News from Flanders and Ostend.  
A TRUE DECLARAtion how that the Lords States of the united Provinces, under the conduct of his Excellency, have set forth a princelike Navy of ships from Zealand, the 15. day of April 1604:  
Which went to the Island of Casant, where the foresaid Lords States have taken in the Sconce of Coxie, S. Catherine, S. Philip, and Isendiick with other small sconces and holds.  
Translated out of Dutch into English.  
LONDON Printed by Arnold Hatfield for john Bill.   

To the Reader.  
GEntle Reader,  
Notwithstanding the long (almost this three years) besieging of the Town of Ostend; the Lords States of the united Provinces, have thought it good, to land an Army in Flanders, hoping by that means to withdraw the siege from Ostend: and perceiving that the Enemy for all that leaves not the siege, but daily gets near unto the same, hoping likewise to get it in, and so persuading himself, that nothing shall be able to withstand his might, but all to be under his power; to that end they of Flanders have employed all their forces to bring under the said Town of ostend, thinking by that means to have all that Country so sure unto them, that none were able to set any more footing in that land, to win any thing from them; not thinking so much on the Lords strong hand (the other means) as of late he hath showed, and is like to come to pass; when always the Enemy thought (if Ostend were won) not so much as a window would be left open thorough which any man might by any means prejudice them. God notwithstanding hath opened a door to his Excellency, to let him in; as we may see in reading of this brief and true declaration, for which we are highly to praise God, and to pray moreover that his Excellency (under the Lord's protection) may have a good proceeding in his godly purpose; and that it would please God to open the eyes of the inhabitants of the land of Flanders, and others, which are under the Spaniards yoke, that we all may live together in one true belief peace & love, to God's glory and our soul's salvation.  
Amen.   

A true declaration how that the Lords States of the united Provinces, under the conduct of his Excellency, hath set forth a Princelike navy of ships from Zealand, the 15. of April 1604. which went to the Island of Casant, where the foresaid Lords States, have taken in the Sconce of Coxie, S. Katherine, S. Philippe, and Isendiicke, with other Sconces and holds.  
BY the wise government of the Lords States in general of the untied Provinces in netherlands, and his Princelike Excellency Maurice of Nassaw, there were stayed and taken up all about in the foresaid untted Provinces, a very great number of ships: and so furnished with all manner of warlike munition, to set forward towards the Enemy's country; and having shipped all their horse and foot, they came the 13. of April 1604. before Zealand.  
The 14. his Excellency and the Lords States came before the Castle of Ramekins, where the foresaid Navy gathered themselves together: Yet none of the lords States, nor his Excellency, nor any other Lord, or principal man landed there, but remained all a shipboard; only certain Soldiers went a shore to Middleborrow, and other places in the Island to bay such things as they had need of: which had warning in the evening towards eight of the clock by the sound of the drum, that all Soldiers upon pain of death, should come a shipboard, and for that purpose were two of the gates of the said city all night left open to let them pass out. As the Soldiers were come aboard, you might hear about twelve of the clock at night, three great pieces of Ordinances to be shot of, when the ships set sail together, with fair weather, and a southeast wind, so that the foresaid ships and Soldiers came by break of day before Swarte-gate and Kerken-gate, in the Island of Casant, and there landed their men the 15. of the month aforesaid without the loss of any one man.  
They that lay about and in the Sconce called Swarte-gate, with other little holds thereabouts, ran all away: whereupon his Excellency marched forward toward the fort of Hofsteede, the which he also took in, and went forward to the Sconce Lippenen, so named of the Captain that held the same, whom his Excellency commanded to deliver up the said Sconce; whose ansu ere was, that first he must see his Canon: whereupon his Excellency sent him word, that if he should but shoot one shot thereat, he would take none of them to mercy, and forthwith he placed two pieces, whereupon they within presently delivered it up, going out thereof with their weapons.  
The enemy hearing of his Excellency's approach, drew out forthwith some part of their army that lay before Ostend, and came the 15. day of the said April on the west side of Sluis haven.  
The 16. day the Enemy there began to entrench himself with a half-moon, to stop the coming over of his Excellency, who the 17. and the 18. of the same month stirred not, till he had fortified himself in the Island of Casant, as the Enemy did on the West side thereof: yet notwithstanding his Excellency brought one of his Batteries under the Castle of Sluis, where he caused certain shot to be made on the Galleys there, whereupon the Enemy caused them presently to be brought up higher to the Town of Sluis.  
They of Sluis shot but little: His Excellency would lose no time, but thought good to find out another way to make his entrance into the maine-land of Flanders, and is therefore in the night, the 18. of April aforesaid, gone by land, but the next day returned to his Quarter.  
The night following, his Excellency with a greater power goes forward, and takes in the Sconce of Coxie, and remained there the 20. day. Then his horse and foot make towards S. Catherines, and S. Philip, where his Excellency brought all his power, and upon their May day, stilo novo (being Philip and jacobs' day) made more than an hundred great shot at the Sconce of S. Philip and S. Catherine, before eight of the clock in the Evening, and the whole Leaguer the whole night so bestirred themselves, that they within fearing some general storm, ran all away, and so his Excellency took in both the Sconces, to his great joy and all his company.  
Having now set firm footing in Flanders, he goes presently to the Sconce of Isendijcke, about which he entrencheth himself, & lodgeth his Army so about it, shutting them so up, that no man might either come forth or go in unto them.  
The Enemy lieth on the West side of Sluis haven, and causeth great store of Shallops from Bridges and Sluis to be brought, with two thousand men in them, meaning to take in Casant again. Our men suffered the Enemy to land to the number of some thousand, and so fell on them, and drove them to flight, which were the greatest part of them Spaniards and Italians, crying out, A lafoy barea, A la barca. Five of their shallops run a ground and were drowned, with the men in them, the rest slain, except seventeen that were taken, whereof three were brought to his Excellency. Besides, our men got eight of the enemies Shallops.  
His Excellency goes forward with Isendijke, and in the night took one that sallied out of the Sconce, who being examined, gave to understand, That there was want of all things, except shot and fresh water.  
His Exceliencie the 29. of April, sent his Trumpet called Hans, to summon them to yield up the Sconce; who at the second sound of the Trumpet, was shot in the head, of which he falls dead in the place. His, Excellency hereat being very angry, sent forthwith a drum to demand him that had shot his Trumpet, to be delivered out unto him, otherwise he would receive none of them to mercy: whereupon they sent out two Captains, making excuse that they by no means could learn who had done the same: yet notwithstanding his Excellency instantly demands that he be delivered before he will give them any hearing, whereupon they returned to their Sconce; and in the Evening came to his Excellency to parley about the delivery up of the said Scance, which giveth them no hearing. At last they come again bringing with them him that had shot his Trumpeter, (which was an Italian) Than his Excellency gives them the hearing, and are agreed on such conditions as follow.  

The Conditions.  
FIrst, that they shall go out of the said Sconce, with their arms, without found of drum, and without their matches light.  
Secondly, that they shall leave in the said Sconce all their great Ordmance & Munition.  
Thirdly, that in 4. months next following, they shall not bear Arms against his Excellency in Flanders.  
Fourthly, that his Excellency will lend them shipping to carry their sick and hurt men with their baggage to Sas, and for that shall two Captains remain in hostage with his Excellency, till the foresaid ships come again.  
After this agreement, the Soldiers went out of the Sconce, the last of April, 1604. about five of the clock in the afternoon, being in number 600. men.  
Since, it is credibly reported by sundry passengers, that the 2. of May, and the 3. his Princely Excellency marched up toward the ruinated walled towns, Ardenborgh and Middleborgh, and took them, and so marched up toward the Town of Dam, distant a league from Bridges. Other Passengers coming from Flushing the 4. of May, say, that there were arrived more Soldiers out of Frieseland: likewise Switsers to be sent to his Princely Excellency in Flanders.  
Also that the County or Earl Lodowicke of Nassow, with other Captains, with some 14. Coronets of Horsemen, accompanied with the mutined Soldiers, called the Esquadron, (strong 1500. horsemen, and 800. footmen muskeeteers) conducted by their Eletto, and directed by Captain Du Boys, for the States, are entered Brabant, with some Ordinance, and past up by Brussel, to Mons in Henault, and as is reported, as far as Buist, spotling all that they find, saccaging all abbeys, Towns, and Villages, gentlemen's houses, that had no money to ransom them, Wovere, Flerus and other towns burnt, seeking to bring all under their contributions: but it is thought, they pretend to take and fortify some Town or place upon the Moose, to stop all passage from Germany and Italy.  
Passengers coming from Flushing the fourth day of May, and others coming by the sea-coast of Flanders and Ostend, heard and saw on Saturday the fifth of this present month, great shouting on all sides at Ostend, for the space of seven hours upon the Seas, peradventure to force them, before Prince Maurice camp came nearer. Great accusations being made by Marquis Spinola, the General before Ostend, unto the Archduke at Gant, of the Spanish soldiers untowardness in fight, envying the honour of the Italians and Walons, being maintained as is thought of Don Joys de Valasco, and they use these words; Que non quieren mourir por un Marquis Spinola, mas been por en Rey: which is, that they will not die for Marquis Spinola, but will for their king: envying him the honour.  
It is like that they of the Country of Flanders, having contributed hitherto some ninety thousand gulden's monthly, which is 9000. pounds sterling, for the maintenance of this siege, will now not be able to continue, being spoiled, and charged with three camps, the besieging camp, and the Archdukes camp, and the Prince Maurice camp. Hitherto is all related what is past: beseeching God to send a delivery to those Provinces, of Spanish & foreign government, whereby all Christendom might come to a good peace, which God grant.  
Amen:  
FINIS.