The Oppugnation and fierce siege of Ostend, by the Arch-duke Albertus his Forces, commanded by the Duke of Ossuna, who came before the said town, the fift day of june last past( after their writing) showing what hath happened since the time of the said siege.  
OStend is a town situated on the Flemish cost, lying on the arm of the river Yperle, thorough which the west Sluice lately ran into the sea, and hath there made a sufficient tide haven, which( like as, for the most parte, all the rest of the Flemish havens, do ebb and flow: and can not be used but with an high water, or at the least wise, at half flood) doth notwithstanding continually hold, and contain the ditches of the town full of water, by reason of dams and sluices made to that end and purpose, which( forasmuch as it might be in the same course continued, returned, or perhaps by the enemy diverted) they of the town haue, of themselves, stopped the course thereof, whereby they of the Country of flanders, haue been forced to carry and convey the same by the fort of Albertus, and so by a new currant into the Sea.  
In times past, it was but an open village, yet reasonable great, and well peopled. First, after the coming of Don John d'Austria, in the beginning of the now warres, for the fit and commodious situation thereof, it was made a town, and environed with strong walls: And afterwards, this town only, and none others among all the rest of the sea towns of flanders remained, and at this present doth remain in the possession or amity of the united provinces of Holland and zealand, howbeit, it lieth in the middle( as it were) of the enemies country, and far from her friends. And yet maugre all the forces, and power of her environing foes, hath many times been valiantly defended against sundry besiegings and attempts.  
For in the year 1583. although the duke of Parma, with his victorious host( after he had taken dunkirk, and Newport, the next adjoining sea towns westward) didde in most furious maner besiege it, using all warlike means he could possible to conquer it, was forced to give place, and after that he had continued his siege five dayes, saw how bootless it was for him to spend any longer time about it, and therefore departed, not effecting any thing agreeable to his wished attempts.  
afterwards, in the year 1585. although Monsieur la mot governor of traveling, did, with great force and difficulty win the old town by the Strand or sea side, which at that time was onely defended with a simplo wall, or Raueling and Pallisados, with purpose there presently to entrench and defend himself, was again with all his forces, like sheep driven out of the same, leaving behind him forty of his principalest captains and commanders with all their furniture and provision.  
This town, without all question, is a place of great advantage, and importance, yea of such moment, that it serveth as a bulwark and strong defence, for the whole province of zealand, and so contrariwise, if it should fall into the enemies hands( as God forbid) he should thereby command a more fit and commodious haven for shipping, than any other sea town now in his possession can yield him. Yea our intolerable losses, not to be recovered do teach us, and as it were, with a finger point unto us, what inestimable damage might redound unto the united provinces, if the enemy should command in this Town.  
Further, it is to be noted, that the Country of flanders, being in peace, in all taxations of the seauentéene provinces did levy the third penny: whereunto they haue been forced by this town, not only during the time of these wars, but also, the greatest part of the main land hath been constrained many years, to pay toll and contribution, and to be under our devotion.  
For which causes, this town hath with great care and mighty charges of the united provinces been daily fortified, and continually strengthened, and especially in the year 〈◇〉 past 1600. as also in the fore parte of this present summer: many works, I say, haue been devised to withstand, and prevent the cruel attempts of the bloody enemy, as bulwarks, counterpoynts, and Rauelings to the landward, neither hath that part lying to the Sea been forgotten, but hath been made also very defensible with heads, banks, and ditches, and especially on the east side of the town where( by means of the weakness of the banks) the sea, with great force is conjointly broken into the land, where it hath scoured, and pierced a great depth; so that the channel of the new haven( when the water is lowest) is near two, pikes deep: and doth daily wax deeper and deeper, without all doubt, the determinate work of God, for the great strengthening and plain defence of the town.  
They of flanders generally finding what annoyance and great discommodity this town threatened daily unto them, haue solicited and by all means possible importuned their Gouernours, to besiege, and conquer this town of Ostend, their daily eie-sore: as of late years( yet fresh in memory) in the year 1596. after that the Archduke Albertus had taken the town of calais, in france, they required him then to take in hand this piece of work, promising to give him twelve hundred thousand gilderns within three moneths time( which in sterling money is one hundred and twenty thousand pounds) whereunto, after his Highnesse had made show to yield, and promised to fulfil their desire, he gote some parte of the sum aforesaid into his hands. But doubting the event of the attempt, or knowing howe hard a matter it was, to take it by force of arms, or how difficult it would be to constrain the souldiers thereof by hunger, or otherwise, thought it sufficient to show himself before the town with his forces, and so quietly to depart.  
They of flanders herewith nothing at all pleased, and grieved with the continual vexations and incursions of the ranging souldiers, and payment of contributions, to prevent the same, in the year of our Lord 1599. while our forces were employed in the defence of Bommel, had good leisure to make sundry forts and bulwarks, for the strengthening, & defence of the ways and passages about the town of Ostend, thereby( as it were with a small kind of siege) continually to trouble the town, and to hinder the incursions of the garrison: which device was put into their heads, and the plot laid down by a certain corporal of the town called Noel, who having before long served in the town, and having good experience of the secrets thereof, upon some discontentment received, forsook the town, and ran to the service of the enemy.  
But as the experience of the last year giveth sufficient proof, that all the strength of these forts is not able to hinder, or defend the entrance of an host, so also it is most manifest that by the continual charge of the Garrisons of these forts, the Country hath received more damage and discommodity, then before it did by the contribution to their enemies, and town of Ostend; wherefore they haue been forced to renew their Importunate suit unto his Highnes, and to solicit him again to the besieging of Ostend, and especially at this instant, knowing our forces to be removed far from them, and to be sent into Dutchland lying at the siege of Berck, where they should( as they imagined) haue long work: And for the better persuading, and more easily drawing of the Archouke to hearken to this their suit, haue promised to pay him extraordinarily, three hundreth thousand gilderns Monthly( which is 30 thousand pounds starling) during the time of the siege, and after the taking of the town to pay him farther( for the space of two years) ninety thousand gilderns every month( which is 9000.l starling.  
Hereupon th●Archduke gathered together al his souldiers: yea such as were about the river of Ryne & the maze, for the succour of Berck were sent for, to make their repair into flanders and to serve under the command of the Duke of Osluna, who not long since was to that end sent for out of spain, by reason that the Archdukes camp( thorough the long imprisonment of the Admirant of Arragon, and the last overthrow in flanders) was wholly left destitute and unprovided of a sufficient commander, and experient Leaders, and for that the natural lords of the land, are in no wise respected nor trusted.  
VPon the fift day of june( after the new style) the enemy came before Ostend, about noon, with eight regiments of footmen, which were eight thousand men strong, besides the horsemen( notwithstanding the Spaniards generally disliked of this enterprise, and counseled the contrary, who( as is reported) do wholly dislike of this siege: and among the rest, two common souldiers that had been the last year prisoners in Ostend, obstinately maintaining the invincible strength of this town, were presently taken and hanged: for the extreme want of the three hundred thousand gilderns, to be payed monthly, as before is said, coming very fitly for the payment of the mutined souldiers, and also the hope to draw our forces from the siege of Bercke, into Flanders, for the better furnishing of himself, & presenting of such wants as might happen to Ostend: and perhaps thinking suddenly, and with al his force to overcharge the town before it should be succoured, haue been the lesons to bring thArchdukes forces now before Ostend.  
The Duke of Ossuna presently sought to pacify the garrison of Issabella, which had before mutined for their pay: and the next day following, being the sixth day of july, mounted six pieces of ordonance against the east side of the town vpon the downs, and with the same began fiercely to play vpon the town.  
There were then in the town in garrison one and twenty Ancients of sundry Regiments, and one company of burghers, or townsmen, all under the direction and command of captain ʋander Noote. These presently prepared themselves to their defence, making harmless, and displacing some of the enemies artillery: And labouring hard, to make a new way or haven, between the heads, to the end the passage of boats and shipping might be fréeed from the ordonaunce of the enemy.  
And the ninth day of july, after that they had sent away the most parte of their wives and children, they received into the town( out of zealand) 28. companies of souldiers, with great abundance of victuals, and all other provision of war.  
The tenth day sir Frances Vere, with eight companies of Englishmen entred into the town also, who presently issued out of the town with his people, entrenching himself on the dry plots of ground next unto the walls, on the west side, from whence the enemy might haue endomaged the town, and battered the walls.  
The thirteenth day of july, the said sir Frances Vere; with great force and resolution sallied vpon the enemy with eight hundred men, on the west parte of the town, and set vpon the camp, which lay far off divided from each other, with waters and marish grounds, and can not easily, or in short time come to aid each other. In which sally, the enemy lost( as was certified by Letters from antwerp) above eight hundred men, and among the same, one cornet of horsemen: and, if the whole force of the enemies horsemen, had not the sooner come to their aid, it was most apparent to all mens judgements, that sir Frances had droven the footmen to great confusion, and taken from them their Ordonance.  
The five and twentieth day sir Frances Vere did again issue out of the Towns with fifteen hundred men, and began to entrench between Issabella and Grootendorst, on a high ground, which in times past was an old Churchyard, where they of Issabella and Grootendorst were accustomend to bury their dead, and is a very fit and apt place, to separate and cut off these two forts from each others help, and to open a faire way to those of Ostend, to the flat and plain land. To which place of burial, the next day, being the six and twentieth day of july, the enemy came with three thousand men, and after he had been thrice repulsed, and put to the worst, took the place, but was presently with great force and dexterity driven from it again.  
The same day ten companies of souldiers arrived at Ostend, and were received into the town, which were sent thither by her majesty from London, so that now the town was furnished( within the walls and without) with sixty and seven companies, which made up near the number of seven thousand men: these ten companies aforesaid, were presently employed against the enemy, who shewed themselves very valorous, and did, both then, and since, passing good service, although many men were of opinion, that they would prove unfit for any service, by reason they were raw, and had not been trained.  
On the other side, the Archduke daily strengtheneth and increaseth his camp, as well with souldiers, as with ordonance, playing continually on the west side with 26. pieces, and on the east side with nine pieces of ordonance, but most of his shot liteth upon the houses, whereof many are defaced and beaten down: For, this six and twentieth day of july, and before, there had been discharged upon the town sixteen thousand shot, and against the enemy from the town had been counterchanged six thousand.  
moreover, there were also received into the camp some parte of the new souldiers which came out of italy, and had been appoynted for the succour of Berke, for first there arrived eight hundred men of those companies, and afterwards five and twenty hundred more were sent for, part Italians, and part Spaniards: and besides these, xx. men more out of all the other Ancients under the government of the earl of Barlamont and Bucquoy, who, for this cause, were forced to discharge their wagons, and other provisions, before by them taken up, and meant to be used in raising the siege before Bercke.  
There are eighteen companies appoynted every night out of the town, to guard sir Frances Veres trenches on the south-west parte of the town, who daily falleth out upon the enemy, with other souldiers of the town, and haue oftentimes slain many of the enemies, & wounded more, which haue been sent to Bruges from the camp, so that their No pitalles are full of wounded souldiers, and many Captaines, and men of great account, as well spaniards, Italians, and others, haue been slain in these conflicts, and amongst the rest, a colonel of the spaniards was brought to dunkirk, and there first buried in his armor, and afterwards taken up again, and put into the earth in a Friars weed, with great solemnity.  
On sunday, being the six and twentieth day of july last past, was a great skirmish with the enemy, which continued very long, and was with great fury, valour, and resolution maintained on both sides, the enemy supplying his s●… lers with fresh companies, bringing three, four, and five companies at a time, and they of the town seconding their parte continually with new supplies, and with like numbers, so that in the end, it seemed rather a little battle, than a shirmish, sometime our people being overmatched with the fresh companies of their enemies, were forced to give ground: but presently again, with their new supplies from the town, courageously pressed into the thickest of the enemies, making them likewise to retire into their trenches: and thus it continued long, sometimes the one parte, and sometimes the other giuing ground, until the enemies horsemen came in, to succour their footmen, whereupon our men returned into their trenches, and into the Lowne, after they had slain and spoiled many of their enemies both horse and foot. But if our men had been furnished with horsemen, the enemy had lost many more men than he did, both in this skirmish, and all others before: but herein, the enemy hath had the vantage of us during this siege, notwithstanding it hath been written from calais, that after this fight, there were carried out of the camp to Bruges three score and ten wagons laden with wounded men, and in every waggon was ten men at the least: but when they were brought to Bruges, they of the town would not receive them, saying that they had their hospitals already full, and could receive no more, and therefore required that they might be conveyed to some other towns. It was afterwards reported, that the enemy lost in this skirmish 450. men, besides those that were wounded: neither was this attempt accomplished, without loss on our side.  
saturday, being the first day of this present month of August, they of the town issued again vpon the enemy, and with great fury( after they had continued skirmish some half hour) forced them to retire to their trenches, slaying some 80. of their enemies, as near as could be judged: but the horsemen of the enemy coming in vpon our souldiers, they returned into the town, with small loss on our part.  
It is reported by some that came very lately from calais, that on wednesday last, being the fift day of this present month of August, there was a great Skirmish begun by those of the town, to hinder the enemies approach unto the walls, which was with fierce resolution long continued on both sides, and that they of the town( with great slaughter of their enemies) had taken three or five pieces of ordonance, and brought the same into the town, but how certain this is( being but a report) I cannot writ, the truth thereof will be hereafter better known.  
Sir Frances Vere without the town doth daily fortify his trenches: and the governor within the town, with earth raiseth the walls, thereby to avoyde the danger of the enemies shot, which his Highnesse spareth not, but bestoweth so liberally vpon the town, as if he found shot and powder abundantly in the downs, or sand-hilles: and withall, laboureth to raise a new Cauallirie, with bauen and earth, thereon to plant more ordonaunce, and to shoot into the town, on the south south-west side. Thus they are earnestly busied on all sides, the one, nor the other sparing any cost or labour to annoy their enemy, and to defend themselves, and that thing which to day is not thought vpon, is the next day put in practise, with new devises and warlike stratagems, the one raising up, the other with his ordonance beating down his enemies works, that the same may not be finished, or brought to perfection.  
It is also written from antwerp, that the Infanta is in person come into the camp, and that the Archduke is in O udenburgh, to the end he may himself in person give order in these affairs: time will teach us to know what profit he shal reap by these his travels & inestimable charges.  
But at her return from the Camp to Bruges, shée brought with her sundry Companies of Souldiers, but they of the town denied to receive them, saying they had no need of any new Garrison, but if it pleased her highnes to come into the town with her accustomend train, shée should be welcome: but as for her Souldiers, they were not minded to take them into the city.  
Such as haue come out of Ostend very lately, and likewise from Vlushing, report for certain, that within the town of Ostend, there wanteth not any thing, fit for the defence thereof, and that all victuals are very plentiful, English beer is sold for two stiuars the kanne, great measure, for which there is no excise paid. Sir Frances Vere giveth the enemy daily so much to do, and keepeth him so well occupied, that he knoweth not well which way to turn him, or what he may well begin to annoy the town: and it is thought by many men of good iudgement, that he wisheth he had not come to besiege Ostend, seeing he findeth so small hope to carry it, but would rather be with his camp from thence, if he knew how with credite to depart.  
Lately the enemy removed nine pieces of his ordonance, from the east to the west side: his ordonance made it very dangerous to enter by the accustomend haven, except it were in the night time, but since the making of the last, or middle haven, all things are carried in and out without any danger of the enemies shot. And on the south-west side the enemy bringeth great store of brush and bauen faggots towards the trenches of sir Frances Vere, thinking by that means so to mount some ordonaunce, that he may beate sir Frances from his trenches, and so bring his battering pieces nearer unto the walls, or else, to beate the town on the south south-west side.  
On the south side, the enemy hath raised a mount, from whence he beateth the houses, but specially the Church and Steeple, which is wholly defaced, otherwise, he doth small annoyance to the town, sometimes with his shot killing a man: but such as come out of the town affirm, that for every one the town looseth, the enemy looseth five or six. They of the town, haue themselves, vntiled and taken down many houses, and also vnpaued the streets, to th'end the same might with the enemies shot, the less annoy them.  
The governor and sir Frances are not idle, but employ all their labour and industry, both within the town and without, to raise mounts, and to finish such other works, as are most behoveful for the strengthening of the town against the enemies forces, and to that end, such souldiers as will work, and employ their time that way, either by day or night, haue xii. d. the day, and xii. d. the night.  
And because the enemy shall the better be kept from approaching the walls, they of the town haue cut the Sea branckes, so that the Sea water environeth the town on the south side, from the east to the west parte, in so much that the town seemeth to stand in an island, which threateneth great hurt to the land and country thereabouts, and may( in time) grew very daungerous.  
The enemies perceiving them of the town to be very stil, and those likewise of sir Frances Veres trenches to hold themselves more quiet than they had been accustomend, sent out a soldier to espy their doings: one of the souldiers that came from London spying this straggler, demanded of such as were next him in the trenches, what he meant thus to approache their trenches: it was answered, they knew not, except he came as a spy: then quoth the English soldier, I will go out and talk with him: presently he made toward this straggler, and making but few words, they fell to blows, and so continued a good space, the camp on thone side, and the town on tother, beholding them, & noting which did best: In the end they were both wounded, and so departed: the Englishman brought with him his enemies hat, and a staff or half pike, which he valiantly won and brought into the trenches.  
Since the besieging of this town, the five Gallies of Sluice were at sea, and( meeting with two ships laden with merchandise, which came from Dort in Holland, having a ship of war for their convoy and defence) there began a hote fight on both sides, and it continued long: the ship of war bestowed his shot so well, that he did great spoil to the Gallies, and slew many of their men, but in th'end, the Gallies boarded the ship,( and firing her) did, without mercy, put twenty six men to the sword, and saved onely ten persons, which, for the most part, are shorn, and made slaves. It was reported, that this ship of war was, by oversight, set on fire with their own powder: but by Letters out of Holland, it seemeth to be otherwise, for it is written from thence, that it pleased God to save one man very miraculously, who( committing himself to the mercy of God, and of the merciless Seas, upon a piece of a mast) rather than he would fall into the hands of his bloody enemies: after he had so floated vpon the waves of the Sea an hour or two, he was taken up by an other ship, which( by Gods providence) had spied the man thus driving on the water. This man( after his coming into Holland) made true report hereof, as is above declared.  
Within the town, near unto the west end, they haue raised a mount, whereon is planted twelve cannons, and six demi cannons, wherewith they beate down, and deface the enemies works without.  
Lastly, such as canie on wednesday last out of Ostend, being the fift day of this present August, report, that the enemy hath these eight dayes lain still, and done nothing, and affirm, the souldiers of Ostend to be of an invincible courage, not esteeming any force of the enemy, and that there is no cause of fear, nor want, for all things are daily in most plentiful sort brought unto them, assuring themselves, that the enemy shall( in the end) be forced to depart with shane and dishonour, and perhaps with greater loss than he now thinketh upon, which God for his mercies sake grant, Amen.  
Finis.