But if they temporized vntill the third day he would not suffer them to carry away any thing but Halters about their necks knowing they did it through malice being prest by extreame necessitie being not bound therevnto in honour seeing they had no hope of succours but would glorie in shewing themselues obstinate The two Captaines being returned into the Towne made report of the conditions propounded by Prince Maurice but they could not resolue to depart that day but the next day they changed their opinions and departed with honourable conditions being about foure thousand and two hundred men almost hunger-starued for all their bread and victuals were spent many of the Galley slaues had not toucht any bread in 10. or 12. daies did feed vpon grasse greene leaues leather old shooes tenderly sodden partchment and such like The conquest of this strong scituated towne very fitt for many attemps with 70. peeces or more of great ordinance and 10. or 11. Galleys with their furniture incouraged the vnited Prouinces to thinke vpon some course for the reliefe of Ostend for the effecting wherof they made a general assēbly of the states at Sluice in the end of August Spignola being returned with his forces to the siege of Ostend the Arch-duke placed strong Garisons in Blankenbourg Dam Bruges fortifying all places that might stop Prince Maurice his passage to Ostend In the meane time they of Ostende had diuers and sundrie aduantages against the enemy by sallies and countermines The 10. of August they made a sally chased the besiegers frō the olde Bulworkes seazed of their ordinance cloied it but in their retreat some hauing ventured too far 2. or 3. of their captaines officers were slaine Spignola being returned he prest them more then before and finding the Spaniardes to flie from al seruices for the enuy they did beare to him to the Italiās he resolued to imploy the Germaines in their steede and to draw them vnto it by his bounty hauing therefore made his approches to Sand-hil by mines and other deuises he resolued to giue an assault with the Germaine regimentes of the Earles of Foglia Barlamont being for the most part all olde souldiers and of great resolution who after much resistance tooke Sand-hill and slue all them that had not retired in time the which was a great furtherance to obtaine their intent for this their good seruice Spignola bestowed of them out of his owne bounty some forty thousand gilders to drinke with great thankes and commendation In the meane time the assembly of the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces of Nether-land being at Sluice to resolue what was best for them to do for the reliefe of Ostend propounded that this long bloudy and chargeable defence of Ostend was to haue an entry into the maine land of Flanders thereby to force them to their contributions and to keepe the warre there that seeing they had now taken the strong towne of Sluce the Iland of Cassādt with many forts and skonces besides the strong fort of Isandike and the ruinated walled Towne of Ardenburg which they resolued to fortifie and to builde a new all which contained a great peece of ground in the maine of Flanders whereby they had good meanes to draw all the warres into Flanders into the enemies Country and so force the Country to contribute 70. 80. or 90. thousand gilders monthly all which being now obtained they thought it needlesse to be at any further charge Moreouer besides the small likelihood there was to defend it there was no hope to take all the forts and skonces round about it without the which the towne would be to them of no moment And for the great benefit of the hauen to the enemy they thought what with their shipping by sea and their strength of horsemē by land in Flanders their dayly courses to incumber and stop the riuers and passages within the Country withall they would not dispaire that when the forts round about should be eyther broken or neglected to recouer the Towne againe keeping the dominion of the Sea which aduantage they pretend aboue their enemies and that when as the place should be repaired by their enemies against the violence of the Sea the which now against winter required a great charge of 30. or 40. thousand crownes These such like considerations being propounded the estates resolued to leaue the defence with the best and most profitable conditions they could vnlesse Prince Maurice with his maine force would attempt to raise the siege or else make a shew for the obtaining of more reasonable conditions but the fortification of Sluice and of their other conquests beeing very necessary to take all meanes from the Archduke to besiege Sluice againe did hinder the same sauing a little shew made to no effect Wherefore the Sand-hill being taken by force in September by the Germaines as we haue said and the Marques Spignola making his approches mines in the olde Towne about the olde Church by which it was greatly feared that with any great tides or Westerne Windes the Sea might make some great breach be a hindrance to any good composition Mounsieur de Marquet the gouernour with his Councell of warre in Ostend knowing the will and pleasure of the Estates of the vnited Prouinces of Nether land their maisters hauing shipt all the principall ordinance and munition leauing some for a shew entred into treaty with the Marques Spignola the 8. of September concluded the 10. day and they departed the 12. day after three yeares and ten weekes siege and that a continued siege without intermission with fighting shooting of great ordinance daye and night both from within and without the like hath not beene seene in any mans remembrance nor read in any Histories The number of shot spent of both sides may hereafter come forth in so me relations and likewise of the dead in three yeares space It is written that there was found in a Comissaries pocket who was slaine before Ostend the seuenth of August diuers writings and remarkeable notes and amongst the rest a note of the number of the Arch-dukes Campe that died without of euery degree As followeth Maisters of the Campe. 7. Colonels 15. Sargent Maiors 29. Captaines 565. Auncients 322. Lieutenants 1116. Sargents 4911. Corporals 9166. Lansepesadoes 600. Souldiers 54663. Mariners 611. Women children 119. All amount to 72124. persons Which number is not so great considering the time of three yeares sicknesses and the colde Winters vpon the Sea coast in so colde a Climate fighting against the Elements the which in former times hath not beene vsed There is nothing yet come to light of the number that died within but it is thought the number is far lesse both for that they were not so many in the Towne and had more ease and were better victualled The conditions of the composition were honorable To goe forth by land as many
as would with their Colours flying Drummes sounding their Matches light and Bullets in their mouthes with foure peeces of Ordinance and Bullets Poulder for tenne shotte and two hundred Wagons to carry away their stuffe besides all the Shippes within the Towne that were laden and the rest to be laden with their baggage and householde stuffe their wiues and children leauing the rest of the amunition behinde the chiefe whereof was shipt before they left about eight peeces some not mounted others crackt broken with two or three morters and some 80. bartels of Poulder the rest was shipt away or made vnfit to vse And so there went forth about foure thousand tall Souldiers by the Stronde towards Blankenbourg hauing beene feasted and banketed by their enemies both within the towne and without in Spignolas Tents and had a conuoy to conduct them their ships departed in like sort they lodged that night at Blankenbourg and the next day they came to Prince Maurice his campe before Sluice where all the Colonels Captaines and chiefe men were kindly entertained and welcomed by his excellencie and the Baylife of Ostend was made Baylife of Sluice There remained no Inhabitants in Ostend only one old man and a woman or two but all retired leauing it as heapes of earth and sand The Arch-duke came thether with the Infanta to see the place and from thence they went in pilgrimage to our Lady by Dunkerke to whom they did ascribe the victory All the countrie people there abouts were commanded to bring in stuffe of wood and Bauins to repaier the Towne against the Sea The Arch-dukes Campe is disolued and the soldiers are dispersed into the citties townes of Flanders which were forced to receiue them for garrisons to withstand the incursions of the garrisons of Sluice and Ardenbourg the which his excellency had fortified with many Bulwarkes leauing there this winter some 7. or 8000. foote and 2000. horse in garrison hauing built stables for their horses in Ardenbourg and Isendicke Monsier Vander Noot being made Gouernour of Sluice vnder Cont Hendrik Fredricke of Nassaw brother to Prince Maurice FINIS An Explanation of the figure of the retrenchments of Ostend 51 A Halfe Moone before Helmont in the which they of the towne kept garde a long time 52. Helmont cut off from the Towne marked 42. in the whole carde of the Towne represented in the Historie 53. A Bulworke on the West where a mine played the 16. of Iune and the next day an assault was giuen in the whole mapp 39. 54. The Gallery or Corredor from Polder Bulworke to the Counter-scarfe 55. Here a mine was blowen vp the second of Iune and an assault was giuen 56. Here they of the Towne had a halfe Moone and kept garde where they made a mine 57. The Bulworke of the South-west 35. 58. The Castall or stable of Kine the South Bulworke 59. A halfe Moone within the Counter-scarfe where they of the Towne kept garde 60. A halfe Moone taken by the besieged cutt off and seperated from the towne 61. A Rauelin 62. The West Rauelin 63. The Porke-espike a part whereof the enemie blew vp ane seazed on the rest 41. 64. A Blocke-house before the North gate 65. A Bridge 66. A Rauelin 67. New Helmont 68. The new Bulworke of the West 69. Sure gardes or vrigandes 70. A Plat-forme vpon the market place whereon they haue made three batteries marked with the numbers of 71. 72. 73. Afterwardes it was changed to the new West Bulworke number 69. the which is of eight peeces to play vpon the enemies Catteyes and is changed as occasion serues as you may see in the portrait Description and situation of Ostend The Port. A new Gollet A new Port. A discourse of the estate of the towne since the warres and fortification therof Those of Ostend abandon the Polder Importance of Ostend Forts built about Ostend Expences in garding these forts Cause of the siege Diuersitie of opinions in counsell vpon the siege of Ostend Ostend besieged The olde hauen cut off by the enemy Graue Maurice sendes to Ostend Succours from England A Sallie A Sailie The enemies trenches 2200. canon shot in one day against the Towne The Arch-dukes men stand vpon their guard Ships from Zeland Of the Gouernors lodging beaten downe with the Canon and not by him abandoned Fugitiues taken Bullets of 40. pounde shot into the towne Generall vere hurt The Arch-dukes men forced to retire by the tide 35000. canon shot against the towne Letters shot into towne with arrowes The tide amazeth the townes men 2000. English come into the Towne 20. Ensignes of French other nations Prisoners brought into the Towne The Arch-dukes inuention Inuention for an assault The forme of the siege and of the Archdukes campe The Lord of Castillion slaine The estate of the besieger The Flemings out of hope to take Ostend Many of qualitie goe to see Ostend A new Hauen at Ostend Generall Vere returned to the Towne The Arch-dukes rigour The Earle of Northumberland the Lord of Kessel came to Ostend Fortification of the besieged Conut Bucquoy made Lieutenant generall to the Arch-duke The Arch-duke resolues to raise the siege Six or seauen horsemen giue the alarme to the Towne The Arch-dukes men approched neerer by a 130. yardes Traitors taken in the towne Great treason discouered in the towne The townsmen make a new Hauen This was on the 17. of Nouember stilo veteri Sicknesse in the towne Assault at the English Trenches and repulsed An assault giuen and the enemy repulsed with losse A treatie with the Arch-duke to winne time 1602. A furious and bloudy assault Assault vpon the East Assault at Helmont and the English trenches The Generals wisedome The Arch-duke looseth aboue 2000. men Noble men slaine The commanders names for the Arch-duke at the assault The Spaniards mutine for want of paie Complaints of them of Antwerp Great necessitie in the campe Generall Vere leaues Ostend A new Hauen at Ostend Prince Maurice comes into Brabant Prince Maurice besiegeth Graue Sickenesse in Ostend and in the Campe. Ostend new built Galleys of Spaine vnder Spignola The Galley S. Philip sunke The Galley called Aurora sunke 1602. A proclamation proscription against the mutiners 1602. 1603. 250000. bullets shot against Ostend The towne spēt a 100000. shot Nomber of the dead on either side A furious assault The Polder taken The number of the slaine Good orders in Ostend Combate at Sea Spignola slaine The nomber of the dead A salie of 1000. men Cruelty of the enemy 1604. Pompeies Chariot The Gouernour of Ostend slaine Baraque signifies a lodging The resolution of the Estates and of Prince Maurice 4000. vessels furnish an army The Arch-duke deuides his army into three The siege of Isandicque Prince Maurice before Escluse Isandicque sommoned by a trumpet was slaine Compotion of the fort of Isandieque Aerdeburg a ruined Towne Dam a Towne in Flanders Assault at Ostend the 5. of Iune Bossempierre slaine An assault the 17. of Iune The Arch-duke compounds with the mutiners Conclusion end of the booke Ostend A mine at Polder Bulworke A Sallie Spignola sicke Retrenchments of the besieged The besieged forsake the olde rampere A Sallie Spignola generall of the Campe before Ostend P. Maurice intrenched before Sluice Sluice in extremity 1604. Spignola marcheth to releeue Sluice Spignola repulsed at Sluice Sluice surrendred the 10. of August Spignola returned to Ostend Sandhil taken by the enemy Reasons vppon the continuance of the siege of Ostend They resolue to yeeld it vp Ostend surrendred the 12. of September 1604. The Articles
A TRVE HISTORIE OF THE MEMORABLE SIEGE OF Ostend and what passed on either side from the beginning of the Siege vnto the yeelding vp of the Towne Conteining the Assaults Alarums Defences Inuentions of warre Mines Counter-mines and Retrenchments Combats of Galleys and Sea-fights with the portrait of the Towne And also what passed in the I le of Cadsant and at the siege of Sluice after the comming of Count Maurice Translated out of French into English By Edward Grimeston AT LONDON Printed for Edward Blount 1604. To the right Honourable the Earle of Deuonshire Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and one of his Maiesties most Honourable priuie Councell Charles Mountioie Anagramma One A most Rich Iuel YOur good Lordship knowes that in no times of Peace Peace is so fixed but the varietie to which all things worldly are subiect may giue necessary and vndelayd occasion to the Theorie of warres if not their practise if neither yet the knowledge of both being by long and renowned experience so substantially turnd into the powers of your minde the vnequall subiect of this resolute and deadly siege cannot but adde one welcome forme to your discourse and finde some of your emptiest minutes fit to vouchsafe it acceptance The bloodlesse and quiet transformation it receiues from my tributorie labours wanting so much life of the death and actuall excitations it naturally presented I knew must want as much of the Honor and fire it should confer to the Protection and spirit of a Souldier but I know withall the lost liues of so many resolute and Honorable Commanders hauing a little restitution made them in this willing remembrance will finde no lesse cherishing and strength of propagation in your liuing disposition to whose true Nobilitie and generally lou'd vertues I thrice humbly submit these and whatsoeuer worthier causes of your graue consideration the vnworthy worke compriseth Your Lordships alwayes to be commanded Edw Grimeston The Author to the Reader THis latter age hath brought forth memorable exploits of war Flāders without straiing from our subiect to her losse hath not seene the least being vexed with continuall troubles since the yeere 1566. The sieges of Harlem Mastricke Andwerp and other townes haue beene goodly according vnto the Etimology which some giue vnto the word Bellum quod minime bellum and it seemes that the industry of men instructed by the inuentions of former ages and prickt forward by religion and other violent causes and coulours hath added what she could and as it were made the vttermost triall of her forces I leaue it vnto the reader to make a comparison betwixt this siege of Ostend and the rest but without doubt it exceedes them all in length of time the importance therof cannot be told being the most memorable occurrant of our age The opinion I haue that this small worke recommended by truth it selfe and as free from passion as voide of affectation should be pleasing vnto many is the cause I haue set it forth to represent as in a table the most remarkeable things that haue happened on either side at this siege Many being interessed in the cause as they say will desire to see it and spirits prickt forward by curiosity would not loose their partes In the yeere 1599. the Flemings being molested with the continuall courses of them of Ostend caused certaine forts to be made about the towne to bridle them It is aboue three yeeres since this fiege begā which was the fift of Iuly in the yeere 1601. we may thinke that the importance of the place hath during this time furnished both the one the other withal deuises possible for the well assayling defending of the Towne The discourse which is briefe frees me from giuing any censure and the Law which I haue prescribed my selfe opposeth Some not vnproperly call Ostend an Academie and an excellent Schoole for Gouernours Captaines Souldiers Ingeneurs Phisitions Surgions Pilots and Mariners and they finde it by experience that euery one of these persons which hath continued but three moneths in Ostend is become excellent in his art and vocation A Souldier when he comes forth speakes like a Maister in fortifications of Ramperes Bulworkes Spurres Counterscarfes Rauelins Trauerses Parapets halfe Moones Reduites or Blocke houses and such like I will alledge one example among many to shew the valour of the Souldiers of Ostend In the yeere 1603. the Arch-dukes men hauing surprized the Castel of Wastendonck the inhabitants resolued to retrench themselues against it setting their Garison to worke who were schollers newly from this Academie these good workmen made proofe in three houres what they could doe to the great amazement of the Spaniardes who said they could not be men seeing the Canon did not force them to retire a foote or els that euery one had a new life in his cofers As for Phisitions and Surgians Mounsieur Moerbeke of Haigh is held for a Phoenix Alexander Courtmans of Andwerp is very famous all such as haue practised in Ostend haue purchased a prerogatiue aboue the rest The like is of all men that haue bin imployed there finally this little booke is good for Souldiers who shall learne therein many excellent points of their profession tried at the cost of other men and ready to be put in practise neither shall it be vnprofitable to any seeing that we liue in this peruerse age towards the dissolution of the world threatned of all sides with wars like vnto a poore traueller which sees the Heauen ouercast threatning a storme in the midst of a plaine Champion As for delight If any one seeke to please his taste the variety of the discourse will minister sufficient matter My intention in writing these simple remembrances free from all other affection was onely to serue the publike If my labour may be as friendly accepted be pleasing to all good men to those whose iudgements are not obscured nor transported with passion neither that haue coniured against the trueth I haue attained to my desire and thinke my paines well imployed Farewell A. V. A description and the names of the Forts of the Towne of Ostend 1. Sand-hill 2. False-bray 3. Schottenbruch or the Scottish fort 4. Becc-af here was the Church of the olde Towne whereof the steeple onely stands 5. The menteur or liar 6. The new hauen the which is not yet finished 7. Moises table 8. 9. Flamenburch vpon the West of the new Hauen where they haue planted a Batterie to shoote against the Arch-dukes men when as they go to their battery which is towardes the Saulcisses 10. The Bulworke vpon the Northwest with a Blockhouse vpon the Hauen by the which the ships doe now enter 11. The North Bulworke with a battery thereon 12. The East gate 13. The Rauelin at the East gate 14. The Bulworke of Pekell 15. A Battery vpon the Bulworke of Pekel in the which there are 9. demie Culuerins to shoote at the Arch-dukes approches which he makes vpon the
the Sand-hill finding they had preuailed little with an artificiall bullet they fiered the commissarie of the victuals lodging the which was couered with strawe but it was soone releeued and the fire quenched In the night some souldiers issued foorth who passing along the neerest trenches slue foure souldiers of the enemies and brought away one prisoner who said that the enemie laboured in a mine whether no man went for that the Colonell Don Catris had made a cabin from whence he neuer departed right against it in the neerest trenches to the Towne and that they had an intent to giue the Towne an alarme vpon the East and to giue an assault vpon the West part The 20. of August the enemie in the night aduanced sixe yardes neerer to the halfe Moone vnto a certaine dike right against the Porke epike Those of the Towne imagined that the Arch-duke would ioyne all his batteries together vopn his neerest trenches in the West dikes without leauing any in the rest The same day arriued 2000. Englishmen well appointed into the Towne The besieged shot furiously day and night vpon the dike where the enemies were lodged to driue them away fearing that they would mine The 21. day 50. or 60. souldiers made a Sallie out of the Towne vpon the enemie being lodged vpon this dike they slue some but in the end by reason of the great numbers that came to succour them they were forced to retire The same day the enemies discharged all their artillarie they of the Towne seeing there-with a great number of men vpon the Downes thought that the Duke was there in person The 23. there arriued 50. or 60. saile from Zeland and in them 20. Ensignes of French Walons Scottish and Prisons The 24. of August they made a Sallie of 700. men the which retyred without any great exploite The 25. some souldiers which had beene two nights in Flanders returned to the Towne and brought with them three prisoners whereof the one was a Cheese-monger of Bruges the second of Procter of Dixmude and the third a pesant whom they had taken vppon the way betwixt Dixmude and Bruges who saide there was small store of money in the armie and that the Marchants of Bruges were out of hope to see the Towne taken the siege whereof had all ready in their opinions cost as much as all Flanders might bee worth They said also that the Archduke to defend himselfe against the suddaine sallies of them of the towne had caused to be laied at the neerest retrenchment long plankes full of great nailes the points vpward to runne into their feete that should assaile him And for that it rained that day there was little shooting on eyther side but towardes night the whether growing cleere they beganne in good earnest yet the enemie short no Bullets aboue nine ten or twelue pound waight The 26. of August foure corporals marching with a woman which had a childe in her armes were all slaine with one shot They of the Towne finding that the enemy approched to come in the end to an assault prepared amongest other things to receiue them a great number of plankes to euery one of which they did fasten twelue Muskets the which by meanes of an instrument of white Latten with a traine of Poulder should discharge all at once The 27. of August the great Barkes or Shipes of Warre in which there were some Captaines entred the Gollet with ful sailes the enemy shooting hard but hee hurt no man The same day they of Ostend did write that hauing digged and cut a certaine peece of ground neere vnto the halfe Moone vpon the West part they had made a new Gollet or mouth so as there is a great Water the which makes a separation betwixt the Towne and the enemy takes from them all meanes to come to the assault The 28. the Arch-dukes men beganne againe to shoote into the Towne fiery Bullets and flints in their great Canon In the night the enemy repaired their trenches and beganne then at the halfe Moone which had beene abandoned but they lodged not in the Towne at this time The 29. of August eight hundreed men of the troupes of the Lord of Chastillion came into the Towne The Arch-dukes men raised vp a little plat-forme on the East side of the downes declining towardes the South to plant two or three Canons thereon as a prisoner saide to shoote at the ships that went in and out They shoote also furiously at a little sluce which is in the Counterscarfe along the Porke-espike so as they of the Towne were resolued to stoppe it vp but in the end they found the Canon could not hit it being placed so high The same day entred into the Towne with their coullors flying the rest of the souldiers who the 23. day by reason of a tempest were forced to returne into Zeland there were three prisoners also brought into the Towne There came an aduise from Callis that the enemies began to faint and yet notwithstanding the Arch-duke kept the Flemings still in hope and said that he would vndermine the Towne the which is impossible by reason of the Dike we haue spoken of before This day an English fugitiue was taken againe and presently hanged There came also 60. or 70. saile out of Zeland laden with munition and victuals The 30. day about 25. of these ships entred by night into the gollet and without any danger passed into the Towne-ditch There came also another fleete of 16. or 17. saile laden with munition and victuals The enemies had neere vnto their fortifications on the East part foure great barkes from whence a canon shot pierced through one of the Towne Galleis they would gladly with those haue taken some ship in the Fleete but they durst not venter them The last of August in the night a Fleete of about 32. saile laden with munition and victuals entred the Towne without any losse except one Barke laden with Bauins the which was shot betwixt winde and water They may safely harbour two hundred ships in the new Port which striking their Mastes cannot be seene nor hurt by the enemie One of the enemies campe flying into the Towne said that the souldiers were not well paide and yet the Arch-duke was resolute to haue the Towne whatsoeuer it cost him and that there were yet about 20000. men in his armie An English Captaine who was also Sargent Maior going the round with Colonell Horatio Vere was slaine with a Canon shot As for the forme of the siege and Arch-dukes campe it was as followeth The Arch-duke hath made his trenches on the West part towardes the Palissadoes of the halfe Moone the which the water hath since pierced through and ouer-flowne There are besides sixe or eight trenches one after another vpon the west-downes some higher then others all well made with Sande and Fagots and further into the countrie vpon the side of the West-downes his trenches stretch
giue it him so hotte as they will burne his fingers This Gentle man of Don Catris saide that there were already about 3000. souldiers slaine before the Towne besides Pioners and aboue two thousand hurt The 10. of September the Lord of Chastillon being vpon the high Bulwarke of Sand-hill with Colonell Vchtenbruch a Scotish Liuetenant and other Gentlemen and men of commaunde at two of the clocke after-noone had his head strooke of with a Canon shotte aboue the teeth his braines flew against the left cheeke of Colonell Vehten ruch and made him to reele a little the Scottish Lieutenant was also greeuously hurt These be ordinarie accidents in warre neither is the the besieger any thing more free from them then the besieged the greater then the lesse the strong and valiant then the feeble and weake That night 30. ships came into the Towne and a greater number were dayly comming the which staied at Flesingue for faire weather to waigh Anchor and set saile The 14. of September also in the night there entred 23. or 24. saile more laden with victuals and munition after the which the enemie shotte furiously but by reason of a cloude and miste which did rise they could not hitte nor hurte any one wherevpon they ceased A fugitiue of the enemies said that there were manie sicke men in the Campe and that the Italians newly come out of Sauoye dyed by heapes that the Canon from the Towne did euery daye kill many men that the Souldiers fledde from the armie by troopes and that many more would goe if the horsemen kept not good guarde abroade and that it was to be feared that if the men of warre were long held in this constraint being ill payed they would mutine The 15. of September the enemy shot almost all night fiery Bullets and Flints into the Towne the which the besieged returned vnto them againe in the same coine The enemie had then but 16. peeces of Canon before the Towne they had sent all the rest to diuers strong places except foureteene which they had sent to Nieuport to be new cast for that they had beene spoiled and broken by the Canon of the Towne They had likewise sent away part of their troopes and those which remained in the armie stood in the water throughout all their trenches At the same time were surprised sundry letters from men of qualitie of Bruges and other parts of Flanders which shewed that they had lost all hope to take Ostend and that the Flemings were much afflicted and yet notwithstanding the bruite was that the Arch-duke would by no meanes heate speake of raising the siege how long soeuer it did continue or whatsoeuer it did cost The night before the Duke of Holstein or Holsatia brother to the King of Denmarke and the Earle of Hohenlo entred the towne with eight or nine saile wherein their baggage was and some Poulder they continued there two nights and two dayes and then returned to Middlebourgh without any annoiance or losse There came oftentimes men of qualitie both from England and France to see the place and the siege but they staied not There went out also 18. or 20. ships without any harme but one that was sunke and an anchor broake The Arch-dukes men made a halfe Moone or platforme in their trenches that are vpon the South at the foote of the Sand-downes meaning to plant sixe Canons thereon to batter the West-rauelin vnder the West Bulwarke where the besieged wrought dayly to make it higher and stronger The same day as the two former they did not shoote so much as they were accustomed the which seemed very strange vnto the besieged The Noblemen whereof we haue formerly spoken went the same day with the Gouernour and Colonels of Ostend to see the fortifications of the Towne and the enemies trenches which are about it The enemy shot 25. or 30. Canon shotte at one vollee against the South corner of Sand-hill and brake a little bridge set vpon the corner to passe vnto the False-Bray which hauing done they ceased whereby they might well see that they meant to giue an assault and to take away all that might annoy them There went some out of the Towne with Loapestaues which brought in a Spanish Lieutenant prisoner who said that many dyed in their Campe and that many fled dayly and more would flie if the Horse-men in guard which scoured all the passages to the ampe did not hinder them as hath beene formerly said There was also made a new Hauen at the mouth or gollet whereby the ships entred with lesse hazard and were more safe They built many houses in Albertus-fort and round about so as it might well be compared to a little towne they thought the Arch-duke would make a Port or Hauen of the Sluce which is neere to vse it insteed of that of Ostend The 18. of September there entred about 24. saile into the Towne laden with munition victuals bowes piles stakes plankes and with diuers instruments and commodities and they went forth by the gollet without any hurt or losse The same day they discharged thrice all the Canons Muskets and small shotte of the Towne in honour of the Queene of Englands birth-day this thundring put the enemie in alarme who presently began to shoote their fierie Bullets and Flints into the Towne to the which the besieged like men of honour and resolution failed not to replie They of the towne hauing placed some Canons betwixt the vttermost Piles and the Rampart which lookes to the enemies Campe and bends towards the Sea were the cause that the Sea swallowed vp and carried away part of the ground so as the opening or the breach of the little Tummel dike grew greater dayly The 19. Generall Vere being cured of his hurt returned into the Towne Almost all this night the enemie shotte fierie Bullets and Flints into the Towne but without any effect About ten or eleuen of the clock when the tyde went out they of the towne to the number of 200. made a sallie vpon the Sands to fier certaine Gabions but beeing too greene or wet it would not take where they lost one Souldier brought home ten or twelue hurt in the meane time the enemies trenches were fraught with shot and their Horsemen were vpon the Sea-shore whether the Canon from the Sand-hill shot furiously beeing a cleere Moone-light At the breake of day Generall Vere sent forth certaine aduenturers to the warre to take some one of the enemies who returned about two houres after noone bringing with them two Wallons which they had taken in the armie who said that the East quarter of the camp had beene fortified with the regiment of Asincourt wherein were 900. men but they were ill payed The same afternoone the aduenturers or fributers brought in a Germane prisoner who besides that which they vnderstoode of the two wallons said that the reason why they had fortified the Campe on the East side
them not Vpon the West they might see their Wagons part from the Forte of Albert Isabella and La pierre S. Iean and returne with all kinde of victualles from Bruges for that they could not bring it by water the chanell being frosen In the night the enemies set fire on their thirtie fiue Gabions which were vpon the Gollet for they serued them now to no vse and they had placed them there but onely to couer their labourers whilest they wrought at the plat-forme the which was a high worke and almost perfected whereon they might plant seauen or eight Canons The 2. of December a Souldier of the Towne fled and went to the enemie two Marriners were slaine by the East-port and a Harguebuzer in the West The Townes-men shott almost all night into the enemies campe who answered them not the which made them imagin that they wanted Poulder The same night 14. ships went out of the Port without any annoyance There were two English Barkes laden with Beere which would haue entred but they ranne on ground yet by the helpe of some other ships they returned in safetie to the fleete The 3. of December at the breake of day the Muskets played furiously on either side after that the enemie played with his Canon into the towne but they would not be long indebted vnto them Some that had gone out to the warres returned that day they had taken two Wallons prisoners who were so obstinate and wilfull as they would not marche so as the Souldiers were forced to kill one and to bring the other into the towne vpon their neckes after that they had vsed him in the worst sort they could for Generall Vere had commanded them expresly to bring some one to learne newes of the enemie but this man was yet so wilfull as neither for threats faire words nor any other deuise they could drawe any thing from him but in cursing with iniurious wordes he sayd that his Highnesse would not leaue the Towne before hee had brought it to his will They could not see the enemie worke in any place but the Townes-men ceased not at their new Porte the Bulworke of Pekel and the defences betwixt it and the East-port and although the enemie shot little yet the Townes-men abated nothing The night before the fourth of December the two English shippes whereof we spake before entred into the Towne it was a bright Moone-light and the enemies shott hard at them yet could not hurt them At the same time when as these ships entred fire tooke a house at the East-port and for that this house was in the right-vp-street and a great concourse of people comming to quench it the enemie shott continually at them and yet there were but three souldiers and a Boye slaine and the fier in the ende was quenched The night was quiet enough without any great shooting on eyther side vntill about three of the clocke that the enemies came in great numbers to giue an assault vnto the English trenches in three diuers places during the which being about an houre they shott furiously on either side the enemies cryed so lowde in French Enter enter aduance aduance as they heard them easily into the Towne they were chearefully receiued and valiantly repulsed three times and in the ende were forced to retire There were three Souldiers of the Towne slaine and some hurt as for the enemie we cannot well knowe how many were slaine it was so darke But day being come they found so much bloud vpon the place as they did iudge a great number to be slaine and hurt and they might heare them say in returning one vnto another Companions let vs carry away our Captaine here is no good to be gotten Generall Vere hearing the alarme ranne to those Trenches halfe naked his presence did so incourage the Souldiers as they wished that the enemie would returne againe The enemy in the morning beganne for the first time to shoote from their batterie which is at the West vpon the Cateyes and shot three or foure times through the Blindes or couerings The leapers brought in a prisoner of the Country of Luxembourg who said that he was seruant vnto the Cont Barlemont The night before the 5. day of December the townsmen shot many Stones and firie Bullets into the enemies Campe who shot not vntill the morning when as they plaid furiously from the West and pearced some houses without any great harme They also made many a shot against the Generalles house and beate downe a pane of a wall and before it carried away a French Auncients legge whereof he died soone after They of the Towne laboured at their defences betwixt Pekel and the East Port and at their new Hauen That night there entred two shippes in the one of them was the commissarie Doublet who brought fifty thousand crownes for the workemen the which are commonly souldiers who gaine very much Yesterdaies prisoner saide among other things that the Sunday before the souldiers had mustred vpon the East and insteede of two stiuers which they receiued they promised thē 5. but for that they were ill paid the two they had lesse hope of the fiue and that many fled away dayly and many died and that within three daies they had found three souldiers frozen to death in one lodging The enemie shot vehemently that day from their new battery betwixt the Cateyes and Reisern-heubt they pearced some houses in the top shot against Sand-hill the which seemed to them of the Towne a meere follie for if they had spent 10000. Canon shot against this Bulworke and the rest they should haue auailed themselues little or nothing at all The 6. of December it chanced the tide being low two of the enemies souldiers came to the bancke of the Gollet on the East-side to whom two souldiers of the Towne shewed them selues on the other side all of a good humour without any will to hurt one another who parled friendly together the enemies asked them of the Towne what they thought of the plat-forme which was vpon the Gollet and whether they of the Towne could hereafter receiue in any victualles with such like discourses whereunto the Townsmen answered that they little regarded that plat-forme for that there was a new Hauen made to vse when need should require and that they looked to receiue daylie store of victualles and other things necessarie and besides that they had yet store of prouision for a long time of good Wine and good English Beere and better cheape then in the Campe well said the others we will go drinke with you looke you vse vs well hereupon a horseman of the enemies came still crying after his companions who retyred saying we recommend you vnto God vntill our next meeting In the morning they might perceiue 400. Wagons going towards the East but the enemy was not seene to worke in any place They without brake and burnt all their Gabions which were vpon the Gollet whereas all
the plat-forme appeared plaine and there might they see some loope hoales The Townsmen shot all night with firie Bullets into the Campe and the enemie likewise into the Towne wherewith there was a woman slaine and her husband hurt The 7. of December both morning and euening they shot firie Bullets and stones of eyther side in the morning there were some of the towne hurt amongst the rest Sir Horatio Veres Secretary had his legge shot off They without shot furiously into the Towne from their battery which they haue raised at the foote of the downes vpon the end of the dike on the East-side as neere the Towne as might be where they had planted three peeces At night Sir Horatio Veres Secretary hauing his leg cut off died The 8. of December in the morning they of the Towne beganne to play with two whole Canons and three demies against the enemies new worke the which they had raised betwixt the Cateyes and Reisern-haubt which sport continued aboue two houres In the meane time the enemy shot violently into the Towne from their other batteries of the west most part wherof lighted vpon the houses which the Townsmen little regarded being acquainted therewith Besides they might see them without labour carefully vpon the downes to make a new trench of wood to goe from one battery to another In the night two Barkes went out and one came in with a little shaloup at whome the enemie shot hard but could not hit them this was the first time they shotte from their batterie which is vppon the Gollet There entred likewise a shaloupe by the North-Hauen into the which there came a Canon shotte from the West which carryed away a Marriners arme They shotte much on eyther side yet few were hurt The night before the 9. day there were many stones and firie Bullets shot off either side according to the custome some Bullets passed through the houses a Burgesse found in his celler in the morning three canon Bullets the which had made a great noise and broken all there abouts The night before the tenth of December after they had staied of eyther side at midnight they began to shoote many stones and Musket shot vntill the morning In the night they of the Towne heard their enemies labouring vpon their new plat-forme in the East to beate in and cut as if they had driuen in some piles and had planted more Canon After noone a Marriner entred by the North Hauen in a shaloupe who was come from England and had brought a vessell full of goods the enemy shot at him but could not reach him He saide that hee had hard reported at Sand-witch by Flemmings that were good and credible men and did assure it for certaine that the fire which had beene lately in Alberts fort came from heauen and had taken first in the Arch-dukes lodging The 11. of December as the day before the enemies were busied to deface their olde workes and Ramparts vpon the South and South-west to haue Wood to burne the Townes-men shott sometimes at them with their Canon They shott also from their new batterie vpon the Gollet into the Towne and vpon the Hauen to trie their Canon without dooing of any great harme there were but three hurt that day in the towne and without danger of death The night before the 12. of December they began againe to shoote stones and fierie Bullets vntill midnight without any great effect In the night a little Boate went from the towne to the Fleete to fetch from the English ship whereof hath beene spoken certaine sheepe and liue hogges and returned into the towne beating the hogges to make them gront to spight the enemies who shott after them yet could not hit any In the morning the enemie shott into the towne and at the Bulworke of Pekel from their batteries of Cateyes and the Downes The 13. of December there entred a Barke laden with fresh fish into the Towne at whom the enemies made two shott but could not hurt him Captaine Gisbrecht Kolbe of Bruges dyed of a burning feuer hauing beene sick only two dayes It was such a miste that day as they could scarse see from the towne vnto the enemies trenches There was a Canonier slaine and no man else hurt The 14. of December from the beginning of the night vnto the morning they shott fierie Bullets and stones on either part with ordinary Bullets through the houses the Gouernours house was shott through at noone day yet no man was hurt In the night a ship of Vlisingue went out of the Hauen at whom the enemy shot not In the after-noone the enemie changed his guardes at whom the besieged shott as soone as they might discouer them The 15. of December according to the custome of warre they shott of both sides but there was no man flaine nor hurt within the towne At night three shippes went out of the Hauen and were nothing indomaged by the enemie who shott at them The 16. in the beginning of the night the enemie battered in ruine and shott some fierie Bullets into the towne In the night the enemies brought before the towne three great Barkes full of stones and sand with an intention during the darknesse to sinke them in the gollet and so to stoppe the passage of the shippes but this deuise succeded not the Barkes were cast directly against the olde Towne where they ranne a ground The morning was so darke as they could not discerne what the enemie did but about noone the water being lowe the enemies began to playe with their Muskets and Canon-shott into the towne yea vpon the three Barkes that were runne on ground whether they of the Towne were gone to see what was in them their Horse-men came likewise hauing past through the Hauen and chased them of the Towne away three times so as they were forced to leaue them and to attend more water The 17. of December the enemie shott many stones into the Towne The same day one of the enemies horse-men being drunke came to the halfe-Moone of the towne which is vpon the gollet and intreated them to lead him to his quarter they in the halfe-Moone slue his horse and to be short tooke him prisoner Vpon the West side two Italiens standing Sentinell were taken and brought prisoners into the towne The three Barkes whereof we did speake were this night beaten in peeces by them of the Towne and the greatest part of the wood carried in In the after-noone the besieged shott against their enemies batterie vpon the Cateyes and towards the East vpon the enemie that was come downe vpon the Sands the Sea being gone of whom they slue some and the rest fled There was one man slaine in the towne and three hurt The 18. of December in the morning a ship went out of the Hauen at whom the enemy made three shott but hit it not After noone they of the Towne seeing the enemies change their guards shott at them
night the Leapers and aduenturers brought a Spanish auncient prisoner into the Towne The 14. the enemie laboured all night at their battery of Cateyes and raised vppe the ende which they had begunne the daye before almost equall with it although they shotte continually at them from the Towne This night a shippe went foorth of the Hauen without harme and yet the enemie shotte much at them There entred many souldiers in shaloupes from the shippes of warre into the Towne and no man was hurt The Spanish Auncient taken prisoner the day before saide that the enemy had small hope to take Ostend and that the Arch-duke continued the siege against the aduice of the Councell of warre and was greeued that he did not raise the siege wholy when as he went to succour Hertzeghenbusch the which was a good pretext but seeing it was so that for his owne reputation and for the honour of the King of Spaine it did import him to continue the siege he would not now raise it moreouer hee saide that there were 12000. foote and seuen hundred horse before the Towne and that they had promised fiue stiuers in money and two in bread a daye to euery souldier but they were ill paide and that at the last assault his highnesse had lost the choice of all his whole armie most part of them being Spaniardes which had serued the King in those Countries and else where and that the enemy was about some inuention to stoppe vp the Hauen As for the fortifications of the towne there is in the olde Towne against the Sea from Sand-hill towardes the North foure strong Blocke-houses vpon euery one of the which there are two Canons and farther into the new Towne they haue made a newe Rampart and newe Ditch and the olde Rampars which runne along the Sea had beene fortified within At this worke and such like there were a 100. men labouring from one Sunne to another one halfe laboured from the night to the morning and rested the day and the other from morning vntil night then rested and they were paied by the Commissaries of the Stats going from their worke The 15. of February two ships went out of the hauen at night without any hurt The enemy set that daye 3. sentinels on the East side more then he was accustomed so as the halfe Moone was alwayes inuironed with them The besieged thought it was by reason of the troupes that were arriued for there were 15. companies come into the Towne with Colonell Edmondt yea some in barkes in the day time at whom the enemy shot and hurt two Marriners The enemy laboured also that day vpon the North side of the battery of Cateyes not ceasing for all the Towne Canon which plaied continually they did also shoote but there was no man slaine nor hurt in the Towne onelye one Carpenter who had his arme stroake off with a Canon vpon the West bulworke The 16. of February they might see the three extraordinary sentinelles vpon the East for that the enemy feared a sallie from the Towne beeing little lesse then 6000. men in it There were besides this number some Souldiers in the ships of warre at Anchor before the towne the which could not enter by reason of a tempest yet some being more hastie entred in small Barkes one of them through errour by reason of the night landed his men of the enemies side and so returned towards the shippes the Souldiers perceiuing that they were of the enemies side ranne to the waters side where by good hap they found an other Barke which came to land other Souldiers of whom they demanded succour the Marriner hauing carried away his men came to fetch them but in the meane time the enemy had discouered them and pursued them so as they were forced to runne vp to the chinne in the water to saue themselues and there was not any one of them lost The 17. of February the enemie began to shoote with his canon and stones into the towne they answered them with the like the which continued all night They of the towne shott all the morning from Sand-hill Helmont and the West-gate Bulwarke at the batterie of Cateyes although they could not perceiue that the enemie had laboured there that night or the night before The 18. of February in the beginning of the night they shott furiously on either side both with Canon and Musket and as they changed their guardes Captaine Bernards Ancient had his hand wherewith he held his coulours strooke off with a shott These Canonades continued all night they of the towne slept not but gaue them their exchange and in the morning they ceased a little There came an Italian flying into the towne who by his saying had slaine one of his companions at play He said among other things that the Arch-duke was yet resolued not to depart from the towne vntill he were maister of it and that the enemie had resolued to make a Bridge vpon the West-hauen to passe into the olde towne and on the East-side they would make a ditche from the Downes vnto the Gollet and besides that they would spoile all the sluces and chanels which went into the West-gollet and moreouer he spake something touching the discontentment of the Souldiers in the Campe. After dinner the enemie shott little into the towne and there was no speech of any slaine or hurt The 19. of February as they were changing of their guards in the towne the enemy played furiously at them both with Canon and Musket and Captaine Morgans Ancient with three other Souldiers were slaine at one shott and some others hurt and soone after there were two other Souldiers slaine not farre from Generall Vere who was vpon Helmont speaking with the Colonels Marquet Lohn and Edmondt This night there entred into the Hauen two ships laden with men and three with poulder at whom the enemie shott but could not hit them There was also some Canon spent on eyther side without any hurt to the towne The 20. of February the enemies Canon played all night and slue Sir Horatio Veres Cooke in his Kitchin The same night there entred 6. ships into the Gollet whereof two onely came into the towne the other foure by the ignorance and fault of the Marriners ran a shoare neere vnto the enemies batterie one was laden with Turfes an other with Piles and Plankes and the other two with Beere and other commodities the enemies did what they could to borde them but they were hindered by the continuall shooting from the towne which shott at them from Flammembourg and the Bulwarke of Pekel most of the men saued themselues in the halfe Moone but the women and children were taken by the enemie They of the towne seeing the tide come in and that the enemie would take these ships they ceased not to shoote fierie Bullets at them so as they beate them in peeces the greatest part of the marchandize was seene floating vpon the water the rest
burnt with the ships The enemy greeued for the losse of this bootie shot from all their batteries vpon the towne they slue two Souldiers and hurt some others The enemie going to worke vpon the North side of their batterie of Catteyes they of the towne shott at them to hinder them The besieged were not idle but laboured to fortifie the towne against the violence of the Sea for that the Marriners said they should within few dayes haue a great tide The 21. of February there was little shooting on eyther part The enemies laboured carefully to raise their trenches and defences vpon the West and that night they did much aduance their batterie of Cateyes Two ships more straied out of their course towards the enemies campe neere to the downes vpon the East but they of the towne thought they had done it expresly to sell their marchandise the better seeing the enemies shaloups board thē without any shew of hatred The enemies sent to the towne the wiues of sixe Souldiers whom they had taken in the foure former ships after they had had their pleasures of them and turned them away naked with other outrages yea their little children were black with stripes This day there was little shooting nor any man hurt in the towne The 22. of February in the beginning of the night they shott furiously for an houre and a halfe one against an other the besieged continued all night euen when the tide was spent to hinder their enemies worke In the morning they might discouer where the enemies had laboured vpon the North of their batterie of Catteyes and raised it somewhat Moreouer the enemie laboured vpon the West corner of the West-downes the which they fortified in such sort as if they ment to stay there ten yeares After dinner a poore woman with childe the wife of one of Captaine Weinbergens Souldiers who was in guarde in the halfe Moone being gone forth to gather vp some boards of the broken ships was slaine most barborously by one of the enemies before she could be succoured by them of the towne there was none else slaine or hurt that day The 23. of February the enemie shott much at the ships that lay in the towne ditches discouering them easily for that the tide was high and the billow great After dinner M. Georges ingenier of the towne being busie about the making of some fire-workes the next house being by negligēce set on fire fired his worke slue him with three of his seruants hurt many others the enemy seeing this shot both from East west vpon the Towne for an houre together without any harme doing the fire was presently quenched by such as are appointed for the like accidents The 24. of February in the beginning of the night the enemy shot firie Bullets and great stones into the Towne The worke which they had begon vpon the North side of the battery of Cateyes fell downe for the most part as also that which they had made vnder the corner of the West downes and that which they had begunne vpon the West downes was in like sort ouerthrown for that they were almost all made of the white Sand of the downes and the water had washt it away at the foote The olde towne was not freed from this nights ruine the enemie seeing that the last night the tide had made many breaches in the Sea dike neere vnto the East gate they began to shoote from their battery of the Gollet to ouerthrow it quite The Gabions which were vpon the south side of this battery to the number of 35. were this night carried away by the sea for that they were not full and serued onely for Blindes and couerings for the chiefe battery is vpon the North and there are 36. Gabions The enemy shot continually vpon the olde Towne and the Porke-espike to increase the harme which the Sea had done them The Water was so high that daye as the Country vpon the South and West was a League about ouerflowne and all the enemies trenches and Blockhouses inuironed with water The English square was also in the water the Countercarfes vpon the west were pearced and there came much water into the Towne both by the East West There was a breach of ten yardes long in the sea dike neere the East gate the Bulworke of Pekel began to fal the new Hauen was spoiled and the olde Towne much indamaged Part of the halfe Moone vpon the Gollet was fallen whilst this great tide lasted the enemy made aboue 1800. Canon shot against the Towne and especially against the dike and other places that were endamaged yet there were few slaine or hurt They of the Towne answered them in like sort from all quarters and it was a terrible thing to see for both the Towne and the Campe seemed as if they had beene all one fire the alarme was generall not so much for the shot as for the great ruine the Sea made in diuers partes of the dike Port Rampars and defences The 25. day they might see diuers workes vnder the West downes right against the Porke espike ouerthrowne and that which had beene begunne on the North of the battery of Cateyes to be much defaced they without laboured at the West downes They of the Towne shot from the Bulworke of Pekel into the Campe the enemy into the Towne there was one souldier slaine vpon Sand hill and two hurt passing vpon the rampars The 26. of February they shot on eyther side vntill midnight and then ceased a while Before noone the aduenturers of the towne brought in one of the enemies prisoner who at the first would not speake seeming simple and a foole but in the end hee said that two regiments were gone from the Campe into Brabant There was great ioy in the Towne the besieged hauing discouered vpon the West some shippes comming from Zeland The 27. of February at the changing of the gardes two souldiers had eyther of them a leg shot off The same night foure ships went out of the Port of the which the enemy shot one through yet by the dexterity of the Marriners it was drawne forth The Maister of the workes labouring in the Counterscarfe was shot into the raines of the backe with a Musket and two others were hurt The enemie began to repaire the corner of the west downes and they drew out great store of goods out of the boates that were in the new chanell The 28. of February the water being high there entred 8. saile into the Hauen wherof the enemy shot two through but for that the one got vnto the Rauelin of the Towne and the other neere to the Sea dike they were presently succoured by them of the towne and all saued that was within them Colonel Dorth entred the towne with a number of souldiers in shaloupes and some comissaries treasurers of the States with mony for the souldiers and labourers The Counterscarfe which had beene broken was repaired this night
Heinric Hartman and Garbrandt Ianssen of Enchuysen who hauing hard this shooting had put themselues to Sea towardes France In the ende they discouered the galleys and seeing them to bend their course towards the coast of England they turned their prowes against them and so did Captaine Bredgate of whom we haue spoken all these together chased them vntill they came right against Douer where they ouer tooke them and played furiously vpon them with their Canon breaking some of the Chaines whereunto their slaues were tyed whereof a good many leaped ouer board and some recouered the land but for that it was darke and the Sea was calme neere the shoare they escaped for that time A while after the Moone began to shine when as they might discerne the 6. galleys row before thē aboue the cape of Douer bending presently towards the Goeyng the which is a very dāgerous banke called by the English Goodwin Sands a good gaile of wind rising they hoised as much saile as they could wel beare to chase the galleis they being come almost right against Grauelin there comes happily against them frō the coast of Flanders a man of war of the States called the Mackerell whereof Gerard Olie was Captaine who charged the galley Saint Philip and slue 60. men yet she got of his handes and hoised her saile to flie the viceadmirall seeing this with his shippe called the Moone ranne withall his force betwixt the great mast and the poupe of Saint Phillip so as he brake an Anchor and some Yron worke of his shippe and carried away with him the hinder part of the galley and the helme and brake their mast making two Canon shot at them in the galley being charged with peeces of olde Yron and small shotte so as the owers bankes armes and legs flew into the ayre presently the galley began to sinke then Iacob Pieterssen Mol strooke with his shippe against the maine mast and the galley sunke yet there were many saued Captaine Garbrandt Ianssen of Enchuysen seeing the Captaine and the principall of the galley about some twenty of them in their boate seeking to saue themselues hee sent foorth his boate and caused them to be brought aborde of him else they had beene all drowned then Captaine Garbrand Ianssen Sahl first of all strooke the galley called Aurora or the morning where Pedro Collado was Captaine and brake fiue or sixe owers with the hinder part of it and beate downe one of their mastes making some shot into her but without any great effect then the vice-admirall tooke her betwixt the mast and the poupe and there with brake halfe and Galion of his owne shippe and cut of all the hinder part of her ouerthrowing the helme into the Sea which was of sixe peeces therupō Heinrich Hartman of Rotterdam strook betwixt the maine-mast and the prowe and with that blow the galley sunke there were about 40. persons saued So foure of these galleys were lost the other foure were pursued so swiftly as two of them were broken vpon the coast neere Newport and another neere vnto Dunkerke the eight wherein Spignola was saued herselfe with great difficulty in Calais where the slaues were freed and went whether they pleased and Spignola with his gentlemen and others whom he could saue went to the Arch-duke to Bruxelles There were carried prisoners into Holland of souldiers slaues and other persons that were taken vp in the Sea about 180. liberty was giuen to the slaues with apparrell and some siluer to goe into their Countries or whether they pleased To returne now to our chiefe discourse the Arch-dukes men seeing that their battery vpon the gollet succeeded not as they expected and that the ships went in and out thereby they made a certaine worke which they called a float which was as it were a great and large plancher of wood the which might swim vpon the water it was armed with defences and fit to plant Canon thereon the which they thought the Water would holde vp and not carrie it away nor breake it this they brought vnto the Gollet but the waues of the Sea brake it and so this inuention proued fruitlesse as the rest We haue before spoken of the discontentment of the Arch-dukes souldiers for their pay for the which in the end they mutined and retyred to Hoochstraten and had intelligence with Conte Maurice for their preseruation making the whole Country euen vnto the gates of Andwerp to contribute for their liuing and entertainement this caused the Arch-duke to make a proclamation against them whereof you shall haue here a copie with the answer of the said mutiners to serue for the history as followeth The Arch-dukes AS we had caused our armie to ioyne with an intent to succor the towne of Graue the which is besieged by the enemy wheras the souldiers that are within it defend themselues so valiātly resolutely as they deserue great praise being now going to that end in person wee haue beene informed that some souldiers of our saide armie which was neere vnto the enemies Campe vnder colour that they would mutine to recouer that which falsly they pretend to be due vnto them haue wickedly forsaken and abandoned their colours and after many attempts vpon sundry places haue in the end surprised the Castle of Hoochstraten by treacherous and wicked meanes hauing giuen many vehement presumptions that they holde correspondencie and haue intelligence with our enemies and meane to imploy them A thing which is prohibited and against all reason and Iustice which neuer any other souldiers haue committed but contrariwise such as haue beene in mutinie when as the enemy hath besieged any place of ours or that we had need of men for any expedition they came forth of those places into the which they were retyred to serue vs willingly and readily And for that the chiefe actors of this treason and wickednes be men to whom there is little due for that some are new come and others were of the mutinies of Diest Vueert and Karpen where they had their accumpt reckoning were paied whatsoeuer was due vnto them within a short time being men accustomed to inuent alterations to seaze vpon the contribution money without seruing of vs hauing induced deceiued and forced the rest to commit this treason whereby the execution is hindred of succouring their brothers companions besieged other courses which we might take against our enemie forcing vs to turne our armes against them as against our domesticall enemies and more preiudiciall for that thereby the enemie is the more fortified And for that this acte is strange odious foule and of bad consequence it deserues to be punished exemplarily For this cause desiring to set an order for the benefit of the publike and the good of our vassals and subiects we ordaine and command all Souldiers and persons of their company which are in the said castell of Hoochstraten or shall ioyne there or in
proscription His Highnesses knowes well the example of Dauid who retired to Achis King of the Philistins his capitall enemie when he was forced to flie before the face of Saul his Lord. It may please his Highnesse to let the Serenissime Infanta vnderstand these reasons and not to thinke it strange if that we being Souldiers would follow the example of such a man of war as Dauid It is said that these courses were neuer practised by others wherevnto we will make no other answer but that all our companions know the contrary How did they of Siche behaue themselues who had their deputies continually at the Haige entring and comming forth of Breda at their pleasures and resting at Langhestrate vnder their wings which now imbrace our defence intreating whole troopes of Prince Maurices as friendes suffering them to passe through them without any let The examples which their Highnesses propound vnto vs of such as haue mutined heretofore and yet haue abandoned their retreates and haue offered themselues at need to their Highnesses seruice are things propounded with little consideration for since that we retired our selues into this place their Highnesses neuer required any thing of vs as they did of the rest what reason then haue they to complaine of vs in this case But if they had sent vnto these others a Herauld at Armes to signifie vnto them such a proscription as ours it is to be thought they would not haue left the places they then held but vppon good termes neither would they haue shewed themselues so zealous to their Highnesses seruice It were also to be desired for their honour and reputation that this great zeale and ready obedience of the mutiners had beene delayed a while for that being too rash it hath beene more preiudiciall then profitable to their Highnesse when as without respect of their Highnesse worde they did so villanously breake it in the behalfe of them of Suaescheuobre neere to Ostend the which cost that day the liues of a great number of our companions notwithstanding if their Highnesse finde herein any acte of obedience as it seemes seeing they exalt them so much for that respect they are freed from that blame They will make vs beleeue that wee are men accustomed to make mutinies We will receiue this reproche in part of paiment of our debt with the rest for of late yeares such as haue carried armes for your seruices haue receiued no other paiment But what bruite is there among the people euery man saith openly that your Highnesse haue brought in this custome that the Souldiers being paide in this sort without siluer the cheere in court may be the better And in truth when there is speech of any exploite of warre those which holde places seazed doe willingly leaue them and come and offer themselues to your seruice being full of zeale and obedience This cannot be called mutining but rather wintring for for these many yeares all your men of warre haue learned to winter in this sorte Euen as your Highnesse did change your Ecclesistical estate into a secular we did much reioyce thinking that your Highnesse after that you had beene Cardinall Arch-bishop and cheefe of the whole Inquisition of Spaine would not impose any stricter rule vnto your Souldiers then that which your Highnesse might read so often in the Bible which is Content your selues with your paye But it seemes to your great preiudice that you haue forgotten it And there is no man can dreame where your Highnesse hath found out that Canon by the which you will begin the practise of a lawe which is not yet established that they must content themselues without pay We did alwayes beleeue that the Ecclesiasticall lawes had beene the strictest as comming from God and regarding mens consciences but we finde our selues short of our reckoning As for the money of contribution your Highnesse must knowe what becomes of it and it is a ridiculous thing euen for the peasants to say that we receiue it The trueth is that to liue we goe vpon your lands what should we else doe your Highnesses giues vs nothing and Souldiers are no Camelions to liue by the ayre euen so by lawe the creditor hath an action on the debters goods but for all that your Highnesses ordinarie contributions are not diminished Vnder correction that Secretarie merites to be dismissed from your Highnesses seruice that in your names hath not beene ashamed to pack vp together so many palpable lies in so little writing for that which hath beene so often practised should not be held for strange that which is grounded vpon good reason and the common lawe of nature is neither infamous nor dishonest And as for the consequence it cannot be so bad seeing that the great seruices done with so great zeale and obedience by our companions and the which we haue not yet refused are so highly praised by your highnes If it were lawfull for vs to say some thing in your eare we would thinke to hit the marke which is that some haue aduertised vs from good part that your highnesses grow so extraordinarily bitter against vs and more then against the rest that haue gone before vs somewhat to pacifie the people seeing that of so manye woundes which haue beene receiued since some yeares they could neuer finde meanes to cure one the which is credible seeing your highnesses make no difficulty to holde vs for companions with them which were besieged in the Towne of Graue and which haue wonne so much honour and esteeme for their good deuoir which makes vs to holde many things set downe in your proscription somewhat tollerable and to be inserted onely Pro formo It is said that we must returne within three dayes to our coulors or else your highnesses doe proclaime vs traitors and rebelles c. Condemned to die and our goods confiscate c. To condemne them to die that haue no will to die and that haue meanes not onely to defend themselues but also offend them that would assaile them were very absurde and your highnesses may well thinke that we hope to imploy our armes so well as the tolleration which you haue giuen to kill vs in what sort soeuer shall not let you nor your substetutes see as few as may be of our heades for the which you shall not need to paie ten fifty or a hundred Crownes promised by your prescription according to the quality of our persons to them that shall acquite themselues of this charge As for that which is saide of our goods mouable immoueable your highnesses know wel what mouable or immouable goods such poore souldiers halfe dead with hunger can haue our mouable goods cannot be made Mobiles but by our selues which be our armes we may also call them our immouable goods for them that would attempt to charge them daring wel affirme that euen of his highnes himselfe they would be found too heauy and immouable if he were possest with this desire and
The 17 of Aprill 4. Culuerins were brought to Ostend three Demies and one Minion The 18. of Aprill there went a Barke forth whose owers were broken by the enemy The 19. the besieged planted a bastard Culuerin vpon the Bulworke of Pekel and another vpon the Bulworke of the Polder and the third vpon the North-east Rauelin The 20. they planted another bastard Culuerin vpon the west Port. The 21. of Aprill a messenger came to Ostend with letters which did much reioyce the besieged giuing them to vnderstand that they should be soone releeued The 22. of Aprill there was a Culuerin planted vpon the Polder to shoote at the swallowes neast The 23. the besieged shot three peeces at the swalloes neast and dismounted three of the enemies Canons The same day one fled from the enemies Campe into the Towne who gaue intelligence that the Arch-dukes men had resolued to giue an assault to the halfe moone vpon the East both by water with barkes also by land they of the towne to preuēt this enterprise set aboat in garde neere to the halfe Moone the which was twise sunke the garde of the place fell out by lot to Captaine Seknitt The 24. of Aprill there entred 32. ships into Ostend by the new hauen at whom the enemy shot about 80. Canon shot and wounded a Marriner to the death The same day the enemies planted eight Canon vpon their new battery and made there about eleuen Canoniers The 27. of Aprill there entred eleuen companies into Ostend three of them were of Zeland the rest Scottish English there were two slaine in one barke and a boy had his legs strooke of The 28. of Aprill there entred a ship at noone day into the Towne and at night there went sixe forth the same daye there was a proclamation throughout the towne at the sound of the drum no man vpon paine of death to fight quarrell or stricke The 2. of May they brought two Canons from Zeland into the towne and the aduenturers tooke two of the enemies prisoners The 3. of May a french man of the enemies Campe came and yeelded himselfe into the towne in the night there entred two Companies of souldiers The 5. of May two french men of the towne went to the enemy at night a barke of the Towne was sunke and two men slaine in another The 7. of May there came seuen galleys before Ostend who fought with seuen shippes of warre but they were beaten and made flie The 8. of May Lieutenant Gesseler was slaine The 10. of May there entred 34. saile into Ostend by the Gollet at whom the enemy discharged 128. canon shot sunke fiue one was laden with bullets another with a Culuerin the rest with munition they of the towne seeking to saue the ship that was laden with bullets had fiue of their men hurt with one shotte yet in the ende they saued it as also that which had the Culuerin being forced to cast the Culuerin into the water the other three were presently lost The 11. and 12 of May the souldiers which lay in the Roade were brought into the Towne about 30. companies so as then there full 80 Ensignes in the Towne The 13. of May they parled and there were two prisoners exchanged at night there was brough 120. barrels of Poulder into the Towne The 14. of May three French men of the Towne fled vnto the enemy The 15. there went forth 7. saile at noone day by the new Hauen two wherof were sunke one of the which the maister being hurt in the arme went vnto the enemies side the other was quite beaten in peeces but al within it were saued The same day there were three marriners of the Towne slaine by their owne men and Captaine Blommert died nine of the enemies swamme through the Gollet to spoile certaine vessels The 16. of May there was a truce made on the East side but not vpon the water and fiue prisoners were exchanged they of the Towne had intelligence that the enemy had some practise to sinke two ships that lay in the Gollet The same day about 60. ships and barkes set saile whereof there was but one sunke in the which there was the baggage of two captaines Frisons their spoile which was worth much The 17. of May there came a company of Frisons into the Towne and there was Beere also brought in before a barrell of English Beere was worth twenty foure Liures which is eleuen Germaine Dollers and and that of Holland 20. liures The 19. day they might discouer about 30. saile at Sea they shot furiously on eyther side there were two men slaine in the towne and one souldier that would haue fled to the enemy The 20. of May there went in three shippes by the gollet wherof two were sunke The 21. of May in the night the troupes of Naninck went forth and a souldier of Schleumers companie was hanged for that he would haue caused the souldiers to mutine The 22. of May there entred 20. shippes by the gollet whereof three were sunke The 23. of May eight shippes entred by the new hauen whereof two were sunke one laden with a Culuerin the which was saued the other a merchant and he perished The 24. of May there entred 29 shippes by the new hauen whereof two were sunke The 25. defences were made by the sounde of the dromme for all marriners or other persons to make sale of any marchandise before it had line 24. howers in the halles for that they made monopolies which caused a derth It was also forbidden to play at Cards Dice or any other thing vpon paine of imprisonment and to fast eight dayes together with bread and water likewise for men of command not to be drunke being vpon their guard vpon paine to loose his armes and to be degraded And there was a promise made of 50. Crownes to him that could take any one dead or aliue that would flye vnto the enemie That night there went 9. shippes out of the towne without any harme The 26. of May the besieged receiued 100000. pounde waight of Poulder whereof 40000. for the soldiers and 60 the Canon a sargeant came and yeelded himselfe into the towne who sayd that the besieged did much anoy the new battery vpon the gollet and had that day slaine a canonier and stroke of an others leggs The 27. of May at the breake of day being an easterly winde a full sea and calme the generall Don Frederike spignola by the Arche-dukes commaundement who omitted no opportunity to annoy Ostend parted from Escluse with 8. galleis and 4. frigatts well appointed both with slaues and marriners and in them were 2500. musketers and small shott they shewed themselues at the west of the ditch of Escluse betwixt the bankes called Francois Pol that is to say the chiefe or head and rowed eastward of this ditch The ships and galleys of the States and of Prince Maurice being Admirall generall of the sea seeing
that goes from Bruges to Escluse vpon the way halfe a league from Dam there is a water which cannot be easilie waded through by reason of the mudde the which hath a little Bridge and a Sluce vnto the which the tide flowes here the Arch-dukes men had entrenched themselues to the number of 4000. horse and foote vpon so straight a passage as but two horsemen could march in fronte the fort was reasonably strong and sufficient to stay Prince Maurice his armie yet after some resistance they abandoned the place and retired by Dam on the other side of the riuer they left vpon the place 300. men slaine hurt and among the rest there were two Captaines slaine and three prisoners two Italians and one Spaniard and a Sargent Maior sore hurt there were more taken prisoners then slaine The same Souldiers being retired as hath beene said by Dam on the other side of the riuer made a shew as if they would once againe attend the Prince and to that end they lodged themselues in a place of more aduātage then that which they had abandoned they had a great chanell by the which the sea did flow vnto Bruges and with all the riuer dikes which couered them The 18. of May part of the armie hauing bin all night in battaile the Lord of Chastillon hauing the point with a part of his regiment thinking to charge thē he found they had left the place The same day at night the armie camped before Escluse The 23. day S. Georges forte which is vpon the banke of Escluse yeelded The 30. day the Arch-dukes mē to the nūber of 4000 foot 2000. horse thinking to put some mē munition victuals into Escluse were chargd by P. Maurice put to route their victuall munition taken there were few slaine the number is vncertaine for that the contry is couered full of Marishes The galleis being vnprofitable for thē of Escluse they drew forth the slaues and sent them out with some souldiers who being incoūtred by P. Maurice his troops were dispersed about 100. of these slaues being chained 2. 2. together saued thēselues in his Excellēcies camp where they had good entertainment and some of them came into France The 5. of Iune on Whitson-eue there was a generall assault giuen in three sundry places the most obstinate that might be they renued it thrice and it continued eight houres the enemies had made certaine Mines which annoyed them more then the townes-men hauing blowne them vp too soone there were 800. men slaine and 500. hurt of their part and among the rest the Seignieur of Bossempierre There were about 100. slaine in the towne and some hurt The 17. of Iune the enemies gaue an other assault the which lasted from two of the clock in the afternoone vntill eight at night when as the enemie did winne some of the Rauelins of the Polder at the which they lost but 150. men and they of the towne some hundred amongst others there were foure Captaines slaine And although the Towne Souldiers behaued themselues very well yet the enemies lodged vpon the Polder rampers very neere the towne where they did strongly intrench themselues There entred at the same time into the towne 17. companies of Souldiers with munition and victuals by the Gollet The Arch duke seeing that a part of his forces were drawne away to suppresse the insolent courses of the mutiners to the end that he might fortifie himselfe the more against Prince Maurice who lay before Escluse he sought a meanes to make an agreement with them the which he effected conditionally that he should as he had promised pay them whatsoeuer was due that he should remit and discharge them of all such money as they had leuied that he should forgiue whatsoeuer was past disanull the proscription which he had made against them and giue them Ruremonde for their assurance giuing to euery footman 10. stiuers a day and to euery horsemen 25. vntill they had receiued their full pay The said mutiners yeelded vnto his Highnesse the castels of Hochstraten and Carpen and to P. Maurice the Towne of Graue with the 1600. Caualiers and 1500. Musketiers which had ioyned with them and the said mutiners were not bound to serue his Highnesse vntill they had receiued their full paiment The Reader shall be aduertised that the Arch-duke doth presse the towne of Ostend very hardly for that Prince Maurice is camped before Escluse so as they daily make new attempts to take Ostend and they within the Towne doe all they can to defend it hauing made new retrenchments to that end whereby we may coniecture they cannot be yet forced yet eyther of them doe what they can to take or to defend the place which is the occasion why we end this booke for that euery three dayes they giue new assaults the which would be but a repetition of the like things we haue before set downe and therefore the courteous Reader shall content himselfe with this vntill there shall fall out some other memorable thing the which in time we will offer his sight A continuance of the sieges of Ostend and Escluse with a pourtrait of the new retrenchments at Ostend WE haue heretofore said that Prince Maurice had taken the Ile of Cadsandt and set footing into the maine land of Flanders to incampe himselfe before Escluse and to beseege it Before we proceed any further we will represent vnto you the scituation of the towne Esclufe is a Sea towne lying in the country of Flanders which they call Flamigante three leagues from Bruges and fiue from Middlebourg in Zeland In former times it hath beene a good and a riche towne but through the quarrels and warres it hath had with the Brugeois it hath beene made subiect vnto them and much impouerished and diminished It hath a goodly spatious Hauen capable of 500. ships the towne is exceeding strong both by Arte and Nature inuironed of all sides with the Sea Marishes and drowned land so as in a maner it is inaccessible In the beginning of the warres it held for the confederate Prouinces The Prince of Parma besieged it in the yeare 1587. and did batter it with thirty Canons and eight Culuerins making a breach of two hundred and fiftie paces where his men gaue seauen assaults and were valiantly repulsed by them within the towne who fought for their liues and liberties In the end succours comming within view of the towne and being hindred by the valour of the Prince of Parma either to enter or to do any other exploite importing for their releefe the besieged after three moneths siege yeelded vp the towne the 4. of August vpon honourable conditions Since which time Escluse hath continued vnder the Spanish gouernment who haue so afflicted them with subsidies garrisons and such like vexations as the greatest part of the Inhabitants haue abandoned it The King of Spaine by the aduise of Spignola made choise of