A True Report of the Great overthrow lately given unto the Spaniards in their resolute assault of BERGEN OPEN ZOAM, in the Low Countries.  
AT LONDON Printed by G. E. and are to be sold by john hodget's at his shop in Paul's churchyard. 1605.   

The copy of a Letter sent from a Gentleman to his worshipful friend in England, containing a true report of the Assault given upon Bergen op Zoam by the enemy the 19 of September last passed, in the night. 1605.  
Well-beloved Sir,  
you shall understand by these my letters, what course the Enemy took very lately to assault our Town of Bergen.  
On Monday being the nineteen day of September last, about 2. of the clock in the night, the Enemy came before the Town, and settled his Forces in a place called Denbeel.  
There were of them five thousand Footmen My Masters, it had been better for you to have gone on pilgrimage, and visited our Lady, Saint Mary Acuti-collis, for here the Goodman of the house is at home, and here is meat enough for you ready dressed: here is a little sauce for you, but it is very sharp, yet if you lack Beer, we have enough laid in for you against your coming: those knaves those thieves, your leaders and commanders have brought you hither to the slaughter (take heed all your throats be not cut, before you depart.) This was the common note and continual cries that we sent them, which they might hear very easily every word.  
Whiles we thus laboured to call unto them, and were busied in discharging our Ordinace upon them, the enemy had set a Petard to the gate which was next to the town, for with a ladder which was an hundred foot long, (which they could draw out in length or shorten, as occasion should require) they had gotten passage over the Flood gates, when the fire broke out of the Petard, it came with such a force, that all the bars flow out of their holds, the gates were shaken open, and the draw bridge fell down, I standing aloft, thought that the whole gate had fallen, there were such a number of Tiles and stones that flew in our faces. Then the enemy gave a horrible shout, to encourage one another that they might have entered the Town at one push: but we immediately came down from the wales with might and main and forestalled them, making all the provision we could to hinder their entry; so little did we desire to have their company.  
There is another gate in the Town, which is not very strong, wherefore to help that, we brought and laid to it the greatest pieces of timber that we could get, and trees, and wagons, and whatsoever came first to hand, and in the end we digged up the stones and pavements in the street, and heaped them together to hinder their entry.  
Our men that tarried yet above, hurled down stones, and cast fire upon them, and used all the means they could devise for defence, as the present occasion and urgent necessity required.  
In the end, about a quarter of an hour after this, they were so scared and frighted, that for fear they began to retire; but they that had next place unto the Gate and came first thither, had much ado to get out, for they that came after kept them so fast in that they could not easily turn back again.  
In the end when they saw our resolution, that they were thus manfully resisted by all the means that might be devised, they were enforced with their great damage, and loss of many Soldiers, to shift for their lives, and get away.  
In the mean time we drew up the Bridge again, and fortified that Gate by which they intended to have entered with their Horsemen.  
When they saw this, that they had spent all their time here to so little purpose, they made in all haste toward the water side, unto the place where they had been before: so did they also to the Northward, and many went with their Bridges and other provision to the southward.  
But when they saw such good provision upon the sudden, and so great fortifications, both in the Bulwark, and in the place which is commonly called De Polder, beyond all men's expectation, they left their bridge behind them, with their Drags and other warlike provision, together with a company of their men slain, to the number of two and twenty, and so flew away.  
The Petard which they had fastened upon the Gate which is toward Sattenhimbuse to blow it open, broke not, but they had laid Bridges there, by which some of them had gotten passage over; But in the mean space, we were so sharp set, and came upon them with such violence, that with the loss of ten men only, we enforced them to retire, in more haste than they came thither, and then we heard it strike four of the clock, but before the hindmost of them were gone, it was almost five of the clock, such was their amazement, and so little mind they had to tarry one for another.  
Think with yourself now good Sir, how we were toiled and wearied from two of the clock till this time, I myself was so moiled and wet, as if I had been but newly drawn out of the River.  
But God be blessed, who always defendeth his people, and hath thus preserved us from the hands of such bloody and merciless people, and gave such boldness and courage unto our whole Company, as I would never have believed it, if that I had not seen it: For both the Citizens and the Soldiers were so valiant in fight & so resolute to die, if need had been, as it was very strange to behold.  
In this exploit the women also played their parts, (for the custom of that sex) for they brought us great abundance of straw, which we presently set on fire, and cast down over the wales, whereby we were the better able in the darkness of the night to discern the enemy at the wales and about the gate.  
We were much helped also by the caltrops & pitchbals, which we cast abroad & scattered here and there. And this also was a worthy sight, to behold how the women and the children little and great, young and old, one with another, came to the Wales, where the greatest trouble was, and spoke most cheerfully to us, and asked us, saying, well done my hearts: what, do ye lack any thing? do ye want any powder, or short, or matches? or any thing that may do you, and our Town good? and they brought us also a great number of Baskets full of stones; that every man might have somewhat to entertain them withal.  
Many also brought us the straw that was for the horse litters, when they saw what use we had of it: and others brought us such abundance of Beer, that we were not able to draw it all out, and drink it. This kindness and liberality pleased the Soldiers very well, who courageously cried out continually, and encouraged the Townsmen, saying: be of good cheer, ye honest Citizens; be of good comfort, and have a good heart, and then the day began to break, and we had some light; which we were very glad of.  
The enemies, as we were given to understand afterward, had not an end of their troubles thus, but were put to the sword, and spoiled for the space of three days after.  
Now blessed be God; we had but one man slain, and he was a common Soldier: six only were wounded, and the most hurt that was done, was done by Gun powder.  
There were of the Enemies slain threescore and ten, whereof many were of their best and chiefest men, and principal officers.  
The Enemy, as we understood by the husbandmen of the country, and the intelligence that was given to the Governor of the town, carried away six and thirty Wagons loaden with dead men, and such as were wounded in the attempt: so that we may be certainly assured that he lost then at the least a thousand men.  
When the Soldiers of their side heard that they were determined to make his attempt upon the Town of Bergen, they had much a do to draw them to the Town, they were so loath to come there: fearing their welcome: at last for their better inducement, they gave out speeches, that the greatest part of the Town was confederate with them, and would presently join, but in the end, the event fell out otherwise.  
We do not as yet certainly know how many of their heads and chief commanders of the enemy are slain: they have left behind them many of their Ladders, Bridges and Wagons covered with Leather or Canvas, and much other such baggage.  
There came a messenger but even now unto the town, who bringeth news that their General hath both his legs strooken off with a piece of Ordinance; and that many of their principal officers are either slain or wounded.  
Some of them were driven into the water, and so drowned: So that as yet we have no certain intelligence what number of them are slain, but so many as we can find in several places, dispersed, amount to the number of three score and ten.  
The Governor of the Town gave comsword