Extremities Urging the Lord General Sir Fra: Ueare to the Antiparle with the Archduke Albertus. Written by an English Gentleman of very good account from Ostend, to a worshipful Gentleman his friend here in England, Imprinted Verbatim according to the Original.  
With a declaration of the despe Archdukes forces, for the winning of the old Town.  
Printed for Thomas Pauyer.  
1602.   

Extremities pressing the Lord Gone general sir Francis Veare, to offer the late Antiparle to the Archduke Albertus.  
NOt doubting but your Worship hath heard of our late antiparle with the Archduke Albertus hear in Ostend, which I assure ●…y ●…lfe is of many wondered at, and again, knowing that no small number will judge there of, some according to their understandings, and other some as they are carried with affection. I have thought good to advertise you of the very truth thereof; for your worship's satisfaction, and better contentment of all Gentlemen to whom it shall please your worship to impart the same, wherein I assure you I have plainly and faithfully set down the truth without all favour or affection, as hereafter followeth.  
HIs Lordship having by many Letters for the space of two Months together, solicited the States to reinforce him with fresh supplies of men, was still answered again with hopeful promises, mean time his troops in town were generally harrazed & worn out, especially the English by guarding & watching in the works without the Town every second night for the space of six Months together, their dirty passage thither, and their miry guard●… there, inse●…ing them daily with increase of sickness, so as by diseases and other accidents of war, he had not remaining at the time of the Parley beg●…, being on Sunday night the 1●… of December after the old style, of 8000 soldiers and 〈◊〉, 2150: and such as know Ostend as it is now, and have withal any judgement in martial 〈◊〉, can discern that the Town al●…ne cannot be su●…tiently guarded with 〈◊〉 men, leaving out of this computation the outward works and most part of the Counterscarps, which are in●…d principal pillars of saf●…tie to this place.  
Again the fury of the sea had so demolished the Rampart of the ●…owne, that the same lay very weak and open i●… many places for the Enemy's passage. And (notwithstanding that good endeavours had 〈◊〉 used, 〈◊〉 much cost 〈◊〉 to secure us against both those dangers, by store of long 〈◊〉 〈◊〉- wood lodge in ●…ile at the Northwest ●…nd of the 〈◊〉 bray, (the support of the foot of the bulwark called the Sandhill) and of like wood plaited along the foot of the Sandhill to the seaward, fastened (besides the workman's art) with great stones, and well lined with sundry ranks of Pallizad●…s armed with long and strong nails of Iron) yet did the Enemy in the darkness of a boisterous night at a low water, so artificially, and wi●…h such expedition put fire to the same pile, entertaining our guards a good, distance from thence, towards the north-east part of the old Town with an alar●…m, in the mean time that few inclined their eyes to this fiery 〈◊〉, until the fire had fully embraced the same pile. This alarm being (to say truth) coldly taken, the enemy 〈◊〉 his point till they came to the place of our new 〈◊〉, being near the north-east ravelling. and there finding the passage to enter open and no apparent of r●…ance, they entered, and coming to a Corpse du gua●…d, they found one only drowsey bird in the 〈◊〉 whom they killed, the rest being 〈◊〉 ●…ed after their ●…onted manne●…: yet I forbear to name my Nation, Eupho●… gratia.  
In the heat of this business, his Lordship slenderly accompanied, fell upon the skirt of all the place where the enemies were, and being with much ●…ifficultie perswad●…d to stay his further 〈◊〉, till discovery might be 〈◊〉 before 〈◊〉, much troubled with fear of treas●…n▪ he sent away Capta●… Studde●… Commander of his own company▪ with one 〈◊〉 Grevill, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, and some one or two private men besides These stumbled upon the 〈◊〉, against whom making a countenance of a charge by their voices, Sa, 〈◊〉, etc. 〈◊〉 them to retire to the sands by the same way they entered ●…by it may ●…e conc●…ed they had full view of our new 〈◊〉, there they perceiving the 〈◊〉 of those that pursued them, turned head, and with a Musket, shot Captain Studd●…r through the arm, and then made away, none of ours in case to follow them, by reason of their Cavallary, whereof we have none in town had this error been committed by any English Commander, I durst have adventured to have made an Almanac of his end.  
This fire burned outrageously for the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 days & nights without ceasing, viz. from Thursday night, till Sunday night, neither could our soldiers come well to quench it, the enemy's Cannon still giving against them, when they offered themselves thereto, neither could the ●…lowes of the sea, wa●…ing at every tide far above the height of the fire extinguish the same. For it had gotten passage into the ground, and there found matter of continual nourishment, by such timber & posts as were lodged there, for the support of the 〈◊〉 of the piece, & though it had been quenched sund●…y ti●…es▪ yet doth it burst out again, ●… on Tuesday last I saw it burn again myself. Our chiefest enginors are of opinion that the sand heated with such extremity, by fury of the fire in the pile of Rise, is the chiefest cause of the long continuance thereof, by this fire the Faurbray, and the side of the Sandhill lying towards the sea, were both 〈◊〉 open again to the mercy of all weathers and violence of the enemies, in far worse sort than it was before, and this was another instance of 〈◊〉, etc.  
Another is, & that not y● 〈◊〉 passage to allow for his ●…. was, we were & are still many contrary nations in town, English, ●…rench, Scots, Walloons, & Dutch, and thereby a hodgepodge of contrary & dis●…nant humours. A natural instinct as the world knoweth having disjointment of affections, yet hitherto we have had good 〈◊〉, & by his Lordships well tempered command, all humours well tuned, nevertheless since the 〈◊〉 had formerly been practising by sowing of factions amongst us, his L. to pr●…uent the worst, laid these reasons as one step to his project.  
Further his Lordship had 4 little fortresses called ●…eddotts in hand at the same time upon the Rampart of the old town, for the better securing thereof with few men if the enemy should attempt us, for those little skonses would have been their scourges upon their entry, (each on flanking other) & one guardable against their fury with few men, for besides their Ramparts they now are fenced about with heighty and very strong pallizadoes, these begun works lay open and nothing near ●…shed, and this was another branch of his Lordship's ●…eares.  
After all these cometh the main which was, as his Lordship was certainly informed, that the Archduke was resolved that night to attempt 〈◊〉 manner following, viz. The count de Bukquoy, who commandeth the forces on the eastside of the town, was to give onset at the north-east ravelling of the old town upon a low water which served that time exceeding well for their purpose falling out about 6 of the clock at night.  
Then from the West they purposed to try us by the Sandhill, and in two places more of the old Town viz. the port dupied which is a small ravelling in a counterscarp, lying West Northwest from the town, and is indeed a place of great inport for the keeping of the Towne-dich full with water, and to prevent the enemy's passage to scape our main Rampart, and this place by fury of the sea, and rage of their Cannon, lay then merely open and not tenable by any means.  
Their other places where to come on, were our outward works, lying South and by West from the town, called the South square, the Powder and the West square, from which last work commonly called the Colonels work, they had about 3 weeks before been gallantly repulsed in the night by our guardants, being all English, and driven to return with far less blood, than they brought thither.  
Another reason which was very powerful with his Lordship, was a noble & religious care and sense to spare the 〈◊〉 of so much Christian blood as in all 〈◊〉, (if the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to carry 〈◊〉, by the 〈◊〉 ●…urie) must have 〈◊〉 shed on both sides.  
Invested with these extremes of impendant dangers, his Lordship after many bitter traverses through his great heart the scorns to stoop, to the mightiest enemy whosoever, found that nevertheless the be●…, & most a●…ured passage to general sa●…etie, was to temporize with the enemy by a parley, for dolus an virtus quis in host requirat, till the finishing of his works in hand, and the arrival of his succours hourly expected, might settle him again in terms of better assurance.  
But by the way, I had forgotten to tell you 〈◊〉, that upon preconsultation, all our outward works above mentioned, were to be abandoned, ●… all our men draw●… int●… the town, and so they were, for as I said before, the 〈◊〉 of our numbers was such as came far short of a proportionable guard for the town alone, yet through the slackness of the states, his Lordship had formerly been driven to extenuate his said works to half their greatness, to make them guardable by few men, for they do much import the safety of the town.  
Now 〈◊〉, to lay our weakness thus open to the enemy, to his so great advantage and encouragement, and notwithstanding to be little or nothing secured thereby, what a gall and excrutiament it might be to his L. those that know the tempe●… of his spirit, can easily conjecture.  
So summoning as I said in sort before, all his considerations together, he fled to that refuge necessity showed him to be the most assured. And her 〈◊〉 called all his Captains of the several nations together, or so many of them as were not in guard, the time would endure ●…o delay. This being towards evening on the Sunday formerly mentioned, they all hearing his conceit, applaud it, and the Netherlanders more forward than all the rest do almost press him with importunities to diligent the execution thereof, offering themselves to be agents therein, but shrank in the wetting immediately: which coldness & refusal of theirs, had almost quite 〈◊〉 the clew of their late resolution. In the ●…nde Captain Ogle Lieutenant Colonel to his Lordship, and Capt. Fairfax are destined to be the men, as ●…ostages only for such as the Archduke should send hither to trea●… with his Lordship.  
And so immediately upon sound of one of our drums from the port D●…pied, after loss of some breath by Capt. Ogle who was unheard, called to them a good space in Spanish from thence, they were roused to attention: being (as was conjectured) busy about their enterptise, and so, not so attentive as it is like otherwise they would have been, considering how near and dangerous neighbours we are one to the other.  
All this tedious discourse, I have been bold to trouble your worship withal, only as a lantern to give you the 〈◊〉 light I could, for the through understanding of our estate every way, and now I will bring the acting of this project before you upon the stage, ●…ching your pardon if I shall seem taxable for idle lightness, by inserting accidental jests in a subject of such weight and seriousness: for many times, Ducun●… 〈◊〉 ●…ria ●…ga.  
His Lordship as I have before declared, having made tender of his harsh tasting parley, I name it harsh in regard of his constraint, thereto finding the enemy very tractable, and exceeding prompt to entertain the same, did without any loss of time the same evening send away to them the two forenamed Captains, Ogle and Fairfax, upon faith given for their safety and return. A truce and general cessation of all hostility on both ●…des being promised during the time of their treaty for land matters, but no further. Hereby our abandoned works remained neutral, although quited by us, yet not lawful to be possessed by them. Upon the arrival of our Hostages in the enemy's army, they were br●…ught to his Alie●…e at his ●…onse of Albertus, he for welcome veiled his hat sparingly, bade them welcome, demanded of what nati●…n they were, whether they had instruction from our General, to treat with him about this place, and upon their answer thereto negatively, he asked them further if there were not fraud intended. They answer as Ignorants of any, & that they are on●…ly sent as hostages for such as his highness should please to sen●… to his Lordship about the proposed 〈◊〉: and so with a second, but more ●…ender respect with his Hat, they were carried from his presence to the lodging of Don Augustino de 〈◊〉, a grey and grave headed Spaniard 〈◊〉 of the Castle of Antwerp, 〈◊〉 C●…maunder of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 forces at the w●…st-end of this town, a gentleman of most accōpli●… vertoes, by their applauses: in the chamber of this youth●…ull old gallant (for to his grey head he weareth a green ha●…ite) they were lodged, the place being beautified with fave hangings and reciprocal correspondent in the 〈◊〉. By all the gallants. 〈◊〉, Italians, and 〈◊〉 else of other 〈◊〉 of any respect, they were entertained, and 〈◊〉 ●…y 〈◊〉, a●…d having withal many watchful ●…es, and 〈◊〉 ears on 〈◊〉: but the gentlemen both of them, have 〈◊〉 so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 well qualified, that neither of them will ●…sily 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…y any vna●…dnes for taxation of 〈◊〉, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were not suffered to have further view of any 〈◊〉, or 〈◊〉, then where they passed, neither were they free of a 〈◊〉, 〈◊〉 guard over them.  
Whilst these flourishes of hostile court●…sie 〈◊〉 (n●… doubt with hope of a speedy good bargain) & 〈◊〉 upon our Capt. in the enemy's Camp, ●…ne Matheo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nor of Sluice, General o●… the Archdukes artillery, and one of his 
He 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 himself at table.  Counsel of war, together with one Matheo Anthonias Sergeant mayor to Simon Anthuzino governor of Antwe●…p town, both Spaniards and men of prempt and smart spiritt●…s, and Judicial reach, came into the town, but his Lordship projecting still the means to win time, and how to entertain delays, did as was imagined (upon the approach of the two Spaniards) attended over the water at west, with about 60 horse, cause an alarm to be taken, for he 〈◊〉 where he saw th●…m all plainly, and laid hold on the manner of their ●…mming for his advantage, charging them with breach of pr●…mise, and other soulderlike 〈◊〉, and so 〈◊〉 neither speak with them, nor 〈◊〉 them, but gave per●…ptorie 〈◊〉, that they should be forthwith returned ●…ack, 〈◊〉 they were condu●…ed back to the place where they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, ●…ut the sea being grown which his Lordship k●…we well enough, 〈◊〉 them passage, and thereupon back again into the town they came fraught with new hopes of better entertainment (the heat of their desire ●…ing up the eyes of their judgement) his L. being advertised hereof, gave present order they should be sent 〈◊〉 by the East.  
Now sir you may please to know that Serano being scarce well pleased (not ●…ithstanding the large walk between the ●…onse Albertus, and their tre●…ches) grew some what weary, and desired to stay in town all night, but that would not be granted, and so the Sergeant Mayor of the town (Captain Carpenter by name, and one Captain Clear a Scotch man) convoyde them through the town, with every step up the knéens (at least) in dirt and mire, so as the tired Spaniard began to endure a breach in his patience upon the Spanish bulwark, which lieth at the East-end of the town, a special Maguizine of dirt and mires, standing up to the kn●…es, he desired some Tobacco for his refreshing, exclaiming in French, Ah la mechant vil●…e de Ostend, but in stead thereof (because there was none to be had) he, and his associates were presented with 4 pots of good English Beer, which went down merrily, and so thoroughly bedurted, they were brought to the Sentinel of cavalry on the East-sands, and out of their extremes and my●…e weariness, they lodged at East all night, with Count De Bucquoy, not being able to recover the Archdukes quarter before the next day at Noon. And hereby so much time was gotten.  
After the return of the two Spaniards to their Duke, the same men were again appointed to try his Lordship once more, and sending word over to us thereof, were admitted to come, (our Captains all this while remaining with them upon faith given as aforesaid.) The Sergeant Mayor of the town demanding which way he should bring them in, his Lordship willed him to guide them where they might come soft enough, for fear of embossing their feet on the hard stones: Saying withal, that besides their dirty walk, they should come to as cold a bargain as ever they met withal in their liu●…s.  
Upon their ent●…e (which was upon Monday night) they 〈◊〉 directly brought to his Lordship, being in his Chamber, after enterchang of compliments, his Lordship began 〈◊〉 ●…cuse sor the rudeness he had committed the night before, ●…sing he had been uncivil, charging (nevertheless, the occasion thereof upon their strange manner of coming over, and see according to the Law of 〈◊〉 which is Que le battu payera L. amend, they were plagued and must beside confess themselves worthy thereof.  
They being ho●… on the chest, seem 〈◊〉 to digest that, & say, now they hope his Lordship & they should agree: he 〈◊〉, The agreement is easily made if his highness will raise his siege, and suffer us (as his poor neighbours) to live by him in peace. Serano replied, that's not his errand thither, but hopes Que vous serez de nostre bands, his Lordship (to cut off further progression in this discourse) tells them after this weariesome journey, it is more ●…tting to entertain them with mean refreshing, then with serious expostulation, and thereupon entreats them to Supper, whereto they yield. And although it were their Christmas even, and thereby fasting day, they did not forbear eating fish, eggs, and such ionkets, beside as a town so long besieged could afford, taking out in Claret wine what they lacked in meat. Serano drinking for his share above fifty two glasses of wine, besides 〈◊〉, answering every man in the cup, and yet gave no manner of appearance of yielding any way to distemper. During their sitting at supper, many smart testes were bandied with good dexterity on both sides. Amongst others, I remember Serano plotting a passage by circumstance of words, to discourse of their perfect business, gave his Lordship occasion to tell him that his Altesse desired all, and the States would willingly part with nothing. The Spaniard replied, that the Archduke demanded but his own: to that his L. told him, he had never studied the Laws to judge of men's titles, but that in England we do commonly hold possession, 11 points of the 12, the law is bounden withal, etc. Another was, his Lordship told them, that now his highness having continued his siege with such admiration and fame, as that in this age & compass of the world, the like hath not been heard off, and driven us to abandon our outward works, & to retire ourselves altogether into our town, he might with great honour arise & leave us, and thereby prevent the ruin of his army, which through wet lodging, and continual labour, must needs be extremely decayed, and also prevent the effusion of much Christian blood otherwise.  
To this Serano replied, that since his L. had with such honour as was applauded throughout all Christendom, so long preserved this place against so powerfullan enemy, and that as they all knew most certainly, many extremities had overtaken him, whereby he was enforced to withdraw himself wholly into that little ruinous nest, it could be no manner of blemish to him to y●…ld, etc.  
Thus ●…yther of them by contrary intended imputations laboured to extol his own carriage and praises: many other prompt counterbuffs were passed, which (to avoid tediousness) I overpass: after supper the S●…anyards (wearied with their late miry journeys) were by his Lordship conducted to their lodging, where with a slend●…r guard for fashion sake, before the outwardest doors of the house, they rested till morning. Before which 〈◊〉▪ Ships of war ●…den with 6 companies of Zealand soldiers arrived in the road, before the town, which the enemy without, se●…ng it, is easily to judge whether he was offended or no. He●…eupon, b●…times on the Tuesdaye morning they sent in post for his L. resolution, and Serano himself (although ignorant of our supply) importuned his L. for answer, etc. which he rece●…ues forthwith sounding to this effect, viz.  
That it was true that some wants through the long contrariety of the wind and other accidents had over taken him, and thereby he enforced to m●…ke ose of his wi●…, to hel●…e ●…imselfe b●… winning of time, till his turn was otherwise sor●…ed, and that now since the states had been mindful of him, the wind prospicious, and his necessity supplied, he could not in honour proceed to traffic with them any further, neither had more to say to them, until a new extremity, (if any might happily lay new hold on him) should occasion him thereto, hoping his highness as a virtuous and worthy Prince would n●…t take it ill, that as a martial man he had practised and compassed the best means for the preservation of his honour and safety by the ordinary and usual course of men of war.  
The Spaniards (having the fair hopes of his fruitful harvest thus quite blasted with this cold nipping answer) did nevertheless in the most temperate manner he could, smother & suppress his almost choking discontent: for he dreamt by the negotiating of this business, to have made himself famous to ensuing ages, and so with this cold breakfast (in stead of his Christmas pie) he forthwith departed, leaving his companion behind him, till our Captain should be returned homehis passage back was by boat at south-west from the Polder Ravelling, where he could see almost no part of our fortification, & upon his repair into their trenches, Capt. Fairfax was sent home, and the Lieutenant stayed, so as they held the more worthy person. About 4 of the clock the same day, Captain Ogle came to the sands at west against the port Dupied, accompanied with the great Marshal of the enemy's Camp, and with one Owen an Engl●…h fug●…tiue, staying for the Spanish Sergeant Maior here in ●…owne. He having dined with my L. after the dutch entertai●…ment was conducted out of town by Capt. Studder to the same place where Serano had been formerly imboated. There was a little straining curtsy▪ who should be passed first. But the ●…utenant Colonel stood not much thereupon, although the worthi●…r person and the subject of a far more absolute and greater Prince, the reason (as I learned) being because we had been the petitioners, and so the Spaniard carried it.  
This I especi●…ly observed being press 〈◊〉, and seeing the acting thereof, ●…s I 〈◊〉 also that his L. (although he speaketh Spanish very readily) did notwithstanding use only the French tongue with the two Spaniards, which (all the Dutch captains understanding) the●… knew of all that passed, and thereby all 〈◊〉 prevented. The truth is, the boat lay●… on our side where the Spanya●…d was, and the water then ebbing, carried it with a swift course to the enemy's side, so that (as it then appear●…d) when they had given the ad●…we on both s●…des, and Capt. Ogle entered into the boat, the sh●…ps could not return against the stream, but driving with the same, landed him on our countersca●…p, where he thought best, and here ceased our Jubilee, I call it a Jubilee, for during this cessation of hostility, I think there issued out of the neighbour enemy towns above ●…coo Burghers with their wives, etc. to come to the Archdukes camp, walking up and d●…wne the sands and trenches of the enemy, very near the town, as though we had been all good friends, and so did their soldiers likewise: but ours kept within of purpose to conceal our weakness, and notwithstanding faith enterchangably given to forbear all violence during the treaty, yet did out whole troops hold continual, and general guards without relying upon any promise at all. All this while our works in the old Town were advanced with all diligence, and secrecy possible, and made defensible before our Mart ended. Our new forces landed also this day, between 12 and 2 of the clock in the culde town, in despite of the enemy's Cannon, without any more loss than the hurt of the two shippers, & as I can learn of two soldiers, but none killed, nor those mortally wounded.  
And yet to give the enemy his due by saying the full truth, they were more than bountiful of powder and shot, to hinder our men's landing. All this while we remained quiet on both sides without shot little or great, but the next morning (being Wednesday) they first opened the windows of their wont displeasure; it being my Lord's pleasure, that every man in town should be quiet, till the enemy should give occasion to the contrary, and then we resaluted them with good Cannon, and so all things stand on their former frame, all our outward works rep●…ssessed and guarded as before, and so we live daily expecting more supplies from the States, that our poor men may now at last be refreshed in Holland after their long and miserable toil.  
We have understood of late by an Italian gentleman one of their Sentinels Perdues, who was brought prisoner into town, that the Archduke is highly offended with his counsel of war for diverting him from the execution of his resolution, which was to have attempted us on the Sondaye night, (so often spoken of before) with 6000 men, etc. that by reason of the extremity of his passion, few of them dare come in his presence, for preventing his opportunity by their dissw●…sions: and besides that, he is no less displeased to have been so mocked by his Lordship.  
For the future, if the S●…tes find themselves able, and have withali a will to continue the charge, which the defence of this place hath already, and will still draw upon them: (the Archduke continuing his siege by reliening it with competent numbers of well affected soldiers, and other needful provisions) there is yet no appearance of danger, nor cause to fear the enemies prevailing: but if they slack sail, and give the Duke such an other opportunity (as he had now of late) they, and all the world beside, may be assured he will make his best use thereof.  
By Cannon there remaineth small hope for him, if the States fail not to send Rise-wood to repair therewith in the night what he spoileth in the day: for, with Rise and sand mingled, we work chiefly on both sides, we have alre●…dye endured abou●… 161500 Canonodoes', and yet all ou●… bastions, and defences still firm and tenable, having only their outward faces 〈◊〉 discountenanced by the fury of the m●…ny shot most of them have endured, especially the sandhill, which is so farced with bullets, that (our men labouring to drive in spiked pallizadoes) do often stumble upon 6 or 8 in one hole together: a●…d their piles, or pallizadoes often hindered in their entrance by the abundance of bull●…ts lodged in their way.  
To undermineus it is not possible, so long as we can hold what we have, for to the Landward lie our outworks, to prevent their approaches that way, & our other places of passage are washed very high every Tide, and so the sea affordeth them little time to work against us, where it challengeth passage. Besides this, all our Bulwarks looking towards their trenches are united, and prepared for all such accidents.  
Then, either fury, faction, or famine must open him way, for fury here is little cause of fear, if (as I said before) the States can, and will furnish their town with sufficient numbers of men.  
For faction, the vigilancy, and 〈◊〉 of the Commander, being a man of sound understanding, trained in this occupation, may easily break those impostumations, as hitherto his Lordship hath done, to the great increase of his honour, and better approbation of the soundness of his judgement: for the enemy made an English man, one Simon Co●…bye, an instrument to work for him that way: but I pr●…sume that Conisbye by the rack, and smart of the whip at the gallows foot, hath learned a lesson to seek some other trade to thrive by, and the fellow was in my charge to keep, and sound by questioning, and expostulations, and thereby I know the managing of that business.  
And to be famished (unless both the states, and England abandon us) were very strange: for (notwithstanding all the batteries the enemy hath either at East, or West, on the sands or piles of the old Haven, or else where) we have, when the wind serveth, some nights 40 sails of Hoys and Smacks come in together, and scarce one man hurt. We have furthermore a new haven almost 〈◊〉, where night and day Ships may pass at pleasure. Besides, if both these should fail, the states may (with long boats which they call sloupes) land any thing in the old town, as they did their Zealand soldiers of late, marry this place serveth only for such small open boats, but for no Hoys nor Boats of burden.  
And so 〈◊〉 for a Conclusion, if the states stand upon tear●… of honour, and start not aside like a broken bow (it having ●…éen their fashion to grow weary of such chargeable nurse children, as they term it here) you see many apparent probabilities for their holding of this town against the Arch●…ke, for a longer time than is expected: he will waste himself before it, & yet all the charge of his army and of all provisions is borne by the country, who have, and do still furnish him very pl●…ntifull with all necessaries. Besides, the recovery of this town would be so beneficial unto him, and such ease to his subjects, as they have good reason to try their uttermost means to carry it: for beside, that it would absolutely free all the sea coasts, and country within of roads, and incursions, wherewith they are exceedingly infested by this town, and withal give the Archduke good con●…eniencie for the lodging of his galleys and other shipping with little cost. It would enable him to bring at the least 6000 men more into the field yearly, than he now doth or can. For he is constrained to hold many garrisons in skonses builded here and there in the land, to block up this town, which require many men for their defence, and draw on for their wages, and by ●…ortification, etc. a mighty charge. These men, & charges I say, if he could prevail here, would be converted to other uses, and a spacious country of fertile ground now overflowed, and serving to no use, in few years wholly recovered and made profitable, and all contributions (which the fear of this garrison enforceth) from the Boors quite cut off.  
As I was about the shutting up of this tedious and ill digested discourse, News came that the Archduke hath now at last pacified, and reconciled all his mutinous soldiers which have been long time in Brabant, as at Derst, herentals and other places thereabouts, holding for none but for themselves (their discontent growing from want of pay, which it seemeth the ●…ke hath not given them contentment of.) And that those forces being near 5000, and marching this way to reinforce the enemy's Camp, and to force us if they can, the issue, time will bring forth. Mean time, with mo●… humble remembrance of duty to your 〈◊〉, 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 ever to bless and prospe●… you (begging pardon for this ●…rtreame ●…ediousnes) I take leave. From 〈◊〉 this Saint Stéenens day after the old style 1601. scribed in haste for the most part by candle light.  
His Lordship (to leave no stone of advantage 〈◊〉) causeth every soldier to come doubly, armed to the watch, every Musketier bringing withal a Pike, and every armed man carrying a musket, to serve with either as need shall 〈◊〉.  
His own travails (unless he had a body of brass, being continued any long time) must needs draw him into sickness for there pass few nights, wherein he walketh not abr●…ad, or watcheth not the most part thereof, and in the day time h●… is so continually possessed with business, that he hath no time to sleep, and few men feed more sparingly. All these balanced together will confirm I doubt 〈◊〉 less●… th●…n I say.   

The declaration of the desperate 〈◊〉 made since, by the said 〈◊〉 forces, for winning of the ●…ld 〈◊〉.  
THe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of this par●… would be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his friends. forgot not presently to write thereof into 〈◊〉, Spai●…, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, 〈◊〉 unto 〈◊〉 his great 〈◊〉 hope 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, to 〈◊〉 the strong town of O●…-end, but 〈◊〉 he had 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, (as is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with greater wr●…th against 〈◊〉 town then at any 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 with his Colonels and Captains, what course 〈◊〉 might best take in this so weighty a cause, and revenge this 〈◊〉 done to him and his whole estate. After much 〈◊〉 and debating (contrary to the opinion of some of his 〈◊〉 approved, Captains, and Councillors) it was concluded, that withal his forces, a desperate attempt should be made at one in●…ant, as well upon the trenches and counterscarps without the ●…owne, as upon the 〈◊〉 Haven, for the winning of the 〈◊〉 ●…wne, or at the least wise of the sand hill: The order of which enterprise with the day, and time being now resolved upon, 〈◊〉 Wallo●…, Germans, & others as had before mutined in divers places, were with money paci●…ed and commanded to the Camp, Ladders, Shovels, Spades, Pickaxes, and all other necessaries were provided.  
In the mean time the Archduke (to help the error of his former writing, & persuading himself that the town should not be able to withstand the fury of this forcible enterprise) sent posts into all places (as before) advertising his friends again of this resolution, and that he made no doubt, but within ten or fourtéen days to have the town at his command.  
On Monday therefore, being the 〈◊〉. day of December last An. 1601, being the day appointed for this great attempt, An Italian (who was among the rest appointed in the first ranks to begin this charge, at the ●…ld Haven, and knowing the action to be most desperate, and therefore small hope left him ever to return with his life) ●…ed from the enemy's Camp, and with his Rapier in his mouth swoome into the Haven, and being received into the town, declared unto the Lord General, that the same day about 3 of the clock in the afternoon, when the water was ebbed from the walls, the enemy would with all his forces make his attempt both at the ●…ld Haven, and at the works without the 〈◊〉 with ten Thou●…and men, and that he was ●…ed thither, to 〈◊〉 his life as is before ●…ayd: declaring farther; that it was resolved to renew the assault the two next ●…aies following, & affirmed that if they were the first day valiantly replused, there was no doubt to be had that the 〈◊〉 would be brought to the like banquet the other two days▪  
Sir 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (judging ●…fore that the enemy had some such intent, by reason that he did all the same day as in the night before continue shooting against the Sandhill and por●… Dupied) had already given order to the Captains for the ●…ing of the walls, trenches, and Counterscarps, and caused pieces of Ordinance to be removed, and planted 7 great 〈◊〉 pieces upon the ●…ance of the Haven, which were well laden with square and 〈◊〉 shot, not omitting any things that a wise and vigilant Commander ought in so weighty a cause to ●…esée, encouraging his people to play the parts of good soldiers, and to bestow their shot well, and among the thickest of the enemies when they should make their approach.  
When the hour appointed was come, and the water fallen, as is before written, the enemy marched towards the old Haven 40 men abre●…, the foremost ranks carried Shovels, Spades, and Pickaxes, the next carried Ladders, after them ●…wed Targets, armed men, and Muskets, all marched 〈◊〉 with such resolution, as if they had made account to have 〈◊〉 no resistance at all, but they were as gallantly, & with like cor●… re●…ed, & at all places answered with loss of their best blo●…d, as well without the town, as at the old 〈◊〉, where the murdering 〈◊〉 caused the enemies to fall, as rotten ripe apples from the trees in a mighty storm. And although they could not enter the haven, but they must go in water up to the knees, they pressed forward, and those which came behind, put forward the foremost: But suddenly (as sir Francis Veer had before ordained) two sluices were opened, the one giving way to the land waters, and the other to the waters of the ditches about the town, by reason whereof many of the enemies (not able to keep their footing) were drowned, and the others stood in water up to their Navels, so that their shot served to no use, for that their ●…der 〈◊〉 hereby wet, but were forced to fight with their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉: the fight continued on both sides with great fury, and ●…esolution, until the darkness of the evening forced them to retire, whereof they were not a little glad, for the slaughter was very great on the enemy's side, most 〈◊〉, Duchess and other Nations to the number of 1500, besides many that were wounded. Many of the enemies had made 〈◊〉 of bread and cheese tied behind them to their girdles with a piece of match, thinking therewith to help themselves for a day or two (if need should so require) after they had gotten the sand hill as they made full account, and there to secure themselves from the shot of the town for a time, until they might with greater force and opportunity obtain the old town. In this assault at all places, there were not above 40 of the town soldiers stain and hurt: the Lords name be blessed therefore.  
In this assanlt the enemies horsemen were appointed to follow the footmen at the heels, and were commanded by the Duke not to suff●…r them to retire, but to force them still forward on their enterprise, which they forgot not to accomplish: but as it should seem not altogether with their own security, for some of the horses with their saddells and bridles have ●…ince 〈◊〉 taken up at Sluice, Flushing, West▪ cappell, and other places of Zealand, as it pleased the wind and 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 them.  
The Lord General slept little the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, but was busied in 〈◊〉 and repairing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…ding to the t●…e was re●…e, doubting 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 would the next day renew his attempt, 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 ●…ted not any good will, 〈◊〉 could not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 so unkind an 〈◊〉: Yet such as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Fla●…ders report that the 〈◊〉 had appointed 〈◊〉 ●…day la●…●…ast being the xii▪ day of this month 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upon 〈◊〉 town withal his forces, and to that end had provided 2000▪ 〈◊〉 of proof. 〈◊〉 the enemy's soldiers unwilling to come 〈◊〉 desperate 〈◊〉. have denied there service, so that a mutiny is 〈◊〉 in the enemy's Camp, 200 and 〈◊〉 are 〈◊〉 apprehended & 〈◊〉 of the ringleaders 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereof we shall shortly 〈◊〉 further.  
In the mean time let all good Christians praise God for these his wonderful victories, and with humble and hearty prayer without ceasing, de●…re him to continue these his loving favours towards his 〈◊〉 afflicted Church. And contrariwise to confound and overthrow all the deseings of this obstinate and blood-thirsty Archduke, with all others his adherents and partakers, who seek and practise all means possible (as ●…es both by day and night) to 〈◊〉, and 〈◊〉 the blood of the little flock of jesus Christ, Amen.  
FINIS.