News from Flaunders.  
A new Ballad of the great overthrow that the valiant Captain Grave Maurice, Sir Frances Veer, and other of the Queen of England's friends: gave to the Archduke, and his Army of Spaniards, upon Sunday being the 22 of june last passed, 1600.  
To the tune of lusty Gallant.  
 depiction of battle scene  

YOu that be desirous,  
and therein take delight:  
To h●are of bloody battles,  
and worthy warlike fight,  
To Flaunders bend your ears a while  
and you shall truly know,  
How valiantly our Noble friends,  
their foes did overthrow.   

The Archduke of Austria,  
that bloody Spanish Lord:  
Like judas hath converted,  
his book into a sword.  
To plant by cursed Popery,  
in Flaunders now again:  
to bring the Queen of England's friends  
in servitude to Spain.   

But Noble Prince, Grave Maurice,  
his purpose to prevent:  
Hath entered famous Flaunders,  
to warlike battle bend:  
With fifteen thousand horse and foot,  
prepared well to fight:  
At Phillipeena landed first,  
the twelve of june by night.   

From thence a long to Oldenbirdge,  
they marched on a main:  
And cut of all the best relief,  
quite from the host of Spain.  
All the sconces and the Forts,  
that by the way they found,  
Belonging to the Spanish power,  
they razed to the ground.   

And so to Newport marched,  
with thundering loud alarms:  
And there besieged it bravely,  
by force of warlike arms.  
The Cannons played up to the walls  
the muskets shot amain:  
As though that Mars himself were come  
to fight or else be slain.   

By this he heard the Archduke,  
was coming for to raise  
His siege, with full ten thousand,  
resting neither night nor days.  
Whereat the State's General,  
did choose a Regiment:  
Of nimble Scotch and hardy Dutch,  
their coming to prevent.   

To Count Ernestus of Nassaw  
committed them in charge:  
About four miles from Newport,  
to fortify a Bridge.  
Who failed much therein, because  
the Duke had past the same:  
Before Ernestus Regiments,  
all softly thither came.   

The Scotchmen were all cut off,  
and put to slaughter quite:  
But yet the Dutchmen happened,  
to save themselves by flight.  
The which emboldened so the foe  
that he went forward still:  
Without all danger of assault,  
or fearing any ill.   

Upon the four and twenty day,  
they planted on a plain:  
Eight great Canons sound charged  
a battle to maintain.  
Whereat the Princely General,  
the siege did soon forsake:  
And marched to meet the Archduke,  
the better ground to take.   

Sir Frances Véere directed him,  
his squadrons to dispose:  
How best for his advantage,  
should set upon his foes.  
Nine Noble English Gentlemen,  
the first encounter gave:  
With as much honour and renown,  
as any Prince might have.   

But yet before this battle strong,  
betwixt them were begun:  
they strove at least full two hours long  
for weather, wind and sun.  
At last Duke Albert's warlike drums  
did thunder in the skies:  
whereat Prince Maurice stirred himself  
and thus courageous cries.   

For Flaunders, and for England,  
brave gallants must we fight:  
In his defence and quarrel,  
that is the God of might.  
To arms I say then gallant lads,  
let nothing us dismay:  
Against professed foes we fight,  
and hope to win the day.   

Which words did so embolden,  
them of the common sort▪  
That every one esteemed,  
the battle for a sport.  
Where though they saw an hundred slain  
by one great Cannon shot:  
Yet none of them in fear thereof,  
from thence would move a foot.   

Full four long hours continued,  
this black and dreadful fight:  
That both sides well maintained,  
with courage and great might.  
The Cannons made such lanes of men  
that soldiers wetshood stood:  
As they discharged their Musket shot,  
in pools of purple blood.   

The sun with smoke was darkened,  
the element likewise:  
That like a dismal coal black night,  
appeared all the skies.  
Like mountains dead men lay on heaps  
most grievous to behold:  
By numbers great and infinite,  
past reason to be told.   

At last the fearful enemy,  
from field began to fly:  
Whereat our English Captains,  
saint George saint George did cry,  
The battle's won, the day is ours,  
take courage by this chance:  
And in the honour of this day,  
our English Cross advance.   

Then four miles they pursued,  
the Spaniards in their flight:  
still slaughtering them by thousands,  
and so returned by night.  
To Newport back with warlike joy  
the siege for to renew:  
And drive the Spaniards from the town  
with balls of fiery hue.   

In this same dreadful battle,  
the Spanish Duke had slain:  
Above five thousand at the least,  
most heavy news for Spain.  
One thousand more they prisoners took  
withal three Spanish Lords:  
Which were by force compelled to yield  
them prisoners to our sword.   

The Duke himself as chanced,  
was hurt with Musket shot:  
And in such sort as hardly he,  
alive to Brussels got.  
His Cannons they were taken all,  
his Treasure and his Plate:  
Which be good prizes, and esteemed,  
well of the Flemish state.   

A hundred fifty Ensigns,  
were taken on that day,  
All which may be sufficient  
the Spaniards to dismay.  
And never more have so bold hearts,  
in war to lift their hands:  
Against our noble English friends,  
now in the Netherlandes.   

Of English, Scots and Dutchmen,  
we had some store yslain,  
But few they were in number  
to them that fought for Spain  
Few chosen captains we had hurt,  
but brave Lord Graye in fight  
And bold sir Frances of Deveere,  
that most renowned knight.   

Who had been slain or smothered  
amongst the maimed men,  
Had not sir Robert Drewrie  
most bravely played the man,  
Who from the thickest of the fight  
bore him from thence away  
A nobler deed than this was not  
performed of all that day.   

Thus have you heard the service  
of these our English friends,  
That still with loss of life and limbs  
the Flemish state defends.  
God banish thence idolatry,  
that English men may say:  
That still we have in spite of Spain  
some friends beyond the sea.   
Finis.   


Captains of the English slain.  
1 Captain Yaxley.  
2 Captain Honywood  
3 Captain Duxbery.  
4 Captain Purton.  
5 Captain Tirrell.  
6 Captain Woodward.   

Prisoners of the enemy taken.  
The Admiral of Arragon.  
jasper Sapena.  
Lewis de Villar.   
With many other Captains.