MANY things concurre to the greatnesse of this Seige,VVhat ma­de this seige so famous. making it more famous then other enterprises of our late vvarrs. First,1. The suc­cours and e­mulation of strangers. the great supplies demaunded from all parts by the enemy, as if the strife had not ben for the safety of one Towne, but for the entire preseruation and houlding vp of their Empire; so much the endeauours of strangers added to the fame of it, and euen out of emulation the glory of the victory encreased. Next the strange and vnaccustomed largenesse of the VVorks dravvne about it, vvith the circuit of a double Trench, against the inward and the outward enemy, the like of which scarse any History hath left a memory behind it.2 The strā ­ge. largenes­se of the double trench. To this the incredible multitude of Redouts, Forts, Batteryes, and other fortifications of that kind, raysed in the hardest season of the yea­re, and, for so large a circuit, in an exceeding short tyme. Be­sids,3. The mul­titude of vvorks. that mayne difficulty ouercome of conueying the prouision of victualls, a long and winter iourney, by land, whilst by reason of the chargeable carriages of wagons, sent by commaund of the Cuntry, and the spoiling of Townes and villages,4. The dif­ficulty of bringnig our proui­on, vvith the dearth of corne. the deare rates af all things grew to be vnsufferable, and the souldier but seldome, and then but halfe his wages paid. Lastly a certayne peculiar prouidence of Almighty God,5. The sin­gular pro­uidence of Almighty God. protecting our designes and cros­sing those of the enemy, as if he had particularly fauoured vs, [Page 2]and ben offended vvith them. Of which hand of Heauen so many vndoubted signes appeared during the whole seige, that though the labours of our Commaunders were vvithout in­termission, yet all their endeauours out of doubt vvould haue proued in vayne, vvithout the singular assistaunce of that soue­rainge Commaunder, God. And these for the most part ar the things, vvhich haue so spread the reputation of this seige.

The Towne of Breda,The circuit of the towne vvalls. of it self, is not great: The walls of it contayne four miles in their circuit, so that in lesse then an hovver a man may walke about them. The Barony and Towne of Breda belonged in tymes past to the Duks of Bra­bant with eighteene willages of the iurisdiction of that Baro­ny. Iohn the third,Hovv and vvhen it fell to the fami­ly of Nas­sau. Duke of Brabant alienated it from that Dutchie in the yeare 1350. Iohn Polane Lord of Leck purchased it of him for three and forty thousand Hallengers. It fell first to the family of Nassaw by the dowry of Ioane Polane, in the yeare 1404. vvho hauing the inheritance of Breda, vvas mar­ried to Count Ingelbert Nassaw.Hovv often Breda hath ben vvonne and lost. By right it ought to haue returned to the Duks of Brabant hauing ben alienated from that Dutchy for so vnualuable a consideration. In the yeare 1567. (VVilliam of Nassau being fled for treason) the Duke of Alua possest himself of Breda, for the King of Spaine. Ten years after that, in the yeare 1577. Count Hollac tooke it by composition, and it returned againe to the family of Nassaw. But it vvas surprised againe by the Baron of Hautepen, partly by stratagem, and partly by assault in the yeare 1581. and remayned vnder the King the space of nine yeare: till one Araugerius, in the yeare 1590. by the practise of a carriage boate (in vvhich thres­core and ten souldiers lay hid, like the Grecians heretofore in the Troian horse) by the commaund of Maurice of Nassau, since Prince of Orange, wholy possest hinself of the Towne and Castle.

The Tovvne almost in the vttermost parts of Brabant, ioyneth vppon Holland,The situati­on of Breda by the Riuer Merke. Not far from [Page 3]about it, it is compassed with the neighbourehood of many good Townes and Villages. It lyes in a pleasaunt Cuntry, such,The plea­sauntnes of it. as many of our Commaundres and souldiers professed not to haue seene the like in Europe; so that Count Maurice, not without cause, was accustomed to call it his Tempe. A Territory rich of Corne and pasture. The Meddowes, beset round with young sproutes of Trees, were seperated with small brooks, as with their naturall bound. Rowes of Trees, set either in a right line, or ranged into an order of fiue, shaded all walks and houses about the Towne. Not far from the Towne four woods shewed themselues; one of them of Pine, the other three of Oake.

The Merke and the Aa, two Riuers, runne into it,The tvvo Riuers of Breda. The Riuer Aa runnes about the Tovvne. and one of the tvvo runnes about the vvalis. The Riuer Aa, made lar­ger by the running of some champion brooks into it, takes its course about the walls, kept in by a sluce, least, by the ebbing of the Riuer Merke (with which it ioineth with in the Towne) the Towne-ditch chaunce at any tyme to be left without water;From vvhē ­ce it is called Merkedael. The Riuer Merk runns into the Tovvn [...]. it turnes a Corne-mill in its passage, and with a gentle descent runnes into the Towne. The place where these streames ioyne, retayneth still a corrupt name of both Riuers, called Mer­kendael, by the flowing of the Merk into the Aa. The Mer­ke seperated from the Aa by two brick-walls in the ditch, runns into the Towne, diuided of its owne nature into many parts; and growing larger by little and little, not far from Dordrecht, pow­reth it self into the Holland Sea. It ebbeth and floweth twise euery day, and ouerfloweth the grounds about the towne by the opening of sluces as often as pleaseth the inhabitants of the Towne.

From the Riuer Aa, it is thought,From vvhē ­ce the name of Breda is deriued. the name of Breda was heretofore giuen to the Towne by them of B [...]abant, in whose lan­guage BREED imports as much as Broad, as if so they would haue expressed the Riuer Aa, spreading abroad at larg its chan­nel in that place. In the midst of the Towne a Toweris built, three [Page 4]hundred threscore and two foot high,The heigth of the tower in the midst of the tow­ne. from whence is a larg pros­pect into the neighbouring Townes, fit to giue and take notice of anything from a far.The num­ber of hou­ses in the towne. The howses of the Towne, are thought to be twelue hundred. The forme of it would be three-square, if the Castle built in the walles, were not more then ordinary borne forward on the one side.The forme of the Tow­ne. The Castle fortified with walls, Bul­warks, Bridges,The descri­pion of the Castle. an Armory and a double ditch, takes vp in compasse more then a mile. It is beautified besids with open and close galleries, Pillars, walks and so pleasaunt a Garden, that it is hard to iudg whether the strength or curiosity of it excell. The walls are of Turfe,The towne walls. not of brick, set thick with a continued Rowe of Oaks. At the three corners of the walls, are the three Ports of the Towne, besids the Port whith belongs to the Cas­tle. The curtaines, aswell of the Towne as the Castle wall, are for­tified with fifteene Bulwarks,Fifteene Bulwarks. vppon each of which some peeces of Artillery were planted, and here and there a windmill. Vp­pon the wall two platformes were raysed from whence the Artillery playeth a far of.Platforms or Cats. Vnder these, at the foot of the walls were two lesser Bulwarks in the ditch, and in an other place of the wall a third of the same proportion, ouer which no platforme at all was yet raysed. These lesser Bulwarks serue in the nature of half moones, to which there is a passage by Ports vnder ground, and they appeare aboue water the heigth of four foot.A hedge of quickthor­ne, At the foot of the wall a hedge of quick throne is set: the branches of this hedge are turned and wrought togeather and so drawne out in breadth, that they adde an admirable defence to the Musqueters, and the walls.The Bre­adth of the ditch. The ditch in all places is not alike broad; where broadest, a hundred and fifty; where narrowest, threscore and ten foot broad. In the ditch fourteene Rauelins appeare, cut triangle-wise; the Riuer runneth about them: three of these Rauelins, by the Port-Bridges are ioyned to the Towne wall;Fourteene Rauelins. two of them are ioyned to it, by two brick walls which part the streames of the two Riuers in the ditch, and an other of them by the Castle bridg, is ioyned to the Castle wall. The outmost shore of the ditch is [Page] [Page]

[Page] [Page 5]rounded with a couered walke, fiue foot high, for the safety of the Musqueters, enclining on the outside by little and little dow­neward (a Counterscarpe is the terme they giue it.) Fiue great works secure this Counterscarpe,The discrip­tion of the Out works. cast vp before the four Ports of the Towne and Castle, and the longest Curtaine of the towne walls, cut round with ditches thirty foot broad. The leuell sides of these works are two hundred and ten foot long; broad, a hun­dred and fifty. The largest of them, lying before the Castle, is two hundred and forty paces long; two hundred paces broad. The front of them is shaped, like a forke, into corners; hence they beare the name of horne-works. Diuers sharpe stakes stick thick round about them, to giue a hindrance to the ascent, when any attempt should chaunce to be made vppon the wall On the o­ther side of the ditch, before these Out-works,Other For­tificatiōs to strengthen the Out­vvorks. lyes a place of safe retreat (called a half Moone) fortified with a Counter­scarpe, a cubit high, for the defence of the Musqueters, and compassed round with an other ditch. Some few paces distant from this ditch an other Counterscarpe (such an one as run­nes about the whole towne) doth in the same fashion shut in all these Out-works. Into this half Moone is a passage for the souldier, from the front of the Horn-worke, by means of a little draw-bridg throwne ouer the ditch.

All these inward and out-works ar so necessarily contriued and do so correspond to each other, that some of them,The excel­let oder and disposition of all these vvorks. lying higher then others; and others againe lying of equall heigth with one another, defend each other from the flanks and from abo­ue, so that from the outmost to the next to it, and from thence to the rest (when need requireth) is a safe retreat for the defen­dant. To conclude,The situatiō of the Cun­try about Breda. the Territory about the towne is of that na­ture and situation, that, either by the ordinary sea-tydes, or by any extraordinary inundation of standing waters, it is far and neare inaccessable. Besides, the Iland belonging to the Towne, cut, for the expedition of the course of shipping, on the other side of the Castle, is fortified round with an indifferent high wall. In [Page 6]this sort Count Maurice, about two yeares before, had com­maunded the walls to be raysed, the Bulwarks, Rauelins, Pallisadoes,Breda a pat­terne of rare fortificatiōs and a schoo­le of mili­tary disci­pline. Counterscarpes and ditches to be made. And by cause the conueniency and situation of the Towne seemed of its owne nature to require the setting vp of a certaine Semi­nary, as it were, of military discipline in it, the states of the vni­ted Prouinces desired that this Towne, as the fittest place for military exercise, should stand for a patterne and example to all others, and it seemeth that straungers esteemed it to be so: for hither the prime youth of Germany, France and England flocked to better their knowledg in the Artes of warre: hither, as to a patterne Count Maurice was accustomed to send men skil­full in that kind, whensoeuer any speach was of exquisite or se­rious works of fortification: hither, he had sent his nephew Don Emanuel of Portugalles sonne Captaine of a foot Company, with his Company: hither he had sent both his owne base sonnes, the one of which was Captaine of a Company.

Iustin of Nassau,Iustin of Nassau Go­uernour of Breda. Count Maurice his base Brother, a man excellent for his longe experience, who by his counsell might be able to maintayne, and by his good husbandry and parsimony hould out aseige,Iohn Aertsē the Dros­sard. had the Gouernement of the Towne commit­ted to his charg. Iohn Aertsen Lord of VVermont a man of no lesse resolution then strong iudgment, for moderating the distri­bution of Corne, restrayning of Mutinies, and giuing counsell in suddaine and desperate affayres,What was wont to be the ordina­ry garrison of Breda: and what reinforce­ment was lately ma­de. bore the Office of Drossard. The ordinary garrison of the Towne, were sixteene foot Com­panies; one Company for the Castle; and fiue Troupes of horse: in all sixteene hundred men. But the noise of a seige being brui­ted abroad,The townes men able to beare Armes Aertsen the towne Co­ronell. eight foot Companies more were sent to reinforce the former. Eighteene hundred Townesmen were able to carry Armes, of whom Aertsen had the commaund with the title of Towne-Coronell.The proui­sion of the towne a­gainst vvin­ter. The souldiers prouision against winter was 8200. measures of wheate, of Oats 2800. 3600. weight of cheese, and as many of dried Haberdine. And it was com­maunded [Page 7]strictly (before we came to beseige the Towne) that euery Townes-man should furnish him self with Corne for a twelue moneth, that for them afterwards it might not be need­full to diminish the souldiers victualls.

Many things perswaded Spinola to attempt the seige of this towne, and as many againe disswaded him from it.The reasōn vvhich per­svvaded Spi­nola to think of be­seiging Bre­da. The conue­niency of the place did principally inuite him to it, as well for the restraint of the often incursion of the enemyes horse into Brabant, which from thence into any place they often made with great ease, as for the hindrance of all nauigation betwixt the townes about Breda and other neighbouring townes of Hol­land and Zeland; a thing (by the surprising of some places ther­abouts) conceaued not to be difficult, to the in credible domage and disaduantage of the enemy. Many other commodityes besids drew him rather to attempt this towne them any other; as, the ground commodions for the drawnig of Trenches, raising of Banks and Batteryes, or any other work either of encamping or assaulting; the Riuer couenient for watring, easy to be shut vp, by which the beseiged might be vtterly depriued of all suc­cour; woods neare for fuell; store of fruitfull feilds for forrage: and lastly this concurred, that Breda being possest, Berghen op Zome and other neighbouring Townes might with lesse difficulty be recouered.

On the other side the strength of the Towne fortified by art and nature discouraged him from it;The difficul­tyes vvhich discouraged him. but principally the difficulty of conueying prouision a far of, whilst, either the enemy was to be auoided by fetching a great circuit, or all our Townes were long dayes iourneyes distant by land, or those Townes them selues stood in need of their owne prouision. Neither had we at our backs the conueniency of a Riuernauigable by Boats of any burden for the carriage of our victualls. And Breda was shut in, neare at hand, with a theater, as it were, of enemy-Townes about it. It remayned that our Corne and other prouision was to be transpor­ted by great numbres of wagons, and long iourneyes, hindred by [Page 8]the winter season, which questionlesse could not be performed either without imminent daunger, or double the forces we had then in the feild.

The state of our affayers, and of the low Cuntryes at that tyme stood thus:The State of the lovv Cuntryes vvhen Spi­nola thou­ght first of this seige. Philip the fourth King of Spaine had forbid­den truce to be longer held with the vnited Prouinces, conceauing it to be far more preiudiciall to him then warre. The Arch­duchesse Isabel Clara Eugenia Infante of Spaine, Dowagere of that excellent Prince Albert, thought it a thing vnworthy that the flourishing Army the King had then in the low Cuntryes, should loose it self, and decay with idlenesse and sloth. Our ry­sing from Berghen op Zome, for which the enemy made such boasts, was scarse yet well disgested. Germany, wearied out with warres, tooke breath againe. The forces and reputation of the bastard Mansfeild were now almost extinct. The coue­naunts of peace made with the Kings of England and Fraunce were inuiolably kept. A iust quarrell was only kept on foot with the Rebells of the vnited Prouinces. Against them it was thought fit our forces should be bent, nor for affectation or desire of Souerainty, but for the reestablishing of Religion, and regai­ning what they vsurped.

Spinola, keeping secret his designes to him felf, now that the season seemed to inuite him to it, the corne being already ripe, vppon the 21. of Iuly 1624. departed from Bruxels, and set forward with his Army But he had so prouided with him self for all casualtyes of warre, that though he resolued to make an attempt vppon Breda, yet if he should perceaue it a matter difficult to effect (by the enemyes reinforcing that garrison,vvith vvhat intention Spinola marched into the feild that yeare. as afterwards it hapned) he might from any place he should sit downe, vndertake any other expedition, according as he should see fittest, being there in person, turning his forces at his owne liberty into what place he pleased.

The Army,The Army diuided into three parts purposely to distract the enemy, was diuided into three parts, and iourneyes commaunded to other places [Page 9]then was intended. The Marquesse Spinola tooke his iournoy byThe Pil­grimage called by English mē Our B. Lay dyer of Sichem. Montagu (that sacred Church of the Virgin Mother so famous for miracles ouer the whole world) where, after he had ben present at the Mysteryes of Catholike Religion, and offered his prayers for the Army at the Altar of the Virgin Mary he led his foot forces one way,Spinolaes deuotion to the Virgin Mary. whilst Don Lewis de Velasco Count of Salacar, General of the Horse, tooke a different iourney with the horse of the Army. Iohn Brauo Gouernour of An­werp Castle, who was sent to lead that Army out of Merk­land, which Don Goncalo de Cordua had commaunded, as Camp Master Generall, ioyned those forces with these greater not far from Turnhout, about the same tyme,The Army vvas found to be lesse then it was thought to be before. (as he was com­mauded). Here by the way Spinola caused the Army to be mustered, and found it to be lesse then it was beleiued to be when marching at length it made shew of a greater number then it contayned. Otherwise, it was an Army of choyse and select men, able to make good, with their valour, the default of their numbers. They were in all fifteene Regiments, consi­sting of 198. foot Companyes. Nine and thirty truopes of horse. Scarce altogeather eighteene thousand men.

Iustin of Nassau Gouernour of Breda, ignorant of our designes, but wary; so soone as he vnderstood Spinola to be arriued there, caused fiue foot Companyes to march to him out of the adioyning Terntory of Swol;The Couer­nour rein­forced the garrison vvith tvve­ty foot Companies and after ward fifteene more newly arriued at Swol, out of Holland; emonest which was Count Maurice his owne Company, with Prince Henry his Brothers, and diuer men of quality, besids Hauteriue the french Coronell, the English Coronell Morgan, and Loquerene the Hollander. And the next day, vppon notice giuen him that Spinola drew nearer, he dismissed to Gertrudenberg the three trupes of horse of Count Culenberg, Count Styrum,He put out of the tovv­ne three troupes of Horse. and the french Captaine Villibon, that he might not haue too many horses for the scarcity of his fortage, when two troupes of horse with fiue and forty foot Companies, were more then enough [Page 10]for the garde of the Towne. The Coronells last arriued had their Quartets allotted them in the Out-works and walls. Hauteriue the french Coronell who commaunded also the VVallons, had the garde of Gineken Port; the English Co­ronell Morgan the Port of Bolduc; and Loquerene with the Scottish and Dutch had Anwerp Port to defend.The nevv fortificatiōa vvithout the Horne­vvorks. VVhich done with all speed they caused to be cast vp before each point of these Out-works, an other Fortification proportionable to those points; and the like fortification before the front of the Out-works, bending foreward cubit-wise with a middle point; these three new fortifications representing all togea­ther the forme of a Trident. VVithout these new works againe, they drew an other ditch, and about that a Coun­terscarp, with a thick Pallisado, fenced on the top (like aAn Engi­ne so called being a great Mast or beame stuck tho­rough thick with heads of Pikes. Porcupine) with two sharpe nailes, so to preuent any sud­daine irruption that way. The space from the outmost shore of the Horne-works to these three new fortifications opposite to their front and Corners, was a hundred and forty paces, into which from the out sides of the Horne-works, the soul­dier had a passage by a port vnder ground. These were the first works added to Count Maurice his fortifications from the tyme that they of Breda began to feare a Seige.

Spinola in fiue dayes iourneyes arriued at Gilsen with his Army,Spinola heareth his Coronells opinions. (a Village two howers trauelling distant from Bre­da.) where calling diuers of his Coronells to counsell, each man a part, he began first to sound their opinions about the attempting of Breda: but he found them all against him. They alleadged that the fortifications of The Towne were inuincible;The Coro­nells reasōs against the enterprise of Breda. that the waters (when pleased the inbabitants to let loose the Riuer) drowned far and neare round about the Towne; that the Towne it self in many places was seperated with the Riuer; that the garrison was reinforced with eight and twenty foot-Companies; that we had not forces to beare the brunt of so daungerous an assault, to which as well mul­titudes [Page]

[Page 11]as worth of men was required; that if haply the ene­myes Army should fall vppon vs in the Reare, before we could possesse our selues of a Towne so inpregnable, we should either be forced to retire with shame, or desperately expose our weake forces to the hazzard of a double charg in the van and the Reare.

The Coronells hauing thus deliuered their opinions,Spinola ae­quaintedthe Infanta vvith his Coronells opinions. Spi­nola who knew well the office of a Generall to differ from that of his Lieutenant Generall; the Generalls being to de­termine peremptorily vppon the conclusion of all buisnesses, the other, to be guided and do all things by direction, remay­ned still with his Army at Gilsen, and acquainted the Arch­duchesse Isable with these opinions:The Infanta dissvvadeth the enter­prise of Breda. But she hauing had no­tice before of those notable supplies added of late to the garrison of Breda, made answere, she would haue nothing attemped with the imminet daunger of so many braue men; that she might iustly be condemned of iniustice, if she should not value the liues of them at a dearer rate, whose harts and affections she knew to be such, that they would refufe no daunger whensoeuer they were commaunded; that Spinola notwithstanding should take it to his care, that so select an Army should not returne with losse of reputation and at­tempting of nothing.

These affayres were consulted with Count Henry vanden Berghe, Gouernour of Gelderland,Thes buis­nesses vvere consulted vvith Count Henry van­den Berghe. who lodged with an other Army neare about the Rhene, to whom Spinola dispatched the Sargeant Maior Losano with letters to know his aduise. He sent from the Camp besides Charles of Burgundy Baron of VVaken, Captaine of a troupe of horse, and great Baileife of the Citty of Gant, to Charles Bernard Fontayne Coro­nell of a VVallon Regiment, and Superintendent of the forces of Flandres,An attempt vppon the Iland of Casante re­solued owe but left of againe. to treat with him about the surprising of Casante (an Iland neare Sluce.) This matter was long de­bated betwixt them two, and in the end it came to be disputed [Page 12]before the Cardinall de la Cueua, his Ma.^ties Embassadour in the low Cuntryes; and as each mans fancy led him, so one of them pretended to make the matter difficult, the other endea­uered to make it appeare fecible. Fontayne dispaired of it: VVake warrented successe. Fontayne notwithstanding offered him self to vndertake it, prouided, that (for his discharge) he might receaue his commaunds in wirting; for which purpose he pre­sently tooke his iourney to Bruges. VVake within three dayes was dispatched thither after him. But all things being now in readinesse, the Archduchesse mistrusting the successe of the enterprise, commaunded them to desist.

Meane while the Marquesse consulted againe with some men about him of best vnderstanding,Spinola soundeth his Coro­nels opini­ons about the seige of Breda. and calling his Coronells and some Captaines to counsell, demaunded of each man his opinion a part, what they thought now of laying Seige to Breda, since of late they had deliuered that it was not to be surprised by assault.They all disswade him. Here againe they all (one Coronell excepted) obiected the difficultyes of such a siege: that the Towne could not be en­trenched round,Their rea­sons against the seige. but at an vnreasonable distance; that the circuit of our Trenches (by reason of the low situation of many places about the Towne, partly inaccessible through the marrishes and sea-flouds, and partly subiect to be drowned whensoeuer plea­seth the Townes-men to stop the Riuer by their Sluces) must of necessity take vp a iourney of more then four or fiue howers; that that distance was to be filled by so many gudards and Quar­ters of ours, that they might almost meet and shake hands with each other, otherwise the passages to the Towne could not be stopped; that we had not forces to distribute into so many seue­rall places; that an infinite prouision of Corne was made for the souldier, and commaundment giuen to the Townes men to make their prouision against winter; Briefe, that it would proue a tedious piece of worke to famish a Towne plentifull of all pro­uision; the rather by cause, if the enemy bringing greater forces should encampeat our backs with intention to rayse vs, we might [Page]

[Page 13]be compelled, without striking stroake, by the only intercepting and stopping of our Conuoyes,That our Army vvould sus­taine more want in be­seiging Bre­da, then the enemy be­seiged. for want of prouision to retire our selues: so mayne a difference is betwixt vs in this point, that they from any place, by means of their neare Townes and Ri­uers would easily be furnished with all sort of prouision (the di­uers situation of their Townes and hauens being such, that al­most no wind can blow amisse for some saile or other) for Ger­trudenbergh,The neart Tovvnes, of the states, to Breda. Seuenbergh and Heusden, neighbouring Townes of the states, ly within three or four howers iourney of Breda, besides many other Villages not much farther from it, all which haue either the Sea or Some Riuer running by them. That we on the other side were likely to fall into wants sooner then the beseiged of Breda themselues, in regard of our far, and difficult transportation of prouision by land, which only way would be left open to our Camp, and that besids exposed to infinite daungers, and peraduenture wholy possest and taken from vs by the ene­my: for Anwerp, Mechline and Lyre, were Townes of ours,The Kings Tovvnes far from Breda. ten or twelue howers trauelling distant from Breda; Bolduc and Herentals, the nearest Townes we haue, stood at the least nine howers iourney from thence.

One Coronell there present was of an other opinion,Thereasone vvhich one of our Co­ronells al­leadged for the seige of Breda. who making no reckning of the reasons alleadged, affirmed, that for this only respect Breda ought to be attempted that no greater corrasiue could come to Count Maurice, who made a singu­lar value and estimation of that Towne; with the losse of which he would loose much of his reputation with all men; that it was not to be beleiued that the beseiged could be so absolutely fur­nished, that nothing should be wanting to such numbres of men for the failing of which they might not be forced in short tyme to surrender; that famine would presse any Towne destitute of supplies; that the cutting of of their prouision would beget want, and wantes would breed dissention emongst the Souldiers and Townes men.

The Coronells Don Francisco Medina,They vvhe vvere sent to discouer wereagainst the Seige. Matthew Ottannez [Page 14]and Don Iohn Medecis had ben sent before towards Breda to discoure, who brought word that the ground about the Towne was not amisse to raise works and draw Trenches, that there was a Riuer conuenient for watring, woods for all necessaryes, store of feilds and Barnes for forrage, but yet they all con­cluded that those things were infinitely to be suspected and feared which the Coronells had before alleadged against the Seige. Meane while Losano returned from the Rhene with let­ters of Count Henryes who hauing heard the Coronells obiecti­ons against the Seige of Breda,Count Hen­ry vanden Berghe his counsell to beleige Em brick and Raes, or Grane with the Castles of Rauesty­ne and Gennep. proposed to Spinola the attempt of Embrick and Raes: he put him in mind that he lay in person with is Army thereabouts; that his forces being somewhat rein­forced, and a Bridg of Boats, with a great Fort, made ouer the Rhene, Embrick might be taken, which done, Raes of ne­cessity must come vnder subiection; or if for the scarcity of boats he thought it not conuenient to haue a Bridg made, that Graue at least with the Catles of Rausteyn and Gennep might be be­seiged all at once; that he would be pleased to determine what he would haue done, consulting the affaire with Antony Baron of Grobbendonck a man expert, and particularly acquainted with those places. Spinola sending back with Losano Don Fran­ciseo de Medina Coronell of a Spanish Regiment, signified that as far as concerned Graue, Rauesteyn and Gennep, he allowed of Count Henryes opinion, and demaunded what sup­plies he stood in need of for that enterprise.The forces which Cont Henry de­maunded to beseige Grane. Count Henry de­sired 5000 foot and 1000 horse, which, with his other forces, would suffice for that seruice. He wished Spinola to ly still with his Army at Gilsen, so to keep the enemy in suspence that he should not dare to draw forth the garrison of Breda, or any other, to impeach our Seige intended before Graue. Spinola relishing well this enterprise, and relying vppon the word of so great a Commaunder,Spinala ac quaintedthe Archdu enesse with Coūt Hen­ives Coun­sell. gaue notice of what had passed to the Archduchesse Isabel, by the Coronell Medina; and commaun­ding Antony Baron Grobbendonck to repaire presently to him [Page 15](as Count Henry desired) demaunded his opinion about the Seige intended before Graue with the Castles of Rauesteyn and Gennep.Spinola as­keth Grob­bendoncks opinion. He answered freely that so many seuerall ex­peditions at once would proue a thing more difficult then was conceaued of it: Yet notwithstanding that credit was to be giuen in that particular to Count Henry, a man akilfull in his trade, and particularly acquainted with the nature of those places.The vvant of water in the Camp of Gilsen.

Many dayes were spent in these doubts and vncertaynties whilst our Army at Gilsen in the meane tyme began to loose hart. The Riuer was twoSix En­glish miles. leagues from vs (and that the nearest water we had to our Campe) The VVells, which were but few, were either dried vp by the heate of the yeare, or exhausted by too much drawing, or the water drawne out of them was so trou­bled and muddy, that it would not be setled or grow cleare in a long tyme. The impatience of thirst, concurring with the extrea­me heats of the yeare, forced many to seeke vnwholsome water in ditches, or tracks of Cart-wheels, which was a cause of great infection emongst them. Spinola being tould of this inconueni­ence, and being desirous to informe him selfe of the truth of the buisnes, as one not easily giuing credit to euery idle report, called presently some of his Coronells vnto him; demaunding whether their souldiers suffered such want of water as he was made beleiue. But they, either fearfull to discouer the errour of the place chosen for our Campe, or measuring other mens ne­cessityes by their owne plenty, being desirous with all to plea­se, made answer that their souldiers, wanted not water. Vp­pon this the Marquesse in presence of the Coronells called for him who had complained of that want, who whilst he per­sisted in the iustification of what he had said, Count Iohn Nas­sau Coronell of two Regiments of Germains came in oportu­nely who making a relation of his souldiers necessityes confirmed what the other had complained of before.The Mar­quesse finds out the truth. VVhere vppon one of the standers by who before had refused to acknowledg [Page 16]the truth, whispered him priuily in the eare who had made the complaint,Spinola cō ­maunded vveils to be made. giuing him thanks for making a discouery of that which he him selfe was afraid to complaine of. Spinola hauing by this means discouered the truth commaunded presently many wells to be suncke,Nevv losses and incon ueniences to our Campe. a remedy which in part redressed the inconuenience. By the extreame heats of the yeare, forty thousand loaues of Bread were corrupted in Gilsen Campe. Almost about the same tyme the Cabins of two Italian Regi­ments, by an vnlucky accident, were set on fire and brunt. To all which extremityes, whilst to that day no wages had ben paid to the souldier, and the prices of all marchandize grew to be excessiue, diuers of our men began to forsake their Colours; which Spinola mistrusting would proue an example to many more he sought to redresse it by the rigour of Iustice.Iustice done vppon soul­diers vvhich ranne avvay from their Colours. Four or fiue of these runne-awayes were taken in their flight and brought back againe, whose tryall he caused to be put to fortune, and the dice condemned one of them to dy. Meane while many li­berall discourses were euery where heard in the Campe: that the tyme of action was spent in consulting, and that our reputa­tion and souldiers were lost with delayes.The ene­myes scoffs against the King, and Spinola. By the enemy many reproachfull things were done in scorne of the King, and Spi­nola. In Holland, Buffons and lesters instituted Comicall sports (not vnlike to those of Atella) which they called the SpanishScarre­erovv. Bombomach. Ridiculous pictures, of the King seeking Breda with a lanterne, Spinola standing by him, scratching his head with both his hands, were euery where to be bought: to which there were not wanting satiricall Balads and Rimes. Count Maurice in a kind of contempt of vs taking his plea­sure at the Hage, assured, as he thought, of all things, is re­ported merrily to haue said:The Prince of Orange his bitter iest against Spinola. that it had ben better for Spinola toly idle at Gela (a place where mad men recouer their senses againe) then at Gilsen. But these fopperies, being contemned, vanished of them selues.

The resolution of beseiging Graue was now approued by the [Page 17]Archduchesse, wherfore Spinola dispatched away Don Iohn Medeces, a souldier of long experience, with Orders to Count Henry, commaunding him to march towards Graue, with the Army he had about the Rhene, and promising,Count Iohn Nassau sent with suer­cours to count Hen­ry vanden Bergh. at a day ap­pointed, to send him those other forces he desired. About the same tyme, he sent from the Campe Count Iohn Nassau (who had newly refused the offer of being Generall of the Venetians Army) with a supply of 5000. foot, and four troupes of Horse; three pieces of Canon, eighteene Boats and other carriages.Captaine Conrade d' Auber­mont sent along with Count Iohn He commaunded Iohn Conrade d' Aubermount Captaine of a troupe of horse, who lodged with his troupe in the Towne of Bolduc, one who might stand him much in steed for his know­ledg and experience of the Cuntry therabouts, to march along with him. The next day he sent after him Don Hyacintho de Velasco Marquesse of Belueder, with ten troupes more, to the number of a thousand horse, commaunding him that he should chase all Cattle far and neare from about the Territory of Graue, and make good those places which Count Henry should make choise of for the pitching of his Camp.Count Hen­ry take Mō ­delbergh, Cleue and Gennep. Count Henry vanden Bergh in his iourney towards Graue, falling vppon the Castle of Mondelbergh, the Towne and Castle of Cleue, and the Towne of Gennep, tooke them, and placed his owne garrisons in them; his autority and commaund of his souldiers being such, forbidding them all pillage and spoile in the Towne of Cleue, that though they were forced to enter into howses plentifully furnished with all kind of rich househould stuffe, from the windowes and roofs of which they might the more commodiously shoot into the Castle, which yet made resistance,The tem­per of Count Hen­lyes soul­diers. not the least complaint was made of any souldier, nor any thing knowne to haue ben stolne by any of them. Of which af­terwards when the Borrowmaster of Cleue made report to Count Maurice, he admired as well the harmelesnes of the souldier, as the integrity of the Generall, comparing him in this particular to some Scaurus, in whose tyme euen the fruits [Page 18]of the trees were protected from the licentiousnesse of the soul­dier. He fortified Mouke,Count Henry en­campeth in the Village of Mouke. He goeth to discouer Rauesteyn and Batten­burg. a willage vppon the Mose, com­modious for the transportation of victualls, on the other side of the Riuer, where he lodged with his Army. From thence (to deceaue the enemy) with fifteene troupes of horse and, 300. Musqueters, he went to discouer Batenburg and Rauesteyn.

The Marquesse of Belueder,The Mar­quesse of Belueder sendeth great store of Cattle to Boldue. well stored with Cattle, hauing drouen before him, and sent to Boldue all the heards which he found bewixt Rauesteyn and Graue, left nothing behind him but confusion and feare. Count Henry after a view ta­ken of Battenburg and Rauesteyn, called Count Iohn Nas­sau and Conrade d' Abermont to him,Count Henry sig­nisieth to Spinola that he dispaired of taking Rauesteyn. the later of whom he dispatched to Spinola, to let him knowthat Rauesteyn was not so easy to be surprised as he had beleiued; but, letting Raue­steyn along for the present, if Spinola thought good, he would attempt Graue, which, with an addition of greater forces, he was not altoge ather out of hope to take in. He commauded Count Iohn Nassau to encamp, neare Graue, on the contrary side of the Mose, resoluing to remayne in person at Mouke, till Spi­nola had returned answere what he would haue done.A bridg of Boats made ouer the Mose. He signified besids that he would make a Bridg ouer the Mose to passe and ioyne his forces if need should require.

About this tyme arose so fearfull a Tempest one night, of rayne,A fearfull rempest. wind, thunder and lightning, that the elements, and he a­uen and earth seemed to come togeather. The thunder and lightning was with out intermission, the whirlwinds vnresistable, the rayne powerd downe by flouds, not by drops, all things were in darknesse, all things to the fearfull expression of the later day.Prince Hen­ry of Nassau his designe crossed by she tempest. That night Prince Henry Fredrick of Nassau, had prepared with his whole Army to fall vppon our Campe, not yet fortified by Count Henry vanden Bergh, if this great tempest had not crost his designe. Three dayes after that, gi­uing order to the garrison of Graue to make a sally at the same tyme, he came againe with greater forces to tast Count [Page 19]Henryes Campe: but they of Graue not being ready in tyme, and Count Henry hauing not now left his Campe open and vn­fortified, the matter was decided by a slight skirmish. Count Iohn of Nassau had chosen a place so commodious to encampe, neare Graue, as he was commaunded, that on his right hand he had the Riuer,A fit place to encampe chosen by Count Iohn of Naslau. on his left hand and front, a little brooke drawne out of the Riuer. To this notwithstanding, in that space which remayned betwixt the waters and his Campe, against the enemyes passing ouer the Riuer, he cast vp a trench round about his Camp. Before him grew a wood fit to lay ambushes. Neare the towne, stood diuers little rising hills, which in the day tyme Count Iohn of Nassau kept with his horse, in the night tyme, for feare of ambushes, he was con­tented to quit: Hence occasion was often giuen of some slight horse-skirmishes, when in the morning our men came to dis­possesse the enemy of those Hills, which in the night tyme they euer possessed.

The Gouernour of Graue Stakenbrouck,The Couer­nour of Graue pre­tendeth in vayne to searre vs. with a feined confused noise of the Enemyes whole Army marching towards our Campes, caused an alarum to be giuen vs, as if he had ben ready to fall on; who the next morning, desiring li­cence to speake with Count Iohn of Nassau, and being de­maunded by him, to what purpose he had broaken his, and his souldiers sleep with such a confused clattering of Armes in the night tyme? made answer, that it was rather to be admired that he, to whom in tyme the inheritance of those Townes might, peraduenture, fall by right of succession would offer, in hostile manner, to come of surprise them:Count Iohn Nassun his ansver to the Gouer­nour of Graue. To which Count Iohn replied, that that inheritance (as a thing fallen now to the Prince) was not to be thought of for the present, and that the thing he most aimed at now, was his Gouernement of Graue. To this the Gouernour made answer, that it was neces­sary therfore for him to looke well to the defence of it, for which purpose he would returne home: and with that he [Page 20]departed, and commaunded presently to let fly into Count Iohn Nassaus Camp, in punishment, as it were, of his ambition.It seemeth strang to Spinola that Count Hen­ry vanden Bergh ma­de difficul­ty of the beseiging of Rauesteyn.

By this tyme d' Aubermont was returned to Gilsen, from Count Henry, whose answer when Spinola heard, he admired that Count Henry should obiect so many difficultyes against an enterprise which he had professed him felfe to be the author of. But bycause neuerthelesse he perceaued Count Henry to draw back from what he had proposed at first about Rauesteyn, and this only vppon his diffidence and doubt of the sucesse of it, and that he was willing, if he were commaunded, to take his iourney to Graue, he gaue him order to march thither with all the speed he could.Spinola caused tvvelue. Re­douts to be made about his Campe at Gilsen. VVith these commaunds he dispatched Don Francisco de Medina, sending d' Aubermont back with him againe to Count Henry. And in the meane tyme he clo­sed in Gilsen Campe with twelue Redouts, that the enemy might not break in vppon vs at vnawares.

They of Breda,They of bredacaused their hous­holdstuffe to be brought back agai­ne. hauing notice of this, beleiuing we had left of the thought of beseiging that towne, gaue order, like men out of daunger of VVarre, that their housholdstuffe, which, for feare of a Seige they had conueied to other neighbourering Townes, should now by boats be brought back againe, thinking no more of making any farther prouision of victualls, assuring them selues they had already enough of that prouision they had made against winter: VVherfore they permitted a hundren Oxen, and two shipps laden with cheese, newly brought in, to be transported back out of the Towne againe,They of Bredibeing out of feare admit many vunecessary persons ni­to the tovvne to the great vvasting of their proui­sion. all men refusing to buy them. The Pesants with their wiues and children, who at their first repai­ring to the Towne, were put back and refused entrance, like so many Mice and deuourers of Corne, for the better preseruing of the Towne prouision, at such tyme as a Seige was suspected, flying now thither againe out of the Cuntry therabouts, which lay exposed to the pillage and wasting of our souldier, were admit­ted, to the infinite preiudice of the Towne prouision, being men [Page 21]for the most part of more then ordinary appetites.

This manner of Spinolaes encamping,Spinolaes manner of proceeding begets doubts in Count Maurice. was cause that count Maurice could neither conceaue what we seriously intended, or what we only gaue out and made shew of, or whether our purpose were to attempt Graue or Breda, or both of them to­geather, or any other Towne: which thing begat so many doubts in his mind, that, whilst he durst not draw part of his garri­son out of one Towne for the releife of the other, and had not forces sufficient to secure them both from daunger, he could in the meane tyme prouide well for neither. Yet at last departing from the Hage, his ordinary place of pleasure,Count Maurice co­mes to the Campe and puts proui­sion into the Isle of Bommel. he came to the Campe to his Brother Henry Fredrick Nassau, neare Nine­gen, where he gaue order that great store of Artillery and other prouision of warre should be transported in to Bommel, and commaunded all places neare Bolduc to be strongly fortified. And howbeit our affayres seemed to many to be ill managed and vnnecessarily delayed,vvhat vve gained by ourdelayes. yet this aduantage we got by our delayes, that the haruest being now well spent, no tyme was left the enemy to make prouision for any other seruice, we being already in readines for any exploit.

The noise of our preparation,The Duke of Boullion departed from breda vvith a de­sire to be present at the Seige of Graue by which we made shew of be­seiging Graue, being bruited abroad, the Duke of Boutlion, a french man, perceauing that warre translated to Graue, which he had expected would be at Breda, betooke himselfe thither to make proofe of some aduenture, and thinking to returne afterwards, when we beseiged Breda, (as the report runns) found his passage stopped. Count Henry hauing discouered the nature and situation of Graue,Count Henry found all things other vvise about Gra­ue then he had ben made belie­ue by the discouery of Spies. and heard the opinions of the Cuntry people therabouts, found all things to be otherwise then before (relying vppon other lmens discoueryes) he had made Spinola beleiue. He foresawne at the Seige would scarce be en­ded in three monthes, and thess in the me ane season by, reason of the great Bottoms and lor [...] places about the Towne (in which our Campe of necessity must haue ben lodged) we should [Page 22]be forced to remooue by the winter flouds. The pesants and others acquainted with the situation of the place, affirmed that in the later end of Spring that enterprise ought to haue ben begun, and that by the end of summer there might haue ben some hope of taking the Towne. That at the end of haruest all places therabouts were ouerflowed and inaccessi­ble. Don Francisco de Medina and d' Aubermont sent thi­ther by Spinola,Spinolaes cōmaunds brought to Conut Henry. with orders to Count Henry to beseige Graue, as he had vndertaken, arriued about the same tyme. They could him Spinola much marueiled at his dispairing of the taking of Rauesteyn, of which he had giuen him so much assuraunce: That not withstanding (if he found that could not commodiously be done) his will was that withall speed he should attempt Graue.Count Henry ans­wereth the that vvere sent to him from Spi­nola that for the pre­sent he dis­paired of taking Gra­ue. But Count Henry fallen now in like manner from the hope of taking Graue, made them answer, that, for the present, he dispaired also of Graue; but, if Spino­la thought it fit, he would in a short tyme take in Gennep Castle; which wonne, Graue at any other tyme might with lesse difficulty be taken.

This answer seemed strang, and amazed them much, who demaunded what he meant by that manner of proceeding? that they,The reply oft hem that were sent. for their parts, could not comprehend how Graue in so short a space, in which neither the reinforcement of that garri­son, nor supplyes of prouision, nor any circumstance of tyme had hapned preposterous, should vppon the suddaine become so much stronger them it was before, that, in his opinion, it was not, now to be taken: that they besought him, in Spinolaes name, to take hart; and to be confident of the taking of one Towne alone, who had proposed the taking of so many togeather.Count Henryes ex­cuse. To this Count Henry had much to reply: that wel­neare three weeks were let pas [...] from the beginning of which he ought to haue had all things [...] readines, that in the meane tyme the enemy, at Nimegen had reinforced his Army with English and french supplies, and lay not far of: that if Spino­la [Page 23]him self would draw nearer, sending him some part of his forces, he would yet make proofe what might be done.

Of this, and much more of this kind, bycause Don Fran­cisco Medina, and d' Aubermont, thought it best to carry back the relation in writing, they demaunded Count Henryes let­ter to Spinola, the substance of which was this:Count Henry let­ter to Spi­nola by which he excuseth him self. ‘That it was euident with what zele he vndertooke the things he had pro­posed, when, for no other end, he surprised the Castle of Mon­delbergh, the Towne and Castle of Cleue, and the Towne of Gennep, with out which he could not haue releiued his Army. That he confessed himself to haue ben the author of that enterprise, but with respect, and reference to Spinola, whom he had euer perceaued to be of a contrary opinion, and to haue his whole thoughts fixed vppon Breda. That he did beleiue what he had proposed, to be fecible, but that he had ben deceaued by the discouery of two persons, to whom he gaue too much credit, before he had made a discouery of it him self; That that counsell of his needed not an Apology; that it was no new thing for spies to deliuer things heard of for things seene; that very great Commaunders had ben often so deceaued. That he was of opinion still that that Seige ought not, at this tyme, to be begun; bycause he had now discouered many things likely to come crosse which before he did not foresee. That he was ready notwithstanding to do what soeuer he should be commaunded, shunning no daunger prouided that Spinola would giue him his commaunds in writing; and, ioyntly, excuse him to the King, if (as already he presaged it would) the enterprise should haue vnfortunate successe.’

Vppon the receipt of these letters, Spinola,Spinola resolueth againe vp­pon the sei­ge of Bre­da. who had all his thoughts yet fixed vppon the Seige of Breda, put of till now, being out of all hope of possessing of Graue, called back to his Camp Count Iohn Nassau and the Marquesse of Belueder with the forces committed to their charg, and some other Com­panies [Page 24]of diuers Regiments which lay before Breda: he com­maunded Count Henry to disist from his attempt intended against Gennep Castle,Count Hen­ry is com­maunded to haue a care of our Townes in Gelderland. and carefully to obserue the enemy; to haue a speciall care of our neigbouring Townes of Gelderland; not to remooue with his Army, but when the enemy remooued; he rising, to follow him close at the heeles. From the Campe he sent Don Francisco de Medina to the Archduchesse Isabel to propose againe to her the resolution lately left of, of beseiging Breda. The Archduchesse, mindfull of the great difficultyes alleadged before against that Seige, doubtfull what to resolue, allowed at last of the enterprise, subiect to infinite daungers, confiding in the valour and good fortune of Spinola.

Count Henry vanden Bergh, obeying Spinolaes commaunds, saued him self with such art from the enemy lying by him, that Count Maurice hauing an Army of twenty thousand men, durst not,Count Iohn Nassaus ca­re to march out of daun­ger of the enemy. with all those forces aduenture to charg him, he hauing but a weake Army of 4000. foot, and 1800. horse. Count Iohn Nassau least in his returne, being to passe neare the enemy, his men might chaunce to be charged and disordred, diuided his Army into three squadrons, and marched, ready to receaue any charg.

A moneth and more was now spent in these doubts and demurrs, and so many messengers sent vp and downe in vayne. Many men detracted publikely from Spinolaes deserts, saying the affaires of warre were ill managed by him, and that the consults held in the feild, ought to haue ben held at home. Others scoffed at him in their Cupps seming to presage that the like infamy to that of Berghen op Zome would light vppon our Army; as if they, forsooth, in their drinke, had had the caere of the ouerthrow Count Maurice. Some called in question Count Henry vanden Bergh his integrity.Many men laughed and scoffed at the Mar­quesse Spi­nola. Others said it were good we returned into garrison, hauing let slip, by our delayes, all oportunityes of doing any thing. Spinola who to this day had not broaken ground, nor planted Artillery before any [Page 25]Towne, or proclaimed by sound of drumne any lawes or ordi­nances of a Campe beseiging a Towne, some one of which by the discipline of warre, is presumed should haue preceded, before any Towne could be said to be beseiged, might hitherto say with Caesar, being to passe ouer Rubicon: Yet it is lawfull with­out dishonour to go back. But he chose rather by some daring Enterprise to put all calumnies to a non plus. And that Count Henry might not suffer in his reputation and integrity,Spinola pu­blished Count Hen­ryes letters to him, so to cleare him of what some men Suspected of him. he thought good to send his owne letters (written of the passages of those buisnesses, now publike to all men, in the presence of two wit nesses) to the Archduchesse Isabel: not knowing better how to cleare Count Henry, then by the testimony of his owne letters.A muster vvas taken of the Army

A Muster ther fore was taken before the souldier was paid (a thing euer almost obserued during the tyme of the Seige) least by the gaine which others looked to make, Spinola might be deceaued by a false relation of the numbers of his men: and Count Henyne Coronell of a VVallon Regiment was sent from the Camp to the Infanta, to raise new forces,Count He­nyne sent to raise new troups. to the number 6400. VVallons; order was giuen that Armes and other pro­vision of warre should be bought; that the ould souldiers should be drawne out of garrison, and sent to the Campe, supplying those garrisons againe with new raised forces. In fine all hope of looking home being vtterly cut of, without farther calling of any new Counsell, Spinola concluded peremptorily to march to Breda.

Vppon the 26 of August about the entraunce of night he sent Don Francisco Medina before with ten troupes of horse and 4000. foot (the Spaniards hauing the van-garde) to take a new place for our Campe to lodge. He gaue him order to take in Gineken the nearest village to Breda, directing what,Don Fran­cisco de Medina tooke vp the village of Gineke. and how he would haue things done. Paul Ballion Coronell of an Italian Regiment, had order at the same tyme to take the village of Terheyde (a place opposite to Gineken,Paul Ballio tooke Ter­heyde. on the other side of the Towne) accompanied with his owne Regiment [Page 20] [...] [Page 21] [...] [Page 22] [...] [Page 23] [...] [Page 24] [...] [Page 25] [...] [Page 26]which had the van-garde, and the Scottish Regiment of the Earle of Argyl, with fourteene other Companies of seuerall Regiments, a good commaund of horse, and some pieces of Canon.

Thus in one night the two sides of the Towne most con­uenient to giue a beginning or entrance to our Seige, were taken vp both at one tyme: our comming being sooner expe­rienced by the inhabitants of Breda, and the Cuntry people therabouts, then they could haue newes of it: VVhich when they of Breda began to discouer, towards breake of day, our men by that tyme hauing taken vp their Quarter, they plaid vppon vs the whole day after with seauen pieces of Artillery they sent out souldiers to defend certaine howses about the Towne: the Pesants betooke them selues to flight, the souldiers to slight skirmishes on all sides,Some slight skirmishes. by which little hurt was done on either side, sauing that the Canoners of Breda (a pleasaunt sight to our souldiers) bestowed their Balls with such aime, that they killed a Millar of their owne, hard by the Towne, and for­ced one of their troups of horse which had the garde not far of to quit their Quarter, and retire, for feare of their owne shot.

The next morning,Spinola ar­riued vvith the rest of the Anny. by break of day, Spinola departed from Gilsen with the rest of his Army and about noone arri­ved at Gineken, where going presently to the top of the Church steeple, he pointed out places, from aboue, fit for our Campe to lodge. Don Francisco de Medina had taken vp his Quarter neare a small Brooke, vppon which a Barke mill stood. This place the Marquesse caused to be fortified, casting vp at first a trench, and afterwards a greater worke, with three little Redout,The first vvorke be­gun at Gineken. and a fort, vppon the high way, placing Musqueters behind the hedges and yong sprouts of trees to defend them: be­sides all which he put a Garde vppon a Bridg ouer the Merk, not far from Gineken Church. He sent Don Iohn Medecis to Terheyde, on the other side of the Towne, to giue order for the taking in of places conuenient, who brought word that it was [Page 27]necessary to take possession af all Sluces, with which the cham­pion waters ar either kept in, or let out into the Merk, togea­ther with a great hill, called in the Cuntry language CONEN-BERGH. Paul Baillio intercepted twelue car­riage Boats of the ene­myes in their iour­ney to Bre­da. This first day of the Seige, Paul Ballion, with some light portable Boats, intercepted and tooke at vnawares twelue carriage Boats, laden with store of prouision and hou­shouldstuffe, in their iourney towards Breda: an infallible presage of good fortune, when the surprising of so many Boats made way to the regaining of that Towne, which by the prac­tise of a Boate had before ben trecherously taken from the King. The Martiners, landing themselues vppon the con­trary shore, fled faster then they could be recouered by our men. The prise remayned to our Souldiers and watermen.They of Breda burne diuers hou­ses about to Towne.

All that day they of Breda made good certayne howses be­longing to the village of Gineken, but at night they ransacked and quit them, setting fire, and burning to the number of thirty howses. The next day Aertsen the Towne-Coronell,A wood neare the tovvne is felled by the Tovvnes­men. with eight Companies of Townesmen, felled a wood of Count Maurices (called BELCKROMBOSCH) growing vnderthe Towne-VValls, least our men, hid in the shades of those groues, should at vnawares make approaches to the works about the Castle. These woods were sould to such as would giue most for them.Many Bar­nes about the tovvne burnt by the garrison souldiers.

The dayes following were entertayned with diuers slight skirmishes, they of Breda making sallyes in seuerall places out of the Towne, burning many Barnes and farme­howses round about them. In the Towne by commaund of the Magistrate, a generall search was made in all Burgers howses,A search, and a rela­tion sent of it to Conut Maurice, of vvhat pro­vision vvas found emongst the Tovvues­men. and an account taken of the quantity of all mens Corne, a relation of it being sent to Count Maurice, the better to infor­me him of the State of the Towne. The mill called (Caesars Mill) was broaken in pieces, and carried into the Towne, and the hill fortified, vppon which the Mill stood. And four lesser Horne-works were new made, for the strength of the four Bulwarks which defend the Towne-VValls.Four nevv Horne­vvorks made. Breda with all [Page 28]these new works and fortifications, is here represented in the Map following.Howses of Hage set on fire by thē of Breda.

Diuers howses of the village of Hage were continually set on fire and destroyed by them of Breda. Meane-while the two villages of Gineken and Terheyde, being thus slightly begun to be fortified by vs,Titeringen and Hage fortified by our men. the Marquesse, within few dayes, gaue commaund that Titeringen and Hage (two Villages opposite to each other, on the other two sides of the Towne) should in like manner be fortified. The commaund of Tite­ringen was giuen to the Baron of Ballancon, Coronell of a Burgundian Regiment:The Baron of Ballan­con had the commaund of Titerin­gen. The village of Hage to Count Isen­bourg Coronell of a Regiment of Germans. Each of these Coronells had their owne Regiments with them, and other Companies of seuerall nations, with a competent number of Horse.Count Isenburg the Com­maund of Hage. The fortifications then made, were for the most part after this sort. Each Quarter (Gineken excepted) was com­passed about with a trench of earth, and a ditch. The Trench was eight foot high, and eleauen thick, with a foot step three foot high, drawne about it, on the inside, for the vse of the Musqueters.The great­nesse of our first trench cast about the towne. A ditch was sunke about this Trench seauen foot deepe, which at the bottome had but four foot in breadth, lying aboue water ten foot broad from shore to shore The vil­lage of Terheyde, bycause it reached far, was diuided into two Quarters, vnder the commaund of Paul Ballion, who lay in person wich his owne troupes vppon the hill (called Cunenberg.A Bridg made ouer the Merke.) Not far from that hill, he threw a bridg ouer the Merke, fastning Boats vnderneath it, to beare vp the floore; which boats, that they might not be carried away with the tyde, were made fast with anchors on both sides, from the foredecke and hindecke. Before the entrance of this bridg a halfe moone of Turfe was raised vppon either shore. Aboue and below the Bridg, stakes set vp right, at a foot distance from an one other,Pallisadoes in the Ri­uer. were rammed into the bottome of the Riuer with water pile sledges, the length of them being proportioned [Page] [Page]

[Page]

[Page 29]to the depth of the Riuer. The carriage Boats we lately surprised lay at anchor aboue the bridg, that the enemy might find no passage by Boats through the Riuer. Carlo Roma Sargeant Maior to the Marquesse of Compolatara,Carlo Ro­ma com­maunded the out most Quarter of Terheyde. Coro­nell of an Italian Regiment, fortified the outmost part of the village of Terheyde, in which place were the greatest Sluces for the conueyance of water.

Then at last from four seuerall Quarters,A trench begun, at the same tyme, from fourseuerall Quarters. an enclosure began, at the same tyme, to be drawne about the Towne. A Trench of earth was raised from one Quarter to the other, and from one Fort to another, Redouts and other works, at the distance of four, or six hundred paces, being here and there intermingled, according as the situation of the high way re­quired, which serued for a remedy against all suddaine sallyes.The man­ner of en­closing the Towne. Each Coronell, from his owne Quarter wrought towards the next. From Gineken towards Hage the Marquesse of Cam­polatara; towards Titeringen Count Iohn Nassaw aduaun­ced the works. At Gineken was Spinolaes owne Quarter,what space each Quar­ter tooke, vp. shut in with a Trench of seauen thousand paces, but discon­tinued, bycause in the Reare of this Quartrr, the principall Horse-Quarter lay. In this Quarter, nearest the Towne, lay Don Francisco de Medina Coronell of a Regiment of Spa­niards, with his Regiment, which had the keeping of a strong fort, fortified with a great ditch and a pallisado. Behind him, with his Regiment, lay Don Iuan Claros de Guzman, who commaunded an other fort, fortified with a ditch and draw-bridg. That side of this Quarter towards the heath of Caem, the Coronell Don Iuan Nino de Tauora, since vice­roy of the Phillippines, and Emanuel Franço Sargeant Maior of the Regiment of Diego Luis de Oliueyra, made good with their Regiments. The Trench of Paul Ballions Quarter, tooke vp in compasse eight thousand fiue hundred paces. The Baron of Ballançons Quarter was enclosed partly with a trench of three thousand two hundred paces, partly [Page 30]with the black Causey (as they termed it) two thousand four hundred paces long.The circuit of our first Trenches. Count Isenburgs Quarter was en­closed with a continued Trench of nine thousand fiue hundred paces. So that the vttermost circuit of this first enclosure contay­ned thirty thousand six hundred paces. The in ward Trench raysed against the Towne was distant from this outward, two hundred paces, in which space was our ordinary passage from Quarter to Quarter, and it tooke vp in compasse, welne are fiue howers trauelling. Neither the one Trench, nor the other, was aboue fiue foot high, and seauen foot thick, at the bottome.The heigth and thick­nes of each Trench. The parapet raysed vppon them, rising by little and little, with a scarpe, from the foot step, which ranne round about these Trenches on the inside, was of the thicknes of three foot at the top. On the outside of each Trench, a ditch was sunke six foot deepe, two foot broad at the bottome, but, vppon the superficies of the water, seauen foot broad, both sides of the ditch being made scarping, least the sand, if they had ben made straight vpward, should fall in, and fill the ditch.The vvorks in each Trench. Forts, and Redouts, to the number of thres­core and ten, were raysed either in the draught it self, or els without the Trench, in all which, parteyes of souldiers were lodged. And thus with four Quarters opposite to each other (in imitation of Scipio at Numantium) as it were with four Armes stretched out at length, Spinola began by little and little to enclose the towne, so that these lesser fortifications, being compassed with greater, might serue in the nature of Castles and forts:The reason of this man­ner of pro­ceeding. a course principally resolued on, to the intent that with the labour of few men so great a worke might quickly be finished, and that our forces, against the Towne sallyes might be euery where equall; wheras if they had ben much seperated and a sunder, they would haue ben more subiect and exposed to the enemy, and the worke no whit the soner haue ben ended: which manner of entrenching, though it gaue liberty to the Pesantes therabouts to trans­port [Page]

[Page] [Page 31]their Corne and Cattle into the Towne, by which after­wards the beseiged releiued their hunger the longer, yet to vs it was necessary, notwithstanding that inconuenience. And questionlesse the knowledg and experience of the Coronell Don Iohn Medices, Marquesse of S^t. Angelo, a man all other wayes as able, as expert in matters of warre, was infinite vsefull to Spinola in the ordering of these works: For he, by his aduise and long experience knew how to crosse and preuent the enemyes designes, and hauing the charge of viewing, and designing places necessary to be possessed before the enemyes arriuall, gaue order, with infinite diligence, for the raising of all Trenches, Batteryes and other fortifications what soeuer. The beseiged obseruing this,The garrisō Souldiers of Breda bur­ne many howses more about the Towne. set the rest of the howses on fire about the Towne, least they might stand vs in steed for the laying of ambushes, or be a hindrance to them in bestowing their shot. It was obserued that in all four hundred and forty howses were set on fire.A sally ma­de by the enemy Count Isen­burg giueth the enemy a repulse. They made a sally of a thousand Musqueters, out of Hage Port, falling vppon our men whilst they were at worke, but after three howers continuall skirmish, they were beaten back into the towne againe by Count Isenburg, the Captaine of Count Maurice his owne Company being sorely wounded, who within three dayes died of that hurt, besides many other of them lost, none of ours being slaine. VVhich sallyes if they had continued in seuerall places at once, it would haue proued infinite troublesome to vs at the beginning, at what tyme we were but few in num­ber,The benefit we reaped by the en­nemies for­bearance of these kind of Sallyes. and extreamely wearied out with the toyle of the worke, to be forced at the same tyme to fortify and fight: But by meanes of this rest they gaue vs, the walls of both enclosures were finished by little and little, Redouts built in the walls, Forts raised by the walls, the forme of which is represen­ted in the page before.

The Redouts of earth of the figure quadrant,The description of our Redouts. no angle or corner appearing outward, on the in side, for the most part, [Page 32]were fifty foot wide, on the out side fourscore, fortified with a pallisado of sharpe sparres (placed in the Curtaine at the outer edge of the parapet) a Countescarpe,The description of our Forts. a ditch, and many of them, an other pallisado without the ditch. The Forts were raysed of greene Turfe with four irregular Bul­warks 35 foot thick, the Curtaynes of which were 100. foot long on the out side, fourscore on the inside. Aswell the Forts as Redouts were thirteene foot high from the ground on the outside, and equally one with an other fifteene foot thick, the diches of them both being equally twelue foot broad, and eight foot deepe, with the sides of the ditch cut scarping, as the outward face or forme of both works was made in like manner rising with a scarpe, fortified with sharpe sparres, aboue the middle of the wall, to entertayne and entangle such as should attempt an ascent. On the inside, these works were raised eight foot high perpendicularly, at which heigth a VValke was made fiue foot broad, fortified round with a Parapet as many foot high, to couer our Musqueters, and beare of the enemyes shot. The entraunce to them was vppon a planke or stock of a Tree throwne ouer the ditch, before which was a halfe moone, bending cubit-wise with one corner outward, and some of these halfe Moones had a pallisado with­out them. This was the ordinary forme of most of our Forts and Redouts raysed at the beginning.

But besides these many Fortifications already mencioned,The descrip­tion of the Causey rai­sed in the Meddow-ground. a Causey, of the length of two thousand fiue hundred foot, was cast vp six foot high from the village of Hage to the Bridge by which the village of Terheyde is ioyned to Hage, which causey was 25. broad at the bottome, on the top twenty. But the earth of this causey was at the first so soft and yeilding, that it could not beare the weight of wagons and horses, till afterwards, that it was strewed with boords, and then it was able to beare great-peices of Artillery. This worke, Ingeners and others acquainted with the places therabouts, counselled, [Page 33]as a thing necessary, to be raised in that place,The reason why this Causey was raysed in this place. bycause the ground lay low, and the Meddowes of their owne nature were watry, to which the champion waters ouerflowing, and the Riuer Merke swelling ouer its banks, did rise of that heigth in the winter season, that it was nauigable in that place, so that prouision might that way be conueyed, by boats, into the Towne, and our Quarters ly seperated one from the other.

VVhilst these things were doing, Spinola ceased not conti­nually to ride about the Campe, encouraging the Coronells and Captains,The dilige­ce vsed in raysing out vvorks. and calling vppon such as had care of the works: and as to a willing mind nothing seemes ouer hast­ned, he gaue order himself that fresh men should supply the places of such as were tyred, in so much that the night it self was not exempted from working. By which industry it came to passe, that our two Trenches of so larg an extent, togeather with so many Forts and Redouts, almost in sea­uenteene dayes were finished, by a handfull of men. But the infinite concurse of principall men of note, flocking thither from all parts to better their knowlegd in the arts of VVarre, and the examples of many Princes, who drawne thither by the fame and name of this Seige, tooke pay emongst the or­dinary and meaner sort af Souldiers, and with their owne hands cut Turfe, and carried Fagots, was a great furthe­rance to the dispatch of this worke. Besids this there arose from these workes a benefit of no small importance for the releife of the Souldiers wants by which thing alone our whole Army was preserued from disbanding: for being the souldiers wages were but seldome, and then but halfe paid,The soul­diers vvants releiued by vvorking for money. and the rates of all prouision grew to he deare, ready money was paid to such as were willing to bestow their labours in working, and as new works were dayly let to hire till the end of the Seige, so the souldiers paynes euer brought them in ready money. But diuers of them chose rather to beg,The vanity of some souldiers, then to releiue their wants by the gayne of their labour, a [Page 34]thing which to most men appeared extreame vanity, to few or none, wisdome, that the needy man, for point of honour, should choose to beg and want victualls, rather then to liue well by some honest employment of his paynes. How beit two things did much ease the sufferings of our souldiers: first the situation of our Campe,The situa­tion of our Campe be­fore Breda, better ther that of Gil­sen. far better then that of Gilsen (for here we had a Riuer and many small brooks for watring; a rich soile, and Barnes (the Corne being already reaped) plentifully stored:) to which, secondly, this concurred, a continuall good temper of the ayre almost all the tyme our souldiers were buisied in felling of woods, making fagots, carrying boughes, cutting Turfe, or raysing trenches or other workes. By which it came to passe that our souldiers health was almost neuer touched with any desease, whilst the enemy was much molested with the pestilent feauers and in­fections of Autumne:Our Army healthy vvhilst the enemyes vvas sorely infected. for Spinolaes Army consisted of old souldiers, accustomed to hardnes, such as were not dishart­ned with cold, rayne, or any hard weather, wheras the enemy for the most part had new raised men, all, or the most of them vnaccustomed to hardnes.

Meane while the enemy left nothing vnthought of,Tvvo excellent decrees of the ene­my. that forecast and counsell could adde to his defence: And emongst other things he decreed two things, especially remarqueable. The first was that Aertsen the Towne-Coronell should haue equall autority,Aertsen ad­mitted to the Coun­sell of vvarre. with the rest of the Coronells, to deliuer his opinion in a Counsell of warre, that so the souldiers and Burgers forces might be more firmely vnited,The Tovv­nesmen are bound by oath to confesse vvhat money they haue lying by them. whose dis­agreement would drawon their ruine, whilst their concord and vnion would make them inuincible. The Second was that euery man, vppon his oath, should deliuer to the Magistrates what store of money he had lying by him, and consequently lend it to the Receauers deputed by the states, towards de­fraying the charges of their works, and payment of their soul­diers, in regard that their Exchequer was but slenderly [Page 35]furnished. And least any man should conceale,The Offi­ciers and men of qua­lity take this oath first. or refuse to do this, the Gouernour of the Towne, the Coronells, the Drossard, the Escheuins, with the Captaines of the souldiers and Burgers, tooke this oath first: by which examples the common people being mooued, were the lesse backward to do the like.The summa which was gathered by this meanes By this meanes there was brought into their Trea­surie a hundred and fifty thousand Crownes, out of which summe the souldier was weekly paid, and the expences of the works were duely defrayed. Moreouer a marke was put vppon certayne coyne worne out of date and not currant, by which that coyne was knowne and commaunded to runne at the old rate, and other coyne was enhaunced, and made runne aboue the value, by which course the summe gathered encreased and grew greater. Besides,Prouision begun to be sould out of the pub­like store house. their Butter and flesh being already spent, licence was giuen to sell cheese and dried Haberdine out of the publike storehouse: but least the souldier should chance to want, the Townesmen forbore to buy it.

The Marquesse Spinola perceauing now his forces to be too weake to raise, and make good, in so great a circuit, so many seuerall works, all at one tyme; and at the same tyme, on the one side to forrage, on the other to garde our prouision brought from a far; but principally bycause it was noised that the bastard Mansfeild would once againe attempt to breake into the Cun­try,Spinola caused new forces to be raised. and put in practise his wonted freebutting, but lately left of, so to raise the Spanish Kings Army from this Seige, he cau­sed 35. free Companies of Germans to be raised, each of them consisting of 300. men, independent of any Regiment. He dis­patched besides Godfrede de Bergh then Baron,Godfrede Baron of Grimbergh sent to the Duke of Bauere and Count Iohn Tilly to demaund supplies. since Count of Grimbergh, from the Campe (where he commaunded a Troupe of horse) to the Archduchesse Isabel, from thence to take his iourney to his Excellency Count Iohn Tilly, and lastly to the Duke of Bauere, to demaund one of their Regiments, freed from their oath, to enter, and be sworne to the King of Spaines [Page 36]seruice, who negotiated so that two Regiments were suddainely sent, and arriued in good tyme. Moreouer the Marquesse aduanced ten Captaines of foot to be Captaines of Horse; condi­tionally that, at their owne charge, they should raise and arme so many Troupes, for which purpose he dispatched them into the Cuntry, with Comissaryes to receaue into pay, and muster their troupes.Count Mau­rice recoue­reth Gennep Mondel—bergh and Cleue. VVhilst these things were doing, Count Maurice recouered the Towne of Gennep, left first by our garrison, and tooke by composition Mondelberghe and Cleue, with which, and with dismantling part of the walls of Cleue, his Army being buisied, he gaue liberty to vs, in the meane tyme, to fortify and finish our Campe. But the rumor being spread at last of his marching towards Breda, our men opening their Sluces, drowned all the feilds far and neare about the Village of Terheyde, on that side where it was conceaued he might best breake in. Spinola dispatched Losano to Count Hen­ry vanden Bergh,Count Hen­ry vanden Bergh fol­loweth Count Mau­rice. commaunding him with his Army to follow Count Maurice, which Count Henry performed with the small forces he had, notwithstanding he was to passe ouer those daungerous passages of Campinia. By the report of these things Count Brion a french man being encouraged,Count Briō in hope of seing a Bar­taile resol­ueth to stay in Breda. after he had obtayned licence of Spinola to passe through our Campe from Breda, where at that tyme he trayled a pike, out of a new hope he conceaued of seing a Battaile at Breda, he re­turned Spinola thanks for his licence, resoluing not to make vse of it at that tyme.Prey taken by the ene­my, and recouered a­gaine from them. About this tyme certayne horse troupes of Berghen op Zome, who had taken some prey, with horses and Carters from our Conuoy, were put to flight by greater Troupes of ours sent after them, and their booty was taken from them, and recouered againe.Prouision sent for to Seuenberg. From our Campe diuers souldiers were sent with great store of wagons to Seuenbergh to take vp prouision, which Towne bycause it was neuterall, that it might not suffer domage by the licentiousnesse of our souldier, and that no wrong might be done to the inhabitans of [Page 37]it, Spinola sent along with these souldiers Theodore Schott,The Audi­tor Generall of the Army sent a long with our souldiers to see good order kept. one whose office was to decide all publike and priuate differen­ces of the Campe, and to determine, as supreme Iudge, of any offence committed, or of any other controuersy that should chance to arise about the diuision of spoiles, desiring the Magistrates of that Towne to set a price vppon their marchandize, and vnder­taking that he would be their pay-master for them: but bycause there was much more Corne then our wagons could carry away, and that therfore Spinola had requested the Towns-men to transport it for him to the Campe,The States forbid the Magistrates of Seuenberg totrās­port Corne to Spinolaes Campe, and Spinola re­futeth the mony they offer him in lieu af that transporta­tion. A Minister with his wife and family sa­ued from the fury of the soul­diers by the interuentiō of two Priests of the Society of Iesus. which the Magistrates fearing to do, had demaunded the consent of the States, who had forbidden them to do it, the Townes-men offered Spinola a summe of money to buy Corne. But Spinola would not accept it, returning word that he stood in need of Corne to be brought to his Campe, and not of their money or Corne bought in any other place. VVith these troupes went a long two Preists of the Society of Iesus, of them who had assisted in the Campe all the tyme of the Seige, for the Spirituall good and aduance­ment of the souldiers, the intent of whose going was to restrayne, as much as lay in them, the pilfering of souldiers boyes, and to be a meanes that no wrong should be done to any man. These men serued to good purpose for the Burgers of Seuenbergh, and emongst other charitable offices saued a Minister of the word, with his wife and family (whom they found beseeching in vayne that no hurt might be done them) from the headlong fury of some of our souldiers. VVhich when they perceaued, who had euer beleiued and reported hardly of those kind of Priests, they were strooken with admiration, and demaunded: How it came to passe that that black Nation was now become so white.

About that tyme VVladislaus Sigismund Prince of Poland and Swethland arriued at Bruxelles to visit the Archduchesse Isabel,The Prince of Poland and Sweth­land arri­ued at Brux­elles, and from thece came to sge our Campe before Bre­da. by whom he was magnificently and Royally entertayned This Prince was no lesse a wel-wisher of military discipline, then expert in it him self, and in particular was famous for [Page 38]many victoryes wonne. He was desirous to see our Seige, and was conducted to the Campe, towards the end of September, by the Count of Salacar, Generall of the horse, who had ben sent with many troupes to Anwerp to meet him.

Spinola,Spinola goeth to meet the Prince of Poland. accompanied with all the Nobility, riding two howers iourney out of the Campe, hauing sent before him diuers sumpture horses, receaued this Prince with much ioy, and ex­pression of affection.He was magnifi­cently en­tertained. In the Campe a lodging was prepared for him, in which, though no curiosity was wanting befitting the State and Maiesty of so great a Prince, yet there was a grea­ter shew of the furniture of a Campe, then of the delicacyes and politenesse of a Citty. At night when the Prince was conducted to his lodging, our drummes and Trumpets soun­ded,An Eclipse of the Moone. and all our great Artillery gaue him three volleyes, and vppon the suddaine, the Moone, shining bright, suffered an eclipse; a kind presage (if it were lawfull to gesse at things to co­me) that that Prince, singularly expert in affayres of warre, should one day come to eclipse thoseThe Turks Ar­mes. Moones of the Ottomans. Till that day Breda was neuer battered by our Artillery,Our first shooting into the Towne. nei­ther then did it suffer much by our shot, an expresse com­maund being giuen to our firemen, to bestow their shot only for the expression of ioy, and not with intention to make any slaughter, so that most of our Balls, with out hurt, passed ouer the Towne.The Prince of Poland rideth about our Campe. And in deed that shooting of ours proued more beneficiall then domageable to the beseiged, bycause from that tyme (as the custome is) they were freed and exempted from all manner taxes. Next morning the Prince, attended with a strong garde, being conducted by Spinola round about our works, was welcommed by the Canon Balls of the beseiged, who bestowed them thickest, in such places as they discouered most of his troupes. The day following he rode about with Spinola alone to take a view of the rest of the Campe, all men, to auoid mischeife, being commaunded to stay behind.

About the same tyme eight yong french men,Eight frēch Gentlemen taken by our men. Noblemen in [Page 39]their Cuntry, whilst they had a designe to passe, by stealth, from Breda, through our Campe, to Count Maurices, were taken in the marashes, by some of our men: they were ciuilly treated, not like enemyes, but guests.Spinola en­tertayneth them cur­teously. Spinola entertayned the better sort of them (emongst whom was the Marquesse of Griniol, Vicount Serre with his Brother, and the Baron of Blunuil, all hopefull yong Gentlemen) at his owne table. And when he had signified to them that it was not his custome to suffer any man to passe through his Campe to the enemyes (the thing which they demaunded) he put it to their choise either to take their iourneyes directly towards France,Spinola ga­ue them their choise to go direct ly towards France or to returne againe to the Tovvne or els to returne to the Towne, from whence they came. They made choise of the later least they might appeare more foreward to shunne, then to endure the hardnesse of the Seige, and accordingly were con­ueyed back in Spinolaes owne Coch, one of our Trumpetters conducting them to the Towne.

VVladislaus Prince of Poland hauing taken a full view of our works,The Prince of Poland departs frō the Campe not yet finished, is reported to haue said, that the dice were cast betwixt the two great Generalls, Spinola and Count Maurice,His opinion of the pre­sentaffayera and that both their reputations lay at the stake. Spinola, accompanying him out of the Campe, and hauing performed all complements and ceremonyes requisite, gaue charge to the Count of Salacar to conduct him againe to Anwerp.

The day before this, the Baron of Beauoix,The Baron of Beauoix sent to take and fortify a place vvhich vvould haue proued ad­uan [...]agions to the enemy. Coronell of a Burgundian Regiment was sent with eleauen hundred foot and fiue hundred horse, to take and fortify a place neare Oosterhout, which, to our infinite disaduantage the enemy might haue possessed: from whence the next day, hearing, the enemyes drummes, and sending scouts to discouer, he gaue Spinola notice of the enemyes marching towards vs.He aduerti­seth Spinola of the ene­myes mar­ching to­vvards vs. VVord had ben brought by the discouery of spies that Count Mau­rice was landed with his Army at Gertrudenbergh, but of this his new designe nothing could be learned in a long tyme [Page 40]by enquiry.VVe could not gesse at the enemyes designes. Many men imagined that he would possesse him­self of Oudenbosch and Rosendale; and these men were of opinion that those places were first to be layd hould of by vs,Some mens opinions of Count Maurice his in­tentions. least we should come to haue an enemy at our backs; fearing otherwise that our prouision could not commodiously come to vs, or that we should be hindred from forraging at our liber­ty. But Spinola was of a contrary opinion, knowing well that those places could neither be conuenient for the enemyes am­bushes, nor any way preiudiciall to the bringing of our pro­uision,Spinolaes iudicions answer. especially, if to auoid the enemyes Campe, our pro­uision were conueyed some what a longer iourney about, that to make so great a retreat would proue daungerous to them, to vs, by this auoiding them, the iourney not vnsafe. Not long after,Count Maurice encam­peth at Mede. newes was brought that Count Maurice, with his Army was encamped at Mede (a willage two howers iourney distant from Breda.) It seemeth he layd hould of that oportunity for his comming, whilst al most all our horse were absent to attend the Prince of Poland, which made all men the more marueile that, at that tyme, Count Maurice attempted nothing vppon vs, our Army being so weake.Spinola marcheth tovvards Count Maurice, and confronteth him vvich his Army. Spinola nothing discouraged with the small numbers of his souldiers, leauing all the works about the Towne well manned, committed the charge of Gineken Quarter to Don Francisco de Medina, and hauing sent his furriers to make choise of a place fit to lodge his new Campe, marched him self with seauen thousand foot and thirty Troupes of horse, to a place not far from Oosterhout, where he encamped, within three miles of the enemy.The successe of the who­le enterpri­se depended in the hast Spinola made to take an ad­uantagions place before the enemy. And questionlesse in this speed of his in confronting the enemy, and anticipating that place, so ne­cessary for him, the successe of the enterprise did principally consist: for if either Spinola had let slip but one day by delayes or Count Maurice by hastning had preuented him but so much, by so small an aduantage Breda might haue ben saued: for betwixt Titeringen and Terheyde lay vast voyd places, [Page] [Page]

[Page] [Page 41]of dry land and standing waters, ouer which land, by wagons prouision might easily haue ben conueyed to those waters, and from thence with as much ease, by flat bottomed boats, into the Towne, supposing that Count Maurice had possessed himself of that place; And this he might haue done with little or no difficulty, in regard, that till then there were no works betwixt his Campe and the Towne, excepting four small Redouts vppon the black Causey.Spinola stoppeth all Coūt Mau­rice his pas­sages. But Spinola had now possest him self of that place before him, and stopped all passages betwixt Count Maurice his Campe and that Causey, by which he cut of from him all possibility of passage: Of so great importance is expedition, in stratagems of warre, and in this occasion particularly was a mayne cause of our victory.

In this place was a large heath, where the Army might commodiously haue ben put in battaile array,Spinola chose a pla­ce fit for a Bataille. if occasion had ben offered. This heath Spinola tooke possession of, distribu­ting horse Centinells vppon diuers little hills, and lodging the rest of his horse, at a good distance, before his Campe. In the reare of these horse, arose a naturall trench betwixt the Towne and the heath, vppon which he planted seauen peeces of Artyllery, and lodged his foot behind it, felling the yong sprouts about the little brooks, in the meddow grounds, and filling vp all ditches, with all expedition. The garde of the great Fort, on the right hand, which the Baron of Beauoix had now almost finished, was committed to the Burgundians. The fi­gure of this fort was quadrant, with four halfe Bulwarks,The discrip­tion of the great fort raised by the Baron of Beauoix. so sollid that Artillery might be planted vppon them. The fort was Canon proofe. The Curtaynes were a hundred and twenty foot long, eight and twenty foot thick, fifteene foot high, which were stuck round with sharpe long sparres, to make the abbord, to the fort, more difficult. On the inside was a walke vppon the wall, with a Parapet fiue foot high, and ten foot thick, about which a foot step was raised. On the out side, a ditch was sunke ten foot deepe, two and twenty foot broad vppon the [Page 42]superficies of the water, and twelue foot at the bottome; so that from the bottome of the ditch to the top of the rampier, the fort was measured to be fiue and twenty foot high.

Our Army being thus ordred,Spinola ex­peeted Coūt Maurice two dayes in bataille array. Spinola expected the comming of Count Maurice, standing two dayes togeather in battaile-array, it being put to his choise whether he would fight or no. There wanted not a certayne person, of more then ordinary quality, who hearing Spinola peraduenture argue it, by way of discourse, whether it were better or no to draw the rest of his forces against Count Maurice, leauing his works about the Towne destitute; deliuered his opinion, before he was demaunded, that Count Maurice was not in that man­ner to expected till he came, but that all our forces, being drawne from about the towne, ought to go seeke him, and for­ce him to fight: for which opinion he cited the Duke of Parma to be his author, a Prince famous heretofore for so many great vi­ctoryes, whom, by like, this party had heard say, in the like oc­casion, when he, though without successe, beseiged Breda before, that if the enemy had come to rayse him, he would haue giuen him Battayle.Spinolaes discreet re­ply. But Spinola speaking honorably, and with respect of the Prince of Parma, made answer, that he could no way approue this mans inconsiderate counsell. That to prefer the vncertayne aduenture of a Battaile, before a certayne Seige, were to imitate the dog in the fable of AEsop, who in pursuing the shaddow, lost a reall peece of flesh, and by that meanes was quit both of shaddow and flesh. That he would not so slightly expose his and his souldiers fortunes to daunger; and that it was the enemyes part, if he thought fit, to offer him battaile, his part only to stand vppon his garde.

VVithin few dayes after,Spinola dis­liketh this opinion al­so. one of the Lieutenants of our Artillery proposed to Spinola, whether he thought it amisse, to make an attempt vppon Count Maurices Campe, playing vppon it with six or seauen peeces of Artillery, in regard it was yet but slenderly fortified?His wise answere. to which Spiola replyed, that [Page 43]

[Page 43]it stood not with his dignity to insult inconsiderately ouer his enemy, when he was not assured that he should be able to retire honorably: that he would not accustome himself to often­tation, but military circumspection: that, in a Generall, forecast was no lesse requisite then forces.

Count Maurice being encamped in the Village of Mede,Coūt Mau­rice desisted from atēp­ting to passe hauing lost his place of aduantage by the dili­gence of Spinola. kept himself with in his trenches, giuing vs no aduantage ouer him, nor suffering any of his men to go far from his Campe. VVhich Spinola perceauing gaue order that four forts more, proportionable to that first of the Baron of Beaunoixes; should be raysed anew, on the left hand, towards the Village of Terheyde, by the Baron of Beauoix, Count Iohn Nassau,Spinola caused fiue other forts like the for­mer to be made, to cut of all passa­ge. and Otto Henry Count Fugger, so to cut of all hope of pas­sage from Count Maurice: which space, being large, was ta­ken in with trenches betwixt fort and fort, and afterwards annexed to the first enclosure made in hast. The figure of these forts differed according to the different situation of the places they stood in, but the height and thicknes of them all was alike.

Count Maurice neuer offered to sally vppon our men bui­sied with these works:Coūt Mau­rice suffe­reth v [...] to worke with out any im­peachment. About that tyme diuers of his new English forces, which he had caused to come thither for a rein­forcement, ranne away from their Colours. Afrench Trumpet being sent to Count Iohn Nassau from the enemyes Campe,Some french Gē ­tlemen disi­red to make proofe of their valour vppon pretence of demaunding some losse, brought him a challendg, in the name of certayne french Gentlemen there, daring him to draw somewhat neare their Campe, to try the fortune of a Combate with some of them.Count Iohn Nassau ac­cepted their challendg. The Count accepted the challendg, promising the next day to be there, at a certayne hower, himself and three companions, with no other Armes then each of them their swords and their case of pistolls.Coūt Iohn [...] three Com­panions. The next day, at his hower, he rode towards the enemyes Campe, with one Captaine Steenhuys, and the two Lieutenants of the two Horse Captaines, Grobbendonck the yonger and Bothergh-Vppon [Page 45]the sight of whom, four horsemen of the enemyes ad­uanced them selues, fifteene others following them a loof of, and three hundred more loking on, from the outmost trench of their Campe, emongst whom it is reported, Prince Maurice himself was one,Yong Briaute vvas the author of this duell. Emongst these four combatants, yong Briau­te was one, the sonne of him whom Grobbendonck the elder had vanquished, and slayne in the like combat before, though with the losse of his owne Lieutenant, Lackerbet. This man, it seemes, had ben bred only to reueng the death of his Father, as if otherwise his owne ruyne would haue fallen vppon him too late: For he had, some dayes before, sent a Trumpet to Spinola, requesting he might be permitted to combat the sonne of his Fathers Murderer (so he termed yong Grobbendonck.) But Spinola had refused him (putting a garde vppon yong Grobbendonck, least he should escape.) Briaute therfore cast about for this other occasion, being a yong man of a firy and daring Spirit. In the combat, Count Iohn, hauing singled out one, for his aduersary, of the four enemy combatants, made towards him and discharged his pistoll, missing him so nar­rowly, that with the flame of his pistoll he scorched his soulder, hauing before receaued his enemyes bullet, without hurt, in the forepart of his owne saddle. Yong Briaute with a daring bold courage and voyce: Charge me, Charge me, quoth he, whosoeuer thou art that darest: behould, I am Briaute: this day, this day shall reueng the murder of my Father:Briaute slayne. with which words, setting Spurres to his horse, and in vayne letting fly vppon yong Grobbendoncks Lieutenant, was himself shot through with his aduersaryes bullet, and catching hould of his saddle-pummell, with a dying hand, he quickly fell downe dead to the ground. Thus it was the fortune of the two Grob­bendoncks, being prouoked to it, to proue the ruyne of the two Briautes, Father and sonne. Captaine Steenhuys and one of the enemy being wounded, the sixteene which stood without the enemyes Campe, came in to part them. VVhervppon our men [Page 46]retyring them selues, whilst, as they rode, they pressed neare one an other, one of them, in the presse, getting the start of Count Iohn, with the hilt of his sword caught hould, and snatched the Counts bridle out of his hand, his sword being so fast entangled in the bridle, that it was drawne out of his scab­bard:An vn ex­pected daunger li­ke to fall vppon Coūt Iohn Nassau preuented by a suddai­ne stand vvhich his horse made. which strange accident exposed them both to a daun­ger not expected. But Count. Iohn Nassaues horse, other­wise furious and vnquiet, being astonished, vppon the sud­daine made a little pause, giuing tyme to his Master to recouer his Bridle. The other, leauing his sword behind him, retired himself. A Trumpetter of ours,A Trumpet of ours vvounded Briaute in the head yet breathing. comming thither to looke on, being hindred, by the enemyes comming in, from stripping of Briaute, wounded him in the head, whilst yet he had life in him, and leaping vppon his horse followed the rest of our men. Few dayes after this,A skirmish betvvixt Bouteuille and the Ba­ron of Beauoix. some horse of ours lying in view of the enemyes Campe, Boutteuille a french man, with fiue other horsemen besides in his Company, made towards our men to chase them away. The Baron of Beauoix riding that way, by chance, with a good garde, came in, in the meane tyme, and relieued our men, forcing the enemy to retyre to a groue neare at hand: from whence Boutteuille, aduauncing forward alone, boasted what he was, and challend­ged any one of them to a single combat, confiding in his neare retreat, and a Corselet, he had on, vnder his riding-Coate. His challendg was accepted, and he requested, to that purpose, to ride farther from the groue: But bycause he would not remoue farther then the place where he was, he was wounded vnder the reynes with a Musquet ball of ours, with the payne of which blow he let fall his pistoll,Bouteuille vvounded. and retired him selfe.

Meane while,Coūt Mau­rice, out of hope of re­leiuing Bre­da resolued to attempt the Castleof Anvverp. whilst all things seemed to sleepe in the enemyes Campe, and that no shot, nor sallyes were made, or any other thing attempted to hinder the progresse of our works, Count Maurice, dissembling, by this meanes his, desig­nes, [Page 46]knowing that stratagems require tyme, and that it is vnsafe to attempt great enterprises with out deliberation, had contriued, in the night tyme, to fall vppon Anwerp Castle at vnawares: which he did in this sort. It is to be presumed he had notice,A small garrison of ours in the Castle of Antvverp. that, excepting such, as, either for age or sicknes were exempted from their dutyes, there was then but a small garrison left in that Castle. The enterprise appeared to him well worth his labour, and the gaine greater then the losse of Bre­da. At Berghen op Zome, Rosendale, and his Campe, he kept all men within their quarters, with such care and vigi­lancy, placing gardes for that purpose, that not the least no­tice of so great an enterprise, was giuen to our Campe, or to the Towne of Antwerp.The charge of this ex­pedition giuen to Brouchem. He commaunded Brouchem, Dros­sard of Berghen op Zome, and Captaine of a troupe of horse, to repaire to him, to Mede, committing the charg of the ex­pedition to him: who (as the report runnes) tooke with him 1000. foot and 200. horse out of the places mencioned, lading all his wagons with store of strang engines. The souldiers of Rosendale and the Campe were made beleiue they should march to Berghen op Zome; they of Berghen op Zome were tould they should march towards the Campe. VVhen they had marched thus not far from their Quarters, commaund was giuen that all their blew and Orange-tawney scarfs (such as the States souldiers are accustomed to weare) should be put of, and red scarfs (such as the Kings men weare) put on in their places, least, giuing out afterwards vppon the way that they were the Kings men, they might be knowne to be the enemy, by the colour of their scarfs, and by that means come to be discouered by the Pesants. If by the way any man chanced to demaund what they were, they were taught to say, they marched to Anwerp for prouision of vi­ctualls, whether, it was reported, at the same tyme, our men were to go for prouision.A Notable stratagem of the ene­my. The Canuas couer of their wagons (marked after our manner, with the Burgundian Crosse) [Page 47]furthered much their deceipt. And in this manner they ar­riued neare the Castle, protected the better by the extreame darknesse of that night, hauing before deluded, as appeareth, all the Pesants therabouts. They had made them selues a pas­sage,The attēpt of the ene­my and the successe. by pulling downe three or four stakes of the pallisado, and diuers of them were already got vppon the bridg.The vvind being against the enemy, fa­uored their exploit. The wind being against the enemy, was cause that they of the Castle could not heare the noyse, of the rowling of wagons, neyeing of horses, or the like: by which meanes they aduen­tured so much the more bouldly, to let downe their Boats into the ditch, fasten their scaling ladders, make ready their pincers, hammers, leauers, and other artificiall engines, to breake a sunder Barracados,One of the Centinells of the Cas­tle discoue­reth the enemy. and heaue Ports out of their hinges. VVhilst these things were doing close vnder the walls, Andreas Cea, an old souldier, whose fortune it was to stand centinell at that tyme, began to listen attentiuely, sus­pecting some treachery by the noise he heard, and gaue no­tice of it, by discharging his Peece.The Gouer­nour repai­reth to the vvalls vvith his soul­diers. Iohn Brauo Gouernour of the Castle, and they of the Garde, betooke themselues to the walls, from their Courts of Garde, and made ready for their defence. The enemy was so encumbred with the rising of the wind and tempest (which at first was not so great,The vvind and tempest grovving greater hin­dreth the enemy. so that they approached with more ease) that now they could neither settle their Boats, nor fasten their scaling ladders, nor in fine, exploit any thing. VVherfore leauing behind them many of their engines, Boats and Ladders,The enemy retireth vvith out doing any thing. (when they found they were discouered) they retyred with speed, put back, out of doubt, by the interuention of Heauen, so that by this means, this great exploit came to nothing, which other wise would haue proued infinite crosse to our affayers.Andreas Cea rewar­ded for his good serui­ce. An­dreas Cea for his care in preseruing the Castle, was rewar­ded (more bountifully then heretofore the preseruers of the Capitoll) by the Archduchesse with a pension of fifteene Crownes monethly, by the Magistrats of Anwerp with a [Page 48]rich sute of cloathes, and scarfe.

Count Maurice,Coūt Mau­rice his greife for the ill suc­cesse of that enterprise. being deceaued in his expectation of that, which he had framed to him self as a thing infallible, lay still, for a tyme, with his Campe, pensiue and resoluing no­thing, being stroken with an extreame apprehension of sorrow. Many of his souldiers Cabins were destroyed with this tem­pest,The ene­myes horse in daunger of being lost. and his horse of Friseland, which by his commaund was arriued at Gertrudenbergh, ranne a great hazzard of being vtterly lost, for the Causeyes and bridg ouer which they were to passe, being broaken by that tempest, they were so seperated from the rest of their Army, that it was thought they might wholy haue ben broaken, and cut in peeces. Spinola had notice of it, and whilst he was in doubt whether he should fall on with greater forces or no,The wisdo­me of Spi­nola. he chose rather to forbeare to do hurt at all tymes, to then do the enemy this affront with daunger of his owne losse. For (with Augustus) he compa­red them, who with imminent daungers looke after small gaine, to such as fish with a goulden hooke, the losse of which cannot be repaired by any thing they take. In conclusion Count Maurice hauing done nothing before Breda,Coūt Mau­rice sets fire on his Ca­bins and re­tyreth from Mede. two and twenty dayes after his encamping at Made, gaue order for the fyring of his Cabbins, and packing of bag and bag­gage, and retired from thence pensiue, and neuer after to returne back againe. It is reported he was scarse euer after seene of his Army, so far he was from desiring any ease of his sorrow. Spinola discouering the continuall smoaks of those fires, with many troupes of horse rode towards the enemyes Campe, and found it without souldiers, the reare of the Ar­my being then vppon the retreat.The desire of some of our men to make shevv of their va­lour in sight of their Generall. Here all men, in the eye of their Generall, were desirous to make some shew of their valour, diuers of our souldiers attempting to chase such, of the enemyes men out of their Quarter, as remayned for the safer retreat of their whole Army, but by the turning of greater forces vppon them, they retyred themselues fairely. Haber­dashers [Page 49]of small ware, and victuallers of the Campe had left behind them great store of prouision,Booty left behind in the ene­myes Cam­pe. Count Maurice his wary re­treat. all which became prey to our souldiers. Otherwise, this retreat of Count Maurices was performed with such order, that it begat him as much honour, as his enterprise vnfortunately ended caused afflic­tion in him. So that he might well say with Antigonus, making the like retreat, that he did not runne away, but that he prosecuted his owne aduantage, presenting it self to him: In this retreat he had such a regard of his owne, and his mens safety, that he was able to saue him self from any suddaine assault of Spinola, by the works he had raysed, and cut of all possibility of pursuing him for the pre­sent. The causey of Swoll reached to the vttermost part of his Campe, in which place the way of Seuenberg begins:Works rai­sed by Coūt Maurice for the retreat of his Ar­my. vppon the entrance of which Causey he had cast vp a fort, to retire his men into. On the side of the Causey he sunck a deepe ditch, drawing a parapet at length vppon the Causey it selfe to couer his men as they marched away. Hither they might safely repaire; from hence they might defend the rest of their men marching, if any greate troupes of ours should, perad­uenture, charg them; and out of this place they might securely sally, hauing this trench at their backs to retyre back againe: for that work was so sollid and high, that it could not be attempted but by scaling ladders on the side, and in the front, only by one passage, and that exceding narrow: in the reare an other worke shut in this parapet, in which place the Causey of Terheyde was cut asunder, least our men might fall vppon them, that way, in their retreat. Count Maurice marched away, in two diuisions, with his Army. Him self with Count Ernest Nassau,Count Manrice mar cheth to Rosendale vvith one haife of the Army. marched to Rosendale and fortified that place. Prince Henry Frederick Nassau with the other halfe of the Army encamped at Sprang, wher he raised many works and other fortifications.Prince Henry vvith the other part marchethto Sprang. Spincla some few dayes after Count Maurice his departure thinking he [Page 50]had made a iourney much to his praise and profit, returned againe to his old Quarter, nearer Breda. Count Maurice made no long stay at Rosendale,Spinola re­turned to his old Quarter. for his health beginning to faile him, he was fored to leaue the Army. VVherfore he committed that charge to Count Ernest Casimire Nassau, and tooke his iourney to the Hage,Coūt Mau­rice falleth sick at Ro­sendale. He retur­neth sicke to the Ha­ge. wearied out with the yrksomenesse of so many crosse accidents: where, calling all his enterprises, in vayne attempted, to mind, and consi­dering that nothing had prospered, or had good successe, he pined away by little and little, his desease turning (as is re­ported) to the Consumption of the lungs. His only hopes now left, were in this one thing; that if the Seige could be main­tained till the winter season (the haruest being then wel­neare at an end) we should either be forced, by the sharpe weather, to forsake the Seige, or by the tediousnesse of our iournyes, and nearenesse of his Campe, be vtterly cut of from all our prouision. Notwithstanding, least by our per­seuerance and good fortune, he might chance to be deceaued, he called Count Mansfeild to him,Coūt Mās­feild called into Hollād by Count Maurice to raise a new Army in England and France. into Holland, to em­ploy him in the leauying of a new Army: who hauing con­ferred with Count Maurice at the Hage, and afterwards with Count Ernest Casimire Nassau, at Rosendale, when he had treated such things as made most to his purpose, he tooke his tourney towards France and England to rayse new supplies.Mansfeild like to be cast away by rempest at Sea. But being forced to go to sea in the dead of winter, though when he tooke ship the weather was faire, and seas calme, yet aftewards vppon the suddaine, the rayne began to powre downe out of heapes of darke clowdes, and the raging waues to rise with the winds, all things being filled with horrour and darkenesse. The Ayre and the seas were filled with tempestious winds, which droue all his ships vppon flats and Rocks. No Anchor could hould them, no pumpes could voyd the water which rushed in by streames. All car­riages and other necessaryes were throwne ouer bord, to dis­burden [Page 51]the ships which now by the raging of the waues sailed on one side. In fine, the tempest encreasing more and more, most of his followers were cast way, and he himself suffered ship wrack, being saued with much adoe by meanes of a little Cock-boate, so that he was long after reported to be dead.The king of England promith 14000. foot His Maiestie of England promised Mansfeild fourteene thousand foot. Some Companyes he raysed himself in the land of Leige, and other places. Two thousand foot were leauied in Germany.The States reinforce their old Army. The states resolued to make a strong rein­forcement of their old Army, raysing new supplies in Ger­many, France, and England.

Spinola perceauing now the intentions of the enemy,Spinola putreth the Infanra in minde to raise forces in tyine to make head against Man [...]feild. gaue notice of what passed to the Archduchesse Isabel that she, in tyme, might demand supplies of horse and foot of the Em­perour to make head against Mansfeild; and of the Duke of Bauaria, the forces of the Princes of the leage of Ger­many. He gaue order to the Prouinces, for their owne de­fence, to rayse fifteene thousand foot (which they termed KEVRLINGS or choise men) and three thousand horse (called BANDES OF ORDONNANCE) which trou­pes partly the Prouinces themselues were to pay, partly the prouinciall Exchequer of the King, the foot during the tyme of this warre only, the horse euer after; and these forces to be presently employed in all seruices, as often as any occasion of warre should offer it selfe, so to be able to defend or offend.The Arch­duchess go­u [...]rn [...]th and taketh care for all things. The Archduchesse Isabel, with a kind of sacred forecast, behoulding all things, as at the sterne, sparing neither night nor day to write and consult, gouerned all generall buisnesses, and mana­ged wholy this great affaire, facilitating things the rather by the affections she had gained of her subiects at home, and the reputation of her name with strangers abroad, more then it had ben possible for any other then her self. VVherfore by her letters to the Emperour she easily obtained the forces which Spinola demaunded, and for the same purpose she sent [Page 52]Count Octauio Sforza to the Duke of Bauaria.Count Oc­tau [...]o sforza sent to the Dake of Bauarta. The Em­perour promissed 3000. foot, and 2500. Horse: the Duke of Bauaria 3000. foot and 1000. Horse. The Prouinces had their forces ready in good tyme,The Empe­rour and Duke of Ba­ [...]aria pro­misse sup­plies. according to the proportion they vndertooke to send. Only this remayned now, in which Spin [...]la employed all his endeauours, and in which alone consisted the successe of the whole buisnesse,Spinola prouideth for two neces­sary things: wagons to transport his prouisiō and an able man to cō ­maund his conuoys. to be able, with out daunger to furnish so great an Army plentifully with pro­uision, for so long a tyme, as he foresaw this Seige would en­dure: and for this, bycause he found two things to be infini­tely necessary; first, numbers of wagons to transport his pro­uision, then, some one Commaunder, perpetually to be pre­sent, to commaunded his conuoyes in tymes and places of most difficultyes and daunger; he gaue the absolute com­maund of the Conuoyes to Count Henry vanden Bergh, keeping Ochoa Gomez, Comissary Generall, as they stile him, in the Campe, whom hitherto he had employed in commaun­ding the Conuoys, and of whose seruice and industry he had now more vse then euer, for the making of excursious and discoueryes, with his horse, about Breda, and the rest of our Quarters.Count He­nyne sent to the States of Brabant to demaund wagons. He dispatched away Count Henyne, first to the States of Brabant to procure wagons, that other Prouinces, by their example, might be wonne to do the like. Count He­nyne applying him self particularly to each man apart whom he knew to haue any voyce or sway in the counsell, easily per­swaded them so that afterwards, in Counsell, they altogea­ther consented, as men that had a speciall care of the com­mon good, and were particularly acquainted with the pre­sent necessityes.The other Prouinces follow the example of them of Brabant. They of Brabant being first perswaded, Flanders, Henault, Artoyes and the rest, easily consented afterwards to the allowance of wagons.

The publike storehouse was appointed at Lyre, whether the prouision was first to be brought,The pub­like store house at Lyre. and from thence afterwards to be transported to the Campe. The greater part of our [Page 53]Horse was with Count Henry vanden Berghe to garde the prouision, for the Campe before Breda,Coūt Hen­ryes care in conducting the prouisi­on. with the fortifica­tions about it, was now able, without horse, to defend it self. Though the only name of this Commaunder were fearfull to the enemy, yet his deeds did more scarre them, in these oc­casions, then his fame. His manner of proceeding was this. In the morning, before day, he gaue commaund to put in or­der the disordred multituds of Carriages and wagons, then, sending first some troupes of horse before to discouer, he com­maunded them to march. He placed Artillery in the van and the Reare, to giue warning of the enemyes approaching,The order he obserued that by the report of that Artillery his men might gather to­geather (as his order was) and repaire to the place which should stand most in need. He garded both sides of the wayes, towards Rosendale and Langhestrat (wher the ene­myes Campes lay) with loose wings of horse. He intermin­gled with these Horse, gardes of Musqueters, and with the rest of his horse brought vp the Reare; so that he both mar­ched forward with is men, and was euer prepared to receaue any charg. He prouided, with all diligence possible, that the wayes least subiect to ambushes should be made choise of, causing them to be repaired for the greater ease of his wagons. If word were brought him of any daunger, he had a care not to come to blowes in places of disaduantage, and therfore, he either made a stay in places fit for him, or els made hast out of those places of daunger, making vse of his wagons, in steed of a Trench, drawing his men within them, if there were daunger of being charged. VVhen his troupes began to march, he was euer the first man cut of his Quarter, and then he made a stand to vieu and hasten the rest foreward, till almost all his troupes were welneare passed by. He euer marched in the reare of all, but now and then in his march aduanced before them all, and then againe after all men came last into his Quarter. He commaunded his souldiers [Page 54]should be quartered before night, and whilst it was yet day he rode about his Quarter. He called the Pesants to him, and informed him self of the wayes, and of the enemy. He placed gards where need required, and either broake downe or possessed him self of all bridges, so to cut of all passage from the enemy. He gaue order that his souldiers should alwayes haue their horses ready bridled, vppon the garde against any need or occasion should require: others he dispersed con­tinually abroad, so to try if they could winne or enueigle any man, by whom he might learne some thing of the intentions of the enemy.His spies. He wanted not his other spies to giue him notice of all plots and designes of the enemy, vppon whom he spent great summes of money. In the night he gaue com­maund that Centinells should be placed vppon all wayes and passages. And least these diligences should chance to be neglected by custome (a thing that hapneth ordinarly in the like cases) he often rode, vnlooked for, about the Quarter himself, not that he distrusted the vigilancy of his Rounds, but that his souldiers, by the example of their Commaunder, might be the more willing to employ their owne endeauours, he vndergoing the same labour with them. His care of the Pesants was no lesse then of the Conuoy: for he gaue as strict a commaund to his souldiers, to quench carefully all fires they had made for their owne vse in the Pesants Barnes,His punish ment of such as we­re found to be faulty. as if he had ben the particular Officer to haue care of those fires. He forced such as were carelesse in obseruing this commaund, by whose negligence the fires, ill quenched, kindled afterwards againe, and tooke hould of howses or did any other mischeife, to ly in the open ayre, to haue their wages detayned from them, and in fine to make good all domages sustayned by those fires. He exhorted them (in imitation of Aurelian the Emperour) to feed vppon the spoiles of the enemy, not he teares of their Cun­trimen. He tooke the Pesantes witnes against the souldier, [Page 55]heard their complaints, and punished such of his souldiers as he found guilty. By which discipline he brought to passe,The benefit he reaped by these di­ligences. that he Cuntry people (of whome there was great want and scarsity in all Villages) brought such things to sell as before they had concealed and horded vp in Churches and strong Towers, whether most of them for feare were fled, with their wiues, children, house-hould stuffe and Corne, returning againe to plough their feilds without feare or daunger: with so little hurt he led his Army through the Villages of Bra­bant, hauing a speciall regard of the Corne, feilds, howses and inhabitants. The report of which exact discipline, so punctually obserued, was cause that the enemy neuer durst attempt our Conuoyes: And the like honours done heretofore to Alexander Seuerus for his modesty and restraint in lea­ding his Army against the Parthians,Count He­ry called by the Croats, God of the Pesant. were nowdone to Count Henry vanden Berghe by the Croats, who stiled him the God of the Pesants for the care he euer had of the Cuntry people.

But, howbeit by this care and vigilancy of Count Hen­ry,Spinola taketh care for forrage, and the re­freshing of his horse. the prouision of the Campe was safely brought in, yet bycause, by the great numbers of horses which by this meanes came in, the forrage of the Campe began much to lessen, and the horses themselues, by their continuall labour, became leane and out of hart, most of them, of necessity, feeding vppon stubble, and chopt straw; Spinola thought vppon a course for both these inconueniences. And,He forbid­deth the horsewhich garded the proursion to enter into the Campe. least what remayned of our forrage should come short for the horse of the Campe, he commaunded that the horse which garded the prouision should be lodged in the nearest Townes and Villages therabouts, there to refresh themselues, whilst the wagons, and prouision was making ready at Lyre: and, that those horses, when they had garded the prouision to the Campe, might not wast the Campe forrage; he gaue a strict commaund that none of them should enter with in the trench, and dismissed all Carts and carriage-horses so soone as they were vnladen. By which [Page 56]meanes it came to passe, that our Horse comming to full fee­ding elswhere, in a short tyme became fat, and in good case. And that these things might be done with more security, he caused a large fortification to be raised at Barle (a Village three howers iourney distant from Breda) lodging a good garrison in it, with one troupe of horse. To his place after­wards Count Henry conueyed the prouision with his horse. Here he made a stand till the horses and Carts returned vn­laden from the Campe. And hither fresh troups of horse and foot came from the Campe to garde it.

But that the wayes might be yet lesse subiect to daunger against all accidents that might peraduenture happen, Count Isenburg raised a work in the Village of Leur, against R [...]sen­dale, neare about that place, wher either the riuer is forda­ble, o [...]els hath a passage ouer it by Bridg.Spinola for tifieth the vvay by vvhich our prouision vvas to passe. Three other works besids were raised by Count Henry betwixt Lyre, Heren­tals and Turnhout, and four more at Outturhout, betwixt which the souldiers that garded the prouision tooke their rest in the night: VVhich way, though, by much, it were farther about then the direct way of Hooghstrat, yet bycause it lay farther from the enemyes Camps,The longer iourney though the safer chosen for our prou [...]sion to be transported to the Cāpe it was held much safer, and lesse subiect to daunger; the rather bycause in the two Castles of Hooghstrat, and Turnehout, an ind [...]fferent good garrison of souldiers was left. By which warines, the passages becance so secure, that the Pesants almost without any gard, from Turnehout especially, aduentured in their Carts to bring prouision to the Camp,Some Pe­sants vvho ventred to freely to bring vn prouinon vvere taken by the ene­my. of which freedom of theirs in victualling our Camp, the enemy hauing notice: once he set vppon them and robbed their Carts, carrying away their hor­ses and Masters, not for from Barle.

Count Maurice, in his sicknes, ayming at some new exploit, not being yet quite out of hope of surprising Anwerp Castle resolued once agame to attempt it in the night.An other attempt vp­poir An­tvverp Castle. He com­mitted the charg of the enterprise to Stakenbrouck Gouernour [Page 57]of Graue; but the successe of this attempt was no better then that before. The rayne powred downe so thick, that their Musquets became vnseruiceable, through the moisture of their powder: and they in the night, discouering fires a far of, vppon the walls, suspecting they were betrayed, retyred suddainely with so great confusion, that leauing their carriages behind them in certayne cumbersome passages, they made a retreat little better then a running away. It was thought to be a conspiracy of some treacherous Burgers in the towne,A suspicion of treason in Anvverp and some men punis­hed for it. who led with the apprehension of nouelty, had perswaded the enemy to come. Thirty of them, whose liberty of speach begat a iealiousy of them, were condemned to banishment, but hauing their pardons againe, most of them remayned in the Towne.

Count Maurice perceauing he could effect nothing vp­pon our prouision, though, purposely to entrappe vs,A nevv di­uice of coūt Maurice to hinder out prouision. he had diuided his Army: applyed himself wholy to the molesting of such, as were any way suspected to further our prouision. They were apprehended who were found guitly, and condem­ned in great fines: not so much as they who payd contribution to the vnited states, were spared; others were terrified with the greatnes of the penaulty. Moreouer all Corne mills were taken away, the irons of them being broken.Mills, Ouē [...] brevving vves [...]els broken by the commaund of Count Maurice. Brew­houses and Bake-houses were destroyed, their Ouens and cauldrons being perced: And the bruite is, it was con­sulted emongst them, whether it were fitting or no to sack and spoile all such places of the Campinia (defended with slender or no gards at all) as at that present gaue releife to our con­uoyes.A question moued by the States about the burning of all, villages of the Cam pinta. Some were of opinion, that all such places were far and neare to be set on fire, to which our men might any way haue recourse for prouision, least they should stand vs in steed for the plenty of our victualls. Others, mistrusting we would do the like to their open Townes and villages, allowed not of that opinion.

They made triall of many things (as men ar wont in [Page 58]desperate affayers.They vvere take by the enemy that brought prouision to our Cāpe) Out of Turnehout and Hooghstrat they tooke diuers men prisoners, who had furnished our Camp with victualls and forrage. Spinola, taking the same course, com­maunded all men, in like manner, to be taken, whom he could learne had any way releiued the enemy with forrage or vic­tualls,Spinola vieth the enemyes Pesants in the like manner. and condemned them, euery where, in very great fi­nes. Diuers of them, pleading their innoceny, sent their com­plaints to him by embassage: To whom he made answer, That the present state and condicion of warre now required, that since the enemy laboured,Spinolaes arsvver to them that complained by all means, to hinder our prouision, he, in like manner, should endeauour to re­strayne his: and if they desiered to find fauour in this, that the enemy should first cease to intercept our pesants. But if the enemy would not desist, he was then resolued to hould the same course.

The victuallers and Pesants terrified with these examples, bycause they durst almost bring nothing,The prices of al pro­uision rose by means of the pe­naultyes in­shcted vppō them that brought in prouision. but couertly, into our Camp, it begat a great dearth of. Bread, wine, Beere and other necessaryes, for many dayes togeather, which Spinolae feared to redresse, by taxing the prices of all those commodi­tyes, mistrusting, that by how much he might benefit his soul­diers by that course,Spinola sear full to re­dresse the deare rates of proui [...]iō for feare of a greater in conueniēce. by so much more he should endomage his Camp, it being a means to hinder the resort of victual­lers and other purveyers of prouision (a people greedy after gaine and the high rates of all things.) For these causes about the same tyme, diuers of our souldiers (more carefull to serue their hungers,Some of Spinolaes souldiers fed vppon horse flesh. then to obserue decorum) shared emongst them (miserable food) the carcasses of horse. This needines of our men, and the insensible famine of the beseiged, togeather with the great plenty of Count Maurice his Army (re­leiued by the neighbourhood of his townes and Riuers) were the mayne difficultyes we were to encounter:Lesse fami­ne in the Tovvne thē in our Campe, and great plenty in the ene­myes Cāpe. For the Towne, hitherto, had plenty of corne, at no great rate and the Magistra­tes had set a price vppon all marchandize, no greater then that [Page 59]they were prised at before our Seige, that so the townes men and souldiers might the lesse feele the Seige. A measure of wheat was sold for eightA florenë Is tvvo shillings English. florens; Rie for fiue; Buck-wheat for four; Barly for three florens and a halfe; Oats for as much. A sack of salt was sold for four florens; Dried hab­berdine and cheese for threeAstiuer is somvvhat more then a penny so that ten sti­uers make tvvelue pence. stiuers the pound; greene cheese for two stiuers the pound; otle for a florene and two stiuers the quart; Oile of Rape seede for eight stiuers the quart; Beefe for three stiuers the pound. And it is incredible how much the cheapnes of all things encouraged the beseiged. To the enemyes Camp from all their hauens, whether our men could haue no accesse, Corne, wine and forrage was brought, at very small rates. Spinola that he might in some sort re­dresse the wants of his Army, besides the ordinary allow­ance of Bread, caused Beere, out of the publike Storehou­se to be, euery day, distributed, which thing obliged much his souldiers, and preserued their health. The Archducesse,Spinols ginethcom­maund that Beere thould be dayly distri­buted to the soul­d [...]ers. The libera­lity of the Infanta. against winter, gaue order that six hundred course gownes for Centinells should be made, the better to be able to watch in the open ayre. Vppon others she bestowed shooes and stoc­kins, to the number of eight hundred. They of Breda, who lent a willing eare to whatsoeuer they desired should become of our affayres (the inconueniences we suffered being made greater by report) perswaded themselues that, in forty dayes,The vayne hopes and beleife of the besei­ged. no manner of prouision had ben brought to our Campe; that the greater part of our Army was wasted, and that the lesse halfe remayned not behind; that now we had not sorces to endure the labour of the Seige; and that they that remayned, either for sicknes or want would be forced to forsake the Sei­ge. They of Holland wrote this and more to their freinds, in fauour of their owne cause,The vn tru­thes they diuulged. and a certayne Mercury (as they call him) or writer of newes and occurrences, stuck not to print things, yet more extrauagant, for the reputation of their cause, and disparagement of ours. The beseiged, vp­braiding [Page 60]vs with our wants,The osten­tation of the beseiged. boasted their owne plenty ex­teriourly, by turning their cattle to grasse in the Meddowes about the Towne, whilst, in the meane tyme, in the Towne, an account being taken of the store of their Corne, the Towne was found to be but slenderly furnished.The good husbandry of the Ma­gistrats. The Magistrates (that that store might not be prodigally wasted which only they had to serue them for a long Seige) commaunded that no Beere should be brewed of a greater) price then a crowne the Barrell: That the glasse and leaden heads of all Stilles and Lymbecks should be taken from such as made Aqua vitae, least so their Corne might be turned into wine, in victual­ling houses, and Aqua vitae shops: and by this parsimony they were able to subsist the longer. But this outward osten­tation of their plenty seemed to deserue a correction. Spinola therfore perceauing them, at their liberty, to wander vp and downe without the walls (in such places as certayne herbage and Roots had ben sowed) to gather such roots and hearbs as they could find: that they might not so freely, without daunger, reape the fruit of those feilds, and that our trench might not ly open, for their messengers, to passe in and out, in such places (as by reason of the great circuit of our trench, gards could not be so carefully kept) he raysed many little Redouts, and great works, and caused three great Batte­ryes to be made, in three seuer all places, nearest to the Towne. Those sides of these works and Redouts which beheld the Towne, were made Canon proofe, 25. foot thick. Of the Batteryes,The des­cription of the Batte tyes. the forme was this. The greatest of them, at Gineken, kept by the Marquesse of Campolatara, was a hun­dred and threscore foot long, a hundred and fiue and twenty foot broad. In the Reare, and flanks of it, it had a wall fifteene foot thick, sauing that one side of this wall was thicker then the rest, rising with a walke, and a parapet, on the inside. In the front, it was lined with two exteriour angles, the face of it rising with nine open windowes, for [Page] [Page]

[Page 61]so many peeces of Artillery to peep out, each window being two foot and a halfe wide, opening more and more out­ward by little and little. On the inside a groundselling was raised, like a bed, of turfe and fagots eight foot high, and fiue and thirty foot broad, couered ouer with planks, for the speedy remoouing, and recoiling of the Artillery. Be­hind this groundsell was a place of Armes a hundred and thyrty foot long, fifty foot broad. The out side of the wall, vnder the Canon windowes, was stuck thick with sharp long Sparres. Before the Battery a halfe moone was raised, garded with Musqueters, and compassed with a counterscarpe and palli­sado, for the safety of the Battery. Round about the Batte­ry a ditch was suncke seauen foot deepe, and eight and forty foot broad, the sides of the ditch being cut scarping from the top to the bottome, in which place the ditch was eight and thirty foot broad. Vppon the outmost shore of the ditch stood a long pallisado, to hinder suddaine assaults,Two other Batteryes. and make the abbord more difficult. Two other Batteryes were built at Titering and Hage, that of Hage indifferent larg, the o­ther the least of the three, sauing that by the addition of a Fort it became the greatest of all. Their manner of building was much after the same fashion, the only difference they had being in length, breadth and Corners. One of them was kept by the Baron Ballancon, the other by Count Isenburg. VVhilst these things were doing, the beseiged made often sallyes out of seuerall Ports, and bestowed liberally, though to little purpose, their Canon balls vppon our fortifications gards: Our works being finished, when now they perceaued them selues to be brought to these straights, diuers souldiers,Many of the beseiged runne away Tradesmen and Pesants, for feare of steruing, rendred them­selues: for they were wearied out with the extremity of the pre­sent inconueniences, and afflicted with a daungerous infection, continuall enclosure and alteration of diet, their Corne being now not so prodigally dealt, and their flesh, fish and cheese, [Page 62]as they vnderstood, being welneare consumed. Bread spread with oile of rapeseed was the daintyes of the common people. The hang man kept an ordinary for the souldiers, for a sliuer and a half the meale,The Hang­man keepes an Ordina­ry of dogs flesh. who hauing ten florens monthly allowed him for the killing of dogs, so to take away all occasions of infec­tion, furnished his table with those cates, and had euery day many guests, of such, as could be contented to feede vppon that diet.Many men runne away from the Towne. But, as this life, of it self, seemed greiuious and hard to most men, so, with the apprehension of the continuance, it be came much more tedious. VVherfore they sought by running away to chang this state of life. But Spinola sending a Trumpet,Spinolae's prohibition that no man should be permitted to come from the Tovvne. with commaunds, to the Gouernour of the towne, gaue him warning, that no man from that tyme forward, either vnder pretense of rendring him selfe, or escaping by flight, should expect to find any mercy at his hands: that whoso­euer, from that tyme, came from the Towne, should either presently be hanged, or put back into the Towne. Be­sides he caused all places to be kept by centinells, in which there was any possibility of passing through our Campe, proposing a reward of 25. Six pound fine shil­lings. Gards pla­ced to inter­cept such as came from the Tovvne Phillips to whomsoeuer could intercept any man comming from the Towne. All men for the present were terrified with this, but in tyme (as the vse is) some few growing confident, committed themselues to the mercy of Spi­nola, who comming to our works besought, earnestly, with tears in their eyes, to be receaued, and releiued with some kind of victualls,The runne­avvayes beg not to be put back in­to the Tovvne. and rather to be massacred then put back into the Towne. Spinola admitted the wife of a certayne Tra­des man of Anwerp, with her child, to whose husband he had lately giuen permission to passe: the rest he caused to re­turne back into the Towne.Spinolaes clemency to them that ranneavvay But afterwards perceauing that few, and very seldome any came away, he despensed more li­berally with that law, forcing no runne-away to returne back to the Towne.Iustitle do­ne vppon He caused two Pesants, in sight of the Towne, to be hanged, who in the night had attempted to carry corne [Page 63]into the towne: These examples were requisite,Some that transported prouision into the Towne. and more necessary then compassion, other men afterward being ter­rified by them. Count Maurice casting with himself how to conuey some greater quantity of prouision to the beseiged (great store of Corne and other prouision being lately arriued at some hauens of his neighbowring Townes) he caused eighteene great flat bottomed Boats to be made,An attempt of Count Maurice to put proui­sion into the Towne able to brooke the ebbing of the tide, which, being left by the water, need not stand in feare of the sands, but might sit securely vp­pon all fords and shelfs. The sides and forestalls of them were made of strong timber, rising and shcoting vpward in two places, the better to be able to beare any brunt.A new in­uention of Boats. Each of them, built in this fashion, was armed with four or six peeces of Iron and brasse Caenon, and were furnished with great store of fire balls: And, in conclusion, they were laden with Corne, shut vp in pots, with great quantity of cheese, lard,The garde and proui­sion of tho­se Boats. and Bacon; To all which, they were filled with choise Mus­queters. He gaue warning to them of Breda, about the same tyme, that they should make ready some Boats for that purpose, and sally forth of the Towne vppon the day appointed, driuing them, with violence, vppon our Bridg of Boats. They of Breda, ready to obey, made ready fourteene boats, six of which they armed with as many peeces of or­dinance, and stored them with fire balls. They made choise of 300. Musqueters to put vppon those Boats,The besei­ged prepare to assit Count Man rice in his putting pro­uision into the Towne and they had 600 more in readinesse to sally out by land, neare the Riuer side. Spinola, hauing intelligence of it, reinforced the vil­lage of Heyde with greater supplies of men, and fenced the causey he had raysed (by which the enemy must passe of ne­cessity) ramming in before it a pallisado of great trees. He purposed besides to draw an other pallisado, binding the stakes of it togeather, the length of 2400. paces,Spinolaes preperation against this attempt. betwixt the four little works made vppon the black Causey, least by that standing water, which all the winter season reacheth to the Towne, the [Page 64]enemy might attempt to put in prouision. For the nature and situation of those meddowes is such, that as often as the tyde comes in (which hapneth twice euery twelue howers) the champion brooks hauing made a standing poole there besides, a passage might easily be made, by flat bottomed boats, to the Towne, and after the ebbe againe men might wade through a foot. But the wind no sooner blew fauorable for Count Maurice,the vvind and vvea therturneth against cout Maurice. but suddainely, to our great good fortune, it tur­ned against him, and, contrary to course, the tide scarse flowed at all; so that once againe the hand of heauen, concurring with Spinclaes diligences, fought against the enemy. In the meane season that these boats lay expecting faire weather, the quantity of cheese and Bacon was so impawed, by the stealth of the souldier,The proui­sion flolen our of their Boars by their ovvne souldiers. that though petaduenture those boats should haue forced their passage, little of that prouision would haue come to the beseiged.The ene­myes pro­nision ei­ther stoine or corrup­ted. And not many dayes after, the Corne which had ben pressed togeather in Tunns, hauing taken rayne and other sea moisture, sprouted out greene through the crannyes of the Tunns, after it was taken out of the Boats againe. Thus the enemy suffered one lesse vppon the neck of the other.

Meane while,Our four ra­ging subiect to daunger. whilst our souldiers forraged and sought wood somewhat farther from the Campe then ordinarily they were wont (all forrage and wood neare at hand being con­sumed) the enemy conceaued that, seing them so scattered and dispersed in their forraging, with their horse, they might easily cut them in peeces. VVherfore they had euer a watch­full eye vppon vs, and tooke all courses possible to hinder vs from wood and forrage, which they imagined to be a thing lesse difficult bycause they ouer-matched vs in horse, ours, for the most part, being all employed, either in garding our Camp or conducting our prouision. It was indifferent to them whe­ther they cut our men in peeces, or tooke away their carria­ges, without which our Seige could not be maintayned. Hence it came to passe (a thing not to be auoyded) that whilst for­rage [Page 65]was to be sought in houses scatterd and dispersed,The enemy began to intercept our forra­gers. our forragers now and then were intercepted, in by wayes, by some small troupes of the enemyes horse, which though it did vs not any great hurt, yet somwhat it endomaged our soul­diers boyes, Carters, and horses. Spinola, that the enemy might not long enioy so much as this poore triumph, expected,VVe sustai­ned some losses, though small. from thence forward, the returne of those forces, with which Count Henry garded our prouision, within three leagues of the Army, vnder the protection of which troupes our men forraged euer after securely in all Cuntry Villages round about our Campe. And for his prouision he tooke such a course,Spinolaes care to saue our forra­gers from daunger. that at the same tyme the wagons were lading wheat at Lyre, Oats were transported to the Camp in other Carts, sending a competent number of horse and foot to gard them; which carts being first vnladen in the Campe, the souldier might returne to Lyre, in good tyme, to garde the rest of the prcui­sion to the Army. In the meane tyme such horse as by long labour and leanenesse were almost become vnseruiceable, were sent thither to garrison, wher forrage was more plenty, whilst other horses supplied their places, to whom afterwards, in like manner, their Quarters were asigned to refresh. Thus by the redoubling of tourneyes, with horse fresh and in good case, he quickly transported his forrage and Corne. The charge of which was committed to Alexander Heyse lieutenant of the Artillery, who employed his whole endeauours in the speedy lading, and ridding of wagons.

But after that the Cuntry (with whose approbation this transportation of our forrage and Corne was exacted) per­ceaued the Seige to continew, and new exactions,The Cuntry finds the charge of wagons to be too great for them to continew. euery day follow, vppon the neck of the former, being wearied out with the expences of continuall supplyes of wagons, were no lon­ger able to defray so great a charge; a new course was thought on for the transportation of prouision. In all willages Carts with two wheeles were taken vp at hire, which by reason of [Page 66]the wide standing a sunder of the wheeles, often tymes one horse,A neweour­se taken for the trans­portation of our proui­sion. for the most part two horses were able to draw, with much more ease, then three horses drew those other wagons of four lesser wheeles. A price was agreed on for these Carts, deare at the beginning, by reason of the ill wayes but, afterwards, in better weather,The benefit we reaped by this new inuention. the price was lesned by half. And thus our prouision, with lesse charge, by far, of horses and wagons, with lesse wast of forrage, with the same expedition, and in the same quantity, was easily transported.

This new inuention deceaued Count Maurice, who relying principally vppon the season of the yeare, assured him self we should neuer be able to ouercome the inconueniences of fur­nishing our Campe with prouision; so far fetched, and so tedious to be brought; the rather, bycause winter was already at hand, and all Corne therabouts was conueyed in to Townes, all Villages, far and neare, being vtterly diffurnished, and Cattel, for feare of warre, being driuen farther of. It is reported that Count Maurice emongst some of his people; should vayne­gloriously vtter those speeches which Pompey, heretofore, vsed of Caesar at Dyrrachium:Cout Mau­tice his say­ing of Spi­nola. That he would acknowledg him­self a Generall of no experience at all, if Spinolaes Army were not forced shamfully to depart; and that he would vnfeinedly attribute so much to his honour (if he were able to endure the Seige all that winter season) that he vnderstood, and was able to manage more then he could,This victory must be ac­knowled­ged to come inmediately from Al­mighty God. and more then the diuells of hell were able to reach to. And indeed except the hand of God had more assisted vs flill then the power of man, and the winter (at other tymes sharpe) had not at this tyme ben strangely temperate, it had ben impossible to endure the difficultyes of this Seige. It cannot be denied but those flouds which the townesmen, in Nouember, turned vppon our Camp, when, stopping the mouthes of the Riuers, they began to cast vp a bancke to make the Merke and the Aa ouerflow far and neare, did, beyond measure, molest and scarre vs. [Page 67]But Spinola at the beginning could neuer haue beleiued,Spinola, as first, decea­ued in his opinion. that it was possible the Seige could be prolonged so long, or that so great numbers, or such an expence of carriages would be­needfull. All which charge if the Cuntry had well weighed at the beginning, peraduenture they would neuer haue vnder­taken it so willingly, as to the end of the Seige they after­wards continued it faithfully, disbursing the charges of four hundred wagons, and paying besides the foot forces raysed by the Cuntry. In which thing they shewed themselues faithfull subiects to theyr Prince,The faith fulnes of the subiects to then Prince in this oc­casion. and gained euerlasting praise to themselues. Besids, who could haue foreseene so so many lea­uyes in all Europe for Breda alone? It was commonly bruited that the prouision of Corne and other necessaryes against win­ter,This hap­ned during this Seige that no mā conld haue fore seene. was not sufficient for the beseiged in the Towne. That the Townesmen accustomed to plenty, vnacquainted with warre and famine, would neuer be able to endure great wants. That the French, Scottish, English and low-Countrimen (of all which there were diuers garrisoned in the Towne) would not haue patience so long till their Corne and other prouision should begin to faile. That some of them by nature, others by custome did more affect delicacyes; and for these reasons we perswaded our selues, they would not be able long to hould out: so easy a thing it is to take Armes when men please, but hard to disengage themselues till their enemy thinck good.The means by which the beseiged held out the longer. But, besids all that Corne with which euery townesmen was commaunded to furnish him selfe, and which was prouided in the publike storehouse for the souldier, the pesants (in that tyme our Army lay at Gilsen, and could not conueniently stop all their passages) for feare of a Seige, transported great store of prouision to the Towne. Moreouer the Co­ronells and Captaines for the notable gaine they made, ap­propriating, to their owne vse, the wages of their dead soul­diers, were the better contented to endure inconueniencyes, and this so much the rather, by how much the greater num­bers [Page 68]of their souldiers came to dy, by deseases, for by that losse, grew their gaine, and their famine was plentifully sup­plied, by the increase of their dead payes: by their souldiers necessityes, they gaped after their death; by their death, the be­nefit of their dead payes: so much more assurance is in mo­ney, then in the faith of men.the number of the dead in Breda The numbers of the dead were so great during the tyme of this Seige, that more then fiue thousand were found registred in the suruey of interrements which was the third part of the inhabitans of Breda, the com­putation, at the beginning, being but fifteene thousand persons: So that the decease of the dead, was the food of the liuing. And,A course the enemy took to ke­pe from vs and the townesmen them selves the number of them which died in the Tow­ne. a thing which was neither obserued by the townes men nor by vs, was, from the beginning, enacted by the decree of the Senate, that no mans funeralls, how rich or noble so euer he were, should be celebrated, by their parents, with the tole of Bells. These things deceaued not vs alone, but generally the opinions of the beseiged themselues (besids that the com­maunders, men otherwise of greater credit and reputation, had in a manner engaged the trust reposed in them, to their owne priuate gaine) and diuers runne-awayes out of the Towne made report that except succours were suddainely sent them, they could not be able to hould out much longer: the same was written out of Holland to Count Henry van­den Bergh. A certayne Germane souldier who had serued the space of nine monethes vnder the Hollander, being ta­ken by our men,A stratagem of Count Isenbrug and knowne by Count Isenburgh, to be a subiect of his, hauing his pardon graunted, was sent vppon those termes back into the Towne, that when he perceaued the Towne brought to extremityes, he should returne to our Camp, assuring him his life and a reward for his paynes: after two mone­thes that this souldier had remayned in Breda, conuersant emongst the souldiers, without any suspicion, he returned againe and brought word, that the want, in the Towne was such, that they began now generally to feed vppon horse flesh, and that [Page 69]they had not corne to hould out aboue two monethes longer at the most. That they desired that Spinola would oftner batter the Towne, for a coulour, at least, that they might find some good pretence to render themselues. To these reports some men giuing an attentiue eare, who willingly beleeue any thing they desire should come to passe, could neither persuade them­selues Count Henry his intelligence to be false, nor that the German souldier would ly so grosly, in so notable a buisnes, or that all the runnawayes were generally imposters; importu­ned Spinola to giue way, that fire balls might be shot into the Towne. He, albeit he knew well that those engines would little preuaile with souldiers accustomed to warre, and that custome would make euen the townes▪men forget the feare of it, yet he condescended to their importunityes, that from three seuerall places (where so many batteryes were raysed against the towne) the walls and houses of the Towne might be batte­red. About that tyme returned oportunely to the Camp Phillip Count Mansfeild, late Coronell of the garde of Adolphus King of Swethland, famous for the taking in of Riga, where he had the supreme command of the Army.Philip Con̄s Mansfeld inuenteth a new kind Artillery. He adding Art to experience (as vse is the master of all things) had found out a certayne new inuention of Artillery, easier to be drawne then the ordinary Artillery, which, with a lesse quantity of pouder would carry their balls farther, and by that meanes be infinitely seruiceable in these warrs: for the direc­tion of which buisnes he had purposely taken a iourney from the Camp to Bruxells, and caused forty brasse peeces and three and twenty Morters for fire-balls, to be cast. Thirty of the lesser sort, of no more then 180. pound weight, carried each of them Balls of six pound a peece. Ten of the greater sort, each of then of seuen hundred and fifty pound weight, carried Balls of fiue and twenty pound. These were more vsefull, and not half so chargeable as the ordinary Canon. For the lesser sort of them, was drawne at ease with two [Page 70]horses; the greater, with four: whearas each of our old peeces, asked six, ten, and eighteene horses to draw them. VVith the third part of pouder they carried their balls farther then our ordinary old peeces. This aduantage Count Mans­feild gained by his experience, hauing found out the art of tem­pering his metall in such sort, when it was dissolued, that he gaue it the same hardnes the greatest peeces had notwithstanding his mettall was more subtile, and thinner by far, by which means they came to be so much the lighter; And the Balls were, in that respect, carried farther, with a lessecharge of powder, bycause the touch-hole of these peeces, tooke not fire vppon a flat ground, but in the vttermost end of the peece (for there was the center of the touch-hole) vppon a rising ground, made hollow to the shape of a speare head, contrary to the old peeces, to which fire was giuen on the top, betwixt the ball and the flatnes of the ground. Hence proceeded the greater force of the new peeces, bycause the fire giuen in the vttermost part of the peece, is drawne with equall force into a circle, which being all gathered togeather with in that hollow place,An other inuention of Count Mansfeilds. throwes out their Balls with much more violence.

An other admirable inuention their was of this Counts. Out of a brasse Morter to shoot Bomboes of more than a hundred pound weight, seauen hundred paces farther then any other. These Bomboes he shot, from a far, into the midst of the Towne, wheras otherwise, by reason of the distance, the vse of Morters had come to naught, our Batteryes stan­ding at the least six hundred paces from the Towne. It was tould vs by runne awayes that this shooting did as much hurt, as terrify the beseiged. VVe saw afterwards by experience when we entred the towne,The mi­sheife these peeces of Coūt Mans­feild wrought in the Towne. great ruyns of howses ouerthrowne by these Bomboes. One of them fell vppon the roofe of the Armory (wher their powder lay) which failing to take fire, did no hurt at all, otherwise it would haue made great spoile in the Towne. but the other Canon balls, with which in three [Page 71]seuerall places we battered the towne (and that part espe­cially which Count Isenburg commaunded) strook so much terrour into them, that diuers of the inhabitants left their howses empty, and was cause that the church-seruice was done at an vnwonted hower, and with out sound of bells, and that, in the end, the souldiers themselues were comman­ded to enter the gard without beating drummes. Aertsen the Drossards wife to encourage the dishartned townesmen; at what tyme our Canon-balls flew thickest about the Towne, caused her self to be drawne in her Coche, about the walls, making shew of a manly spirit in a womans body, her re­solution being, to her, in lieu of a rampier. VVhilst the enemyes affaires stood thus, it was commonly bruited that Count Maurice and the states had conceaued some cause of offence against one an other, for the ill direction and mana­ging of buisnesses: The States, that he had giuen Spinola so much leisure, to fortify his Camp (spending his tyme in dis­mantling the walls of Cleue;The States and Count Maurice ex­postulate and blame one an other.) that after two and twenty dayes vnnecessarily spent, he retired his Camp from Me­de without doing any thing. Count Maurice on the other side layd the fault vppon the States, offering to quit the charge he had vnder them, emongst whom he must both serue their turns, and follow euery mans humour. That he left it to them to consider, whether they had conferred more honour vppon him, then he had brought in profit to them, VVith this answer the States being troubled, mistrusting that he intended indeed to quit his charge, they acknowledged him without controle, to be their supreme commaunder, and that they neither mistrusted his trust, nor discretion, but that they had only made mention of such things, as seemed to them would haue prooued to their aduantage: that he would be pleased to continew to protect their Common wealth with his valour, and manage the warre wholy at his owne command: that they would make it appeare how much they tooke Bre­da [Page 72]to hart, sparing no charges to saue it, for that only respect, that it was the patrimony of the Nassawes. Count Maurice being pacified with these promises and excuses, that he might not seeme to neglect the care of the Commonwealth, gaue order that a thousand horse should be leauied and armed at his owne charg. The States themselues raysed a thousand more, to reinforce those troupes which were expected out of France. Emongst other things, they consulted about the ray­sing of a great damme to stop the course of the Riuer Merke, not far from Seuenbergh: which only course they thought now left for the safty of Breda, if, as often as the spring tide came in, the sea ouerflowing all the low grounds, and the winter flouds, (which runne by little brooks into the Riuer) being kept in, they could put vnder water all meddowes far and neare:A new at­tept of the states to sue cour Breda. that those waters would either ouerflow our Camp, or els serue to put prouision, by boats, into the towne: VVher­fore they vndertooke this worke, a thing of infinite labour and expence.They inte­ded to turne the course of te Riuer by raising a damme in it. They sent to Seuenbergh Boats, Barks, and wherryes (of which they haue great store) from thence to repaire to a certayne place called Lamsgat, where the mouth of the Riuer is, and in which place, the Banks lying low, the Riuer is fullest of fords and shallow places. So great a pro­uision of Boats was necessary for the raising of this great worke;Great store of Boats and work men for the raising of this damme in which besids they employed diuers labouring men and transporters of earth, beginning to fell woods, cut fagots, carry stones, Trees, planks, load their boats, and in con­clusion to raise this damme from both shores of the Riuer opposite to each other. But within three dayes, by an vn­expected frost, they were forced to desist.

Vppon Christmans night (which day the Enemy gaue the first beginning to this worke) Stakenbrouck,Stakebrou­ke gouer­nour of Graue intē ­ded an at­tempt vppō marching out of Rosendale with diuers good troupes of choise souldiers, purposed to haue made an attempt vppon the Reare of Isen­burgs Quarter. He was made beleeue by his spies that by [Page 73]the filling vp of a ditch not very large,Quarter but was decea­ued by the fals relatiō of his spies. he might easily find a passage. For the filling of which, not aboue six of seauen spades, at the most, would be needfull. He relishing well this enterprise, made choise of eighteene horse troupes, carrying along with him no more them seauen spades. VVhen he arriued at the place, he found that a hundred spades would not suf­fice for the filling of that ditch: notwithstanding, sending some of his men before, he made triall what might be done. Our horse Centinell who watched not far from that place, gaue notice of it by the discharging of his pistoll, by which he warned our Camp to be ready in Armes. but Staken­brouck, finding himself discouered, commaunded all his Trum­pets to sound an alarum, and retired, being satisfied only with disquieting our Camp. All other passages were stopped by Count Isenburg with so many ouerthwart ditches,The care of Count Isen­burg in cut­ting of all passages a­bout his Quarter. and so many braunches and stocks of trees fastned into the earth, that one single man could hardly haue found passage. The frost breaking vp, the work-men (though the swiftnes of the Riuer was a mayne difficulty proposed against the going forward of that damme) returned againe to their worke left of, sinking three long carriage Boats, laden with turfe and stones, and casting in store of fagots and earth vppon them: which done, they began to raise the damme from both sides of the Riuer, throwing in rowes of turfe, with great stakes rammed betwixt them, the better to bind the earth, towards the midst of the channel. At Seuenberg they made sluces, on the other side of the Riuer, to keepe in, and let out the tyde, that the feilds being once ouerflowed, they might still be kept so deepe vnder water, as should be needfull to beare boats laden with prouision. Hauing expected therfore the change of the tide, they put all things in readines for the arming of their boats.

Spinola was infinitely perplexed with the thought of this worke. His principall care was to know, by the discouery of [Page 74]spies,this inuen­tion of the enemyes. what was done euery hower of day and night in that place. And as often as any new, or full moone hapned (at which tymes the sea-tydes ar allwayes at the fullest) he sent great supplies to the Quarters of Hage and Ter-Heyde, where it was suspected the enemy might break in.He conti­nually sup­plied the places of mostdanger with freth­men. He cau­sed the sluces of all Brooks (by which about Ter-Heyde the Champion waters were let in to the Riuer of Breda) to be set open whilst the tyde ouerflowed all the feilds, and to be stopped, and shut vp againe at the ebbe: so that when the enemy, at low water, began to worke vppon their damme, all those sluces, being set open vppon the suddaine, turned that water violently vppon them, which was before kept in by the sluces, and washed away by this means their damme to the gre­at hindrance of the progresse of that work. He gaue order besids that certaine Marriners of ours, in the night tyme, should cut a sunder the banks of the Riuer Merk, in diuers, places for the length of fiue leagues: which he did for two causes; first, that by this cutting the banks of the Riuer, he might diuert those waters to an other place, which they stopped by their damme, to make the channel swell and turne vppon Ter-Heyde. Then that how much the more water the tyde had brought into those vast meaddowes, through the banks; at the ebb, might be turned more impetuously vppon the damme: which thing came fo infalliby to passe, that by how much nearer the damme came togeather, by so much the deeper the sand was washed away at the bottome.Spinola da­reth scarse giue credit to his owne Ingeners. In fine, hauing sounded the opinions of all his workmen and Ingeners, they assured him that damme could not stand against the swelling of the current: Spinola notwithstanding, for the greater security, thought it safe to do more then lesse then they counselld, that he might leaue no place open or free for the enemy. VVherfore he commanded an other pallisado to be made,He fortified the Causey. thicker then the former before that causey which he bad raysed, from the bridg of Boats towards Ha­ge (least a passage being forced) the causey might ly open for the [Page] [Page]

[Page] [Page 75]enemye boats to passe) and to be fastned togeather on the top with ouerthwart trees like the former. Vppon the causey it selfe, on that side which lay next this pallisado, he caused a parapet to be raysed to place and defend his Mus­queters. At either end of it he raysed two works to plant Artillery vppon.A double pallisado in the Riüer. And in conclusion he shut vp the Riuer it self in three or foure seuerall places, a good distance from each other, with a pallisado of great trees, on both sides of the bridg, against the enemy with in the Towne, and against their Camp without: that if their Boats should come to ouerthrow that worke, the force of them, being receaued and broken vppon these stocks of Trees, might lesse endaunger our bridg, or passe through our Boats. Betwixt these out­ward pallisadoes of trees, the boats lately taken from the ene­my lay at anchor, the masts of them lying outward vppon the foredeck, to take hould and teare the sailes of any Boats they should encounter: Vppon them a bridg was made,Boats lay at anchor in the Riuer to hinder the ene­myes pas­sage. and vppon the bridg a parapet raised of boords stuffed thick with stones. Some of these boats were boared at the bottome, and stopped vp againe, so that the stoppers being at any tyme taken out, they might draw water in abundance, and sink vppon the suddaine,Boats boa­red at the bottome to sinke vppon the suddai­ne. choaking vp the channell to stop the passage of any boats. Before the vttermost pallisado floa­ted two mayne masts, fastned foiningly at two ends. Before these againe lay a carriage Boate filled with pitch, rozzen, tow, and other combustible stuffe, which questionlesse,Other Bo­ats full of cōbustible stuffe to ta­ke hould and burne the ene­myes fleet. if the enemy had come, by taking hould of their fleet would haue made great slaughter. These things being ended on our part, the enemy en the other side, was no whit lesse dili­gent in repayring the losses sustained by vs in their damme, in those places principally which lay nearest to vs, raysing two works vppon either shore of the Riuer, least by our sallyes we might hinder the progresse of their work. They of Breda in like manner, either out of of a desier to haue some share [Page 76]in this great work,The enemy raiseth their damms to make the Riuers ouer flow our Campe. that the damme at Seuenberg might the better be finished, by their restrayning the strong current of their Riuer; or to make amends for their work attemped in vayne, in the moneth of december when by the raysing the banks which diuide their Riuers, they made account to put our whole Camp vnder water; began now againe to raise those banks higher and thicker then before.Spinola draweth a ditch 2200, foot long to conuey all waters into the Riuer. Spinola hauing notice of it (being he could not diuert the course of the Riuer) caused a ditch to be drawne neare the towne walls two and twenty hundred foot long (in which place the ground lying high kept in the water the better) by which, drawing a little brook about one syde of the towne, he turned all stan­ding waters into the Riuer Merk,The ene­myes works ouerthrow­ne. least, growing greater, they might at any tyme ouerflow our Camp. But before this ditch of ours was made an end of, the damme which they of Breda raysed higher and thicker, being ouer­throwne by the violence and swelling of the waters, broake downe many Sluces and works of the walls, with the endaun­gering and shaking of the whole towne besids. At Seuen­berg, in like manner, the force of the waters we turned vppon them, violently bore away three carriage boats they had sunke, from the bottome of the Riuer, and ouerthrew the whole damme raised vppon them.The proui­dence of Almighty God. To which this followed of Almighty Gods prouidence, that during the tyme that, by the hands of so many workmen, that ditch of ours was ma­king, though they let fly continually, out of the towne, vppon our men, one only souldier of ours was hurt, and he only in one of his shoulders by a Musquet ball.

They of Seuenberg notwithstanding were constant to what they had begun,The perse­uerance of the enemy. how difficult soeuer they had experien­ced that worke to be, which they had already attempted three or four seuerall tymes in vayne. Such as perceaued the impos­sibility of it, would yet at least encourage the enemy by a feined confidence and assurance of the contrary. VVherfore they gaue [Page 77]order the damme should be begun againe from both sides of the Riuer, for the better strengthning of which they rammed great trees, straight vpward, into the bottome of the Riuer, and from hand to hand threw turf into it. They filled vp the spaces betwixt these trees with great stones, turfe and fa­gots. And that the worke might go on, without intermi­sion, they raysed heapes of turfe, like rocks, in low places (at such tymes as the ebbe had carried away the water) that at high water they might, by boats, be transporting such turfe as appeared aboue the water. And in conclusion by opposing the ordinary course of the Riuers and Seas, they wrought in vay­ne against nature it selfe. Iustin of Nassau, in like manner, began to make vp his dammes againe at Breda,The Gouer­nour of the Towne was not failing on his part. and to re­payre his Sluces and works broken downe; raysing withall high Rampiers against our Artillery, to defend the Towne from the fury of the shot. Spinola, howbeit he now gaue more credit to his engeners, beleeuing it was not possible for his Camp to be remooued either by the swelling of the tyde, or ouerflowing of the towne-ditches, since by the cutting of his new ditch he had drawne the standing waters out of the meaddowes into the Merk,Spinola still suspecteth the worst. yet bycause he knew the Hollanders to be expert in affaires belonging to the waters, and perceaued that they desisted not yet from theyr worke,He employ­ed spies cō ­tinually. he omitted not to send his spies continually to Seuenberg, not satisfied with any relation they brought him, by the report and heare-say of others, except they protested to haue seene with their eyes what they related. But when word was brought that their damme (now neare finished) went prosperously forward and that their boats with prouision lay at anchor, tur­ned that way which the wind blew towards Breda: behould againe the hand of heauen, the wind which, till then,The ene­myes wor­ke ouer-trowne by tempost. blew faire, turned now against them, and so horrid a tem­pest arose vppon the suddaine, that their trees, rammed with waterpile-sledges into the Riuer, their stonce turf, [Page 78]their fagots were carried away with the tyde, their boats which carried earth and other materialls, blowne against one an other, and all togeather confusedly throwne vppon the shore, all hope of successe being cut of for the present.They defer­re their worke till a better sea­son. In conclusion the tempest, the inconstancy of the weather, and the violence of the winds were so great, that they saw it was necessary to defer their work till the moneth of March next ensuing.

The senate of Breda had notice of what past,The proui­dence of the Magistrates of Breda. and least their prouision might chaunce to faile them, by the long con­tinuance of the Seige, or their treasure growing low, they might want money to pay their souldiers, they resolued to pro­uide for both inconueniences. And for their corne, by a more moderate distribution of it, they made it hould out the lon­ger. For hauing once, in September, taken a particular of eue­ry mans corne,They ex­amine all mens pro­uision. and after againe, in October, cast vp a generall account of the corne of the whole Towne, in the same moneth presently, within two dayes after, they caused all that Corne to be measured out, lodging the Captaines street by street, and distributing in euery family a certaine number of persons. And finding emongst the townesmen twelue thou­sand measures of wheat, and in the publike store house fiue thousand; and fiue hundred head of all kind of cattle, they ordayned that the souldiers, out of the store-house, should haue fiue hundred measures weekely shared emongst them, and the townesmen a thousand, out of their owne prouision; eighteene oxen, euery weeke, to be killed, and to be sould at two stiuers and a half the pound.

But not yet content with this distribution, in Nouember following, they caused the Burgers prouision to be visited a­gaine, and tooke and other account of euery mans corne, commaunding vppon the forfeiture of fortyTen pound. Phillips, that no man, without licence, should dare sell or transport any corne out of his house: And vppon the same penaulty they de­creed, that no townesman, from thence forward, should brew [Page]

[Page] [Page 79]in his owne howse, least by brewing secretly stronger Beere then ordinary, they might too much wast and consume their owne Corne. And yet more againe, in December fol­lowing, they commaunded that all men who had secretly hid or stored vp any corne, should bring all their corne, out of priuate houses into, a publike storehouse.Te Magi­strates of the Towne caused all corne to be brought to a publike storehouse. And to auoyd all deceit, vppon new years day, all men were summoued to deli­uer faithfully, vppon their oath, what store of wheat, meale Barly or Oats they had, either of their owne or of any other mens in their custody: prouided, that whosouer should refuse to declare the truth vppon his oath, should forfeit ten florens dayly, till he conformed himself: and if any man should be knowne to be periured,They put euery man to an oath Lawes a­gainst Mil­lers and Ba­kers. he should incurre the punishment of periury, and forfeit besids two hundred crownes: vppon the same penaulty the Millers and Bakers were bound, not to bake bread lighter then of six pound and a quarter, nor to sell any man, at once, about two pound of corne or meale. These statutes being proclamed vppon the second of Ianuary, the Magistrates and Captaines searching all mens howses and granaryes, carried away their corne, forcing all men to take their oath, that they had no more corne concealed in their houses. For the failing of their treasure,They take a course for their Trea­sury. they tooke this course. The Gouernour of the towne, the Coronells, Lieu­tenant-Coronells and Captaines deposed vppon their oath, what store of money euery man had, that it might be knowne how much euery man was able to lend. whith done,New coyne made in the Towne. fiue seuerall sorts of coyne, of siluer and brasse, were stamped, in a four-square forme. The siluer peeces of a florene, of two florens, and three florens: the brasse of a stiuer, and a stiuer and halfe. And it was proclaimed that those peeces should runne current, according to the value of the marke set vppon them. Of the siluer this was the forme,

Meane while we receaued ill tydings of Goch,The enter­prise of Goch by Lambert Charles. a towne in Cleue-Land. Lambert Charles Gouernour of Nimegen [Page 80]for the States, hauing intelligence of the weake garrison, and a place which lay open in the VValls of Goch,A passage lay open in the Walls of Goch. tooke men out of most of his neighbouring Townes, and marched to­wards that part of the wall which lay open, entring by force, and making himself Master of it. Of nine hundred of our men garrisoned in the towne, not aboue fiue hundred were able to beare Armes; the rest either worne out with age, or des­eases. The Rampiers worne away with moisture, lay open, and became a common passage for Cattle, in such places es­pecially where the ditch was fordable, and those places, with­out pallisadoes, carelesly left vnfortified. Iames Tourland Gouernour of Goch had notice of the enemyes stirring at Nimegen,The Gouer­nour of Goch rein­forceth his gards. and gaue warning of it to all the neighbouring townes of the Kings, ouer confident, as it seems, of himself and his owne towne. He rounded the walls himself, and redoubled all his gards, the day before that attempt was made vppon the towne. He placed a gard of fourscore men in that place where the errour appeared in the wall, and where by the decaying of the Ramper a passage seemed to ly open. This done, he gaue an account to Spinola of all things, of the enemyes being abroad, of what he had warned his neighbours about him; and what he had done himself. Spinola, at the same tyme he receaued these letters of Tourlands,Spinola gi­ueth the Gouernour of Goch a check. receaued others from Iohn Gonzalez Gouer­nour of VVesel, of the doubtfull state of their affayres ther­abouts, who returned answer to Tourland, with a check for taking such care of the affayres of his neighbours, himself being ouer negligent, or ouer confident of his owne, giuing him this Caueat withall, that it was not possible for him to send him forces from the Campe, which would arriue in tyme to succour him, if need should require. The forces of Nime­gen, setting forth about mid-night, arriued early in the mor­ning vnder the ruynous part of the wall of Goch.The ene­myes forces arriued at vnawarres. They were 4000. foot and 400. horse. VVho whilst they were labouring [Page 81]to force a passage in that ruinous part of the Rampier,The ene­myes forces arriued at vnawarres the 80. souldiers of ours, placed there to garde and make good the place, terrified with the suddaine comming and numbres of the enemy, forsooke the Sargeant that commaunded them, and, for feare, betooke themselues to a shamefull flight,Our men shamfully put to flight. giuing way to the enemy to enter at that place, the defence of which was committed to them. The enemy hauing taken that part of the wall, possest themselues, not long after, of the Market place, and two Ports. Tourland himself was forsaken by diuers of his men, and now that the enemy was entred the towne, was able no longer to beare the fury of the brunt: wherfore,Tourland maks good the Castle and one ports of the Towne. gathering togeather his scattered souldiers out of flight, he betooke himself to the defence of the Castle, and one Port of the Towne which yet remayned vntaken. He dispatched a packet presently to Iohn Gonzalez Gouernour of VVesell, demaunding succours of him, assuring him, he and his would hould out, till they arriued. Gonzales returned him answer with speed, counselling him to maintayne the good opinion conceaued of his valour, and promising suddainly to send him supplies. Our men made good their places with extreame difficulty that day. After the hot dayes seruice,Our men beatē from that port of the Towne which re­mayned in their possession. at night, they were beaten foom their Port. Only the Castle now remayned to them. Next day arriued succours, of 1000. foot, who contrary to Tourlands direction, making ac­count, at the posterne Port, to enter the Castle; with ouer hast­ning themselues, broake downe the bridg, three hundred of them being left on the other side of the Riuer, who were all either slayne, or remayned aliue to the mercy of the enemy.The suc­cours which were sent our men, by disorder and ouer hasting in daunger to be lost, great part of them being slame Tourland is sorely wounded. Tourland, making vp againe, with ladders and boords, the bridg from the Castle to the towne, which himself before had caused to be broaken; and being now in readines to sally out vppon the towne, was shot through the belly, and dangerously wounded. Then at last the Captaines thought it high tyme to think of surrendring vppon honorable termes. And thus in [Page 82]three dayes the enemy possessed himselfe of the towne and Castle.The vnchri­stian-like proceeding of Lambert Charles. The commander of this enterprise Lambert Charles had the victory, but reaped but small, and short content­ment of it, for after the sacking of many houses, pillaging of Churches, ouerthrowing of Altres, burning of pictures, and promiscuouly confounding things sacred and profane,A iust re­ward of his profane car­riage. hauing nothing in reuerence, bearing respect to nothing, as if to become insolent and iniurious to all men, had ben only to enioy a victory, strook dead with a palsey, he recea­ued a iust reward of his profane comportmet. VVe sustay­ned not any notable domage by the losse of that towne, as appeared afterwards by the enemy themselues, nor they vn­dertooke not that enterprise with resolution to keepe Goch, so much,The States propose that Goch may be neutrall. as by that meanes, to rayse Spinola from Breda: for after the taking of Breda, they couenaunted with vs (without demaunding enterchangibly any conditions for themselues) that Goch might, from thence forward, he held a neuter all towne.They of Breda ieere our soul­diers about the Towne. Howbeit they of Breda, as souldiers in that kind ar euer accustomed, betooke them selues, vppon this newes, to the walls of their towne, and from thence cryed out merrily to our Centinells, that our best course were to rise, and retire to Goch. About this tyme newes arriued, that the forces which Mansfeild had gathered togeather,A report of Coūt Mans feilds arri­uall with his Army vp­pon our frontiers. lay houering about the confines of Henault and Artoys (Prouinces of ours bordering vppon France.) The Arch­duchesse ISABEL, albeit she could not beleeue that any Prince would embroile his florishing fortunes, with those des­perate and lost attempts of Count Mansfeild,The Arch­duchesse maketh preparation a­gainst him. yet bycause she was not ignorant that the affections of Princes, are no lesse changeable, then violent, she made preparation of warre, according to the greatnes of the danger, with intention only to defend her self, where occasion should be offered. To which end she lodged forces vppon the confines of Henault and Artoys, for the garde of those Prouinces; giuing Count [Page 83]Emden the commaund of them of Henault; and Count Hooghstrot (one who before was Gouernour of Artoys) the commaund, and leading of the forces of that Prouince. She dispatched away Count Sforza, to hasten the forces of the Emperour, and Duke of Bauere, against the comming of Mansfeild. She gaue order that all Corne, and Cattle should be conueyed to the most inland, and remote townes. She prohibited the sending of horses out of Belgia into France, as the french before had done the like, about the transporting of Corne out of France, into Belgia.Spine maketh now leauyes for the Palati­nate. Meane while Spinola grew iealious, least Mansfeild furnished with so many English, Germaine, and french forces, might haue some designe vppon the lower Palatinate: for the preuention of which, he haue commaund to Don Guilielmo de Verdugo, Gouernour of the lower Palatinate, to raise, for a reinforcement, eight free foot Companies, and two new troupes of horse;The forces of Germany and of of the low Cū tryes in a readinesse and to receaue presently into pay, the Regiment of Coronell Gratz, with fiue hundred horse more. VVhilst these things were doing, the for­ces raysed by the Prouinces, to the number of 3000. horse, and welneare 15000. foot, were ready in Armes. The new Companies raysed, in the later end of summer, were at hand. Count Anholts Regiment, consisting of 3000. foot, was alrea­dy arriued, with 1000. horse. The Emperours forces,The Empe­riall forces commaun­ded by Car­lo Spinelli. which were 2200. horse and 3000. foot, commanuded by the Marquesse Carlo Spinelli, who had a vehement desire to encounter with Mansfeild, were now vppon the frontiers (by the diligence and hastning of the Baron d' Ainsy.) The whole forces rai­sed by the Cuntry, were commaunded by Don Carlos Co­loma,Don Carlos Coloma the late Spanish Embassa­dour in En­gland, Ge­nerall of the Army of the Cuntry. late Viceroy of Majorque. Albert Arenberg Prince of Barbancon, from a Coronell of a foot Regiment, was perferred to be Generall of the horse raysed by the Cuntry. This Army, in the beginning,The Prince of Barban­con Gene­rall of the horse. had order to remayne about Namure, to encounter with Mansfeild, if (as once before he had done) he should attempt; againe, an inuasion vppon our frontiers: but newes being brought that Mansfeild was to [Page 84]ioyne with Count Maurice; they both, with the Emperiall forces, ioyned to those of the Cuntry, encamped neare An­werp.

Spinola being now furnished with such an Army as the like had seldome ben seene in the low Countryes (for it consisted of 30000. foot and 8000. horse, besids the ordinary garrisons of all frontiere townes) let slip no occasion, the re­mayndure of the Seige, by which he might intercept the let­ters of Count Maurice, and the beseiged, so to come to know what their designes were. For which he caused diuers am­bushes to be laid in seuerall places, offering great rewards to such as could intercept any letters. Three seuerall persons were cbserued to haue passed into the towne, either through the carelesnes of our Centinells, or through their owne swift­nes. In the place were these men passed, some few dayes after, a little purse was found, by some who were curious in seeking therebouts,Two letters of Count Maurices intercepted. in which were two letters, besmeared ouer with wax, the better to be preserued against all waters they might fall into.The Secre­tary Micha­el Rontart decipreth them. They were both from Count Maurice, the one to the Gouernour, the other to the Senate of Breda, written in such ciphers, as could hardly be deciphred. In which after many had laboured in vayne, at last Michael Router, Secretary to the king, and the Marquesse after much study, ouercame the difficulty, and found the sense of them. These were the contents of that to the Gouernour, that to the Se­nate being of the same tenure,Coūt Mau­rice his let­ter to the Gouernour of Breda. but shorter:

‘That he was much comforted to vnderstand of the great store of corne found emongst the townesmen. That now their care ought to be, by a moderate distribution of it, to make it hould out, till he could be able to send succours to them, for which, great preparation was making in England, France, and the vnited Prouinces. That, for that purpose, Count Mans­feild was at hand, who by ioyning his forces to theirs, might rayse Spinola from his Seige. That they were long since ex­pected, [Page 85]and had ben there already, if they had not ben crossed by tempest, and foule weather. That 2000. french horse were already at Bologne and 14000. English foot ready to embarque at Douer (besids other loose troups in the land of Leige and other places.) That the rest of the foot forces to the number of 2000. raised, by him, in Ger­many, and the vnited Prouinces, lay ready embarqued, waiting their oportunity, and faire weather. That they had once already put to Sea, but were put back by foule wea­ther. That the States would neither spare labour nor char­ges, to further Mansfeilds designes, and succour Breda, for which purpose they had taken order for the raysing of 4000. new horse, besides the horse of the old Army, in England and Fraunce, where also they were now raysing six or seauen thousand foot more then ordinary: so that about the beginning of spring, they were in hope to haue an Army of 40000. foot and 6000. horse, with which they would find some means to releiue Breda: which that it might be effected to the most aduantage of their Army, and the Towne, he desired that the corne (mentioned in the Gouernours let­ter) might be made hould out till the first of May next ensuing: which, from the tenth of that present Ia­nuary, was a hundred and eight dayes. That, though he was confident their forces would be much sooner ready, yet he requested they would spare their Corne, as much as was possible, that his owne Army, and the other, which yet lay-expecting vppon the borders of France, might haue so much the more liberty to come to him at their ease. That wheras the Gouernour had formerly written to him, to know his opinion about stinting the souldiers and townes­men, with their wiues and children, to a set proportion of Corne; is was to be noted, that men, for the most part, eate most at such tymes, when they ar proportioned to a set allowan­ce; at other tymes, they buy not more then ordinarly is ne­cessary [Page 86]for them, especially when corne is to be had for money. Besids, that it was a thing would giue occasion of tumult, how impartially soeuer the distribution were made. That he therfore left it wholy to the discretion of the Senate, and Counsell of warre there, to determine what they thought most conuenient for the sparing of their Corne. That he had treated with the States, to know what their pleasure was should be done with the souldiers horses, when their for­rage was spent. That they had engaged themselues they would repay to the horsemen, what money soeuer they might haue had more for their horses, being aliue, then af­terwards they should sell them for, being dead; prouided, the horsmen valued them at a resonable rate: wherfore they should not spare, for the publike good, freely to kill their hor­ses, to mantayne their hunger the longer. That, as long as any forrage remayned, they should preserue their milch-kine to their ovtmost extremity (milke being a thing so neces­sary and vefull.) And, though it was not to be doubted at all, but he had lately, with the Senate, made a straight search, ouer all the Burgers Cellars and granaryes: that he besought him againe, notwithstanding, euer to haue a care, to mantayne the publike store as much as lay in him, if peraduenture any man, by stealth, should chance to con­ceale his prouision. That the Magistrates had enformed him of the affections of the people, ready, with their purses and prouisions to supply all, wants and necessityes of the Seige, but with all, that complaints were brought to him of the insolencyes of some souldiers, who, though they had no reason to complaine, either of their lodging, fire, wages, or deare rates of any prouision; yet were not afraid, as well by day, as by night, to breake open houses, spoile gardens, breake downe hedges, pillage stables, shops, and the very Cabins them selues; and these things, for want of a strict obseruation of di­scipline, and suffering some souldiers to scape vnpunished, who [Page 87]had ben taken in those offences. VVhich thing, out of doubt, would cause a remisnes in the Burgers, who hither­to had ben punctuall in keeping their guards, and who already began to mutter that their owne houses were more pretious to them, then the towne walls, and were the rather to be made good against their domesticall enemy. That he desired therfore, if such insolences should happen hereaf­ter, that seuere iustice might be done vppon the first de­linquent, so to terrify others from committing the like: that souldiers ar placed in garrison, with intention to defend, not to offend the inhabitants of the townes where they liue. That his desire was, these his letters should be shewed to the Coronells, and all others of the Councell of warre, whom he besought to take some serious course that the townesmen, who otheruise had a sufficient share of suffering, might be freed, and secured from these insuf­ferable abuses. That he had had intelligence, from other places, of the new Causey made by the enemy; of their Counterscarp cast vp vppon that causey which goes to Se­uenberg; and of the strong pallisado of tres made before it. That notwithstanding, the States desisted not from choaking vp the channel of the Riuer, neare Seuenberg, which worke would be finished out of hand: though it remayned a thing vncertayne, in most mens opinions, what successe this stopping of the channel was like to haue: Some were of opinion it would drowne all feilds far and neare about the Towne; others beleeued otherwise. That, for his part, he would suspend his iudgment, till he had seene the euent. Yet, that he was not ignorant (whether it were possible or no to choake vp that channel) that those feilds were of such a vastnes, as without a world of waters, they could not be drowned; and that those waters would not so easily make a passage for them through the enemyes causey which was so sollidly made, and fortified so strong. Yet [Page 88]howsoeuer, that that worke would much molest the enemy, when he on the other side, with his Army, should come to succour the towne. VVherfore it would not be out of purpose, if against that tyme, he made ready some boats, to second him, out of the towne. This was the substance of the letter. At the bottome of the letter this was added: that Mansfeilds Ar­my had once againe put to Sea, but was put back by a contrary wind. That Lambert Charles Gouernour of Nimegen, had surprised the towne of Goch.’

Count Maurice his designe, to call so many forraine forces to assist him, was thus layd open to vs, by the intercepting of these letters; wherfore, Spinola perceauing all these troupes to be intended against him, and that of necessity he must re­mayne yet three monethes longer in the feild (knowing Count Maurice to be as eagerly resolued to succour Breda,Spinola rai­seth new works a­bout his Campe. as if the safety of their whole Republike lay a bleeding with that towne) throwing downe first those fortifications which Count Mau­rice had lately raysed, and left standing at Mede, he began, with great labour, in the most vnseasonable tyme of the win­ter, to cast a trench about his Camp of an incredible large­nesse, least the enemy, at vnawars, with so great an army, might breake in at our backs in the spring tyme, as he resolued. VVhich trench,The incre­dible largenesse of his new Trench when it was made an end of, contayned in circuit two and fifty thousand paces; so much greater it was then our first trench cast vp in hast, which contayned not in circuit aboue three thousand six hundred paces. After ages will stand amazed, and Caesar and Pompey, if they were now liuing, would giue no credit to this relation, the one of which at Durace, made a trench of fifteene thousand paces, the other of nineteene thousand, and thought them large works. But that no man may beleeue I haue erred in my computa­tion, I thought good to set downe the number of paces about each quarter, a part, as I haue faithfully obserued them, and measured them my selfe. Spinolaes quarter in the Village of [Page]

[Page] [Page 89]Gineken, with the Quarter of Count Salacar,A particula calculation of the paces of this Trench. Generall of the horse, in the reare of it, was compassed about with a trench of two and twenty thousand, six hundred, and three and thirty paces. Ballancons with one of eight thousand six hundred paces: Isenburgs with a trench of eleauen thou­sand fiue hundred foure and fifty paces: Ballions with an other of nine with thousand eight hundred and thirteene paces. Besids this outward trench, Spinola had drawne an other within that, against the sallyes of the beseiged. But this inward trench, bycause the towne was rendred before, was neuer throughly finished: yet, with its imperfect circuit, it tooke vp in compasse sixteene thousand paces. Both these trenches were ten foot high, the walls of them not rising per­pendicularly, but scrping by degrees. At the bottome they were fifteene foot thick, with two steps on the inside, for the vse of the Musqueters, aboue which steps was a para­pet ten foot thick at the bottome, and six foot on the top, rising fiue foot high, the ditch being sunke seauen foot deepe about it, and fifteene foot broad from one brinke to the other, being at the bottome not aboue eight foot broad. So much more sollid and substantiall were these latter trenches then the former, which were not aboue fiue foot high, and seauen foot thick; the dith of the same breadth. VVithin the circuit of both these trenches, new Redouts,VVorks in the Trench. and diuers Batteryes were made, of which there were two at the entrance of each quarter, and a halfe moone before the entrance, on the out side: And diuers forts besids, according to the different situation and daunger of the places. Moreouer,Spinola [...] Campe fortified a now. each Quarter (slighting the first lesser fortifications) was for­tified, anew, with so many new works, that one who hath not ben eye-witnesse of it, will hardly giue credit to it: so that it appeared a kind of labyrinth of fortifications. In our Campe only (besids such works as were raysed in diuers Villages abroad, either for the defence of our prouision,The num­ber of our Works abō [...] the Town [...]. or for the [Page 90]hindrance of the enemyes breaking in) were numbred in all a hundred threscore and eighteene works.The number of our works a­bout the Towne. Redouts 96. Forts 37. Open and close batteryes 45.

VVhilst these things were doing,Mansfeilds deceit and his letter to the Arch­duchesse. Mansfeild being furnished with diuers forraine forces, and beleiuing his name wow to be growne fearfull, making shew of a desire to march towards the Palatinate, besought the Archduchesse earnestly, by letters, ‘that she would be pleased to graunt him safe passage through her Cuntry, and withall to victuall his Army, in his passage. That his purpose was, without any sinister intent, only to passe through the Kings Cuntry to such places, as, to comply with the king of England his Masters commaund, he must of necessity passe vnto. That he would not without her prtuity make any offer to passe, bycause he was confident she would not refuse him passage; but if peraduenture she should chance to refuse him, that then he was resolued to make his one passage by force, which, relying vppon the iustice and equity of his cause, he assured himselfe he should find easy.’

The Infanta, hauing often experienced the subtility of the man, thought best to returne no answere, that so it might appeare how little credit she gaue to his words, and how lesse she stood in feare of his rude and vnskilfull Army, fitter for the plough then the warrs, consisting only of prest, and fresh water souldiers, her self hauing so great and choise an Army in the Cuntry.

Meane while,The wants of the be­seiged in Breda. they of Breda perceauing them selues so straightly besieged, hauing long stood in expectation of Mans­feilds supplies, who being tossed long at Sea, had ben longer vppon his way then could be imagined, began now to shew some feare and felling of their burden. For the prices of their prouision began to mount high,The deare rates of their proui­sion. and their Haberdine and cheese was already at an end. Butter was now, emongst them [Page 91]at 25. stiuers the pound, oyle at a crowne the Quart, an egge at 3. stiuers, pease at ten crownes the measure, bacon at 15. stiuers the pound. VVhich dearth of victualls was cause, that the English souldiers, a nation impatient of hun­ger, began now shamefully to feed vppon carrion; and diuers others, by means of the ill food, to which they were not accusto­med, fell in to the scuruy (a desease so termed by the Phisitians:) for, after their long sufferance, and a plague which raged sorely emongst them,Their deseases by chan­ge of diet. they were forced to feed vppon old moldy corne, which had ben long before stored vp for such an extermity. The townesmen, to lessen some what the often watches, and other labours of the soul­diers, tooke it to their charge to keep the garde of the towne walls, leauing only the Out-works to the souldier to garde, from which labour no man, what priuiledg soeuer he might otherwise challendg, would exempt himself. The Gouernour, to preuent all Mutinyes which peraduenture might arise emongst the souldiers, through the want and impatience of victualls: and the more to oblige and endeare them to him, cau­sed the poorer sort of tradesmen to supply the places of the dead souldiers, performing their dutyes, and drawing their wages, since it was not possible to get their liuing by their labour;The Gouer nours indul gency to the souldiers for feare of a Mutiny. Besides which, he dispensed with the strict discipline ordina­rily obserued before, suffering the souldiers to watch but a­uery third night, wheras they were accustomed, euery other night, to haue the garde. To all which,The Coro­nells exhort their soul­diers. their Coronells were not wanting, on their parts to encourage them, and their prea­chers, in the pulpet, to perswade them to take hart, and not to sooth and flatter themselues so grosly, thinking to qualify that, by the plausible name of a surrender,The Mini sters in the pulpet per­swade the. which in­deed was nothing els, but shamefully to stoope to the yoak? and seruitude of the Spaniard; that they should be confi­dent of Mansfeilds comming; that they were mistaken in thinking him not to be arriued at his day appointed, and [Page 92]that he was nearer at hand then could be imagined,Vayne ho­pes. but that, by the stopping of all passages, the newes was kept from them; that Spinola did not persist so constantly in raysing dayly new works for his any recreation or sport he tooke in it; that they might take their owne eyes, and Spinola him self to witnes if they would not credit them; that the forces of Germany, France, England, and the low Cuntryes were at hand, for feare of which, Spinola wrought night and day; that it were too vnworthy and shamefull an effeminacy, not to endure their wants till their succours could arriue, which were now so neare at hand; That their greatest sufferances were already past, and liberty ought now to be the only thing they were to looke after; that they would not loose the reputation they had gained of their resolute enduring so great and long wants, for a few dayes longer endurance.They en­deauored to conceale their wants This done, the Coronels, least the souldiers should discouer things to be other wise then they made them beleiue, or that the miserable condition of the towne should be made knowne to vs, by such as passed vp and downe betwixt vs, gaue order, that no drumme, or Trumpet what soeuer, sent from vs to them, should be permitted to enter the towne, but should expect their answere at the Ports,The Magi­strats take a course a gainst Mu­unyes. and there be plentifully entertayned, and make good cheare, (a pol­licy heretofore practised by Manlius) to make shew of their plenty. The Magistrates, or the other side, tooke all other things to their care, and, in imitation of Augustus, forbad all publike meetings, or assembleys of the townesmen, least that might be a coulor for factious people to come togeather, and plot some sedition. A watchfull eye was had ouer the soul­diers, by their Captaines, as often as they were obserued to whisper togeather in any troupes, and by the interuention of the Captaines, their discourses were broaken of. By these and the like preuentions, the towne was some what the longer pre­serued, and the dishartned townesmen and souldiers were encouraged, though from that tyme forewards, their [Page 93]wants, for the most part, were fed with bare hopes. Now at last Count Maurice was arriued at Gertruden­berg with his foot forces, and now againe the power of heauen seemed to contest with him.Mansfeild lost many men by te­pest in the very har­bour of Gertruden­berg. The winds and tempests droue his ships, with that violence, one against the other, in the har­bour, that diuers of them were broken, and became vtterly vnseruiceable: on the other side, as if the cold of the whole winter had benreserued to that tyme, an extreame sharpe frost closed vp all Riuers, that, in many dayes, prouision could not be brought to them. It is a knowne custome of them of Ger­trudenberg, that, out of the confidence they haue in their per­petuall nauigation, and neighbouring townes, they neuer hord vp any store of corne, or other prouision. Hence it came to passe, that, vppon the suddaine arriuall of so many soul­diers, a great want followed, and scarcity of all things; the rather, bycause by the vnexpected great frost, all passages were so frozen, that nothing could be brought in. To this,The desases and misera­ble death of many of his soul­diers. many of them falling sick of feauers, plague, and other nasty deseases, out of the straightnes of the place, loathsome stinks, and long enclosure at sea (being all new men and not accustomed to tem­pest, or such other loathsomenesse as they met with there) some of them dead, others halfe aliue were cast ouer boord. It was re­ported that a boue four thousand of them perished in this sort. Di­uers of them, being throwne ouer boord for dead men, recouered the shoare by swimming, and are yet liuing in the towne. Dtuers dead bodyes lay vnburied, vppon the lad; others cast ashoare, by the waues, vppon seuerall coasts of Holland, caused a greiuious plague in many neighbouring townes:A miserable sight to the English souldters to see their Cuutrimen, so hardly v­sed. A lamentable spectacle to rest of the English, to behould their fellow-soul­diers so hardly intreated in a strang land, and in that Cuntry especially which they came to releiue. And which was most of all to be lamented, whilst Mansfeild was afraid to put his men on shore, the most of which were prest, and serued against their will, they came to perish by that means, by which [Page 94]thought to preserue them; by being restrained from going a shore. Diuers of them, notwithstanding, escaping by flight, halfe sterued, vnarmed, and in pittifull plight, reported themselues to be in far better case, then the rest of the Army which remayned behind, who were, for the most part, prest men, ignorant of their trade, and such as were yet to learne the handling of their Armes, when now they should haue ben fit to bring into the feild. It is reported of some of them, that they charged their peeces with all their pouder,The igno­rance and vnskilful­nes of some of Mans­seilds new souldiers. at once which was distributed to them for seuerall charges, filling the whole bore of the Musquet so full, that scarse any place remayned to receaue their bullet: so rawe and vnskilfull these men were at the beginning. It appeared by many letters that those troupes were raysed out of the scumme of the people, and that in a short space, they were so lesned, what with desea­ses, and what with running away, that of forteene thousand men, scarse four thousand remayned. VVhilst Mansfeilds fleet lay thus fas frosen, the oportunity of the season put vs in mind of sandry exploits. Nordam fort, neare Seuenberg, inaccessible in the summer, by reason of the waters, might now, vppon the Ice,Diuers on­terpuses proposed to vs to which the season of the yeare with other concurren­ces seemed to inuite vs to. haue ben attemped, on foote: It was thought no hard matter, at that tyme, to take in Prinsland, Rosendale and Seuenberg. VVherfore spies were, euery where, sent out to discouer: fire-balls were made ready, to through into the enemyes Boats. But in vayne, for the Ice (which seemed to be sollid and hard frozen) was so wea­kened with the continuall snow falling vppon it, that it would hardly beare the weight of three or four souldiers, at once; And the wayes, lying deep with snow, vneuen, blowne vp and downe, here and there in heapes with the wind, were infinite daungerous for squadrons of men to march. The spies themselues fell, some brest high, some mouth high, and were often tymes quite ouerwhelmed with the snow, that they could not heare, or help one an other. Three [Page 95]of Coronell Fuggers souldiers, being resolute bold fellowes, comming to the enemyes Campe at Rosendale, after they had made what discouery they could vppon the boats which lay there, drinking and discoursing, without suspition with all men, were betrayed in their returne, and es­caped but narrowly by flight, one of being taken, and grei­uiously wounded. At other tymes Fuggers men had bet­ter successe in their exploits, and few of then often tymes, brought in many prisoners; But the successe of stratagems is not euer alike. There wanted not some, who besought Spinola, that with the forces of Don Carlos Coloma, and some of his troupes added to them, an attempt might be made vppon Rosendale, which was but slightly fortified, assuring him, that, according to the report of Spies, the enemy, there, stood in feare of vs, and would sooner pack vp bag and baggage, and betake themselues to flight, then to fight: they were perswaded that this attempt might be made with out daunger, if, our horse being diuided, were sent, in the meane tyme, one half towards Ber­ghen op Zome, and the other towards Prinsland. Spinola, who alwayes gaue eare rather to safe and wary enterprises, grounded vppon reason, then to others which seemed plau­sible, and by accident only might chance to proue fortunate, weighing all things seriously wtth himself, and considering that that enterprise, would be little or nothing benefictall to his mayne designe, resolued rather to reserue his forces entire,Spinolace warines in his vnderta­king any enterprise. for some necessary occasion, then to discourage his whole Army, with the opinion of the enemyes valour, or encourage the enemy, with their good successe against vs, if peraduenture we should chaunce to receaue a soile, and faile in our enterprise, though with the losse of neuer so few men; knowing that in matters of warre, vppon slight occasions, oftentymes, great alterations follow; and that it were not wisdome, in a Generall, with imminent danger to pursue a slight Vctory. The fourth of March was now at hand, which was the Aniuer­sary [Page 96]day of the Surprising of Breda for the States,The aniuer­sary day of the taking of Breda for the States. by the deceit of a carriage-boate. This day, they of Breda were euer accustomed to keepe holliday: but now, bycause it was like to be the last yeare they should keepe this feast, they kept it so much the more solemnely, by how much the more sel­dome they were like to obserue it hereafter: more like the funerall day of it, then the birth day: discharging their last dutyes of the honour they ought it, by three vollyes of all their great and small shot.

Now the tyme was come,The enemy tooke in hand againe the Damme in the Riuer which they had left of for a tyme. till when they had deferred the raysing of the damme, in the Riuer: and in the meane season that they had ceased from, that worke diuers mens inuentions had laboured hard in it. One emongst others, for a great price, vndertooke the worke, howbeit, for the most part, it was thought a thing impossible. This man, in the presence of them whom the States had appointed to be ouer-seers of the worke,A new coursetaken for the ray­sing of the damme. made choise of a place, not far from that, where they began the damme before, in which place the Riuer is both narrow and shallow, where he threw in great quantity of stones, wrapped vp in Nets, least they might chance to be carried away with the tyde, and vppon them againe, a certayne kind of sand, fater then ordinary sand (brought for that purposed out of England and France) to stop vp all creases, and strengthen the damme.The damme oyerthrow­ne when it was finis­ked. The worke seemed now to suc­ceede better then at other tymes: but a suddaine tempest arising, such flouds of water beat against the damme, (it being then March Moone, in which season the Sea swelleth more then at other tymes of the yeare) and such shewers of rayne fell at the same tyme, meeting with the swow now melted vppon the ground, that that worke at Seuenberg, and some others at Rosendale, and diuers works about the Towne of Breda were vtterly ouerthrowne: Besides, the high wayes of our Camp, and some of our fortifications, nearest the towne, were so ouer-flowne, that in three dayes no man [Page 97]could come to them but in Boats: in which tyme,Our Cam­pe in many places ouer flowne by the flouds, and our Quar­ters seperu­tud oue frō the other. our Quar­ters lying sperated by these slouds, we suffered much through the want of victualls: for no wagons could bring vs any thing, and we had not such store of Boats, as, vppon the suddaine, could furnish all places sufficiently. The Riuer could not now be distinguished from the shoare, or greene feilds; all things had the same face, all places ouerflowne. It neuer ap­peared more plainely, how much God fauoured our Army, in preseruing it all that winter: for, if the winter had ben so hard, and such quantity of swow had fallen, in the beginning, as did now at the later end, or as ordinarily falleth euery yeare in the winter season, out of doubt, for that only res­pect, we should haue ben forced to forsake the Seige. For, during that short tyme of the extremity of cold, diuers soul­diers had their limbs forzen, others were found dead whilst they stood centinell: some of them had their hands and seet frozen, in such sort, that it was necessary afterwards to haue them cut of. The Carters and Sutlers, who brought vs in prouision, being oftentymes benighted, and cost behind,Our Con­uoyes hin­dred by the wet wea­ther. perished, by the extreame colde, in their iourney to the Gampe, through the great rayne, snowwinds and foule wayes. And generally, the conueyance of our prouision, was so hindred, that, for the space of three weeks (all which tyme this great thew, and rayne endured in extremity) scanse any proui­sion was brought to the Campe, sauing what the Germane soul­diers wiues, running out euery day in noups, as if they had marched in squadrons, to the neighbowring will ages, brought home vppon their shoulders. VVhich women besids other offices of of duty they performed to their husbands, were continually buisied in fetching burdens of wood, seeking of forrage,The loue and respect of the Ger­maine soul diers wiues to their thus bands. dres­sing their meat for them, washing ther linnen, and carrying their baggage vppon their shoulders, whensouer the Campe marched; so that they ought rather to be cherished, and estee­med, [Page 98]in this behalf, as necessary as Marius his Mules, then to be reckned emongst the carriages, or impediments of a Campe.

These waters being fallen, the enemy began againe, with their former resolution, to rayse their damme begunne. Spi­nola caused the Sluces of a little brooke, called Terleure, which runnes into the Riuer Merk, to be broken, and to stop vp, and diuert the course of other brooks, which ranne into our Campe.The manner of rai­sing their damme. He raised, besides, the causey, which he had caused to be made, in the meddow-grounds, from the Riuer Merk, towards Terhage three foot higher then it was before; that, how much soeuer those standing waters might chance to swell, no boats might be able to passe ouer that place. The enemy, to breake the force of the current, which came from Breda, a pretty distance before that place, where they intended to raise their damme, raised two small promon­toryes, vppon each shoare of the Riuer: and in the midst of the Riuer (in that space which remayned open, betwixt the two hills, or promontoryes, where the water, finding the pas­sage narrower, ranne with the greatest force) they rammed in great stocks of trees, one by the other, in an order which re­presented the shape of a trident, leauing but little space bet­wixt them, that the force of the current, being first broaken there, might afterwards runne gently, and with lesse danger of the damme. Behind this, they began to raise their damme, assured, as they thought of good successe. They wrought continually, vppon this damme, many dayes and nights, and had brought it to such perfection, hauing raised it from each shoare, that their remayned now, in the middle, but a small gap to stop; but the force of the water, restrayned, was such,The force of the wa­ter ouer throweth their dam­ine. that wheras before the streame ranne so gently, that it was hard to descerne whether it ranne vpward or downeward, now, the waters missing their ordinary free passage, ranne downe­ward like an impetuous vnresistable Torrent. The pallisado [Page 99]before the damme, was loosned at the bottome and ouer­throwne, by the remouing, and washing away of the sand. To all which, there rose so fearfull a tempest, about the same tyme, that the boats they had sunke, the stones, turfe, fagots and trees which they had throwne into the Riuer, to streng­then their damme, were violently borne away, with the force of the streame, and the fleet, in which Christian Duke of Brunswick had brought the french Cauallerie, sustained great domage, diuers of his ships being lost, others blowne into other quarters, not able to keep their course. Then, at last, the enemy, finding the losse of their infinite charges, thought it high tyme to desist from thatworke, which they had so often before attempted in vayne.

About that tyme certayne letters of the Gouernour of Breda to Count Maurice, and of Mansfeilds and Count Maurices agayne to the Gouernour,Letters of the Gouer­nour of Breda to Count Maurice, and of Count Maurices and Mans­feirdsto the Gouernour intercepted by a nota­ble practise of a Pesant. by which Spinola came to the knowledg of some secrets, which made much to his purpose, were intercepted, by the subtility of a Pesant, worth recounting. A cer­tayne person in the Army, desirous to shew himself industrious in the seruice, hauing found out a pesant, as expert of all places, and passages ther abouts, as ready to accomplish any thing, he should vndertake, perswaded him, by faire promises to carry But­ter, Tobacco, and cheese to the Towne, making shew of hauing narrowly, and with great danger, escaped our centinells, and gards; and there to offer his seruice to the Gouernour, to car­ry letters from him to Count Maurice. The fellow, in whom, otherwise, little trust was to be reposed, gaping after the re­ward, and hauing nothing but pouerty, of his owne, to trust to, was contented to put his honesty to saile: and being furnis­hed with those necessaryes, arriued vnder the towne walls, according to his directions. He was welcome to hungry men, for the prouision he brought: and the Gouernour, desirous to know particulars, examined him about our Camp, about the passage he found into the towne, and what was [Page 100]the Generall opinion abroad of the state of their affaires: The fellow, being subtil, and dissembling as falsly as an other Sinon, related many trew things, and feyned as many, of his owne head, which begat a great belief, in them, of his honesty and trust: For men or euer apt to beleeue wath they desire should be. In conclusion, being asked whether he durst ad­uenture to carry any letters, by that passage, by which he esca­ped into the towne, shewing himself, at first, fearfull, and doubtfull what to answer, suffered them by promises to worke him to that, to which of all things, vnder pre­tence of backwardnesse, he desired to be perswaded. The Gouernour therfore trusted him with his letters to Count Maurice, promissing him great rewards, if he brought him an answer. The counterfaict promised to do his best; but be­ing returned back againe into our Quarter, he brought the Gouernours letter to Spinola, to peruse: The contents of it were these: ‘That he was much conforted with the receipt of three of Count Maurice his letters,The Go­uernour of Breda his letter to Coūt Mau­rice. by which he vnderstood of Mansfeilds safe arriuall with his English and Germaine forces, and of other preparations for the releife of Breda. That, for his part, he would take care, as he had vnder­taken before, that the Corne they had in the towne, should hould out till the end of Aprill or beginning of May, vnlesse haply it chanced to be fired, by the enemyes often shooting of fire-balls into the Towne. That he would short­ly make an other search of the Townesmen corne. That Spinola had drawne away some peeces of Artillery, from his greatest Battery (opposite to their water-mill) to Ballan­cons Quarter, and planted them vppon the heath, towards Gertrudenberg, and that he began to fortify that Quar­ter anew. That the garrison of Breda was much lesned, by the plague, the fluxe and the scuruy, deseases which ra­ged sorely emongst them. That sick persons suffered much, for [Page 101]want of Phisick, and good food. That such as had their health were nothing dishartned, but waited some good oc­casion to make proofe of their valour. That their rape­oile was almost all consumed in lamps, before they made any vse of it in their meats, and that little or none of it, was now remayning.’

Spinola, hauing perused these letters, and sealed them vp againe, gaue them back to the same messenger,Spinola perused the letters, sea­led them againe, and gaue them back to the Pesant. promissing to reward him liberally, if he could bring him back the an­swer of Count Maurice and Mansfeild. Count Maurice, beleiuing he might confidently repose his trust in one, who had ben so carefull in bringing him the Gouernours letters, re­turned answer by this pesant, giuing him a larg reward, and sent him to Count Mansfeild, to take his letters along with him. The crafty messenger brought both these letters to Spinola, and was liberally rewarded, by him, for his paynes.

‘By these letters,Cont Mau­rice his let­ter to the Gouernour Count Maurice excused him self to the Gouernour for his delayes, attributing the stay of his succours to the vnseasonable tyme of the yeare, and desi­ring him, so to husband his prouision, that the Towne might hould out yet some weeks longer, and if it were possible, beyond the end Aprill; that it would be so long before he could haue his supplies in a readines; that other­wise, all the endeauours and charges of the States would pro­ue in vayne; That he acknowledged this demaund of his to be hard, and vngratefull to him, but that their fortune was, now, to be bettered by their industry; the rather, by­cause all the the french horse, raised by Mansfeild, was already arriued at Bollogne, two only companyes excepted, which they howerly expected. That the States ships, which went to fetch them, were already arriued there, with a prosperous wind. That one part of the french foot forces was already arriued, with the duke of Candale, the rest were vppon the way; and so was the rest of the horse and [Page 102]foot raised in Germany for the States; That the other french, English and Germane supplies, would be ready against that tyme, till when he desired him to hould out the Towne, that is, till end of Aprill.Mansfeild wrote to Gouernour,Mansfeilds Jetter. that he hoped short­ly to be his guest, that then they would be merry togea­ther, and drinke his, and his resolute fellow-souldiers healths; That he was arriued with a hundred foot Companyes, and forty troupes of horse; that he should not doubt of being succoured.’

Spinola, being now againe assured of the small prouision of the towne, and of the delayes of their supplies, thought it high tyme, vppon the 30. of March, then Easter day, to tast the Gouernour, about the surrendring of the towne. He sent therfore secretly to him the Count Sallacars Trumpet, with letters of this tenure: ‘That hitherto he had not treated,Spinoldes first leffer [...]d the Gouernour of Breda abontthe surrender of the Towne. with him, about the rendring of the Towne, by reason of the great store of prouision he had there. But now, that he was assured of the day till when, precrsely, their corne would hould out, for which cause it were not wisdome, for him, to deferre, any longer, the surren­ding of the towne; he thought good, now, to offer him hono­rable conditions, if he would be contented to begin to treat with him. And if, vppon the confidence he had of the succours he expected, he should desire, of him, any reasonable set tyme, to hould out Towne, in expectation of those succours (which hopes yet he himselfe might easily ghesse to be vayne, when he should consider the strength of our workes, and greatnes of our Army) that he was contented to condescend to his desire, and request, prouided, that the treaty might begin, from that present; otherwise, he should not expect the like fauour hereafter,’

The Gouernour, assembling presently the Counsell of warre, read publykely to them these letters of Spinola, but, [Page 103]being-confident of succours, vppon the large promisses made him, and his prouision being now encreased, by the death of so many of the beseiged, he returned this answer.

‘That he had perused Spinolaes letters,The Couer nours ans­wer to Spi­nola. and admired the strangenesse of his demaund; the rather, bycause he percea­ued, that Spinola beleeued him, and so many resolute men as he had with him in the Towne, were to be dishart­ned and scarred wich words, who, he assured him, feared nothing, vnder heauen, but the losse of their reputation: That tyme would shew him his errour, how grosly he mis­tooke the State of the towne, out of a self-flattery and de­sire to haue it: That he was confident he should be forced to deliuer the towne to no man, but to them, who first com­mitted the defence of it to his charge.’

Spinola, discreetly dissembled the matter,Spinoladis­creetly cō ­cealed the buisnes. and kept this answer to him self, least the tired souldier, hearing of it, might be put out of hart, with the vayne bragges of the beseiged, so puffed vp of late with hopes of releife. Houbeit it was commonly suspected, that Spinola had sent a Trum­pet to the Gouernour to treat of a surrender, which only thing was enough to perswade them, that their sufferings drew now welneare towards the period: though some men feared the worst, by the discourses of others, and began to suspect that Spinola had ben deceaued in his hopes, and, that the buisnes would aske a longer tyme then was beleiued. How­soeuer, for the present, the treaty was left to tyme, and, with the raising of strong works, we expected the comming of so many forraine forces.

Meane while the enemy drew all his forces to Ger­trudenberg, and Spranghen, taking all his souldiers,The enemy began now to draw all their forces to Gertru­deberg and Spranghe. out of garrison, and hiring Burgers in their places, exp ecting dayly the rest of the Army, which wintred at Rosendale. But Spinola being iealious of those long delayes of the enemy, and fearing, least vnder colour of comming thither, they [Page 104]might chance to circumuent him, in some other place, rein­forced the garrisons of Rhenebergh,Spinola re­inforchet such gairi­sons as we­re most li­kery to be attempted by the ene­my. Bolduc and VVesel (pla­ces most likely to be attempted by the enemy, to diuert Spi­nola from the Seige of Breda.) He put into Bolduc, besides the ordinary garrison, fiue hundred new men, raised by the Baron of Grobbendonck, Gouernour of that towne, to strengthen the Regiment lately bestowed vppon him. He caused seauen foot-Companies to march out of the Palati­nate to VVesel, with which Rhenbergh also, not far of, might be supplied: but he was afterwards assured, by the intercepting of some letters of Count Maurice to the Gouernour, that all those troupes were intended for the releife of Breda, and that they were then lodged not far from our Campe.

These garrisons being now reinforced,Coūt Mau­tice found means to set on fire Gineken Cirurch were we had great prounion of Corne. as hath ben said, Gount Maurice found meanes, by his spies, to set on fire Gineken Church (where we had a prouision of six thousand sacks of meale) with a Granary of Oats adtoyning to the Church. The fire spread so suddainly with the wind, that it was not possible to quench it; yet notwithstanding, two thousand sacks were found entire, the next day, which lay within these that were consumed, and spoiled. Spinola, not being mooued more then reason requireth, for such an accident (sending presently about, to all places, to buy more corne) in short tyme sup­plied, and made good that losse. Vppon the sight of this mis­fortune, Vincent Lasannia Ouer-seer generall of the victualls, presented him with three thousand sacks of wheat, which he had secretly prouided and concealed in the Campe, against any accident of fire, or other misfortune whatsoeuer. They of Hol­land did so much exaggerate this losse, in their letters, that six of the greatest Churches would not haue ben able to contayne the prouision,They re­ported and strang re­poru of the Hollanders vppon this losse of ours. which they gaue out we had lost, by this accident. They reported we had lost two and twenty thousand sacks of wheat, twenty thousand sacks of Rie, six thousand sacks of Barly, sixteene thousand sacks of Oats, foure thousand sacks [Page 105]of pease and Beanes, four hundred gammons of Bacon, two bundred tunne of oile, two hundred barrells of Butter, three, hundred bundles of dried habberdin, two hundred Barrels of herrings, two hundred tunne of poudred beife, two hun­dred sacks of salt, three and twenty thousand cheeses, great quantity of Meale, syrrup and hony. And with these and like fables, inuented and exaggerated by the Hollanders them­selues, they published our wants, and fed their owne hopes. And questionlesse, if we could haue ben scarred with these, and the like, fopperyes, we had ben long before raised from the Seige of Breda.

Spinola, being warned by letters, of the like daunger, like to happen to his munition house (which the enemy had a de­signe to set on fire,Spinola preuenteth the likemis­cheife like to happen to his mu­nition hou­se. as they had lately done the Church) caused the guards of the munition house to be doubled, and drew an other ditch about it, with order that, from thence foreward, it should be more carefully garded: and least, if such an accident should peraduenture happen, his whole pro­uision of powder should be blowne vp togeather, and his Army come to want, he transported welneare the half of his powder, into an other store house, which, for that end, he caused to be built.

The States, hauing brought their affaires to these termes, and vnderstanding now,The great imposts of the States. that their cheif care must be to prouide money, to accomplish what they had begun, and bring their designes to some good issue: knowing that if they could but find out any plausible pretence to demaund money, they might safely exact, and extort it from their subiects; besides an impost, not long before imposed vppon them, they taxed all marchandise, through their whole dominions, to pay, to the States, fifty in the hundred Their confederates and allyes sent them, besides this,Money sent the States by their cō ­federates. six hun­dred thousand crownes, in ready money, and as much more by bills of exchange, to be paid them by Marchants. VVith [Page 106]wich summes the enemy found himself well furnished,The King of Spaine his waut of money. whilst we, on the other side, sustayned some wants. For by rea­son of the french Army,The Mar­chants cor­respondēcy began to faile. marching victoriously, and without resistance ouer the mountaines, with intention to fall vppon Genua, whilst his Majesties Army of Spaine lay enga­ged before Breda, and could not well rise, with out some touch of dishonour, many mens credit began to faile them with straungers,Diuers wayes pro­posed to raise money for the pre­sent. who fearing the Seige of Genua, refused to lend money; a thing long before designed, and much laboured, by the enemy. Diuers wayes therfore were thought of, to raise money for the present: some proposed the taking vp, of the tenaunts, before hand, the rent due, the next yeare, to the King. Others, the borrowing money, of all townes, vppon his imposts and toles. Others, to agree with the Coronells of the Army, to pay either their souldiers, or their Cap­taines, or both, a moneth or two, for the King: or, if that seemed ouer burdensome, at least, that the Coronels them­selues and Captaines, or such of them as had other wise com­modity enough of their owne, would be contented to serue two monethes without pay, suffering the money they should receaue, to runne to the vse of the priuate souldters; the latter of which propositions,The fore­wardnes of some of the Coronells to supply the Kings wants. diuers Coronells seemed to con­sent to; but it was thought more conuenient to forbeare that course, for the present, least the nouelty of the thing, might dis­couer too palpably the wants we were in. In fine it was con­cluded that some lordships of the kings,Acourse re­solued on, at last, to raise money, for the present. should be engaged, and held in fee-sarme of the King, by which means the ne­cessityes of the Army were supplied, for the present. About that tyme his Majestie of Spaine made choise of Don Gon­calo de Cordua for Campe-Master Generall of his Army of Italy, as a man fittest to compose those new troubles be­gunne. He was then, and had ben present, from the be­ginning of the Siege of Breda. To him, and the Count of Salacar, Spinola imparted all his secrets, opening him self [Page 107]to these two, concealing all things, from all others. Don Goncalo, a man as well experienced in affaires of warre,His mode­sty. as any souldier, now aliue, and famous, in particular, for his late chasing, and defeating of Mansfeild, carried him selfe, with the like modesty, in all his actions, as Velleius describeth, and fashioneth the most modest, in their comport­ment. In his outward actions, he made no shew of inter­medling in any thing; assuming nothing to himselfe, and being a cheife actor in all buisnesses of most importance; yet valewing himself alwayes below the estimations of others. His countenance and carriage euer composed and graue; his aduise euer ready.

About this tyme,Newes of the death of the king of England. newes was brought of the death of the King of England, a thing which caused a demurre in the proceedings of Mansfeild, and the States. Diuers English souldiers forsaking their colours, came dayly running to our Campe: our souldiers taken prisoners by any of Mansfeilds troupes, were returned home without ransome, he making open profession not to be in enmity with the King of Spaine. But Prince Henry of Nassau,The States ioyne all their forces commanding the troupes of Rosendale to march towards him, and drawing out all his garrison souldiers (as if the buisnes were speedily to come to a tryall) caused his new men to be exercised dayly, with in­tention to keepe his souldiers minds buisied, that they might the lesse thinke of running from their colours. Spinola, that he might haue all his forces and supplies in a readines, pla­ced Count Henry vanden Bergh at Hooghstrat with his hor­se,Spinola draweth his forces to geather. a thousand horse of the Duke of Saxony, and 3000. foot of the Regiment of Count Collat (supplies sent by the Em­perour.) Spinola himself visited the towne and Castle of Hoogh­strat, and caused it to be fortified, and from thence to the Campe, at a certayne distance, caused six forts to be raysed vppon that riuer which runneth from Hooghstrat. In the voyd spaces, betwixt these forts, he lodged diuers loose [Page 108]Companyes of souldiers, so thick that they almost met one with the other: that the Army, at any tyme, vppon the suddaine, might make head against the enemy, either at Breda, or at Hoogstrate, as need should most require. He lodged Count Anholt, with his Germaine forces, to the number of three thousand foot of his owne, and fiue and twenty hundred horse, partly of his owne, and partly of the Regiments of Count Giacomo Strozzi, and of the Coronels Auendan̄o, Gratz and Neers: and Don Carlos Coloma, and the Prince of Barbancon, with the Army raised by the Cuntry, in the Villages neare Anwerp Mechline and Lyre. This Army was so great,Great want of forrage emongst our horse. and had such store of horse, and forrage, was euery where so vtterly consumed, that our hor­ses commonly fed vppon the litter of each other, or vppon dry leaues of trees, or els vppon heath and briers. Oats were not to be had in such quantity, as would suffice all carte and carriage horses,Disordres and insolē ­cyes of our forraine souldiers. besides the horse of seruice. The for­raine souldier, not a customed to our discipline, but vsed at liberty, to wander vp and downe, could not content him­self with that ancient tollerable theft, winked at of old in souldiers, of the dayly deniere of siluer, for their speare, their pike, their fuell, their bottle, their bellowes, candle, and the like; began to ransack howses,Our old Army de­bauched by the exam­ples of the strange souldters. to spoile Villages, and, in hostile manner, make stay of our prouision, and often tymes also to murmer for their wages, threating to quit the seruice if they were not punctually paid. Our old souldiers, trayned vp ra­ther in wayting oportunityes to offend the enemy, then hurt our owne men, who to that tyme had carried them selfues with as much temper, and moderation, as could be expected, taught now by the example of others (as souldiers commonly haue a naturall propension to do ill) betooke themselues to the like disorders, abusing the name of others, for a colour of their owne insolences. Spinola, giuing first their Commaunders warning of it, and iudging it mory necessary for him, at that [Page 109]tyme, to content, then to exasperate such kind of people,Spinola feareth to make vse of the ri­gour of iu­stice. con­demned some of them to dy, for those enormityes, giuing, vnder hand, instructions to their Captaines to beg their par­dons, of him; which he easily graunted, knowing the tyme vn­fit to vse to rigour of iustice.

VVhilst our forces were distributed vp and downe in these places, Maurice Prince of Orange, deseased at the Hage,Maurice Priné of Orangne deceased at the the Hage. happy yet in this, thad he liued not to lament his losse of Breda. The last words he vttered, ar reported to be these: Whether Breda were succoured, or lost? so that it may be con­iectured, he died with greife and apprehension of the losse of that Towne, the gaining, of which, gained him his first reputation, in the world; and for the preseruing of which, now, with the in­finite expence of his owne priuate estate, and the the exhau­sting of States treasure, he had almost stirred all Europe besides.

The States made choise presently of Prince Henry, Maurice his Brother, for their Generall, a Prince wel experienced in the warres, affable, and a great Courtier.Diuers souldiers of the ene­myes Army as well as of ours, runne from their co­lours. VVhilst the States were buisied with the funeralls of Count Maurice, and the election of their new Generall, diuers souldiers of our new Army, raised by the Cuntry, weary already of the warres, returned home againe; and others, of our old horse-men, tired out with the continuall labour, and will payment of their wages, fled from the Campe. But Mansfeilds french souldiers ranne to vs euery day, in grea­ter troupes, complaining they had ben deceaued, and made beleiue they should be led into the Palatinate, and that, in the space of seauen monethes, they had receaued no pay at all. Diuers of them were not a fraid, publikely, to professe,A begin­ning of a sedition in Mansseilds Army. that they would not go against Spinolaes Army, though they were dragged thither, by force. A young french man,Seuere iu­stice done vppon one of Mans­feilds soul­diers. in Mansfeilds Army, an Apothecary by his trade, was draw­ne in pieces with foure horse (the punishment of Mutius [Page 110]Suffetius) for debauching some of his Cuntrymen to runne from their Colours.Our soul­diers, and they of the Towne, discourse with one auother. Our souldiers before Breda, discoursed often tymes with them of the Towne, from their trenches, making an agreement betwixt themselues, to forbeare shoo­ting, on either side, whilst their parle lasted, and breaking familiar iests vppon one an other, as if their Quarters had ben one; our men throwing pieces of cheese and Tabacco to them, and they againe crusts of such bread as they had, to vs.

The States new Generall Henry,Henry Prince of Orange re­turneth to the Campe. now Prince of Orange, returned, within few dayes, againe to their Campe, and they of Breda, glad of their succour, which they beleiued to be at hand, let fly their Artellery more freely into our Quar­ters. One Canon Ball,Spinola es­capeth two imminent daungers. lighting vppon Spinolaes owne Ca­bin, at such tyme as, by good fortune, he was absent, carried away the Canopy of his bed, and broake in pieces two tables, in his Camber; an accident not vnlike that which hapned heretofore to the EmperourSuetonius Augustus, who being departed first out of his Tent, at the intreaty of some freinds, had his Tent presently ransaked, by the rushing in of some enemyes of his, and his Couch cut in pieces and perced, in many places, his enemyes beleiuing the Emperour himselfe to haue ben there. VVithin foure dayes, or therabouts, after this accident, Spinola, riding vp and downe, vppon a white hor­se, desirous to make some descouery, some what neare the Towne, an other Canon ball strooke the bitt of his bridle, out of his horses mouth, leauing the reynes of the bridle in his hand. So that it is probable, that, either Almighty God hath a peculiar care of great Generalls, or that, by how much the more a man aduentureth himself, so much the lesse danger, for the most part, he incurreth. Spinola, hauing now escaped these dangers, caused his supplies, which he had at hand,Spinela draweth his forces to a head. to march nearer to him, and lodged them, in seuerall places, behind the inner and outward trench. Count Anholt, in the reare of Balancons Quarter, towards the [Page 111]heath of Oosterhout, in which place it was suspected Mans­feild would breake in; The Baron of Beauoix, opposite to the Village of Mede (Count Maurice his old Quarter) with that Regiment of Count Iohn Nassawes, which was paid by the Emperour; Count Iohn Nassaw himself, with his other Regiment of the low Cuntryes, towards the heath of Chaem; The Baron d'Ainsy, who commanded the free Germane Companies, out of Regiments, with the title of a Coronell, in the reare of Gineken Quarter, where also he was to defend the Quarter of the Horse; And diuers other troupes in diuers places about the Campe. He caused the horse gards to be doubled, who marched, euery day, from their owne Quarter, to their seuerall gards. He visited the Rounds, oftentymes, him self, especially in those places, whe­re he suspected the enemy might breake in, neuer omitting it, any night, till the enemy retired.

The worth of this man neuer shewed it self more then now.The pro­ceeding of Spinola. His continuall watching, or broaken sleepe, neuer made him discurteous to any man. VVhen he awaked, out of his sleepe, he looked as liuely, and was againe as ready for any new buisnes, as if he had not before falne a sleepe at all; slee­ping againe with as great ease, as if he had not ben waked, or broaken out of his sleepe: for, hauing first taken order for all buisnesses, he slept out of feare. He contemned brauery in his apparell, being carelesse of his outside, yet so, that he euer maintayned the dignity of a great Generall. It was in­different to him, whether the weather were faire or foule, neuer regarding either rayne, snow, frost, or winds, or whe­ther it were late in the euening, or darke night. He fasted diuers, tymes two dayes togeather. His bed, for the most part, was some Cart or souldiers Cabin. He was neither cu­rious of his diet, rest, or any thing about himself. The ma­naging of all weighty affaires lay wholy vppon him, in which he laboured, and tooke paynes beyond beleife. His courage [Page 112]was inuincible; his countenance euer the same, what acci­dent soeuer hapned, by which he preserued and fed his souldiers hopes. He guided not himselfe, according to his owne opinion only, nor opened his buisnes to any, but such as he had need of, doing nothing rashly, but disgesting all buisnesses, with deliberation. His secrets were buried in silence. He did not easily credit any newes, vppon the suddaine, but was as hard of beleife, in such occasions, as he was apt to contemne any doubtfull report, that might deiect him, knowing the strength of wisdome to con­sist; in not being ouer credulous. To foresee, consult, write, giue audience, take order for buisnesses, often visit and ride about his Campe, were pastimes to him. He neuer retired him self for any wearines, nor denied any man accesse to him. He was curteous to his souldiers, to the Pesants, and to his spies, as far as stood with the honour of a great Commaunder, making vse of spies only for necessity. He bore more outward respect to such as stood ill affected to him, whose power was able to change the face of buisnesses, then to his bosome-freinds; houbeit, in him selfe, he feared no mans hatred.

In the Village of Hage, three spies were taken, going to the Towne,Three spies apprehen­ded. with a great packet of letters, a good quantity of Tabacco, and some Bottles of oile, to cure the desease, called the Scuruy. At the instant they were apprehended, they found meanes, in the woods therabouts, to hide the Prince of Orange his letter to the Gouernour. But one of them, who had often tymes before passed, through our Gampe, to the Towne, by means of the carelesnesse of some of our Gentinels, being put to the torture, confessed the letters, and place where he had hidden them. The Prince of Orange his letter to the Gouernour, was this:

‘That his Brother Maurice was deceased,The Prince of Orange his letter to the Gouer­nour. and the States had made choise of him, for their Generall, in his place. [Page 113]That, that sad accident should be no hindrance to the suc­cours they expected. That, within three dayes, he would be with his Army, in the Village of Dunghen, two lea­gues distant from Breda, where they of the Towne might discouer him, from the top of their highest steeple. That it was not possible the Army could haue ben sooner in a readines, but that now he would leaue no means vna­tempted to releiue them. That the Gouernour should haue a care, by husbanding, or lesning the distribution of Corne, to make it hould out; and to encourage the souldiers, by representing to them the resolution of so select an Army of the States, with the incredible expences, and desire they had to releiue them. That he should write back to him, in what place, how, and by what meanes, he might best breake into Spinolaes Quarter; and, for the more facili­tating of that enterprise, that he, in like manner, should concurre, and fall on with his forces.’

They of Breda, who by some other conueyance, had re­ceaued an other of these letters, were much comforted, and much afflicted, with the seuerall tydings it brought them. They lamented the losse of so able a Generall as Count Maurice, and yet they were comforted againe with the ioyfull newes of their succours. From the top of their Church-steeple is a large prospect into the Cuntry, from thence they discouered their Army, congratulating, and comforting one an other with that sight. They sounded a horne, from the top of the steeple, as if we were already running away. They called out to vs, from their VValls, to pack vp bag and baggage,vaine com­forts. forgetfull that they, and their Breda was the prey hunted after, and wee, not they, the huntsmen of is Deere. The Prince of Orange, being now arriued with his Army at Dunghen,The Prince of Orange thought to surprise the Churchstee­ple of Oo­sterhout. to the end that he might yet ly nearer vs with his forces, sent diuers troupes of horse and foot, with many fire­balls, to take in the Church steeple of Oosterhout, kept by 21. [Page 114]Burgundian souldiers of ours,back, by 21 Burgundian souldiers. Who defen­ded the steeple. for a place of discouery. Spino­la, hauing notice of it, sent out Captaine Peter d'Aguirre with his horse troupe, who put to flight the enemyes Scouts, making shew of more troupes of horse, at his back, to assist him. The Burgundians, in the meane tyme, stood vppon their garde, resolued, rather to runne any aduenture, then shamefully to surrender, with out good conditions. The ene­my, hauing now, with a petard, blowne vp the Church dore, and put fire in the steeple, able to do no other hurt, retired themselues. Fiue of the Burgundian souldiers were slayne, in the defence; seauen of them were sorely scorched with the fire. Of the enemy, bycause their numbers were great, many more were slayne and hurt, with stones which our men threw downe thick vppon them, for, being fearefull of the fire, they wisely threw downe, from the top of the steeple all the powder they had. So that, with a handfull of men, resistance was made against many troups.The Bur­gundian souldiers rewarded. The Burgundians, addressing themselues to Spinola, with their burnt faces, besmeared with salues and plasters (honorable wounds) were rewarded, with a monethes pay, in hand, and an aduan­tage of some Crownes, added to their pay for euer. The Sargeant, their commaunder, was rewarded with a Colours.

They of Breda, receauing now no letters, nor daring to aduenture any messenger out of the Towne,They of Breda made vse of a swallow to carry a let­ter for them. made vse of a Swallow, to carry a paper for them, making it fast to his wings. Count Isenburgs souldiers, perceauing a bird with a paper, fallen to the ground, entangled in the thred which tyed fast the paper, brought it to Count Isenburg, who sent it away presently to the Marquesse Spinola. The cyphers written in the paper were these. 1-69-2-76. The eyes of the whole world were now cast vppon Breda, expecting, from thence, some strange euent: all Kings and Princes heark­ned after the successe. And, it seemeth, the Great Turke himself stood in suspence what to do, as if the doubtfull suc­cesse [Page] [Page]

[Page] [Page 115]of this warre, had ben a Rule to direct him, either to peace or warre: so great was this contention, not for Breda only, but for honour and reputation, as appeareth by the many supplyes sent, hither, from all parts.

Vppon the fifteenth of May, about midnight,The enemy mak [...]th an attempt to breake in vppon our Campe. the Prince of Orange, desirous to make some triall what might be done, fell vppon our Campe, in the outmost part of the Village of Terheyde (a place disaduantagious, either to breake in, or to fight) in which enterprise, though he receaued a blow, yet the body of his Army remayned vntouched. He had no way to come to vs, but the two Causeys of Gertrudenbergh and Seuenbergh; the one of which was cut of, with a little Riuer, and a pallisado on the out side of it; the other, with two dry ditches, fortified with a little Redout, a Breast-wor­ke,the English had the ho­nour of this attempt. and an indifferent large Fort. But nothing appeared difficult to the new Generall Henry, desirous to gaine a re­putation in the world, and stirred vp with the emulation of his Brothers good fortune. He sent before, vppon the Cau­sey of Certrudenbergh, diuers choise Musqueters with two hundred Pike-men, compleatly armed, all Englishmen, with their English CoronellWhat is said, in this occasion, of Coronell Vere, is to be vnder­stood, [...] ­ke manner, of the Right Honorable Henry Ear­le of Ox­ford who marched ioyntly with Coro­nell Vere, in the head of these trou­pes, and be­haued him­self brauely. But the au­thor of this history, be­ing a stran­ger to our nation and not know­ing the qua­lity of the Earle, and hauing he ard much, before, of the valour of Coronell Vere, who had serued leng in Holland, giueth the honour of this enter­prise only to him. Vere, accompanied with other English in the Van-garde, whom the French and Germai­nes followed, for succours in case of need. They were, in all, welneare six thousand men. In the reare of them, mar­ched their Artillery, with their wings of horse: The Prince of Orange was present in the midst of these troupes, expec­ting the euent. Spinola, hauing intelligence of this designe, gaue warning of it, with speed, to Paul Ballion and Carlo Roma, who commaunded those Quarters, wishing them to stand vppon their garde, bycause the enemy, that night, had a purpose to fall on there. They, presently disposed their Gards, and Centinells in places of need, warning all their Captaines and other Officers to be in Armes, with their men, and omitting nothing, requisite in such occasions. About [Page 116]the breake of day, the Prince of Orange, to diuert our for­ces, commaunded Alarums to be giuen, in diuers places, towards Ballancons Quarter, as if he intended to breake in therabouts: but, in the meane tyme, his troupes were arriued at this other Quarter, where indeed he intended to fall on; they surprised a Centinell perdu of ours, so at vnawares, that he had not leisure to giue notice of it to his fellowes behind him; an inconuenience, easy to haue ben preuented, if, but one horse-centinell had ben placed vppon the Causey, by which meanes (how slight soeuer it appeareth) peraduenture those whole troupes of the enemy might haue ben vtterly cut of; but, questionlesse, the slaughter would haue proued much greater then it was. The English, with a daring, and vn­dainted resolution, falling vppon the Redout, commaunded by anAn An­cient. Alferes, with some few Italians; by their thick throwing in of fire-balls, forced them to quit the place, with losse of some of their liues: which done (for the defence of the rest of their men, who yet aduaunced foreward) placing certayne Musqueters behind the Redout, in the dry ditches, cut through the Causey, with the like successe and reso­lution, they wonne the halfe Moone,The English were aduā ­ced as far as the fort, it self. before the fort, la­bouring, with hands and feet to get the top of the Rampier, and plant their Colours vppon the Fort it self, for their scaling ladders, and hooking irons were left behind, through the fault of their wagon-men, who ranne away, for feare of our Canon, not daring to bring vp the wagons which carried those necessaryes; so that oftentymes great enterprises faile,A fault in our fortifi­cations. by slight and triuiall occasions. Then, at last, we beganne to discouer the fault of our Redout and ditches; for, if a pallisado had ben made before each of them, at a conuenient distance (as it was once commaunded, but omitted, either through forgetfulnesse, or the difficulty of bringing thither materialls) neither the enemy could haue passed, with such ease, nor could, so well, haue made vse [Page 117]of their fire-balls, nor haue layne couered in those ditches, free from our shot.The Italiās quit the trench of Seuenbergh Causey. The Italians who defended the trench of Seuenberg Causey, percaeauing now the enemy aduaun­ced so farre, quit their trench, which, lying open, on that side, to the enemy, it was not possible to make good.The valour and resolu­tion of the English. The English maintayned the fight, with that fury and resolution, as if there had ben no other occasion hut that, to make proofe of their worths, nothing being wanting, on their parts, of true valour and resolution. Carlo Roma, Sargeant Maior of the Marquesse of Compolatara, had commaunded Captaine Camillo Phenix, with the rest of his Company, to succour his owne men, distressed in the Redout, but the Captaine finding them, already, disordred and in flight, was neither able to stay them by his comming in, nor himself able to withstand the fury of the brunt, so that, what was, at first, intended for their safty, proued a means to encrease, and make the danger greater. But Carlo Roma, perceauing the Cap­taine to retyre, with the rest of his men, beaten from the Redout, snatching his target out of his hand (for he himself,The daring attempt of Carlo Ro­ma. had no target of his owne, at that tyme) sallyed out him­self, with his naked sword and target, in the head of his men, and adding new life to the fight, which seemed now to dy, on our side, fell brauely vppon the English, who made him as braue resistance, and with a courage vndainted, and as daring as an other Caesar, broake the fury of them, and put them back from whence they came, faster then they had aduaun­ced; some of them falling head-long from the top of that Redout, from whence, not long before they had beaten our men; others making a faire retreat;The enemy put back. many being slayne and wounded; and diuers of them either sauing, or ending their liues, in the standing waters. He, who striued to plant his colours vppon our Fort, was slaine with a push of pike. Three others, who had entred the half Moone, and were aduaunced nearest our Fort, were slaine in the very entrance [Page 118]of the Fort. Such as fought neare at hand, were almost all shot through the head, or the throat, and ended their dayes wich wounds as honorable and faire, as their resolute be­houiours could deserue an honorable and braue death;The great slaughter of the enemy. wor­thy to haue had the Victory, but that our men fought better, and for a far better cause. They, who skirmished farther of, were, for the most part, miserably butchered by our Canon, with losse of their hands, feet and heads, almost no shot being bestowed so in vayne, but that it slew diuers of them at once, by reason of the many windings, and turnings of the Causey. The English and french in the Reare, could not come vp to maintayne the fight, the Causey being so narrow, and these men, in the van, being thronged so thick togeather: which when they perceaued, and were yet more and more followed and pressed, by our men, they began, by little and little,The ene­myes retre­at. to make a faire retreat. The presence of the Prince of Orange, kept his men from being disordred, and terrified with these dangers. In conclusion their retreat was as orderly performed, as their assault, so punctually euery man kept his owne ranke. In this occasion CoronellAnd Hē ­ry Earle of Oxford. Vere, Commaunder of this enterprise, gaue an ad­mirable testimony of his valour and worth, who serued brauely himselfe in the head of these troups, where the continuall shot flew thick about his eares, euer carefull of his charge, giuing order, as occasion serued, with the like constancy and resolution, that new men should supply the places of such as were retyred, fresh men make good the places of such as were hurt, and such as were tyred should be releiued by others, till in the end, by a faire re­treat, on both sides, the skirmish, by little and little, en­ded of it self: houbeit, it appeared that euery priuate soul­dier was as expert in what he had to do, in the like occa­sions, and as able to direct himself, as to receaue his orders and directions from an other. This fight by reason of a con­trary [Page 119]wind, carrying the report of the shot an other way, was neither heard in the Towne, nor in any of our Quarters. Two messengers sent to aduertise Spinola, with speed, of this buisnesse,Spinola vn­derstood not of this fight, till it was ended. passed through the next Quarter (where he had ben accustomed to lodg, some nights before) and either our of ignorance, or confusion, rode foreward to Gineken, his ordinary Quarter, to seeke him: so that the fight was ended, before Spinola could haue notice of it. The morning first discouered the lamentable slaughter. The causey lay couered thick with dead bodyes, no coulour appearing vp­pon the ground but goary bloud. Mens bowells torne out with the Canon, their heads strooke of, their hands and feet here and there scattered, and generally their whole bodyes miserably butchered; a lamentable spectacle, on all sides, to behould. Some had throwne themselues headlong, into the standing waters, others lay miserably groaning halfe dead, who being carried into our Quarter, died after­wards there. The Prince of Oranges owne letters made mencion of aboue two hundred slayne, but such as afterwards ranne away from their Campe, reported that they lost fiue hundred in that attempt, emongst whom, were eight or ten Captaines, and other Commaunders, with diuers men of quality. Of ours, were not slaine aboue twelue or fisteene,The little losse of out men. emongst whome, one was Captaine Camillo Phenix slaine in the defence of the fort. Iohn Baptista Vrsino, an other Italian Captaine, behauing himself brauely, lost his right hand. It was admirable to obserue the ambition of the Italian Nation, to blot out the infamy, which till then, lay vppon them, for hauing once carelesly kept, and lost the Towne, from the King. Spinola,Spinola cō ­mandeth that Causey and other places the­rahouts; to be forufied a new. hauing viewed well the places which the enemy tooke from vs, gaue order, that the Causey should be fortified with an other great trench, and halfe Moone, and thwarted with foure great pallisa­does: that from the Fort, to the Riuer side, a trench [Page 120]should be drawne, and, that there, a square fortification should be raised, with other works of that kind, and that great store of Artillery should be mounted. The old trench, which ranne along the heath of Oosterhout, almost the space of two thousand paces, was fortified anew, and made Canon proofe, the forme of the old works being altered, with new Forts, and Batteryes raised without it. And bycause there was much wast ground, taken in with a trench betwixt Titeringhen and Terheyde, he lodged there, diuers horse and foot Companies, to defend that trench, causing sundry great Cabins, of straw and clay, to be made for them. Of this victory, least the beseiged might not haue vnderstood, our souldiers cryed it out from their trenches nearest the Towne, telling them, by way of iest, that their succours were now arriued. They of the Towne were much perplexed with this newes, the rather, bycause indeed they saw they were not releiued, and the losse of Count Maurice was yet fresh in their minds. Their souldiers began now to feed vppon horse flesh, and the rates of their prouision began much to rise; in so much that Butter was sould, in the Towne, for sixA Florene is two shil­lings En­glish. florens the pound; a calfe, seauenteene dayes old, for eight and Forty florens; a hog, for a hundred and fifteene florens; Tabacco, for a hundred florens the pound. About this tyme they made an other search of all Burgers Grana­ryes,Great wants of the beseiged and committed one of them to prison for hauing hidden his prouision. Bakers were forbidden to sell bread to any but Commaunders of the souldiers, and they commaunded to distribute but halfe a pound dayly, to each souldier. It was commaunded, in like manner, that no bisquet should be made (bycause bisquet might be hidden and preserued a long tyme.)The begin­ning of a sedition. These restanits caused a mutiny emongst the English and french souldiers, who breaking vp Bakers houses, gaue enough to do, to their Coronells, to appease them; but by the appre­hending of three of the ring-leaders, and giuing liberty againe [Page]

[Page] [Page 121]to buy bread, as they were accustomed, this sedition was suppressed, before it was throughly kindled.The care of the Coro­nells and Drossard. The Coronells and Drossard, by faire words and perswasions, kept others from doing the like, concealing, like so many scarres, or wounds of the body, all wants and defects of their garrison whatsoeuer. VVithin few dayes againe, necessity forced them to make an other search of all Barnes and granaryes, diui­ding the Towne into two and thirty parts (not omitting the least Cabin or Cottage in the Towne) by which search they found not, in the whole Towne, aboue fiue and twenty mea­sures of wheat.

The Prince of Orange,The Prince of Orange doubtfulle what course to take. hauing beheld the slaughter of his English, being troubled, and in doubt what course to take, and finding, that by lying idle in the Campe, his men ranne away in troupes, consulted whether it were best to fall vppon our Campe, in the same place, or any other,The vigi­lancy of Spi­nola. or to lea­ue of the thought of attempting vs any more. Spinola, on the other side, expecting him day and night, with all his forces, endeauored principally to discouer, what his next de­signe would be. Our nimble-witted messenger seemed the fittest man for that purpose, sauing that he was not so well knowne to Prince Henry, as he had ben before to his Brother, Prince Maurice.An other notable de­ceit of a pe­sants wife. But he made his acquaintance by this diuise. He had layne secretly in our Campe, for many dayes togeather. His wife, in the meane tyme, tooke a tourney to the enemyes Campe, complaining to the Prince of Orange, of a sicknes her husband had caught, in carrying his Brothers letters to Breda, through the waters, in the winter season, and beseeching him earnestly, he would be pleased, to pay the remayndure of the reward promised her husband for that seruice, which remayned yet vnpaid. The Prince, ta­king hould of this occasion, being ouerioyed with the hope of finding yet a trusty messenger, vndertooke to pay him what was owing him, with much more, if he would now ad­uenture [Page 122]to carry one of his letters to the Towne, as he had carried many of his Brothers heretofore. The woman obiec­ted, at first, the daunger of the passage, and desease of her husband: but in conclusion, she suffered her self, by degrees, to be woone to it, and, with a fained, vnwillingnes, vnder­tooke to perswade her husband. She departed, out of hand, to bring her husband to the Prince, who returned with her, counterfaiting a lamenesse, as if his feet had ben frozen by the colde of winter. The Prince made an agree­ment with this trusty fellow (as he thought) and gaue him his letter to the Gouernour of Breda. The fellow vnder­tooke the buisnes of infinite difficulty,The Prince of Orange deceaued. as he pretended, and with his letter, and reward, came directly to our Campe, where he deliuered his letter to Spinola, who bestowed vppon him, for his paynes, a yearly pension, for euer.

‘In this letter the Prince of Orange gaue notice to the Gouernour of the blow he had lately receaued,The Princes letter to the Gouernour. in his at­tempt made vppon the Quarter of Terheyde; since which tyme, he perceaued vs to be so fortified, with a stronger trench, that it was not possible for him, to force his passage; That withall he remembred, for how short a tyme their Towne was prouided; and that therfore, least in the end, he and his souldiers, might be forced to suffer some foule affront, by delaying tyme too long, he counselled him now to preuent it in tyme, and not to hazzard all their fortunes, by his too much obstinacy. That he should giue notice of the receipt of these letters, by shooting of three pieces of Artillery about midnight, and, about an hower after, shewing as many lights, in their Church steeple, as he had yet dayes to feed vppon his prouision; assuring him, in the meane tyme, that if any occasion hapned, by which he might releiue them, he would be most ready to engage himself, and his Army for them.’

An other of these letters was conueyed into the Towne, [Page 123]before Spinola had receaued, and decyphred his.A souldier of Count Styrums had carried an other of these letters to the tow­ne. A horse man of Count Styrums troupe, expert in all wayes, and passages thereabouts, passed, through our Campe, to the Towne, at mid-day, and was welcommed, by the discharging of nyne peeces of Artillery. About midnight they gaue no­tice of his arriuall, by the discharging of three peeces of Ca­non;The enemy gaue notice by lights out of the steeple, how many dayes the towne was able to hould out a thing done before we certainly knew the intent of it; houbeit many men gaue a ghesse at it. They shewed elea­uen lights in the Church steeple, signifying how many dayes they were able to hould out.

About this tyme, VVolfgang VVilliam, Duke of Bauere,The Duke of Neuborg arriued at our Campe. Gulick, Cleue, and Bergh, arriued out of Spaine, being infinitly desirous to see our Campe. Spinola went to meet him, a good distance from the Campe, and lodged him in his owne Cabin, with great expression of. ioy, for the arriuall of so great a Prince. A volley of all our shot was giuen to entertayne him, and many other military expressions of a welcome. The dayes following he spent in riding about our Campe,The opini­on of the King of France of the seige of Breda. admiring the sollidnesse and largenesse of our works. He reported that the King of France had tould him (passing that way in his re­turne from Spaine) that he did not beleiue Spinola would take Breda by this Seige. But many things at that tyme put vs in great hopes: Mansfeilds french forces ranne away apace; the enemy was slow in bringing his supplies; the pro­uision of the Towne began much to faile; the beseiged were sorely afflicted with sicknes; all Phisick was so deare, that, as much Tabacco, as in other places might haue ben had for foureTwenty shillings Crownes, was sould in Breda fora hundred and twenty pound ster­ling. twelue hundred flo­rens, Tabacco being the only remedy they had against the scuruy. And, in the space of eight dayes, our men had taken aboue six hundred of the enemyes horse, being carelesly put to grasse neare about their Campe. Monsieur de Marquette Lieutenant Generall of the enemyes horse, sought to repaire this losse, by giuing vs the like,The enemy falleth vp­pon our Conuoy. and prepared to set vppon [Page 124]our conuoy at vnawarres, with threescore and eight troupes of his horse. He sent before him Captaine Randwick with six troupes of horse, laying the rest in ambush; these troupes (lighting by chance vppon part of our prouision which was transported, without a garde, an other way then Count Henry vanden Bergh had appointed) fell vppon our Carters, dr [...]ue away their horses, with their Carts, and carriages, and spilt and wasted their Corne, and other prouision. Count Henry vanden Bergh, carefull to preuent all danger, how­beit he had not notice of this icurney of the enemy, had, many dayes before, placed diuers gards of horse in all pas­sages, that the enemy might not, at vnawarres break in vppon any place:The course which Count Hen­ry vanden Bergh had taken to preuent the enemyes falling on vppon our Conuoy. for the better obseruing of which, he had giuen a strict commaund, that no Captaine should be absent when his troupe had the garde; that one troupe should make a Corut of garde, as far from our Campe as was safe; that Centinells should be placed, a good distance, from that court of garde; that, beyond those Centinells againe, one light hors­man should continuall be riding about, to giue notice of the enemyes comming; that if he chanced to discouer the enemy, he should giue an alarum, and retire him self to the Centinells; that the Centinells, if the numbers of the enemy were great, should retire back to their Court of garde; that they of the court of guard should fight with the enemy, if they were not ouermatched, otherwise that they, in like manner should re­tire to the Camp: so that by this course, the suddaine brea­king in of the enemy might be auoyded, and the gards, with out daunger, might retire themselues; and the whole Camp might, in good tyme, be ready in Armes. It chan­ced that day, that Count Herman vanden Bergh, Sonne of Count Henry,The valour of Count Herman vanden Bergh Son­ne of Coūt Henry. had the garde, a yoing Gentleman of a great spirit, and a diligent obsetuer of his Fathers vertues. He (being not far of with his troupe) and hearing the noi­se of the enemy, gathered some, though not many of his troupe [Page 125]togeather, and fell in pel mel vppon the enemyes troupes, whilst they were at pillage, and passing once or twice through the midst of them, slew diuers,the flight of the enemy. and scarred and amazed the rest, putting them to flight, who carried newes to their other troups, that the whole body of our horse was fallen vppon them: they being now in a confusion, with the feare and flight of their fellowes, neuer so much as thought of making any resistance. They let loose our horses they had taken, left behind them our baggage, and forsoke their whole prey, betaking themselues to flight. So that the enemy,Not so much as one of our Conuoyes broaken by the enemy. with so great an Army as he had then in the feild, in so long a tyme as this seige endured, and in so long, and ill iourneyes as our prouision was to passe, had neuer the fortune to brea­ke one of our Conuoys. The Prince of Orange,The Prince of Orange cor [...]upeth some to see our Campe [...] or Munition bouse on fire. ready to lay hould of any occasion that (according to his promisse) he might leaue nothing vnattempted, by which he might raise our Seige; corrupted with money, and faire promisses certay­ne roguish boyes of the baser sort of pesants, to fire our Quarter, and munition-house, if it were possible. But Spino­la apprehended some of them, and tooke a course afterwards to preuent the like mischeife.

And thus the Prince of Orange,The Prince of Orange retireth from Dun­ghen with his Army, benig out of hope of relei [...]nig Breda. hauing in vayne made triall of many things, vppon the 27. of May, setting fire on his Quarters, in the Village of Dunghen, retired himself, in the night tyme, from thence to Langestrat. VVhich retreat of his, though it were a sad one to him, for many other res­pects, yet the tempestious night added much to the dolefulnes of it; for the winds blew so strong, and rayne powred downe so thick, that the souldiers were noe able to march, the Ar­tillery stuck fast in the durt, and no man was able to keepe any order.

Spinola, so soone as he had notice of this retreat,Count Hen­ry vanden Beigh in Spinolaes name be­ginneth to [...] treat [...]thoy the enemy. thought good to warne the Gouernour of it, by Count Henry vanden Bergh his letters (for he was allied to the family of Nassau, [Page 126] ‘and vnderstood best their language, and was acquainted with their and customes) who should lay before him the small hopes he had left him of any supplies, the enemyes Campe, which should haue succoured him, being now retired. Count Henry wrote to the Gouernour, and vndertooke, in Spi­nolaes name, that he should haue honorable conditions, if yet he would begin to treat of a surrender, which if he were contented to do, he should, at his best conueniency, come forth of the Towne, to treat, and discourse with him, about that buisnes.’

The Gouernour (least he might loose the opinion concea­ued of him,The Gouer­norus an­swer to Count Hen­ry vanden Bergh. by precipitating, or ouer hastning a buisnes of this nature) returned our Trumpet with this answer: ‘That but three dayes before he had had letters from the Prince of Orange, concerning his releif. That if Count Henry knew any other particularityes of it, he would be pleased to im­part it to him, by letter, in regard that he could not come to speake with him,’ by reason of an ague which had la­tely surprised him.Spinola de­liuereth the iginall let­ters of the Prince of Orange to the Gouer­nour to Count Hen­ry vanden Bergh, to be sent to the Gouer­nour. Spinola therfore the next day, deli­uered vnto Count Henry vanden Bergh the originall let­ters of the Prince of Orange, written in cyphers, with the coppy of them decyphred, to send to the Gouernour, that he might see it was to no purpose to hould out any longer. ‘The Gouernour perceauing by this, that the st ate of their buisnesses was well knowne to vs, returned thanks to Count Henry vanden Bergh for his good will, and promissed he would treat of a composition with Spinola,The Gou­uernous answer. if (as he had vnder­taken in Spinolaes name) he might haue such conditions, as questionlesse, he and so many resolute souldiers, and Cit­tizens deserued. Count Henry vanden Bergh, hauing Spinolaes owne letters in keeping,Count Henry his reply. by which he promissed honorable conditions to the Gouernour, souldiers, and Townesmen, if without farther delay, they would presently begin to treat with him, sent them to the Gouernour, ad­ding [Page 127](that which was expresly in Spinolaes letters to him) that he himselfe had comission to treat with him about all things: VVherfore he requested him, that, the next day, he would by pleased to send some man out of the Towne (in the mid-way betwixt their works and ours) to demand those conditions, he desired, in writing; bycause he him selfe would be present, in the same place, to expect him.’

Till that day our souldiers and Marrines,Our soul­diers first commāded to cease their raising of the inner trench. were conti­nually buisied in raising the inner trench (of which there remayned now but little to do) who hauing espied, by chaunce, Count Henry vanden Bergh, demaunded of him in iest, with a kind of souldier-like freedome, to what purpose they should trouble themselues to make an end of that trench, since there was a treaty on foot about the surrender of the towne. Count Henry had scarse pronounced that they might cease their labour, but all men, leaping for ioy, threw away their spades, readier to cease their labours,Vppon the sight of Spinolaes letters, and Count Henry vanden Berghs, the counfell of warre concludeth to treat of a compositiē. then they were to vndertake them. The Gouernour vppon the receipt of the two letters of Spinola, and Count Henry vanden Bergh, called his Coronells to Counsell, shewing them these letters. They all concluded, answer should be made ‘that they accepted the offer of Spinola, and Count Henry. VVher vppon-they desired Count Henry, by letter, that he would be pleased, the next morning, by seauen of the clock, to come out of the Camp, and aduertise them, by a Trum­pet, where he would be, that they would send some one, in all their names, to demaund conditions for them.’

The next day, being the last of May, Count Henry vanden Bergh, with diuers of the Nobility in his Company,Count Henry vanden Bergh goeth out of our quarter to treat with the enemy by word of mouth. rode out of the Quarter, at the hower appointed, and aduer­tised the Gouernour of his comming, by a Trumpet. They who wee to treat with him, came out of Towne on the other side, whom when Count Henry perceaued, he commaunded the rest of the Nobility to make a stand, and he alone with [Page 128]Routart,The depu­tyes of Bre­da meet Count Henry vanden Bergh. Secretary of the King and Marquesse, aduaunced forward to meet them. In the mid-way he made a stand, expecting the Deputyes of Breda: they were the Sargeant Maior de la Caze, Dyden Captaine of the garde to the Prince of Orange, Captaine Zouche, Aertsen the Drossard, the Borrow-master and some of the Esheuines. A little after them,They pre­sent theyr conditions to Count Henry van­den Bergh. came Coronell Hauteriue. They, shewing first their litters of credit, deliuered vp the Articles they demaun­ded, in writing. The buisnes was long debated betwixt vs and them, and we refused them absolutely only two Articles; of a third there was yet some doubt. VVherevppon the meeting was dissolued, till three of the clock, in the after noone.The mee­ting dissolud till the af­ternoone. And in, the meane tyme, a Tent was pitched, neare our vtmost trench, where our men dined, in sight of the Towne. In the after-noone againe the treaty began, in that place, and the articles, excepted against in the morning, were now againe absolutely denied them,Only two of their conditions excepted against. in the after-noone: those articles were about liberty of conscience for the Prote­stant Burgers, and giuing their bodyes buiriall in the Church yard. Difficulty was made besides about that other, of ha­uing liberty to carry out foure peece of Canon, and two brasse Morters with the garrison; which to the beseiged seemed a small matter, to Count Henry vanden Bergh it seemed much.

VVherfore, Secretary Routart was dispatched to Spinola, to know his pleasure in that buisnesse; who returned answer that he would not refuse them so small a matter as that. The beseiged, glad of this answere, returned him many thanks. The affaire being brought to these termes, a banquet was pre­pared, and presently Iustin of Nassau, Gouernour of the Towne, and the rest of the Coronells, with such of the No­bility as were in the Towne, came forth. Diuers of our No­bility, in like manner, who were not far of, aduaunced for­ward to meet them, and many congratulations, and other [Page 129]ceremonyes were performed on both parts,

Vppon the first of Iune, Dyden Captaine of the garde to the Prince, brought to Spinola two coppyes of the Couenants made betwixt vs, that Spinola might first signe them both;The condi­tiōs brought to Spinola to be signed which done, he was to carry them to the Gouernour to be signed, and bring one of them back againe to Spincla, the Gouernour keeping the other. Vppon the signing of these co­uenantes,VVagons and Boats graunted to the garison of Breda to carry away their bagand baggage, with their sick persons and oh [...]e [...]s. they demaunded twelue hundred wagons, and threscore Boats, to carry away sick persons and others, with their carriages, and all their houshould-stuffe. They had more wagons graunted them then they demaunded, and all the Boats in the Riuer of Breda. And Hostages were giuen on both sides. By them of Breda the Sargeant Maior de la Caze, And Ogle,Hostages giuen on both sides. Captaine of an English Company of foot. By Spinola were sent for hostages, the Sergeant Mayor Francisco Losano, and Charles Philip le Counte Captaine of a foot Company of Germains. And these were the Articles, vppon which the Towne of Breda was surrendred to the King.

There wanted not some, of the seuerer sort of people, who vnderstanding of the fauorable conditions which Spinola had graunted the beseiged, thought it strange that he would vse the enemy with that curtesy: others, blamed him for not being zealous in the cause, saying he ought to haue vsed them with more rigour, and to haue forced them to passe vnder the pikes, accepting of no surrender, except they had ioyntly sur­rendred vp their Armes, who had brought them selues to those extremityes, by their owne extreme obstinacy, that they had ben famished, if we had kept them beseiged but two dayes longer: That there was no reason their conditions should be left to their owne choise, to whom it had ben a curtesy sufficient to haue graunted their liues: That, at least wise, Spinola should haue expected, til that had hapned to them, which ordinarily hapneth to all wilfull persons, that they had ben forced to beg that, which before they had con­temned: That they ought first to haue besought vs to accept of their surrender, before we had sought to them to choose [Page 139]their conditions:The com­plaints of the Burgers who resol­ued to resi­de in Breda. That it was intollerable to permit the lewder sort of Burgers, to depart with bag and baggage, before the Magistrates had repaied to the Catholique Burgers, who remayned in the Towne, all such summes, as by publike autority had ben exacted of them, towards the payment of the souldiers, and reparations of the works; so iust a cause of complaint these men seemed to haue, who measuring the affayres of Kingdomes by the leuell of their owne affayres,The affay­res of Prin­ces, and priuate men differ. were ignorant that the condition of Princes differeth from others in this, that they, in all their actions, haue a mayne care of their honours. But Spinola, houlding it a point of wisdome to be mercifull, rather then seuere,An vnsea­sonable ty­me to vse rigour. at that tyme especially, and knowing how much it imported the whole cause (for the stopping of the troubles begunne in Italy, France, Germany and Denmarke) to haue the Kings Army at liberty, which had ben so long engaged before Breda, made a greater valew of the least tyme he could gaine, then of all the spoiles of the Towne (which could not be great) or of any small affront he might do the enemy, who had behaued themselues so brauely in the defence of the Towne; mindfull of the saying: That there are occasions in which it is more expedient to sustayne losse, then seeke gaine. And questionlesse, in this occasion, he had a greater regard of greatnes and clemency of his King (whose person, in this action, he did represent) then of his owne honour, or the sweetnes of a reueng; iudging it a thing vnworthy, in such a plenty of warlike prouision as the enemy left behind them, not to allow them some thing at their departure, in testi­mony of their valour, and reward of their long sufferance. For they left in the Towne 43 peeces of Artillery, and 450. Musquets (of which they were permitted to take 150. with them, in lieu of their Armes broaken and spoiled in that Seige.) 300. Hargubuses. 135000. pound of powder. 34000. pound of Match. 2000. of the greater sort of Canon Balls. [Page 140]Of the lesser sort, without number. 40000. pound of Mus­quet Balls, with fifteene moulds to cast them. 2100. Gra­nadoes. 344. Bomboes. 150. circles for artificiall fire works. 40. fire-balls. 100. Barrells of salt. 30. Barrells of Pitch, Nitre, Brimstone and saltpeter. Six Barrells of great nailes. 11000. longer nailes to knock crosse-wayes through palli­sadoes. An infinite quantity of stakes, ready perced with these great nailes. 4000. spades. 1600. Mattocks 1000. wheele-barrells. Fiue Boats. Six great Cables. 40. grapling hookes. 130. horse-collers. 90. paire of Cart-horse-harnesses. Firre boords without number. One canuas bridge. Diuers gabions, or hurdles filled with earth for the defence of Ar­tillery, or speedy making of a bridge. A register of all which was giuen vp to Thomas Vingard, Lieutenant of our Artillery.

Concerning the disbursements made by the Burgers,The wisdo­me and dis­cretion of Spinola. Spinola thought it needlesse to treat of that point, beleuing that the States would be as punctuall in their payments of such summes, as they would be in supporting their credit and autority, which would vtterly faile them hereafter, if they made difficulty in repaying moneyes disbursed for them, in case of need, by people beseiged.

The garrison was to march away vppon the fift of Iune:Spinola. commaun­deth that no than shall dare to iest or scoffe at the enemy as they march away. and Spinola had giuen a strict commaund; that no man should dare to iest or scoffe at them, as they marched, a thing ordinary emongst souldiers, in the like cases; with so little shew of ostentation he carried this victory. Our boats and wagons were in readines for them, against that day, and our souldiers tooke the garde of the three Ports of the Towne, and Castle. Count Herman vanden Bergh, with fiue troupes of Horse, marched before, conuoying them to Gertrudenbergh, and betwixt euery tenth wagon, some horse men of ours were placed, to garde their baggage. Cap­taine Bergagnes horse-troupe marched in the van of them, [Page 141]and an other troupe of their horse brought vp the Reare, in both which troupes there were but few horses, so much they were both impaired by this Seige. Betwixt these troupes, marched their foot, and emongst the foot, Iustin of Nassau the Gouernour, on horse back, accompanied with Captaine Charles Philipe le Count, one of our hostages. Each Coro­nell marched in the van of their owne Regiments, and the Captaines, at the head of their Companies. They marched with Colours flying, and drummes beating. They were not altogeather three thousand men, for their sick men were con­ueyed away by water. It cannot be denied but they were select troupes, as well in regard of the souldiers, as of their Armes, and they made a far better exteriour shew then our men, for they had ben better lodged, hauing had the benefit of good fires; and their bread neuer failed them, till the day they marched away.

Spinola, being accompanied with many of the Nobility,Spinolaes curtesy to the enemy. stood to behould this great solemnity of his Victory, in the space betwixt the Towne, and our inner Trench, saluting curteously the Captaines as they passed, and in particular, the Gouer­nour, a venerable old Gentlemen, with his wife and children, and Don Emanuel de Portugalle, with Count Maurice his two base sonnes, who all returned the like curtesey, with mo­dest composed countenances, and words making shew of their resolution and constancy, bowing their colours with respect to Spinola, as they passed. No word of reproach was let fall on either side, but euery one put on a cherfull counte­nance. The troupes being passed beyond Spinola, all men ranne towards them, to giue them much ioy, they returning the like to our men, attributing to one an other, with modesty,Messengers dispatched to the Infanta, the King Spaine and the Empe­rour of the rendring of the Towns. those prayses, which each party deserued for they long sufferings.

The Coronell Don Iohn de Medices was dispatched to the Arch-duchesse, with the ioyfull tydings of the garrisons departure, whom the rewarded royally with a rich Iewell for [Page 142]his newes. Don Ferdinando de Guzman, Coronell of a Spanish Regiment, was sent into Spaine, with the same newes, to the King. And to Ferdinand the Emperour, the Lieutenant Coronell Theodore Camargo.

Count Anholt,Count An­holt mar­ched after Mansfeild. hauing notice of Mansfeilds departure, from the enemyes Campe, departed presently from our Campe, and marched after him with his troupes. The report of this Victory was hardly credited in France,Few men gaue credit at first to this victory. England, Italy and Germany, not so much as emongst our freinds, and such as stood best affected to our cause. There was a Towne, in which a false rumour was proclaimed, and publikely printed of the enemyes breaking of one of our Conuoyes, the same day that the newes of the losse of Breda arriued there.The King of Spaine himselfe dispaired of this victory. His Ma. ^tie of Spaine himself had written into the low-Cuntryes, to the Infanta, wishing her to take it to her consideration, whether it were not best to call Spinola from so long and doubtfull a Seige; So discomfortably diuers had written to some freinds of theirs, of autority in Spaine, of the vtter dispaire, and daun­ger of this enterprise.

The Infanta resolued,The Infan­ta came to Breda. in person, to visit her new Towne, and her victorious Army. VVherfore Spinola, leauing his ordinary gards at the Ports of the towne, hauing first taken order for the cleansing, and sweeping of of the streets, houses, Castle and Church, went to receaue the Infanta three lea­gues from the Towne. The greatest part of our horse, was either sent before to Anwerp to conuoy her,The maie­sty with which she was recea­ued. or made a stand in the mid-way to receaue her, who as she approached gaue three volleyes of their shot, in token of their ioy. The foot, diuided into many squadrons, were no whit lesse lowde in expression of their ioy. Vppon Hage-Port, where the In­fanta made her entry into the Towne, this Programma was nailed, which I thought good to set downe, moderating and leauing out, a word or two of offence:

PHILIPPVS HISPANIAE REX EVBERNATE ISABELLA CLARA EVGENIA OBSIDENTE SPINOLA HOSTIBVS FRVSTRA IN SVPPETIAS CONIVRANTIBVS BREDA VICTOR POTITVR.

Three volleyes were giuen, in like manner,The Infanta commaun­ded that no fires of ioy should be made, till thanks had ben first gi­uen to Al­mighty God of all the Artil­lery about the walls, But the Infanta commaunded no, bon­fires, nor other expressions of ioy should be made, till the next day, that thanks had ben giuen to Almighty God, the au­thor of this victory, in the high Church. The Cardinall Don Alonso de la Cueua, Embassador for the King, said the first Masse, the Infanta, with her Court, being present, and the whole Towne. After Masse the Arch duchesse,The Cardi­nall de la Cuena said the first Masse. walked about the Church, to se if any Monument remayned of the olde Religion. There were yet to be seene, in diuers places, the empty roomes, where statuaes had stood, a token of the Hugonots impiety to their predecessours deceased. Inglebert the second Count of Nassau his tombe, of white and black Marble, remayned yet entire, built by his nephew Henry of Nassau. An other Tombe of an other Count Ingelbert, and Count Iohn of Nassau, was defaced, by the taking away a statua of the Virgin Mary. A thing done by the instinct of one Sybill, a prophetesse, forsooth, particularly inspired, wife of Henry Buxhorne, Minister and cheife Preacher of Breda, sometymes, emongst vs, a Catholike Preist.The impre­ty of Sybill, wife of Henry Bux­horne Mi­nister of Breda. This Oracle soretould (inspired out of doubt with the Spirit of some propheticall Sybill) that within six monethes after the Seige laid before the Towne, it should be taken by the enemy, except the statua of the Virgin Mary, preserued, till then, entire in that place, and had in veneration, many yeares before, by the zeale and deuotion of our Religious fore­fathers, were broaken downe from thence, and vtterly de [Page 144]faced, neuer any before that tyme, howsoeuer auersed in other points of faith, daring, to attempt a thing so prophane. VVhich foule act I know to what best to impute, whether to the backwardnes and tolleration of the Magistrates and people of Breda, winking at a thing so grosse and so in con­tempt of all antiquity, or to their sottishnes in giuing cre­dit to such an imposture, or to the strange impudency of that foolish woman against a picture consecrated to the Virgin Mary, by the Ancestours of that most Noble Family of the Nassaues, and set vp vppon their Tombes for a mo­nument to posterity. From the Church walls were taken downe certayne prophane Epigraphes (in contempt of the King) of the enemyes surprising the Towne heretofore, and in their place this was set vp, alluding to the yeare in which it was recouered.

AMBROSI SPINOLAE VIGILANTIA BREDA EXPVGNATA.

The ceremonyes of the Masse being thus first performed,Fires of ioy made in the Towne, and in our Campe. at night fires of ioy were set vp in the Church steeple, of such brightnes, and in such number, as they were easily discouered in diuers places of Holland. The Towne was full of bonfires, and the Artillery plaid againe round about the VValls. But, that which was a sight most worth admi­ration, was a circle of continuall lights round about the inner Trench, for the space of sixteene miles, a thing com­maunded by Spinola, and performed, by tying bundles of straw on the top of souldiers Pikes, and so setting them on fire, with which the shining of the continuall shot being in­termingled, it was a sight as pleasant to behould, as the sud­daine appearing, and vanishing of so many starrs.

But the liberality of this admirable Princesse, to the Church of [Page 145]Breda, and the two Religious Orders, the Capucins, and Preists of the Society of IESVS, appeared no lesse then her sin­gular deuotion towards God, of whom she ceased not conti­nually to beg the surrender of that Towne. It was the voyce of all men, that the continuall prayers of the Infanta, and her Court, with other deuotions and supplications she commaun­ded to be offered in all Churches, and her almes-deeds, and gre­at liberality to the poore, were a more efficatious meanes to take in Breda,This Vic­tory princi­pally to be attributed to God. then the powerfull Army which lay before the Towne. And out of doubt, the hand of heauen stood vs more in steed then any stratagem of man, which cannot be more iustly attributed to any thing, then to the knowne de­uotions of her, of whom we may well say: One woman put confusion in the house of King Nabuchodonosor.

She was welcome therfore to the Towne, as a restorer of the ancient Religion decayed, to the Campe as their supreme General. She tooke order that a Masse should be yearly said, in honour of the B. Sacrament, vppon the Eue of which feast, the enemy first began to treat of a surrender, and vppon the Octaue of the same feast, marched out of the Towne. She bestowedFour hun­dred pound four thousand florens vppon the Capucins, towards the building of a Couent, andFiue hun­dred pound fiue thou­sand, vppon the Fathers of the Society of IESVS (who had laboured in the four Quarters about the Towne,The Infan­taes guifts to pious vses. all the ty­me of the Seige, in the gaining of soules) towards the erec­ting of a Colledge. She gaue great Almes to the olde Monastery of Nunnes, and towards the reparation of Gi­neken Church (which Count Maurice had caused to be set on fire.) Of which testimonyes of a Religious Princesse, the Cardinall Don Alonso de la Cueua, Embassadour here for his Catholique Ma.^tie hauing made mencion in his letters to his Holines, Pope Vrbane the eight, supreme head of the Catho­lique Church, the Pope returned this answer to the Cardinall: ‘Beloued Sonne, Health and Apostolicall Benediction. [Page 146]Your last letters were,The letter of Pope Vr­ban the eight to the Cardinall de la Cueua to vs, those golden phialls full of perfumes, which recreate the Saints, in their glory, and comfort mortall men, in their afflictions. VVe haue taken some breath in the midst of the tempestions Sea, when we beheld Religion to florish againe in the Towne of Breda. Almighty God is not forgetfull of his mercyes, for the Princes who fight for his cause, haue legions of Angels to assist them. This Victory, out of doubt, was wonne, a­gainst the opposition of nature, and the wicked conspiracyes of many: and, houbeit it may remayne to after ages as a Master-peece of military discipline, yet it ought to be acknowledged a stratagem of that eternall warriour, who asswaged the raging of the waters, as well as the fury of the enemy. And that Austrian Princesse truly reapes the fruit of so admirable a victory, when, with such a resolu­tion, she reestablisheth Religion: for the furtherance of which no means can be more beneficiall, then the functions of Preists, and industries of those Religious Orders, placed, by her, in the Towne, since the taking of it. To you, who first had the honour, (to the comfort of the Church) to offer vp that dreadfull sacrifice of the Masse, at those Alters which heresy had so long prophaned, we most affectionately impart our Apostolicall benediction. And we commend your Zeale, who being honoured with the Roman purple, shew your self worthy, in this occasion, of so great a Preist­hood. Your aduise, and good counsell may make you a sharer in this glorious triumph, for as the resolution of soul­diers chaseth impiety from the Rampiers of a Towne, so the examples and good deeds of Preists, are able to displant it out of the harts of the inhabitants; which honour we truly wish you, hartily promising you our helpe and assistance. Dated at Rome at S.^t Mary Maiors, vnder the fishers Seale this 9.^th August, 1615. the second yeare of our Papacy.’

The Arch-duchesse, hauing giuen order for what was neces­sary in matters of Religion, caused a monethes pay extraor­dinary, to be distributed to the souldiers,The Infan­ta visiteth the works of our Cā ­pe. and ten thousand sutes of cloathes to be bestowed emongst them, as her gift. The dayes following she spent in viewing the inner and out­ward trenches, shewing her self a louer of warre, as she had done before of Religion. Meane while Spinola furnished the Towne, vtterly exhausted by the tedious Seige, with store of new prouision, and appointed houses for the garrison souldier.The Baron of Balācon made Go­uernour of the Towne The Infanta bestowed the Gouernement of the Towne vp­pon the Baron of Balançon, Coronell of a Burgundian Re­giment. The modesty, vigilancy and valour of this man was so generally knowne to all men, and so far beyond enuy, that all nations in the Campe, held him the fittest man, and wor­thiest of that place. The Townesmen, who had but heard the report of his worth, wished him the gouernement, and were petitioners for him; so bright vertue shineth, and ena­moureth wheresoeuer it appeareth. Next this man, the Magistrates of the Towne were chosen. Henry Montens a graue old man, and learned in the law, one who was Bour­rowmaster of the Towne, for the King,The Magi­strates cho­sen. at such tyme as the enemy surprised it, by the practise of the Boate, was now againe restored to be Borrowmaster of the Towne, ha­uing ben euer constant to his faith and Religion. Dinge­man vander Locht, a quiet spirited man, and good Ca­tholique, was chosen his assistant. The rest of the Magis­trates were such, whose worth only, and Religion preferred to the care of the Commonwealth. The Lawes and customes prescribed to the Towne, were such as the Towne of Bolduc obserued: howbeit, in the beginning, for many respects, they could not be punctually obserued. The Magistrates being setled, they set vp publike scholes for the Fathers of the Society, which Religious Order Philip Duke of Arshot commended to them, by commaund of the Princesse, whose [Page 148]letters, to that effect, he brought to the Magistrates.

The affayres of the Towne being thus ordred,The garrisō of the Tow­ne appoin­ted. prouision being made, and a garrison of 3000. foot, and seauen Troupes of horse appointed,The works of our Campe slighted. Spinola commaunded that the trenches, and other works of our Campe should be slighted, worthy to haue ben preserued, and remayne a monument to posterity, but that for the seruice they had done, so important for the gayning of this admirable victory, the remembrance of them was neuer like to dy. The foot, diuided into many squadrons,The Infanta departeth front Breda with the Army. betwixt Hooghstrat and Breda, saluted the Princesse, as she passed, with their military triumphs. The horse, put in order by Count Henry vanden Bergh vppon a large playne, not far from Hooghstrat, represented, in iest, the manner of a serious horse fight. Fifteene troupes, diuided equally into as many seuerall wings,Count Hen­yr vanden Bergh re­presenteth in iest, a se­rious horse fight. encountred one an other, and with a counterfait skirmish expressed that sweet warre, which vnexperienced people frame in their imaginations. There was the charge, and retreat of horse, sound of Trumpets, raising of dust, glittering of Armes and naked weapons, the shouts of souldiers in their encoun­ters, fire, smoke, report of pistolls, with Artillery playing from a far, and all other expressions of a serious fight, but slaughter and blood,

But, the sight most worth behoulding was Count Henry vanden Bergh himself, compleately armed, betwixt two other Princes his confederates, comming in, as it were, to his succour: these Princes were VVolfgang VVilliam Duke of Bauere Gulick, Cleues and Bergh, and Rodulph Ma­ximilian Duke of Saxe, who when the skirmish was ended came all three, vppon their carriere, towards the Coche of of the victorious Princesse Isabel, bowing, with reuerence, the points of their swords to her.

Spinola, lodging the Army within three leagues of An­werp,Spinola wai­theth vppon the Infanta to Anwerp. himself wayted vppon the Arch-duchesse to that Citty, where they were welcommed with the generall applause,Count Hen­ry vanden Bergh, re­mayneth with his troupes at Hooghstrat to put pro­uision into Breda. all men casting their eyes and acclamations vppon Spinola. Count Henry vanden Bergh, remayned, with his troupes, at Hooghstrat, to conuey the rest of the prouision into Breda, who in the last Conuoy, before the enemy retired out of the feild, being desirous to adde this labell to Spinolaes victo­rious laurell, layd a plot to entrappe the enemy with an am­bush,He had a de signe to entrappe the enemy, but it tooke not. into which he thought to entice them, by sending out diuers of his troups neare their Campe to discouer. But the enemy, whether out of forecast, or iealiousy, stirred not out of his Campe, which caused Count Henry to retire, without doing any thing.

VVhilst the Arch-duchesse Isabel remayned in Anwerp,The Infan­taes picture curiously drawne by the famons Painter, Rubens. famous Rubens that matchlesse Painter drew her picture, crowned, in a most Maiesticall fashion, with a laurell of victory, which was afterwards as curiously engraued in brasse, worthy, after such a triumph, to be so expressed to life, and by no other, then by the hand of that famous Apelles. By the schollers of the Society of IESVS, the Tragedy of King Dauid was represented, after a new manner, to welcome this victorious Princesse, the whole history past being shewed agai­ne, to the life, in a dumbe shew, at the end of each Act. All the Courtiers and great ones went, in the Infantaes name to se it. VVithin few dayes after,The enemy retyring in­to garrison, our Army was com­maunded to reure. the enemy retyring his Army into garrison, our troupes were in like manner, com­maunded to retire. Spinola in the meane tyme went priuately to Bruxells, and though he concealed his comming, purposely to auoid the noise of salutations, yet against his will, he was forced to accept of them. By this tyme the newes was arri­ued in Spaine, his Ma.^tie receauing the glad tydings of two great victoryes togeather, the recouery of the Bay of Brasill, and the taking of Breda. He bestowed vppon the Marquesse [Page 150]Spinola, for the subduing of so many enemyes, without losse of blood,Spinola re­warded by the King of Spaine. and taking in a Towne and fortresse so impregnable, the Encomienda Mayor de S. Iago, a principall dignity in the Kingdome of Castile, either bycause this reward was due to such a Victory, or bycause it stood with the liberality of so great a Monarch, to bestow rewards of a higher nature, them any desert could reach to. Pope Vrban, stirred vp with the greatnes of so many remarqueable things, wrote letters of congratulation, first to the Arch-duchesse, then to the Marquesse Spinola for his fortunate successe and valour, in this occasion. Both which letters I thought good to set downe, as well for the singular eloquence with which they were writ­ten, as for the wisdome and autority of so graue a Prelate. His letter to the Arch-duchesse was this:

‘Almighty God,Pope Vrban the eyght his letter to the Arch­duchesse Isabel. vnresistable in his power, hath layd his hand vppon such as wished ill to his Seruantes, and the right hand of the Omnipotent is glorified in you. VVe were ouer-ioyed for the glorious Victory of the taking of Breda, and out of the abundance of the same ioy, we write these vnto you, who surpassing, in an eminent degree, the vertue of your sexe, haue succesfully employed the power of the dreadfull Armes of Au­stria, for the raysing, and defence of the Catholique faith. In your Campe, the troupes of the celestiall Army fought, and your perseuerance in warlike prowesse made it appeare to all nations (who flocked thither to be eye-witnesses of that glorious seige) that no fortresse, vnder heauen, can be so defended, but that the resolution of an Army, backed by the helpe of Heauen, may easily ouercome it. You haue met with ene­myes, contemners of dangers, and cunning contriues of mis­cheifes vnheard of, who seemed to be able to turne the sea out of his bounds, vppon your Austrian troupes, and stop the mouthes of Riuers, ready to discharg themselues into the Ocean, so to ouerwhelme your Army, with a kind of new Sea. But the wicked fell themselues into the trappe they [Page 151]had designed for others, and our Lord raigneth for euer. For the Sea remayned with in his bounds, and Rivers became dry. VVe congratulate with you for that victory, so much desired by the prayers of the Church, for which Rome the Mother of nations, reioyseth, and which historyes will make famous to after ages. VVe haue vnderstood by the report of fame and letters of our Agents, what excellent vse you haue already made of this victory. Except our Lord preserue a Citty, garde [...] are placed in vayne vppon the walls; and he supplieth those Townes with legions of Angels, in which the Catholique faith, preseruer of publike peace, is established. VVe haue heard how religiously sollicitous and carefull you are, that heresy, mother of falshood, and foster of sedition, should be rooted out of the breasts of the inhabitants of Breda. VVherfore since you stand not in need of our Pontificall exhortations, to perswade you in that particular, with good cause we raise and praise the glory of your name, commending you to Almighty God, in our best deuotions, that you may reape those fruits of so glorious a tri­umph, which the Church desireth, and impiety trembleth at, most affectionately sending you our Pontificall Benediction. Dated at Rome, at S.^t Mary Maiors vnder the fishers Seale The 9.^th of August, 1625. The 2. yeare of our Papacy.’

His letter to Spinola was this: ‘Heauen reioyceth in your victoryes, whose hands are washed in the blood of heretiks, and support the foundation of Catholique Religion. The taking of Breda shall remayne a monument of your valour to after ages; and the world shall know, that in our tymes, Italy brings forth Commaunders, in whom the glory of C [...]sars and Scipioes is reuiued againe. You haue subdued enemyes insolent with riches, raging with fury, and contemners of death, who stop­ping the mouthes of Riuers, forced them to [...]ange their course, and turne vppon your Campe. But the h [...]d of heauen, and your perseuerance ouer came all. And your worth and industry hath recouered that Towne, of which hereto [...]fre Treason, a louer [Page 152]of darkenes, lu [...]king in salse deceipts, beguiled the inuincible greatnes of [...]ustria. The memory of the Seige of Breda shall remayne [...]o posterity, and Commaunders, in tymes to come, may be furnished, by this Seige, with examples of fortitude, and documents of the Art of warre. The sauour of Almighty God showed in the taking of Breda was so eminent, and appeared so cleare to vs, in the midst of our other cares taken for the late troubles and dissention of the Italian Princes, that we resolued to honour you, the author of so great a good, with the testimony of our Apostolicall letters, wishing you long life and health, with the offer of our assistance, and bestowing vppon you har­tily our Apostolicall Benediction. Dated at Rome, at S. Mary Maior vnder the fishers Seale, the 9.^th of August. 1625. The second yeare of our Papacy.’

Great, but deserued praises, and confirmed now by the mouth of his Holines. And questionlesse neither the enemy can well feele the greatnesse of this wound, it being yet greene, nor wee in this nouelty of ioy, gi [...]e it the due estimation it deserueth. But, that which is as much or more to be esteemed then any victory what­soeuer, is, that since this strife was more for point of honour, then the gaine of Breda, the losse of that Towne, which the States, with so many s [...]pplies from all parts, with the stirring of all Europe, and so greate exhausting of their owne priuate treasure, vndertooke in [...]ayne to defend, hath gained immortall fame to his Ma.^tie of Spaine, the Archduchesse Isabel, and the Marquesse Spinola.

Conographicum REX BREDAM CEPIT QVINTA IVNII.

Typis Iudoci Dooms.