OVr Army vnder the Conduct of his Illustrious Excellency, the Duke of Buckingham, lyes as yet before the Fort of Saint Martins in the Ile of Ree, which they haue intrenched round about, except vpon the North side where it is enuironed with the Sea, yet that passage is so blockt vp by our Ships, Pinnaces, and Long boates, that it is a matter difficult, if not altogether impossible, (as matters stands now) to put any Prouision of Victualls into the Citadell. For since that sixe Shalloppes of the Enemies, about a moneth since, brought some reliefe (though small to the besiedged) by the benefit of a seasonable night, and by the conniuence (as it was doubted) of some Dutch who came to the Iland for Salt, and lay betwixt vs and the maine. But now all hope of succour is debarred that way, by running two of our warlike Ships on ground, close vnder the Fort, [Page 2]vpon the Auenue of the water Port, and by the di­ligence and vigilancy of the rest of the Fleete, who leaue no course vnattempted, which Art or industry can propose for the finishing of this great worke, vpon which the honour of our Nation liyes so much ingaged.

So that besides the ordinary night and day wat­ches obserued carefully by the Sea-men, diuerse long Boates well furnished with Musketiers and Marriners round it about the Island all the night long, who haue intercepted three French Sol­diers of the Fort, that by swimming thought to re­couer the maine with the Gouernours Letters

The Contents of these Letters implied: That their want within were great, that the Soldiers began to Mutenie, and that without speedy reliefe they could hold out no longer.

The Messengers who sought to conuay them being apprehended, were hanged in sight of the Fort, with the Letters about their neckes. Nei­ther did the importunity of these aduertisements want cause, for as it appeareth by the testimonie of diuers fugitiues, and by the euidence of sundry pro­bable circumstances, the besieged are so much di­stressed for want of necessaries, that although their Infantery be of the Regiment of Champaigne (which is held to bee one of the brauest of all France) and though there are diuers resolute Caualiers within it (the reliques of those troupes, which at their first landing, were defeated by the English) yet want begins to make them loose both courage and obe­dience, and to demeane themselues in a mutinous [Page 3]and insolent manner towards the Gouernour, who knowing well the truth and iustice of their preten­tions, giues them good words, and bids them be confident of suddaine reliefe. But wordes and winde feedes not the belly, as honour heates not the toes: so that their discontents remaine as great as their necsssities are pressing. The violent in­forcement whereof makes them ruune away by troupes ten and twenty in a company, and causeth others to aduenture themselues desperately out of their Workes, to gather Grapes, which growe be­twixt the Fort, and our approches, many of whom are fetcht off by our Muskatiers, and slaine with the meate sticking in their mouthes.

Those within are allowed a small proportion of horseflesh, and sixe and fifty Peas a day.

The King of France his Brother is come downe within a league of Rochell, with an Army of 11. thousand strong, both Horse and Foote: he brings sixe brasse Peeces with him from Paris, with great store of Munition, and sundry materialls fit for the building of a Fort, the foundation whereof the French haue already layd opposite vnto that Fort, which was built on the North-West side of the Towne, in the yeare 1522. yet the Rochellers being confident of their owne strength, and of the Eng­lish succours (which are ready to assist them vpon all occasions) resolue to endure all extreames, ra­ther then to put their neckes vnder the yoake, or to faile in the course of their former resolutions.

Those of Rochell, the Enemies lying neere, sent out twenty common Souldiers on horseback cloa­thed [Page 4]in scarlet coates, and Armed after the manner of the French Gentlemen. The shew of this sup­posed salley, caused some principall Caualiers of the Kings side to issue out of their Workes, of pur­pose to encounter them. But they retiring, and the others pursuing, they fell into an Ambush of 50. Muskatiers purposely layd by the Rochellers, where diuers of them were slaine, amongst whom were two men of quality: for the recouering of one of whose bodies there happened a great Conflict, in which diuers of the French were slaughtered.

Although the ground about the Fort be hard to worke in, yet all difficulties being surmounted, our men haue drawne their approaches from the maine intrenchment (which lyes betweene Saint Martins Towne and the Fort) within lesse then Pistoll shot of the vtmost Counterskarfe, and that vpon two seuerall wayes or Auenues, whereof one is directed from the Batterie, and the other from the Re­doubt.

Our Cannoniers haue dismounted all their Ord­nance, except two sling Peeces, but of these they are able to make little vse, for want of Bullets: in foureteene dayes they haue made but one great Shot vpon our Quarter, which was but an exchan­ged Bullet, shot first from one of our Peeces.

But to supply this defect (though with a feeble meanes) they shoote and throwe many stones from their Workes, with which our men are so well ac­quainted, that it causeth as little terrour as it doth danger.

Our Armie keepes quatter with the French on [Page 5]land, for all those who are taken prisoners, or run out of the Fort, after a daies restraint or two are dis­mist, and sent into the maine with meanes of trans­portation & conduct. But of late no quarter is kept with them who are aken at Sea, because it appeared by the confession of some who were taken by our Boates vpon the 19. of the last moneth, that they are to confident and presumtiue vpon the Dukes mercie. His Excellencie lyeth in the Towne of Saint Martins, not farre from the Market place, attentiuely watching all faire opportunities, whose care and vigilancie wee hope that God will blesse with good successe. Monsieur Subuisa is in the Towne of Rochell, to confirme the Inhabitants with his presence and counsell.

The besieged haue not beene ssacke in their du­ties, for besides their continuall plying vs with their vollyes of great and small shot, they haue attemp­ted to vndermine one of our Batteries, but this Designe of theirs was frustrated by a Countermine of ours, which wrought such effects, that they were beaten out of their own Mine after some resistance.

They are so much distressed for want of shotte, that wanting Lead and Iron, they are faine to melt all their Pewter and Tinne, of which they make Bullets. But this shot shatters like Hayle, and doth lesse hurt by farre then the other.

His Excellence is very sparing of his men, as well knowing that walles of bones are farre stronger then those of earth and stones, and resolues by fol­lowing the president of Vanden Berke at Gulicke, [Page 6]and of Spinola at Breda to starne the besieged, or else to bring them to reason.

Vpon the Intercourse of some messages, his Grace hath imployed Mr. Aishburnham (a Gentle­man of his, lately arriued in England) vpon occasi­ons of speciall businesse, twice or thrice vnto the Gouernour Thorax.

Vpon his comming to the vtmost Sentinell, and the remonstrance of his imployment, his eyes were blindfolded, and in this manner (because hee should not discouer their Workes) he was conduc­ted to receiue his audience.

The French giue out, that if wee doe not depart the sooner, they will cause vs to doe it by maine force, being confident of those aydes which are promised them from the King of Spaine, and the Archdutchesse, which together with their owne Ships, will make a Fleete of threescore saile, as they reckon in their large account. But I thinke this bragging of theirs will turne meerely into a French vapour, much shewe and little action. Howsoeuer they are sure to find a stout opposition, and a braue resistance.

Sir William Courtney, a Souldier of great con­duct and experience, and Colonell of one of the English Regiments, was shot with a Musket from the Fort vpon the belly, but the Buller lighting vp­on some money in a little pocket, lost his force, and did no farther hurt.

Vpon Wednesday being the twelfth of Septem­ber, that Honourable and valiant Knight Sir Iohn [Page 7]Burrowes, Colonell Generall of the English Infan­terie vnder his Excellencie the Duke of Bucking­ham, being carefull for the direction and suruay of all our Workes, came vp from his Quarters in the after-noone, to giue orders for the lniing out of a new Intrenchment, and as hee came off from the Workes with some other Commanders, hee was vnfortunately shot in the belly thorow the guttes, about fiue of the clocke in the euening, with a Mus­ket, which wound proued mortall: for within foure or fiue houres after he gaue vp the ghost, to the exceeding griefe of all the Armie, but specially of the Duke of Buckingham, who comming to visite him before his death, shed many passionate teares to expresse his griefe, due to the remembrance of so worthy a person. Hee shewed a great deale of constancie, resolution, & religion at his death, as he had in the whole course and passage of his life. His body was opened and enbalmed, and sent into Eng­land with Mr, Aishburnham, who brought it to Pli­mouth on Monday, being the 24. of September, from whence it is comming about to Potesmouth, to be transported thence vnto Westminster, where it is to receiue the Sepulchrall rites of an Honorable interment.

Our Souldiers, but especially those of his Regi­ment were so much prouoked with this vnexpected accident, that in reuenge thereof they powred di­uers vollyes of small & great shot vpon the French, with the storme whereof the Gouernours brother was slaine, and some other men of quality.

On the Wednesday following Sir Iohn Burrowes death, the French from the maine sought to re­leeue the Fort with twelue Barkes laden with vic­tuals and Muni [...]ion, but they were intercepted by our sea Watch, and sixe of them taken, and all the Victualls and Prouision brought in to our Maga­zin; the other fixe were driuen backe vnto the Maine, but if the other Shallops that got in before, were no better stored then these, as in all likelihood they were not, there was not Victuals enough to serue them 14 dayes.

The Prisoners being demaunded how they durst hazard themselues so boldly vpon this attempt, answered, that they did it vpon confidence of the Dukes mercy, which they thought would not faile them if they were surprized. But to preuent this, and to hinder the like presumption, in others our Souldiers put them all to the sword, before they receiued any other orders from his Excellencie.

Monsieur Thorax the Gouernour of the Fort, sent to his Excellence the Duke of Buckingham to intreat him to giue leaue that he might send a Mes­senger to his Master the French King, which was granted by his Excellence, vpon condition that he would vndertake that hee might send a seruant of his safely thorough France for England: this being agreed on both sides, his Excellence dispatched Master Ashburneham, a Gentleman of his Chamber, to goe along with the Gouernours seruant; but when they came to Paris, the French neuer respe­cting the noble fauour done vnto them by his Ex­cellence: [Page 9]but contrary to all expectation, would not giue leaue that Mr. Aishburneham should passe any further, but to returne backe to the Iland: the Gouernours man that came backe with him, his Excellence caused all his Letters to be taken from him, and keepeth him prisoner in the Armie.

The 2600. English and Irish vnder the command of Sir Ralph Bingley, and Sir Pierce Crosseby, are ar­riued safely in the Iland: since whose comming there happened a memorable accident, by the mis­take of two Souldiers of those troupes: who com­ming vp into our approaches, went from thence ig­norantly into the Enemies trenches, lying close vnto our Workes, where they being disco­uered by the French Sentinell Perdieu, hee shot one of them dead with his Musket. The sur­uiuing Irish-man to reuenge his Fellowes death, drew out his skeane, and slew the French man, and being shot at (but mist) by another French Mus­katier, hee killed him likewise, and leaping out of the Trenches, into which hee had ingaged himselfe vnaduisedly, hee came off cleare, and without any hurt at all.