OStend is a towne scituated on the Flemish coast, lying on the arme of the riuer Y­pe [...]le, thorowe which the weast Sluice lately ranne into the sea, and hath there made a sufficiēt tide hauen, which (like as, for the most parte, al the rest of the Fle­mish hauens, doe ebbe and flowe: and cannot be vsed but with an high water, or at the least wise, at halfe flood) doth notwithstanding conti­nually holde, and containe the ditches of the Towne full of water, by reason of Dammes and Sluces made to that end and purpose, which (forasmuch as it might be in the same course continued, returned, or perhappes by the ennemy di­uerted) they of the Towne haue, of themselues, stopped the course thereof, whereby they of the Country of Flaunders, haue héene forced to carry and conuey the same by the Forte of Albertus, and so by a new currant into the Sea.

[Page] In times past, it was but an open village, yet reasonable great, and well peopled. First, after the comming of Don Iohn d'Austria, in the beginning of the nowe warres, for the fitte and commodious scituation thereof, it was made a Towne, and enuironed with strong walles: And after­wardes, this Towne only, and none others among all the rest of the sea townes of Flaunders remayned, and at this present doth remayne in the possession or amitie of the vni­ted prouinces of Holland and Zeland, howbeit, it lieth in the middle (as it were) of the ennemies Countrie, and farre from her friendes. And yet maugre all the forces, and pow­er of her enuirouing foes, hath many times béene valiantly defended against sundry besiegings and attempts.

For in the yéere 1583. although the duke of Parma, with his victorious hoste (after he had taken Dunkerk, and New­port, the next adioyning sea Townes westward) didde in most furious maner besiege it, vsing all warlike meanes hée coulde possible to conquer it, was forced to giue place, and after that he had continued his siege fiue dayes, sawe how bootelesse it was for him to spend any longer time about it, and therefore departed, not effecting any thing agréeable to his wished attempts.

Afterwardes, in the yeere 1585. although Monsieur la Motte Gouernour of Graueling, did, with great force and difficultie winne the olde Towne by the Strand or sea side, which at that time was onely defended with a simple wall, or Raueling and Pallisados, with purpose there presently to intrench and defend himselfe, was againe with all his for­ces, like shéepe driuen out of the same, leauing behind him fortie of his principallest Captaynes and Commaunders with all their furniture and prouision.

This Towne, without all question, is a place of great aduantage, and importaunce, yea of such moment, that it serueth as a bulwarke and strong defence, for the whole pro­uince of Zeland, and so contrariwise, if it shoulde fall into [Page]the enomies hands (as God forbid) he should thereby com­maund a more fitte and commodious hauen for shipping, than any other sea Towne nowe in his possession can yeelde him. Yea our intollerable losses, not to be recouered doe teach vs, and as it were, with a finger poynt vnto vs, what inestimable domage might redound vnto the vnited Prouinces, if the enemy should commaund in this Town.

Further, it is to be noted, that the Country of Flaunders, beeing in peace, in all taxations of the seauenteene Prouin­ces did leuy the third peny: whereunto they haue béene for­ced by this Towne, not only during the time of these wars, but also, the greatest part of the maine land hath béene con­strained many yéeres, to pay toll and contribution, and to be vnder our deuotion.

For which causes, this Towne hath with great care and mighty charges of the vnited Prouinces bin daily fortified, and continually strengthned, and especially in the yéere last past 1600. as also in the fore parte of this present summer: many workes, I say, haue béene deuised to withstand, and preuent the cruell attempts of the bloody ennemy, as bul­warkes, counterpoynts, and Rauelings to the landward, neither hath that part lying to the Sea béene forgotten, but hath béene made also very defencible with heades, bankes, and ditches, and especially on the east side of the Towne where (by meanes of the weakenesse of the bankes) the sea, with great force is mightily broken into the land, where it hath skowred, and pierced a great depth; so that the chanel of the new hauen (when the water is lowest) is neere twoo, pikes déepe: and doth daily waxe déeper and déeper, with­out all doubt, the determinate worke of God, for the great strengthning and playne defence of the Towne.

They of Flaunders generally finding what annoyaunnes and great discommoditie this Towne threatned daily vnto them, haue solicited and by all meanes possible importuned their Gouernours, to besiege, and conquer this Towne of [Page] Ostend, their daily eie-sore: as of late yéeres (yet fresh in memorie) in the yeare 1596. after that the Archduke Al­bertus had taken the Towne of Callice, in Fraunce, they required him then to take in hand this péece of worke, pro­mising to giue him twelue hundred thousand gilderns with­in three moneths time (which in sterling money is one hun­dred and twenty thousand poundes) wherevnto, after his Highnesse had made shew to yéelde, and promised to fulfil their desire, he gote some parte of the summe aforesayde in­to his handes. But doubting the euent of the attempt, or knowing howe hard a matter it was, to take it by force of armes, or how difficult it woulde be to constraine the souldi­ers thereof by hunger, or otherwise, thought it sufficient to shew himselfe before the Towne with his forces, and so qui­etly to departe.

They of Flaunders herewith nothing at all pleased, and gréeued with the continuall vexations and incursions of the ranging souldiers, and payment of contributions, to pre­uent the same, in the yéere of our Lord 1599. while our for­ces were imployed in the defence of Bommel, had good ley­sure to make sundry forts and bulwarkes, for the strengthe­ning, & defence of the wayes and passages about the towne of Ostend, thereby (as it were with a small kinde of siege) continually to trouble the Towne, and to hinder the incur­sions of the garison: which deuice was put into their heads, and the plotte layde downe by a certaine Corporall of the Towne called Noel, who hauing before long serued in the towne, and hauing good experience of the secrets thereof, vppon some discontentment receiued, forsooke the Towne, and ran to the seruice of the enemy.

But as the experience of the last yeare giueth sufficient proofe, that all the strength of these Fortes is not able to hin­der, or defend the entrance of an Hoste, so also it is most ma­nifest that by the continuall charge of the Garrisons of these Fortes, the Country hath receiued more domage and dis­commoditie, [Page]then before it did by the contribution to their enemies, and Towne of Ostend; wherefore they haue been forced to renewe their Importunate sute vnto his Highnes, and to sollicit him againe to the besieging of Ostend, and es­pecially at this instant, knowing our forces to be remoued farre from them, and to be sent into Dutchland lying at the siege of Berck, where they should (as they imagined) haue long worke: And for the better perswading, and more easily drawing of the Archduke to harken to this their sute, haue promised to pay him extraordinarily, thrée hundreth thou­sand gilderns Monthly (which is 30 thousand pounds stār­ling) during the time of the siege, and after the taking of the towne to pay him farther (for the space of two years) ninety thousand gilderns euery month (which is 9000. l starling.

Hereupon thārchduke gathred together al his souldiers: yea such as were about the riuer of Ryne & the Mase, for the succor of Berck were sent for, to make their repaire into Flaunders and to serue vnder the commaund of the Duke of Osluna, who not long since was to that end sent for out of Spaine, by reason that the Archdukes campe (thorow the long imprisonment of the Adinirant of Arragon, and the last ouerthrowe in Flaunders) was wholy left destitute and vnprouided of a sufficient Commaunder, and experient Leaders, and for that the naturall Lordes of the land, are in no wise respected nor trusted.

VPon the sift day of Iune (after the new stile) the ene­mie came before Ostend, about noone, with eight re­giments of footmen, which were eight thousand men strong, desides the horsemen (notwithstanding the Spaniards ge­nerally disliked of this enterprise, and counselled the contra­ry, who (as is reported) do wholly dislike of this siege: and among the rest, twoo common souldiers that hadde béene the last yeare prisoners in Ostend, obstinately maintain­ing the invincible strength of this Towne, were presently [Page]taken and hanged: for the extreame want of the thrée hun­dred thousand gilderns, to be payed monthly, as before is saide, comming very fitly for the payment of the mutined souldiers, and also the hope to drawe our forces from the siege of Bercke, into Flanders, for the better furnishing of him selfe, & preuenting of such wants as might happen to Ost­end: and perhaps thinking sodainly, and with al his force to ouercharge the towne before it should be succored, haue bin the resons to bring th Archdukes forces now before Ostend.

The Duke of Ossuna presently sought to pacisie the gar­rison of Issabella, which had before mutined for their pay: and the next day folowing, being the fixt day of Iuly, moun­ted six péeces of ordonance against the east side of the towne vpon the Downes, and with the same beganne fiercely to play vpon the Towne.

There were then in the towne in garrison one and twen­ty Ancients of sundry Regiments, and one company of Burgers, or Townesmen, all vnder the direction and commaund of Captayne Vander Noote. These presently prepared themselues to their defence, making harmelesse, and displacing some of the enemies artillerie: And labour­ing hard, to make a new way or hauen, betwéene the heads, to the end the passage of boates and shipping might be frée­ed from the ordonaunce of the ennemy.

And the ninth day of Iuly, after that they had sent away the most parte of their wiues and children, they receiued into the towne (out of Zeland) 28. cōpanies of souldiers, with great abundance of victuals, and all other prouision of war.

The tenth day sir Frances Vere, with eight companies of Englishmen entred into the Towne also, who presently issued out of the Towne with his people, entrenching him­selfe on the drie plottes of ground next vnto the walles, on the west side, from whence the enemy might haue endo­maged the towne, and battered the walles.

The thirtéenth day of Iuly, the sayde sir Frances Vere, [Page]with great force and resolution sallied vpon the enemy with eight hundred men, on the west parte of the towne, and set vpon the Campe, which lay farre off diuided from each o­ther, with waters and marish grounds, and can not easily, or in short time come to ayde each other. In which sally, the ennemy lost (as was certified by Letters from Antwerpe) aboue eight hundred men, and among the same, one cornet of horsemen: and, if the whole force of the ennemies horse­men, had not the sóoner come to their ayde, it was most ap­parant to all mens iudgements, that sir Frances had dro­uen the footemen to great confusion, and taken from them their Ordonance.

The fiue and twentieth day sir Frances Vere did agayne issue out of the Towne with fifteene hundred men, and be­ganne to intrench betwéene Issabella and Grootendorst, on a high ground, which in times past was an old Churchyard, where they of Issabella and Grootendorst were accustomed to bury their dead, and is a very fitte and apt place, to sepe­rate and cutte off these two Fortes from each others helpe, and to open a faire way to those of Ostend, to the flatte and plaine land. To which place of buriall, the next day, bée­ing the fiue and twentieth day of Iuly, the ennemy came with thrée thousand men, and after hée had béene thrice re­pulsed, and put to the woorst, tooke the place, but was pre­sently with great force and dexteritie driuen from it agayne.

The same day tenne companies of souldiers arriued at Ostend, and were receiued into the Towne, which were sent thither by her Maiestie from London, so that now the Towne was furnished (within the walles and without) with sixtie and seauen companies, which made vp neere the number of seuen thousand men: these tenne companies a­foresayde, were presently employed against the enemy, who shewed themselves very valorous, and did, both then, and since, passing good seruice, although many men were of o­pinion, that they would prooue vnsitte for any seruice by [Page]reason they were rawe, and had not béene trayned.

On the other side, the Arch duke daily strengtheneth and encreaseth his Campe, as well with souldiers, as with ordo­nance, playing continually on the west side with 26. péeces, and on the east side with nine péeces of ordonance, but most of his shotte liteth vppon the houses, whereof many are defaced and beaten downe: For, this sixe and twentieth day of Iuly, and before, there had beene discharged vppon the Towne sixtéene thousand shot, and against the ennemie from the Towne had béene counterchanged six thousand.

Moreouer, there were also receiued into the Campe some parte of the new souldiers which came out of Italie, and had béene appoynted for the succour of Berke, for first there arri­ued eight hundred men of those companies, and afterwards fiue and twenty hundred more were sent for, part Italians, and part Spaniards: and besides these, xx. men more out of all the other Ancients vnder the gouernment of the Erie of Barlamont and Bucquoy, who, for this cause, were for­ced to discharge their wagons, and other prouisions, before by them taken vp, and meant to be vsed in raising the siege before Bercke.

There are eightéene companies appoynted euery night out of the Towne, to garde sir Frances Veres trenches on the south west parte of the Towne, who daily falleth out vppon the ennemy, with other souldiers of the Towne, and haue oftentimes slayne many of the ennemies, & wounded more, which haue béene sent to Bruges from the Campe, so that their Hospitalles are full of wounded souldiers, and many Captaines, and men of great accompt, aswell Spaniardes, Italians, and others, haue béene slaine in these conflictes, and amongest the rest, a Colonell of the Spaniardes was brought to Dunkerke, and there first buryed in his armour, and afterwardes taken vp againe, and put into the earth in a Friars wéede, with great solempnitie.

On Sonday, being the sixe and twentieth day of Iuly [Page]last past, was a great skirmish with the ennemy, which con­tinued very long, and was with great furie, valour, and re­solution maintained on both sides, the ennemy supplying his souldiers with fresh companies, bringing thrée, foure, and fiue companies at a time, and they of the Towne seconding their parte continually with newe supplies, and with like numbers, so that in the end, it seemed rather a little battell, than a skirmish, sometime our people being ouermatched with the fresh companies of their ennemies, were forced to giue ground: but presently againe, with their new supplies from the Towne, couragiously pressed into the thickest of the enimies, making them likewise to retire into their trenches: and thus it continued long, sometimes the one parte, and sometimes the other giuing ground, vntill the ennemies horsemen came in, to succour their footemen, wherevppon our men returned into their trenches, and into the Towne, after they had slaine and spoiled many of their enemies both horse and foote. But if our men had béene furnished with horsemen, the ennemy had lost many more men than hée did, both in this skirmish, and all others before: but héere­in, the enemy hath had the vantage of vs during this siege, notwithstanding it hath béene written from Callice, that af­ter this fight, there were carried out of the Campe to Bruges thrée score and ten wagons laden with wounded men, and in euery wagon was tenne men at the least: but when they were brought to Bruges, they of the Towne woulde not re­ceiue them, saying that they had their Hospitalles alreadie full, and coulde receiue no more, and therefore required that they might be conueyed to some other townes. It was af­terwardes reported, that the ennemy lost in this shirmish 450. men, besides those that were wounded: neyther was this attempt accomplished, without losse on our side.

Saterday, being the first day of this present moneth of August, they of the Towne issued againe vpon the ennemy, and with great furie (after they had continued skirmish som [Page]halfe houre) forced them to retire to their trenches, slaying some 80. of their enemies, as néere as could be iudged: but the horsemen of the enemy comming in vpon our souldiers, they returned into the Towne, with small losse on our part.

It is reported by some that came very lately from Callice, that on wednesday last, being the fift day of this present mo­neth of August, there was a great Skirmish begunne by those of the Towne, to hinder the enemies approach vnto the walles, which was with fierce resolution long continued on both sides, and that they of the towne (with great slaugh­ter of their enemies) had taken thrée or fiue péeces of ordo­nance, and brought the same into the Towne, but how cer­taine this is (being but a reporte) I cannot write, the trueth thereof will he hereafter better knowne.

Sir Frances Vere without the Towne doth daily fortify his trenches: and the Gouernour within the Towne, with earth raiseth the walles, thereby to auoyde the daunger of the enemies shot, which his Highnesse spareth not, but be­stoweth so liberally vpon the Towne, as if he found shot and powder aboundauntly in the Downes, or sand-hilles: and withall, laboreth to raise a new Cauallirie, with bauen and earth, thereon so plant more ordonaunce, and to shoote in­to the Towne, on the south southwest side. Thus they are earnestly busied on all sides, the one, nor the other sparing a­ny cost or labor to annoy their enemy, and to defend them­selues, and that thing which to day is not thought vpon, is the next day put in practise, with new deuises and warlike stratagems, the one raising vp, the other with his ordonance beating downe his ennemies works, that the same may not be finished, or brought to perfection.

It is also written from Antwerpe, that the Infanta is in person come into the Campe, and that the Archduke is in Ondenburgh, to the end he may himselfe in person giue or­der in these affaires: time will teach vs to knowe what pro­fite hée shal reape by these his trauels & inestimable charges.

[Page] But at her returne from the Camp to Bruges, shée broght with her sundry Companies of Souldiers, but they of the Towne denyed to receiue them, saying they had no néede of any new Garrison, but if it pleased her highnes to come into the Towne with her accustomed trayne, shée should be wel­come: but as for her Souldiers, they were not minded to take them into the Cittie.

Such as haue come out of Ostend very lately, and like­wise from Vlushing, reporte for certaine, that within the Towne of Ostend, there wanteth not any thing, fit for the defence thereof, and that all victualles are very plentifull, English béere is solde for twoo stiuars the kanne, great mea­sure, for which there is no excise payde. Sir Frances Vere giueth the enemie daily so much to doe, and kéepeth him so well occupied, that he knoweth not well which way to turne him, or what hée may well beginne to annoy the Towne: and it is thought by many men of good iudgement, that hée wisheth he had not come to besiege Ostend, seeing he findeth so small hope to carry it, but would rather be with his camp from thence, if he knew how with credite to departe.

Lately the enemy remooued nine péeces of his ordonance, from the east to the weast side: his ordonance made it verie dangerous to enter by the accustomed hauen, except it were in the night time, but since the making of the last, or middle hauen, all things are carried in and out without any daun­ger of the enemies shot. And on the southwest side the enne­my bringeth great store of brush and bauen fagots towards the trenches of sir Frances Vere, thinking by that meanes so to mount some ordonaunce, that hée may beate sir Frances from his trenches, and so bring his battering péeces néerer vnto the walles, or else, to beate the Towne on the south southwest side.

On the south side, the ennemy hath raised a mount, from whence hée beateth the houses, but specially the Church and Stéeple, which is wholy defaced, otherwise, he doeth small [Page]annoyance to the Towne, sometimes with his shot killing a man: but such as come out of the Towne affirme, that for euery one the Towne looseth, the enemy looseth fiue or sixe. They of the Towne, haue themselues, vntiled and taken downe many houses, and also vnpaued the stréetes, to shend the same might with the enemies shot, the lesse annoy them.

The Gouernor and sir Frances are not ydle, but employ all their labour and industrie, both within the Towne and without, to raise mounts, and to finish such other workes, as are most behoouefull for the strengthening of the Towne against the enemies forces, and to that end, such souldiers as will worke, and employ their time that way, eyther by day or night, haue xii. d. the day, and xii. d. the night.

And because the enemy shall the better be kept from ap­proching the walles, they of the Towne haue cutte the Sea banckes, so that the Sea water enuironeth the Towne on the south side, from the east to the weast parte, in so much that the towne séemeth to stand in an Iland, which threat­neth great hurt to the land and countrie thereabouts, and may (in time) growe very daungerous.

The enemies perceiuing them of the towne to be very stil, and those likewise of sir Frances Veres trenches to hold them selues more quiet than they had bin accustomed, sent out a souldier to espie their doings: one of the souldiers that came from London spying this stragler, demanded of such as wer next him in the trenches, what he meant thus to approache their trenches: it was answered, they knew not, except hee came as a spie: then quoth the English souldier, I will goe out and talke with him: presently he made toward this stragler, and making but few wordes, they sell to blowes, and so continued a good space, the camp on thone side, and the town on thother, beholding them, & noting which did best: In the end they were both wounded, and so departed: the English­man brought with him his enemies hat, and a staffe or halfe pike, which he valiantly won, and broght into the trenches.

[Page] Since the besieging of this Towne, the fiue Gallies of Sluice were at sea, and (méeting with twoo ships laden with marchandize, which came from Doit in Holland, hauing a shippe of warre for their conuoy and defence) there began a hote fight on both sides, and it continued long: the shippe of warre bestowed his shot so well, that hée did great spoyle to the Gallies, and slewe many of their men, but in thend, the Gallies boorded the shippe, (and firing her) did, without mercie, put seauentie sixe men to the sworde, and saued one­ly ten persons, which, for the most part, are shorn, and made slaues. It was reported, that this shippe of warre was, by ouersight, set on fire with their owne powder: but by Let­ters out of Holland, it séemeth to be otherwise, for it is writ­cen from thence, that it pleased God to saue one man verie myraculously, who (committing himselfe to the mercie of God, and of the mercilesse Seas, vppon a péece of a Maste) rather than hée woulde fall into the handes of his bloody en­nemies: after hee had so floated vpon the waues of the Sea an houre or twoo, he was taken vp by an other ship, which (by Gods prouidence) had spyed the man thus driuing on the water. This man (after his comming into Holland) made true reporte héereof, as is aboue declared.

Within the Towne, néere vnto the west end, they haue raised a mount, whereon is planted twelue cannons, and sixe demy cannons, wherewith they beate downe, and de­face the ennemies workes without.

Lastly, such as came on wednesday last out of Ostend, be­ing the fift day of this present moneth of August, (notwith­standing the former report from Callice) affirme that thene­mie hath these viii. dayes layne stil, and doone nothing, and affirme, the souldiers of Ostend to be of an inuincible cou­rage, not esteeming any force of the enemy, and that there is no cause of feare, nor want, for all things are daily in most plentifull sort brought vnto them, assuring themselues, that the ennemy shal (in the end) be forced to depart with shame [Page]and dishonor, and perhappes with greater losse than he now thinks vpon, which God for his mercies sake grant, Amen.

SInce the former Impression of this Pamphlet, wee haue not heard of any to be come from Ostend, neither haue a­ny Letters béene receiued from Zeland. But from Callice it is written, by the Poste, which came thence with the Ant­werpe Letters, thrée dayes past (namely the thirtéenth day of this moneth of August) that it is generally reported by those that come out of Flaunders to Callice, that the ennemie beginneth to waxe colde, hopelesse in his attempts before Ostend: and all men which are not partiall, iudge al his la­bour lost, and his excessiue charges to be spent in vaine. And further, it is sayde for certaine, that vpon friday being the seuenth day of this moneth of August, the winde blowing a great gale from the northwest, brought such plentie of water vpon the Flemish coast, that the ennemy stoode aboue their knees in water, in some of their trenches, and that the Sea washing and vndermining the foundation of the last mount, made by the enemy on the south west side of the Towne, the same sunke, and is wholy defaced: at what time they of Ost­end issued out, and making great slaughter of their enemies, brought one péece of ordonance into the towne. But some do report that the enemy lost then fiue péeces, and that the rest which lay vpon the sayd Mount (being foure péeces more) were, by our souldiours, so choaked and nayled, that in long time the same cannot be made agayne seruiceable.

Furthermore, on friday last being the fouretéenth day of this present moneth of August, there arriued héere in the Thames, twoo small Pinckes which came with fish from Terueare in Walkerland, who report that the twelue hun­dred men (of the number of the last two thousand which were pressed, and sent by her Maiesty) are in safety arriued at Vlushing, where they as yet remaine, for that in the town of Ostend they haue sufficient forces, as well to defend the [Page]Towne, as to guard their trenches without. And also, that the Countie Maurice was come into the Haege in Holland, most of his footemen béeing in Zeland, and his horsemen at Bergen ap Zome, expecting his comming thither: but, where hee meant to vse his forces (as good reason is) was vn­knowne. At their comming from Terueare, it was general­ly imagined, that they should bée imployed in the land of Waste, which is the most fruitfull and fertilest part of all the Prouince of Flaunders, and where his Excellency may most endomage the enimy. Time will manifest the truth, God graunt him good successe in all his attempts, and to those of Ostend, courage and magnanimity, valiantly to resist the forces of their bloodthirsty enemies, Amen.