A Continued September 1● JOURNALL OF ALL THE PROCEEDING● of the Duke of BUCKINGHAM his Grace, in the Isle of Ree, since the last of August.  TEMPORE PATET OCCULTA VERITAS 
LONDON Printed by A. M. for Thomas Walkley, and are to 〈◊〉 sold at his Shop at the Eagle and Child in Britaines-Bursse. 1627.   

THE JOURNAL CONTINUED TO THIS DAY. Received the 18. of September.  
FOrasmuch as report, that is seldom constant, is very different concerning a Subject which in time and place is so ne'er, I mean the Siege of Saint Martin's Citadel, under the conduct of his Illustrious Excellency, the Duke of BUCKINGHAN. I thought it would be an acceptable relation, to discover, by way of a demonstrative discourse, the state both of the Leaguer and Fort, according to that Intelligence which I have received from a Gentleman of worth and quality.  
You must therefore understand, that the English Army now lying before the Citadel, having entrenched themselves strongly, labour continually to draw their approaches and batteries nearer, and although the earth is ill to work in (as being altogether Rocky or Sandy) yet our men being encouraged with the presence of their General, have at length (though not without sweet and danger) raised a new Reintrenchment and Battery.  
Besides, our Soldiers who supply the place of pioneers, have sunk a Mine of the Enemies, ne'er the Foundation of the utmost Counterscarffe, by the blowing up whereof, they hope to open a breach but they do not spring this Mine as yet, expecting those Reinforcements, which are to come from England, upon whose arrival, we doubt not, but that the Enemy (who is already much distressed for want of necessary accommodations) will surrender up the Fort without any further enforcement.  
Our approaches are brought so near unto the Enemies, that we are able to throw a Coite from our works to theirs, and the like may they do, from theirs to ours. But if all other courses of Conquests should fail, we are assured by all probable advertisements, and conjectures, that the besieged cannot hold out long, they being so much necessitated for want of victuals, as having received no relief from the Continent, never since the beginning of the Siege.  
Our men have them so continual in the eye, that they dare not look over their works for fear of our Canon, and Musket shot.  
Our Soldiers deliver brave testimonies of resolution and valour, so that by the very confession of the Enemy, they are reputed as daring men as any are in the World.  
To which actions of Honour, they are not so much encouraged by the precept of Discipline, as by the Example of their General, who cherisheth the valiant, encourageth the wavering, and punisheth (though mildly) the slothful and unactive Soldier; and besides his personal night-watches, and walking of the first round, he doth personally present himself in the Face of all necessary dangers.  
Which motives of precedent do so strongly confirm the virtue of our English, that like men lavish of their lives, they adventure themselves to all perils, and hazards.  
So that if they were not restrained by the curb of Military obedience, they could hardly be kept back from assaulting the Fort without command.  
Yet there are some malevolent spirits who are lukewarm in affection, either to the Duke, or to the cause, have maintained with an opinionative obstinacy, that the taking of the Fort is not seazable, yet our men who are there engaged, (amongst whom there are diverse solid judgements) do as confidently believe, as if they had displayed their Ensigns upon the walls thereof already, that they shall be masters of it upon the first arrival of the next supplies from England.  
The Fort (notwithstanding rumour hath blazed the contrary) is very ill provided of Victuals and other necessaries, for besides the want of water and fuel, (the want whereof is the interdiction of Mankind) they are very much distressed for want of Bread, Flesh and other necessaries; since the cutting off their Conducts, and poisoning of their Well, they have no other fresh water, but what they make shift to receive upon Sheets hung up in the air for that purpose of receiving that uncertain influence of the Heavens, which was a great refreshment unto the Enemy.  
Their Bread is allotted and allowed unto the Soldiers that are in the Citadel by small proportions, for each one of them hath less than half a pound a day for his nourishment.  
Also the like is done to their Water, for which they may thank God that this Autumnal wet weather fell out so luckily.  
All their Horses (which being of the choicest breed of France, were ordained for the Saddle, & not for the Palate) are either killed for want of water, or eaten for the satisfying of the hungry Soldiers: so that they have not so much as one Horse left alive, nor any fresh Victuals to relieve themselves withal.  
They are only cherished with windy hopes of succour from the continent, which those of Angolisme and Poictowe promise, but this is like to be mere wind without success, without effect: for his Excellency knowing that prevention is the spirit of policy and the life of offence and defence, hath used such provisional courses of interception, that in humane reason it is not to be succoured.  
The French King hath been most desperately sick at Villeroy and as we here he is not yet perfectly recovered.  
The Count of Soissons (who fled the last year into Savoy, being discontented with the government of France) is making new levies against the King, and as it is reported, diverse other Princes stand upon their guards and proper defence.  
The Rochellers receive our sick men willingly, and entertain our Soldiers who come to the Town, with all respects of love and courtesy.  
Notwithstanding the care of his Excellency: some of our men (but those not many) have fallen into fluxes and other diseases, by eating of Grapes and drinking of Wine, which agrees not with English bodies as well as beer, that drink being most agreeing with nature, which is first used from our Infancy, Those that are sick and wounded are carefully looked unto by Physicians Surgeons, and if they want fresh meat his Excellency's care is such, that he causeth present provision to be made for them, so that very few of them dye, by means of these necessary and careful helps.  
His Excellence hath given a strict and special charge to all the Physicians and Chyrurgians to see their store well provided of all necessary medicinalls for a winter Leaguer.  
Likewise his Excellence hath caused a Proclamation to be published of late, that no man should stir out of his quarters upon pain of a severe penalty, for fear that the Enemy should make any desperate attempt or sally which as yet they never attempted.  
The French King hath sent divers companies of Foot, and troops of Horse into the Island of Oleron, but by GOD'S assistance and the complying of our industry, we shall keep them from succouring the besieged.  
The end of the Journal.