire One house served to fire another and the division of streets no whit availing the flames flew from one side to the other and in a rapid motion spread themselves over the whole Country And that the Town might be the sooner and the more miserably destroyed the wind conspired with the fire whereby it was in very few hours wholly reduced to ashes With much adoe two Churches were saved whereinto many sacred virgins together with other women of the Town had recourse for shelter And the Marquiss of Vasto did in particular shew himself generously pious in saving them all from the fury of the souldier he being greatly respected by the Army no less in consideration of his bloud then of his valour and imployment Before the Duke of Parma for so we shall call him hereafter his father Duke Octavius being now dead went from about Nuys the Bishop of Vercelles who was the Popes Nuntio in the City of Cullen came unto him and in the name of Pope Sextus Quintus presented him with the Trunchion and Helmet which the Popes do use to bestow as a token of their esteem and affection to such Princes as deserve well of the Church The Ceremony was solemnly performed in the Camp and the Elector of Cullen and Duke of Cleves would be present at it for he was likewise come at that time to visit Fernese And at the same time the Marquis of Vasto received the Order of the Golden Fleece Which the King had sent unto him a little before and Fernese's self put it about his neck The enterprise of Nuys having received this Tragical end the Camp past to before Reinburgh which Town depends likewise upon the Bishoprick of Cullen and lies lower upon the Rhine It was then in the enemies possession and the Archbishop and Fernese did both of them desire to see it reduced under the Catholick power The enemy had fortified it very well and had likewise munited a certain Island which stands before the Town Lester thinking it too great a shame that Fernese after having made so many acquisitions even as it were before his eyes should likewise make this reinforced his Army as much as he could resolving either to relieve the Town or to make some diversion by besieging some of the Kings Towns He was on the other side of the Rhine in the Province of Overisel so called for that the river Ysel runs through it On the right hand thereof stands Zutfen one of the Towns of greatest importance in all those parts Lester bethought himself to take this place and in order thereunto he would first take Deosburg a little Town upon the same river but which might help him in his chief designe There were 300 Walloon foot in Deosburg who assisted by the situation of the place might make it good a long while but as soon as the enemy had opened their Trenches on their side and ordered their Batteries the defendants offered to parley and put the Town into Lesters hands From hence he went with his whole Camp to Zutfen the City had a great Fort made of earth on the side opposite to the River and two lesser ones which did so much the more defend it Lester incamped himself on both sides the river and having made a bridg of boats the better to joyn his Camp together he endeavoured first to take the Fort hoping that the taking thereof would facilitate the taking of the Town John Baptista di Tassis of whom you have heard before was Governor of the Town Who forthwith advertised Fernese what danger the City was in of being taken unless it were very speedily relieved for they had not provisions answerable to the circuit of the place Fernese had already made some progress against Reinburg and had taken the Island yet fearing he should not take the Town time enough to succour the other he left the Island well munited and resolved to tarry no longer before Reinburg but to go speedily to the relief of Zutfen Wherefore in great haste making a bridge of boats over the Rhine at Burick and raising a Fort at each end thereof he went with all his Army to the other side and marched towards the enemy As he was upon his march he was advertised that there were 2000 Rutters on that confine of Germany who were raised by the Count de Meurs to assist the enemy He therefore chose out 1500 horse and put one of the Spanish foot behind each of them commanding them that with all speed they should march thitherward And he himself followed with more men to back them The Rutters expected not such an incounter and therefore marched not in any good order nor any waies provided to fight wherefore meeting at unawares with the Kings men they were soon routed and defeated The Duke continued his march from hence and came so neer Zutfen as he prepared to send in succour to this purpose he put all his Camp into battel array and made the Marquess
his own men too and when he should feign as if he intended to joyn battel to avoid it even when the two Armies were nearest falling on and to gain the Pass over the Rivers on the upper side and so free Paris from the siege This was the design which he thus executed He made the Marquis of Renty advance with the Vantguard and with him were the Prince of Semay and George Basty with most of the Horse all of them almost Lanciers He placed the Duke of Mayn in the Battel with the greatest strength of Foot and put Monsieur de la Motte in the Rear with the rest of the Foot and Horse As for his own person he would not oblige himself to any one part but be at liberty that he might the better effect what he intended Having caused the Army to move in this manner and giving out that he would draw the Enemy to battel he gave order to the Marquis of Renty that when he should be come to the top of the Hills he should descend slowly and should extend the Lanciers on both sides in large wings the more to obfuscate the eyes of the Enemy He commanded him therewithall not to offer or to accept of any occasion of fighting without some new orders from him and that he would in the mean time let him know what should happen from time to time The Army of the League appearing thus the King of Navar thought verily that they came with an intention to fight and all his Captains were of the same mind insomuch as it is not to be exprest how much they were overjoyed and especially the King in seeing that offered which they had so much coveted His Army was then suddenly put into the best and most advantagious order that could be and was likewise divided into a Vantguard a Battel and a Rearguard over each of which the King appointed a Head reserving leave to himself to be every where where need should most require The Marquis of Renty marched this mean while in the same order as he was commanded by the Duke and after him followed the Duke Du Mayn When Renty had extended the Lances and darkned the sight of the Enemy Fernese made then no longer delay but coming up to the Duke Du Mayn and taking him by the hand said unto him with a merry and smiling countenance We shall have fought very well and have overcome too if we relieve Paris He then commanded Renty to halt in that place but yet still to make as if he meant to fall on till the night should come Then turning the Battel into the Van and ordering La Motte to follow so as Renty might fall into the Rear he bent on the left hand towards the Marn and towards La Laigne which was not far from thence resolving to make himself master of that Town He then acquainted Renty with his design and commanded that Trenches should be raised both there and every where else towards the Enemy and Fortifications to the end that the resolution which he had taken might not be disturbed by the Kings Army Drawing towards night near Lagny he staid at Pompona a Village within less then half a mile of that Town giving order that the whole Army might be assembled thereabouts and with all diligence might there munite themselves The King this mean while could not imagine why Renty first halted and then returned back Nor could he ever perswade himself that the Duke of Parma in the face of such an Army as was his should assault Lagny especially the Town being on the other side of the River and the passage over the Bridg in the Governour of the Towns hands He therefore advanced some Troops of Horse to discover the Duke of Parma's design who being entertained by George Basty returned as uncertain as before In which time the Duke causing the Fortifications about his Camp to be made with incredible vigilancie he brought them to such a pass as he thought he might now prepare to batter the Town Lagny lies as it hath been said on the left side of the River on the right hand on which side were both the Camps there is an open Borough just over against it to which men pass from the Town over the said Bridg. Fernese suddenly possest himself of the Borough or Suburbs and that very night which was the 5. of September planted ten Peeces of Cannon there to play from that opposite side without delay upon the Town Monsieur de la Fin had the keeping thereof and had 1200 French in garrison who seemed all very ready to defend it hoping chiefly in the King who was so very near them La Fin thought the Duke would doe little good with his Battery the Bridg being between him and them which would hinder the assault But he was soon deceived For the Duke causing a Bridg of Boats to be thrown over the River three miles more upward he past over a good number of Foot and sent over George Basti with them with some Troops of Horse he ordered the Foot to prepare for the assault so soon as the Battery should have made its operation The King of Navar storm'd at this success when he came to know it and would not willingly suffer Lagny to be lost whilst he looked on Some of his Captains propounded that he should pass over the River and go with his whole Army to the relief of that Town Others were of opinion that he should go with all his Forces against the Works which the Enemies Camp had begun to make and should endeavour to throw them down and to fight the Duke The first advice was very dangerous for the Duke of Parma might assault the Kings Army and defeat some of them at least as they past over the River And the second might be thought bootless for the Dukes Works especially towards the Enemies Camp were already raised to a good heighth and so well guarded as there was small hopes of forcing them any where The King notwithstanding took the second advice and having drawn out his Army into large Squadrons came to assault the Army of the League but he found it in so very good order within its Fortifications which were continually increasing as he was at last forced to retreat and much to his grief to see the Town of Lagny not long after storm'd taken and plundred before his eyes for so indeed it was For the Duke of Parma having given order that a Battery should be planted against the Town and that his men should pass over in manner aforesaid caused the Walls of the Town to be immediatly plaid upon abundantly and preparation to be made at the same time for the Assault The Walls were but weak of themselves and had no Rampiers wherefore a sufficient Breach being soon made the aforesaid Souldiers strove who should first get upon the Breach The French for a while shewed equal courage but being overcome by the first number and by new
side Idiaques and Cajetan's Foot coming in to assist Basti's Horse a very hot skirmish had likely to have been had not the King considering his disadvantage made his men retreat in a warlike posture The Dukes men pursued them no farther least they might break their establish'd order of marching And here did end the King of Navar 's assaults all the molestations which Fernese till then had suffered by them Who being come with all his Army safe into the confines of Flanders he and the Duke Du Mayne parted He again confirm'd more then ever hopes in the Duke Du Mayne of new and potent succours in assistance of the League and assured him that he himself would very speedily be their Conductor The mean while he left with him about 4000 Foot and 500 Horse thinking that such a recrute might serve for the present to boot with a Regiment of Germans which was formerly maintained in the service of the League and defray'd by the King of Spain under the command of Count Colalto The Duke passed forward and distributing the souldiery into Garisons to rest themselves after so great labours he came about the beginning of December to his winter quarters which was usually in Brussels THE HISTORY OF THE WARS OF FLANDERS Written by CARDINAL BENTIVOGLIO The Second Part. BOOK VI. The Contents The Duke of Parma after his return from France findes the Kings affairs in Flanders but in ill condition Advancements made in many parts by the Enemy They take Zutfen and Deventer both of them places of great importance The Duke incamps before the Fort opposite to Niminghen does all he can to take it from the Enemy Count Maurice draws neer it with great Forces to relieve it This mean while Fernese receives precise orders from the King to prepare suddenly to return again to France he therefore immediately raiseth his siege Maurice maketh use of this occasion He goeth to before Hulst a Town in the Province of Flanders and quickly takes it From thence he goes to before Niminghen and hath the like good fortune there The League in France does this mean while decline daily Their danger of losing the City of Roan which is straitly besieged by the King of Navar Wherefore the Duke of Parma presently enters France The Army of the League joyns with his They march towards Normandy to relieve Roan The King of Navar marches to oppose them A noble fight between both the Camps at Umaile wherein the King is hurt and in danger to be taken The Army of the League advances draws neer Roan and puts some succour into it It then falls further off and the King reinforceth his siege But at last the Duke of Parma forceth him to quit it The Colleagues enter forthwith into the Peninsula in the County of Caux and besiege Caudebeck In discovering the Place the Duke is wounded and is much disturb'd in continuing his command The King makes use of this occasion He possesseth himself of the entrance into the Peninsula and reduceth the Colleagues to great scarcity of all things The Duke that he may not be forced to fight upon too much disadvantage resolves to secure his Army by passing over the River Which he fortunately doth He then leaves France and returns with speedy march to Flanders New successes on that side to the advantage of the enemy and to Fernese's great grief His affliction is increased by his growing every day worse and worse in his health And yet he is again commanded by the King to return with all speed possible into France To this purpose he goes to Arras and deligently prepares for his third passage into France But his sickness increasing still upon him he dies WIth the Dukes return to Flanders we will return to our former narration though we shall be soon diverted from it by the new necessity put upon the Duke of returning again into France Great had the sufferings been which he had undergone in his first journey wherein those of his mind were more then those of his body He had learned by experience how hard a business it was to joyn the Kings designes together with those of the League That the King after the vast expence he had been at in his late expedition against England did now consume himself in these disbursments which he was at for the League of France And that in the interim his own Territories of Flanders was but ill furnished with men mony and almost all things else in so much as doubtlesly much damage was to be expected thereby To boot with the men that were left with the Duke Du Mayn it was necessary to place many on the Frontiers which lay towards France to encourage the League nearer at hand and that they might be ready to march in the behalf thereof when it should be needfull at any hours warning So as the Kings Garisons in Flanders were much lessened even in the most important places And the Towns themselves left but slenderly provided with victuals or warlick ammunition to maintain a siege if the enemy should sit down before them Which they knowing their own advantage were not long adoing as we shall successively relate Amongst other things which had mightily afflicted the Duke of Parma whilst he was in France one was the mutiny which happened at that time in Emanuel de Vega's Spanish Brigado which remained in Flanders which the Duke after his return did very much rescent at both the Mansfields hands they not having been diligent enough as he thought in preventing it And the disorder grew so much the greater because it was above a year before those people could be paid and reduced to their former wonted service At the beginning of the year 1591. the enemy did not delay seconding the good conjunctures on their parts Colonel Norris an English man of whom we have often spoken was in Ostend who with that Garison which was then very numerous by reason of a new recruit of men which the Queen of England had newly sent thither overran all the parts thereabouts Yet the Fort of Blanchemberg which lies between Ostend and Sluce as hath been said was a great obstacle in his way Resolving therefore to free himself thereof he assaulted the Fort so unexpectedly and upon such advantage as he soon took it and it was soon after dismantled This happened in the Province of Flanders about the midst of February Not long after the enemy made two other surprisals in Brabant The one was of the Castle of Westerlo and the other of Turnehaut which is one of the greatest Villages in all Brabant There is likewise a Castle in this Village into which as also into the Village some souldiers did enter in country attire as having something to sell and without any difficulty made themselves Masters of them both But these were but slight acquisitions in respect of others which Count Maurice intended to make and which he sufficiently did that year as you shall
Souldiers he reviewed the Place very attentively and endeavoured to put it into such a posture as that Mansfield might have time to prepare succour and to endeavour how to introduce it On the other side Count Maurice thinking that his outward Fortifications were sufficient to keep him from so doing bent himself with all his might against the Town within When the Duke of Parma had got the Town he caused a Fort to be raised upon the chiefest Bank on the side of Donge The Fort was near enough the Town and guarded a Pass of great importance From the very first that Maurice had begun the Siege he had propounded unto himself to take this Fort which from the name of a neighbouring Village was called the Fort of Steenlo And giving the care thereof to Count Hollack the few Souldiers that were within it having made a slender resistance abandoned it From this Fort Maurice began to ply the Town with Cannon-shot nor contented with several Batteries by Land he did the like by water loading to that purpose many ships with great guns which were placed on the one side in the Donge and on the other in fitting places in the Merwe and were well joyned together The Town was continually plaid upon with above 60 piece of Canon Amidst these hard dealings which the besieged met withall on all sides they did not notwithstanding omit manfully to defend themselves They oft-times fallied boldly out upon the enemy and supplying their paucity in number with their valour they endeavoured to hinder their works as much as they could and to use all other means to retard the siege Messieres was the first no less in pains taking then in command being both within and without continually where occasion most required But with unfortunate success at last for ere many days were over he was slain with a Canon-shot The Garison substituted Monsieur de Gisan in his place who was the eldest Captain and held for the valiantest who failed not to continue the like diligence and labour The Town was notwithstanding straitned every day more then other and the danger of the loss thereof every day increased unless it were all the sooner relieved which both General Mansfield and Count Fuentes had from the first beginning of the siege effectually apply'd themselves unto But the Kings Forces were so weakened by the diversion of France as it was requisite to recruit them with new levies both of horse and foot and this could not be done without time and many other difficulties Mansfield had therefore given out orders for the speedy raising of Germans Lorainers and Burgonians and took divers Plemish and Walloons into pay within the Country also To boot with these provisions of men he provided likewise for all other things that were necessary And passing with Fuentes into Antwerp that he might be the nearer bringing relief he resolved to go from thence immediately about it But by reason of the aforesaid difficulties his marching thitherward proved so late as it was judged almost impossible to force those Fortifications which the enemy had so advantagiously raised against the Town Amongst the Maxims of War none is more practised then to endeavour to raise one siege by the diversion of another The Commanders who were with Mansfield did therefore consult whether that it were not better to besiege Breda then to endeavour the relief of Getringberg so to force Maurice to raise that siege the better to defend himself from the danger of the other To perswade unto the diversion it was shewed how well the enemies had fortified themselves and how well their Trenches were munited on all sides in so much as there being but very small hope of ever overcoming them it would be but in vain to endeavour it That therefore the only means was to try a diversion to which purpose none was more fit then to sit down before Breda with all the Kings Forces It was represented that Breda was of so great concernment both in respect of the publick union as also for Count Maurice his private considerations as doubtlesly the enemy would not suffer such a place to be lost wherefore it was to be believed that Maurice would raise the present siege and presently run to disturb the other And finally it was taken for granted that the enemy had come with so great Forces before St. Getringberg as it was to be believed Breda was but ill provided for and therefore the Kings men should be the better incouraged to go against it But many other weighty reasons were urged to the contrary And first it was said that the enemy were already so advanced in their siege as they would not by any means abandon it And that therefore it was the rather to be believed that when they should see Breda threatned they would lay the closer siege to St Getringberg so to make themselves the sooner Masters of it and afterwards apply themselves suddenly to relieve Breda It was added that they might easily do the one or the other for that if St. Getringberg were not quickly succoured the Town would be surrendred before Breda could be well besieged and that then the enemy might turn with all their Forces to the defence thereof That this way of oppugning was of it self to be thought very difficult for that the enemy since the surprisal of Breda had fortified it and provided better for it and was affirmed that in reason of war the Kings Army was not to be brought between such a Town and so great Forces as were in the enemies Camp Through all these contrarieties it was resolved that the better course would be to endeavour by all means possible to relieve St Getringberg for that peradventure the difficulties in doing it would not prove so great as was thought for and that howsoever they ought rather to endeavour the succour though in vain then by undertaking a vain siege be doubly shamed by the loss of Getringberg and by the not getting of Breda These last reasons prevailed in the Councel of War To boot that the Kings then Forces being well considered they were not thought to be such as whereupon to ground so weighty a designe in hopes to execute it For when Mansfield had sufficiently provided for all such places as it was judged the enemy might assail he could not muster above 8000 foot and 2500 horse Resolving then howsoever to endeavour the relief with these men he pitched upon Turnault for his Rendezvouz and brought his Camp thither about the end of May. Turnault is an open Village but the greatest and most populated that is in all Brabant It lies in equal distance almost a days journey from Antwerp and from Getringberg Here again it was taken into consideration by the Kings Camp on which side they should meet with least difficulty in bringing in the succour And through Intelligence which they had they resolved to go with all their men into Steeloune which lay near the enemies Trenches On this
The flying Squadron thrust forward before the rest which being used to march before the Army upon occasion of fight came now in the Reer for the Reer as hath been said was now to be the Van. This Squadron consisted of choice and select Captains Officers and other Souldiers and Augustine Messia one of the most esteemed Spanish Camp-masters that was then in Flanders had the particular charge thereof The Duke Du Mayne had placed himself in the last files of Foot of that Squadron which were to be the first toward the Enemy Saying That he would that day serve as a Souldier under Camp-master Messia and divers others of the best of the Army were there likewise They were to march almost three leagues before they could bring themselves in safety into La Fera. The Van rising thus about midnight the Battel began to move in its due time and about the break of day the Reer began also to march When the King heard of this Retreat he delayed not doing what he could to disturb it Assembling the Flower of all his Cavalry he charged the Enemies Rear on divers sides as they came out of the Wood into which the Leagues Camp for their better advantage had taken their way And often renewing his assaults endeavoured to overcome them But still in vain For the Squadrons keeping still a stedfast order and the Muskets serving the Pikes with admirable discipline and the Pikes the Muskets alternately in making the fittest opposition the Kings men could not in the least part effect what they desired Every encounter was valiantly sustained in particular by the flying Squadron they ever and anon faced about and received the Charge with their Pikes couched so great a shower of Musket-shot hailing down continually upon them as they oft repented their being so far advanced In all these conflicts wheresoever the greatest danger was there was the Duke Du Mayn with his Pike in his hand discharging the duty of a private Souldier much more then of a Commander And the vigor of his mind was the better seen by the proportion of his body for being very tall of stature and his limbs very well proportioned and armed with all such peeces as he ought to be upon such an occasion he drew not only the eyes but the praise of all men upon him The assaults continued a while on the Kings part but the Colleagues being more molested then prejudiced thereby and still marching in very great order at last free from all disturbance their Camp came safe to La Fera And the King having compast his end in hindring the succour he presently betook himself to finish the taking of Laon. The besieged defended themselves gallantly for many dayes making many bold sallies and persevering with singular courage in all other resistance But the batteries never ceasing from without after having sustained many assaults and many of the defendants being slain and having no hopes of further assistance the City was at last delivered up unto the King upon honourable conditions about the end of July This mean while the King of Spain's own affairs in Flanders were still in greater disorder and confusion to boot with the former two mutinies which have been already mentioned another had at this time hapned in Brabant some Foot colours of Italians were quartered in that Province in the Towns of Ariscot and of Sichem which Towns were very neer one another the want of pay was very great as you have often heard by reason of the excessive charges the King was at both in France and Flanders and it was the greater at this time in Flanders because the people which had mutined in St. Pauls and in Pont had but just now received satisfaction of thir pay which had cost a great sum of money The foresaid Italians being therefore moved thereto in part by need but certainly much more by the example which they had before their eyes of seeing so fowl an action in their companions so advantagiously recompenced they resolved by the same means to endeavour the same satisfaction The practice being carried on with wonted secresie from the beginning it was soon after put in execution and those of Ariscot vying for dispatch with those of Sichem at last all of them being agreed they met together in Sichem as in the greater place and which might be the better fortified and here throwing off all obedience they openly mutined This licentious ensign being raised many other Italians flock'd suddenly unto it and many souldiers of other Nations mingled also with them their whole number came to between two and three thousand The Arch Duke was highly displeased at this disorder both in it self and for the consequences it drew after it he saw that one mutiny begot another nay that divers were on foot together that though they pretended necessity it was rather out of corruption and that the King of Spains condition was now very lamentable his own forces proving more prejuditious to him then those of his enemies VVherefore he concluded that laying aside all fair proceedings 't was best to try once if such a mischief could be supprest by rigour The Councel of VVar inclined hereunto but howsoever it was thought to be too dangerous a business and of too bad example to set those souldiers one against another who did militate under the same Colours wherefore they resolved to proffer some just satisfaction to the mutiners whereby to reduce them to their former obedience The offer was large enough but they would by no means accept of it for being become resolute both by reason of their own numbers and by the good success of their other fellows in their mutinies they obstinately refused ever to return to their former Colours till they were fully satisffed for their whole pay These contumacious speeches were followed by much more contumacious actions Not contented with such usual contributions as in such cases are imposed upon the adjacent Countrie they began to lay heavy taxes upon the Towns round about which were further off And they grew to that insolency that in raising their contributions they came once even to within the sight of Brussels where the Archduke and the Court was But neither did their audaciousness stop here Fearing lest open force might be used against them they began to hold intelligence with Count Maurice not that they would turn over to the adverse party They never were so base but that they might have a safe refuge in case of necessity if they should be pursued by Arms. The Archdukes anger was much increased by these actions nor made he any delay He raised a good body of men out of the Spanish mutiners who had already received their pay and of many others of the said Nation and resolved to send them against the last mutiners Amongst other Commanders Lewis de Velasco a Spaniard of great esteem was of the oforesaid opinion that this new mutiny was to be quelled by force The business was therefore
last routed and dissipated them Wherein notwithstanding the Foot had a great share who advancing and letting flie with their Muskets on sundry sides upon the French did more facilitate the success in opening and breaking their squadrons and in making a bloody slaughter But it proved particularly most bloody against the Foot for they being quite abandoned by reason of the Rout given unto the Horse were almost all of them cut in peeces with a great desire of revenging the blood which the French had drawn of the Spaniards in the aforesaid assaults at Han. And for the same reason the like cruelty was used against the Horse after they were routed and defeated Yet the third Squadron of the Rereward got almost all safe off For San Paul and Bullion seeing what ill success the other two had retreated without further fighting and did it so early as they could not be pursued Whilst they were thus busie on this side the besieged failed not to sally out upon the Spanish quarters endeavouring to overcome them and then joyn with the French that were without But they met with such resistance as all they could doe was in vain And thus Fuentos had the victory on both sides Few in his Camp were either hurt or slain On the contrary few of the Enemies Foot were saved and great slaughter was made amongst the Horse Many Prisoners were likewise taken and of those many of the chief men One and the chiefest of them all was Admiral Villers when contention arising amongst those in whose hands he was and he offering a very great sum of money to satisfie all their greediness John Contrera a Spaniard who was Commissary-Generall of the Horse fuller of rage then anger made him be cruelly put to death An action whereat Fuentes was highly displeased Another of chiefest esteem amongst them that were slain was Monsieur de Sanseval who was Lieutenant-General of Picardy of a noble family and of high deserts in war Many others of the prime Nobility of those parts were either taken prisoners or slain And Fuentes were it either to boast his victory or civility sent the bodies of Villers and Sanseval to the Duke of Nevers that they might be honourably burried by their friends according to their merits Fuentes having gotten this Field-victory returned with more fervencie then formerly to besiege the Town and the besieged seemed as resolute in the defence thereof Count Dinax was Governour of the place and he had a very numerous Garison in the Town composed almost altogether of Gentry who were resolved rather to die then yield Resistance was made in the Ditch as you have heard and though the Spaniards had won the little Ravelin yet the French did still defend themselves there with Galleries and such other works But Fuentes resolving to force the Town as soon as possibly he could placed a great Battery almost close to the Counterscarf and began to thunder furiously from thence upon the walls He planted likewise some Artillery upon the rise of a Hill which from above shot point blank upon the French much to their prejudice and might continue doing so without hurting the Spaniards when they should make an assault The wall was plaid upon for many hours and a great part thereof with its platform being thrown down insomuch as the breach was almost levell'd those without presented themselves to make the assault and those within to receive it Fuentes ordered the Assault on his side thus He made 3 Squadrons the first consisting of 600 Foot and the other two of not full out so many The second was to second the first and the third the second The besieged on their behalf likewise prepared to make all manly defence with military order and resolution The chiefest for valour and birth were placed in the first Files who keeping close together and well arm'd seemed like a great high bank covered with iron And a sufficient breach being made those without marched to the assault The first Squadron advanced first and with great courage endeavoured to get footing upon the wall that was beaten down but it was so much better defended then assailed as the second Squadron must come in to assist the first Then the combat began to be very fierce for those within being likewise reinforced with fresh succour they did renew their resistance with more ardor then before In the heat of the conflict like waves successively now these now those were seen to give way Pikes were succeeded by swords and swords by all manner of other close fight which not only the desire of defence but of offence might teach upon that occasion The ground was all covered with dead bodies or such as were sorely wounded and those who were unwounded seemed much more desirous to dye then to live Blood ran down every where all was full of horror and death And the conflict was so various between hope and fear as it could not be discerned to which side the fortune of the day would turn Thus did the combat for a while continue But Fuentes resolving to try the utmost made the third Squadron come in and those within were likewise invigored with new aids insomuch as it is not to be said how fierce and how uncertain the fight was for a while Yet the assailants began already to prevail by reason of two manifest disadvantages which the assailed suffered under The one was the great slaughter which was made amongst them from aloof off by the Artillery that was placed upon the little Rise while they fought at nearer distance The other that the place where they fought being very narrow they could not make way one for another nor keep such order as they ought to have done Not being therefore able any longer to resist they were at last inforced to yield But they still gave back with their faces towards the Enemy and with so great undauntedness as the most of them at least the better sort chose rather to lose their lives then their station The Castle being forced the Victors soon entred the Town and the Gates being opened all the rest of the Camp came in who straightways pillaged and plundred it all over in hostile manner Great was the number of those that were slain and great the number of prisoners But the Plunder proved not to such a value as did any ways satisfie the Souldiers avarice which was the cause as it was thought why the Prey not answering their hopes some houses were despightfully set on fire which firing a great many others the whole Town would quickly have been consumed had not Fuentes come in himself in person and remedied the disorder Count Dinax the Governour of the place whilst he gave proof of great valour dyed in the Assault And his Brother Monsieur de Ronsoy was so sore wounded as he lived not long after All the rest of the better sort were slain or taken prisoners Divers Captains of the Spanish Camp were slain and many-inferior Officers
Siege the King forbore not listening to a secret intelligence by which the City-might be fraudulently delivered up unto him There was a Covent of Augustine Friars in Amiens which did almost joyn upon one of the Gates of the City Many Citizens came usually to this Covent where they plotted a secret practise to put the City into the Kings hands by privately taking in some Souldiers from without by night who should possess themselves of certain Bridges under which the River ran as it went out of the City But Portacarrero discovering the business he made those whom he suspected sure and putting some of the Ringleaders to death he ordered that all the Votaries should go out of Amiens and afterwards by degrees drove out most of the Citizens Portacarrero being freed from those dangers which threatned him within minded with greater security the advancing of the outward works which consisted chiefly in defending the Ditch the most that might be And therefore he fortified the Chemine Couverte in sundry sorts other new Defences were added even within the Ditch it self and Mines were wrought under the Chemine Couverte which might be made to play when the Enemy should approach Moreover for its better defence it was invironed with great and sharp stakes hanging outwards with some little distance between them which might keep the Enemy from suddenly assailing it and the Defendants might have the advantage of being thereby sheltred All such Fortifications as it was capable of were added in particular to the great Ravelin of Montrecurt And all this while the Defendants cooled not in making their frequent Sallies but making them every time more forceable then other there seldom past a night that they did not issue out to disturb the Works in which the Countrymen there abou ts supplying the place of Pioners it is not to be believed what a slaughter was made of those miserable people during the siege The field-side towards France was less fortified and consequently worse guarded as being the most secure The besieged issued forth on that side to provide necessary Forrage for their Horses but with good Convoyes of Horse and Foot they were many times fortunate herein but falling at last into a great Ambush of 600 horse of the Enemy they were routed and in their retreat lost many of their Foot and Horse and particularly a great number of the meaner sort of people who were imployed in getting together the Forrage This misfortune did not abate but rather increase the besiegeds courage in continuing their sallies Portacarrero would therefore make out one which should be so strong and so well ordered as it might make large amends for the loss lately suffered Which he disposed thus He sent out two Spanish Captains Diego Durango and Francisco del l' Arco with their two Foot-Companies and to them added two Troops of Horse commanded by Jovanni Gusman and Martin Aguilas both of them Spaniards after these came the Marquis di Montenegro with 300 Horse more And the order which was given them was that they should at one and the same time assault the Trenches which were a working on the two nearest sides and afterwards to make into the quarters from whence the Works proceeded It was about the end of July when the weather is hottest and men aptest to sleep about Noon-day At this time it was resolved the Sally should be made Nor were the besieged deceived For finding a great many of those that labour'd in the Trenches wearied with their working by night and taking their rest as also the others that guarded them they meeting with little resistance made great slaughter amongst them then assaulting the nearest quarter of the English they slue many of them before they could well put themselves in a defensive posture and assaulting another quarter with the like violence where the Swissers were lodged they likewise slue and wounded many of them But the Camp flying to their Arms new succour coming in from all parts the fray did so increase as it could neither be more obstinate nor more bloody The Marshal Biroun did first appear who thrusting in where the business was hottest gave miraculous proof of his courage Nor did the King himself do less who transported by his too warlike genius and too much despising danger would likewise be himself where the greatest peril was Till such time as the besieged being forced to give back the fray ended In which the besieged lost above 20 of their men amongst which John Gusman who was in the flower of his age of a very noble family and of very great expectation There were some 600 of the contrary party slain as it was said amongst which divers Captains and other inferior Officers Those without were still very much indamaged by the Artillery which were placed within upon the walls and still so much the more by how much the trenches drew nearer the ditch Wherefore Monsieur S. Luke planted two Batteries the one of ten Peeces of Cannon against the Ravelin of Montecourt and the other of twelve Peeces against the neighbouring defences He raised also against the same parts a great Platform furnisht with other Peeces and munited it with a strong Redout to keep it from the so impetuous sallies made by those within Neither did these Batteries fail in their expected service for they soon greatly indammaged one Ravelin they threw down the Parapets of the contiguous wall and batterd down the highest Defences so as none but the lowest defended the Ditch This mean while the Trenches did daily approach nearer the Counterscarf the Works never ceasing over which Marshal Biroun had a particular care But though he the King being present had the principal care of the Siege yet the King forbore not to have it most in his thoughts who continually viewed all the Works being indefatigable in his labour both by day and night abounding at once both in a Princely and Warlike spirit but notwithstanding of so affable a nature and so long accustomed to be amongst Souldiers as laying down for the most part his Regal Majesty it seemed as if he desired rather to be a Fellow-souldier then a King amongst them All degrees of Souldiery strove therefore who should most willingly follow and serve him and the King did infinitely desire out of Military glory to bring this Siege to his wisht for end that it might be known he knew equally how to be a gallant Commander as well in the most difficult besieging of Towns as in the greatest Field-conflicts These extra ordinary diligences which were used about the aforesaid Works made that those within had every day less field-room to make out sallies wherefore they resolved to make one sally more which being perhaps to be the last might prove for as much as in them lay the most prejudicial to the Enemy Portacarrero assembling therefore together little less then 1000 select Foot with their Commanders gave order that about noon-day they should with all possible secrecy
the Rearguard he made his Army march leasurely and in good order off The French endeavoured more then once to indammage the Rear but the Flying-Squadron facing about and with miraculous discipline now handling their Pikes now their Muskets and being sheltred by the Horse likewise on both sides all the Enemies assaults proved vain Thus they marched for above two houres after which the Cardinals Camp being free from all molestation took up its quarters with all security and was by degrees divided in the neighbouring Frontiers of Artois At the Armies retreat the Cardinal signified to the besieged in Amiens that it being impossible to relieve them they should immediately surrender the City and not lose any more men to no purpose He infinitely praised their pains and promised them reward leaving them to make such conditions as they could at the surrender Which when they came to be treated of were granted them by the King in as ample manner and upon as honourable terms as could be by them desired He highly commended the worth they had shewed in defending themselves which had made the like of his Army appear in oppugning them The Marquis Montenegro marcht out of the Town with 800 sound Souldiers and above as many more that were wounded and was very graciously received by the King at his coming forth as also the other Commanders that came out with him When the King came into Amions he presently caused a strong Citadel to be designed there which was soon after built that it might serve for a greater curb to the people and be a greater safety to the City Then leaving Picardy he went to Paris where he was received with great applause by that multitude of people for his new atchieved glory in having so happily conducted so difficult a Siege for having hindred so powerfull a Succour and recovering a City of so great consequence to the interests of that Kingdom The Cardinal Archduke being retreated to Artois he presently sent some of his Forces to take Montalin the onely Town which remained in the French hands within the precincts appertaining to Calis and from whence Calis was much incommodiated The care of the enterprise was given to the Admiral of Aragon who finding the place not very strong nor yet well guarded took it within a few dayes The King of France was already gone from Picardy nor was it known that he had as then any further end upon that Frontier Wherefore the Cardinal resolved to leave Artois likewise and to give some satisfaction to the Province of Flanders which did very much desire that Ostend might be besieged The Cardinal would therefore go thitherward himself and causing the Town to be well surveyed he thought it was impossible to keep it from being succour'd Wherefore as also because Autumn was already well advanced the Cardinal determined to leave the enterprise till a better conjuncture Nor having any other in which it was fitting to imploy his Army at that time wherein there was hapned a new Mutiny again he resolved to send it to its winter-quarters and came himself with his Court about the end of November to Brussels But the United Provinces lost not the opportunity this mean whiles which offered it self so favourably to them The Cardinal by reason of the siege of Amiens being gone with so many Forces towards the Frontiers of France and having left the peculiar affairs of Flanders in a forlorn condition Count Maurice took presently to the Field And having speedily raised about the beginning of August an Army of 10000 Foot and 2500 Horse together with a great Train of Artillery and whatsoever else was requisite for his designed ends he went to besiege Reinberg a Town situated upon the left side of the Rhine It had but few Souldiers in Garrison and was but weakly provided of all things else Wherefore Maurice coming without any difficulty to the Walls and playing upon them with his Cannon he forced the besieged in a few dayes to surrender the Town From thence he went to before Mures a Town not far from thence but somwhat remote from the Rhine And meeting with the like weak defence he with the like easiness won it He this mean while had thrown a bridg of Boats over the Rhine and passing with all his Army to the other side he sate down before Groll a strong Town both by nature and art He found some greater resistance there yet many provisions being wanting which are most necessary for sustaining a siege having dryed the Ditch on one side and threatening a furious Assault he forced the Defendants to deliver up the Town From thence he turned to Oldensel a weak Town which he therefore soon took And no Town remaining now at the Kings devotion in those parts but Linghen a place well flanked and fortified by a good Castle Maurice incamped before it and besieged it straitly on all sides Count Frederick de Berg defended it which he did very valiantly for many days But that place being but ill provided as were the rest he was forced to surrender it upon very honourable conditions So to boot with Reinberg and Mures all the whole Country on the other side the Rhine fell in a short time under the Dominion of the United Provinces which in acknowledgment of so advantagious successes did forthwith give the same Town of Linghen with the Territories thereunto belonging which make up a very noble Lordship to Count Maurice and to his heirs for ever About the end of Autumn Maurice returned with his men to their quarters and passing himself afterwards to the Hague he was received there with demonstrations of great joy Which afforded new occasions to such Provinces as were yet obedient to the King to complain and grieve considering that for the interests of France which were very uncertain the self-affairs of Flanders were so much neglected And they were more scandalized that to defend the Catholick cause in that Kingdom for the advantage of strangers the same cause was abandoned in the Kings own Country suffering so great a part thereof to fall into the hands of Rebels and Hereticks who by all the most desperate means would implacably maintain their double perfidiousness against the Church and King Thus ended this year and the year 1598 insued memorable for two of the greatest events which could then have hapned The one Peace concluded between the two Kings after so bitter war and the other the Marriage between the Cardinal Archduke and the Infanta Isabella the King of Spains eldest daughter to whom the King her Father gave the whole Low-Countries for her Dowry As concerning the Peace Pope Clement the eight had mediated it awhile before moved thereunto by the same zeal whereby he had already so happily reconciled the King of France to the Apostolick See and afterwards indeavoured to reconcile the two Kings by making such a peace as might conduce to the establishing of universal quiet in Christendom To this purpose having first wisely
Walloon Brigadoes and with some horse commanded by Henry di Berg to try whether they could get into the Island or no by passing over the Wahal on any side a little lower These made up the number of 4000 foot and 600 horse The Cardinals Orders were That they should endeavour to pass the River two leagues above a certain Town called Tiel where for divers circumstances it was thought more feisable The good event thereof consisted chiefly in secrecy But Maurice having an eye every where got notice of it and sending some armed boats down from Niminghen he ordered them to make fitting opposition by the River Wherefore these men when they found their designe discovered were very much in suspence and afterwards varied much amongst themselves touching what they were to take in hand Zapena was of opinion that howsoever they were to try the passage and Estenly was of the same mind on the contrary Barlotta thought it would be to no purpose and that to endeavour it would be the loss of many men They notwithstanding put some of their boats into the River and from the shore-side sunk three of the enemies boats with the Artillery which they brought with them And endeavoured to get with their men which were imbarked to the contrary shore But finding great obstacles both by land and water they saw they could not make the passage From thence the Kings men went down the River with their boats and the rest of their souldiers and provisions on the left shore And the enemy did the like on the other side that they might be the readier to meet with them every where The Cardinal had given order that if they could not pass the Wahal they should at unawares affail the Fort Worden and indeavour to take it which if they could not do that then the Campmasters were to use all diligence to get into the Island of Bomel and to secure themselves there of the Pass in the best manner they could As for getting the Fort they had no hopes to effect it considering what the enemy had done Wherefore leaving Wahal and carting their boats again they went forthwith towards the Island of Bomel and coming to the Mause about the Village Emple they past it with such secrecy as they scarce met with any impediment At their entrance into the Island they took the Castle Hill which was nearest the shore and did thereby so much the more secure themselves of the Pass Then coming again out of the Island according to the directions which the Cardinal had first given them they went against the Fort Crevecoeur which was not far from thence This Fort was very prejudicial to Balduke because it shut up the mouth of a River which runs through that City and which not above a league from the walls thereof falls into the Mause The Cardinal therefore intending to make himself Master thereof willed the aforesaid Campmasters that when they should have secured the pass whereby to enter into the Island they should incamp before that Fort. Which when they had done and had given the Cardinal notice of it and of all that they had done besides the Kings Camp rose presently from before Schincks Sconce and went to before Crevecoeur which was not in a condition of making any considerable resistance wherefore the Army was no sooner quartered about it and had threatned it with batteries and assaults but that those within expecting no longer and without making almost any resistance quitted the Fort. The Cardinal was this mean while gon to Balduke to make divers provisions there for the business of Bomel And therefore the Admiral after the taking of Crevecoeur turned towards the Island of Bomel and entred thereinto with all his Army about the beginning of May. Great banks are made all along the sides of those Rivers to defend the fields which are subject to innundation The Army parting thus from the Mause marched upon the bank on the right hand and bending towards the Wahal staid in the Village Hervin which stands upon the same River in which were many of the enemies men of war For Count Maurice had discovered the Cardinals intention and therefore had not omitted to prepare such obstacles as were fitting by water that the Kings men might find more difficulty in passing it They notwithstanding indeavoured by their Artillery to drive away those Vessels and did somewhat prejudice them but they putting themselves into some creeks that were in the River the Kings men could never free themselves from that opposition They past from Hervin and drawing nearer Bomel they quartered their Army in sundry parts one part thereof was lodged upon the bank and the rest more inward according to the opportunity of the situations Maurice was this mean while come with all speed and with the most of his Army and quartering on the other side of the River in the face of Bomel he had sent 1000 foot thereinto for the better defence thereof Here with all diligence he placed two bridges over the River the one above the Town the other beneath it the one was of small boats for the foot to pass over and the other of greater flat-bottomed boats which served for the horse and commodity of Carriages and this was so broad as two Carts might pass one by another upon it The Bridges being thrown over he sent 3000 foot more and 400 horse for the defence of Bomel and the Town not being capable of so many men hequartered them without the Town and did so shelter them with Trenches Flankers Redouts Ditches and strade coperte as Bomel of a little Town seemed suddenly as if it were a large City The Kings men were very much indamaged by the Enemie Artillery before they could sufficiently fence themselves on the Rivers side For being at the same time thundred upon both by those of Bomel and by those that were placed upon the contrary shore and in the ships that were in the River they knew not well what to doe nor how to defend themselves But at last such Rampiers of earth as were requisite being made and many Peeces of Artillery being placed upon the bank they likewise began to play furiously upon the Town of Bomel and upon all those Works wherein the Enemies Forces were lodged without the Town nor was the damage little which they did them till they sheltred themselves better This mean while the Enemies whole Army was met together which was so increased as it amounted to 18000 Foot and above 3000 Horse And Maurice having quartered them in divers Towns and Villages on the same shore that he was seemed not any thing to value the siege which the Royalists had undertaken nay rather his men which were in such numbers in Bomel resolving rather to play the parts of assailants then assailed began to issue out against the Kings men and to annoy them in sundry sorts both day and night They notwithstanding forbore not to advance with their Trenches covering them as well
as they could and securing them better then formerly by oblique Windings and Redouts But the besieged willing to use all their force to the contrary sallied out on divers sides about the midst of May against the Royalists and in such numbers as it might be thought rather an intended Battel then a Sally The Italians and Walloons were quartered upon the Bank above Bomel the Spaniards in certain Pastures and the Germans Burgonians and Irish were quartered on another side The Enemy being recruited by new men which Count Maurice had sent unto them from the other side the River sallied out about Noon at once against all the aforesaid quarters and that they might the more indamage that which was quartered upon the Bank they placed above 30 Barks loaded with Artillery in the River just over against it The first assault was made on that side by 3000 Foot and 400 Horse and 4000 Foot with a proportionable number of Horse divided into two parts gave on upon the other quarters The Kings Camp was very vigilant so as the Enemy came not so suddenly out but they were ready to receive them The fight was therefore very resolute on both sides the Enemy striving to get into the Kings works and the others valiantly defending them Nor was the business less hotly disputed between the Horse nor did the Artillery of both parties forbear to play at the same instant violently But the Enemy at last not being able to have the better of the Royalists they resolved after three houres fight to retreat The number of the slain and of the wounded was much alike of both sides and the action well considered was cause of greater noise then loss of blood The Enemy returned the next night to assault the Kings men thinking that they should find them the less provided for that they would not in likelihood expect so suddenly such an assault The charge was notwithstanding only upon the Italians and Walloons And truly it came so unexpected as at the first falling on many of both those Nations were slain and wounded and Avalos the Italian Campmaster was in particular sorely hurt The Enemy had the better of the Assault for a while But the Kings men rallying together and reassuming courage did so well defend their Trenches as the Enemy not being able to injure them retired They were notwithstanding much inheartned by finding their numbers still so increase so as within three dayes after they returned to make a brisk assault upon the Kings men and resolved to make it by night to the end that it might come so much the more unlooked for and be the more dreadfull Monsieur de la Nue was come from France with many Hugonots to serve the United Provinces He was son to the late Monsieur de la Nue a so cry'd up Commander and of whose valour you have often heard in divers parts of this History This man in his military comportment proved himself worthy to be the son of such a father Count Maurice therefore gave him the chief charge of this new sally and would have it performed chiefly by the French Foot together with a select number of English which in all might come to about 5000 Foot The assault was chiefly to be made against the Works which the Kings men continued to make upon the bank and in those neighbouring parts La Nue therefore sallied out couragiously and assisted by a fog gave so fiercely on upon the Royalists as he put them in disorder The Walloons had the Van with the Camp-master Achicurt who had then the command thereof He and his men failed not to make all possible resistance till being himself sorely wounded and the Enemies force still increasing he was forced to retire and to crave a new recruit of men But the noise of the Assault had already caused those of the Royalists who were nearest hand to move and had given the Alarm to those that were further off so as the whole Army was in a readiness to fight Some Companies of Spanish and Italian Foot were to come first in to the assistance of the Walloons These stopping the fury of the Enemy did stoutly sustain them and fresh men coming in they secured their Trenches And the Enemy despairing of doing any further damage when the day began to break retreated in very good order being pursued by the Kings men to beneath the Fortifications and wals of Bomel and the fight continuing still fervent on both sides The siege had by this time been laid twenty dayes and no considerable progress had been made And it was plainly seen that the enterprise would prove totally vain since they could not keep the besieged Town from being relieved and that Count Maurice was thereabouts with so great Forces The chief end of the Kings men in endeavouring to get Bomel was that they might have a strong Hold upon the Wahal so as they might command the Pass of that River and might introduce themselves into the heart of the Enemies country and especially into Holland Despairing then of the enterprise of Bomel the Cardinal propounded that a Fort Royal might be raised in some part of the same Island whereby they might reap the same end Where the Mause and Wahal met first together and then imediately part again they shape a certain point of ground which delating it self a little doth afterwards grow straiter from thence doth the Island afterwards inlarge and extend it self till the two aforesaid Rivers meet again and inclose it it was therefore propounded unto the Cardinal that a great Fort should be raised in that narrowest neck of ground by which they should possess themselves of all that Avenue which lay between the one River and the other which might prove a great curb to the Enemy and which would keep them more in awe then that of Schink would have done for that it was nâ—â—rer their very bowels then the other was The Cardinal was mightily herewithall pleased and causing it to be well discussed in the Councel of War it was with a general applause agreed upon Nor herewithall contented he would go with some of the chief Commanders to the very place it self and there put on his last resolve which was That by all means the Fort must be raised and must with all speed be begun The Cardinal resolving upon this presently raised the Camp from before Bomel which was done about the beginning of June and the charge of seeing that effected which was resolved on was chiefly given to Velasco Generall of the Artillery The siege being abandoned the Camp removed to the Village of Hervin and came coasting from thence to the place where the Fort was intended to be built Count Maurice having discovered the design past over likewise a little higher upon the contrary shore and staid just over against the Kings Camp He afterwards placed many Peeces of Artillery upon that side and with them began immediately to annoy the Kings men who were to begin the
joyn wirh the great Bulwark of the old Ostend called the Sea Bulwark This Bank served to obviate the prejudice which the high-tyde which their outward fortifications might suffer thereby on that side but because they saw that the Catholicks made use thereof the better to advance with their works in that place they resolved first well to secure their aforesaid Fortifications with other materials and afterwards cut gaps in the Bank in divers places and thereby made the Catholiks dispair of advancing any further there This mean while the works on Bredene's side were not slacked when Count Frederick was gone to the quarter of St. Clara the Arch-duke had put Count Buckquoy into that of Bredene he forthwith advanced a little redout to which he added another greater and called it St. Charles whereupon placing some peeces of Artillery he began to prejudice the Enemies Barks which entred on that side into Ostend The Channel there divided it self into two parts the one whereof entred into the chief ditch of the Town and the other into the narrower ditch which shut up the Strada Coperta on the outside The Enemies Barks were therefore so plaid upon by the Artillery from the new Redout as they were forced to get into the Town by the chief Channel But this was no considerable damage by reason of the more commodious ingress which the Barks had and because the Artillery of the Redout shot from so far off as they did but little harm Wherefore the Archduke resolved that a great Bank should be led towards the master Channel from the Redout which was afterwards called a Fort which should be brought so near the shore side as that a Fort being there raised and well furnished with Artillery the Enemies might be as well hindred from making use of their Barks on that side of Bredene as they were on the other of S. Alberto These were the works about Ostend But at the same time Count Maurice suffered not his Army to be idle Having taken Reinberg he went to before Balduke hoping either to get a place of that concernment or to make the Archduke remove from before Ostend Incamping therefore before that Town he began to begirt it but with some leisure by reason of the great compass thereof Monsieur de Grolendunk a valiant Souldier and one the best esteemed of all Flanders was Governour thereof That City would always defend it self by its own Citizens who had always proved themselves very faithfull to the Church and King yet were not they of themselves able to defend themselves against so great and manifest a danger wherefore the Governour advertised the Archduke of what condition he was in and prest very much to be relieved The Archduke found himself in a great strait fearing lest his Forces were not sufficient at the same time to maintain the Siege before Ostend and to relieve Balduke Yet taking heart and leaving only so many men as might keep the Siege from rising he sent Count Frederick de Berg towards Balduke with 7000 Foot and 1500 Horse giving him order by all means to relieve the Town He likewise got the Italian Mutiniers at Verte to joyn many of their Souldiers to those of the Count. And therefore having got together a reasonable good body of an Army he seemed as if he would fortifie a certain Town called Helmont within four leagues of Balduke But dispatching away privately by night Count Jovanni Giacomo Belgioioso Commissary-Generall of the Horse by a certain way not well observed by the Enemy with 1000 Horse and 800 Foot he gave him order to convey those Foot into Balduke and to back them if need should be with the said Horse No order could be better given nor better pursued For the 800 Foot having with much resolution forced a Pass wherein they met with some opposition entred all into Balduke and did so secure that City as November being now near at an end and the season being colder then usual Maurice resolved to give over the Siege and to retreat Balduke being thus luckily relieved the Archduke turned to begirt Ostend with all his Forces And it so fell out as at this time it was thought that the Town would for certain have been surrendred For about the end of December a terrible storm at Sea did so shatter the Town in divers parts and especially the old Town as the Inhabitants despairing to resist an assault which upon this occasion they did expect began to parley and Hostages were delivered on both sides for observancie of what should be agreed upon But soon after this unfortunate chance there fell out another so favourable by the access of new men to the besieged together with all manner of provisions as they would treat no longer of surrendring saying they could no longer doe it with their honour The Archduke being thus deluded of his so firm hopes of having the Town gave order that a great Battery should be raised against the Old Town which had been most prejudiced by the Tempest That part was therefore furiously plaid upon and there was such a breach made especially in the Sea-bulwark as they hoped to make a happy assault Which was thus ordered The Campmaster Durango was to go against the Sea-Bulwork with the Spanish Foot and the Campmaster Gambaloitta a Milanese and Knight of the Order of St. John against another neighbouring Flank on the left hand with the Italian Foot These two Camp-masters were accompanied by divers of the best Captains of the Army and the Foot of divers other Nations were mingled with the Spanish and Italian Foot The assault was to begin about the coming on of night when the Tide was at the lowest And Count Bucquey was likewise ordered to pass over the Channel on the side of Bredene and to sall with his men upon the wall that was there beaten down To divert the Enemy on more sides it was commanded that Alarms should be given every where against the Town And the Archduke chose Augustine Messia Governour of Antwerp Citadel who had for many years before been a Campmaster amongst the Spaniards and ever held in good esteem to see these Orders well observed When they came to the Assault the Assailants behaved themselves gallantly and used all means to get upon the wall and though many of them fell down dead and wounded and that the horror of night which already came on made their dangers the more terrible yet did it serve rather to set the Catholicks on fire then to make them cool in their fight But there appeared no less resoluteness of resistance in those within For opposing themselves valiantly on all sides and being very well able to doe it as having so many men and such store of all other provisions they stoutly did defend themselves on all sides Upon the coming on of night they had set up many Lights in divers parts of the Town whereby they the better maintained the places assigned unto them did with more security hit
out how much would the affairs of the King and Archdukes be thereby advantaged It not being to be doubted but that as the Enemy had done most mischief by Sea so most mischief was to be done to them thereby And for what concerned the place wherein the Gallies were to keep the Haven or Channel of Sluce was thought the fittest it being nearest Zealand capable of all manner of Vessels munited with good Forts in the mouth thereof and having so important a Town on the back thereof as Sluce whither the Gallies might at all times easily come and keep with all safety Frederick having then fully informed himself of the Maritime affairs of Flanders and especially concerning the aforesaid Squadron of Gallies he resolved to go himself to the Court of Spain to propound the business to the King and to get the imployment for himself Marquis Spinola Fredericks eldest Brother joyned in opinion with him desirous to raise his House as much as he could in his Country of Genua and to agrandise it by the way of War especially with the Crown of Spain And though the Marquis being thirty years old had not till then taken upon him the military profession yet he had always had a great inclination thereunto and had parts to make himself famous therein when he should be invited thereunto by any honorable imployment Frederick being come to Madrid he so negotiated the business as the Proposition of the Gallies was fully approved of both by the King and his Councel and the Command thereof with all fitting authority was assigned to him Six were thought sufficient for that time and they were taken from out the Spanish Squadron with intention to increase them if the effects thereof should answer their hopes Frederick having brought these Gallies to Flanders it is not to be believed how much the Navigation of the Hollanders and Zealanders in those parts was thereby incommodated For putting forth for the most part unexpectedly from the Channel of Sluce particularly in Calms when Vessels of sail use not to move he flew boldly sometimes upon one sometimes upon another taking some sinking others and much indamaging others It was notwithstanding found by experience that the six Gallies were not sufficient to carry men enough to in damage the Enemy by Land also and to endeavour some important surprise He therefore went again into Spain where being well received he used such prevalent reasons as prevailed with the King to send eight other Gallies to the former six and to give way that for the service of the whole Squadron he and the Marquis his brother might raise 800â— Foot in the State of Milan and might carry them to Flanders Frederick went with these Orders to Genua and from thence with his Brother to Milan where Count Fuentes was Governour from whom having received requisite authority for the raising of 8000 men the Marquis took the sole care thereof and with the like diligence Frederick returned to effect the aforesaid business in Spain They did both of them act their parts very well To which their own monies did contribute very much for thereby they were a great help unto the King in the monies he was to disburse and they did likewise procure many of their kindred and friends in Genua to doe the like So as what was to be done by each of them was with all speed effected When the Marquis had raised his men which were all very gallant men he departed in the beginning of May in that year 1602. towards Flanders The Levy was divided as we told you into two Brigades The Marquis himself was Campmaster of the one and had for his Serjeant-Major Pompey Justinian an old Flemish Souldier And Lucio Dentici was Campmaster of the other and Augustine Arconato was his Serjeant-Major both of them having served many years formerly in the same war The Marquis went by the way of Savoy and being well come to the Province of Luxenburg he presently went to Gaunt where the Archduke then was that he might receive such Orders from him as he upon such an occasion should think fitting But Frederick had not the like good success in the conducting of his Gallies For tarrying longer in Spain then he needed to have done as he went from Porto Sancta Maria two of his Gallies were taken from him in fight by some of the Hollanders ships and three more in the same manner as he past afterwards through the English Channel so as he could bring but three to Sluce yet most of the men were saved which were all of them Spaniards under the Campmaster John di Menesses a Portuguese who came likewise safe to the same place But to return to the Marquis He came with his men just at the time when the Archduke stood most in need of such a recruit Count Maurice was already marched into the fields and with such Forces as the United Provinces till then had never had greater He had made his Rendezvouz at Niminghen and his Army consisted of 24000 Foot and 6000 Horse with all other abundance of Artillery Ammunition and Victuals 'T was thought that his design was to cross through Brabant and so advance forwards to the relief of Ostend and then to to besiege Newport again All which he might easily have done For had it not been for the Aid which at that time came from Italy the Archdukes could have made no opposition in the field to so many adverse Forces with theirs of Flanders alone The Orders which the Marquis received from the Archduke was That he should presently go with all his men to find out the Admiral of Aragon who with other 6000 Foot and 4000 Horse was marching towards the Enemy to discover all their design and then to disturb them therein as much as he could The Marquis being joyned with the Admiral the Army was brought to Telemone a good Town almost in the heart of Brabant where making their rendezvouz it was resolved that the Army should lie without the Town towards that part where it was thought the Enemy would appear Nor was it long ere Maurice came to St. Truden a Town in the Country of Liege and within three leagues of Tilemone From thence Count Maurice came to within one league of the Catholick Camp but finding the opposition greater then he thought he should have done he resolved to retreat backward And after several false appearances of sieges that he might the better conceal the true one he at last sat down before Graves which as it hath been formerly said lies upon the left side of the Mause It is a Town which belongs to Brabant strong both by situation and art and which commands a Pass of great consequence upon that River On the opposite side there stood a little Redout which served for the better guarding of that Pass Maurice divided his Quarters on both sides and endeavoured particularly to secure them on the outward side which might be easeliest assaulted Antonio Gonsales
a Spaniard was Governour of Graves and he had with him about 1500 Foot of several Nations good men but not so well provided as they ought to have been with necessaries for defence Yet the Governour and Garrison did with equal courage prepare to defend the Town hoping that the Town might in good time be relieved from the Catholick Camp Maurice turn'd first of all upon the aforesaid little Redout and playing furiously upon it took it within a few dayes He then began with great fervencie to begirt the Town on all sides and advancing with his Trenches on three sides he accompanied them with three Batteries nor was it long ere he came to the ditch But those within shewed themselves no less valiant both in making use of Counter-batteries in defending the ditch and in endamaging the enemy by their fallies It was argued this mean while by the Captains of the Catholick Camp whether it were better directly to relieve the Town or by assieging some other place make Maurice raise his siege It was thought a hard matter immediately to relieve the Town for the Catholick Camp-stood in need of many things to accost the enemy and they could not so soon make provision thereof But it was yet thought harder to be able to besiege any of the Enemies Towns for they must then pass the Mause and provide great store of Victuals and Ammunition for their Army whereof as also of all other things they knew the Enemy had great abundance They at last resolved to relieve Graves to which purpose the Admiral went presently to Ruremonde which is a City standing upon the Mause not far from Graves and which was therefore better able to furnish such things as they needed but yet they could not make such hast thereof but that many dayes were spent therein From Ruremonde the Admiral went for Venelo a good Town standing likewise upon the Mause that he might enjoy the oppertunity of the River by means whereof victuals might be the more easily brought to the Army From thence he marched strait upon the Enemy but as he drew neer their fortifications he found them such and so far advanced as he was clean out of hope of doing good upon any of them yet he knew that one of their quarters was neither so well fortified nor so well guarded as were the rest wherefore he resolved to try whether he could relieve the Town by that way or no. He therefore ordered John Tomaso Spina formerly a Neapolitan Camp-master that advancing unexpected by night towards that quarter with a thousand Italian Foot he should endeavour to force the Enemies Trenches and to get with that relief into the Town And that Spina might have a safe retreat in case he should not succeed therein the Admiral commanded Camp-master Simon Autunes to follow Spina at a proportionable distance with one other thousand Spanish Foot To divert the Enemy as much as it was possible from the defence of that quarter he likewise ordered that Marquess Spinola should move with two thousand Foot at the same time against the opposite quarter and should give a counterfeit hot Alarm to the end that the Enemy might the likelyer give over the defence of the other aforesaid quarter All these orders were fully observed but without any fruit for Spina found the aforesaid quarter so well defended as he was forced presently to retreat nor did the Marquis his fained assault on the other side any thing avail for though the Enemy flocked thither in great numbers yet the other defence against which Spina had made the true assault was not a whit weakned After this ill success the Admiral dispaired of any more succoring the Town wherefore he resolved to retreat Yet did not the besieged forbare defending themselves for many dayes making the business much more bloody to the besiegers But having no hopes of relief they at last resolved to yeild and upon the best conditions they could get delivered the City up to Count Maurice A little before the surrender of Graves upon the retreat of the Catholick Camp there began a mutiny in it amongst the Italians which every day increasing quickly became one of the greatest and most dangerous that had yet happened in Flanders The mutineers endeavaured first to possess themselves of Diste and not being able to get in there went hastily towards Hostrat a small Town in Brabant but provided of a Castle and so near Breda as they might receive succour from that Town of the Enemy if the Arch-duke should use violence against them which the Arch-duke was resolved to do that he might once more try whether he could by severe means remedy that mischief which grew still worse by being fairly proceeded with and truly they gave too much accasion of it at this time for growing every day more perverse then other and being in a short time gotten to be two thousand Foot and a thousand Horse there could be no mischief done by excursions which they did not nor any other sort of hostility which they did not threaten Being therefore declared Traitors and Rebels the Arch-duke resolved to proceed by force against them which when they discovered they began to fortifie themselves so in the Town and Castle of Hostrat and did still receive such advantages from the Enemies parts thereabouts as all the endeavours to suppress their audacity by force proved vain as shall be afterwards shewed nor did there any thing else of military action succeed that year The next year being 1603 they resolved in the Court of Spain to reinforce the Army in Flanders as much as they could possibly It was by this time clearly seen that the marriage between the Arch-duke and Infanta would prove steriâ— Wherefore it being considered in Spain that the Provinces of Flanders would again revert to that Crown they therefore treated of providing for the necessities of those Provinces with the Kings Name Authority and monies as in case of a Country that were intirely his Count Frederick was returned to Flanders with three Gallies only as we told you He had in this his second voyage to Spain so negotiated in that Court as the King being willing vigourously to assist the affairs of Flanders was resolved that the two brothers Frederick and Ambrosius Spinola should levy twenty thousand Foot and two thousand Horse that these should be attended by a proportionable number of Artillery And in fine that there should be an entire Army raised apart which should be commanded by them alone and which might be imployed where the most advantagious occasion should require When Frederick was come to Sluce his brother the Marquess came to him nor was it long ere orders came from Spain for them to raise the aforesaid men and because they were to be composed of Germans Italians and other new Flemish the Marquess went about the end of March into Germany being to go afterwards for Italy and the mean while Frederick stayed to infest the Enemy upon the