❧ A breefe declaration of that which is passed aswell within, as without the towne of Oastend. &c.
WHereas the Arch-duke Albertus with his forces, about Seauen moneths paste being came before the towne of Oastend, hath caused the same presently to be battered, and hath caused the same to bee continued during this Besieging without discontinuance: so that from the beginning of this siege vntill the vij. of Ianuarie 1602. vpon the Towne hath béen shot One Hundreth Six and Thirty Thousand Cannon shot. And perceauing yt after these many thousand shot which he hath shot vpon the Towne, ye same hath nothing preuayled as he had well hoped: He hath on the vij. of this moneth of Ianuarie 1602 from the morning betimes till the after-noone, shotte more then Thirtéene Hundreth shotte. After which, on the said day he hath done seuerall Assaults aswell vppon the towne of Oastend, as the other Forts thereunto ioyning, not doubting but he should haue forced the towne by reason of the want of Souldiers within it, as he thought, but God hath otherwise prouided.
The successe of the vij. day.
ON the Seauenth day of Ianuarie aforesaid after that stile, the Spaniards with the Italian alloted vnto them, either of them vnder their Generals and Commaunders came marching towards the Towne of Oastend vnder the conduct as followeth.
The Earle of Trustie or Triúùlsie Italian Commaunder of Two Thousand Italians, fell vppon the Santhill but was verie valiantly beaten thereof.
The Earle of Bucquoy chéefe of Two Thousand men made assally vpon the East Rauelin, but as the water was flowen too high, he was constrained to forsake the same, and fell vppon the halfe Moone ouer against the Geule, from whence hee was manfully driuen away.
The Gouernor of Dixmuyde chéefe of Two Thousand men hath made his assault vpon the Porquepycke then in vaine, and beaten away.
One Captaine with Fiue Hundred men thinking to force the West Rauelin, was also beaten from thence.
Another Captaine with Fiue Hundred men meaning to effect some thing vppon the South Carre, was valiantly resisted.
The Sargeant Maior with a Thousand men meaning to ouer-runne the West Carre was also manfully beaten away.
This is as much as concerneth the Assault.
The other day being the Eight of Ianuarie 1602. (according to their stile) there was diuers Prisoners brought to diuers places for further examination: It [Page]is held that in the assaults and in the retreat, from the Towne more then a Thousand were slaine without those which were hurt. In the Euening of this eight day there fledde ouer one of the Enemies men, who reporteth that the Arch-duke in the morning woulde come & assault again, and that ye Walons and Dutches should assault by reason the Spanyards and Italians had assaulted, for the which our Souldiers within did greatly longe for that they had gotten good booties of signor Spanyards.
On the Nineth of the same there was found one dead verie richly apparelled estéemed to be some Commaunder, hee was booted and spurd, it was thought his horse was shot, and drowned.
The Tenth of the same our souldiers thinking that the Enemie would againe make an assault, they haue expected them with good deuotiō in hope of more spoile.
The Towne is dayly much fortified, so that they doe not greatly feare the Enemie.
On the Eleauenth of the same a Drumme was sent from the Enemie for to know what prisoners they had of qualitie: also to haue a surcease of armes for Two or Thrée houres, for to fetch or burie their dead, but it was not graunted. In the afternoone of the same day, came many Shalopes and Ship-boats full of Souldiours out of the Fléete into the Towne in the sight of the Enemie, notwithstanding that they shat verie furiously without doing any manifest harme more then that they shot Thrée men, and one ship in the ground, wherein were most Mariners, but all saued, (God bée praised.)
The Twelueth of the same in the Morning about Nine of the clocke, our men haue yet founde one dead carcasse with veluet breches layde on with gould lace, and a gilt Rapier about him who was drowned, it is thought he was some Commander.
About this time haue our men brought in a Wallon souldiour from the East, who reporteth that they haue lost about Twelue hundred men.
The Enemie hath again sent a Drum for to enquire after some great Personages prisoners of qualitie: whereupon vuto him was answeared that hee should make specification of the names what prisoners hee sought, the speech is that the Earle of Tributio or Triùúlsie of Milayne cozen to the Duke of Mantua, Maistro del Campo should be slaine.
They doe continue yet verie strong in the fortisying and strengthning of the Towne: God preserue all the Gouernours, Captaines, Officers and Souldiours, with all others of the Towne, and take them to his protection.
- Symon Antony Mr. del Campo.
- Don Aluares Schuares Cruciador, or of the order of St. Iames crosse.
- The Earle of Imbeeke Italian esteemed to be rich, his reuenews of 300 Pistolets a day.
- The Sargeant maior Generall that was pledge within Oastend the 25 of December last past.
- [Page 5]Durago Mr. del Campo.
- The Lieutenant of the Gouernour of Antwarpe.
- Ʋnder the dead is also found a woman person.
After this a Drum of the Enemy hath declared that there were Twelue Hundreth men flaine and one Thousand hurt, without those which are caried away with waggons, and which were drowned, and driuen away in Sea by the water of the Sluce.
Those which assaulted in the old Towne had powches or males with them, wherein they had prouided themselues of victuals for ij. or iij. dayes, they had also Shouels, Pickaxes, Hatchets, Spades, and Ladders, and other Instruments which they all left behinde, to that end brought thether, according to the declaration of an Alfero or ensigne bearer, for to make place of defence for them in the old Towne.
The péeces of Ordinance standing in the Porquepyke and Faulse breye were cast downe in the assault, to the end if the Enemie had gotten the sayde places, or any of them, he cold not haue vsed the same against the Towne.