Exceeding Joyful News FROM HOLLAND. BEING A True Relation of two great Battles fought between the Governor of Flanders Don Francisco de Melos and the Hollanders, upon the 20. and 21. days of April, 1642. WITH The Names of the places and Sconces which he assaulted, but was overthrown by the Hollanders, and many thousands of his men slain. Tudor rose Scottish thistle French fleur-de-lis depiction of Irish harp LONDON, Printed for john Raymond. 1642. A Relation of two days fight, upon the 30. and 21. of April last, between the Governor of Flanders Don Francisco de Melos and the Hollanders, 1642. Upon the tenth day of April the Governor of Flanders entered the Field with 20000 Soldiers and 5000 horse intending to besiege Iseldike and the two Sconces upon the River and divided his Army into some four parts, whereof 8000 Foot and 1000 horse he committed to the command of Don Isaac, Governor of Antwerp and charged him to plant his Ordnance before the West part of the Town that thereby if occasion served he might have the suddener help from the rest of the Army, and four thousand more before Wat's Sconce, under the command of Minehaere-de Boys governor of Castille. 〈…〉 par● which was four thousand more before Gravel Sconce, under the command of Minehaere de Thairen, a high Dutchman, and the fourth part of his Army, with four thousand Horse, he reserved for the safeguard of his own Persun, and lying in Trenches a League from the rest of his Army, the Burghers of Husden, with a thousand of Soldiers, came out of the Town, and in the Night very fiercely compassed his Excellency's Companies, and slew near 200. of them, and forced the rest to leave their Trenches, and upon their flight retreating bacl, the Hollanders pursued them, and Fought two hours where 500 of both sides were slain, insomuch that his Excellency was constrained to fly for the safeguard of his own person. Upon which retreare of his Excellency, the the Governor of Antwerp withdrew his Forces from Iseldike, and marched towards Gravel Sconce, to assist Minehaere de Thairen, and immediately upon his coming towards Gravel Sconce, the Governor of Antwerp, and Minehaere de Thairen, with divers Engines and Fire-balls, sealed the Walls of the Sconce, and slew most part therein, but having not men sufficient to manage the said Sconce, and being likewise Battered to the ground, his Excellency and his Army was constrained to leave it as a desolate Place, Then his Excellency and the Governovour of Antwerp marched towards Wat's Sconce, not doubring but that they should have the like success as at Gravel Sconce, but the Hollander had Fortified it too strong with Ordnance, and after one hours' Fight, the Sconce forced his Excellency and the Governor of Antwerp to leave their intended enterprise, and afterwards the whole Body meeting, they marched towards Breda. The Governor of Breda having intelligence of his Excellencies coming towards the Town, forthwith commanded the Drums to beat up, thereby proclaiming and charging the Burghers and Soldiers that were in the Town, to be in a readiness against his Excellencies coming, which was near upon Five thousand Burghers and Soldiers, besides Five hundred of Horse. Then his Excellency's Army marching near Breda was intercepted, and his passage stopped, and almost a whole day kept them in fight with Musketeers, only at length there was a fresh supply of the Hollanders near upon ten thousand more which came from the Buss, and they placed themselves in the rear of his Excellency's Army between Macklin and Bridges, and the Breda Burghers and Soldiers in the Front, where on the morning as soon as the day appeared, they had a great skitmish, and took divers great Persons prisoners, whereof the Governor of Castille was one, and slew near upon fix thousand of Horse and Foot, and forced the rest to fly, and for their more nimbleness of body they throwed down their Arms, and the Hollanders following them so close, that they drived his Excellency and his Army almost most within shot of Macklin City; In all which fight there was not above six or seven hundred of the Hollanders slain, besides the spoil the Governor Antwerp and Mine hear de Chai●en made before Gravell-Sconce. The Irish who have been ever true to the King of Spain in these parts of Flanders and Ortoys, have most pair of them run from their Colours, and it is supposed they are fled for Ireland. There hath been in these Countries ever since the Earl of Tyrone his Hight out of Ireland in Queen Elizabeth's time, cere upon ten thousand of Irish Soldiers, and now in all Flanders and Artoys there cannot be mustered one thousand, which yet hath been a great weakening to the Country. It is supposed his Excellency hath left with the Hollander, for this Summer, and intendeth to draw most part of his Forces towards Arras. Cambray. Douai. Betoone. Airs. St. Thomas Newport. Castille. Gravelin●●. O●●●nd and D … And unto many other petty Dorpes in Ortoys, amongst the Walloons, in all these Towns his Excellency hath displaced his Governors, being great Lords, & Walloons in the Country, and put in their Rooms Spaniards to be Governors thereof, for it is supposed all the Walloons in Ortoys had rather be under the subjection of the French King, than the Spaniard, in regard of the heavy taxes he imposes upon the Country towards the maintenance of his Army. FINIS.