especially because winter now was so nere at hande and all the villages being emptied the corne was carried in to the citties and the cattell by reason of the war to be driuen away far off He is reported braging to haue said to his frendes that which once Pompeo said to Dirachius of Cesar That he vvould not refuse but to be esteemed an Emperor vvorthe nothinge if Spinolaes armie departed vvithout shame and therfore he would willingly grante that glorie to him after Spinola had held out the siege the whole winter that he might know more then him selfe and also more then the diuells them selues And indeed vnles diuine succour had continually more asisted our affaires then humaine did and the winter season which vsually was sharp had beene most milde we could neuer haue ouercome so great difficulties with such constancie verelie the aboundance of waters which the townes-men sent vpon our campes during Nouēbre when they shut the flood-gates or sluces of the riuers to poure abroad Aa and Merkam began to cast downe our dikes put vs enough both vnto feare and care Nether did Spinola thinke ether that that war could haue lasted so long or that there should neede so great a number of wagons or that the expences of cariage would proue so great which burthen if the prouinces from the first beginning had seene the whole together before their eies per haps they would neuer haue inbraced that with so good a will and consent as they faithfully sustayned euen to the end of the siege defreying the charges of four hondred wagons as also paynig the wages of the prouinces footemen by which fact they shewed themselues most faith full to their Kinge and haue acquired euerlasting praise Moreouer who could fore-see so many troubles thorough all Europe should be stirred vp only for Bredaes sake It was commonly beleeued that there was not sufficient prouision of corne and victuals for so many thousand heades as were kept in siege before the cittie The cittisens accustomed to plentie and vnaccustomed to war and hungar would not endure or suffer penurie The French Scotch English VVallons Dutch of whome many were placed in garison would neuer expect till corne began to faile some by nature others by custome being greedie of their owne pleasures made us liue in hope of a speedy rendring so easie a thing it is to begin war at ones pleasure but to end it at an others But besides the corne which the cittisens had were man by man commanded to prouide and which were laid up for the soldiars in the common store-house the contry people all the time that we lay at Gilse it not being as then resolued to shut up all the passages at once carried a great quantitie into the cittie for feare of war Furthermore all the Captaines and commanders for the excessiue gaine which they made by asking and receiuing the payes of those that died resolued constantlie in them selues to vndergoe all asperities and so much the longer by how much more soldiars dyed by sicknes and other miseries because by that losse their gaine daylie encreased and not vnwillingly sustained their owne hungar by the wages of the dead getting death by pouertie and gayne by death so much more is gold preferred before fidelitie The number of those that died during the siege was so great that aboue fiue thousand dead bodies were brought in account to Libitine which was the third part of all the heades which were in Breda being numbered at the first to fifteene thousand and so the sparingnes of the dead serued for victuals to the liuing which thing lest we nor the cittisens them selues should perceiue it was prouided from the begining by the Magistrats of the towne that none afterwards thohugh rich or noble should haue the bells runge at there buriall These thinges did not only deceiue ours but for the most part also euē the opiniō of the besieged them selues the Captaines otherwise who were mightie in factiō had after a maner set their faith to sale and many of those that fled from the cittie affirmed that vnlesse the sige were the sooner raised that they could hould out no longer which selfe same thinge was written out of Holland to the Count of Bergues Also a German soldiar who had serued the Hollanders nine monthes being taken by ours and knowen by the Count of Isenburge to be one of his cittie his life being pardoned upon this condition was sent back to Breda that when as thinges were in the greatest extremitie he should returne vnto our armie assured both of his life and of reward after he had bene two monthes at Breda conuersant amongst the soldiars without suspicion being returned he related that the soldiars compelled by necessitie now began to sustaine their liues with horse flesh nor had not corne for two monthes He councelled them that Spinola should more often batter the cittie with his canons at least in shew that they might with the more apparent pretext rendre them selues They ioyfull and encouraged with the relation of these thinges know for certaine what they will and what they wishe esteening the Count of Bergues nether to be deceiued nor the German soldiar to haue lyed in so great a matter nor al the fugitiues to haue bene false they request Spinola to let them batter the cittie with their artillerie He although he knew well enough scarcely any thing was to be got with those engines amongst soldiars inurded to warr the cittisens also euen with custome to cast away feare yet condiscended to their request that on three sides on which so many bulwarkes were close to the cittie the walles of the cittie and the houses should be battered Fhillip Count of Mansfeld oportunely returned at that time in to our armie lately Captaine of a companie to Gustam Adolphus Kinge of Suede renowmed for his famous facts who had led his troupes with great authoritie He hauing added industrie vnto art as vse is the master of al thinges found out that it might serue for great good purpose vnto warr a new kinde of engine which might be fitter for to transport and carrie the balles farther and that with lesse quantitie of poudre To giue order to this busines departing from the campe to Bruxells he caused fortie brasse peeces to be cast also twentie thre murdederinge peeces to send forth balles of wild-fire Thirtie of those lesser peeces of no more weight then a hundred and fourscore pound did euery one carry balles of six pound weight the then greater each one of seauen hundred fiftie pound carried balles of fiue and twentie pound The vse of these although they cost but halfe so much was yet greater and more frequent for the litle ones were easilie drowen with two horse and the greater with no more then four wherasalthe old ones must haue seauen ten or eighteene They carried iron balles only with the third part of poudre further then the ould
the towne Many dead bodies floting by the shore side vnburied and more euery where cast up by the sea upon the land breathed forth a greuous plague upon the neighbouring townes of Holland A very sorrowful spectacle to the English soldiars who by the outward soyle whether they were sent for succour were so roughly entertayned But that which befell much more miserably when Mansfeld durst not set a shore those whom against their wills he constrained to take their oathe by the same remedie chiefly they dyed by which they were kept least that they should runn away to wit enkindled by that prohibition Notwithstanding many betaking them to vs by flight vnarmed ragged presented vs a patterne of the rest affirming them selues to be in better fashion then the rest when almost all of them were inuoluntarie and vnexpert in war that they were by and by taught how to handle their weapons when they were to be led in to the field It was saied to haue bene sene that some found amongst them who fild in all the poudre at once into their peeces mouthes euen to the top which had bene measured to them for sundry shots that there was scarce place to put in the bullet so skilfull were they in their pieces It appeared by many letters that those companies were gathered compulsitorilie of the most basest sort of the rascallitie and that in a short time what by sicknesses what by runing away they were so diminished so that of fourteene thousand scarcely four did remayne VVhilst Mansfelds ships were with-houldē by the frost that very season of the yeare admonished us of diuers considerations The fort of Nordame nere to Seuenbergue inaccessible in summer by reason of the waues now to begone vnto on foote by reason of the cold Prinsland also Rosendale and Seuenbergue it selfe were thought might easilie be taken by reason of that weather Dispatching therfore spies on euery side granadose and balles of wild fire were also prepared to cast in to the enimies ships But in vaine when the frosen crust of the riuers which otherwise seemed thick an firme were so weake for the snow in texmixed that scarcely would they carry the waight of two or three soldiars at once The wayes also the snowe neuer lying in one equal height but driuen hither and thiter by the winde into the ditches so that doutfull places could not be discerned from the solid were very dangerous to lead the troupes that were to marche The spies stood in snow somtimes up to the breast somtimes up to the mouth and somtimes fallen or couered in the snow were faine to be haled out Nether their voice nor their hollowing one to another would any thing helpe Three soldiars of fuggeran practised in all bould attempts getting in to the tents of Rosendale after drinking and talking together they had discried the enimies ships betrayed in their returne scarcely escaped by flight one being wounded and taken But else where the fuggerans attempts fell out more happely and a very few of them frequently brought back with them many captiues but the fortune and deceit of war is very variable There were some who besought Spinola that with the companies of Carolus Coloma together with some of his companies adioyned he would suffet Rosendale litle fortified to be assaulted That they knew by the bewraying of the inhabitances that they were so affrighted with the feare of ours that gathering vp their goods would be more ready to rune away then to stand to fight that that might be done without ether damage or any danger if in the meane time our horse might be planted in two parts before Bergenupsome and prinsland Spinola to whom those things best pleased which were done rather with prudent councell according to reason then prosperous thinges done at aduenture treating all thinges with him selfe with more serious examination supposing that thinge could not very much helpe to the acquiring of that notable victorie chose rather to keepe his soldiars safe for the occasion of a necessary combat then ether to feare the whole armie with the opiniō of the enimies audaciousnes or to encourage the enimies mindes by good successe if the skirmish of a few of his soldiars should perchance haue fell out vn fortunatly for in war it hapned often times by thinges of litle moment great alterations of thinges to be made nether was it the part of a prudent Captaine to poursue litle victories with great perills In the fourth of the Nones of March the aniuersarie day of Breda in times past taken by the vninted Peeres by the fraud of a boate was changed This day those of Breda being wont yearly to solemnise now kept so much the more ren owmedly by how much perhaps hereafter they douted to celebrate the same the more seldome more truly after the maner of a solemne buriall then a birth day for discharging thrice towards the euening all their greater and lesser Canons they consecrated the last night to the memorie therof Now the time was come in which the intermitted affaire of the dāme to be made in the riuer was renewed That interualle of time wherin the mariners and the workmen desisted from their labors had roused vp the studies of sundry persons A certaine person vndertakes vpon the agreement of a great summe that he would finish the worke almost despaired He in the presence of those whom the States had set ouer the care of this damme choosing a place not far from the former where the riuer was fuller of hollow places and more narrow he drowned stones tied vnto litle netts lest they should swimme away vpon the stones he sprinckles a certaine kind of binding sand brought as it was reported out of England or France to fill vp the chinkes and to fortifie the damme The affaire seemed to succed better then it did before when by a sudden alteration of the heauens so great force afwater once againe by the ouer-flowing of the Moone of March in which the sea then most of all doth swell was stirred vpon high and so great a deluge of rayne and vnthawed snow flowed together on euery side that the damme begun at Seuenbergue and very many forts of Rosen dale and some part of the suburbs of the cittie of Breda were altogether ouer-turned The wayes also to our campes and some of our fortifications neere to the cittie were so drowned that they could for three dayes be gone vnto not but by cockboates in which time one campe being shut from another they were in great necessititie of victualls when they could not go to one another with their wagons nor was there meanes to haue so great a supply of boates the riuer the shore and the fieldes being all alike Neuer could it otherwise haue bene more clearly knowen by how great mercie of God the armie was conserued the whole winter for if the same extremitie of winter time and aboundance of snow which fell in
diuine succours were more present then humane stratagems none can denie for to whom shall we refer this benefit receiued but to her so well knowen pietie to whom we may rightly proclaime that saying One vvoman hath vvrought confusion in the house of Nabuchodonosor Isabella therfore came into the cittie as a restorer of the ancient religion into the campes as to bestow in those dayes the gifts and guerdons of a Captaine She ordained an Anniuersarie Masse in honor of the dreadfull Sacramēt who began first in the eue of the rendring of Breda and the garison went out on the octaue She gaue to the Capucins to buy a housein Breda four hundred poundes To the priests of the Societie of Iesus who were diuided into four quarters of the campe procuringe the health of the soldiars soules during all the time of the siege she ordained to giue fiue hundred pound to helpe to defray the charges of buying a colledge which she bestowed on them by way of almes To the repayring of an ould Abbie of Nunnes and ruines of the Church of Ginick which Maurice caused to be burnt she gaue no smale somme of monie All which arguments of singular Religion when Alphonsus Cardinall de la Cueua Ambasador of the King of Spaine did signisie vnto the supreme head of the church Pope Vabanus the eight the pope wrote vnto him in this manner following Our beloued sonne health and Apostolicall benediction we felt those your last letters to be those golden phials full of odors which recreat the soules of those that ar in heauen and comfort the diseases of those in earth we tooke breath a litle tossed in the height of the raging sea when we vnderstood Religion to triumphe in the towne of Breda God is not forget-full of his mercies and legions of Angells asist those Princes which fight for heauen verely this victorie is obtained amongst so many conspiring aydes of impietie and difficulties euen of nature it selfe strugling against it that although it will remayne in all ages a famous document of warlick fortitude yet let it be reputed to be the benefit of that almightie warrior For not only the force of the enimie is domted but euen the very raging of the floods And now doth the Prince of Austria gather the excellent frutes of so great a triumphe whilst with powerfull forces she fortifieth religon Nether suPpose we that could be more prudently prouided for then by the duties of Priests and endeuours of those Religious families which yee made manifest in repayring the Abbie of the Cittie And you we blesse perpetually who first the Angels applauding and the Church reioycing performedst the dreadfull Sacrifice of the Masse vpon those Altars which of late heretical temeritie had polluted Furthermore we praise your pietie when being adorned with the purple of Roman splendor shew your selfe worthier in this present occasiō of so great a priesthood Pious purposees may bring you into participation of this triumphall glorie for the fortitude of the Soldiar doth exterminate impietie frō the walles of the cittie the pietie of the Priest from the mindes of the people Only wishing honor to your name we perpetually promisse you our patrocinie Giuen at Rome at S. Maries the Greater vnder the fishers ringe the 11. August 1625. the second yeare of our Pontificat Isabella hauing performed the duties of Religion commanded a whole monthes wages to be paid to the soldiars in the campes and a thousand garments to be made by the name of a donation Then in the ensuing dayes she went about to behould the workes both of the inward and outward trenche as a Reuerencer both of warre and of Religion In the meane space Spinola with a great conuoye set the citie in order spoiled by so long a siege and disposed the houses for placing the garison Isabella placed the Barron of Balancone Master de campe of the Burgundians for Gouernor to rule the cittie The virtu of that man his modestic and vigilance were so well knowen without enuie that the soldiars of all nations affirmed that office of right and merit to belong vnto him The cittisens who had heard only by report of his fame designed the gouerment to him and humbly besought it might be deliueuered him thus virtue cannot be concealed and being knowen is beloued Then was the Senat appointed for the people Henricus Montens from whom the same was taken wrongfully was created Burgermaster excellent in the knowledg of law graue for his gray haires who also administred that office when the cittie by fraude of a fraighted boate was last taken from the Kinge he alwayes was a true maintayner of his fatheres Religion Cornelius vander Locht a man of a peaceable cariage and a keeper of the ancient faith was giuen to him for Collegue The other Senators in virtu and faith had bene approued be the common wealth To the cittisens the same forme of gouerment and lawes were appointed as were to the cittie of Bolduke although at first for many reasons all of them could not be kept The Senat with the furtherance of the Magistrates gaue a publique schoole to be gouerned by the Professors of the Societie of IESVS which order Phillip Duke of Arscote by the commandment of Isabella the Archdutches be her letters was put in execusion All thinges so set in good order the conuoyes being dispatched a gard of three thousand foote and seauen companies of horse being designed the trenches ditches and workes with which Spinola had encompassed the cittie he commanded to be throwen downe worthie to haue bene kept and to haue bene shewed to posteritie but for his vse who was the chiefest of so great a victorie obtayned else should for euer haue remayned Then the armie being sent before by some spaces the Infanta was accompanied to Antwerp The footemen being diuided vnto squadrones betwixt Hooghstrate and Breda saluted her passing by with the applause of militarie ioy The horsmen not far from Hooghstrate placed in the great plaine by Henrie of Bergues skirmished with militarie sports like as in earnest war Fifteene companies set here and there one against another by a mutuall en countring and a fayned fight exhibited that comely aspect of war as the vnexpert almost frame to them selues in their minde The sounding of the Trumpets the runing and retyring of the horses the raising of the dust from the ground the glistering of head-head-peeces and breast plates the brandeshing of the naked swordes the shoutes of those that ran together the fire and the smoke and the sounde of the gunnes discharged and the eccho of the greater cannons playing also a far off lastly all the spectacles of a fight saue blood and slaughter Metuenda voluptas Spectanti pulcherque timor And which was most beautifull of all Henrie of Bergues him selfe armed from top to toe runing as it were for helpe betwixt two Princes his frendes VVolfangus VVilhelmus Duke of Bauaria Iuliers Oliue
greate nor any wages payed to any soilder but verie seldome and haulfe payes Lastly acerteine peculiar helpe of the diuine power continually asisteng oure afayres and beating downe the plottes of the enemyes as if it had beene euen fauorable vnto vs offendet and ofensiue towardes them Of whiche diuine prouidence theare haue apeered so many and so certaine argumentes in al this warre of Breda that albieth the endeauoures and vigilance of the comanderes were verie greate yet douptlesh thei had efected nothing with all there cares withoute the extraordinary helpe of god there cheefe captaine and thiese in amaner are the thinges whiche haue diuulged abroade the fame of this warr through oute the whole worlde Breda albiet otherwise it be none of the greatest townes yet in the compas of the walles it douthe conteine no more then foure thousand pases so that it can be walked rounde aboute almoste in an houres space seauentine viladges aperteineth to the same with in his libertie Firste in the yeare 1404. it fel vnto the house of Nasawe by the dourie of Iane Polan whow beinge heire of Breda maried Engelberet counte of Nasawe The same towne in the yeare 1567. Duke de Alua when william of Nasaw fleinge for his treason comitted gott into the kinge of Spaines possession The yeare after it came againe to the house of Nasawe in the yeare 1577. the count of Hollac compellenge it to be restored Then againe in the yeare 1581. being taken by the baron of hautepen by force and craft was subiect to the Kinge for nyne yeares vntil suche time as aurager in the yeare 1690. by the fraude of sendinge in of aboate wherin lay hid secretly seauentie soilderes as in times paste the greekes did be the troyan horse gott in to his possession bothe the castel and the cittie be the comaunde of Maurish of Nasavve Prince of orenge The tovvne being almoste in the furt hermoste partes of Brabant reacheth to Holand by the riuer merka it is inuironed vvit he neighboure tovvnes and viladges not far distant It lieth in amoste pleasantpart of the lāde fuche a one as very many captaines and soilders saide they had not seene the like in all europe so that not vvithoute cause Graue Morish cauled Breda his paradyse the fildes on euery syde plentifull of pasture and corne all the meddos compassed vvith yonge plantes all alonge are deuided vvith many riueres as it vvere in there natural boundes The roes of tries being set in order as it vvere by line or by square with there grine bowes doe on euery side shadowe the pasadges of the wayes and of the houseses Not far of there were planted foure woudes one of pine tries and three of oakes There passeth trough it two riueres Aa and Merka and withone of those two it is inclosed The riuer Aa being enriched with the riuers of the plaine contrie douth rum about the walles of the towne and is retained with asluce least the ditches aboute the walles be left drie when the water of the riuer of merka whervvith it is mingled vvithin the tovvne are fallen a vvay vvithe the ebinge of the sea and vvithall it turnes a mill of corne vvithe aslovve course into the tovvne The place vvhere the riueres do mingel them selues togither by the influence of the riuer Merka into Aa hathe retained the corupt name of them boath Merkendal as it vvere to say Merka in Aa Merka beinge shutt up from Aa Betvvext tvvo trinches of brik vvalles in those verie diches of the vvalles slideth troughe the tovvne deuidethe be nature into many partes and broader be litle and litle povvreth it self into the vvateres and sea of Holand not far of from Dortdreght It is daylie stirred up be reason of two tydes And by interposed sluses it ouerfloweth the fildes of the suburbs as often as it pleaseth those of the towne From Aa of oulde vnto the towne the name of Breda was giuen by the brabanders vnto whome Breede signified broade as if thei woulde haue expressed the chanel of the riuer Aa spreadinge it self obroad In the midest of the tovvne there is built an high tovvre of 362. foote from vvhence is afree prospect into the negboure townes fitt to giue and receiue singnes from afar of The houses are thught to be in number athousand two hondered The towne in forme is triangle if the castel built by the walles shoulde be comodiously takin It beinge fortified with walles bridges magasens and with a double ditche of water more doth conteine in compasse then a thousande passes Furthermore it is so adorned with galeries porches pillers walkes and with so pleasant gardines that hard it is to Iudge wether it be more stronge or more beautiful The walles of the towne beinge planted with a continuated row of oakes built not of brikes buth of turff withe three gates made of brikes do giue an extrance upon three corners of the towne besides that by the whiche men goe oute of the castel The curtines of the walles and of the castel lieng betwext doth altogither conteine the number of fiftine bulwarkes wel prouided with artileries and some corne mills with winde sayles There are tvvo plat formes vpon the vvalles for the canon to shutt afar off Vnder thies at the foote of the vvalles next the ditches there are tvvo shelters but som vvhate lovver like to a third in anothher place aboue vvhich there is no mont adioyning Numero 1. BREDA AS IT WAS FORTIFIED BY THE PRINCE OF ORANGE BEFORE THE SEIGE LAYD BEFORE IT A Bulwarkes B Rauelins C Cats D Halfe Moones in the walls E The Counterscarpe F Horne workes G Halfe Moones with their Parapet H An Iland on the other side of the ditch fortified with a parapet I The Ports of the Towne and Castle Number I. Iustinus Nasauw broother of Graue Morish was Gouernor of the towne a man exellinge be the vse of longe experience howe coulde defend an a saulte be consel and asiege be frugalitie Iohn Artsenius drosart lord of vvormes was chife of the cittisens a man no lesh constant then wise for the moderateng of the dispensation of corne and of tempering seditiones and ministtinge counseils in sudaine and desperate cases For the defence of the towne there was vsed to be apointed commonly sixtine companies of foote and to the castel but one of horsmen fiue in the whole sixtine hondreth soilders Butt hauing vnder stood of late the Rumor of the warr there were added eight companies of foote and of cittisens that were able to beare armes there were nombred eightin hondered who me Artsenius ruled be auctoritie The corne prouided for the soilders in vvinter vvas eight thousand tvvo hondered measures of vvheate of oates tvvo thousand eight hondered of chese three thousand six hondered vveighte and as many pound of dried stokfish The cittisens vvere comanded man be man to mak prouition of corne for
tvvelfmonthes before vve couled come to besiedge the tovvne soo that there might be no necessitie to deminish the prouision made for the soilders For the vvinnenge of this tovvne vvhen many thenges did incorage the Marques Ambrosio Spinolas minde many thinges also did vvithdravv itt First the oportunitie of the place did great lie enduce him bothe for the hindring of the frequent enuations of the enemies horsmen into Brabant whiche from thence they moste comodiously desingned to whate parte they pleased As also for the hindereng of al nauegasion betwext the adioyning townes of Breda And the borderinge townes of the confines of Holand and Zeland VVhich is tought to haue beene don with no smale dificultie by reason of some townes that were taken neere at hand with encredible losh to the enemy Further more many other comodities did allure him to attempt to take this towne rather then any other to witt the Zoile of the suburbs fitt for making his trinches and fortificationes eyther to make assault or to entrench Hauing a riuer fit to pass ouer and easili to be damned up whiche being don they who were besiged might easilie be kept from prouition They had woodes nere at hande the fildes were fertile for feedinge Lastly this was considered that Breda being taken Bergen up Som and other townes neere at hand might be taken the more easily On the contrarie the strenght of the towne that was so fortified both be endustrie and nature did discorage him But espesially the great dificultie of transportinge vituales a far of when eyther the enemies was to be a voided with a greate convoy for al oure citties were distant great days Iurneyes on foote or that they might want vituales nor was there behinde them any commoditie of riuer whiche coulde be sayled with shipes to beare prouision vnlesh Breda beinge neere at hand as it were the theator of the enemies citties could be bloked up It was doupted whether that with a great number of VVagones vvith longe and combersom vvayes be reason of the winter prouision and vitualles might be broght vnto us which was manifest coulde nether be don without adoble garde of soilders nor withoute greate danger This was the state of the lowe contries at this time and of oure affaires Filip the fourth King of Spaine did forbid that any peace shoulde be made withe the confederated states Iudgenge that truce to be more hurtful then warr The Archduces Isabela Clara Eugenia Infanta of Spaine wife of Albertus that excelent Prince deceased thought it a disgraseful thinge that the army wherwith the Kinge florisheth in the lowe contries should be Idel and withoute Implomient the repulce of Bergenop some was not reuenged whiche being retained after the sidge the enemies gloried Germanie being quiet from warres rested The strenght of the bastard Mansfelt yea and his verie name was almost extent There was intire pease betwext the Kinges of France and Ingland with the onely enemies of the confedrated prouences there was Iuste cause of hatred Herupon warr was intended against them not for desire of rule but for desire of reestablissinge of religion and recoueringe of there owne Spinola in the 21. of the monthe of Iuly in the yeare athousande six hondereth twentie foure goinge from Bruxeles the time of the yeare beinge proper for warr he corne being reepe gathered an army But he kept him self so reserued in this affaire that although he fulli resolued to besiedge Breda yet if he perceiued it hard to be effected perhapes with a greater army a sit fel oute sent oute by the enemy he oute of euerie place wherin he lay might be able As he iudged fit for the present good to vndertake the same turninge his armye whiche way soeuer it shoulde please him The armie was deuided into thre pattes making a sheow to goe into diuers places of set purpose to deceiue the enemie Spinola goinge oute of his Iourney be montague where that sacred tēpel is of the moother Virgin renoumed troughout the worlde with so many miracles the misteries of the cristian religion being dulie performed and his deuosions beinge made at oure ladie is aulter for the army led the foote men one way and Lodouicus Velascus Count of Zalazarius General of the horse led the horsmen an other way Iohn brauius de laguna gouernor of the castel of Anwourpe with those that came frō markland Ioyned with thies trupes not far from turnehoute whiche Gonzalus de Cordoua master de campe general had gouerned The army beinge hire mustered by Spinola and being founde lesh then it was supposed neuerthelesh he had greate hope of there valor for beinge all chosen men There were in the whole fiftine regimentes consisteng of ahondereth foure score and eightine companies of horse thirtie nine troopes Breeflie eightine thousand in the whole Number II. Num. 2. SPECIMEN OPERIS CORNVTI A. Frons operis cornuti B. Fossa lata passus xxx C. Receptaculum D. Murulus terreus E. Fossa altera F. Lorica decliuis G. Vrbis mocnia H. Fossa moenium I. Opus nouum post aduentum nostrum in Gilsam externis munitionibus circumductum a Bredanis interna allo passuum CXL K. Lorica seu brachia tria fronti et cornibus munitionum praestructa L. Fossa M. Seps sudium in decliui Lorica circum fossam And thies vvere the firste vvoorkes added to Graue Maurish force vverby those of Breda began to doupt the siedge Spinola came to Gilsh a villadge distant from Breda tvvo houres iourney vvith his army Here he consulted vvith many masters de campe touchinge the beseeging of this tovvne asked the opinion of euery one vvhat they tought of the siedge of Breda eche one dissuadeth the assault they afirmed the tovvne to be fortified vvith most strōge vvourkes That the standing vvater as often the tovvn esmen listeth ouerflovveth al the suburburbs the tovvne to be deuided into many partes by the riuer The garison to be increased vvith tvventie eight companies of foote oure armies for ther smale number vvas scarce correspondent to so great an assault vvherunto number vvas no lesh needfull then valor And if the enemy should come behinde to assaulte the army before vve had vvon so stronge atovvne vve muste of necessitie eyther goe a vvay vvith disgrace or so smale an army be exposed to adoble perill both before and behinde The Marques Spinola hauing heard the opinion of the masteres de campe knovving that some stoode for the comanders and others for Inferior officeres and that him selfe vvas freely to dispose vvhat vvas principalli to be don and was to do al thinges according to direction remained in the same place and Informed Isabella the Archiduces whate the opinion of the masteres de campe were She hauinge vnderstoode of so great augmentasion of the garison of Breda made answer that she vvould not tempt fortune with the danger of so many valiāt men that she should be much to blame if shee
needles to relate but onely to remember the obligationes his maiestie oweth them for their prudence fidelitie great extraordinarie care and vigilance and prudent carriage day and night with great punctualitie Excellent moste renoomed and victorious Prince many are the reasones which constrained me to relate and make knowen in generall the incorrupted and constant Zele approoued valor and vndeniable fidelitie of the Irish nation to his Catholicke Maiestie VVherof their many forepassed rare actes made notorious their loue and approued loyaltie in all occasiones which to his maiestie togither with youre excellencie and others his faithfull ministers is dayly remembred For which I do not dout but ther fidelitie and faithfull seruice is and shall euer be correspondent to the expectations of your excellencie wherof there haue been many trialls and speciallie now of late in the leager of Breda that wheras many of all nationes there assisting did dayly run away ey and many to the enemy but none of this nation which to many is well knowen And be dayly experience we found that as many of them as did serue on our cōtrary side daylie came to our campe which not onely in this but in all other semblable occasiones they made notorious their inclined affection to his Catholick Maiestie in testimonie wherof your excellencie can beare witnes Also in another skirmis which the saied Captaine Barri had with the enemy the first of Ianuarij 1625. Issuing out of the citti of Breda to discouer the intrie of his quarter he fell uppon them and with so resolut and vndanted courage that first he broke them and next forced them to retire following them euen to the verie ditches of the towne till they caste them selues into the water to saue their liues where they were rescued by the artillerie of Breda Barri not withstanding bringing back with hem certene prisoners as a true testimony of his victorie After this by certayne order sent by the Marques Spinola to Count Isenbourge the first of February 1625. this Cap. Barri with a hundred of the choisest souldiours vnder his charge was commanded to goe with the expert engenier Cooke to breake vp a certaine dam of the enimie wherewith they pretended to succour the citty of Breda and to drowne all that quarter of the armie but gods diuine grace assisting ours the dam by the force of the high tide and blustering wind breakes of its owne accord iust as Barri came with his companie to the place to execute his purpose so that with much adoe they escaped the danger of that furious flood by their swift runing Cooke the ingenier being in greate danger of drowning whose life was saued by the assistance of the pikes that dam seruing the enimie to noe purpose but to put them to innumerable and extraordinary charges And whereas during the whole siege there were an incredible number of forts bulwarks and redouts errected by the most prudent Marques for the defence of the armie against the enimi and yet amongest them all but one fort royall alone placed within a canons shot of the citti this fort of soe greate importance with all the artillerie and a munision belonging there to was committed onely to the faithfull keeping and care of Cap. Barri who vntill that time had for foure monnethes togither serued before Breda in the openfield euen vntill the month of march without any kind of defence of forte euident arguments both of his valouer and fidelitie as also of the honnor don him and greate confidence reposed in him All which both the Marques him self and the Count of Isenbourg haue testified and confirmed vnder their publick hands and seals to his eternall praise And were not that the great sallie whiche issued oute of Breda the 16. of September into count Isinburques quarter were not beaten back by the Irish it woulde be hard for oure wourkes to goe forward if such sallies should beset us on euerie syde and so continue whiche iruptiones if they had made continually oute of sundry partes oures being weakned in the biginning for ther feones and burthen of ther labor and not being beaten back as they were it had bene apainefull thing at the self same time both to fortifie and defend them selues But trough that respite whiche they gaue us trough the great losh they receiued truly if thies sallies should continue anie time it were hard for ours to fortifie them selues So that after this at leasure we made up both the trinches of all the siege and wer by litle and litle finished Redutes and fortes were built in the forme wherof we represent in the precedent page Number VI. Num. 6. Murus prioris circumuallationis terreus Turres seu Redouttes è cespite Castella terrea seu Fortz Jurrium et Castellorum primorum aqualis altitudo et crassitudo The engineres and such as were skilfull of the places affirmed that this dike was to be planted in this place because the grounde in the winter being low and soft did so ouerflow with the fieldes that were wet of there owne nature and with the ouerflowing wateres of the riuer merka that the enemy might sayle this way and woulde haue their prouision brought with boates into the cittie but be meanes of this dike the passage was shutt and all soccor kept from them VVhileste all thes thinges were thus ordered Spinola went fourth euery day comanding the Coroneles and Captaines to call the ouerseers of the wourkmen and as nothing is to much hastned to alonginge minde so he comanded that the vnwearied should succede and succor the wearied so that they ceased not to labor in the night By which diligence it was brought to passe that two trinches of so great height so many redutes so many fortes were almost finished within seauintine dayes nor yet but with feow soilders But the great assemblie of the fleower of nobilitie being incited on euery side to learn militarie disipline and the example of many princes were agreat prouocation to expedition who among the comon sorte being mooued with the greatnes of this warr put them selues to task and cut thurfes of earth and carried fagotes with ther owne handes further more the extraordinarie profit of this labor turned principallie to ease the necessitie of the soilders with whiche the army was kept least it shoulde deboard for when as wages were seldom paied and thos also but haulf payes and the dearth of corne being great the price of the labor was daylie paied to the soilders who sets his labor to sale by sole example And as afterwardes neow workes that were to be made were disposed of in the continual time of the siege so the soilders labor turned alwayes to his owne profit some had rather liue by beginge then help ther necessitie with the gaine of that kind of labor which example seemed to many that the necessitie foght with honor and toght more fit to die then spot ther
first the sea was calme a while after a smoking shower of rayne poured forth from the black cloudes together with turbulent stormes of dangerous vaues which made him that he knew not where he was Hence all the heauens and the whole sea were conuerted into stormes which carried the ships violently vpon the rockes or rune them a ground They could not lye at ancre nor could they pompe forth the waters that beate in vpon them their loading and their armour were cast ouer boord to lighten their barkes swimming by the shore side the waues enforcing rhem Atlast the cruelty of the heauens and of the seas being augmented made shiproack drowning many of his soldiars he scarcely saued by the helpe of a litle boate so that he was thought for a long time to be as dead The Kinge of England promised fourteene thousand foote There were some companies appointed for Mansfeld out of Liege and else where supplies were gathered thorough Germanie to the number of two thousand foot but the vnited Lords resolued to augment their old companies with great troupes of horse and foote called out of England France and Germanie Spinola perceiuing the enimies drift admonisheth the Archdutches that she should request of the Emperour against Mansfeld like companies both of horse and foote And that shee should request of the Duke of Bauaria helpe of the confederat Princes of Germanie against Mansfelds designes Moreouer that she should commande the Prouinces to defend their quarters whith fifteene thousand foote which they call curlinges or selected men and with three thousand horse which they call companies of the Ordinance which troupes partly the Prouinces partly the collectors of the Kinges mony might pay their wages to these foote men only during the time of war to the horsmen alwayes after that it might belong to their charge as often as any war should happen presently to be readie and being offered ether to defend or offend The Archdutches Isabella waing all thinges with a maruellous princely prouidēce with continuall labor and consulting both by night and day as she did order the whole busines and did vndergoe so great a waight which two thinges she did most easily bring to passe which no other could attaine vnto by the auctoritie of her name and by the fauor she had amongstst the people By her authoritie with strangers by her fauor and grace amongst her owne The succours therfore which Spinola requested she obtained of the Emperour by letters She sent the Count Octauius Sforzan to the Duke of Bauaria The Emperour promised three thousand foote and two thosand and fiue hundred horse The Duke of Bauaria a thousand horse and three thousand foote The rest of the foote and horse were sent by the Prouinces at the time appointed according to the nūber that was ordayned Then Spinola on whom dependeth the waight of this affaire wholie attēded to this one thinge that to so great acompanie according to the continuation of the war which he forsaw prouision should be brought both in great plentie and safetie And to this end vnderstanding two thinges to be most necessaire first wagons by which he might supply victuals next by some perpetuall guide which might serue the campe in hard times and difficult wayes he made Henrie of Bergues chefe of that transportation retayning in the campe Orchoa Gomeretio Comissarie generall as they call him whom hitherto he had vsed in transporting of victuals but nowe most of all had neede of him with the rest of the horsemē to make excursiōs about Breda and about the cāpe He sent the Count of Henning to the States of Brabant to procure wagons that hauing perswaded them first the other prouinces should also follow their example the Count of henninge proposing the matter to those who were to giue their suffrage he easily obtayned of thē that they should all afterwards agree vnto it in the State house when they both knew the present necessitie and were glad of the remedy for the publique good Those therefore of Brabant condescending those of Flanders Henault Artois and the rest did not vn willingly condescend that so many wagons should be appointed At lyre there was a publique barne of corne ordayned hither first was the prouision brought and from thence to the leager The greatest part of the horsmen were committed to the charge of the Count of Bergues which were to take care of the prouision for the companies of Breda need almost no other defence then the fortification already made This leaders name although it was fearfull to the enimie yet he chose rather with his owne act then with his fame to deter them from all irruptiō wherfore this way he acquitted himselfe of his office It was his custome early in the morning before day to discouer the disorder of the confused troupes then sending before some troope of light horsmē to goe after To the first cōpanies and last he ioyned artilleric to giue notice of the enimies coming whose signe by so great asound might be carried a far off that by that signe which was giuen the soldiars might be gathered together and hasten to that place which stood most in neede Both sides of the way against Rosendal and Langestrate where the enemies army lay to be set with troupes of horse on both sides and to set betwixt the horsmen light footemen and with the rest of the horse to enclose with the reste of the foote so to goe forward in their iorney and yet in fight That they should seeke as much as was possible the safest passages to preuēt treacheries disposing the wayes that the passages might be the more easie If there were any dāger that he should be wary not to bid battell vpon the enimies ground and for that cause ether to expect in a fitter place or kepe him self from disaduantage and to set the wagons insteed of a trench if they were to fight bringing the shooters with in side As oftē as they were to march that the Captaines shoulde goe before till the last had passed both to veew and hasten their companies and then fallow after all and then in the marche to before most and finally to come in time To prouide places of lodging for the soldiar before night then the gardes to be apointed before night To call the boores to enquiri of the enimie of the wayes and to setwatch as the custome was Ether to sease vpon the bridges or to breake them downe to take away passage from the enimie To set the soldiars ready in their standing places with their horses bridled if neede were That they should send others out on euery side to take some by whom they might know the enemies designe Furthermore to haue certaine spies who should discouer vnto them all their councels and attempts whom he should reward liberally In the night he should beset all passages with watchmen and lest
bordering prouinces next vnto France The Infanta Isabella albeit she could not suspect that any Prince would entangle her florishing affaires with those forlorne affaires of Māsfield yet because she was not ignorant that the willes of Kinges as they ar violent so to be mouable and vncertaine she according to the greatnes of the perill prepared for war howsoeuer and resolued to resiste strōgly if it were offered she therfore appointed garisons about henault and Artois for the defēce of the confines To those of henault she sent the Count of Emden for their comander Artois she commended to the Count of hoogstrat who was chiefe gouernor therof to be defended She sent the Count of sforza to hasten the Captaines and the Duke of Bauarias companies against the coming of Mansfeld She commanded the corne and cattel to be driuen into the remoter citties she forbid horse to be transported out of the low contries into France as the french had then forbid corne to be carried into the low contries Spinola likewise suspecting that Mansfeld seconded with the french English and German aydes would deflect towards the lower Palatinat commandes VVilliam Verdugius Gouernor of those places to gather in garison a hundred and eleuen free companies of Germans with two companies of horse besides the companie of Captaine Gratfreus admitted into pay with fiue hundred horse In the meane space the soldiars in the wallon prouinces armed them selues with three thousand horse and with almost fifteene thousand foote the companies gathered a new towards the end of sommer were also ready The companies of the Count of Anholt of three thousand foote came with a winge of a thousand horse Baron of Ainsi hastining them the Marques Spinella armed on the borderes withe the emperores socorres who resolued with a willing minde and great desire to encounter Mansfeld with four thousand two hūdred horse and three thousand foote All the Prouinces companies ar committed to the commād of Don Carolus Coloma late Embassador for the Kinge The Prouinces horse were cōmitted to Albertus Arenbergue Prince of Barbancone Master de campe who was for that purpose lately called from the commandrie of the horse These were first wiled to stay at Namure to the end to stop Mansfelds passage if as of late he should come to inuade the borders but vnderstanding a while after that he went about to ioyne him selfe with Graue Maurices companies both of them with the Prouinces companies planted them selfes not far from Antwerp Spinola reioycing to haue so great an armie as the wallons scarce remember euer to haue seene the like for they were censured besides the garisons of the bordering citties to be thirtie thousand foote eight thousand horse yet ommitted no time without solicitude of the siege but that he endeuored by letters intercepted to vnderstand the councells of Maurice and of the besieged For this respect he was not wearied nether with watchinges nor with labor He setteth many in standing and watching places promising thē great rewardes if they could intercept any such letters Three were seene to enter into the cittie our watch being ether careles or deceiued by their celeritie Almost in that place whence thiese were seene to slip by by those that sought a few dayes after a litle purse was found wherin two letters smeared round about with wax against the damage of the water if they were to be caried in by meanes of water Both were Maurices one written to Iustinus Naslauius the other to teState of Breda written with characters abbreuiations al most inexplicable In these when many had trauelled to interpret them only the good fortune of Michaele Rōtartius Secretarij to the Kinge and to the Marques preuayled He by continuall studie both day and night pickt out their meaning This was the substance of one of them written to Iustinus with a shorter discourse Num. 12. Specimen posterioris circumuallationis circulo passuum LII millium Number XII These letters being receiued and Maurices designes made knowen vnto vs calling and requiring so great forces of forraine soldiars Spinola vnderstanding that al that war was intended against him and that he was yet to retaine in the field full three monthes space when Maurice had vndertaken with so great obstinacie to deliuer Breda as though he esteemed the whole good of the common welthe to be placed in the losse of that one cittie breaking downe first those forts which lately being built at mede Maurice had forsaken he resolued to encompasse his armie with incredibile labor with a trenche of wonderfull greatnes in the most wicked time of winter least so great an armie of the enimie should break in behinde him at vnawares as they had appointed at the beginning of the springe That trenche when it was finished in the whole compasse contayned fiftie two thousand paces so much greater was this then that former made on the sodaine contayning no more then thirtie thousand six hundred paces Posteritij will wonder nether would Pompey him selfe or Cesar beleeue it if they were aliue of whom the one cut a trench at the most of fifteene thousand paces the other one of eighteen thousand to goe to Dyracchius And lest any man should thinke that the count should be mistaken it is thought good that the number of the paces thorough euery campe being found out by his owne care and fidelitie should be committed to writing The quarter of Spinola in the village of Genik with that which Salazarius generall of the horse defended at his back were inclosed with a trenche of two and twentie thousand six hundred thirtee three paces That of Balancon with eight thousand six hundred That of Isenburgue with a leuen thousand fiue hundred fiftie four That of Ballion with nine thousand eight hundred thirtiene Now Spinola had begun to compasse within with an other trenche but of a lesser space against the irruptions of the besieged That because the cittie was first rendred was neuerfully finished yet contayned with his imperfect circle sixteene thousand paces But doth of these were ten foote highe the walles arising not vpright but step by step Below fifteene foote thick with abanket and parapet with in for the vse of the shooters below ten foote thicke raised vp fiue foote highe with a ditch depressed without side seauen foote Depe in breadth fifteene from side to side the bottome lyeng open no more then eight foote These two trenches had so much more strenght then the former which in height exceeded not fiue foote in thicknes seauen foote with a ditch nothing broader Vnto both of these greater trenches were built new redutes and batteries to plant canons vpon furthermore were at euery entrie a haulf moone Diuers redutes were also adioyned by reason of the perill and dangerous cituation of the place They were so fortified with new receptacles and with many other workes that none but he who saw them could hardly conceiue the frame of so great
the last wordes he spake in this life after which he vttered not so much as one wourd Is Breda rendred or freed that euery one might plainly vnderstand that he was kild with the griefe ofloosing that cittie the glorie of the recouering wherof in times past had got him honor and renowme and for the defence wherof at his owne and the States incredible cost he had stird up allmost all Europe Henrie Frederick of Nassau brother to Maurice a Prince very exquisite in warlike arte and in all vrbanitie was chosen by the consent of the States to administer war in the place of him that was deceased In that interuall of time on which holli dayes were made for Maurice and in which a new Commander was appointed for the armie many of our Prouinciall companies wearie of the war departed home from their standing places also not a few of the ancient horsmen disgusted with the hardnes of the war for the te diousnes of expecting their wages forsooke their colours So the French daylie in greater number came vnto us in great troupes from Mansfelds armie complayning that they were cosoned by him with hope of assaulting the Palatinat nor in seauen monthes space had receiued so much as one penny Some of these mens voices were there plainly heard to say that they would not goe against Marquis Spinolaes armie if in case they should be led A young Frenchman by trade a Pothegarie apprehended in Mansfelds campe being to haue solicited some of his fellow citisens to runne away tyed vnto swift horses and torne in peeces gaue up the ghost Our soldiars at Breda speaking with the besieged out of the watch made a coueant that no peece should be shot in the meane while so that of two armies one seemed now to be made afterwards flooted one another That ours gaue vnto them a litle Tobacco or cheese They vnto ours morcells of their owne bread After a few dayes the new Commander of the war Henrie of Nassau Prince of Orange being returned to the campe the besieged reioycing at the nere approaching of the succours shot balles more liberally in to our armie One in Spinolaes tent he being then absent getting in thorough the roofe of the house tooke away the Canopie of the bed and broke in peeces two tables in the chamber that as in times past the hors-litter of Augustus being admonished by his frend to goe out of the tent was by the meeting of the enimie thrust thorough and torne in peeces as though he had bene laid therin Scarce four dayes after when Spinola to discouer places sitting upon a white horse rode nere vnto the cittie the balle of a great Canon broke the bridle vnder his horses mouth leauing the raynes in his hand that it is to be beleeued that ether the chiefe Commanders of war ar in a morce secure protection of almightie God or by how the lesse any one spareth him selfe in battaile seemeth to be so much more the safer Spinola hauing ouer-passed these dangers calling together the troupes of the adioyning companies places them with in and without in diuers parts of the trenche He places Count Anholt in the outmost parts of the campe of Ballancon against the plaine of Oosterhout by which it was thought Mansfeld would breack thorough He opposed Beauuoix against the late companies of Maurice towards the villadge of Mede He made Iohn of Nassau commander of the plaine of Champen The Baron of Ainse he placed vnder the title of a Coronel made chiefe comander of the parttcular companies of the Germans behinde the campes of Genike to defend the standing place of the horsmen he distributed the reste in other places Te commanded the troupes of horsmen to come to defend the quarters hauing daylie doubled their numbers and to repaire to their standing places for the defence of the campe and he was often afterwards at the night watch especially on that side on whiych he douted the enimie would break thorough whiter he betooke him selfe euery night vntill the enimie retvred back Neuer at anie time did the virtu of this Noble man more shew it selfe The in nightly watches or his sleepe interrupted betwixt whiles neuer made him the lesse affable Being awakened he looked with such liuelie eyes he listned with so attentiue a minde that he seemed not to haue ssept at all and he as soone recouered his sleepe as he was awaked so securely slept he all his carees being so well husbanded In his apparell he was negligent of all curiouse trimming and carelesse of adorning him selfe euen in the dignitie of a generall Touching the crueltie of the season and the weather and whether it rayned or snowed or freesed or blew or wheter it were euening or midnight he cared not He often times sustained hungar two dayes together His bed was often in his coache or in the poore cottage of some soldiar He made no account of his meate of his rest nor of his owne body The burthen of his waighty affaires was perpetuall and his labor aboue al beliefe His minde was a conqueror of al difficulties as his countenance almost the same in aduersitie and prosperitie in whose peaceable mirth the hope of the soldiar might rest secure his councells he nether approued in his owne opinion nor communicated them but where it was necessarie Not deiected upon a sodaine but by such as were made strong by long delay He was of singular silence His beleuing of new aduices together with his distrusting of them and as well his slow creduIitie as his ready contempt of heauie rumors To prouide for to consult write heare command to goe about the campes was like vnto a daylie pastime Neuer did he pretend any excuse for his wearines neuer forbid accesse vnto him He was familiar with the soldiar with clownes with the scoutes or spies still conserning the honor of a generall nor this but when need required He bestowed more honor and gifts upon those that were displeased or auerted who might corrupt the state of the war by their power then he did upon his frendes hauing no feare of others malice Three were taken in the village of Hage who endeuored to carrie into the cittie a huge bundell of letters also a good quantitie of Tobacco and flagons of oyle wherewith to cure the scuruie they hid the letters of Hērie Prince of Aurange written to Iustine in the woods whilst they were taken One being put to the question who at other times had often passed thorough our campes vnto the cittie thorough the carelesnes of our watch he thorough the paine of the torment tould of the place and of the letters Henrie wrote thus vnto Iustine Maurice his brother to be dead That in his place he was created generall of the armie by the States That that accident should nothing the more hinder the supplies that he would come with his armie which could not be made readie nor march forward
all armed with their balles in their mouthes their matches alighted on both endes with their beltes of poudre with fierie touch and furnished with a number of bullets the horsmen sounding ther trumpets their flagges displayed armed and carrying as they ar wont to goe against the enimie That none of the pensionaries be detayned of what nation soeuer for any cause albeit they had in times past taken pay of the Kinge of Spaine or of the Archduke or of the Infanta Isabella That all be permitted to goe by the shortest and most commodious iorney to Gittenbergue in Holland without any interruption offence or iniurie safe in life in body weapons horses vessells and cariages by that couenant of promise which was meet Moreouer that leaue be giuen to bring forth their wiues children and familie houshould goods vessells horses wagons the weapons of the soldiars dead sick or runne away with out any obligation of lett upon what pretext soeuer II. That the preachers of the word the Ouerseers the common people and their scriueners their Architects or Ingineres the Iudge of the militarie Senat the ingineres of the fireworkes the Lieutenant of pioners the canonnieres the Chyrurgians of the bandes and troupes the workemen applyed about the engines the marriners the letter-carriers the ouerseers of the workes the Prouost marshalls the Pioners the carpenters and smithes the prouiders of victualls and al other workmen of forts and engines their wiues children seruants horses weapons be contayned in the former article and enioy the same fauour III. That all ships what soeuer shall be found for the present in Breda arriued as well for the Captaines of war as for others be dismissed with al their necessarie instruments into Holland And let them be gouerned by ther one marriners and be loaden as well with their families as with their houshould stuffe armour moueables alsoo the cariages of the Coroneles Captaines Lieutenants and other officers of war Let them be fild with the sick and the keepers and others who shall desire to sayle into Holland by that oportunitie That therfore the passages of thestopt riuer be laid open for twelue dayes from the first day of signing the agreement before they goe out of their garison to the end that the ships aforsaid may safely take their iorney with their loading and with other thinges which shall be in thē whilst they appleed them selues to other acts of warre at Blaec from whence they may retyre them selues whether they please as who by right hauing charge of the moueables might rendre them to their owners whose they were Granting the space of twelue dayes that the ships be free from all iniuries prouokements and abuses nor that ether they or their wagoners be diuerted or disturbed from their course That it shall be vniust to cause them to desist vpon what pretext soeuer But if ether because the riuer be not open or for that it be not nauigable their iorney shall not be hindred by that delay nothing shall be abridged of the space of the granted twelue dayes but all that to be granted to them void and free that the mariners and others to whom it may be more commodius may safely take their ioyney by riuer or nere the riuer But if some of these ships would tarry at Breda let them notwithstanding be sent to transport the carriars and the cariages of the conuoy before they presently returne to their owners IV. That the full number of waggons which the Gouernor of Breda shall require to carry to Gittenbergue the burdens and bagage of the Coronells Captaines and officers of war and other soldiars of defence and who from thence shall be brought back into the campes of Genike by the interposition of a publike promise to be supplied by the Marquis Spinola V. That the Gouernor haue leaue to carrie away together with the conuoye four canons and two murthering peeces such as he shall make choise of together with al that which belongeth to them and as many balles and poudre as shall be needfull to shoote off euery one six times And to carry those canons with all their wheeles and instruments by land or by water as he shall thinke good and as shall be best for his commoditie The Marquis Spinola lending for this purpose horses charrets and wagons together with wagonners if they shall be requested by the Gouernor to draw the canons the murthering peeces together with the wheeles and instruments belonging to then VI. That the Prince of Aurange haue leane to carrie all his moueables which he hath ether in the Castle or in the cittie in to such place or contrie whether he orany other to whom the care of them shall be committed Or that they be kept for a while in the Castle of Breda vntill such time as the Prince of Aurange dispose of them at the least for halfe a yeares space And that ther ships and shipmen coming from Holland to fetch them free passage to be giuen no impediment being offered VII If perchance any of them comprehended in the two first articles cannot for lack of health goeforth of the cittie together with the conuoye that to such leaue be giuen of remayning in the cittie with their wiues familie and seruants without hurt vntill they haue recouered their health and strength Then also at the first opportunitie to giue them fauourable letters for their departure that so they may goe safelie where the please VIII That no officer of war or soldiar or Lieutenant of a companie whether he shall prouide him selfe to depart together with the conuoye or after his sicknes recouered as if he were comprehended in none of the former articles shall be retayned but in fauour of the former points euery one shall be suffered to depart freely And that the creditors content them selues with the only wordes or writinges for payment of their dettors IX The Gouernor captaines and the reste of the Officers of war the soldiars already cōtayned in the articles aforsaid or other who soeuer bound by stipēd and seruice to the vnited States which shall haue any houses in Breda farmes inheritances or moueables comprehending likewise the Captaynes Officers the companies of horse of the Count of Culcnburge of the Count of Styre and of Monsieur de S. Martin with the widowes and children also of the same or of other companies which for these two yeares hence betooke them to the cittie for sauegard shall haue a yeare and a halfes space counting from a month after the subsigning to the agreement wherin they may at their pleasure carry away their goods sell pledge alienat change and occupie according to the law and common custome Furthermore that they shall enioy all that space of time the reuenewes of their pensions the profit of what they let out with the other frutes of their inheritance due or to be due to the full of all thinges pertayning to them with in the cittie X. The soldiars whether of garison or of the
some costly sadled horses acompanied almost with all the nobilitie rode from the campe two houres iourney and receiued him coming with many congratulations and with great sheow of loue There was atent prepared in ahouse wherin though nothing belonging to kinglie glorie and maiestie was yet was ther more militarie ornamentes then cleanlines and cittilik ciuilitie Hither when the Prince came about night hauing discharged all the canons once twice and the third time and the drumes and trumpetes sounding the moone was depriued of the sight of the sun by asudaine interpositioÌ„ of the earth Betokeninge if it may be lawfull to foretel that that Prince most expert in armes shoulde one day become the tamer of the turkish moone Breda hitherto had not bene touched with our cannon nor was the more hurt with so many shott of togither for that our soilders were commanded to shut more for mirth then for destruction and muche shott went ouer the cittie without doing any hurt yea the besieged also had more profitt then hurt by that shooting who from that tyme wer exempted from the paiment of all tributes according to the former custome the next day the prince led about with sundry gardes of Spinola where the enemy saw the people stand togither shott as thick as haile to salute them The day after he rode alone with Spinola to take auiew of the other side of the camp the reste being commanded to stay behinde for feare of danger At that verie time eight yong frencemen of noble houses intending secretly to slip by us from Breda to Graue Mauris is caÌ„pe were apprehended vppon the fenues and were liberallie intertained not as enemyes but as frindly guestes Spinola inuited the more noble of them to his table amoÌ„gst whome was Marques Gringnol vicoÌ„t serius with his broother and Barron blianuill youthes of an excellent to wardnes and after denieng them whate they demanded tould them that it was not his custome to suffer any to pass through his army to the enemies gaue them chois of returning to france or to Breda from whence they came of which last offer when they made election least they shoulde seeme to haue beene more readie to undertaek the labors of the siege then to indure them being carried to Spinolaes tent in acoache led with atrumpet they were sent back to Breda VValdislaus Prince of Poland hauing viewed the workes which vntil that day were not fully finished is reported to haue saied that the dice were cast betwext two great Captaines Spinola ad maurish and that one of them must nedes loose his credit Spinola accompanying him going out of the camp and hauing finished the compliments of curteous salutations recommended hym to count salasarius to be conducted to Antwerp Number VII The next day after the Baron of beauoix coronel of the burgondian regiment was sent with aleauen honderd foote and fiue hondered horse to fortifie osterhaut which the enemy might haue taken to the great in commoditie of oure men The next day when he heard from thence the enemyes drom beath sending out some that might vnderstand it he admonished Spinola of thier coming the scoutes related that maurish disembarked his army at Gintenberge of which his neow iourney nothing could for along tyme be found oute by enquirie many thought that he would take oudenbosk and rosendal it was thought fitt that those places shoulde be taken afore hand least we shoulde haue any enemy behind us fearing otherwise that vitualles coulde not fitly be transported vnto us and also we be kept from free fothering if the enemy should first posessit Spinola supposed that this thing was needles to be preuented Knowing wel that neyther thos places could be fit for them for anambushe nor so daÌ„gerous for our prouision when it should be fetcht the farther of whiche being so far from theire campe woulde be dangerous vnto them in so graeat adistance we being to auoide apassage not vnsecure to us Num. 7. A. Breda B. Custra Mauritij in pago Medoe C. Castra noua Spinoloe D. Niger agger E. Noua Castella Spinoloe F. Stagna ingentia arte facta G. Statio Balionij et Caroli Romoe H. Statio Baronis Balanconij For doutles if eyther Spinola had lost one day by delaying or maurish had so much preuented him by making haste Breda might haue been saued by the commoditie of so smale atyme for betwext derhaid and hage their lay open verie large spaces of land and of wateres wher by with litle labor victualls might haue beene carried into the cittie be wagons vnto the riuer and with litle boates ouer the riuer if those places had first been taken by maurish which might haue bene Don VVithout any difficultie when at that tyme there were no fortes of emportance betwext his army and the cittie except foure litle redutes which were built on the black dike But Spinola now with many soilders tooke the wayes and all the passages betwext thies fortes and the campe of maurish and preuerâ—ed him all hope of passing forward So much doth the celâ—â—itie and the wisdom of the generalls preuaile in warâ—â—â— which wee haue had this victorie Here was agreat plaine filde of shrubbs in which he might haue extended his army at lardge if any fight had hapened This he caused to be taken and posessed with certain troupes of horse the rest of the horse bying placed further of in the fore front of the army Behinde them there was atrinch formed as it were by nature betwext Breda and the shrubbs upon this he planted seauen canons and placed the Infanterie behind it comaunding to cut down the fright of the meadow and of the riuers and with great expedition fild the ditches Vpon the right side he left agreater for t to be defended of the burgondianes which Baron of Beauoix had now almost finished That fort of afoure square forme and of that greatnes that the canons might be planted upon The walles were stronge against the shott of the artillerie six score foote longe in the flank twentie eight foote broad and fiftine foote high There were longe stakes on euerie side streaching out of the woorck to hinder the ascending within there was abanket and aparapet and one step vnder the banket for the comoditie of the shotthe parapet was fiue foote heigh ten foote thick compassed about on the outside with a ditch of two and twentie foote broade so that from the bottome of the ditch to the top of the walle it was twentie fiue foote highe Num. 8. VARIAE MAIORVM CASTEI LLORVM FIGVRAE Dimensiones maiorum Castellorum Not long after a certaine master of the artillerie asked Spinola why he went not of him selfe to prouoke Maurices army not strenghtned with any great fortes shooting of six or seauen canons To whom Spinola answered that it stood not with his honor more lightly to insult ouer the enimie then to carrie him selfe
ciuillie that he was not accustomed to make a bragging but a prudent war that it is a Commanders part to combat no lesse with councell then with sword and forces Number VIII Maurice hauing pitched his tents at mede kept him selfe in them nether gaue him selfe leaue nor any of his to depart farther of VVhich Spinola noting commanded fiue fortes in a maner all of the same bignes to be made on the left side euen to der Heyde for Barron Beauuoix Iohn Count of Nasau Phlilip Count of Fuggere to cut of all passage to Graue Maurice which space being mightie and great filled with continuated trinches betwixt the fortes was afterwards adioyned to that first sodainely cast vp trence To all these fortes the forme for their diuers situation was also diuers in ther forme but their strenght and height was equall with that other of Beauuoyes Maurice did assault our men who were busie about these workes with no irruptions nether by day nor by night during which dayes he lost by flight many raw Inglish soldiars whom he had called for to helpe him A certaine French Trumpetter by occasion of a thinge that was lost being set sent into our armie vnto Iohn Count of Nasaw in the name of the french Nobilitie inuited him to approache neerer vnto Maurices armie to trye their fortune with them The Count promised that he would come upon a certaine houre the next day after with three other ther of his companions prouided with there swordes and two pistoles a pice and vnarmed of other weapens The next day after as it was agreed at the houre appointed together with Coronel Steenhuse and two Lieutenants of two companies of horsemen Grobbendonck the younger and Botberge he stood before the enimies campe There came out of the enimies campe foure horsmen with others following a far off to the number of fixtine with three hundred of the enimies looking forth from the fore fronte of the armie amongst which Maurice him selfe is said to haue bene the chiefe There was amongst these four a young man called Briant his sonne who once the father of young Grobendonck had ouercome and slaine in a single combat hauing lost Lackerbec his Lieutenant He desiring to reuenge his fathers death sending a Trumpeter vnto Spinola craued leaue to be granted him to trie the combat with him that flew his father as if otherwise he should haue liued to longe which Spinola refusing him holding Grobbendonck sone least he should escape Briaut ayoung man of afierie spirit sought occasion of his owne accord Count Nassau hauing receiued a bullet of his aduersarie on the fore part of his sadle had his neck burnt with the fire of his pistol Briant hardy both of hand and voice said At me at me shoote at me who so euer thou art lo Briant this day this day will reuenge the wrong of his fathers slaughter which hauing said setting spurres to his horse in vaine prouoking the Lieutant of Grobbendonck the younger with a pistol he being pierced thorough with a bullet of his taking hould by the pomele of his sadle his hand being halfe dead felt presently to the ground so the vndaunted valor of the two Grobbendoncs the father and the sone vanquisted the two Briauts the father and the sonne Ther one captain Steenhuse hauing wounded another of the enimies there ran to helpe them those sixteene which came out of the enimies campe Oures by litle and letle retyring themselues whilst riding closer one to another one of them riding close to Nasau puls the bridle out of his hande entangled with the pomel of his sword so looseth his sword held by the bridle and pluckt forth of the scabbard so by two vne expected chances he exposed him selfe to the sodaine danger of two casualties But Nassauius horse other wise ardent and vnquiet stood as amased and gaue time to his master to take vp his bridle The other hauing left his sword exposed him selfe to danger Our Cornet who came to behould forbedden by the coming in of the enimie to kill Briaut smites him on the head yet brething and taking horse followes the rest A few dayes after whē our troupes of horsmē stood in sight before the enemies tents Bouteuille Frēchman with a conuoie of fiue companies of horse came to remoue them from their standing place Baron Beauuoix garded with a companie of Counts being by chance a walkinge came betwixt them and releeuing the gard drowe the enimie back into a wood neere adioyning Hēce Bouteuille going forward a litle boasting of his owne prouesse relyenig upon the promise of his frendes and on acoate of male which he wore vnder his cloake prouokes ours to a single combat The condition being accepted of ours besought to come further out from the wood not remouing from his place shot in the ranyes by one of ours leting fall for griefe of the wound the pistol which he had in his hand sled away In the meane space whilst they seemed to be idle in Graue Maurices campe nor none endeuoring to fire our forts nor to hinder our workes nor none attempted to prouoke vs with their assaulrs he of purpose concealing his designe because craft required deliberation nether was it safe to atchieue great exploits vppon the sodaine he resolued priuilie in the night to set vpon the Castle of Antwerp which accordingly he put in practise It is thought that he knew that a few soldiars were left for sauegard to defēd the Castle besides those who ether for their age or for their sicknes were dispenced with all The Castle seming worthie to him of his labor and the gaine greater then the losse of Breda Therfore he kept all his men in his campes at Bergenupsone and Rosendall with so great diligence vnder watch and ward within the walles that not so much as by any least signe was any attempt perceiued ether against Antwerp or against or armie The chardge of this expedition was committed to Bronchena Captaine of Bergenupson of a cōpanie of horse hauing called him to meda He drawes out a thousand foote and two hundred horse as it was reported with all kind of instruments laid vpon wagons to the places that were appointed He makes the soldiar belieue departing from the campe and from Rosendal that they should goe to Bergenupsone and those that went from Bergenupsone that they were to goe to the armie when he was come somwhat far of from the cittie and from the towne he commanded all the blue and yeallow coulered beltes which the States soldiars were wont to weare to be taken away and red ones such as the Kinges soldiars weare to be put on least they shoulde be knowen by the color of their belt for enimies they should be betrayed by the Boores stratagemes Being asked of those that met them who they were they were taught to Answer that they went to Antwerp for prouision whither it was
Antwerp together with her litle childe now lately of her owne heade departed out of the cittie commanding the rest that came with her to returne back but afterwards he dispenced more liberally with his owne law sending back none of the fugitiues in to the towne when but few and very seldome any of them issued out He hanged up two boores in the sight of the cittie which in the dead of the night endeuoured to carry thither victualls This fact proued prositable and better then mercie others afterwards being made afraide by this exemple Graue Maurice thinking with a greater number to send victualls to the besieged bringing great quantitie of corne and other prouision to the hauens of the cittie nere at hand he prepares eighteene great boates with flat bottomes which in a calme might goe vnto them which freed from the surging of the seas feared the sandes nothing at all and lye safely at ancre in shallow places To these he makes sides and fore-deckes raised up on ether side and high of thick oake to resist all kind of force and batterie Euery one made after this maner he armeth with four or six brasen and iron peeces furnisheth with many balles of wilde-fire afterwards he loades them with corne barreled vp with great quantitie of cheese bacon and porke All were set with most expert shooters He aduertiseth those of Breda at the same time that with some of their best soldiars they vpon the day appointed should breake out of the towne and should plant them vpon our bridge Those of Breda obeynig this commandment make ready fourteene ferrieboates six wherof they furnish with so many canons and withe balles of wilde fire and appoint three hundred soldiars to stand vpon the shipps they prouide six hundred which might sallie out from the lande neere the riuer VVhich thinge Spinola vnderstanding doth fortifie a bulwarke which he made in the village of heyden with greater garrison by which way the enimie was to passe planteing agreat hedge made of trees furthermore he determined to plant another roe or hedge with greater stakes bound together two thousand foure hondred paces longe betwixt was fair litle forts which he built ouer the blackdik as they call it lest by that water which during all the winter did flowe into the cittie the enemies might passe their prouision for such was the nature of those meadowes that as often as the swelling of thesea raged which alwayes happened euery twelue houres ouer flowing also with land waters they might easily enter into the cittie with flat bottome boates and also made a passage for footemen after the sea was gone out But behoulde the windes which at the first were very prosperous for Graue Maurice to our vnspeakable happines turned contrary the raging also of the sea contrary to its custome did scarce so much as moue the waters and so once againe the diuine power did ouerthrow the enimies designe In the meane while whilst the ships loaden with victuals and soldiars were stopt with the weather the number of cheese and bacon was so diminished by the pilfering of the soldiars that litle store of this his prouision could haue come vnto the besieged although it had hapened that the ships had passed by vs. But a few dayes after the corne which was barreld vp wet with the moysture of the rayne and of the ship began to growe thorough the chinkes of the barrells after it was taken out of the ships and thus the enimies alwayes endured one losse vpon another Afterwards when our men were sent out of the campe to fetch wood and forraige that nere at hand being spent the enimies supposed that our soldiars being dispersed to gather forraige and wood might easily be distroyed by their horsemen and for this cause noted the more dilligently our gathering of wood and forraige They laboured by all meanes possibile about this matter that our men might be depriued of both this seemed easie vnto them because their strenght of horse was greater when as our horse were almost all employed partly in defending the campe partly in bringing prouision and that it was all one ether to put them to the sword or hinder them of their cariage which being lost the siege could not be mayantained hence it hapned by oure daylie foraginges which was needfull when foraige was fetcht from vnuseall and dispersed houses that few forraigers could goe about in to those dispersed and dangerous places which though it did not doe great hurt vnto vs yet it did great hurt to the soldiars to the beastes and to the carriars Spinola least he should leaue any long time so litle a spirt of ioye to the enimie afterwards as often as he was to fetche forraige he expected the returne of the companies whom for Sauegard sake the Count of Bergues brought back within three leages of the campe by whose Saueguard he sent the forraigers from the campe on euery side vnto the fildes neere adioyning Furthermore he so disposed of his conuoyes that when the wagons at Lyre were loaded with corne diuiding the number of horse and foote the wagons being loaden with oates they should speedely transport forriage into the campe which being afterwards vnloaden the soldiars as soone as might be returned back to Lyre to gard the other conuoyes In the meane while the other horses which were in a maner become vn profitable to doe any worke by reason of their labor and leannes were sent into more fertile places in winter to fetch forrage whilst others returned to whom their owne quarters were assigned for their repose So the iorneys being dubled with freshe horses and well fed he prouided forraige and prouision in a short time ouer which officie Alexander Hesius leftenamt of the Artillerie was appointed who vsed continuall diligence and expedition in loading and transporting therof But after the prouinces on whom of their owne willes the cariage of corne and forraige was imposed perceiued the siege shoulde longe indure and alwayes new requestes to be added to the former being wearied with the charge of so many wagons continually sent and seemed after to refuse a new meanes of getting prouision was inuented Ther were hired in all those villages wagons with two wheeles which for their greater compasse one horse commonly but two at the most do draw with greater speede then three do draw those which goe vpon four wheeles although they be lesser The price agreed vpon for euery one which at the first was much greater by reason of the difficultie of the wayes afterwards in better times was halfe diminished So corne was prouided with far lesse charges of horse and wagons with lesse forraige with like expedition equall number and easier price This new industrie conseued Graue Maurice who trusting to the season of the time beleeued that by reason of so deare and so long cariages we should neuer ouercome so great difficulties of corne