IT hath béene declared in the former Booke, Intituled, The Oppugnati­on of Ostend, that this Towne hath heretofore diuers times been attemp­ted and beseeged by the common ene­mie, but (Gods name be praised ther­fore) all was in vaine, first it was be­sieged by the Prince of Parma, in the yeere of our Lord God 1583. then by Monsieur la Motte, Gouernor of Graueling, in the yéere of our Lord God 1585, who were long before sollicited and importunated therevn­to by the continuall sute and exclamations of the Flemings, who forgot not to labor and instigate the Duke of Burgundi also, euer since his comming into the lowe Countries to this péece of worke, specially in the yéere 1596. after he had ta­ken the strong Towne of Callice, promising great summes of money towardes the same charge, and paying some parte thereof into the Dukes treasury before hand. But the duke knowing that others had attempted the same before him with ill successe, doubted the like might happen to himselfe, whereby the glorie of his former victories might be darke­ned: [Page]and therefore suffered the matter, at that time, to sléepe. Wherefore they of Flaunders (to auoyde the incursions of the souldiers of Ostend, and payment of contribution) tooke apportunitie of the present time, whilest the States forces were imployed at Bommel▪ in the yeere of our Lord 1599, and made round about the Towne sundry fortes and tren­ches for the better assuraunce of the passages. Yet finding (since the making of them) that the charges of those garri­sons, and spoyle made in all places of Flaunders, by their owne souldiers, did farre exceede their former losses sustain­ed by their ennemies, haue (with much more importuna­cie than at any time before) sollicited their Duke to enter­taine this their honorable sute, promising (besides manie other necessarie seruices during the time of the siege) to pay him thirty thousand pounds starling monthly towardes his charges, and afterwardes (if hee tooke the Towne) nine thousand poundes starling euery month for the space of twoo yeeres next following. And while they made all these gay and liberall promises, they forgate not to alleadge vnto the Duke also, that nowe, euen at this present was the fittest time to take in hand this most glorious enterprise, that had béene offered these many yéeres, and might be accomplished by his Highnesse with much lesse difficulty, than by any o­ther Gouernour before him, and that therefore hée ought in no wise to let slippe so fitte opportunitie, the like whereof, without all doubt, was not to be hoped for in many yéeres to come, and perhappes, not so long as hee liued: for they had certayne intelligence, that the Towne was slenderly furnished with souldiers, and much woorse with powder, shotte, and ordonance, and no victualles in the Towne to serue those few souldiers eight dayes: and further (which was the chéesest matter, and of greatest consequence among all other) Graue Maurice with all the States forces was nowe before the Towne of Bercke in Dutchland, which his [Page]Highnesse hadde, with great foresight sufficiently proui­ded for, with more than a competent garrison, and al other necessaries fitte for the defence thereof, from whence the States forces, nor any parte thereof coulde be brought in so short a time, but that by a sodayne attempt against Ostend, he might, not onely breake, and make frustrate, the de­signes of the ennemy before Bercke, who (without all que­stion) woulde, in all haste, raise his siege there, with ima­gination, to speede himselfe towardes Flaunders) and yet loose Ostend, before hee shoulde be able to come so farre with his forces, in any due time to succour the same.

And further added heere unto, that he was sure of one ad­uantage in this siege, for that they of Ostend, neyther had, nor could haue any horse, to incounter with his forces, and therefore his horsemen would so bridle the towne, that they shoulde not once dare to issue out of the Gates, nor to offer skirmish, or if they did, his horsemen would easily ouerrunne them, and cause them to retire.

The Duke not ignorant how commodious and honora­ble the taking of this Towne would be vnto him, mooued partely by these reasons, but especially by the want of mo­ny to pacifie the mutined souldiers of diuers places, and fea­ring the greater likelihood of greater discontentment to hap­pen among his other souldiers and garrisons (with whom he was behinde hand for aboue thirtie months pay) thought it sittest for the present time, and most acceptable to his sub­iects generally, to imploy his souldiers in this halfe hopelesse attempt, where hée might (not with money) but with his ennemies sword pay a great many of these mutinous com­panions their wages, and preserue the rest from the like danger.

And because such manner of payment may be the better vnderstoode, it shall not be impertinent, to shew briestly, the manner thereof vsed by the Priests, Friars, and race of the [Page]most cursed and diabolicall order of Iesuites, who for the maintenance of their Romish Church, perswade the com­mon souldiers (as they doe all others in their shriftes, and when they lie on their death-beds) to giue liberally to the Church, to the end, that Praters and Dirges may be made, and sung for their soules: such souldiers therefore as die, or are slayne before they goe to any seruice, bequeathe their pay to one monastērie, church, or other chappell, all which the Cleargy giueth to the King, or to their Duke, for the maintenance of the warres: and if any souldiers bequeathe their pay to their wiues, and children or other friendes, the same is neuer, or but very seldome payde.

The Duke of Ossuna, beeing Gennerall of the Dukes army was presently sent towardes Ostend, and comming before it the fift day of Iuly stilo nouo, or rather, the fiue and twenty day of Iune, as wee write héere in England, plan­ted his ordonance against the east end of the Towne, and the next day beganne to shoote and batter downe the houses: wherevpon Monsieur Vander Noote, Gouernor of Ostend, gaue present order, that many of the houses and buildings, should be taken downe and defaced, and the stréetes vnpa­ued, to the end that the enemies shot might the lesse offend the people and souldiers within the walls: and commaunded also, that al the women and children should be sent out of the towne into Zeland.

The nine and twenty day were 28. companies of souldi­ers sent into the towne from Zeland, with great plenty of victualles, and all other munition, fitte for the defence of the Towne. And the next day following, sir Francis Vere came to Ostend with eight companies of English men, who pre­sently entrenched himselfe without the Towne on the south side vnder the walles, which was the onely place and fittest péece of ground, from whence the enemy might, with his ca­non, batter the walles, and hath euer since kept the same in [Page]despite of all the ennemies force, with eightéene or twentie companies, who daily haue giuen, and doe giue the enne­my sufficient worke, to his great losse, and slaughter of his best and brauest souldiers, as hath partely béene before de­clared in the former Edition, whereunto I referre the cour­teous Reader: yet thus much I thought good briefly to note by the way, for the better satisfaction of all such as haue not read the same. Since which time hath béene written sundry aduertisements, as well from Antwerpe, and Callice, as also from Zeland and other places, which I haue collected in this present Pamphlet, for the further contentment of all such as are desirous to reade and vnderstand the same.

THe enemy obstinately continuing his slege before Ost­end, & they likewise of the Towne with like resolution defending the same, all means possible, and warlike strata­gems, to anoy, or defend, are dayly put in practise: the ene­mie with his ordonance thinketh to wearie them of the Towne, killing sometimes 5.6.7. and 8. men in a day, for he séeth it a thing vnpossible to bring his ordonance so neere the walls as to make a breach: they of the Towne forget not to repay him triple interest with their cannon, though not with so many shot, yet with the death of foure and fiue of their enemies for one slayne of theirs.

The Duke of Ossuna vexed dayly with the continuall issuings and skirmishings more then he desireth, and great slaughter of his people: and finding the great inconuenience of the ground, for the spéedie bringing of his people from the East fort to the west fort to succor each other, as néede re­quireth, hath with straw, fagots, hauen, and earth, made a cawsey from Albertus forte to the east fort, betwéene the walls of the Towne and his fortes, yet far without danger of the shotte from the Towne, and hath also brought all his ordenance from the east side, and planted the same against [Page]the west side of the Towne.

The States horsmen which came from the slege of Berk, vnderstanding that 500 Spaniards were sent out of Diest, and were marching towards the Dukes campe, made such haste after them, that they ouer tooke them, & fiersly assailing them on al sides, put them all to the sword, except some few which escaped by flight to carry newes of their ill hap.

Sir Frances Vere was hurt in the necke, and bruised a­boue his shoulder, so that his forehead was therwith swoln, which hapned with the splinter of a carriage that was bro­ken by a shotte from the enemies: but the hurte (as God woulde) is not great, neither is his person in any daunger thereby, although it was at the first somewhat troublesome vnto him. But within few dayes after hée departed from Ostend, to Middleborough, to conferre with his Excellen­cie, and the States, about these affaires, who are daily loo­ked for to come thither, where they meane to make theyr abode, during the time of this séege, to the end they may with more expedition giue order in these weighty affaires.

The 1200. men that were pressed out of Kent, Essex, and other places of England, and had laine at Vlushing, are sent to Ostend, with 3000. other old souldiers, all Wallons, and Scots, so that there lieth within the towne, and in the tren­ches without, some 8000. men besides 3000. more, which lie in shippes of warre before the towne, ready to be landed vpon any occasion, who are daily supplyed with all kinde of Munition, and fresh victualles, in so much, that all victuals sitte for souldiers, are there solde very aboundantly, and at reasonable prises, neither doe the souldiers want money, but are very well payde, whereby they may prouide them­selues of all such necessaries as they want, and if any fall sicke, or are hurte, they are presently sent out of the towne, to Vlushing, Middleborough, and other places of Zeland, where they are placed in the Hospitalles, and are so dilli­gently [Page]attended, and carefully looked vnto, as themselues can wish or desire, wanting neither meate, drincke, wine, physicke, nor surgerie, nor whatsoeuer else is fitte and re­quisite for their health and recouerie, but are cherished as if they were in their fathers houses: surely a most godly, and christian deed of the people of those countries, who (notwith­standing their continuall taxations laid vpon them for the maintenance of these long warres) do most liberally, and fréely contribute euery man according to his estate and a­billity in this most charitable action, which is a worthy mir­rour to vs, and to all other christians, teaching vs to estéeme of the poore, and specially to haue a fatherly care of the soul­dier, who (while we sléepe quietly in our beddes, and goe without feare about our worldly affaires at home) must watch and ward day and night in all wethers, and as often as he shall be by his captaine commaunded, venture his life against the enemie, and as a bulwarke, stand betwéene the enemy and vs for the defence of our liues, wiues, children, goods, and cuntry.

Sir Horatio Vere hauing commaund in his brothers ab­sence, vpon Tuesday being the ninth day of August, offered skirmish to the ennemy which was long & fiercely continued on both sides, and diuers times supplied with fresh supplies, wherein the enemie lost 400 men, besides many that were hurt: and but ten souldiers of the Towne slayne, and such as haue lately come from Callice, say, that the Flemmings themselues reported there, that there were séene 84 wagons with sick and hurt men carried out of the campe. In this fight the ordonance of the Towne slew many, both horse­men and footmen, and as it was reported by marchants of good credit, there were in this fight séene 4 and 5 horsemen killed with one shot from the Towne, and sometimes, 10 and 12 footmen and more, were séene to be torne and carried away with one bullet.

If the enemy finde many such banquets before Ostend, I thinke he will quickly be weary of his fare, and séeke a more friendly hoast elsewhere: and furthermore they report, that it is incredible, to sée and heare what great numbers of dead men are daily brought from the campe, to all the Townes and Villages néere adioyning to the Campe to be buried, most of them being Spaniardes, and Italians, Captaines, Alferoes, and other Commaunders, whereof many are bu­ried in Friers wéedes with great solempnitie, saying and singing of Masses and Dirges for their soules, God graunt we heare no woorse newes of their fellowes.

They of Flaunders (vnderstanding that the horsemen of the States were come to Bargen vp Zome, and some of the footemen into Zeland, where the count Maurice was dayly expected, doubting that his Excellencie was purposed to land his forces in the land of Waste, with intent to ouerrun the country thereabout with fire and sword) gathered toge­ther all the Boores and Pesants of the countrey in Armes, and haue carryed what they could into the townes and pla­ces of strength.

The twelfth day of August was an other great fight with the enemy, the same continued an houre and more, and se­conded with fresh supplies on both sides, sometimes the one parte, sometimes the other giuing ground, and the ordo­nance of the Towne playing vpon the enemies where they were séene to be thickest: in all mens iudgement there were slayne thrée hundred and more of the ennemy, besides many that were hurt, and there were 32. of our men slayne, and some few hurt.

There was a Mariner of Zeland in Ostend, that had his legge stricken off with a great shot, who was taken vp to be carried to the shippe, but before hee could be brought to the boate, hée was with an other shotte strucke thorow the bo­dy, that he presently dyed, and so was rid of his paine. The [Page]like hapned at an other time to a souldier that was likewise slayne with the enemies great shotte, and being carried on foure mens shoulders to the graue, the coffin and corse were shot thorow with an other bullet, the men presently set the coffin on the ground, and ranne as fast as they coulde, striu­ing who should first get the shot.

Thurseday the 13. day was a ship caled the Globe of Am­sterdam met before Ostend, laden very richly, and is repor­ported, to be woorth 4. millions, which came from the riuer of Plate, and straights of Magellanes, the same ship had béen out thrée yeeres: and such as met this ship in their way from Vlushing, reporte that two M. men more shal be sent out of Zeland to Ostend, which will make vp the number of 13. M. men, besides the voluntarie, and others lately gone out of England, so that it séemeth some great and extraordinary péece of seruice is meant: God graunt courage and good suc­cesse to our people.

It is written from Antwerpe, that the Duke doth woon­ders against the Towne, and hath so besieged it both by sea and land, that there is no way left to succour the same, and that their Gallies lying before the hauen, haue drouen all the shippes of warre from thence, and suncke many: and yet (God knowes) the Gallies dare not once peepe out, or shew themselues, for the last time they were at sea, they found (in their returne from Sluice) their way so dangerous to escape their enemies hands, that they haue since, had small desire to hazard themselues abroade.

There hath beene some spéeches, that the enemy made a rowling trench, to fill vp the ditches of the Towne, and so meant to enter the Towne ouer the walles, after hée hadde made the same of equall height with the walls of the towne, but in truth that supposed worke, was partly, for the repay­ring of his mounte, and making passage to frée his souloiers from the waters, which mount was so continually beaten [Page]with the ordonance from the towne, & the workmen so trou­bled with the issuings and skirmishings from sir Frauncis Veres trenches, and the towne, that the same could neuer be finished: but specially to defend his trenches on the north west side of the town from the fireworks, which they of Ost­end did continually cast into those trenches, to the great an­noyance of the enemy and destructiō of the souldiers therein, which trenches lie within foure or fiue pikes lengths of the counterscarps of the towne: but if it were so, that the enemy could bring such a supposed trench, without let of waters and lay the same leuell with the wall (which great paynes the Duke néede not to put his people vnto, for that the Go­uernor hath offered to set open the Gates, and to let his peo­ple enter if they durst) the Towne being furnished with such a number of men, and many of them olde souldiers, the ene­my would quickely be weary of that enterprise: for without all question, they are so strong of men within the towne, that if they had but one M. horse, and fitte ground without the towne, they would not feare, but (with Gods help) to hazard a battel, and peraduenture giue the Duke as hard entertain­ment as they did the last yéere before Newport.

There passeth few dayes, but there are some sallies and enterprises made vpon the enemy, and many men slayne on both sides, but all men that come from thence, Callice, and o­ther places, agrée in this, that thee enemy looseth 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. for one lost on our side: notwithstanding it is (by good ac­compt kept) written from Vlushing, that there hath beene a­boue forty M. great shot discharged against the sowne since the first beginning of this siege, so that the weast side of the wall of the towne slicketh so full, and so thicke of great shot, as the like hath not at any time before beene knowne in any siege, and yet the Duke is no more likely to obtaine his pur­pose, than he was at his first comming before the towne.

The 21. day there came to London a French man from [Page] Callice, who reported for certayne, that the King of Fraunce was, in poast, come to Boloigne the Wednesday before, and had appoynted to be at Callice the next day following, being the twentieth day of this moneth of August, which reporte hath since béene by diuers confirmed, and that it was the 22 day in the euening before he came into Callice, and also, that charge was giuen by the King, that euery townesman of the sea towns should haue, and furnish himselfe with ten pound of powder, and ten pound of lead or shot. The Frenchman abouesayd being demaunded concerning Ostend, answered, that (thanked be God) al was well, that there was no feare or doubt to be made of the towne, for they wanted nothing, but had all things plentifully fit for their defence and suste­nance, and at very reasonable prices: adding further, that (if any man would accept his offer) he would wager a hun­dred crownes against thrée hundred, that the Duke shoulde not get Ostend, and be maister thereof these foure moneths.

It is also written from Callice, and confirmed by sundry which come later from Vlushing, that vpon saterday beeing the fiftéenth of August, the enemy attempting some workes néerer to the towne than héeretofore, had many pioners and souldiers, to the number of about a thousand, or more to guarde them, whereupon they sallied out of sir Francis Veres trenches, and beganne a very hote fight, and were seconded presently with a thousand footemen out of the Towne, the fight was very hote, and with great fury maintained on both sides, neyther side sparing the other, but euery one do­ing his best to kil his next enemy: but in the end, the enemies were forced, by the meanes of the artillerie of the towne, to giue backe, whereupon our men followed with such furie, that they forced the enemy, euen to his trenches, with slaugh ter of many of them, and followed so hard vppon them, that they seized seauen péeces of ordonance, which though the e­nemy a good while defended, yet in the ende, he was com­pelled [Page]pelled to abandon the place. But while our souldiers were earnestly busied to naile and choake the péeces, a barrell of gunpowder standing neere the ordonance, toke suddenly fire by reason of a match which the enemies had secretly layd of purpose to mischiefe our people, whereby some 150 of our souldiers were blowne vp, and scorched, yet not so sore hurt thereby, but that, with Gods helpe, many of them will a­game recouer, and be able to do good seruice. Some reporte that this mischance hapned by one of the pressed souldiers, comming too néere the powder with his match, but howsoe­uer it hapned, the enemie presently hereupon came afresh vpon our souldiers, who being amazed with this suddayne mishap, and many not knowing what it meant, were forced to retire, but there were slaine of the enemies in the fight 2000. men whereof thrée. C. and more were horsemen, besides thrée C. pioners, neither was this victorie gotten without losse on our side, for there were slaine of our men a­bout 4. hundred, and néere thrée hundred hurt and scorched.

The gouernour of the Towne séeing the enemie to vse all meanes possible to approach néerer to the walles, hath cau­sed the hauen ditch or banke on the southwest side of the Towne to be cut, thorow which floweth such aboundance of water at full sea, that the same runneth a league into the land, euen to the forte of Isabella, which doth so amaze and terrifie the enemie, and all the cuntry thereabouts, that it is coniectured the enemie will not lie long before Ostend, for the first northwest wind that bloweth with any great gale, will cause the water to spred and ouerflow the cuntry much farther, and the cutting of the banke, causeth such a seperati­on betwéen the trenches of both sides, at hie water, that they can not come one to the other by eight or nine score, for sixe houres space, neither with horse nor footemen.

It is reported by a souldier which came the fouretéenth day of this moneth out of Ostend, that they fight and issue [Page]out of the towne vpon the enemy daily, and that there is no want of any thing in the towne: that the new way made for small shipping to come to the towne cut out of the head, was againe stopped and made▪ vp, for feare of such inconuenience as might thereby happen to the towne thorow tempestuous weather. And that for the better assurance of shipping com­ming in by the olde Hauen, sir Frauncis Vere had caused a mount to be raised ioyning vnto the Hauen, whereuppon the enemies ordonance playeth continually: but they of the towne doe likewise continually repaire & make vp the same againe. And also he reported that some parte of the enemies trenches towardes the northwest, lay within foure or fiue pikes lengths of the townes counterscarps, as is before de­clared, & some other part of the trenches within eight or ten score of ours, the greatest part lay much farther off. That the water ranne euery tide a great breadth betweene the towne, and the enemies, so that in many of their trenches the enne­mie stoode aboue the knées continually in water, and at a spring tide the waters reached aboue their nauilles, euen to their breasts, which waters, they of the towne with a sluice had deuised to kéepe in, that with the ebbe the same coulde not return: at the first the trenches of the towne were annoy­ed with the same waters, aswell as the enemies: but since, they haue found remedy to kéep the waters out of their own trenches. But the enemies are so greatly vexed with these waters, that they are oftentimes forced to goe out of their trenches, and to sit or lie vpon the banks and perapets: and then the ordonaunce of the Towne playeth so vehemently vpon them, that many of their carkasses are carried into the ayre: and further, the sayde souldier affirmed, that it was a thing vnpossible for the enemy to get the towne, as long as men, victualles, and munition might be brought in, which the enemie shoulde neuer be able to lette, though his shotte might cause some small danger in the day time, saying, that [Page]if once rayne and fowle weather came, it was not possible that the enemy could kéepe his trenches, but must be forced to abnandon the same.

The fiue and twentieth day of August were two sallies made vpon the enemy, with great slaughter, for after the e­nemies were drouen out of their trenches, and with great fury followed, the horsemen came in so great troupes vpon our people, that they were forced to retire: but within two houres after, they issued the second time (after they had cau­sed the ordonance of the towne to be laden with musket shot, and dice or square shot, imagining that the horsmen (as they did before, would with great troupes succour their footemen) and with great resolution charged the enemy, and as they had done before, caused them to forsake their trenches: and following hard vpon them, the horsemen (as was imagi­ned) came vpon our people, who with their pikes and mus­kets galled them shrewdly: but retyring in order, to bring them within the daunger of the townes ordonaunce, which were so well bestowed vpon them, that lanes were made a­mongest the thickest, and at last foure hundred horsemen slayne.

The count Maurice came to Middleborough the one and twentieth day of this moneth, the rest of his forces came from Dort in Holland with eight hundred saile great and small, but where he mindeth to employ the same, is vnkno­wen: God for his mercie sake (who is the giuer of all good things) graunt him victorie and good successe wheresoeuer he goeth, and to all his enterprises: and contrariwise, confound the tyrannicall attempts of the bloody Papists, and of all their diabolicall and most wicked procéedings. Amen.