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Full text of ""The fighting Veres." Lives of Sir Francis Vere, general of the queen's forces in the Low countries, governor of the Brill and of Portsmouth, and of Sir Horace Vere, general of the English forces in the Low countries, governor of the Brill, master-general of ordnance, and baron Vere of Tilbury"

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**C|)e  ;fis!)ting  IgTeres* 


LIVES  OF 

SIR  FRANCIS  VERB,   GENERAL  OF  THE  QUEEN'S 

FORCES   IN  THE   LOW  COUNTRIES,  GOVERNOR 

OF  THE  BRILL  AND  OF  PORTSMOUTH 


SIR  HORACE  VERE,  GENERAL  OF  THE   ENGLISH 

FORCES  IN  THE  LOW  COUNTRIES,  GOVERNOR 

OF  THE  BRILL,  MASTER-GENERAL  OF 

ORDNANCE,  AND  BARON  VERE 

OF  TILBURY 


CLEMENTS  R.  MARKHAM 

AUTHOR  OF  THB  "UFE  OF  THE  GKEAT  LOED  FAIKFAX" 


BOSTON  AND   NEW   YORK 
HOUGHTON,  MIFFLIN   AND   COMPANY 


r 


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■  I 


n'tt'. 


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etA.23  25-.5 


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>   lv.i^.GV_ 


Bv  HOUGHTON,  MIFFLIN  ft  Ca 


Aii  rights  reserved. 


7Sr  Jtimtftidt  /Vy»,  Cmm^idc*  : 
Ekctreiypcd  and  Priatcd  by  H.  O.  Hou(hion  ft  Cm>. 


/ 


PREFACE. 


The  war  of  independence  in  the  Netherlands  had 
a  lasting  influence  on  the  formation  of  opinion  in 
England.  It  thus  led  to  the  civil  war  in  defence  of 
the  liberties  of  the  old  country,  and  to  the  founding 
of  colonies  in  America.  Queen  Elizabeth  declared 
that  the  people  of  the  Netherlands  were  justified  in 
resistitig  the  tyranny  of  rulers  who  infringed  and 
attempted  to  subvert  their  rights  and  liberties.  She 
made  war  on  the  tyrant,  and  espoused  the  cause 
of  the  oppressed  people.  Englishmen  received  the 
declaration  of  their  Queen  with  enthusiasm.  During 
upwards  of  sixty  years  they  continued  to  cross  the 
sea  and  to  fight  for  the  cause  of  freedom.  There 
was  scarcely  a  man  in  England  who  had  not  either 
served  himself,  or  known  a  relation  or  neighbor  who 
had  been  in  the  wars.  During  that  period  of  sixty 
years  the  colonies  were  founded  in  America.  There 
was  cause  and  effect.  The  whole  generation  imbibed 
and  imparted  to  their  posterity  a  zeal  for  popular 
rights  which  tended  to  awaken  that  traditional  love 
of  freedom  which  is  the  inheritance  of  English-speak- 
ing people.     We  see  the  results  in  the   resistance 


IV  PREFACE. 

to  monopolies  during  the  last  year  of  the  Queen*s 
reign,  in  the  rise  of  a  parliamentary  opposition  to 
James  U  in  the  foundation  of  the  New  England 
colonies,  in  the  resistance  to  the  tyranny  of  Charles 
!•,  in  the  overthrow  of  his  attempt  to  establish  a 
despotism  on  the  plan  conceived  by  Strafford,  and 
in  the  final  triumph  of  constitutional  freedom. 

It  is  these  results,  flowing  from  the  struggle  against 
Spain,  which  gives  importance  to  the  record  of  Eng- 
lish military  service  in  the  Low  Countries.  Among 
those  who  became  famous  in  the  course  of  that  mem- 
orable enterprise,  the  names  of  Sir  Francis  and  Sir 
Horace  Vere  stand  foremost.  The  story  of  their 
lives  covers  the  whole  period  of  the  war  of  indepen- 
dence. While  others  came  and  went,  the  Veres 
remained  steadfastly  at  their  posts,  devoted  their 
lives  to  the  cause,  and  saw  their  work  completed. 
Placing  the  sense  of  duty  above  all  other  motives, 
they  were  examples  of  that  type  of  conscientious 
public  servants  which  is  met  with  most  frequently 
among  English-speaking  people. 

Sir  Francis  Vere  is  the  first  great  English  general 
in  modern  history.  He  founded  a  school  which  was 
further  developed  by  his  brother  Horace.  In  that 
school  were  formed  those  distinguished  leaders  who 
fought  out  the  war  between  Charles  I.  and  the  Par- 
liament  of  England.  In  the  same  school  were  formed 
those  military  advisers  who  accompanied  the  lovers 
of  freedom  to  colonize  America,     The  posterity  of 


PRE  FA  CE.  V 

both  the  great  branches  of  the  English  folk,  of  that 
in  America  as  of  that  in  the  old  country,  ought  there- 
fore to  know  the  story  of  the  "  fighting  Veres." 

I  have  attempted,  in  the  following  pages,  to  write 
a  connected  narrative  of  the  life-work  of  the  two 
brothers.  But  the  work  is  mainly  devoted  to  the 
biography  of  Sir  Francis  Vere,  for  his  brother  served 
with  him  for  many  years,  so  that  the  two  lives  are 
included  in  one  story.  The  later  chapters  relate  the 
events  in  the  life  of  Sir  Horace  subsequent  to  his 
brother's  death-  It  was  during  this  period  that  the 
Pilgrim  Fathers  sailed  from  Delftshaven ;  and  I  have 
referred  to  that  great  event  in  the  chapter  which 
includes  the  twelve  years'  truce. 

While  condensing  the  portions  referring  to  general 
history,  my  endeavor  has  been,  with  the  materials  I 
have  succeeded  in  collecting,  to  convey  a  clear  idea 
of  the  military  events  in  which  the  Veres  were  con- 
cerned. Special  attention  has  been  given  to  descrip- 
tions of  the  localities.  The  story  of  the  lives  of  the 
two  generals  includes  diplomatic  as  well  as  military 
service  and  private  or  family  history.  The  allusions 
to  the  general  course  of  events  are  only  intended  to 
make  the  narrative  clear  and  intelligible ;  my  object 
being  to  present  the  lives  of  the  men  themselves, 
rather  than  to  write  a  history  of  their  times. 

The  materials  for  these  biographies  are  to  be 
found  in  the  numerous  reports  and  letters  preserved 
in  the  British   State    Paper   Office,  in  the   British 


Vi  PREFACE. 

Museum,  and  at  Hatfield.  These  materials  include 
227  letters  from  Sir  Francis  Vere,  besides  many  from 
Sir  Horace.  Some  of  the  military  actions  are  de- 
scribed by  Sir  I^Vancis  himself  in  his  published  Com- 
mentaries, and  these  descriptions  have  been  collated 
with  the  accounts  of  the  same  events  in  letters  writ- 
ten long  before,  by  himself  and  by  other  officers. 
The  works  of  Strada,  Meteren,  and  Grimeston,  of 
Bentivoglio,  Carnero,  and  Herrera,  generally  give 
full  accounts  of  the  events  described  in  letters  of  the 
Veres  and  other  English  officers,  frequently  supplying 
additional  information,  and  almost  always  yielding 
corroborative  testimony.  These  hi>tories,  together 
with  Prinsterers  letters  of  the  House  of  Orancje, 
have  been  consulted  in  the  preparation  of  an  account 
of  each  action  in  the  Netherlands;  while  Camden, 
Stow,  Wilson,  Hexham,  Monson's  Tracts  and  docu- 
ments in  Hakluyt,  have  been  my  authorities  for  other 
parts  of  the  narrative.  There  are  voluminous  mate- 
rials for  a  history  of  the  Vere  family.  A  more  com- 
plete note  on  the  sources  of  information  will  be  found 
in  an  appendix. 

I  received  much  valuable  assistance,  in  my  re- 
searches res|)ecting  the  home  and  ancestry  of  the 
Veres,  from  the  late  Mr.  Ashursi  Majendie  of  Castle 
Hedingham,  Major  Barnardiston  of  the  Ryes,  and  .Mr. 
Ambrose  of  Mislley  Manor,  as  well  as  from  the  late 
Mr.  Stephen  Tucker,  Somerset  I  lerald,  and  the  late 
Colonel  Chester.     To  the  latter  accomplished  Amer- 


PREFACE.  Vii 

ican  genealogist  I  owe  the  particulars  respecting  the 
wife  of  Sir  Francis  Vere,  her  family  and  marriage,  as 
well  as  numerous  notes  of  Vere  entries  in  parish 
registers.  I  have  personally  visited  and  carefully 
examined  the  localities  of  all  the  sieges  and  battles 
in  which  the  Veres  were  engaged,  and  in  these  re- 
searches I  owe  much  to  the  kindness  of  Commodore 
Jansen  of  the  Hague,  and  of  M.  Arnold  van  Tets,^ 
who  supplied  me  with  letters  of  introduction,  and 
assisted  me  in  procuring  old  maps  and  plans,  and 
in  other  ways.  I  have  also  to  thank  the  Marquis  of 
Salisbury  for  allowing  me  to  examine  the  letters 
having  reference  to  my  subject,  which  are  preserved 
at  Hatfield,  and  for  giving  me  a  copy  of  Captain 
Docwra  s  account  of  the  battle  of  Turnhout. 

The  only  two  previous  biographies  of  the  Veres 
were  written  without  reference  to  the  letters  in  the 
State  Paper  Office  and  at  Hatfield,  or  to  other  manu- 
scripts. The  best  will  be  found  in  the  Biographia 
Britannica.  The  other,  by  Mr.  Gleig,  is  mainly 
copied  from  it.  I  now  venture  to  submit  to  Ameri- 
can readers  this  new  attempt  to  supply  what  I  believe 
to  be  a  desideratum  in  their  national  history.  The 
proclamation  of  Queen  Elizabeth  in  1585  was  the 
forerunner  of  the  Declaration  of  American  Indepen- 
dence. The  lives  of  Sir  Francis  and  Sir  Horace 
Vere  include  events  which  aroused  the  spirit  of 
American  colonization. 

1  Now  the  Netherlands  minister  at  Constantinople. 


V 


CONTENTS 


PA<tK 

Preface iii 


PART    I. 
SIR   FRANCIS   VERE. 

CHAPTSK 

1»      1  rlE    V  EKES  •••«••••••  I 

II.  The  Home  of  the  Veres ii 

III.  Boyhood  of  Francis  Vere i8 

IV.  The  Theatre  of  War 2S 

V.  The  English  Volunteers 4r 

VI.  The  Art  Military 53 

VII.  Opening  of  the  War 67 

VIII.  The  First  Campaign 83 

IX.   Sluys 100 

X.   Bergen-op-Zoom 117 

XI.   Resignation  of  Lord  Willoughby        *  •        -        ^3S 

XII.  Sir  Francis  Vere  in  Chief  Command.     Relief  of   Rhein- 

bcrg 144 

XIII.  Breda,  and  the  Expedition  into  Westphalia    .        .        15S 

XIV.  Zutphen  and  Devknter.    The  Baptle  in  the  Betuwe. 

Nymf.gfn.     Steenwyck.    Coervorden   .        .        .        .170 

XV.  Sieges  of  Gertruydenburg  and  Groningen        .        .  187 
XVI.  Administrative  Duties  and   Private  Affairs.     Death 

of  Rdijert  Vere 198 

XVII.  Cadiz 217 

XVIII.   The  Island  Voyage 236 

XIX.  Battle  of  Turnhout 254 

XX.  The  Bommel-waart 263 

XXI.  The  Eve  of  the  Battle  of  Nieuport    ....  278 

XXII.  The  Battle  of  Nieuport 296 

XXIII.  The  Siege  of  Ostend 306 


X  CONTENTS. 

XXIV.  Death  of  the  Queen,  and  Resignation  of  Sir  Francis 

VeRE 333 

XXV.  Marriage  and  Death  ok  Sir  Francis  Verb       .        ,       3^1 

PART    II. 
SIR   HORACE   VERE. 

I.  The  Recovery  ok  Si.rvs  and  thk  IJattlr  of  Mituieim     .    3^14 
11.   Markia(;k   ok   Sir    H<»ra<t.   VkrI-      His  VorNc.   Rf.i.ations. 

Thk   Pii.(.rim   P'atiii  rs.     Dfatii  ok  Barnkveldt  .    379 

III.  The  War  in  the   Taiminme 394 

IV.  Death  ok  Jt)iiN  Vkrk^    Siki;e  (»k  Kreda  bv  Spinola.    Cre- 

ation OK   I.ORD  VfRK  ok  TllIllRV 42I 

V.  Marria(;e.s    ok   I)Ai<;iirERs.      Sikcks    of    IIois-le-Duc    and 

Maastricht.    N<»nrE  ok  Hfnry  IIi^jcham  ....        4-^3 
VI.  Death  ok  U)rd  Verj-    Conclusion 451 

APPENDIX. 

A.  Note  respecting  the  Storv  toi.d  to  the  Disparagement  of 

AN  Earl  ok  Oxford,  in  Froissart 461 

B.  Note  on  the  AunioRiTiEs 464 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PORTRAITS. 

PAGB 

Sir  Francis  Verb,    From  a  print  by  Faithorne     .        .  Frantispiect 
^Horace  Lord  Verb.    By  Coraelius  Jansen      ....    364 


MAPS. 

The  Theatre  OP  War 33 

'South  Beveland 46 

The  Siege  of  Sluys icx) 

'  Sluys 104 

Bergen-op-Zoom 122 

'  The  Siege  op  Bergenop-Zoom 128 

Rheinberg  and  Adjacent  Country 152 

^  Breda    .       .        . 162 

Grokingen 192 

The  Country  ABOUT  Wesel 212 

Cadiz 224 

'  The  Field  op  Turnhout 256 

The  Bommel-waart 272 

Nieuport  and  Adjacent  Country 282 

OsTEND 310 

'  The  Field  op  the  Palatinate 402 

BoiS-LE-DUC   AND   MAASTRICHT 436 


k, 


THE  FIGHTING  VERES. 


PART  I. 
SIR   FRANCIS  VERE 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE   VERES. 

The  English  people  took  an  active  part  in  the 
great  war  for  freedom  during  the  sixteenth  and 
seventeenth  centuries.  Their  rulers  sometimes  held 
aloof  and  sometimes  assisted  with  money  and  troops ; 
but  the  cause  was  one  which  moved  the  people,  and 
their  support  was  always  given,  warmly  and  heartily, 
to  their  neighbors  in  the  glorious  fight  for  liberty. 
Whether  the  government  gave  its, countenance  or 
whether  it  forbore,  there  were  Englishmen  fighting 
side  by  side  with  Dutch  patriots  from  first  to  last. 
In  that  fight  no  two  names  are  so  conspicuous  as 
those  of  Francis  and  Horace  Vere.  The  brother 
warriors  stand  out  prominently  as  the  representatives 
of  their  race  in  the  great  fight  for  freedom.  They 
never  faltered,  never  grew  weary,  but  faithfully  and 
loyally  devoted  their  lives  to  a  cause  which  is  dear 
to  all  English-spoaking  people. 

The  noblest  and  most  ancient  house  in  the  baron- 
age of  England  was  falling  from  its  greatness,  and 
would  soon  be  extinct.     But,  in  the  last  two  genera^ 


2  THE  FIGHTLXC   VERES. 

tions,  it  produced  a  company  of  able  and  gallant 
soldiers  whose  deeds  alone  entitle  the  family  to  ven- 
eration. No  less  than  ten  Veres  crossed  the  seas  to 
fight  in  the  cause  of  freedom.  Five  were  slain  in 
battle.  Two  became  great  generals,  whose  lives 
should  ever  be  had  in  remembrance,  because  their 
record  is  the  record  of  deeds  that  form  a  part,  and 
no  unimportant  part,  of  the  history  of  their  race. 

It  is  quite  true  that  the  two  brothers,  Francis  and 
Horace,  **  brought  more  glory  to  the  name  of  V^ere 
than  they  took  blood  from  the  family.""  Yet  the 
characters  of  men  are  influenced  bv  the  race  from 
which  they  spring,  and  by  the  traditions  of  the  land 
where  they  are  born.  Hence  it  is  necessary  that  the 
story  of  their  lives  should  be  preceded  by  an  account 
of  their  family  and  of  the  country  in  which  they  were 
born  and  bred. 

The  familv  of  Veres,  Earls  of  Oxford,  was  one  of 
the  most  ancient  and  noble  in  Fnijland.  Datinij 
from  A.I).  1 1 37,  the  earldom  continued  in  an  un- 
broken succession  of  twenty  earls  until  1703,  a 
period  of  nearly  six  hundred  years.  They  inter- 
married with  Bii^ods  and  Cantclou|)es,  Clares  and 
De  Ouinceys,  Uffords  and  Mortimers,  Scropcs  and 
Howards,  Nevilles  and  Courtenavs,  all  the  most  his- 
torical  families  of  the  countrv.  Thcv  succeeded  to 
five  baronies  —  of  Holebec,^  Sanford;'  Badlesmere, 
Scales,  and  Plaiz;  and  they  were  hereditary  Grand 
Chamberlains  of  England. 

*  Sir  Rt»l»crt  Nauntun.  onv  of  •lit-  realm.   Thi»  faniilv  held 
■  The  rlik'st  son  uscil  the  title     their  ilii:!iii>   ami  rst.ites  not  per 

of  L/>nl  Il<»lebfC.  A/r<>«/.7///.  hut  ly  •»ir;:t'ant\  of  the 

•  But  I)ui:(lale  and  Nir<»las  do  OucinS  l)ed  -  rl»an\her.  Uankk* 
Dot  admit  that  Sanford  was  a  bar-    Stemmatd  An^luana^  p.  247. 


THE   VERES.  3 

They  were  originally  Danes  from  the  Cotentin  of 
Normandy,  if  we  adopt  the  most  probable  opinion 
and  set  aside  the  fictions  of  earlier  antiquaries.^ 
The  Cotentin,  comprising  the  modern  department 
of  La  Manche,  was  ceded  to  the  Duke  of  Normandy 
by  Alan  of  Brittany,  in  936  a.  d.,  when  there  was  a 
considerable  migration  of  the  original  Celtic  inhab- 
itants, so  that  it  was  one  of  the  districts  which  became 
most  thoroughly  Norman.  William  Longsword  is 
said  to  have  admitted  a  fresh  Danish  colony  into 
his  newly  acquired  province  of  Coutances ;  and  when 
Harald  Blaatand,  the  Danish  king,  after  settling  the 
affairs  of  the  duchy,  and  acting  as  a  faithful  friend 
to  the  young  duke,  returned  to  his  northern  realm, 
many  of  his  followers  remained  behind  in  the  Coten- 
tin.^ It  was  not  long  before  these  Danish  settlers 
had  to  defend  their  homes  against  a  devastating  in- 
vasion. In  996  A.  D.,  King  ^Ethelred  of  England 
sent  an   army  to   burn  and  destroy,  which  landed 

^  Leland  gives  a  fictitious  de-  manor  held  under  the  superior 
scent  of  Vere  from  Mile,  Duke  of  manor  of  Gavray.  There  are 
Aungiers,  a  brother-  in  -  law  of  many  deeds,  noticed  in  the  Trans- 
Charlemagne.  Collins  repeats  the  actions  of  the  Society  of  Antiqua- 
Leland  fable.  Percival  Golding  ries  of  Normandy,  to  which  de 
{Harl.MSS.y  4189)  supplies  a  de-  Veres  are  parties.  There  is  a 
tailed  pedigree  which  shows  the  letter,  dated  1271,  from  William 
descent  of  the  Veres  from  Serug,  de  Verto  Odon,  Bishop  of  Bayeux, 
the  great-grandfather  of  Abraham,  confirming  a  grant ;  also  the  sale 
Later  genealogists  have  suggested  of  the  manor  of  St.  Sauveur  in 
that  the  Veres  came  from  Veere  1301,  by  Benoulf  de  Ver.  See  a 
in  the  Island  of  Walcheren,  mere-  paper  by  Mr.  Ashurst  Majendie 
lyfrom  the  similarity  in  the  spell-  in  the  Proceedings  of  the  Essex 
ing  of  the  two  names.  M.  de  A rchctological  Society^  V2iX\.  I.  vol. 
Gerville,  of    the  Society  of  Anti-  i.  p.  75. 

quaries  of  Normandy,  was  of  opin-  ^  Freeman\s  Norman  Conquest^ 

ion  that  the  Veres  came  from  the  i.  pp.  185,  190,  215. 
village  of  Ver,  near  Coutances,  a 


4  THE  FIGHTING    VERES. 

near  Coutances ;  but  the  men  of  the  country  smote 
the  invaders  with  a  great  slaughter,  and  their  fleet 
returned  discomfited.* 

These  formidable  Danish  settlers  were  ruled  over 
by  Ncal  de  St.  Sauveur,  whose  castle  was  a  few  miles 
south  of  Valognes,  and  who  was  Viscount  of  Cou- 
tances. His  knights  were  the  ancestors  of  many  of 
our  English  nobles.  The  two  rivers  Soullcs  and 
Syenne  flow  through  the  most  beautiful  valleys  of 
the  Cotentin,  and  fall  into  the  Havre  de  Regncville, 
opposite  the  Island  of  Jersey.  Courcy  and  the  old 
city  of  Coutances  are  on  the  Soulles.  The  Syenne 
rises  near  the  village  of  Percy,  and  flows  northward 
by  the  Abbey  of  Hamlye,  through  the  forc>t  of 
Gavray,  and  by  the  village  and  castle  of  \'er,  to  the 
Regneville  estuary.  All  this  is  now  a  country  of 
rich  meads  and  hills  and  valleys,  of  orchards  and 
small  fields  of  pasture  and  buckwheat,  with  well- 
timbered  hedgerows  and  glorious  views  of  di>tant 
wooded  hills.  At  the  ruined  Abbev  of  Hamlve,  a 
picturesque  old  stone  bridge  crosses  the  Syenne, 
with  orchards  on  either  bank,  and  cliffs  ri>ing  ab- 
ruptly from  the  valley,  and  crowned  with  oak  woods. 

r>om  this  lovely  district  came  the  Percys  and 
Paiianells,  the  De  Courcvs  and  De  Wrcs.  The 
castle  of  the  Paganells  was  on  the  wooded  crest  over- 
hanging the  rich  vale  of  the  Syenne,  and  the  stately 
Abbey  of  Hamlye  was  built  by  them  near  the  river 
bank.  Lower  down  the  valley  was  the  castle  and 
manor  of  Ver,  held  of  the  superior  manor  of  Gavray, 
the  earlv  Norman  home  of  the  Veres. 

These  knights  followed  their  chief,  the  Viscount 

*  Freeman's  Xorman  Conqutst^  i.  p.  joo. 


THE    VERES.  5 

of  Coutances,  when  he  led  the  revolt  against  William, 
and  was  defeated  in  the  cavalry  action  of  Val-es- 
Dunes,  in  1047.  Neal  made  his  peace  with  the 
Norman  duke,  and  twenty  years  afterwards  the  brave 
old  warrior  commanded  the  Cotentin  levies  at  the 
battle  of  Senlac.  Serving  with  them  was  Aubrey  or 
Alberic  de  Vere,  who  may  have  been  a  younger 
brother  of  the  Lord  of  Ver  in  the  valley  of  the 
Syenne,  or  perhaps  the  lord  himself.  He  changed 
his  home  for  many  broad  acres  in  Essex  and  Suffolk, 
receiving  from  William  the  Conqueror  the  whole 
inheritance  of  a  great  Saxon  thane  named  Wulf wine ; 
and  he  founded  the  English  branch  of  the  Veres.^ 
His  son  Alberic  was  created  Lord  Great  Chamber- 
lain  of  England  by  Henry  I.,  and  married  Adeliza, 
daughter  of  Gilbert,  Earl  of  Clare. 

This  second  Alberic  was  a  Crusader,  and  Leland 
relates  by  what  event  he  received  the  addition  of  a 
silver  mullet  to  his  paternal  shield,  which  was  quar- 
terly red  and  gold.  It  was  in  the  year  1098  that 
Corborant,  Admiral  of  the  Soudan  of  Perce,  was 
defeated  near  Antioch  by  the  Christian  host.  The 
night  coming  on  during  the  chase,  God  displayed  a 
silver  star  of  five  points,  which,  to  every  man's  sight, 
did  light  upon  the  standard  of  Aubrey  de  Vere,  there 
shining  excessively.  It  has  ever  since  been  borne  in 
the  first  quarter  of  the  Vere  shield.  But  more  scep- 
tical modern  heralds  ^  think  the  mullet  was  a  mark 
of  cadency  borne    by  the  younger  brother  of  the 

^  The    first     Alberic    de    Vere  He  founded  Colne   Priory,  where 

held    Kensinf]jton,   nine   lordships  he   was  buried,  with  his   younger 

in  Suffolk,  fourteen  in  Essex,  in-  son,  in  1088. 

eluding  Hedingham  and   Bentley,  ^  Planch^, 
and  Campes    in   Cambridgeshire. 


6  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

second  earl,  who  retained  his  mullet  when  he  event- 
ually succeeded  as  third  earl. 

The  third  Alberic  de  Vere  was  in  the  Holy  Land 
with  Robert  of  Normandy,  at  Jerusalem  and  the 
siege  of  Antioch,  and  retook  a  banner  of  St.  George 
which  had  been  captured  by  a  Saracen.  He  it  was 
who  married  Beatrice,  daughter  of  Henry,  Castellan 
of  Bourbourg,  by  Rosa,  the  heiress  of  Manasses, 
Comtc  de  Guisnes.  He  received  investiture  as 
Comte  de  Guisnes  in  1137,  and  held  the  county 
until  he  was  driven  out  by  the  next  heir,  Arnold  de 
Gand,  in  1 144.  He  was  created  Earl  of  Oxford'  by 
the  Empress  Maud,  and  confirmed  by  Henry  II.  in 
1 155.  His  second  wife,  Lucia  de  Abrincis,  founded 
a  nunnery  at  Hedingham,  and  was  its  first  Prioress. 
This  Earl  also  founded  the  Augustine  Prior)'  at 
Hatfield  Broad  Oak,  where  his  son  was  buried. 

Robert,  the  third  Earl,  was  one  of  the  Barons  who 
stood  up  for  the  liberties  of  England  against  King 
John  and  the  Pope,  and  was  excommunicated  by 
Innocent  111.  His  brother  William  was  Bishop  of 
Hereford,  and  a  great  builder.  The  fifth  Earl  was  a 
sup|)ortcr  of  Simon  de  Montfort,  and  was  captured 
at  Kcnilworth,  afterwards  sening  with  distinction  in 
the  wars  of  Edward  I.  The  sixth  Earl  also  served 
with  the  greatest  of  the  Plantagenets  in  his  Welsh 
and  Scottish  wars;  and  his  brother  Hugh,  Lord 
Vere,  was  employed  by  Edward  I.  on  missions  of 
importance  to  F^Vance  and  Rome.     John,  the  seventh 

*  Leiand   and  Collins    say   that  d'Ardrcs     calle(i     liim      Albcrtiu 

this  Aubrey  was   c  ailed  *•  Aubrey  Apcr.  iisin^   Apcr  as   a  synonvTii 

the  Grimme,''  ft^r  Ms  prcatnc^s  of  ff»r    Vcrrcs    (\'orcl      This    word 

stature  and  sttTM  look.     The  truth  **  A|>er  *'    was    re-translated    into 

was  that   the  chronicler  Lambert  Englibh  as  "  the  Cjrimme  "  ! 


THE   VERES.  7 

Earl  of  Oxford,  was  a  very  distinguished  military 
commander  under  King  Edward  III.  He  was  in 
the  great  sea-fight  with  Don  Luis  de  la  Cerda  and 
the  Genoese  off  Guernsey,  and  served  with  the  King 
in  Brittany  at  the  sieges  of  Vannes  and  Nantes,  and 
in  Gascony  with  the  Earl  of  Derby,  when  he  gal- 
lantly led  a  charge  against  the  French  camp  at 
Auberoche.  At  the  battle  of  Cressy  the  place  of 
the  Earl  of  Oxford  was  with  the  Prince  of  Wales  in 
the  first  battalion.  He  was  then  sent  to  England 
for  reinforcements,  and  returning,  defeated  the  French 
fleet  off  Calais,  taking  twenty  sail.  He  went  to  Gas- 
cony with  the  Prince  of  Wales,  and  was  at  the  battle 
of  Poitiers  as  Chief  of  the  Archers.  He  died  in  the 
camp  of  the  English  army  before  Rheims,  on  January 
24,  1360,  aged  forty-seven.^  His  son  first  bore  arms 
in  his  father's  last  campaign  when  only  eighteen,  but 
he  died  early,  leaving  an  only  child  —  the  ill-fated 
and  much-abused  favorite  of  Richard  H.  It  should 
be  remembered  that  this  Duke  of  Ireland  was  a  mere 
youth,  and  that  he  had  not  seen  twenty-eight  sum- 
mers when  he  was  killed  out  hunting  at  Louvain, 
after  several  years  of  exile.     He  was  childless. 

The  Duke  of  Ireland  was  succeeded  by  his  uncle 
Aubrey,  the  tenth  Earl,  who  was  employed  on  im- 
portant diplomatic  missions ;  and  his  son  was  a  mili- 
tary commander  under  Henry  V.  and  a  Knight  of  the 
Garter.  The  two  succeeding  Earls  were  loyal  and 
unswerving  adherents  of  the  House  of  Lancaster. 
The    twelfth    Earl,  well  known    to    readers   of   the 

*  A  disparap^ing  story  is  told  of     Appendix,  and  proved  that  it  is  a 
this  Earl,  or  of  his  son,  in  Frois-    baseless  calumny, 
sart.     I   have  reprinted  it  in  the 


8  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

Paston  Letters,  served  under  the  Duke  of  York  in 
France;  but  was  beheaded  by  Edward  IV.,  with  his 
eldest  son  Aubrey,  for  corresponding  with  Margaret 
of  Anjou.  The  next  son,  John,  succeeding  as 
thirteenth  Earl,  never  swerved  in  his  loyalty  to  the 
fallen  House  of  Lancaster.  But  the  silver  star  which 
lighted  the  first  Earl  in  his  pursuit  of  Corboran  did 
an  ill  service  for  his  descendant.  At  the  battle  of 
Barnct  the  Earl  of  Oxford  carried  all  before  him  on 
the  right  wing  of  the  Lancastrian  army.  On  return- 
ing from  the  pursuit  of  the  King's  left,  the  device 
of  Oxford's  men,  the  silver  star  of  five  points,  was 
mistaken  for  Edward's  badge — a  sun  in  splendor. 
Those  who  wore  it  were  received  with  a  discharge  of 
arrows  from  their  own  side,  which  caused  irremedi- 
able confusion,  and  the  battle  was  lost.  Oxford 
afterwards  escaped  to  fight  again  at  Bosworth,  and 
to  become  one  of  the  most  powerful  nobles  of  Eng- 
land under  the  first  Tudor  King.  He  was  godfather 
to  Henry  VIII.,  and  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-four, 

in  151 3. 

His  cousin  John,  the  fifteenth  Earl  of  Oxford,  a 
Kniirht  of  the  Garter,  was  the  first  Protestant  Flarl, 
from  1526  to  1539.  He  was  constantly  employed  in 
the  service  of  the  state,  a  wise  and  upright  councillor. 
He  was  a  man  endued  with  many  noble  qualities, 
virtuous  and  religious,  a  great  housekeeper,  and  ex- 
ceedingly  beloved.  He  was  called  "the  good  Earl 
of  Oxenford."  By  his  wife  Elizabeth,  heiress  of  Sir 
Edward  Trussell,  he  inherited  a  great  property  in 
Northamptonshire,  to  add  to  his  vast  Ussex  and 
Suffolk  estates.  This  Trussell  heiress  was  one  of 
the  ladies  of  Queen  Anne  Boleyn.     She  is  described 


THE   VERES,  9 

as  "a  woman  of  unsullied  fame,  whose  presence 
seemed  to  guarantee  the  honor  and  discretion  of  her 
mistress."  By  her  the  Earl  had  four  sons  and  four 
daughters.  He  died  at  his  manor  of  Earls  Colne, 
and  was  buried  in  the  church  of  Castle  Hedingham. 
Nearly  all  the  previous  Earls,  until  the  Reformation, 
had  been  buried  in  the  church  of  Earls  Colne 
Priory. 

The  altar  tomb  of  the  fifteenth  Earl  of  Oxford  is 
of  black  marble,  and  was  placed  in  the  centre  of  the 
chancel.^  On  one  side  are  his  four  daughters  kneel- 
ing, in  the  act  of  prayer,  with  books  on  draped  desks 
before  them,  and  the  names  above,  Elizabeth,  Anne, 
Frances,  and  Ursula.  At  the  angles  there  are  mul- 
lets above  and  below,  with  the  motto  "  Verite  vient" 
between.  On  the  other  side  are  the  four  sons,  John, 
Aubrey,  Robert,  and  Geoffrey,  in  the  same  positions. 
The  horizontal  slab  is  very  richly  carved.  There  are 
the  crest  and  helmet,  supporters  and  shield,  sur- 
rounded by  the  motto  of  the  Garter;  and  below,  the 
Earl  in  the  robes  of  the  Garter,  and  the  Countess, 
both  in  the  attitude  of  prayer. 

Geoffrey,  the  fourth  son  of  the  fifteenth  Earl  of 
Oxford,  was  the  father  of  our  heroes,  Sir  Francis  and 
Sir  Horace  Vere. 

The  record  of  the  public  services  of  a  long  line  of 
noble  ancestors  was  the  inheritance  of  the  Veres  of 
Queen  Elizabeth's  time  :  that  and  their  own  stout 
hearts.  They  had  little  else.  With  the  sixteenth 
Earl  the  greatness  and   wealth  of  the  head  of  the 

^  It  has  since  been  very  improp-     the  four  sons  are    represented    is 
erly  removed  and  placed  against     completely  concealed  from  view. 
the  wall,  so  that  the  side  on  which 


lO  THE  FIGHTING    VERES. 

family  ended,  and  the  cadets  had  to  car\'c  out  their 
own  fortunes  in  their  own  way.  Let  us  now  glance 
at  the  country  of  the  Veres,  the  valleys  watered  by 
the  rivers  Colne  and  Stour,  forming  the  borderland 
of  Essex  and  Suffolk. 


CHAPTER   II. 

THE  HOME  OF  THE  VERES. 

The  Veres  came  from  the  lovely  wooded  valleys 
of  the  Soulles  and  the  Syenne,  in  the  Cotentin,  to 
make  their  homes  in  the  basins  of  the  Stour  and  the 
Colne.  The  Stour  rises  near  the  borders  of  Cam- 
bridgeshire, and  flows  eastward  into  its  estuary  at 
Harwich,  while  the  Colne,  with  a  shorter  course,  and 
flowing  nearly  parallel  for  some  distance,  turns  south 
into  its  long  estuary.  Between  the  two  rivers  and 
the  German  Ocean  is  the  peninsula  comprised  in  the 
Tendring  Hundred ;  and,  higher  up,  the  Lexden  and 
Hinchford  Hundreds. 

In  every  part  of  this  region  the  powerful  Earls  of 
Oxford  owned  manors  and  whole  villages ;  and  their 
badges  and  other  memorials  constantly  occur  in  the 
walls,  or  windows,  or  woodwork  of  the  churches. 
The  Stour  has  a  course  of  about  fifty  miles,  with 
a  catchment  basin  some  fifteen  miles  across;  and 
the  Colne  flows  over  thirty-two  miles,  with  a  width 
of  basin  of  three  to  six  miles;  the  whole  width  of  the 
two  basins  being  about  twenty-two  miles.  In  the 
valleys  and  on  the  slopes  of  the  hills  the  scenery  is 
picturesque,  and  there  are  many  very  pleasing  views. 
The  valley  of  the  Stour  was  the  native  place  of  two 
famous  English  painters,  Gainsborough  and  Consta- 
ble, the  former  born  at  Sudbury,  the  latter  at  East 


12  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

Bergholt,  and  it  has  been  suggested  that  the  beau- 
ties of  the  woods  and  lanes  and  meadows  of  the 
valley  may  have  awakened  the  genius  as  well  as 
exercised  the  pencils  of  these  great  artists.  "The 
scene  of  my  childhood,"  said  Constable,  "  made  me  a 
painter.  The  beauty  of  the  scenery,  its  gentle  de- 
clivities, its  luxuriant  meadow  flats,  sprinkled  with 
flocks  and  herds,  its  well -cultivated  uplands,  its 
woods  and  rivers,  with  numerous  scattered  villages 
and  churches,  farms  and  picturesque  cottages,  all 
impart  to  this  delightful  country  an  amenity  and  an 
elegance  hardly  anywhere  else  to  be  found."  ^ 

The  chief  seat  of  the  Veres  was  at  Hedingham, 
near  the  head-waters  of  the  Colne,  where  their  mag- 
nificent Norman  keep  still  defies  the  ravages  of 
time.^  It  was  built  by  the  second  Alberic  de  Vere 
in  the  time  of  King  Stephen,  and  here  Stephen's 
Queen,  Maud,  died  in  1152.  The  castle  was  a[> 
proached  from  the  village  by  a  drawbridge  across  a 
moat.  The  great  keep  of  Hedingham  is  the  finest 
relic  of  Norman  civil  architecture  in  England.  Its 
massive  strength  is  relieved  by  abundant  ornament 
The  chevron  ornament  adorns  the  windows  and 
other  arches,  and  the  great  firepl:^ce  on  the  first 
floor.  A  beautiful  spiral  pattern  enriches  the  pillars 
of  the  staircase,  and  the  doorway  leading  to  galleries 
cut  in  the  thickness  of  the  wall,  whence  arched 
openings  overlook  the  hall  below.  This  first-floor 
room  of  the  keep  is  beautifully  proportioned,  and  the 

1  Quoted   by   Mr.   Torlcsse,  in  and    Majcndics.     For  a    hundred 

his  account  of  Stoke  hy  Nayland.  years  the  keep  was  without  roof 

•  Thanks  mainly  to  the  care  of  or  floors.     It  was  repaired  by  Mr. 

Hs  later  owners,  the   Ashworths  Anhurst  in  1720. 


THE  HOME  OF  THE    VERES.  1 3 

ornamented  arches  of  the  gallery  give  it  a  certain 
lightness*  The  steps  leading  up  to  the  great  door 
of  the  keep  were  formerly  protected  by  a  lower  tower 
containing  the  garrison  chapel,  as  at  Dover  Castle. 

The  keep  alone  remains  standing.  In  the  pros- 
perous days  of  the  Veres  it  occupied  the  centre  of  a 
courtyard,  round  which  there  were  extensive  build- 
ings, forming  the  palatial  home  of  the  Earls  of 
Oxford  and  their  great  retinue.  A  ground-plan, 
which  was  made  in  the  year  1592,^  shows  that  on 
one  side  stood  the  gate-house  and  a  lofty  tower ;  on 
another,  the  great  hall  and  chapel,  and  the  kitchens; 
on  a  third,  a  stone  building  containing  several  suites 
of  apartments ;  and  in  rear  the  stables  and  granaries, 
the  butts  and  tennis-court,  beyond  which  was  the 
court  for  tournaments. 

The  castle  stands  on  a  hill  which  is  partly  arti- 
ficial, overlooking  the  village,  but  dominated  by 
higher  ground  on  all  sides.  It  is  in  fact  a  mound 
rising  from  the  lowest  part  of  the  Colne  valley.  To 
the  right,  after  leaving  the  castle  gates,  there  was  a 
nunnery,  founded  by  Lucia,  Countess  of  Oxford,  in 
1 1 90.  In  front  the  village  street  led  to  the  parish 
church,  and  on  to  Sybil  Hedingham,  the  birth- 
place of.  the  famous  condottiere,  Sir  John  Hawks- 
worth.  Morant  says  that  **  the  surface  of  the  two 
contiguous  parishes  of  Sybil  and  Castle  Hedingham 
is  varied  with  little  eminences  and  dales,  well  watered 
with  refreshing  rills  and  purling  streams,  which  make 
the  pastures  here  excellent." 

^  This  plan  was  made  for  Lord  stance  was  bein<j  wasted  by  his 
Burleigh,  in  the  interests  of  his  spendthrift  son-in-law,  the  seven- 
three  granddaughters,  whose  sub-    teenth  Earl  of  Oxford. 


14  THE  FIGHTING   VERES, 

To  the  north  of  Hedingham  Castle  was  the  manor 
house  of  Kirby  and  the  parish  of  Tilbury,  localities 
closely  connected  with  the  life-stories  of  our  heroes; 
and  a  little  further  north  is  the  river  Stour,  winding 
through  its  lovely  valley,  by  the  old  Priory  of  Clare 
and  the  stately  hall  of  Long  Melford.  Farther  back 
on  the  Suffolk  side,  but  still  within  the  basin  of  the 
Stour,  lies  the  thriving  little  town  of  Lavenham, 
largely  owned  by  the  Veres  in  those  days,  with  its 
beautiful  perpendicular  church  and  lofty  flint  tower. 
Away  to  the  west  of  Hedingham,  beyond  the  Essex 
border,  was  the  Earls  castle  of  Camps;  to  the  east 
was  the  Templars'  circular  church  of  Maplestead; 
and  all  round,  over  hill  and  dale,  were  the  farms  and 
manors  of  the  great  Earls  of  Oxford.  The  meadow 
lands  along  the  banks  of  the  rivers  were  famed  places 
for  hawking,  while  the  woods  and  wide  stretches  of 
open  country  were  the  chosen  haunts  of  game,  the 
scenes  of  hunting  and  all  rural  sports.  There  were 
three  parks  round  the  Castle  of  Hedingham:  the 
home  park  in  which  the  castle  stood,  the  great  paric 
of  six  hundred  acres,  and  the  little  park  which  was 
stocked  with  red  deer. 

Seven  miles  down  the  valley  of  the  Colne  from 
Hedingham  is  the  village  of  Earl's  Colne,  where 
once  stood  the  ancient  priory  —  the  burial-place  of 
the  Earls  of  Oxford.  It  was  founded  by  the  first 
Albcric  de  Vcre  in  iioo,  who  placed  a  society  of 
monks  there,  sent  from  Abingdon.  The  founder 
himself  became  one  of  the  monks,  and  was  buried 
in  the  chapel.  In  131 1  Earls  Colne  l^ecame  a  free 
priory,  independent  of  Abingdon.  The  conventual 
building  is  said  to  have  been  of  timber,  with  a  brick 


THE  HOME  OF  THE  VERES. 


15 


wall  round  it,  enclosing  twelve  acres,  but  the  church 
was  a  stately  edifice  of  flint.  The  bright  little  river 
Colne  flowed  along  the  walls,  with  gnarled  yew-trees 
on  its  banks,  and  tall  old  elms  threw  their  shade 
around  the  Priory.  Here,  ten  of  the  Earls  of  Oxford 
were  buried  with  their  wives,  and  here  King  Richard 
II.  and  his  court  mourned  over  the  grave  of  his 
young  friend  Robert  de  Vere,  Earl  of  Oxford  and 
Duke  of  Ireland.  A  little  away  from  the  river  are 
the  parish  church  and  village  of  Earl's  Colne,  where 
there  was  once  a  mansion  of  the  Earls  of  Oxford, 
called  Hall  Place. 

The  remains  of  a  turret  stair  and  some  ruined 
walls,  almost  levelled,  alone  indicate  the  spot  where 
once  stood  the  burial  church  of  the  Veres.^  Out  of 
the  numerous  tombs,  only  four  have  been  preserved, 
and  are  now  in  a  corridor  attached  to  Mr.  Carwar- 
dine's  house,  one  hundred  yards  to  the  eastward.^ 


I  It  was  first  turned  into  a  sta- 
ble, and  then  pulled  down  in  1736. 

*^  Weaver  says  that  in  his  time 
(1631)  there  were  two  monuments 
in  the  parish  church,  which  had 
been  moved  from  the  priory,  both 
shamefully  defaced.  He  also  enu- 
merates seven  still  existing  at  the 
priory.  Now  there  are  only  four 
in  Mr.  Can\'ardine*s  house.  The 
first,  a  cross-legged  effigy,  is  of 
Robert,  fifth  Earl  of  Oxford,  who 
died  in  1296.  The  second,  an  effi- 
gy in  alabaster,  of  a  lady  with  a 
two-horned  headdress,  is  Philippa 
de  Coucy,  wife  of  the  ninth  Earl. 
The  third,  also  in  alabaster  (said 
to  be  the  Duke  of  Ireland),  has 
the  head  in  a  helmet,  which  rests 


on  a  larger  helmet  with  the  boar 
crest  of  the  Veres.  Round  the 
neck  is  a  collar  of  S.  S.  ;  a  richly 
jewelled  belt  for  a  dagger,  and  a 
surcoat  with  the  Vere  arms.  On 
the  altar  below  are  the  arms  of 
Serjeaux,  showing  that  this  must 
be  the  eleventh  Earl,  who  married 
the  Serjeaux  heiress.  The  fourth, 
also  in  alabaster,  is  of  the  eighth 
Earl,  who  died  in  1370. 

The  seventeenth  Earl  of  Oxford 
sold  Earl's  Colne,  with  the  tombs 
of  his  ancestors,  to  his  steward, 
Roger  Harlackenden,for^2,ooo,  in 
September,  1583.  Harlackenden's 
grandchild  and  heiress,  Mary,  mar- 
ried Daniel  Andrewes  in  1672. 
Their  only  daughter,  Anne,  was 


1 6  THE  FIGHTISG    IE  FES. 

From  this  hou^e  the  path,  shaded  by  a  fine  row  of 
elm-tree^,  leads  up  a  hill  to  the  village.  The  church 
tower  has  the  arms  and  de.icc  lI  V'erc  worked  in 
flint  on  thj  upper  parapet,  with  the  date  1539:  and 
in  the  villac^c  >trcet  there  is  an  uld  ho-:>e,  with  a 
Ixram  taken  from  Hall  Place,  the  mar.>i«.'n  C)f  the 
Karl>  of  Oxford,  which  once  >toc<i  on  the  northwest 
side  of  the  church.  The  beam  is  richlv  car.ed,  with 
the  Vere  mullet  in  the  Centre  and  at  ea^li  end. 
There  were  land-^  and  houses  of  the  Earls  of  Oxford 
in  the  neij;hboring  pari>hes  of  Wakes  C\»lne  and 
Colne  Enj^aine. 

The  Colne  flows  on,  past  the  walls  of  the  rrit>ry, 
for  eij^ht  miles,  where  it  winds  round  the  hill  on 
which  the  town  and  old  castle  <»f  Cc»lchester  stand. 
It  then  turnr>  southward,  and.  after  four  miles,  C(»mes 
to  Wivenhoe.  the  port  of  Culche>ter.  This  place 
was  inherited  bv  the  twelfth  Earl  of  Oxford,  with 
the  baronv  of  IMaiz;  and  here  his  descendants  often 
resided  in  a  noble  mansion,  with  a  <j[ate-house  flanked 
by  towers  of  great  heiL;ht,  which  served  as  marks  at 
sea  for  vessels  ap|)roarhing  the  mouth  of  the  Colne. 
The  house  of  the  \'eres  at  Wivenhoe'  wa>  in  the 
upper  end  of  the  town. 

The  peninsula  formed  by  the  estuaries  of  the 
Colne  and  Stour,  includint;  Tenclrin;j;  Hundred,  was 
granted  to  the  Earls  of  Oxford  in  1496;  and  they 
owned  manors  in  the  jxirishes  of  Great  Bentley, 
Prating,  Oakley,  and  Weeley. 

y^^^^le.who^cheireiiit  was  Nfrs.  ac  of  the  llvint:,  now  l>cIonK^  to 

H'^kate.     The  heiress  of  Holi:.ilc  II.   M.   C  arw  ndiru-,   Ksq.     C'ojiics 

m-yW!  the  Rev.  C  Carwardinc  ;  f»f  the  d.-irtrr-^  nf  i.  j»1ik*  I'lior)'  arc 

I-arT*  Colne.  with  the  patron-  in  ilic  Uriii>h  Museum. 


THE  HOME  OF  THE   VERES. 


17 


In  this  region  of  the  Stour  and  Colne  basins, 
where  vestiges  of  the  greatness  and  beneficence  of 
the  Veres  are  met  with  at  every  turn,  the  heroes  of 
our  story  were  born  and  bred.  It  was  the  home 
of  their  ancestors,  and  every  wood  and  valley,  every 
reach  of  the  rivers,  every  church  and  village  and 
manor  house,  was  familiar  to  them.  Even  now,  the 
arms  and  crest  and  the  badges  and  devices  of  the 
Veres  are  often  to  be  seen  in  churches  and  old 
houses  throughout  the  district 


CHAPTER  III. 

BOYHOOD  OF  FRANXIS  VERE. 

The  father  of  our  heroes  was  one  of  the  sons  of  the 
good  Earl  of  Oxford,  who  was  buried  in  Hcdingham 
Church  in  1539.  That  Earl  left  four  sons  and  four 
daughters.  His  heir  was  John  de  Vere,  sixteenth 
Earl  of  Oxford,  who  was  at  the  siege  of  Boulogne 
with  Henry  VIII.  By  his  first  wife,  Lady  Dorothy 
Neville,  the  sixteenth  Earl  had  an  only  daughter, 
named  Katherine,  who  was  betrothed  to  the  eldest 
son  of  the  Protector  Somerset,  but  who  eventually 
married  Edward,  Lord  Windsor.  This  Earl  had 
for  his  second  wife  Margaret  Golding,  the  daughter 
of  a  neighbor  in  Essex.  Her  father  was  John  Gold- 
ing, of  Helchamp  St.  Paul,  near  Hcdingham,  one  of 
the  auditors  of  the  Exchequer.  Her  brother,  Arthur 
Golding,  was  in  the  service  of  the  Protector  Somer- 
set, and  afterwards  lived  at  Sir  William  Cecils  house 
with  his  ncjihcw,  P-arl  Edward.  He  was  the  most 
voluminous  translator  of  his  age,  and  some  of  his 
metrical  renderings  have  merit.*  By  the  Golding  mar- 
riage, the  sixteenth  Earl  had  a  son  and  heir  named 
Edward,  lx)rn  in  1550,  and  a  daughter,  Mary,  married 
to  Lord  Willoughby. 

*  In  Miles  Stamlish*s  libran*,  Commentarit's  of  C»sar:  out  of 
according  to  Mr.  I-onpfellow,  were  the  I-atin  translated  by  Arthur 
**  Bariffe*9  Artillery  Guide,  and  the     Goldinge,  of  London.'* 


BOYHOOD  OF  FRANCIS   VERB.  I9 

There  were  three  younger  brothers  —  Aubrey, 
Robert,  and  Geoffrey.  Aubrey  married  Margaret, 
daughter  of  John  Spring,  of  Lavenham,  where  the 
church  is  full  of  Vere  badges  and  shields  of  arms,  in 
one  place  alternating  with  the  Spring  trademark. 
In  the  village  street  there  is  a  quaintly  carved  Guild 
Hall.  Side  by  side,  in  this  busy  little  Suffolk  town, 
dwelt  the  baronial  Veres  in  their  manor  house  and 
the  commercial  Springs  in  their  shop.  Now  they 
intermarried,  and  Aubrey  Vere  had  a  son  by  Marga- 
ret Spring,  whose  son  and  grandson  were  the  two 
last  Earls  of  Oxford.  He  also  had  a  daughter,  Jane, 
who  married  a  neighbor  of  rather  doubtful  repute 
named  Henry  Hunt,  of  Gosfield,  and  had  a  son,  John 
Hunt  The  third  son,  Robert,  married,  but  his  chil- 
dren did  not  live  to  grow  up.  He  died  on  April  2, 
1598,  and  was  buried  at  Charlton  in  Kent.  Geof- 
frey, the  fourth  son,  was  the  father  of  our  heroes. 

Of  the  four  daughters  of  the  good  Earl  of  Oxford, 
Elizabeth  was  the  wife  of  Lord  Darcy  of  Chiche, 
who  lived  at  St.  Osyth  in  Tendring  Hundred;  Anne 
married  Lord  Sheffield ;  Frances  married  Henry, 
Earl  of  Surrey,  and  was  mother  of  the  beheaded 
Duke  of  Norfolk ;  while  Ursula  never  married. 

The  intervention  of  Parliament  was  necessary  to 
secure  suitable  provision  for  the  younger  sons,  Au- 
brey, Robert,  and  Geoffrey  Vere.  It  appears  that, 
in  the  plenitude  of  his  power,  the  Protector  Somer- 
set had  betrothed  his  eldest  son  to  Lady  Katherine 
Vere,  and  had  induced  her  father,  the  sixteenth  Earl, 
to  levy  a  fine,  the  effect  of  which  would  have  been 
to  settle  the  whole  inheritance  on  the  marriaGre.  The 
Earls  brothers  were  left  penniless.     After  the  Pro- 


20  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

tector's  fall  the  betrothal  with  young  Seymour  was 
broken  off,  and  an  act  of  Parliament  was  passed  in 
1 55 1  "frustrating  the  assurance  to  the  Duke  of  Som- 
erset  made  by  the  Earl  of  Oxford."  The  act  de- 
clared the  indentures  concerning  the  proposed  mar- 
riage to  be  void  and  of  none  effect.  The  fine  previ- 
ously levied  was  also  declared  to  be  utterly  void.  It 
was  then  enacted  that  the  Earls  brother  Aubrey 
should  hold  certain  manors,  which  are  named,  for  his 
life  and  for  the  life  of  his  wife  if  he  so  ordains  by  will ; 
remainder  to  the  Earl  and  his  heirs.  On  the  same 
conditions  the  youngest  brother,  Geoffrey  Vere,  was 
to  have  the  manors  of  Crepping  Hall  *  and  Crustwick 
in  the  county  of  Essex.  Then  follow  powers  for 
the  Earl  to  assign  other  specified  manors  for  his 
wife's  jointure,  and  others  for  the  portions  of  his 
daughter  Katherine,  ^nd  of  any  other  children  that 
might  be  born  after  the  date  of  the  act. 

Geoffrey  Vere  thus  became  possessed  of  his  two 
manors  in  1551,  and  settled  down  as  a  country  gentle- 
man. Crepping  Hall,  in  the  parish  of  Wakes  Colne, 
is  on  the  top  of  a  hill  overlooking  the  Colne  valley, 
surrounded  by  a  moat.  The  original  manor  house 
was  burnt  down  in  1810,  and  an  ordinarj-  farmhouse 
has  taken  its  place.  It  is  near  the  village  of  Ford- 
ham,  and  about  a  mile  from  the  little  Norman  church 
of  Wakes  Colne.  Crustwick  (now  Gutteridge)  Hall  is 
bevond  Colchester,  in  the  Tendrini;  Hundred.  It  is 
in  the  parish  of  Weeley,  adjoining  St.  Osyth,  which 
was   the  home  of  Geoffrey  s  sister  Elizabeth,  Lady 

>  In  the  Parish  Rcjjister  at  Gas-     "Galfridus  dc  Vcrc,   of  Creppinf 
tic  Hedinpham.  John  Vcrc  (burial     Hall.** 
1624)  is  mentioned  as  the  son  of 


BOYHOOD  OF  FRANCIS   VERB.  2 1 

Darcy.  Crustwick  is  now  a  farmhouse,  with  noth- 
ing of  interest  about  it,  except  some  possible  indica- 
tions of  an  old  moat.  At  these  two  manors,  in  a 
country  which  was  full  of  his  relations,  Geoffrey 
Vere  lived,  and  he  sought  a  wife  from  among  the 
families  of  his  neighbors. 

In  the  village  of  Castle  Hedingham  there  dwelt  a 
family  named  Hardekyn,  prosperous  people,  who  had 
amassed  some  moderate  share  of  wealth  by  trade  at 
Colchester.  We  find  that  in  i486  Thomas  Harde- 
kyn, of  Castle  Hedingham,  was  enfeoffed  of  a  capi- 
tal messuage  called  Wottons,  alias  Hardekyns,  in  the 
parish  of  Gestingthorpe.  He  died  in  1 509,  and  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  Richard,  who  added  to  his  in- 
heritance by  the  purchase  of  Odwell  and  Ram-acre 
coppice.  These  places  are  all  in  the  close  neighbor- 
hood of  the  Castle  of  Hedingham ;  and  Richard 
Hardekyn  possessed  570  acres  of  arable,  pasture, 
and  wood  land.  His  residence,  called  Wotton  House, 
with  a  moat  round  it,  was  on  the  side  of  the  road 
leading  from  Hedingham  to  Sudbury. 

Young  Geoffrey  Vere,  living  at  Hedingham  Castle, 
in  the  days  of  his  father  and  brother,  must  have 
known  the  inmates  of  Wotton  House  from  a  boy. 
Richard  Hardekyn  had  a  son  John  and  a  daughter 
Elizabeth.^  The  great  Earls  fourth  son  became 
attached  to  his  young  neighbor.  The  friendship  of 
early  acquaintance  ripened  into  love,  and  Geoffrey 
Vere  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Hardekyn  in  the  year 
1556.     Their  married  life  was  passed  between  Crep- 

*  In  some  peerages  Elizabeth  is  brother  was  John,  her  father  Rich- 
said  to  be  daughter  of  Sir  John  ard.  Collins  gives  the  names  cor- 
Kardekyn,    of    Colchester.      Her    rectly. 


22 


THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 


ping  Hall  and  Crustwick.  Elizabeth's  father  died  in 
1558,  and  her  brother,  John  Hardekyn  of  Colches- 
ter,  who  was  born  in  1537,  sold  Wotton  and  all  his 
landed  property  to  George  Sayer,  another  Colchester 
merchant,  in  1566. 

John,  the  eldest  son  of  Geoffrey  and  Elizabeth 
Vere,  was  born  in  1558.  Francis,  the  second  son, 
was  probably  born  in  1560,*  either  at  Crepping  or 
Crustwick.  Then  followed  the  death  of  the  head  of 
the  family,  the  uncle  of  these  two  boys,  John,  six- 
teenth Earl  of  Oxford,  leaving  three  children:  Ed- 
ward, the  seventeenth  Earl,  born  in  1550;  Katherine, 
Lady  Windsor;  and  Mary,  afterwards  married  to  Lord 
Willoughby.  The  sixteenth  Earl  of  Oxford  was  a 
good  landlord,  generous,  affectionate,  very  j)opular, 
and  a  keen  sportsman.  When  Prince  Eric  of  Swe- 
den landed  at  Harwich  in  December,  1559,  the  Earl 
showed  him  some  sport  in  the  valley  of  the  Stour. 
"  Aftrr  dinner  my  Lord  of  Oxforde  had  the  Prince 
forth  a  hawking,  and  showed  him  great  sporte,  killing 
in  Iun  sight  both  faisant  and  partridge."  Hy  his  will, 
datrd  July  28,  1562,  among  numerous  other  legacies. 


*  1  hi >  is  an  near  as  we  can  get 
to  ilu-  (I. Ill-  ol  the  hirlli  i)f  Sir  Fran- 
ni  Vtir.  Ills  elder  brother,  John, 
U  known  to  have  been  sixtN-six 
Hhrii  he  ilied  in  1 624.  He  was, 
theietoir,  boin  in  I>>S.  We  know, 
Irtihi  ilir  I  .11  lot  Oxford's  will,  that 
ihe  iie\i  buithei,  Iran*  is,  was  l)orn 
Inlofe  hi*i  nntle's  death,  in  July, 
1 5f»j.  He  nuisl,  theref«>re,  have 
lieen  Im.mi  hi  M?«>,  I  j)<>o.  f»r  1561. 
He  \>  nut  likeK  ti»  have  In-cn  lK)rn 
lu  ihi-  Ne.it  attei  his  brother.  Con- 
M(|uehtl>   15(10  JH  the  must  proba- 


ble date.  There  is  a  jrap  in  the 
entries  of  baptisms  in  the  Wake's 
C.Olne  Rejjistcr,  from  i;;<>  u*  1604. 
The  earliest  entry  at  Wet  ley  is 
I  560,  when  the  lK)<)k  was  lx*«,:un  by 
the  rector,  Thomas  Wynyngton. 
The  jury,  at  the  inquisition  after 
the  death  of  Sir  Francis  Vcrc,  in 
1609,  declared  him  to  be  over 
forty.  The  at;c  on  the  monument 
in  \Vestmin>ter  Abl)e\  is  certain- 
ly  a  miNtake.  as  it  would  make 
Sir  Francis  older  than  his  elder 
brother. 


BOYHOOD  OF  FRANCIS   VERB.  23 

the  Earl  left  £20  to  each  of  his  two  little  nephews, 
John  and  Francis  Vere.  After  the  Earl's  death,  his 
brother  Geoffrey  had  three  more  children :  Robert, 
born  in  1562,  Horace  in  1565,  and  Frances,  afterwards 
Lady  Harcourt,  in  1567. 

Geoffrey  Vere  died  while  his  children  were  still 
young,  and  they  were  left  to  the  care  of  a  mother 
who  brought  them  up  with  a  loving  solicitude  which 
had  its  reward.  She  lived  to  a  good  old  age.  Her 
eldest  son  stayed  with  her,  and  made  her  a  home  at 
Kirby  Hall,  near  Hedingham.  The  three  others 
became  valiant  soldiers.  Two  rose  to  be  great  gen- 
erals. The  third  found  a  glorious  death  on  the  bat- 
tlefield. Her  only  daughter,  Frances,  was  prosper- 
ously married  to  Sir  Robert  Harcourt,  of  Nuneham, 
the  great  navigator.  There  are  full-length  portraits 
of  Sir  Robert  and  his  wife  Frances,  by  Marc  Gerard, 
in  the  dining-room  at  Nuneham. 

We  hear  something  of  the  boyhood  and  education 
of  the  cousin  of  these  boys,  Edward  Vere,  seven- 
teenth Earl  of  Oxford,  who  was  born  in  1550,  and 
was  twelve  years  old  when  his  father  died.  Although 
he  was  several  years  older  than  Geoffrey's  sons,  yet 
it  is  probable  that  they  were  often  companions  and 
associates,  both  as  regards  studies  and  sports  of  the 
field.  The  young  Earl  was  left  to  the  guardianship 
of  Sir  William  Cecil,  the  Lord  Treasurer,  and  of 
his  mother,  the  widowed  Countess  of  Oxford.  He 
passed  his  time  between  Cecil's  house  and  his  mo- 
thers home  at  Hedingham,  and  was  much  in  the 
society  of  his  learned  uncle,  Arthur  Golding.  The 
routine  of  studies  for  Earl  Edward  was  as  follows : 
He  was  to  get  up  in  time  for  his  dancing  lesson, 


24  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

from  7  o  clock  to  7.30,  and  was  to  take  breakfast 
from  7.30  to  8  o'clock.  The  next  two  hours  were 
devoted  half  to  French  and  half  to  Latin,  and  then 
there  was  half  an  hour  for  drawing.  From  half  past 
ten  to  one  there  was  play  and  dinner.  Lessons  be* 
gan  again  at  one,  with  an  hour  for  cosmography,  and 
two  more  hours  for  French  and  Latin,  finishing  with 
half  an  hour  for  writing.  This  made  six  hours  of 
lessons  altogether,  and  at  five  there  were  prayers  and 
supper.  All  the  rest  of  the  day  was  given  up  to  rid- 
ing, shooting,  and  walking.^  The  young  Earl's  youth 
was  distinguished  by  his  wit  and  adroitness  in  his 
exercises,  and  he  was  sent  to  Cambridge,  where  Sir 
Thomas  Smith  was  his  tutor.  But  the  Treasurer 
was  determined  not  to  let  so  great  a  match  slip  from 
his  family,  and  in  1571,  when  they  were  both  very 
young,  Edward,  Earl  of  Oxford,  was  married  to 
Anne,  daughter  of  Sir  William  Cecil.  Next  we 
hear  that  "  my  Lord  of  Oxforth  is  lately  growne  in 
great  credite,  for  the  Q*  Ma"*  delitethe  more  in  his 
personage  and  his  daunsinge  and  valicntness  than 
any  other.  He  presented  her  Ma''*  with  a  ryche  Jewell, 
which  was  well  lyked."^  He  travelled  in  Italy,  and 
was  the  first  to  bring  embroidered  gloves  and  per 
fumes  into  England.^  He  also  distinguished  himself 
at  jousts  and  wrote  poems,  some  of  which  are  pre- 
served.*  But  he  quarrelled  with  his  wife  and  father- 
in-law,  got  into  dissolute  and  extravagant  habits,  sold 
his  estates  one  after  the  other,  and  ended  by  destroy- 

»  Calendar  of  State  Papers.  Do-        «  Gilbert  Talbot  to  the  Eari  of 
mestic.  1 562,  December.  Vol.  xxvi.     Shrewsbury,  1 573. 
*'  Ah  orcUr  for  my  Lard's  excr*        •  Stowc. 

cis£S.^*  *  TA€  Paradise  of  Dainty  D^ 

vicis,    (London,  1758.    4to.) 


BOYHOOD  OF  FRANCIS  VERB.  25 

ing   the  power  and  wealth  of  the  great  family  of 
which  he  was  the  head. 

The  sons  of  Geoffrey  Vere  were  no  doubt  asso- 
ciated with  their  cousin  the  Earl  when  they  were 
quite  young ;  but  he  married  while  they  were  still 
boys,  and  they  continued  to  study  and  enjoy  field 
sports  at  the  Essex  manors,  under  the  care  of  their 
mother.  John  Vere,  the  eldest,  remained  at  home  as 
a  country  gentleman,  and  soon  after  he  came  of 
age  he  entered  upon  possession  of  Kirby  Hall  by  an 
arrangement  with  the  Earl  of  Oxford,  having  re- 
signed the  manors  of  Crepping  and  Crustwick. 

Kirby  Hall,  or  Picard's  as  it  was  sometimes  called, 
is  only  a  mile  from  the  Castle  of  Hedingham.  It 
belonged  to  the  Kirby  family  during  the  fourteenth 
century,  and  afterwards  to  the  Picards,  whence  it 
passed  to  the  Earls  of  Oxford.  In  about  1580  it 
became  the  property  of  John  Vere,  and  here  he  made 
a  home  for  his  mother.  Kirby  Hall  is  pleasantly 
situated  amidst  pastures,  in  a  well-timbered  coun- 
try. Two  gables  of  the  old  hall  still  remain,  with 
a  wainscoted  parlor,  a  huge  kitchen  fireplace,  and 
clustered  chimneys.  There  is  also  a  kitchen  gar- 
den, with  old  brick  walls,  and  an  ancient  dove-cot/ 
Here  the  widow  of  Geoffrey  Vere  was  close  to  the 
home  of  her  childhood  at  Wotton,  in  the  next  parish 
of  Gestingthorpe. 

While  the  eldest  son  remained  quietly  at  home,  the 
other  three  embraced  the  profession  of  arms.  Francis 
and  Robert  were  nearly  the  same  age.  They  were 
initiated  in  the  military  art  by  old  Sir  William  Browne, 
who  served  for  many  years  in  the  Low  Countries. 

*  There  is  an  engraving  of  it  in  the  Vetusia  Monumenta. 


26 


THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 


In  their  letters  to  Sir  William  they  subscribed  them- 
selves **  your  loving  sons,"  and  addressed  him  as  their 
"  good  father."  Francis,  when  he  was  a  mere  lad,  in 
about  1580  went  with  Captain  Francis  Allen  to  Po- 
land,  probably  to  serve  in  the  Polish  army.  But  we 
know  nothing  beyond  the  fact.*  When  the  Earl  of 
Leicester  prepared  to  embark  for  the  Low  Countries, 
as  general  of  the  auxiliary  forces,  Francis  Vere  had 
reached  his  twentv-fifth  vear,  and  was  resolved  to 
embrace  the  military  profession.  The  portrait,  which 
is  engraved  at  the  beginning  of  his  Commentaries, 
gives  us  some  idea  of  the  personal  appearance  of 
Francis  Vcre  at  this  time.  It  presents  the  profile  of 
a  young  man  with  a  high  forehead  and  slightly  aqui- 
line nose,  large  eyes  and  well-marked  eyebrows,  full 
but  firm  lips,  and  the  face  clean-shaved,  except  a  slight 
moustache  and  imperial.  The  face  is  oval,  and  a  fall- 
ing collar  shows  rather  a  long  neck. 

Francis  Vere  was  the  contemporar)-  of  great  men. 
The  Queen  and  Leicester  were  his  seniors  by  twenty- 
six  years.  Sir  Walter  Raleigh, .Sir  Philip  Sidney, 
and  Fdmund  Spenser  were  older  by  six  or  seven 
years.     Sir  Francis  Bacon,  Lord  Thomas  Howard, 


>  Fr.int  is  Allen,  in  a  letter  to 
Anthdny  Bacon,  dated  Auj^ust  17, 
15s*;,  writes:  **  I  must  send  you 
news  of  the  which  I  pray  rejoice 
with  me.  My  brother  Francis 
Vcre  is  knighted.  It  is  he  that 
made  the  vo\ai:c  with  me  into  Po- 
lonia."  (/>/>«//.  i.  ;7.)  The  word 
•*  brother"  must  here  l>e  taken  in 
the  sense  of  **CMmrade." 

There  is  a  curious  statement, 
under  date  August  27,  1584,  in  the 


certificate  of  search  for  the  discor- 
cry  of  papists  b\  Alderman  Hame% 
t(»  the  effi-ct  that  FranciN  Vere  and 
Thomas  Haskerville  were  found 
in  BedUm.  {Cahmiiir  of  Stait 
Papers,  Domestic,  1584.  p.  199^) 
The  Bedlam  of  those  days  was  io 
Bishops^jate  Street  without.  It  is 
true  that  several  papists  were  ar- 
rcstrd  in  15^4,  but  there  must  have 
been  some  mistake  in  the 
of  Vere  and  Baskerville* 


BOYHOOD  OF  FRANCIS   VERB,  27 

and  Sir  John  Harington  were  the  same  age.  Lord 
Mountjoy  and  William  Shakespeare  were  four  years, 
James  I.  and  the  Earl  of  Essex  six  years,  younger. 
In  such  an  age,  and  amidst  such  a  generation,  Fran- 
cis Vere  made  his  way  to  the  front  rank. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE  THEATRE  OF  WAR- 

While  Francis  Vere  was  still  a  boy  at  school,  he 
must  have  heard  stories  of  the  cruelties  of  the  Span- 
ish governors  to  the  people  of  the  Netherlands. 
These  stories  were  only  too  true,  and  they  increased 
the  indignation  and  sympathy  of  England  year  by 
year  Margaret  of  Parma  ^  advised  that  all  heretics 
should  be  killed,  whether  they  were  repentant  or  not, 
care  only  being  taken  that  the  provinces  should  not 
be  entirely  depopulated;  and  her  successor,  the  Duke 
of  Alva,  actually  slaughtered  18,600  persons  in  cold 
blood,  by  his  own  account.  William  the  Taciturn, 
the  noble-hearted  Prince  of  Orange,  who  had  been 
Stadtholder  of  Holland  and  Zeeland,  was  in  exile ; 
and  desperate  men,  known  as  the  "  sea  gueux,"  had 
taken  to  piracy  against  the  ships  of  their  oppressors, 
as  the  only  means  of  existence  and  of  vengeance. 

Several  vessels,  manned  by  two  or  three  hundred 
of  these  outlaws,  and  commanded  by  William  de  la 
Marck,  were  ordered  to  leave  the  anchorage  at 
Dover,  where  they  had  taken  refuge.     They  set  sail 


*  Margaret  was  the  eldest  child  nephew  of  Pope  Paul  1 1 1.,  who 

of  the    Emperor  Charles   V.,  but  created  Duke  of  Parma.     Her  son 

illegitimate.     She  was  Governess  was  Alexander,  Duke  of  Parma, 

of  the  Netherlands  for  her  brother  the  great  general  who  l>ecanie  Sp«- 

Philip  II.,  from  1559  to  1567.    She  nish  Governor  of  the  Netherlaiids 

was  married   to   Ottavio  Karnesc,  in  1578. 


THE  THEATRE  OF  WAR.  29 

in  the  end  of  March,  1572,  and  on  the  ist  of  April 
they  anchored  at  the  mouth  of  the  Maas,  seized  the 
town  of  Brill,  and  repulsed  an  attempt  of  the  Span- 
ish Governor  of  Holland  to  retake  it.  A  few  days 
afterwards  the  town  of  Flushing  rose,  and  expelled 
the  foreigners ;  while  English  volunteers  crossed  the 
North  Sea  to  range  themselves  by  the  side  of  the 
pioneers  of  liberty.  The  tidings  of  these  events 
had  an  electric  effect  throughout  the  Netherlands, 
Nearly  all  the  important  cities  of  Holland  and 
Zeeland,  except  Amsterdam,  raised  the  standard  of 
the  Prince  of  Orange ;  and  the  government  was  for- 
mally offered  to  William  by  the  States.  The  Duke 
of  Alva  assembled  his  army  of  Spanish  veterans, 
vowing  vengeance.  His  son,  Don  Fadrique  de  To- 
ledo, committed  shocking  massacres  at  Zutphen  and 
Naarden,  occupied  Amsterdam,  and  began  the  siege 
of  Haarlem  in  December,  1572.  It  took  an  army  of 
30,cxx)  men  to  reduce  that  gallant  city,  and  when  at 
length  the  Spaniards  entered  it,  after  a  siege  of  six 
months,  they  slaughtered  2,300  unarmed  people. 
Alkmaar  was  successfully  defended  from  August  to 
October,  1573;  and  when  the  Duke  of  Alva  was 
superseded,  and  relieved  the  Low  Countries  of  his 
detested  presence,  on  December  18,  1573,  the  people, 
led  by  the  Prince  of  Orange,  were  still  stubbornly 
resisting  and  unconquered. 

Alva  was  succeeded  by  Don  Luis  de  Requesens, 
and  in  the  following  February,  1574,  Don  Cristoval 
Mondragon,  the  ablest  of  the  Spanish  officers,  w^as 
starv^ed  out,  and  forced  to  surrender  Middelburg,  the 
capital  of  Zeeland,  to  the  patriots.  A  more  striking 
reverse  to    the  tyrants  arms    was   involved   in   the 


30  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

Spaniards  being  obliged  to  raise  the  siege  of  Leyden, 
on  October  3,  1574,  after  its  long  and  heroic  defence. 
Rcquesens,  aided  by  Mondragon,  captured  the  island 
of  Schouwen  and  its  capital  Zierikzee,  by  the  remark- 
able military  feat  involved  in  wading  across  a  long 
arm  of  the  sea,  in  the  following  September;  but 
Schouwen  was  retaken  by  Count  Hohenlohe  in  No- 
vember, 1576,  and  in  the  following  year  Requesens 
died.  The  year  1576  closed  with  the  appalling 
massacre  perpetrated  by  the  Spaniards  at  Antwerp. 

These  great  events  inevitably  aroused  the  sym- 
pathy of  the  people  of  England,  who  had  long  been 
knit  together  with  the  Netherlanders  by  numerous 
tics  of  commerce  and  friendship.  Volunteers  flocked 
across  the  North  Sea,  although  the  Queen  s  govern- 
ment still  hesitated  to  cast  in  its  lot  with  the  insur- 
rection. Spain  was  in  the  height  of  her  power. 
The  Spanish  infantry  was  unequalled  by  any  other 
troops  in  the  world,  as  was  shown  in  the  course  of 
the  year  1578.  Don  Juan  of  Austria,  the  victor  of 
Lepanto  and  brother  of  King  Philip  II.,  had  suc- 
ceeded Rcquesens  as  Governor  of  the  Netherlands, 
and  in  January,  1578,  the  mere  presence  of  his  army 
put  the  forces  of  the  States  to  flight.  Such  was  the 
battle  of  Gemblours.  Not  a  blow  was  struck,  the 
Spaniards  did  not  lose  a  man,  yet  it  is  said  that 
10,000  insurgents  were  slaughtered.  On  the  ist  of 
August,  Don  Juan  was  repulsed  by  the  raw  levies  of 
the  States,  behind  intrenchments,  at  R)7nenant 
But  as  yet  neither  Netherlanders  nor  Englishmen 
could  face  the  terrible  tercios  of  Spain  in  the  open 
field.  Don  Juan  died  on  October  i,  1578,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Alexander  Famese,  Duke  of  Parma,  a 


THE  THEATRE  OF  WAR. 


31 


nephew  of  Philip  II.,  and  one  of  the  ablest  generals 
of  the  age.  He  had  to  face  a  more  organized  re- 
sistance, for  the  Dutch  patriots  were  no  longer  in- 
surgents. They  had  founded  a  republic.  On  the 
29th  of  January,  1579,  the  representatives  of  the 
States  of  Holland,  Zeeland,  Gelderland,  Zutphen, 
Utrecht,  and  Friesland,  under  the  presidency  of 
Count  John  of  Nassau,  elder  brother  of  William  the 
Taciturn,  signed  the  memorable  Union  of  Utrecht; 
and  on  July  26,  1581,  the  States-General  declared 
their  independence  at  the  Hague.  The  Prince  of 
Orange  became  the  successor  of  his  former  sovereign. 
Count  of  Holland  and  Zeeland,  and  Lord  of  Flush- 
ing and  Veere.  Then  Philip  invoked  the  aid  of  the 
assassin.  In  1582  an  attempt  was  made  on  the  life 
of  the  great  patriot;  and  another  more  successful 
crime  was  perpetrated  eighteen  months  afterwards. 
William  the  Taciturn  fell  by  the  hand  of  an  assassin 
on  the  loth  of  July,  1584.^     In  August,  1585,  after  a 


1  William,  Prince  of  Orange, 
by  his  first  wife,  Anne  of  Egmont, 
had  a  son,  Philip  William  (who  was 
taken  prisoner  by  the  Spaniards 
when  a  child,  and  remained  a  Ca- 
tholic),  and  a  daughter,  Mary,  mar- 
ried in  1595  to  Philip,  Count  of 
Hohenlohe. 

His  second  wife  was  Anne, 
daughter  of  Maurice,  Elector  of 
Saxony,  whom  he  married  in  I56l 
She  was  sent  home  for  miscon- 
duct, and  died  in  1577.  By  her  he 
had  a  son  and  successor,  Maurice, 
born  on  November  14,  1567,  and 
three  daughters :  Ann,  married  to 
William  Louis,  Count  of  Nassau 
Dillemburg ;  Amelia,wife  of  Eman- 


uel, Prince  of  Portugal;  and  Louisa 
Juliana,  wife  of  Frederick  IV., 
Elector  Palatine. 

Charlotte  de  Bourbon,  daughter 
of  Louis,  Ducde  Montpensier,  was 
his  third  wife,  to  whom  he  was 
married  in  1577.  She  died  in  1582. 
By  her  he  had  five  daughters:  Isa- 
bel, wife  of  Henri  de  la  Tour,  Due 
de  Bouillon  ;  Catherine  Belu:ica,  of 
Philip  Louis,  Count  of  Hanau ; 
Flandrina  became  a  Catholic,  and 
died  a  nun  at  Poitiers  ;  Charlotte, 
wife  of  Claude,  Due  de  la  Tre- 
mouille  ;  Amelia,  wife  of  Frederick 
Casimir,  Palatine  of  Landsberg. 

His  fourth  wife  was  Louisa  Co- 
ligny,  whom  he  married  in   1583. 


32  THE  FIGHTIXG    VERES. 

long  and  memorable  siege,  the  city  of  Antwerp  was 
taken  by  the  Duke  of  Parma,  These  irreparable 
calamities  fell  upon  the  cause  of  liberty  in  quick 
succession.  They  forced  Queen  Elizabeth  into  im- 
mediate action ;  and  by  the  end  of  15S5  England  had 
cast  in  her  lot  with  the  Netherlands,  to  fight  shoulder 
to  shoulder  until  the  battle  of  freedom  was  fought 
out  and  the  victory  won.  Francis  Vere,  who  was 
destined  to  be  a  leading  warrior  in  that  might)* 
struggle,  had  just  entered  upon  his  twenty-fifth  year. 

The  country  which  was  the  theatre  of  this  memo- 
rable war  is  peculiar  in  many  resjxjcts.  At  the  first 
glance  the  network  of  land  and  water  appears  puz- 
zling and  without  a  clue,  liut  a  little  study  will 
dispel  this  first  impression,  and  it  is  before  all  things 
needful  that  we  should  examine  and  understand  the 
board,  before  we  begin  to  arrange  the  pieces  upon  it 

Holland  and  Zeeland  are  the  deltas  of  three 
rivers,  the  Rhine,  the  Meuse  (Maas),  and  the  Scheldt. 
But  there  is  a  peculiarity  as  regards  these  deltas.  In 
verv  remote  times  a  chain  of  sand-hills,  called  dunes, 
was  raised  along  the  sea  face,  which  prevented  the 
encroachment  of  the  ocean,  and  caused  the  rivers  to 
form  a  lake  within  the  line  of  dunes.  The  width  of 
the  dunes  averacifes  from  two  hundred  vards  to  a 
mile,  and  their  heitrht  varies  from  fiftv  to  sixtv  feet, 
but  near  Haarlem  they  attain  a  height  of  196  feet, 
anrl,  w  ith  the  sun  setting  behind  them,  they  present 
an  outline  like  a  rani^e  of  mountains.  Soon  the  lake 
began  to  be  filled  up  bv  river  deposits,  and  the  rivers 

She  (lied  in  i^>20.  \\\  her  Ijc  had  who  wis  born  on  Februar\-  24. 15S4. 
an  only  son,  Kredfrick  Hpnrv,  Mc  died  on  .May  14,  1647,  aged 
ftuccc^surto  his  brother  Malkicl,    ftixty-three. 


THE   THEATRE  OF  WAR.  33 

forced  their  way  to  the  sea,  forming  several  islands, 
the  outer  ones  still  with  dunes  along  their  sea  face. 
When  the  industrious  inhabitants  of  this  water- 
logged region  began  to  reclaim  the  land  for  cultiva- 
tion, their  most  long-continued  contests  were  with 
the  rivers,  rather  than  with  the  ocean,  from  which 
they  were  protected  by  the  dunes.  But  a  combina- 
tion of  flooded  rivers,  with  a  succession  of  westerly 
gales  and  a  spring  tide,  often  destroyed  the  labor  of 
years  and  inundated  vast  tracts  of  country.  Seven 
hundred  years  ago,  in  11 70,  a  noble  district  was 
swallowed  up  in  Friesland,  and  the  Zuyder  Zee  was 
formed,  the  havoc  being  completed  two  centuries 
later,  in  1395.  In  the  year  142 1  the  river  Maas  was 
in  flood,  and  the  waters  were  helped  by  a  furious  gale. 
They  broke  over  the  dikes,  bored  through  during 
one  night,  and  flooded  the  lowlands  far  and  near. 
Altogether,  seventy-two  villages  were  swallowed  up, 
with  100,000  souls.  Next  morning  the  tops  of  the 
church  -  towers  were  just  visible  above  the  water. 
Where  once  there  was  a  populous  and  fertile  district, 
there  is  now  a  network  of  channels  and  reedy  islands, 
called  the  Bics-Bosch} 

The  rivers  are  kept  in  their  courses  by  dikes  along 
either  bank,  and  where  there  are  no  dunes,  immense 
sea  dikes  are  necessary,  protected  by  stone  slopes 
and  piles.  There  are  1,550  miles  of  these  dikes,  and 
the  dike  of  West-kappel,  in  the  island  of  Walcheren, 
is  over  4,000  yards  long,  twenty-three  feet  high,  with 
a  seaward  slope,  consisting  of  alternate  rows  of  piles 
and  blocks  of  basalt,  300  feet  broad.  Tracts  of  land 
at  or  below  the  sea-level,  and  surrounded  by  a  dike, 

1  The  words  mean  **  a  wood  of  reeds." 


34  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

arc  called  polders.  These  incessant  encounters  ^nith 
and  conquests  over  the  elements  could  only  have 
been  fought  out  and  won  by  a  race  endowed  with 
very  high  qualities ;  not  a  race  which  would  longsub> 
mit  to  foreign  tyranny,  but  one  which  would  oppose 
such  tyranny  with  the  same  stubborn  and  indomitable 
energy  which  kept  back  the  ocean  and  the  floods, 
and  turned  the  saturated  swamps  into  fertile  fields. 

The  eastern  part  of  the  Netherlands  consisted  of 
more  elevated,  heathy  country,  with  some  forests, 
and  in  the  Drenthe  region  there  were  extensive  de- 
posits of  inferior  peat  called  hoog-veen.  Further 
west  a  line  of  hills  of  moderate  elevation  extends 
from  south  to  north  across  the  country.  Near  Maas- 
tricht the  river  Meuse  flows  past  a  ridge  rising  to  a 
height  of  650  feet,  called  the  Pietersberg.  The  rock 
is  a  soft  calcareous  sandstone,  perforated  by  subter- 
raneous galleries.  Further  north  the  picturesque 
town  of  Cloves  stands  on  a  steep  eminence  overlook- 
ing the  valley  of  the  Rhine,  with  the  woods  of  the 
Reichswald  behind  it;  again  at  Nymegen,  a  range 
of  high  hills,  covered  with  woods,  rises  abruptly 
from  the  flat  pastures  on  the  banks  of  the  WaaL 
Crossing  the  Rhine,  the  high  land  behind  Arnhem, 
with  its  charming:  forest  scenerv,  extends  northward 
over  the  Veluwe,  and  attains  a  height  of  300  feet 

This  range  of  elevated  land  influences  the  courses 
of  the  rivers,  forcing  the  Maas  to  flow  northward  to 
the  Waal,  and  the  Rhine  andYsselto  flow  north^^ard 
to  the  Zuyder  Zee.  P>om  a  military  point  of  view, 
and  looking  upon  the  Netherlands  as  a  fortress  to 
be  defended,  the  rivers  become  so  many  lines  of  de> 
fence,  and  the  fortified  towns  along  one  line  had  to 


A 


THE  THEATRE  OF  WAR.  35 

be  reduced  before  an  advance  to  the  next  line  could 
prudently  be  made. 

The  outer  and  most  eastern  line  was  the  Rhine 
and  Yssel,  skirting  along  the  hills  of  Cleves  and 
Amhem,  a  broad  stream  from  600  to  400  yards  across. 
The  strategic  points  on  this  outer  line  were  Neuss, 
Duisburg,  Rheinberg  (a  town  and  fortress  of  the 
first  importance),  Wesel,  Emmerich,  Doesburg,  Zut- 
phen,  Deventer,  and  Kampen  by  the  Zuyder  Zee. 

Between  the  parallels  of  Cleves  and  Arnhem, 
while  the  Yssel  branch  flows  onward  in  a  northerly 
course,  two  other  branches  of  the  Rhine  turn  west- 
ward and  flow  to  the  German  Ocean,  which  are  called 
the  Lek  and  the  Waal.  The  Maas  also  turns  west- 
ward until  it  mingles  its  waters  with  the  Waal.  The 
two  Rhine  branches  thus  form  a  long  island  called 
the  Betuwe,  with  Arnhem  on  the  right  bank  of  the 
Lek  branch,  near  the  junction  of  the  Yssel,  and 
Nymegen  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Waal.  The  sec- 
ond line  is  formed  by  the  river  Maas  flowing  north- 
wards, and  having  on  its  banks  the  important  for- 
tified towns  of  Maastricht,  Roermond,  Venlo,  and 
Grave. 

.  In  the  country  where  the  three  streams  turn  west- 
ward there  are  three  important  towns,  one  on  each 
river,  nearly  north  and  south  of  each  other,  —  Grave 
on  the  Maas,  Nymegen  on  the  Waal,  and  Arnhem 
on  the  Rhine.  Further  to  the  westward,  where  the 
Maas  and  Waal  unite,  an  island  is  formed  called  the 
Bommel-waart,  with  the  town  of  Bommel  on  the  Waal, 
and  the  larger  city  of  Bois  le  Due  about  a  mile 
from  the  Maas.  As  a  strategic  position,  the  Bommel- 
waart  was  often  spoken  of  as  the  key  to  the  Nether- 
lands. 


»L     _- 


36  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

Below  Bommel-waart  the  united  Maas  and  Waal, 
called  the  Merwode,  flows  westward  to  Dordrecht 
on  the  south,  while  the  Lek  unites  with  them  again 
by  a  channel  above  Rotterdam ;  and  beyond  this  the 
northern  stream  resumes  the  name  of  the  Maas  to 
its  mouth.  Five  islands  form  the  delta  of  the  united 
Rhine  and  Maas :  Dordrecht  Island,  Hoeksche- 
waard,  and  Yssclmonde  to  the  east,  and  Overflakkee 
and  Goedereede,  Putten  and  Voorn,  with  their  west- 
ern sides  facing  the  North  Sea,  Flowing  between 
the  mainland  of  Holland  on  the  right  and  the  islands 
of  Ysselmonde  and  Voorn  on  the  left,  the  river  Maas 
now  becomes  a  great  navigable  channel.  On  its 
right  bank  are  Rotterdam,  Schiedam,  and  some  busy 
fishing-ports  nearer  the  sea,  and  on  its  left  bank,  at 
the  mouth  of  the  river,  is  the  town  of  Brill  on  the 
island  of  Voorn. 

South  of  Dordrecht  is  the  network  of  channeb 
and  reedy  islets  called  the  Bies-Bosch,  and  on  the 
southern  side  is  the  town  of  Gertruydenburg,  with  the 
great  fortified  city  of  Breda  a  few  miles  inland.  Be- 
yond Gertruydenburg  the  channel  opens  into  a  basin 
called  the  Hollandsche  Diep,  with  Willemstad  on  its 
southern  shore,  and  thence  two  channels  lead  to  the 
North  Sea:  the  Haring  Vliet  on  the  north  side  of 
Overflakkee  Island,  between  it  and  Voorn ;  and  the 
Brouwerschaven  Gat  between  Overflakkee  and  the 
Zeeland  island  of  Schouwen. 

It  was  this  treble  line  of  rivers,  ending  in  a  net- 
work of  islands,  which  separated  the  Catholic  prov- 
inces under  Spanish  rule  from  the  patriots  fighting 
for  freedom. 

North  of  the  line  of  the  Rhine  and  the  Lek  were 


THE  THEATRE  OF  WAR.  37 

the  flourishing  Dutch  towns,  surrounded  by  their 
shady  parks  and  rich  meadows.  Utrecht,  the  ancient 
see  of  an  almost  independent  Prince  Bishop,  is  nearly 
in  the  centre  of  the  block  which  is  bounded  on  the 
north  by  the  Zuyder  Zee  and  the  Y,  on  the  west  by 
the  sea,  on  the  east  by  the  Yssel,  and  on  the  south  by 
the  Rhine  and  Lek.  This  block  includes  part  of 
Holland,  all  Utrecht,  and  part  of  Gelderland.  To 
the  east  is  the  high  land  of  the  Veluwe,  in  the  cen- 
tre the  great  sandy  plain  extending  south  of  the 
Zuyder  Zee,  and  to  the  west  the  tracts  of  low  land, 
below  the  level  of  the  sea,  bounded  by  the  dunes. 
Here  were  the  richest  towns  of  Holland, —  Rotter- 
dam, Delft  and  Gouda,  Leyden,  Haarlem,  and  Am- 
sterdam ;  and  here  the  Counts  of  Holland  had  formed 
their  park  (Hague)  and  built  their  fortified  residence, 
round  which  the  charming  village  of  the  Hague  had 
risen  up.  To  the  northward  much  of  the  land  was 
still  under  w^ater.  The  wide  expanse  of  the  Haar- 
lem Sea  spread  out  between  Leyden,  Haarlem,  and 
Amsterdam.  Another  wide  expanse,  inland  from 
Amsterdam,  with  Zandam  on  its  banks,  was  formed 
by  the  Y ;  and  there  were  large  lakes,  now  reclaimed, 
in  North  Holland  as  far  as  Alkmaar. 

The  principal  fishing  villages  were  near  the  mouth 
of  the  Maas  and  in  North  Holland ;  while  the  ports 
on  the  Zuyder  Zee,  especially  Amsterdam,  Hoorn, 
Enkhuysen,  and  Medemblik,  were  beginning  to  de- 
velop an  increasing  shipping  business. 

On  the  other  side  of  the  Zuyder  Zee  the  Frisians 
were  comparatively  clear  of  the  strife,  though  further 
east  the  war  was  still  to  rage  round  Groningen, 
Steenwyck,  and  Coevorden.     The  Frisians,  who  are 


38  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

nearer  to  the  English,  both  as  regards  language  and 
appearance,  than  any  other  continental  people,  did 
good  service  to  the  cause  of  freedom,  whether  by 
the  wisdom  of  the  counsels  of  some,  the  learning  and 
talent  of  others,  or  still  more  by  their  valor  in  the 
field. 

Zeeland,  the  most  southern  of  the  pro\inces,  and 
the  nearest  to  England,  is  the  delta  of  the  river 
Scheldt.  That  river,  after  passing  Antwerp,  sepa- 
rates into  two  branches,  the  Honte  or  Wester  Scheldt 
to  the  south,  and  the  Ooster  Scheldt  to  the  north, 
which  enclose  the  three  islands  of  North  and  South 
Bevcland  and  Walcheren.  On  the  south  side  of  the 
Honte  is  the  region  now  known  as  Dutch  Flanders, 
which  has  been  much  altered.  In  those  davs  it  con- 
sisted  of  wide  expanses  of  drowned  land,  with  forti- 
fied places,  such  as  Axel  and  Hulst,  rising  like  islands 
above  the  flood.  Further  west  were  the  islands  of 
Brcskcns  and  Cadzand ;  and  the  town  of  Slu}'s  on 
the  Zwyn,  still  a  sca])ort  and  important  fortified  place. 
On  the  north  side  of  the  Honte  were  the  coasts  of 
South  Bevcland  and  Walcheren,  with  the  seaport  of 
Flushint;.  Middclburg,  in  Walcheren,  was  a  flour- 
ishini;  city,  the  capital  of  all  Zeeland ;  Veere,  on  the 
nortli  siili'of  that  island,  was  a  thriving  port;  and 
the  rity  of  (iocs,  in  South  Beveland,  with  a  port 
openint;  by  a  canal  on  the  north  side  of  the  island, 
was  an()thrr  important  place.  The  Ooster  Scheldt 
turns  noitln\  arils  from  the  Honte,  separating  South 
Bevcland  from  Bralunl ;  and  here,  on  the  Brabant 
side,  was  the  strongly  fortified  town  of  Bergen-op 
Zoom.  A  errat  i  .iKuniiv  had  befallen  this  eastern 
end  of    South   Bevcland    in    1532,  the    sea  having 


THE  THEATRE  OF  WAR.  39 

broken  through  the  dikes  and  turned  hundreds  of  fer- 
tile acres  into  swampy  "  verdronken  land."  Flowing 
seawards  the  Ooster  Scheldt  has  the  island  of  Tholen 
on  the  right,  with  the  two  smaller  isles  called  St  Ana 
and  St.  Philip  Land.  As  the  channel  opens  out  to- 
wards the  sea  it  is  called  the  Room  Pot/  having 
North  Beveland  and  Walcheren  on  one  side,  Schou- 
wen  and  Duiveland  on  the  other.  Schouwen  con- 
tains the  old  towns  of  Zierikzee  and  Brouwershaven. 
The  industrious  Hollanders  and  Zeelanders  had 
thriven  under  their  counts  and  margraves,  in  spite 
of  family  feuds  and  wars  with  the  Frisians.  The 
drowned  lands  had  been  reclaimed,  industry  and  in- 
telligent enterprise  had  brought  wealth,  and  many 
cities  had  risen  up  at  various  centres,  and  had  been 
fortified.  Commerce  and  wealth  had  increased  the 
wants  of  the  people.  Everywhere  there  were  hand- 
some brick  houses,  with  ornamented  gables,  facing 
the  canals,  and  with  rows  of  shady  trees  in  front  of 
them.  Large  parks  and  woods  were  preserved,  not 
only  in  the  higher  tracts  of  Gelderland,  but  also  in 
Utrecht,  Brabant,  and  parts  of  Holland.  The  face 
of  the  country,  though  flat,  was  pleasing  and  often 
picturesque.  During  the  rule  of  the  Dukes  of  Bur- 
gundy the  fine  buildings  became  more  numerous, 
and  many  churches,  of  cathedral  dimensions,  were 
built  in  the  cities.  At  Middelburg  there  was  a  large 
abbey ;  lofty  towers,  overlooking  the  whole  country, 
were  erected,  the  highest  being  at  Utrecht  (320  feet) 
and  Amersfoort;  and  beautiful  stained  glass  filled 
the  windows  of  many  churches,  and  is  still  preserved 
at  Gouda.     The  Netherlanders  embraced    the  Cal- 

1  Cream  jug. 


40  THE  FIGHTING  VERES. 

vinistic  form  of  Protestantism,  which  was  blindly 
iconoclastic,  and  hence  there  was  much  lamentable 
destruction  of  ecclesiastical  decoration.  But  the  vast 
churches,  with  their  solid  pillars  and  double-leafed 
capitals,  were  carefully  preserved  for  the  simpler 
worship. 

In  this  rapid  sketch  of  the  topography  of  the  the- 
atre of  war,  all  the  names  of  important  towns,  rivers, 
and  islands  have  been  mentioned ;  for  it  is  necessary 
that  their  positions  should  be  clearly  imprinted  on 
the  memory,  if  the  reader  desires  to  derive  intelligent 
pleasure  from  a  consideration  of  the  heroic  opera- 
tions which  finally  secured  the  triumph  of  freedom* 


J 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE  ENGLISH  VOLUNTEERS. 

The  English  bands  which  flocked  to  the  Nether- 
lands to  fight  in  the  quarrel  of  their  Dutch  brethren 
had  a  continuous  history  and  an  inherited  series  of 
traditions  for  seventy  years.  They  revived  the  mili- 
tary spirit  in  the  British  nation,  and  their  deeds  of 
arms  and  organization  form  the  first  chapter  of  the 
modem  military  history  of  England.  At  first  they 
were  merely  volunteers;  then  some  were  employed 
by  the  Queen,  and  others  by  the  States;  after  the 
Queen's  death  all  that  continued  to  exist  were  under 
the  States.  But  through  all  the  changes  there  was 
a  continuous  tradition  among  officers  and  men  from 
first  to  last.  The  history  of  the  English  regiments, 
fighting  for  the  cause  of  freedom  in  the  Netherlands, 
extends  from  1572  to  the  Peace  of  Westphalia. 

The  first  English  volunteers  formed  raw  levies, 
without  discipline  or  experience.  They  could  not 
stand  against  the  soldiers  of  Philip,  but  fled  before 
them,  and  in  some  instances  behaved  shamefully. 
But  they  and  their  successors  persevered.  In  a 
severe  school  they  acquired  the  military  virtues. 
Gradually  they  gained  confidence  in  themselves  and 
in  each  other,  and  at  length  they  saw  the  dreaded 
tercios  of  Spain  retreating  before  them  in  the  open 
field.     The  military  art,  the  drills,  the  use  of  weapons, 


42  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

even  the  nomenclature,  had  to  be  learnt  from  the 
Spaniards,  by  the  raw  inexperienced  English,  before 
they  could  be  a  match  for  their  foes  in  the  field. 
But  they  had  physical  strength,  indomitable  pluck, 
and  that  proud  endurance  and  patience  which  enabled 
them  to  bear  up  against  reverses,  and  learn  lessons 
from  their  defeats.  It  was  a  rough  ordeal,  and  the 
islanders  were  the  men  to  undergo  it,  and  to  profit 
by  it.  Only  at  first,  and  not  for  long,  would  the 
haughty  Spaniards  be  allowed  to  see  the  backs  of 
their  enemies. 

In  April,  1572,  there  was  a  muster  of  300  men 
before  the  Queen  at  Greenwich.  They  were  men 
ambitious  of  martial  fame,  they  were  led  by  bold 
Thomas  Morgan,  and  their  destination  was  Flushing. 
When  the  capture  of  Brill  sent  an  electric  shock 
through  the  Netherlands,  the  Duke  of  Alva  hur- 
riedly dispatched  a  garrison  to  Flushing.  It  ^-as 
refused  admittance.  The  troops  retired  to  Bergen- 
op-Zoom,  while  most  of  the  villages  and  fishing  ports 
of  Walcheren  and  South  Beveland  rose  in  revolt. 
The  towns  of  \'ecre  and  Arnemuiden,  in  Walcheren, 
followed  the  example;  and  the  insurgents  besieged 
the  city  of  Middelburg.  When  Pacheco,  the  chief 
engineer  of  the  Spanish  army,  landed  at  P'lushing, 
he  was  seized  and  hanged  by  the  enraged  populace. 
Alva  then  began  to  make  serious  preparations  to 
crush  the  insurrection,  while  the  Prince  of  Orange 
sent  an  officer  named  *t  Zereets,  or  Sara,  as  the 
English  called  him,  to  organize  defensive  measures. 
During  the  summer  Captain  Morgan,  with  his  300 
volunteers,  was  received  into  Flushing.  This  was 
the  first  English  band  that  ser\'ed  in  the  Nether* 


A 


THE  ENGUSH   VOLUNTEERS.  43 

lands.  Its  most  distinguished  member  was  the  fire- 
eating  Roger  Williams,  a  man  of  furious  quixotic 
valor,  yet  an  accomplished  soldier  and  student.  A 
son  of  Thomas  Williams  of  Penrose,  in  Monmouth- 
shire, by  Eleanor,  daughter  of  Sir  William  Vaughan, 
Roger  had  received  an  education  at  Oxford,  prob- 
ably at  Brazen  Nose,  before  he  commenced  his  adven- 
turous career  as  a  soldier  of  fortune.  He  was  the 
guiding  spirit  in  this  undisciplined  little  Flushing 
garrison,  which  soon  came  to  blows  with  the  enemy. 
The  Spaniards  from  Middelburg  mounted  some 
guns  on  an  artificial  hill,  and  opened  fire  oh  the  walls 
of  Flushing.  Out  came  the  garrison,  with  the  fiery 
Welshmen  in  the  van,  and  there  was  a  hot  encounter 
in  the  meadows,  at  push  of  pike.  This  was  the 
very  first  action  in  which  the  English  were  engaged, 
and  they  came  off  with  credit.  At  one  moment  the 
enemy  had  hold  of  Captain  Morgan's  ensign.  It  was 
gallantly  rescued  by  George  Browne  and  several 
other  young  gentlemen.  About  fifty  English  were 
slain,  but  the  Spaniards  were  dislodged  from  their 
position. 

These  English  sympathizers  were  very  popular  in 
Flushing.  They  asked  no  more  than  bare  victuals 
and  lodging,  and  they  were  eager  to  do  their  best  in 
the  way  of  fighting.  Morgan  was  anxious  for  rein- 
forcements; and  it  was  arranged  that  Sir  Humphrey 
Gilbert,  Raleigh's  half-brother,  should  come  over  as 
colonel  of  the  English,  and  1,500  men  with  him. 

Gilbert  arrived  with  these  English  bands,  and,  in 
concert  with  't  Zereets,  a  plan  was  matured  for  an 
invasion  of  Flanders,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
Scheldt     After  making  an  incursion  almost  to  the 


44  THE  FIGHTLXG   VERES. 

walls  of  Bruges,  and  routing  a  Spanish  convoy,  they 
embarked  again  and  sailed  across  to  the  coast  of 
South  Beveland.  Gilbert's  plan  was  to  besiege  the 
city  of  Goes,  which  was  occupied  by  a  Spanish  gar- 
rison,  under  a  veteran  officer  named  Don  Isidro 
Pacheco.  A  vanguard  was  landed  under  Morgan  s 
command,  and  began  to  march.  But  Pacheco  was 
in  ambush,  and  he  suddenly  opened  a  hot  fire  of  shot 
upon  them,  then  charging  with  a  hundred  pike>. 
The  English  wavered,  turned  round,  and  ran  for 
their  lives,  most  of  them  through  muddy  ditches. 
Roger  Williams  was  with  them,  and  he  said,  **I 
persuade  myself  most  of  them  were  afraid.  I  am  to 
blame  to  judge  their  minds,  but  let  me  sjx^ak  truth."* 
The  abortive  expedition  returned  to  Flushing;  but 
the  people  there  refused  to  allow  the  fugitive  troops 
to  enter  the  town,  until  they  had  shown  themselves 
worthy  of  being  received.  So  they  were  obliged  to 
encamp  outside,  in  the  unprotected  little  village  of 
Souburg. 

This  disgrace  aroused  the  courage  of  the  young 
recruits.  They  were  resolved  to  die  rather  than  run 
away  again,  and  their  endurance  was  soon  put  to  the 
proof.  The  Spanish  Governor  of  Middelburg  pre* 
pared  a  cantisado,  or  night  attack,  upon  them,  but  his 
disciplined  troops  were  met  most  valiantly  by  the 
volunteers.  Pikes  were  crossed,  so  that  the  ensign- 
bearers,  Philip  Watkins  and  Thomas  Lovett,  broke 
their  ensign-staves  at  push  of  pike.  The  Spaniards 
were  routed,  prii..oners  were  taken,  and  as  it  was 
found  that  they  were  provided  with  halters  in  the 

*  The  Actions  of  the  Lowe  Coum  tries,  writ  tern  fy  Sir  Roger  Wi^ 
Mams^  Kt,    (London.  i6iS.) 


THE  ENGLISH   VOLUNTEERS.  45 

certainty  of  success,  the  English  victors  derived  a 
grim  amusement  from  the  operation  of  hanging  the 
intending  executioners  with  their  own  halters.  Cap- 
tain Morgan  was  wounded  with  a  musket-shot ;  and 
his  men,  with  their  reputations  retrieved,  were  re- 
ceived once  more  by  the  Flushingers  with  open 
arms. 

The  great  object  of  Sir  Humphrey  Gilbert  was  the 
taking  of  Middelburg,  the  capital  of  Walcheren,  but 
it  was  clear  that  this  must  be  preceded  by  the  reduc- 
tion of  Goes,  the  chief  town  in  the  island  of  South 
Beveland,  through  which  the  Spaniards  in  Wal- 
cheren received  supplies.  Gilbert  and  his  colleague 
't  Zereets,  therefore,  determined  to  make  another 
attempt  on  Goes.  The  island  of  South  Beveland,  in 
the  previous  century,  had  been  the  most  flourishing 
district  in  Zeeland.  Goes  is  on  the  north  side,  with 
a  port  opening  on  the  eastern  Scheldt.  The  lofty 
spire  of  its  great  church  is  conspicuous  for  many 
miles,  and  the  church  itself,  with  its  flamboyant  win- 
dows and  splendid  organ,  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the 
Netherlands.  Goes  is  a  charming  old  town,  with 
many  quaintly  gabled  houses,  and  there  are  vestiges 
of  the  palace  where  Jacoba,  the  ill-fated  heiress  of 
Holland,  passed  the  last  few  years  of  her  life  in  hap- 
piness, with  her  noble  husband  Francis  van  Bo rsselen. 
Here  she  died  in  1436.  The  farms  round  Goes  have 
orchards  and  willow  garths  near  the  homesteads,  and 
elms  and  Lombardy  poplars  planted  in  rows  along 
the  roads  and  dikes. 

The  patriots  of  Flushing  were  well  supplied  with 
shipping,  both  from  that  port  and  from  Veere.  They 
had  six  pieces  of  artillery  and  other  materials  for  a 


46  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

siege;  and  towards  the  end  of  August,  1572,  they 
sailed  up  the  western  Scheldt  to  dislodge  the  veteran 
Pacheco  from  his  stronghold  at  Goes.  The  ad\'en- 
turers  landed  near  Biezelinge,  a  village  on  the  south 
side  of  the  island,  and  about  four  miles  from  Goes. 
At  first  there  were  some  slight  successes.  Captain 
Morgan  and  Rowland  Yorke  captured  the  fort  com- 
manding the  harbor,  and  the  six  pieces  of  artillery 
made  a  breach.  Gilbert  and  't  Zereets  then  led  their 
men  to  the  assault.  An  attempt  was  made  to  take 
the  place  by  escalade,  but,  after  some  desperate  fight- 
ing, it  was  repulsed  ;  and  the  inexperienced  besiegers 
began  to  despond. 

The  Uuke  of  Alva  saw  the  importance  of  reliev- 
ing Goes,  and  entrusted  the  duty  to  Sancho  de  A\nla, 
the  Governor  of  Antwerp,  with  that  consummate  old 
soldier,  Cristoval  de  Mondragon,  a  Basque  from  the 
lovely  valley  of  the  Ueva,  as  his  lieutenant  They 
concentrated  a  force  of  Spaniards  and  Walloons  at 
the  fortified  city  of  Bergen-op-Zoom,  on  the  eastern 
Scheldt ;  but  here  a  difficulty  arose.  In  former  da)"s 
a  narrow  channel,  easily  passable,  separated  Bergen- 
oj>Zoom  from  tiie  {k^v\\\c  polders  of  South  Beveland. 
Now  all  was  changed.  -A  frightful  storm,  combined 
with  a  very  high  tide,  blew  during  one  winter  s  night 
of  the  year  1532,  and  at  dawn  the  furious  waves  broke 
throuj^h  the  dikes  and  flooded  the  country.  Villages 
were  submerged,  and  hundreds  of  people  perished 
miserably.  A  wide  space  of  shallow  water  thus  inter- 
vened between  Bergcn-o|>-Zoom  and  South  Beveland« 
at  least  eight  miles  across,  the  area  receiving  the  mel- 
ancholy name  of  **  X'erdronken  land."  The  problem 
for  Avila  and  Mondragon  to  solve  was  how  to  tranr 


THE  ENGLISH  VOLUNTEERS.  /^J 

port  their  force  across  this  submerged  land,  and  they 
decided  upon  a  course  which  could  only  have  been 
attempted  with  brave  and  highly  disciplined  soldiers. 

A  native  of  Beveland,  named  Plumart,  reported  that 
there  was  a  very  narrow  ridge,  along  which  it  was 
possible  to  wade  from  one  shore  to  the  other  at  low 
water,  and  he  volunteered  his  services  as  guide. 
Mondragon  resolved  to  make  the  attempt.  He 
caused  a  canvas  bag  to  be  prepared  for  each  soldier, 
containing  biscuit  and  powder,  and  selected  a  force 
of  3,CKDO  picked  men.  It  was  a  fine  day  towards  the 
end  of  October,  and  the  time  chosen  was  when  the 
tide  was  at  half  ebb.  The  aged  veteran  then  led  his 
men  to  the  point  where  they  were  to  enter  the  water, 
served  out  the  bags,  and  delivered  a  stirring  harangue. 
**  I  will  plunge  in  first,"  he  exclaimed,  "  and  you  will 
boldly  follow  me.  Let  the  world  judge  if  you  have 
not  proved  yourselves  to  be  worthy  soldiers."  The 
Spaniards  came  first  in  double  file,  led  by  Mondra- 
gon, with  Plumart  the  guide  at  his  side.  Each  man 
was  ready  to  support  his  comrade.  The  point  to 
be  reached  on  the  Beveland  shore  was  the  village 
of  Yerseken-dam.  The  whole  thing  was  arranged  so 
well  that  only  nine  men  were  lost,  although  they 
were  frequently  over  their  shoulders  in  water,  and  a 
false  step  would,  in  many  places,  have  plunged  them 
out  of  their  depth.  Mondragon  landed  his  men 
safely  at  Yerseken-dam,  which  is  five  miles  from  Goes, 
and  made  beacon  signals  to  Pacheco  announcing 
his  arrival.  A  short  rest  was  necessary  before  ad- 
vancing.^ 

When  the  besiegers  heard  of  the  arrival  of  Mon- 

1  This  account  of  Mondragon's  exploit  is  from  Bentivoglio. 


48  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

dragon  they  did  not  wait  to  be  attacked,  but  fled  to 
their  ships  in  complete  rout  The  Spaniards  promptly 
followed  them,  and  did  much  execution  among  the 
fugitives.  Many  were  slain,  and  others  were  drowned 
in  attempting  to  reach  the  ships.  "  Thus,"  says 
Roger  Williams,  "ended  our  ignorant  poor  siege." 
Gilbert,  in  despair,  returned  to  England  with  his  regi- 
ment, while  Mondragon  supplied  the  Spanish  garri- 
sons of  Goes  and  Middelburg  with  provisions. 

English  volunteers  continued  to  ser\'c,  both  by  sea 
and  on  land,  but  they  still  showed  the  consequences 
of  inexperience  and  want  of  discipline.  At  Flush- 
ing they  helped  in  the  capture  of  Fort  Rammekens 
in  August,  1573,  and  in  the  great  sea-fight,  when  the 
Zeeland  ships  attacked  the  Spanish  fleet  from  Ant- 
werp, with  supplies  for  Middelburg.  But  in  the  fol- 
lowing year  the  English  serving  under  Chester  and 
Gainsford  were  disgraced.  They  surrendered  Val- 
kenburg  when  they  might  have  held  out,  and  they 
were  surprised  and  routed  at  Gouda,  with  a  loss  of 
300  men  and  three  colors  taken. 

Still  they  were  learning  in  the  school  of  adversity. 
There  was  no  check  in  the  enthusiasm  which  pro- 
duced fresh  volunteers.  Still  they  came.  In  1578, 
John  North,  the  eldest  son  of  Lord  North,  Henry 
Cavendish,  and,  above  all,  John  Norris,  arrived.  John 
Norris  was  one  of  several  warrior  brothers  in  whom 
the  Queen  took  special  interest.  One  of  his  grand- 
fathers was  that  Henry  Norris  who  suffered  owing 
to  the  false  accusations  against  Anne  Boleyn,  The 
other  was  that  Lord  Williams  of  Thame  who  had 
the  custody  of  Elizabeth  during  her  sister  s  persecu- 
tion.     His  father  had  been  created  Lord  Norris  of 


THE  ENGLISH   VOLUNTEERS,  49 

Rycote,  and  his  mother,  Margery  Williams,  was  one 
of  the  Queen's  earliest  and  dearest  friends,  —  a  friend 
in  the  time  of  need  and  adversity.  Queen  Elizabeth 
called  Lady  Norris  "  her  own  crow,"  "  being  black  in 
complexion,"  we  are  told,  **  a  color  which  no  whit  un- 
became  the  faces  of  her  martial  issue."  John  had 
already  served  in  France  under  Admiral  Coligny, 
and  in  Ireland  under  Essex,  when  he  placed  his 
sword  and  his  tried  valor  at  the  disposal  of  William 
of  Orange. 

Don  Juan  of  Austria  had  just  put  the  army  of 
the  States  to  flight  at  the  battle  of  Gemblours. 
He  seemed  to  be  carrying  all  before  him.  The 
Archduke  Matthias,  who  had  been  invited  into  the 
Netherlands,  had  got  together  an  army  to  oppose 
his  cousin,  consisting  of  Flemings  and  English  and 
Scotch  volunteers,  under  the  command  of  Count 
Bossu  and  Fran9ois  de  la  Noue.  The  latter  was  a 
Breton,  who  had  embraced  the  Protestant  religion, 
and  had  borne  arms  from  his  infancy.  He  was  in 
the  Italian  wars ;  he  fought  at  St.  Quentin,  Jarnac, 
and  Moncoutour,  and  lost  his  left  arm  at  the  siege 
of  Fontenai-le-comte.  He  used  one  of  iron,  and  was 
called  "  Bras  de  Fer."  He  now  was  forty-eight,  a  sea- 
soned and  weather-beaten  veteran.^  The  raw  recruits 
were  in  need  of  such  a  man  to  command  them. 
They  numbered  14,000  men.  Don  Juan  had  a  splen- 
didly equipped  force  of  30,000  men,  with  his  nephew, 
the  Duke  of  Parma,  as  general  of  horse,  Count 
Mansfelt  as  lord  marshal,  and  Don  Antonio  Marti- 
nez de  Leyva,  among  many  other  nobles,  with  a  picked 
company,  200  strong,  bearing  colors  with  a  crucifix 
on  a  sable  ground.     Leyva  led  the  van. 

*  Discours  politiques  et  militaires,    (Bale,  1587.) 


50  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

La  Noue  selected  a  position  very  carefully,  near 
the  village  of  Rymenant,  and  not  far  from  the  city 
of  Malines,  in  Brabant.  His  troops  were  drawn  up 
between  the  village  and  the  river  Dyle,  a  tributary 
of  the  Scheldt.  One  flank  was  protected  by  a  wood, 
and  the  other  by  trenches.  The  army  of  Don  Juan 
advanced  from  Arschot,  which  is  on  the  banks  of  the 
same  river,  and  approached  the  enemy  in  good  order. 
The  object  was  to  draw  the  inexperienced  recruits 
out  of  their  trenches,  and  overu'helm  them  in  the 
open.  There  were  skirmishes,  but  La  Noue  still  held 
back  his  main  body. 

Colonel  N orris  and  the  English  volunteers  occu- 
pied a  position  apart  from  the  Flemings,  and  Don 
Juan  now  resolved  to  dislodge  them  if  {X)ssiblc,  and 
to  bring  on  a  general  engagement.  He  attacked  the 
English  with  the  flower  of  the  Spanish  infantry,  the 
select  company  of  Leyva  being  in  the  \'an.  Scarcely 
a  man  in  this  company  had  not  served  as  an  officer, 
and  was  not  of  knightly  rank.  Leyva  himself  had 
equipped  the  company  at  his  own  expense.  The  as- 
sault was  made  with  desperate  valor,  but  it  was  not 
less  bravely  received  by  the  English  volunteers.  The 
fight  long  remained  doubtful.  The  Spaniards  were 
assaulting  an  intrenched  position,  and  they  were  re^ 
pulsed  again  and  again.  At  length  they  fell  back, 
and  Don  Juan  ordered  a  retreat*  This  was  on  the 
1st  of  August,  1578.  The  heat  was  intense,  and 
the  Englishmen  fought  in  their  shirt-sleeves.  Nor* 
ris,  stoutly  cheering  on  his  men,  had  three  horses 
killed  under  him.  Young  liingham,  serving  as  lieu- 
tenant to  Cavendish,  and  William  Markham,  from 

^  Bcntivoglio. 


THE  ENGLISH  VOLUNTEERS.  5 1 

Sedgebrook,  in  Lincolnshire,  received  special  com- 
mendation ;  ^  but  all  had  done  well. 

It  was  an  important  engagement  for  the  English- 
men, who  were  learning  to  be  soldiers.  They  had 
now  repulsed  the  formidable  infantry  of  Spain  on 
two  occasions :  first  at  Souburg,  outside  the  town 
of  Flushing,  and  again  at  Rymenant.  They  were 
learning  their  lesson. 

Volunteers  continued  to  come  over  during  the  fol- 
lowing years,  and  to  acquire  a  knowledge  of  the  mil- 
itary art,  the  most  distinguished  being  John  and  Ed- 
ward Norris,  Thomas  Morgan,  and  Roger  Williams, 
and  later  on  came  John  Burrough,  Edmund  Uvedale, 
Thomas  Wingfield,  Robert  Sidney,  and  Baskerville, 
—  all  men  with  whom  we  shall  soon  become  better 
acquainted.  In  1580  we  hear  of  John  Norris  with  a 
company  of  150  well-armed  Englishmen,  at  Cam- 
pen;  and  in  1582  he  is  still  aiding  the  Netherlanders 
to  stem  the  torrent  of  invasion  in  Gelderland.  In 
1583  Norris  was  commanding  the  English  in  the 
Pay  de  Waas,  opposite  to  Antwerp. 

Meanwhile  Roger  Williams  had  been  actually  im- 
proving his  military  education  in  the  enemy  s  camp. 
He  had  gone  to  Germany,  owing  to  a  report  that  the 
Prince  of  Conde  was  raising  forces  there  to  march 
into  France,  and  he  thought  this  would  be  a  good 
opportunity  of  gratifying  his  desire  to  see  strange 
wars.  But  he  found  that  the  report  was  untrue,  and 
that  he  had  spent  his  money  for  nothing ;  so  he  began 
his  journey  back  to  England.  Entering  Lier,  in 
Brabant,  he  was  brought  before  Julian  Romero,  the 
best  infantry  officer  in  the  Spanish  service.     Among 

1  Camden  (Kenaet),  p.  460. 


52  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

many  other  questions  Romero  asked  the  stranger 
what  noblemen  in  England  he  knew  best.  He  an- 
swered, the  Earl  of  Pembroke,  whom  he  ser\ed  as  a 
page.  "  What,"  exclaimed  Romero,  "  the  general  of 
the  English  before  St.  Quentin  ?  I  never  honored 
any  man  more."  So  he  earnestly  requested  Williams 
to  remain  in  the  Spanish  army,  assuring  him  that 
he  might  depart  when  it  pleased  him.  Loath  to  re- 
turn to  England  without  seeing  something,  he  prom- 
ised to  stay,  and  saw  some  service.* 

But  the  time  was  now  approaching  for  England  to 
enter  upon  the  quarrel  as  a  nation.  The  Queens 
government  had  long  been  negotiating  with  the 
States,  and,  besides  allowing  the  volunteers  to  enter 
the  service  of  the  Prince  of  Orange,  Queen  Eliza- 
beth had  advanced  at  least  /'284,ooo  in  money  be- 
tween 1577  and  1 58 1,  which  she  had  raised  on  her 
own  credit,  receiving  the  principal  and  paying  inter- 
est to  the  Genoese  bankers  Pallavicino  and  Spinola.* 

The  tentative  efforts  of  the  inexperienced  volun- 
teers were  the  forerunners  of  the  more  serious  and 
extensive  assistance  which  the  freemen  of  England 
were  to  give  to  the  patriots  fighting  for  freedom  at 
their  doors. 

*  Discourse  of  the  Discipline  of       •  State  Papers   (Holland),  voL 
the  Spaniards,    Roger  Williams.      ziiL 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE  ART  MILITARY. 

The  army  which  Queen  Elizabeth  was  about  to 
send  to  the  Netherlands  was  the  first  that  had  been 
organized  on  the  Spanish  model.  The  various  grades, 
the  drill  and  evolutions,  and  even  much  of  the  mili- 
tary nomenclature,  were  borrowed  from  the  system 
which  had  been  founded  by  the  Great  Captain,  and 
had  produced  the  finest  infantry  the  world  had  seen 
since  the  fall  of  the  Roman  Empire.  The  best 
regiments  of  Spain  were  in  the  Netherlands,  under 
such  colonels,  or  maestros  de  campo^  as  Romero  and 
Mondragon.  The  ''Tercio  Viejoy'  under  Mondragon, 
was  so  called  because  it  included  bands  i^'  v  under  as'') 
of  the  time  of  the  Great  Captain  Gonzalvo  de  Cor- 
dova and  of  Charles  V.  The  military  training  and 
experience  of  the  soldiers  were  unrivalled,  their  ap- 
pearance superb,  their  bravery  proved  in  scores  of 
victories.  This  Tercio  was  broken  up  by  the  Duke 
of  Parma,  and  the  men  were  distributed  in  other 
tercioSy  because  their  pride  was  considered  excessive. 
Still  that  fault  arose  from  a  consciousness  of  having 
cause  for  pride,  and  it  shows  the  sort  of  perfection  to 
which  the  Spanish  infantry  had  reached.  They  had 
no  equal  in  Europe,  and,  in  preparing  to  create  such 
an  equal,  some  English  commanders  strove  to  learn 
from  the  enemy,  like  Roger  Williams,  and  all  en- 
deavored to  model  their  armies  on  this  most  approved 
pattern. 


54  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

The  generals  staff  of  the  English  army  was  or- 
ganized almost  exactly  on  the  Spanish  system.  Un- 
der the  general,  and  exercising  supervision  over  the 
army,  was  the  lord  marshal,  who  selected  sites  for 
camps  and  arranged  the  stationing  of  pickets,  sen- 
tries, and  scouts.  In  the  Spanish  scr\'ice  he  was 
called  "campmaster  general."  The  lord  marshal 
gave  orders  to  the  provost  marshal,  the  sergeant- 
major  general,  the  quartermaster-general,  and  the 
scout-master,  and  arranged  the  marches  and  strategic 
movements  of  the  army.  He  instructed  the  quarter- 
masters as  to  the  staking  out  the  camp,  appointed 
the  limits  of  the  market-place,  divided  the  ground, 
and  allotted  spaces  for  each  company. 

The  duty  of  the  treasurer  of  war  was  to  receive 
from  the  muster-master  general,  the  victual-master, 
and  provost  marshal  lists  of  all  officers  with  their 
allowances.  He  was  allowed  a  small  staff  of  sub- 
treasurers  and  clerks,  and  he  had  supervision  over 
the  work  of  the  muster-masters.  These  officials  were 
expected  to  have  a  knowledge  and  description  of 
every  man  of  every  company,  to  be  good  accountants, 
and  to  take  care  that  pay  was  not  drawn  for  dead  or 
absent  men. 

The  lieutenant-general  of  horse  commanded  all  the 
cavalry,  and  the  colonel-general,  sometimes  also  called 
lieutenant-general  of  foot,  commanded  the  infantr}'. 
The  sergeant-major  general  ranked  next  under  the 
colonel-general. 

Each  rejjiment  was  commanded  by  an  officer  who, 
since  the  time  of  Henry  VHI.,  had  been  called  a 
colonel,  equivalent  to  the  maestro  de  campo  of  the 
Spanish  service;   and  there  was  also  a  lieutenant* 


THE  ART  MILITARY,  55 

colonel.  The  sergeant-major  of  a  regiment  was  se- 
lected from  among  the  captains.  It  was  his  duty, 
with  the  aid  of  the  captains,  to  keep  the  regiment  in 
due  form,  and  the  sergeant-major  general  trusted  to 
the  skill  and  experience  of  the  sergeant-majors  of 
regiments  to  form  an  army  in  what  line  or  figure  was 
considered  best  by  the  general.  The  sergeant-major 
was  allowed  a  horse,  and  when  his  regiment  was  on 
detached  service  he  performed  the  duties  of  marshal. 
His  chief  duties  were  to  insure  good  order  in  march- 
ing and  in  encamping,  and  perfect  forms  of  embat- 
tling. He  was  expected  to  report  himself  daily  to  the 
sergeant-major  general,  to  receive  orders  from  him, 
to  apply  for  necessary  stores  and  provisions,  and  to 
visit  the  guards  every  night. 

The^  captain  of  a  company  was  usually  a  gentle- 
man of  some  position,  for  the  companies  were  much 
sought  after,  and  before  long  a  sort  of  purchase  sys- 
tem was  introduced.  The  number  of  men  in  a  com- 
pany varied  very  much,  but  200  was  considered  a  full 
complement.  Besides  his  sword,  the  captain  had  a 
fair  gilt  partisan  richly  trimmed,  and  his  colors  car- 
ried by  the  ensign.  His  pay  was  eight  guineas  (eighty- 
four  gulden)  a  month.  The  lieutenant  of  a  company 
had  his  place  in  the  rear  advancing,  and  in  the  front 
retiring.  His  duties  were  to  train  and  drill  the  men, 
and  to  see  them  properly  dressed  in  their  files,  and 
he  received  ^5.  16.  a  month.  The  ensign,  or  ^^<fr^^ 
of  the  Spaniards,  had  to  guard  the  captain's  colors ; 
which  consisted  of  a  red  cross  on  a  white  field,  from 
which  flew  a  streamer  with  the  principal  colors  and 
charges  of  the  captain's  coat-armor.  The  ensign 
wore  a  burgonet  and  corselet,  and  was  armed  with 


56  THE  FIGHTING    VERES. 

sword  and  dagger.  His  pay  was  ^'4.  16.  a  month. 
In  each  company  there  were  also  a  certain  number  of 
gentlemen  volunteers  and  pages. 

A  company  was  divided  into  four  squadrons,  and 
there  was  a  sergeant  for  every  two.  His  duties  were 
to  fetch  the  watchword  from  the  sergeant-major  and 
deliver  it  to  the  corporals,  to  instruct  in  postures 
and  the  use  of  arms,  and  to  draw  up  the  files  and  see 
them  in  position  according  to  the  captain's  orders. 
He  was  expected  to  be  able  to  read  and  cipher,  to 
keep  a  list  of  his  men,  and  to  assign  duties.  Like 
the  ensigns,  the  sergeants  wore  a  Milan  corselet  and 
burgonet,  and  carried  a  halberd  or  partisan.  A 
sergeant  s  pay  was  £2,  8.  a  month. 

The  cabo  dc  cscuadra  of  the  Spaniards  was  called 
a  corporal  by  the  English,  and  there  was  one  for 
each  squadron.  His  duties  were  to  draw  out  the 
corps  dii  garde,  place  sentries,  receive  the  password, 
and  draw  victuals  and  stores  from  the  clerk.  He  led 
the  principal  file  of  his  squadron  in  attack,  and  re- 
ceived jQi.  1 2.  a  month.  The  squadrons  were  divided 
into  camarados,  or  fellowships,  of  ten  to  twelve  men 
each,  who  were  united  together  in  their  lodging  and 
messing,  and  usually  in  their  friendships.  Each 
camarado  was  led  by  an  assistant  corporal,  called  a 
cabo  dc  camarado  or  lanspcsado.  The  Italian  name 
was  lanzc  spczzatc.  The  lanspcsados  each  recei\'ed 
;^r.  4.  a  month.  Each  company  also  had  a  clerk  to 
keep  the  rolls  and  muster  books,  and  receive  stores 
and  provisions;  and  a  harbinger  who  received  and 
distributed  the  billets,  ascertained  from  the  quarter- 
master-general  the  portion  of  ground  on  which  his 
company  was  to  encamp,  and  allotted  the  ground  for 


THE  ART  MIUTARY.  57 

building  their  cabins  to  the  camarados.  The  har- 
binger was  selected  by  the  captain  from  among  the 
corporals.  His  pay  was  /"i.  8.  a  month.  Each 
company  also  had  a  drummer  and  fifer,  at  £1.  4. 
each  a  month. 

The  soldiers  of  a  company  were  divided  into  pike- 
men  and  shotmen.  The  Spaniards  looked  upon  the 
pike  as  "  la  sehora  y  reyna  de  las  annas^^  the  noblest 
of  weapons.  A  pike  had  to  be  strong  and  straight, 
made  of  well-grown  ash,  and  headed  with  a  ^steel 
spike  guarded  with  plates  of  iron.  The  length  was 
eighteen  feet,  and  about  six  feet  from  the  head  there 
was  a  patch  of  cloth  or  velvet  to  mark  the  place  for 
carrying  the  pike  in  shouldering  and  sloping.  It 
was  trimmed  with  tassels,  to  turn  off  the  water  which, 
in  rainy  weather,  would  otherwise  run  down  along 
the  staff.^  Pikemen  were  also  armed  with  a  sword 
having  a  basket  hilt,  blade  a  yard  long,  and  a  scab- 
bard of  strong  leather.  The  sword  used  to  be  at- 
tached to  a  baldric,  but  afterwards  a  girdle  was  sub- 
stituted, in  which  there  was  also  a  dagger ;  for  the 
dagger,  observes  Robert  Barret,  "  is  a  weapon  of  great 
advantage  in  pell  mell."  Much  attention  was  given 
to  the  defensive  armor  of  pikemen.  The  Spanish 
morion  was  preferred  to  the  old  burgonet  as  a  head- 
piece. It  was  well  lined  with  quilted  linen,  and  had 
ear-plates,  also  lined,  with  a  string  to  fasten  under 
the  chin.  Round  the  neck  a  gorget  was  worn,  and 
over  it  a  pair  of  cuirasses,  breast  and  back  pieces, — 

1  The  use  of  the  pike  was  aban-  1690  has  the  pike   exercise  ;  and 

doned  in  France,  by  the  advice  of  the    '*  Gentleman's      Dictionary  " 

Vauban,  in  1703,  and  in  England  (1705)  describes   the   pike   as  "a 

at  about  the  same  time.     A  book  weapon  formerly  in  use,  but  now 

of  infantry  exercise  published   in  set  aside." 


58  THE  FIGHTiyC   VERES. 

pike-proof,  with  clasps  for  fastening.  On  the  left  of 
the  back  piece  there  was  a  hook  for  the  morion. 
Fastened  to  the  breastplate  in  front,  there  was  a  pair 
of  taccs,  with  several  joints,  defending  the  belly  and 
upper  half  of  the  thigh.  On  the  shoulders  there  was 
a  pair  of  well-moulded  pouldrons  coming  down  to 
the  elbows;  but  the  vantbraces,  from  the  elbow  to 
the  wrist,  which  were  formerly  in  use,  had  been  dis- 
continued. Under  the  armor  the  men  wore  doublets 
of  fustian  or  chamois  leather,  made  high  in  the  collar 
to  protect  their  necks  from  cold  and  sun,  and  well 
stuffed  at  the  shoulders.  For  hose  they  had  large 
wide  "greygescoes,"  lined  with  cotton  and  b<:)und 
with  strong  canvas,  to  which  the  nether  stockings 
were  fastened,  and  gartered  at  the  knees.  A  pike- 
man's  pay  was  /"i.  4.  to  /"i.  16.  a  month.* 

The  shotmen  of  the  company  also  wore  a  Spanish 
morion,  and  were  armed  with  a  sword,  besfdes  their 
muskets.  Round  the  neck  there  was  a  piece  of 
quilted  leather,  cut  like  a  large  gorget.  Over  the 
left  shoulder  and  under  the  right  arm  they  wore  a 
bandoleer  of  leather,  to  which  was  fastened,  by  double 
strings  at  least  nine  inches  long,  one  large  priming 
charge  and  twelve  other  charges,  all  made  of  light 
wood  or  horn,  covered  with  leather.  At  his  girdle 
the  shotman  carried  his  bullet -bag,  containing  a 
mould,  worm,  screw,  and  priming-iron.  The  Duke 
of  Alva  brought  muskets  into  use  in  1567.  Before 
that  time  the  fire-arm,  mounted  on  a  stock,  which 
was  adopted  in  Europe,  was  the  arquebus.  It  came 
in  at  about  the  end  of  the  reign  of  Louis  XII.     The 

^  Sir  Edmund  Uvedale,  in  1590,    a  year,  or  8d.  a  day.    Cotton  AfSS- 
gives  a  soldier's  pay  at  j£  12.  3.  4.    Galba,  D.  vii.  84. 


THE  ART  MILITARY.  59 

musket  was  much  heavier  than  the  arquebus,  and 
necessitated  the  use  of  a  staff,  breast-high,  as  a  rest. 
The  stock  of  the  musket  was  of  walnut  wood,  the 
barrel  four  and  a  half  feet  long.  The  wheel-lock  had 
also  been  introduced  by  Alva.  It  was  a  small  solid 
wheel  of  steel,  fixed  against  the  plate  of  the  lock.  An 
axis  pierced  its  centre  and  went  into  the  lock,  a  chain 
being  fastened  to  the  interior  end,  which  twisted 
round  it  when  the  wheel  was  turned,  and  bent  the 
spring  by  which  it  was  held.  A  key  was  used  to 
bend  this  spring,  into  which  the  exterior  end  of  the 
axis  was  inserted.  By  turning  the  key  from  left  to 
right  the  wheel  was  made  to  revolve,  and  by  this 
movement  a  little  slider  of  copper,  which  covered  the 
pan  containing  the  priming,  retired  from  over  it.  By 
the  same  movement  the  cock,  armed  with  a  flint,  was 
made  ready  to  be  discharged  on  pulling  the  trigger. 
The  cock,  falling  on  the  wheel,  produced  fire,  and 
communicated  it  to  the  priming.  The  wheel-lock 
was,  however,  generally  used  for  pistols  and  carbines, 
and  the  match-lock  for  muskets.^ 

The  musket  rest,  which  the  soldier  had  to  carry  in 
his  left  hand,  was  of  ash  wood,  with  a  half  hoop  of 
iron,  to  rest  the  musket  on,  at  one  end,  and  an  iron 
pike  at  the  other,  to  fix  it  in  the  ground.  A  shot- 
man  received  £\,  16.  a  month. 

The  companies  were  formed  in  solid  squares,  the 
pikemen  in  the  centre,  and  shotmen  on  the  flanks ; 
usually  ten  in  rank  and  file.     First  a  file  of  ten  men, 

^  In  the  time  of  Charles  I.  the  leers.     The  noisy  rattling  of  ban- 

j«dr^^^zi///r^,  which  was  a  flint-lock,  doleers  betrayed  the  presence  of 

took  the  place  of  the  wheel-lock ;  an   enemy,   and    even    prevented 

and  in  1670  the  cartridge-box  took  men  from  hearing  orders, 
the  place  of  the  dangling  bando- 


6o  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

headed  by  the  cabo  de  camarado,  was  marched  up  to 
the  place  where  the  square  was  to  be  formed,  and 
halted.  Then  came  the  next  file,  marching  shoulder 
to  shoulder  with  the  first,  and  so  on  to  the  tenth,  the 
ensign  marching  in  the  middle  file.  A  maniple  was 
a  detachment  of  so  many  ranks  and  files  of  a  square 
of  pikes,  told  off  to  march  through  any  narrow  place. 
The  rule  was  that  a  file  should  never  be  more  than 
ten  deep. 

The  corps  du  garde  was  part  of  a  squadron  told  off 
as  a  picket,  or  for  sentry  duty.  It  numbered  twenty 
or  thirty  men,  and  was  stationed  where  the  enemy 
was  most  likely  to  make  an  attack.  The  sergeant  in 
command  chose  his  sentries,  and  placed  them  at  dis- 
tanccs  of  thirty  to  forty  paces  from  the  corps  du 
garde.  These  sentries  were  all  shotmen,  and  had 
their  rests  fixed  and  muskets  levelled.  The  Spa- 
niards allowed  the  sentries  to  have  the  password. 
which  enabled  Roger  Williams,  at  Venlo  siege,  to 
advance  almost  to  the  Duke  of  Parmas  tent.  But 
in  the  English  service  the  sentry  had  orders  to  allow 
no  one  to  pass  until  he  had  called  his  officer,  who 
alone  had  the  word. 

Rounders  {ronda  in  Spanish)  were  select  soldiers 
exempted  from  the  duties  of  sentries,  and  chosen  to 
be  gentlemen  of  a  company.  They  were  called  gen- 
tlemen rounders,  or  gentlemen  of  the  round.  Their 
duty  was  to  visit  the  corps  du  garde  and  the  sentries 
at  certain  hours  of  the  night.  They  were  entrusted 
with  the  password,  and  were  leaders  of  the  files  in 
which  thev  served. 

Each  company,  on  reaching  camp,  received  a 
measured  parallelogram  from  the  quartermaster,  for 


THE  ART  MILITARY,  6 1 

hutting.  A  soldier  was  expected  to  make  one  of  a 
camarado,  "to  be  as  loving  brethren."  Having 
marched  all  day,  and  coming  to  the  place  where  they 
were  to  encamp,  one  of  them  chose  out  the  driest 
and  warmest  plot  of  ground  he  could  find  in  the 
allotted  quarters,  and  looked  after  all  the  clothes, 
arms,  and  baggage.  Another  went,  with  one  of  the 
pages,  to  get  a  supply  of  straw  from  some  adjoining 
village,  or  of  heath  and  ferns  from  the  moorland, 
according  to  the  country  they  were  in.  This  was 
used  both  to  roof  their  huts  and  to  make  their  beds. 
The  boys  attached  to  the  camarado  carried  a  small 
hatchet,  a  leathern  bottle  for  water,  a  small  kettle  to 
seethe  meat  in,  and  a  bag  of  salt.  One  soldier  cut 
down  forked  boughs  and  long  poles  to  make  a  frame- 
work for  the  hut,  while  another  visited  the  vivandiers 
and  victuallers  to  obtain  bread  and  drink;  if  not 
otherwise  provided,  either  by  forage  or  pillaging. 
Another  made  the  fire,  stuck  the  forked  stakes  into 
the  ground,  and  hung  the  kettle  to  seethe.  Thus  all 
the  comrades  were  busily  at  work,  and  the  men  made 
themselves  as  comfortable  as  it  was  possible.  But 
the  life  was  a  very  hard  one,  and  there  was  often 
much  sickness.  Sometimes  they  were  sent  on  a 
night  attack,  or  had  to  repel  one.  A  night  attack 
was  called  a  camisado,  because  the  soldiers  often  put 
shirts  over  their  armor,  the  better  to  distinguish  each 
other  in  the  dark. 

The  Queen  allowed  120  rations  for  every  100 
men,  the  surplus  being  divided  amongst  the  officers. 
A  ration  consisted  of  one  pottle  of  beer,  one  and 
a  half  pounds  of  bread,  half  a  pound  of  butter,  one 
pound   of  cheese,  six  herrings,  two  pounds  of  salt 


62 


THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 


beef,  and  one  pound  of  bacon.  So  that  each  man 
received  six  and  a  half  pounds  of  solids  a  day  and 
one  pottle  of  beer,  besides  six  herrings.  The  outfit 
of  a  soldier,  apart  from  his  arms  and  armor,  con- 
sisted of  a  fustian  doublet,  a  cassock  or  cloak  for 
the  winter,  a  pair  of  Venetian  hose,  two  shirts  and 
two  bands,  three  pairs  of  woollen  stockings,  and  four 
pairs  of  boots.  The  cost  of  this  outfit  was  £2,  9.  2., 
defensive  armor  ;^i.  2.,  and  the  pike  £0.  4.  6.;  so 
that  each  recruit  cost  his  country  the  sum  of  £7^.  1 5. 8. 
In  1600  an  infantry  company  was  calculated  to  cost 
;^270  a  month  for  pay,  or  ;^ 3,240  a  year. 

A  recruit  was  called  a  bczonian}  from  the  Spanbh 
word  bisofio,  which  means  raw,  undisciplined,  and  is 
used  for  a  recruit  inexpert  in  the  use  of  arms. 

During  the  war  in  the  Netherlands  the  sieges  were 
more  frequent  than  battles  in  the  open  countr)\  and 
no  unimportant  part  of  the  duty  of  foot-soldiers  ^^-as 
the  expert  use  of  the  pick  and  spade.^  It  was  not 
uncommon  for  the  men  to  have  to  dig  and  intrench 
themselves  under  a  heavy  fire.     On  such  occasions 


*  Modem  writers  seem  to  think 
that  b f  son  tan  was  a  term  of  re- 
proach. In  W^alker's  dictionary, 
•*  a  low  fellow  or  scoundrel,  a 
bcp;^ar/*  is  the  meaning  given. 
But  this  is  a  mistake.  When 
Pistol  says  to  Slender,  **  Under 
which  kinjj,  Bezonian?"  (2d part 
of  Henry  II'.,  Act  5,  Sc.  3;,  he 
uses  the  word  as  we  should  say 
"greenhorn."  Even  in  the  mouth 
of  Suffolk  —  **(ireat  men  oft  die 
by  vile  Bezonians "  {id  part  of 
Henry  \  7.,  Act  4,  Sc.  i )  —  the  sense 
is  merely  that  veterans  or  officers 
are  often  slain  by  recruits. 


These  are  the  two  occasions  00 
which  the  word  is  used  bv  Shake* 
s[>eare.  It  was  in  common  use  for 
a  recruit,  among  the  English  io 
the  Netherlands.  Ger\*ase  Mark- 
ham,  in  his  English  Hus^ndmam^ 
says,  **The  ordinary  tillers  of  the 
earth,  such  as  we  call  husbuid- 
men,  in  Spain  besonyans!^ 

•  **  We  arc  used  to  put  the  sol- 
diers to  the  work  of  pioneers,  who 
leave  their  tools  and  take  iheir 
weapons  when  need  requireth.**— 
F.  Vcre  from  the  Hapte^  24M 
Aprils  1597.    MSS.  at  HatfiekL 


THE  ART  MILITARY,  63 

they  were  protected  by  barrels  filled  with  earth,  in 
double  rows.  The  officers  had  large  bucklers  or 
shields  when  they  reconnoitred  an  enemy's  forti- 
fications. 

The  cavalry  consisted  of  lancers,  pistoliers,  car- 
bines, and  light-horse.  Lancers  wore  a  buff  coat 
with  long  skirts.  They  were  provided  with  armor 
from  the  head  to  the  knee,  and  bore  a  lance  in  the 
right  hand,  a  sword  on  the  left  side,  and  a  pair  of 
pistols  in  holsters.  The  saddle  was  partly  plated 
with  steel.  Their  horses  were  strong  and  swift, 
generally  fifteen  hands.  They  charged  the  ranks  of 
pikemen,  and  occasionally  broke  and  routed  them. 
The  pistolier,  instead  of  a  lance,  had  a  pair  of  French 
pistols,  two  feet  long  in  the  barrel,  with  wheel-locks. 
The  carbines  wore  a  morion,  gorget,  cuirass,  and 
pouldrons.  They  were  armed  with  swords,  and  pe- 
tronels  at  their  saddles,  with  flax,  touch-box,  and  bullet- 
bag.  They  charged  on  the  flanks  of  the  lancers 
and  pistoliers,  delivered  their  volleys  at  a  greater  dis- 
tance, and  when  the  enemy  was  routed  they  did  great 
execution.  Light-horse  wore  a  morion,  gorget,  and 
light  cuirass.  They  had  a  slender  chasing  staff  and 
pair  of  pistols.  Their  duty  was  to  gallop  out  as  skir- 
mishers, to  charge  loose  wings  of  shotmen,  to  recon- 
noitre, and  to  pursue  a  broken  enemy. 

Dragoons  were  mounted  musketeers  for  holding 
fords  or  bridges.  There  were  eleven  in  a  range,  and 
when  they  came  to  the  place  to  be  held,  ten  dis- 
mounted, and  the  eleventh  held  the  horses,  threading 
the  bridles  one  into  another.  They  were  formed  in 
companies  of  1 10  men.  But  this  system  of  mount- 
ing infantry  did  not  come  into  general  use  until  near 
the  close  of  the  war. 


64  THE  FIGHTLXG   VERES, 

A  comet  or  guidon  of  horse  was  equivalent  to  an 
ensign  of  foot.  The  colors  were  swallow-tailed  and 
three  feet  long,  and  carried  on  a  lance ;  unless  the 
captain  was  created  a  banneret,  when  his  guidon  was 
made  square. 

The  artillery  was  under  the  master  of  the  ordnance 
and  his  lieutenant.  Their  staff  consisted  of  master 
gunners,  wagon-masters,  trench-masters,  and  can- 
noniers.  The  heaviest  battering-gun  of  those  da)'S 
was  the  double  cannon,  weighing  8,000  lbs.,  throw- 
ing  a  shot  of  sixty-six  lbs.,  with  a  point-blank  range 
of  800  paces,  bore  eight  and  a  half  inches.  The 
cannon  weighed  5,500  lbs.,  with  a  sixty  pr.  shot; 
and  the  demi-cannon  weighed  4,000  lbs.,  with  a 
twenty-four-pound  shot,  bore  six  inches,  and  point- 
blank  range  forty  paces.  These  formed  a  siege  train 
and  were  difficult  to  transport  across  country,  but  the 
network  of  rivers  and  canals  in  the  Netherlands  re- 
moved much  of  the  obstacles  caused  in  other  coun- 
tries by  the  labor  of  transport. 

The  largest  fieldpiece  was  a  quarter-cannon  weigh- 
ing 3,200  lbs.,  and  throwing  a  1 2  pr.  ball.  Its  length 
was  84  feet,  bore  44  inches,  point-blank  range  300 
paces.  This  gun  was  between  the  culverin  and  dcmu 
culveriu,  classes  of  ordnance  which  were  not  much 
used  in  the  Netherlands.  The  small  fieldpiece  v^-as 
called  a  drake  or  sakcr,  and  weighed  580  lbs.  with  a 
6  pr.  shot ;  length,  5  feet ;  bore,  3I  inches ;  range 
point-blank,  100  paces.  The  falconet  was  a  heavier 
piece,  but  throwing  the  same  weight  of  shot. 

The  master  of  the  ordnance  directed  the  planning 
out  and  construction  of  bulwarks,  curtains  and  cava- 
liers^ casemates  and  trenches,  as  well  as  the  mount- 


kk^ 


THE  ART  MILITARY.  65 

ing  and  working  of  the  guns.  Bulwarks  were  built 
at  the  angles  of  the  enceinte  of  a  city  or  fort,  and  were 
obtuse  or  rounded.  They  consisted  of  the  traverses 
or  flankers,  the  pome  or  shoulder,  the  front  or  curtain^ 
the  counter-front  or  spurs,  and  the  parapets.  The 
cavaliers  were  built  within  the  curtain  or  walls  of  the 
bulwark,  as  places  whence  the  curtain  could  be  de- 
fended. The  trench-master  superintended  this  work. 
He  was  required  to  be  a  good  geometrician,  to  have 
a  quick  eye  and  intelligent  appreciation  of  any  advan- 
tages offered  by  the  nature  of  a  country,  and  a  clear 
intelligence.  While  the  quartermaster  divided  a  camp 
into  quarters  for  the  different  regiments,  the  trench- 
master  drew  up  his  plan  for  intrenching  the  camp 
according  to  the  nature  of  the  ground.  Master  gun- 
ners were  required  to  have  warlike  stores  at  hand, 
and  to  see  that  guns  were  properly  loaded  and  trained. 
He  supplied  sponges  and  worms,  cotton,  matches, 
priming-irons,  quadrants  and  rules  for  pointing  the 
guns,  engines  for  mounting  and  dismounting,  car- 
riages, axle-trees,  wheels,  rammers,  quoins,  gabions, 
baskets,  ropes,  and  intrenching  tools.  Sometimes 
the  offices  of  master  gunner  and  fire-master  were 
separated,  the  latter  making  powder,  and  compound- 
ing all  kinds  of  fire-works  and  charges  for  blasting. 

The  wagon-master  and  forage-master  were  under 
the  orders  of  the  lieutenant-general  of  horse.  The 
former  had  charge  of  all  the  baggage  of  an  army,  and 
of  all  means  of  carriage.  With  the  wagons  marched 
the  boys,  such  women  as  were  allowed  to  accompany 
the  army,  and  the  victuallers.  The  victual-master 
was  an  important  official,  who  had  under  him  a  staff 
of  clerks,  carriers,  bakers,  butchers,  and  coopers.     He 


66  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

kept  his  accounts,  for  periodical  submission  to  the 
treasurer. 

The  provost  marshal  took  delinquents  into  custody, 
and  had  charge  of  all  gyves,  shackles,  bolts,  chains, 
bilboes,  manacles,  whips,  gallows,  scaffolds,  pillories, 
stocks,  and  strapados,  —  a  very  formidable  person. 
He  watched  over  the  cleanliness  of  the  camp,  kepi 
the  peace,  and  had  the  guard  over  all  prisoners  of 
war  until  they  were  ransomed  or  otherwise  released. 
The  judge  marshal  was  the  prosecutor  at  courts-mar- 
tial, and  the  referee  in  all  martial  causes. 

The  scout-master  was  an  accomplished  and  most 
valuable  assistant  to  the  general.  He  was  expected 
to  be  a  man  of  valor  and  judgment,  a  good  cos- 
mographcr  and  describer  of  the  nature  of  a  country 
and  the  positions  of  places,  and  one  who  was  quick 
to  take  in  the  whole  aspect  of  a  district  at  a  glance. 
He  was  supplied  with  a  guard  of  light-horse,  and  he 
rode  in  front  of  the  army  to  gauge  the  depth  of  fords, 
to  \xy  the  nature  of  bottoms  of  rivers,  and  to  obser\*c 
all  hills,  valleys,  woods,  and  swamps,  with  the  advan- 
tages or  disadvantages  they  offered  to  his  general  s 
plans.  He  sent  out  "  vant-curriers  "  (avant-couriers) 
in  all  directions  to  bring  him  reports. 

Such  was  the  system,  mainly  adopted  from  the 
Spaniards,  which  prevailed  in  the  organization  of  the 
forces  raised  to  resist  them.  There  were  various 
modifications  in  practice  from  time  to  time;  but  the 
above  details  will  furnish  a  fair  general  idea  of  the 
methods  which  guided  our  ancestors  to  eventual 
success  in  their  efforts  to  assist  the  free  people  <rf 
the  Netherlands,  and  of  the  materials  whereby  they 
achieved  their  grand  object 


CHAPTER  VII. 

OPENING  OF  THE  WAR. 

The  sympathy  for  the  people  of  the  Netherlands 
increased  in  England  as  the  struggle  developed. 
But  Spain  was  then  the  most  powerful  nation  in  the 
world.  It  was  no  light  matter  to  defy  such  a  power, 
and  a  war  would  place  the  very  existence  of  England 
in  jeopardy.  It  was  right  that  long  and  careful  de- 
liberation should  precede  so  momentous  a  decision. 
It  was  right  that  the  government  of  Queen  Elizabeth 
should  hesitate.  For  years  she  continued  to  allow 
volunteers  to  cross  the  sea.  For  years  she  advanced 
money  to  the  States.  Both  these  measures  were  acts 
of  war  if  the  King  of  Spain  saw  fit  to  view  them  in 
that  light.  His  governors  at  Brussels  sent  embassies 
to  remonstrate,  the  States  sent  envoys  to  entreat  for 
intervention.  The  Queen  wisely  continued  to  give 
evasive  replies  to  both  sides,  while  she  watched  the 
course  of  events. 

At  length  the  dreadful  news  arrived  of  the  assassi- 
nation of  William  of  Orange.  Elizabeth  shared  the 
horror  of  her  subjects.  She  desired  her  agent  at  the 
Hague,  in  a  letter  in  her  own  hand,  dated  July  3, 
1584,  to  let  the  States  know  how  greatly  she  grieved 
at  the  news  of  the  death  of  the  Prince  of  Orange. 
She  grieved  **  not  only  in  respect  of  having  lost  so 
constant  and  good  a  friend,  but  chiefly  in  respect  of 


68  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

the  afflicted  state  of  that  country,  being  environed  by 
the  enemy  as  they  are,  to  see  them  deprived  of  so 
good  a  Councillor  and  Director  of  their  affairs  in  this 
their  extreme  necessity."  Her  Highnesses  agent  was 
instructed  to  let  the  States  understand  that,  foresee- 
ing the  change  in  their  affairs  which  must  needs  be 
caused  by  the  loss  of  the  Prince,  and  that  they  would 
require  both  advice  and  assistance,  she  had  thought 
good  to  send  him  to  consult  with  them.  On  July 
12,  she  wrote  a  letter  of  condolence  to  the  Princess 
of  Orange. 

Prince  Maurice,  the  son  of  William  the  Taciturn, 
was  born  on  November  14,  1567,  so  that  he  was  not 
quite  seventeen ;  and  though  he  afterwards  proved  a 
very  able  guardian  of  their  liberties,  he  was  as  yet 
too  young  to  lead  the  destinies  of  the  Nethcrlanders 
unaided.  He  was  accepted  as  his  fathers  successor, 
and  a  council  was  formed  to  conduct  the  government, 
but  all  eyes  were  turned  more  anxiously  than  ever  to 
the  longed-for  help  from  England.  In  the  following 
year  the  successes  of  the  Duke  of  Parma  and  his 
famous  siege  of  -Antwerp  made  the  decision  of 
Queen  Elizabeth  still  more  urgent.  The  time  was 
now  ripe  for  action.  In  June,  1585,  the  envoys  for 
the  States  arrived  in  London.  There  were  two  from 
Brabant,  one  from  Inlanders,  Olden  Barneveldt  and 
three  others  to  represent  Holland,  one  from  Zeeland, 
Paul  Buys  from  Utrecht,  one  from  Dordrecht,  and 
three  from  Friesland.  Thev  were  lod<j:ed  in  Tower 
Street,  and  **  had  their  diet  ver\'  worshipfully  ap- 
pointed "  at  the  Clothworkers'  Hall  in  Mincing  Lane. 
On  June  29th  they  had  audience  of  the  Queen  at 
Greenwich,  when  the  Pensionary  of  Dordrecht  de- 


V 


OPENING  OF  THE   WAR.  69 

livered  an  oration  in  French,  to  which  her  Highness 
graciously  replied. 

The  terms  of  a  treaty  were  then  agreed  upon. 
The  Queen  was  to  send  an  auxiliary  force  to  Holland, 
consisting  of  4,000  foot  and  1,000  horse  under  a  gen- 
eral, and  to  pay  them  during  the  war.  The  States 
were  to  repay  this  expenditure  within  five  years  after 
peace  was  made.  The  town  of  Flushing,  with  the 
castle  of  Rammekens,  and  the  town  of  Brill,  were  to 
be  delivered  to  the  Queen.  Ostend  was  afterwards 
added.  These  cautionary  towns  were  to  be  restored 
to  the  States  when  the  accounts  between  the  two 
countries  were  adjusted.  The  general,  and  two  other 
Englishmen  nominated  by  the  Queen,  were  to  be 
members  of  the  Council  of  the  States.  The  States 
agreed  to  make  no  treaties  without  the  advice  and 
consent  of  the  Queen.  Ships,  for  common  defence, 
were  to  be  provided,  in  equal  numbers,  by  both  con- 
tracting parties  and  at  the  common  charges,  and  to 
be  commanded  by  the  admiral  of  England. 

The  Queen  then  caused  a  declaration  to  be  pub- 
lished, setting  forth  the  reasons  which  had  induced 
her  to  give  aid  to  the  afflicted  and  oppressed  people 
of  the  Low  Countries.  It  was  dated  at  Richmond 
on  October  i,  1585.  It  is  one  of  the  noblest  state 
papers  that  was  ever  written,  and  it  placed  the  Eng- 
lish nation  in  a  most  honorable  position  before  the 
world.  It  is  not  unworthy  to  take  a  place  beside  the 
Declaration  of  American  Independence. 

"  We  are  moved,"  wrote  the  Queen,  "  to  publish 
upon  what  just  and  reasonable  grounds  we  are  re- 
solved to  give  aid  to  our  next  neighbors,  the  people 
of  the  Low  Countries,  being  by  long  wars  and  perse- 


70  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

cutions  of  strong  nations  lamentably  afflicted  and 
in  present  danger  to  be  brought  into  perpetual 
servitude. 

"  There  has  been  a  continual  traffic  and  commerce 
between  those  Low  Countries  and  our  realm  of  Eng- 
land, in  all  ancient  times,  when  the  several  provinces 
were  ruled  by  several  laws,  and  not  united  together, 
as  of  late  years  they  have  been  by  intermarriages, 
and  at  length  reduced  to  be  under  the  government 
of  their  lords  that  succeeded  to  the  dukedom  of 
Burgundy.  There  hath  been,  in  former  ages,  many 
special  alliances  between  the  two  people,  for  main- 
tenance of  commerce  and  intercourse  of  mer- 
chants,  and  also  for  special  mutual  amity,  with 
provisions  for  mutual  powers,  affections,  and  all  other 
friendly  offices.  By  which  mutual  bonds  there  hath 
continued  perpetual  unions  of  the  peoples  hearts 
together,  and  so  by  way  of  continual  intercourses, 
from  age  to  age,  the  same  mutual  love  hath  been 
inviolably  kept. 

"  Of  late  years  the  King  of  Spain  has  appointed 
Spaniards,  foreigners  of  strange  blood,  men  more 
exercised  in  wars  than  in  peaceable  government,  and 
some  of  them  notably  delighting  in  blood,  as  hath 
appeared  by  their  actions,  to  be  the  chiefest  gover- 
nors of  all  the  Low  Countries,  contrarv  to  the  ancient 
laws  and  customs  thereof.  The  Spaniards  have  xio 
lentlv  broken  the  ancient  laws  and  liberties  of  all  the 
country,  and,  in  a  tyrannous  sort,  have  banished, 
killed,  and  destroyed,  without  order  of  law,  within 
the  space  of  a  few  months,  many  of  the  most  ancient 
and  principal  persons  of  the  natural  nobility  that 
were  most  worthy  of  government.     Of  the  chiefest 


OPENING  OF  THE   WAR.  7 1 

that  were  executed  of  the  nobility,  none  was  more 
affected  to  the  Romish  religion  than  the  noble  and 
valiant  Count  of  Egmont,  the  very  glory  of  that 
country.  The  Spaniards  have  also  lamentably  de- 
stroyed by  sword,  famine,  and  other  cruel  manners  of 
death  a  great  part  of  the  natural  people,  and  now 
the  chief  towns  are  held  and  kept  chiefly  with  force 
by  the  Spaniards. 

"  We  are  sure  that  they  could  be  pitied  of  none 
with  more  cause  and  grief  generally  than  of  our  sub- 
jects of  this  our  realm  of  England,  and  those  coun- 
tries have  by  common  language  of  long  time  resem- 
bled and  called  as  man  and  wife. 

"  For  these  urgent  causes  we  have  by  many  friendly 
messages  and  ambassadors  to  the  King  of  Spain  de- 
clared our  compassion  of  this  so  evil  and  cruel  usage 
of  his  people  by  sundry  his  martial  governors,  all 
strangers  to  these  his  countries.  We  have  often  and 
often  most  friendly  warned  him  that  if  he  did  not 
otherwise  by  his  wisdom  and  princely  clemency  re- 
strain the  tyranny  and  cruelty  of  his  governors  and 
men  of  war,  we  feared  that  the  people  of  his  coun- 
try should  be  forced  to  seek  the  protection  of  some 
other  lord.  For  they  affirm  that  in  such  cases  of 
general  injustice,  and  upon  such  violent  breaking  of 
their  privileges,  they  are  free  from  their  former  hom- 
age ;  the  proof  whereof  is  to  be  read  in  the  ancient 
histories  of  divers  alterations. 

"  Having  regard  to  the  continual  and  lamentable 
requests  made  to  us  by  the  States  for  our  succors, 
and  finding  no  hope  of  relief  of  these  their  miseries, 
but  rather  an  increase  thereof  by  daily  conquests  of 
their  towns  and  slaughter  of  their  people,  and  join- 


72  THE  FIGHTING   VERES, 

ing  thereunto  our  own  danger  at  hand  by  the  over- 
throw and  destruction  of  our  neighbors ;  we,  there- 
fore, after  long  deliberation,  determine  to  send  certain 
companies  of  soldiers  to  aid  the  natural  people  of 
these  countries  to  defend  their  towns  from  sacking 
and  desolation,  and  to  preserve  their  ancient  liber- 
ties for  them  and  their  posterity,  and  so  consequently 
to  preserve  and  continue  the  lawful  and  ancient  com- 
merce between  our  people  and  those  countries. 

"  We  mean  not  hereby  to  make  particular  profit  to 
ourself  and  our  people,  only  desiring  to  obtain,  by 
God  s  favor,  for  the  countries  a  deliverance  of  them 
from  war  by  the  Spaniards  and  foreigners,  with  a  res- 
titution of  their  ancient  liberties  and  government" 

The  die  was  cast.  The  Netherlanders  were  trans- 
ported with  joy  at  having  at  length  obtained  the 
powerful  aid  of  England.  The  King  of  Spain  re- 
solved to  strike  a  blow  at  the  islanders  with  his  whole 
force;  and  meanwhile  the  Queen  ordered  prepara- 
tions to  be  pushed  forward,  in  order  to  comply 
promptly  with  the  terms  of  the  treaty.  "  This  she- 
David  of  ours,"  said  Sir  Fulk  Greville,  "  ventured  to 
undertake  the  great  Goliath  among  the  Philistines 
abroad,  I  mean  Spain  and  the  Pope,  and  takes  (al- 
most solitary)  truth  for  her  leading  star." 

The  Queen  selected  Robert  Dudley,  Earl  of  Leices- 
ter, her  early  friend  and  trusted  councillor,  to  com- 
mand the  auxiliary  force  in  chief.  While  military 
knowledge  and  experience  were  indispensable  quali* 
fications  for  his  advisers,  it  was  considered  that  the 
most  important  recommendation  for  the  general,  at 
that  particular  juncture,  would  be  the  confidence  of  his 
sovereign.    Born  in  1532,  Leicester  had  now  reached 


OPENING  OF  THE   WAR.  73 

• 

the  age  of  fifty-three,  a  handsome,  portly  man  with 
gray  hair.  But  he  had  passed  his  life  at  court,  and 
had  no  experience  of  martial  affairs.  Governors  were 
also  appointed  for  the  cautionary  towns.  Sir  Thomas 
Cecil,  eldest  son  of  the  Lord  Treasurer,  became 
governor  of  Brill,  and  Sir  Philip  Sidney  of  Flushing 
and  Rammekens. 

Cecil  was  the  eldest  of  the  two  English  governors. 
Born  in  1542,  he  had  served  in  Scotland  when  aid 
was  sent  to  the  Regent  Murray  in  1574,  and  was 
knighted  at  Kenilworth  in  the  following  year.  His 
government  was  a  post  of  trust,  for  Brill,  placed  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Maas  and  commanding  the  main 
approach  to  Rotterdam,  was  a  seaport  of  considera- 
ble importance.  It  was  memorable  as  the  spot  where 
the  standard  of  liberty  was  first  raised  by  De  la 
Marck  and  his  **  sea  gueux^'  and  it  had  since  been  in 
the  hands  of  the  patriots.  Situated  at  the  western 
end  of  the  island  of  Voorn,  the  town  of  Brill  even 
now  retains  several  buildings  which  were  familiar  to 
the  Elizabethan  garrison.  The  tower  and  roof  of 
the  old  church  at  Brill  are  seen  from  a  great  dis- 
tance, rising  over  a  mass  of  foliage.  In  front  of  the 
church  there  is  a  small  open  space,  with  a  fountain 
dating  from  1590,  and  the  streets  leading  from  it  con- 
tain several  curious  old  houses,  with  dates  1577,  1588, 
and  1592  on  their  gables.  Many  have  slabs  be- 
tween the  windows,  carved  with  a  cow,  or  a  galley,  or 
a  shield  of  arms,  and  the  date  beneath.  The  school 
has  the  date  1594,  the  prison  1623.  A  bronze  statue 
of  liberty,^  with  the  inscription  **  Liber  talis  primitice^ 
I  Aprils  1572,"  stands  on  the  site  of  the  gate  through 

1  Erected  in  1872. 


74  ^^^  FIGHTING   VERES. 

which  William  de  la  Marck  forced  an  entrance. 
Brill  is  still  one  of  the  most  interesting  and  quaint 
old  towns  in  Holland.  It  is  quite  hidden  by  the 
thick  foliage  of  the  trees  round  the  ramparts,  and 
when  they  are  passed  the  picturesque  canal  appears, 
with  old  houses  on  either  side,  and  the  massive 
church-tower  rising  above  them.  Brill  retains  many 
of  the  features  which  presented  themselves  to  Sir 
Thomas  Cecil  and  his  English  garrison,  when  they 
entered  the  town  in  November,  1585,  and  were  wel- 
comed as  deliverers  by  the  inhabitants. 

The  first  English  governor  of  Flushing  was  a 
younger  man  than  Thomas  Cecil,  having  just  reached 
his  thirty-first  birthday.  Philip  Sidney  was  entering 
upon  the  last  year  of  a  beautiful  life  which  was  to  be 
closed  by  the  death  of  a  hero.  He  had  formed  friend- 
ships in  many  lands.  He  had  served  his  Queen  in 
posts  of  high  trust,  and  had  done  her  that  higher 
ser\'ice  of  venturing  upon  frank  and  fearless  exp>ostu- 
lation.  He  had  lo\-ed  passionately  and  honorably, 
but  unhappily.  He  had  written  poetry  which  will 
be  read  as  long  as  the  English  language  endures. 
He  was  beloved  and  admired  by  the  leading  intellects 
of  a  great  period.  On  the  whole,  he  was  the  most 
brilliant,  the  most  chivalrous,  of  those  bright  spirits 
who  formed  the  court  of  the  great  Queen.  He  was 
now  about  to  draw  his  sword  in  a  just  and  noble 
cause.  His  government  of  Flushing  (Vlissingen),  a 
town  on  the  south  side  of  the  island  of  Walcheren, 
was  even  more  important  than  Brill.  It  commanded 
the  mouth  of  the  Scheldt  and  the  approaches  to 
Antwerp.  Walcheren  itself  was  a  place  of  consider- 
able trade,  being  a  well-cultivated  island,  including 


OPENING  OF  THE   WAR,  75 

the  City  of  Middelburg  (the  capital  of  Zeeland),  only 
a  few  miles  from  Flushing;  and  the  other  seaport 
of  Veere  on  the  north  side,  also  a  thriving  place. 
Flushing  was  originally  a  small  fishing  village ;  but 
William  the  Good,  Count  of  Holland,  raised  it  to 
the  rank  of  a  shipping-port,  by  digging  a  haven 
from  the  sea,  in  the  year  1319.  From  that  time 
there  was  a  canal,  with  quays  for  loading  and  unload- 
ing, which  cut  the  town  in  two.  Philip  the  Good, 
Duke  of  Burgundy,  built  the  walls  in  1489,  with  five 
gates.  The  Water  Gates,  where  the  canal  entered 
from  the  sea,  with  a  strong  bastion,  were  completed  in 
1 548.  The  "  Gevangen,"  or  Prisoners'  Poort, faced  the 
dunes.  The  Middelburgsche  Poort  was  at  the  other 
end  of  the  canal,  facing  the  Water  Gate.  Through 
it  the  Spanish  garrison  was  driven  by  the  people  in 
1572.  The  Blaauw  Poort  was  on  the  west  side ;  and 
lastly  the  Altena  Poort,  on  the  sea  face,  was  taken 
down  in  1586,  to  make  room  for  a  new  haven  and 
dockyard.  Just  within  the  Blaauw  Poort  was  the 
Klein  Markt,  where  the  people  from  the  neighboring 
village  of  Ritthem  used  to  sell  their  farm  and  garden 
produce  to  the  garrison  and  townspeople.  This  open 
space  still  remains,  shaded  by  some  tall  elm-trees. 
The  old  church,  dedicated  to  St.  Jacob,  is  large,  and 
was  once  cruciform.  It  was  founded  in  1328.  In  it 
there  are  tombs  of  the  Van  de  Putte  family,  which 
flourished  in  the  time  of  Sir  Philip  Sidney,  and  pro- 
duced one  great  traveller  in  after  years.^  Here,  too, 
rests  Jan  Lambrecht  Coolen,  who  explored  the  Indies 
and  New  Guinea,  and  was  a  burgomaster  of  Flushing, 
dying  there    in    16 19.      A  foot-bridge  crossed   the 

1  See  my  introduction  to  Missions  to  Tibet,    (Triibner.) 


76  THE  FIGHTING  VERES. 

haven  canal,  dividing  it  into  two  parts,  which  were 
called  the  Kaas  Kaai  and  the  Bier  Kaai.  On  the 
eastern  side  was  the  Greet  Markt,  where  encc  stood 
two  monasteries  of  Carmelites  and  Friars  Preachers, 
which  were  endowed  by  Adrian  van  Borsselen,  the 
Count  of  Flushing,  in  1466.  But  they  were  pulled 
down  by  the  insurgents  in  1573,  and  the  stones  were 
put  on  board  ships  and  sunk  off  Fort  Lillo,  to  stop 
the  Spanish  fleet.  On  the  site  of  the  monasteries 
rose  the  great  town  hall,  on  the  model  of  that  at 
Antwerp,  which  was  commenced  in  1596,  during  the 
English  occupation.  It  contained  the  old  bottle  left 
by  St.  Willcbrord,  after  which  the  town  was  named ; 
two  great  globes  by  Blaauw ;  and  the  helm  and  sword 
of  the  ill-fated  Juan  Pacheco,  who  was  put  to  death 
by  the  insurgents  in  1572.*  Flushing  contained 
numerous  houses  of  wealthy  townsmen,  besides  the 
warehouses  of  the  merchants  of  Middelburg,  the  city 
whose  loftv  towers  formed  a  main  feature  of  the  land- 
scape  from  the  walls.  Mr.  Digges,  the  learned  mathe- 
matician, submitted  a  very  full  report  on  the  defences 
of  Flushing,  as  soon  as  the  English  occupation  began. 
The  fort  of  Rammekens,  which  was  included  in  the 
Flushing  command,  is  about  two  miles  from  the  town, 
at  the  entrance  of  the  "Sloe"  channel,  separating 
Walchercn  from  South  Beveland.  It  was  an  irreg- 
ular parallelogram,  without  bastions,  built  of  stone, 
with  a  wide  moat,  the  main  entrance  being  a  door- 
way approached  by  a  drawbridge  on  the  landward 
side.     Now  the  moat  is  full  of  long  weeds,  where  a 

*  The   town   hall   of    Flushing,    the  English  fleet  on  August  14, 
with  all  its  interesting;  relics,  was     1809^ 
burnt  (luring  the  bombardment  by 


OPENING  OF  THE   WAR, 


77 


heron  or  two  may  usually  be  seen  fishing,  and  the 
place  has  a  dreary,  abandoned  appearance. 

Sir  Philip  Sidney  arrived  with  his  English  garri- 
son on  the  1 8th  of  November,  1585,  the  Queen's 
accession  day.  He  thus  describes  his  landing,  in  a 
letter  to  his  uncle:  "On  Thursday  we  came  into 
this  haven,  driven  to  land  at  Rammekens,  because 
the  wind  began  to  rise  in  such  sort  that  the  master 
durst  not  anchor  before  the  town,  and  from  thence 
came,  with  as  dirty  a  walk  as  ever  poor  governor 
entered  his  charge  withal.  I  find  the  people  very 
glad  of  me."  ^  He  had  a  garrison  of  750  men,  with 
Edward  Norris  as  his  lieutenant. 

Thus  the  two  cautionary  towns  were  duly  occupied 
by  English  garrisons,  and  the  general  with  his  staff, 
and  the  rest  of  the  expeditionary  force,  prepared  to 
follow.  Ostend  had  also  been  occupied  by  a  garri- 
son under  Captain  Errington. 

The  Earl  of  Leicester  had  many  enemies,  and  he 
was  attacked  by  anonymous  writers.  History  has, 
to  a  great  extent,  indorsed  the  verdict  of  his  contem- 
porary assailants.  But  he  could  not  have  been  with- 
out good  qualities,  seeing  that  he  won  the  affection 
of  such  a  man  as  his  nephew,  Philip  Sidney,  who 
answered  his  detractors  with  vehement  warmth.^     In 


1  Cotton  MSS.y  Galba,  c.  viii. 
p.  213. 

2  One  attack  was  printed  abroad 
and  anonymously,  in  1 584.  Sidney 
answered  it  in  the  same  year.  The 
pamphleteer  compared  Leicester 
to  Piers  Gaveston,  Oxford,  and 
Pole.  Sidney,  in  his  answer,  says, 
"Their  enemies  did  not  stop  with 
destroying  them,  but  went  on  to 


kill  their  masters.  The  wolves 
that  mean  to  destroy  the  flock  hate 
most  the  truest  and  valiantest 
dogs.  Who  hates  England  and 
the  Queen  must  also  withal  hate 
the  Earl  of  Leicester."  The 
pamphleteer  spoke  of  the  base 
blood  of  the  Dudleys.  Sidney 
replied  that  Dudley  was  an  ancient 
baronial  house,  allied  to  Grey,  Tal- 


78  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

spite  of  Leicester  s  alleged  unpopularity  many  of  all 
ranks  flocked  to  his  standard.  On  the  6th  of  Decern, 
ber  he  came  to  Colchester  with  a  great  train,  includ- 
ing the  Earl  of  Essex,  Lords  North  and  Audley,  Sir 
William  Russell,  Sir  Thomas  Shirley,  Sir  Arthur 
Bassett,  Sir  Gervase  Clifton,  and  other  volunteers  to 
the  number  of  500  horse,  all  bi*avely  appointed.  The 
bailiffs  of  Colchester  in  scarlet  gowns,  with  multi- 
tudes of  people,  met  the  Earl  on  the  Lexden  road, 
and  he  entered  the  town  with  great  solemnity,  where 
he  was  most  honorably  entertained  by  Sir  Thoma> 
Lucas. 

At  Colchester  young  Francis  Vere  joined  the  ex- 
peditionary  force  as  a  volunteer. 

The  fleet  under  the  command  of  William  Borough,^ 


bot,  Heauchanip,and  Berkeley,  and 
that  the  I  )udle\  s  were  lords  of  Dud- 
ley Castle  long  before  the  time  of 
Richard  I.  Sir  I*hilip  concluded 
by  telling  the  writer  that  he  lied 
in  his  throat,  which  he  was  ready 
to  justify  upon  him  where  he 
would. 

*  Correspondence  of  Robert  Dud' 
lew  liar  I  of  Leicester,  I5S5-S(»: 
edited  by  J.  r)ruce,  F.  S.  A.,  for  the 
Camden  Society,  in  1S44.  I/arL 
A/SS.,  (^4$.  Fol.  26  is  Appendix 
I .  **  Journiil  of  m  v  Lord  of  Let\  es- 
ter. Proceednii's  in  the  Lenve  Coun- 
trie?:  IJy  Mr.  Stephen  llorough, 
Admiral  of  the  Fleet." 

The  Christian  name  Stephen  is 
a  mistake,  fc»r  Stephen  llorough 
died  in  1 584.  Mr.  Cootc  has  clearly 
shown  that  the  original  docketing 
on  the  manuscript  has  l)een  erased, 
and  the  word  Stephen  su!)stituted 
for  William  by  a  later  hand. 


Stephen  Borough  was  bom  at 
Borough,  in  the  parish  of  Northam, 
near  Bideford,  in  Devonshire,  in 
1525.  He  served  under  ChancclK>r 
in  the  first  voyage  ti>  Russia,  in 
1 553.  In  1 5^)0  he  led  another  fleet 
to  the  White  Sea,  and  made  one 
more  voyage  in  1561.  Borough 
induced  Richard  Kden  to  translate 
the  Spanish  navigation  book  of 
Martin  Cortes  into  English,  in 
1 561 ;  and  in  1 563  he  was  ap{>ointed 
chief  pilot  and  one  of  the  four 
masters  of  the  Queen's  ships  in 
the  Medway,  including  the  duty  of 
examining  and  instructing  seamen 
in  the  art  of  navigation.  He  died 
in  July«  15K4,  and  was  buried  at 
Chatham. 

William  Borough,  the  jtninger 
brother  of  Stephen,  was  bom  at 
Borough  in  1536,  and  served  under 
his  brother  as  an  ordinarv*  seanaa 
in  his  first  voyage  to  Rnttii,  !■ 


OPENING  OF  THE   WAR, 


79 


Admiral  of  England,  was  waiting  at  Harwich.  The 
Earl  of  Leicester  and  his  suite  rode  from  Colchester 
to  Manningtree,  where  boats  were  ready  to  take 
them  down  the  river  Stour  to  Harwich.  Here  the 
ships  were  ready  for  sea,  and  Leicester  embarked 
on  board  the  "  Amity."  The  fleet  weighed  anchor 
at  three  in  the  afternoon  of  Thursday,  the  9th  of 
December.  At  the  same  time  another  fleet  of  sixty 
ships  sailed  from  the  Thames.  On  Friday,  the  loth, 
they  were  in  the  Scheldt,  and  Leicester  landed  at 
Flushing  the  same  afternoon,  under  salutes  from  the 
ships,  with  bonfires  and  fireworks  on  shore.  The 
fleet  was  then  moored  off  Rammekens. 

The  Earl  of  Leicester  was  received  with  the  great- 
est enthusiasm  by  the  people  of  the  Netherlands. 
Without  aid  from  England  their  cause  seemed  hope- 
less, and  the  Duke  of  Parma  was  making  great  pre- 
parations for  a  mighty  effort  to  subjugate  the  insur- 
gent provinces  in  the  coming  year.  At  the  sight  of 
the  English  fleet  the  hearts  of  the  people  were  filled 
with  joy.  On  landing  at  Flushing,  the  Earl  was  re- 
ceived by  young  Maurice  of  Orange  and  Sir  Philip 


1553.  He  continued  to  serve  the 
Muscovy  Company  in  voyages  to 
the  White  Sea,  and  in  1570  he 
commanded  a  fleet  sent  to  Narva, 
in  the  Gulf  of  Finland,  armed  to 
resist  attacks  of  pirates.  In  1581 
he  published  his  Discourse  of  the 
Variation  of  the  Compass,  and 
in  1583  was  comptroller  of  the 
navy.  His  next  service  was  the 
command  of  the  fleet  to  take  the 
Earl  of  Leicester  to  Flushing,  in 
1585.  In  1587  he  was  with  Drake 
in  the  expedition  to  Cadiz,  and  he 


commanded  a  small  ship  in  the 
Armada  fight  in  1588.  William 
Borough  constructed  several  valu- 
able charts,  and  wrote  instruction*; 
and  sailing  directions.  He  died 
in  1599. 

The  questions  relating  to  the 
lives  of  these  two  eminent  seamen 
Stephen  and  William  Borough, 
have  been  ably  discussed  by  Mr. 
R.  C.  Cotton,  in  a  paper  printed  by 
the  Devon  Ass'n,  1880,  and  by 
Mr.  Coote  in  the  Dictionary  of 
National  Biography, 


8o  THE  FIGHTIXG   VERES. 

Sidney.  He  inspected  the  castle  of  Rammekens, 
which  was  garrisoned  by  fifty  English  pikemen,  and 
then  proceeded  to  Middelburg.  Over  the  gates  of 
that  city  the  red  cross  of  England  was  painted  beside 
the  arms  of  the  States.  Leicester  was  lodged  in  the 
spacious  apartments  of  the  old  abbey,  and  on  Tues- 
day, the  14th  of  December,  a  grand  dinner  was  given 
to  him  in  the  town  hall,  his  hosts  being  the  widowed 
Princess  of  Orange,  young  Maurice,  and  the  prin- 
cipal nobles  of  Zeeland.  The  dinner  lasted  from 
noon  to  three  o  clock ;  the  crowd  was  so  great  that 
many  guests  could  not  find  seats,  and  glasses  were 
broken  in  the  struggle  for  them.  On  the  1 7th,  the 
Earl  of  Leicester  and  Prince  Maurice  left  Middel- 
burg for  Dordrecht  in  a  small  '*  skute,"  in  company 
with  fifty  other  boats,  but  there  was  some  delay  in 
the  passage,  owing  to  a  dense  fog.  They  were  forced 
to  heave  to,  between  Middelburg  and  Dordrecht,  for 
five  days,  "  insomuch  that  a  crown  would  have  been 
given  for  a  halfpenny  loaf."  *  At  length  they  landed 
at  Willemstad,  a  new  town  which  had  recently  been 
fortified  by  the  Prince  of  Orange,  and  reached  Dord- 
recht on  the  2 1  St.  Leicester  kept  his  Christmas  at 
Delft  and  proceeded  thence  to  the  Hague. 

On  February  i,  15S6,  the  Earl  of  Leicester  was 
declared  governor  and  captain-general  of  the  seven 
States,  a  measure  which  was  disapproved  by  the 
Queen  as  giving  her  subject  too  much  power;  but 
the  States  explained  their  motive  in  all  humility,  and 
they  were  excused.  Count  Maurice  was  made  gov- 
ernor of  Holland  and  Zeeland,  and  Count  Meurs  of 
Geldcrland  and  Utrecht.     Early  in  the  year  the  Earl 

^  Letter  from  £.  Burnham,  26(h  December. 


OPENING  OF  THE   WAR.  8 1 

of  Leicester  held  a  grand  review  of  his  forces  at  the 
Hague. 

Young  Francis  Vere  had  come  thus  far  as  a  sim- 
ple volunteer,  without  employment  either  from  the 
Queen  or  the  States.  He  hoped,  however,  to  obtain 
a  company  through  the  influence  of  Peregrine  Ber- 
tie, Lord  Willoughby,  who  had  married  his  cousin, 
the  Lady  Mary  Vere,  and  who  was  expected  to  ar- 
rive at  the  Hague  from  his  Denmark  mission. 

Peregrine  Bertie  was  the  son  of  Catharine,  dow- 
ager Duchess  of  Suffolk,^  and  Baroness  Willoughby 
in  her  own  right,  and  of  Richard  Bertie.  Mr.  Bertie 
and  his  duchess  were  married  in  1553,  and  went 
abroad  to  escape  the  Marian  persecution.  They 
took  refuge  at  Wesel  on  the  Rhine,  where  their  son 
was  born,  on  October  12,  1555,  and  named  Peregrine. 
He  succeeded  as  Lord  Willoughby  in  1580,  married 
Lady  Mary  Vere,  and  in  1582  was  sent  on  an  em- 
bassy to  Frederick  II.  of  Denmark.  He  was  engaged 
on  a  second  mission  to  Denmark  in  1585,  to  induce 
the  king  to  give  aid  to  Henry  of  Navarre.  Having 
performed  this  service  successfully,  he  proceeded  to 
the  Low  Countries  to  obtain  employment  under  the 
banner  of  the  Earl  of  Leicester.  Travelling  by  way  of 
Emden,  he  reached  the  Hague  on  the  21st  of  Febru- 
ary, 1586,  where  he  found  his  young  cousin  anxiously 
awaiting  his  arrival.  Francis  Vere  at  once  attached 
himself  to  the  suite  of  Lord  Willoughby  with  the 
certainty  of  seeing  service,  and  the  assurance  of  reg- 

»  Fourth   wife  of   that    Charles  died  in  1545,  leaving  two  sons  by 

Brandon,  Duke  of  Suffolk,  whose  his  fourth  wife,  but  they  both  died 

third  wife  was  the  Princess  Marj*,  of  the  sweating  sickness  on  July 

sister  of  Henry  VI 1 1.     The  Duke  14,  1551,  when  boys. 


82  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

ular  employment  as  soon  as  an  opportunity  offered 
itself. 

The  gallant  English  volunteers  were  full  of  enthu- 
siasm and  eager  to  be  led  against  the  enemy.  The 
Hague  presented  a  scene  of  bustle  and  activity  dur- 
ing the  winter  of  1586,  troops  constantly  arriving 
and  departing,  with  reviews  and  stately  ceremonials, 
and  frequent  musters  of  horse  and  foot.  The  feel- 
ings of  the  volunteers  are  well  expressed  in  a  letter 
from  one  of  them,  which  has  been  preser\'ed.  Lord 
North  thus  wrote  to  the  Lord  Treasurer  on  the  28th 
of  February : 

"  The  general  and  special  love,  both  of  the  people 
and  States,  doth  show  such  hope,  giveth  such  cour- 
age  to  us  all,  as  every  man  is  willing  to  hazard  his 
life  and  venture  his  all ;  assuring  ourselves  that  the 
Lord  God,  who  hath  stirred  up  her  Majesty's  heart 
to  seek  his  glory  by  assisting  this  action,  will  still 
continue  and  so  increase  the  same,  as  will  bring  hon- 
our to  her  life,  safety  to  her  kingdom,  peace  to  this 
people,  and  eternal  fame  of  her  virtue  to  all  pos- 
terity."  ^ 

*  State  Papers  (Holland),  voL  xjud. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN. 

The  army  of  the  Earl  of  Leicester  was  organized 
on  the  Spanish  model.  He  selected  as  his  lieuten- 
ant-general a  German  prince  of  high  rank,  who  some 
years  afterwards  married  a  daughter  of  the  Prince  of 
Orange.  This  was  Count  Philip  of  Hohenlohe  Lan- 
genburg,  always  called  Count  Hollock  by  the  Eng- 
lish. Leicester  described  him  as  "a  wise,  gallant 
gentleman,  and  a  right  soldier,  and  very  well  es- 
teemed with  many  of  the  captains  and  soldiers.  He 
hath  one  fault,  which  is  drinking,  but  good  hope  that 
he  will  amend  it."  In  another  letter  he  refers  to  him 
as  "  a  right  Almayn  in  manner  and  fashion,  free  of 
his  purse  and  his  drink,  a  very  noble  soldier." 

This  rollicking  boon  companion  was  scarcely  a 
sufficient  support  to  a  general  advanced  in  years  and 
entirely  without  military  experience.  Leicester  re- 
lied, therefore,  on  his  veteran  lord  marshal,  who  did 
not  arrive  until  July.  This  was  William  Pelham, 
third  son  of  Sir  William  Pelham,  of  a  Sussex  family, 
by  Mary,  daughter  of  Lord  Sandys  of  the  Vine. 
Pelham  commanded  the  pioneers  sent  to  assist  the 
Regent  Murray  against  the  French  in  1560,  and  had 
the  chief  direction  of  the  siege  of  Leith.  In  1562 
he  joined  the  French  Protestants,  and  was  at  the 
taking  of  Caen,  and  then  went  to  Ireland,  where  he 


84  THE  FIGHTING  VERES. 

performed  the  duties  of  lord  deputy  until  158a 
He  had  seen  much  service,  and  was  well  qualified 
for  the  important  post  of  lord  marshal. 

The  colonel-general  was  John  Norris,  who  had 
already  served  in  the  Netherlands  for  many  years  as 
a  volunteer.  He  had  with  him  two  brothers,  Edward 
and  Henry,  gallant  men  and  true  soldiers  of  fortune, 
but  hot-tempered,  and  without  judgment  or  adminis- 
trative ability.  Leicester  wrote  of  John  Norris  as 
"  a  subtle,  dangerous  man,  not  having  a  true  word  in 
his  mouth."  Among  the  captains  who  had  compa- 
nies in  this  first  campaign  are  the  names  of  John 
Burrough,  Edward  and  Henry  Norris,  Vavasour, 
Wingfield,  Baskerville,  Yorke,  Morgan,  and  Uvedale. 

The  lieutenant-general  of  cavalry  u'as  Sir  William 
Russell,  fourth  son  of  the  second  Earl  of  Bedford, 
who  had  been  knighted  for  service  in  Ireland,  and 
had  already  acquired  the  fame  of  a  dashing  and  zeal- 
ous officer.  Lords  Essex,  Willoughby,  North,  Aud* 
ley,  Sir  Robert  Sidney,  Sir  Thomas  Shirley,  and  Sir 
Nicholas  Parker  commanded  troops  of  horse.  Fran- 
cis Vere  was  a  volunteer  in  Willoughby  s  troop,  with 
his  cousin  Hugh  Vere,  and  Hughs  cousin  Robert 
Spring,  from  Lavenham.  Thomas  Fairfax  (after 
wards  the  first  Lord  Fairfax),  Michael  Harcourt,  and 
Jerome  Markham,  who  was  soon  afterwards  killed  in 
a  duel,*  were  also  serving  in  cavalry  troops. 


*  Jerome  Markham  ^^as  a  very  Markham.    Those  present 

young  man,  and  was  bullied  into  a  sented  to  him  that  Markham  wasa 

duel  by  one  George  Nowell.    After  ver)*  young  man  and  without  ezperv 

the  meeting  was  settled,   Nowell  ence  in  any  afTray,  in  answer  to 

came  into  the  house  of  Kdward  which  Nowell  swore  that  he  would 

Stanhope  and  proclaimed  that  he  thrust  at  him,  and  if  be  looked  aoC 

was  going  into   a  field  to  fight  well  about  him,  he  wookl  tint 


L 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN,  85 

The  sergeant-major  general  was  Thomas  Wilf ord ; 
the  master  of  ordnance,  Sir  Richard  Bingham,  and 
afterwards  Sir  John  Conway;  the  treasurer,  Richard 
Huddleston,  and  afterwards  Sir  Thomas  Shirley,^  of 
Wiston  ;  the  judge  marshal,  Dr.  Sutcliff ;  the  provost 
marshal,  James  Spencer.  The  mustermaster-general 
was  Thomas  Digges,  one  of  the  most  eminent  mathe- 
maticians of  his  time,  whose  services  were  equally 
valuable  in  reporting  upon  the  defences  of  fortified 
places.  His  father  was  Leonard  Digges,  who  was 
also  a  renowned  mathematician  and  surveyor;  his 
mother  was  Bridget  Wilford,  sister  of  the  sergeant- 
major  general.  Thomas  Digges  was  educated  at 
Oxford,  and  was  author  of  several  works  on  military 
engineering.^  The  Earl  also  had  Dethick,  the  Wind- 
sor herald,  in  attendance  as  a  member  of  his  staff. 

In  March,  1586,  Lord  Willoughby  received  the 
government  of  the  important  fortified  town  of  Ber- 
gen-op-Zoom,  in  Brabant.  He  afterwards  told  Sec- 
retary Walsingham  that  "  it  was  resigned  to  me  by 
the  singular  love  of  your  honorable  son-in-law."^  Sir 
Philip  Sidney  himself  wrote  :  "  For  Bergen-op-Zoom, 
I  delighted  in  it,  I  confess,  because  it  was  near  the 
enemy,  but  especially  having  a  very  fair  house  in  it, 
and  an  excellent  air,  I  destined  it  for  my  wife.     But  I 


him  through.  He  then  went  out  and 
attacked  young  Markham,  wilfully 
murdering  him  after  his  sword  was 
broken.  Next  day  Nowell  picked 
a  quarrel  with  Thomas  Molyneux, 
and  he  was  reported  to  be  a  brawl- 
ing bully,  always  seeking  occa- 
sion to  provoke  a  duel.  Domestic 
(Eliz.),  vol.  28. 


*  Appointed  February  1,  1587. 
He  got  into  sad  trouble  with  his 
accounts.  His  distinguished  sons, 
Anthony  and  Thomas,  were  also 
serving  in  the  army. 

^  He  was  father  of  the  more 
famous  Sir  Dudley  Digges. 

8  State  Papers  (Holland),  vol. 
xli. 


86  THE  FIGHTING  VERES. 

have  resigned  it  to  my  Lord  Willoughby,  my  very 
friend,  and  indeed  a  valiant  and  frank  gentleman, 
and  fit  for  that  place."  ^  Lord  Willoughby  was  ac- 
companied by  his  cousin,  Francis  Vere,  when  he  pro- 
ceeded to  his  new  command,  and  in  the  following 
May  the  first  brush  with  the  enemy  took  place. 
Hearing  of  a  great  convoy  of  450  wagons  going  to 
Antwerp,  Lord  Willoughby  marched  out  of  Bcrgen- 
op-Zoom  to  attack  it  with  200  horse  and  400  foot 
In  the  encounter  300  of  the  enemy  were  slain,  eighty 
taken  prisoners,  and  all  their  wagons  were  destroyed 
except  twenty-seven,  which  were  captured.  This  was 
the  first  piece  of  active  service  in  which  Vere  was 
engaged,  soon  to  be  followed  by  a  more  important 
expedition  under  the  lead  of  his  cousin. 

The  people  fighting  for  their  freedom  were  now 
aided  by  the  whole  power  of  England.  Hope  revived 
in  spite  of  the  threatening  army  of  the  Duke  of  Parma. 
The  Netherlanders  had  their  own  gallant  forces,  and 
in  addition  they  had  the  auxiliary  army  of  their 
allies,  and  hundreds  of  sympathizing  English  volun- 
teers, whose  numbers  were  augmented  ever)'  week. 
The  Earl  of  Leicester  found  himself  in  command  of 
a  respectable  force,  behind  the  encircling  rivers.  He 
held  all  Holland  and  Zeeland,  Utrecht  and  part  of 
Gelderland,  with  the  fortified  posts  of  Bergen-op- 
Zoom  and  Gertruydenburg  in  Brabant,  Sluys  and 
Ostend  in  Flanders.  He  necessarily  acted  on  the 
defensive,  and  waited  for  the  first  move  from  the 
Duke  of  Parma.  That  able  general  already  held 
Nymegen  on  the  Waal,  and  Zutphen  on  the  Yssel. 
In  March  he  opened  the  campaign  with  the  intention 

>  Letter  to  Walsingham  from  Utrecht 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN,  87 

of  securing  all  the  fortified  towns  along  the  lines  of 
the  Maas  and  the  Rhine.  He  first  laid  siege  to 
Grave,  a  very  strong  place  on  the  Maas,  and  Leicester 
promptly  took  steps  to  relieve  it.  He  trusted  a  good 
deal  to  the  daring  enterprise  and  bravery  of  a  par- 
tisan warrior  of  Gelderland,  named  Martin  Schenk, 
who  supplied  him  with  information  and  was  ever 
ready  for  a  desperate  raid  into  the  heart  of  the 
enemy's  country.  He  also  relied  upon  the  same 
qualities  in  the  veteran  Roger  Williams,  who  was  a 
kindred  spirit.  Schenk  and  Williams  were  generally 
far  in  advance  of  the  main  body  of  Leicester's  army. 
But  the  .general  organized  an  efficient  force  under 
Hohenlohe  and  John  Norris  for  the  relief  of  Grave, 
consisting  of  3,000  picked  men.  After  a  desperate 
encounter  with  the  Spanish  besiegers,  Grave  was 
successfully  provisioned,  and  with  an  efficient  com- 
mander the  town  would  have  been  safe.  But  the 
governor  basely  surrendered  at  a  time  when  Leicester 
believed  the  place  to  be  out  of  all  danger,  and  was 
preparing  to  besiege  Nymegen  as  a  diversion.  The 
Duke  of  Parma  then  captured  Venlo,  and  so  secured 
the  whole  line  of  the  Maas.  This  success  enabled 
him  to  turn  his  attention  to  the  line  of  the  Rhine. 
Zutphen  and  Doesburg  on  the  Yssel  were  already  in 
his  hands.  Neuss  was  taken  by  storm,  and  Parma 
commenced  the  siege  of  Rheinberg,  an  important 
fortified  town  on  the  Rhine,  above  Wesel. 

These  great  successes  were  secured  by  the  Spanish 
general  between  March  and  July.  But  Leicester  was 
not  idle.  He  had  provisioned  Grave,  had  overrun 
the  Betuwe  between  the  Waal  and  Lek,  and  was 
threatening   Nymegen.     In  the  previous  April   he 


m^ 


r  J 


88  THE  FIGHTING  VERES. 

had  conferred  the  honor  of  knighthood  on  John  Nor- 
ris  and  Martin  Schenk,  and  he  now  employed  the 
latter  on  a  very  important  service.  This  was  to  erect 
a  strong  fort  on  an  island  at  the  point  where  the 
Rhine  and  Waal  divide,  at  the  foot  of  the  hills  of 
Cleves.  Schenk  s  detachment  consisted  of  one  Dutch 
and  two  English  companies,  led  by  Edward  and 
Henry  Norris.  He  rapidly  threw  up  the  earthworks, 
with  five  bastions,  and  a  ditch  in  rear  connecting  the 
two  rivers.  The  fort  has  ever  since  been  known  as 
Schenken  Sc/ianz.  He  reported  that  in  two  weeks  he 
had  brought  the  fort  to  such  perfection  that  he  feared 
not  the  enemy  with  all  his  forces.  On  the  i8th  of 
May  Leicester  himself  inspected  Schenken  Schanz, 
and  fully  appreciated  its  strategic  importance. 

The  earthworks  of  this  famous  post  may  still  be 
traced,  a  modern  village  nestling  within  them.  To 
the  south  are  the  wooded  heights  of  Cleves,  crowned 
by  the  beautiful  Swan  Tower;  to  the  north, the  steep 
hill  of  Elten;  away  eastward,  the  steeples  of  Emmer- 
ich, and  all  around  the  green  meadows  of  the  Rhine 
valley.  The  natural  features  have  changed  in  the 
lapse  of  time.  The  point  where  the  Rhine  and  Waal 
divide  is  now  four  miles  further  west,  and  the  old 
fort  is  left,  as  it  were,  high  and  dry,  between  the 
present  river  and  the  former  course  of  the  Rhine. 
But  at  the  time  when  the  fort  was  built  by  Schenk, 
and  inspected  by  the  Earl  of  Leicester,  its  importance 
could  scarcely  be  exaggerated. 

While  these  measures  were  being  taken  to  check 
the  advance  of  Parma,  a  diversion  was  projected  by 
the  young  Count  Maurice  and  Sir  Philip  Sidney 
from  the  side  of  Flushing.     They  proposed  to 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN.  89 

the  Scheldt  and  attack  the  town  of  Axel  on  the 
Flemish  side.  Leicester  entered  heartily  into  the  plan, 
and  went  himself  to  Bergen-op-Zoom,  where  it  was 
arranged  that  Lord  Willoughby,  with  a  small  force, 
should  take  part  in  the  expedition.  This  was  the 
second  action  in  which  Francis  Vere  was  engaged. 
The  rendezvous  was  Flushing.  Lord  Willoughby, 
leaving  Bergen-op-Zoom  at  midnight,  proceeded  to 
join  Prince  Maurice  and  Sir  Philip  Sidney  with  500 
men.  The  combined  force,  of  about  3,000  men, 
landed  at  Terneuzen,  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Scheldt 
The  country  had  been  flooded  for  defence,  and  the 
approach  from  the  coast  to  Axel  was  by  three  cause- 
ways, the  distance  about  five  miles.  It  was  a  long, 
silent  march  in  the  dead  of  night,  and  the  surprise 
was  complete.  Axel  was  surrounded  by  a  moat,  but 
the  garrison  was  unprepared,  and  the  walls  were 
easily  escaladed  by  volunteers,  who  swam  across  and 
opened  the  gates  from  within.  The  Dutch  com- 
pany entered  first,  followed  rapidly  by  Willoughby 
and  Sidney.  Sir  Philip  made  a  speech  to  his  sol- 
diers before  the  attack  was  made,  explaining  to  them 
for  what  cause  they  fought,  and  that  the  people  of 
the  country  were  their  friends  and  neighbors.  By 
two  o'clock  in  the  morning  they  were  masters  of  the 
town.  The  garrison  consisted  almost  entirely  of 
Germans,  there  being  only  two  Spaniards.^  A  won- 
derful change  has  come  over  this  town  of  Axel  and 
the  surrounding  country  since  those  days.  Axel  is 
now  a  small  open  town,  without  a  trace  of  defences, 
except  some  indications  of  a  moat  on  the  south  side ; 

1  Leicester  to  Walsingham,  July    date.   Also  letter  from  Sir  Thomas 
8,  1 1^6 ;  and  to  the  Queen,  same    Cecil. 


90  THE  FIGHTING  VERES. 

and  the  whole  country,  which  was  then  under  water, 
is  now  carefully  cultivated.  There  is,  however,  a 
long  serpentine  lagoon  to  the  south,  called  the  Axtl- 
sche  Kreek.  The  pilgrim  who  follows  in  the  fix)t- 
steps  of  Sir  Philip  Sidney  from  Terneuzen  to  Axel, 
and  thinks  of  his  midnight  march  by  starlight,  with 
sheets  of  stagnant  water  on  either  side  of  the  cause- 
way,  must  needs  draw  upon  his  imagination ;  for  the 
changes  in  the  outward  surroundings  are  very  great 
He  now  walks  between  double  rows  of  Lombardy 
poplars.  There  arc  prosperous  farms  on  either  side, 
with  orchards  and  rich  meadows,  and  occasionally 
rows  of  exquisitely  clean  cottages,  each  with  its  little 
vegetable  garden.  Outside  Terneuzen,  a  farm,  with 
thick  walls  and  angle  buttresses,  marks  the  site  of 
an  old  Spanish  fort.  The  change  in  the  face  of  the 
country  is  mainly  due  to  the  triumph  of  that  cause 
for  which  Willoughby  and  Vere  bled,  and  Sidney 
died. 

The  capture  of  Axel  was  only  an  episode.  The 
very  tough  problem  which  the  Earl  of  Leicester  had 
to  solve  was  the  best  way  of  resisting  the  advance  of 
the  Duke  of  Parma.^  That  general  was  besieging 
Rheinberg,  which  was  being  gallantly  defended  by 
Martin  Schenk.  His  object  was  to  take  all  the 
strong  places  along  the  line  of  the  Rhine  and  Yssel 
as  he  had  already  done  along  the  Maas. 

Leicester  assembled  his  forces  at  Arnhem  on  the 
Rhine.  Pelham,  as  lord  marshal,  joined  him  from 
England  with  reinforcements.  Sir  Philip  Sidney 
came  from  Flushing ;  Lord  Willoughby  from  Bergen- 

^  He  had  just  succeeded  to  the  title.    Both  his  father  and 
died  in  15S6. 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN.  9 1 

op-Zoom,  accompanied  by  young  Francis  Vere ;  and 
Count  Hohenlohe  from  Gertruydenburg,  of  which  he 
was  the  governor.  There,  too,  were  Lords  Essex, 
North,  and  Audley,  Sir  William  Russell,  Sir  Thomas 
Wilford,  the  Norrises,  and  Roger  Williams.  A  coun- 
cil of  war  was  held.  It  was  decided  that  the  allies 
were  too  weak  to  attack  Parma  before  Rheinberg. 
It  was,  therefore,  resolved  to  make  a  diversion  by 
threatening  Doesburg  and  Zutphen,  the  towns  held 
by  the  Spaniards  on  the  Yssel.  On  Sunday,  the 
28th  of  August,  Leicester  reviewed  the  army,  which 
was  afterwards  formed  in  hollow  squares  outside  the 
town  of  Arnhem,  and  the  preachers  delivered  ser- 
mons. Siege  was  then  laid  to  the  town  of  Doesburg 
on  the  Yssel,  six  miles  below  Arnhem.  Artillery 
and  provisions  were  conveyed  by  water,  and  nine 
siege-guns  were  brought  to  bear  on  the  walls.  At 
night,  the  general  went  with  the  lord  marshal  to  see 
the  pioneers  at  work  in  the  trenches,  and  Pelham  was 
struck  in  the  belly  by  a  spent  caliver  shot.  A  con- 
stant fire  was  kept  up  until  the  2d  of  September, 
when  two  breaches  were  made,  which,  however,  were 
filled  up  by  the  garrison.  Still  an  assault  was  re- 
solved upon.  There  was  a  dispute  about  the  leader- 
ship, and  Leicester  decided  it  by  giving  one  breach 
to  Hohenlohe  and  the  other  to  Norris.  The  attacks 
were  about  to  be  delivered  when,  at  two  in  the  after- 
noon, the  garrison  surrendered  at  discretion.  Pel- 
ham  was  only  slightly  hurt;  but  Roger  Williams 
must  needs  run  up  and  down  the  trench  with  a  great 
plume  of  feathers  in  his  gilt  morion,  and  could  hardly 
expect  to  escape.  He  was  wounded  in  the  arm. 
Only  twelve  men  were  killed. 


92  THE  FIGHTING  VERES. 

Leaving  a  garrison  in  Doesburg,  Leicester  then 
prepared  for  the  investment  of  Zutphen,  fourteen 
miles  below  Arnhem.  The  Yssel  is  a  broad,  tran- 
quil stream,  where  the  ancient  city  of  Zutphen  stands 
on  its  right  bank,  and  where  the  small  river  of  Berkel, 
rising  in  the  moors  to  the  eastward,  flows  into  it,  and 
forms  the  moat  round  Zutphen  walls.  Huge  barges, 
laden  with  little  cubes  of  peat,  float  on  the  placid 
bosom  of  the  Yssel.  In  those  days  a  wall  with  round 
bastions  rose  from  the  brink  of  the  river.  An  ancient 
brick  water-gate  still  spans  the  Berkel,  with  machico- 
lated  turrets  at  each  end ;  and  the  lofty  brick  tower 
of  St.  Walburga  rises  above  the  town  as  it  did  when 
Parma  climbed  to  its  summit  to  watch  the  armv  of 
Leicester.  The  Spanish  garrison  at  Zutphen  was 
commanded  by  Juan  Baptista  Taxis,  who  also  held 
two  detached  forts,  called  the  Zutphen  Sconces,  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  They  had  been  con- 
structed by  the  advice  of  Don  Francisco  Verduga 
the  marshal  of  the  Spanish  army. 

Leicester  encamped  his  army  on  both  sides  of  the 
Yssel,  a  short  distance  above  the  town  of  Zutphen, 
and  made  a  bridge  of  boats  across  the  river,  to  keep 
his  communications  open. 

These  operations  had  the  intended  effect.  Parma 
raised  the  siege  of  Rheinberg,  and  hastened  to  the 
relief  of  Zutphen.  Collecting  wheat  and  other  sup- 
plies on  his  march,  he  advanced  rapidly  to  Borquelo, 
a  town  to  the  eastward.  He  then  entered  the 
threatened  city  with  a  small  escort,  and  reconnoitred 
Leicester's  camp  from  the  top  of  the  church-towen 
He  would  have  remained  in  the  town,  but  VerdugO 
dissuaded  him,  and  he  returned  the  same  evening  to 


THE   FIRST  CAMPAIGN.  93 

Borquelo  to  organize  a  force  which  was  to  escort  a 
long  train  of  provision  wagons  into  the  besieged 
place.^  He  advanced  with  his  whole  force  to  the  vil- 
lage of  Lockem,  within  a  league  of  Zutphen,  in  the 
evening  of  September  21,  1586,  and  dispatched  the 
convoy  very  early  next  morning.  The  conduct  of 
this  important  service  was  entrusted  to  an  officer  of 
the  highest  distinction.  Alonzo  Davalos  y  Aquino, 
Marquis  of  Pescara  and  Vasto,  was  grandson  of  the 
nobleman  of  the  same  name  who  was  a  commander 
at  the  battle  of  Pavia,  Governor  of  Milan,  and  whose 
epitaph  was  written  by  Ariosto.^  His  father  was 
Viceroy  of  Sicily.  The  marquis  who  served  under 
the  Duke  of  Parma  was  worthy  of  his  ancestry.  He 
was  renowned  alike  for  valor,  conduct,  and  humanity. 
The  force  entrusted  to  him  consisted  of  5,000  horse 
and  foot.  The  infantry  numbered  1,500  of  the  best 
soldiers  of  Spain  under  Manuel  de  Vega,  with  com- 
panies led  by  Juan  de  Herrera,  Viedma,  and  Artajona. 
The  cavalry  was  mainly  Italian,  commanded  by  An- 
nibal  Gonzago,  Giovanni  Cre9ia,  and  Apio  Conti.  It 
was  a  perilous  service,  for  the  long  train  of  wagons 
had  to  be  convoyed  over  a  plain,  with  their  whole  left 
flank  exposed  to  attack  by  the  neighboring  English 
army.  Near  Lockem  there  are  some  sandy  hills, 
covered  with  fir-trees,  on  which  the  Duke  of  Parma 
was  encamped.  Thence  the  road  passes  over  wild 
moorland  covered  with  heather  to  within  a  mile  of 
the  village  of  Warnsfeld,  where  cultivation  commences. 

1  Herrera,  iii.  lib.  i.  cap.  4,  p.  7.  over  him.     He  died  with  the  repu- 

*  He  found  the  Chevalier  Bay-  tation  of  being  one  of  the  greatest 

ard  mortally  wounded,  treated  the  generals  and  ablest  politicians  of 

dying  hero  with  kindness  and  gen-  that  century,  aged  thirty-six. 
erosity,  and   had  a   tent  pitched 


94  THE  FIGHTING  VERES. 

From  the  church  to  the  east  gate  of  Zutphen  the 
road  is  perfectly  straight,  and  to  the  south  a  flat 
plain  extends  to  the  Ysscl.  There  was  a  thick  fog, 
which  cleared  as  the  convoy  approached  Warnsfcld 
church. 

The  proximity  of  the  relieving  army  was  known  to 
Leicester  the  night  before.  But  he  was  taken  by  sur- 
prise when  the  fog  rose  a  little,  and  the  long  moving 
column  of  the  enemy  was  momentarily  exposed  to 
view,  and  then  again  hidden.  In  hot  haste  the  Eng- 
lish cavalry,  under  Sir  William  Russell,  was  called 
out  to  charge.  Lord  Willoughby  was  ready  to  lead 
his  men  in  full  armor,  and  Francis  Vcre  was  among 
his  followers.  Lord  Essex,  Lord  North,  Lord  Audley, 
Sir  William  Pclham,  Sir  Philip  Sidney,  Captain 
Thomas  M.  Wingfield,  rapidly  came  up  with  their 
troops.  Norris  and  Stanley  formed  an  advanced 
post  near  the  road,  and  had  given  the  first  alarm. 
The  chivalry  of  England  was  drawn  up  ready  to 
charge.  The  leaders  waited  for  the  fog  to  clear, 
which  was  so  thick  that  a  man  could  scarcely  be 
made  out  ten  paces  oflf.  Suddenly  it  rose,  and  the 
enemy  was  seen  in  overwhelming  superiority  close 
to  Warnsfeld  church.  In  a  moment  the  English 
knights,  numbering  only  200,  were  upon  them,  led  by 
Sir  William  Russell,  who  broke  his  lance  at  the  first 
crash  of  the  combatants.  He  then  "  so  played  hb 
part  with  his  curtle  axe  that  the  enemy  reported  him 
a  devil,  and  not  a  man."*  Lord  Willoughby^  with 
lance  in  rest,  unhorsed  Giovanni  Cre9ia,  who  rolled 
into  a  ditch  and  was  made  prisoner.  Lord  Norths 
though  bruised  on  the  knee  from  a  musket -shot 

>  Stowc. 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN.  95 

sprang  from  his  bed  at  the  first  alarm,  and  with  one 
boot  on  and  the  other  ofif,  "  went  into  the  matter 
very  lustily."  ^  For  two  hours  this  heroic  little  band 
of  cavalry  fought  with  desperate  valor.  Annibal 
Gonzaga  was  mortally  wounded  by  a  great  sword- 
cut  on  the  head.  The  Marquis  del  Vasto  was  him- 
self in  considerable  danger,  for  the  English  knights 
cut  their  way  to  the  centre  of  his  body-guard,  and  a 
blow  was  aimed  at  his  head.  The  cavalry  escort  was 
defeated;  it  fell  back  and  gave  place  to  the  Span- 
ish pikemen,  dauntless  veterans,  who  stood  like  a 
wall.  In  the  foremost  rank  were  Juan  de  Ugarte 
from  Tordesillas,  and  Pedro  Venero,  a  Basque  from 
Bilbao.  They  held  their  ground  until  a  reinforce- 
ment of  musketeers  came  up  from  Lockem  and 
opened  fire.  Then  at  length  the  English  assailants 
fell  back,  and  the  convoy  was  brought  safely  into 
Zutphen.^  The  English  loss  was  34  killed  and 
wounded,  while  250  of  the  enemy  were  slain.  Three 
colors  were  taken,  two  being  sent  to  the  Queen. 
"  This,"  wrote  Leicester,  "  hath  flesht  our  young 
noblemen  and  gentlemen,  and  surely  theie  have  won 
her  majestic  at  this  day  as  much  honour  as  ever  so 
few  men  did  their  prince."  ^ 

Sir  Philip  Sidney  had  given  his  cuisses  to  Sir 
William  Pelham,  and  his  only  defensive  armor  was  a 
breastplate.  At  the  close  of  the  action  he  was  shot 
in  the  left  thigh,  but  he  was  able  to  return  to  the  camp 
on  horseback.  "  Being  thirsty  with  excess  of  bleed- 
ing, he  called  for  drink,  which  was  presently  brought 

*  Leicester.  •  Leicester  to  Walsingham,  Sep- 

^  Camero,   lib.  viii.   cap.  vi.   p.     tember  28,  1586. 
210.     Bentivoglio,  pte  ii.  lib.  iv. 


96  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

him.  But  as  he  was  putting  the  bottle  to  his  mouth 
he  saw  a  poor  soldier  carried  along,  who  had  eaten  his 
last  at  the  same  feast,  ghastly  casting  up  his  eyes  at 
the  bottle,  which  Sir  Philip  perceiving  took  it  from 
his  lips  before  he  drank,  and  delivered  it  to  the  poor 
man  with  these  words :  '  Thy  necessity  is  greater 
than  mine.' "  ^  The  wounded  hero  was  put  on  board 
a  boat  and  taken  to  Arnhem.  Count  Hohenlohe, 
who  was  wounded  in  the  throat  by  a  musket -ball, 
was  also  sent  to  Arnhem.  This  generous  prince  neg- 
lected his  own  safety  to  succor  his  comrade.  His 
surgeon  coming  to  dress  the  counts  wound,  he  in- 
quired after  Sir  Philip.  The  doctor  replied  that  he 
.was  not  well,  on  which  Hohenlohe,  caring  more  for 
his  friend's  wound  than  his  own,  exclaimed:  "  Awavl 
Never  see  my  face  again  till  thou  bring  better  news 
of  that  man's  recovery,  for  whose  redemption  many 
such  as  I  were  happily  lost."  ^ 

The  noble  Sidney  lingered  until  the  1 7th  of  Octo- 
ber, when  he  expired  in  the  arms  of  his  dear  friend 
William  Temple.  The  body  was  embarked  at  Flush- 
ing on  November  ist,  and  was  interred  with  great 
pomp  in  St.  Pauls  Cathedral  on  the  i6th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1587.  The  pall-bcarers  were  the  Earls  of  Leices- 
ter, Pembroke,  Essex,  and  Huntingdon,  Lord  Wil- 
loughby  and  Lord  North.  Three  of  them  had 
charged  with  him  at  Warnsfeld. 

The  Earl  of  Essex  and  Lords  Willoughby,  Aud- 
ley,  and  North  were  created  Knights  Bannerets  on 
the  field  of  Warnsfeld,  and  Leicester  conferred 
knighthood  on  John  Wingfield  and  Henry  Norris. 

1  Fulkc  Grcville's  Life  of  Sidney,  p.  145.  «  Ibid,  p,  147. 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN.  97 

and  on  Goodyere,  the  captain  of  his  guard.  Sir 
William  Russell  succeeded  Sidney  as  governor  of 
Flushing. 

Although  Leicester  failed  before  Zutphen,  he  cap- 
tured the  forts  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  and 
he  succeeded  in  his  object  of  drawing  Parma  away 
from  Rheinberg.  Winter  was  now  approaching. 
He  made  Sir  William  Stanley  governor  of  the  im- 
portant town  of  Deventer,  on  the  Yssel,  some  miles 
below  Zutphen,  and  gave  Rowland  Yorke  charge  of 
the  Zutphen  Sconces.  He  then  proceeded  to  Utrecht 
and  the  Hague,  returning  to  England  on  the  4th  of 
December,  while  the  troops  went  into  winter- quar- 
ters. Lord  Willoughby  also  went  to  England  for  the 
winter. 

The  Earl  of  Leicester  had  acquitted  himself  well. 
He  had  shown  great  activity,  constantly  visiting  every 
part  of  his  charge ;  he  had  fearlessly  exposed  his 
person  under  fire,*  and  had  made  the  best  disposition 
of  his  forces  that  the  circumstances  rendered  possible. 
He  had  successfully  provisioned  Grave  ;  had  occupied 
and  fortified  a  most  important  strategic  position  at 
the  junction  of  the  Rhine  and  Waal;  had  captured 
Axell,  Doesburg,  and  the  Zutphen  Sconces,  and  had 
forced  Parma  to  raise  the  siege  of  Rheinberg.  But 
he  was  unfortunate.  The  misconduct  of  the  gover- 
nor of  Grave  led  to  the  loss  of  that  place ;   and  dur- 

^  His  activity  and  disregard  of  view  this  place  he  did  put  himself 
danger  surprised  Lord  North,  in  danger  of  musket  shot  too 
**  My  Lord  of  Leicester  did  so  no-  much.'*  (Letter  to  Walsingham, 
tably  advise  and  direct  the  mak-  May  23,  1586,  State  Papers  (Hol- 
ing of  the  trenches,  a  thing  I  did  land),  vol.  xxxii.) 
not  look   for,   I  confess ;   and  to 


98  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

ing  the  winter  Sir  William  Stanley,  governor  of  De- 
venter,  and  Rowland  Yorke,  who  held  the  Zutphen 
Sconces,  both  papists,  became  traitors,  and  delivered 
up  those  places  to  the  enemy.  These  men  were 
nominees  of  Leicester,  and  their  treason  excited  great 
exasperation  against  the  Earl  in  the  minds  of  Dutch 
statesmen.  But  Leicester  undoubtedly  displayed 
zeal  and  anxiety  to  perform  to  the  best  of  his  ability 
the  excessively  difficult  service  on  which  he  was  em- 
ployed. He  was  ready  to  adopt  the  advice  of  mili- 
tary men,  and  to  profit  by  their  experience ;  and  on 
the  whole  this  first  campaign  furnished  good  grounds 
for  hopeful  anticipations  in  the  future. 

The  young  volunteers  had  acquired  experience  and 
had  seen  some  service.  An  official  list  was  framed 
of  those  who  had  been  most  distinguished,  and  who 
were  competent  to  command  companies.*  In  this  list 
the  name  of  F*rancis  Vere  appears.  He  had  a  zealous 
friend  in  Lord  Willoughby,  and  in  the  autumn  of  1 5S6 
he  obtained  a  company  in  the  Bergen-op-Zoom  garri- 
son. He  is  entered  as  captain  of  a  company  of  150 
men,  to  receive  pay  from  the  12th  of  November,  1586. 
The  young  captain  settled  down  to  garrison  duty 
with  several  congenial  companions,  including  Francis 
Allen,  the  comrade  in  his  journey  to  Poland.     It  is 

*  **The  names  of  such  gentle-  are  all   valiant  3rounK  ^ntlemeo, 

men  as  I  know  to  Ix*  semceable,  most  sufficient  to  be  lieutenants  or 

and  well  acquainted  with  the  wars  comets  to  any  company,  and  tome 

of  the  Low  Countries :    \f r.  Nor-  able   to  command   any  ooinpany. 

ris,    Mr.   Morjran,   Colonel    Hin^-  W.  Powell,  Francis  Vcre,  Francis 

ham,  Rowland  Vorkc  is  ver>'  val-  Allen,  T.  Baskerville,  M.  Morgan, 

iant,  C.   Carleille,    Cai)tain  Salis-  G.  Barton."  (S.  P.  C?.,  Holland,  vol 

bur)',  C.  Norris,  Captain  Huntley,  xcv.) 
Captain  Wilson.     The  following 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN.  99 

here  that,  for  the  first  time,  we  obtain  a  glimpse  of 
his  character  and  disposition  ;  but  this  period  in  his 
history  belongs  to  another  chapter,  and  meanwhile 
we  shall  see  him  winning  his  first  laurels  during  the 
memorable  siege  of  Sluys. 


■ttrii    i 


SLl/YS.  lOI 

rived  before  the  approaches  were  closed,  making  up 
the  garrison  to  i,6oo  men.  They  entered  Sluys  on 
the  1 2th  of  June  under  the  leadership  of  Roger  Wil- 
liams, the  principal  officers  being  Nicolas  and  Adolf 
Meetkerk  and  Charles  de  Heraugi^re,  command- 
ing the  Dutch  contingent,  and  Thomas  Baskerville, 
Francis  Vere,  Francis  Allen,  Huntley,  Hart,  and 
others  at  the  head  of  the  English  troops. 

Sluys  was  once  the  seaport  of  the  great  commercial 
emporium  of  Bruges,  and  the  changes  which  in  the 
course  of  centuries  have  taken  place  in  the  surround- 
ing region  are  most  remarkable.  Five  hundred  years 
ago  there  was  a  long  arm  of  the  sea,  called  the  Old 
Zwin,  which  connected  Bruges  with  the  port  of  Sluys, 
and  reached  the  mouth  of  the  Scheldt  between  the 
islands  of  Cadzand  and  Breskens.  Later,  a  new 
channel  was  formed  to  the  west  of  Cadzand,  called 
the  New  Zwin,  or  Sluische  Gat  These  islands,  and 
others  formed  by  branch  channels,  were  originally 
small,  but  the  land  continually  gained  on  the  water, 
and  by  1528  there  were  as  many  as  a  dozen  polders 
won  from  the  waters  of  the  Zwin.  Still,  in  the  four- 
teenth century  the  width  of  the  channel  at  Sluys  was 
465  yards.  Richly  laden  fleets  discharged  their  car- 
goes, which  were  brought  up  to  Bruges  in  barges, 
and  in  1468  as  many  as  150  merchant  ships  came 
up  to  Sluys  in  one  tide.  These  green  islands  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Scheldt,  with  their  winding  channels, 
have  been  the  scenes  of  stirring  events,  both  in  peace 
and  war.  When,  in  1337,  the  Count  of  Flanders 
garrisoned  Cadzand  with  a  number  of  knights  and 
their  retainers,  with  the  object  of  harassing  the  allies 
of  England,  Edward  III.  sent  a  small  force,  in  ships 


I02  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

from  the  Thames,  to  dislodge  them.  The  English 
vessels  ranged  up  close  to  the  land,  and  a  volley  of 
arrows  was  discharged  at  the  Flemish  troops  before 
the  English  landed,  under  the  lead  of  the  Earl  of 
Derby  and  Sir  Walter  Manny.  There  was  then  a 
desperate  hand-to-hand  combat,  in  which  the  Eng- 
lish were  victorious.  They  took  and  pillaged  the 
town  of  Cadzand,  and  returned  in  triumph  to  the 
Thames.  In  midsummer  of  1340  there  was  a  more 
memorable  battle  before  Sluys.  The  French  fleet 
of  upwards  of  1 20  large  ships,  under  the  command 
of  Sir  Hugh  Quiriel,  was  cruising  off  the  coast,  be- 
tween Sluys  and  Blankenburg,  when  Edward  III. 
embarked  for  Flanders.  When  the  king  s  fleet  reached 
the  opposite  shore  they  saw  so  many  masts  in  front 
of  the  town  of  Sluys  that  it  looked  like  a  wood. 
Edward  was  told  that  those  were  the  ships  whose 
crews  had  burnt  his  good  town  of  Southampton,  and 
had  taken  his  large  ship  the  "  Christopher."  The  king 
replied  that  he  had  long  wished  to  meet  with  them, 
and  that  now,  please  God  and  St.  George,  he  would 
fight  them.  The  English  sailed  boldly  up  the  Zwin, 
the  archers  and  crossbow-men  shot  with  all  their 
might  at  each  other,  and  the  battle  raged  fiercely. 
The  '*  Christopher,"  which  led  the  van,  was  recaptured, 
but  the  English  were  hard  pressed,  as  the  enemy  s 
ships  were  far  more  numerous  and  were  gallantly 
fought.  The  English  were  at  length  completely  vic- 
torious, and  not  a  single  French  ship  escaped.  King 
Edward  remained  on  board  all  night,  and  landed  at 
Sluys,  with  his  nobles,  on  midsummer  day.  He  then 
went  on  foot  to  our  Lady  of  Aardenburg,  to  return 
thanks  for  the  victory,  which  shows  that  there 


SLUYS.  103 

continuous  land,  unbroken  by  water-channels,  be- 
tween Sluys  and  Aardenburg  at  that  time.^ 

Sluys  was  also  the  scene  of  festive  receptions  in  the 
days  of  the  Dukes  of  Burgundy.  Hither  the  Princess 
Isabella  of  Portugal  had  come,  in  1429,  on  her  way  to 
those  splendid  nuptials  in  honor  of  which  Philip  in- 
stituted the  order  of  the  Golden  Fleece.  Again,  in 
June,  1468,  Margaret  of  York,  the  fair  sister  of  Ed- 
ward IV.,  with  her  ladies  and  attendants,  was  con- 
veyed in  a  fleet  of  sixteen  vessels  to  the  port  of 
Sluys.  Here  she  had  her  first  interview  with  Charles 
the  Bold,  and  rested  for  a  week  before  proceeding  in 
her  barge  to  Damme,  where  the  marriage  ceremony 
was  performed.  Those  were  the  most  prosperous 
days  for  Sluys ;  but  in  the  following  century  it  was 
still  a  place  of  some  trade,  and  was  fortified,  though 
not  very  efficiently.  A  wall  and  wide  moat  sur- 
rounded the  town,  and  at  the  north  end  there  was  a 
citadel  connected  with  the  town  by  a  long  bridge, 
which  also  had  to  be  defended;  making  altogether 
a  line  of  defences  nearly  two  and  a  half  miles  round. 

The  castle,  surrounded  by  a  wide  moat,  was  con- 
nected with  the  town  by  a  bridge.  Along  the  north- 
west side  of  the  town  several  gates  opened  on  a 
wharf,  where  ships  were  loaded  and  unloaded  in  the 
Zwin,  and  bridges  led  across  an  inner  moat  to  the 
town  gates.  Nearest  the  castle  was  the  St.  George 
Gate,  and  the  others  were  the  St.  Anne,  St.  John,  St. 
Jacob,  and  St.  Nicholas  Gates,  and  the  Gate  of  our 
Lady.  Then  came  the  haven,  a  channel  leading  from 
the  Zwin  into  the  town ;  and  at  the  angle  farthest 
from  the  castle  there  was  a  great  round  tower  rising 

*  Froissart. 


SLl/YS.  105 

his  deeds  of  reckless  bravery  had  won  him  renown 
far  and  wide.^  Cheerful  and  sanguine,  Williams  in- 
spired others  with  his  own  confidence,  while  he  drove 
away  care  and  despondency  by  his  animal  spirits  and 
jovial  conversation."  Thomas  Baskerville  and  Hunt- 
ley had,  like  Williams,  been  engaged  for  several  years 
in  the  wars.  But  Captain  Francis  Vere,  and  his  com- 
panions Sir  John  Scott,  Sir  Edmund  Uvedale,  Allen, 
Hart,  Shott,  Merrick,  St  Leger,  Foulke,  and  Fer- 
dinando  Gorges,  were  about  to  win  their  first  laurels 
in  the  defence  of  Sluys.  Dutch  and  English  were 
both  fully  resolved  to  make  a  desperate  resistance, 
and  they  worked  hard  at  the  defences  during  the 
respite  which  the  enemy  gave  them  while  he  was 
preparing  for  the  siege. 

We  have  seen  that  the  Duke  of  Parma  had  detached 
his  Italian  troops,  with  one  Spanish  tercto  under  Man- 
uel de  Vega,  to  make  a  diversion,  under  the  command 
of  Hautepenne  and  the  Marquis  del  Vasto.  This  left 
him  a  force  of  6,000^  men  with  which  to  commence 
the  siege  of  Sluys.  Among  them  were  the  two 
most  renowned  regiments  in  the  Spanish  service,  the 
tercto  viejo,  commanded  by  Don  Juan  de  Castilla, 
and  a  tercio  under  Juan  de  Aguila.*  The  rest  of  the 
besieging  force  consisted  of  Walloons  and  Germans. 
Williams  enumerates  the  enemy  as  composed  of  52 
companies  of  Spaniards,  4  regiments  of  Walloons, 
24  cornets  of  horse,  i  regiment  of  Burgundians,  a 

*  "  He  is  worth  his  weight  in  humour,  which  maugre  your  great- 
gold,  no  more  valiant  than  wise,  est  pain  would  make  you  heartily 
and  of  judgment  to  govern  his  to  laugh."  (Letter  to  Anthony  Bo- 
doings."  (Leicester  Letters^  p.  470.)  con^  in  Birch.) 

*  "  I  wish  you  sometimes  to  hear  ■  Camero  and  Herrera. 

Sir  Roger  Williams  in  his  satirical        ^  Herrera,  lib.  iii.  cap.  i.  p.  47. 


I06  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

number  of  boats  with  munitions,  and  most  of  the 
mariners  of  Dunkirk.^  Having  masked  Ostend  by 
garrisoning  the  fort  of  Blankenburg,  Parma  occupied 
the  island  of  Cadzand  during  the  last  week  of  May, 
1587,  where  he  established  his  headquarters.  His 
object  was  to  place  himself  between  Sluys  and  the 
sea,  and  to  secure  a  point  of  vantage  whence  to  pre- 
vent any  attempt  at  relief.  His  cavalry  watched  the 
coast  whence  the  towers  of  Flushing  were  in  sight, 
patrolling  the  Cadzand  shore  from  the  mouth  of  the 
Zwin  to  Breskens.  The  first  operation  of  the  be- 
sieging general  was  to  block  up  the  approach  to 
Sluys  from  the  sea.  A  battery  of  six  guns  was 
mounted  at  Hofstede,  on  the  west  side  of  Cadzand 
Island,  and  another  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Zwin« 
while  boats  were  moored,  head  and  stern,  right  across 
the  stream.  The  preliminary  measures  were  watched 
with  great  anxiety  by  the  garrison.  Captains  Hart 
and  Allen  twice  gallantly  swimming  out  to  commu- 
nicate with  friendly  vessels  in  the  Scheldt,  before  the 
channel  was  finally  closed. 

Having  effectually  blocked  the  only  way  by  which 
succor  could  come  from  Flushing,  the  Duke  of 
Parma  began  the  regular  siege  works.  The  dikes  had 
been  cut  and  the  open  country  inundated,  so  that  it 
was  difficult  to  occupy  positions  whence  to  approach 
the  walls,  or  on  which  to  form  a  camp.  Houses  were 
built  of  wood,  strengthened  with  bags  of  earth 
brought  from  a  distance ;  but,  owing  to  the  frequent 
and  determined  sorties  of  the  garrison,  there  were 
heavy  losses  while  the  camp  was  being  formed. 
Parma's  first  efforts  were  directed  against  the  castle 

^  Roger  Williams  to  the  Queen,  2  Jane,  1587* 


SLcrys.  107 

forming  the  northern  extremity  of  the  works,  and 
connected  with  the  town  by  a  long  bridge.  After 
working  hard  at  trenches  for  many  days,  and  batter- 
ing from  the  other  side  of  the  Zwin,  the  castle  be- 
came untenable.  Brave  Arnold  de  Groenvelt  saw- 
that  the  enemy  might  easily  destroy  the  bridge  of 
boats,  and  so  cut  the  defenders  of  the  castle  off  from 
the  town.  He  also  reflected  that  he  had  to  guard 
the  town,  which  was  a  hundred  times  more  impor- 
tant than  the  castle.  So,  after  long  and  careful  con- 
sultation with  his  officers,  it  was  resolved  to  abandon 
the  castle,  after  removing  artillery  and  warlike  stores, 
and  to  concentrate  their  efforts  on  the  defence  of  the 
town. 

Next  day  the  enemy  moved  his  siege-pieces,  and 
opened  fire  on  the  walls.  Parma  determined  to 
make  his  approaches  by  the  west  port,  where  there 
was  more  solid  ground  on  which  to  plant  batteries 
than  on  the  eastern  side.  The  garrison  continued  to 
make  desperate  sorties,  but  eventually  the  Spanish 
infantry  got  possession  of  the  dike  which  divided  the 
moat  into  two  channels,  and  were  thus  close  under 
the  ramparts.  Groenvelt  made  an  effort  to  dislodge 
the  besiegers.  Sallying  out  of  the  south  gate,  the 
gallant  English  and  Dutch  assaulted  the  west  dike. 
But  the  Spaniards  were  already  intrenched  500 
strong,  and  were  constantly  reinforced  by  boats  from 
the  Zwin.  After  a  desperate  struggle  with  pike  and 
arquebus,  the  garrison  retreated  at  great  risk,  return- 
ing  by  the  south  gate.  A  furious  cannonade  was  then 
commenced,  with  thirty  cannon  and  eight  culverins. 
The  great  fusillade  was  on  St.  James's  day,  when 
4,000  shots  were  fired  between  three  in  the  morning 


Io8  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

and  five  in  the  afternoon.  At  length  a  breach  250 
paces  long  was  made  in  the  wall,  and  a  bridge  of 
large  boats  was  constructed  from  the  west  dike  to 
the  foot  of  the  rampart  This  service  had  already 
cost  the  Duke  hundreds  of  his  soldiers,  forty  of  his 
bravest  sailors,  and  several  valuable  officers.  The 
Marquis  de  Renty,  a  Flemish  nobleman,  had  charge 
of  the  trenches  until  he  was  wounded ;  next  a  Span- 
ish officer  named  Mota  took  command,  but  he  was 
disabled  by  having  an  arm  shot  away.  Count  Charles 
de  Mansfelt  succeeded,  and  was  also  badly  wounded; 
and  finally  Don  Bartolome  de  Torralva,  a  Spanish 
veteran,  came  to  the  front.  There  was  necessarily 
much  danger,  owing  to  the  exposure,  for  there  was 
great  want  of  earth  to  make  intrenchments,  the 
surrounding  country  being  flooded.  The  Duke  of 
Parma  at  last  caused  wooden  engines  to  be  built  of 
bullet-proof  planks,  on  wheels,  and  about  six  feet 
high,  behind  each  of  which  four  men  could  worL 
The  breach  was  made  along  the  rampart  from  the 
west  gate,  and  an  assault  was  organized,  which  was 
to  be  delivered  against  the  ravelin,  under  which  were 
the  wine-cellars. 

The  garrison  had  not  been  idle.  They  had  worked 
day  and  night,  making  incessant  sorties,  and  had  con- 
structed a  half  moon  round  a  windmill,  as  a  second 
defence  in  rear  of  the  threatened  ravelin.  They  now 
braced  themselves  to  receive  and  hurl  back  the  as- 
sault. The  Spaniards  were  led  by  Domingo  de  Idia> 
quez,  of  the  gallant  San  Sebastian  family*  Antonio 
Gomez,  and  Juan  Bravo.  They  rushed  up  the  breach 
with  desperate  energy,  and  were  encountered  by  a 
line  of  pikes.     Hurled  back  again  and  again,  thqr 


SLC/ys.  109 

ime  on.  Alternately,  and  day  by  day,  there 
rannonades  and  assaults,  the  whole  being  ar- 
l  with  great  care  by  Don  Juan  de  Aguila,  the 
V  de  campo,  and  his  colleague,  Juan  de  Castilla. 
advanced  slowly  and  step  by  step,  until  at  last 
velin  and  west  gate  were  carried.  But  their 
vas  only  commencing. 

ir  it  was  that  the  valor  and  endurance  of  the 
ers  were  to  be  tested  to  the  uttermost.  They 
ice  to  face  with  the  cream  of  the  Spanish  in- 
the  renowned  tercio  viejo.  There  was  scarcely 
ng  between  them,  —  an  open  breach  and  some 
lly  constructed  earthworks  on  the  rampart, 
was  no  rest  day  or  night,  but  incessant  fighting. 

were  brought  up  to  the  ramparts,  for  there 
10  reliefs,  and  no  one  could  be  spared  to  go 
le  town.  Furious  assaults  were  as  furiously 
;d  with  pike,  sword,  and  curtle-axe.  Ever  fore- 
1  the  fray  was  Roger  Williams,  leader  of  the 
h,  with  Baskerville  and  Francis  Vere.  Day 
ay,  and  in  fight  after  fight,  the  Spaniards  saw 
ite  plumes  of  Baskerville  and  the  crimson  man- 
/ere  in  the  thickest  of  the  battle ;  and  time  after 
le  enemy  fell  back  before  them.  Twice  was 
s  Vere  wounded,  but  he  was  not  disabled. 
Williams  urged  him  to  retire,  but  the  gallant 
soldier  replied  that  "  he  would  rather  be  killed 
les  in  a  breach  than  once  in  a  house."  ^  The 
^rs  were  reduced  from  1,600  to  700  men,  and 
iteen  days  the  survivors  never  left  the  breach. 

Duke  of  Parma  despaired  of  forcing  a  way 
\i  the  living  wall  which  supplied  the  place  of 

*  Grimeston,  p.  962. 


no  THE  FIGHTIXG   VERES. 

the  rampart  he  had  taken.  He  observed  with  admi- 
ration the  valor  of  the  heretics,  and  especially  of  the 
leaders  with  the  white  plumes  and  the  red  mantle. 
He  saw  that  within  the  walls  of  Sluys  there  were 
soldiers  who  were  even  a  match  for  the  iercios  of 
Spain.  He  resolved  to  proceed  by  sap,  which,  though 
a  longer  and  more  tedious,  was  a  surer  way  of  cap- 
turing the  place.  Mines  were  driven  through  the 
outer  walls,  and  counter-mines  were  made  by  the 
garrison,  led  by  Captain  Uvedale.  The  miners  and 
counter-miners  found  themselves  in  the  great  cellars, 
where  there  were  fierce  encounters  while  the  battle 
was  also  raging  overhead.  The  enemy  could  refresh 
and  relieve  their  men  daily,  but  the  same  defenders 
had  to  work  continuously  day  and  night. 

Arnold  de  Groenvelt  had  exhausted  his  powder. 
His  artillery  was  disabled.  His  garrison  was  so  re- 
duced that  half  the  walls  were  left  undefended.  He 
beheld  a  fresh  force  of  the  enemy,  embarked  in  fort)' 
large  boats  on  the  Zwin,  and  about  to  land  on  the 
wharf  near  St.  John  s  Gate,  which  was  unprotected. 
Endurance  had  reached  its  utmost  limit;  and  at 
length  the  governor  was  obliged  to  open  a  parley 
with  the  enemy  on  the  2d  of  August,  the  very  day 
on  which  a  fresh  Spanish  regiment  marched  into 
camp  under  Juan  de  Vega.  The  Duke  of  Parma, 
full  of  admiration  at  the  extraordinary  gallantry  of 
the  defence,  granted  most  honorable  terms.  The 
garrison  was  to  march  out  with  all  their  baggage  and 
arms,  matches  lighted,  and  colors  displayed.  They 
were  to  proceed  to  Breskens,  whence  they  were  to 
embark  for  Flushing.  The  Duke  of  Parma  entered 
Sluys  on  the  4th  of  August     He  asked  Roger  Wit 


J 


SLUVS.  1 1 1 

liams  to  introduce  him  to  Baskerville,  whom  he  em- 
braced, declaring  that  no  prince  in  Christendom  was 
served  by  a  braver  soldier.^  Williams  wrote  a  report, 
containing  generous  but  well-deserved  praise  of  his 
comrades.  The  Dutch,  he  said,  were  constant,  resolute, 
and  valiant,  especially  those  brave  captains  Meet- 
kerk  and  Heraugiere.  The  English  officers  re- 
ceived warm  commendation  from  their  veteran  chief. 
But  their  highest  acknowledgment  was  from  their 
noble  enemy.  Parma  declared  that  he  had  lost  more 
men  before  Sluys  than  he  did  during  the  previous 
campaign  before  Neuss,Venlo,  Grave,  and  Rheinberg 
put  together.^ 

Queen  Elizabeth  attached  great  importance  to  the 
retention  of  Sluys,  and  pressed  forward  measures  for 

*  Sir  Thomas  Baskerville  was  *  The  accounts  of  the  siege  of 

the  son  of  Henry  Baskerville,  of  Sluys,  from  the  Spanish  side,  are 

Hereford.     In   1589  he  went  with  contained    in    the    narratives    of 

Lord  Willoughby  to  France,  and  Strada,  Bentivoglio,  Herrera,  and 

afterwards  commanded  troops  in  Carnero.    On  the  English  side  are 

Picardy.     He  died  of  fever  at  Pic-  the  letters  and  reports  of  Roger 

quigny  on  the  Somme,  on  June  4,  Williams    in    the     Cotton    MSS, 

1597,  and  was  buried  in  St.  Paul's  (Galba,  c.  viii.,  ix.,  x.,  xi.),  and  in 

Cathedral.     The  monument  to  his  Grimeston's  work.     Meteren  also 

memory    was    destroyed    in    the  gives  a  narrative  of  the  siege  ;  and 

great  fire  of   1666.     By  his  wife  the  official   report  of    Arnold   de 

Mary,   daughter    of    Sir  Thomas  Groenvelt,    governor    of     Sluys, 

Throckmorton,  he  had  a  son  Han-  with  a  rough  sketch  map  of  Par- 

nibal,  born  at  St.  Valery,  in  Picar-  ma's  defences  on  the  Zwin,  is  in 

dy,   on   April   5,    1597,   only   two  the  State  Paper  Office,  (Holland, 

months  before  his  father's  death,  vol.  xlv.,  dated  August  26,   1587.) 

He  lived  at  Sunningwell,  in   Berk-  There  is  an  engraved  plan  of  Sluys 

shire,  where  he  led  a  charitable  of  the  date  1588,  "Slusa  teuionicae 

but  very  eccentric  life,  and  died  in  Flandriae  opp.  admodum  elegans,'* 

1668.      He    married    his     cousin  and  an  engraved  view  of  the  town 

Mar>',  daughter  of  Captain  Nicho-  taken  from  the  Zwin  ;  also  a  plan 

las  Baskerville,  by  whom  he  had  of  Sluys  and  the  surrounding  chan- 

sixteen  sons.     One  son,  Thomas,  nels,  made  to  illustrate  the  siege 

was  an  antiquary,  and  died  in  1 720.  of  1604. 


112 


THE  FIGHTING    VERES. 


J 


its  relief.  It  was  known  that  Philip  II.  was  prepar- 
ing a  gigantic  expedition  for  the  conquest  of  Eng- 
land. Parma  was  to  embark  an  invading  army,  and 
both  Sluys  and  Ostend  would  be  important  points  at 
which  to  collect  his  forces.  Unfortunately  the  Earl 
of  Leicester  was  on  bad  terms  with  the  States,  owing 
to  the  treason  of  Stanley  and  the  loss  of  Deventer. 
and  on  other  grounds.  There  was  an  absence  of 
that  cordial  cooperation  which  alone  could  insure 
success.  Leicester,  however,  left  England  in  June, 
with  supplies  of  money  and  reinforcements.*  Sir 
William  Pelham  followed  with  more  troops  and  nu- 
merous volunteers.^    After  the  siege  had  lasted  seven 


^  All  the  young  noblemen  and 
courtiers  longed  to  share  the  glory 
of  defending  Sluys.  An  example 
of  this  ardor  is  shown  in  Rol)ert 
Gary's  Memoirs.  He  says  that  the 
young  Karl  of  Essex  stole  from 
court,  after  Sluys  was  besieged, 
with  intent  to  get  into  the  town  if 
he  could.  The  Oueen  sent  her 
cousin,  Robert  Cary,  after  him, 
with  orders  to  use  the  best  means 
he  could  to  persuade  him  to  return 
to  court.  Gary  found  him  at  Sand- 
wich, and  with  much  ado  got  him 
to  return.  As  they  were  riding 
post  back,  Gary  stayed  a  little  be- 
hind the  Karl,  and  when  Kssex 
was  out  of  sight  he  returned  to 
Sandwich.  The  Karl  of  Cumlwr- 
land  was  there,  and  had  provided 
a  small  bark,  in  which  he  and  Car>' 
embarked  to  go  to  Sluys.  When 
they  came  off  Ostend  they  got  in- 
to the  ship's  l)oat  and  pulled  to 
the  shore,  only  to  receive  news  of 
the  surrender  of  Slu}*s.    Gary  re- 


mained with  his  brother  in  the 
Ostend  garrison  for  some  time, 
and  then  went  with  him  to  Bergen- 
op-Zoom,  where  he  passed  the 
summer,  retomiog  to  England  at 
Michaelmas.  He  was  created  Earl 
of  Monmouth  by  James  I.  His 
autobiography  was  published  in 
1759*  ^i^'n  ^  manuscript  belong- 
ing to  the  Earl  of  Gork. 

'  Among  them  was  Francis  Mark- 
ham  (brother  of  Gervase,  the 
writer  on  farming,  farriery,  and  gar^ 
dening),  who  was  then  twentvooe 
years  of  age.  He  served  with  Sir 
William  Pelham  luitU  hb  death, 
and  afterwards  he  continued  his 
military  studies  under  Sir  Fraadt 
Vere.  They  resulted  in  the  pulh 
lication  of  a  work  which  contains 
the  best  treatise  on  the  duties  of 
the  various  officers  of  aa  amy  is 
those  days.  {Frv€  Dttadts  tf 
Epistles  of  IVar,  by  Francis  Mirk- 
ham.    Londoot  folio^  1622.) 


...J 


sLC/ys.  113 

weeks,  Prince  Maurice  and  his  half-brother,  Justin  of 
Nassau,  collected  transports  at  Flushing,  and  Leices- 
ter embarked  for  Ostend  with  twenty-five  companies 
of  foot  and  six  cornets  of  horse.  He  marched  to- 
wards Sluys,  and  laid  siege  to  the  fort  at  Blanken- 
burg.  The  Duke  advanced  against  him,  and,  despair- 
ing of  success,  Leicester  withdrew  to  Ostend,  and 
gave  up  the  attempt.  Another  scheme  for  attacking 
the  besiegers  on  the  Flushing  side  was  also  aban- 
doned. On  the  29th  of  June  Roger  Williams  sent 
out  a  note  to  Leicester,  written  on  a  narrow  scrap  of 
paper,  which  reached  its  destination.  He  wrote: 
"  Let  Lord  Willoughby  and  Sir  William  Russell 
land  right  against  Cadzand  with  4,000  men.  Here 
are  valiant  captains  and  valiant  soldiers  that  had 
rather  be  buried  in  the  place  than  be  disgraced  in 
any  point  that  belongs  unto  "  [rest  illegible].  But 
the  pilots  of  Flushing  discouraged  the  project,  and  it 
was  given  up.  Sluys  was  lost  after  one  of  the  most 
gallant  defences  recorded  in  history. 

The  Earl  of  Leicester  returned  to  England  in 
November,  and  resigned  his  command  on  December 
17,  1587.^  Sir  William  Pelham  died  at  Flushing  on 
November  24th.  Lord  Burgh  succeeded  Sir  Thomas 
Cecil  as  governor  of  Brill  on  February  6,  1588.  Sir 
Robert  Sidney  (Sir  Philip  s  brother)  became  governor 
of  Flushing,  in  succession  to  Sir  William  Russell, 
with  Captain  N.  Errington  in  command  of  Ram- 
mekens,  on  June  27,  1589,  and  Sir  John  Conway  was 
governor  of  Ostend.  Few  public  men  have  been 
assailed  with   more  indiscriminate   abuse   than    the 

^  He  died  at  Corabury  Park,  in  Oxfordshire,  on  September  4,  1588. 


114  ^^^  FIGHTING   VERES.  * 

Earl  of  Leicester,  especially  by  modem  historians. 
He  was  not  an  estimable  character,  but  the  detraction 
has  been  overdone,  and  on  some  points  his  memory 
has  been  unjustly  treated.  On  his  resignation  Prince 
Maurice  was  chosen  Governor  of  the  States  and  Gen- 
eral of  their  forces,  and  Lord  Willoughby  succeeded 
as  General  of  the  English  auxiliary  army. 

Sluys  remained  in  the  power  of  the  Spaniards  for 
twenty  years,  when  it  was  retaken  by  Prince  Maurice. 
From  that  time  the  water  became  shallower,  and  the 
town  gradually  lost  its  trade.  In  1715  only  very 
small  craft  could  reach  it,  and  in  1756  Bruges  lost 
this  fluvial  highway  to  the  sea.  The  very  name  erf 
Zwin  was  forgotten.  In  181 2  Napoleon  finished  a 
canal  from  Bruges  to  Sluys,  which  was  dug  by  Span- 
ish prisoners  of  war.  The  old  channels  were  filled 
up,  and  in  1872  a  polder  was  formed  right  across 
the  mouth  of  the  Zwin.  There  was  a  marvellous 
change.  The  flourishing  seaport,  once  the  great  en- 
trepot of  Flemish  trade,  became  a  small  agricultural 
town.  Where  there  were  once  arms  of  the  sea  and 
swamps  there  arc  now  rich  pastures  and  waving  corn- 
fields. Yet  the  enceinte  of  the  old  walls  can  still  be 
traced,  and  the  landmarks  of  former  greatness  are 
clearly  recognizable.  The  old  town  hall,  with  its  pic- 
turesque tower,  is  still  standing.  Tall  trees  conceal 
its  walls  on  the  side  facing  the  open  square,  but  on 
the  other  side  there  is  an  ornamental  fa9ade  with  six 
windows.  The  interior  contains  an  interesting  col- 
lection of  books  and  curiosities  relating  to  Sluys.' 

*  They  were  collected  and  ar-  thor  of  Een  Blik  &p  di  vmrmiuj^ 
ranfjed  by  J.  H.  van  Dale,  keeper  d^r  Stad  Sluts  en  op  dem  smtUig 
of    the    Sluys  archives,  and    au-    kai'tn    vestingwerktn  vam    l^ftz 


SLUVS. 


115 


The  great  Church  of  St  John  has  entirely  disap- 
peared. It  was  burnt  down  in  181 1.  The  Church 
of  Our  Lady  is  also  gone.  But  there  is  much  re- 
maining of  the  West  Port  and  other  works  memora- 
ble for  the  scenes  of  the  gallant  defence.  The  vast 
mass  of  brick-work  was  too  solid  to  remove  without 
great  labor  and  expense.  There  are  the  walls  of  the 
entrance  with  grooves  for  a  portcullis,  vaulted  pas- 
sages on  either  side,  and  a  spiral  staircase  leading  to 
the  cellars.  Tall  rows  of  elm-trees  mark  the  line  of 
the  walls ;  but  the  castle  has  disappeared,  a  mound 
indicating  the  site.  It  was  dismantled  by  the  French, 
after  Moreau  took  the  place  in  1794,  and  the  walls 
were  removed  in  1820.  The  old  haven  remains,  and 
communicates  with  the  new  canal  to  Bruges.  But  it 
is  strange  to  reflect  that  those  rich  crops  and  pas- 
tures full  of  cattle  and  horses  occupy  the  site  of 
the  Zwin  with  its  crowded  lines  of  shipping.  The 
view  from  the  grassy  ramparts,  along  which  there  is 
a  pleasant  shady  walk,  extends  over  a  bright  green 
country,  with  the  farms  and  villages  of  Cadzand, 
embosomed  in  trees,  on  the  horizon.  This  happy 
change  is  due  to  the  final  triumph  of  the  good  old 


door  1587  (Middelburg,  1871). 
Among  the  books  in  this  collection 
are  Hei  Casteel  van  Sluis^  etc,  by 
H.  A.  Callenfels  (Zierikzee,  1844), 
a  manuscript  list  of  inscriptions 
on  tombs  in  St.  John's  churchyard 
at  Sluys,  made  in  181 1,  and  an  ac- 
count of  Sluys  published  by  J. 
Bageleat,  at  Dordrecht,  in  1749. 
There  are  also  the  arms  of  Sluys 
carved  in  stone,  and  painted  on 
wood,  remains  of  former  grandeur ; 


two  iron  balls  and  a  Spanish 
sword,  dug  up  at  the  West  Gate  in 
1875  *>  a  fine  stone  boss,  consisting 
of  two  angels  with  the  pyx  and 
vine  leaves,  probably  from  the  old 
church  ;  seals  of  "the  Church  of 
Our  Lady  and  of  the  smiths*  guild 
at  Sluys;  a  manuscript  volume, 
curiously  illustrated,  containing 
the  ordinances  and  statutes  of  the 
Sluys  guilds ;  and  a  collection  of 
coins  and  medals. 


1 1 6  THE  FIGHTING  VERES. 

cause  for  which  Francis  Vere  struggled  so  valorously 
on  the  ramparts  of  Sluys,  just  three  hundred  years 
ago.' 

^  There  is  a  map  of  the  fortifi-  cations  were,  for  the  most  part, 
cations  of  Damme  and  Sluys  on  constructed  in  the  seventeenth  cen- 
the  staircase  of  the  town  hall  at  tur)',  so  that  the  plan  does  not  fur- 
Bruges,  drawn  by  Jacques  Lob-  nish  a  guide  for  the  study  of  the 
brecht  in  1660.    But  these  fortifi-  siege  of  Sluys  in  1587. 


CHAPTER  X. 

BERGEN-OP-ZOOM. 

lege  of  Sluys  made  Francis  Vera  famous. 
t  was  mentioned  it  was  as  "  young  Vere  who 
t  Sluys,"  or  as  *'  Captain  Vere,  one  of  the 
5  of  Sluys."  Robert  Cecil,  in  speaking  of 
irs  whose  acquaintance  he  made  at  Ostend 
says  :  "  There  be  many  tall  gentlemen,  espe- 
ptain  Francis  Vere  that  was  in  Sluys,  who 
proper  man,  and  was  as  ready  to  have  shown 
:ourtesy  as  I  could  have  desired  it"  ^  He 
ith  Lord  Willoughby  in  the  field  until  the 
ent  into  winter-quarters,  and  he  was  at  Arn- 
September,  1587,  whence  his  earliest  letter 
ve  met  with  was  sent  to  Lord  Willoughby.* 
3  retirement  of  the  Earl  of  Leicester  in  No- 
1587,  the  Queen  selected  Lord  Willoughby 
:d  him.     Willoughby  had  shown  that  he  was 

il    to    Lord  Burleigh,  liver  up  an  outlying  fort  of  which 

588.  he  was  in  charge.    Vere  adds  :  "  I 

September    19,    1587.  would  have  come  to  your  Excel- 

es   a  letter  which  he  lency  myself,  but  that  he,  hearing 

1  from  the  traitor  Stan-'  of  my  sudden    departure  (as  no 

lat  his  attempts  to  cor-  doubt  that  he  hath  correspondence 

or  men  by  bribes  or  with  some   papists  of  the   town), 

I  of  his  traitorous  reli-  might  doubt  that  I  had   disclosed 

)e  carefully  watched."  his  wicked  intent."     (British  Mu- 

which  Stanley  makes  seum.  Cotton  MSS.t  Galba,  D,  1 1, 

r  is  that  Vere  will  de-  71.) 


I  1 8  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

a  good  diplomatist  and  a  valiant  soldier,  but  he  felt 
himself  to  be  unequal  to  the  difficult  and  thankless 
duty  that  was  thrust  upon  him.  The  States  were 
discontented  with  the  English  alliance,  begrudged 
the  supply  of  provisions,  and  were  constantly  at  cross- 
purposes  with  their  allies.  It  was  Willoughby's  be- 
lief that  the  numbers  and  condition  of  the  army  ren- 
dered it  quite  unequal  to  cope  with  the  Duke  of 
Parma,  and  he  looked  forward  to  nothing  but  disas- 
ter and  disgrace  for  its  commander.  He  at  least  felt 
himself  to  be  unequal  to  the  task  of  doing  his  coun- 
try good  service  in  the  face  of  such  perplexities  and 
difficulties.  He  entreated  Walsingham  to  get  him 
excused,  if  possible.  He  recommended  several  offi- 
cers as  far  better  able  to  fill  the  post,  mentioning  Sir 
John  Norris,  Sir  William  Pelham,  Sir  Richard  Bing- 
ham, or  Lord  North.  But  it  was  of  no  avail.  The 
Queen  would  not  excuse  him,  and  his  commission 
was  signed  on  the  loth  of  November,  1587.  He  was 
styled  **  Locum  iencus  Dux  generalis  totius  exercu 
lus  et  copiarumr  He  assumed  command  on  the  4th 
of  December,  and  the  States,  at  the  same  time,  made 
Prince  Maurice  Governor  of  Holland  and  Zeeland 
and  Gcnjsral  of  their  armies,  who  thus  became  the 
colleague  of  the  English  general,  with  superior  rank. 
The  Queen  nominated  a  war  council  to  advise  Lord 
Willoughby,  consisting  of  the  veteran  Sir  William 
Read,  Sir  William  Russell,  the  governor  of  Flush- 
ing, Captain  Errington,  the  commandant  of  Ramme- 
kens,  and  Captain  Wilford,  who  was  in  garrison  at 
Bergen-op-Zoom,  and  had  been  Leicester's  sergeanb 
major  general. 

Lord  Willoughby  received  a  supply  of  money  equal 


BERGEN^OP-ZOOM.  1 1 9 

to  ;^  1 0,000,  which  enabled  him  to  pay  the  troops, 
leaving  a  small  sum  in  hand.  The  pay  of  a  company, 
including  officers,  was  ;^220  a  month.  There  were 
many  abuses,  and  proper  checks  were  often  wanting. 
It  was  also  very  difficult  for  the  Queen's  government 
to  furnish  the  necessary  supplies  of  money  and  stores 
as  they  were  required.  But  the  statements  of  mod- 
ern historians  on  this  subject  are  grossly  exaggerated. 
They  quote  from  the  gossiping  news-letters  of  diplo- 
matists at  the  Hague,  instead  of  relying  upon  the 
reports  of  responsible  officials.  The  state  of  affairs  at 
this  time  is  very  clearly  explained  by  Mr.  Digges,  the 
muster-master  general.  He  admits  that  the  abuses 
were  many,  and  most  subtilely  contrived.^  "  Many 
bands  of  150  were  not  able  to  muster  sixty,  and 
those  in  such  poverty  and  misery  as  was  lamentable 
to  behold;  and  yet  Her  Majesty  during  all  that 
time  paid  full  and  complete  without  any  checks  He 
is  speaking  of  the  times  before  the  arrival  of  the 
Earl  of  Leicester.  Afterwards  he  says  that  discipline 
and  order  were  established  in  the  musters,  and  there 
were  allowances  for  supporting  commissaries  in  all 
the  garrisons.  In  a  short  time  the  companies  were 
brought  up  to  their  full  complement,  and  well  armed 
and  equipped.  He  added  that  there  had  been  a  fall- 
ing off  since  Lord  Willoughby  took  command ;  but 
he  attributed  this  to  a  reduction  in  the  number  of  his 
deputies  and  clerks,  anticipating  that  with  a  proper 
staff  he  could  insure  a  restoration  of  efficiency.  The 
difficulties  were  very  great,  and  there  were  self-seek- 
ers among  the  officers ;  but  there  were  many  loyal 
men  who  worked  for  their    country's    service  with 

*  Statt  Papers  (Holland),  vol.  liv. 


I20 


THE  FIGHTING  VERES. 


single-minded  zeal,  and  devoted  all  their  energies  to 
securing  the  efficiency  of  their  companies,  which  in- 
cluded the  wellbeing  and  comfort  of  their  men. 

Among  these  good  men  and  true,  none  was  more 
devoted  to  his  profession  and  to  his  country's  service 
than  the  Generals  cousin,  Francis  Vere.  His  com- 
pany formed  part  of  the  garrison  of  Bergen-op-Zoom, 
where  he  was  destined  to  pass  the  winter  of  1587-88. 
and  the  greater  part  of  the  ensuing  year.  Among  his 
most  intimate  comrades  at  this  time  there  were  several 
officers  who  gained  distinction  in  the  Queen  s  wars. 
Thomas  Baskerville,  with  whom  he  had  fought  side 
by  side  on  the  ramparts  of  Sluys,  belonged  to  an  old 
Herefordshire  family.  Edmund  Uvedale,  or  Udall/ 
came  from  Dorsetshire,  of  a  family  allied  to  the  Sid- 
neys. Captains  Pooley*  and  Wingfield  were  neigh- 
bors from  Suffolk,  the  latter  a  cousin  of  the  Veres. 
Scott  had  also  served  at  Sluys.  Bannaster  was  a 
veteran.^  Salisbury,*  Blount,  Parker,  Knowles,  Aud* 
ley,  Danvers,  and  Powell  were  younger  men.  These, 
with  the  veteran  Thomas  Wilford,  were  the  messmates 
and  comrades  of  Francis  Vere  during  many  long 
months  of  garrison  duty  at  Bergen,  and  afterwards 
they  shared  the  glories  of  its  defence.     Mr.  Bodley 


*  The  Uvedales  were  of  More 
Critchill,  a  place  which  in  later 
years  became  the  property  of  the 
Napiers  and  Sturts.  Nicholas 
Udall,  born  in  Hampshire  in  1506, 
was  of  the  same  family.  He  be- 
came  head  master  of  Westminster 
in  1 555,  a  very  learned  person  men- 
tioned by  Str)-pe.  who  translated 
the  works  of  Erasmus. 


*  The  Poole)rs  came  from  Boa- 
ted, near  Lavenham,  in  Suffolk. 

*  Having  spent  many  yean  ta 
the  wars,  and  growing  old,  Ca|>> 
tain  Bannaster  retired,  and  wait 
home  in  November,  1 589. 

*  Salisbun'  was  afterwards  si» 
pected  of  treasonable  comnitinic»* 
tion  with  the  enemv.  He  was  a 
Roman  Catholic  Stait  Pmptn 
(Holland),  vol.  xUii. 


BERGEN'OP-ZOOM.  1 2 1 

reported  to  Secretary  Walsingham  that  "  there  is  not 
any  other  garrison  in  the  Low  Countries  where  the 
captains  and  companies  are  more  obedient  to  their 
governor,  at  better  agreement  among  themselves,  and 
more  at  quiet  with  the  burghers  of  the  town." 

The  fortified  town  of  Bergen-op-Zoom,  in  Brabant, 
on  the  Oster  Scheldt,  is  the  key  to  Zeeland.  It  com- 
mands the  channel  separating  the  mainland  from 
South  Beveland  and  Walcheren ;  and  it  protects  the 
town  of  Tholen  to  the  north,  which  is  the  key  to  the 
islands  of  Tholen  and  Schouwen.  Its  possession 
was  consequently  a  matter  of  great  importance,  and 
a  strong  English  garrison  was  prepared  to  hold  it  to 
the  last  The  name  of  Bergen-op-Zoom  is  not  de- 
rived from  a  river,  as  old  authors  inform  us,^  but 
from  a  rising  ground  or  hill  {berg)  called  Zoom.  It  is 
*'  the  hill  at  Zoom."  There  is  no  river,  merely  a  drain 
passing  through  the  town  to  the  haven.  The  walls, 
surrounded  by  a  moat  supplied  from  the  Scheldt,  en- 
closed the  town  in  the  form  of  an  irregular  pentagon, 
with  prolongations  on  the  western  side  to  protect  the 
haven.  The  walls  were  strong,  and  were  provided 
at  intervals  with  semicircular  towers,  four  of  which 
were  gate  towers.  On  the  northwestern  side  was  the 
Steenberg  Gate,  leading  to  Tholen ;  on  the  east,  the 
Wouw  Gate  led  to  the  village  and  castle  of  that 
name  on  the  road  to  Breda;  and  the  Bosel  Gate,  on 
the  south  side,  opened  on  the  road  to  Antwerp.  A 
fourth  gate,  called  the  OudePoort,  led  from  the  town 
to  the  haven.  It  is  still  standing,  and  consists  of  two 
massive  circular  towers  with  pointed  roofs,  and  a 
pointed  archway  with  two  chambers  above  it.     The 

^  See  Meteren  and  Bentivoglio. 


122  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

Oude  Poort  opens  on  the  haven,  which  is  a  canal 
leading  to  the  Wester  Scheldt  The  town  wall  and 
moat  were  continued  along  either  side  of  the  haven, 
and  at  its  junction  with  the  Scheldt  there  were  two 
important  forts,  one  on  each  side.  The  northern  one, 
called  the  Noord  Schans,  was  small ;  but  the  Zuyd 
Schans  was  a  larger  work,  with  a  moat  and  bastions, 
and  it  was  connected  with  the  haven  by  a  small  gate 
called  St.  Jacob's  Poort,  with  an  outlook.  The  whole 
tract  on  the  north  and  south  side  of  the  haven  was 
"Verdroncken  Landt,"  swampy  and  overflowed  at 
high  tides,  so  that  the  water  forts  at  the  entrance  of 
the  haven  could  only  be  approached  at  low  w^ater, 
and  then  only  by  narrow  causeways.  The  view  from 
the  site  of  the  water  forts  takes  in  a  wide  expanse  of 
water,  with  the  green  line  of  South  Beveland  in  front, 
and  Tholen,  with  its  massive  church-tower  surrounded 
by  trees,  to  the  north.  Now  high  dikes  keep  out  the 
water,  the  country  is  pasture  sprinkled  over  with 
black  and  white  cows,  and  along  the  margin  of  the 
Scheldt  there  are  extensive  oyster-beds.  The  water 
forts  have  disappeared.     All  is  changed. 

Bergen-op-Zoom  was  made  a  marquisate  by  Charles 
V.  in  1523,  and  the  **  Hof,"  or  palace,  of  the  mar- 
quises is  in  the  street  leading  from  the  great  square 
to  the  Steenberg  gate.  It  is  a  very  large  edifice, 
built  round  a  courtyard,  with  a  great  archway,  having 
a  groined  vaulted  roof,  leading  from  the  street  The 
court  has  a  monastic  appearance.  In  the  gateway 
there  are  pillars  with  capitals  carved  \iith  foliage* 
and  an  arcade  gave  a  cloistral  look  to  the  ^I'alls.  In 
the  rear,  there  was  an  extensive  fruit  and  flower  gar- 
den.    It  was  this  **  very  fair  house  ^  and  the  excellent 


BERGEN-OP-^ZOOM.  1 2  3 

air  of  Bergen^p-Zoom  which  made  Sir  PhiHp  Sid- 
ley  wish  for  the  governorship.  But,  with  character- 
stic  unselfishness,  he  resigned  his  claim  to  his  friend 
Lord  Willoughby.  In  this  spacious  "  Hof "  it  is  prob- 
ible  that  the  principal  English  officers  of  the  garrison 
lad  their  lodgings,  while  others  lived  in  a  street  which 
s  still  called  the  English  Street ;  and  the  great  mon- 
LStery  of  the  Minim  Friars,  on  the  north  side  of  the 
own,  had  also  been  converted  into  an  inn  or  "  gast- 
luis."  In  the  centre  of  the  town  was  the  great  mar- 
ret  square,  one  side  of  which  was  formed  by  the  fine 
Id  church  dedicated  to  St.  Lambert  It  is  of  vast 
proportions,  and  its  massive  tower  was  a  landmark 
-yv  miles  around.  The  town  contained  houses  of 
lobles  and  wealthy  merchants,  and  there  were  exten- 
ive  gardens  and  orchards  within  the  walls.  Mr. 
Jodley  reported  that  "  the  burghers  in  short  time  had 
;rown  to  be  very  wealthy.  Three  years  ago  there 
^ere  but  a  thousand  souls,  now  three  thousand  at  the 
east." 

Lord  Willoughby  had  to  resign  the  governorship 
►f  Bergen-op-Zoom  when  he  became  general,  and  he 
ppointed  Sir  William  Drury  to  succeed  him.  He 
Iso  begged  that  Wilford  might  be  lieutenant-colonel 
\{  infantry,  and  Vere  sergeant-major.  Of  Vere  he 
eported :  "  Though  but  young,  he  hath  experience, 
irt,  discretion,  and  valour  sufficient  to  exercise  the 
office."  ^  But  his  recommendations  were  not  at- 
ended  to.  The  Queen  thought  that  old  Colonel 
VIorgan,  who  led  the  very  first  band  of  volunteers, 
Tiust  be  provided  for,  and  she  ordered  that  he  should 
be  governor  of  Bergen-op-Zoom.     This  caused  much 

^  State  Papers  (Holland),  vol.  liii. 


^^J 


124  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

ill-feeling.  Drury  was  known  and  respected  by  the 
officers,  who  were  also  loyal  to  Lord  Willoughby, 
and  Morgan  was  very  unpopular.  When  he  arrived, 
in  May,  1588,  he  was  not  very  cordially  received,  and 
he  complained  that  all  the  officers  were  ill  disposed 
towards  him.  But  this  was  untrue.  The  officers  did 
not  allow  their  own  feelings  and  wishes  to  interfere 
with  their  public  duty.  Secretary  Walsingham  wrote 
privately  on  the  subject,  both  to  Francis  Vere  and  to 
Baskerville.  The  former  replied  that  he  derived  sin- 
gular  comfort  from  the  care  the  Secretary  had  taken 
to  reconcile  him  with  Colonel  Morgan;  that  what 
causes  he  had  to  dislike  the  new  governor  he  would 
pass  over  in  silence  and  forget;  and  that  no  man 
would  obey  him  more  willingly.  Baskerville  gave 
Walsingham  the  same  assurance,  both  in  his  own 
name  and  in  that  of  Captain  Uvedale  and  his  other 
brother  officers.  The  officers  of  the  Bergen  garrison 
set  an  example  of  subordination  and  public  spirit 
None  were  on  better  terms  with  the  townsf)eople, 
and  none  were  more  vigilant  and  eager  to  harass  the 
enemy,  which  their  proximity  to  Antwerp  rendered 
easy,  especially  as  the  Dutch  squadrons  of  caNalry 
under  the  brothers  Bacx  formed  part  of  their  force. 

Lord  Willoughby  had  spent  large  sums  of  his  own 
in  the  public  service,  and  had  mortgaged  his  estates. 
He  was  harassed  by  demands  for  troops  to  be  sent 
to  England,  and  his  wife  had  been  obliged  to  come 
over  to  Holland  because  her  straitened  circumstances 
did  not  allow  of  her  residence  at  home.  In  July, 
1588,  she  was  on  board  Lord  Willoughby 's  yacht,  off 
Gcrtruydenburg,  where  the  garrison  was  in  a  stale  of 
mutiny,  owing  to  the  neglect  of  the  Dutch  authocv 


BERGEN'OP'ZOOM,  1 2  5 

ties  to  pay  the  soldiers.     The  general,  with  much 
trouble,  succeeded  in  pacifying  them  for  a  time. 

All  eyes  were  now  turned  to  the  mighty  Spanish 
Armada,  which  was  approaching  the  shores  of  Eng- 
land. Parma  with  his  army  was  ready  to  embark  at 
Dunkirk  as  soon  as  the  fleet  had  cleared  the  Channel 
of  English  ships.  Men  and  armor  were  hastily  dis- 
patched from  Holland  for  the  reinforcement  of  the 
army  of  defence  which  was  gathering  at  Tilbury; 
and  Francis  Vere  was  sent  to  Flushing  with  260  men, 
in  readiness  for  any  descent  on  the  coast.  The  young 
captain  was  very  anxious  to  be  employed  in  the  de- 
fence of  his  country  against  the  threatened  Spanish 
invasion.  Writing  to  Walsingham,  he  suggested  that 
•*  if  news  of  the  Spanish  fleet  continue  it  will  be  very 
necessary  to  choose  some  companies  from  here,  in 
which  number  I  hope,  by  your  honor's  favor,  to  be 
one.  I  would  set  down  a  young  soldier's  opinion  as 
one  that  sometimes  thinketh  of  those  matters,  but  I 
dare  not  presume  so  far.  This  much  I  assure  your 
honor,  no  man  can  enter  more  willingly  into  that 
action  than  myself"  He  was  instrumental  in  the  de- 
struction of  one  great  Spanish  ship.  In  the  end  of 
July  the  mighty  Armada  appeared  off  the  Lizard,  and 
beacons  flashed  the  news  along  the  English  coast. 
On  the  31st  the  running  action  commenced  in  the 
Channel;  on  the  6th  of  August  the  Spanish  admiral 
was  off  Calais,  on  the  8th  his  ships  were  defeated, 
and  on  the  loth  a  furious  gale  scattered  his  fleet  and 
drove  it  into  the  North  Sea.  The  "San  Mateo" 
grounded  between  Ostend  and  Sluys,  and  Vere  was 
sent  out  from  Flushing  to  capture  and  destroy  the 
huge  ship. 


L. 


126  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

The  defeat  of  the  Spanbh  Armada  was  a  turning- 
point  in  the  war.  Before  that  momentous  event  the 
Queen  had  always  hoped  for  peace.  Now  that  hope 
was  gone.  There  could  be  no  peace  without  the 
complete  independence  of  her  allies,  and  from  that 
time  she  entered  heartily  upon  the  war.  The  last 
fifteen  years  formed  the  most  glorious  period  in  her 
long  reign. 

Another  result  of  this  memorable  defeat  was  that 
the  allies  in  Holland  were  immediately  placed  on  the 
defensive.  When  the  Duke  of  Parma  broke  up  his 
camp  at  Dunkirk,  he  felt  bound  to  attempt  something 
before  he  went  into  winter-quarters,  and  he  deter- 
mined to  undertake  the  siege  of  Bergen-o|>Zoom. 
He  came  to  this  decision  against  the  advice  of  the 
veteran  Mondragon  and  his  council  of  war.  Daily 
raids  were  made  by  the  Dutch  cavalry  under  Bacx, 
who  captured  rich  booty  and  sometimes  secured 
wealthy  prisoners.  The  roads  to  Antwerp  were  ren- 
dered unsafe  by  the  proximity  of  the  Bergen-op- 
Zoom  garrison,  while  the  capture  of  the  town  would 
place  the  keys  of  Zeeland  in  the  Duke's  hands.  For 
these  reasons  he  persisted  in  his  design  in  opposition 
to  the  opinions  of  his  most  experienced  advisers. 

The  Duke  of  Parma  marched  through  Brabant 
sending  a  regiment  of  Tyrolese  under  the  Marquis 
of  Burgau,  with  troops  under  Count  Mansfelt,  the 
Prince  of  Asculi,  and  the  Duke  of  Pastrana,  in  ad- 
vance. They  were  to  attempt  the  capture  o£  Tbo- 
len,  an  important  town  to  the  north  of  Bergen-op> 
Zoom,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  channel  separating 
the  island  of  Tholen  from  the  mainland  of  Brabant 

Lord  Willoughby  worked  hard  to  put  Bergen  in  a 


i 


BERGEN'OP'ZOOM. 


127 


good  posture  of  defence,  although  he  continued  the 
old  distrust  of  his  own  abilities.^  He  constructed 
two  blinds  outside  the  Wouw  Gate,  to  cover  the 
drawbridges  and  protect  sallying  parties,  and  some 
other  outworks,  connected  by  covered  ways.  In 
these  operations  he  had  the  benefit  of  advice  from 
Count  Everard  Solms,  who  came  over  from  Tholen, 
where  he  was  commanding  the  Zeeland  regiment^ 

On  the  7th  of  September,  1588,  the  Duke  of  Parma 
arrived  in  person,  and  ordered  the  Marquis  of  Renty 
to  attempt  the  capture  of  Tholen.  Count  Solms 
lined  the  parapet  of  a  dike  with  his  regiment,  and 
opened  such  a  fire  on  the  enemy  that  they  retired 
with  a  loss  of  400  men.  This  failure  made  it  im- 
possible for  Parma  to  prevent  supplies  from  coming 
by  sea,  unless  he  could  capture  the  water  forts;  so 
he  no  longer  delayed  his  main  object,  surrounding 
Bergen-op-Zoom  by  land  with  an  army  numbering 
20,000  men.  He  had  collected  gabions,  planks,  ar- 
tillery, and  boats  for  the  attack  on  these  water  forts, 
and  had  planted  guns  on  the  levee  to  batter  them. 
On  September   14th   the  garrison  sallied   from    the 


^  Writing  to  Burleigh,  on  the 
6th  of  September,  he  said :  "  I 
beseech  your  Lordship,  in  all  hum- 
bleness and  earnestness,  let  some 
better  pylot  than  I,  well  acquainted 
how  to  face  the  difficulties  of  this 
place,  be  employed  to  guide  the 
helme.  For  I  assure  your  Lord- 
ship my  skill  cannot  tell  how  to 
stere  out  of  the  frith  I  am  left  in, 
which  I  more  willingly  endure  than 
the  reproche  after.  It  had  been 
and  were  an  enterprize  for  the 
greatest   souldier  to  warre  against 


such  a  power  as  assayles  us,  with- 
out men  or  means.  Hut  if  it  tell 
out  well  for  Her  Majesty  I  would 
not  care.  Pray  (jod  that  I  may 
be  deceaved,  and  that  Her  Majesty 
lose  not  her  people,  her  travayle, 
and  her  treasure." 

^The  muster  at  Bergen-op-Zoom 
in  September,  1588,  was  as  fol- 
lows :  present,  802  ;  absent,  502  ; 
dead  pays,  145.  Reinforcements 
were  sent  from  Flushing  and  Brill 
on  Parma's  approach. 


128 


THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 


Steenberg  Gate  to  prevent  the  besiegers  from  occu- 
pying a  position  just  outside,  and,  after  a  hot  skir- 
mish, drove  them  back  to  their  camp.  On  the  i6th 
there  was  another  sally,  under  cover  of  which  pow- 
der and  stores  were  brought  in  from  Zeeland ;  and 
while  the  Duke  of  Parma  was  reconnoitring  the 
town  from  the  Antwerp  side,  two  of  his  pages  were 
killed  by  a  shot  from  the  walls.  The  cavalry,  under 
the  brothers  Bacx,  frequently  made  sudden  charges 
out  of  the  gates,  sometimes  extending  their  in- 
cursions as  far  as  Wouw,*  and  taking  prisoners.  In 
one  of  these  sorties  Francis  Vere  received  a  wound 
in  the  leg  from  a  pike.^ 

Among  the  prisoners  there  were  two  commissaries 
of  ordnance,  named  Pedro  de  Luco  and  Tomas 
Swegoe.  They  were  committed  to  the  safe-keeping 
of  Master  Redhead,  the  deputy  provost,  who  dwelt 
in  English  Street.  There  was  a  good  deal  of  con- 
versation between  the  prisoners  and  the  deputy's 
friends,  who  often  dropped  in  for  a  chat.  Among 
these  was  one  William  Grimeston,  who  saw  reason 
to  suspect  that  the  pretended  Italian,  Swegoe,  was 
really  an  English  deserter,  who  had  gone  over  with 
the   traitor   Stanley.     In   order    to    draw   him   out. 


*  A  castle  and  villajjc  about 
three  miles  to  the  eastward,  the 
intervening  country  being  a  wild, 
sandy  heath,  now  a  ijood  deal 
planted  with  tirs.  Wouw  is  a 
large  village,  with  very  neat,  clean 
houses  built  round  a  green  plant- 
ed with  rows  of  trees.  The 
churc  h  <in  the  hands  of  the  Catho- 
lics) is  of  great  size,  with  a  tall, 
square    tower.      The    choir  stalls 


are  of  elaborately  canred  oak,  aad 
above  them  are  seven  canred-oak 
figures  on  each  side,  with  most 
delicately  chiselled  drapery,  bee, 
and  fringes. 

'  Letter  from  Bodley  to  Lord 
Hurleigh,  dated  October  lo^  1587. 
This  letter  is  in  the  coUectton  ol 
the  Marquis  of  Bute.  Vere  hin^ 
self  never  mentioned  the  wound. 


BERGEN'-OP-ZOOM.  1 29 

Grimeston  observed  that  he  wished  he  were  fighting 

on  the   King  of  Spain's  side,   under   Sir   William 

Stanley.     Then  the  spy  eagerly  showed  his  cards. 

He  told  Grimeston  and  Redhead  to  be  merry  and  of 

good  cheer,  for  that  he  was  born  in  Seething  Lane, 

and  he  had  a  sister  who  attended  on  my  Lady  Lum- 

ley.     He  added  that,  if  they  would  be  guided  by  him, 

they  would  be  rich  men  in  no  time ;  for  that  if  they 

arranged  to  give  up  a  certain  fort  to  the  Duke,  they 

would  be  bountifully  rewarded. 

The  first  object  of  the  besieging  general  was  to 
get  possession  of  the  water  forts  ;  for  so  long  as  they 
were  in  the  hands  of  the  besieged,  the  garrison 
could  be  regularly  supplied  with  provisions.  Parma, 
with  the  traitor  Stanley,  had  concocted  an  elaborate 
scheme  for  surprising  the  north  fort  by  treachery ; 
but  they  were  destined  to  be  hoist  with  their  own 
petard.  Lord  Willoughby,  advised  by  Count  Solms, 
was  fully  impressed  with  the  importance  of  attending 
to  the  security  of  the  water  forts.  He  had  entrusted 
the  command  to  one  of  his  most  reliable  officers,  his 
cousin,  Francis  Vere.  One  day,  Redhead  and  Grime- 
ston came  to  Lord  Willoughby,  and  repeated  the 
conversations  of  the  unsuspecting  spy.  The  general 
approved  a  plan  by  which  Grimeston  should  promise 
to  deliver  up  the  northern  sconce  to  Parma,  and  so 
decoy  the  enemy's  troops  to  their  overthrow. 

The  spy  wrote  letters  to  the  Duke  and  to  Stanley, 
and  Redhead,  after  having  first  shown  them  to  Lord 
Willoughby,  took  them  to  the  enemy's  camp.  At 
midnight  on  Sunday,  the  6th  of  October,  both  Red- 
head and  Grimeston  had  an  interview  with  Parma, 
and  promised  to  deliver  up  the  north  fort  on  the  next 


I30 


THE  FJGHTIXG   VERES. 


Wednesday  night  Sir  William  Stanley  then  took 
them  to  his  tent,  where  a  banquet  was  prepared,  and 
two  gold  chains  were  sent  them  from  the  Duke  of 
Parma.  An  agreement  was  made  that  Robert  Red- 
head should  receive  1,200  crowns,  and  William  Grime- 
ston  700  crowns  and  a  commission  in  Sir  William 
Stanley's  regiment  of  traitors.  They  then  took  their 
leave,  returned  to  Bergen-op-Zoom,  and  related  all 
that  had  taken  place  to  Lord  Willoughby.  He  sent 
them  back  to  induce  Parma  to  agree  to  a  delay  of 
three  days,  which  he  considered  necessary  for  making 
all  his  preparations.  Vere  was  in  the  secret^  and 
had  everything  ready  at  the  north  fort. 

On  the  appointed  night,  the  2 2d  of  October, 
Grimeston  reported  himself.  He  found,  to  his  great 
alarm,  that  the  Spaniards  had  become  suspicious. 
He  was  bound,  and  led  by  a  captain  named  Ortiz, 
with  a  drawn  dagger,  ready  to  stab  him  if  there 
was  treachery.  The  attacking  column  consisted  of 
3,000  picked  men,  including  Stanleys  regiment 
There  were  also  many  volunteer  knights.  The  leader 
w^as  the  maestro  dc  campo,  Don  Sancho  de  Lej'va. 
With  him  were  Don  Juan  de  Mendoza,*  Don  Alonzo 
de  Idiaquez,*^  and  Sir  William  Stanley. 

It  was  a  dark,  gloomy  night ;  but,  as  they  ap- 
proached, the  drawbridge  of  the  north  fort  was  seen 
to  be  down,  and  the  portcullis  up.  It  seemed  as  if 
Redhead  had  kept  his  word.  In  reality  Vere  was 
ready  at  the  portcullis,  calmly  watching,  and  Lord 
Willoughby  was  there  in  person,  with   2,000  men. 

*  Afterwards  Marquis  of    Hina-        '  <>f  a    San   Sebastian   famOT. 
josa  and  governor  of  Milan.  He    was   afterwards    Viceroy   ol 

Navarre. 


t-.. 


BERGEIf'-OP-ZOOM. 


131 


It  was  a  veritable  mouse-trap.  It  was  low  water,  (or 
the  drowned  land  over  which  the  Spaniards  advanced 
was  flooded  at  high  tide.  On  they  marched,  along  the 
causeway,  with  Grimeston  in  front,  guarded  by  Cap- 
tain Ortiz,  They  crossed  the  drawbridge,  and  about 
fifty  had  entered,  when  Vere  suddenly  let  fall  the  port- 
cullis and  the  drawbridge  was  hauled  up.  At  the  same 
moment  Grimeston  tripped  up  the  heels  of  Ortiz,  and 
so  escaped  his  avenging  dagger.  A  furious  discharge 
of  musketry  and  artillery  from  the  walls  killed  1 50 
of  the  attacking  party,  while  those  inside  were 
quickly  slain  or  taken  prisoners.^  The  Spaniards 
made  a  gallant  but  vain  assault  on  the  palisades. 
Meanwhile  the  tide  began  to  flow,  and  the  soldiers 
who  had  easily  waded  across  the  moat  were  washed 
away  and  drowned  by  scores  in  attempting  to  return. 
Never  was  discomfiture  more  complete.  It  practi- 
cally ended  the  siege.  The  Duke  of  Parma  raised 
his  camp  on  the  12th  of  November,  and  returned  to 
Brussels,  after  a  siege  which  had  lasted  six  weeks.^ 

Lord  Willoughby  had  achieved  an  important  suc- 
cess and  had  done  the  Queen  good  service,  in  spite  of 
his  extreme  diffidence.  He  had  done  so  in  the  face 
of  many  harassing  difficulties ;  and  old  Colonel  Mor- 


^  Among  the  prisoners  was 
Don  Inigo  de  Guevara,  afterwards 
Count  of  Ofiate.  He  had  come  to 
the  Low  Countries  in  1584,  when 
he  was  very  young,  to  serve  under 
his  uncle,  Don  Pedro  de  Tassis. 
His  rank  was  not  known  to  the 
English,  and  he  got  away  with  a 
common  soldier's  ransom. 

*  Lord  Willoughby  had  a  short 
journal  of  the  siege  kept,  which  he 


sent  home.  State  Papers  (Hol- 
land), vol.  Ivii.  There  are  also 
accounts  of  it  in  Grimeston,  Mete- 
ren,  Bentivoglio,  Herrara,  and  Car- 
nero,  and  several  letters  from  the 
officers  among  the  State  Papers 
(Holland).  See  particularly  Sir 
William  Russell's  account  of  the 
stratagem,  in  a  letter  to  WaUing- 
ham.    Vol.  Iviii. 


132  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

gan  had  been  a  thorn  in  his  side.  But  he  was  able 
to  report  in  terms  of  the  highest  praise  of  all  his  offi- 
cers. Writing  to  Lord  Burleigh,  he  said :  "  I  could 
not  omit  to  advertise  your  Lordship  of  the  particular 
valour  of  Sir  William  Drury,  who  broke  his  lance 
valiantly  in  the  face  of  the  enemy,  which,  in  my 
judgment,  deserves  the  greater  commendation,  that 
with  all  humility  he  obeyed  Her  Highnesss  com- 
mand, and  yet  served  her  more  forwardly  than  those 
that  received  the  sweet ;"  meaning  old  Morgan.  '*  My 
cousin  Vere,  Baskerville,  and  Parker  did  verj'  val- 
iantly, and,  amongst  others,  I  should  speak  of  that 
noble  gentleman,  Mr.  Wylford,  who  is  lightly  shot 
in  the  leg.*'  ^  The  following  officers  were  knighted 
by  Lord  Willoughby  when  the  siege  was  raised :  Sir 
Francis  Vere,  Sir  Thomas  Wilford,  Sir  John  Pooler, 
Sir  Nicholas  Parker,  Sir  Thomas  Knowles,  Sir  Ed- 
mund Uvedale,  Sir  John  Scott,  Sir  Charles  Danvers, 
Sir  Christopher  Blount,  Sir  John  Poore,  Paul  Bacx, 
and  Marcellus  Bacx.  Lord  Willoughby  also  wrote 
in  generous  but  qualified  praise  of  Sir  Thomas  Mor- 
gan.  "  A  very  sufficient,  gallant  gentleman,  and  in 
very  truth  a  very  old  soldier.  For  action  he  is  un- 
doubtedly ver)'  able,  if  there  were  no  more  means  to 
conquer  than  to  give  only  blows." 

During  the  time  that  he  was  stationed  in  Bergen- 
op-Zoom  the  character  of  Francis  Vere  was  devel- 
oped. Hitherto  we  have  only  seen  him  as  a  valiant 
soldier,  fighting  bravely  and  untiringly,  and  display- 
ing devotion  to  duty  and  great  powers  of  endurance. 
But  at  Bergen  he  appears  as  a  prudent  adviser  of  his 
general,  a  cautious  commander,  and   a  resourcefu] 

*  September  20,  1588.    State  Papers  vHolUod),  vol.  IviL 


BERGEN'OP-ZOOM. 


m 


contriver  of  stratagems.  His  correspondence  shows 
the  interest  he  took  in  the  affairs  of  his  cousin.  Lord 
Willoughby,  the  intelligence  with  which  he  watched 
the  development  of  diplomatic  negotiations,  and  the 
good  -  fellowship  that  existed  between  himself  and 
his  brother  officers.  It  also  shows  that  he  was 
prompt  to  express  disapproval  of  any  conduct  that 
appeared  to  be  unbecoming  or  selfish.  We  find  him 
applying  to  Walsingham  on  behalf  of  a  young  brother 
of  his  comrade,  Captain  Audley,  who  died  at  Bergen, 
and  writing  strongly  to  Lord  Willoughby  respecting 
the  grasping  and  unofficerlike  proceedings  of  Cap- 
tain Wingfield.^  He  also  wrote  very  gratefully  to 
Secretary  Walsingham,  especially  thanking  him  for 
his  good  offices  with  her  Majesty,  who  had  lately 
spoken  graciously  of  him,  "  a  thing  which,  above  all 
others,  I  have  most  desired  and  will  most  carefully 
seek  to  deserve.**^ 

The  time  had  now  arrived  for  Sir  Francis  Vere  to 
obtain  leave  of  absence  in  England,  after  a  continu- 
ous service  of  three  years.  He  went  home  with  a 
letter  from  Lord  Willoughby  to  the  Lord  Treasurer, 
dated  November  3,  1588.^     "I  have  made  choice  of 


*  Captain  Thomas  Maria  Wing- 
field  had  captured  a  prisoner  at 
the  water  fort,  named  Juan  de 
Mendoza.  But  all  the  captains 
had  agreed  that  Lord  Willoughby 
should  bestow  the  prisoners  on 
Redhead  and  Grimeston,  as  their 
reward  in  managing  the  whole 
stratagem,  at  great  risk.  Wingfield 
refused  to  agree,  and  complained. 
The  matter  was  brought  before  a 
council  of  war,  and  Lord  Willough- 
by's  action  was  approved.    Wing- 


field  continued  to  address  com- 
plaints to  the  Queen's  Council,  and 
at  last  the  general  deprived  him  of 
his  company:  most  justly,  in  the 
opinion  of  Sir  Francis  Vere.  This 
T.  M.  Wingfield  was  a  brother  of 
one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Virginia, 
who  for  a  short  time  had  charge 
of  the  colony. 

*  Vere  to  Walsingham,  3  Aug. 
and  21  Aug.,  1588.  State  Papers 
(Holland),  vol.  Ivi. 

•  State  /'ii/^j  (Holland),  vol.  lix. 


134  ^^^  FIGHTING   VERES. 

my  cousin,  Francis  Vere,  as  my  most  sufficientest 
reporter.  If  it  please  your  lordship  to  afford  favor  of 
credit,  I  would  in  few  words  say  that  your  lordship 
with  him  may  boldly  trust  his  speech  and  easily  find 
the  worth  of  the  man."  Thus  introduced,  Sir  Fran- 
cis made  a  favorable  impression  on  Lord  Burleigh, 
who  introduced  him  to  the  Queen.  Walsingham 
was  already  his  firm  friend,  and  he  had  several  rela- 
tions  at  court.  Queen  Elizabeth  was  in  the  full 
majesty  of  her  regal  greatness.  She  had  reached  her 
fifty-fifth  year,  and  had  reigned  for  thirty  years.  The 
halo  of  success  was  around  her ;  she  was  in  the  flood 
tide  of  prosperity,  and  the  centre  of  devoted  and  ro- 
mantic loyalty.  As  in  many  other  gallant  spirits, 
this  feeling,  which  was  practically  identical  with  pa- 
triotism, became  a  passion  in  the  breast  of  Francis 
Vere,  —  a  passion  the  ardor  of  which  continued  un- 
abated until  the  death  of  the  Queen.  Such  feelings 
are  unknown  in  these  days.  They  are  not  under- 
stood, and  are  therefore  ridiculed ;  but  in  the  time 
of  Elizabeth  they  were  real,  and  there  was  neither 
exaggeration  nor  affectation  in  their  expression. 
Having  been  graciously  received  by  the  Queen,  Sir 
Francis  Vere  joyfully  turned  his  face  to>\^rds  his 
Essex  home,  and  passed  a  few  happy  weeks  with  his 
mother  and  sister  and  his  three  brothers,  at  Kirby. 
When  he  returned  to  the  theatre  of  war,  in  February, 
1589,  he  took  his  brother  Robert  with  him,  intending 
to  get  him  a  cavalry  appointment,  and  eventually  a 
company.  The  two  brothers  enjoyed  each  others 
society  through  the  subsequent  campaigns,  until,  six 
years  afterwards,  young  Robert  Vere  found  a  soldier's 
death  on  the  battlefield. 


CHAPTER  XL 

RESIGNATION  OF  LORD  WILLOUGHBY. 

When  Sir  Francis  Vere  returned  to  the  Nether- 
lands with  his  brother  Robert,  in  January,  1589,  he 
was  appointed  sergeant-major  general  of  the  forces 
by  Lord  Willoughby,  with  the  full  approval  of  the 
Queen's  government^  The  general  had  always  had 
a  high  opinion  of  Vere's  abilities  and  of  his  qualifi- 
cations for  command.  This  view  was  now  shared  by 
the  home  authorities,  and  after  three  years  of  service, 
Vere  took  his  place  on  the  stafif,  in  a  position  second 
only  to  the  general. 

Lord  Willoughby  continued  his  earnest  solicita- 
tions  to  be  relieved  of  the  command,  and  his  repre- 
sentations that  his  forces  were  quite  unequal  to  a 
serious  encounter  with  the  army  of  the  Duke  of 
Parma.  In  1588  troops  had  been  called  away  on  the 
approach  of  the  Armada,  and  now,  in  1589,  Sir  John 

*  "  Since  my  coming  over  it  hath  Honor's  favorable  inclination  to 

pleased  my  Lord  General  to  estab-  doe  me  good  he  presentlie  pos- 

lish  me  in  the  office  of  sergeant-  sessed  me  of  the  same,  wherefore 

major,  a  place  which  divers  months  I  doe  yeald  your  Honour  a  great 

since  his  Honor  intended  to  call  portion  of  thanckes  due  for  the 

me  to,  but  performed  no  sooner,  benefitt,   assuring   your    Honour 

doubting,  as  I  judge,  thatt  for  my  that    nobody   shall    readyer  de- 

yonge    yeares  I   should  nott  att  serve  a  good  tume  than  mysealf." 

home  be  heald  capable  of  so  great  (Francis    Vere    to    Walsingham^ 

a  charge.     But  after  I  had  in-  from  Middelburg,  24th  Feb.,  1589. 

formed    his    Lordship    of    your  S.  P.  O.,  Holland,  vol.  Ixii.) 


136  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

Norris  came  over  with  a  commission  to  arrange  with 
Lord  Willoughby  for  a  supply  of  veterans  to  man  the 
fleet  which  he  and  Sir  Francis  Drake  were  equipping 
for  what  was  known  as  the  "  Portugal  action."  In 
January,  1589,  there  were,  in  the  five  English  garri- 
sons, 6,517  men  out  of  a  nominal  force  of  7»4oa' 
The  annual  cost  to  the  Queens  government  was 
^150,300. 

The  fact  was  that  the  Queen  entertained  a  very 
high  opinion  of  the  ability,  trustworthiness,  and  valor 
of  Lord  Willoughby,  and,  in  spite  of  his  diflfidence, 
she  had  great  confidence  in  his  capacity  for  command 
when  the  moment  of  action  arrived.  After  the  siege 
of  Bergen-op-Zoom  was  raised  she  wrote  him  a  letter 
in  her  own  hand  :  — 

"  Good  Peregrine :  Suppose  not  that  your  travail 
and  labours  are  not  accepted,  and  shall  be  ever  kept 
in  good  memor)'.'* 

Such  an  approving  note,  in  which  the  Queen  her- 
self  addressed  her  faithful  subject  by  his  Christian 
name,  was  a  great  honor.  Men  in  those  days  loved 
their  sovereign  with  romantic  ardor.  They  loved 
her  because  she  identified  herself  heart  and  soul  with 
her  people  and  her  country.  To  love  Queen  Eliz:^ 
beth  was  to  love  England.  The  "good  Peregrine" 
of  that  short  note  was  more  than  equivalent  to  a 
Grand  Cross  of  the  Bath  in  these  days. 

At  length  Lord  Willoughby  obtained  permission 
to  return  home  on  leave.     He  departed  in  the  end 

*  Flushing  garrison,  1,732  men,  list  1,950;  Utrecht,  135  men,  lift 

on  the  list,  2.000;  Brill,  852  men,  150;  cavalr}*,  900  men,  list  1^000: 

list  950:  Ostcnd,  i,i66  men,  list  mustered,  6^517  meD,  list  7»400. 
1*350;  Bergen-op-Zoonrii  1,733  men, 


RESIGNATION  OF  LORD  WILLOUGHBY.        137 

of  February,  and  arrived  in  London  on  the  14th  of 
March,  1 589.  His  expenses,  as  general  of  the  Queen's 
forces  in  the  Netherlands,  had  swallowed  up  his  whole 
income.  He  had  cut  down  his  woods,  pawned  his 
plate  and  his  wife's  jewels,  and  mortgaged  his  lands 
in  Norfolk*     Yet  he  was  still  ;^4,ooo  in  debt. 

Sir  Francis  Vere,  as  sergeant-major  general  of  the 
forces,  had  to  take  up  the  threads  of  Lord  Wil- 
loughby's  difficulties  and  perplexities,  in  his  absence, 
and  to  deal  with  them  as  best  he  could.  The  great- 
est trouble  was  the  mutinous  conduct  of  the  garrison 
at  Gertruydenburg. 

Gertruydenburg  was  a  fortified  town  on  the  banks 
of  the  old  Maas,  and  about  fifteen  miles  north  of  the 
important  city  of  Breda.  It  was  near  the  channel 
leading  from  Zeeland  to  Dordrecht  and  Rotterdam, 
and  derived  its  prosperity  from  the  fishery  of  stur- 
geon and  salmon.  One  wall,  with  water-gates,  was, 
in  those  days,  on  the  very  bank  of  the  river,  and  the 
other  sides,  facing  inland,  were  well  fortified ;  the 
river  Donge  sweeping  round  the  southern  and  eastern 
faces  and  forming  the  moat.  The  town  was  built 
round  a  long  market-place,  shaded  by  trees,  with  short 
streets  leading  to  the  water-gates,  and  a  tall,  square 
church- tower  at  the  eastern  end.^  For  some  years 
Count  Hohenlohe  had  been  governor.  He  was  very 
unpopular,  and  the  garrison  complained  bitterly  that 

*  Gertruydenburg  is  now  a  decay-  above  them.     In  the  church  there 

ing  place,  with  the  coehorn  ram-  is  a  curious  picture  of  the  town, 

parts  round  it,  all  planted  with  with  the  date   16 16.     The  broad 

trees.    At  present  it  is  a  mile  from  waters  of  the  old  Maas  are  here 

the  old  Maas,  which  once  bathed  shown,  washing  the  town  walls, 

its  walls.    The  long  market-place  and  the  great  brick  church-tower 

has  rows  of  limes  trained  in  front  rises  above  the  houses, 
of  the  houses,  with  gables  rising 


138  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

they  received  no  pay.  There  had  been  an  outbreak 
of  discontent  even  before  the  siege  of  Bergen-op- 
Zoom,  which  had  been  partially  appeased  by  Lord 
Willoughby,  and  he  had  induced  the  garrison  to  re* 
ceive  his  brother-in-law,  Sir  John  Wing^eld,  as  their 
governor.^ 

In  the  winter  of  1589  the  discontent  broke  out 
afresh:  the  soldiers  of  the  garrison  had  been  unjustly 
treated  by  the  States,  there  were  long  arrears  of  pay, 
and  at  first  Sir  John  Wingfield  espoused  the  cause 
of  his  men.  Sir  Francis  Vere  passed  a  most  anxious 
time,  striving  to  arrange  matters,  and  visiting  Ger- 
truydenburg  more  than  once  with  this  object.  But 
the  Dutch  authorities  were  headstrong  and  unjust 
At  last  the  garrison  became  so  exasperated  that  com- 
munications were  opened  with  the  enemy.  Eduardo 
Lanzavecchia,  the  governor  of  Breda,  offered  the 
soldiers  all  their  pay  and  much  more  if  they  would 
deliver  up  the  place  to  the  Duke  of  Parma.  Prince 
Maurice  was  furious.  He  accused  Wingfield  of  seek- 
ing his  own  profit  rather  than  the  public  interest,' 
and  in  March,  1589,  he  began  the  siege  of  Gertniy- 
denburg.     He  made  an  attack  on  the  water  side,  in 

^  Sir  John  Winpfield  had  mar-  VIII.  for  scr\'ices  at  Teroaenoe 

ried,  as  her  second  husband,  Susan  and  Toumay.     He  was  a  Knight 

Bertie.  Countess  of  Kent,  the  sister  of  the  Garter,  and  one  of  the  ei- 

of  Lord  Willoughby,  and  he  had  a  ecutors  of  Henry't  will, 

son  named    Perep;rine  Wingfield,  '  Wingfield    sent  an  indigoaot 

born  in  Holland.   His  grandmother  reply.     He  wrote,  '*  I  will  maintaia 

was  Klizabeth  Vere,  sister  of  John,  with  my  sword  that  it  is  not  trae, 

sixteenth   Earl  of  Oxford,  which  and  that  I  am  a  gentleaan  in  ny 

made  him  a  cousin  both  of  Lady  country,  and  am  here  in  the  sc^ 

Willoughby  and   of   Sir    Francis  vice  of  Her  Majesty  ray  mistrets» 

Vere.     His   grandfather.  Sir  An-  and  without  her  I  will  icct^fiig 

thony  Wingfield  of  Letheringham,  no  Other." 
in  Sufiolk,  was  knighted  by  Henry 


RESIGNATION  OF  LORD  WILLOUGHBY.        139 

flat-bottomed  boats,  and  a  furious  assault  was  led  by 
Count  Solms  and  Count  Philip  of  Nassau.  But  the 
garrison  defended  the  walls  with  great  resolution. 
The  besiegers  were  forced  to  retire,  having  suffered 
serious  loss,  especially  among  the  officers.^ 

The  States  then  applied  to  Bodley,  the  Queen's 
agent  at  the  Hague,  and  he  wrote  to  Sir  John  Wing- 
field,  requiring  him,  in  her  Majesty's  name,  to  take 
special  care  that  the  town  should  not  fall  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy.  A  defiant  reply  came  from  the 
mutineers,  which  showed  that  the  governor  was  no 
longer  a  free  agent.  Maurice  then  offered  a  pardon 
to  all,  and  on  the  5th  of  April  he  declared  that  any 
demands  made  by  the  malcontents  would  be  con- 
ceded. It  was  too  late.  On  the  9th  Gertruydenburg 
was  delivered  up  to  the  Duke  of  Parma,  Wingfield 
and  the  officers  being  allowed  to  retire  whither  they 
pleased. 

The  States  were  naturally  furious,  but  they  carried 
their  anger  beyond  all  bounds,  and  published  a  slan- 
derous//a^rar/,'  denouncing  several  English  officers 
who  were  as  innocent  as  they  were  themselves.  The 
governor,  captains,  and  garrison  were  all  declared  to 
be  traitors,  and  they  were  to  be  hanged  if  at  any  time 
any  of  them  were  caught  The  Dutch  authorities 
even  included  Sir  Francis  Vere  in  their  intemperate 
denunciations.  Writing  to  Walsingham,  on  April 
20,  1589,  Vere  said  that  he  had  been  included  in 
the  list  of  alleged  traitors.  "  I  so  behaved  myself  in 
the  first  trouble  of  that  town  that  I  deserved  rather 
recompense  than  blame.     I  would  say  these  accu- 

1  Letter  from  Bodley,  March  jt,        *  Dated  May  10, 158S. 
1589.    S.  P.  O^  Holland,  vol.  xliii. 


0 


I40  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

sations  arise  from  malice  against  our  nation,  and  to 
excuse  their  own  rash  enterprise  which  caused  the 
loss  of  the  place*  I  pray  God  their  malice  extend 
not  to  prejudice  Her  Majesty."  On  the  13th  of  M^ 
he  reported  to  Walsingham  that  the  States  hii 
withdrawn  their  charge  against  him.  "  For  me  thej 
confess  their  error,  and  have  razed  me  out  of  their 
list." 

Lord  Willoughby  was  very  indignant  at  the  libd 
published  by  the  States  against  English  officers,  and 
especially  at  the  false  accusation  of  treason  levelled 
at  Sir  John  Wingfield,  who  was  an  officer  of  spotless 
honor  and  integrity.     He  was  put  under  arrest  by  the 
garrison  when  they  began  to  treat  with  the  enemy. 
Lord  Willoughby  wrote  from  London :  "  As  to  the 
proceedings  of  lewd  persons  of  the  States  who  ofa 
money  to  kill  Her  Majesty's  subjects  as  traitors,  1 
hope  Her  Majesty  will  not  tolerate  more  for  her  gen- 
eral and  subjects  that  give  their  lives  for  her,  than  an 
honourable  master  would  do  for  an  honest  pri\'aie 
servant,  when  he  is  abused  and  slandered.     If  this 
may  be  suffered  let  me  commend  to  your  honorable 
wisdom  that,  amongst  so  many  true  English  heartSi 
there  mayhap  be  found  such  a  one  as,  if  these  false 
accusers  may  not  be  lawfully  punished,  will  make  his 
revenge  with  his  own  hands.     We  are  no  subjects  to 
these  very  traitors  and  accusers.*'     The  intemperate 
and  unjustifiable  character  of   the  proclamation  in 
which  the  States  denounced  the  English  officers  fullv 
deser\'ed  the  indignant  protest  of  Lord  Willoughby. 
But  these  misunderstandings  increased  the  friction. 
and  rendered  the  task  of  his  lordship's  successor  still 
more  difficult 


RESIGNATION  OF  LORD  WILLOUGHBY.         141 

On  May  28,  1589,  Lord  WiUoughby  once   more 
sent  in  his  resignation,  and  it  was  at  length  accepted. 
He  submitted  that  "  for  a  general  to  be  without  au- 
thority, credit,  or  men  is  but  a  dangerous  charge  to 
his  Sovereign,  and  an  unrecoverable  disgrace  to  him- 
self.    For  the  present  numbers  that  are  to  be  drawn 
to  the  field,  there  is  Sir  Francis  Vere,  sergeant-major, 
able  to  take  charge  of  twice  as  many.     For  them  in 
the  towns  the  governors  are  most  sufficient.     For 
the  Council,  Mr.  Bodley  and  Mr.  Gilpin.     Where- 
fore I  pray  that  I  may  be  called  upon  to  resign  my 
office." 

Lord  Willoughby  was  relieved  of  the  command  of 
the  Queen's  forces  in  the  Netherlands,  which  he  had 
long  declared  to  be  a  heavier  burden  than  he  was 
able  to  bear.  But  his  services  were  still  required. 
He  was  almost  immediately  appointed  to  command 
a  force  of  4,000  men,  which  Queen  Elizabeth  had 
resolved  to  send  to  the  assistance  of  Henry  IV.  of 
France.  They  landed  at  Dieppe  in  September,  1589, 
and  Lord  Willoughby  did  good  and  acceptable  ser- 
vice in  France  during  several  ensuing  months.  In 
December  the  Queen  honored  him  with  another  letter 
of  sympathy  and  friendship :  — 

Mv  GOOD  Peregrine  :  I  bless  God  that  your  old 
prosperous  success  followeth  your  valiant  acts ;  and 
joy  not  a  little  that  safety  accompanieth  your  luck. 

Your  loving  Sovereign, 

Elizabeth  R. 

In  1597  Lord  Willoughby  was  appointed  Governor 
of  Berwick  and  Warden  of  the  Eastern  Marches,  and 


y 


142 


THE  FIGHTING  VERES. 


he  died  at  Berwick  in  June,  1601,  in  his  forty-sixth 
year.* 

When  Lord  Willoughby  resigned,  a  number  of 
veteran  officers  of  distinction  were  withdrawn  from 
the  Netherlands  to  serve  in  France  or  Ireland 
Among  them  were  Sir  John  Norris,  Sir  Roger  Wil- 
liams, Sir  Thomas  Wilford,  Sir  William  Drury,  Sir 
Thomas  Basker\nlle,  and  Sir  John  Burrough.  Any 
one  of  these  was  qualified,  as  regards  length  of  ser- 
vice, to  succeed  Lord  Willoughby;  and  they  had 
strong  claims.  Some  of  them,  Sir  John  Norris  esp^ 
cially,  were  high  in  the  Queen  s  favor.  But  the  sov- 
ereign had  watched  them  closely,  and  there  can  be 
little  doubt  that  she  and  her  ministers  had  formed 
definite  conclusions  with  respect  to  their  fitness. 
Some  were  deficient  in  temper,  others  in  judgment 
and  tact,  others  in  grasp  of  mind  and  administrative 
skill.  They  were  still  in  high  favor,  and  would  receive 
such  commands  as  were  suited  to  their  respective 
capacities.     But  the  command  of  the  troops  in  the 


*  Lord  Willoughby  has  been 
fortunate  in  his  biographer.  His 
life  was  written  by  Lady  Georgina 
Bertie,  the  wife  of  one  of  his  de- 
scendants {Fh'e  Generations  of  a 
Loyal  House.  Part  L  Lives  of 
Richard  Bertie^  and  his  son  Pere- 
grine Ijfrd  Willoughby,  Riving- 
tons,  1845).  This  book  is  charm- 
ingly written,  and  at  the  same  time 
it  has  the  merit  of  accuracy.  Its 
accomplished  author  spared  no 
pains,  and  the  work  is  based  on 
much  careful  research. 

Lord  Wil  lough  by  *s  eldest  son 
was  created  Earl  of  Lindsey  in 
1626,  and  was  slain  at  the  batUe  of 


Edge  Hill,  fighting  on  the  side  of 
Charles  L  His  grandson,  Moo> 
tagu,  second  Earl  of  Lindser,  was 
wounded  at  Edge  Hill  and  Nase- 
by,  and  died  in  i666l  He  left 
two  sons.  The  eldest  was  third 
Elarl  of  Lindsey,  and  his  son  was 
created  Duke  of  Ancaster  and 
Kesteven  in  1715.  The  second 
son,  James  (by  his  second  wife, 
Bridget,  heiress  of  Lord  Norrisk 
became  Lord  Norris  of  RycoCe, 
and  was  created  Earl  of  Abingdon 
in  1682.  He  was  the  first  Engtish 
peer  to  join  William  UL  on  hb 
landing. 


RESIGNATION  OF  LORD  WILLOUGHBY.        143 

etherlands  was  a  post  requiring  rare  gifts,  not  often 
and  combined  in  one  man.  It  was  a  position  of 
:treme  delicacy  and  difficulty.  The  three  previous 
impaigns  had  served  to  bring  out  the  abilities  of  a 
mng  officer  who  had  been  fixed  upon  as  the  man 
lat  was  wanted.  The  withdrawal  of  so  many  veterans 
ft  the  field  open  to  one  who  was  possessed  of  the 
*ry  qualifications  that  were  required.  There  would 
*  no  general  for  some  time  to  come.  The  governors 
ould  continue  to  command  in  the  cautionary  towns» 
ut  there  would  be  an  officer  of  approved  valor  and 
>nduct,  enjoying  the  confidence  of  his  sovereign, 
ho,  in  spite  of  his  youth,  would  be  the  real  leader 
the  English  troops.  From  August,  1589,  Sir 
rancis  Vere,  with  the  rank  of  sergeant-major  general, 
as  to  be  in  command  of  all  her  Majesty's  soldiers 
the  field. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

SIR  FRANCIS  VERE   IN  CHIEF  COMMAND. 

Relief  of  Rheinberg. 

Sir  Francis  Vere  received  his  appointment  from 
the  Queen  as  "  sergeant-major,  with  authority  to  com- 
mand as  well  those  soldiers  already  in  the  field  as  those 
which  her  Majesty  is  intentioned  to  send  during  the 
absence  of  the  lord-general  and  his  lieutenant"  His 
pay  was  two  florins  a  day,  or  ;^73  a  year.*  In  theory 
there  was  still  to  be  a  general  and  a  lieutenant-general 
over  the  sergeant-major,  but  those  posts  were  never 
filled.  Vere  s  official  title  was  "  Her  Majesty's  Ser- 
geant-Major in  the  Field."  The  governors  of  towns 
with  English  garrisons  had  independent  commands, 
and  supplied  troops  for  service  in  the  field  according 
to  their  discretion.  But  Sir  Francis  was  on  excellent 
terms  with  them,  even  with  old  Sir  Thomas  Morgan 
at  Bergen-op-Zoom.^  His  pay  was  most  inadequate, 
but  he  received  a  very  encouraging  letter  from  Wal- 
singham,  to  which  he  replied : '  "I  received  your 
Honors  letter  containing  the  great  contentment  your 

1  In  1590  increased  to  "a  noble  gan  then  wrote  that  he  wit  *w<dl 

a  day  for  allowances/'   (S.  P.  0.,  content :   the  gentlemen   I  know 

Holland,  vol.  Ixxi.)  both  honorable.**     In  1590  Vere 

'In    September,     1589,     com-  writes  :**  I  am  going  to  Sir  Tbomis 

plaints  against  Sir  Thomas  Mor-  Morgan,  to  see  what  troops  0115 

gan  were  referred  to  Sir  Francis  be  spared  from  Bergen.** 

Vere  and  Sir  Robert  Sidney.    Mor-  •  October  28,  1589. 


5/i?  FRANCIS  VERE  IN  CHIEF  COMMAND.        145 

Honor  had  at  the  hearing  of  our  victories,  as  also 
Her  Majesty's  most  gpacious  conceyte  of  me,  with 
some  hope  of  better  maintenance." 

Vere's  official  position  brought  him  in  contact  with 
various  elements  of  antagonism  and  possible  discord, 
which  called  for  the  exercise  of  tact  and  caution. 
There  were  the  Queen  and  her  government ;  there 
was  the  government  of  the  States;  the  English  agent 
at  the  Hague;  Prince  Maurice  in  command  of  the 
army;  the  governors  of  the  cautionary  towns;  the 
officers  and  men  of  the  force  under  his  own  com- 
mand ;  and  lastly  the  enemy. 

Maurice  was  a  young  man  of  three-and-twenty, 
with  experience  and  military  knowledge  yet  to  be 
gained.  He  was,  however,  devoted  to  martial  pur- 
suits  and  to  the  cause  of  his  countrymen*  He  did 
not  impress  Robert  Cecil  favorably  when  he  saw  the 
young  prince  at  Ostend  in  1588.  Cecil  wrote:  "I 
met  with  Count  Maurice  to-day,  in  whom  is  neither 
outward  appearance  of  any  noble  mind,  nor  inward 
virtue.  In  my  life  I  never  saw  worse  behaviour,  ex- 
cept it  were  one  lately  come  from  school."  ^  Lord 
Willoughby  had  a  more  favorable  impression.  He 
wrote:  "  Maurice  is  young  and  hot-headed ;  he  hath 
wit  and  spirit."*  Vere  knew  him  more  intimately 
than  either  Cecil  or  Willoughby,  and  was  a  better 
judge.  He  said:  "His  Excellency  is  worthy  to  be 
esteemed,  for  I  hold  him  to  be  as  rare  a  young  gentle- 
man as  is  in  Europe,  and  one  that  may  prove  a  good 
and  able  servant  to  Her  Majesty  and  the  States.*  .  .  . 
He  is  ver}^  likely  to  grow  great.     He  useth  me  well, 

»  To  Lord  Burleigh,  March  10,        *  S.  P.  C,  Holland,  vol.  xlix. 
1588.     S.  P.  O.  •  Ibid.  vol.  Ixx. 


146  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

and  I  am  persuaded  he  desireth  much  to  be  well 
thought  of  in  England."*  Maurice  habitually  con- 
sulted Vere,  and  relied  upon  his  military  skill  and 
judgment;  and  besides  commanding  the  English 
contingent,  Sir  Francis  usually  acted  as  marshal  of 
the  camp  for  the  whole  of  Maurice  s  army.* 

Among  the  Dutch  statesmen,  Barneveldt  was  always 
very  friendly  to  Vere,  and  showed  confidence  in  his 
generalship.  But  at  first  the  commander  of  the 
troops  looked  to  the  Queen's  agent  at  the  Hague  for 
advice  and  guidance  in  his  dealings  with  the  States. 
This  was  Sir  Thomas  Bodley,'  who  became  the 
Queen's  envoy  at  the  Hague,  and  was  admitted  as 
one  of  the  States  Council,  in  accordance  with  the 
treaty,  in  1588.  Sir  Francis  Vere  declared  his  inten- 
tion of  following  Bodley  s  directions,  being  persuaded 
that  he  did  nothing  but  on  good  grounds.  *'  Myself,** 
he  added,  "  though  the  States  have  done  me  wrong, 

*  S.  p.  0.,  Holland,  vol.  Ixviii.       vice.     For  four  years,  from    1576 
'  Bodley.      S.   P.  0.,   Holland,    to  1580,  he  was  studying  modeni 

vol.  Ixxiii.  languages    in    France,   CermanT, 

*  Thomas  Bodley  was  lx)rn  at  and  Italy.  In  1585  the  Queea 
Exeter,  March  2, 1544.  His  father  employed  him  on  missions  to  Den- 
was    an    enemy   to   Popery,    and  mark    and     to     se\*era] 


during  the  Marian  persecution  he     princes  to  induce  them  to  join  with 
fled  with  his  family  to  Wesel,  and     her  in  aiding  Henrj'  of 


afterwards  to  Geneva.     Here  Bod-  and  he  was  next  sent  to  Henry  III. 

ley  learnt  Hebrew  under  Cheval-  of  France.     Burleigh  was  always 

vius,  Oeek  under  Beroaldus,  and  his    steady  friend.      Sir  Thomas 

divinity   under   Calvin  and   Beza.  Bodley  was  the  Queen*s  envoy  at 

On  the  death  of  Mary  the  Bodleys  the  Hague  from  1588  to  1 597,  and 

returned  to  England,  and  settled  her  Majesty  left  mach  to  his  dis> 

in  London.     Thomas  was  sent  to  cretion.     From    1597  he  Hvcd   in 

Oxford,  and  became  a  Fellow  of  retirement,  devoting  himself  to  the 

Merton  in  1 564.    In  1565  he  under-  care  of  the  library  at  Oxford.     He 

took  the  public  readin<;  of  a  Greek  died  in    161 2,  and  was  bwicd  al 

lecture.      But   his  desire   was   to  Merton  College, 
devote  himself  to  the  public  ser- 


S/Ji  FRANCIS  VERE  IN  CHIEF  COMMAND.      147 

will  not  forget  my  duty  to  this  country,  so  long  as  I 
shall  be  in  Her  Majesty's  service."  There  were  cor- 
-dial  relations  between  the  envoy  and  the  commander 
of  the  English  forces.  After  Vere  had  been  a  short 
time  in  command,  Bodley  reported :  "  No  man's  ad- 
vice is  more  respected  and  followed  than  Sir  Francis 
Vere,  who  doth  content  the  country  exceedingly  for 
his  carefulness  in  all  things,  as  well  for  direction  as 
execution."  ^ 

The  first  operation  under  Sir  Francis  Vere's  orders 
was  the  relief  of  Rheinberg  by  Sir  Martin  Schenk, 
for  which  service  some  English  companies  were  dis- 
patched, with  Sir  John  Pooley  as  their  leader.  The 
enterprise  was  successfully  carried  out;  but  Vere 
strongly  felt  the  necessity  for  reinforcements.  "  The 
army  of  the  Hollanders,"  he  reported,  "  is  very  small, 
and  much  out  of  order  by  reason  they  have  no  great 
soldier  to  command  except  Schenk."*  In  August, 
Sir  Martin  Schenk  was  killed  in  an  abortive  attack 
on  Nymegen  ;  and  thus  fell  the  man  whom  Sir 
Francis  Vere  considered  to  be  their  only  efficient 
general.  Yet  the  turning-point  of  the  war  had  ar- 
rived. From  the  date  of  Vere's  appointment  sue- 
cess  followed  success,  until  Spain  had  to  treat  on 
equal  terms  with  the  revolted  provinces  for  a  long 
truce. 


*  Bodley,  Aug.  19, 1 591.  S.  P.  O., 
Holland,  vol.  Ixxiii.  Vere's  emi- 
nence as  a  military  leader  was 
well  known  to  the  enemy.  Benti- 
voglio  spoke  of  "  Sir  Francis  Vere, 
an  Englishman  who  had  already 
gained  the  opinion  of  a  gallant 
officer,  and  whom  the  United 
Provinces  made  use  of  in  their 


most  weighty  military  occur- 
rences." Carnero  alludes  to  Vere 
as  "un  muy  prudente  soldado.*' 
Meteren  says  :  "  Le  Chevalier 
Francois  Veer  estoit  homme  fort 
habile,  et  agreable  aux  Provinces, 
plus  qu'aucun  autre  estranger." 
(Fol.  333.) 
*  July  27,  1589,  to  Walsingham. 


148  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

In  July,  1589,  Sir  Francis  Vere  advanced  with  a 
small  force  into  the  Bommel-waart,  the  island  between 
the  Maas  and  Lek,  to  watch  the  movements  of  Count 
Charles  Mansfelt,  who  was  threatening  an  invasion  of 
the  liberated  provinces  on  that  side.  Vere  only  had 
1,140  men,  of  whom  650  were  English.^  Mansfelt 
was  collecting  flat-bottomed  boats,  and  preparing  to 
cross  the  Maas  with  a  large  army,  numbering  12,00a 
It  was  a  critical  position ;  and  one  day  Sir  Francis 
Vere  was  visited  in  his  quarters  by  Prince  Maurice 
and  Count  Hohenlohe,  who  wished  to  consult  unth 
him  whether  it  would  not  be  best  to  abandon  the 
island.  Vere  dissuaded  them  from  any  retreat  He 
said  that  considering  the  importance  of  the  position, 
and  that  this  was  the  first  occasion  on  which  the 
Prince  had  commanded  in  person  as  general-in-chief, 
it  would  not  be  advisable  to  yield  any  ground  without 
the  knowledge  and  order  of  the  States.  Sir  Francis 
undertook  to  hold  the  position  until  orders  should 
arrive,  and  his  advice  was  taken.'  He  worked  hard 
at  the  intrenchmcnts,  planted  artillery,  and  prepared 
to  resist  the  overwhelming  force  which  was  about  to 
attack  him.  Mansfelt  had  already  embarked  his 
Walloon  and  German  troops  to  cross  the  river,  when 
the  Spaniards  mutinied  and  refused  to  go  into  the 
boats.  The  invasion  was  abandoned,  and  on  the 
25th  of  August  Mansfelt  marched  away.*  This 
danger  having  been  averted,  the  States  General 
turned  their  attention  to  the  relief  of  Rheinberg. 
now  closely  besieged  by  the  Marquis  of  Warrenbon* 
a  Burgundian  nobleman. 

>  Vere    to    the    Ix)rds    of    the        •  Vcrc    to    the    Lords    of   tlic 
Council.  S.  P.  Cm  Holland,  vol.  Ixv.    Council.     S.  P.  O^  HoOaod^  v«i 
•  Verc's  CommefUaries,  p.  2.  Ixvi. 


S/Ii  FRANCIS  VERE  IN  CHIEF  COMMAND.      149 

The  Earl  of  Leicester  had  saved  Rheinberg  in 
1586  by  drawing  Parma  oflF  to  protect  Zutphen,  and 
the  Spaniards  had  hitherto  been  unable  to  reduce  it 
Schenk  had  thrown  supplies  in  during  the  summer, 
but  now  the  garrison  was  again  running  short  of 
food.  The  States,  therefore,  ordered  Count  Meurs, 
the  governor  of  Gelderland,  to  undertake  their  relief, 
with  English  troops  under  Sir  Francis  Vere,  and 
some  companies  commanded  by  Counts  Overstein 
and  Potlitz.  Rheinberg  was  in  the  territory  of  the 
Archbishop  of  Cologne,  whose  romantic  love  for 
Agnes  Mansfelt  had  induced  him  to  forswear  celi- 
bacy and  espouse  the  cause  of  the  Protestants. 
Another  prelate  had  been  appointed  in  his  place, 
but  the  soldiers  of  Queen  Elizabeth  and  of  the 
States  upheld  the  rights  of  the  expelled  Archbishop 
Truchses. 

The  town  of  Rheinberg  was  of  no  great  extent,  but 
it  was  important  from  its  strength,  and  from  its  com- 
manding position  on  the  banks  of  the  great  fluvial 
highway.  The  walls  were  built  of  basaltic  stones, 
brought  down  the  Rhine  on  rafts,  and  strengthened 
with  earthworks.  There  was  a  bastion  at  each  angle, 
and  a  gate  in  the  centre  of  each  side.  The  walls  on 
the  eastern  side  rose  from  the  river  banks,  and  in 
the  centre  a  channel  was  cut  into  the  heart  of  the 
town,  up  to  the  foot  of  the  church-tower,  which 
Formed  a  harbor.  In  the  north  wall  was  the  Rhine 
Gate,  leading  to  Wesel ;  on  the  west  side  the  Guelder 
Gate  opened  on  a  plain  bounded  by  an  eminence 
:rowned  by  the  little  chapel  of  St  Anne;  and  on  the 
south  was  the  Ursoy  Gate.  In  the  northeastern  bas- 
tion the  circular  toll  tower  rose  above  the  river,  with 


I50  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

high  pointed  roof;  and  near  it  was  a  long  brick  build- 
ing, with  stone-dressed  gables  in  steps,  which  was 
used  as  the  archbishop  s  brewery  and  wine-store,  and 
also  as  a  hospice.  The  church,  dedicated  to  St  Peter, 
is  fairly  proportioned,  with  aisles  and  an  apsidal  am- 
bulatory. Its  tower  faced  the  head  of  the  harbor, 
and  there  was  a  monastery  with  another  tower,  and  a 
town  hall  in  the  market-place.  An  island  in  the 
river,  opposite  the  town,  had  a  fort  upon  it,  which 
was  occupied  by  the  garrison.^  The  defenders  were 
hard  pressed  by  the  Marquis  of  Warrenbon,  and 
Mansfelt  was  marching  from  the  scene  of  his  failure 
in  the  Bommel-waart,  to  swell  the  numbers  of  the 
besieging  host. 

Early  in  October,  1589,  Sir  Francis  Vere  joined 
Count  Meurs  at  Arnhem  with  900  men ;  but  a  day  or 

^  The    scene    is    now   entirely  a  small  museum  of  antiquities.    In 

changed.     Kheinberg    is    a    little  1880  Herr  Pick,  the  judge  of  Rhein- 

market  town,  separated  from  the  berg,    was    president  of    a  small 

river  by  wide   meadows  and  gar-  verein  for  the  study  of  local  an* 


dens.     The  Rhine  has  altered  its  tiquities,   which  met  under  a 

course,  and  is  a  mile  and  a  half  randa  covered  with  vines,  opeDiag 

from    the    town.     The    walls    are  on  a  charming  garden  shaded  by 

gone,   and    the   moat   is    yielding  the  trees  in  the  southeast  bastioa. 

rich  green  pasture.     On  the  line  Here   the    members    smoke    and 

of  the  ramparts  grow  avenues  of  drink  beer,  while  they  talk  over  the 

shady  horse-chestnuts.  The  north-  departed  glories  of  Kheinberg. 

east  bastion    is    occupied   by  an  In  the  town  hall  there  is  an  ia- 

apple-orchard,  and  in   one  corner  teresting  old  picture  of  Rheioberg. 

are  the  crumbling  ruins  of  the  old  It  shows   the   river  washing  the 

toll  tower.     Near  it  the  great  brick  base   of  the  stone  wall,  with  an 

building,  formerly  the  l)rewery  and  oi>cning  for  the  harbor.     On  the 

hospice  of  the  archbishop,  is  still  right  is  the  lofty  toll  tower,  with 

standing.     A  pleasant  walk  leads  the  gable   of  the   hospice  rising 

to  the  bastion   at   the    southeast  alx)vc   the  walls.     To  the  left  it 

angle,  shaded  by  trees.    The  town  the  tower  of  St.  Peter,  and  a  line  dL 

hall,  a  building  dating  from   the  high  roofs  and  gables  peeping  Oftr 

seventeenth  century,  stands  in  the  the  parapet 
centre  of  a  square,  and  contains 


57/?  FRANCIS  VERE  IN  CHIEF  COMMAND.      \  5 1 

two  afterwards  the  Count  was  so  injured  by  an  acci- 
dental explosion  of  gunpowder  that  he  died  in  a  few 
hours.  The  States  of  Gelderland  then  called  the 
English  commander  before  them,  and  their  spokes- 
man, the  chancellor  Ivry,  requested  him  to  proceed 
with  the  enterprise.  He  was  accompanied  by  Count 
Overstein,  a  young  kinsman  of  Meurs,  at  the  head  of 
twelve  companies  of  horse.  The  troops  crossed  the 
Yssel  and  marched  to  Rees,  where  they  were  ferried 
over  the  Rhine.  The  wagons,  laden  with  provisions, 
waited  for  them  at  a  fort  which  had  been  constructed 
by  Schenk  near  the  Rhine,  and  opposite  the  town  of 
Rees.  Vere  then  marched  direct  to  Rheinberg,  sur- 
prised the  besiegers,  who  were  scattered  in  isolated 
intrenchments,  put  the  provisions  into  the  town  in 
full  view  of  the  enemy  on  the  3d  of  October,  and  re- 
turned to  the  fort  opposite  to  Rees.* 

Meanwhile,  the  States  received  news  that  Count 
Mansfelt  was  assembling  forces  in  Brabant,  with  a 
view  to  pressing  the  siege  more  closely.  They 
therefore  collected  larger  supplies,  and  requested  Sir 
Francis  to  undertake  the  dangerous  service  of  re- 
lieving Rheinberg  a  second  time,  in  the  face  of  these 
increasing  forces  of  the  enemy.  This  time  Vere 
resolved  to  advance  by  a  shorter  route,  nearer  the 
banks  of  the  Rhine,  which  would  take  him  through  a 
wood  with  dense  undergrowth  in  one  place.  He 
therefore  took  four  small  fieldpieces  with  him,^  900 
English  and  900  Dutch  infantry,  and  800  cavalry 
under  Count  Overstein ;  the  force  amounting  in  all 
to  2,600  men. 

^  Vere*s  Commentaries^  p.  3.         number  of  fieldpieces  as  two,  in 
^Official  Report    Writing  from    \i\%  Commentaries. 
memory  afterwards,  Vere  gives  the 


152  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

Marching  through  the  town  of  Xanten,  they  cam 
to  a  dense  wood,  with  a  castle  or  country  house,  calle 
Loo,  on  its  outskirts.  They  had  to  make  their  wa 
along  a  very  narrow  path,  with  exceedingly  thiol 
underwood  on  either  side,  and  swampy  grounc 
On  this  spot  there  is  still  a  wood,  through  which  th 
road  passes  from  Alpen  to  Wesel,  crossed  by  th 
Rheinberg  and  Xanten  road.  There  is  also  a  cout 
try  house,  called  Loo,  standing  on  the  verge  of  th 
wood.    Vere  calls  this  part  of  the  road  a  "strait" 

The  enemy  came  out  of  the  Loo  enclosure  to  gal 
the  men  and  horses  while  passing  through  the  wooc 
Vere  ordered  the  Dutch  foot  and  the  cavalry  to  pas 
through  the  strait  as  rapidly  as  possible,  with  ensign 
displayed  and  drums  beating,  and  to  form  on  th 
other  side,  while  he  himself  remained  behind  wit 
the  English  reserve  and  about  fifty  horse.  Th 
enemy  increased  their  numbers,  and  Vere  attacke 
them  vigorously,  driving  them  back  to  the  protectio 
of  the  castle.  He  then  led  the  rest  of  the  troof 
through  the  strait,  which  is  about  a  quarter  of  a  mil 
long,  with  the  cross-roads  in  the  middle  of  it. 

As  soon  as  he  was  in  the  open,  Vere  marched  hi 
whole  force  rapidly  for  a  short  distance,  and  the 
formed  his  men  in  line  of  battle  facing  the  woa 
which  appeared  to  be  full  of  the  enemy.  Soon  the 
began  to  deploy  and  form  for  a  charge  outside,  befoi 
Vere's  troops  were  all  in  their  places.  He  therefoi 
took  a  detachment  of  pikes  and  shot,  and  marche 
rapidly  against  the  enemy,  with  the  object  of  givin 
time  for  the  rest  of  his  troops  to  form.  Almost  in 
mediately  he  was  at  push  of  pike  with  them.  Hi 
own  horse  was  killed  by  a  pike-thrust,  and  fell  on  bin 


S/H  FRANCIS  VERE  IN  CHIEF  COMMAND.     153 

0  that  he  could  not  rise.^  Seeing  his  danger,  the 
English  pressed  on  with  resolute  tenacity,  and  he 
w  rescued  with  no  other  harm  than  a  contused  leg 
nd  several  pike-thrusts  through  his  clothes.  While 
he  pikemen  on  both  sides  were  maintaining  a  stub- 
orn  fight,  the  English  shotmen  spread  along  the 
kirts  of  the  wood,  and  galled  the  flanks  of  the  enemy 
^  effectually  that  they  began  to  fall  back,  closely 
)llowed  by  the  English  pikemen.  Four  times  they 
^lied  and  turned  upon  their  pursuers,  but  at  last 
»ey  broke  and  scattered  among  the  brushwood, 
he  English  pikes  remained  in  a  serried,  unbroken 
Qe,  advancing  upon  the  enemy's  cavalry,  who  dis- 
ounted  and   fled  through  the  thick   undergrowth 

1  foot.  The  Marquis  of  Warrenbon  was  there  in 
•rson.  His  horse  was  captured,  and  Sir  Francis 
nt  it  to  England,  as  a  present  to  Secretary  Wal- 
igham.^  Marching  onwards,  Vere  next  encoun- 
ed  twenty-four  companies  of  Neapolitan  infan- 
,  who  were  easily  put  to  flight.  The  defeat  was 
:isive.  Vere  resumed  his  march,  and  entered 
teinberg  two  hours  after  sunset.  The  battle  was 
ight  by  one  English  division  of  450  men.  The 
ler,  under  Sir  Oliver  Lambart,^  followed  as  a  re- 
ve.  The  cavalry  and  Dutch  infantry  remained  on 
\  open  plain,  under  Count  Overstein.     The  enemy 


He  does  not  mention  this  in 
Official  Report     The  fact  is 
)rded  in  his  Commentaries, 
S.  P.  0.,  Holland,  vol.  Ixvii. 
e    to  Walsingham,    Dec.    17, 

Oliver  Lambart  was  the  only 
of  Walter  Lambart  by  his  wife 
<e,  daughter  of  Sir  Oliver  Wal- 


lop. He  was  knighted  by  the  Earl 
of  Essex  at  Cadiz.  In  160 1  he 
became  governor  of  Connaught, 
and  was  created  Lord  Lambart  of 
Cavan  in  1617.  He  died  in  1618, 
and  was  buried  in  Westminster 
Abbey.  His  son,  Charles  Lam- 
bart, was  created  Earl  of  Cavan 
ia  1647. 


154 


THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 


consisted  not  only  of  the  besieging  force  under  War- 
renbon,  but  also  of  the  reinforcements  with  which 
Mansfelt  had  just  arrived  from  Brabant  They  were 
waiting  for  Vere  on  the  road  he  had  taken  before, 
and  on  discovering  their  mistake  they  hurriedly 
marched  across  to  the  wood,  and  were  routed  io 
detail.^ 

The  next  morning  was  fortunately  thick  and  foggy. 
At  break  of  day  Vere  set  out  on  hb  return,  and 
reached  the  fort  opposite  to  Rees  late  in  the  evening, 
a  distance  of  sixteen  miles,  without  again  encountering 
the  enemy.  His  gallant  relief  of  Rheinberg  enabled 
the  town  to  hold  out  until  the  following  January,  when 
at  length  the  garrison  was  obliged  to  surrender.*  Sir 
Francis  then  made  his  headquarters  at  Utrecht,  a 
good  position,  whence  he  could  oppose  any  body  <rf 
the  enemy  that  might  make  an  attempt  to  cross  the 
rivers,  before  going  into  winter- quarters;*  and  in 
November  he  proceeded  to  the  Hague. 

During  the  winter  of  1589-90,  which  was  long  re- 
membered for  the  length  and  severity  of  the  frosts. 
Sir  Francis  Vere  was  very  actively  engaged  in  re- 
forming the  arrangements  for  the  supply  of  arms  and 
clothing,  and  for  the  more  regular  payment  of  the 
field  force,  in  improving  the  discipline,  and  in  making 
agreements  with    the   governors   of  the  cautionary 


*  Vere's  Commentaries^  pp.  4  to 
10.  S.  P.  O.,  Holland,  vol.  Ixvi. 
Grimeston,  p.  1024.  Bcntivoglio. 
Herrera,  lib.  v.  cap.  il.  p.  146. 
Camcro,  cap.  ix.  p.  240.  The 
official  report,  in  Vcre*s  own  hand- 
writing, is  amons^  the  Cotton 
MSS.,  Galba,  D.  V..  f.  226. 

'  Maurice  retook  Rheinberg  in 


August,  1597.  It  was  retaken  bf 
the  Admiral  of  Aragon  io  1598^ 
In  Jul)*,  1601,  Maurice  agaiia 
took  the  place,  and  in  Aqgost 
1606,  it  was  again  surrendered  is 
Spinola. 

*  Gilpin  to  Lord  Barlelfh,  Oct 
20,  1 589.  S.  P.  On  HoQaad,  ^ 
Ixvii. 


S/Ji  FRANCIS  VERE  IN  CHIEF  COMMAND.     1 55 

3wns  as  regards  the  employment  of  part  of  the  gar^ 
isons.  His  commission  gave  him  sole  command  of 
ill  troops  in  the  field.  Great  inconvenience  and  ex* 
)ense  were  caused  to  the  companies  from  having  to 
send  to  Flushing  for  all  supplies  of  arms,  clothing, 
md  accoutrements.  Vere  drew  up  a  scheme  for  es- 
ablishing  a  central  depot  at  Utrecht,  and  he  obtained 
sanction  to  receive  tenders  from  the  merchants  of 
Amsterdam  for  the  supply  of  powder  and  saltpetre. 
He  also  issued  rates  for  apparel  and  rations.  He 
:aused  ordinances  and  instructions  for  musters  to  be 
promulgated,  to  prevent  frauds  and  secure  an  effi- 
:ient  system  of  checks ;  and  he  published  orders  for 
reforming  abuses  among  the  captains  of  companies. 

His  correspondence  shows  the  interest  he  took  in 
the  welfare  of  comrades  with  whom  he  had  served, 
md  the  persistency  with  which  he  advocated  their 
:]aims.  During  this  winter  he  was  anxious  to  obtain 
suitable  employment  for  his  old  friend  Francis  Allen, 
with  whom  he  made  the  journey  to  Poland,  and  who 
bad  served  with  such  gallantry  in  the  defence  of 
Sluys.  He  wrote  three  times  to  Walsingham  on  the 
subject  of  Captain  Allen  s  claims,  and  twice  to  Lord 
Burleigh;  and  at  length,  in  September,  1590,  he  ob- 
tained a  company  for  him.  He  also  proved  a  warm 
friend  to  young  Throckmorton,  against  whom  there 
appears  to  have  been  a  prejudice  on  account  of  his 
Family.  Vere  strongly  represented  that  the  young 
man,  both  as  ensign  and  lieutenant,  had  lived  like 
an  honest  soldier  and  a  good  subject,  that  he  had 
been  wounded  while  fighting  valiantly  at  the  relief 
Df  Rheinberg,  and  that  he  ought  not  to  suffer  for 
the  fault  of  his  relations.     Throckmorton  took  home 


1/ 


156  THE  FIGHTIXG   VERES. 

Vere  s  despatches  on  two  occasions,  and,  by  dint  of 
importunity,  his  patron  obtained  for  him  the  com- 
pany rendered  vacant  by  the  death  of  Captain  Smyth. 
That  officer,  while  riding  from  the  Betuwe  to  Does- 
burg,  was  set  upon  by  some  of  the  enemy's  scouts 
and  mortally  wounded.  In  November,  1589,  Sir 
Francis  Vere  made  a  kindly  appeal  to  Walsingham 
on  behalf  of  an  old  comrade  of  the  Bergen-op-Zoom 
days.  Captain  Bannaster  had  spent  many  years  in 
the  war  with  credit  and  reputation.  He  was  grow- 
ing  old,  and  he  undertook  a  journey  to  England  in 
the  hope  of  obtaining  some  means  of  living  in  his 
declining  years.  He  relied  a  good  deal  on  the  help 
of  Walsingham,  and  his  appeal  was  warmly  seconded 
by  Sir  Francis  Vere,  who  wrote :  **  I  think  the  con- 
siderate recompensing  of  such  an  old  soldier  would 
very  much  encourage  men  to  continue  in  the  ser\-ice." 
We  can  only  hope  that  poor  old  Captain  Bannaster 
was  granted  some  subsistence  allowance. 

Vere  also  appears  as  an  intercessor  for  countenance 
to  a  young  officer  who  had  become  engaged  at  Flush- 
ing. The  fair  Netherland  maidens  were  attractive 
from  their  modesty  and  grace,  and  there  were  many 
love  passages  between  them  and  the  English  officers, 
especially  in  the  garrison  towns.  The  burghers  were 
hospitable,  and  the  society  of  their  families  was  very 
agreeable;  but  marriages  were  rather  sternly  dis- 
countenanced and  frowned  upon,  as  tending  to  un6t 
soldiers  for  general  service.  Among  other  enamored 
youths  was  young  Arthur  Randolph.  His  love  was 
returned,  and,  without  asking  {>ermission,  he  was  so 
rash  as  to  enter  into  a  contract  of  marriage  ^^-ith  the 
beautiful  daughter  of  Jacques  Gelleet,  an  influential 


5//?  FRANCIS  VERE  IN  CHIEF  COMMAND.     157 

gomaster  of  Flushing.  He  had  to  give  bonds  in 
sideration  of  her  portion  ;  but  he  had  nothing  to 
:r  to  her  father  save  some  warrants  for  arrears  of 
.  When  this  proceeding  became  known,  Secre- 
r  Walsingham,  who  was  an  old  friend  of  Ran- 
ph's  family,  was  very  angry,  and  Sir  Francis  Vere 
dly  interceded  in  the  young  officers  behalf. 
*se  good  offices  saved  him  the  loss  of  his  com- 
y,  of  which  he  would  otherwise  have  been  de- 
^ed,  and  the  marriage  took  place.  So  long  as 
idolph's  company  remained  at  Flushing  the  young 
pie  were  perfectly  happy;  but  in  1592  it  was  or- 
?d  to  Brittany.  Then  there  was  great  tribulation. 
I  burgomaster  entreated  that  his  son-in-law  might 
ixcused  from  this  French  journey.  Both  Sir  Rob- 
Sidney  and  Sir  Francis  Vere  interceded  for  him, 

he  was  allowed  to  remain. 

"hese  frequent  kindly  intercessions  in  fayor  alike 
)ld  comrades  and  of  young  officers,  which  con- 
lally  occur  in  Vere's  correspondence,  give  a  very 
isant  impression.  He  was  a  man  of  warm,  sym- 
letic  feelings,  and  a  true  friend.  After  the  cam- 
jn  of  1589  was  over,  Vere  sent  his  brother  Robert 
England,  to  visit  their  mother  and  to  bring  out 
r  youngest  brother,  Horace,  who  began  his  mili- 

career  in  1590.  Robert  continued  in  command 
1  troop  of  cavalry,  while  young  Horace  com- 
iced  his  service  in  the  infantry  company  of  Sir 
ncis.  Thus  the  three  brothers  were  happily  united 
omrades  in  the  service  of  their  Queen  and  coun- 

while  John  Vere,  the  eldest,  remained  at  home 
ake  care  of  their  mother,  at  Kirby. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

BREDA,  AND  THE   EXPEDITION   INTO  WESTPHAUA. 

While  Sir  Francis  Vere  was  actively  engaged  in 
his  administrative  improvements  and  in  completing 
the   complements   of    his   depleted   companies,  the 
Dutch    commanders   were   maturing   an    audacious 
scheme    for   surprising   the  important  and  strongly 
fortified  city  of  Breda,     Vere  was  kept  fully  informed 
from  time  to  time  of  what  was  going  on,  and  as  early 
as  December,  1589,  he  reported  confidentially  that 
all  the  details  were  arranged.*     He  gives  the  credit 
of  designing  the    plan    to   Prince  Maurice  himself 
Having  heard  that  several  large  boats  laden  with  peat 
were  received  into  the  town  during  the  winter,  with- 
out search,  Maurice  conceived  the  hope  of  winoing 
the  place   by  that  means.     On  further   inquiry,  he 
found  that  one  of  the  captains  of  these  boats  had 
once  been  a  servant  of  his  father.*     His  name  was 
Adricn  de  Berghe.     This  man  was  approached  very 
cautiously.     Count  Philip  of  Nassau '  conferred  with 
Charles   de  Heraugicre,  a   captain    from    Cambray, 
who   had   distinguished    himself  in   the  defence  of 

>  Vere  to  Walsingham,  Dec.  17,  •  Son  of  Count  Jobi&«  who  pft» 

1589.    S.  P.  0.,  Holland,  vol.  Ixvii.  sided  at  the   Union  of   Utrecht 

■  Vere  to  the  Ix)rds  of  the  Coun-  John   was   the  eldest  brotlier  of 

ciU  Feb.  24,  iS9a    S.  P.  C,  Hoi-  William  the  TadturiL 
land,  vol.  Lxviu 


BREDA.  159 

Sluys,  Heraugi&re  persuaded  Adrien  de  Berghe  to 
attempt  the  hazardous  service.  His  boat  was  in  a 
canal  at  the  village  of  Lier,*  three  miles  from  Breda, 
and  here  it  was  prepared  with  great  secrecy.  Up- 
right props  were  secured  amidships,  to  support  a 
light  deck  of  planks,  leaving  sufficient  room  below 
for  about  seventy  men.  Right  aft  there  was  a  small 
cabin,  as  is  usual  with  these  barges,  separated  from 
the  hold  by  a  light  bulkhead.  The  men  to  form  this 
forlorn  hope  were  selected  by  Heraugifere  with  great 
care  from  the  garrisons  of  Count  Philip  at  Gorcum 
and  Lowesteyn.  They  were  all  young  men,  few  with 
beards,  and  were  chosen  for  their  strength  and  hardi- 
hood. On  the  26th  of  February  they  were  ready  to 
embark.  There  was  some  delay,  caused  by  the  ice, 
but  on  Thursday,  the  ist  of  March,  they  were  all 
stowed  in  their  cramped  and  comfortless  quarters, 
each  with  two  days'  provisions.  The  peat  was  then 
piled  on  the  deck,  and  made  to  look  as  if  the  barge 
was  full  from  the  keelson. 

Breda  was  a  fortified  town  of  the  first  class.  The 
river  Marck  flowed  through  it  to  join  the  old  Maas, 
and  supplied  the  moats  with  water.  On  the  western 
side,  where  the  river  left  the  town  walls,  was  the  old 
castle,  with  a  moat  of  its  own  and  special  fortified 
lines.  Two  semicircular  bastions  frowned  over  the 
river,  and  beyond  them  was  a  quay  where  vessels  dis- 
charged their  cargoes.  It  was  called  the  fish-market, 
and  it  led  to  an  open  space  in  front  of  the  castle 
gates.  High  above  the  roofs  of  the  houses  rose  the 
lofty  spire  of  the  great  church.     Edoardo  Lanzavec- 

^  Carnero  says  the  boat  was  at  Teteringen.   Lib.  ix.  cap.  ii.  p.  242. 
Bat  Meteren  is  probably  correct. 


l6o  THE  FIGHTING   VERES, 

chia,  the  governor  of  Breda,  happened  to  be  absent, 
superintending  the  fortification  of  Gertruydenburg, 
and  the  place  was  in  charge  of  his  son,  Paulo  An- 
tonio Lanzavecchia.  He  had  600  infantry,  in  five 
companies,  to  garrison  the  town,  100  infantry  in  the 
castle,  and  100  cavalry  of  the  regiment  of  the  Marquis 
del  Vasto,  under  a  young  lieutenant  named  TarlatinL 
There  were  very  strict  orders  with  regard  to  the 
examination  of  all  vessels  entering  the  harbor,  and 
there  was  a  guard-house  on  the  quay,  whence  a  close 
lookout  was  kept  night  and  day. 

From  Friday  to  Saturday  morning  Adricn  de 
Berghe  waited  in  the  river  Marck  for  the  tide  to  rise. 
He  was  moored  off  the  "  Heronniere,"  just  outside  the 
castle.  The  boat  began  to  leak,  and  the  nearly  frozen 
water  came  up  to  the  men  s  knees  in  the  hold.  A% 
soon  as  Adrien  passed  the  castle  wall  and  reached 
the  harbor,  the  corporal  of  the  guard  came  off  in  a 
small  boat.  He  went  down  into  the  dark  cabin,  and 
pushed  aside  a  plank  which  separated  it  from  the 
hold.  A  whiff  of  cold  air  rushed  in,  and  it  was  all 
the  soldiers  could  do  to  prevent  themselves  from 
coughing.  A  lieutenant  named  Matthew  Helt,  feel- 
ing that  he  could  not  stop  a  sneeze,  presented  his 
dagger  to  his  next  neighbor,  to  cut  his  throat.  But 
the  corporal  went  up,  and  the  immediate  peril  was 
over.  The  harbor  was  much  encumbered  by  ice,  and 
the  soldiers  of  the  guard  helped  to  haul  the  vessel 
alongside  the  quay.  "  It  was  like  the  Trojans  drag- 
ging in  the  Grecian  horse,"  observes  Meteren.*  Two 
soldiers  were  then  ordered  to  unload  the  turf.  They 
worked  away,  and  Adrien  felt  that  all  was  lost  if  they 

1  Page  325. 


BREDA.  l6l 

threw  out  much  more  and  discovered  the  false  deck* 
So  he  suggested  to  them  that  it  was  getting  late,  and 
that  they  could  unload  the  rest  the  first  thing  in  the 
morning.  He  added :  "  I  have  got  an  esctuio  to  spend  ;^ 
so  let  us  go  on  shore,  and  have  drinks  all  round." 
So  they  all  went  to  a  public-house  until  it  was  dark, 
when  the  soldiers  went  away,  and  Adrien  returned  to 
the  boat.  i 

Meanwhile,  the  men  in  the  hold  were  nearly  dead 
with  cold  and  hunger,  besides  being  up  to  their 
knees  in  freezing  water.  They  began  to  move,  Adrieil 
making  as  great  a  clatter  as  he  could  with  the 
pumps,  to  drown  the  noise  caused  by  the  men  coming 
up.  It  was  nearly  midnight.  The  chosen  seventy 
Dutchmen  rushed  on  shore,  led  by  Heraugidre,  who 
divided  them  into  two  parties.  Approaching  the 
guard-house,  a  sentry  challenged,  and  Heraugifere 
ran  him  through  without  a  word.  They  then  oven* 
powered  the  guard,  and  threw  open  one  of  the  town 
gates. 

Maurice,  accompanied  by  Count  Hohenlohe  and 
Sir  Francis  Vere,  was  anxiously  waiting  with  a  suffi*. 
cient  force.  Two  hours  before  dawn  Hohenlohe,  at 
the  head  of  300  cavalry,  thundered  into  the  town, 
closely  followed  by  Prince  Maurice,  Count  Philip  of 
Nassau,  Sir  Francis  Vere  with  600  English,  and 
Count  Solms;  in  all,  1,700.  Paulo  Antonio  Lanza- 
vecchia,  the  acting  governor,  was  in  the  castle; 
Hearing  the  noise,  he  rushed  out  with  some  of  his 
men,  and  came  on  the  open  space  in  front  of  the 
castle.      Here  Heraugiere  was  engaged  in  a  hand- 

^  '^  Si  quereis  vamos  a  beber,  que  tengo  ua  escudo  que  gastar." 
(Camero.) 


1 62  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

to-hand  fight  with  another  corps  de  garde,  and  they 
were  all  driven  back  into  the  castle,  Lanzavecchia 
being  wounded  in  two  places.  He  surrendered. 
But  there  were  still  several  hundred  soldiers  in  the 
town.  The  officers  lost  their  heads,  and  hearing 
that  the  castle  was  taken,  they  counselled  flight 
A  young  ensign,  Count  Vicencio  Capra,  proposed  to 
break  down  the  bridge  leading  to  the  castle,  and  de^ 
fend  the  town.  He  urged  that  succor  would  arrive 
from  Antwerp,  if  they  would  hold  out  but  for  a  short 
time.  The  other  officers  hesitated,  and  while  thev 
wavered,  Hohenlohe  dashed  in  upon  them.  They 
broke,  and  fled  along  the  Antwerp  road. 

The  news  had  reached  the  old  veteran  Mondragon, 
governor  of  Antwerp,  with  almost  incredible  celerity. 
He  assembled  500  men  and  marched  rapidly  towards 
Breda,  but,  to  his  dismay  and  indignation,  he  met 
the  flying  garrison.  He  then  knew  that  all  was  losL^ 
On  Sunday,  the  4th  of  March,  Breda  was  in  the 
hands  of  the  Dutch,  and  Heraugiere  was  appointed 
governor.  The  Duke  of  Parma  caused  all  the  prin- 
cipal officers  to  be  beheaded,  except  young  Capra; 
and  the  corporal  and  two  soldiers  who  unloaded  the 
boat  were  hanged. 

The  capture  of  Breda  more  than  made  up  for  the 
loss  of  Gertruydcnburg.  Sir  Francis  Vcre  reported 
that  Breda  was  a  place  of  very  great  importance,  very- 
strong,  and  provided  with  all  manner  of  munitions 
and  stores,  sufficient  for  2,000  men  for  one  year.* 
Sir  Francis  added :  "  Count  Maurice  hath  gotten 
great  honour  in  this  enterprise." 

»  »*  Siendo  el  acto  mas  vil  que        '  Vcre    to   the    Lord*    of   the 
ha  hecho  csu  nacion."   (Carncro.)    Council.  S.  P.  0,,  Holland,  liwlii 


BREDA.  163 

Standing  by  the  quay  at  Breda  on  a  moonlight 
night,  one  may  recall  the  whole  scene  in  imagination. 
There  are  the  two  semicircular  bastions  rising  from 
the  river;  the  barges  lying  along  the  quay ;  the  open 
space  before  the  castle;  houses  where  the  guard- 
house stood;  and  the  beautiful  church-tower  nsing 
over  the  roofs,  with  its  graceful  spire  shooting  up 
into  the  starlit  sky.  Within  the  great  church  of 
Breda  is  the  tomb  of  Engelbert  of  Nassau,  the  re- 
cumbent effigies  beneath,  and  four  mythical  kneeling 
figures  supporting  a  slab  on  their  shoulders,  on  which 
are  the  helmet,  sword,  and  armor  of  Engelbert 
This  famous  tomb  furnished  the  idea  for  the  monu- 
ment to  Sir  Francis  Vere  in  Westminster  Abbey. 

Count  Charles  de  Mansfelt  advanced  to  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Breda,  devastating  the  country.  Mau- 
rice took  counsel  with  Hohenlohe  and  Vere,  the  re- 
sult of  which  was  that  the  army  of  the  allies  marched 
into  the  Betuwe,  and  began  to  throw  up  intrenchments 
on  the  banks  of  the  Waal.  The  immediate  object 
was  to  divert  the  attention  of  Mansfelt,  but  there  was 
a  serious  ultimate  intention  of  capturing  the  city  of 
Nymegen.  On  the  6th  of  May  2,800  men  were  be- 
fore Nymegen,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Waal,  of 
whom  nine  companies  were  English,  under  Sir  Fran- 
cis Vere.  They  were  all  employed  on  the  construc- 
tion of  a  strong  fort  exactly  opposite  Nymegen,  and 
they  worked  at  it  steadily  for  several  months.  It 
was  intended  to  threaten  Nymegen,  and  also  to 
check  the  incursions  of  the  enemy  into  the  Betuwe, 
the  land  between  the  Waal  and  the  Rhine.  The 
people  of  Nymegen  were  Catholic,  and  partisans  of 
the  Spaniards ;  and  they  had  raised  a  company  of 


1 64  '^^^  FIGHTTXG   it: RES. 

clubmen,  called  Kncxlsendra^rs ;  so  the  fort  ^ns 
named  Knodsenburg.  because  it  was  built  in  spite  of 
these  clubmen.  Vere  was  an  officer  who  superin- 
tended even-  detail  personally,  and  saw  that  each 
order  was  executed  in  the  right  \cas.  Francis  Mark- 
ham,  who  ser\ed  under  him,  has  the  following  re- 
mark on  his  qualifications  as  a  trench-master :  **  Sir 
Francis  \'ere,  both  by  experience  and  observation, 
was  wonderfully  skilled  in  the  work  of  intrenching. 
Though  he  had  excellent  skilled  officers  under  him, 
he  still,  in  these  great  and  important  atfairs  of  forti- 
fications, performed  all  things  by  his  own  proper 
commands  and  directions.  In  spite  of  many  wounds, 
he  ever  performed  these  ser\nces  in  his  own  person."* 
By  the  end  of  July.  1590,  the  fort  at  Knodscnburg 
was  finished.  It  was  a  strong  and  thoroughly  well- 
planned  work,  constructed  in  spite  of  a  heavy  fire 
which  Mansfelt  opened  on  the  camp  from  Xvmegen. 
It  was  provisioned  for  six  months,  and  furnished  wth 
a  garrison  of  600  men,  under  Gerart  de  Jonghe,  a 
brave  and  able  Dutch  officer.  Maurice  then  sta- 
tioned his  army  along  the  line  of  the  Waal,  from 
Schcnken  Schanz  to  Bommel,  to  prevent  the  passage 
of  the  enemy,  and  the  States  caused  a  new  dike  to 
be  constructed  across  the  lower  part  of  the  Betuwe. 
below  Nymegen,  from  the  Rhine  to  the  Waal,  to 
protrct  the  country  from  inundations. 

In  July,  Sir  Francis  Vere  was  employed  on  de* 
turhed  service  of  an  adventurous  and  rather  hazardous 
character,  as  it  entailed  an  advance  into  the  cnemvs 
country,  far  from  all  supports.  Some  troops  of  the 
States  had  got  possession  of  the  town  of  Recklings 

'  Francis  MarkhAin*8  EpistUs  0/  li'ar  (162a). 


EXPEDITION  INTO  WESTPHALIA.  165 

hausen,  with  its  castle  of  Litkenhoven,  in  Westphalia, 
for  Archbishop  Truchses,  and  were  closely  besieged 
by  troops  of  the  Duke  of  Cleves  and  of  the  new 
Archbishop  of  Cologne.  The  relieving  force  was 
composed  of  800  English  infantry  and  500  cavalry. 
Vere's  brother  Robert  accompanied  him.  The  dis- 
tance of  Recklinghausen  from  the  Rhine  near  Wesel 
is  twenty-five  miles.  Two  rivers  flow  from  east  to 
west  into  the  Rhine:  the  Lippe,  rising  in  the  hills  of 
Lippe  Detmold ;  and  the  Emscher,  to  the  south,  a 
small  parallel  stream  with  a  shorter  course,  falling 
into  the  Rhine  below  Duisburg.  The  country  be- 
tween the  two  rivers  is  ten  miles  across,  and  the  town 
of  Recklinghausen  is  nearly  on  the  water-partings 
being  just  on  the  Emscher  slope.  The  country  is  an 
expanse  of  sandy  moor,  with  junipers  scattered  over 
it,  and  occasional  woods  of  birch  and  stone  pine. 

Vere  marched  rapidly  across  the  moors,  in  the 
hope  of  surprising  the  besiegers.  At  break  of  day, 
on  a  bright  July  morning,  the  town  came  in  sight,  at 
a  distance  of  about  a  mile.  Recklinghausen  is  a  very 
picturesque  old  place,  on  a  gentle  slope  descending 
eastward  to  a  swampy  stream,  a  tributary  of  the 
Emscher.  It  was  a  walled  town  with  a  moat,  which 
is  now  full  of  little  gardens  and  apple  and  cherry 
trees.  The  walls,  with  two  towers,  are  still  stand- 
ing in  the  northwest  angle,  which  is  the  highest 
part,  and  here  stood  the  castle  of  Litkenhoven.  The 
church  has  a  square,  solid  tower  and  a  richly  deco- 
rated romanesque  doorway,  and  there  was  a  smallr 
cloister  near  the  western  gate.  Sir  Francis  Vere 
gazed  on  the  beleaguered  little  town  by  the  light  of 
the  early  niorning  sun,  and  he  saw  that  the  enemy 


1 66  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

had  built  a  fort,  with  bastions  in  the  angles,  in  front 
of  the  west  gate  of  the  town,  facing  Litkenhoven 
Castle.  This  took  him  by  surprise.  He  did  not  ex- 
pect that  they  would  have  thrown  up  intrenchmentSi 
and  he  had  brought  neither  artillery  nor  scaling-lad* 
ders.  They  had  raised  earth  walls  of  good  height 
and  had  fixed  gabions  on  them,  which  added  six  more 
feet,  so  that  it  would  be  scarcely  feasible  to  climb 
over  them.  He  had  not  brought  sufficient  provisioDS 
to  enable  him  to  lay  siege  to  the  fort. 

Vere  was  a  man  of  resource,  and  he  never  gave  up 
an  attempt  until  it  was  evidently  impracticable.  He 
resolved  to  take  the  fort.  He  divided  his  force  into 
eight  detachments,  and  disposed  them,  as  secretly  as 
possible,  so  that  two  detachments  should  be  in  posi- 
tion to  assault  each  of  the  four  bastions.  At  the  first 
roll  of  the  drum  one  detachment  was  to  assault  each 
bastion,  and  at  the  second  roll  the  second  detach- 
ments were  to  come  up  as  supports.  As  soon  as  all 
was  ready.  Sir  Francis  summoned  the  fort  The 
answer  was  that  they  would  like  to  see  his  artiller}* 
before  they  surrendered.  He  replied  that  if  they 
made  him  wait  until  his  artillery  arrived,  he  would 
give  them  no  conditions.  They  told  him  to  do  his 
worst,  and  his  trumpeter  returned. 

Vere  then  gave  the  signal,  and  his  men  assaulted 
all  four  bastions,  but  were  unable  to  force  their  way 
against  the  desperate  resistance  of  the  garrison.  Their 
leader  waited  to  send  forward  the  second  detachments 
until  he  thought  that  the  defenders  had  exhausted 
all  the  charges  in  their  bandoleers.  Then  he  gave 
the  second  signal,  and  with  a  hearty  cheer  the  re- 
serves rushed  to  the  support  of  their  comrades.    One 


EXPEDITION  INTO  WESTPHALIA.  167 

soldier  helped  another,  until  at  last  they  climbed  over 
the  parapet  and  drove  the  enemy  back.  More  and 
more  continued  to  pour  over,  and  the  place  was 
taken.  The  besiegers  then  fled  in  all  directions,  and 
Recklinghausen  was  relieved,  with  a  loss  of  about 
eighty  killed  and  wounded  in  Vere's  force. 

After  having  given  his  men  a  few  days'  rest  in 
the  rescued  town,  the  indefatigable  sergeant-major 
marched  back  to  the  Rhine,  and  found  that  the  small 
town  of  Biiderich,  with  its  fort,  on  the  left  bank,  oppo- 
site Wesel,  had  in  the  mean  time  been  taken  by  the 
troops  of  the  States.  But  the  enemy  held  a  stronger  fort 
near  the  Rhine  bank,  and  facing  Wesel,  which  enabled 
them  to  pass  their  forces  across  the  river  without 
hindrance.  Vere  determined  to  take  it.  He  remained 
quietly  in  Biiderich  for  a  day  or  two,  busily  making 
scaling-ladders  with  such  rough  materials  as  were  at 
hand,  while  his  brother  Robert  commanded  a  guard 
of  cavalry  to  prevent  the  soldiers  in  the  fort  from 
receiving  provisions  and  ammunition  out  of  Wesel. 
The  fort  had  neither  moat  nor  palisades  round  it, 
but  the  walls  were  high.  He  therefore  resolved  to 
attempt  to  carry  it  by  escalade.  It  was  a  large  work, 
capable  of  holding  1,500  men,  and  had  four  well- 
constructed  bastions  at  the  angles.  Vere  s  plan  was 
to  have  false  alarms  at  three  of  the  bastions,  and  to 
make  a  serious  attack  on  the  fourth.  Eight  men, 
four  shot  and  four  pike,  were  appointed  to  carry, 
plant,  and  mount  each  ladder.  On  a  given  signal 
one  half  the  ladders  were  to  be  planted  on  one  side 
of  the  bastion,  and  the  other  half  on  the  other.  This 
was  done ;  the  men  ran  up,  and  fought  gallantly  over 
the  parapet,  where  the  garrison  was  ready  to  receive 


1 68  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

them.     But  the  ladders  had  been  hastily  put  together; 
several  broke  with  the  weight  and  movement  of  the 
men,  and  Vere  deemed  it  prudent  to  call  them  oflF. 
The  false  alarms  had  drawn  most  of  the  defenders  to 
the  other  bastions,  and  the  loss  was  trifling.     But 
there  were  several  broken  heads,  for  the  day  being 
sultry,  the  soldiers   had  left  their   morions  behind 
Their  commander  used  such  diligence  that  headpieces 
were  provided  for  the  men,  and   the  ladders  were 
repaired  by  next  morning.     The  number  of  ladders 
was  increased,  for  Sir  Francis   had   persuaded  the 
cavalry  to  take  some  also,  as  their  pistols  were  effi- 
cient weapons   for   escalading.     The   attack   began 
before  daybreak,  the  men  using  the  ladders  as  stands 
whence  to  fire  over  the  parapet  at  the  garrison,  before 
entering.     But  when  daylight  broke  the  heavy  guns 
were  turned  upon  them  from  all  sides,  and  once  more 
they  were  forced  to  retreat.     Vere  was  about  to  lead 
on  a  third  assault,  when  he  received  a  message  from 
the  governor  to  the  effect  that  if  he  could  have  the 
honor  of  one  piece  of  artillery  being  shown  him,  he 
would  surrender.     Anxious  to  gratify  so  moderate  a 
petition,  but  having  no  artillery  with  him,  Vere  at 
last  found  an  old  gun  at  Buderich,  which  he  planted 
in  sight  of  the  fort  before  morning,  and  sent  a  sum- 
mons.    The  garrison  marched  out  at  once,  and  four 
double  cannons,  with  good  store  of  ammunition  and 
victuals,  were  found  inside.*     The  surrender  of  this 
strong  place  was  important,  especially  in  the  event  of 
any  future  plan  for  the  recapture  of  Rheinberg.     In 
reporting  these  successes  to  the  Lords  of  the  Council, 

*  Vtrc's   Commftitaries,  pp.  lo     must  he  nearly  on  Uie  site  of  the 
to  17.    The  present  Fort  Blucher    fort  taken  by  Vcrc 


EXPEDITION  INTO  WESTPHALIA.  169 

Sir  Francis  Vere  observed  that  Buderich  and  the  fort 
opposite  Wesel  "  might  be  made  singular  accompt  of, 
as  it  was  their  principal  passage  over  the  Rhine."  ^ 

This  was  a  satisfactory  termination  of  the  cam- 
paign. In  November  Vere  was  at  Flushing,  receiving 
400  recruits,  which  had  been  sent  over,  at  his  earnest 
request,  to  fill  up  gaps  in  the  companies ;  ^  and  during 
the  winter  the  commissaries  went  through  the  mus- 
ters, and  great  attention  was  given  to  all  needful  pre- 
parations for  the  labors  of  the  coming  year.  In- 
cluding the  garrisons,  there  were  7,450  English  • 
infantry  and  500  cavalry  in  the  Netherlands,  at  the 
opening  of  the  year  1591. 

*  Vere  to  the  Lords  of  the  Coun-  *  Vere  to  Lord  Burleigh,  Nov. 
dl,  Sept.  20,  1590.  S.  P.  O.,  Hoi-  28,  1590.  S.  P.  O.,  Holland,  vol. 
land,  voL  Ixxi.  IxxL 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

ZUTPHEN   AND    DEVENTER.  —  THE    BATTLE     IN    THE 
BETUWE.  —  NYMEGEN.  —  STEENWYCK.  — 

COEVORDEN. 

Ever  since  Sir  Francis  Vere  had  taken  command 
of  the  field  force  he  had  been  eager  to  recover  De- 
venter  and  the  Zutphen  Sconces,  and  thus  wipe  the 
stain  off  the  British  escutcheon,  with  which  it  had 
been  smeared  by  the  two  traitors  Stanley  and  Yorke. 
At  last  the  time  seemed  to  have  arrived  for  this  en- 
terprise, but,  in  the  first  place.  Prince  Maurice  was 
bent  upon  undertaking  a  project  analogous  to  that  of 
Breda,  He  wanted  to  make  an  attack  on  Dunkirk 
in  the  dead  of  winter,  a  plan  which  was  disliked  by 
the  Lords  of  the  English  Council.  The  exF>editioQ 
sailed  in  January,  1491,  and  landed  near  Dunkirk, 
where  "  one  who  had  long  dealt  in  the  town  prom- 
ised to  take  us  where  we  might  plant  our  ladders 
undiscovered."  Such  was  the  ground  for  hoping  to 
surprise  the  place,  as  related  by  Sir  Francis  Vcrc 
Maurice  sent  Colonel  Meetkerk  to  reconnoitre,  who 
confirmed  the  correctness  of  the  information,  and 
thought  the  enterprise  easy.  Then  Vere  and  Count 
Solms  went  with  Meetkerk  to  inspect  the  ground, 
and  they  were  seen  by  a  sentry.  The  troops  opened 
fire.  Vcrc  was  wounded  in  the  leg,  and  the  attempt 
was  abandoned.     The  wound  proved  to  be  serious» 


ZUTPHEN  AND  DEVENTER.  171 

rancis  was  conveyed  to  the  Hague,  where 
ed  during  the  rest  of  the  winter  months. 
le  was  on  his  sick-bed  he  received  a  visit 
veteran  Sir  John  Norns,  with  a  message 
)ueen.    Her  Majesty  offered  him  the  choice 

a  regiment  in  Brittany,  or  of  remaining  in 
■  command  in  the  Netherlands.  His  wound 
mpossible  for  him  to  move  for  some  time, 
lose  to  retain  the  old  command  ;  but  the 
1  kindness  of  his  sovereign  excited  warm 
if  gratitude.     "  Her  Majesty's  care  for  me," 

to  Burleigh,  "hath  given  me  exceeding 
jid  inflamed  me  with  a  most  zealous  desire 

the  continuance  of  her  gracious  conceit 
le  by  all  means  possible."' 
jsence  of  the  Duke  of  Parma  in  France, 
ge  part  of  his  forces,  encouraged  the  States 
t  the  conquest  which  was  nearest  to  Vere's 
laurice  got  his  army  ready  to  take  the  field 
1591.  The  rendezvous  was  Arnhem,  and 
mination  was  to  recover  the  places  which 

betrayed  by  the  Enghsh  papists.  Vere, 
iontingent,  was  at  Doesburg  by  the  14th  of 

e  wrote  to  Sir  Francis  Vere,  requesting  him 
e  to  Zutphen  and  cooperate  with  him  in  the 
ut  Vere  determined  to  recapture  the  Zut- 
nces,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  before 
ion  became  aware  of  the  intention  to  lay 
le  town.  It  was  necessary  that  this  should 
by  means  of  a  stratagem.  Vere  therefore 
number  of  lusty  young  soldiers,  and  dressed 
-ord  Burleigh,  Feb.  3,  1591.    S,  P.  O.,  Holland,  vol.  bucii. 


172  THE  FIGHTLVG   VERES. 

most  of  them  like  the  countrywomen  of  Gelderland 
and  the  rest  as  boers.^  He  gave  them  bundles  and 
baskets  of  eggs  and  vegetables,  such  as  the  people 
usually  took  with  them  to  market,  and  provided  them 
with  short  swords,  daggers,  and  pistols,  to  be  hid- 
den under  their  clothes.  They  were  instructed  to 
come,  by  twos  and  threes,  to  the  Zutphen  ferry,  as 
if  they  were  waiting  to  be  taken  across  to  the  market 
in  the  town,  and  to  sit  about  as  near  the  gate  of  the 
fort  as  possible  without  exciting  suspicion.  At  break 
of  day  they  were  assembled  at  the  river  bank.  Then 
Vere  showed  some  cavalr}",  as  if  approaching,  and 
the  pretended  countrj-  people  ran  in  feigned  terror 
towards  the  fort.  The  gates  were  thrown  open  to 
receive  them ;  they  all  streamed  in,  threw  off  their 
disguises,  and  were  in  possession  in  a  few  minutes.* 
\'ere  being  now  in  an  advantageous  position,  pre- 
pared for  the  siege  of  Zutphen  itself,  sending  to 
Maurice  for  assistance.  The  Prince  arrived  with 
eleven  companies  of  infantr}',  boats,  and  other  mate- 
rials, on  the  15th  of  May.  Zutphen  surrendered  on 
the  20th,  but  the  army  of  Prince  Maurice  suffered 
one  serious  loss.  Count  Overstein  and  Sir  Francis 
Vere  were  reconnoitring  too  close  to  the  walls  on  the 
day  before  the  surrender,  when  the  former  received  a 
wound,  of  which  he  died  in  a  few  days,  and  the  latter 
had  his  horse  killed  under  him. 

The  city  of  De venter,  the  capital  of  Over)'Ssel, 
had  been  betrayed  by  an  Englishman,  the  infamous 
Stanley,  and  was  now  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy, 
strongly  garrisoned  by  a  force  commanded  by  Count 

'  I)ut(  h  name  for  peasants.  Bodlcy  to  Lord  nurleigh.  Mar  si, 

*  Vcre's   Commentarits^  p.  17.     1591.  S.  P.  Cf  HoUmd,  voL 


ZUTPHEN  AND  DE  VENTER.  173 

Herman  de  Berghe.  Its  recovery  was  eagerly  desired 
by  Sir  Francis  Vere,  for  the  treason  of  Stanley  had  y/ 
cast  a  slur  upon  the  English  name.  The  very  day 
after  the  surrender  of  Zutphen  Prince  Maurice  com- 
plied with  Vere's  earnest  wish,  and  encamped  within 
a  mile  of  the  betrayed  city.  The  siege-guns  were 
brought  down  the  Yssel  in  boats. 

Deventer  stands  on  the  eastern  bank  of  the  river 
Yssel,  which  washes  its  walls.  It  is  now  a  flourish- 
ing manufacturing  town.  The  central  market-place, 
of  irregular  shape,  is  shaded  by  horse-chestnut  trees. 
The  principal  edifice  is  the  great  church,  which 
stands  in  an  open  space  near  the  wall  along  the  banks 
of  the  Yssel.  It  is  dedicated  to  St  Libuinus,  the 
apostle  of  Overyssel  and  Drenthe,  and  the  ancient 
crypt,  with  its  romanesque  pillars,  dates  from  1020 
A.  D.  Over  this  interesting  relic  of  a  distant  past 
rises  a  church  of  grand  proportions,  with  a  massive 
tower  of  great  height.  Near  the  church  of  St.  Li- 
buinus  is  the  town  hall,  a  quaint  building  of  the  six- 
teenth century;  and  there  is  another  smaller  church, 
with  two  towers,  on  high  ground  to  the  south.  The 
town  was  surrounded  by  a  strong  wall  and  ditch ;  but 
Sir  Francis  Vere,  who  had  given  the  subject  very 
close  attention,  had  reasons  for  doubting  the  boasted 
strength  of  the  works  round  Deventer.  The  ap- 
proaches were  commenced  at  once,  Prince  Maurice 
having  encamped  his  army  round  the  walls. 

It  was  debated  in  council  whether  to  build  a  fort 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Yssel  and  blockade  the 
town,  or  to  carry  it  by  assault.  The  latter  course  was 
chosen,  and  eight  days  were  spent  in  intrenching 
and  making  approaches.     Then  they  battered  the 


174  '^"^  FiGHTiyC   VERES. 

walls  facing  the  river,  from  four  in  the  morning  until 
two  in  the  afternoon,  with  twenty-eight  pieces  of 
artiller)-.  A  breach  was  made,  and  the  post  of  honor 
was  given  to  Sir  Francis  Vere  and  his  English  com- 
panies. But  the  bridge  of  boats  for  crttssing  the 
river  was  too  short,  and  he  was  obliged  to  retire,  with 
^ome  loss,  intending  to  remedy  the  defect  during  the 
night  and  to  assault  next  morning.  Maurice  was 
discouraged,  and  even  meditated  a  withdrawal  of  his 
artillery,  until  he  was  persuaded  by  Vere.  who  under* 
took  to  guard  the  bridge  during  the  night,  to  remain, 
and  open  another  fire  next  day.  Sir  Francis  fully  ex- 
jXiCted  that  if  this  course  were  taken  the  enemy  would 
ask  for  terms,  for  the  wall  facing  the  Yssel,  where  the 
breach  had  been  made,  had  no  flanking  bastions.  It 
was  built  of  brick,  and  had  been  razed  to  the  founda- 
tion in  the  breach.  Moreover,  the  town  was  close  be- 
hind, and  there  was  no  space  in  rear  to  throw  up  new 
defences.  Me  was  right.  Count  Herman  de  Berghc, 
who  had  been  wounded  by  a  spent  shot,  capitulated 
next  morning,  June  2,  1 591,  and  he  was  allowed  to 
march  out  with  his  garrison.^  Vere  s  loss  was  three 
officers  and  thirty  soldiers  killed,  including  the  gal- 
lant Colonel  Meetkerk,  and  eighty  wounded*  He 
begged  that  Meetkerk *s  brother,  **  a  gentleman  with 
very  good  deserts,"  might  succeed  to  his  com|>any. 
and  that  the  gallant  conduct  of  his  own  lieutenant. 
vounir  William  Allen,  mieht  be  borne  in  mind.  The 
losses  cau>ed  bv  the  mistaken  confidence  which  the 
Earl  of  Leicester  had  placed  in  the  traitors  Stanley 
and  Yorke  were  now  fully  recovered.     The  countrj- 

»  \'cre*s  Commentaries,   p.    1 8.     June  2,  and  to  the    Lords  of  the 
Mcicrcn.    Vcrc  to  Lord  Burleigh,    Council,  June  3,  1591. 


ZUTPHEN  AND  DEVENTER.  175 

men  of  those  miscreants  could  again  look  a  Dutch- 
man in  the  face  without  any  shame  or  misgiving. 

These  successes,  following  one  upon  another  with- 
out a  check,  were  partly  due  to  the  absence  of  the 
Duke  of  Parma,  with  a  portion  of  his  army,  in 
France.  After  the  fall  of  Deventer  the  season  was 
still  before  them,  and  the  States  thought  the  oppor- 
tunity  should  be  seized  of  making  an  attempt  to 
complete  the  liberation  of  the  northern  provinces,  — 
Drenthe,  Groningen,  and  Friesland.  . 

The  people  of  Friesland  had  chosen  Count  John, 
of  Nassau,  as  their  Stadtholder ;  but  Groningen  was 
still  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  as  well  as  the  strongly 
fortified  towns  of  Steenwyck  and  Coevorden,  further 
south.  Francisco  Verdugo,  who  commanded  in  these 
northern  parts,  had  risen  from  the  ranks.  He  was 
one  of  the  ablest  officers  in  the  Spanish  army.  Mau- 
rice marched  northwards  with  the  intention  of  besieg- 
ing Groningen,  but  he  found  that  Verdugo  was  so 
well  prepared  to  receive  him  that  he  turned  aside,  and 
surrounded  Delfziel  on  the  land  side.  This  place  is 
on  the  shores  of  the  Dollart,  a  large  inlet  dividing 
the  Dutch  province  of  Groningen  from  the  German 
district  of  Emden,  whence  the  Spaniards  obtained 
supplies.  After  four  days,  during  which  Verc  had 
worked  indefatigably  at  the  trenches,  and  when  the 
guns  were  all  in.  position,  the  place  surrendered.^ 
*  The  place  is  strong,  and  we  found  it  provisioned 
sufficiently  of  men,  munitions,  and  artillery,  if  their 
hearts  would  have  served.  Count  William,^  as  be- 
onging  to  his  government,  hath  appointed  garrison." 

*  Vere  to  the  Lords  of  the  Council,  June  20,  1591. 

*  Son  of  Count  John  of  Nassau. 


176  THE  FJGHTIXG   VERES, 

Alarming  news  from  the  States  obliged  Maurice  to 
retrace  his  steps  with  all  possible  speed  from  Delt 
ziel,  and  to  leave  the  capture  of  Steenwyck,  Coevor- 
den,  and  Groningen  for  another  year.  By  the  begin- 
ning of  July  he  had  returned  to  Amhem,  and  the 
crisis  was  so  alarming  that  the  States  had  also  pro- 
ceeded there,  to  consult  with  the  leaders  of  the  army 
and  further  their  movements.  The  Duke  of  Parma 
had  mustered  all  his  forces,  crossed  the  Waal  into 
the  Betuwe,  and  laid  siege  to  the  Knodsenburg  fort 
opposite  Nymegen.  This  work  had  been  prepared 
with  great  care  by  Maurice  and  Vere,  and  the  States 
attached  the  utmost  importance  to  its  retention.  It 
is  true  that  the  walls  were  of  earth  and  could  not  be 
damaged  by  shot,  that  the  ditch  was  broad  and  deep, 
and  that  the  garrison  had  been  well  provi>ioned  by 
Count  Solms.  Still  the  Duke  had  arrived  with  a 
large  aniiy,  had  repulsed  several  sorties,  had  opened 
trenches,  and  seemed  resolved  to  reduce  the  fort  and 
relievo  Nymegen  from  threatened  danger. 

The  States,  assembled  at  Arnhem,  anxiously  con- 
sulted with  Maurice  and  Sir  P^rancis  Vere,  insisting 
that  an  attempt  must  be  made  to  raise  the  siege  of 
Knodsenburg.  The  generals  represented  the  great 
superiority  in  numbers,  and  the  strength  of  the  jkv 
sitions  held  by  the  Duke  of  Parma.  The  council 
eventually  broke  up,  after  receiving  an  assurance  from 
the  leaders  of  the  army  that  everj'  efifort  would  be 
made  to  harass  the  enemy  and  save  the  place.  The 
States  might  well  be  satisfied  with  this  assurance. 

Sir  Francis  \'ere,  after  a  careful  examination  of  the 
position,  and  an  attentive  and  thoughtful  i*-atch  of 
the  enemy's  proceedings,  worked  out  a  plan  which 


r  BATTLE  IN  THE  BETUWE,  177 

1  by  Maurice.  Vere  observed  that  the 
acting  with  great  vigor,  and  that  large 
i\x  cavalry  were  daily  told  off  to  drive 
:  scouts.  This  evident  eagerness  made 
lat  "  they  were  likely  to  bite  at  any  bait 
mningly  laid   for  them."     Vere's   plan 

employment  of  1,200  foot  and  500 
e  which  was  readily  placed  under  his 
rince  Maurice.  The  distance  between 
es  in  the  Betuwe  was  four  or  five  miles, 
D  routes  leading  from  Arnhem  to  N)rme- 
ran  along  a  dike  well  raised  above  the 
d  was  most  used  in  winter;  the  other 

Both  were  bordered  by  deep  ditches, 
h  were  trees  and  underwood.  About 
f  the  way  from  the  patriot  camp  there 
over  the  broader  road.  Vere  marched 
i  early  one  morning,  and  sent  200  light 

in  the  enemy's  outposts  and  then  re- 
while  he  placed  his  infantry  in  ambush, 
se  to  the  bridge,  the  other  about  a  quar- 
further  back,  and  the  rest  of  his  cavalry 

horsemen  were  to  retreat  leisurely  to 

^my  s  cavalry  after  them,  which  he  in- 

ceive  with  his  two  bodies   of  infantry. 

came   in   greater  force,  with  horse  and 

:ipated  that  they  would  march  by  the 

id  attempt  to  cut  off  his  retreat.    In  the 

contingency  arising,  Maurice  arranged 

cross-road  where  the  two   routes  met, 

body  of  horse  and  foot,  to  cover  Vere's 


178  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

The  light  horse  gave  the  enemy  the  alarm  at  about 
noon,  and  retired  according  to  orders,  but  were  not 
followed.  Vere  then  fell  back  to  the  cross-roads, 
where  Maurice  was  waiting,  and  made  a  halt  by  the 
roadside  at  a  short  distance,  where  his  men  were  con- 
cealed by  the  underwood.  After  about  half  an  hour 
the  scouts  brought  word  that  the  enemy  was  at 
hand.  Suddenly,  without  orders,  about  800  of  Mau- 
rice's cavalry  galloped  off  in  the  direction  of  the  foe. 
Vere  whispered  that  they  would  come  back  quicker 
than  they  went,  and  in  worse  order.  Sure  enough, 
they  passed  by  again  at  full  gallop,  with  the  enemy 
at  their  heels  in  great  force.  This  made  it  necessar)* 
for  Sir  Francis  to  enter  upon  the  scene  sooner  than 
he  intended.  He  led  his  men  out,  and  so  galled 
the  enemy  on  his  flanks,  both  with  shot  and  pikes, 
that  they  not  only  abandoned  the  chase,  but  turned 
their  backs.  Instantly  the  reserve  of  Vere  s  ca\-alry 
charged  them,  and  followed  them  up  closely  in  furi- 
ous running  fight,  until  they  were  entirely  routed.  A 
great  number  of  prisoners  were  taken,  some  of  them 
officers  of  rank,  and  500  horses.^ 

The  Duke  of  Parma  appears  to  have  been  dis- 
heartened by  this  reverse,  added  to  the  stubborn  de- 
fence of  Knodscnburg.  He  prepared  to  raise  the 
siesfe  on  the  verv  next  dav,  and  to  retreat  across  the 
Waal,  a  little  above  Nymegen.  This  manoeuvre  was 
ably  conducted,  Ranuccio  Farnese,  the  Duke  s  eldest 
son,  being  present.  Parma  then  went  to  drink  the 
waters  at  Spa,  leaving  Verdugo  in  command  in  the 
field.     Thus  all  obstacles  to  the  reduction  of  Nyine- 

*  VcrcVs    Commentaries,    p     20.     Sir  F.  \>re  to  the  LonU  of  tlMI 

Council,  July  27,  1591.     (Ilcniivoglio,  Meteren.) 


NYMEGEN.  1 79 

gen  were  removed,  and  the  wisdom  of  having  con- 
structed the  Knodsenburg  fort,  and  of  having  obsti- 
nately retained  it,  was  clearly  demonstrated.  On  the 
2  2d  of  October  Sir  Francis  Vere  announced  that,  after 
the  army  had  spent  three  days  in  making  preparations 
to  attack  Nymegen,  the  city  surrendered  without  a 
shot  being  fired.  Yet  the  citizens  were  very  warlike. 
Over  the  gate  of  the  town  was  written  :  "  Melior  est 
bellicosa  Ubertas  quam  serzntus  pacificar  '*  Beter  is 
eene  strijdbare  vrijheid  dan  eene  vreedzame  slavemijr 
Verdugo  was  then  encamped  at  Grave,  but  he  did 
not  make  any  further  attempt  to  save  the  place.^ 

Sir  Thomas  Bodley,  the  Queen's  envoy,  entered 
Nymegen  on  the  12th  of  October,  1591,  with  Prince 
Maurice  and  Sir  Francis  Vere.  He  reported  that 
the  fire  from  Knodsenburg  had  done  some  injury, 
but  that  otherwise  Nymegen  was  a  fair  town,  and 
greatly  beautified  with  ancient  buildings  of  the  Ro- 
mans.^ "  The  inhabitants,"  he  added,  "  are  exceed- 
ingly devoted  to  the  Pope  and  the  Spaniards,  how 
beit  with  much  ado  they  have  taken  an  oath  to  join 

1  Vere  to  the  Lords  of  the  Coun-  is  the  ancient  baptistery  of  Charlc- 

cil,  October  22,  1591.  magne,  rebuilt  in  the  eleventh  cen- 

*  The  palace  of    Charlemagne  tury,  an  octagon  with  a  vaulted  ar- 

stood  on  the  Valkhof,  at  the  east-  cade  and  gallery  above.  The  other 

em  end  of  Nymegen.      Engrav-  is  the  apse  of  a  very  ancient  ro- 

ings  of  1784  and  1785  show  an  ex-  manesque    chapel.       In     remote 

tensive  pile  of  buildings,  with  an  times  this  chapel  was  the    only 

oblong  tower  rising  from  the  cen-  place  of  worship    for   Nymegen. 

trc.    Now  there  are  groves  of  tall  But  a  great  church  was  built  and 

trees,    shrubberies,     and    lovely  dedicated  to  St.  Stephen  in  1272. 

views  up  and  down  the  rich  valley  It  contains  a  fine  tomb  of  Cathe- 

of  the  Waal   and  across  the  Be-  rine  de  Bourbon,  mother  of  the 

tuwe,  with  the  towers  of  Arnhem  last  Duke  of  Gelderland.      It  is 

andabackgroundof  hillainthedis-  in  black  marble,  with  an  effigy  of 

tance.    There  are  two  ruins  among  the  duchess,  and  shields  of  arms 

the  trees  of  the  Valkhof.     One  in  brass. 


l8o  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

with  these  provinces  in  the  general  union.  Thcv 
have  been  very  well  entreated.  When  we  entered 
the  town  we  found  their  shops  open,  and  the  people 
as  much  busied  about  their  daily  traffic  as  if  no  inno- 
vation had  happened  to  them."  * 

Nymegen  rises  from  the  south  bank  of  the  Waal, 
on  the  side  of  a  hill,  with  the  wooded  height  of  the 
Valkhof  to  the  east,  whence  a  line  of  hills  extends 
towards  Clevcs.  Exactly  opposite,  on  the  north  side 
of  the  river,  is  the  pretty  little  village  of  Lent,  with 
clumps  of  tall  trees  and  pleasant  walks  round  it 
Here  there  arc  some  slight  traces  of  the  Knodsen- 
burg  fort. 

There  was  no  rest  for  Sir  Francis  Vere  during  the 
winters  which  intervened  between  the  active  cam- 
paigns in  the  field.  He  was  hurr)ing  from  one  cau- 
tionary town  to  another,  negotiating  with  the  gov- 
ernors for  the  supply  of  troops;  personally  arranging 
for  the  transmission  of  arms  and  clothing;  consulting 
with  Maurice  and  the  States,  and  with  the  Queen's 
envoy;  and  shipping  troops  for  France.  In  these 
years  England  was  giving  active  assistance  to  Henr\* 
IV.,  and  troops  were  constantly  called  away  from  the 
Low  Countries.  These  periodical  demands  for  com- 
panies, the  loss  of  which  decreased  the  efficiency  of 
Vere's  force,  would  have  driven  poor  Lord  Wil- 
loughby  nearly  mad.  \'ere  simply  obeyed  orders, 
did  all  he  could  to  comply  with  the  wishes  of  the 
Queen's  government,  and  devoted  the  best  energies 
of  his  mind  to  do  the  most  useful  ser\'ice  possible 
with  the  means  left  at  his  disposal.  He  had  natu- 
rally entered  heart  and  soul  into  the  struggle  for 

^  Bodlcy  to  Lord  Lurleigh,  October  i6»  1591. 


THE  BRITISH  FORCES.  l8i 

om  in  the  Netherlands,  and  had  formed  many 
I  friendships  there.  He  had  no  wish  to  be 
ferred  either  to  France  or  to  Ireland ;  and  the 
ing  of  1592  found  him  busily  engaged  in  prepa- 
is  to  cooperate  once  more  with  the  States,  and 
rnish  forth  an  effective  contingent  to  Prince 
-ice's  army. 

the  opening  of  1592  Sir  Robert  Sidney  was 
rnor  of  Flushing,  with  a  nominal  garrison  of 
)  men ;  Lord  Burgh  was  governor  of  Brill,  Sir 
ird  Norris  of  Ostend,  and  old  Sir  Thomas  Mor- 
vas  still  at  Bergen-op-Zoom.  Captain  Errington 
•etired,  and  Sir  Thomas  Baskerville  commanded 
;arrison  at  the  Rammekens.  Including  926  men 
rsed  under  Vere's  orders,  there  were  5,235  effec- 
British  troops  in  the  Netherlands.  Of  this  body 
^'rancis  Vere  was  able  to  assemble  1,344  men 
Maurice  s  army,  consisting  of  twelve  companies 
[antry  under  Horace  Vere,  Oliver  Lambart,  John 
:,  John  Audley,  Roger  Smyth,  T.  Williams,  A, 
kerk,  and  J.  Christmas;  and  four  troops  of 
ry,  under  Sir  Robert  Sidney,  who  left  Flushing 
ike  the  field.  Sir  Nicholas  Parker,  Sir  John 
3y,  and  young  Robert  Vere.  Maurice  had, 
es,  a  force  of  6,000  foot  and  2,000  horse.  He 
surrounded  by  a  brilliant  staff,  including  Counts 
inlohe,  William  and  Philip  of  Nassau,  Solms, 
s  de  Brederode,  and  Groenvelt,  the  brave  old 
ider  of  Sluys. 

le  States  determined  to  prosecute  the  reduction 
vanish  garrisons  in  the  north  with  all  possible 
y,  and  relieve  Friesland  and  Groningen  of  the 
nee  of  foreign  invaders.     The  Duke  of  Parma 


1 82  THE  FIGHTIXG   VERES. 

had  again  marched  into  France,  leaving  old  Count 
Mansfelt  as  his  deputy,  while  Verdugo  was  in  com- 
mand in  Friesland.     The  States  determined  to  open 
the  campaign  with  the  siege  of  Steenwyck,  a  strongly 
fortified  town  on  the  route  from  the  Yssel  at  Devenicr 
to  Groningen.     Steenwyck  is  in  that  northern  comer 
of   the   province    of    Overj'ssel,    bordering    on   the 
Zuyder  Zee,  called  Vollenhove.     The  town  is  still 
surrounded  by  its  moat,  and  there  are  walks  through 
shrubberies    along   the    ramparts.     The  Steenwyck 
Diep,  a  sluggish  stream,  flows  round  the  northern 
side,  and  through  the  suburb  of  t'Verlaat  to  Blokzyl 
on   the  Zuyder  Zee,   eight  miles  to  the   westward. 
The  flat  plain  round  Steenwyck  is  now  a  checkboard 
of  small  holdings,  belonging  to  the  Overyssel  peasant 
proprietors.     The  little  village  of  Giethom  is  rather 
under  four  miles  to  the  S.  S.  W.     At  the  northern 
end  of  the  town  is  the  fourteenth-century  church  of 
St.  Clement,  with  a  lofty  brick  tower  visible  for  miles 
around ;  and  on  the  south  side,  with  a  street  leading 
to  it  from  the  shady  market-place,  is  the  smaller  but 
more  richly  decorated  church  of  Our  Lady. 

Maurice  was  enabled  to  bring  his  siege  train  of 
fifty  pieces  of  artiller}-  by  water,  and  on  the  7th  of 
May,  1592,  he  encamped  before  Steenwyck.  The 
place  had  been  strengthened  with  earthworks  and 
well  provisioned,  the  governor  being  Antoine  de 
Cocquille.  From  the  7th  of  May  to  the  loth  of 
June  the  intrenchments  were  being  prepared;  the 
approaches  being  mainly  on  the  south  side,  where  the 
infantry  was  encamped.  The  cavalry'  was  quartered 
at  the  village  of  Giethom.  A  cavalier  was  raised 
nineteen  feet  high,  whence  to  batter  the  parapetSi  and 


SIEGE  OF  STEENWYCK.  183 

fty  guns  were  got  into  position.  Vere  directed  the 
i^orks  on  his  side,  working  unceasingly,  in  spite  of  a 
light  wound  in  the  leg.  His  brother  Horace  was 
Jso  wounded.  By  the  beginning  of  June  the  counter- 
scarp had  been  reached  on  all  sides ;  on  the  1 3th  the 
juns  began  to  batter  the.  walls,  and  on  the  23d  a 
avelin  was  captured  on  the  west  side.  The  besiegers 
hen  constructed  a  tower  on  wheels,  made  of  masts, 
ailed  a  lymstande.  It  was  an  invention  of  Captain 
brnput  of  Breda.  This  lymstande  was  built  in  nine 
ories,  each  twelve  feet  high,  and  on  each  there  was 
parapet  and  a  wall  of  canvas  as  a  cover.  It  was 
ought  close  to  the  ditch,  and  manned  by  musketeers, 
ho  not  only  shot  soldiers  on  the  ramparts,  but  also 
jople  walking  in  the  streets.  Although  the  garri- 
n  succeeded  in  battering  down  two  stories  of  the 
mstande,  the  others  remained  efifective.  Meanwhile 
e  battering  continued,  but  the  walls  were  so  strong 
at  no  practicable  breach  could  be  made.  Mining 
is  then  resorted  to,  and  by  the  19th  two  mines  had 
ien  run  under  the  defences,  besides  a  way  through 
e  ditch,  from  the  English  approaches.  Three  days 
sre  then  passed  in  perfecting  the  mines  and  placing 
e  charges  of  powder. 

On  the  night  before  the  23d  of  June  the  whole 
my  was  secretly  drawn  into  the  trenches,  and  at 
Lwn  the  mines  were  to  be  fired  and  a  general  assault 
,^livered.  As  the  sun  rose  over  the  heathy  moors  of 
renthe,  three  tremendous  explosions  announced  the 
ing  of  the  mines.  One  party,  led  by  Count  Wil- 
im  of  Nassau,  dashed  forward,  and  the  men  carried 
e  ruined  bastion.  Sir  Francis  Vere  rushed  into 
e  thick  of  the  blinding  cloud  of  dust  and  mortar, 


184  THE  FIGHTING  VERES. 

followed  closely  by  his  Englishmen.  In  a  few  minutes 
they  were  on  the  parapet.  The  third  explosion  also 
made  a  great  breach,  but  here  the  assailants  were  so 
injured  that  they  could  not  dash  into  the  ruins  with 
the  necessary  speed,  and  the  enemy  had  more  time 
to  prepare  for  defence.  The  other  assaults  were  de- 
cisive. A  flag  of  truce  was  sent  out,  and  the  gov- 
ernor asked  for  terms.  These  were  soon  arranged, 
and  the  garrison  marched  out  on  the  5th  of  July. 

Prince  Maurice  lost  600  men,  and  he  was  himself 
slightly  wounded  in  the  face.  Sir  Francis  and  Horace 
Vere,  Sir  Robert  Sidney,  Captains  Lambart  and  Buck, 
were  wounded,  beside  152  of  their  men.^  Sidncv 
returned  to  Flushing. 

Maurice  next  proceeded  to  lay  siege  to  another 
strong  place  to  the  eastward  of  Steenwyck,  and  near 
the  Westphalian  frontier,  called  Coevorden.  This 
town  was  well  fortified,  and  held  by  a  garrison  com- 
manded by  Count  TVederick  de  Berghe,  while  Ver- 
duTO  himself  had  taken  the  field  and  was  in  the 
neighborhood.  Nevertheless,  Maurice  began  the 
siege,  although  Wtc  had  received  positive  orders  to 
fall  back.  Very  unwillingly  he  obeyed,  and  in  the 
end  of  July  he  was  at  Doesburg,  on  the  Yssel.  In 
August  he  heard  that  X'erdugo  was  threatening 
Maurice  in  his  trenches.  Orders  or  no  orders,  Vere 
flew  to  the  rescue,  and  he  was  not  a  dav  too  soon. 
Marching  through  the  night,  he  came  in  sight  of 
Coevorden  at  break  of  day  on  the  28th  of  August 
He  found  a  battle  actually  raging  within  cannon-shot 
of  the  trenches.     X'erdugo  had  organized  a  camisado. 

*  Mctcrrn,  Hcntiv«)ijli().  (irimcs-     the    Council.   March  31,   May  39^ 
ton.     Sir  K.  X'cre  to  the  Lords  of    June  12,  June  25,  1592. 


SIEGE  OF  COEVORDEN.  1 85 

Dressing  all  his  men  in  white  shirts,  he  assaulted  the 
camp  of  Maurice  just  before  daybreak.  The  battle 
was  at  its  height.  Vere  dashed  into  the  thick  of  it, 
closely  followed  by  his  men.  Young  Count  John  of 
Nassau,  writing  to  his  father,  said:  "Vere  fought 
with  the  enemy  like  a  man.  He  came  up  half  an 
hour  after  the  fight  began."  ^  The  assailants  were  at 
length  repulsed,  but  there  was  a  critical  moment,  and 
the  Dutch  infantry  were  giving  way  when  Vere  ar- 
rived so  opportunely.  Writing  to  Lord  Burleigh,  he 
said :  "  Considering  the  urgent  necessity  that  drew 
me  to  the  camp,  I  hope  your  Lordship  will  not  dis- 
allow thereof."  On  September  3,  he  reported  that, 
Verdugo  having  made  no  further  attempt  to  relieve 
the  place,  Coevorden  was  surrendered  to  Count 
Maurice.  He  concludes :  "  I  will  now  hasten  as  much 
as  shall  lie  in  me  to  bestow  the  companies  in  garri- 
son."^ During  the  greater  part  of  the  winter  he  was 
employed  on  the  uncongenial  duty  of  shipping  off 
companies  which  he  had  drilled  and  trained,  to  serve 
under  other  commanders  in  France  and  Ireland.  Still 
there  were  4,000  effective  British  troops  in  the 
Netherlands  on  the  ist  of  January,  1593. 

The  Duke  of  Parma  died  at  Arras  on  the  3d  of 
December,  1592,  after  having  commanded  the  armies 
of  Philip  11.  in  the  Netherlands  for  thirteen  years. 
He  had  reached  the  age  of  forty-six.  Parma  was 
undoubtedly  the  ablest  general  of  his  time.  He  was 
well  versed  in  every  branch  of  the  military  art,  patient 

*  Archives  ou   Correspondance  *  Vere    to    the    Lords    of    the 

in^dite  de    la    Maison   d*Orange  Council,  July  23,  1592.     Vere  to 

Nassau,  recueil  par  G.  Groen  van  Lord  Burleigh,  Aug.  29,  1592,  and 

Prinsterer.    2de  Series,  L  207,  Let-  Sept.  3,  1592. 
tre  xciii. 


1 86  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

and  cautious  in  arranging  his  plans,  quick  to  strike, 
and  persevering  in  following  up  a  success.  Latterly 
he  had  suffered  from  gout,  but  his  intellect  never 
failed,  and  to  the  last  he  showed  his  remarkable  skill 
in  arranging  the  details  of  a  campaign.  He  wa> 
succeeded  by  the  aged  Count  Peter  Ernest  Mansfelt. 
with  whom  Don  Pedro  Henriquez  de  Azevedo,  Conde 
de  Fuentes,  was  associated.  Mondragon,  verging  on 
his  ninetieth  year,  was  still  in  command  at  Antwerp, 
and  Verdugo  at  Groningen.  The  Spanish  troops, 
once  so  formidable,  were  now  no  more  than  a  match 
for  the  English  and  Dutch ;  while  discontent  caused 
by  unrequited  service,  long  banishment,  and  griev- 
ances with  regard  to  pay,  were  fast  undermining 
their  discipline  and  sapping  their  efficiency. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

SIEGES   OF  GERTRUYDENBURG   AND   GRONINGEN. 

The  time  was  now  fast  approaching  when  the 
United  Provinces,  having  driven  the  foreigners  from 
their  soil,  and  assured  their  independence,  would  be 
able  to  face  their  enemy  on  equal  terms.  In  the  midst 
of  a  harassing  war,  the  people  had  made  marvellous 
strides  in  material  prosperity :  their  cities  were  becom- 
ing centres  of  industry  and  wealth;  they  were  under- 
taking commercial  enterprises  on  a  great  scale  ;  and 
they  appropriated  some  of  their  resources  to  the  ob- 
jects of  the  war.  There  remained  two  great  strong- 
holds which  threatened  the  peace  and  welfare  of  the 
provinces,  and  which  it  was  necessary  to  reduce  be- 
fore the  liberated  people  could  breathe  freely.  These 
were  Gertruydenburg  in  Brabant,  and  Groningen  in 
the  north.  The  siege  of  the  former  place  was  un- 
dertaken on  a  scale  which  showed  how  rapidly  the 
wealth  of  the  provinces  had  increased,  and  how  great 
were  their  present  resources. 

Gertruydenburg  had  been  much  strengthened  since 
its  mutinous  garrison  delivered  it  up  to  the  Span- 
iards in  1589,  and  approaches  were  difficult,  owing 
to  the  network  of  ditches  and  canals  which  surround 
it.  Moreover,  a  besieging  force  would  be  exposed 
to  attacks  from  the  army  under  Count  Mansfelt. 
An  elaborate  siege  on  a  large  scale  was  nefcessary, 


1 88  THE  FIGHTIXG  VERES. 

and  the  details  were  planned  and  matured  by  Prince 
Maurice.    The  first  operations  were  to  stop  all  roads 
by  which  an  enemy  could  succor  the  town,  and  to 
fortify  the  camp  against  attacks  from  a  hostile  army 
in  the  field.     This  occupied  all  March,  1593,  and  in 
April   the  approaches  against  the  town  were  coir.- 
menced.      The   trenches    were   divided   by  ravelins 
flanking  one  another,  each    ravelin    mounting    two 
guns,  and  outside  there  was  a  wide  water  ditch.     In- 
stead of  a  counterscarp,  rows  of  piles  were  driven 
into  the  ground,  being  left  four  feet  above  the  sur- 
face, and  pointed  with  iron.^    A  hundred  ships,  form- 
ing a  semicircle   in   the  old    Maas,   completed   the 
blockade,    with    light    brigantines    on    the    flank>. 
There  were  four  main  forts,  connected   by  smaller 
forts  in  a  double  line,  and  upwards  of  100  pieces  oi 
artillery  were  mounted  on  the  works.     The  remark- 
able feature  of  these  elaborate  siege  works  was  thai 
as  much  care  was  taken  to  complete  them  for  repuls- 
ing an  enemy  outside  as  for  checking  the  sorties  oi 
the  garrison.     The  camp  arrangements  were  excel- 
lent, and  the  country  people  came  to  sell  their  prod- 
uce just  as  if  they  were  going  to  market  in  a  peace- 
ful town. 

Prince  Maurice,  with  Count  Solms  and  Groen- 
velt,  was  posted  on  the  western  side;  Sir  Francii 
X'ere  conducted  the  approaches  from  the  south  ;  while 
Hohenlohe  and  Hrederode  were  encanifK^d  at  the 
village  of  Raanisdonk  to  the  east.  The  river  Donge, 
flowing  from  the  south,  supplied  the  moat  with  H-a- 
ter.  Two  bridi^es  over  it  connected  the  works,  and 
on  the  8th  of  April  an  outlying  fort  on  the  river  was 

^  Grimcftton. 


SIEGE  OF  GERTRUYDENBURG.  igg 

::aptured  by  Count  Hohenlohe.  During  the  siege 
the  Princess  Juliana  visited  her  brother  Maurice,  on 
her  way  to  be  married  to  the  Elector  Palatine.  She 
was  conducted  over  the  works,  which  were  acknowl- 
edged to  be  the  grandest  that  had  ever  been  con- 
structed in  the  annals  of  war. 

Towards  the  end  of  May  the  approaches  reached 
the  counterscarp  of  the  town  on  all  sides.  Mean- 
while, the  walls  had  been  constantly  battered,  two 
governors  in  succession  had  been  killed,  and  both 
ammunition  and  provisions  were  running  short.  On 
the  28th  Count  Mansfelt  tardily  appeared  with  an 
army  of  7,000  foot  and  2,000  horse,  encamping  in  the 
villages  of  Capelle  and  Waalwijk,  about  six  miles 
east  of  Gertruydenburg.  On  receiving  this  news,  Sir 
Francis  Vere  observed :  "  We  may  account  that  his 
coming  hither  cannot  but  turn  to  his  loss  and  dis- 
honor. For  if  he  attempt  to  succour  the  town,  he 
must  needs  be  foiled,  our  advantages  are  so  great ; 
while  in  lying  still  he  must  endure  great  misery 
through  want  of  vittayle,  which  they  already  begin 
to  feel,  having  scarce  any  bread  to  put  in  their 
mouths."^  Vere  advanced  against  Mansfelt  with  600 
English  and  1,000  Frieslanders,  and  repulsed  his  in- 
fantry. By  this  time  galleries  had  been  run  under 
the  ramparts  in  three  places  ;  and  on  the  25th  of 
June,  the  Sieur  de  Gissant  having  been  slain  by  a 
stone  shot,  —  making  the  third  governor  who  had 
been  killed  during  the  siege,  —  Gertruydenburg  sur- 
rendered   to   Prince   Maurice.^     Next  day  Mansfelt 

1  Vere  to  the  Lords  of  the  Coun-    voglio.    Vere  to  the  Lords  of  the 

cil,  29th  May,  1593.  Council,    nth    April,   29th    May, 

*  Grimeston,    Mcteren,    Benti-     31st   May,    i6th  June,  23d  June, 


IQO  THE  FIGHTLXG   VERES. 

marched  away,  followed  by  the  Prince,  whose  troops 
occupied  the  Bommel-waart,  in  order  to  check  any 
attempt  in  that  direction. 

Count  William  of  Nassau,  the  Stadtholder  of 
Friesland,  was  holding  his  own  with  some  difficulty 
against  Verdugo  and  the  Spaniards  at  Groningen  and 
in  the  field.     The  Frieslanders  had  enlisted  fretiv 

m 

and  fought  valiantly  in  the  patriot  army,  and  had 
deser\'ed  well  of  their  country.  The  States  now  ftit 
anxious  to  send  efficient  aid  to  Count  William,  and 
to  free  the  northern  provinces  from  the  presence  ct 
foreign  invaders.  Troops  were  sent  into  Friesland 
in  July,  and  the  States  entrusted  the  command  to 
Sir  Francis  Vere,  of  whose  generalship  a  high  opin- 
ion had  been  formed  by  Dutch  statesmen.  The 
summer  had  been  very  dry,  which  facilitated  the 
march  of  Spanish  regiments  to  reinforce  Verdugo; 
and  Count  William,  not  being  strong  enough  to 
make  a  stand  against  them,  fell  back  into  Friesland. 
During  September,  Vere  was  manoeuvring  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Groningen,  sometimes  repulsing  an 
assault  behind  intrenchments,  at  others  followinsr  <^^ 
retreating  before  the  enemy.  It  was  an  arduous  and 
skilfully  conducted  campaign,  but  his  force  was  quite 
insutTicient  for  attempting  a  serious  attack  on  Grcv 
ningen.  In  October  he  returned  to  the  Hague,  and 
his  troops  went  into  winter  quarters.* 

The  States  resolved  to  devote  their  whole  power 
to  the  capture  of  Groningen  during  the  season  of 

1593.     Vcrc  to  Lord  lUirleiich,  23d  >  V'crc    to    the    Lords    of   ib< 

July,  1593.     With  this  letter  Verc  Council.    4th    Scpt^    12th    SepCt 

forw.inicd  a  plan  of  the  sie^re  of  17th  Sept.,  22d  Sept^  50th  Sept- 

Gertruydcnhur^,  'Miopinjj   that    it  1593. 
would  be  ip-ateful  to  his  Lordihip.** 


SIEGE  OF  GRONINGEN.  jgi 

1594.  The  Archduke  Ernest  succeeded  Count 
Mansfelt  in  command  of  the  Spanish  army,  entering 
Brussels  on  January  31,  1594,  while  Verdugo,  with  a 
considerable  force,  was  still  in  the  northern  prov- 
inces. Sir  Francis  Vere  had  been  appointed  Gen- 
eral of  all  the  English  troops  in  the  pay  of  the  States, 
as  well  as  Sergeant-major  of  the  Queen's  forces  in 
the  field.  He  marched  with  Prince  Maurice  s  army, 
and  the  united  forces  encamped  before  Groningen 
on  the  20th  of  May,  1594. 

The  city  of  Groningen  had  declared  for  the  Union 
of  Utrecht,  but  the  Stadtholder,  George  Lalain, 
Count  of  Renneberg,  was  a  traitor.  He  sold  the 
place  for  10,000  crowns  and  the  Golden  Fleece,  ar- 
rested the  principal  citizens,  and  opened  the  gates  to 
the  Spaniards  on  March  3,  1580.  Groningen  was 
built  with  the  angles  of  the  walls  nearly  at  the  cardi- 
nal points.  The  centre  of  the  town,  from  southeast  to 
northwest,  is  occupied  by  the  long  Visch-markt,  lined 
with  quaint  old  gabled  houses,  and  the  Groote  Markt, 
with  its  ancient  "  Waag "  or  weighing-house.  The 
church  of  Our  Lady,  a  lofty  brick  edifice  built  in 
1246,  is  at  one  extremity  of  the  Visch-markt.  At 
the  opposite  end  of  the  Groote  Markt  is  the  great 
church  of  St.  Martin,  with  its  gardens  extending  to 
the  northeast  wall.  The  stone  tower  of  St.  Martin's, 
built  in  1482,  is  the  most  striking  feature  of  Gronin- 
gen. It  is  300  feet  high,  of  two  stories,  and  a  third 
forming  an  octagonal  lantern.  The  church  is  of  brick, 
and  was  once  very  imposing,  with  its  lofty  apsidaJ 
choir  and  ambulatory.  The  gates  of  the  town,  now 
demolished,  were  picturesque  old  mediaeval  structures, 
with  round  flanking  towers  and  pointed  roofs. 


192  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

The  walls  were  protected  by  a  wide,  deep  moai 
whence  a  canal,  called  the  Boter  Diep,  led  from  the 
northern  angle  to  Delfziel  on  the  Dollart.  This  was 
the  main  route  of  trade,  and  the  way  by  which  sup- 
plies reached  Groningen  from  Germany.  A  few 
miles  down  this  canal,  on  a  lock,  there  was  a  strong 
fort,  called  Auwerderzyl  On  the  northwestern  side 
of  the  town  there  were  two  fortified  gates,  called  the 
Oude  Boteringe  Poort  and  the  Ebbinge  Poort  On 
the  southwest  side,  facing  Friesland,  was  the  Aa 
Poort,  in  rear  of  the  church  of  Our  Lady.  On  the 
northeast  side  were  the  Porte  du  Garde  and  a  curi- 
ous old  gate,  erected  in  1428,  called  the  Poele  Poort, 
which  led  to  a  suburb  called  Schuyten  Diep.  At 
the  east  angle  was  the  harbor,  where  vessels  chiefly 
congregated,  and  here  a  strong  round  tower  rose 
above  the  walls,  called  the  Drenkelaar.  The  south* 
eastern  side  had  three  gates,  called  the  Ooster  Poort 
in  front  of  which  there  was  a  strong  ravelin;  the 
Heere  Poort,  through  which  a  road  led  southwards 
to  the  village  of  Haren ;  and  a  small  sally-port  called 
the  Pas  Dam.  Approaching  from  Haren,  these  three 
gates  were  seen,  breaking  the  line  of  the  wall,  with 
the  frowning  Drenkelaar  on  the  right,  and  the  towers 
of  St.  Martin  and  Our  Lady  rising  high  above  the 
roofs.  The  walls  were  well  supplied  with  artillery. 
and  as  Maurice  approached  a  strong  force  under 
Lankama,  Verdugo's  lieutenant,  entered  the  town  by 
the  Poele  Poort  to  reinforce  the  garrison.  There 
was  a  small  fort  in  the  Schuyten  Diep  suburb  to  pro* 
tect  the  haven.^ 

^  In  1H79  I  saw  a  collection  of    sketches    of   Groningeo    at    tW 
interesting     maps,     plans,     and    house  of  Mr.  Backcr^inthe  Cfoott 


SIEGE  OF  CRONINGEN.  1 93 

Prince  Maurice  had  125  companies  of  foot  and 
^Wenty  cornets  of  horse.  His  artillery  was  trans* 
ported  by  water.  It  was  not  intended  to  blockade 
^he  town  and  make  approaches  on  all  sides,  as  at 
Ciertruydenburg.  The  plan  detennined  upon  was  to 
open  trenches  and  attack  on  the  south  side.  The 
Prince  s  headquarters  were  therefore  established  a 
litde  in  advance  of  the  village  of  Haren,  nearly  on 
the  spot  now  occupied  by  the  charming  pleasure- 
grounds  of  the  Sterre  Bosch.  From  this  position 
the  approaches  were  made  towards  the  several  strong 
points  of  the  enceinte.  Five  siege-guns  were  planted 
against  the  Drenkelaar  tower,  ten  against  the  ravelin 
of  the  Ooster  Poort,  twelve  against  the  Heere  Poort, 
six  against  the  Pas  Dam,  and  three  against  the  bas- 
tion at  the  southern  angle.  Count  William  captured 
the  fort  of  Auwerderzyl  by  assault  on  the  29th  of  May. 

Sir  Francis  Vere,  with  his  English  contingent, 
worked  side  by  side  in  the  trenches  with  the  regi- 
ments of  Friesland  and  Zeeland.  When  the  guns 
opened  fire  there  was  a  steady  and  continuous  reply 
from  the  ramparts,  and  although  the  Drenkelaar  was 
beaten  down  and  half  ruined,  and  much  injury  was 
done  to  the  walls  and  gates,  the  defence  promised  to 
be  stubborn  and  prolonged.  Writing  on  the  27th  of 
May,  Sir  Francis  said :  "  We  have  approached  the 
town  in  divers  places,  and  mean  to  pass  by  galleries 
to  the  rampart.     The  ditch  is  very  broad  and  deep, 

Markt.     The  oldest  was  Spanish,  umes,  octavo,   1852,  Geschiedkun- 

with  the  date  1577.     Another,  en-  dige   Beschriving  der  Stad  Gr(h 

titled   Net  Delegh   de  Stad  Gro-  ningen  door  Dr,  C.  T.  DiestLof^ 

ningen    in    der    Jaere    mdxciv.,  gion.    There  are  engravings  of  the 

shows  the  siege  works.     There  is  old  gates,  now  demolished, 
a  history  of  Groningen  in  two  vol- 


194  ^^^  FIGHTIXG   VERES. 

and  they  ply  with  their  artillery,  so  that,  if 
tinue  as  they  have  begun,  it  will  be  very  ne; 
summer  s  work.  Succour  they  cannot  expc 
being  possessed  of  the  passages."^  Earl 
Vere  had  lodged  his  men  within  the  co 
arid  along  the  moat,  where  they  were  mucl 
One  night  there  was  a  sudden  sortie  from 
Poort,  when  the  English  were  surprised, 
was  serious  loss.  Captain  Wrey,  standii 
head  of  the  trench,  was  shot  dead,  and  se 
were  killed  and  wounded.  On  the  i8th  of 
Edward  Brooke  was  slain ;  "  a  gcntlem; 
Vere,  "  if  it  had  pleased  God  to  spare  h 
have  done  her  Majesty  good  service.'*  Tl 
another  vacancy  for  Burleigh  to  fill  up,  and 
cis  applied  for  the  company  for  young  H 
cannot/'  he  wrote, "  but  recommend  to  youi 
one  of  the  fittest  here  for  the  place.  M; 
brother  hath,  for  his  experience  and  trial  n 
sufficiency,  shown  liimself  very  capable  of  I 
He  has,  for  tliese  three  years,  commander 
company  of  foot.  If  it  please  your  L()rd^ 
quire,  I  doubt  not  but  you  shall  hear  moi 
him  than  I  report;  and  if,  according  to 
your  L()r(l>hip  bo  pleased  to  favour  him.  we 
ourselves  hiiihlv  bound  unto  vour  Lordshi 
Horace  Vere  received  his  first  company  ai 
a  captain.  Soon  afterwards.  Prince  Mauri 
rVancis  had  a  narrow  escape.  They  were 
reconnoissancc  close  to  the  walls,  under  a  1 
ler,  when  a  shot  struck  it,  and  they  were  b 
to  the  trround. 

*  Wtc  to  Lord  I*.urltii;h,  S.  T.  O.,  Holland,  vol. 


SIEGE  OF  GRONINGEN.  195 

The  mines  were  pushed  under  the  strong  ravelin 
in  front  of  the  Ooster  Poort ;  and  on  the  night  of  the 
5th  of  July  they  were  exploded,  with  excellent  results, 
the  work  being  carried  by  the  besiegers  before  dawn, 
with  a  loss  of  200  men  to  the  garrison.  A  few  days 
afterwards  the  principal  citizens  came  into  the  camp, 
and  terms  of  surrender  were  agreed  upon.  Lanka- 
ma  with  his  garrison  was  to  march  out,  and  the  town 
was  to  receive  magistrates  appointed  by  Count  Wil- 
liam of  Nassau,  as  Stadtholder  of  Friesland.  Prince 
Maurice  with  his  principal  officers  made  a  trium- 
phal entry  into  Groningen  on  the  15th  of  July,  1594. 
Maurice  then  returned,  by  way  of  Amsterdam,  to 
the  Hague.  The  loss  of  the  garrison  was  very  great, 
for  of  900  only  400  sound  men  marched  out.^ 

Among  the  losses  during  this  campaign  was  the 
death  of  Sir  John  Pooley,  a  brave  cavalry  officer,  who 
had  been  Vere's  companion  in  arms  for  many  years 
and  was  a  neighbor  in  Suffolk.  The  vacancy  made 
Sir  Francis  a  humble  suitor  to  Lord  Burleigh  "for 
my  brother  Robert,  that  he  may  have  your  Lordships 
favour  for  the  company.  He  hath  for  this  six  or 
seven  years  served  on  horse,  and  for  a  good  part  of 
the  time  commanded  my  company.  Were  he  not 
my  brother  I  might  well  say  that  I  know  none  of  his 
rank  that  doth  better  deserve  it.  His  sufficiency 
emboldens  me  to  entreat  your  Lordships  favour, 
knowing  he  will  not  show  himself  unworthy  the  ad- 
vancement."^    The    three  brothers  had    shared    to- 

^  Grimeston,   Bor    iii.  826-835.  ^  Another    application    for    Sir 

Meteren,  xvi.  336.     Vere  to  Lord  John  Pooley*s  company  was  made 

Burleigh,    May  27,  May  31,  June  by  young   Griffin  Markham,   who 

18,  July  6,  July  13,  1594.     Bodley  was  afterwards  arraigned  for  high 

to  Lord  Burleigh,  July  10,  1594.  treason  in  1603,  with  Sir  Walter 


irrther  lbs  dangers  of  battle  and  siege,  had  heU 
pifiisz^:  Cw^^nin union  during  long  and  wean*  marcheSi 
hiii  sa:  and  talked  together  before  camp-fires;  and 
n:w  i^i  e'jiest  ventured  to  bring  to  notice  the  ser- 
nr:"^  :i:  his  vo-tic  con^oanions,  that  thev  mijjht  re* 
rf-^'j  :r)f  rcrsTT'jdC'n  ihev  had  so  well  earned  The 
r  r.i:.:>"  rorr.r.ir.:i>,  after  the  fall  of  Groningen,  were 
o::\r .::;•£  :r.  v2ri:u>  carrisons. 

Ir.  ih:  i-.:ur.\n  Sir  Francis  Vere  was  engaged  on 
i^  .*;,-.  :":--r'U>  a"i  somewhat  perilous  expedition. 
K.  c  :-.i-r.  IV.  hid  appointed  the  Due  de  Bouillon 
->  ii— *:":.  :r,  :h-:  oou-rrv  round  Sedan,  and  it  u'as 
:v>,  ;■/.  :.-«:  ». -r.^  Count  Philip  of  Nassau  should 
■.'*«:v'  :■*•;.  c"  '-w  cncmYS  countr\*  and  join  him 
V.  :**  ;.  :.  .:,  ^:.:;:,  Sir  Francis  Vere,  at  the  head  of 
:  •;  :.->  \  .\:r.i:>  .:  horse  and  5,000  foot,  was  re- 
:.  :i:co:v.-.\\nv  him  as  an  escort,  see  him 
,'.:  h:>  ULStir.ation.  and  return  with  all  speed  to 
:";'  N;:h;:lA::.-.s.  Co.:nt  Philip  crossed  the  Rhine  at 
S.".::"vs  Svov.oe  on  ;he  2 2d  of  October,  1594,  and 
\  ;:v  :\\..n\Cv:  :hc  paa:  day.  They  marched  in  paral- 
.; .  :  ..s.  :':u  l\  .::::  n;.ar  the  Rhine  and  Sir  Francis 
:.  .x,;;>  t'.o  M;.u>e,  until  thev  formed  a  junction  at 
,;>:*.;  tvw:^.  \:\  tiic  ciioccse  vi  Treves.  Here  thov 
>.v.;: .-.  :';m:  ::u-  c::cmv  was  wait inij  for  them,  on  the 
:\\;.i  :h.y  had  to  pa>s,  wiih  5,000  foot  and  i,Soo 
•v.-n;.-      So  thov  altered  their  route,  crossed  the  Mo- 


V    «>«^«v«« 


N.»«  « 


v     «  J 


K.i\-  ;:S,  \.\^.  ?:.i*n,  .i:u:  IVooke.  He  jesty  ji»ur  Kn-c  which  in  {^itKulir 

*Tv:«r  i  \c:tcr  i'.^n\  Stiorv  tironin-  you  have  unto  my  sinpilar  |«r*«'a 

<r  V  .  i",c\:  lu'.v  2;.  I  ;*14.  to  Sir  Rolv  which   it  a  follower  nf  the  war-"* 

K.-\;V.i,  one  ot   her  Majesty's  May    it,    therefore,  plea^^e    \o-r 

"The  tiea:h  of  Sir  John  Honnur  (althouf^h  there  he  mir.r 

ha:h   piven   an  unwished  of   letter  desert   fi>r   sen  ice)  tA 


•  •  • 


\ «  •    \  • 


i- 


■  .;\ 


^'^OlxK^n  u:i:o  \i'ur  Honour  to  dc-     commeml  me  unto  Her  Ma}eMTU 
« *.ire  ,lv\  >our  favour  with  Her  Ma-    one  worthy  of  this  cumpan}.'* 


THE  MARCH  TO  AfETZ.  197 

selle,  hurried  forward  with  all  speed,  and  reached 
Metz  on  the  7th  of  November.  Next  day  they  joined 
the  Duke  of  Bouillon,  who  had  a  commission  from 
Henry  IV.  to  make  war  on  the  King  of  Spain.  The 
original  plan  was  that  Vere  should  only  go  part  of  the 
way,  but  when  he  heard  that  the  enemy  was  in  force 
he  did  not  feel  justified  in  leaving  Count  Philip  until 
he  had  formed  a  junction  with  Bouillon. 

Hearing  that  Count  Mansfelt  and  Herman  de 
Berghe  were  waiting  for  him  in  the  neighborhood  o£ 
Maastricht,  Vere  kept  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Rhine 
during  his  return  march.  He  crossed  the  river  on 
November  19th,  and  reached  Gelderland  in  safety, 
without  the  loss  of  a  man.  Maurice  and  the  States 
were  greatly  relieved  at  his  return,  for  he  had  with 
him  the  flower  of  their  cavalry. 

In  the  winter  of  1594  the  musters  showed  a 
strength  of  4,500  men,  including  the  garrisons  of 
Flushing,  Brill,  and  Ostend,  and  the  companies 
which  had  served  in  the  field,  and  were  afterwards 
dispersed  in  various  garrisons. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

ADMINISTRATIVE  DUTIES  AND  PRIVATE    AFFAIRS- 
DEATH   OF   ROBERT   VERE. 

Active  service  in  the  field,  year  after  year,  was  but 
a  small  part  of  the  work  expected  from  Sir  Francis 
Vere  by  the  Queen  s  government  His  position  en- 
tailed upon  him  very  heavy  responsibilities  connected 
with  the  administration  of  the  forces.  He  was  also 
required  to  conduct  negotiations  with  Maurice  and 
the  States  relating  to  the  supply  and  transfer  of 
troops  and  the  conduct  of  the  campaigns ;  and  lat- 
terly he  was  called  upon  to  correspond  regularly  \iith 
the  government,  and  to  submit  full  reports  on  all  pub- 
lic events.  Thus  it  came  about  that  he  who  had 
hitherto  passed  his  life  almost  exclusively  in  camps, 
with  few  thoughts  of  any  matters  apart  from  militan* 
business,  was,  by  the  force  of  circumstances,  gradu- 
ally educated  in  diplomacy  and  in  the  conduct  of  ci\*il 
affairs. 

Queen  Elizabeth,  while  giving  aid  to  the  young 
republic  of  the  Netherlands,  in  accordance  with  the 
treaty,  had  entered  into  a  close  alliance  with  the  King 
of  France,  and  had  agreed  to  help  him  against  the 
Catholic  League  with  expeditionary  forces,  both 
in  Normandy  and  Brittany.  These  engagements 
strained  the  resources  of  England  to  the  utmost 
Orders  were  sent  to  the  Netherlands  to  transfer  com- 
pany after  company  to  France.     No  sooner  had  sot 


ADMINISTRATIVE  DUTIES.  199 

^iers  attained  proficiency  in  drill  and  some  experi- 
^nce  in  the  field,  under  the  eye  of  Sir  Francis  Vere, 
than  they  were  ordered  away.  He  firmly  believed 
that  the  best  policy  was  to  concentrate,  and  to  strike 
at  the  heart  of  Spanish  power  in  the  Netherlands, 
and  that  the  scattering  of  troops  over  France  was  a 
mistake.  "  Blows  struck  in  this  quarter,"  he  wrote, 
'  are  at  the  very  root  whence  the  danger  springeth, 
vhile  Normandy  and  Brittany  are  but  at  the  very 
op  branches."^  It  was  quite  impossible  that  this 
business  of  drafting  off  his  soldiers,  carefully  trained 
►y  himself,  could  be  otherwise  than  very  distasteful 
D  Sir  Francis  Vere.  He  did  his  duty,  and  complied 
irith  the  unreasonable  demands  upon  his  resources 
0  the  best  of  his  ability,  although  that  duty  was  a 
lost  unpleasant  one.  The  government  felt  this,  and 
ncreased  his  difficulties  by  incessant  complaints  of 
/ant  of  zeal  in  the  Queen's  service,  or  of  too  much 
oncern  for  the  affairs  of  the  States.  If  a  company 
rrived  in  France  deficient  in  the  regulation  number 
f  men,  after  having  been  thinned  by  years  of  cam- 
paigning and  sickness  in  the  Netherlands,  Vere  was 
ccused  by  Lord  Burleigh  of  slackness  in  executing 
is  orders,  while  the  Queen  signified  her  heavy  dis- 
ileasure.  In  vain  he  explained  that  "  the  weakness 
Toweth  by  the  wars ;  "  that  "  the  service  must  be  con- 
idered  where  we  had  men  hurt  and  slain,  and  our 
ravail,  whereof  divers  were  sick ;  "  ^  and  that  "these 
^ere  the  reasons  for  the  weakness  of  those  that  went 
ito   France."      The    unreasonable    complaints    and 

^  Vere  to  Lord  Burleigh,   i6th        ^  Vere,  at  Doesburg,  to  Lord 
ine,   1593.     S.  P.  0.,   Holland,    Burleigh,  13th  Jan.,  1592. 
xvii. 


200  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

unjust  reprimands  continued  year  after  year,  and  ha 
to  be  borne  philosophically.  Occasionally  Vere  ha 
a  chance  of  returning  Burleigh  as  good  as  he  ga\i 
The  Lord  Treasurer  granted  leave  of  absence  t 
captains  without  reference  to  Sir  Francis,  which  \w 
a  great  abuse.  So  Vere  replied  to  his  complaint  < 
the  inefficiency  of  companies  sent  to  France,  *'  th: 
one  effectual  means  to  beautify  and  strengthen 
company  is  the  presence  of  its  captain,  which  is  or 
of  the  greatest  wants  that  I  complain  of  some  < 
them."^  Another  hardship  caused  by  the  transft 
of  companies  to  France  arose  from  the  attractioi 
of  the  young  Dutch  women.  When  the  company  ( 
Sir  Nicholas  Parker  was  ordered  to  Brittanv,  it  wj 
found  that  several  marriages  had  taken  place;  ar 
there  were  so  many  men  married  in  the  country,  I 
longing  to  Sir  John  Pooley  s  company,  that  the  ord' 
for  their  removal  was  cancelled.' 

In  reality  Vere  displayed  uncommon  zeal  in  coi 
plying  with  the  orders  he  received.  In  Septembi 
1592,  he  was  personally  inspecting  the  men  at  Br 
and  Flushing,  and  superintending  their  embarkatio 
He  did  his  best  to  explain  to  Dutch  statesmen  ai 
to  Prince  Maurice  the  necessity  under  which  tl 
Queen  was  acting.  But  the  denudation  of  the  En 
lish  contingent  naturally  caused  discontent  and  alar 
in  Holland,^  and  in  1 594  Maurice  wrote  to  the  Quec 
entreating  her  to  send  more  soldiers,  without  whi< 
the  campaign  could  not  be  successfully  undertake 

*  Vere  to   Lord    nurlclgh,   ist  •  Sent  to  Nonnandjr.  1,250; 

Feb..  1502.  Brittany,  2,350 :  total, 3,60a  Abfl 

3  Hoc! Icy,  at  the  Ha^e.  to  Lord  1,250  returned    from   NomuBd 

Burlei^j^h,  sist  Sept.,  1592.  but  none  from  Brittany* 


ADMINISTRATIVE  DUTIES. 


20I 


Another  source  of  anxiety  to  the  officer  command- 
ing the  forces  in  the  field  was  the  extent  to  which 
he  could  rely  upon  help  from  the  governors  of  the 
cautionary  towns.  Flushing  and  Brill  were  safe  from 
attack,  and  there  could  be  no  excuse  for  withholding 
a  moiety  of  their  garrisons  for  service  in  the  field 
during  the  summer.  At  Flushing,  Sir  Robert  Sid- 
ney, and  in  his  absence  Sir  Edmund  Uvedale,  always 
appear  to  have  acted  cordially  with  Vere  ;  but  at 
least  on  .one  occasion  Lord  Burgh,  the  governor  of 
Brill,  showed  another  spirit.^  Ostend  was  differently 
situated.  Its  fortifications  were  for  a  long  time  in  a 
very  unsatisfactory  state ;  it  was  in  the  heart  of  the 
enemy  s  country,  and  there  were  incessant  alarms. 
A  single  incident  shows  how  easily  anxiety  was  ex- 
cited in  the  minds  of  the  officers  at  Ostend.  A  boy 
named  John  Coopman  had  been  in  the  habit  of  going 
out  into  the  swamps  to  catch  fowl.  One  day  he  was 
captured  by  the  enemy's  cavalry,  who  took  him  to 
Nieuport,  and  asked  him  what  artillery  there  was  at 
Ostend.  They  also  made  him  promise  to  go  back, 
and  then  return  to  them  with  information  as  to  where 
the  sentries  were  stationed.  He  went  home,  and 
faithfully  reported  all  that  had  happened  to  Sir  Ed- 


^  "At  the  setting  forward  of  the 
enterprise  of  Grolle,  the  Count 
^»aurice  asked  for  some  men  from 
^^  Brill,  which  the  Governor  sent 
^^nditionally  that  they  should  not 
^  commanded  by  me ;  notwith- 
standing, if  the  service  had  gone 
wizard,  I  was  minded  to  have 
loUowed  my  commission.  I  know 
^0  reason  why  he  should  do  it. 
^^^  is  the  first  complaint  I  have 


made  since  I  have  commanded, 
which  I  do  more  for  other  respects 
than  for  my  particular,  and  yet  I 
must  humbly  entreat  your  Lordship 
to  let  him  know  he  hath  done 
wrong  to  her  Majesty's  commis- 
sion, which  I  have  for  the  com- 
manding of  the  forces  employed 
in  the  field."  (Vere  to  Lord  Bur- 
leigh, Oct.  7,  1594.) 


202  THE  FIGHTIXG    VERES. 

ward  Norris,  the  governor  of  Ostend.  The  incident 
excited  great  alarm.  The  boy  s  straightforward  ac- 
count of  what  had  occurred  should  have  cleared  him 
of  blame ;  but  the  apprehension  of  a  sudden  attack 
was  so  great  that  suspicion  was  arou.scd.  The  boy 
had  been  given  orders  not  to  go  near  the  dunts 
where  the  horsemen  from  Nieuport  might  catch  hini. 
but  to  keep  in  the  marshy  ground.  It  was  su>p<:cic(i 
that  he  might  have  escaped  if  he  had  chciscn,  a>  he 
was  provided  with  a  leaping-pole,  and  might  have 
gone  into  drowned  land,  where  horses  could  nu: 
follow  him.  It  was  recommended  that  he  >hould  be 
proceeded  against  by  whipping.  So  the  pour  Ixy 
was  whipped,  while  the  whole  case  was  >criou>ly  re- 
ferred to  the  Lords  of  the  Council.*  Alarms  such 
as  these  made  Ostend  a  less  reliable  source  of  sup- 
ply for  troops  than  the  other  garrisons,  but  on  the 
whole  Sir  Francis  Vere  worked  well  with  the  gov- 
ernors of  the  cautionarv  towns. 

In  1593  there  was  a  great  improvement  in  Vere'^ 
position.  He  had  proved  himself  to  be  so  able  an«l 
efficient  as  a  military  commander  that  Maurice  and 
the  Dutch  statesmen  were  anxious  to  secure  his  ser- 
vices j)ermanently.  In  July  the  States  (leneral  be- 
gan to  fear  that,  as  the  Queen  had  withdrawn  so  large 
a  portion  of  the  Hnti>h  force  from  the  NetherlandN 
she  mi<'ht  order  Sir  Francis  Vere  awav  also.  So  it 
was  resolved  to  offer  him  800  florins  a  month  to 
secure  his  services.  He  accepted  conditionally,  be* 
lieving  that  the  arrangement  might  enable  him  to 
do  her  Majesty  better  service.     The  action  he  had 

*  Sir  1:.  Nnrris.  at  Ostend,  to  the  Lordi  of  the  Conndl,  May  A 
1595-     S.  P.  0.,  HoIUnd.  vol.  Ixxxi. 


ADMINISTRATIVE  DUTIES.  203 

approved  by  the  Queen.  "  I  have  received 
X)m{ort,"  he  wrote,  "  at  the  allowance  of  my 
gs  with  the  States,  which  was  with  a  duti- 
ition  of  my  service  to  Her  Majesty,  as  did 
le.  I  take  this  offer  of  theirs  to  have  pro- 
om  them,  to  witness  unto  the  world  their 
*ptance  of  my  small  service,  but  chiefly  to 

Majesty  some  satisfaction ;  she  having,  at 
*  the  companies  were  drawn  from  here, 
Ition  of  me  by  way  of  recommending  me  to 
ur."  ^ 

terwards  the  States  General  obtained  per- 
)  recruit  in  England,  and  Sir  Francis  Vere 
inted  general  of  all  the  English  troops  in 
In  October,  1594,  Vere  himself  received 
to  raise  400  men  in  England,  which  he  di- 
)  three  companies,  and  gave  them  to  Sir 
Fairfax,^  Captain  Constable,  and  Captain 
He  also  got  recruits  from  among  dis- 
oops  in  the  Netherlands.  To  the  surprise 
ny,  the  Queen  ordered  Sir  Francis  to  dis- 

Lord   Burleigh,  July  •  Sir  Christopher  Heydon,  who 

,  1593.  was  knighted  at  Cadiz.     He  was 

nas,  afterwards   first  the  eldest  son  and  heir  of  Sir  Wil- 

,  had  seen  much  ser-  liam  Heydon,  of  Baconsthorpe,  in 

5  knighted  by  Essex  Norfolk,    by    Anne    Wodehouse. 

Is  of  Rouen.    He  was  Sir  Christopher  had  taken  his  de- 

and  comrade  of  Sir  gree   at    Cambridge,    and  was    a 

,  as  was  his  brother,  scholar  as  well  as  a  soldier.     He 

Fairfax.     The   third  married  Mirabel,  daughter  of  Sir 

yard,   was   a  poet  of  T.  Rivet,  of  London,  and  had  four 

jd    the   translator  of  sons,  one  of  whom  was  slain  at 

ifter-years  the  friend-  the  Isle  of  Rh^.     Sir  Christopher 

the  two  families  was  died    in   1623,  and    Baconsthorpe 

:he  marriage  of  Vere 's  was   sold    by  his  son,   Sir   John 

he  grandson  of   his  Heydon. 
lomas  Fairfax. 


204  THE  FIGHTirC   VERES. 

band  the  company  of  Sir  John  Pooley,  who  had  died 
after  the  siege  of  Groningen.  This  was  a  laborious 
task.  Mr.  Sparhawke,  the  muster-master  who  had 
succeeded  Mr.  Digges,  lived  at  Ostend,  and  it  was 
some  time  before  Vere  could  arrange  a  meeting  with 
him  at  Bergen-op-Zoom,  where  the  company  was  in 
garrison.  It  took  a  week  to  get  the  soldiers'  ac- 
counts, which  were  in  great  confusion,  into  proper 
order.  Vere  reported  that  "he  had  much  ado  to 
content  the  poor  men,  which  he  did  by  granting 
them  tickets  under  his  hand  for  what  the  deceased 
captain  remained  in  their  debt,  and  by  putting  ihem 
in  hope  that  the  Queen  would  take  further  order  for 
satisfying  them."*  Many  were  married  in  the  coun- 
try, and  most  of  them  determined  to  remain.  They 
entered  under  Sir  Francis  Vere's  standard,  receiving 
pay  from  the  States.  In  March,  1593,  Sir  I-'rancis 
Vere  sent  forward  a  statement  of  the  grievances  of 
the  soldiers,  **  which  had  been  perused  by  the  cap- 
tains, but  not  devised  by  them."  The  clothing  was 
not  equal  to  the  patterns,  and  of  bad  stufif ;  there  was 
no  fair  rule  for  ransoming  prisoners,  and  in>ufhcicnt 
provision  for  sick  and  wounded.  The  pajHrr  was 
signed  by  Wtc,  and  also  by  Sir  T.  Morgan,  Sir  T. 
Baskerville,  and  others.  Vere  strongly  represented 
that  if  these  grievances  were  not  redressed,  it  would 
greatly  hinder  the  course  of  martial  discipline.  These 
various  details  of  military  administration  arc  men- 
tioned as  examples  of  the  character  of  \'cre's  work. 
in  addition  to  actual  serv'ice  in  the  field. 

Although  Sir  Francis  was  now  a  general  in  pay  <rf 
the  States,  as  well  as  sergeant-major  in  command  A 

*  Vcre  to  Lord  Burleigh,  April  11,  1595. 


ADMINISTRATIVE  DUTIES.  20$ 

the  Queen's  forces  in  the  field,  he  did  not  escape 
criticism,  and  even  severe  censure,  for  his  military 
acts.  The  service  of  escorting  Count  Philip  to  Metz 
was  hazardous,  but  it  was  successfully  and  ably  per- 
formed, and  it  was  undertaken  at  the  request  of  the 
States  and  with  their  troops.  Yet  Queen  Elizabeth 
saw  fit  to  write  him  a  very  severe  reprimand,  and  her 
letter,  dated  November  8,  1594,  was  put  into  his 
hands  on  the  very  day  of  his  return.  He  was  at  a 
loss  how  to  reply.  Her  Majesty  said  that  "she  / 
nourished  conceit  of  his  evil  carriage,"  on  the  ground 
of  his  want  of  prudence  in  his  proceedings,  of  his 
slackness  in  obe3dng  her  commandments,  of  his  over- 
great  forwardness  in  matters  concerning  the  States, 
and  of  rash  venturing  of  the  lives  of  her  subjects. 
He  answered  that  if  he  had  not  obeyed  her  orders 
exactly,  it  was  from  sincerity  in  her  service ;  that  his 
journey  into  France  was  sudden  and  was  to  protect 
the  march  of  Count  Philip ;  that  all  his  men  had  re- 
turned safely  and  without  loss.  He  concluded  by 
saying  boldly,  "  If,  in  accepting  this  charge,  being 
suddenly  entreated  thereunto,  I  have  offended  your 
Majesty,  I  humbly  beseech  I  did  so  as  part  of  my 
duty  to  yourself,  since  by  your  Majesty  I  am  em- 
ployed here  to  do  the  States  service."^  Sir  Francis 
was  several  weeks  thinking  over  and  preparing  his 
answer  to  the  Queen's  reprimand,  and  even  then  his 
heart  failed  him.  He  at  last  sent  it  under  cover  to 
Lord  Burleigh,  saying,  "  I  have  presumed  to  reply, 
yet  not  being  used  to  write  to  Her  Majesty,  neither 
knowing  where  I  may  be  instructed  what  is  fit,  I  have 
presumed  to  present  your  Lordship  with  a  copy.     I 

2  Vere  to  the  Queen,  Dec.  20, 1594.    S.  P.  O.,  Holland,  vol  Ixxx. 


2o6  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

humbly  beseech  your  Lordship  to  vouchsafe  to  xtv^ 
and  to  provide  either  for  the  delivery  or  stay,  as  you  ^ 
Lordship  shall  judge  for  my  good."  *    The  Lord  Tre»^ 
surer  appears  to  have  delivered  the  letter,  and  it  did 
no  injury  to  Sir  Francis.     The  Queen  soon  ceased 
to  nourish  "  her  conceit  of  his  evil  carriage,"  and  her 
sound  good  sense  led  her  to  accept  the  cxplanadon 
of  one  of  the  ablest  and  most  loyal  of  her  subjects. 

Mr.  Bodley  and  Mr.  Gilpin  were  both  at  the  liague. 
yet  the  Queen  and  Lord  Burleigh  required  long  re- 
ports from  Sir  Francis  Vere  on  all  [political  events, 
and  on  commercial  and  other  enterprises  which  might 
be  expected  to  come  within  his  knowledge.  Any 
neglect  of  this  part  of  his  multifarious  duties  brought 
down  upon  him  a  severe  reprimand.  This  was  ex- 
cellent discipline.  It  called  his  powers  of  obscr\'ation 
into  play,  and  obliged  him  to  reflect  and  ponder  over 
the  events,  apart  from  m.ilitary  operations,  which  were 
passing  around  him.  Since  he  landed  with  the  Earl 
of  Leicester  at  Flushing,  a  great  nation  had  been 
created.  The  marvellous  energy  and  intelligence  of 
the  Dutch  peoi)le,  during  the  last  years  of  the  six- 
teenth century,  might  well  astonish  contemporaries, 
as  it  has  excited  the  admiration  of  [xisterity.  They 
were  fighting  a  powerful  enemy  who  threatened  their 
very  existence,  and  at  the  same  time  they  were  en- 
gaged in  a  desperate   struggle  with    the  elements.* 

*  Vcrc  to  Lord  liurlci^h,  from  of  dainai;e.     There  hath  not  bff« 

the  IlaLTuc.  Dei.  22.  1504.  such  a  flood  in  400  years:  caused 

«  "I  hen-  hath  Ijfcn  ^jrcat  lt>ss  I)y  a  sudden  thaw  after  a  loni:  frost 

in  this   l.ist    fl«Mi<l.     The  IMuwe  and  ^re at  snow,  while  the  tempest 

and    Uomnulwaart   were    utterly  at  S.W.  Mopped  the  ri\-er*siBO«th.'' 

drowned,  the  rivers  I  »tin«;  so  svvol-  (Vcre,  from   the   Hapie«  to  Lofd 

Icn  that  the  water   ran  over   the  Burleigh,  March  17,  IJ95.) 
dikes  :  2  or  3,000,000  florins  worth 


J 


OFFICIAL  CORRESPONDENCE.  207 

'r^^y  lived,  as  it  were,  in  a  leaky,  sinking  ship,  with 
enemies  pouring  in  over  the  bows.     Half  the  men 
were  at  the  pumps  day  and  night,  while  the  rest  of 
the  crew  repelled  boarders.    Yet,  in  the  midst  of  this 
mortal  struggle,  they  coolly  prepared  great  commer- 
cial ventures,  and  dispatched  expeditions  of  discovery. 
It  was  the  quality  of  calm  intrepidity  which  at 
once  raised  this  gallant  people  to  a  high  position 
among  the  nations.     Others  have  fought  bravely  for 
their  independence.  *  But  no  other  people  ever  sent 
out  Arctic  expeditions  and  commercial  voyages  to 
the  Indies,  at  a  time  when  the  sea  was  pouring  wildly 
over  their  own  homes,  and  a  powerful  enemy  could 
hardly  be  kept  from  their  doors.     It  was  these  glorious 
deeds  which  it  was  Sir  Francis  Vere's  duty  to  watch 
and  report  upon. 

In  his  letter  of  October  7, 1 594,  he  related  to  Lord 
Burleigh  the  story  of  the  attempt  of  Willem  Barents 
to  discover  the  north-east  passage.  "  For  the  discovery 
of  the  passage  to  Chinay  there  were  two  ships  sent 
hence  at  the  country's  charge  with  instructions,  the 
one  to  search  the  passage  along  the  continent,^  the 
other  more  to  the  northward,^  and  when  they  had 
passed  to  the  mayne  to  return.  Either  of  them  per- 
formed that  he  had  in  charge,  both  making  the  full 
discovery,  and  this  report  they  make  at  their  return. 
He  who  coasted  the  continent  found  a  narrow  pas- 
sage, not  so  broad  as  that  between  Dover  and  Calais, 
where  the  greatest  difficulty  was  that  by  reason  of  the 
narrowness  it  was  soonest  frozen,  yet  for  six  weeks 
it  was  open  and  navigable.     The  other,  which  sailed 

*  By  the  Waigat.  *  Round  the  north  end  of  No- 

yaya  Zemlya. 


2o8  THE  FIGHTIXG    VERES. 

more  to  the  northwards,  coasted  that  land  which  made 
the  straight  on  the  other  side,  and  found  an  open  >ca 
to  the  northward.  In  comparing  the  courses  which 
they  held,  they  find  the  island  lay  between  north  and 
south  140  leagues.*  The  people  like  the  greater  M-n 
of  dwarfs,  with  great  and  flat  faces,  exceedingly  acti\c 
so  that  our  men  could  not  come  near  them.  Thcv 
are  subtill  enough,  and  their  clothing  bkins.-  To 
this  island  they  sailed  in  less  than  six  weeks.  x-.J 
they  hold  it  the  better  half  way  to  Chinay,  5>u  that  if 
the  passage  were  so  long  open,  it  were  to  be  jkt. 
formed  in  six  months.  The  next  season  thev  arc  tv 
make  the  full  discover)-,  being  in  great  hope  that  a 
rich  trade  will  be  found  that  way." 

In  another  letter  Sir  Francis  re|X)rted  the  proccic- 
ings  at  Middclburg  for  the  dispatch  of  the  tir>: 
Dutch  voyage  to  the  Hast.  "  They  are  sending  forh 
two  great  ships  to  the  East  Indies  by  the  ordinary- 
way  the  Portugals  use,  the  charge  of  which  amount- 
eth  to  /■  30,000  besides  munition  and  artiller\\  which 
the  States  furnish."  In  other  despatches  he  reported 
upon  the  atVairs  of  Hungary  and  of  Persia. 

After  the  resii^nation  of  Mr.  Hodlev^  in  Xovembcr. 
1596,  Mr.  Gilpin  became  her  Majesty's  envoy  to  the 

*  Novaya  ZLmly;i.  jji)  ai^iiii,  for  it  will  onlv  nork   " 

*  S.imnyilcs.  on  the  south  coa^t     Her    Majesty    further   (iUc'«r*er! 
of  the  W.ii'^.it.  mcni.  and  purchase  fn«»re  ili^ir^  f 

■  ImxIIlv  was    dissatisfied,   and  to  all  mv  actions  in  her  service* 

he  dui  lintil  ti>  ser\e  any  longer  in  (Hodley  to  Lord  liurlcii^h.  Nov.  i^ 

tlie  Stales,  owini;  to  ill  lieallli.   He  ami  Dec  18,1596.)   This  man  wi^ 

wrote    to    nurlciLih  :  *'  Ncvrr  was  not   endowed   with    that    juTiercf 

any  minister  mi>re  faitlit'ul  in  Her  and    unselfish    /eal    which   enaKe 

Ma'csty's     srrvirc    n^r    nf»    man  pat  riot  ie    public   ser\'ant»  to  hcif 

livini:   ever    liandled  m<>re   hanlly  unreasonable  censure  as  a  part  ci 

than  mvsilf.     I  will  submit  nn  self  the  dav*!i  work, 
to  any  kind  of  riguur,  rather  than 


PRIVATE  AFFAIRS. 


209 


States,  and  from  that  time  the  employment  of  Sir 
Francis  Vere  on  confidential  and  delicate  missions 
to  the  States  General,  usually  with  Mr.  Gilpin  as  a 
colleague,  but  sometimes  single-handed,  was  frequent 
The  Queen  and  her  ministers  were  beginning  to  rely 
as  much  on  his  tact  and  judgment  in  the  council- 
room  as  on  his  valor  and  conduct  in  the  field.  But 
they  complained  that  his  handwriting  was  illegible. 
In  a  letter  to  R.  Cecil,  dated  Feb.  6,  1603,  he  says: 
"  I  do  write  unto  your  Honor  with  another  pen, 
because  I  have  heard  your  Honor  cannot  read  my 
hand  readily."  ^ 

Vere's  private  affairs  fortunately  required  little 
attention.  His  mother  and  sister  were  intrusted  to 
the  eflficient  care  of  his  elder  brother  John,  and  his 
two  younger  brothers  were  with  him  in  the  camp. 
But  the  head  of  the  family  had  ruined  a  great  estate. 
The  Earl  of  Oxford  had  sold  or  mortgaged  nearly 
every  acre.  By  Lord  Burleigh's  daughter  he  had 
three  daughters,^  and  the  Treasurer  was  doing  all  in 
his  power  to  save  something  out  of  the  wreck  for  his 
grandchildren.  John  Vere  and  his  mother  had  a 
long  lease  of  Kirby  Hall  from  the  Earl,  and  Francis 
had  a  reversionary  interest  in  the  lease.  Among 
other  schemes,  Lord  Burleigh  cast  his  eye  upon  this 


*  Yet  his  handwriting,  though 
sprawling  and  unsightly,  is  verj' 
legible  to  modern  readers,  much 
more  so  than  the  hands  of  those 
who  complained  of  it.  He  used 
two  seals.  One  was  simply  the 
Vere  arms,  with  a  martlet  charged 
with  a  crescent  in  the  centre  of 
the  shield,  to  denote  the  second 
fton  of  a  fourth  son.    This  was  his 


usual  seal.  But  he  sometimes 
sealed  his  letters  with  a  larger  one, 
having  a  shield  with  eight  quarter- 
ings:  Vere,  Bolebec,  Sanford,  Scr- 
jeaux,  Badlesmere,  Archdeacon, 
Trussell,  and  another  ;  with  an 
annulet  in  the  centre. 

^  Elizabeth,  Countess  of  Derby; 
Bridget,  Lady  Norris ;  and  Susan, 
Countess  of  Montgomery. 


2IO  THE  FIGHTIXG  l^RES. 

lease,  in  hopes  of  shortening  it,  or  getting  rid  of  it. 
in  his  grandchildren's  interest     He  applied  to  John 
Vere  to  surrender  the  lease,  who  demurred  on  the 
ground  that  the  reversion  belon«jred  to  his  brother. 
Burleigh  then  addressed  himself  direct  to  Sir  Francis. 
As  that  otncer's  advanceniL-nt  depended  mainly  or. 
Burlei^^h's   good   will,   this    proceeding  was   in  ver\' 
que^tit  »nable  ta-^to.    The  reply  was  sati>factory.    '*  As 
touchiriLr    mv    brother's    lease/'    wrote    Sir    I'rancis, 
*•  which  your  Lord>hip  desireth  and  he  deferreth  to 
part  with  in  ropect  of  me,  it  may  plea>e  yi»ur  Lord- 
ship to  understand   that   I  have  signified  unto  him 
how  trreatlv  I  de>ire  vour  Lordship  should  be  satis- 
fied  therein,  so  that  I  am  out  of  doubt  he  will  be  con- 
formable :  and  so  much  the  rather  for  the  entail  vour 
Lord>hi[)  maketh  to  those  ladies,  whose  honour  and 
good,  bv  all  manner  of  obligation,  we  are  b<^und  to 
desire  and   further.       I  thought  fit  to   inform  your 
Lord>Iiip  whereby  my  brothers  slowness  in  resolution 
mav  be  excused  concerning   this    matter;  that  our 
mother  nor  anv  of  us  have  where  to  put  our  heads  but 
there;  and  mv-elf,  on  whom  a  part  of  their  hope  is 
grounded,  the  greatest  Ix-ggar  of  all,  if  by  your  Lord- 
ship's favourable  patronage  I  be  not  supported."     A 
few  montlis  afterwards  Burleigh  wrote  again  on  the 
same  subject,  and  elicited  a  reply  fnmi  Sir   I->ancis 
that  "as  to  the  ]ea>e  I  will  pass  my  interest  therein 
fullv  to  vour  Lordship."*     Yet  the  scheme  of  taking 
the  lease  of  Kirbv  Hall  from  this  branch  of  the  Veres, 
for  the  benefit  of  Burleigh's  grandchildren,  must  have 
fallen  through.     l^>r  the  old  place  continued  to  be 
the  roidence  of  their  mother  until  her  death,  then  of 

>  Vcrc  to  Lord  Burleigh,  Nov.  7,  1 593,  and  Jan.  7,  1594. 


ADMINISTRA  TIVE  DUTIES.  2 1 1 

John  Vere  and  his  widow,  and  afterwards  of  Horace 
Vere's  widow.  Francis,  being  unmarried  and  in 
active  service,  gave  the  matter  little  thought.  Doubt- 
less he  was  glad  enough  of  the  chance  of  complying 
with  the  request  made  to  him  by  the  powerful  Lord 
Treasurer.  During  the  winter  of  1592-93  he  was  in 
England  for  a  short  time ;  but  he  had  no  opportunity 
of  seeing  his  family  again  until  he  returned  to  Kirby 
Hall,  bringing  with  him  the  tidings  of  a  great  sorrow. 
The  year  1 596  opened  with  festivities,  for  in  Feb- 
ruary Count  Philip  of  Hohenlohe  Langenburg  was 
married  to  the  Lady  Mary,  eldest  daughter  of  William 
the  Taciturn.  The  ceremony  took  place  at  the  castle 
of  Buren,  in  Gelderland,  the  States  General  and  all 
the  principal  officers  of  the  army  being  invited.  In 
the  same  year  her  half-sister  Elizabeth  was  married 
to  the  Due  de  Bouillon.  She  became  the  mother  of 
the  famous  Marshal  Turenne.  This  year,  also,  saw 
the  last  of  the  two  oldest  English  officers  who  had 
served  in  the  war  for  freedom.  Sir  Thomas  Morgan 
had  continued  to  be  governor  of  Bergen-op-Zoom 
until  1593,^  when  old  age  obliged  him  to  retire.  He 
was  the  very  first  volunteer  to  land  at  Flushing. 
Sir  Roger  Williams  had  been  Morgan  s  companion 
when  the  volunteers  first  landed,  and  had  served  with 
distinction  ever  since.  He  was  the  most  daring  and 
headlong  of  all  the  English  volunteers.     In  1591  he 

*  He  was  deprived  of  the  gov-  the  senior  captain  in  the  garrison, 

emment  of  Bergen-op-Zoom  very  Bodley  urged  in  opposition  "  that 

ungraciously.       The     Council    of  Morgan  was  the  ancientest  captain 

State,  in  Holland,  took  this  reso-  that  had  served  in   this   country, 

lution  on  the  ground  that  a  gov-  and  it  could  not  but  be  taken  very 

emor  was  unnecessary,  and   that  ill  by  Her    Majesty."     (Bodley  to 

the  charge  might  be  intrusted  to  Lord  Burleigh,  April  12,  1593.) 


212  THE  FIGHTIXG  VERES. 

had  been  transferred  to  France,  where  he  continued 
his  dashing  exploits.  Morgan  and  Williams  both 
died  in  the  same  year.  The  funeral  of  Sir  Roger 
Williams  took  place  at  St.  Paul's,*  and  was  attended 
by  all  his  brother  officers  who  were  then  in  England.' 
In  July,  1595,  Maurice  took  the  field  with  all  his 
forces,  including  the  English  contingent  under  Gen- 
eral Vere,  and  laid  siege  to  Grolle.  The  Spanish 
forces  were  once  more  under  the  command  of  the 
ablest  officer  in  Philips  service.  Verdugo  was  dead; 
but  Colonel  Mondragon,  the  aged  governor  of  Ant- 
werp, took  the  field  with  the  object  of  thwarting 
Maurice  in  any  siege  operations  he  might  attempt, 
and  closely  watching  his  movements.  The  Count 
Herman  de  lierghe  was  nominally  in  chief  command, 
but  Mondragon,  now  actually  in  his  ninetieth  year, 
was  the  ruling  spirit.^  The  works  before  Grolle  were 
exj^cditiously  begun,  and  the  approaches  had  reached 
the  counterscarp  in  several  places,  when  Mondragon  s 
army  came  in  sight  and  offered  battle.  As  Maurice 
was  inferior  in  numbers,  the  States  would  not  con- 
sent to  a  general  action.  The  Mege  was  consequently 
raised,  and  Mondragon,  having  relieved  Cirolle,  fell 
back  to  a  position  on  the   Rhine,  at  Orsoy  above 

>  C.imdcn.  h;.  Jean  Kran<;(»is  le  Trlil   l-ondoa, 

'  Mis  writinc:?*  were:     The  Ac-  folio,      l^x>)).    omt.iinA    aiMiti  n« 

tions    of    tht'     I.o'i'e     Countrie^^  fn »m  the  MS S.  of  Sir  RocerWI- 

printed  by  Hiini|  brey  I.owncs  in  liam<.      WilliamN    aUo   wmte  A 

1 6 1 8  ;    Ah  ief  Piuou  r.»r  of  IVttr^  I  )/.\  ,our.\fo/  the  I  >/j-.  i pit  me  of  t'^ 

'U'ith  his  (^pinion  coNtentift}^  some  Spitttutnis,     Sec  Winid's  Aikent- 

part  of  Afiii/i iry  1  ^iscipUne,    Lon -  ( ) x on .,  I .  col .  ^x4 3 . 

don,  I5()0.    TheA<tion\oftheI.otve  •  '-Count  llermin  of  B^rsh*-* 

Countries  were    reprintrd    in    the  in  command, l)ut  Mondra;:on  i***"" 

Sowers    Tru.fs,    I.   luut-s    3V^    to  v\\\  all.'*      'F.  Vere  to  Lord  M" 

3s 2.     Cjrinu'ston's    tranNl.nion    of  Irii^h.    July    20,    1595-      MSS.  ** 

the  History   of  the   Netherlands,  H.ittieltl,  vul.  31.) 


J 


ADMINISTRATIVE  DUTIES.  21 3 

Rheinberg,  whence  he  could  watch  Maurice's  every 
movement  The  patriot  army  then  encamped  at 
Bislich,  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Rhine,  a  few  miles 
below  Wesel,^  where  it  was  strongly  intrenched. 

The  river  Lippe,  flowing  from  east  to  west,  falls 
into  the  Rhine  at  Wesel.  The  army  of  Maurice  was 
on  the  northern  side  of  this  river,  with  his  headquar- 
ters at  Bislich ;  Mondragon  on  the  south  side,  with 
his  headquarters  at  Rheinberg  and  Orsoy.  On  the 
south  side,  eastward  from  Wesel,  the  valley  of  the 
Lippe  consists  of  a  great  moor  called  the  Spellener 
Heide,  bounded  by  a  range  of  moorland  hills  called 
the  Tester-berge,  which  approach  the  left  bank  of  the 
Lippe.  On  the  opposite  bank  is  the  little  village  of 
Crudenburg  and  the  old  castle  of  Schwarzenstein. 
The  river  is  deep  and  rapid,  and  about  twenty-four 
yards  wide,  with  steep  banks.  Crudenburg  is  about 
five  miles  east  of  Wesel.  On  the  south  bank  there  are 
water  meadows  of  no  great  width ;  then  a  very  sandy 
heath  with  scrubby  undergrowth,  whence  the  hills  of 
the  Tester-berge  rise  abruptly.  On  the  north  side 
the  country  is  a  sandy  moor,  now  partly  cultivated, 
and  with  many  pine  and  oak  plantations. 

It  was  observed  by  the  Dutch  cavalry  outposts 
that  the  slopes  of  the  Tester-berge  were  occupied  by 
the  enemy,  but  it  was  believed  that  the  force  did  not 
consist  of  more  than  two  cornets  of  horse.  Young 
Count  Philip  of  Nassau  proposed  a  daring  plan  to 

*  Vere    to  Lord  Burleigh,  July  lodging  near  to  take   such  occa- 

10  and  July  20,  1595,  and  Aug.  22.  sions  as   may  be  offered  to  give 

MSS.  at  Hatfield.     Vere  says  that  them  a  blow.     For  we  hold  it  no 

Maurice  was  resolved  not  to  give  small  service  to  keep  these  men 

battle.     He  adds  :   "  Our  drift  is  from  making  war  in  France." 
to  hold  the  enemy  here,  and  by 


214  THE  FIGHTING  VERES. 

cut  them  off,  by  fording  or  swimming  the  river  with 
a  body  of  cavalry,  and  charging  across  the  moor. 
His  scheme  was  approved  with  some  reluctance,  and 
he  was  allowed  to  organize  a  picked  force  of  500  men 
for  the  service.  His  brothers  Ernest  and  Louis,  and 
his  nephew  Ernest  de  Solms,  Count  Buchcrt  dc  Kin- 
ski,  Prevost  de  Sallandt,  Godart  de  Balcn,  and  Sir 
Marcel lus  Bacx  led  the  Dutch  troops,  while  the  Enj,'- 
lish  were  commanded  by  Sir  Nicholas  Parker  and 
Robert  Vere.  On  Au^j^ust  2 2d  the  reckless  chivaln* 
of  Holland  and  England  assembled  along  the  banks 
of  the  Li|)pe.  The  project  was  wilder  and  more  des- 
perate than  the  Balaclava  charge.  They  plunged 
into  the  river  near  Crudenburg,  swam  their  horses 
over,  and  galloped  across  the  moor.  Mondragon 
knew  all  that  was  in  preparation.  The  wily  old  fox 
had  brought  up  his  forces  during  the  night,  and.  in- 
stead of  finding  two  cornets  of  horse.  Count  Philip 
and  his  gallant  followers  encountered  half  the  Span- 
ish armv.  When  this  became  evident  there  was  onlv 
the  choice  between  hasty  retreat  and  a  glorious 
death.  Not  a  man  hesitated.  Putting  spurs  to  their 
horses'  flanks  the  500  dashed  into  the  enemy's  rank>, 
and  fought  with  desperate  valor  until  they  were  over- 
powered by  numbers.  Count  Kinski  fell,  mortally 
wounded.  Count  Philip  and  his  nephew,  Erne>t 
Solms,  had  their  horses  killed  under  them,  were  badly 
wounded,  and  taken  prisoners.  Young  Robert  Vere 
nobly  upheld  the  honor  of  his  family  on  that  fate- 
ful day.  Fighting  manfully  in  the  thickest  of  the 
press,  he  was  slain  by  the  blow  of  a  lance  in  the 
face/     Sir  Nicholas  Parker  and  Marcellus  Bacx  con- 

'  Motley  says  that  Robert  Vere  was  taken  prisoner  and  munlcrcd 


DBA  TH  OF  ROBERT  VERE.  2 1 5 

ducted  the  retreat,  which  was  covered  by  Prince 
Maurice  with  the  reserves  on  the  opposite  bank. 
Count  Philip  and  young  Solms  were  conveyed  to 
Rheinberg,  where  they  were  treated  with  all  possible 
kindness  and  attention  by  old  Mondragon.  But  they 
died  of  their  wounds,  and  their  bodies  were  sent  to 
Maurice,  in  his  camp  at  Bislich.^  The  two  armies 
continued  to  watch  each  other  during  September, 
and  in  October  Mondragon,  after  ravaging  the  coun* 
try  of  Juliers,  marched  into  Brabant,^  while  Maurice 
went  into  winter-quarters.  Sir  Francis  bore  generous 
testimony  to  his  ability  and  powers  of  organization.' 
Sir  Nicholas  Parker,  of  whose  conduct  Sir  Francis 
Vere  spoke  very  highly  in  his  despatch  to  Lord  Bur- 
leigh, brought  the  melancholy  tidings  of  the  death  of 
Robert  to  his  two  brothers.  The  loss  was  deeply 
felt  The  three  young  men  had  scarcely  ever  been 
separated.  From  childhood  they  had  studied  and 
played  together  in  their  Essex  home.  Francis  had 
gone  to  the  wars  first,  but  he  had  soon  sent  for 
his  younger  brothers,  and  they  had  been  comrades 
for  several  years.  Robert  had  first  borne  arms  in 
•  1 589,  for  when  Sir  Francis  returned,  after  his  visit  to 
England,  he  brought  back  his  next  brother  with  him, 
Robert  entered  the  cavalry,  and  continued  to  serve  in 
that  arm  until  his  death.    Horace  joined  them  in  1590, 

in  cold  blood.    But  he  does  not  in-  *  Old  Mondragon  died  the  fol- 

dicate  his  authority.     Sir  Francis  lowing  winter,  1596. 

Vere,  in  his  letter  to  Lord   Bur-  •  "His   Excellency  hath  made 

leigh,  reported  that  his  brother  was  his  army  exceeding  perfect  and  fit 

slain  in  the  battle  by  a  blow  in  the  for  any  hazard."    (F.  Vere  to  the 

face  from  a  lance.  Earl  of  Essex,  October   i,  1595. 

1  Grimcston.      Meteren,     381.  MSS.  at  Hatfield.) 
Bentivoglio.     Vere  to   Lord  Bur- 
leigh, August  24,  1595. 


2l6  THE  FIGHTING  VERES. 

and  served  in  his  elder  brother's  company  of  foot 
Robert  and  Horace  looked  to  their  brother  for  guiA 
ance  and  advancement.  They  soon  became  useful 
officers,  and  there  was  always  affectionate  harmony 
between  them.  When  the  troops  had  been  distribu- 
ted into  winter-quarters  Francis  and  Horace  obtained 
leave  to  visit  England.  It  was  a  sad  home-coming- 
They  rode  away  into  Essex  as  soon  as  they  landed, 
to  break  the  news  to  their  mother  and  sister,*  and  to 
tell  them  that  there  must  be  a  place  vacant  for  e\'er- 
more  when  the  family  assembled  round  the  old  hearth 
at  Kirby. 

During  this  visit  Sir  Francis  Vere  was  taken  more 
closely  into  the  counsels  of  his  sovereign.  It  had 
been  decided  that  a  great  blow  should  be  struck  at 
Spain,  that  the  war  should  be  carried  into  the  ene- 
my s  country  ;  but  the  cooperation  of  the  States  Gen- 
eral was  necessary.  Sir  Francis  was  not  only  to  ha^t 
an  important  command  in  the  expedition  to  Cadiz. 
but  he  was  entrusted  with  all  the  negotiations  on  the 
subject  with  the  States  General. 

1  Sister  Frances  was  still  living  at  home.    She  was  married  to  Ro^ 
ert  Harcourt,  at  Barking  in  Essex,  on  March  20,  1598. 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

CADIZ. 

The  resolution  to  carry  the  war  into  the  enemy's 
country,  and  to  strike  a  blow  at  Spain  on  Spanish 
ground,  was  arrived  at,  by  the  Queen  and  her  min- 
isters, in  the  autumn  of  1595.  The  Earl  of  Essex, 
then  aged  twenty-eight,  and  Lord  Howard  of  Effing- 
ham were  to  be  entrusted  with  the  command  of  the 
expedition  by  land  and  sea,  and  they  both  advanced 
sums  of  money  out  of  their  private  fortunes  to 
help  in  its  equipment.  Preparations  were  made  on 
a  large  scale,  and  with  as  much  secrecy  as  possible ; 
and  it  was  considered  that  the  United  Provinces 
ought  to  furnish  substantial  aid  for  the  common 
cause.  Sir  Francis  Vere  was  entrusted  with  a  con- 
fidential mission  to  the  Hague,  the  object  of  which 
was  to  secure  help  from  the  States,  in  ships  and 
troops. 

On  the  1st  of  March,  1596,  Sir  Francis,  after  a  long 
and  stormy  passage,  arrived  at  Middelburg,  and  has- 
tened on  to  the  Hague.  He  found  the  country  full 
of  alarms  about  Spanish  invasions,  and  he  anticipated 
that  these  alarms  would  be  used  as  excuses  for 
making  difficulties  about  the  Queen's  demands,  but 
he  was  resolved  to  execute  his  mission  by  urging  the 
reasons  for  compliance.  He  submitted  her  Majesty's 
wishes  to  the  States  on  the  day  of  his  arrival  at  the 


2l8  THE  FIGHTIXG   VERES, 

Hague.  On  the  7th  of  March,  Bameveldt  wa 
upon  him,  to  ask  whether  the  Queen  s  purposes  1 
so  absolute  that  no  excuses  nor  allegations  coul 
admitted.  Vere,  in  reply,  assured  him  that  the 
mand  was  urgent,  and  implored  him  to  induce 
States  to  come  to  a  speedy  and  favorable  deci: 
After  much  discussion  with  Barneveldt  during 
ensuing  days,  the  objects  of  Vere's  mission  wen 
cured,  and  on  the  20th  the  States  announced  to 
that  they  would  comply  with  the  Queens  wix 
The  expenses  would  be  heavy,  but  several  depi 
declared  that  "there  was  no  surer  way  of  puttii 
good  end  to  the  war  than  to  transport  the  s 
nearer  to  the  heart  of  the  great  enemy."  ^ 

During  his  stay  at  the  Hague,  Sir  Francis  enc 
aged  and  incited  Count  Louis  Gunther  of  \assa 
obtain  the  command  of  the  Dutch  contingent, 
young  Count  wrote  for  leave  to  his  father,  sa 
that  **  the  enterprise  will  be  of  great  importanc 
the  good  of  all  Christendom,  and  that  such  a  vo; 
may  never  offer  again  for  a  young  soldier  like 
who  will  thus  not  only  see  England  but  all  0 
countries."  -  He  left  the  Hague  with  Sir  Francis  \ 
having  obtained  the  appointment,  and  accompa 
him  to  Middelburg,  where  active  preparatii»ns  \ 
being  made.  \'ere  was  to  take  with  him  a  thou; 
of  his  I^nglish  veterans,  who  were  in  the  pay  of 
States,  and  at  his  earnest  request  they  receive 
month's  pay  in  advance.  By  the  2 2d  of  April  he 
ready  to  sail  from  Flushing  with  them,  to  join 

*  Vcrc  tn  I.onl  Burlci;jh,  March     Comte  Jean  de  Na^^u  cle|iart 
I,  7,  9,  20.  1 5<X».  Anplcterrc."     n'rinMcrer    1 

'  **  Lc  Comte  Louis  Gunther  au    xcvii.    2d  Series,  I.  p.  365.) 


CADIZ.  219 

expedition.     He  found  the  whole  fleet  assembled  at 
Dover. 

The  fleet  was  divided  into  four  squadrons,  under 
the  command  of  Lord  Howard  of  Effingham  as  lord 
admiral,  the  Earl  of   Essex   as   lord   general,  Lord 
Thomas   Howard   as  vice-admiral,  and   Sir  Walter 
Raleigh  as  rear-admiral.    The  lord  admiral  was  in  the 
"Ark  Royal,"  with  Sir  Ames  Preston  as  his  captain; 
a^d.  Captain  Monson  was  the  sailor  and  navigator  in 
charge  of  the  "  Repulse,"  with  the  Earl  of  Essex. 
Lord  Thomas  had  the  "  Mere-honour,"  and  Raleigh 
the   "Warspite."     Sir  Francis  Vere  was  lieutenant- 
general  and  lord  marshal,  and  in  command  of  the 
"  Rainbow."    He  was  to  be  the  chief  adviser  of  Essex, 
^^cl  the  conduct  of  operations  on  shore  was  practically 
entrusted  to  him.     Sir  George  Carew  was  master  of 
th^  ordnance,  and  in  command  of  the  "  Mary  Rose ; " 
^^^    Conyers    Clifford,  in    the   "Dreadnought,"   was 
^^"^geant-major  general;  Sir  John  Wingfield,  in  the 
*  Vanguard,"  was  camp-master;    Sir  Robert  Dudley 
^^ci   the    "Nonpareil,"    Sir    Robert    Southwell    the 
"  ^ion,"  Sir  Robert  Cross  the  "  Swiftsure,"  Sir  George 
^^fford  the  "Quittance,"  Captain  King  the  "Tremon- 
^^^tie."     There  were  also  twelve  ships  of  London,  and 
t\Venty-two  Hollanders  and  Flushingers  under  Count 
/^^illiam  of  Nassau.     The  council  of  war  to  advise 
^^e  General  consisted  of  the  Earl  of  Essex,  Sir  Fran- 
cis Vere,  and  four  colonels  of  regiments,  the  Earl  of 
Sussex,  Sir  Christopher  Blount,  Sir  T.  Gerard,  and 
Sir  John  Wingfield. 

The  Earl  of  Essex  went  on  board  the  "  Rainbow  '* 
\vhen  the  fleet  got  under  weigh  at  Dover,  in  order 
to  confer  with  Sir  Francis  Vere  on  the  plan  of  the 


2  20 


exz'sliiizr, :  ar.d.  '.ar^dinsr  -ear  Rve.  thev  b^rth  ^''- 

y    ^  •  •  ■  ■  «  «  ^ 

rTiir,  _.'?  Ij-..^-*--    ..*_' a  n   i c  .%'*.'•;  v.*.- ».a..i*s.- 

•  «•«■  •••  ■  •  -- 

♦  ri  •!       --•   .-■•    r.r.-— •    '■    ■i'*o    • '- —    I  ."■■'"I"' ■  '  1 "'.  ■••    ".*    ' '■ -■  *■'^M'*■'•- 
.  *  c  • 

1*f  «  ••«•■•  •  • 

of  Mav  .vas  dv.  ■Vjd  to  dnllir.:r  tht-  rr.vr.  ar.d  lg-::- 

pir.4  th'j  -:  ::j-  at  P!y::;oj:h. 

Th-  3,rr..v  .va-  rv:r-'.ar!v  r-rciar.izvd,  with  c^-d-.:'  - 
-—  -  *  -    •  «         ■ ^        . 

Om  -  'J .  >    . .  O C    L^*L  .  .rj .  ..I .    (.. 'J  . .  . .  i\  iii  Ci ".         1  >  w-  -    k .  V   . .  a  ■  ■• 

.•r*.', '-  *  .> ■- . 'J  ...  1. o* 4 ,.;'_'.. "^  A.iiLr:  Av.^  \-..v.*^ ..r.cu. 

k 

•  •7'  • 

C'''rrvj!:>:;r:"iv:;i-,  had  a  hi^h  id?:a  «.l  hi^  o^r;  i::::- r- 
tar.c-j.  and  L'-'r.-iii'jrL-d  :hat  hi>  app"i:;::v.cri:  k'I  r^^' 
adr.'.::':ii  ;^avL-  r.::v.  >'v.i;jLrior  rank  tu  ::ic  lord  r'-an^hi. 

\'oro  ri^h:!v  he".d  :r:a:  the  di>ci;;-iinf  and  cmci?.T.cv  : 

»  •  • 

ih-j   !:ir.d   i.  :\f.-   ■.:v:j^Tidt:d  o:i  hi>  ix'i:':^:  next  in  rr.k 

to  ::•.•;  <  iL-r.'.Ta!.    Ra'.vi^:^.  \va>  a  n'.uch  oldvr  rrian.   Hi 

had  -L-rwd  'Ait'p.  ih.^-  H::Lriicr.ot>  when  \'orc  wa-  a  b"V 

at  -  h'l'l.      Hl"   !'.a  1   >incL-  dune  ix-Mid  >vr\icL-  in  Irt- 

la:-'i,  had  fitted  oM  L-.\[K"diti«>ns  i<.«  \'irs:jinia.  had  cr- 

ma:.'!'.'!  in  a  v- .vam.'  t«»  Guiana,  and  had  ri>cn  to  hi^r: 

^    k> 

fav«.r  wi'h  the  <j;tcn.  He  cnn>idcrc-d  him>eif  a  iV 
nvir'.'  iniw^'iMiu  ptr^-'naLju  than  the  zea'n»ii<  and  h;ir.i- 
wr)rki:v^  (i- rn.rai  <'f  the  N-rces  in  Uw  Netherik\nii? 
whtt  wa>  tin  y«ar-  hi^  junior.  He  had  several  eaj^t-r 
and  not  vny  wi^e  >ui>porters  and  admirers  anuog 
the  vounLrrr  v<»lunteer>.  One  evening:,  after  dinner. 
wlu-n  tin*  (»tTi.\r^  wm;  >illinv;  over  their  wine,  some 
wr»rds  j)a->ed.  on  the  ciiie-^tiun  uf  rank,  between  Sir 
I-'raiM  i>  Wre  and  Sir  I'Idward  Cooke,  in  the  presence 
of  the  General  and  llie  ot'ticers  of  the  Dutch  fleet 


CADIZ.  221 

The  matter  was  taken  up  by  a  hot-headed  youth 
Q3.iTied  Arthur  Throckmorton,  "  who  used  such  words 
that  my  lords  ordered  him  from  the  table."  ^  This 
ed  to  the  question  of  military  rank  being  seriously 
^nsidered;  and  eventually  the  General  ordered 
that  Sir  Francis  Vere  should  have  precedence  of 
Rsileigh  on  shore,  and  that  Sir  Walter  Raleigh 
should  be  the  superior  officer  at  sea.  Vere  then 
^sisted  the  Earl  of  Essex  in  drawing  up  the  articles 

of  war,*  and  at  the  same  time  they  set  down  in  writing 

the  duties  of  each  officer,* 

All  things  being  at  length  arranged,  the  fleet  an- 
chored in  Cawsand  Bay  on  the  ist  of  June,  1596,  and 
made  sail  before  a  northeast  wind  on  the  3d,  which 
carried  them  across  the  Bay  of  Biscay.  There  were 
high  hopes  and  patriotic  resolves  in  the  hearts  of 
those  who  manned  that  fleet.  Philip's  Armada  had 
insulted  the  coasts,  and  filled  the  homes  of  England 
vith  alarm  and  dread.  Eight  years  had  passed  away, 
md  now  the  chivalry  of  England  was  about  to  return 
:he  compliment.  Everything  that  was  calculated  to 
irouse  the  enthusiasm  of  young  soldiers  and  volun- 
:eers  seemed  to  unite  in  this  memorable  adventure. 
The  lord  admiral  was  the  same  dauntless  seaman 
jvho  had  repulsed  the  great  Armada.  Raleigh's  very 
lame  was  enough  to  call  forth  the  ardor  and  zeal 
rf  his  companions.  For  who  among  them  had  not 
beard  of  his  deeds  of  valor  and  adventure  in  Guiana 
ind  the  Spanish  Main  ?  who  had  not  read,  with  a  thrill 
Df  pride  and  wonder,  his  narrative  of  the  fight  of  the 
•  Revenge,"  and  of  the  death  of  Sir  Richard  Gren- 

1  Sir  A.   Standen  to   Anthony        «  Birch,  ii.  21. 
Bacon,  May  23, 1596.  Birch,  ii.  11.        t  Vere's  Commentarus^  p.  26. 


k- 


222  THE  FIGHTIXG    VERES. 

ville  ?  The  very  ships  which  had  basely  triumphed 
then  were  in  Cadiz  now;  and  Raleigh,  as  he  saiA 
was  on  his  way  to  *  revenge  the  '  Revenge/  "  There 
too  was  the  gallant  Sir  Francis  Vere,  who  had  upheld 
the  honor  of  England  in  the  Low  Countries  for  ten 
years,  in  numberless  battles  and  sieges  ;  who  was  cov- 
ered with  scars  received  in  the  fight  for  freedom;  and 
under  whose  banner  it  was  the  dream  of  evcrv  brave 
English  boy  some  day  to  learn  the  art  of  war.  With 
him  was  the  flower  of  his  army:  his  gallant  young 
brother  Horace;  Oliver  Lambart,  who  fought  by  his 
side  in  the  romantic  relief  of  Rheinberg ;  Wingfidd. 
Parker,  and  many  another  good  man  and  true  from 
the  Netherlands  field  force.  And  if  the  adventurers 
were  justly  proud  of  their  leaders,  they  were  equally 
j)roud  of  the  glorious  cause  in  which  they  were  em- 
ployed. They  were  to  fight  for  their  country  and 
their  beloved  Queen  against  the  bitter  and  cruel 
enemv  of  both.  Thev  had  all  heard  of  the  horrore 
of  the  Inquisition,  and  of  the  fate  of  the  gentle  In- 
dians of  America.  What  man  could  inform  them 
more  fully  on  such  points  than  their  rear-admiral? 
Their  hearts  overflowed  with  pity  and  indignation 
when  these  stories  were  recounted,  and  thev  believed 
that  they  drew  their  swords  "for  the  good  of  all 
Chri>ten(lom/'  as  young  Louis  of  Nassau  expressed 
it.  Vet  they  api)roached  the  Spanish  coast  in  no 
savage  mood.  Th(  y  would  fight  with  those  who  re- 
sisted, but  thev  would  be  full  of  chivalrous  courtesy 
to  the  vanquished. 

In  this  si)irit  the  Engli>h  adventurers  rounded 
Cape  St.  \'in(  ent.  The  ships  had  kept  out  of  sight 
of  land,  while  passing  the  coast  of  Portugal,  lest  the 


I 


CADIZ.  223 

news  of  their  approach  should  precede  them.     Their 
three  best  sailers  —  the  **  Litness,"  "  Lion  s  Whelp," 
and  "  Truelove  "  —  were  sent  on  in  advance  to  stop 
any  small  vessels  which  might  spread  tidings  of  the 
coming  danger.     By  this  precaution  three  fly-boats, 
I    bound  for  Cadiz,  were  captured  and  detained;  and 
early  in  the  morning  of  the  20th  of  June  the  fleet 
anchored  off  the  spit  of  San  Sebastian,  on  the  south- 
ern side  of  the  city  of  Cadiz. 

The  ancient  city  of  Cadiz  is  built  at  the  extremity 
of  a  narrow  spit  of  land,  six  miles  long,  which  forms 
a  bay,  a  great  part  of  which  is  very  shallow.  One 
deep  channel,  from  half  to  a  quarter  of  a  mile  wide, 
passes  down  its  centre  to  Puerto  Real,  and  there  is 
another  port,  called  Santa  Maria,  on  the  north  side  of 
the  bay,  which  can  only  be  approached  by  vessels 
drawing  very  little  water.  Cadiz  was  a  walled  town, 
with  a  small  harbor  called  the  Caleta,  and  a  long  spit 
at  the  end  of  which  was  the  fort  of  San  Sebastian,  on 
the  southern  side.  On  the  north  side  it  was  defended 
by  the  castle  of  San  Felipe,  which  commanded  the 
entrance  of  the  bay;  and  the  castle  of  Puntales 
further  east,  facing  the  narrowest  part  of  the  chan- 
nel of  Puntales,  leading  to  Puerto  Real.  To  the 
west  of  the  town,  at  the  entrance  of  the  bay,  there 
are  rocks,  called  Las  Puercas  and  Los  Cochinos;  and 
near  them  was  the  anchorage  where  it  was  usual  for 
the  fleets  bound  for  the  Indies  to  assemble  before 
taking  their  final  departure.  On  that  Sunday  morn- 
ing, when  the  English  fleet  hove  in  sight,  there  was 
a  fleet  of  forty  richly  laden  merchant  ships  at  anchor 
off  Las  Puercas,  about  to  sail  for  Mexico.  They  were 
to  be  convoyed  by  four  large  men-of-war,^  —  the  "  San 

1  "  Four  of  the  King's  greatest  and  warlikest  galleons."     (Vere.) 


224  ^^^  FIGHTIXG   VERES. 

Felipe,"  "San  Mateo,"  "San  Andres,"  and  - 
Tomas,"  —  two  great  Lisbon  galleons,  two  argc 
which  had  great  ordnance  for  ballast,  and  three 
frigates.  Nearer  the  town  there  were  seventeen 
leys,  commanded  by  Don  Juan  Portocarrero. 

The  Spaniards  were  taken  entirely  by  surp 
Hasty  preparations  were  made  for  defence. 
forty  merchant  ships  were  sent  up  the  Puntales  c 
nel  to  Puerto  Real.  The  four  men-of-war  were 
chored  in  the  narrowest  part  of  the  channel,  ^ 
their  broadsides  to  the  sea.  In  their  rear  were  th< 
gosies  and  frigates.  The  galleys  were  ranged  ui 
Fort  Puntales,  with  their  bows,  armed  with  1 
guns,  pointing  across  the  channel.  By  these  di 
sitions  the  Spaniards  hoped  to  repel  the  Eng 
attacking  force,  and  save  the  merchant  ships. 

The  English  fleet  had  anchored  off  San  Sebast 
outside  the  bay,  and  it  had  been  hastily  determi 
to  attempt  a  landing  at  the  Caleta.      Troops  \ 
actually  got  into  the  boats,  which  were  made 
astern  of  the  ships,  and  the  landing  was  only  dela 
by  the  heavy  sea  caused  by  a  fresh  gale.     Spai 
troops  also  were  seen,  ready  to  oppose  the  attei 
The  **\Varspite"  had  been  behind  the  rest  of 
fleet,  and  when  she  arrived  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  v 
on    board    the    **  Repulse,"    and    protested    stroi 
against  the  plan  of  landing  at  the  Caleta.     He 
tliat    unless   the   Spanish   fleet  was   first  defeats 
landing  would   fail,  and  that  therefore  the  Eng 
ships  ought  to  come  round  into  the  bay.     Essex 
convinced,  but  he  said  that  the  lord  admiral  had 
direction  of   operations   at    sea.      Raleigh  went 
board  the  ''  Ark  Royal,'*  and  his  arguments  indi 


CADIZ.  225 

^-^td  Howard  to  alter  the  plan  of  attack.  He  then 
Jumped  into  his  boat,  and  pulled  back  to  the  "  Re- 
pulse" to  announce  the  change,  Essex  was  eagerly 
Waiting  on  the  poop,  and  when  Raleigh  shouted 
£ntramos  to  him  as  he  came  alongside,  the  excitable 
young  Earl  threw  his  hat  into  the  air  for  joy,  and  it 
dropped  overboard. 

The  troops  were  all  got  on  board  again,  but  not 
before  some  of  the  boats  had  been  swamped  and  a 
few  men  drowned.  Towards  evening  the  fleet  was 
got  under  weigh,  and  anchored  at  the  entrance  of 
the  bay,  inside  Las  Puercas,  ready  for  the  attack  next 
morning.  Vere  found  himself  to  leeward  of  the  other 
ships,  and  he  hoped  to  get  a  better  place  by  being 
under  weigh  first.  So  he  began  to  heave  up  his 
anchor  before  the  rest.  There  was  a  heavy  sea,  and 
he  had  forgotten  to  swift  his  capstan  bars ;  this  being 
his  first  command  at  sea.  The  ship  was  pitching, 
and  the  capstan  proved  too  strong  for  the  men,  who 
were  hurled  backwards,  and  several  were  badly  hurt. 
So  Vere  cut  his  cable  in  the  hawse,  made  sail, 
and  worked  to  windward  up  the  bay  until  he  was 
able  to  anchor  within  range  of  the  Spanish  ships  and 
forts.  Late  in  the  evening  the  lord  admiral  displayed 
the  flag  of  council  in  his  mizzen  rigging,  as  a  signal 
for  the  Earl  of  Essex  and  the  other  officers  to  come 
on  board  the  "  Ark  Royal."  It  was  resolved  to  move 
up  the  bay  with  the  tide  next  morning,  and  to  board 
the  Spanish  ships ;  stations  were  arranged,  and  Ra- 
leigh was  to  lead  the  attack.  But  the  eagerness  to  be 
first  outweighed  all  other  considerations.  Vere  sub- 
mitted that  the  "  Rainbow"  drew  less  water  than  the 
larger  ships,  and  that  it  was  desirable  that  she  should 


226  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

go  in  ahead  of  them.  Essex  replied  sharply,  •  In  an^ 
case  you  shall  not  go  in  before  me."  Lord  Thomas 
Howard  shifted  his  flag  to  the  "  Nonpareil,"  which 
was  of  lighter  draft  than  the  "  Mere-honour/'  and 
claimed  the  foremost  place.  Raleigh  was  determined 
to  get  ahead,  and  wrote  afterwards  that  "  always  1 
must  without  glory  say  for  myself  that  I  held  single 
in  the  head  of  all."  They  were  all  behaving  like  a 
pack  of  schoolboys,  and  it  seemed  likely  there  would 
be  a  regular  scramble  next  morning. 

The  four  Spanish  men-of-war  remained  with  their 
broadsides  across  the  passage,  about  in  a  line  with 
the  Puntales  fort,  and  the  seventeen  galleys  were 
close  in  under  the  land,  to  flank  the  enemy  as  his 
ships  approached.  Vere  was  much  excited  and  inter- 
ested in  a  conflict  the  nature  of  which  was  quite  new 
to  him ;  "  having  till  that  time  been  a  stranger  to 
actions  at  sea.**  During  the  night  he  brought  the 
"  Rainbow"  up  over  her  anchor,  ready  to  make  sail 
when  the  tide  served  next  morning.  He  was  the 
first  to  i;ct  into  action,  firing  his  heavy  ordnance  at 
the  galleys,  and  driving  them  still  further  under  the 
walls  of  the  fort.  He  kept  approaching  them,  ^nth 
the  lead  constantly  going,  until  he  came  within  range 
of  Puntales  fort  and  the  ships,  and  was  exposed  to  a 
heavy  fire  on  all  sides,  to  which  he  promptly  replied. 
The  master  of  the  **  Rainbow"  then  anchored,  being 
closer  in  shore  than  any  of  the  other  ships.  The 
"Warspite"  was  next  to  him,  and  a  little  ahead,  en* 
gaged  with  the  large  Spanish  ships.  Next  came 
Lord  Thomas  Howard  in  the  "  Nonpareil,"  with  the 
lord  admiral  also  on  board.  Near  the  centre  of  the 
channel  was  Sir  Robert  Southwell  in  the  ••Lion;* 


CADIZ.  227 

^^  on  the  eastern  side  were  Sir  George  Carew  and 
Sir  C.  CliflFord   in   the   "May  Rose"  and  "Dread- 
nought"    A  little  later  Essex  came  up  in  the  "  Re- 
pulse"  and  Sir  Robert   Cross   in   the  "Swiftsure." 
Soon  they  were  all  closely  engaged  with  the  Span- 
iards, the  cannonade  lasting  several  hours,  and  the 
guns  becoming  very  hot.     Raleigh  thought  that  if 
the  firing  continued  his  ship  would  be  sunk,  so  he 
went  in  his  boat  to  the  general,  to  ask  for  fly-boats 
to   board   the   enemy.     While  he   was  gone    Lord 
Thomas  got   under  weigh  and  shot   ahead  of   the 
"  Warspite,"  and  Sir  Francis  Vere  sent  a  boat  with  a 
hawser  to  make  fast  to  the  "Warspite's"  stern,  in 
order  to  haul  the  "  Rainbow  "  ahead.    When  Raleigh 
came  back  he  cut  Vere's  hawser  unceremoniously, 
and  put  his  ship  broadside  across  the  channel,  to 
prevent  the  others  from  getting  ahead  of  him.     The 
firing  was  then  renewed,  and  continued  until  four 
in  the  afternoon,  when  the  Spaniards  gave  it  up  in 
despair,  trying  to  run  the  ships  on  shore.    Their  men 
abandoned  them.     Raleigh  says :  "  Heaps  of  sailors 
were  tumbling  into  the  sea,  as  thick  as  if  coals  had 
been  poured  out  of   a  sack,  some  being  drowned, 
others  sticking  in  the  mud."     The  galleys  slipped 
their  cables,  made  sail,  and  ran  up  the  bay.     Three 
were  taken  by  Sir  John  Wingfield   in   the   "Van- 
guard," but  the  rest  passed  through  a  narrow  channel 
at  the  south  end  of  the  Isle  of  Leon,  and  got  out  to 
sea.     Vere  hurried  on  board  the  "  Repulse  "  to  urge 
the  general  to  send  boats  with  boarding  parties  to 
secure  the  grounded  ships.     Captain  Monson  went 
on  this  duty  from  the  "  Ark  Royal,"  and  Sir  William 
Constable,  with  some  soldiers,  from  the  "  Repulse," 


228  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

and  two  ships  were  captured,  the  "  San  Mateo  "  and 
"  San  Andres."  The  Spaniards  set  fire  to  the  flag- 
ship "  San  Felipe,"  of  1,500  tons,  and  to  the  *' San 
Tomas."  They  were  burnt  to  the  waters  edge. 
The  argosies  were  taken  by  the  Dutch  ships  under 
Louis  of  Nassau,  and  it  was  found  that  their  ballast 
consisted  of  heavy  ordnance.  This  hotly  contested 
action  had  lasted  from  break  of  day  until  the  after- 
noon.  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  was  severely  wounded  in 
the  leg  by  a  splinter,  and  was  unable  to  take  part  in 
the  subsequent  proceedings.  He  had  been  the  true 
leader  among  the  naval  officers.^ 

Sir  Francis  Vere  then  took  the  lead  in  the  land 
operations  for  the  capture  of  Cadiz.  The  last  half 
of  a  summer  s  afternoon  was  left,  and  there  was  not  a 
moment  to  be  lost.  Boats  were  got  ready,  and  the 
regiments  of  Fssex,  Vere,  Blount,  Gerard,  and  Clif- 
ford were  told  off  as  a  landing  party.  The  disembar- 
kation was  to  be  effected  on  a  spit  of  land  between 
Puntales  and  the  town.  The  boats  were  placed  in 
line  and  at  equal  distances:  the  regiments  of  Essex 
and  V^ere  on  the  right  and  nearest  the  town,  the 
other  three  on  the  left.  The  general  and  the  lord 
marshal  k*d  in  a  boat  some  distance  in  advance,  and 
gave  the  signals  by  beat  of  drum.  They  were  closc- 
Iv  followed  bv  smaller  boats,  full  of  richly  dressed 
young  gentlemen  volunteers.    The  bows  of  the  boats 

1  In  discussins:  the  (piestion  of  from  our  anchorini;  by  it.  though 

sliij^s    versus    forts.    Sir    Walter  it  played  ujHm  us  m-ilh  four  demi- 

K;iK'ii:h  said  :  **  The  fori  St.  IMiilip  cannons  within  |iciint  Itlank.  fn>iB 

ti-rritied  us  not.  in  the  \car  1596,  six  in  the  morning  till   twelw  it 

wlien  \vc  tnttTcd  the  |»<»rt  of  Ca-  noon/'     {History  of  ike    Worlds 

di/  ;  neither  di<l  tlic  fort  of  Pun-  li!).  v.  cap.  i.) 
tal,  when  we  were  entered,  Ixal  us 


CADIZ.  229 

touched  the  shore  almost  at  the  same  moment,  and 
the  soldiers  jumped  out  and  formed  in  line  without 
opposition.     About  2,000  men  landed. 

On  the  land  side,  facing  the  spit,  Cadiz  was  de- 
fended by  a  wall,  with  a  gate  in  the  centre  and  bas- 
tions at  each  angle,  against  which  the  sea  washed  at 
high  tides.  These  fortifications  and  the  strength  of 
the  garrison  had  taken  away  all  idea,  in  the  minds 
of  the  English  Council  of  War,  of  taking  the  place 
without  first  landing  heavy  guns,  placing  them  in 
position,  and  battering  the  walls.  The  first  thought 
of  Essex  was,  therefore,  to  select  a  site  for  the  en- 
campment. 

Sir  Francis  Vere  had  a  different  plan.  The  spit 
of  land  was  about  half  a  mile  across,  and  on  the 
western  side  there  were  low  hills,  under  which  both 
cavalry  and  foot  were  seen  to  be  hurrying  into  Cadiz. 
The  three  regiments  of  Blount,  Clifford,  and  Gerard 
were  sent  southwards  to  the  narrowest  part  of  the 
spit,  to  guard  the  approach  and  prevent  further  com- 
munication between  the  town  and  the  mainland. 
There  remained  a  force  consisting  of  the  regiments 
of  Essex  and  Vere  and  about  250  gentlemen  volun- 
teers, in  all  not  quite  a  thousand  men.  The  Spaniards 
were  drawn  up  outside  the  walls,  with  some  light 
horse  thrown  forward,  apparently  to  invite  a  skirmish. 
Vere  then  explained  his  plan  for  taking  the  town  that 
night,  pointing  out  that  those  very  Spanish  troops 
before  the  town  would  show  the  way  into  it,  if  they 
were  properly  handled.  Essex,  who  when  kept  in 
good-humor  was  quite  ready  to  listen  to  advice,  and 
whose  fiery  valor  made  him  eager  for  any  hazardous 
enterprise,  entered  heartily  into  the  scheme  of  the 


230  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

lord  marshal.  It  was  to  lead  the  troops  as  near  as 
possible  to  the  town  wall,  under  cover  of  the  low 
hills  on  the  west  side  of  the  spit,  then  to  draw  the 
Spaniards  into  a  fight  with  what  would  apf)ear  to  be 
an  inferior  force,  drive  them  back  in  confusion  and 
disorder,  and  enter  the  town  with  them. 

Vere  marched  all  the  men  over  to  the  west  side  of 
the  spit.  He  then  picked  out  200  soldiers,  placed 
them  under  Sir  John  Wingfield,  "a  right  valiant 
knight,"  and  gave  him  his  instructions.  He  was  to 
march  rapidly  on  the  Spanish  troops,  drive  in  their 
skirmishers,  and  if  the  main  body  advanced  against 
him  he  was  to  make  a  hasty  retreat  until  he  met  his 
supports,  and  then  to  turn  upon  the  enemy  furiously. 
The  supports  consisted  of  300  men  under  Sir  Mat- 
thew Morgan,  and  they  were  to  advance  as  soon  as 
they  saw  Wingfield  retreating.  Essex  and  V'ere  were 
to  follow  with  the  main  body.  Count  Louis  of  Nas- 
sau, the  Earl  of  Sussex,  Sir  Robert  Drury,  and  Chris- 
toj)her  Hcydon  were  with  them. 

The  orders  were  so  ably  carried  out  that  the  Span- 
iards were  fully  engaged  in  chasing  Wingfield  bo- 
fore  they  discovered  his  supports.  When  fresh  men 
suddenly  aj)pearcd  the  Spaniards  turned  and  fled. 
They  were  so  closely  followed  that  the  cavalry  aban- 
doned their  horses,  and  the  fugitives  saved  them- 
selves, some  by  the  gates,  which  were  hurriedly 
closed,  and  others  by  clambering  over  the  walls. 

The  whole  English  force,  led  by  Essex  and  Verc. 
then  came  up  to  the  walls,  which  extended  from  sea 
to  sea,  with  a  broad  dry  ditch  in  front.  The  ramparts 
were  massive  and  high,  with  a  round  bastion  at  either 
end ;  but  they  were  not  scarped,  so  that  it  was  easy 


CADIZ,  231 

to  mount  them.  These  outer  walls  were,  however, 
overtopped  some  six  feet  by  the  old  wall  of  the  town 
behind.  Veres  veterans  from  the  Low  Countries, 
gallantly  led  by  Essex  himself,  climbed  up  the  outer 
wall,  scaled  the  inner  defence,  and  drove  the  enemy 
back  with  their  shot.  Lieutenant  Evans,  of  the  regi- 
ment of  Lord  Sussex,  was  the  first  man  over  the 
wall.  He  had  to  leap  down  a  pike's  length.  Arthur 
Savage  followed  close  at  his  heels.  Meanwhile,  Vere 
sent  a  countryman  of  his,  named  Upsher,  with  a  few 
men  to  see  what  guard  was  kept  on  the  eastern  side, 
towards  the  bay,  and  to  report  whether  an  entrance 
could  also  be  effected  in  that  direction.  Upsher 
found  a  very  slender  guard,  and  entered  the  town  on 
that  side  with  slight  opposition.  Vere  was  on  the 
ramparts,  directing  the  operations.  He  saw  that  Es- 
sex was  among  the  first  to  get  over  the  wall,  followed 
by  the  soldiers,  that  he  was  keeping  no  order,  and 
that  all  were  rushing  recklessly  up  the  streets.  He 
therefore  determined  to  break  down  the  gates,  and  to 
march  in  with  a  reserve  force,  which  he  could  keep 
in  hand.  The  gates  were  forced  open  with  much 
difficulty  and  some  delay.  Sir  Francis  then  marched 
in  with  his  troops  ^  in  good  order,  and  advanced  to 
the  market-place,  where  he  found  Essex  engaged 
with  the  enemy.  Most  of  those  who  kept  up  any 
resistance  retreated  into  the  town  hall,  where  they 
surrendered  to  Vere,  and  the  Earl  of  Essex  took  pos- 
session. Vere  then  scoured  the  town  and  drove  all 
the  Spaniards  out  of  the  streets,  either  into  the  cas- 
tle of  San  Felipe  or  the  convent  of  San  Francisco. 
Towards  sunset  about  200   Spanish   cavaliers,  who 

1  Camden  says  that  Essex  went  through  the  gates  with  Vere. 


232 


THE  FIGHTING   VERES, 


had  taken  refuge  in  the  convent,  surrendered,  and 
the  castle  was  delivered  up  the  following  day.  Mean- 
while, the  lord  admiral  had  landed  with  more  troop?, 
and  guards  were  stationed  along  the  walls,  under  Sir 
Edward  Conway. 

Thanks  were  offered  up  to  God  for  this  great  vic- 
tory, in  the  town  liall,  and  afterwards  the  Karl  ot 
Essex  conferred  the  honor  of  knighthood  on  Sir 
Samuel  Hagnall/  for  his  special  merit  in  the  day*? 
service.  The  loss  was  not  very  great  on  either  side, 
but  the  English  had  to  mourn  the  death  of  the  gallant 
Sir  John  Wingficld,  who  fell  mortally  wounded  in  the 
market-place,  just  before  all  resistance  ceased.^ 

When  the  people  who  had  taken  refuge  in  the 
castle  of  San  Felipe  surrendered  next  morning,  thcv 
w-ere  treated  with  the  utmost  courtesy  and  con>ideni- 
tion.  The  ladies  received  everv  sort  of  civilitv  from 
their  English  cai)tors,  the  memory  of  which  is  pre- 
served in  the  old  ballad  of  the  **  Spanish  Lad  v."' 
About  5,000  Sj)aniards,  including  women  and  prie>t-. 
were  allowed  to  leave  the  town.  Dr.  Quesada,  whi** 
knew  English,  remained  to  make  terms  and  to  obtain 
leave  for  non-combatants  to  depart.  The  terms  were 
that   citizens   might   depart  with  their  clothes,  that 


*  He  h;i<l  received  ei;:ht  wounds. 
Arthur  S»iv.»;j;c  was  ;iUo  wounded 
.ind  knii^^hted. 

*  Sir  John  \Vin;jticl(l,  hrothcr-in- 
law  of  Lord  Willnu^hln-,  was  the 
same  otficcr  who  was  fal^clv  ac- 
cused and  slandered  by  the  Dutch 
autlinrilies  when  the  mutitu^u^  j^ir- 
rison  delivered  up  CrcrtruydenKur;; 
to  the  Spaniards.  Win::  tie  Id  was 
a  man  of  honor  and  a  valiant  ofti- 
ccr. 


•  Percy* s  Ri'!i*jU€S^  ii.  p.  zih 
The  hero  of  the  stor\-  was  "lu.- 
po»ed  to  he  either  Sir  Richari 
Lcveson  of  Trcntham.  or  a  Toy- 
ham  of  Littlecote.  Hut  the  larc 
Nf  r.  Charles  I^ng  fully  establi>hrd 
the  claim  of  a  young  meinl)er  «i 
the  family  of  Ilowles  of  Siiine«- 
head.  Jewels  which  belon|:ed  to 
the  Spanish  lady  of  the  ballad 
were  in  possession  of  the  Lets  of 
Coidrey, 


CADIZ. 


233 


they  should  pay  a  ransom  of  520,000  ducats,  and 
that  some  of  the  chief  citizens  should  remain  as 
hostages  for  payment  All  English  galley-slaves 
were  to  be  delivered  up.  All  priests,  women,  and 
children  who  wished  to  go  were  taken  across  the  bay 
to  Puerto  Santa  Maria  in  boats.^ 

The  forty  merchant  ships,  all  laden  with  valuable 
cargoes,  had  escaped  up  the  channel  to  Puerto  Real. 
Essex,  when  he  landed,  had  sent  a  message  to  the 
lord  admiral,  by  Sir  William  Monson  and  Sir  An- 
thony Ashley  the  treasurer,  entreating  him  to  take 
prompt  measures  for  the  capture  of  these  merchant 
ships.  But  the  admiral,  fearing  that  Essex's  force 
was  too  weak,  thought  it  necessary  to  land  with  rein- 
forcements, in  the  first  place.  Meanwhile,  the  Duke 
of  Medina  Sidonia  ordered  all  the  ships  and  their 
cargoes  to  be  burnt.  The  conflagration  took  place 
on  the  23d  of  June.  The  loss  to  the  merchants  of 
Seville  and  Cadiz  was  estimated  at  20,000,000  ducats.* 

The  English  remained  a  fortnight  at  Cadiz.  Be- 
sides Sir  Samuel  Bagnall,  a  number  of  officers  re- 
ceived the  honor  of  knighthood.  Among  them  were 
the  admirals  son  William  Howard,  the  lord  mar- 
shal's brother  Horace  Vere,  Christopher   Heydon,' 


1  We  have  the  testimony  of  Her- 
rera  on  the  subject  of  the  conduct 
of  the  English  at  Cadiz :  "  In  this 
affair  the  English  behaved  in  di- 
\nne  matters  as  heretics,  in  human 
as  politicians  and  men  of  war.  They 
did  not  torture  more  than  four  or 
five  to  make  them  give  up  hidden 
treasure,  they  killed  no  one  in  cold 
blood,  they  ill  used  no  woman, 
they  took  away  no  prisoners.   The 


Earl  of  Essex  ordered  a  man  to 
be  hanged  for  taking  a  cloth  from 
a  woman."  (Lib.  xii.  cap.  xii.  p. 
672.) 

2  Camden.  The  report  in  the 
State  Paper  Office  gives  the  loss 
at  8,000,000  crowns.  The  mer- 
chanU  had  offered  Essex  2,000,000 
as  ransom. 

»  See  anii,  foot-note  In  p.  203. 


234 


THE  FIGHTIXG   VERES. 


Oliver  Lambart,^  William  Pooley,  Nicholas  Meetkerk, 
John  Buck,-  John  Aldrich,  and  Arthur  Throckmor- 
ton. Sir  Francis  Vere  received  the  ransoms  of  three 
wealthy  prisoners:  a  clergyman,  who  was  president  of 
the  Casa  de  Contratacion  at  Seville,  and  two  cavalier?, 
named  Don  Pedro  de  Herrera  and  Don  Gcronir..^ 
de  Avalos.^  The  town  was  set  on  fire,  and  the  tkct 
departed  on  the  5th  of  July.  After  stopping  at  a 
small  port  named  Faroll,  on  the  coast  of  Ali;ar\e.for 
fresh  provisions,  a  course  was  shaped  for  England, 
and  on  the  8th  of  August  the  victorious  cxpcditi'-n 
arrived  safely  at  Plymouth.  The  fleet  was  incrcaMrii 
by  two  large  Spanish  prizes,  the  '*San  Mateo"  and 
**  San  Andres,"  which  were  the  more  welcome  be- 
cause they  formed  part  of  the  great  fleet  to  which 
the    little  "  Revenge "  was   forced   to   surrender  in 

1592. 

As  soon  as  the  English  expedition  had  made  saii. 

Don  Antonio  Osorio  entered  Cadiz  with  600  men.  and 

he  was  soon  followed  bv  the  Duke  of  Medina  Sidonii 

Thev  found   that  the  cathedral,  the  church   of   the 

Jesuits,  the  nunneries  of  Santa  Maria  and  Candcla- 

ria,  and  290  hcnises  had  been  burnt*    The  most  seri- 


*  For  si^nn-  acroiinf  (>f  Sir  Oliver 
LamlKirt,  aitcrwanis  L«)rf!  L.\m- 
bart  nf  C  ivan.  set-  tntti\  p.  1 53  (9t\, 

'  Cicnrtre  lUick,  tht  author  of 
The  Liu  of  Ri:Juini  I//.,  was 
also  in  the  Cadi?:  c\pc«lition.  I>ut 
lir  was  not  kniL:htrrl  until  I^XD"^, 
when  he  became  Master  of  the 
Kevels. 

■  "I  have  received  il  rertain 
Spaniard**  taken  in  Cadi/,  fnrtht'tr 
ransoms,  the  sum  of  12, 570  ducats 
at  5'*.  Oil.  ihc  piece,  moreover  50  or 


60  of  plate,  and  a  suit  c.f  \  utr  &<> 
which  cost  me  40  shillinjjN  tacV  v 
Sir  Oliver  I^mbart.  That  is  i'.  \ 
set  down  10  the  Commissi! »ner*  it 
Plymouth."  (F.  \'cre  to  the  Ex*'- 
of  F.sscx,  August  15.  1596.  MSS- 
at  Hatfield.)  In  the  re\yon  of  the 
commissioners  appointed  to  ia- 
quire  into  the  amount  of  bortv 
taken  at  Cadiz,  the  \*altte  of  Wnf'i 
shiire  is  set  down  at  ^^3.63*^  15*. 
See  Arckaohgia^  zzii.  p.  175. 
«  Nfadoz. 


CADIZ,  235 

ous  loss  was  the  library  of  the  Jesuits.  Among  that 
priceless  collection  was  the  manuscript  history  of  the 
Jesuit  Bias  Valera,  containing  particulars  respecting 
the  Incas  of  Peru  by  one  whose  opportunities  for 
collecting  information  were  unequalled,  and  whose 
education  and  linguistic  talent  enabled  him  to  profit 
by  those  opportunities  to  the  full.  The  fragments 
that  were  saved  from  the  fire  were  utilized  by  Garci- 
lasso  de  la  Vega  in  his  "  Royal  Commentaries."  But 
the  bulk  was  destroyed.  The  loss  to  posterity  is 
irreparable.^ 

The  sack  of  Cadiz,  with  the  destruction  of  the 
fleet,  was  a  blow  from  which  Philip  II.  and  his  govern- 
ment never  recovered.  It  ruined  the  merchants  and 
crippled  the  resources  of  the  country,  while  it  clouded 
the  last  years  of  the  tyrant  with  mortification  and 
shame.  In  proportion  it  raised  the  power  and  influ- 
ence of  the  great  Queen,  and  filled  the  hearts  of  her 
subjects  with  joy  and  gratitude. 

Sir  Francis  Vere  passed  the  greater  part  of  the 
winter  of  1596-97  at  the  court  of  Queen  Elizabeth.* 

1  See  the   introduction    to   my  grandson,  Philip   Raleigh,  at  the 

translation  of  the  Royal  Commen-  end  of  an  abridgment  of  the  His- 

taries  of  Garcilasso   de   la  Vega  tory  of  the  World  {%vo,  1700)  \  2knA 

(Hakluyt  Society,  1869),  P-  ^ciii.  in  Lord  Essex's  Report,  S.  P.  O. 

*  The  narrative  of  the  Cadiz  ex-  Vere  gives  the  fullest  account  of 

pedition  is  given  in  Camden's  An-  the  land  operations  in  his  Commen- 

nals  and  in  Hakluyt.     The  naval  taries.    The  narrative  in  the  State 

action  is  fully  reported  in  Vere 's  Paper  Office  is  headed  "A  .Rela- 

Commentaries ;    in    Sir  William  tion  of  the  Winning   of  Cadiz.** 

Monson's  Tracts;  by  Sir  Walter  See  also  the  ballad  **  The  Winning 

Raleigh  in  a  letter  printed  by  his  of  Gales,**  in  Percy* s  Reliques^  ii. 

p.  252. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

THE    ISLAND   VOYAGE. 

An  officer  who  had  passed  his  life  in  training  and 
leading  soldiers  on  land  was  often  called  upon  to  be- 
come the  captain  of  a  ship,  in  the  service  of  Queen 
Elizabeth,  at  a  moment  s  notice.  All  his  habits  and 
ideas  had  to  be  changed  for  the  time,  and  he  had  to 
learn  new  methods,  a  different  science,  and  a  strange 
phraseology.  He  had  the  help  and  advice  of  a  pro- 
fessional seaman,  who  served  under  him  as  master; 
but  the  responsibility,  the  decision  in  all  important 
cases,  and  the  command  rested  upon  the  captain. 
Such  demands  on  the  powers  of  the  Elizabethan 
officers  must  have  had  a  tendency  to  put  ever)-  faculty 
on  tlie  alert,  to  make  men  self-reliant,  many-sided 
and  inventive. 

Sir  Francis  Verc  had  passed  the  active  season  of 
1596  in  command  of  the  "Rainbow,"  learning  the 
seaman's  art  and  gaining  a  practical  knowledge  of 
what  he  called  **  sea  cases."  He  was  again  to  sen^e 
as  a  sea-captain  in  the  following  year.  For  King 
Philip  was  making  great  preparations  to  avenge  the 
sack  of  Cadiz.  A  fleet  was  collected  at  Ferrol,  an 
army  was  to  be  embarked,  and  it  was  believed  that 
the  invasion  of  Ireland  was  contemplated. 

The  Queen  resolved  to  meet  this  danger  by  equip* 
ping  another  fleet,  with  troops  on  board,  to  be  000- 


THE  ISLAND   VOYAGE.  237 

manded  by  the  Earl  of  Essex,  who  this  time  was  to 
be  admiral  as  well  as  general  of  the  land  forces. 
Vere  was  again  sent  to  the  Hague,  to  arrange  with 
the  States  for  the  services  of  a  thousand  of  his  vete- 
rans ;  and  the  Dutch  statesmen  were  so  well  satisfied 
with  the  victory  at  Cadiz  that  no  serious  difficulties 
were  raised. 

The  same  old  ships  in  which  such  glorious  work 
had  been  done  at  Cadiz  were  refitted  and  commis- 
sioned once  more.  Essex  at  first  took  the  "  Mere- 
honour  "  as  his  flagship,  but  she  was  no  longer  fit 
for  sea,  and  he  shifted  into  the  "  Due-repulse,"  with 
Master  Middleton  as  his  captain,  and  a  dull,  unlucky 
fellow  named  Cover  as  master.  Lord  Thomas  How- 
ard and  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  sailed  again  as  vice  and 
rear  admirals  in  the  "  Lion  "  and  "  Warspite."  Ra- 
leigh had  the  accomplished  Sir  Arthur  Gorges  with 
him  as  captain  and  trusty  friend,  and  Master  Broad- 
bent  to  navigate  the  ship.  Young  Lord  Mountjoy 
had  received  the  appointment  of  lieutenant-general ; 
and  he  was  to  command  the  "  Defiance,"  with  Sir 
Ames  Preston  as  captain.  Sir  Francis  Vere  was 
lord  marshal,  on  board  the  "  Mary  Rose,"  his  mas- 
ter being  Captain  John  Winter,^  a  companion  of  Sir 
Francis  Drake.  Sir  Christopher  Blount  was  colo- 
nel-general, Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges  sergeant-major 
general,  and  Sir  George  Carew  master  of  the  ord- 
nance on  board  the  great  Spanish  prize,  the  "  San 
Mateo."  Three  famous  and  gallant  sailors  had  sep- 
arate commands  :  Sir  William  Monson  in  the  '*  Rain- 
bow," Sir  Edward  Michelborne  in  the  "  Moone,"  and 

^  John  Winter  was  in  Drake*8  voyage  of  circumnavigation,  but  re- 
turned home  from  Magellan's  Straits. 


^5»  *  »■  ^ 


238  THE  FIGHTLXG   VERES. 

Captain  Fenner  in  the  "  Tremontane."  The  "  Gar 
land  "  was  commanded  by  the  young  Earl  of  South- 
ampton, the  faithful  friend  of  Essex/  the  "  Bonaven- 
ture  '*  by  Sir  William  Harvey,  the  "  Dreadnough: ' 
by  Sir  William  Brooke,  the  *'  Swiftsure  "  by  Sir  Gilly 
Merrick,  the  **  Nonpareil  "  by  Sir  Richard  Leveson/ 
the  **  Antelope'' by  Sir  Thomas  Vavasour,  the  Spa- 
nish i)rize  '*  San  Andres "  by  Captain  Marcellus 
Throckmorton,  and  the  "  Foresight  "  by  Sir  Carew 
Rcignall.  Besides  these  seventeen  Queens  ships, 
there  were  several  ships  of  London  and  numeroui 
small  tenders  and  victuallers.  Vere's  veterans  nur> 
bcrcd  1,200  men,  and,  in  addition,  about  7,cx»  sol- 
diers were  to  be  embarked. 

Having  succeeded  in  his  mission  at  the  Hague, 
Sir  Francis  hurried  back  to  England,  and  found  ihe 
fleet  at  anchor  in  the  Downs.  The  Earl  of  E>scx 
was  at  Sandwich  when  Yere  came  to  report  him>cif 
It  was  early  in  the  morning;  the  luxurious  courtier 


^  SirTlv»mas  Wriotbesley,  Sec- 
retary of  State  in  1 539.  and  after- 
wards Lord  Chanctdlor  and  one  of 
the  exocutors  to  Henry  VIII., 
was  (  reared  Earl  of  Southampton 
in  1 547.  and  died  in  1550.  He  re- 
ceived the  abbey  of  Tiiclitiehl  from 
tlie  Crown.  His  son.  the  >erond 
Ivail,  died  in  1 551.  Henry,  third 
Kail  of  Southampton,  succeeded 
when  he  was  very  vounp.  He 
was  the  friend  of  Shakesj^eare 
and  of  Kssex,  and  he  married  a 
niece  (.f  the  latter.  This  Earl  died 
in  1624.  His  ;:randdaui:hter  waji 
Raclul.  Laily  Uus»ell.  The  title 
of  Karl  of  Southampton  Ixcame 
c\tinct   in  the  W^iothc^ley  family 


in  iC^7,  when  the  fourth  Earl  diei 
who  was  Lord  Treasurer. 

Sir  Thomas  Wriotheslcv  Vc"^- 
**  a  rij;ht  stately  house  *'  at  Ti:cr.- 
field,  chieflv  with  the  materia!*  i'< 
the  ab!)cy,  where  his  desctndan'j 
lived. 

-  Sir  Richard  Levesoo  of  Trent- 
ham  married  >far]garet,  daughter 
of  the  Lord  Admiral  C.  Hovait! 
(Earl  of  Nottinf^ham).  He  was  a 
very  distinguished  naval  officer. 
In  this  vo}'aKe  he  wai  aged  tven* 
ty-eij!ht.  He  died  in  1605.  and 
there  is  a  monument,  with  his  ef- 
fiiry  in  braas,  in  \Voh*erhafflpcoa 
Church. 


THE  ISLAND   VOYAGE.  239 

was  still  in  bed,  but  the  lord  marshal  was  at  once 
admitted,  and  was  cordially  received.  Lord  Mount- 
joy  had  been  made  lieutenant-general,  an  office  which 
had  been  filled  by  Sir  Francis  Vere  in  the  previous 
voyage.  Essex  declared  that  the  appointment  was 
forced  upon  him  by  the  Queen,  that  Vere  would  still 
be  next  to  him,  and  that  Mountjoy  would  have  a  title 
without  an  office.  Vere  coldly  replied  that  his  duty 
would  oblige  him  both  to  obey  Lord  Mountjoy  and 
to  respect  his  place ;  that  he  was  not  so  ignorant  of 
the  Earls  power  as  to  suppose  that  Lord  Mountjoy 
could  be  thrust  upon  him  without  his  consent  and 
procurement;  and  that  in  future  he  requested  that 
Essex  would  not  use  him  at  all  in  any  action  wherein 
the  Earl  was  to  go  as  chief.  Essex  looked  upon  this 
speech  as  the  result  of  passing  annoyance,  and  re- 
plied good-naturedly;  but  Vere  had  considered  the 
matter,  and  spoke  with  a  purpose.  Essex  had  some 
fine  qualities,  but  he  was  unstable  and  without  judg- 
ment, and  was  not  a  man  under  whom  Vere  cared  to 
serve.  This  "  island  voyage,"  as  it  was  called,  was 
the  last  in  which  the  great  general  would  serve  under 
the  Earl  of  Essex. 

Some  of  the  troops  were  shipped  at  the  Downs. 
The  fleet  then  got  under  weigh,  and  anchored  in 
Portland  Roads  to  embark  more  men,  who  were 
waiting  there  to  meet  the  ships.  There  had  been 
some  misunderstandings  between  Sir  Francis  Vere 
and  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  during  the  Cadiz  expedition. 
Essex  was  anxious  that  they  should  be  reconciled. 
He  therefore  invited  them  both  to  come  on  board 
his  ship,  while  they  were  at  Portland,  and  asked 
them  to  shake  hands  in  his  presence.^     This  they 

^  Birch,  ii.  p.  352.    Vere's  Commentaries^  p.  47. 


:\<:\  vfn  ir.»rdia'.:y  consented  to  do,  the  more  ml- 
.  i,  *  r*>  •  '..'v'lhir.c  had  passed  betwixt  us  that  mi^":'. 
:» : ..  :>:  ": .  ..Tr/.i.'".'  Thtncc  the  fleet  jjRKrcedtd  :• 
:  ^. •..-..::.  \^:u:-;  r:\.^:\-  troops  were  waiting,  arx  a 
:  .  ■  Ik:  .•:  ;^v.. .;.:■.:  ^\■:.^.i;■  \o'iunteers.  "makintr  a  f.r.v 
>■  .  \^  ^•  ::~  ::^L.:  :^..:rn.>  vl  uathers  and  rich  acc.--- 
\  .  :  .  :>'  i  :  t  .  r::ti>  wlTl  to  attempt  the*  dotruL- 
:..  .:  ::  L  >;.;.:.i>':':  r.i-ii  in  Fcrrol,  and  then  -.■« 
.-..>.  :. :  :"  i  i:;....*r.  i;.VilL\'ns  off  the  Aztircs.  liv 
;  N.'. ..  :.,  .   >.\..L\.   ::\  IV;  riymouth  on  the  gth  of  Jul;.. 

.  ■  . >;  .  .!  >■:;>.  \\i:h  iheir  hulls  high  out  of  ir.'; 
\x..:.      ..   ..  ::  I.:    :».»■.•>  tLWtrine  ^lill  hiirhtr,  li'*'k'.'i 

i. :':.^■.    t:-.L..u'"   i'^  Lawsand   Bav,  wlnn  lu-zy 

...  ..    .■:......:>    :'...::i:v\;   frc-m   masi-hcads   and  wtrci- 

..:  •  >     ....    :  ■-.    iiL.k>    i;'.i>:tncd    with    the   >pltnc:J 

.:.>^.>   .....    :*;ci*   anv.s  of  the  adventurers,     Thi 

:  .  .  .>  ..\.  i'.:..:v>  M'linded.  jruns  were  fired,  ar.d 
:  .  >...  >.."...  ,.  :\t  \\i:h  boats  of  all  ^ha})e^  and 
>  .-  ..-  :  .  >:..:..  >:.i:^s  >aiied  out  of  the  bav.  and 
-*  ...  ;..  .;  V  •..:'*t  ut>:\\ari:.  ir.  a  >mooth  >ea.  liut  the 
>..  :u^.  :  L  \  v':^;:i:t\:  wl.cn,  a  few  dav>  afteruard>. 
:  ~r .      ;:  \\':'\  .:  >:v  ::".  \:\  tlu   l^av  of  Bi>cav. 

W  .  .:  -^-ivH  w;.  :^  nallv  iian*;;erou>  in  a  hoavv 
'^.  I  /.  ..  .:  ^..\  .  :  a::..:.  IhtA  were  >hi>rt  in  prujvir- 
:  :  :  ;  \  :  v.r^.  .\:\d  htiiiht  abi>ve  the  water-lir.c. 
A--  \  :  .\  .-.'.^w;  li  v".  ::uir  helms  badlv.  Thev  wtrc 
i:  .ui.  :«:v.-i.i\\  !^\  i.:\inance  i»n  their  upper  deck>. 
•i:  k\  \\\  \(  :\  ;\ui  wt.iihir  the  jjuns  had  to  be  struck 
ii"'v\!.  !:.:.»  iht  Iv'lti*-.  When  the  fleet  of  Essex 
I  .1' ii<  (1  :iu"  .|"ih  iMrallol  thev  encountered  the  full 
f. 'U  e  wt  a  uirik'Li.'-  :-;iI^.      I  he  >hips  strove  obstinately 

*  i^.iiiiiicn.  J)  597. 


THE  ISLAND   VOYAGE,  '  24 1 

against  it  until  they  were  all  more  or  less  disabled. 
The  Earl  himself  stood  out  until  his  ship  sprang  a 
dangerous  leak,  the  mainmast  was  gone  in  three 
places  and  the  foremast  in  two,  the  oakum  worked 
out  and  the  seams  opened,  the  main  beams  were 
shivered,  the  upper  works  gave  way,  and  the  guns 
threatened  to  drop  into  the  hold  and  make  holes  in 
her  bottom.  Then  Essex  reluctantly  shaped  a  course 
for  England.  The  ships  of  Lord  Thomas  Howard, 
of  Mountjoy,  of  Raleigh,  of  Shirley,  of  Blount,  were 
all  in  the  same  plight.  Shattered  and  disabled,  they 
sought  shelter  from  the  storm  at  Falmouth  or  Ply- 
mouth. The  mainmast  of  the  "  Mary  Rose "  was 
sprung  in  the  partners,  and  shattered  down  to  the 
step.  Experienced  old  John  Winter  wanted  to  have 
it  hove  overboard,  but  Vere  would  not  consent.  He 
at  length  got  back  to  Plymouth,  and  his  mast  was  so 
effectually  fished  that  it  lasted  out  the  rest  of  the 
voyage.  On  July  20  Essex  sent  a  message  to  Robert 
Cecil,  who  had  become  Secretary  of  State,  that  he 
had  removed  from  Falmouth  to  Plymouth,  "  to  gather 
his  scattered  flock." 

Never  had  smart  young  courtiers  and  gay  volun- 
teers been  so  bucketed  about.  It  would  be  long  be- 
fore they  forgot  the  Bay  of  Biscay.  Sir  Ferdinando 
Gorges  and  Sir  Carew  Reignall  were  so  dreadfully 
seasick  that  they  could  not  embark  again.  Sir  A. 
Shirley  took  the  place  of  the  former,  and  Sir  Alex- 
ander Ratcliffe,  "  a  very  forward  and  gallant  young 
gentleman,"^  of  the  latter.  The  treasurer.  Sir  Hugh 
Biston,  had  also  suffered  so  much  from  seasickness 
that    he    resigned    his   appointment.      Many   young 

^  Not  long  afterwards  slain  in  Ireland. 


242  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

gentlemen  volunteers,  including  Lord  Rich,  secretly 
went  home  without  taking  leave.  It  was  found  im- 
possible to  provide  for  the  large  number  of  troops 
that  had  been  embarked.  All  were  dismissed,  except 
Veres  1,200  veterans.  The  supplies  of  provisions 
were  not  only  deficient  in  quantity,  they  were  bad  in 
quality,  and  there  were  loud  complaints  of  the  beer 
especially.  It  was  very  vile  and  unsavory,  and  the 
sickness  was  attributed  as  much  to  the  bad  beer  as 
to  the  motion  of  the  sea.  Luckily,  while  the  fleet 
was  being  refitted,  a  prize  was  taken  and  brought  in, 
which  was  laden  with  Canar)'  wine.  This  was  served 
out  to  the  different  ships,  instead  of  beer. 

Essex  and  Raleigh  went  up  to  the  court  to  consult 
respecting  future  operations,  and  it  was  resolved  that 
an  attempt  should  be  made  to  burn  the  Spanish 
ships  at  Fcrrol,  and  that  the  expedition  should  after- 
wards proceed  to  the  Azores,  to  watch  for  the  fleet 
coming  from  the  Indies.  Essex  finally  sailed  from 
Plymouth  on  the  17th  of  August,  1597. 

Again  the  fleet  sailed  southwards,  across  the  Bay 
of  Biscay,  and  again  it  encountered  boisterous 
weather.  The  great  Spanish  prize,  the  *'  San  Mateo." 
with  her  spritsail  set,  carried  away  her  bowsprit,  and 
there  was  a  great  wreck  under  her  bows.  Then  the 
foremast  brcjkc  off  close  to  the  partners,  hurling  four 
men  into  the  sea,  who  were  keeping  watch  in  the 
forctop.  The  gallant  Sir  George  Carew  was  in  com- 
mand. I  le  cleared  awav  the  wreck,  and  the  Earl  of 
I^ssex  sent  to  propose  that  he  and  his  crew  should 
abandon  the  **San  Mateo,''  and  be  distributed  among 
the  other  ships.  Carew  declined,  declaring  his  inten* 
tion  to  stand  by  his  charge  to  the  last     He  rigged  a 


THE  ISLAND   VOYAGE, 


243 


jury-foremast,  set  a  pinnace's  sail  on  it,  and,  running 
before  the  wind,  eventually  reached  a  French  port.^ 
Soon  afterwards,  on  the  27th  of  August,  Raleigh's 
ship,  the  "  Warspite,"  carried  away  her  mainyard  by 
the  parral,  and  for  some  time  was  quite  unmanage- 
able, wallowing  in  the  trough  of  the  sea  and  rolling 
excessively.  She  was  obliged  to  run  before  the  wind, 
the  "  Dreadnought "  keeping  her  company.  These  and 
other  disasters  led  to  the  abandonment  of  the  project 
for  attacking  Ferrol,  and  Essex  decided  upon  shap- 
ing  a  course  direct  for  the  Azores,  a  run  of  700  miles 
from  the  Portuguese  coast.  A  fly-boat  was  dis- 
patched to  the  "  Warspite  "  and  "  Dreadnought "  with 
the  rendezvous. 

After  a  voyage  of  eight  days,  the  fleet  came  in 
sight  of  Flores  ^nd  Corvo,  the  two  most  westerly  of 
the  Azores,  where  the  inhabitants  declared  they  were 
Portuguese  and  enemies  of  the  Spaniards,  bringing 
off  fruit  and  fresh  provisions.  In  a  few  days  Raleigh 
and  Brooke  arrived,  and  a  council  of  war  was  held 
on  board  the  admiral's  ship. 

The  Azores  are  nearly  in  the  centre  of  the  Atlan- 
tic, being  1,147  miles  from  the  Lizard,  and  1,680 
from  Newfoundland.  They  are  between  the  37th 
and  40th  parallels,  and  the  nine  islands  extend  from 
W.  N.  W.  to  E.  S.  E.  for  four  hundred  miles.  The 
small  islands  of  Corvo  and  Flores  are  furthest  to  the 


*  Sir  George  Carew  was  a  son 
of  Dr.  Carew,  Dean  of  Windsor. 
He  was  afterwards  President  of 
Munster,  did  excellent  service  in 
Ireland,  and  published  a  book  in 
1633,  called  Hibernia  Pacata,  He 
was  an  accomplished  scholar  as 


well  as  a  soldier.  In  1605  he  was 
created  Baron  Carew,  and  made 
master-general  of  the  ordnance  for 
life.  1625,  created  Earl  of  Totnes. 
He  died  in  1629,  leaving  an  only 
child,  a  daughter  named  Anne, 
married  to  Sir  Allen  Apsley. 


244  ^^^  FIGHTING    VERES. 

west.  Next  come  Fayal  and  Pico,  Graciosa  and  St 
George,  which  were  originally  settled  by  Flemings. 
Martin  Behaim,  of  Nuremberg,  the  learned  cosmotjra- 
pher,  lived  and  was  married  at  the  town  of  Horta. 
the  capital  of  Fayal.  Farther  east  is  Terccira,  and 
still  more  to  the  south  and  east  is  St,  Michael,  the 
largest  and  most  important  island  in  the  group.  To 
the  southeast  of  St.  Michael  is  the  smaller  island  of 
St.  Mary.  The  richly  laden  fleets  coming  from  the 
West  Indies  usually  passed  among  the  Azores,  and 
stopped  to  take  in  water  and  fresh  provisions. 

When  the  fleet  was  assembled,  the  council  decided 
that  the  Earl  of  Essex  and  Sir  Walter  Raleigh 
should  attack  Fayal,  Lord  Thomas  Howard  and  Sir 
Francis  Vcre  were  to  go  to  Graciosa,  Mountjoy  and 
Blount  to  St.  Michaels;  but  the  arrangement  was  not 
followed  very  exactly. 

Raleigh,  with  the  "  Swiftsure,"  "Warspite,"  and 
**  Dreadnought,''  ran  ahead  of  the  rest  of  the  flcci. 
and  anchored  off  Fayal.  He  waited  for  three  days, 
and  then  effected  a  landing  at  some  little  di>tance 
from  the  town  of  Horta.  The  Spaniards  had  forti- 
fied a  steep  hill,  where  the  English  were  repulsed. 
suffering  some  loss.  But  they  marched  on,  and  en- 
tered the  deserted  town.  It  was  built  of  stone,  with 
red  tiled  roofs  and  a  fine  church,  orchards  and  gar- 
dens being  inter>persed  with  the  rows  of  hou>e>. 
Raleigh  was  no  sooner  in  j)ossession  than  the  rest  of 
the  fleet  hove  in  sight,  on  the  2 2d  of  September. 

Essex  was  incensed  with  Raleigh  for  having  pre- 
sumed to  land  and  eni^a^e  the  enemv  without  his 
knowledge  and  permission ;  and  there  were  not 
wanting  tho.se  who  fanned  the  flame  of  his  wrath. 


THE  ISLAND   VOYAGE.  245 

Sir  Christopher  Blount,  Sir  A.  Shirley,  and  Sir  Gilly 
Merrick  were  the  leaders  among  those  who  strove  to 
stir  up  dissension,  urging  that  the  rear-admiral  ought 
to  be  put  under  arrest,  and  even  cashiered,  as  well 
as  the  officers  who  landed  with  him.  Raleigh  was 
called  before  an  assembly  of  principal  officers,  in  the 
generals  presence.  Many  spoke  strongly  against 
him.  Vere  gave  his  vote  in  Raleigh's  favor.  Lord  \/ 
Thomas  Howard  made  friendly  mediation,  and  the 
general  was  pacified.  With  a  wise  and  noble  admo- 
nition he  forgave  the  offence,^  and  Essex,  with  the 
principal  officers,  dined  on  board  Raleigh  s  ship. 

The  Spaniards  were  still  intrenched  on  the  top  of 
a  steep  hill  overlooking  the  town  of  Horta,  called 
the  "  Cerro  de  Carneiro,"  with  their  flag  flying.  Sir 
Oliver  Lambart  received  a  sufficient  number  of  men 
to  guard  the  approaches  to  the  town,  and  after  sunset 
Sir  Francis  Vere  prepared  to  make  a  close  reconnois- 
sance  of  the  fort.  He  took  with  him  the  young  Earl 
of  Rutland,  several  other  volunteers,  and  about  200 
soldiers.  On  reaching  the  top  of  the  hill  it  was 
found  that  the  place  had  just  been  abandoned,  and 
several  English  prisoners,  including  Captain  Hart, 
were  lying  there  with  their  throats  cut.  It  was  use- 
less to  attempt  the  pursuit  of  the  murderers  over  the 
mountainous  island,  so  fire  was  set  to  the  town  as  a 
punishment.  The  fleet,  after  taking  fresh  provisions 
on  board,  sailed  from  Fayal. 

Essex  then  cruised  off  and  on,  between  the  islands 
of  Graciosa  and  Terceira,  for  three  days,  watching 

*  Camden  says :  "  Essex  re-  leigh's  defence  was  that  he  waited 
proved  Raleigh  sharply  for  acting  four  days,  wanted  water,  and  was 
without  orders."  (Page  598.)   Ra-    obliged  to  win  it  by  the  sword. 


•  •  ...  ■  -.  .    .  ^  •  «  ,        ,  . 

•   •  ^ ,      :  JT    f"  _«.  - "      . .  t^  •  ■  * 

c.-rr'j  ■  :lt  ii.'Vji  -V  :r.e  ai.i.rt  •::  the  r/.a-'tLToi 
th'j  ■'  k-:i-.5c.  •*  a  C-...  ur.luckv  i\;.L»vv,  na:r.L-d 
Go. -jr. 

A  j.ir.r.ace  -.va.s  dispatched  to  the  "  Man-  Rtser 
'A::h  or-i-.r-  t..  Sir  Frar.cis  Vere  for  that  >hij>  :ir.i 
the  ••  lJr:a^ir.«:ught,"  rn  ::■«. arc!  of  which  was  Sir  Ni^h- 
oias  Parkvr,  :«.  crji^e  between  St.  Gct»rs:rc  and  (ira- 
cio-a.  Th'j  Iiari  r»f  Southampton,  in  the  '*  Garland, 
and  Sir  William  Monson,  in  the  "  Rainlxiw,"  were 
r>rdrrf;d  to  cri:i.-e  fift  the  north  side  of  Gracic»>a,  Wtc 
n-M-ivf'd  hi>  order.-?  at  about  ten  r.  m.  .A  little  after 
midnight  the  lookout  men  of  the  '*  Rainbow"  hear^i 
sii/nal  mm>.  There  was  scarcely  any  wind,  but  Wre 
and  Parker  crowded  all  sail  in  the  direction  of  ihi- 
report'^.  The  morning  was  yery  foggy,  and  nothini: 
(•(.nid  he  M-en,  ])Ut  still  the  guns  could  be  heard  .i: 
interval-*.  At  eight  A.  M.  the  fog  rose,  and  disclM>e.i 
to  view  a  ileet  of  twenty  Spanish  ships,  nearly  hull 
d«»w!i,  making  all  sail  for  Terceira,  Vere  set  ever)" 
stiti  h  of  ranva>,  and  kept  wetting  the  sails,  to  make 
them  draw,  as  the  wind  began  to  freshen.  The 
"i.ailand"  and  "Rainbow**  were  far  ahead,  and 
ne.ii  the  Sp.misji  shi|^s;  and  the  Karl  of  Southamp- 
t*»n  did  lapiiiie  a  lagging  frigate,  laden  with  ct<hi- 
xu  .\\  liul  the  le^l  of  the  tleet  got  safely  into  Ter- 
,x\ia.  \Nl\^ie  iho  iiea>ure  was  landed,  and  the  ships 


THE  ISLAND   VOYAGE.  247 

were  moored  close  under  the  guns  of  the  fort 
Among  the  Spanish  fleet,  which  was  commanded  by 
Juan  Gutierrez  de  Garibay  and  Francisco  de  Corral, 
there  were  six  galleons  laden  with  silver.  The  trea- 
sure amounted  to  10,000,000,  belonging  to  the  crown 
and  to  private  persons.  The  unfortunate  Sir  Rich* 
ard  Hawkins  was  on  board  one  of  the  Spanish  ships, 
being  conveyed  a  prisoner  of  the  Inquisition  from 
Lima.  He  must  have  been  sadly  disappointed  at 
losing  this  most  tantalizing  chance  of  escape.  It  was 
now  evening,  and  the  Earl  of  Southampton,  Sir 
William  Monson,  and  Sir  Nicholas  Parker  came  on 
board  Vere's  ship  to  consult.  They  resolved  to  send 
in  boats  to  cut  the  cables  of  the  outer  Spanish  ships ; 
but  the  attempt  failed,  and  they  continued  to  watch 
the  entrance,  while  a  fast-sailing  pinnace  was  sent  to 
St.  Michael's,  to  apprise  the  general.  Two  days  af- 
terwards Essex  arrived  with  the  rest  of  the  fleet,  but 
the  conclusion  was  that  no  attempt  could  be  made 
on  Terceira  without  extreme  hazard;  so  the  enter- 
prise was  abandoned.  Provisions  were  running  short, 
and  it  was  decided  that  water  and  supplies  should 
be  taken  in  at  St.  Michael's,  and,  as  the  season  was 
well  advanced,  that  the  fleet  should  then  return  to 
England.  The  plan  was,  that  most  of  the  ships,  un- 
der Raleigh,  should  remain  off  the  town  of  St.  Mi- 
chael s,  while  the  soldiers,  embarked  in  smaller  vessels, 
were  to  effect  a  landing  in  the  bay  called  Rostro  de 
Can,  near  Villafranca,  a  town  about  fifteen  miles  south- 
east of  St  Michael's,  on  the  same  side  of  the  island. 

Sir  Francis  Vere  went  ahead  in  his  boat,  to  select 
a  good  place  for  disembarking ;  and  the  troops,  led 
by  the  Earl  of  Essex,  landed  on  a  sandy  beach  in 


248  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

front  of  the  town.  Vere  then  occupied  the  tomi 
with  200  men,  and  found  a  good  supply  of  corn  awl 
fruit.  About  2,000  men  were  then  marched  up  and 
quartered  in  the  houses,  where  they  were  placed 
under  the  command  of  V^erc.  Essex  and  Mountjov 
returned  to  the  fleet  off  St.  Michaels.  Meanwhile 
Raleigh  had  driven  a  large  carrack  on  shore,  and 
captured  a  ship  laden  with  sugar  and  Brazil  wood 
The  fleet  then  came  to  Villafranca  to  water ;  but  it 
was  tedious  work,  as  the  sea  was  shallow,  and  it  was 
necessary  to  float  the  casks  off  to  the  boats.  After 
watering  for  three  or  four  days,  Essex  gave  the  order 
to  embark.  This,  also,  took  a  long  lime.  The  ship? 
were  at  anchor  at  a  considerable  distance  from  the 
shore,  and  only  one  boat  could  come  in  at  a  time. 
owinti:  to  the  surf.  Essex  was  most  of  each  dav  at 
the  water-side,  superintending  the  embarkation,  and 
sending  up  to  Vcre  for  more  men  from  the  town. 
as  he  was  ready  to  embark  them. 

At  five  in  the  afternoon  of  the  7th  of  October,  the 
sentry  on  the  church-tower  reported  masses  of  men 
approaching  from  the  town  of  St.  Michael's,  Sir 
Francis  Wtc  then  sent  up  Sir  William  Constable. 
who  corroborated  the  sentry's  statement.  There 
were  still  about  500  men  on  shore.  Dispatching 
Constable  to  report  the  news  to  the  Earl  of  Essex, 
Vere  .sent  out  thirtv  shot-men  to  a  little  wa\-side 
chapel,  a  long  musket  range  from  Villafranca,  with  or- 
ders  to  give  the  enemv  a  vollev  as  soon  as  thev  came 
within  range,  and  then  to  retire  hurriedly  towards 
the  town,  where  \'ere  would  be  readv  with  the  rest 
of  his  men  to  repulse  and  rout  them.  As  soon  as 
these   arrangements   had  been   made,  the   Earl  of 


THE  ISLAND   VOYAGE. 


249 


Essex,  with  Lord  Southampton  and  several  others, 
came  into  the  market-place,  asking  Sir  Francis  what 
he  had  seen.  Essex  was  on  horseback,  the  rest  on 
foot,  chatting  round  him,  and  giving  little  credence 
to  the  report.  Essex  called  for  tobacco,  and  he  sat 
quietly  smoking  with  his  friends.  Suddenly  the 
sound  of  volleys  of  musketry  was  heard.  The  Earl 
dropped  his  pipe,  and  listened  intently.  Another 
volley  was  heard.  Evidently  the  soldiers  at  the 
chapel,  instead  of  hastily  retiring,  in  accordance  with 
Vere's  orders,  were  holding  their  own.^  The  conse- 
quence was  that  the  enemy  halted.  Keeping  the 
advanced  post  in  sight  of  the  Spanish  troops,  the 
embarkation  was  continued  after  sunset,  and  at  about 
midnight  the  last  soldier  stepped  into  the  boat. 
Essex  followed  him.  Then  the  outlying  picket,  com- 
manded by  Sir  Charles  Percy,  was  quietly  withdrawn. 
Vere  was  the  last  man  to  leave  the  shore.  Before 
sailing,  Essex  conferred  the  honor  of  knighthood  on 
the  Earls  of  Southampton  and  Rutland,  Sir  William 
Evers,  Sir  Henry  Docwra,  Sir  William  Browne,  and 
a  Dutch  gentleman.^ 

On  the  9th  of  October  the  fleet  shaped  a  course 
for  England.  It  was  soon  scattered  by  a  gale  of 
wind.  The  "  Mary  Rose  "  very  nearly  ran  into  the 
"  Warspite,"  her  stem  tearing  away  the  whole  of  the 


^  Herrera  says  that  the  Span- 
iards, commanded  by  Antonio  Fa- 
vella,  killed  50  English,  and  took 
some  prisoners. 

*  Sir  Francis  Vere  gives  a  full 
account  of  the  "  island  voyage  " 
in  his  Commentaries^  and  there  is 
another  in  Camden.  The  official 
report  is  in  Purchase   iv.,  lib.  x. 


cap.  xiv.  p.  1935,  which  is  followed 
by  A  Larger  Relation  of  the  Is* 
land  Voyage^  by  Sir  A.  Gorges,  p. 
1938.  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  de- 
scribed his  landing  at  Fayal  in 
his  History  of  the  World.  See 
also  Sir  William  Monson's  Naval 
Tracts^  and  Herrera,  lib.  xvi.  cap. 
xxi.  p.  7JO. 


250  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

"  Warspite's  "  port-quarter  gallery.  Then  the  "  Mary 
Rose ''  sprung  a  very  dangerous  leak,  and  the  men 
were  kept  constantly  at  the  pumps  until  they  reached 
Plymouth. 

Fortunately,  the  same  weather  had  scattered  ar.d 
almost  destroyed  the  great  Spanish  fleet  which  had 
been  fitted  out  at  Ferrol  for  the  invasion  of  Eng- 
land and  Ireland.  The  intention  of  Philip  II.  had 
been  to  land  an  army  of  lofioo  men  at  Falmouth: 
but  his  ships  were  scattered,  and  as  many  as  thirty-six 
were  lost  at  sea.* 

The  English  ships  had  suffered  seriously,  but  they 
reached  Plymouth  at  last,  and  the  Earl  of  Esscx 
posted  to  the  court.  Shortly  afterwards  a  supply  « t' 
treasure  was  sent  down,  with  commission  to  Sir  Wal- 
ter Raleigh  and  Sir  Francis  Vere  to  pay  the  men.  re- 
fit, and  send  the  Queen  s  ships  round  to  Chatham. 
Thus  ended  the  unlucky  expedition  which  is  knuwr. 
in  lii.story  as  the  "  I^land  Voyage."  The  leader  was 
a  young  man  of  distinguished  bravery  and  zeal,  but 
very  dcticicnt  in  judgment  and  knowledge.  He  was 
proud  and  irascible,  yet  generous  and  readily  ap- 
peased ;  one  who  could  take  advice  and  was  easily  led. 
but  wlio  could  not  be  driven.  Both  his  \*irtues  and 
his  faults  hurried  the  ill-fated  Earl  of  Essex  to  his 
untinielv  end.  He  had  around  him  the  most  re^ 
nownrd  >ail()rs  and  soldiers  of  their  time,  —  Ralciirh 
and  M()n><)n,  Vere  and  Mountjoy,  —  and  if  experience 
and  bravery  could  alone  have  won  success,  its  attain- 
ment  was  certain.     The  elements  which  prevented 

^  \\  TO  bad  information  from  that  Falmouth  was  to  be  attacked 
prisoiKi^.  that  the  Spaniards  in-  ( Vere  and  Kalei^h  to  Essex.  Nor.  2 
tcnclccl  to  attack  Ireland,  and  aUo    and  6,  1597.     MSS.  at  Hatfield^ 


THE  ISLAND   VOYAGE.  25 1 

the  achievement  of  all  that  was  intended,  at  the  same 
time  secured,  in  their  own  way,  the  main  object  of 
the  expedition  by  scattering  and  destroying  the  Span- 
ish fleet. 

As  soon  as  all  his  duties  were  completed  at  Plym- 
outh, Sir  Francis  Vere  set  out  on  horseback  for  Lon- 
don, travelling  post.  He  was  galloping  along  near 
Marylebone  Park,  when  he  overtook  a  coach  in 
which  was  Sir  William  Russell,  the  Lord  Deputy  of 
Ireland.^  They  had  not  met  for  years;  but  Vere 
had  seen  Sir  William  charge  at  the  head  of  Eng- 
lands  chivalry  near  Zutphen,  and  Sir  William  had 
been  governor  of  Flushing  when  Vere  was  defending 
Sluys.  Vere  jumped  off  his  horse  to  salute  his  old 
friend  with  dutiful  affection,  and  Russell  stepped  out 
of  his  coach  to  show  the  same  cordial  pleasure  at  the 
meeting.  But  Vere  was  in  a  profuse  perspiration 
from  having  ridden  hard ;  and  standing  bareheaded 
for  some  time  in  a  bleak  November  afternoon,  he 
caught  such  a  violent  cold  in  his  head  that  he  was 
confined  to  his  lodging  for  three  weeks.  Meanwhile, 
the  ears  of  Queen  Elizabeth  had  been  filled  with  ill- 
natured  remarks  about  the  Island  Voyage,  by  the 
enemies  of  the  Earl  of  Essex.  Sir  Francis  con- 
sidered that  this  detraction  was  unjust,  and  as  soon 
as  he  was  able  to  go  out  he  went  to  the  court,  which 
was  then  at  Whitehall.  He  determined  not  to  seek 
an  introduction,  but  to  be  in  attendance  in  the  gar- 
den when  the  Queen  should  come  forth.  Presently 
Elizabeth  appeared  at  the  head  of  a  crowd  of  court- 

*  He  was  created  Baron  Rus-  father  of  the  patriot  Lord  Russell, 
sell  of  Thornhaugh  in  1603,  and  who  was  judicially  murdered  by 
died  101613.    He  was  great-grand-    Charles  II. 


252  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

iers,  and  as  soon  as  she  set  eyes  on  Sir  Franci> 
Vera  she  called  him  to  her.  Immediately  she  began 
to  question  him  about  the  Island  Voyage,  appearing 
to  be  much  incensed  against  Essex,  and  laying  the 
whole  blame  of  the  failure  upon  him.  In  reply  Sir 
Francis  boldly  justified  the  young  Earl,  and  answered 
all  the  objections  that  had  been  raised  against  him. 
in  presence  of  his  detractors.  The  Queen  was  sati>- 
fied,  and,  having  reached  the  end  of  the  walk,  she  sat 
down,  and  continued  to  hold  more  confidential  dis- 
course with  Verc  alone,  about  the  Earls  disposition. 
Essex  was  afterwards  made  Earl  Marshal  of  England; 
the  lord  admiral,  who  was  his  colleague  in  the  Cadiz 
voyage,  having  previously  been  created  Earl  of  Not- 
tingham. 

During  the  absence  of  Vere  at  the  Azores,  one  of 
the  oldest  and -bravest  of  his  companions  had  passed 
away.  Sir  John  Norris,  second  only  to  Morgan  and 
Williams  for  length  of  service,  and  second  to  no  one 
for  gallantry  in  action,  died  in  Ireland  in  1597.  He 
was  President  of  Munster.  Lord  Burgh,'  the  gov- 
ernor of  lirill,  had  also  died,  and  his  successor.  Lord 
Shcfliekl,  resigned  after  a  few  months.  Sir  Franci> 
Verc,  after  the  battle  of  Turnhout,  in  January,  passed 
most  of  llie  winter  and  spring  of  I59*S  at  court,  "gal- 
lantly followed  by  such  as  profess  arms."-      Even* 

>  Tln'm.is  L(>riM»iir;:!i  <if  (lains-  ofT.Vanjjhan    HisgalLint  broihtf 

borou-h  wa>;  <hsccnilc<l  from  Sir  John  was  knighted  by  the  EaH  fl' 

Tliomas  (Ic  r>iir;^li,  wlin  w.is  created  Leicester,  but  came  to  an  nntiintlj 

a  Knij^ht  of  the  (iartcr  liy  Ki(  hard  end  in  a  duel,  in  1594,  aged  ihirtf- 

III.,   and   made    Lord    i'iur;:h   of  two.    There  is  a  tomb  to  Sir  Jpbfl 

GainO)on»iii:h  in  14SS.  Lord  Hisr-^h  Borough     (or     Durgh)    in   West* 

sun  it<U*d    Thomas  Cecil  as  ;it»v-  minster  Abbey, 

ernor  of  r.rill,  and  died   in  15^7.  '  Rowland  Whyte  to  Sir  Robert 

His  widow  was  Frances,  daughter  Sidney,  ii.  p.  78. 


THE  ISLAND   VOYAGE.  253 

ambitious  young  gentleman  sought  employment 
under  the  greatest  English  captain  of  the  time,  and 
he  received  numerous  applications  whenever  he  ap- 
peared at  court  He  was  himself  desirous  of  obtain- 
ing the  government  of  one  of  the  cautionary  towns, 
and  that  of  Brill  was  now  vacant.  Many  friends 
urged  him  to  apply  for  it,  and  Sir  Fulk  Greville 
brought  the  subject  to  the  Queen  s  notice.  After-' 
wards  Sir  Francis,  when  her  Majesty  was  walking  in 
the  garden  one  evening,  ventured  to  make  the  request 
to  her  in  person.  The  Earl  of  Sussex  was  his  only 
competitor,  while  he  had  a  warm  friend  in  Sir  Robert 
Cecil,  who  had  just  become  Secretary  of  State.  The 
Queen,  in  the  summer  of  1598,  jfinally  decided  in 
favor  of  Sir  Francis  Vere.  Towards  the  end  of  Sep- 
tember he  left  England,  and  assumed  the  government 
of  Brill,  after  taking  the  oaths  of  office.^  He  was 
now  governor  of  Brill,  general  of  her  Majesty's  forces 
in  the  Netherlands,  and  general  of  the  English  troops 
in  the  pay  of  the  States. 

1  Sir  Francis  Vere's  lieutenant-  yearly  cost  of  the  Brill  garrison  of 

governor  at  Brill  was  Sir  Edward  500  men  was,  for  officers,  ;£2,244 ; 

Conway,  who  had  been  knighted  men,  J^T.o^ ;  total,  ;£9,342.     The 

at  Cadiz.    Sir  Edward  was  created  governor  received  £\yi\\  a  year, 

Lord  Conway  of  Ragley  in  1624,  out  of  which  a  pension  had  to  be 

and  was  Secretary  of  State  in  1630.  paid  to  Lady  Burgh.    Vere's  lieu- 

His  father.  Sir  John  Conway,  died  tenant  was  young  E.  Wilford,  son 

in  1603,  and  his  mother  was  Elena,  of  his  old  comrade  Sir  T.  Wilford. 

daughter  of  Sir  Fulk  Greville.    Sir  The  sergeant-major  was  Thomas 

Edward  married  Dorothy,  daugh-  Fawkes ;  water  baily,  Captain  H. 

ter  of  Sir  J.  Tracy  of  Toddington,  Fawkes ;  officer  of  musters,  George 

and  had  Edward,  2d  Lord  Conway,  Thoresby ;  master  gunner,  Gregory 

and  Brilliana,  born  at  Brill,  and  Gibbs  ;  captain  of  a  company.  Sir 

married  to  Sir  R.  Harley.    The  F.  Gorges. 


CHAPTER   XIX. 

BATTLE   OF   TURNHOUT. 

During  the  absence  of  Sir  Francis  Vere  from  the 
Netherlands  on  naval  service,  the  activity  and  enter- 
prise of  Prince  Maurice  had  been  as  conspicuous  a?, 
ever;  and  there  had  been  a  change  in  the  Spanish 
command.     The  Archduke  Ernest  died  in  February, 

0 

1595,  and  during  the  following  year  Don  Pedro  de 
Guzman,  Condc  de  Fuentes,  had  been  captain-general 
of  the  army  of  Philip  II.  The  Archduke  Albert,  one 
of  the  younger  sons  of  the  Emperor  Maximilian  II- 
had  been  intended  for  the  church,  and  had  actualiv 
been  appointed  a  cardinal  and  Archbishop  of  Toleda 
But  his  career  was  changed ;  and  his  cousin,  Phiiip 
II.,  selected  him  to  represent  Spanish  power  in  the 
Low  Countries.  He  was  an  amiable  man,  but  u-a> 
not  remarkable  for  military  talent.  His  ver\'  plain 
features  are  familiar  to  visitors  to  the  Brussels  picture 
gallery.  The  Archduke  Albert  entered  Brussels  on 
the  I  ith  of  February,  1596,  when  he  was  thirty-seven 
years  of  age.  In  the  following  summer  the  siege  and 
capture  of  Hulst  gave  some  eclat  to  his  govcrnmenL 
Late  in  the  autumn  of  1597  Sir  Francis  Vere  came 
over  to  Holland  and  inspected  the  English  field  force. 
residing  for  some  time  at  the  Hague.  On  the  ap* 
proach  of  winter  a  division  of  the  Archduke  Albert's 
army,  under  the  command  of  the  Count  of  VanaSi 


BATTLE  OF   TURNHOUT  255 

ad  advanced  to  the  village  of  Turnhout,  about  twenty 
liles  south  of  Breda.  It  consisted  of  4,000  infantry 
nd  600  cavalry,  and  it  was  evident  that  they  were 
matching  for  an  opportunity  to  undertake  some  ex- 
loit  against  the  Dutch ;  probably  their  design  was 
D  surprise  the  town  of  Tholen.  Sir  Francis  Vere 
aw  a  good  deal  of  Barneveldt  at  the  Hague,  and  one 
ay,  in  the  course  of  conversation,  he  remarked  to  the 
)utch  statesman  that  "  the  enemy  did  but  tempt  us 
3  beat  them."  The  idea  bore  fruit.  Barneveldt  dis- 
ussed  the  matter  with  the  other  members  of  the 
itates  General,  and,  towards  the  end  of  December, 
Maurice  received  orders  to  collect  a  force  at  Ger- 
ruydenburg,  very  secretly,  to  attack  the  enemy  at 
Turnhout. 

This  enterprise  was  well  planned,  ably  carried  out, 
nd  was  completely  successful.  It  was  an  instance 
f  the  reward  which  attends  upon  vigilance  and 
Tompt  action ;  and  it  served  to  display  the  special 
ualities  of  Sir  Francis  Vere  to  the  best  advantage. 

A  force  of  5,000  foot  and  800  horse,  with  two  demi- 
annons  and  two  fieldpieces,  under  Heraugiere,  the 
overnor  of  Breda,  was  secretly  assembled  at  Ger- 
ruydenburg.  Sir  Francis  Vere  brought  an  English 
egiment,  and  he  was  to  command  one  of  the  two 
roops  into  which  the  English  cavalry  was  divided, 
lir  Robert  Sidney  came  from  Flushing  with  300  of 
is  garrison.  Hohenlohe,  with  Marcellus  Bacx 
inder  his  orders,  commanded  the  States  cavalry. 
Jrederode  and  Solms  arrived  with  drafts  from  various 
;arrisons,  and  Sir  Alexander  Murray  with  a  regiment 
i  Scots.  At  break  of  day  on  Thursday,  the  23d  of 
anuary,  1598,  the  expedition  marched  out  of  Ger- 


256  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

truydenburg  in  four  divisions,  with  cavalry  on  the 
flanks.  In  the  van  were  six  ensigns  of  foot  under 
the  colors  of  Maurice  himself,  next  came  700  men 
under  Sidney,  then  eight  ensigns  of  foot  under  Sir 
Francis,  and  Murray  brought  up  the  rear  with  hi> 
Scots.  Marching  all  day,  they  reached  the  village  oi 
Ravels,  near  Turnhout,  about  two  hours  after  dark. 
The  distance  from  Gertruydenburg  was  twenty-four 
miles,  —  a  long  march.  The  rear  guard  did  not  reach 
camp  until  after  midnight.  It  was  a  dark  and  bitterly 
cold  night.  Spies  reported  that  the  enemy  wa>  c:> 
camped  at  Turnhout,  three  miles  from  Ravels,  without 
any  intrenchments,  and  ignorant  of  their  danger. 
Supper  was  hastily  cooked,  and  the  men  rested  afier 
tlieir  long  march.  Maurice,  Vere,  and  Sidney  wrapj>ed 
their  cloaks  around  them,  and  lay  down  on  the 
frozen  ground.  But  Maurice  was  restless,  walking 
up  and  down,  and  lighting  fires  of  straw  with  his  own 
hand,  by  the  corps  du  (;^ardi\  There  was  no  sleeping 
by  him,  so  Vere  and  Sidney  went  into  a  barn  full  ci 
soldiers,  and  there  got  a  little  sleep.  At  length 
morninix  dawned. 

The  Count  of  Varras,  brother  of  the  Marquis  of 
Wanvnbon,"  though  an  honorable  knight,  had  more 
of  magnificence,  sumptuousness,  and  eloquence  than 
experience  in  war.''*  Me  had  heard  nothing  of  the 
threatening  assemblage  of  troops  at  Gertruydenburg. 
and  was  encamped  in  the  large  village  of  Turnhout 
without  any  suspicion  of  danger.  The  small  castie, 
surrounded  by  a  moat,  contained  a  garrison  of  fort)' 
men.  The  force  commanded  bv  the  Count  of  Varras 
consisted  of  four  battalions  of  infantry, — the  Germans 

1  Herrera. 


THE   FIELD   OF  TLIRNHOUT. 


258  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

enemy's  rear  guard  from  the  bridge-head.  The 
country  was  intersected  in  all  directions  by  hedges 
and  ditches.  Sir  Francis  put  his  heavily  weighted 
war-horse  at  a  wide  brook,  where  there  was  bad 
taking  off,  and  it  fell.  Meteren  says  that  the  honi* 
was  killed  under  him.  The  general  scrambled  out 
on  the  other  side,  and  continued  to  lead  on  foot,  until 
he  was  remounted.  The  Dutch  musketeers  under 
his  orders  were  commanded  by  Captain  van  der  Aa. 
who,  by  a  curious  coincidence,  had  the  same  name  a> 
the  river.  Some  crossed  the  bridge,  while  othen^ 
with  the  cavalry,  got  over  the  river  by  a  very  deep 
and  dangerous  ford.  The  enemy  was  now  in  fuil 
retreat,  and  it  was  evident  that  the  pursuing  infantn' 
could  take  no  further  part  in  the  operations.  Verc 
saw  at  once  that  the  only  chance  of  delaying  them 
was  to  keej:)  constantly  in  their  sight.  He  therefore 
rode  on  with  a  few  officers.  He  saw  some  marching 
and  ollicrs  hailing,  as  if  there  was  some  impediment 
in  front,  which  lie  supposed  to  be  caused  by  a  block 
of  wagons.  They  were  marching  along  a  broad  lane, 
with  tivc's  and  underwood  on  either  side. 

The  Mngljsli  general  took  in  the  position  at  once. 
Assuming  that  the  trees  would  conceal  the  smallness 
of  his  force,  he  called  up  his  musketeers,  and  stationed 
them  along  the  .skirts  of  the  wood,  with  orders  to 
keej)  u];  a  dro])ping  fire,  while  he  himself,  with  six- 
teen horsemen,  followed  along  the  highway,  in  full 
sight.  lie  sent  back  a  report  to  Maurice,  with  an 
urgent  re(|ue>t  that  he  would  advance  promptly  and 
ra|)iclly  with  all  his  cavalry,  in  which  case  victor}'  was 
certain. 

Meanwhile,  Wre  continued  to  keep  touch  of  the 


BATTLE  OF  TURNHOUT.  259 

lemy,  whose  rear  guard  maintained  a  skirmishing 
re,  and  he  was  slightly  wounded  in  the  leg.  Thus 
t  kept  them  in  play  for  three  hours,  when  they 
nerged  on  an  open  heath,  about  three  miles  from 
le  bridge.^  This  skirmishing  caused  considerable 
ilay  in  the  retreat,  which  was  Vere's  object,  and  it 
lus  secured  the  victory.  The  open  heath  was  about 
iree  miles  across,  with  woods  and  enclosed  fields  on 
le  left.  Along  these  Vere  caused  his  musketeers  to 
Ivance  and  fire  upon  the  enemy ;  while  he,  now  con- 
derably  reinforced,  continued  to  follow  in  the  open, 
he  Count  de  Varras,  now  that  he  had  sufficient 
)ace  on  the  heath,  formed  his  infantry  in  four  solid 
[uares  of  pikemen,  with  shotmen  on  the  flanks.  His 
ivalry  and  wagons  had  already  crossed  the  heath, 
id  entered  the  lane  beyond,  which  had  woods  and 
iclosures  on  either  side.  The  first  square  consisted 
:  Germans  led  by  Count  Solst,  then  came  Walloons 
id  Burgundians  under  Hachincourt  and  Barlay- 
lont,  and  the  Marquis  of  Treviso  brought  up  the 
lar  with  his  Neapolitans.  They  were  fast  traversing 
le  heath,  and  approaching  the  woods,  where  they 
ould  be  in  comparative  safety. 
Vere  kept  following  them,  anxiously  watching  the 
ees  in  the  rear  for  the  appearance  of  Maurice  and 
IS  cavalry.  At  length,  to  his  great  relief,  they  began 
\  come  in  sight.  Then  squadron  after  squadron 
nerged  from  the  wood  and  formed  on  the  open 
^ath-  There  were  very  few  minutes  to  spare.  Vere 
illopcd  off  to  Count  Maurice,  and  proposed  to  lead 

1  Vere  says  five  or  six  miles,  the  commencement  of  the  heath  at 
Dcwra  two  miles.  An  examina-  a  distance  of  three  miles  from  the 
►n  of  the  ground  leads  me  to  place    river  Aa. 


26o  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

a  charge  at  once ;  while  Hohenlohe  took  up  a  posi- 
tion on  the  right.  Then,  almost  at  the  same  ma- 
ment,  Hohenlohe  charged  the  enemy's  right  flank, 
while  Vere  dashed  upon  their  rear.  After  the  first 
volley  their  shotmen  broke  and  fled.  The  pikemcn 
were  injudiciously  formed  for  receiving  cavalry,  and 
the  English  and  Dutch  soon  broke  their  n)as>cd 
squares.  Then  several  companies  of  horse  galK)jK:d 
down  the  Heerenthal  road,  in  chase  of  the  cnemvs 
cavalry  and  baggage.  Vere  foresaw  that  thc>e  dis- 
ordered and  victorious  pursuers  would  soon  be  routed 
by  the  well-ordered  cavalry  of  the  enemy,  which  had 
not  vet  been  in  action.  He  told  Count  Hohenlohe 
that  he  would  do  well  to  stop  the  pursuit.  He  then 
overtook  Sir  Nicholas  Parker,  who  commanded  his 
own  English  companies,  and  ordered  him  to  .station 
his  men  at  the  end  of  the  heath,  and  check  the  coun- 
ter-pursuit he  anticipated.  Sure  enough,  the  di- 
ordered  cavalrv  were  soon  seen  to  be  returnini:  a? 
fast  as  they  went,  and  galloped  past  \'ere  and  Parker 
in  wild  flight.  The  enemy  s  cavalry  were  rapiiily 
approaching  in  pursuit.  But  seeing  fre>h  troop? 
formed  to  receive  them,  they  retreated  without  any 
further  hostile  attempt. 

The  destruction  of  the  infantrv  battalions  was  com- 
plete.  Out  of  4,000,  the  number  of  killed  was  500. 
of  |)risoners  600,  and  thirty-eight  ensigns  were  taken. 
The  Count  of  \'arras  was  slain  in  the  battle.  Of  the 
allied  forces  not  above  ten  were  slain ;  and  the  whole 
action  was  f(night  bv  under  800  horse.  The  infantn* 
ne\  er  came  uj).  That  night  they  rested  at  the  village 
of  Turnhout.*     Next  mornint'  the  castle  of  Turnhout 

*  Turnhout  i.s  now  a  gruuing  manutacturing  town.     The  charcb  is 


BATTLE  OF  TURNHOUT. 


26z 


capitulated,  and  the  troops  began  their  return  march 
to  Gertruydenburg.^  Prince  Maurice  returned  to  the 
Hague  on  the  8th  of  February.  Sir  Francis  Vera 
accompanied  Sir  Robert  Sidney  to  Willemstad, 
whence  the  governor  of  Flushing  intended  to  pro- 
ceed by  water  to  his  charge.  Vere  wrote  his  official 
despatches,  and  gave  them  to  one  of  Sidney's  captains 
to  deliver  in  England.  Sidney's  letter  was  sent  home 
by  the  same  opportunity.  Both  these  gallant  soldiers 
spoke  generously  of  each  other.  Vere  said:  "Sir 
Robert  Sidney  deserved  exceeding  well  in  this  ser- 
vice, being  one  of  the  first  that  charged."  Sidney 
reported  that  the  victory  was  due  to  Vere.  Yet  mis- 
chief was  made  between  them,  and  Sir  Francis  was 
told  that  "  his  letters  were  kept  back,  and  Sidney's 
delivered,  that  were  far  more  partially  written." 

The  news  of  the  battle  of  Turnhout  was  received 
in  England  with  great  rejoicing,  and  congratulations 


in  the  centre  of  the  Groot  Markt. 
It  is  a  modern  cruciform  building 
of  brick,  but  contains  a  very  fine 
pulpit  of  carved  wood,  like  that  at 
St.  Andrew's  in  Antwerp,  —  the 
apostolic  fishers  in  a  boat,  drawing 
their  net,  and  at  the  foot  the  figure 
of  Christ  calling  them.  The  ban- 
isters represent  a  vine  with  clus- 
ters of  grapes  on  one  side,  and  on 
the  other  an  orange-tree  with  leaves 
and  fruit.  The  old  castle  was  at 
a  short  distance  northwest  of  the 
market-place,  a  square  building 
with  an  angle  tower,  surrounded 
by  an  unusually  wide  moat.  It  is 
now  used  as  the  prison.  A  street 
now  extends  south  from  the  market 
place  to  the  river  Aa,  and  beyond  it. 
*  The  best  account  of  the  battle 


of  Turnhout  is  given  by  Sir  Francis 
Vere  himself  in  his  Commentaries ; 
and  in  his  official  report,  dated  at 
Breda  on  January  27,  1597.  (S. 
P.  C,  Holland,  vol.  Ixxxv.)  Sir 
Robert  Sidney's  report,  dated  from 
Flushing,  is  in  the  same  volume. 
On  February  28,  1 597,  Sir  F.  Vere 
sent  a  discourse  of  the  exploit  to 
Lord  Burleigh,  which  had  been 
published  in  French,  Latin,  and 
Dutch.  At  Hatfield  there  is  an 
account  of  the  battle  by  Sir  Henry 
Docwra,  dated  January  30,  1598, 
which  was  sent  to  the  Earl  of 
Essex.  I  was  supplied  with  a 
copy  of  this  interesting  document 
through  the  kindness  of  the  Mar- 
quis of  Salisbury.  See,  also, 
Grimeston,  Meteren,  Bentivoglio. 


262  THE  FIGHTIXG   VERES. 

poured  In  on  all  sides.     It  was  even  dramatized  in 
London,  and  introduced  on  the  stage,  all  the  officers 
who  were  present  at  the  battle  being  personated.   '*  He 
that  played  Sir  Francis  Vere  got  a  beard  resemblir.g 
his,  and  a  watchet  satin  doublet  with  hose  trimn^.ed 
with  silver  lace.     Sidney  and  the  others  were  amor.j; 
the  dramatis  persona',  and    honorable  mention   \va^ 
made  of  their  ser\'ices  in  second;  ng  Sir  Franci>.*"* 
Queen  Elizabeth  wrote  herself  to  Sir  Francis  \'ere, 
on  February  7,  1598,  in  the  following  terms:  -  It  is 
no  news  to    hear,  by  the  late  defeat  at   Turnht^ut, 
that  your  presence  and  that  of  the  other   Ent;ii>h 
in  the  service,   has  furthered  both   your  own  repu- 
tation and  its  success:  yet  we  wish  to  signify  our 
good  liking  of  the  report  we  hear  of  your  ser\ices. 
The  receipt  of  this  gracious  letter  from  his  sovereign 
gave  no  small  comfort  to  her  faithful  and  most  loya! 
general,  who  warmly  expressed    his   gratitude   in  a 
letter  to  Lord  Burleigh.^     Elizabeth  did  not  shower 
titles  and  orders  among  her  public  servants,  but  they 
knew  that  she  watched  all  they  did  with  close  and 
intelligent  interest,  that  she  appreciated  their  efforts 
and  admired  their  skill  and  gallantry.     She  did  not 
create  her  general  a  peer,  because  she  held  that  the 
name  of  Francis  Vere  had  become,  through  its  owner's 
merits,  more  illustrious  than  any  court  title  that  she 
could  be>tow. 

*  Rowland    WhMc    to    Sir    R.    the  HafB:uc.  Feb.  20,  159&    (S  P. 
Sidney.  0.,  Holland,  Ixxjcv.) 

-  Vcrc  to  Lord   Hurlei^h,  from 


CHAPTER  XX. 

THE  BOMMEL-WAART. 

IE  long  war  was  entering  upon  a  new  phase. 
1  was  becoming  exhausted,  and  even  Philip  II. 
n  to  contemplate  the  necessity  for  peace  and 
illation.  The  heretics,  he  unwillingly  admitted, 
be  spoken  fair.  He  determined  to  cede  the 
erlands  to  his  daughter  Isabella,  who  was  to 
y  the  Cardinal  Archduke  Albert,  and  they  were 
e  sovereigns,  while  the  Spanish  monarch  only 
ned  a  suzerainty.  Liberal  terms  were  to  be 
ed  to  the  heretics  if  they  would  accept  this  ar- 
sment,  while  proposals  of  peace  were  to  be  made 
ranee  and  England.  What  a  change  since  the 
of  Alva,  or  even  of  Parma !  The  once  match- 
Spanish  infantry  was  no  longer  feared.  The 
.^sses  of  the  patriots,  culminating  in  the  battle  of 
ihout,  had  produced  a  great  moral  effect  both  on 
ictors  and  the  vanquished.  Holland  had  grown 
and  prosperous  in  the  fight  for  freedom,  while 
1  had  sunk  deeper  and  deeper  into  debt  and 
irrassments.  At  last  the  haughty  and  exacting 
irch  of  Spain  and  the  Indies,  who  for  years 
d  listen  to  nothing  but  abject  submission  from 
nsurgent  provinces,  was  fain  to  make  the  first 
ures  for  peace, 
le  King  of  France,  whose  country  was  exhausted 


264  ^^^  FIGHTING   VERES, 

by  a  long  civil  war,  listened  to  these  overtures  rather 
too  eagerly,  and  without  any  regard  for  the  obliga- 
tion he  had  contracted  with  England  and  Holland 
in  the  time  of  his  sore  need.  The  English  ambassa- 
dor exerted  all  his  influence  to  prevent  the  conclusion 
of  a  separate  peace,  but  in  vain ;  and  the  efforts  oi 
Barneveldt  and  Justinus  of  Nassau,  who  were  sent 
on  a  special  mission  to  Henry  IV\,  were  equally  fruit- 
less. The  States  General  were  convinced  that  there 
could  be  no  lasting  peace  while  Philip  H.  was  alive. 
The  Dutch  envoys  arrived  in  France  during  March, 
1598,  and  they  were  in  London,  on  their  way  home, 
in  May ;  when  they  had  several  conferences  with  the 
Queen  and  her  ministers. 

The  Spanish  overtures  for  peace,  in  whatever  spirit 
they  might  be  entertained  by  the  English  govern- 
ment, suggested  a  careful  review  of  the  position  and 
of  the  relations  between  England  and  her  ally.  For 
fifteen  years  the  brave  Queen  and  her  loyal  people 
had  strained  every  nerve  to  help  their  noighbors  in 
the  death-struggle  against  desix)tism.  The  sacrifices 
made  bv  Kni^land  had  been  heavv  and  burdensome* 
and  the  time  had  come,  now  that  Holland  was  no 
longer  poor  and  in  danger,  when  the  propriety  of 
concluding  a  new  treaty  between  the  allies  might 
properly  be  considered.  But  Barneveldt  and  his  col- 
league had  no  authority  to  enter  into  negotiations, 
and  they  merely  expressed  their  individual  opinions 
when  they  declared  that  "  there  should  be  no  accord 
with  Spain  upon  any  conditions,  and  that  the  States 
ought  not  to  hearken  to  any  peace."  On  the  31st  of 
May  the  Dutch  deputies  left  London  for  the  Hague. 

The  government  of  Queen  Elizabeth  then  came  to 


THE  NEW  TREATY.  265 

the  conclusion,  that  although  the  States  could  not  be 
deserted,  and  that  if  they  decided  for  a  continuance 
of  the  war  England  must  stand  by  them,  yet  that  the 
overtures  for  peace  ought  to  be  carefully  considered 
on  their  merits.     It  was  also  resolved  that  the  rela- 
tions between  England  and   Holland  ought  to   be 
revised,  and  that  a  new  treaty  should  be  negotiated, 
in  accordance  with  the  changed  condition  of  affairs, 
and  on  a  basis  which  should  render  the  war  some- 
what less  burdensome  to  England.     This  would  en- 
tail the  employment  of  a  special  envoy  on  a  delicate 
and  very  confidential  mission  to  the  Hague.     The 
choice  of  the  Queen  fell  upon  Sir  Francis  Vere. 
Since  the  victory  of  Turnhout  he  had  been  in  Eng- 
land, had  been  most  graciously  received,  and  was 
fully  acquainted  with  the  course  of  the  negotiations. 
He  was  2i  persona  grata  at  the  Hague,  having  always 
been  a  favorite  of  Olden  Barneveldt.     He  had  an  in- 
timate knowledge  of  all  matters  of  account  between 
his  own  country  and  the  States,  and  had  already 
shown  his  capacity  as  a  diplomatist.     He  was  ap- 
pointed special  envoy  to  the  States  General,  with  Mr. 
George  Gilpin,  the  resident  minister  at  the  Hague, 
as  his  colleague.^ 

Vere  s  instructions  were  carefully  drawn  up,  and 
dated  June  7,  1598.^  He  was  to  remind  the  deputies 
that  the  Queen  had  performed  all  the  obligations  of 
friendship  in  urging  the   King  of  France  against  a 

*  **  Sir  Francis  Vere   is   to  go  set  forward  if  the  wind  is  not  very 

shortly  with  secret  instructions  to  contrary'.     I  have  received  my  full 

the    Hague."      (Chamberlain    to  despatches, ^"^    (F.  Vere  in  London 

Dudley  Carletoti,  May  31,  1598.)  to  R.  Cecil,  June  9,  1598.    MSS. 

2  "  1  will  not  fail  to  make  all  the  at  Hatfield.) 
haste  I  can  over.    To-morrow  I 


266  THE  FIGHTING  VERES. 

separate  peace  and  in  refusing  to  negotiate  without 
the  States,  although  she  thus  incurred  the  slander  of 
being  the  main  cause  of  the  continuation  of  the  war; 
and  he  was  to  inform  them  that,  notwithstanding  all 
the  arguments  she  could  use,  Henry  W.  had  pro- 
ceeded to  proclaim  his  peace.  He  was  then  to  urge 
upon  their  attention  the  extent  to  which  the  Queen's 
own  people  had  suffered  from  the  long  war,  lo>ing 
their  lives  and  fortunes  daily,  until  they  were  weary  of 
such  continual  and  endless  vexations.  The  Queen 
had  loyally  prohibited  all  traffic  with  the  enemy. 
But  the  States  had  acted  very  differently,  and  ihcir 
conduct  had  caused  much  indignation  throughout 
England.  Dutch  ships  had  been  continually  em- 
ployed for  the  Spaniards,  not  only  in  bringing  their 
commodities  from  Brazil  and  other  parts  of  the  In- 
dies, for  gain  and  lucre,  but  in  conveying  all  manner 
of  grain  to  relieve  their  wants.  Not  longer  ago  than 
the  previous  April  Dutch  ships  had  come  freighted 
with  grain  into  the  Tagus.'  The  envoy  was  then  to 
remind  the  States  more  fully  of  the  sacrifices  Eng- 
land had  made  for  them,  and  of  the  benefits  thev  had 
secured  by  thi>  generous  help.  He  was  to  recall  to 
their  memories  how  often  thev  had  been  made  ac- 
quaintcd  with  the  heavy  burden  of  the  Queen  s  ex- 
penses for  their  country,  and  with  the  courses  she 
had  adopted  to  preserve  their  countr)'from  conquest 
since  the  fall  of  -Antwerp ;  and  that  they  had  made 
solemn  and  confident  j)romises  to  reimburse  her.  Yet 
it  was  then  beyond  expectation  that  she  could  ha\"e 
continued  her  charges  as  she  had  done.  They  knew 
full  well  that  no  prince  of  any  realm  of  Christendom 

1  Spain  and  Tortugal  were  thea  united. 


THE  NEW  TREATY.  267 

had  ever  done  the  like  for  any  nation  whatsoever ;  ^ 
and  they  must  consider  that,  by  reason  of  help  from 
England,  they  had  settled  their  form  of  government, 
increased  their  traffic  and  commerce  abroad,  fortified 
and  enlarged  their  cities  and  towns,  filled  them  with 
rich  inhabitants  who  had  taken  refuge  from  the 
enemy,  increased  their  general  wealth  in  every  direc- 
tion, and  captured  many  places  of  notable  strength. 

Vere  was  then  to  remind  the  States  that  the 
Queen  of  England  was  accountable  to  God,  in  her 
own  conscience,  if  she  should  needlessly  grieve  or 
expose  her  people.  The  peace  with  France  would 
free  the  Spanish  forces,  and  the  Queen  s  affairs  could 
not  be  allowed  any  longer  to  hang  in  uncertainty. 
For  Spain  had  offered  peace  to  England,  while  the 
Spanish  king  possessed  nothing  of  the  Queen's, 
"  nor,  God  be  thanked,  has  he  any  cause  to  boast  of 
any  pleasant  fruit  of  any  of  his  encounters  with  us." 
The  answer  Vpre  was  to  require  from  the  States 
General,  after  pressing  these  considerations  on  their 
attention,  was  first  whether  they  would  assent  to  or 
dissent  from  a  treaty  of  peace  with  Spain ;  and  if 
they  dissented  they  were  expected  to  submit  an  exact 
comparison  between  their  means  and  those  of  the 
Queen  since  she  first  contracted  with  them,  and  to 
give  her  reasons  why  she  should  continue  the  war. 
But  her  Majesty  left  the  decision  **  to  their  own  best 
liking,  as  she  never  had  any  intent  to  persuade  them 
to  anything  but  what  might  be  best  for  their  own 
preservation."  The  Queen  would  not  recommend  • 
any  accord  but  on  reasonable  grounds,  with  all  immu- 
nities and  privileges  preserved,  and  with  no  other 
acknowledgment  of  sovereignty  but  such  as  would  be 


268  THE  FIGHTING   VERES, 

vested  in  a  Duke  of  Burgundy,  and  not  in  a  King  of 
Spain.  She  desired  Vere  to  assure  the  States  thaL 
in  any  dealings  about  peace,  she  would  do  her  be^I 
to  provide  for  them  as  those  whom  she  held  in  dear- 
est regard. 

Finally,  if  the  States  continued  in  their  resolution 
to  make  no  peace  with  the  King  of  Spain,  then  ihe 
Queen  of  England  would  still  stand  by  them  in  that 
resolve.  But  in  that  case  they  must  enter  into  a  new 
treaty.  Vere  was  to  indicate  certain  points,  "the 
better  to  lead  them  into  the  right  accomptc  of  what 
nature  their  offers  ought  to  be  made."  They  were 
to  understand  that  the  Queen  expected  repayment  ti 
some  good  portion  of  the  debt ;  that  henceforward 
she  should  have  no  more  charges  either  for  auxilia- 
ries or  for  the  cautionary  towns ;  that  the  States  would 
be  ready  with  good  aid  of  ships  and  men  if  Iinglar.d 
was  assailed  ;  and  that  they  would  furnish  supplied 
for  the  arniv  in  Ireland.*  These  concessions  the 
Queen  had  a  right  to  expect,  in  consideration  of  the 
greatly  increased  wealth  of  the  provinces,  and  of  the 
efficient  help  she  had  given  them  during  manv  vears 

Having  received  these  detailed  instructions  and 
taken  leave  of  the  Queen,  Sir  Francis  \'erc  sailed 
for  l^ushinn:,  but  he  was  three  davs  on  the  vovace 
"  by  reason  of  scant  wind.''  He  arrived  at  the  Hague 
on  the  1 6th  of  June,  and  next  day  he  and  Gilpin  de- 
manded an  audience  of  the  States  General.*     On  the 

^  "  iMNtriK  ti«»ns  to  Sir  Francis  •  Sir  \V.  Browne  to  Sir  R.  SJd- 

Verc.  K:..  ><  nt  to  tljc  Slates,  to  be  ncy.  from  Flushinf^.  June  i^ifO^ 

C(»niMiijnic.it<(!  with    Mr.  Gilpin."  Sir  F.  Verc  to  Sir  R.  Cei'tL  fzva 

June  ;.  i5<iS.    (In  tlic  r>ritish  Mu-  Middelburg,   June    \(\    150^  aod 

stum.  <  ;.i;i).i  I),  xii.  159;  20  pages,  from  the  Hague, June  3i»  159I 
dama>;etl  by  lire.) 


THE  NEW  TREATY,  269 

1 8th  they  were  received,  and  Vere  delivered  a  speech 
embracing  the  various  points  of  his  instructions. 
The  States  acknowledged  all  the  benefits  that  had 
been  conferred  on  their  country  by  the  Queen,  and 
declared  that  they  desired  by  all  means  to  make  their 
thankfulness  manifest,  and  that  they  would  do  their 
uttermost  to  give  her  satisfaction.*  As  regarded 
the  Spanish  overtures,  they  were  inclined  rather  to 
war  than  to  a  doubtful  peace.^  Many  conferences 
with  Bameveldt  followed,  and  Vere  reported  that  the 
States  would  omit  no  possible  means  to  yield  her 
Majesty  all  the  contentment  in  their  power.  The 
resolution  in  favor  of  continuing  the  war  made  it 
necessary  to  examine  the  accounts  between  the  two 
countries,  and  to  obtain  the  concessions  required  by 
the  Queen.  The  States  eventually  acknowledged  a 
debt  to  England  of  ;^8oo,ooo.  They  agreed  to  relieve 
the  Queen's  government  of  expenses  connected  with 
auxiliary  troops  and  the  cautionary  towns,  to  make 
an  annual  payment  of  ;^ 30,000,  and  to  furnish  aid, 
in  ships  and  men,  in  the  event  of  England  being  in- 
vaded. Barneveldt  proceeded  to  London  with  the 
treaty,  and  it  was  ratified  on  the   i6th  of  August, 

1598.' 
Lord  Burleigh,  who  had  served  Queen  Elizabeth 

with    such    unexampled    fidelity   and    consummate 

ability  during  forty  years,   died,  full  of    years  and 

1  Vere  and  Gilpin  to  R.  Cecil,  Nottingham,     Hunsdon,     Essex, 

June  27,  1598.     MSB.  at  Hatfield.  North,  Knollys,  Buckhurst,  Rob- 

«  Grimeston ;  Meteren,  p.  429 ;  ert  Cecil ;  the  Dutch  signers  were 

Gilpin.  Olden    Bameveldt,    Duvenvoord, 

•  S.  P.  0.,  Holland,  vol.  Ixxxix.  Van  Worck,  Van  Hottman,  Hep- 

The   English  commissioners  who  pela,  and  Noel  Caron.    The  treaty 

signed  this  treaty  were   Egerton,  is  in  French. 


270  THE  F/GHTIXG    rERES. 

honor,  on  the  4th  of  August,  1598,  twelve  days  be- 
fore the  signature  of  the  treaty.  He  lived  to  see  a'.i 
his  plans  for  the  good  of  England  succeed,  all  hL-* 
patriotic  aspirations  fulfilled.  A  few  weeks  after- 
wards his  equally  industrious  but  far  less  able  opp*^ 
nent  breathed  his  last.  Philip  II.  died  on  the  13th 
of  September,  1598. 

On  the  6th  of  May  Philip  had  formally  ceded  the 
Netherlands  to  his  daughter  Isabella,  and  on  the  14th 
of  September  the  Archduke  Albert  >et  out  frnir; 
Brussels  to  be  married  to  the  new  sovereign,  and  w 
share  with  her  the  government  of  those  provinces 
which  still  remained  in  the  power  of  Spain.  He  left 
the  Cardinal  Andrew  of  Austria,  and  Uon  P"ranci>co 
de  Mendoza,  the  Admiral  of  Aragon  and  Marqui>  ot 
Guadalete,  in  charije  during  his  absence.  A  \ii;or- 
ous  attempt  was  made  to  gain  some  important  suc- 
cess during  the  Archduke's  visit  to  Spain.  The  ad- 
miral crossed  the  Meuse  with  a  large  army  in  Scj>- 
tember,  1598,  and  overran  Clcves  and  Wotphalia.  ir. 
violation  of  the  neutral  rights  of  the  Empire,  and  in 
November  he  battered  the  town  of  IX)esburg.  Shinrk- 
ing  barbarities  were  committed  by  his  soldier\\  which 
an)U>e(l  the  indignation  of  the  German  princes.^  but 
he  obtained  no  j)ermanent  advantage.  Maurice  had 
remained  in  an  attitude  of  obserxation  in  the  neigh- 
borho<Kl  of  .Arnhem.  Towards  the  end  of  the  vearSir 
I'rancis  \'ere  was  called  upon,  in  a  letter  from  Queen 
P21izabeth  herself,'-  to  arrange  with  the  States  for  the 

>  On    nconibtT   30.    I5«)S,   the  la^inj;  of  the  Spaniards  within  the 

KmjM'ior    imblislu-d     a     mandate  empire.     (Meteren.) 
a;:aiiist     tho   Admiral    of  Aragon,        *  Dated  December  15,  159S. 
rcctuiiitin^  the  ho.stilitics  and  pil- 


THE  B03tMEL-WAAMT.  271 

e  dbpatch  of  2,000  English  troops  to  Ire- 
:  promptly  gave  the  necessary  orders,  and  by 
1599,  the  detachment  was  ready  for  ero- 
i  at  Flushing.  The  general  had  withdrawn 
from  the  cautionary  towns,  and  1,300  from 
a^th  of  eighteen  companies.  On  this  occasion 
::esof  Sir  Arthur  Chichester,  the  future  lord 
rere  transferred  to  Ireland.  He  had  hitherto 
France  and  in  the  Ostend  garrison, 
s  time  Queen  Elizabeth  had  learned  the 
Sir  Francis  Veres  services.  He  scarcely 
n  advocate,  for  her  appreciation  of  the  mer- 
r  general  had  been  shown  by  entrusting  to 
conduct  of  intricate  negotiations,  by  giving 
ntiand  of  all  English  troops  in  the  field,  and 
ring  on  him  the  government  of  Brill.  If 
'ocacy  were  needed,  Vere  had  secured  the 
:e  and  friendship  of  Sir  Robert  Cecil,  who 
Secretary  of  State  since  1597.  In  March, 
Francis  expressed  his  thanks  to  Cecil  for 
to  keep  him  in  her  Majesty's  good  opinion, 
f  the  Earl  of  Essex,  and  also  for  his  speeches 
jncil  table  in  favor  of  his  brother  Horace. 
it  until  the  early  spring  of  [599  that  Vere 
to  proceed  from  the  Hague  to  Brill,  in  order 
ize  his  new  government ;  and  in  May  he 
e  army  of  Maurice,  which  was  assembling 
;  line  of  the  Maas,  to  oppose  a  formidable 
of  the  Spaniards.  He  was  accompanied  by 
ler  Horace  and  by  young  Edward  Cecil,  a 
if  the  Secretary,  who  now  began  his  military 
,der  the  auspices  of  the  greatest  living  mas- 
e  art.     His  father,  Thomas  Cecil,  who  had 


272  THE  FIGHTIXG   VERES. 

just  succeeded  as  second  Lord  Burleigh,  had  been 
the  first  English  governor  of  Brill,  But  he  had 
soon  retired,  having  shown  no  taste  for  the  lite  uf  a 
soldier. 

The  army  of  Maurice  was  at  first  stationed  along 
the  line  of  the  rivers,  ready  to  succor  Schenks 
Sconce,  Nymegen,  Docsburg,  or  any  other  point  that 
might  be  attacked.  But  the  object  of  the  Spaniards 
was  to  conquer  the  island  of  Bommel-waart,  lower  down 
the  rivers,  and  thence  to  threaten  Holland.  Where 
the  rivers  Waal  and  Maas  unite,  at  the  eastern  end 
of  the  Betuwe,  there  is  a  small  island  called  \"oom, 
on  which  the  Dutch  had  a  strong  position  called  I-'ort 
NaJ^sau.  The  two  rivers  then  separate  again,  to  form 
an  island  called  the  BommeUwaart,  which  is  twelve 
and  a  half  miles  long,  and  five  acros^s  in  the  widest 
part.  Soutli  of  the  Bommel-waart,  the  countr)'  of 
Brabant  is  drained  by  the  rivers  Aa  and  Dommei. 
which  rise  in  an  extensive  morass,  twcntv-five  miles 
long  by  six,  called  the  Peel.  The  Peel  yields  excel- 
lent peat.  Uniting  at  the  important  city  of  Bois  le 
Due,  the  two  streams  form  the  river  Dieze,  which  falls 
into  the  Maas,  nearly  opposite  the  centre  of  Bommel- 
waart  i>]and.  At  its  mouth,  on  the  Brabant  site,  was 
tlie  stronc;  fc>rt  called  Crevecceur.  On  the  opposite 
side  of  the  i>land,  built  along  the  left  bank  of  the 
Waal,  is  the  flourishing  town  of  Bommel,  with  its 
loftv  cliurch-tower.* 

^  Till' nM  r.imjMfts  of  riommcl  lofty  tower  is  of  brick,  with  stoB^ 

arr  now   pUntrd  with  avcnin-s  of  faced  buttresses   in   four   ttories* 

lnt!\  T!iM  s.  I  hic-fly  hnr>r-»  !n-s!r.iit^.  liavinjj  a  gallery  am!  lijfhi  bilw* 

<  xri  :■!   ?l-t:iL:  \\\v  qiMV  fn  in;:  the  trade  rnund  each.     Thus  the  ar.f^ 

W.i.il.     'I  he  I  hun  li  is  m  .ir  \\\v  in-  buttresses    incline     inwards    and 

laud  or  soutli  end  of  the  town  ;  tlie  taper  to  the  pinnacles.    Fomeii)' 


THE  BOMMEL^WAART.  273 

On  the  4th  of  May,  1 599,  the  Spanish  army  crossed 
the  Maas  between  Kessel  and  Theren,  and  invaded 
the  island  of  Bommel-waart,  Maurice  rapidly  concen- 
trated  his  forces  in  the  city  of  Bommel,  throwing  up 
intrenchments,  while  Bourlotte,  in  command  of  the 
invaders,  encamped  at  the  village  of  Alst.  Follow- 
ing up  this  onward  movement,  the  Admiral  of  Ara- 
gon  captured  the  fort  of  Crevecoeur,  and  laid  siege 
to  Bommel.  Nor  did  he  rest  content  with  this  open- 
ing success.  On  the  i6th  of  May  he  delivered  a 
furious  assault  along  the  lines  round  Bommel,  which 
was  repulsed,  the  Spanish  maestro  de  campo,  Alfonso 
Davalos,  being  severely  wounded.  But  the  admiral 
continued  his  approaches,  and  planted  guns,  while 
skirmishes  were  of  daily  occurrence. 

The  States  General  strained  every  nerve  for  the 
defence  of  Bommel.  They  sent  280  vessels,  several 
mounted  with  guns,  to  help  in  the  river ;  379  wagons 
were  dispatched  with  provisions,  and  356  horses  were 

there  was  a  spire.  The  church,  ded-  Bois  le  Due  away  to  the  south ; 

icated  to  St.  Martin,  has  spacious  Bommel-waart,     with     its    bright 

aisles,  which  are  apsidal  at  the  east  green  pastures,  bounded  by  its  two 

end,  and  a  loftier  nave,  with  trifo-  rivers,  the  Waal  and   the   Maas ; 

rium  and  clerestor>'.     The  capitals  Rossum   some   three  and  a  half 

of  the  pillars  are  richly  carved  with  miles  to  the  east,  and  the  famed 

double  chaplets  of  oak-leaves.    At  forts  of  Nassau  and  San  Andres 

the  west  end   of  the  south  aisle  just  beyond.     Fort  Crevecoeur  is 

there  is  an  exceedingly  pretty  bap-  five  miles  to  the  south,  in  a  line 

tistery,  and  an  old  font,  with  the  with  Bois  le  Due.     A  little  nearer 

ark,  tree  of  knowledge,  and  birth  is  the  village  of  Hedel,  and  a  mile 

of  the   Saviour  carved   round   it.  to  the  east  of  it  was  the  castle  of 

There  are  two  nearly  obliterated  Ammerzoden.      Alst,    where    the 

frescos  on  the  wall.     From  Bom-  Spaniards    encamped    before  the 

mel  tower  the  whole  scene  of  the  siege  of  Bommel,  is  six  miles  to 

campaign   of    1599  is   spread  out  the  east.    There  are  several  quaint 

like  a  map :  the  broad  waters  of  old  houses,  with  rich  carvings,  in 

the  Waal  immediately  below,  and  the  town  of  Bommel. 


274  ^^^  FIGHTIXG  VERES. 

collected  for  dragging  the  guns.  Their  army  num- 
bered 10,000  foot  and  3,000  horse.  On  the  13th  0: 
June  Maurice  was  able  to  open  a  tremendous  fire  en 
the  enemy's  camp,  which  obliged  the  admiral  to  rain 
the  siege.  He  retreated  across  the  island  and  begar* 
the  construction  of  a  formidable  fortress  at  the  ca>t- 
ern  end,  facing  the  isle  of  Voorn,  which  he  named 
San  Andres  in  honor  of  his  colleague,  the  Cardinai. 
His  camp  was  moved  to  the  village  of  Hurwener;. 
Maurice  exerted  himself  to  hinder  the  progros  •! 
Fort  San  Andres.  Two  bastions  were  to  be  rai>ci: 
towards  the  Waal,  two  towards  the  Maas,  and  a  fifth 
inland,  with  connecting  curtains,  the  rivers  ser\ir.;j 
as  a  ditch.  The  works  were  designed  bv  X'elaMTi', 
Maurice  planted  guns  on  the  opposite  bank,  ar.ii 
there  was  a  heavy  cannonade,  but  for  many  days  the 
two  armies  were  comparatively  inactive. 

On  the  24th  of  June  a  force  under  Count  Williin- 
Louis  of  Nassau  and  Sir  Horace  V^ere  crossed  thv 
river,  and  l)y  break  of  day  they  had  thrown  up  a  half- 
moon  of  small  extent  at  Heerewaarden,  under  a  league 
from  San  Andres.  Next  day,  3,000  Spaniards  anci 
Italians,  led  by  Jasper  Zapena,  and  encouraged  by 
several  monks,  attacked  the  half-moon  with  grca: 
fury,  forcing  the  palisades,  and  fighting  hand  tnhanii 
and  at  push  of  pike.  Horace  Vere,  aided  bv  the 
Scottish  Colonel  lulmunds  and  the  Huguenot  De  !a 
Noue,  defended  the  position  most  gallantly,  and  the 
assailants  were  rei)ulsed  with  heavy  loss.*  Maurice 
then    connected    Heerewaarden    with    Voorn    bv  a 

*   Priiisirror,   p.iije  42').      I.ottTC  sUiri  w.is  Count  Tachcco,  son   •  i 

(Ixxxii.      I.r      Cnmto     ( inill.inmc  the  architect  of  the  castle  of  Ast- 

I.nuis  .111  C'nmtt*  Jian  (if   Nass.in,  wcrp. 
Vtmrn,  June  26,  1599.    Among  tlie 


THE  BOMMEL-WAART,  275 

bridge,  and  fortified  a  position  on  the  Brabant  side, 
called  Lithoijen,  for  its  protection.  Sir  Francis  Vere, 
crossing  the  river  with  6,000  men,  made  a  brilliant 
attack  on  another  Spanish  fort,  which  they  called 
Durango.  The  vigilance  of  the  allies  thwarted  all  the 
Spanish  schemes  of  invasion,  and  on  the  2 2d  of  July 
the  enemy  evacuated  the  Bommel-waart.*  Meanwhile, 
Sir  Francis  Vere  had  been  struck  down  with  a  severe 
illness,  and  was  confined  for  some  days  to  his  tent  on 
the  island  of  Voorn,  "  with  no  other  troops  about  him 
than  the  musketeers  of  his  own  company."^  On  the 
27th  of  July  he  sent  Robert  Cecil  a  plan  of  the  island 
of  Bommel-waart,  showing  the  operations  of  the  cam- 
paign.  He  reported  that  the  Spanish  army  was  so 
wearied  and  discontented  that  the  soldiers  disbanded 
in  heaps,  and  that  there  was  no  likelihood  of  good  gov- 
ernment among  them  until  the  coming  of  the  Arch- 
duke. In  August  another  demand  for  troops  arrived 
from  the  Queen,  and  Sir  Francis  Vere  had  the  unpleas- 
ant duty  of  urging  it  upon  Barneveldt,  who  was  then 
at  the  camp.  The  Dutch  statesman  represented  that 
the  sword  was  now  over  their  heads,  and  that  the 
loss  of  more  troops  would  be  their  ruin,  but  that  the 
States  would  readily  comply  with  the  demand  for 
ships.^  Vere  then  proceeded  to  the  Hague,  had  an 
audience  of  the  States  General  in  full  assembly  on 
the  loth  of  August,  and  eventually  obtained  compli- 
ance  with  the  Queen  s  demands  in  full. 

1  For   the   Bommel-waart   cam-  Sidney,   2d    July,    1599;    Sir   W. 

paign  see  Grimeston  ;  Meteren,  p.  Browne  to  Sidney,  etc. 

463  ;  Bentivoglio ;  Sir  F.  Vere  to  *  Sir  W.  Browne  to  Sir  R.  Sid- 

R.  Cecil,  26th  May,  26th  June,  23d  ney,  20th  July,  1599. 

July,  27th  July,  1599:  Edward  Ce-  '  S.    P.    C,   Holland,   vol.   xci. 

cil  to    Lord    Burleigh,    13th   July,  Sir  F.  Vere  to  Robert  Cecil,  ist 

1599;  Rowland  Whyte  to  Sir  R.  Aug.,  1599. 


2/6  THE  FIGHTING  VERES. 

The  truth  was  that  a  Spanish  invasion  was  once 
more  apprehended,  and  an  army  of  defence  was  rap- 
idly organized.*  The  Castilian  admiral  was  reported 
to  be  assembling  ships  and  troops  at  Coruna.  Sir 
Francis  \'ere  was  ordered  to  England  with  2,000  of 
his  best  soldiers,  and  received  the  appointment  of 
Lord  Marshal  of  the  army.  He  arrived  in  Augu-t 
and  was  received  in  audience  by  the  Queen/  Row. 
land  Whyte  says  that  on  reaching  Londpn  *'  he  cair.c 
to  Mr.  Secretary's,  who  brought  him  to  the  Queer, 
with  whom  he  was  long  and  very  graciously  u>eA 
and  true  it  is  that  Mr.  Secretary  gives  him  all  grace." 
He  and  his  men  were  kept  on  full  pay  until  the  dan- 
ger of  invasion  had  blown  over.  He  was  high  in 
favor,  and  in  September  there  was  a  rumor  DVtr 
London  that  Wtc  would  be  the  next  Lord  Hcpiity 
of  Ireland.^  In  November  he  returned  to  the 
Hague.* 

The  Archduke  Albert  had  arrived  in  Spain  st>rT:o 
months  after  the  death  of  Philip  II.  On  the  iSth  lu* 
April,  1599,  double  marriages  were  celebrated  at  Va- 
lencia between  King  Philip  III.  and  Margaret  i-i 
Austria,  and  the  Archduke  Albert  and  the  Infarct! 
Isabella.     The  sovereign  Archdukes,  Albert  and  I>a- 


*  Ch.imherlain  to   Carleton,  1st 

AulT-,  I  509. 

-  Rowland  Whvtc  to  Sir  R.  Sid- 

m 

mv.  I  2th  Sei>t.,  i5*)9. 

«  Rnul.ind  Whytc,  8th  Sept., 
I  5.)0  :  •*  Sir  Francis  Vore  will  have 
Ircl.inil  if  Loni  Mountjuy  does  not 

*  Thrre  is  a  lottiT  in  the  State 
Pa;  tT  Office  ( !*ersia  from  Sir 
Franiis    Vcre    to     Sir     Anthony 


Shirley,  which  Mr.  Kvelvn  Sh:r>> 
has  printed  in  hi?*  SfwrUy  ^r.*.v- 
/r.f,  p.  21.  It  is  dated  at  :^« 
Ha^ue.  on  i8th  Fel>.,  i6oa  Sr 
Anthony  was  an  old  com |  anion  * 
arms  of  Sir  Francis,  and  was  the? 
at  the  court  nf  Tersta.  in  high  fi- 
vor  with  Shah  Alihas.  The  letter 
is  (*ordial  and  complimentary,  bu: 
contains  no  news. 


THE  BOMMEL-WAART.  277 

bella,  then  set  out  for  their  government,  travelling 
by  Milan,  over  the  Alps  to  Basle,  and  thence  by 
Besan9on  and  Luxemburg.  They  entered  Brussels 
on  the  5th  of  September,  1599,  and  established  a 
decorous,  very  dull  Spanish  court,  representing  a 
losing  cause.  Early  in  the  following  year  the  Span- 
ish garrisons  of  San  Andres  and  Crevecoeur  sold 
those  important  fortresses  to  Prince  Maurice  for  their 
arrears  of  pay.'  They  had  been  in  a  mutinous,  dis- 
contented state  throughout  the  winter.  All  the 
fruits  of  the  Bommel-waart  campaign  were  thus  lost 
to  the  Spaniards,  and  the  prospects  of  the  Archdukes 
were  gloomy  and  disheartening.  On  the  other  hand, 
the  new  century  opened  to  the  alHes  with  bright  an- 
ticipations of  independence  and  prosperity. 

*  ^12,500  for  the  forts,  wilh  ordn.ince  and  munitioQB.    (Letter  from 
Sir  F.  Vere,  at  the  Hague,  29th  April,  [600.) 


M 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

THE  EVE  OF  THE  BATTLE  OF  NIEUPORT. 

The  States  General,  guided  by  the  advice  of  Olden 
Barneveldt,  resolved  to  carry  the  war  into  the  enemy  s 
country  in  the  summer  of  1600,  believing  that  the 
Archdukes  were  embarrassed  by  want  of  funds  and 
by  mutinous  troops.  Ostend  was  held  by  their  ally, 
the  Queen  of  England,  and  it  was  determined  that 
the  bulk  of  their  army  should  be  landed  on  the  Flem- 
ish coast,  and  should  lay  siege  to  the  town  of  Nieu- 
port,  west  of  Ostend,  and  afterwards  to  Dunkirk. 
Prince  Maurice  considered  this  enterprise  to  be  ex- 
tremely hazardous,  and  Sir  Francis  Vere  held  the 
same  opinion.  But  the  military  authorities  were 
overruled,  and  a  large  fleet  was  assembled  off  Flu>h- 
ing,  to  embark  the  troops  and  land  them  on  the  op- 
posite sliore. 

The  army  consisted  of  12,000  infantr}\  1,600  cav- 
alry, and  10  i)ieces  of  artiller)'.  It  was  divided  into 
three  divisions:  the  van  led  by  Sir  Francis  Vere,  the 
battle  bv  Count  Everard  Solms,  and  the  rear  bv 
Count  r>nest  of  Nassau  and  Olivier  de  Tempel. 
Count  Louis  Gunther  of  Nassau  was  general  of  cav- 
airy.  Ware's  division  consisted  of  1,600  English  vet- 
erans, 2,500  Frisians,  250  of  Prince  Maurice's  guard. 
and  10  cornets  of  horse,  making  a  total  of  4.500  men. 
His  brother.  Sir  I  lorace  Vere,  was  with  him,  and  his 


THE  EVE  OF  THE  BATTLE  OF  NIEUPORT.      279 

isty  friend  and  counsellor,  Sir  John  Ogle,  who  was 
lutenant  -  colonel.  There,  too,  were  Sir  Robert 
rury,  Sir  Charles  Fairfax,  Captains  Holies,  Gilbert, 
itton,  Lowell,  and  Morgan,  while  Sir  Edward  Cecil 
mmanded  Vere  s  regiment  of  horse.  Vere's  Fris- 
ns  were  led  by  Generals  Taco  Hettinga,  Arusma, 
id  Ripperda.  Maurice,  who  commanded  in  chief, 
id  with  him  his  young  brother  Frederick  Henry, 
Dunts  Frederick,  Albert,  and  Otto  Solms,  his  half* 
other  Justinus  of  Nassau,  two  sons  of  Admiral 
Dligny,  and  Lord  Grey  de  Wilton. 
Young  Ernest  of  Nassau  occupied  Fort  Philippine 
\  the  2 1st  of  June,  this  being  the  point  selected  for 
e  disembarkation  of  the  army  on  the  Flemish  coast, 
hilippine  is  near  the  head  of  a  large  shallow  inlet, 
ith  many  sandbanks,  dry  at  low  water,  called  the 
raakman.^     It  is  now  a  fishing  village,  with  a  thriv- 


^  The  Braakman  penetrates  to 
thin  a  few  hundred  yards  of  the 
Igian  frontier,  and  thus  divides 
Itch  Flanders,  on  the  south  side 
the  Scheldt,  nearly  in  two.  It 
about  five  miles  deep  and  two 
'osSy  and  contains  two  islands, 
led  Kleine  Stelle,  on  which 
;re  is  a  farm,  and  Angeline  Pol- 
r.  Philippine  is  on  the  western 
le,  —  a  little  fishing  village  of 
e  street,  running  up  from  the 
y  harbor,  where  over  twenty 
ats  come  in  on  a  Saturday  night, 
d  gayly  fly  the  Zeeland  flag  from 
iir  mastheads  all  Sunday.  These 
ats  busily  unload  their  cargoes 
mussels,  which  is  the  great 
ide  of  the  place.  The  mussel 
at  is  obtained  from  Dunkirk, 
d  put  on  regular  layings  near 


the  mouth  of  the  Braakman,  or  in 
the  Scheldt.  Next  year  it  is 
brood,  and  in  the  third  year  the 
mussels  are  taken  up.  Carts  come 
in  from  Belgium  to  take  away  the 
sacks  of  mussels,  with  strong  net 
bottoms,  so  that  the  wet  from  the 
mussels  can  easily  drip  out.  They 
are  sent  to  all  parts,  but  princi- 
pally to  Paris.  The  men  fish,  the 
women  cultivate  the  vegetable  gar- 
dens. The  Protestant  church  at 
Philippine  probably  dates  from  the 
time  of  the  Synod  of  Dort,  or 
thereabouts,  judging  from  the  style 
of  carving  of  the  pulpit.  The  re- 
mains of  the  old  ramparts  form  a 
breezy  promenade  on  soft  turf,  but 
they  are  not  planted  with  trees. 
At  high  tide  the  Braakman  is  one 
sheet  of  water,  with  bright  green 


28o  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

ing  trade  in  mussels,  but  in  those  days  there  seems 
to  have  been  nothing  but  a  small  fort.  The  fleet 
arrived  on  the  2  2d,  and  the  whole  of  that  day  was 
occupied  in  landing  the  army. 

When  Maurice  disembarked  there  was  only  a  small 
force  of  Spaniards  in  the  neighborhood,  under  ar. 
officer  named  Rivas.  But  as  soon  as  the  new> 
reached  the  Archduke  Albert  at  Brussels,  he  rap- 
idly concentrated  his  army  round  Ghent,  and  pre- 
pared to  march  against  the  invaders.  This  aggrc>- 
sive  campaign  was  a  bold  and  hazardous  step  on  the 
part  of  the  States  General.  The  destruction  of  their 
army,  thus  isolated  in  a  hostile  country,  would  have 
left  Holland  open  to  invasion,  and  might  have  led  u» 
the  annihilation  of  her  recently  acquired  libertie>. 
On  the  other  hand,  a  victory  in  a  great  pitched  bat- 
tle between  Maurice  and  the  flower  of  the  Spani>h 
forces  in  the  Netherlands  would  have  a  moral  effect 
througliout  Christendom  of  the  utmost  importance 
to  the  cause  of  liberty,  quite  apart  from  its  immedi- 
ate consequences. 

The  army  of  Maurice  advanced  from  Philippine 
to  the  neiijhborhood  of  Ostend  by  rapid  marche>, 
and  captured  the  forts  and  redoubts  of  the  enemy 
round  tliat  city,  including  Oudenburgand  Sl  Albert. 
The  latter  was  in  the  dunes,  about  two  miles  to  the 
south  of  Ostend.  A  body  of  2,000  men  was  left  to 
garrison  these  important  positions,  which  were  on 
the  line  of  march  that  the  Archduke  must  take  from 
Bruges  to   Nieuport;  and  on  June  30  Maurice  re* 

shores,  and  extensive  flats  covered    frequented    by    wild    ducks   aod 
with   eqiiisetum  and  other  marsh    many  other  aquatic  birds. 
plants.     In  winter  these  flats  are 


THE  EVE  OF  THE  BATTLE  OF  NIEUPORT.      281 

sumed  his  advance  upon  the  latter  town,  Solms  had 
been  detached  to  capture  Fort  St.  Albert.  The  rest 
of  the  army  first  advanced  somewhat  inland,  appar- 
ently along  the  line  of  the  present  canal  between 
Bruges  and  Nieuport;  but  finding  the  country  in  a 
swampy  condition  and  unfit  for  the  passage  of  artil- 
lery,  they  passed  over  a  stream  called  the  Yper-leet, 
at  the  village  of  Leffinghe,  and  made  their  way  across 
the  meadows  to  the  seaside  with  much  difficulty,  filL 
ing  up  ditches,  laying  bridges,  and  making  a  road 
practicable  for  field-guns  as  they  advanced.  Cross- 
ing the  dunes,  they  reached  the  shore  at  about  a 
cannon-shot  from  Fort  St.  Albert,  which  had  already 
surrendered  to  Solms,  and  early  in  the  morning  of 
the  ist  of  July  they  marched  along  the  beach  to  Nieu- 
port Haven,  which  was  waded  by  the  greater  part  of 
the  army  at  ebb  tide,  about  eight  a.  m.  The  division 
of  Solms  arrived  a  day  or  two  earlier.  He  had  ad- 
vanced direct  along  the  sands,  after  taking  Fort  St. 
Albert  on  the  28th.  He  crossed  the  haven  with  half 
his  force,  leaving  3,000  men  on  the  Ostend  side. 
This  part  of  the  army  was  before  Nieuport  for  two 
or  three  days,  and  the  rest  for  one  day,  busily  en- 
gaged in  making  a  bridge  over  the  haven,  selecting 
points  of  vantage  for  the  siege,  intrenching,  and  pre- 
paring an  encampment.  The  fleet  arrived  on  the 
morning  of  the  ist  of  July.^ 

^  Mr.  Motley    (in    his    United  one  whose  advice  was  so  bad  that 

Netherlands y  iv.  pp.  17,  51)  rcpre-  it  could  scarcely  have  been  given 

sents  Sir  Francis  Vere  in  a  very  in  good  faith  (iv.  p.  17),  whose  only 

unfavorable  light.     He  has,  most  virtue  was  personal  courage,  and 

unfortunately,  taken  an  erroneous  who  published  a  party  pamphlet 

view  of  Vere's  character  and  con-  marked    by    "  spleen,    inordinate 

duct.    He  writes  of  Sir  Francis  as  self-esteem,  and  wounded  pride  of 


282  THE  FIGHTING  VERES. 

Nieuport  is  a  quaint  and  interesting  old  Flemish 
town,  between  Ostend  and  Dunkirk,  with  a  wet  ditch 
supplied  by  a  canal  from  Bruges  and  by  the  river  Yser, 
which  here  falls  into  the  tidal  estuary  forming  the 
haven.  Nieuport  was  originally  a  village,  called 
Sandhoofd,  depending  on  a  seaport  town  founded  in 
very  ancient  times  by  a  Lombard  colony,  called  Lom- 
baertzyde.  But  this  port  was  swallowed  up  by  the 
sea,  and  the  approach  to  it  choked  with  sand  in 
1116.  The  change  seems  to  have  opened  the  pres- 
ent haven,  for  Sandhoofd  was  erected  into  a  town, 
with  the  name  of  Nieuport,  in  11 60,  and  Lombaert- 
zyde  became  and  still  is  a  little  rural  village,  a  mile 
from  the  haven  and  from  Nieuport.  The  town  of 
Nieuport  was  strongly  fortified  with  a  brick  wall,  hav- 
ing high,  circular  towers  at  inter\'als,  with  conical  tile 
roofs  and  a  lofty  and  solid  square  keep  at  the  south- 
opinion,''  upon  which  no  reliance  Nieuport  at  two  or  three  day*. 
can  be-  placed.  These,  it  must  be  On  the  strength  of  this  iiiu|^- 
admitted.  are  grave  charges  ex-  nary  discrepancy  Mr.  Mutlej  |.ny 
pressed  in  very  strong  language,  nounccs  Verc's  narrative  to  be 
Mr.  Motley  has  added  a  Special  untrustworthy.  Ik>th  accounts  art 
Note,  with  the  object  of  jus»tifying  correct.  The  main  bmiy,  under 
his  censures  on  Sir  Francis  Vcre.      Maurice,  was,  it  is  true,  only  before 

It  will  be  my  duty  to  refute  en-  Nieuport  during  the  1st  of  Julyacd 
tirily  every  single  point  which  Mr.  the  early  morning  of  the  2d;  al- 
Motley  has  raised  against  Vere.  I  together  about  twenty-four  boun. 
propose  to  deal  with  each  accusa-  But  the  division  of  Solms  arrived 
tion  of  Mr.  Motley  as  it  occurs  in    on  the  29th.    Vere  is  quite 


the  course  of  the  narrative.  rate  in  giving  the  whole  time  d1l^ 

Mr.  Motley's  firNt  charge  is  (iv.  ing  which  th6  troops  were  before 

p.   51)  that  all  other   authorities  Nieuport  at  two  or   three  dan. 

ai^ree  that  .Maurice's  army  came  (Vere's  Commtntariis^  page   &|.t 

before  Nieu|>ort  in  the  morning  of  Considering  that   he  was  «rilia| 

the  1st  of  July,  and  th.it  the  battle  from  memor)*,  some  yean  after  the 

w.is  foui;ht  on  the  2 J,  while  Vere  event.  Sir  Francis  Vere*s  preciM 

givi>  the  time  OLCU)>ied  in  quar-  accuracy  on    this    and  all    ocbcr 

tcring     and     intrenching    before  points  is  very  remarkable* 


r£  OF  THE  BATTLE   OF  SIEUPORT-      283 

■,  which  is  still  standing.  The  place  was 
he  English  under  the  Bishop  of  Norwich 
lUt  stood  a  long  siege  from  a  French  army, 
three  assaults,  in  1489.  The  Hotel  de 
:  in  1 7 10,  contains  a  curious  and  ancient 
laccurate  plan  of  the  battle  of  Nieuport ;  a 
ern  picture,  by  L.  Moritz,  representing  the 
f  Aragon  surrendering  himself  prisoner  to 
.urice  after  the  battle,  which  was  given  to 
)y  the  late  King  William  I.  of  the  Nether- 
820 ;  and  a  painting  on  panel  of  the  town 

in  1600.  The  haven  is  now  artificially 
so  that  timber-laden  brigs  and  other  small 

up  to  the  town.  This  channel  connects 
*ith  the  sea,  a  distance  of  a  mile  and  a 
;ould  easily  be  waded  across  during  the 
rt  of  the  time  between  half  ebb  and  half 

1  the  left  bank  of  the  haven,  halfway  be- 
town  and  the  sea,  there  were  two  light- 

ilt  by  Count  Guy  de  Dampierre  in  1284,  at 
tiled  Vterboede.     They  are  shown  on  the 

Bruges,  One  still  remains,  —  a  picturesque 
tower   surmounted    by    a    short   steeple, 

recently  been  carefully  restored. 

e  Texel  to  Dunkirk  the  flat  and  fertile  plains 

ted  from  the  sea  by  the  dunes,  a  line  of 

2  sand  and  varying  height,  thrown  together 
rently  confused  mass  of  crests  and  ridges, 
evidence  that  the  dunes  were  once  much 
the  westward,  and  that  they  have  gradually 
i  on  the  land.  In  some  places  the  same 
ns  the  fields  within  the  dunes  crops  out  on 

'  Froissart. 


I 


"I       "  -~   -     — "  .T     •     m    m   *    '.J 


'i  '-r      •  £/C£S- 


'n  ffi^\:rr   2s,i  iz  : triers  ihe  roots  of  trees  are  un- 

::    :-,.:   i~i  r>>*-:r '■.er.'s  r.e:5  sret  entan'jrlcd   in  t:--.r. 
'. -   .-::  1  :i?:.r  r-:".:  bv  :he  Romans  at   the  iv.-: -: 
:     :    .  r.vr.:    :r.?:ij   :r.e  c-ne>.  appeared,  uncovtr..: 
;-  :~i    s:^.ie.  \\::'r.  \\iV.<  L:\:ht  iltrt  ihi^.k.      In  lo-^ 
:~:<;    .  .:    Ix:?:-.^.:'.  .val'.s  were   i.ooo  paco  out  a:  >-. . 
':•.    :-.i   :    :    ?    ;-.   '....j   j:   Kaiwvk ;  and   in   1752...: 

•.  i-        .      ;.:.r   .■.:*..:  j.::-:t  a  lor.-::  continuance  <»i  ca?:- 
i*         .  ■--.-   :  ■-   ..:^:  :.r.*.::ar.:5  of  them  were  seen.     !:. 
•_:::-.    :       .:    .:   S:r.vver.in^en  was  de.-trovesi    . 
:  -.    ?..i.      1:  -:;•  .:  :.::cc  vards  more  to  seaward  iha:: 
:-:    ;-.^.:::    :■..::>    ^\^:v:h  was  built  c-n   the   i"!.i:- : 
<.:.:':■:     ..  .■.^..  ;.::.:  is  r.  \v  nearlv  on  the  sea>:;':-. 
V-.    ::>:    .:    N.r:>.    Holland  loses,  on  an   avvrijv 
.:.'...:    L .:.'::  :\::  ■:  .^r/ vtar.  the  dunes  beinLJ  b!  wr. 
i".  ;.-.:.    1:..:    .:.:":>    can    be    arriticiallv     rai'-.d    i" 
•*;-N   '^  .^  >;.:..:  .Ik.,  airair.-t  which   the  blown  >a:'.': 
.■..;:'• ...::.  -        ':  ;.r:   < :'  the   dune<   on  the    Ci>\<   ■: 
N    •:  ■   ;■      ;.   .:  -^.r.  ::'.us  formed  bv  order  of  (  kI.t. 
1  ..     .    .  ..:     ::    :    :r.  soon   afier  the   battle   c»f  Ni- > 

•/  :  1  >.::"'  i;/."a::d  the  dunes  are  from  thirf- 
:  .  :  ■"  :  -.\;'':  f^-.:  abv^e  hi-^h-water  mark,  ar.i 
:  ■.  .^'•.-:  ."...".■.  :::  N\r:h  Holland  attains  a  hti:;;".: 
V*  •.  '.::•.:./:  .v..i  twentv  feet.  Their  widtii  :r. 
W. ./..:;:;  '..;::.>  :':  tv.  t-ne  hundred  to  six  hur..::..: 
\  •.:/.-.  *.-.::  V  ::  : -.e  I'!-. -r.i-h  coast,  we>t  oi  0>ten(!.  i:  ::* 
!.--.  1" /..  y  :m\\.  :::  >o:v.e  j\irts.  a  motion  fri>m  the 
>.  ;  :.  A.';/>  :";-.e  ::.'.A::d.  and  it  is  |x>ssible  that  the 
v"  :>  .\:  N;.;:j\^:-:  Tv.ay  have  receded:  but  this  >een> 
\.'.  o!  ;;h::\:l.  Tin  re  is  a  larire  bird's-eve  man  01 
I'.'.-.wv:^  \\\  the  1  Iv'tel  lie  \'ille  at  Bruges,  which 
>'^^As  t*:e  p  '>:tiv»n  \^i  the  ilunes  before  the  battle. 
r/.:>  tv.ap  wa>  made  by  Pierre  Clari»ius  in  1597,  and 


THE  EVE  OF  THE  BATTLE  OF  NIEUPbRT.      285 

is  a  copy  of  the  original  map,  on  a  very  large  scale, 
constructed  by  Pierre  Pourbus  in  1566,  Here  the  po- 
sition of  the  dunes,  their  distance  from  the  haven  and 
from  Lombaertzyde,  and  their  width,  are  shown  much 
as  they  appear  now.  It  is  not  a  little  remarkable  that 
the  ridges  and  bottoms,  the  hilltops  and  valleys,  are 
precisely  as  Sir  Francis  Vere  described  them;  so 
that  the  relative  distances  and  the  general  features 
have  continued  nearly  the  same  to  the  present  day. 
The  dunes  have  been  sown,  since  1820,  with  a  pe- 
culiar tough  grass,  called  lielm  {Psamma  arenaria^ 
P.  B.),  which  takes  deep  root  in  the  sand,  and  is  very 
useful  in  checking  the  drift,  but  it  fails  in  preventing 
the  sand  from  being,  to  some  extent,  blown  inland  by 
strong  westerly  gales. 

The  section  of  dunes  between  Nieuport  and  Ost- 
end,  a  distance  of  nine  miles,  has  the  peculiarity  of 
containing  small  oases  or  valleys,  surrounded  by  the 
sand-hills,  where  ragwort,  wild  pansy,  plantain,  and 
clover  grow  luxuriantly ;  and  from  their  inner  edge  a 
grassy  slope  extends  to  the  line  of  cultivation.  The 
whole  place  swarms  with  rabbits.  The  view  from 
the  higher  ridges  of  these  dunes,  looking  inland,  is 
very  picturesque.  To  the  right  is  the  town  of  Nieu- 
port, with  its  massive  church-tower,  embosomed  in 
trees,  and  all  along  the  line  of  the  horizon  are  the 
Flemish  villages,  with  their  red -tiled,  white-walled 
houses  and  church -spires,  surrounded  by  fruit  or- 
chards, and  wider  outer  circles  of  waving  crops  and 
emerald  pastures.  It  was  in  these  dunes,  and  within 
sight  of  the  peaceful  villages  of  Lombaertzyde  and 
Westende,  that  the  memorable  battle  of  Nieuport  was 
fought,  on  July  2,  1600. 


286  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

During  the  whole  of  the  ist,  Prince  Maurice  s  army 
was  hard  at  work  completing  the  bridge  and  preparir.g 
for  the  siege  of  Nieuport.  Many  vessels  of  the  ricct 
had  come  up  the  haven,  and  at  low  water  were  high 
and  dry  on  the  mud.  Towards  evening  Maurice  re- 
ceived news  from  Ostend  that  a  large  force  of  the 
enemy  was  before  the  fort  of  Oudenburg.  A  coun- 
cil of  war  was  called,  and  most  of  the  officers  declared 
that  it  was  a  mere  piece  of  bravado  on  the  part  d 
Rivas,  at  the  head  of  a  small  body  of  infantrj-,  wiih 
which  he  had  advanced  from  Sluys.  But  Sir  Francis 
Vere  maintained  that  it  was  the  main  body  of  the 
Archdukes  army.  He  advised  Maurice  to  retrace 
^is  steps  with  his  whole  force  before  the  enemy  couid 
have  time  to  retake  the  forts,  and  so  attack  him  at  a 
disadvantage,  with  the  forts  in  his  rear.  The  advice 
was  excellent,  and  recommended  itself  to  Maurice: 
but,  as  Vere  says,  the  Prince  was  usually  slow  in  re- 
solving, and  he  waited  for  further  news,* 

The  same  evening  another  messenger  arrived,  fol- 

^  In  commentin;;  on  this  coun-  in;j;  and  that  if  the  rnrmv  nuv:< 

cil  (►£  war,  Mr.  Motley  makes  his  his  appearance   while   thev   wrre 

scunul  ihar;^^e  against  Sir  PVancis  crossing,  the  army  would  be  hoj<- 

VcR'.     He  sav>  :   "  The  ailvlLC  of  lesslv  lost. 

Vere  involvctl  an  outra^^coiis  im-        The  answer  to  all  this  is  c^n^  ^n- 

po^.sihility,  and  it  scvnis  incredible  sivc.     Maurice  did   not  reject  t:.c 

tli.it  it  can  have  Ifcrn  -ivcn  in  ii:<)<»d  ailvico.  but  merely  pn)crastinaTed  ; 

f.iitlj  :  still  more  ama/iii^  that  its  and  Vere  certainly  never  censure*; 

n- «  ction  by  Maurice  should  have  his  old  cc»mrade  in  arms,  of  wh  •" 

l)(.en     l)itieily     ccnsure«l.      Two  he  invariably  speaks  in  res^-<ec^:iL 

tliinis  ot  the  armv  lav  on  the  other  terms.     It  was   nearlv  dead    !•  w 

sitie  <»f  the  liarlx»r.  and  it  was  hii^h  water  when  the  first  news  arrive*! 

water  at  about  three  oVl<»(k."   (iv.  before  t'.usk,  and  the  armv  o>ul»i 

p.  17)     He  i:nts  on  to  say  that  it  have  waded  across  the  haven  w.ti 

\vt)\ild    take    l(»n:;cr    to   cross  by  ease,  without  danger  fn>ni  an  e*- 

boats  and  temporary  bridges  than  emv.  who  was  then  upwards  of  tCfi 

to  wait  f<ir  low  water  in  the  mum-  miles  o£ 


J 


THE  EVE  OF  THE  BATTLE  OF  NIEUPORT.      287 

lowed  by  a  third,  who  reported  that  the  forts  had 
surrendered  to  the  Archduke.  Maurice  again  sent 
for  his  trusty  councillor,  Sir  Francis  Vere,  who  gave 
the  same  advice,  with  this  change :  that,  whereas  his 
first  project  was  to  attack  the  enemy  under  cover  of 
the  forts,  he  now,  that  chance  being  lost,  proposed  an 
advance  to  the  road  from  Leffinghe  to  the  Dunes, 
which  the  army  had  constructed  on  the  29th,  through 
the  low  ground.  In  that  advantageous  position  he 
would  await  the  attack  of  the  Spaniards,  with  the 
river  Yser-leet  in  their  rear. 

Maurice  saw  the  importance  of  Vere's  advice,  but, 
instead  of  advancing  with  the  whole  army,  as  Vere 
intended,  and  as  was  essential  to  success,  he  detachecP 
the  portion  of  the  division  of  Solms  which  had  re- 
mained on  the  right  bank  of  the  haven,  consisting  of 
2,500  infantry,  500  horse,  and  two  guns,  under  the 
command  of  his  cousin,  Ernest  of  Nassau,  saying  he 
would  follow  with  the  rest  of  the  army  in  due  season. 
Vere  was  strongly  opposed  to  this  division  of  the 
forces.^  He  urged  that  so  small  a  number  of  men 
could  offer  no  effectual  resistance,  whereas,  if  the 
whole  army  advanced  at  once,  their  position  would 
be  improved  under  any  circumstances.  If  the  enemy 
had  already  crossed  the  low  ground,  the  army  could 
give  him  battle  better  there  than  at  Nieuport,  with 
the  haven  cutting  off  all  retreat.  If  part  of  the  ene- 
my's force  only  had  crossed,  which  was  most  likely, 
the  victory  would  be  easy.  But  at  midnight  the  de- 
tachment was  dispatched  under  Count  Ernest,  and  it 
fell  out  exactly  as  Vere  had  predicted.  The  enemy 
was  crossing  the  stream  at  Leffinghe  when  Ernest 

*  Commentaries^  p.  85. 


288  THE  FIGHTLVG   VERES. 

came  up.  His  men  broke  and  fled  at  the  first  fire, 
being  daunted  by  the  overpowering  numbers  of  the 
enemy,  and  2,500  men  were  thus  lost,  without  check- 
ing the  Archduke  s  advance  for  a  moment.  Fortu- 
nately, that  personage  marched  slowly,  and  with  long 
halts,  or  the  position  of  Maurice  would  have  been 
very  critical.  As  it  was,  the  invaders  were  placed  in 
a  most  hazardous  position.  They  must  give  battle 
in  the  dunes,  with  Nieuport  in  their  rear,  and  with 
the  certainty  that  a  reverse  would  be  little  less  than 
annihilation. 

Maurice  ordered  the  rest  of  the  army  to  march 
down  to  the  haven  side  by  break  of  day,  in  readiness 
^to  cross  at  the  first  ebb.*  Sir  Francis  Vere  conv 
nianded  the  vanguard,  and  was  at  the  water  side  by 
dawn ;  but  the  haven  was  not  yet  fordable.  He 
therefore  joined  Prince  Maurice  again,  and  was  with 
him  when  news  came  that  the  Archduke  had  crossed 
the  dunes,  and  was  marching  along  the  seashore. 
Vcre  urged  the  necessity  of  crossing  with  all  po>- 
sible  speed  and  taking  up  a  position  in  the  dunes 
before  the  enemy  was  upon  them.  He  then  re- 
turned to  his  troops.  The  soldiers  would  have 
stripped  to  keep  their  clothes  dry,  as  they  had  done 
the  clay  before,  but  Sir  PVancis  thought  it  inexpe^ 
dient,  the  enemy  being  so  near  at  hand,  and  there- 
fore "  willed  them  to  keep  on  their  clothes  and  not 
to  care  for  wetting  them,  for  they  s]^ould  either  need 
none,  or  have  better  and  dryer  clothes  to  sleep  in 
that  night."'  The  cavalry,  commanded  by  Counl 
Louis  (lunther  of  Nassau,  who  had  been  placed  un- 
der X'erc's  orders,  crossed  the  haven  at  about  8.J0 

^  Vcre's  CommiHtarus,  p.  86.  '  Vere*s  Cpmaumtmrigs^  p.  47- 


^. 


THE  EVE  OF  THE  BATTLE  OF  NIEUPORT.      289 

A.  M.,  —  "  ^  demy  ^  nage,  ^  demy  ^  gue,"  as  the  Count 
told  his  father,  —  and  the  infantry  of  the  vanguard 
followed,  taking  up  their  positions  on  the  seashore 
and  in  the  dunes/ 

When  Sir  Francis  Vere  and  Count  Louis  reached 
the  seashore,  they  could  see  the  enemy  afar  off, 
marching  along  close  to  the  edge  of  the  breaking 
waves.  There  was  not  a  moment  to  be  lost,  and 
Vere  at  once  proceeded  to  select  the  most  advan- 
tageous positions  in  the  dunes  to  post  his  troops  of 
the  vanguard,  and  prepare  for  battle. 

The  haven  makes  a  break  in  the  dunes,  and  they 
begin  to  rise,  at  first  in  very  gentle  grassy  undula- 
tions, at  a  distance  of  180  yards  from  the  haven's* 
margin.  Here  they  are  of  considerable  width,  but 
their  breadth  is  much  less  a  few  hundred  yards  fur- 
ther  towards  Ostend.     At  this  narrow  point  Vere 


1  Mr.  Motley  bases  his  third 
charge  against  Sir  Francis  Vere 
on  his  account  of  the  passage 
across  the  haven.  He  says  that  it 
is  inaccurate,  and  that  these  mis- 
statements render  Vere's  evidence 
untrustworthy,  and  make  him  un- 
worthy of  credit.  Mr.  Motley  al- 
leges that  Vere's  words  are  that  he 
ordered  them  '*  to  cross  the  haven  at 
dawn  of  day  ^  at  the  first  low  tide'* 
The  italics  are  Mr.  Motley's.  Here 
is  certainly  a  mistake,  but  it  is  not 
made  by  Vere.  Mr.  Motley  goes 
on  to  show  that  it  was*high  tide  at 
dawn  of  day  on  July  2,  1600,  while 
the  crossing  took  place  at  eight 
A.  M.,  and  that  consequently  Vere's 
statement  is  erroneous.  Now,  Sir 
Francis  Vere  not  only  does  not 
use  the  words  which  Mr.  Motley 


puts  in  his  mouth,  but  gives  an 
entirely  different  and  perfectly  ac- 
curate account  of  the  passage. 
His  words  are  :  "  The  rest  of  the 
army  was  commanded  to  march 
down  to  the  haven's  side  by  the 
break  of  day,  to  pass  at  the  first 
ebb  tide."  He  does  not  imply 
that  the  ebb  tide  was  at  break  of 
day,  and  what  follows  complete- 
ly disposes  of  Mr.  Motley's  accu- 
sation. Sir  Francis  goes  on  to 
say  that  the  water  was  not  then 
passable,  that  he  therefore  re- 
turned to  Prince  Maurice,  and 
that  he  afterwards  went  back  to 
his  troops,  *'  and,  so  soon  as  the 
tide  served,  I  passed  my  men  as 
they  stood  in  their  battalions." 
(Vere's  Commentaries^  p.  86.) 


290  THE  FIGHTIXG   VERES. 

resolved  to  give  battle.  Towards  the  haven,  and 
250  yards  within  the  dunes,  there  is  a  high,  roundtd 
sand-hill,  50  feet  above  the  sea,  with  ridges  sweeping 
round  from  either  shoulder  and  forming  a  circle.  In 
the  centre  of  this  circle  there  is  one  of  those  flat 
plains  already  referred  to,  now  called  the  "  Oasis  Va- 
lerie." Directly  across  this  oasis,  and  in  front  of  the 
first,  or  West  Hill,  there  is  a  second,  or  East  Hill,  the 
distance  between  them  being  120  yards.  \'ere,  judg- 
ing by  eye,  calls  it  about  100  paces.  In  front  (ca>t!Ot 
the  East  Hill  the  dunes  are  intersected  by  a  hollow 
bottom,  the  sand  ridges  being  higher  to  the  seaside, 
or  north,  than  towards  the  inland,  or  south.  The 
bottom  runs  clean  across  the  dunes,  which  are  here 
only  368  yards  wide,  from  the  seashore  to  the  inland 
plain,  so  that  Vere  could  conveniently  occupy  them 
with  his  vanguard.  On  the  hither  or  western  side  oi 
the  bottom,  where  the  East  Hill  stood  more  advanced 
than  the  rest,  he  resolved  to  await  the  enemv.  The 
ridge  and  hill  tops  vary  in  height  from  30  to  50  fees 
above  high-water  mark.  The  above  is  Vere's  de- 
scription, and  exactly  similar  features  can  be  traced 
in  the  present  dunes. 

The  vanguard  consisted  of  4,350  men,  of  whom 
1,600*  were  Irlnglish,  2,500  Frisians,  and  250  ot 
Prince  Maurice's  guard.  From  this  force  Sir  Francis 
selected  a  thousand  picked  men, —  250  English,  250 
of  Maurice's  guard,  and  500  Frisian  musketeers. 
He  posted  the  250  English  and  50  of  the  guard  in 
the  very  front  of  the  position  on  the  East  Hill,  which 
is  steep  and  sandy,  and  at  the  top  so  hollow  that  the 
men,  when  IviuLT  dciwn,  were  covered  from  the  sand* 

^  Not  2,600,  as  stated  by  Motley,  iv.  p.  54. 


THE  EVE  OF  THE  BATTLE  OF  NIEUPORT.      29 1 

hills  on  the  other  side  of  the  bottom  as  by  a  parapet 
On  the  top  of  the  loftier  West  Hill  the  remaining  200 
of  the  guard  were  posted,  and  Maurice  caused  two 
demi-culverins  to  be  placed  there.  The  semicircular 
ridge  connecting  the  East  and  West  Hills  on  the 
land  side  is  rather  lower  than  the  West  Hill,  and 
very  steep  on  the  side  facing  inland,  with  loose  sand. 
Here  Sir  Francis  posted  the  500  Frisian  musketeers, 
with  orders  to  fire  only  to  the  south,  as  they  com- 
manded  all  the  ground  by  which  the  enemy's  cavalry 
could  pass  on  that  side.  On  the  other  ridge,  between 
the  two  hills  facing  the  sea,  and  concealed  in  the  sandy 
ravines,  were  700  English  pike  and  shot  men,  ready 
to  support  the  forlorn  hope  on  the  East  Hill.  Prince 
Maurice  placed  the  rest  of  his  artillery,  consisting  of 
six  pieces,  on  the  seashore  at  the  foot  of  the  dunes, 
nearly  in  a  line  with  the  West  Hill ;  and  the  remain- 
ing troops  of  the  vanguard,  consisting  of  650  Engli^ 
and  2,000  Frisians,  were  stationed  on  the  outer  slopes 
of  the  dunes,  near  the  battery,  ready  to  reinforce 
the  advanced  party.  The  cavalry  were  at  first  on 
the  extreme  left,  close  to  the  sea,  —  Count  Louis 
being  on  the  right  by  the  dunes,  and  that  dashing 
cavalry  officer,  Marcellus  Bacx,  on  the  left,  near  the 
sea.  The  divisions  of  Solms  and  Tempel  were  also 
on  the  seashore,  in  the  rear  of  the  West  Hill. 

As  soon  as  Sir  Francis  Vere  had  completed  his 
arrangements,  Prince  Maurice  rode  to  the  front  with 
the  other  commanders  to  consult  whether  the  army 
should  advance  or  abide  the  coming  of  the  enemy. 
They  all  counselled  an  advance  except  Vere.  That 
experienced  veteran  expressed  an  opinion  "  that  the 
Archduke's  forces  had  been  gathered  in  haste,  that 


292  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

they  had  no  provisions  with  them  to  last  for  any 
time,  and  that  they  had  no  alternative  but  to  advance 
and  give  battle."  He  therefore  strongly  advised 
that  the  army  should  await  the  attack  of  the  enemy 
in  the  excellent  positions  he  had  selected.  This  ad- 
vice was  adopted  by  Maurice,  and  a  decisive  victor)* 
was  the  consequence/ 

The  Archduke's  army  numbered  10,000  infantr)*. 
1,600  horse,  and  six  guns.  Zapena,  an  experienced 
officer,  was  marshal  of  the  army,  and  the  cavalry  was 
commanded  by  the  Admiral  of  Aragon.  The  .Arch- 
duke s  chief  strength  was  in  his  infantry,  com|x>sed 
of  old  and  trained  soldiers,  who,  up  to  tliat  date, 
were  *'  unfoiled  in  the  field."  After  they  were  in  full 
view  they  rested  for  two  hours  on  the  inner  slopes, 
waiting  until  the  rise  of  the  tide  should  render  the 
sands  unserviceable  for  cavalry,  their  chief  trust  be- 
ini^:  in  their  foot.  At  about  half  flood  thev  asjain 
crossed  to  the  sea-sands,  and  marched  forward,  \\i:h 
some  light  cavalry  in  advance.  As  these  horsemen 
were  well  in  front,  \'ere  wished  to  send  forward  the 
cavahy  of  the  vanguard,  with  the  object  of  drawing 
the  enemy's  horse  away  from  the  foot  until  they  were 
within  range  of  the  battery  on  the  beach,  and  then 
to  have  opened  fire,  and  afterwards  charged  them 
vi«j;orc)u>lv.     I>ut  Count    Louis  of  Nassau,  throuch 

1  Su(  h    was   VcTc's    advice,   as  27).      Nothing  of  the   kind   ever 

st.itcil    l>y    him^t  It.      Mr.    Motley  hai)pene(I.     Vcrc  would   not  ha\e 

N.iy-^    tlMt    WiLS   advii  e   was    ti)  jiosted  his  van^iLird    in    carefi:"r 

tiinnv    up    intrcnclimonts    to    tlic  selected  positions  if  he  had  no!  :> 

niMihiast,   .iiul   rrp.ise   the    luttle  tended  to  fij^ht  that  day.    The  pro» 

tli.it    <l.i\.    if   })os>i;lt.- :     and    tbat  prsal  to  intrench  in  shifting  sand 

M.i'.iiicc  IT]  1i'-rl  that   '!ure  would  would  have  beea  absurd,  if  it  bad 

Ih-  no  intn-nt  hmcnts  tb..it  day  Imt  ever  been  HUdc. 
thobc  ut  |)ikc  and  aiqucbus  liv.  p. 


THE  EVE  OF  THE  BATTLE  OF  NIEUPORT.        293 

some  misunderstanding,  did  not  charge,  and  when 
the  enemy's  horsemen  came  within  range,  Vere  or- 
dered the  guns  to  be  fired.  The  artillerymen  did 
their  work  so  well  that  the  enemy  s  horsemen  were 
scattered  and  thrown  into  confusion,  eventually  tak- 
ing refuge  in  the  dunes/ 

Soon  afterwards  it  was  high  tide,  when  there  is 
barely  a  space  of  thirty  yards  between  the  sea  and 
the  steep  sand-hills.  The  enemy,  therefore,  marched 
all  his  infantry  into  the  dunes,  while  his  horse 
crossed  over  to  what  Vere  calls  the  "  Greenway,"  be- 
tween the  dunes  and  the  cultivated  fields  inland 
The  remaining  portion  of  Maurice  s  army  executed  a 
similar  movement.      The  2,000  detached  to  garrison 

1  Vere's  Commentatiesy  p.   94.  points  were  strictly  accurate,  so 

This  little  skirmish  gives  occa-  that  these  reasons  for  discrediting 

sion  for  the  fourth  charge  which  the  English  general  are  invalid. 

Mr.    Motley   brings    against    Sir  The  truth  is  clear  enough.    Mr. 

Francis  Vere.    Count  Louis  Gun-  Motley  states  (iv.  p.  33)  that,  by 

ther,  in  a  letter  to  Count  John  of  Vere*s  order,  the  cannoneers  fired 

Nassau  (Prinsterer,  Lettre  ccviii.  a  volley  before  the  cavalry  had 

ii.  pp.  23-35)»  said  :  "Vere  judged  time  to  make  the  proposed  feint, 

that  I  had  advanced  too  far,  and  "  thus  precipitating  the  action,  and 

thought  1  should  fall  back  nearer  almost  in  an  instant  changing  its 

the  infantry.     I  feared  this  move-  whole  character  and  defeating  its 

ment  might  cause  confusion,  the  original  plan."      Now    what  was 

enemy  being  so    close,  and  dis-  the  object  of  this  proposed  feint 

hearten   the   men."      Mr.  Motley  on  the  part  of  the  cavalry?    It 

turns  this  into  Louis  having  want-  was  to  draw  the  enemy's  cavalry 

ed  to  charge,  and  Vere  having  or-  within  range  of  the  guns.     It  is 

dered  him  to  fall  back.    Upon  this  admitted  on  all  sides,  that,  when 

Mr.  Motley  at  once  assumes  that  Vere  opened  fire,  the  enemy's  cav- 

Vere's    account    is    false.      His  airy  actually  was  within  range,  and 

ground  for  this  assumption  is  that  was  thrown  into  confusion.     It  is 

Vere  made  inaccurate  statements  clear,  therefore,  that  the  guns  were 

as  to  the  length  of  time  the  troops  not  fired  too  soon,  but  exactly  at 

were  before  Nieuport,  and  as  to  the  right  moment.     Young  Louis 

the  tide  when  they  crossed  the  simply  misunderstood  the  order, 

haven.  It  has  already  been  shown  which  was  to  advance,  not  to  fall 

that   Vere's  statements   on  both  back.  But  no  harm  was  done,  and 


294  ^-^^  FIGHTIXG   l^RES. 

the  forts  near  Ostend.  and  the  2.5CX)  sent  a\i*ay  with 
Count  Ernest,  had  reduced  the  infantr\-  to  less  thar. 
7,5cx>  men.  Of  these,  4.350.  or  more  than  hah*.  co::> 
posed  the  vanguard  under  Sir  Francis  Vere,  which 
reallv  foui^ht  the  battle.  The  centre  under  Count 
Solms,  numbering  about  1,000  men,  was  stationed  ir. 
the  dunes,  about  a  musket-shot  to  the  right  rear  •  : 
the  vanguard,  and  the  rear,  of  2,150,  under  Tempc!. 
was  at  the  same  distance  to  the  right  rear  of  the  ci:n- 
tre,  so  that  the  three  divisions  were  posted  en  £\ //«.'  n 
across  the  dunes.  The  rear  was  never  eniracrtd  :/. 
all.  The  whole  of  the  cavalr)-.  except  Sir  Fran::- 
Vere's  own  troop  and  that  of  Ball,  which  remained 
by  the  battery  on  the  beach,  was  moved  to  the  '*  Grccr.- 
way  "  facing  the  Spanish  cavalr}-.  This  "  Grecnway 
is  an  undulating  grassy  lane,  sloping  from  the  dur.cs 
to  the  dry  hedge  which  fences  in  the  fields  of  c«rr. 
and  beans,  and  is  150  yards  in  width  ;  ^  so  that.  a> 
\'crc  savs,  the  cavalrv  was  not  formed  "  in  anv  la:;:e 
front,  but  one  at  the  tail  of  the  other,  as  the  narruA- 
ncss  of  the  passage  enforced."  The  "  Grecnway 
was  fully  commanded  from  the  southern  ridge,  where 
Ven;  had  j)osted  the  Frisian  musketeers. 

Maurice  heartily  approved  of  all  the  arrangement> 
madr  by  his  trusty  English  colleague;  and  whcr* 
the  battle  was  about  to  commence,  he  was  urged,  for 
many  reasons,  to  keep  in  the  rear  of  all.  To  this  he 
a^icLcl ;    while  Sir  TVancis   Vere  took  his  post  or. 

th.  rf  \v,is  n»i  intrntion.il  mi^-it.itc-        *  There  are  not.  and  nr\-cr  rir. 

till  It  nil  (  itlu-r  si<I(.*.     'I  hi:  action  have  l)cen.  anv  ditches  aLfos^  !h-« 

\v.»-?in!  |i?i-.  i|.i!.iti'(1,  it^  cbaracttT  sloping?  *•  Grecnway,"  a*  Mr.  .M^t- 

\v.)^  lit  rli.iiii^td.  and  tiic  <iri;;inal  lev  ti-Ils  us  (iv.  p.  35).  unlcu  m^VtJ 

]>l.(ii    ^\.i^    iini   ({•  teatfi!.  but   was  could  run  up  hiU. 
cariicd  out  to  ilie  letter. 


THE  EVE  OF  THE  BATTLE  OF  NIEUPORT.        295 

the  top  of  the  East  or  foremost  hill  with  his  250  gal- 
lant Englishmen.  Soon  the  Spanish  forlorn  hope  of 
arquebusiers  appeared  on  the  crests  of  the  ridge  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  bottom  and  opened  fire,  while 
their  vanguard  advanced  down  the  slopes. 


..J 


CHAPTER   XXII. 

THE   BATTLE   OK   NIELPORT. 

TiiK  battle  of  Nieuport  began  at  about  half  past 
two  in  the  afternoon  of  the  2d  of  July,  1600.  \'crc"s 
plan  was  to  hold  the  advanced  positions  as  long  as 
possible  with  his  forlorn  hope  of  the  vanguard,  bring- 
in<j  up  the  700  men  on  the  north  ridge  and  the  050 
English  reserves  gradually  as  required,  and  fighting 
with  bull-dog  tenacity.  He  thus  intended  to  wear 
out  the  Spaniards,  who  were  already  tired  by  the 
long  march  from  Leffinghe.  Then,  at  the  last  miv 
mcnt,  and  when  overborne  by  numbers,  he  intended 
to  send  for  fnsli  reinforcements  to  fall  upon  the 
rxhaiistcd  enemv. 

After  r\(:han*j:in<4  fire  from  the  hills  on  either  side 
of  the  bottom.  500  of  the  flower  of  the  Spanish  in- 
f.uitrv  riishcd  into  the  hollow  and  charged  the  East 
Hill,  on  which  \'ere  was  posted.  The  250  English- 
men and  30  of  Maurices  guard  received  them  on  its 
saiidv  sIop(*  at  push  of  pike,  and  a  desperate  struggle 
ensucib  whii  h  was  obstinately  continued  for  half  an 
hour;  tin*  Spaniards  being  at  last  obliged  to  fall 
bai  k  lu'hind  some  low  ridt^es  in  the  bottom.  At 
neaily  the  same  time  the  enemy's  cavalry  advanced 
(li>\\n  the  "  Cireenwav."  But  the  two  demi<ulvcrins 
on  tiie  West  Hill,  and  the  500  Frisian  musketeers 
on  the  south  ridge,  so  galled  them,  that,  at  the  first 


THE  BATTLE  OF  A/EUPORT.  297 

appearance  of  a  charge  by  the  horse  under  Count 
Louis,  they  fell  back  to  their  infantry  supports,  fol- 
lowed for  some  distance  by  the  young  Count.  At 
the  same  instant,  and  while  the  Spanish  forlorn  hope 
was  falling  back  from  the  assault  on  the  East  Hill, 
Vera  ordered  100  Enghshmen  from  the  north  ridge 
to  advance  as  covertly  as  possible  and  attack  the 
Spaniards  in  the  bottom  on  their  right  flank,  while 
60  men  charged  down  the  hill  and  engaged  them 
in  front.  The  Spaniards  broke  and  fled  to  the  main 
body  of  their  vanguard,  where  they  rallied,  were  re- 
inforced, and  seized  a  round  sandy  hill  in  the  bot- 
tom, near  the  West  Hill,  which  Vere  considered  to 
be  an  important  post.  He  therefore  brought  up 
more  men  from  the  north  ridge,  and  strove  to  dis- 
lodge them.  Vere  describes  the  struggle  as  a 
"  bloody  morsel."  The  position  was  an  isolated 
eminence,  and  the  men  came  to  hand-blows  upon 
the  whole  circle  of  the  hill,  with  much  slaughter  on 
both  sides ;  but  in  the  end  the  enemy  was  forced  to 
retire. 

At  this  juncture  the  Archduke  advanced  his 
centre  in  line  with  his  vanguard,  and  strove  to 
drive  the  English  from  their  points  of  vantage  in 
the  bottom,  sometimes  gaining  and  sometimes  losing 
ground.  Vere  continued  to  draw  from  his  700  men 
on  the  north  ridge,  and  persisted  in  the  desperate 
struggle,  his  design  being  to  draw  down  the  bulk  of 
the  enemy  on  his  handful  of  men,  and  so  spend  and 
waste  them  as  that  they  should  be  unable  to  with- 
stand the  reserves.  The  ensigns  of  the  van,  centre, 
and  rear  of  the  Spaniards  were  now  brought  up 
in  line  on  the  hills  to  the  east  of  the  bottom,  but 


298  THE  FICHTIXG   VERES 

rather  to  the  right  of  Vere's  hill,  and  directly  front- 
ing the  more  distant  centre  and  rear  of  MauricL-  > 
army.  In  this  order  the  Spaniards  advanced  un::! 
they  received  a  check  from  the  fire  of  the  ^>i^ii^. 
musketeers  on  the  south  ridge,  and  their  lead::-;: 
columns  took  shelter  in  the  hollows,  sendins:  ^-' 
skirmishers. 

Then  the  Spaniards  turned  their  main  force  upon 
Vere,  the  fight  continuing  hotter  and  hotter,  withuu: 
intermission,  in  the  bottom,  until  the  whole  of  the 
1,600  linglish  were  engaged.  They  were  overborne 
by  the  overwhelming  numbers  of  the  Archdukc> 
soldiers.  Vere  now  saw  that  the  time  had  arrived 
for  the  reserves  to  come  to  the  front,  and  that  a 
charge  of  cavalry  could  alone  settle  the  day  ;  for  ev^n 
if  driven  back  by  infantry,  the  enemy  would  have  liiv.e 
to  rally.  Me  therefore  sent  orders  for  his  2,000  Friv 
ians,  posted  near  the  seaside  battery,  to  advance ;  and 
he  also  sent  to  ask  Maurice  for  part  of  the  cavalr." 
of  the  centre.  He  sent  messenger  after  messenjicr. 
but  no  aid  arrived.  At  last  he  himself  rode  df^n 
into  the  bottom  amongst  his  men  to  cheer  them  or., 
doing  the  work  of  a  common  soldier  as  well  ascfa 
general.  Thus,  with  extreme  difficultv,  the  liit'.e 
band  and  its  heroic  leader  continued  to  hold  the 
enemy  in  check.  Still  no  help  came.  \'ere  recoi\ti 
a  nuibkel->hot  in  the  thigh,  and  soon  afterward? 
another  in  the  leg.  He  concealed  his  woumii 
from  the  men  and  fought  on,  hoping  for  succor,  bu: 
none  came.  At  last  his  men  were  overwhelmed  bv 
numbers,  and  fell  back  slowly  and  in  good  order 
towards  the  battery  on  the  seaside.  The  Spaniards 
followed  at  a  resj^eclful  distance,  though  a  few  of  the 


J 


THE  BATTLE  OF  NIEUPORT.  299 

enemy's  skirmishing  cavalry  came  close  up,  and 
killed  some  men  by  thrusting  rapiers  under  their 
armor.  During  the  retreat  Sir  Francis  Vere's  horse 
fell  dead  under  him  and  upon  him,  so  that,  sorely 
wounded  as  he  was,  he  could  not  move.  His  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel, Sir  John  Ogle,  Sir  Robert  Drury, 
and  a  gentleman  named  Thomas  Higham,  came  to 
his  assistance.  They  extricated  their  chief  and  put 
him  up  behind  Sir  Robert  Ogle's  clothes  were 
stained  by  the  blood  from  his  general's  wounds.  The 
fact  that  there  should  have  been  time  for  this  shows 
how  cautious  was  the  Spanish  pursuit,  though  Ogle 
says  that  there  was  only  just  time,  and  that  they  ran 
considerable  danger  of  being  captured.^ 

**Here  Mr.  Motley  makes  another  complaint  more  justifiable.  The 
attack  upon  Sir  Francis  Vere  (iv.  p.  delay  in  sending  succor  as  nearly 
37).  He  says  :  "  Vere  complained  as  possible  enabled  the  Spaniards 
that  he  was  not  sufficiently  second-  to  gain  a  complete  victory.  Mr. 
ed,  and  that  the  reserves  were  not  Motley  speaks  of  the  Frisians  hav- 
brought  up  rapidly  enough  to  his  ing  done  their  best.  Why,  the 
support.  He  was  manifestly  un-  1,000  Frisians  composed  the  very 
just ;  for,  although  it  could  not  be  reinforcement  for  which  Vere  sent 
doubted  that  the  English  and  the  messenger  after  messenger,  and 
Frisians  did  their  best,  it  was  which  never  came !  Mr.  Motley 
equally  certain  that  every  part  of  continues,  that  "  every  part  of  the 
the  army  was  as  stanch  as  the  army  was  as  stanch  as  the  van- 
vanguard.  It  may  safely  be  as-  guard."  But  he  forgot  that  a  large 
serted  that  it  would  not  have  bene-  part  of  the  army  was  never  en- 
fited  the  cause  of  the  States  had  gaged  at  all !  It  was  very  easy  for 
every  man  been  thrown  into  the  troops  to  be  stanch  when  they 
fight  at  one  and  the  same  mo-  were  out  of  range.  Mr.  Motley's 
ment."  last  sentence,  in  the  passage  quot- 

The  answer  to  this  charge  is  ed  above,  is  also  calculated  to  con- 
conclusive.  Vere  not  only  made  vey  an  erroneous  impression.  Vere 
no  complaint,  but  he  distinctly  dis-  was  the  last  man  to  desire  that 
claimed  anything  of  the  kind.  His  "every  man  should  be  thrown  into 
words  are  :  "  I  will  charge  and  ac-  the  fight  at  one  and  the  same  mo- 
cuse  none  but  the  messengers  of  ment."  His  whole  plan  was  the 
their  slackness.''    Yet  never  was  very  reverse  of  such  tactics.    It 


300  THE  FICHTIXG  VERES. 

On  reaching  the  battery  on  the  sands,  Wre  fo'^r.i 
the  i,ooo  Frisians,  who  might  have  turned  the  >c:i'.v 
still  there.  They  had  received  no  orders  to  advar*cv. 
There  were  also  300  foot  under  Sir  Horace  W-rv. 
and  some  cavalry  under  Ca[)tain  Hall.  Sir  Frar..  > 
ordered  the  cavalry,  supported  by  Horace,  to  cha:-;^- 
the  Spaniards,  who  were  now  streaming  out  on  :■ 
the  beach.  The  enemy's  troops  were  n»uted  «in  th-. 
sands,  and  fled  back  into  the  dunes.  Then,  r^: 
length,  the  worn-out  hero,  who  was  suftcrintj  fr«  r 
severe  illness  as  well  as  from  two  bleedinci  w^.»i:r.i- 
put  himself  into  the  hands  of  his  surgeon.* 

The  S[)aniar(K  now  carried  the  ICast  Hill   and  a  .- 
vaneed  into  the  valley  beyond,  where   2.000  <»:"i!v.: 
num'her  ft)rme(l    in  tivcios.     Others  dn»ve   ba^  k   :"- 
Fri>i;in    mu>keteers   from    the   south    ridiie,  ar.d  ::v. 
AnlulukeV   own  aniuebusiers    advanced   al.-:^^    the 
Greriuvay.     This  was  the  most  critical   minre:.:  V 
the  b;UlIe.      The   fate  of  the  armv  of  the  Siat'  -  w..- 
hanL;:iv^  <»n  a  thread.     Maurice   now   t(u>k  hi^  ^'..tr.^.: 
on  tlie  W. >t  Ilill.where  the  two  demi-culverir>  v...:'. 
planted,  wlunee   he    had    a  belter  view   of  ll'.e  f.'. '  i 
The  Spanianl>,  thniigh   momentarily  viel('riie.>.  w^r 
tire<l  and   worn    out  with    h'4htin<jr.     There   w.i^  >:: 
hop'-. 

Tlie  Fiv'li>h  officers  beiran  to  rallv  their  men  :-. 
the  >h«  il'  red  hollows  between  the  West  Hill  ar.ii  trt 

w.i>  t'   '■    "■'   !' ■■  •■:■■:'.   ii   ';«'k  >:'.i!ii>li    army   at  !»a\    i  ■:   \    j^ 

.11^1  !■;  •'■:•  \\.\\  '    y   -:  :.i".I.  -l  hall  ilieir  niinil.K.T  Icil  :   X'ct"*  r 

fnn  I'    ;.«■-■■  !<■,     "ri'^-    .:     i:;-    »•  -  |tfati-i!   and   iiri:cnt    i'r.::»...rf»  !« r 

.si:\-         •  uliii'l;  .  .i:.i    >  •.!■.    .i*.  ^:  •■  a  M  wire  unans^crci! :   a:  li  \c:  He 

mi  ■  i     •    ■' '  ■,    \\- :f    'It.',    i.     lie  :va'!f  n«»fOTir,)laint.  im;ii!r.^  !  Iirr?* 

,\\  ■  !  ■-  :   ■  '.    ]'.t:    'nT''   ]■■     l-ijii-s  tiv!\  ti»  the   slackness  i-f   nc«5e^ 

ot    \\\\    !!i«-    I. ''.3   ;:i^'   1   ir.rti  •^"•s. 
from  t!.«-  '. .in^uir  ".   Ke;»:  I'.c  wlmlc         *  0;^le'«  .^«lrrJ//:r,  pp.  I07-IOO 


THE  BATTLE  OF  NIEUPORT  30 1 

beach,  almost  overlooking  the  valley  where  the  2,ocx> 
Spaniards  had  formed.  Hither  Sir  John  Ogle 
brought  30  men.^  He  was  soon  joined  by  brave 
Charles  Fairfax.  Then  came  young  Gilbert,  slain 
immediately  afterwards,  with  more  men.  Seeing  this 
force  gradually  increasing,  the  Spaniards  sent  out 
1 50  men  against  them  from  the  main  body  of  2,000. 
At  that  moment  Sir  Horace  Vere  rode  up  from  his 
victorious  charge  on  the  beach,  bringing  further  re- 
inforcements, including  the  companies  of  Captains 
Lowell,  Sutton,  and  Morgan.  Seeing  this,  the  156 
Spaniards  fell  back  again  to  the  main  body.  Prince 
Maurice  also  saw  it,  and  joyfully  exclaimed  :  "  Voyez, 
voyez,  les  Anglais  qui  tournent  ^  la  charge!"  He 
gave  orders  to  Dubois,  the  commissary-general  of 
cavalry,  to  bring  the  remaining  horse  forward,  under 
Sir  Edward  Cecil,  to  be  ready  to  charge  in  any 
direction  that  might  be  required.  All  these  move- 
ments took  place  more  rapidly  than  they  can  be 
related,  and  amidst  shouting  and  uproar. 

Then  Sir  Horace  Vere,  Ogle,  and  Fairfax,  with 
their  rallied  men,  charged  furiously  down  the  slope 
and  across  the  valley,  just  as  the  main  body  of  Span- 
iards was  thrown  into  slight  confusion  by  the  retreat 
of  the  150  skirmishers.  The  renewed  fight  was 
short  and  decisive.  The  Spaniards  were  tired  and 
worn  out.  They  broke  and  began  a  retreat  which 
ended  in  flight.  Maurice,  "  whose  vigilant  and  judi- 
cious eye  was  upon  our  actions  and  motions  all  this 
while,"  as  Ogle  tells  us,  ordered  Sir  Edward  Cecil 
to  charge  with  his  cavalry.  The  regiments  of  Mar- 
cellus  Bacx  and  of  Ball  also  charged.     The  Frisian 

*  Ogle's  Narrative^  p.  103. 


musketeers    ra'/.ied:     Maurice  advanced    the    cer.tr- 
cii". isi  .-n  ur.der  S  *.r.*.?.  and  ided  t'/.e  crorrv.-  \v::'.  >-  : 

fr-riv.  the  de:r.:-c.:".' -jrir.-.     B".  a  srccr.d  v:har,rc  lC 

-  ^^ 

.scattuicd  the  .\r:!". i-!<L  >  ar.i-Lj-^i-^r?  on  the  Gr-s.v  - 
wav.  "Ihe-c  c'::i'^'.5.  ?a*.  ?  i.»^'.c.  "  bv  the  h.;:  . 
and  favr;i;r  •»:  G^d.  LT-Wt:  u?  t>.v  v^av."  The  S:ar.:ar.i* 
brr>ke  av.d  tivi  :n  .-..1  direction?.  The  Ar. l.d:,^. 
nevL-r  drc-.v  r^ir.  i::.::'.  h^  TL-ached  br'i^'^es.  Za;-. :.: 
and  tiiL-  .\d:r.:::i'.  •  :  Ara^on  were  taken  j  r:*-  :  ■.  > 
and  aij"::t  a  third  nf  the  Spanish  ar::^.y  \va^  k:!!v.:  r 
wrmrulL-d.  Ot  tlic  i/ico  Hns^h-h.  no  k<>  thar.  >0- 
wLTu  kiikd  or  wounded:  ci-^ht  ca'jtain>  wxre  >hi: 
and  all  ihc  ri->t  IjUt  two  wltc  wounded.  liut  :;.-. 
victory  wa>  complete. 

The  terrible  ^laui^hter  ot'  the  English  pn.'Ve>.  a- 
Wn;  e\prc»e>  it,  that  "  on  our  side  in  a  niar.rii  r  :.  -. 
wholf  1<»>>  tell  (»n  the  I'-nsrlish  ";  that  i>  to  >av.  :'-..: 
lh('V  bore  the  brunt  ot"  the  Hiiht,  and  that  the  h^a'.:',-: 
sliarr  (jfthe  lo>s  was  theirs.  He  adds:  "  I  dare  r  : 
take  till'  whole  honour  ot"  the  victory  to  the  j-  : 
I'.n'j-li-h  tP'op  of  1.600  men,  but  leave  it  to  be  iud.;.  : 
by  lIio-.t-  ihat  HKiy  L^ive  their  censure  with  le»  .-:.-- 
pi(  ion  of  partiaiitv. 


.  ■  1 


•    '.'•     M- :!.    ■     ..••!  'r.-    ■  :i    Sir  "l«»oscncss    ar.il    rc:  V.-c<^-i** 

Ii.iM!.  \  *■'         '■.•    :.■  v.   1"  ■.  n 'ii-.-  a-sorlinn.  \%l:ii  h    W"ii'.-!   !e   .■..-    ■ 

pru.iil   .im!    ^:.M\v!i   !•!     •■    wit: '■'.;**  imjo^^iltlc    had     M.i'.;:;cc     •: 

ir..    |ii  'ii  ■  .I'h-'-.     W'     n»\f  (■■■•:, I-  i-< 'Uoins  iK'cn  liki'U  !•»  cn^a^v    ■  i 

t..:i'i'it     jii'.'  111'.!-: '.:■"-:  I 'v..irk'«  ri-iitri'ViTS".  ci'T^cvT^in.:  ;Vc    N 

.11     \.'.'       vii:ti    -.       Id-     ^.t\  -  :  j'iiM   fXi'tMiiiion  "   (iv.  j.  ii.     ii. 

■  I  !..    t.  ,!  c:   .   .  !'  \''  :i    i^  ::  .i!k>  ■!  hM.ill'.  ri.-m.irk>  iha:.  \vh::c   ::.c  '::• 

ilir.  M   li.  1!'    !-\      ;]«•:  =  ,    i'.   1    i"..i:i'  titN  written  l>y  i!iC  Ctiur.:*    I 

I II  I   ..■,  il  iik!  in".  '  .:!     •  '.'.  •  -•'  ■  '^1,  ami  I'.rnc^t  ii»ni:crni:-.;i  the   :  .-r.'.  : 

III,.:   .11    .   .    ;it-'i'\    'ii  '.'..     N  i--  111  \  icu  J  Mirt  remained  in  the  lar 

.J.         ,:,  :     "l-.       lj<    !  ir   ;.:-.    .ii.i;  .iriliivfs  tor   twii  cenTur'o  ar..:  « 

\%     :■,.  .   ■    ii'lr   •!   .',   t.i-  •.  ■■     \\r  l..»U.  s.i  that '*  the  ci  ntrover^\  •-i 

till  II  .!•  (  UM  s  ihf  l:ii  .it  -Liit:.ii  >  I  Vcrc  "  is  an  "ail  unconscious  ozt 


THE  BATTLE  OF  NIEUPORT  303 

Mr.  Edmonds,  with  Sir  Francis  Vere*s  despatch, 
and  another  from  Lord  Grey  de  Wilton,  arrived  in 

on  the  part  of  those  buried  war-  the  cordial  relations  between  them, 
riors,"  Sir  Francis  Vere's  narra-  Thus  the  Dutch  themselves  con- 
tive**wasa  publication,  —  a  party  clusively  refute  Mr.  Motley's  as- 
pamphlet,  in  an  age  of  pamphlet-  sertion  that  Vere  felt  hostility  to- 
eering."  wards  them.  (See  page  348.) 
In  reply  to  this  formidable  in-  There  is  no  sign  of  spleen  orinor- 
dictment,  it  may  be  observed  in  dinate  self-esteem  in  his  writings, 
the  first  place,  that  Mr.  Motley  and  certainly  there  could  be  no 
appears  never  to  have  read  Vere*s  wounded  pride  of  opinion,  for 
narrative,  for  he  quotes  from  an  Vere*s  advice  vras  always  taken. 
incomplete  French  abridgment.  The  accusation  that  Vere  was 
The  narrative  to  which  he  refers  guilty  of  looseness  and  reckless- 
is  contained  in  Sir  Francis  Vere's  ness  of  assertion  has  alreadv  been 
Covimentaries.  Its  whole  tone  is  refuted  with  reference  to  the  five 
diametrically  opposite  to  what  Mr.  cases  put  forward  by  Mr.  Mot- 
Motley  represents.  It  is  a  calm  ley.  The  controversy  between 
and  remarkably  accurate  state-  Vere  and  the  House  of  Nassau 
ment  of  facts  relating  to  actions  existed  only  in  Mr.  Motley's  imag- 
in  which  Vere  was  personally  en-  ination.  There  was  no  such  con- 
gaged,  written  from  memory  at  the  troversy.  On  the  contrary,  Mau- 
close  of  his  life,  and  not  intended  rice  gave  Sir  Francis  Vere  full 
for  publication.  Its  accuracy  can  credit  for  his  conduct  of  the  battle 
be  proved  by  comparison  with  his  of  Nieuport,  and  said,  in  his  letter 
own  letters  and  those  of  others  de-  to  the  Queen,  that  the  victory  was 
scribing  each  action,  and  written  due  to  her  general  (^/V//i^' /*dr/^rj, 
at  the  time,  which  are  still  pre-  ii.  p.  204).  Surely  Maurice  him- 
served  ;  but  which  were  not  be-  self  was  a  better  judge,  on  this 
fore  Vere  when  he  wrote  his  Com-  point,  than  Mr.  Motley  I  The  nar- 
mcntaries.  The  members  of  the  rative  of  Vere  was  no  more  a  pub- 
House  of  Nassau  are  never  men-  lication  or  a  party  pamphlet  than 
tioned  but  in  respectful,  sometimes  were  the  letters  of  the  Nassaus. 
in  affectionate,  terms.  Vere's  fond-  Neither  the  one  nor  the  others 
ness  for  the  Hollanders  and  devo-  were  intended  for  publication,  nor 
tion  to  their  cause  are  conspicuous  were  published  until  many  years 
in  all  his  writings.  This  strong  after  the  deaths  of  the  writers, 
and  natural  bias  not  unfrequently  Mr.  Motley  linds  fault  with  Vere 
brought  down  upon  Vere  the  cen-  for  not  mentioning  the  rout  of 
sure  of  the  Queen  and  Burleigh.  Count  Ernest  at  Leffinghe,  and  the 
The  expressions  of  affection  and  charges  of  cavalry  led  by  Count 
gratitude  in  the  grant  of  a  pension  Louis.  In  the  first  place,  Vere 
to  Sir  Francis  Vere,  by  the  States-  does  mention  the  charges  of  cav- 
General,  bear  strong  testimony  to    airy  ;  and  in  the  second,  his  avowed 


304  ^^^^'  FIuHIIXG    VERES. 

London  on  the  4th  of  July.    The  news  of  the  vict^.r 
had  preceded  him ;  for  Caron,  the  Dutch  envoy,  u*  • 
lopL-d  out  to  Richmond  on  the  previous  cKiy  •\::a  rt- 
ported  what   he   had  heard   from    I3arnc\c:!dt.       I:.. 
Queen  was  liijjhly  pleased,  a-id  sent  warm  conj;rai..!:.- 
tions  to  Prince  Maurice,  who,  in  hi>  letter  i«i  her  M.k- 
jcsty.  (lid  full  jusiice  to  her  general,  "  attributing  i:.-. 
vict'uv  to  the  irood  order  and  direction  oi  Sir  l-rar..:- 
\'eie."*     The    name    of   Vere   was    in    evcrv    r*-.i:.  .• 
month,  and  ju>t  pride  was  felt   that  the   \i*-rk    'a.i- 
done  so  well  by  the  ICnglish  contingent.      TiK-  <Jj-  •. . 
was  very  okcn  heard  to  >ay  that  she  held  Sir  I'"ra:-    - 
to   be   the   worthiest  captain   of  her   lime."      I-rt   . 
years  of  faithful  and  steadfast  work   had  wro  ;-':-.:  .. 
change  which  must  have  seemed  marvellous  i..  ti:  >. 

<»!»■•■  t  i:i   writing   w.js   to  <!i:scrilic  1S7S,  wlm   is   i;r.i:.i'  .c     •  w  ■  :    "^  - 

tin'  <i]«i.iiii)!is  ul  tt'Hij)^  iiiuitrliis  rrarui>    Vcrc,    \\\\     ^:.ir.   -   ' 

<i\\  11  nn -otial  CDniMiiind  t'lilv.  Mr.    Moilov.      '•r-l-nii    ^    ••.     .- 

It  is  v.i'li  -u-.it  ri-'^iLt  ih,i:  I  feci  than  u.Uit/*  \\\\A  ii   ;i  •    -rv  .-■   ■    - 

c»Mi.«l  i<>  nfutt    till  ^«-  ;vT-i^tL-iit  ti>iiaii  Iia<MH'(-M  "^parf  :   !   r.^t  v  • 

att.i<  k^  ''.  Mr.  M":!r\  1:1  tin-  ;;  '"il  \vi»u!il  prnh.i". ily  l..i\e  n  i  «•■  *:■••  ■ 

iniu     i'!  .1  -!'-,t  ^i-T.tT.ii.     lUil  tlic  liis  estimate  nl    Sir    K:.i:  r  *  •.•   r 

ir,'.'i'ii    i)f   >u- ;i   .1   \'\\\\  .IS  Sir  l:i  that  i  a-c  a  (!itt"i  n  :■:  c^-.   '.    - 

\  \.v.'  i  ■  Vrn-  !■•■!■  ■:■,•^  t'  : «  -Tiritv.  mi;:ht  r«intii!i  n:!v  liave  '  •  ■  -.  ..  ■ 

.1:    I  II     ■  .1  !"i.::i  i'  [i  ■!■-'■.  to  <:ifr:i«!  ij.atcii.  l)asi.-»l  on  the  v.'.i--  ■-.  ... 
i'  V  :■     ■  ■:■  ■■!  !!\  .i-N   :"■   !.     Iiisdif-  *  JCowidnJ  ll'h.fr    t     >.•    . 

\\-  •'.'■  '  '  '-■  ■"  ■:-•  i  ■.■■       ■■•  s  »  s'.V'-'.rz  I'ft  SiJfirw  Ju!y   :.  i'  .-c.    .'    .     :". 

.:  ;-j     ■;■!■   ■■  ■  ri  !   I   1;  .ii-   ■  m    •;   M;.  'I '.i-tc    wa^    ^n-ai    s'.::    r  *■.■    ..• 

M    •:.  .  "s  iniMil.      I:  In  t   M  !■  .11-.   \^\.\\  j.nnlixt    <•(    sitli.iy.      lii*    wj'.    . 

.\I: .  Mi  "'i".  ■>.  i!.Mi:!ir.r -■  i 'sM -i-!  c  Niiuport  «»n  \\\v   i««t.  S.'  w    :    •: 

!  i\'     '11.1:1.1  <1   .i  liiir.il  <!.  -.  I  ;i.!.it.!  ti>  1  luNhinij  in  a  >hiji  •  -i  :'.c  r*  •' 

"I    sir    i  !  Ill   In  \'iii  ".s   si,:ir.     >ir  in;;  ut    tlic    batllc.       IJ-    ;  r- ■    c 

U  :  '•  .:n     \''r!i..n     Matin'irt.     »!r-  Piiilip   \vjj:M   tcrtainli    1  a\c  l^r" 

Mtri'.i.l    i:-''.ii    TriMM's.    si^TrT    nf  in  the  ihi.  kcst  of   the  ri:^h!.     ^■ 

*«ii   Ii  II..  is    VrTf  .Mill   WW  •  1  ^'r  KhIktI  .Sidney's  own  explana:.  " 

l\.»"'-  \'.  II. 11..  Hit  .'t   N"::-  '  !..im;.  win  wms  ir.crrlv  tliat  lie  w:!ln:ri.-ir  \  "- 

m 

r   Hill   ;    fi    1  !i.M'i"!i.  .".  t'l.  M"!  r  ff'     Nclt  I'Ui  ol   tin*   li^ht.  Ik.':i:j:  w;.  . 
I'iri    I  iii':'i.jt     Mi»';i-.  !'"'■      '.:ri:  icp.iri-il  for  nUi  I)  a  dav. 

r'ii'\  Ii.ivr   a   ^nn  K«>l».  rt.  Umi   in  *  S:jr,'i  Papers,  ii.  y.  204. 


THE  BA  TTLE  OF  NIEUPORT.  305 

who  watched  the  course  of  events.  No  one  did  so 
more  intently  and  with  fuller  knowledge  than  Queen 
Elizabeth  herself,  and  no  one  knew  better  to  whom 
it  was  mainly  due  that  the  successors  of  the  men  who 
fled  like  sheep  at  Gemblour,  were  able  to  turn  the 
dreaded  tercios  of  Spain  into  mobs  of  panic-stricken 
fugitives  among  the  sand-hills  of  Ostend. 

Sir  Francis  Vere  s  wounds  proved  to  be  very  seri- 
ous. He  was  carried  to  Ostend,  where,  while  still 
confined  to  his  bed,  he  was  gladdened  by  the  receipt 
of  a  most  gracious  letter  from  the  Queen  herself, 
which  was  delivered  to  him  by  the  Earl  of  Northum- 
berland. In  August  he  was  conveyed  to  Ryswick, 
where  he  was  lodged  in  a  pleasant  house  belonging 
to  the  Prince  of  Orange,  and  in  this  suburb  of  the 
Hague  he  slowly  recovered ;  but  he  was  suffering 
from  his  wounds  for  several  months.  He,  however, 
had  the  great  pleasure  of  knowing  that  the  military 
success  of  the  allies  went  hand  in  hand  with  cordial 
diplomatic  relations.  In  the  autumn  of  1600  he  was 
able  to  report  that  "in  all  the  time  I  have  served  on 
this  side,  I  have  never  seen  so  much  willingness  to 
accomplish  the  wishes  of  her  Majesty,  nor  so  abso- 
lute a  belief  in  her  singular  care  for  their  provinces 
as  now  of  late,  which  they  generally  acknowledge 
with  no  small  applause  of  her  Majesty's  courses,"  ^ 

1  Sir  F.  Vere  to  Sir  R.  Cecil,  from  Ryswick,  10  Sept  1600.    S.  P.  0., 
Holland,  vol  xcii. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

THE   SIEGE  OF   OSTEND. 

Sir  Francis  Vere  enjoyed  the  hospitality  of  Prince 
Maurice  while  he  slowly  recovered  from  his  wound>. 
His  health  had  been  seriously  impaired.  But  he  was 
obliged  to  give  constant  and  close  attention  to  the 
efficiency  of  the  force  under  his  command ;  for  a 
time  of  trial  was  approaching.  Ostend  was  seriously 
threatened  with  a  siege. 

One  of  the  general's  chief  troubles  had  been  the 
way  in  wliich  useless  officers  were  forced  u{>on  him 
by  powerful  relations  at  home.  These  fine  gentle- 
men did  not  object  to  an  exciting  skirmish,  or  even 
to  a  battle,  if  tliey  could  go  home  to  swagger  about 
it  immediately  afterwards.  In  ordinary  times  they 
were  constantly  absent.  They  had  a  strong  dislike 
to  hard  work,  and  were  useless  as  regimental  officers. 
The  general  naturally  deprecated  their  presence  in 
his  arniv.  Amonir  these  incumbrances  were  the 
Earl  of  Northumberland,  a  consequential,  pompous 
nobleman  ;  and  Sir  Callisthenes  Brooke,  who  thought 
he  could  do  as  he  pleased  because  he  was  a  cousin 
of  Lord  Cobham.  Brooke  chose  to  absent  him- 
self without  leave,  and  we  gather  from  one  of  Sir 
Dudley  Carleton*s  gossiping  letters  that  **  Sir  Callis- 
thenes is  likely  to  be  displaced   unless   he   is  well 


THE  SIEGE  OF  OSTEND.  307 

seconded  by  friends  in  England."^  Sir  Francis  was 
not  a  man  to  brook  interference  of  this  kind.  He 
wrote  to  Lord  Cobham;  "  My  care  for  Sir  Callis- 
thenes  has  been  great,  but  on  the  other  side  he  hath 
not  answered  any  part  of  my  expectations  of  his  affec- 
tion and  towardliness  to  the  wars,  insomuch  that  the 
States  themselves  are  highly  offended  with  his  long 
absence."  Instead  of  at  once  resuming  his  duties  on 
his  return,  he  went  off  with  Sir  Dudley  Carleton  to 
see  the  siglits  at  Amsterdam.  At  last  the  general 
was  obliged  to  dismiss  him  from  his  company.  Cap- 
tain Lower,  a  creature  of  the  Earl  of  Northumberland, 
was  another  inefficient  officer  whose  services  were 
dispensed  with. 

Sir  Dudley  Carleton's  barrack-yard  gossip  was,  that 
the  general  "  held  himself  hauta  la  main  to  all  his  cap- 
tains, which  breeds  a  general  discontentment  among 
them."  Sir  Francis  Vere  explained  the  position  to 
Secretary  Cecil  in  a  subsequent  letter.  He  wrote : 
"  I  have  done  nothing  out  of  spleen  to  Sir  Callis- 
thenes,  but  constrained  thereunto  by  his  own  car- 
riage, after  long  toleration  of  his  courses.  I  am,  I 
confess,  very  curious  to  have  worthy  officers,  and  to 
that  curiosity  I  impute  chiefly  the  good  success  it 
pleaseth  God  to  give  to  our  actions;  and  though  my 
changing  of  men  may  bear  with  divers  a  hard  inter- 
pretation, it  shall  never  be  found  I  discharged  any 
without  just  cause," 

Sir  Francis  Vere  "bred  general  discontentment" 
among  the  Callisthenes  Brookes  of  his  army,  but  he 
was  revered  by  officers  like  Lambart  and   Parker, 


.    J 


3oS  THE  FIGHTIXG    VERES. 

Ogle  and  Fairfax.     Such  men  as  those  whose  stati:e- 

kriej'i  arour.d  his  monument  in  Westminster  Abbt;. 
were  rcMciv  to  live  and  die  for  their  beloved  ^.-nerai. 
While  Sir  Francis  was  still  convalescent  at  Rvs 
wick,  \\<i  receivL-d  tidin-j^s  y:A  the  rebellion  nf  i!k-  t..:! 
of  Fs>e\."  and  a  cu[>v  of  the  Queens  proLlaira::. 
"  I  c.v.i^od  i:  lO  be  printed  in  Dutch,  and  :;v  ::  :.: 
n'.ea::s  :'/::::l:s  are  j^enerally  understood  acct-rdirii;  t 
the  :ru:P;.  This  cor.spiracy  is  likened  to  that  c'l  Cii;- 
line.  Mv  Lord  Admiral  and  mv  Lord  Burleiuh.  v:x 
one  f -r  entering:  the  citv  and  proclaiminij:  the  \\:^:. 
traitor  lu  his  face  and  in  the  heat  of  the  ^tir.  ar.d  t::-. 
otiier  for  b.i>  exceedincr  diligence  in  rai^inir  fcrees  a:.  \ 
ta'.Nip.L:  the  I\i:!.  are  greatly  reputed."  \'ere  liau  bLtr. 
an  ub"vv  t  I'l  Lssex's  di>:ike  and  liustiiitv  ever  si::.-. 
the  I-'.ir.vi  X'v'v.i^e.  He  had  c;enen»u>jv  d^^fenu'.  : 
t!ie  L.^:*.  tv»  (U:een  Klizabeth,  and  had  reCei\L.i 
npthir.u  i"/.:  ii.L^ratiliuie  fia*  his  pains. 

The  i.i::!e  of  XieiipDrt  wa>  the  most  signal  vict'Ti 
L:;ainei!  by  the  1  hitch  patri(»t>  and  their  allit>  di:r::\: 
t!'.'"  !i»ni;  >tri:L:L;ie  for  independence,  and  il>  tvm '::.'. 
eireLt  w/is  vrvv  L^reat.  lUit  the  sie^e  of  ( )>ti  nd  Ua? 
o\  even  h.i-'ier  n^^nxnt.  Tb.e  do>i'erate  lenatitv  with 
wliich  tile  heP  ic  defenders  held  out,  bv  fui-v  oc- 
ciip\ing  il'.<'  HMin  ainiy  of  the  Archdukes,  enabled 
Prince  MauritJ-  tf»  t  apture  stroni;  places  and  L:air. 
advaniaL;e>  in  tin.-  fn.ld  \t\  one  campaign  alKr  av.i'iher. 
without  a  eheck.  Tht-  State>  (ieneral  ap{x ar  t»»  ha\c 
been  niainlv  iniluenced    bv  a   desire    t«>    retain   li'.e 

■  1  ).^  :l-f  r'!i  .r.»i  Sti'  'f  Ir  '  r::-  \ 'c  liii'il  to  t!iL  irtv,  i*r:u!.i:i.  ^  ,  :  ?  cr 

.i:\,  I'     I.      1  "»"»i\  w.t^  ":  ■.   .  '■■    ■' ■■  nv:  iNicF'*  \\i:"..    ti'.c    u!:r.'.:»:   rtl-i.- 

!•/■  .    .i:  «I    I  \«M  •:•.  ■'    y-w   '^  ■■     ;.-•'•.  t.iJrc. 
t  >ii  tills  "<  '  .i-:-  ■:'..  •  '  u  I  ii  I.       ."  '  •.". 


THE  SIEGE  OF  OSTEND.  309 

Flemish  port,  but  the  result  of  their  policy  was  to 
bring  the  most  memorable  struggle  in  modern  his- 
tory to  a  close.  The  siege  of  Ostend  led  directly  to 
the  twelve  years'  truce, 

Ostend  was  originally  a  little  fishing-town  facing 
the  sea,  with  a  haven  on  its  western  side,  formed  by 
the  mouth  of  the  Yper-leet,  the  sluggish  river  which 
flowed  under  the  bridge  at  Leffinghe,  where  Ernest 
of  Nassau  was  defeated.  The  old  church  and  town 
faced  the  sea,  on  the  site  of  the  present  esplanade 
and  Kursaal,  but  in  1583  the  new  town,  more  in- 
land, was  regularly  fortified  with  ramparts,  counter- 
scarps, and  two  broad  ditches.  The  dunes  were  cut 
away,  and  the  sea  was  allowed  to  fill  the  ditches  and 
surround  the  town;  and  a  wide  gullet,  called  the 
"  Geuky'  was  beginning  to  form  a  new  harbor  on  the 
east  side,  towards  the  end  of  the  sixteenth  centur}^ 
This  is  the  present  harbor.  To  the  south  the  coun- 
try was  intersected  by  a  network  of  canals,  and  was 
often  flooded ;  and  the  land  rose  slightly  towards  the 
dunes,  on  either  side  of  the  town. 

On  the  5th  of  July,  1601,  the  Archduke  Albert 
began  the  siege  of  Ostend  with  20,000  men  and  50 
siege-guns  in  position;  while  the  small  garrison  of 
under  2,000  was  at  first  commanded  by  stout  Gover- 
nor Vandernood,  The  States  General  held  that  the 
defence  of  this  outlying  post  was  a  matter  of  vital 
importance.  They  looked  round  for  the  ablest  com- 
mander in  their  service,  to  whom  the  post  of  danger 
and  heavy  responsibility  might  be  entrusted.  The 
choice  naturally  fell  upon  the  hero  of  Nieuport  Sir 
Francis  Vere  received  his  commission  from  the  States, 
not  as  governor,  but  as  general  of  the  army  employed 
in  and  about  Ostend,  with  very  ample  powers. 


3IO  THE  FIGHTLXG   VERES. 

Sir  Francis  first  dutifully  proceeded  to  Engla^.^:  : 
obtain  the  approval  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  and  it-  r.i:-. 
a  body  of  3,000  recruits.  His  brother  H(.»racc  v.  .- 
detached  from  the  army  of  Prince  Mauricu  \vi:!'i  ti^  : 
companies  of  veteran  English  to  reinforce  the  0?tv:  . 
garrison.  On  the  9th  of  July  Sir  Francis  landed.  \\\\ 
these  troops,  on  the  sands  opposite  the  centre  of  i::- 
old  town  of  Ostend,  for  the  besieging  enemy  com- 
manded both  havens  with  their  guns.  Guverr^ur 
Vandernood  met  him  at  the  waters  edge,  and  Uc- 
livered  up  the  keys  of  Ostend.  The  garrison  then 
consisted  of  thirty  companies  of  Netherlanders  in  two 
regiments  of  2,600  men,  under  Vandernood  anJ 
Uchtenbroek,  to  which  V'ere  added  his  eight  com- 
panies of  English  of  100  men  each,  which  broLL;::: 
up  the  total  to  3.500  men.* 

The  enemy  had  an  army  of  20,000  men,  three  par:> 
of  which  were  encamped  round  F'ort  Albertus.  uiui-.r 
the  immediiite  orders  of  the  Archduke,  while  a  four: h 
was  on  the  east  side  under  Count  Bucquoy.  Tlr.rtv 
pieces  were  in  po>ition  on  the  west,  and  ten  on  trie 
east  side,  which  kept  up  an  intermittent  fire,  ari.i  did 
mucli  daniaije,  even  at  this  early  period  of  the  >i-. -je 

C)>tend  was  not  po>sessed  of  any  great  natural  at:- 
vanta;^es  for  deknce,  beyond  the  facilities  f<T  Kttini: 
the  water  from  the  sea  into  the  numerous  ilitche>  ar.  J 
canals  which  intersected  the  country.  The  >ie«je  w.i^ 
a  desperate  stru;4Li[le  for  the  possession  of  the  sar./.- 
hills  and  marshes  on  the  bleak  shores  of  the  Nor:h 
Sea.  .  \  et  the  whole  civilized  world  watched  wit- 
hated  breath  for  the  result.  Landward — that  i>,  :• 
the  >outh  —  the  town  was  well  protected  by  an  intri- 

^  Vc:c  i<i  CVcil.  Ij;1\  17.  i''>ci.     S.  W  O.,  Holland,  vol.  xciii. 


THE  SIEGE  OF  OS  TEND. 


311 


cate  network  of  ditches  and  marshy  ground,  over- 
flowed at  .spring  tides.  To  the  east  was  the  "  Geule," 
or  gullet,  corresponding  with  the  present  harbor;  to 
the  west,  the  old  harbor,  then  fast  fiUing  up ;  and  to 
the  north,  the  old  town  with  its  palisades  facing  the 
seashore.  The  vulnerable  points  were  on  either 
flank  of  the  old  town,  where,  the  land  rising  towards 
the  ridges  of  the  dunes  near  the  sea,  the  besiegers 
were  enabled  to  approach  with  their  parallels  and 
batteries.  On  the  east  flank  the  "Geule"  was  broad 
and  deep,  but  on  the  side  of  the  old  harbor  the  water 
was  fordable  for  four  hours  at  every  tide;  and  the 
defences  on  the  west  side  of  the  old  town  conse- 
quently formed  the  key  of  the  position.  The  ditch 
passed  between  the  old  and  new  towns,  which  were 
connected  by  bridges,  and  round  the  new  town,  par- 
allel to  the  "Geule  "  on  one  side,  and  to  the  old  har- 
bor and  Yper-leet  river  on  the  other.  It  was  broad 
and  deep,  and  had  ramparts  and  bulwarks  (or  bas- 
tions) on  one  side,  and  a  counterscarp  with  ravelins 
on  the  other. 

The  most  innportant  point  for  defence  was  the 
northwest  angle,  near  the  mouth  of  the  fordable  old 
harbor.  This  was  the  only  place  where  an  approach 
could  be  made  to  the  walls  on  firm  ground.  Here 
the  enemy  concentrated  his  efforts.  The  defence  at 
this  hotly  disputed  corner  consisted  of  a  strong  rave- 
lin in  the  counterscarp  called  the  "  Porc-espic,"  and 
a  bastion  in  its  rear  known  by  the  name  of  the  "  Hel- 
mund."  '  On  the  other  side  of  the  ditch,  in  the  old 
town,  and  still  closer  to  the  mouth  of  the  old  harbor, 
a  fort  called  the  "  Sand-hill  "  was  formed  on  a  portion 

'  Hell's  moutb. 


312  THE  FIGHTIXG   VERES. 

of  the  dunes  that  remained  when  the  rest  was  cut 
away.  Its  site  is  to  the  right  rear  of  the  pre>cn: 
Kursaal.  These  three  works  formed  the  kev  o\  ih-: 
position.  From  the  **  Sand-hill,"  along  the  sca-facc 
the  old  town  was  protected  by  strong  j^alisadcs  fcrrr- 
ing  bastions  with  connecting  curtains,  and  a  succc-j-- 
sion  of  three  small  forts,  called  respectively  thv 
"  Schottenburgh  "  next  to  the  "  Sand-hill,"  the  "  Mi»>c> 
Table,"  and  the  "  Flamenburgh,"  defending  a  ci:: 
from  the  town  ditch  into  the  "Geule,"  at  the  ea>ti:r:: 
corner.  On  the  eastern  side  of  the  town  facint:  lix 
"  Gcule/'  the  defences  consisted  of  the  "  North  Bi:'- 
wark  "  at  the  northeast  angle,  with  a  corre>pontlini; 
ravelin  in  the  counterscarp;  the  "East  Bulwark  "<<r 
"  Pekdl/'  in  the  centre  of  the  eastern  wall;  and  the 
*'  Spanish  bulwark  ''  at  the  southeast  angle,  with  an 
outwork  called  the  **  Sj^anish  Half-moon "  on  tin 
other  side  of  the  "  Geule."  In  the  centre  t»f  ihc 
south  wall  was  the  *' Southeast  Bulwark,"  fiankt-d  :• 
right  and  Kit  by  the  '*  Spanish  "'  and  "  South  Bul- 
warks," all  with  corresponding  ravelins  in  the  c«>'.:r.- 
terscarp.  On  the  west  wall,  facing  the  old  h:irb.':. 
were  the  '*  We^t  Bulwark  "  and**  Southwest  Bulwark  ' 
and  ravelins.  iU  tween  the "  South  "  and  '*  SoulhwcM 
Bulwarks."  and  beyond  the  counterscarp,  there  wa> 
an  extensive  outwork  near  the  point  where  the  river 
Yper-lcct  llows  into  the  old  harbor.  It  was  called  tht 
*'  Bolder,"  and  had  formerlv  been  a  field  from  which 
the  water  had  been  pumped  by  means  of  windmilk. 
It  was  necessary,  from  its  position,  to  include  it  in 
the  system  of  defences.  These  details,  which  would 
be  tedious  and  .scarcely  intelligible  without  a  map 
or  plan,  become  perfectly  clear  when  the  necessan* 


THE  SIEGE  OF  OSTEND.  313 

illustration  is  supplied  ;  while  it  will  not  be  possible 
to  retain  a  sufficiently  correct  notion  of  the  works,  so 
as  to  follow  the  events  of  the  siege,  unless  the  system 
of  defences  is  kept  in  the  mind's  eye/ 

Sir  Francis  Vere,  after  a  careful  examination  of  the 
fortifications,  came  to  the  conclusion  that  his  first 
care  should  be  to  strengthen  and  secure  the  *^  Polder," 
and  his  next  to  provide  a  safe  place  for  the  shipping 
to  unload.  The  "Polder"  at  the  southwest  corner 
of  the  works  was  a  space  of  some  extent,  surrounded 
by  water,  the  old  haven  washing  it  on  one  side,  and  the 
ditch  of  the  counterscarp  on  the  other.  Vere  saw  at 
once  that  if  the  enemy  got  possession  of  it,  he  might 
drain  the  water  out  of  the  ditches  and  so  make  an 
easy  approach  to  the  town  wall.  The  general,  there, 
fore,  set  the  garrison  to  work  intrenching  the  "  Pol- 
der," the  outer  wall  of  which  was  well  flanked  by  the 
"  West  Bulwark  "  and  ravelin,  raising  the  ramparts 
to  resist  cannon,  and  constructing  two  works  called 
the  **  Polder  Square"  and  the  "  Polder  Redoubt,"  the 
latter  at  the  extreme  southwest  angle,  and  another 
called  the  "  West  Square,"  or  "  Quarrier."  He  also 
threw  up  a  work  beyond  the  southern  counterscarp, 
called  the  "South  Quarrier."  The  "Polder"  was 
thus  assured  from  sudden  attack.  In  order  to  protect 
the  shipping,  Sir  Francis  cut  a  passage  in  the  coun- 
terscarp at  the  southeast  angle  of  the  works,  by 
which  the  water  from  the  "  Geule  "  flowed  into  the 
town  ditch,  and  here  a  hundred  vessels  at  a  time 
could  lie  and  unload,  safe  from  the  annoyance  of  the 
enemy's  shot.  But  to  reach  this  place  the  vessels  had 
to  run  the  gauntlet  of  Count  Bucquoy's  batteries  on 

1  There  were  five  main  guards. 


314  ^^^  FIGHTING   VERES. 

the  "  Geule."  To  escape  this  danger,  another  c-t 
was  made  near  the  sea,  between  the  "  Flamenburi:/':  * 
and  the  "  Northeast  Ravelin." 

Having  strengthened  the  "  Polder"  and  provided 
for  the  safe  entry  of  ships  with  supplies  and  troo:>5. 
Sir  Francis  Vere  conceived  the  idea  of  drawinir  the 
enemy  into  the  low  marshy  ground  to  the  south  if 
the  Ypcr-leet,  which  he  knew  would  entail  u|X)n  thex 
great  expense,  delay,  heavy  labor,  and  much  li^ss. 
With  this  object  he  determined  to  occupy  a  rising 
ground  surrounded  by  swamps  and  ditches,  whence 
he  could  annoy  the  enemy's  boats  comini^  with  sup- 
plies from  Bruges,  and  probably  draw  part  of  the 
Archduke's  forces  away  from  the  real  key  to  the  ptv- 
sition  on  the  dry  land  of  the  dunes,  near  the  mouth 
of  the  old  haven,  and  into  the  water-covered  suamps 
to  the  south.  Accordingly  200  Enjrlishmen  occupicti 
the  post  thus  selected  by  \'ere,  and  a  heavy  tire  w.i> 
opened  upon  them  from  one  of  the  enemy's  fort? 
calk'd  *' (irooten-dorst."  doing  little  harm.  Then.  a> 
Vere  had  intended,  the  Spaniards  advanced  in  force 
from  the  dunes,  and  the  English  general  withdrew 
his  men,  leaving  eighty  to  decoy  the  enemy  farther 
into  the  swampy  lands,  with  orders  to  fall  hack  into 
the  "South  Ravelin."  This  was  a  successful  little  piece 
of  stratccfv.  The  enemv  would  have  been  deluded 
with  other  feints  and  surprises,  and  worn  out  by  con- 
tinuous heavy  marehinc;,  had  not  their  antagonist 
been  temporarily  disabled. 

The  Spaniards  kept  up  a  tremendous  fire  on  the 
town  from  all  their  batteries,  and  on  the  4th  of  Au- 
gust Sir  I'Vancis  Vere  was  severely  wounded  in  the 
head.     His  condition  became  so  critical  that  com- 


THE  SIEGE  OF  OSTEND, 


315 


plete  rest  was  ordered  for  him.  Writing  to  Secretary 
Cecil  on  the  17th,  his  brother  Sir  Horace  said: 
"  My  brother  left  this  town  the  loth  of  this  present, 
being  grown  into  extremity  of  illness,  altogether  in- 
clined to  a  fever,  so  that  his  hurt,  accompanied  with 
a  fever,  and  the  offence  our  turbulent  neighbors  gave 
him  with  their  artillery,  made  that  by  no  means  he 
could  take  his  rest,  so  that  weakness  grew  upon  him 
very  fast,  and  by  the  judgment  of  the  doctor  and  chi- 
rurgeon  if  he  did  not  remove  there  could  be  no  like- 
lihood of  his  recovery.  It  was  very  apparent  that  his 
stay  would  endanger  his  life.  But  now  I  hope  he 
will,  in  few  days,  be  in  good  fon^^ardness  to  resume 
his  post."  ^  Sir  Francis  went  to  Middelburg  to  be 
cured  of  his  wound,  and  in  a  few  weeks  he  was  con- 
valescent. In  September  he  returned  to  Ostend  with 
Sir  R.  Drury.^ 

Meanwhile  the  fire  from  the  besiegers  was  con- 
tinued with  unabated  fury;  and  the  soldiers  of  the 
garrison  dug  underground  quarters  in  the  market- 
place and  near  the  "  Pekell "  bastion,  for  protection 
against  the  hail  of  shot.  The  Queen  and  the  States 
were  steadfast  in  their  resolution  to  defend  the  place. 
Recruits  arrived  on  the  ist  of  August  from  England, 
and  the  Queen  s  government  had  taken  praiseworthy 
care  for  their  equipment.  Vere  reported  that  "  the 
men  were  very  well  apparelled  and  the  arms  are 
very  serviceable."  On  the  8th  of  August  1,200  more 
were  landed,  of  whom  Sir  Horace  said :  *'  For  the 

1  Sir    Horace  Vere    to    Cecil,  yet  nothing  well   cured,  yet  his 

August  17,  1601.  honour  carries  him  thither."    Sir 

*  **  Sir  Francis  Vere,  as  I  con-  R.  Cecil  to  Sir  J.  Carew,  Septem- 

ceave,  is  by  this  day  in  the  town,  ber   5,   1601.      (Camden   Society, 

and  although  his  wounds  are  as  1864.) 


3l6  THE  FIGIITIXG    VERES, 

soldiers,  in  my  time,  I  have  not  seen    their  like  :' ' 
proper  men,  well  armed  and  apparelled."     Sir  li-  :::: 
led   out   several   sorties,  and  there   was   ^onic  1  .- 
But  the  enemy,  no  longer  distracted  by  puz/i::v4  ::.> 
na'uvresof  the  veteran  Sir  Francis,  steadily  ac.  a:..-.: 
his  a[)proaches  to  the  margin  of  tlie  old   ha\L::.    :- 
posite  the  "  Sand  Hill  "  fort,  between  whicii   ar.^.i  :  •. 
water's  edge  seven  rows  of  palisades  had   Ikv:.  :":.\'.  . 
Soon  the   sides  of  the  **  Sand   HilT' were   >   w::   - 
thick  with  shot  that  thev  formed  an  iron  w.i;'..  .i^.:.:>: 
which  the  fresh  shot  struck  and  wore  >lia:icrc*:.  :/•. 
pieces  ilying  into  the  air.     One  day  the   1  )ii:c!i  l"  '.• 
onel    I'chlenbrock   and   the   Sicur  de  Chatiil   ::.  ::-: 
gallaiit  young  commander  of  a   French   c<»:i:::'.^^'jr.:. 
were  standinix  on  the  "Sand  Hill"  watchin*^  the  ::  ' 
hail,  when    Chatillon's    head   was  struck    on   v.::':  \ 
cannon-j^hot,  and  the  brains  were  dashed  upon  L\:h- 
tenhroek's  left  cheek. 

On  the  19th  of  September,  to  the  great  relief  .-- : 
joy  of  the  garri>on.  Sir    I-'rancis  \'ere    reti:rr.f.  :.     ! 
the  interval,  cnntingents  of  I'rench,  Sc<'ts  a::/:    1>;- 
ians  had  arrived.besides  2,000  Fn'j:li>h  r<.-er::i:<.    T:*- 
sieire  of  O.-iL-nd  was  becomintr  the  miliiarv  sciiio".    ' 
ICuiope.      Voung    ni>blemen    and    gentlemen    !r  - 
l*]nL;laiKl.  Frarue,  ai^al  I  lolland  flocked  here  to  I..", 
the  art  (»f  war  num  the  renowned  Sir  I'Vancir-  \  r. 
Tho>e  who  (  ainr  lo  Karn  and  to  work  were  cordia!" 
weleoined  by  \\\v  griivral  as  pupils  aiul  comrade>  :" 
arms.     Th>>e  who  i  ame  to  swatJiJer  and  induli:^-  tlv::' 

*  si:   il-'.nii    ■.■>.  •■I'.i   t.in  in  <.';:j.T.iiii  n«.!r?.  :'!.     T;   *  i<i:'.' 

M.ii!:-    :■  v.  1-  V,  :,    :     ••.     \\"     ..r,  c  «.  .ijiMiii  H;  itt.  I'l  :^  !  .1  '  :"  r  re; --i- 

iiiii'..   '  I     ?  .1  .   ■    I   ;.  .     '  ■  I    ■',  iiiir  ti'.ii  .i'linii-  un  i  i  .\\\  hcct*:  tc*i<f' 

c««!;!':  ■  .■\'  .     ■   1'".  ■  :.<■  i\-  htaiitJiii^  suMicr.*' 

ccc'ii'i^lv  i;c'.i-:'a  lu  li.c   .-uivicc, 


THE  SIEGE  OF  OSTEND.  317 

personal  vanity  were  soon  made  to  know  that  their 
room  was  preferred  to  their  company.  Among  the 
latter  class  was  the  Earl  of  Northumberland,  who 
passed  his  time  in  fancying  that  he  had  been  slighted, 
and  in  standing  upon  his  dignity,  while  all  good  men 
and  true  were  fighting  and  working  heart  and  soul 
under  their  great  commander.*  If  a  man  under  his 
command  was  no  use,  Vere  let  him  know  it,  whether 
he  was  a  peer  or  a  pikeman.^ 

Meanwhile  the  Archduke  Albert  was  fighting  with 
other  weapons  than  pike  and  shot.  He  engaged  a 
traitor  named  Conisby,  who  went  to  England,  pro- 
cured letters  to  General  Vere,  and  crossed  over  to 
Ostend.  He  then  began  to  convey  intelligence  to 
the  besiegers  of  all  that  took  place  in  the  town,  under 
an  agreement  with  Albert.  There  was  a  boat  sunk 
in  the  mud,  on  the  banks  of  the  old  haven,  near 
the  "  Southwest  Redoubt."  His  habit  was  to  deposit 
letters  there,  whence  a  Spanish  soldier  took  them 
during  the  night.  At  last  Conisby  grew  bolder,  and 
tried  to  bribe  a  sergeant  to  blow  up  the  powder  mag- 
azine. The  sergeant  revealed  the  plot.^  The  traitor 
confessed  everything,  and  was  sentenced  to  be 
whipped  out  of  the  town.     After  this  disclosure,  the 

1  "  The    Earl    of    Norlhuniber-  companies  consisted  of   250  men 

land  went  hence  yesterday,  weary  each,  except  those  of  Sir  Francis 

enough  of  the  discommodities  of  and  Sir  Horace  Vere,  which  num- 

this  place,  and  of   the   little   oh-  bered  300.     These  were  the  origi- 

servance  done  him."    Vere  to  Ce-  nal  complements,  but  on  Septem- 

cil,  September  22,  i6or.  ber  22d  the  whole  number  was  re- 

8  On  September  22d  the  garri-  duced  to  2,440,  there  being  often 

son  consisted  of  29  English  com-  no  more  than  80  in  a  company, 

panies,  29  Dutch  companies  under  The     whole    garrison    numbered 

Colonel  Van  der  Noor,  22  French  4,480. 

and  Scots  who  came  with  Chatil-  '  Vere  to  Cecil,  November  11, 

Ion ;    total,   80   companies.      The  1601. 


3lS  THE  FIGHTIXG    VERES. 

Arcr.cuke  Albert  could  lav  but  sliciht  claim  to  I'v 
ex:rc:..t:ly  pi::;ctiliou5  etiquette  when  strataj;^-::'.?  w-r-. 
plann^ci.  and  this  matter  of  Coni^by  should  :h.r.- 
fore  be  borne  in  n.ir.d. 

It  waa  not  unti".  the  4th  of  December  :;:.:  ■."■: 
Archduke  was  j.-reparLd  to  storm.  Frr  n'.-.'r.:>  •.  w 
Spa:-.iard>  had  been  at  work  advariciri:^  thvir  \j.- 
terivs.  f  Tiriini;  f"Unda:i-»n>  in  the  havvn  bv  >::...  ,: 
huLTe  ^:i>kvt>  <.'i*  V. iLker-work  filled  wit:;  sa:. '..  ..- : 
bu:'.'.:i:-.;4  tioatir.L^  l»Iat:«.)rn"is.  on  whiLn  i^ur-.s  w  '. 
mo;::;:'.d  in  the  '"  (.jl-uIl-."  Hut  at  la>t.  i-n  the  :'.^\ 
of  the  4Lh,  there  v.a>  an  alarm  that  the  en-. -v.  v.-* 
as>a-j'.:iri:^  the  walls.  The  general  r.;>hLd  1^:  -> 
braced,  followed  by  Captain  Caldwell  ar.d  >  :v.t  5*  '- 
di'.rs.  and  fi-ur.d  his  own  company  at  pii-h  if  :  Ik-j 
with  the  Spaniard-.  A  fierce  struLi'^lo  ens-.e.:.  ..:.: 
the  ix-.-ieirers  were  driven  back.  Vere  order,  d  v..*:? 
(»f  >:r.r.v  i"  be  set  alight  and  fixed  on  the  cnd>  «.■:'  :  ■.•: 
pike-,  il'.at  t!;e  retn.  atin^^  fi»e  miiiht  be  fired  upon  vv.:~. 
effect  a-  ilv.v  fell  baLk  :  ^oo  remained  beliind  :•■  : ./. 
for  :!v. :r  terr.Liitv.  Th^n  Sir  F"ranci>  called  his  \.  ..:  .: 
pacie.  H--  :;ry  Hexiiani.'  wliu  tells  the  st.  ry.  ar.vi  >a;i. 
••  r>  V.  I.-.  :y.e  n-  w.  p/.ll  U])  my  stockin«^s  and  tie  r.y 
po::::-,'  an^l  S"  iu.  r.  f.:rnt.ii  hi»me  a;:;ain  to  h.;-  r.s:. 

C)n  \\\k:  ij:h  if  Peceinber  there  was  a  hard  \x^<\ 
an'i  i:  « v'ntin::^!  t^-  bl«.w  a  jjale  of  wind  Xtk^v.^  t;.o 
>o".:::ie:i>t  ur.til  L'h:i>t;nas.  No  succor  could  rea:'- 
Ostend  in  all  l:K-e  divarv  weeks,  either  in  the  f  rT. 
(►f  supj>lies  iM"  nun.     The  j^arrison  was  wa>ting  dail;.. 

1    :•■  •  r-.      H-  \'  .I""-      -i"'  :''V.i!.ii  i  is  Vcre's  acciv,i::t  y  {  :hc  ^•t^'^   •'« 

'•i-.r''     .:'    "-•    «:    ■!    -'    ■•    ■     'i-  • '^:enil  i^  \cry  ii*c!u!.    I:  li;rr..->fi 

,i-i   .-■:■:    I  ■■■      \"   •■'r:^-  i:::i!i."Nii:nc(i  eviiit  n«  «r  wh  c'-.  *cnr* 

irv    •.     v  \    .1         ■  ;  !•■■     ■■•'•■I  -'■  •"  refute  the  atucks  o£  Mr.  .Moc- 

H.>  "'r-ci  K-ijiitriiLM -.Mt    Ir.m-  ley. 


THE  SIEGE  OF  OSTEXD.  319 

ammunition  was  falling  short  The  places  to  be 
uarded  were  very  numerous,  and  the  numbers  were 
armingly  small.  It  was  known  that  the  Archduke 
)on  intended  to  make  an  assault  upon  the  town  with 
is  whole  power,  and  Vere  s  only  hope  was  to  gain 
me.  The  welfare  of  a  great  cause,  one  of  the  great- 
;t  for  which  brave  men  ever  fought,  depended  on 
le  prolongation  of  the  defence  of  Ostend.  Vere 
iw  the  power  of  the  besiegers  and  his  own  weak- 
ess.  The  strength  of  the  garrison  had  dwindled  to 
100,  while  4,000  men  were  barely  enough  to  man 
le  works.  The  industry  of  the  general  slept  not ; 
is  vigilance  was  shown  by  his  daily  and  nightly 
)unds  about  the  town  and  works.  Yet  there  was 
0  hope  but  in  recourse  to  some  stratagem,  such  as 
as  always  been  held  to  be  within  the  rules  of  hon- 
rable  warfare,  if  not  accompanied  by  any  breach  of 
ord  or  faith. 

One  day,  after  Sir  John  Ogle  had  gone  his  rounds, 
le  general  called  him  into  his  lodgings  and  said: 
Rather  than  you  shall  see  the  name  of  Francis  Vere 
ibscribed  to  the  delivery  of  a  town  committed  to  his 
jstody,  or  his  hand  to  the  least  article  of  a  treaty, 
ad  I  a  thousand  lives  I  would  bury  them  all  in  the 
impier."  He  was  strongly  moved,  but  he  said 
othing  more  at  that  time.  Soon  afterwards  he 
illed  a  council  of  colonels  and  chief  officers,  and 
>ked  their  advice  on  two  points:  first,  whether,  with 
le  present  numbers,  all  parts  of  the  works  could  be 
lanned  in  case  of  an  assault;  and  second,  if  not, 
hether  it  would  be  advisable  to  withdraw  the  guards 
om  the  "  Quarriers,"  to  strengthen  the  garrison 
ithin  the  walls.     The  officers  said  that  the  numbers 


^ 

i 


320 


THE  FIGHTIXG    VERES. 


were  too  few,  but  that  the  "Quarriers"  oujjht  ww 
be  abandoned,  thoui^h  no  one  could  suo^^lsI  ar.v  ; 
for  holding  them.     Sir  Horace   Vcre  and  Sir  I-  ! 
Ogle  alone  gave  their  advice  to  abandon  the  •■n-^:- 
ricrs"  rather  than  endanger  the  loss  of  the  tow::.- 

Some  days  elapsed,  and  the  Archduke  had  c  -  ■ 
pleted  his  preparations  for  an  assault,  and  \\a>  <  . 
vvaitinLC  for  low  water.  Then,  and  not  till  i:h:..  .: 
w\is  that  Vere  bethought  him  of  a  siralaLr^.:v..  /'.". 
took  )io  counscL  lie  sent  an  officer,  who  >pt»kc  >;.;:".• 
ish,  into  the  "  l\)rc-es[)ic "'  to  ask  fur  a  parjiv.  1 
officer  called,  but  got  no  answer.  He  then  si:.:  >:: 
John  Ogle,  who  went  to  the  side  of  iIk-  t>Ki  i..i.  : 
with  a  drummer.  Don  Mateo  Serrano,  the  ii^-v?. ::  : 
of  Sluys,  came  forward,  and  Ogle  gave  the  nu— .;^  . 
which  was  "that  (ieneral  \'ere  wi>hed  to  liaw  >  :v.e 


*  III  cnnimrntinL:  U'loii  tliis  iiui- 
(lent.  Mi.  M«i;lr\  r^-nr  \\>  hi-s  ntt.ick 
'.ipn'i  tlu-  t  li.ir.uirr  ot  tIk*  l-jr-^li**!) 
l:«:ii  1  .\\.  \  Ii"  ^.i\  s  'li.it  "  >ir  I'r.iiici^ 
\'»:«  t  .illi-.l  liiN  I'riii' i;Ml  nTHi  «T«i 
ln.;i  til  r.  ;ii;rii>u!iii'l  !iis  intcnti'-n 
ol  ]•■  i.;-<»sii:^  .It  ••III  I*  lit  tuMt.  aiu! 
to  :■;■  tr.:.  :  ilu-  iii-:.'^'>ti.i!i''ii''  .is  loiw 
.is  ;..'^-:!l!-.  i.rT.il  t!.c:  w -^i  od-for 
s.ii!>  .-'•(■!:M  \v  ili '.«  f-: !  «'i!  ill  llu» 
mV.:,^.  w  ■  li  !.!.'  wti'i:.;  .it  'lii.  t  hlcik 
tlu  ::'  '  :i'  ;i:  i  r's-iri;-  :.■ '-'^ilii ■>,  *' 
(:v.  ;•  7"  J.  .Mr-.  Mi-tii  v  .  .1'.!-.  tl.is 
s!  i-i  ::.■  n\  '"a  r\;;ii  ;il  ;:;!;■■.:;  with 
:!i  »«  ■!  I'  ■i;u''.'»  <  ■!  iniiiv  c  •-  1  ii  ; -iirr 
.r.i.  •  M  I  -  '  -l  ■  I'.'i'.i:!.!'  -•■.»•:;.:.  li-. 
ill  ti.  I*  '.  ..  -si   .t.  (■  :» / ' .  I  ■.    .  ■".!  •  -iMil 

l.i;'   \  !"■  ■'■!    I  :•■■  !l!   1     !■   .'        II'-        ■  'r  «.   «  -II 

ti.  .IS,,  f  ::,  f  "  :!,.  ( "..■:■  ■■::.?  \V.:r 
iii...:i!'.  .i/i  -I  i'i!(  ■:  t'.-.  •*.  1.-  •■  ■  .  ii'.i 
ii'-,-  .  :*:;'ii-.!  •.'■•■  -j-  :■.  1  ■!  '■  ■  <  ii  •  '.  it 
>!  f  i  i  ::•.!■  •  I  ;i'«'i  T."  T  .r  •'  i  r  nri 
1.1'  i  !:.i;.u '.;  li.  i"s   l;,i.s   .il!.  ^^  \.\  li  n- 


(li;ci  as  "Wn's  :  tr::  :  ' 
02.,  aivl  as  ••  l:t«'^s  :rc  ■ 
(iv.  y.  S/'»). 

Mr.  M«»tli\'s  :ir  u^.i*:  1  :* 
f)n»vt(l  liv  I  111- 1  vi  ;<'r.cc  <' j  S;- 
OL:lt'.  a  m:i:i  «'f  u-  .m;  ci  C.  ' 
ti'LTiity  and  st.iinlt  *<  1  r  -a 
evil ii- net-  i-;  iin-!' -i^-.-  *-.  ■  r* 
r.itfil  I'V  il'.ii  •  I  >'   i".:,    }{'  \ 

tin-  i;t  IKT.li's  I  a;.^'".  T' •  •.  ': 
(•\ai  th  u!:.-.:  :■  o^  ;  !  i.  •-  .: 
rn ijiuil.  .i-*  :.arr..'«  .;  r;  •■  ■ 
N'>  Ml' I'l  pr- ■:«•■". I !  .5 •«  ?i 
«;<■>•(  rii'i  s  \\a 
i!io  loumil.  .-\'»  i:.t-  *  ir- ■.-  •  » 
ncvf  r  ]iri»poii::iii  li  to  :' r  » 
it  !■  IIdws  I'.i.it  the  ti'.ir,  '  .-.: 
Iiijlily  nji:  !a'.:ilril  ir.  .r  :  '  ■  \.  '  -- 
piTtiiiici  tlu-  i:ini-ri!  !•»  r  .-— .  : 
iii'M  i-tfc'i  I.  Mr.  M..''r-.  2\'i  '*■ 
mvi  r  I.  !i.ivf»  n  .n:  tho  r..\rT.i:  v:§ 
01  ();,lc  and  Ilcxham. 


<  1 . 
ni.i  ■'.     }  V   \"' 


THE  SIEGE  OF  OS  TEND. 


321 


qualified  person  to  speak  with  him." '  Serrano  re- 
ported this  to  the  Archduke,  who  agreed,  and  it  was 
settled  that  Ogle  should  be  a  hostage  for  tht  Spanish 
officer,  and  that  each  should  bring  a  colleague.  Ogle 
took  his  tried  companion-in-arms,  Sir  Chailes  Fair- 
fax, the  brave  young  officer  who  helped  to  rally  the 
English  at  the  battle  of  Nieuport.  The  two  Span- 
iards  were  Governor  Don  Mateo  Serrano  and  Colonel 
Don  Simon  Antonio.  They  crossed  to  the  Ostend 
side,  while  Ogle  and  Fairfax  were  conducted  to  the 
presence  of  the  Archduke.  Albert  conjured  Sir  John 
Ogle  to  tell  him  "if  there  were  any  deceit  in  this 
handling  or  no  ?  "  Ogle  answered  :  "  if  there  were  it 
was  more  than  he  knew;"  for  Vcre  had  told  him 
nothing.  The  Archduke  then  asked  what  instruc- 
tions Ogle  had,  who  replied  that  he  had  none,  and 
that  he  and  Fairfax  had  merely  come  as  pledges  for 
the  return  of  the  Spanish  officers.  He  next  asked 
whether  Ogle  thought  the  general  intended  sincerely 
or  not;  and  the  English  hostage  answered  that  he 
was  altogether  unacquainted  with  the  general's  pur- 
pose.^ 

Next  morning  the  news  arrived  that  Serrano  and 
Antonio  had  returned  without  speech  of  Sir  Francis 
Vere.  Then  it  was  that  Ogle,  calling  to  mind  the 
speech  of  the  general  in  his  lodgings,  said  to  Fairfax : 
"  he  verily  believed  he  meant  to  put  a  trick  on  them."  . 

'  Not  a  word  about  treating  for  syllable  of  Vere's  stratagem,  and 

a  capitulation,  as  Mr.  Motley  in-  had  heartily  approved    Cbe   whole 

correctly  st.iles.  plot."     It  has  been  seen  that  the 

'  This   was  quite  true.     Vere  subject  was  not  mentioned  sX  Ibe 

had  not  divulged  his  intentions  to  coundl.     O^le  and    Fairfax   were 

a  soul.     Yet   Mr.  Motlev  remarks,  ignorant  of  the  general's  plan,  and 

'■  Although  Captain  Ocle  bad  been  Ople  spoke  the  simple  truth  10  the 

one  of  the  council,  had  heard  every  Archduke. 


322  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

Fairfax's  rejoinder  was,  "  The  trick  is  put  upon  us  me- 
thinks,  for  we  are  prisoners  and  in  their  power,  thvv 
at  liberty  and  our  judges."  Ogle  said  there  must  U- 
some  mistake,  and  oflfered  to  write  to  Vere.  The 
object  of  all  this  was  to  gain  time.  The  Spaniards 
were  sent  back  on  pretext  of  some  irregularity,  b-i 
they  were  sent  to  Count  Bucquoy  on  the  cast  side,  ^o 
that  they  had  to  make  a  long  round,  and  a  night  and 
day  were  thus  gained.  Next  day,  towards  evening. 
Serrano  and  Antonio  were  once  more  admitted  intu 
Ostend,  and  this  time  Sir  Francis  received  them 
very  hospitably.  He  feasted  them,  and  drank  many 
healths;  but  the  terms  he  had  to  propose  to  them 
were,  not  that  he  should  surrender  Ostend,  but  that 
the  Archduke  should  raise  the  siege.  He  then  led 
them  into  his  own  chamber,  and  laid  them  on  his 
own  bed  to  take  their  rest.  Meanwhile  Captain> 
Clark  and  Ralph  Dexter  were  at  work  all  night  in 
the  old  town  —  the  vulnerable  point  —  strengtheninj; 
the  i)alisades.  After  break  of  day  the  sentries  sav\, 
to  tlieir  great  joy,  five  men-of-war  from  Zeeland  at 
anchor  off  the  town.  They  brought  400  men,  besides 
provi^>ions  and  materials  of  all  kinds.  The  trooj)> 
were  immediately  landed  under  a  heavy  fire  from  the 
enemy's  batteries  on  either  side,  but  only  three  >aiIor^ 
were  hurt.  The  noise  aroused  Serrano  from  a  heavv 
sleep  after  his  debauch,  and  he  asked  the  reason  for 
the  firing.  When  he  was  told  he  was  amazed,  and 
would  not  believe  it  until  a  certain  Captain  Pottcy, 
who  had  come  with  the  ships  and  whom  Serrano 
knew  well,  assured  him  that  it  was  so.  The  general 
politely  infc^rmed  the  Spanish  officers  that,  as  succor 
had  arrived,  the   negotiation    must   be   broken  ofil 


THE  SIEGE  OF  OSTEND,  323 

They  were  sent  back,  while  Ogle  and  Fairfax  re- 
turned to  Ostend.  The  Archduke  was  naturally 
much  discomposed  at  so  unexpected  a  disappoint- 
ment. He  thought  the  place  was  his.  The  Infanta 
Isabella,  gorgeously  attired,  with  twenty  ladies  and 
gentlemen  in  her  train,  had  walked  before  the  walls 
of  the  town.  They  would  have  to  wait  a  long  time 
before  they  could  come  in.  The  stratagem  had  saved 
Ostend.^ 

Sir  Francis  now  set  to  work  in  good  earnest  to 
prepare  for  the  assault.  He  had  1,200  men  busily 
employed  for  the  eight  following  days,  and  at  time  of 
low  water,  in  the  night,  the  time  of  greatest  danger, 
he  stood  on  guard  in  person,  which  conduced  much 
to  the  encouragement  of  the  men.  Early  in  January, 
1602,  he  received  intelligence  that  the  enemy  was 
preparing  for  a  general  assault ;  and  during  the  whole 
of  the  7th  two  of  the  besieging  batteries,  consisting 
of  eighteen  cannon,  sending  balls  of  forty  to  forty-six 
lbs.  weight,  kept  up  a  crushing  fire  on  the  "  Porc- 
espic,"  "  Helmund,"  and  "  Sand-hill."  The  Spaniards 
had  by  that  time  sent  163,200  cannon-shot  into  the 
town,  and  scarcely  a  whole  house  was  left  standing. 
The  "  Sand-hill "  was  more  thickly  lined  with  iron 
than  ever,  and  the  shot,  striking  against  each  other, 
rolled  into  \k\^  faiisse  braye,  or,  breaking  into  pieces, 

^  \'ere  reported  the  whole  trans-  offered  no  terms,  made  no  propo- 

action  to  the  States,  in  a  letter  in  sal,  and  there  was  no  breach  of 

French  dated  Dec.  25,   1601,  and  faith.     If  the  Archduke  chose  to 

to  Cecil  on  Dec.  22.    The  council  assume  that  a  surrender  was  in- 

of   war   knew    nothing  of  Vere*s  tended   it  was    his   own   lookout. 

intention,  nor  did  Sir  John  Ogle,  and  he  little  knew  of  what  stuff 

The   general    consulted   no   man.  Vere  was  made.      The   employer 

He  simply  asked  for  two  Spanish  of  the  traitor  Conisby  was  "hoist 

officers  to  speak  with  them.     He  with  his  own  petard." 


324  THE  FIGHTIXG    VERES. 

flew  into  the  air  as  high  as  the  steeple  of  the  old 
church. 

Towards  evening  the  enemy  was  seen  bringing 
down  scaling-ladders,  hand-grenades,  and  amniuniiiori 
to  the  farther  bank  of  the  haven,  and  the  Archduke 5 
army  was  marshalled  for  the  assault.  Count  Farnoc. 
with  2,000  Italian  and  Spanish  troops,  was  tt>ld  i  rf 
to  attack  the  "  Sand-hill  "  and  the  curtain  of  the  1  !.: 
town  wall.  The  governor  of  Dixmundc,  with  2.0.0 
Spaniards,  was  to  assault  **  Helmund  "  and  ihic  "  IVrc- 
espic.''  A  force  of  500  men,  under  ancUher  captai:-. 
was  to  scale  the  west  ravelin,  while  a  similar  numlx-: 
attacked  the  **  South  Ouarrier."  On  the  ca>t  >ic:e 
Count  Bucquoy  was  to  deliver  a  general  assault.  s[ve- 
cially  attacking  the  east  ravelin  and  the  defences  of 
the  now  haven. 

W're  watched  these  preparations  with  uncea>ir.g 
vigilance.  He  never  slept,  and  all  that  day  he  vv:*> 
preparing  for  the  defence.  Several  house>.  wb^iih 
had  been  ruined  by  the  enemy's  fire,  were  j>u!!td 
down  for  I  he  sake  of  the  beams  and  spar>,  to 
be  used  as  palisades.  At  high  water  the  gtncra! 
caused  the  west  sluice,  which  let  the  water  i:-t»»  the 
town  ditch  from  the  old  haven  in  the  rear  (»f  "  Hel- 
mund," to  be  shut,  in  order  to  retain  as  much  \\al5.r 
as  pos.-^ible  for  an  object  which  will  appear  presenlly. 
He  then  stationed  his  little  garrison  in  ihc  be>t 
possible  way.  Wwi  the  works  were  numerous,  and 
hi>  numbers  very  inadequate. 

Sir  Horace  \*ere  and  Sir  Charles  Fairfax,  with 
twelve  weak  companies,  some  of  them  not  abi>ve  Icn 
or  twelve  men  strong,  armed  with  pikes  and  mu>kets. 
were  stationed    in    the  **  Sand-hill."      Farther  cast. 


THE  SIEGE  OF  OSTEND. 


325 


along  the  wall  of  the  old  town,  the  Schottenburgh 
and  adjoining  curtain  had  been  niucli  damaged  by 
the  action  of  the  waves  during  recent  gales,  apd  by 
the  enemy's  shot.  This  was  a  most  critical  point. 
Here  Sir  Francis  Vere  himself  took  his  stand'  with 
six  weak  companies.  Two  more  companies,  under 
Captains  Haughton  and  Utenhoven,  occupied  the 
Schottenburgh  redoubt.  From  the  Schottenburgh 
to  the  old  church,  which  the  enemy  had  shot  down, 
there  were  300  of  the  Zeelandcrs  who  had  arrived 
on  the  day  that  the  parley  was  broken  off.  From  the 
church  to  "  Moses  Table  "  were  six  weak  companies 
under  Captain  Ziltan.  In  the  work  called  "  Moses 
Table"  was  a  worthy  French  captain  named  Montes- 
quieu de  Roques,  "  whom  Vere  loved  entirely  for  the 
worth  and  valour  that  was  in  him."  He  had  two 
French  companies  and  five  weak  Dutch  companies 
to  second  him.  Captain  Charles  Rassart  occupied 
the  north  ravelin  with  four  companies,  and  there  were 
two  whole  cannon  and  two  fieldpieces  in  the  "  Fla- 
menburgh."  These  works  protected  the  new  haven 
where  the  ships  were  lying,  and  thus  the  defence  of 
the  old  town  was  provided  for. 

The  two  most  important  works,  flanking  the  breach 
by  which  the  enemy  must  approach,  were  the  "  Porc- 
espic"  and  "  Helmund."  Four  of  the  strongest  com- 
panies garrisoned  the  former  work,  and  in  the  latter 
were  ten  weak  companies  and  nine  pieces  loaded 
with  musket-bullets.  This  post  was  entrusted  to  Ser- 
geant-major Carpenter  and  Captain  Meetkerk.  Here 
also  was  Auditor  Fleming  (one  of  the  historians  of 
the  siege).  In  the  "  West  Bulwark  "  were  two  whole 
'  Not  in  llie  "  Sand-hill,"  as  stated  by  Molley. 


326  THE  FIGHTING    VERES. 

and  two  dcmi-culverins,  to  sweep  the  old  haven.  The 
rest  of  the  works,  especially  to  the  south,  were  wcaxly 
guarded,  because  the  enemy  must  necessarily  t;r-: 
carry  the  keys  of  the  position,  which  had  been  so 
long  battered  by  his  guns. 

Along  the  curtain  of  the  old  town,  and  on  the 
breach  which  had  been  made  under  the  '*  Sand-hi'.;. ' 
were  collected  firkins  of  ashes  to  blind  the  assailan:?, 
litde  barrels  full  of  tenter  nails  to  pour  on  them,  hLa:)> 
of  stones  and  bricks  from  the  ruins  of  the  old  cliurLh. 
hoops  bound  with  squibs  and  fireworks  to  throw  o-.L-r 
their  heads,  ropes  of  pitch,  hand-grenades,  and  clL:b>. 

At  dusk,  and  a  little  before  low  water,  the  besiegers 
rested  to  cool  the  guns  which  had  been  playing  on 
the  brea(  h  all  day.  There  was  an  ominous  pau>e.  — 
a  lull  before  a  still  more  terrific  renewal  of  v.\\t 
tempest.  Taking  advantage  of  this  precious  tin.c, 
Vere  ordered  his  trusty  engineers,  Captains  I>c\ter 
and  Clark,  with  fifty  stout  sappers,  who  each  hail  a 
rose  noble  for  every  quarter  of  an  hours  work,  to  get 
on  the  breach  and  rapidly  throw  up  a  small  brea>t- 
work,  driving  in  palisades.  In  defending  this  vital 
point  I  lonu  e  Vere  and  r\\irfax  would  thus  have  some 
slight  shelter.  Then  the  general  himself  went  dowr. 
into  the  "  faus>e  brave,"  and  called  for  an  officer  to 
go  out  "  sentinel  perdu"  and  creep  to  the  margin  (>\ 
the  old  haven  between  the  gabions.  He  crept  oui 
on  his  IhIIv,  and  discovered  Count  Farnese  wadir.^ 
acro>s  with  his  2,000  Italians,  and  drawing  them  up 
in  batt.ilions  on  the  Osteml  side.  Then  he  crept  as 
silently  b.uk  to  \'ere.  *' What  news  .^  "  whispered 
the  !L;enrral.  "  My  general,"  he  answered,  "  I  smell 
good  store  of  gold  chains,  buff  jerkins,  Spanish  cai- 


THE  SIEGE   OF  OSTE.VD. 


327 


socks,  and  Toledo  blades  I  "  "  Ha  !  "  exclaimed  his 
chief,  "  sayest  thou  me  so !  I  hope  thou  shalt  have 
some  of  them  anon."  Vere  then  went  to  the  top  of 
the  "  Sand-hill "  and  issued  orders  to  have  everything 
in  readiness,  but  not  to  fire  until  he  gave  the  signal, 
and  then  to  open  with  both  ordnance  and  small  shot 
The  lull  was  succeeded  by  a  deafening  storm.  The 
Archduke  fired  a  gun  as  a  signal  to  Bucquoy,  and 
the  besiegers  rushed  to  the  assault  from  all  points  just 
as  the  darkness  of  night  set  in.  Vere  at  once  opened 
a  hot  fire,  raking  through  their  battalions,  and  making 
lanes  amongst  them  as  they  formed  on  the  sands.  In 
another  minute  they  dashed  onwards  to  the  foot  of  the 
"  Sand-hill  "  and  along  the  curtain  of  the  old  town, 
halted  for  a  moment,  and  poured  in  a  volley.  All 
the  parapets  had  been  crumbled  down  by  the  fire 
during  the  day,  so  Vere  ordered  the  men  to  fall  flat, 
and  the  volley  passed  over  their  heads.  Then  the 
Spaniards  rushed  into  the  breach  where  Sir  Francis 
Vere  stood,  brandishing  his  sword,  and  calling  to 
them,  in  Spanish  and  Italian,  to  come  on.  As  they 
climbed  up,  the  firkins  of  ashes,  stones,  and  clubs 
were  hurled  at  them,  and  flaming  hoops  were  cast 
over  their  necks.  The  ordnance  thundered  on  them 
from  the  bulwarks,  and  all  the  walls  of  Ostend  were 
alight  with  fire.  The  brave  assailants  no  sooner 
climbed  to  the  crest  of  the  "  Sand-hill  "  or  the  "  Schot- 
tenburgh  "  than  they  were  knocked  on  the  head  or 
run  through.  Three  times  they  rallied  to  the  charge, 
and  three  times  they  were  beaten  back  along  the  cur- 
tain, while  the  struggle  on  the  breach  waxed  hotter 
and  hotter  during  the  space  of  an  hour.  Similar 
assaults  were  made  on  the  "  Porc-espic,"  on  the  west 


328  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

ravelin,  and  on  the  "  South  Quarrier."  On  the  east 
side  three  strong;  battalions  of  the  enemy  were  forn^eii 
on  the  margin  of  the  **  Geule,'*  and  attacked  the  oi;:- 
work  known  as  the  "Spanish  Half-moon."  \'ert 
resorted  to  another  stratagem.  A  soldier  was  or- 
dered to  jump  out  and  give  himself  up,  telling  ilx- 
enemy  that  the  *'  Half-moon  "  was  slenderly  manned, 
and  offer! nir  to  lead  them  in.  This  was  done,  and 
the  Spaniards  took  the  place  easily.  The  genera:  ^ 
object  was  to  draw  them  away  from  the  supp(»rt  oi 
their  comrades  on  the  western  attack.  He  contented 
himself  with  guarding  the  points  of  most  impc»rl.ince, 
fcclin^j:  sure  tliat  he  could  recover  the  others  at  his 
leisure.  In  fact,  tlie  **  Half-moon  "  was  quite  ojxn 
towards  the  town.  The  tide  was  rising,  a  heavy  fire 
was  ()[)encd  on  the  intruders  from  the  **  Spanish  Bul- 
wark/' and  finally  Captain  Day,  at  the  head  of  a  com- 
pany, drove  them  out  with  a  loss  of  300  men. 

At  lcni;th  the  besiegers  were  repulsed  at  all  points. 
The  columns  on  tlie  west  side  beat  a  doleful  retreat 
to  the  ford  over  the  old  haven,  while  the  strontr  south 
wind  bore  the  tidings  of  Veres  glorious  victorv  to 
friends  in  ICnci:land  and  Holland. 

The  beaten  assailants  were  no  sooner  in  the  ford 
than  \'ere  caused  the  west  sluice  to  be  openeci.  ar.d 
the  waters  he  had  stored  in  the  town  ditch,  bvcio>i:ii: 
them  in  at  high  tide,  rushed  down  the  haven  in  a  ter- 
rent  while  the  enemv  were  wading  across,  and  car* 
ried  manv  awav  into  the  sea.' 

*  It  i>  wit!'.  I'U-n  lac  to  iliis  in-  Autiilor   Fleming,   wliom   rot!vB^ 

cid'iit    til  it    Mt.   Mntli;.    airv.s  lii^  ts(  a}  cil,  quietly  asked   \\:t  Cf"c- 

fin.il    l!.::'  :iT  S^!   I  r.iii,  >,  \*«.rc.     It  r.jl's  }  I'rmissiini  to  oycn  ti:e  wc*!- 

i>  ;i  -'■  \\\  i;.it!cr.  itii  i;   >h.iil.!   ].»■  cm  sluiru.     Vcre's  ri-nNC.:  V3«  a: 

put  riul.t.   Mr.  Moilc}  sa_\s  :  ••  Ci  ol  oiicc  given.    The  hifttorians  Bcih 


THE  SIEGE  OF  OSTEND. 


329 


The  defenders  then  poured  over  the  walls  and  se- 
cured an  immense  amount  of  plunder.  There  were 
Spanish  pistols,  cassocks,  swords,  gold  chains,  targets, 
and  among  them  a  shield  on  which  were  enamelled 
the  seven  worthies.  There  were  heaps  of  dead  under 
the  "  Sand-hill  "  and  along  the  wall  of  the  old  town, 
goodly  young  men  —  Spaniards  and  Italians  —  amidst 
broken  scaHng-ladders,  axes,  spades,  and  shovels. 
Among  the  slain  there  was  the  body  of  a  young 
Spanish  girl  in  male  attire,  who  had  fallen  in  the  as- 
sault. Under  her  dress  was  a  chain  of  gold  set  with 
precious  stones,  besides  other  jewels  and  silver.  Her 
name  is  unknown,  her  history  unwritten.  Doubtless 
it  was  not  less  romantic  than  that  of  Catalina  de 
Erauso,  "the  Nun-Ensign,"  who,  born  in  15S5,  was 
the  contemporary  of  the  nameless  heroine  of  Ostend. 
The  enemy  lost  2.000  men,  including  the  Count 
d'Imbero  and  Colonel  .Antonio,  the  envoy. 

The  loss  of  the  garrison  was  30  killed  and  100 
wounded.  Charles  Fairfax  fought  gallantly  in  the 
breach.^     Horace  Vere  was  wounded  in  the  leg  with 

tivoglio,  Grotius,  and  many  others,  Hexham,  the  general's  page.     He 

give  Vert,  as  a  matter  of  course,  says :  "  General  Vere,   perceiving 

the  credit  of  this  feat,     liut  Flem-  the  enemy  to  fall  ofT,  commanded 

ing   was   a  man   whom    I    should  me  to  run  aa  fast  as  ever  I  could 

judge  incapalile  of  falsehood  "  (iv.  to  Sergeant-major  Carpenter  and 

p.  90).    Nevertheless  Fleming  was  Auditor  Fleming,  who  were  upon 

not  without  capacity  in  that  line.  '  Helmund.'  that  they  should  pres- 

The    historians    are    undoubtedly  ently  open  the  west  sluice,  out  of 

right,  and  "cool  Auditor  Fleming"  which  there  ran  such  a  stream  and 

made  a  very  cool  statement  bygiv-  torrent  down  through  the  channel 

ing  himself  credit  to  which  he  lias  of  the  west  haven  that  upon  their 

no  claim  wh.Hever.     The  previous  retreat  it   carried    away  many  o( 

orderof  Sir  Francis  Vere  indicates  their  sound  and  hurt  men  into  the 

Itiat  the  plan  was  entirely  his  own.  sea." 

But  the  matter  is  set  at  rest  by  the        '  Sir  Charles  Fairfax  was  broth- 
undesigned  corroboration  of  young  er  of  Thomas,  first  Lord  Fairfax, 


330 


THE  FIGHTIXG    VERES. 


a  splinter.  Captains  Haughton  and  Madison  ar.: 
Nicholas  Van  den  Licr  were  killed,  and  four  oiht: 
officers.  Among  these  was  Master  Tedcastic,  a  ger.- 
tleman  of  Sir  Francis  Verc's  staff,  who  was  kii!'. : 
when  standing  between  the  general  and  his  pa:;^ 
He  called  to  young  Hexham  to  take  off  his  :;•  "i 
ring  and  send  it  to  his  sister  as  his  last  farcwcli.  ar.i 
then  he  died. 

The  besiegers  had  had  enough  to  last  them  i'j: 
some  time.  The  general  remained  for  a  few  month? 
longer,  when  he  was  called  away  by  the  States  (itr.- 
eral  to  assume  an  important  command  in  the  fiLvJ. 
Sir  Francis  Vere  left  Ostend  on  the  7th  of  Marc:: 
1602,  accompanied  by  his  brother  Horace,  '*  bi.»th  cr- 
rying  away  with  them  and  leaving  behind  them  ri.'. 
marks  of  true  honor  and  renown."  Sir  John  0:ix 
also  went  with  the  general.  Sir  Francis  had  cj  r.- 
ducted  the  siege  of  Ostend  for  the  first  eight  montr> 
With  uncommon  engineering  ability  he  put  the  tu'i\r. 
into  an  excellent  j^osture  of  defence;  he  showed  ad- 
mirable skill  and  activity  in  drawing  the  eneniv  frorr. 
the  main  attack  ;  his  splendid  example  inspired  h> 
garrison  with  confidence  and  courage  ;  and  in  the 
arrangements  for  the  defence  against  the  grand  a>* 


and  {•{  I'll w .in  1  TaliUx,  tlic  trans- 
I.iN>r  nf  T.i'-so.  In  the  Fairfax 
ConvN|.nndriici.'  (i.  y.  xi\>  it  is 
state«l  iliat  L'haik-s  \va>  Nlain  h\  a 
wi'iiin:  in  tilt"  ta(  I.'.  f:<'in  a  piece  of 
tlu'  skull  of  a  marslial  of  Trance, 
who  was  kiIK-<I  y  lose  besiilc  him 
In-  I  cjniiori -liall.  Thi>.  is  cvi- 
(li-r.rlv  a  c<)nfii^rd  \t'r>itiM  nf  tlie 
dfarii  i.f  (;!..:tilli.n  (-ve  at:tA  ap- 
plied to  a:inth«.T  pTsi.n.  There 
was  no  marshal  of  Trance  at  Ost- 


end. Fairfax  was  r.i-t  ^^ajn  a:  ::  * 
time.  \Vc  Karn  from  a  IiVtr  \t'- 
him  to  the  Karl  «»f  Nir:f  •.-•r*<- 
land,  dated  June  14.  1604.  iha'  ^t 
was  bailly  woundtd  in  \\'<  r^' ' 
arm  during  this  assau!:.  that  ^^ 
was  afterwards  at  the  sicce  •'< 
Shi  vs.  and  that  he  was  sen*.  hj>:% 
to  Ostend  to  command  the  E"r 
lish  companies  towards  the  end  c: 
the  siege. 


THE  SIEGE  OF  OSTEND,  33 1 

sault,  and  his  conduct  of  the  action  itself,  he  displayed 
all  the  qualities  of  a  consummate  general. 

After  the  departure  of  Sir  Francis  Vere,  the  garri- 
son of  Ostend,  thanks  to  the  heroic  valor  of  a  suc- 
cession of  Dutch  governors,  held  out  for  two  years 
and  a  half.  Their  constancy  was  of  the  utmost  mo- 
ment, for  the  siege  continued  to  occupy  the  great 
mass  of  the  Spanish  army,  and  so  led  to  the  recog- 
nition of  the  independence  of  the  Dutch  Republics. 
Vere  was  succeeded  by  Frederick  van  Dorp,  who 
gallantly  repulsed  an  assault  on  the  "  Porc-espic  " 
in  April,  1603,  but  the  Spaniards  captured  and 
retained  the  "  Polder."  The  loss  during  that  year, 
from  wounds  and  sickness,  amounted  to  4,ocx>.  Van 
Dorp  was  followed  by  Charles  van  de  Noot;  and 
in  October,  1603,  *^^  renowned  Spinola  assumed 
the  conduct  of  the  siege.  In  December,  1603, 
Peter  van  Gieselles  became  governor.  He  repaired 
the  "  Sand-hill,"  "  Porc-espic,"  and  "  Helmund."  He 
was  slain  on  March  12,  1604,  '^^  repulsing  an  as- 
sault from  the  Polder.  The  two  next  governors  were 
slain;  and  in  June,  1604,  Colonel  Uytenhoove  made 
an  heroic  attempt  to  hold  the  place  by  throwing  up 
an  inner  line  of  defences  on  the  west  side,  which 
were  called  "  Little  Troy."  The  last  governor  was 
Daniel  de  Hartaing,  Lord  of  Marquette.  The  place 
was  a  mass  of  crumbling  ruins.  On  September  13, 
1604,  the  "  Sand-hill,"  the  true  key  to  the  whole  posi- 
tion, fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Spaniards,  and  on  the 
20th  the  governor  capitulated  to  his  generous  enemy, 
the  Marquis  Spinola.  When  the  Archduke  Albert 
entered  upon  possession  of  this  long-sought  prize  it 


332  THE  FIGHTING    V£RES. 

was  a  confused  heap  of  smouldering  ruins,  Tb 
bleak  Flemish  sand-hills  were  his,  but  Holland  ^^ 
lost  forever.  Freedom  gained  an  enduring  triump 
through  the  glorious  defence  of  Ostend, 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

DEATH    OF    THE   QUEEN,   AND  RESIGNATION   OF  SIR 
FRANCIS   VERE. 

Sir  Francis  Verb  was  recalled  from  Ostend  by 
the  States  General  to  be  consulted  on  an  urgent 
question.  He  was  received  at  the  Hague  at  an 
assembly  of  all  the  deputies,  when  he  reported  fully 
on  the  state  of  the  beleaguered  town,  and  the  pros- 
pects of  the  defence.  He  was  then  referred  to  a 
special  committee  consisting  of  Prince  Maurice, 
Barneveldt,  and  a  few  others,  to  whom,  for  speedier 
dispatch  and  greater  secrecy,  the  succoring  of  Ostend 
was  committed.  There  was  great  difficulty,  owing 
to  the  intolerable  cost  of  the  defence,  in  levying  a 
force  with  which  to  carry  on  an  offensive  war,  and 
draw  the  enemy  from  Ostend.  The  object  of  the 
States  was  to  raise  an  army  of  20,000  foot  and  5,000 
horse ;  but  they  needed  further  help  from  England 
to  complete  the  numbers.'  Vere  was  therefore  re- 
quested to  undertake  a  special  mission  to  the  Queen, 
to  obtain  her  sanction  for  raising  more  recruits,  and 
then  to  return  with  all  possible  speed  to  Holland,  to 
assume  command  of  the  English  contingent  in  the 
field.  Noel  Caron,  the  Dutch  envoy  in  London,  was 
joined  with  Sir  Francis  Vere  in  this  mission.     The 

»  Sir  F.  Vere,  at  Rjswkk,  to  Sir  R.  Cecil,  March  21, 1601.  S.  P.  O, 
Holland,  vol.  xciv. 


334  ^^^-^'  FIGiniXG    VERES. 

great  general  was  cordially  welcomed  by  the  Quet- 
and  the  wishes  of  the  States  were  complied  with  i: 
his  requust. 

During  this  rapid  visit  to  England  on  urgent  ana::- 
of  state,  Sir  Francis  was  subjected  to  some  anr.-  ;.- 
ance  by  the  Karl  of  Northumberland,*  who  thoi:::: : 
that  he  had  been  treated  with  less  respect  than  r.> 
rank  demanded  while  he  was  at  Ostcnd.  As  so-  :. 
as  he  heard  that  \'ere  had  been  at  court  he  watchm- 
an opportunity  to  insult  him,  and  eventually  sc:.: 
him  a  foolish  challenge  by  a  certain  Captain  Wh::- 
lock,  on  the  24th  of  April.  The  HarKs  letter  \\a>  i.* 
follows:  "  Vou  love  to  take  the  air  and  to  ride  abroriti 
appoint,  therefore,  a  time  and  j)lace  to  your  likir.^ 
that  I  may  meet  you.  Bring  your  friend  with  \.  - 
I  will  be  accompanied  with  another  that  shall  be  u::- 
ness  of  thiuLjs  I  shall  lay  to  your  charge.  If  vi  - 
satisfy  me  we  will  return  good  friends;  if  not,  we  si.ii. 
do  as  Ciod  sliall  put  in  our  minds."  Sir  Franci>  <i:.: 
he  would  not  answer  it  at  once,  but  would  C(^r.>:ii-v' 
the  matter.  On  Sunday,  the  25th,  he  sent  his  frier: 
Sir  Jolm  Ogle  with  a  letter  which  the  Earl  w«»j!i 
not  n(  eive,  u>ing  violent  language,  and  threatening 
Oi;le  if  he  offered  it  to  him  again.  Sir  Francis  :htr 
sent  to  suLi'w.st  a  meetin<j[  in  I-ondon,  each  accor'- 
j)ani('(l  hy  a  man  of  gravity  and  some  rank  in  ihe 
state.     Wtl-  named  Sir  lildward  Stafford."     The  Kar. 

'   n»  ::r\    I'lrry,    niiuh    l.irl    <»f  His  untie,  the  seventh   Ear!.  »  .* 

N'::iui:ii^  rl.iMil.  was  a  <  ousin  nf  iK-headcd  at  Yi>rk   for  irra»4'»r.    - 

Sir    I'l.iinis    \cM ,    his    ni.itrm.il  1572;    and   hi^i    j^randfAther.    >' 

^r.in  '•:i'»t!Kr  havin:;  ln't-n  .1  \'rrc.  Th«^mas    I'ercy,  was  executed  *■ 

II -s  ;  I*!  r:    'i.ifi  I  ■•mnuvni  *;■:  i  i.'.e  Tyluirn  in  I  537- 
in    •!•«'    'r'>\\«r    in    i;*^;.  ?«>   avoiil         -  The  Quecn'>    anilus.vaii<<r    r. 

trial  .nui  Nriitfim-  f-n  Ir-i:  tri  asoii.  I-'r.inciv 


NORTHUMBERLAND'S  CHALLENGE.  335 

rejected  this  proposal,  demanding  a  private  meeting. 
A  third  time  Sir  John  Ogle  went  to  this  foolish 
brawler  and  informed  him  that  the  general  thought 
it  not  reasonable  to  satisfy  him  after  the  manner  he 
required,  and  therefore  he  would  not  do  it.  But  he 
desired  to  have,  under  the  Earl's  hand,  the  particular 
causes  for  which  he  considered  himself  aggrieved. 
Northumberland  replied  that  to  write  would  be 
tedious ;  that  by  his  refusal  he  was  thoroughly  per- 
suaded  Sir  Francis  had  done  him  those  wrongs 
which  he  meant  to  lay  to  his  charge ;  that  he  would 
lay  up  the  general's  injurious  dealing  in  his  heart, 
and  right  himself  thereafter  as  he  should  think  fit.  ' 

The  matter  rested  for  three  days,  and  meanwhile 
it  came  to  the  ears  of  Noel  Caron,  the  Dutch  envoy, 
who  reported  it  to  the  Queen  in  council.  Her 
Majesty  commanded  Northumberland  to  forbear  any 
attempt  against  Sir  Francis,  as  he  was  then  employed 
on  her  service.  The  Earl  submitted,  but  he  declared 
that  Sir  Francis  was  a  knave  and  a  coward,  and  that 
"  in  fleering  and  geering  like  a  common  buffoon  he 
would  wrong  men  of  all  conditions,  and  had  neither 
the  honesty  nor  courage  to  satisfy  any." 

Sir  Francis  Vere  then  drew  up  the  following  note: 
"  The  Earl  of  Northumberland  makes  profession  to 
hate  Sir  Francis  Vere  upon  divers  sinister  reports 
made  by  base  and  factious  persons,  but  never  called 
him  to  account  at  the  time.  Sir  Francis  admits  that 
upon  the  certain  knowledge  he  had  of  the  counte- 
nance and  favour  the  Earl  showed  to  certain  mean 
persons,  and  the  contentment  he  took  in  their  back- 
biting Sir  Francis  Vere,  he  grew  into  contempt  of 
this  humour  of   the   Earl's  and   afforded  him   little 


336  THE  FIG  in  I XG    VERES. 

respect     Their  first  meeting  in  England  \va>  a:  ::.-. 
Court,  on  April   12th,  Sir  Francis  Vcrc  beinj;  S'jn:  : 
Her  Majesty  by  the  States  as  a  public  per5?*»r.  ..: 
very  weighty  and  important  affairs.     On    the  2j; ! 
April,  at  6  in  the  evening,  Captain  Whitlock  c.ir  . 
with  a  challenge.     Sir  Francis  framed  an  answer  :.■ 
sent  it  by  Captain  Ogle,  his  Lieutenant  C()l<.»ncl. :: 
his  lodging  in  Alder.sgate  Street,  on  the   25th.     'I.  ■. 
Karl  refused  the  letter.'' 

The   Farl  of  Northumberland,  although  boi:::c  i:. 
honor  to  defer  his  quarrel  until  the  general  \va>  in. 
published  a  scurrilous  pai)er  in  English,  EreiKVi.  z:  \ 
Italian,  calling  Sir  Francis  a  knave,  a  coward,  a::-:  .: 
buftoon.     W're  was  on  the  very  eve  of  startiiiL!  <•:.  \  * 
return  to  Holland.      He  addressed  the  f(»llowin«j  !• ::  : 
to  the    Earl,  in     reply    to    his    disgraceful    slav.  :■ 
"  Uec^ause  I  refused  to  meet  you  on  your  pcremp:-  -;■ 
and  foolish  summons,  vou  conclude  me,  in  a  di>c  i;:*'. 
sent  abroad  under  your  name,  to  be  a  knave,  a  c   a- 
arcl,  and  a  buffoon;  whereupon  you  have  i)n»c;:r?  . 
WW  to  set  aside  all  resi)ect  of  your  person  and  t*-  >.. 
you  are  a  niost  lyinLf  and  unworthy  It^rd.     You  \\k\ 
bound  by  Her  Majesty's  commandment  not  lu  a--.. 
me.  and  I,  bv  the  business  committed  to  nie.  nt-:  : 
st'rk   \«»u.       W'lien   we   shall   be   freer,  as   Ood   s::.-... 
make  u•^  meet,  I  will  maintain  it  with  mv  sword. 

Fr.^ncis    \'tkK."' 


1        •  I  ■  * 


111-  (■■■rrr<:":i!i  :i  '■   ^L■t^vcl■^  cnpv   of    Nt»rthuml)C!*tAni:'&   c:-- 

!i  .     I..1I  i.i"    \..r:li:.iir  I  rl.ind  .irul  lrni:c   ant!    ilic    ans^icr  is    in    '    ■ 

S  '    I  :  I'.i  i-  \'   ?■■  .  t"'  -in   'lit-  ('  //  /;  ])ON<»t"S^inn  n|"  the    Puke  «■:  Wf" 

.!.■.■^.s^.             ;  -'              •'  ■    -11;  ■  li-  inins:i.r  .r.   liatun.     The  I'u*       r 

1     :.•    :  .    I  ".  " /;  'i    /'    ■  ■  ,■  ■"•..■.  siithcrLind   has   another   ».«  ;  ^   -- 

:-•    .              i'-  .    \\\    •!  ■■    A'  ■■■■'.  the  challenge. 


NORTHUMBERLANEtS  CHALLENGE. 


337 


Mr.  White,  the  general's  servant,  brought  this  let- 
ter to  the  Earl  on  the  day  his  master  sailed  for  the 
Low  Countries.  Three  years  afterwards  the  Earl 
of  Northumberland  was  committed  to  the  Tower  on 
charges  connected  with  the  Powder  Plot,  and  there  •' 
he  remained  for  many  years,^  safe  from  Vere's  sword, 
and  from  the  punishment  for  his  insolence,  which  he 
so  richly  deserved. 

In  this  unpleasant  affair  Sir  Francis  Vere  kept  his 
temper,  and  acted  with  dignity  and  sound  judgment. 
While  refusing  to  gratify  the  foolish  lord's  whim,  at 
a  time  when  he  was  engaged  on  important  public 
duty,  he  offered  to  make  any  explanation  that  might 
be  right,  with  persons  of  gravity  and  position  to  de- 
cide between  them. 

On  arriving  at  the  Hague,  Vere  at  once  joined  the 
army  of  Maurice,  and  in  the  hurry  of  preparation  for 
the  campaign  he  must  have  soon  forgotten  the 
annoying  piece  of  folly  which  wasted  some  of  his 
precious  time  in  London.  He  was  at  the  head  of 
8,000  Englishmen  in  the  pay  of  the  States,  who 
formed  nearly  half  the  infantry  of  the  patriot  army. 
In  Vere  s  absence  the  command  of  the  English  com-' 


^  The  Earl's  imprisonment  by 
the  Star  Chamber  was  illegal  and 
unjust.  The  pretext  was  that  his 
namesake,  Thomas  Percy,  was  a 
jjunpowder-plot  conspirator,  but 
ihe  Earl  himself  was  quite  inno- 
cent. He  was  not  only  imprisoned 
for  fifteen  years,  but  fined  ;^3o,ooo. 
During  his  confinement  he  patron- 
ized the  mathematicians  Robert 
Hues  and  Thomas  Harriott.  But 
his  character  was  not  changed  by 
adversity.    When  he  came  out  o£ 


prison  in  1620  he  was  as  silly  and 
pompous  as  ever.  Hearing  that 
the  favorite  Buckingham  drove  in 
a  coach  and  six,  he  went  down  to 
Petworth  in  a  coach  and  eight.' 
He  died  in  1632,  aged  seventy, 
leaving  by  his  wife  Dorothy, 
daughter  of  Walter  Devereux,  Earl 
of  Essex,  a  son  Algernon,  tenth 
Earl  of  Northumberland,  who  nat- 
urally became  a  stanch  Parliament 
man. 


338  THE  FIGHTIXG   VEHES. 

panics  of  horse  had  been  given  to  Sir  Edward  Cecil. 
an  appointment  which  had  his  full  approval.'  Mau- 
rice named  Schenken  Schanz  as  the  rendezvous,  and 
as  soon  as  the  army  had  assembled,  he  crossed  ih* 
Waal  at  Nymegen,  and  the  Maas  at  Mook,  advan- 
cing thence  into  the  heart  of  Brabant.  There  had 
been  some  delay  owing  to  negligence  in  sending  for- 
ward provisions  for  the  English  contingent.-  Mau- 
rice found  his  progress  opposed  by  the  Admiral  of 
Aragon,  who  was  strongly  intrenched;  so  he  retraced 
his  steps,  and  laid  siege  to  Grave  ^  on  the  9th  of  July. 
1602.  This  was  the  last  military  operation  in  which 
Sir  Francis  Vere  was  engaged.  When,  as  a  young 
man,  he  began  his  military  career  under  the  Earl  of 
Leicester,  the  first  event  in  the  campaign  was  the 
loss  of  Grave.  And  now  the  last  ser\-ice  he  per- 
formed was  connected  with  the  recover)-  of  Grave. 
At  about  noon  on  a  Thursday  in  August,  Sir  Francis 
was  in  the  trenches,  directing  the  siege  works,  when 
he  was  wounded  in  the  face.  A  bullet  struck  him 
under   the  right  eye  and   passed  towards  the  ear 

1  "One    wrv   worthv   of    com-  with   its   Groot-nutrkt,  t-un   hx'.. 

mand."      Vtrc  to  R.  Cecil.  .Mav  loftv  church,  and  a venueii  o£  irc?* 

26.  1602.  round  the  pms<y  rampart*.    T>« 

'-^  r.  \'cre    to    Secretary   Cecil,  church  dedicated  to  St.  FliiabcTr 

July  II,  1(02.  has   its  western    end   facinc  tl*^ 

■  'I'hc  di •stance  across  the  coun-  iiroot-markt.     It    consists    tA   i 

try  hctwtcii  tlie  Waaland  theMaas,  choir  and  transepts,  but  the  narr 

from  Nvrnt'^jcn  to  (irave,  is  seven  has  been  destrnved.     There  i»  a 

miles,      drive  is   a  small    town,  tomb  of  Arnold.  Duke  of  Gcldem 

surroumlcd   V\  disused    fortifica-  a  great-grandst^n  of  Edward  III. 

tions,  on  the  left  h.ink  of  the  l)road  and  father  of  Mar\'.  wife  of  \\ 


stream  of  the   Maas.     Thc>c  dc-  II.  of  Scotland.     Arnold  died  « 

fences  arc  of  the  Coehi^rn  periotl.  1473.    The  church  al.so  coatam» 

and  there  arc  no  traces  of  t lie  walls  some  fine  oak  car\'inf;.  and 

which  existed  in  X'ere's  time.     It  pictures  representing  the 

is  now  a  quiet  little  Dutch  place,  dom  of  some  white  frian. 


NEGOTIATION  WITH  THE  STATES. 


339 


where  it  lodged^  The  old  warrior  was  conveyed  to 
his  former  lodging  at  Ryswick.  There  he  remained 
in  a  critical  condition  for  many  weeks,  and  it  was  the 
end  of  October  before  he  was  able  to  go  out  and 
attend  to  business.^  The  organization  of  the  States 
army  was  under  revision,  and  the  changes  made  it 
necessary  for  General  Vere  to  maintain  his  own  posi- 
tion, and  to  advocate  the  rights  and  interests  of  his 
countrymen  in  the  pay  of  the  States.  It  was  not 
until  the  end  of  the  year  that  these  weighty  affairs 
began  to  be  discussed,  and  in  the  mean  while  Prince 
Maurice  had  returned  from  the  capture  of  Grave.* 

In  September,  1602,  Mr.  George  Gilpin,  the 
Queen  s  agent  at  the  Hague,  died  rather  suddenly, 
and  it  was  some  time  before  Sir  Ralph  Winwood  was 
sent  to  succeed  him.*  Sir  Francis  Vere  was  left  to 
fight  his  battle  single-handed.  He  contended  that 
he  ought  to  have  sole  command  over  his  own  men, 
with  suitable  jurisdiction,  so  as  to  ensure  their  being 
dealt  with  according  to  their  own  laws.  He  sent  his 
friend   Sir  Edward  Conway,  who  thoroughly  under- 


^  Sir  R.  Sidney  to  Cecil,  Aug. 
15,  1602. 

^  F.  Vere,  from  Ryswick,  to 
Cecil,  Oct.  19,  1602.  **  I  am  a 
stranger  to  affairs  by  reason  my 
hurt  suffers  me  not  to  go  abroad." 

•  Sir  W.  Browne,  who  was  then 
acting  governor  of  Flushing  for 
Sidney,  was  a  very  fine  old  war- 
rior, but  he  was  sadly  given  to 
spreading  unauthenticated  and  im- 
probable gossip.  On  November 
29,  1602,  he  wrote  :  "  I  hear  that 
of  late  Sir  Francis,  abroad  in  his 
coach,  met  his  Excellency*s  (Prince 


Maurice)  coach,  and  passed  by 
without  saluting  him,  and  that 
afterwards  he  sent  his  excuse, 
saying  that  he  was  sorry,  that  he 
saw  not  his  Excellency,  as  it  was 
on  his  blind  side.  I  hear  that  his 
Excellency's  answer  was  that  it 
was  a  blind  excuse."  Sidney 
Papers i  ii.  p.  260. 

Sir  Francis  Vere  and  the  Prince 
were  in  reality  on  perfectly  ami- 
cable terms. 

*  He  did  not  arrive  at  the  Hagoe 
till  July,  1603. 


•       ^ 


DEATH  OF  THE  QUEEN.  341 

Over  him  was  the  shadow  of  a  great  national  calam- 
ity. On  the  evening  of  Monday,  the  21st  of  March, 
one  of  Prince  Maurice's  pages  was  ushered  into  the 
English  generals  presence.  He  brought  a  letter 
which  the  Prince  had  received  from  the  States  of 
Zeeland,  reporting  that  the  Queen  was  dangerously  ill 
and  past  all  hope  of  recovery.  The  news  had  been 
brought  over  "  by  the  captain  of  a  Zeeland  man-of- 
war,  named  Cornelius  Lensen,  who  was  desired  by  a 
Dutch  merchant  of  good  repute  to  hasten  into  these 
parts  lest,  by  a  general  arrest,  both  he  and  his  ship 
might  be  stayed."  The  page  also  had  instructions 
from  Maurice  to  tell  Vere  that  he  had  news  of  the 
death  of  Her  Majesty.  Sir  Francis  immediately  hur- 
ried to  the  Prince's  house,  and  found  that  this  news 
was  grounded  on  the  report  of  the  same  Cornelius 
Lensen.  He  therefore  allowed  himself  to  indulge 
in  hope,  and  tried  to  think  no  more  of  it.  But  this 
was  impossible.  Elizabeth  was  the  object,  not  of  de- 
voted loyalty  only,  but  of  affection  and  love,  to  all 
true  Englishmen.  She  was  their  ideal  of  a  great 
queen,  loving  her  subjects,  devoting  herself  to  their 
good,  wearing  out  her  life  in  their  service. 

Vere  was  plunged  in  grief.  He  could  not  rest 
Next  morning  he  flew  to  the  house  of  his  friend 
Barneveldt  for  more  news.  A  letter  had  just  been  re- 
ceived from  Noel  Caron,  the  Dutch  envoy  in  London. 
He  reported  that  the  Queen  was  ill  at  ease,  and  that, 
in  his  opinion,  this  was  caused  by  trouble  of  mind 
at  having  pardoned  Tyrone,  and  at  the  marriage  of 
the  Lady  Arabella.^     On  this  Vere  observed  :  "  Her 

^  The  Queen's  grief  had  been    and  life-long  friend  the  Countess 
caused  by  the  death  of  her  cousin    of  Nottingham.     Arabella  Stuart 


A. 


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rv:.- 


LlMS-- 


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V:    "X:  'SJt 


Ve- 


—  DEATH  OF  THE  QUEEN,  343 

szereign  might  be  spared.     But  on  the  29th  of  March 
^official  news,  which  could  not  be  doubted,  arrived  of 
^the  great  Queen's  death.     Vere  then  reported  that 
^  ••  although  I  was  full  of  grief  for  the  loss  of  so  gra- 
cious a  Sovereign,  I  instantly  sent  to  the  magistrates 
;  and  my  officers  in  the  Brill  to  cause  the  King  to  be 
■    proclaimed."     He  also  sent  his  brother  Horace  with 
a  letter  to  his  new  master,  a  copy  of  which  he  for- 
warded to  Cecil. 

The  Queen  s  death  was  a  greater  public  calamity 
than  was  at  first  understood.  Yet  the  grief,  not  only 
of  men  like  Vere  who  knew  her  well,  but  of  the  whole 
people,  was  deep  and  real.  She  had  loved  them,  and 
was  in  perfect  sympathy  with  them.  Never  was  this 
more  strikingly  shown  than  at  the  meeting  of  her 
last  Parliament,  in  1601,  when  she  conceded  their 
demands  before  they  were  presented  to  her,  almost  as 
if  by  instinct.  All  her  great  undertakings  for  the 
good  of  her  people,  and  on  behalf  of  causes  which 
they  held  dear,  had  succeeded.  Spain,  the  mighty 
enemy,  was  defeated  and  humbled.  The  Dutch  allies 
had  gained  their  freedom.  Ireland  was  conquered. 
The  East  India  Company  was  founded.  Trade  and 
commerce  flourished.  Elizabeth  had  worked  harder 
than  most  strong  men  could  do.  The  incessant  toil 
and  anxiety,  the  constant  strain  on  her  faculties,  had 
at  length  worn  her  out.  She  disregarded  the  warn- 
ings of  approaching  collapse.  At  the  opening  of  her 
last  Parliament  she  could  scarcely  bear  the  weight  of 
her  robes,  and  needed  actual  support  of  those  around 
her.  Yet  she  delivered  the  noblest  speech  that  con- 
stitutional sovereign  ever  uttered.  Only  six  weeks 
before  her  death  she  received  the  Venetian  ambassa- 


344  ^-^^  FIGHTIAG   VERES. 

dor  in  state.  She  continued  to  work  long  after  pm- 
dence  would  have  prescribed  absolute  rest.  At  lis: 
she  broke  down  suddenly  and  utterly,  and  died  ihrtr 
weeks  afterwards.  She  literally  died  of  overwork  ir. 
the  service  of  her  people.  A  jiobler  end  no  sover- 
eign ever  made.  No  wonder  she  was  beloved.  No 
wonder  that  the  people  cherished  the  memor}'  of  itx 
great  queen  who  had  loved  them  so  devotedly,  had 
worked  for  them,  and  died  for  them.  Nearlv  all  i  v: 
early  friends  had  died  before  her:  the  unwor::  y 
Leicester,  the  only  man  she  ever  loved ;  Burleigh, 
the  life-lonfj  friend  and  adviser;  her  cousins  Kate 
Gary  and  Lord  Hunsdon ;  her  old  friend  in  adver- 
sity, the  Lady  Norris  — "  my  own  crow/'  as  the 
Queen  called  her;  fair  Isabel  Harington,  her  cher- 
ished bedfellow,  — all  had  passed  away.  One  of  ihe 
lovely  maids  of  honor  who  attended  the  Princess 
Elizabeth  at  Hatfield  in  Mary's  days,  was  still  by  the 
great  Queen's  side  in  her  saddest  hour  and  her  death. 
Sweet  Margaret  Willoughby  was  faithful  to  the  end.- 
The  children  of  her  old  friends  were  also  faithful  to 
the  end,  in  most  instances,  and  cherished  the  mcmorv 
of  their  Queen  and  their  benefactress.  To  those 
around  her  the  loss  was  heavy.  To  the  country- 
the  news  came  as  a  stunning  blow.  How  much 
greater  would  the  grief  have  been  if  all  the  shame, 
dishonor,  and  mean  tyranny  of  the  next  fort}'  years 
could  have  been  foreseen! 

James  L  began  his  reign  by  making  a  treaty  \rith 
France,  which  included  promises  of  aid  to  the  States 
General.  This  was  in  July,  1603.  In  1604  the  per 
fidious  pedant  made  a  treaty  of  peace  with  Spain 

^  she  had  become  Lady  Arundell  of  Wardow. 


RESIGNATION  OF  SIR  FRANCIS    VERE.        345 

ind  the  Netherlands  Archdukes,  leaving  the  Dutch 
aatriots  to  fight  their  battles  alone.  The  people  of 
England  submitted  to  the  reversal  of  their  great 
Jueen's  policy  with  undisguised  regret  and  shame. 
The  English  companies  continued  to  serve  the  States, 
ind  volunteers  were  as  abundant  as  ever. 

No  one  felt  the  shame  more  deeply  than  Sir  Fran- 
;is  Vere.  James  had  confirmed  him  in  the  govern- 
nent  of  Brill,'  which  town  was  to  be  retained  until  the 
lebt  of  the  States  General  was  paid.  He  was  gen- 
,'ral  of  the  English  troops  in  the  pay  of  the  States, 
*ith  enlarged  powers,  enjoying  the  confidence  and 
riendship  of  Prince  Maurice  and  Barncveldt.  Sir 
Edward  Cecil  tells  us  that  the  soldiers  reverenced  and 
stood  in  awe  of  him.  "  He  was  the  very  dial  of  the 
whole  army,  by  whom  we  knew  when  we  should  fight 
jr  not."  He  loved  the  States,  and  was  devoted  to 
their  cause.  His  twenty  years  of  service  had  ce- 
mented many  fiiendships,  not  only  among  his  own 
:omrades  in  arms,  but  also  among  the  people  for 
whom  he  had  fought  so  long  and  valiantly.  He  was 
it  the  zenith  of  his  fame,  and  second  only  to  Maurice 
in  the  army  of  the  States. 

But  it  was  at  this  time  that  Sir  Francis  Vere  re- 
iigned  his  honorable  employment  in  the  service  of 
the  States  General.  His  health  was  failing,  he  was 
covered  with  wounds,  riddled  with  bullets,  and  they 
had  left  their  effects  on  his  powers  of  endurance  and 
of  application.  Exposure,  incessant  toil,  attacks  of 
ague,  and  mental  strain  had  done  their  work.  He 
felt  that  at  the  early  age  of  forty-four  he  was  past 
his  prime.    He  knew  that  his  younger  brother  Horace 

1  By  Patent,  April  16,  1603. 


346  THE  FIGHTIXG   VERES. 

would  ably  fill  his  place.  Moreover,  the  death  of  b 
beloved  sovereign  and  the  disgraceful  peace  be 
taken  the  heart  out  of  his  work.  So  he  retired  free 
the  service  of  the  States  in  the  summer  of  1604. 
amidst  expressions  of  regret  and  cordial  wishes  ior 
his  future  welfare.  The  States  insisted  upon  his  r^ 
tainintr  honorarv  command  of  his  regiment  of  horse. 
Sir  Francis  returned  to  England,  and  went  to  live  on 
his  own  property  at  Tilbury,  close  to  Kirby  Hall,  tiie 
home  of  his  mother  and  elder  brother. 

In  August.  1605,  the  old  warrior  became  tired  o: 
inaction,  and  wrote  to  his  friend  Secrctar\-  Cecil, 
who  had  been  created  Earl  of  Salisbury  in  the  previ- 
ous May,  for  leave  to  proceed  to  his  government  at 
the  Brill.  Sir  Edward  Conway  had  been  acting  as 
his  deputy.  He  could  not  bear  to  frequent  the  court, 
where  he  would  be  reminded  of  the  change  at  ever)* 
turn.  Nor  would  James  be  likely  to  desire  the  com- 
pany of  warriors  such  as  Vcre,  infinitely  preferring 
the  society  of  .such  creatures  as  Carr  or  X'illier*. 
Writini;  to  Salisbury,  the  great  general  said :  "  Your 
Lordship  knowcth  how  unfit  I  am  for  the  court,  and 
hope  in  your  favor  to  excuse  my  backwardness  that 
wav.  I  am  and  shall  alwavs  be  most  readv,  with  mv 
best  iIKlu^>try,  to  perform  what  shall  be  commanded 
of  mc/*  *  Salisbury,  in  a  friendly  and  vcr)-  compli- 
mentary letter,  informed  Sir  Francis  that  there  was 
no  necessity  for  his  going  to  his  government  at  the 
Brill,  so  far  as  the  King's  service  was  concerned.  But 
he  was  entrusted  with  an  honorable  mission  to  the 
Hague,  and  with  letters  from  James  which  would  be 

1  K.  W-rr.  at  Tilbury,  to  tlic  Karl  of  Salisbury,  May  2.  1605.   MS.  1: 

Il.itiu-ld. 


RESIGN  A  TION  OF  SIR  FRANCIS   VERE.        347 

very  acceptable  to  the  States  General,  for  they  con- 
tained a  promise  that  the  Archduke  Albert  should  be 
restrained  from  recruiting  in  the  dominions  of  the 
British  King.  Vere  arrived  at  the  Brill  on  the  2d  of 
December,  1605,^  on  which  event  that  incorrigible  old 
gossip,  Sir  William  Browne,  observed,  "  We  shall  un- 
derstand shortly  how  the  States  and  he  will  agree."  ^ 
He  proceeded  to  the  Hague,  and  delivered  his  Mar 
jesty  s  letters  to  Prince  Maurice  and  the  States  Gen- 
eral in  solemn  assembly.  All  were  glad  to  see  their 
faithful  old  friend  again.  "  They  gave  me  a  very  good 
welcome,  seeming  to  be  glad  of  my  return  into  these 
parts,  and  of  my  affection  to  their  service." 

Sir  Francis  Vere  had  the  pleasure  of  hearing  the 
praises  of  his  brother  Horace  for  his  gallant  services 
at  the  recovery  of  Sluys  in  1604,  ^^^  for  his  skill  and 
bravery  in  saving  the  army  of  the  States  in  the  re- 
treat from  Mulheim  in  1605.  Horace  had  been 
brought  up  as  a  soldier  by  Francis,  had  learned  the 
art  of  war  from  him,  and  had  been  his  comrade  for 
many  years.  They  were  more  than  brothers,  and  the 
successes  of  one  were  sources  of  deepest  pleasure  to 
the  other.  This  last  visit  of  Sir  Francis  Vere  to  the 
Hague  was,  in  all  respects,  most  agreeable  and  satis- 
factory. He  took  his  final  leave  of  his  old  comrade 
in  arms,  Prince  Maurice,  and  of  the  States  General,  in 
May,  1606,  and  returned  to  England  in  June,  bringing 
with  him  a  substantial  proof  of  the  regard  and  affec- 
tion in  which  he  was  held  by  his  old  masters.  He 
thus  announces  it  to  Salisbury:  "  An  annual  liberality 
the  States  have  laid   for  me,  and  desired  I  should 

1  Vere  to  Salisbury,  December        *  Sidney  Pafiirs,  ii.  p.  Jld 
15, 1605.  Papers  at  Hatfield^  vol.  1. 


348  THE  FIGHTiyC    VERES, 

take  as  a  testimony  of  their  favour,  whereof  I  thou^r: 
it  my  duty  to  advertise  your  Lordship/' '  The  a:. 
nouncement  of  this  "'  annual  liberality,"  as  Wtc  ca .? 
it,  is  preserv'cd  in  the  British  Museum,  and  is  ex- 
pressed as  follows :  — 

"  The  Statks  Gkneral  of  the  Unitkd  Tkomnu- 
Whereas  the  noble  valorous  Sir  Francis  \'erc  Ki:i^  .: 
governor  of  the  town  and  forts  of  Brill,  did  r  ar.-. 
years  well  truly  commendably  and  benefKiallv  >.:.: 
the  United  Low  Countries  not  only  in  the  said  <jui.- 
ity  but  also  in  divers  other  qualities  as  well  as  Ci"- 
mandcr  General  of  the  forces  bv  the  mo^t  lauLi.ii.  •: 
goodness  of  the  Queen  s  Majesty  of  Lngland  Lrar.  : 
and  Ireland  to  those  countries  kindlv  ^jranlcd.  .A'- 
as  Colonel  of  a  regiment  of  linglish  companies  L\:'.  i 
at  the  charge  of  this  country  likewise  as  Comma:.  J  : 
General  of  troops  of  horse  and  foot  of  divers  naii^  :> 
used  under  hi>  conduct  in  many  exploil>,  and  a::.: 
the  last  a'^rcement  made  with  the  most  lu»noL:r:i'.  . 
the  ( )ueen's  Maiestv  of  Lntrland  in  the  vcar  i  >tj^,  .> 
General  of  the  Lnglishmen  of  war  both  hor>c  a*  \ 
foot  l.H'ing  in  the  service  of  the  Low  Countries.  A'- 
of  a  third  |)art  of  the  army  in  divers  expeditions  a:  : 
be^ie^iuL"^,  and  within  and  without  the  citv  of  i  >>:e:..; 
in  the  renowned  sie^e  of  the  same  town  in  v'yo\  ar..; 
i^o2  as  otherwise:  and  that  we  alwavs  have  ni'tLvi 

m 

his  honor  and  perfect  and  steadfast  afiection  for  the 
welfare  of  the  United  Low  Countries  in  general  ar.^i 
particular.  To  ac  kn(»wledge  the  said  continual  great 
and   nota'hle   services   and   affection,  we,  after  perfect 

1  F.  v.  N,  .It  tiM.  Iliill.  to  Lord    S.ili>burv.   Mav  31.   1G06.      MSS- 

at  I  j.iiii.  !  :.  vd.  I. 


PENSION  TO  SIR  FRANCIS    VERE.  349 

ition,  in  recompense  of  the  said  services,  as 
■  his  person  in  the  aforesaid  qualities  and  as 
1  of  his  two  companies  of  horse  and  foot,  as 
the  services  of  his  officers  and  soldiers  of  the 
ntil  the  day  of  the  piircliase  thereof  made  (of 
ch  he  hath  delivered  us  over  the  acknowledg- 
nd  acquittance)  have  granted  and  ordained, 
grant  and  ordain  by  these  presents  to  the  said 
incis  Vere  a  pension  during  his  life  time  of 
housand  pounds  of  40  pence '  the  pound,  — 
)f  these  countries,  yearly.  The  first  year  shall 
in  June  8,  1607,  so  forward  from  year  to  year 
the  life  time  of  the  said  Sir  Francis  Vere  ;  and 
'  yet  further  to  the  said  Sir  Francis  Vere  how 
ble  we  did  hold  his  services,  we  liavc,  at  his  ear- 
stance,  granted  and  consented,  and  do  grant 
isent  by  these  presents,  that  if,  at  the  time  of 
aase  the  honorable  Lord,  Henry  Vere  Earl  of 
-  being  the  head  of  his  House,  be  alive, 
ment  of  the  said  pension  of  three  thousand 
yearly  during  the  life  of  the  same  Lord  shall 
inued  so  long  as  the  said  Earl  shall  be  alive. 
.  Graven  Hage,  the  6th  day  of  June,  1606."' 

sierlinK  a  jear.  rice  and  Ihe  Stat';s  General,  and 

rd,  stvtnn.'eTith  Earl  of  that  Uiere  was  no  love  lost  between 

lied  and   was   buried    at  them.       Maiirke  and    the    States 

on  July    6,    [O04,    after  General  could  not  nffer  a    better 

ii  through  nearly  all  his  refufaiion  of  these  erroneous  state- 

li-i  Sim  Henry  succeeded  ments   than   the   above  document 

^nth   Larl,  but  was  very  affords.    In  every  line  H  shows  the 
cordiality  and  friendship  which  ex- 

I  jl/.VX,  Tilus,  cvii.  132.  isted.  from  first  to  last,  between 

.lures  are  gone.     Motley  Maurice  and  the  States  General  on 

writers  allege  that  Vere  the  one  hand  and  Sir  Francis  Vere 

1  cordial  terms  with  Man-  on  the  other. 


1 


J 


^ZO  THE  FIJHTIXG    VERES. 

Lcr.c:  ar.d  faithrd  semce  was  thus  >uitaV/.-  rt- 
warc'.ci.  and  ihe  ^rand  old  champion  ui  liberty  c.-.: 
have  r.iii  r.orhin,:  but  pleasant  rcmini<CL-^iv.L:^  iz: 
kir. ::'.}•  lee;:::.:^  t-  wards  the  rulers  and  people  ••:  ::..- 
land  wher.  he  sailed  from  the  Brill,  and  li»ok  iiis  ii-: 
farewe'.l  look  of  the  Dutch  coast  in  June,  loco.  L :. 
rclurnir:::  to  his  naiivc  land  to  end  his  davs  thv.:.. 
he  \\a>  WLl'^i.-nxd  with  the  news  that  further  wxli-'Awi 
re\varc'>  hri'.i  been  conferred  upon  him  by  the  Enj;!;*: 
governmer.t.  On  June  15,  1606,  he  was  apjn  ini-^c 
Governr.r  of  Portsmouth  and  the  i?land  of  Pi-rtsci 
Constal/le  (A  Porchester  Castle,  and  KeejXT  of  Ea?: 
P>eare  fcr'.-t  fnr  life.*  And  so  the  old  warrior  re>tei 
from  his  labors.  I  ie  saw  the  complete  succos  i«f  a.i 
his  toil>  and  >ervicLS  a  few  months  afterwards.  \\\\\Z 
the  armi-tirr  practically  acknowledged  the  indep^r.- 
dcncc  of  the  United  Provinces. 

^  I'l  s  :■■«>-■  r.  *'»  thf  K.irl  of  '  Sir  Th-VTias  C-  rrwa"!  *  «i* 
D' \'.r;-:  r  ■,  \\-  ■  I'.ic.I  in  A;"ril.  apjHiintcd  Pcputx  Ketpcr  ut  K-iv 
i'»/j.  I  )'.\or: -li-ri-  was  the  Li>rd  licare  forest,  iiiuitr  >:r  F  ri-..  • 
Mm::.!!  .\  01  tic  ••  I>Kiiui  Vuva::c.'*     Vcrc.     His  tumb  is  in   I'-  r.  i.c?:c: 

church. 


CHAPTER   XXV. 

MARRIAGE  AND   DEATH   OF  SIR  FRANCIS   VERE. 

When  Sir  Francis  Vere  finally  returned  to  Eng- 
land, after  twenty  years  of  glorious  service,  he  found 
that  a  home  had  been  made  ready  for  him  within  a 
short  walk  of  Kirby  Hall,  where  his  brother  John 
lived  with  their  mother,  and  almost  in  sight  of  the 
ancient  keep  of  Hedingham  Castle.  This  residence, 
prepared  for  the  great  general,  was  called  Tilbury 
Lodge.  The  estate  of  Tilbury  near  Clare,  in  the 
valley  of  the  Stour,^  had  belonged  to  the  Veres  for 
centuries,^  when  the  seventeenth  Earl  of  Oxford  sold 
it  to  Israel  Ames  in  1583,  who  made  it  his  place 
of  residence.^  Ames  had  married  Thomasine, 
daughter  of  William  Carew  of  Stone  Castle,  near 
Greenhithe  in  Kent,*  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ames  thus 
became  neighbors  of  John  Vere  at  Kirby  HalL 
There  they  resided  for  twelve  years,  but  in  1593 
Israel  Ames  sold   Tilbury  to  Edward   Cotton,  who 

1  Called  Tilbury  near  Clare,  to  ter  of  George  Lawson,  of  York- 
distinguish  it  from  East  and  West     shire. 

Tilbury  on  the  Thames.  *  There  is  a  gravestone  of  black 

2  Tilbury  was  granted  to  Alberic  marble  in  Stone  church,  to  the 
Vere,  first  Earl  of  Oxford,  by  the  memory  of  William  Carew,  brother 
Empress  Maud.  The  parish  con-  of  this  Thomasine,  who  afterwards 
tained  the  manors  of  Tilbury,  married  John  Vere.  He  is  said 
Skeyes,  Brays,  and  North  Tofts.  to  have  died  in  1625,  aged  about 

'  Israel   Ames   was    a    son    of    thirty-five. 
Roger  Ames,  by  Elizabeth,  daugh* 


352  THE  FIGUTIXG    VERES, 

merely  held  it  until  another  purchaser  could  be  four: 
At  this  time  Sir  Francis  Vere  was  anxious  to  acciu:- 
a  home  for  himself  in  his  native  county,  and  he  ;.- 
requested  his  brother  to  look  out  for  any  estate:  \\\  "  - 
neighborhood   tliat    was  for  sale.     'Die    opportu:..' 
soon  offered.     In   December,   1598,  Coltt>n   .M»;d  ::  . 
estate  of  Tilbury  to  John  Vere  of  Kirby  in   tru-:  :  • 
his   brother,  and   John   conveyed    it    to    Sir    \'x:c\    - 
Vere   on    May    i,    1604.*     The    e>tato   included  v  . 
manors  of  Tilbury  y /a" A?  Clare,  Skeyes,  and   N«  ::: 
Tofts,  and  the  advowson  of  the  living.-     The  h*i>-- 
usually  called  Tilbury  Lodge,  was  surrounded  l--.  - 
park,  and  near  it  was  the  church,  the  toucr  of  v.:*,:: 
was  built  by  tlie  Countess  of  Oxford  in  15 19.     It  \  ., . 
the  badges  of  tlie  \'eres  cut  in  stone  and   let  int^*  ::  . 
brickwork;'      A    pleasant,   well-timbered   expan>c  <  : 
country  extended  from  Tilbury   Park   to    Kirov  ri-  . 
HedinLi;hani  Castle.     One  result  of  the  neL:i>tia:i'T* 
for  the  pure  ha>e  of  Tilbury  was  that  John  Vere  r...'- 
ried  thr  widow  of  Israel  Ames,  its  former  owner,  ar*- 
brouLrhi  Ikt  home  to  Kirby. 

The  old  ><)l(lier,  covered  with  honorable  wound>  a-  \ 
prenicitunly  aL,a'd  by  exposure  and  hard>hij^s  kA  :i 
kind-,  I  ertaiiily  needed  repose.  He  found  re>t  a:  t"  . 
l)Ka-;inl  Ind-r  in  Tilbury  Park,  close  to  hi>  rela:io:> 
and  >iiri«»un(lu(l  bv  ilie  haunts  «»f  hi.s  childlux^d.  Hv 
avoiiicd   ihe   Court,  so  ehanwd  and  degraded  >i:.'.t 

^   M-.r  ,r\  !\.   ?.  ii.  j..  33;.  talKii   Little   lUomlfv   \\.\W  .:..-:. 

'  In  ■    '■  /  ■    '      ::  '  f^  ./  n:.^r;,m  t  I'.unh    Hall,  .ind   <  »vi:i-v-.n.   a-: 

of  Sir  \\A\'  ;-\'.  I.-    Nn.  7.  [.iM-ts  st-vcral    i\K'\i\>    in    the    par.-h    •: 

I.,  i>:  !';..  \.-.  I--    1  i:kI>  ar*.' isK-ri-  Asl)on-<>n-Iissc. 
lioinil,  .1^  Pir:  .  1  ?:  '    •-latf,  i;i  :!:c  '  //,-////,;«     MS.    ("\V.       "  N  « 

|'.i:i-'-..s    .1'     !-:.:■  t;ii:>     St.    I'.uil  ili-f.ii  nl  b\  time.     Vidi   Augu*:  f. 

is  al>n  N.ihl  ;..  |.,..si    —  !;:c    nutmirs 


MARRIAGE  OF  SIR  FRANCIS   VERE.  353 

the  days  of  the  great  Queen ;  but  his  office  of  Gov- 
ernor of  Portsmouth  and  of  the  island  of  Portsea 
occupied  much  of  his  time.  The  last  years  of  his 
life  were  passed  between  his  official  post  at  Ports- 
mouth and  his  home  at  Tilbury.  He  actively  pro- 
moted the  repair  and  completion  of  the  Portsmouth 
defences,  and  reported  the  defects  to  Lord  Salisbury. 
At  the  same  time  he  was  anxious  to  prevent  the  gar- 
rison rules  from  interfering  with  the  trade  of  the 
town.  He  wrote  to  Lord  Salisbury  that  "  the  Mag- 
istrates complain  of  difficulty  in  having  passage  to 
their  shipping  in  the  haven  at  all  times  of  the  night, 
as  tide  and  weather  require,"  the  consequence  being 
that  seafaring  men  for  the  most  part  resorted  to 
Gosport.  Sir  Francis  recommended  that  the  rules 
should  be  relaxed.^ 

A  contemplation  of  the  life  of  Sir  Francis  Vere 
leads  to  the  conclusion  that  during  his  active  career 
he  had  been  wholly  wrapped  up  in  the  duties  of  his 
profession,  to  the  exclusion  of  all  softer  feelings. 
We  meet  with  no  indication  of  a  love  passage  of  any 
kind,  throughout  his  own  correspondence  and  that 
of  his  contemporaries.  If  there  had  ever  been  any- 
thing of  the  sort,  it  is  almost  certain  that  Sir  Wil- 
liam Browne  or  some  other  gossiping  letter-writer 
Avould  have  put  it  on  record.  But  now  that  he  had 
leisure,  Sir  Francis  turned  his  thoughts  to  matri- 
mony, and  it  was  not  long  before  he  was  engaged  to  a 
very  young  lady,  who  no  doubt  conceived  a  romantic 
affection  for  the  great  general. 

The  pleasant  Surrey  village  of  Mitcham,  on  the 

1  Vere  to  Salisbury,    March  13,    1 607,  August  16,  1609.     MSS.  at 

Hatfield. 


354  ^^^^  IIGHTIXG  VERES. 

edge  of  the  Downs,  was  on  the  road  from  Lond.r. 
to  the  Queen's  palace  at  Nonsuch;  and  the  har.-- 
some  residences  there  often  served  as  halfway  hou-L- 
where  hospitality  was  disj^cnsed  to  the  numtn  l^ 
courtiers  and  public  servants  who  freciiiented  ti  .- 
road.  Sir  Henry  Burton  was  Lord  of  the  Man^r  : 
Mitcham,  and  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  had  a  house  ar : 
estate  there.  Another  goodly  hou>c  by  the  road-i  \\ 
at  Mitcham  was  the  property  of  Mr.  John  Dciit  a 
citizen  of  London  belonmnt;  to  the  Saltcrs*  C(»iv.:a- 
ny,  wliose  place  of  business  was  in  St.  BartluiloniL  a  ? 
parish  by  the  Lxchange.*  He  came  from  Leice>u:- 
shire,  his  father  having  owned  properly  at  I  Lilkn::^:-.- 
ton,  in  that  county.  His  second  wife  was  A'.i.e. 
daughter  of  Christopher  Grant,  of  Manchester,  l-v 
whom  he  had  a  son,  Thomas,  and  two  daughtL.>. 
Mary  and  Llizabeth.  The  po>ilion  of  Mr.  Dei:: - 
house  on  the  road  to  Nonsuch  procured  a  gr^a: 
honor  for  its  owner.  In  1592  the  Queen  ni»t  cn'.v 
stoi)pe(l  at  Mite  ham,  but  i)aid  Mr.  Dent  a  vi'-ii  \\\\\^.: 
la>ted  three  days,  from  Friday  the  2Sth  lo  Mor:u.-i. 
the  ^;isl  of  July.- 

Three  vears  after  the  Queen's  visit  Mr.  Dent  divl 
and  was  buried  in  the  church  of  St.  HarlhoUmK-w  L-; 
the  l\\('liant;e  on  tlie  30th  of  December,  1595.  Hi^ 
\vidt»\\  was  soon  consoled.  Less  than  thrt.'c  moiiii> 
alter  his  death,  on  April   10,  1596,  ^he  was  marritJ. 

^   \\!».  n   tlic    r>.i:'.k   il    r.n:;lanil  Jiilv    2Sth,    the    .same   ci.iv   \«   !^r 

ii.  w  <-:.iii.Is.  Mi^«c  cinu*  to  Mr.  Dent  hi*  h-.'-ic 

-  'ri.i>    .r  pi  ;.r'»    ti'-rn    t!ii'    1mi>  ami    liapti/cd     Momlay    31s:    l^.c 

t:-;n  il   i:.::!'^  t.-r   i^jJ.  :i:i   ii:if\-  samt- d.iy  that  her  M.i««  mtnte  friT. 

{  (  f  !r.:  ;  I.i- «■  :■   ti:i.:  I'.c  >iK- :t  i-..r<l  1m  nr«;    In    N»»nsiiLhc  "     I    am    ■"■ 

oi  .1  n'\.il  \  -:;  :    "  lilwan!  mii  of  iiilt:cil  to  CnUme!  Chester  iv»r  ::..» 

I!'-.T\  \\  !..t:.i';.  K-^4.  l<>iii  iiuiay  iiitcrcatiug  cvtrdcL 


MARRIAGE  OF  SIR  FRANCIS  VERB.  355 

at  Mitcham,  to  Sir  Julius  Caesar,  an  eminent  lawyer 
and  Master  of  Requests.^  Sir  Julius  was  the  son  of 
Dr.  Ca?sar  Adelmar,  the  Italian  physician  to  Queen 
Mary  and  Queen  Elizabeth,  who  had  the  name  of 
Caesar  from  his  mother,  a  daughter  of  Giovanni 
Pietro  Cesarini.  Queen  Mary  ordered  his  posterity 
to  adopt  the  name  of  Caesar.  Julius  was  born  at 
Tottenham  in  1557,  and  lost  his  father  in  1569.  He 
was  educated  at  Oxford  and  at  the  University  of 
Paris,  and  soon  distinguished  himself  at  the  bar. 
He  became  judge  of  the  High  Court  of  Admiralty  in 
1583,  Master  of  Requests  in  1590,  Chancellor  of  the 
Exchequer  in  1606,  and  Master  of  the  Rolls  in  16 14. 
By  his  first  wife,  a  daughter  of  Alderman  Martin, 
whom  he  married  in  1582  and  buried  in  1595,  he  had 
a  son  Charles,  who  was  his  heir.  His  town  house 
was  on  the  north  side  of  the  Strand,  but  after  his 
marriage  with  Mistress  Alice  Dent  he  frequently  re- 
sided in  her  house  at  Mitcham.^  The  Queen  had 
found  this  house  a  very  pleasant  and  hospitable  rest- 
ing-place on  her  way  to  Nonsuch.  So  she  repeated 
her  visit.  Sir  Julius  Caesar  had  the  honor  of  enter- 
taining her  there  on  Tuesday  the  12th  of  September, 
1598.  She  supped  and  lodged,  dined  next  day,  and 
went  on  to  Nonsuch  "  with  exceeding  good  content- 
ment."^ 

*  She  bore  him  two  sons,  Robert  wife,  and  that  his  second  wife's 

and   Edward.      See    Life    of  Sir  maiden   name  was  Green.      Her 

Julius  Ccesar  by  E.  Lodge  (4to,  name   was  Grant.      See   Lodge's 

1827).  Life  of  Sir  Julius  Casar  (1827). 

^  In  the  article  on  Sir  Julius  Ca-  '  Sir  Julius  Caesar  enumerates 

sar,  in  the  Dictionary  of  British  the  presents  he  gave  to  her  Majes- 

Natiofial  Bioirraphy,  it  is  errone-  ty  on  this  occasion,  and  plaintively 

ously  stated  that  he  inherited  the  remarks   that  the  visit  cost   him 

house   at  Mitcham  from  his  first  ;^700. 


356  THE  FIGHTIXG    VERES. 

We  may  suppose  that  Sir  Francis  Verc,  in  his  fre- 
quent rides  to  court,  occasionally  enjoyed  the  ho?:*:- 
tality  of  the  house  at  Mitcham.     He  was  acquainted 
with  Sir  Julius  Caesar,  and  after  his  retirement  \xor.\ 
active  service  he  became   intimate  with  the  other  in- 
mates  of  the   house  ;  for  the  worn-out  veteran,  ihv 
hero  of  so  many  glorious  deeds,  England's  greaiL-^: 
and  most  renowned  general,  became  the  lover  of  Vi.»i:r. ' 
Elizabeth  Dent,  a  girl  who  had  only  just   pa»ed  !il: 
sixteenth  birthday.^     For  her  there   was  doubile»  1 
romance  in  havin<j:  won  the  love  of  so  famous  a  u.ir- 
rior.     Her  sifter   Mary  was  engaged  to   Sir   H^nry 
Saville,  of  Methlev,  a  voune  srentleman  twcntv-eiL;lu 
years  of  ai:;e,  while  Elizabeth*s  lover  had  reached  \vx 
maturer  aw  of  fortv-eiijht. 

Sir  Julius  Gxsar  -  arranged  a  grand  wedding  f-r 
his  stepdaughters.  They  were  to  be  married  in 
Mitcham  church'  on  the  same  dav  and  at  the  >a:y.o 
time.  On  the  26th  of  October,  1607,  the  follow  ir:.: 
entry  c>ccurs  in  the  Mitcham  recrister: 

''  Sir  iM-ancis  \'ere  and  Itllizabeth  Dent,  Sir  Henry 
Savill   and  Mary  Dent*  were  marved  the  same  dav 

and  at   v"  ^ame   tvme:   they  were  both  the  d."iuiihter> 

»  •  •>  *• 

of  Mr.  [ohn  1  )ent  gentleman,  and  of  the  rieht  wor>hi:^ 
ful  v"  Lady  CcV>ar,  now  wife  to  the  riijht  honnrablL- 
Sir  Juliii>  Ca'>an  Chancelor  of  y*  King's  Ma"'^*  Exche- 
(juere  and  oni-  of  the  Lordes  of  his  privio  Coun>eii." 

*  Ii,i;i;i/t(I  .It  till'  t  liun  h  «if  St.  *  Sir  Ilrnry  Sav?n»*  w.is  crra:i'«i 
P..iit]:.>!-':!u\v  hv  tin-  I,\ili;in^c,  a  h;ironcl  in  i6i  I.  By  Man  I»fn: 
L.)ri.l<«;i.  '.ri  <  ».  :<•!  c:  iS.  15(^1.  he  Ij.id  one  son,  John,  who  died  n 

*  In  sir  I  i.i:i(  •>  \i  ii"'^  !n.iiTi.ii:c  Kr.iMce  just  ;iflcr  he  had  rcachcii 
.srt!!'-ii-.  ;it^ ';.'  i^  I  i!!r:i  "  >ir  Jwliiis  his  nMinrity.  Sir  Hcnir  d'cii  <»^ 
C;!^.;i  .;.'/.;.  Afilrn  i:."  Jii:u'    23.     1632,    a::cil    ntt\-thrrf 

••    riii-.  I  !.::i-Ii  w.i-.  (!«  strii\oi]  hv     \\\>  wiiiow  was  married  sccocdW 
ru':!!)'::.:  In  ir.ij;.  .iinl  i'.^  \\:\\  hells    to  Sir  William  Sheffield. 
were  nicltcil. 


VERB'S  COM.XrENTARlES.  357 

By  the  marriage  settlement.  Sir  Francis  Vere  re- 
ceived ^2,000  with  his  wife,  and  he  settled  all  his 
landed  property  on  her  for  her  life.  During  the  very 
brief  interval  of  twenty-two  months  between  the  mar- 
riage and  death  of  Sir  Francis  there  was  scarcely 
time  for  the  young  girl's  romance  to  wear  out.  and 
when  she  was  left  a  widow,  at  the  early  age  of  eigh- 
teen, the  deep  grief  recorded  on  her  husband's  monu- 
ment was  doubtless  sincere.  It  was  no  slight  honor 
to  be  the  cherished  wife  of  so  great  a  man.^ 

In  the  last  years  of  his  life  Sir  Francis  Vere 
amused  his  leisure  by  writing,  from  his  own  point  of 
view,  some  account  of  those  actions  in  which  he  was 
specially  engaged,  and  the  results  of  which  were  due 
either  to  his  advice  or  to  arrangements  made  or  sug- 
gested by  him.  These  notes  were  jotted  down  as 
reminiscences  for  himself  and  his  friends,  and  %vere 
not  intended  for  publication.-     They  only  relate  to  a 

1  The  peerases  say  that  Sir  Lady  Cssar  (AUce  Dcnl)  died 
Francis  Vere  liad  five  children,  on  the  23d  of  May,  1614.  She 
and  even  give  their  names  —  John,  was  buried  wilhgreal  pompon  the 
Edward,  Henry,  Dorothy,  and  Elii-  30th  of  June  at  St.  Helen's  church 
abeth.  This  is  obviously  impos-  in  the  city,  being  aged  forti'-live. 
sible,  as  he  was  only  married  for  Sir  Patrick  and  Lady  Murray  and 
twenty-two  montlis  and  three  (lays.  Sir  Henry  and  Lady  Saville  al- 
and I  can  find  no  trace  of  his  having  tended  the  funeral.  Sir  Julius 
been  married  previously.  He  may  Cresar  married  a  third  time  In 
have  had  one  child,  which  died  be-  1615,  and  died  on  April  18,  1637, 
fore  him.  The  authority  for  the  aged  seventy-nine.  He  was  also 
names  of  Sir  Francis  Vere's  imag-  buried  at  .St.  Helen's,  where  his 
jnary  children,  as  given  in  the  Bio-  monument  slill  exists.  The  in- 
graphia  Brilaniikn,  is  the  Visits-  scription  is  wrought  in  the  device 
tion  of  Essex  in  the  Herald's  Office,  of  a  deed  with  pendant  seal,  the 
No.  124.  His  widow,  in  August,  attaching  cord  being  severed. 
1613,  married  Sir  Patrick  Murray,  "These  notes  were  published 
third  son  of  John,  Earl  of  Tull'i-  by  Dr.  William  Dillingham  in  i6j7, 
bardine,  and  had  two  sons.  nearly  fifty  years  after  the  death  of 


358 


THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 


fraction   of    the  actions  in  which  he  was  eneajred 
To  one  who  has  also  read  his  letters  and  despatched 

the  writer  of  them,  with  the  fol-    at  the  battle  of  Niei:jj«»rt   ^n^'.    : 
lowing  title  :  "  The  Commentaries    the  j)arley  at  Ostciid.  as  wcJ  i*  « 


of  Sir  Irancis  I'ere^  bein;^  diverse 
pieces  of  service  wherein  he  had 
command,  written  by  himself  by 
way  of  commentary,  published  by 
William  Dillinnham,  D.I).,  Cam- 
bridi^e,  K>57.  Small  fulio.  pp.  209,*' 
and  eight  i)a:::es  of  introductory 
matter  unpaged.  The  volume  is 
illustrated  l»v  verv  line  eni^ravin^rs 
of  the  battles  of  Tundiout  and 
Nieuj>ort  and  several  maps.  It 
also  contains  enj^raved  j^orlraits  of 
Sir  Fiancis  and  Sir  Ib>raie  \'ere 
and  Sir  John  Ol^K:,  and  an  eiiL^rav- 
in.L:  <»f  the  tcunb  in  Westminster 
Abbey.  It  is  dedicated  to  Sir 
Horace  Titwnshend,  Hart.,  a  i:rand- 
son  of  Sir  Hniace  \*eie.  Dr.  Dil- 
linLiham.  in  his  adilrcss  to  the 
reader,  ixplains  th.it  lie  met  with 
a  nianusirijit  roj)y  of  Sir  Fran- 
cis \\'i«'s  Note-,  in  the  library 
of  a  fr'iiid.  uhiiMi  had  been 
trails*  lilu'd  irom  one  in  tlu'  pos- 
ses^inii  nf  <ii'nrial  >kipi'«»n.  He 
at  nnce  juruli;  ',r.\  t!iat  a  work  <if 
sncli  valui-  <'\ulir  n«tt  tn  r<'m.ii:i  in 
majni-«c:  iht.  lie  :!it'r«!"(.re  souLjht 
fn?-  ■••!iir  t  i'|ie^,  with  a  vIc'a  tn  o|v 
tai:'.i:;j;  an  acMir.ire  v«i-.i»»n.  and 
fnind  liju'  in  fin-  Id-rirv  *>{  the 
l!a'l  nf  \\'<'^!';i.  T*  iai'.'i  wiiirh  hail 
bi-'  n  traii*»<  r''  ed  irt-m  O-r  «i!;L:i;:al, 
and   ani'tluT  i:i  rlii-  i«iNse-sin  of     Ktillcxtant.    Thcrt  i'.  .1  mani:>c::;: 


short  narrative   ol    even:*  a:  Te 
sie;^e  of  Ostend,  writit  :i  b;  •.    ..-.^ 
Hexham.  Sir  Francis  \  cre'>  ;,*i^"' 
After  the  l»rief  epistle  tn  :h«:  rt.i..::r. 
Sir  Robert  Naunt«»:j  ^  t-ui-.^'-j-^      - 
Sir   F'rancis  \"cre 'irum    *::«.   /•"' :,^ 
ffttft/a    /ut^it/iti,   p.    41       :>    i::vrr. 
Lastly,  there  i>  inst  rtiu  a:  :ht  f. : 
of  the  volume  a   Latin    :r.ii>!i'  "-. 
of  \'ere's  acc'uni  of  the  ':  aIUi   .: 
Nieu[)ort,  l>y  the   learned    Dr.  I>- 
riNlaus.    The  actions  tre.ite*:  ■  : 
Sir   Francis   \'ere    inch.cie    ■  \r    1 
small  fraction  of  lh'>.'»e  in  which  ..: 
was  en  staged.     Tht-y  arc  :  — 

1.  Mommel-waart. 

2.  Relief  of   Rljtir.t<rp. 

3.  Second    relievinij    of    Rhe-r.- 
bcrp. 

4.  Relief  of  Litkcn hover. 

5.  Surprise  «.f  Zurphm  >cor.:e 
(t.  Sie^e  of   Do  venter. 

7.  Defeat  I'f    I'arma   at    Kn-i- 
sonburs;. 

8.  Cadi/  journey. 

9.  Klaii'l  Vi  ya::e. 

10.  G«'vi  rnmcni  i«f  the  Brill. 

11.  .\rtio!^  at  Turnh'Ut. 

12.  I  battle  of  Nie»!n«  rt. 

13.  Siei;e  i"f  O  St  end. 

Some  of  the  manu^crip:*  reff  rrcJ 
t«i  by  Dr.  Dillingham  arc  pr-'L-a"  '.• 


t!:i'  ure.ii    1  «.:<!    Fairla\.      lie  abo 
<.b'..i-rd    I'll-    I'li^inal.  whi.  }i    was 


tlic    •   I.  .'%■  V* 

Dr.    Dd'i:. 


-■f  r!:r  I-;. Ill  nf  Clare. 

.Ml  m  h'l'  ]y<  volume 
ini-r.-  I-  vr  !<  !«■  i  \.idd;i.4  Sir  lnhn 
C^:;ie's  ac  o-.JUts  i-l   the  ].\>{  char::c 


foliii  of  tliC  "Cadi/  biurnc\,"  "  « 
Sir  F.  \"ere,  at  Kimlv.iii.n  Ci<'»e 
l.nril  Calthnrpe  |">s<.e^se*  a  C'-m- 
pli»t(»  manus(  rii't  o«v>\  nf  the  Crm- 
men/iirit's.  The  Duke  of  Nor.h- 
umbcrland  has  a  nuQUscnpt  coiOr 


VERETS  COMMENTARIES.  359 

written  on  the  spot,  and  the  letters  of  others  describ- 
ing the  same  events,  the  most  striking  feature  of 
these  Notes  is  their  accuracy.  With  the  exception  of 
discrepancies  in  numbers  of  men  or  guns,  —  and  even 
these  are  of  rare  occurrence,  —  the  agreement  of  the 
notes,  written  from  memory  long  after,  with  narra- 
tives prepared  at  the  time,  is  very  remarkable.  An- 
other point  worthy  of  remark  is  the  proof  afforded 
by  the  Notes,  of  the  modesty  and  absence  of  self. 
assertion  in  Vere's  public  despatches.  We  hear  for 
the  first  time  in  the  private  Notes  of  wounds  received 
in  battle  and  of  horses  killed  under  him,  incidents 
which  receive  no  notice  in  his  official  reports.  The 
notes  are,  to  a  great  extent,  in  the  form  of  commen- 
taries on  the  actions  treated  of,  interspersed  with  re- 
marks which  illustrate  the  development  of  events. 
The  narrative  portions  are  clearly  written  and  very 
interesting,  and  as  historical  evidence  they  are  inval- 
uable.^ 

prising  the  Cadiz  Journey,  Island  r;////,  says :  "  Inimici  ejus  dixerunt 

Voyage,  and  battles  of  Turnhout  obtrectare  alienae  gloriae  solitum  " 

and  Nicuport;    and  Lord  Lecon-  (p.  460).      Dr.   Birch,  in  his  Mi' 

field,  in  a  thick  MS.  folio  (71),  has  moirs  of  the  Reign  of  Elizabeth^ 

copies  of  the  chapters  on  the  bat-  says:  "Vere   never  fails,  in    his 

ties  of  Turnhout  and  Nieuport  and  Commentaries ^  to  claim  the  chief 

the  parley  at  Ostend.  merit  in  all  the  actions  in  which 

1  If    it   is  borne  in  mind  that  he  was  concerned."    The  answer 

Vere*s  Commentaries  were  only  in-  to  this  is  conclusive.    Vere  does 

tended  to  discuss  those  actions  in  not  mention  half   the  actions   in 

which  he  took  a  leading  part,  that  which  he  was  concerned,  in  his 

they  were  not  intended  for  publica-  Commentaries^  so  that  it  is  simply 

tion,  and  were  not  published  until  impossible  that  he  can  claim  the 

fifty  years  after  the  author's  death,  chief  merit  in  all.    The  avowed 

the  injustice  of  some  of  the  criti-  object  of  the  Commentaries  is  to 

cisms  which  have  been  made  upon  discuss  such  actions  as  were  con- 

them  will  be  apparent.  Johnson,  in  ducted  by  himself  or  by  his  ad- 

his  Historia  Rerum  Britannica-  vice  \  surely  a  natural  and  reason- 


360  THE  FIGHTIXG    VERES. 

Sir  Francis  Vere  lived  to  see  the  great  work  of  ;::i 
life  crowned  with  complete  success.  The  niii;h:v 
battle  for  freedom  had  been  won.  In  .\pril.  icoc, 
the  truce  for  twelve  years  was  signed,  and  tJK-  ir.ci-- 
pendence  of  the  Dutch  Republics  was  secured.  I  ::- 
great  general  continued  to  perform  his  public  duii'.* 
to  the  last.  There  is  a  letter  of  his  from  Pt»ri>mf>uth. 
written  within  a  fortnight  of  his  death,  in  whicii  he 
discussed  various  details  respecting  the  aftairs  of  thv 
garrison.  The  date  of  this  letter,  showing  that  :e 
was  then  transacting  business  at  I\)rtsnuuuh.  seer:.? 
to  point  to  the  conclusion  that  his  death  was  raihv: 
sudden.  He  died  in  London  on  the  2Sth  of  Aueu?u 
1609,  and  was  buried  next  day. 

The  remains  of  Sir  h>ancis  \'erc  were  interred  ir. 
Westminster  .Abbey,  in  the  chapel  of  Si.  Juhn  tiie 
Evangelist,  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  north  iranstp:. 
Xear  his  tomb  rest  the  bodies  of  several  C(»mpani*'r.? 
in  arms,  among  them  those  of  the  gallant  NiTris^-. 
under  a  si)lendid  tomb,  and  that  of  Sir  Goop^-j 
Holies,  over  which  there  is  a  statue  in  the  ct»stun)i: 
of  a  Roman  soldier.  The  funeral,  wliich  took  plac'j 
on  the  29lh  of  August,   1609,*  was  attended   by  h:> 

:il)!e  -n   ii-i. !  :..t  t!ii   clii*  t"  .n'tDf  to  The   Cotttmefitafi:^   wcy    wrf'-. 

t.ilvi- ill  ::.i:.:.    '1  lu- i .i.ly  t'.iir  c- •iir>e  fur    him>clf    anil    \\\s    iinnic-:  *:? 

t.T  .1  !i'--.tilc  .liiic  t'  .1  ;   ]•:.  \v..::l(l  friends,  anil  were  ni-vir  ir.ur.  li  : 

1)1-   til   «!• -;,;iti'  \'(  ri"'s  l.ii.:-.     Tin-*  fur    piillication.     They    were   -   • 

i'i  \\\\  \'  Mr.  .M":l«'v  }:.is  .i-ti  triptcil.  pulili>lie(!  until  half  .iccniun  ai'.c" 

a;iii  .i  ;  I  :',iv;:]   1. 1   t'  .   !.■.•:-!;<.* I  >  in  \*crc's  clc.i:h.  atjd  then  i'nl\  o*a.'^ 

til'-  ( :  .1   ■:  •>  "'I  \\  -  Imv!'   '.1  Nifu-  to  the  accidental  circumstance  •: 

I'"!  t  .i'.-';  'i.      :■■'■'■;  n^'i  in!.  i:i  ti'.c  a  c»'pv  haviiiij  f  illcn  into  the  hAn:« 

j»i.  v^-.!t  w.  •:..  \\\\\  J.i.v  \\\\\.  \\\.\\.  of  Dr.  Dillingham. 
>ur. '  --.     Ml.  Mdtli  \  .i!-.'.  .n  r  >rs         *  Sir  Francis  \*ere*s  name  i*  the 

Sir    ]•!  i-:i  !>.  \  •  ri-   ot   ;':M  sV.ij.^r  a  ci^Vilh  in  the  \Vi*Ntniin5!cr  Abbe*. 

jvii'v  :  :•  \\-\.\'  t  \\\  ,i:.  .1    ■   n:   p.i:n-  ri-.;i-icr  of  buria!5.  which  onlv  l<- 

phK'i  r:i'5;.     T!.!*.  !>  i;..*  tin-  .  .i^e  :  L:i::s  in  January.  U107.    Sec  Coli.* 

he  never  lii'I  any'.!)ing  nf  ihc  kind,  iiel  Chester's  work. 


DEATH  OF  SIR  FRANCIS    VERB.  361 

brothers  and  by  all  the  friends  and  brother  officers 
who  were  then  in  London.  Soon  a  noble  monument 
was  raised  over  his  grave  by  the  young  widow,  doubt- 
less under  the  advice  and  with  the  assistance  of  her 
accomplished  stepfather,  Sir  Julius  Cssar.  It  is  in 
imitation  of  the  beautiful  tomb  erected  over  the 
grave  of  Engelbert  of  Nassau,  at  Breda,  which  Sir 
Francis  Vere  must  have  seen  and  admired.  The 
effigy  of  the  great  gener.il  lies  on  a  platform  of  black 
marble.  The  eyes  are  closed,  ihe  beard  cut  square, 
the  forehead  broad  and  high,  the  nose  straight.  The 
dress  is  a  civil  magistrate's  cloak  and  a  shirt.  The 
feet  rest  on  a  wild  boar,  the  crest  of  the  Veres.  At 
each  angle  of  the  platform  kneels  the  full-sized  figure 
of  an  officer  in  armor,  with  sword  and  sash  passed 
over  the  left  shoulder.  These  figures  support  another 
slab  of  black  marble  on  their  shoulders,  on  which  rests 
the  general's  armor,  a  helmet  with  plumes,  breast- 
plate, a  shield  with  eight  quarterings,  pouidrons,  vant- 
braces,  gauntlets,  faces,  and  spurs,  all  carved  in  white 
marble.     The  inscription  is  as  follows:  — 

**  Francisco  Vc:ro,  Equiti  Aiiralo,  Galfredi  F.  yoatinis  Comitis 
Oxonm  Nepoli,  Brielice  et  Portsmutha  Pmfccto  AnglUarum  copia- 
ram  in  Belgio  Dtictori  summo.  Eliaabefha  uxor  riro  charissimo, 
qiwcum  conjunctissime  vixit  hoc  supremum  amoris  tl  fidti  cOtijuguliS 
tnonumentiim  mceslissima  ct  cum  lacrymis  gemens  posuit.  ObUt 
xxviii  Die  Augusti  anno  salutis  MDCVIII  et  anno  j^tatis  sua 
liiii."  * 

'  Tiie  inscriplion  errs  both  as  by  the  entry  at  the  Herald's  Col- 
regards  the  year  of  Vere's  death  lege,  and  by  the  existence  of  lel- 
and  his  age.  He  was  forty-nine,  lers  written  by  Sir  Francis  Vere  io 
rot  fifty-four,  when  he  died.  The  1609.  The  Bhgrapiiia  Brilanniea 
latter  figure  would  make  him  older  givtti  1608  as  the  year  of  his  death, 
than  his  elder  brother  John,  The  and  his  age  tifly-fouf,  quoting  from 
year  [GoR  should  be  1609.  This  the  epitaph. 
is  proved  by  the  Abbey  regiiter. 


362  THE  FIGHTIXG    VERES. 

The  post-mortem  inquisition  of  Sir  Francis  \'ere5 
property  was  taken  at  Stratford  Langthorn,  in  Essex. 
on  the  4th  of  November,  1609.' 

The  story  of  the  life  of  Sir  Francis  \>re  clearlv 
points  out  the  main  features  of  his  character.     H-j 
was  earnest  and  persevering.     He  put  his  >hou;jL: 
to  the  wheel  when  he  was  a  young  man,  and  he  nee: 
faltered  nor  turned  aside   until   the  work  was  dor.e. 
And  such  work  !     It  demanded  every  faculty,  ever.- 
power  of  mind  and  body,  and  he  gave  them  all  la.- 
ishly  and  without  stint.     He  lived  for  duty.      He  d-.- 
voted   his  life  to  the  service  of  his  countrv.     That 
service  consisted  mainly  in  fighting  for  the  cau>e  c: 
an  allv,  and  \'ere  naturallv  came  to  love   the  cause 
which  was  dear  to  his  countrymen,  and  the  jv-r;-: 
among  whom    he  lived  for  so  many  years.       They 
trusted  him  in  return.     Maurice  invariably  con^-uhe-J 
him,  and  relied  upon  his  advice.     Barneveldt  was  h - 
firm  and  constant  friend.     The  one  romance  of  Wtl  * 
life  w;i>  his  devoted  lovaltv  to  Oueen   Elizabeth.     I: 
may  sreni  that  his  devotion  was  poorly  requited.  I  u: 
it  was  not  so.      The  Oueen,  who  was  a  g<^od   ^.ui::-- 
of  character,  considered  Vere  to  be  the  best  uerv. :.:'. 
in  her  service.     She   entrusted  him  with  dipU>:v.a:!; 
mi^'^ions,  made   him  commander  of  her  fcirco.  a:;.; 
governor  of  the   Hrill.     She  was  urged  to  do  niL-rt. 
and  lo  make  him  a  peer.     This  was  her  reply: 

"In  his  proper  sphere,  and  in  my  estimation.  Si: 
I^-ancis  Vere  is  above  a  peerage  already.  All  tha: 
could  be  expected  from  such  an  addition  would  be 

1  I M  ■  f.  I\  I- .  .  r ,  1  0  r  n .  r .    c7' . ;  n:i  »'y  Inqu  i sit  ions  Past  M^rttm,  Nor 
JaniL-  I.,  i^:  I'art,  Ni».  1.^2. 


DEATH  OF  SIR  FRANCIS  VERE.  363 

the  entombing  of  the  spirit  of  a  brave  soldier  In  the 
corpse  of  a  less  sightly  courtier;  and  by  tempting 
him  from  his  charge,  hazard  that  repute  upon  a  car- 
pet which  his  valour  has  dearly  purchased  him  in  the 
field." ' 

The  only  portrait  of  Sir  Francis  Vere  is  a  half 
length,  painted  when  he  was  a  young  man,  a  pro- 
file to  the  left.^  It  is  now  in  the  collection  of  the 
Duke  of  Portland,  at  Welbeck.  It  was  engraved  by 
Faithorne,  and  is  given  in  Vere's  Commentaries. 

^  Osbatne'sTradilionalMemgiri  It  has  been  repn'nled  among  the 

0/ Elizabtfh,   Art.  17,   quoted  by  "■  Plays  and  Fottns  of  Cyril  Tour- 

Cayley  in  his    Lift    of  Raleigh,  tifur,  edited  by  John  Chitrton  Col- 

\.  p.  7Z.     An  elegy  on  Sir  Francis  litis."    (z  vols.,   1878.)     Mr.  Col- 

Vere  was  written  by  Cyril  Tour-  lins  says  of  the  elegy,  that  "  it  is 

neur,  and  published  in  1609,  with  a  barren  miracle  of  cold  blooded 

the    title :    "  A    Fuiterall  Poeme  analytical    panegyric,    sornetimes 

upon  the  death  of  the  most  viorthie  reminding   us   of    Drj-den   at    his 

and  true   souldier    Sir    FroHcis  worst." 

Vere,  Knight.  Captaine  of  Ports-  »  This  portrjit  (i  ft  11  by  i  It. 

mouth.   Lord   Govemour  of  his  5^)  was  exliibited  in  the  portniit 

Afajestie's    caulionarie  towne  of  gallery  (No.  75)  of  the  1857  Man- 

Briell  in  Holland.^'    (4(0,  1609.)  Chester  Exhibition. 


I 


THE  RECOVERY  OF  SLUYS.  365 

fifteen  years  of  military  experience  acquired  under 
his  brother,  and  like  him  an  able  and  resolute  com- 
mander. Brave,  self-controlled,  and  judicious,  he 
was  alike  valorous  in  the  field  and  wise  in  council. 
These  qualities  he  shared  with  Sir  Francis.  The 
differen(;e  between  the  characters  of  the  two  brothers 
was,  that  while  Sir  Francis  was  more  self-asserting 
and  stern,  Horace  was  extremely  modest,  and  ruled 
those  under  him  by  kindness  rather  than  by  severity, 
though  both  were  strict  disciplinarians.  It  was  said 
that  the  soldiers  stood  in  awe  of  Sir  Francis,  while 
they  loved  Sir  Horace.^ 

The  elder  brother  lived  to  see  Horace  obtain  great 
distinction  in  two  important  actions  before  the  armis- 
tice commenced;  the  first  being  the  recapture  of 
Sluys,  and  the  second  the  saving  of  the  States'  army 
at  Mulheim. 

A  new  general  had  just  appeared  at  the  head  of 
the  army  of  the  Archdukes,  whose  military  genius 
probably  saved  the  Spanish  cause  in  the  Netherlands 
from  total  overthrow.  Spinola  was  not  educated  as 
a  soldier.  Like  Oliver  Cromwell,  he  was  a  born  gen- 
eral. Immensely  rich,  and  belonging  to  one  of  tlie 
oldest  families  of  Genoa,  Ambrosio  Spinola  took  a 
corps  of  g,ooo  veterans  under  his  own  pay,  and  led 
them  from  Italy  to  the  theatre  of  war.  Like  his 
countryman  Columbus,  Spinola  had  fair  hair  and 
beard,  and,  like  Columbus,  he  was  prematurely  gray. 
He  was  thirty-four  when  he  arrived  and  took  charge 
of  the  siege  of  Ostend ;  and  when  it  fell,  on  Sep- 
tember 24,  1604,  he  was  created  Duke  of  San  Seve- 
rino,  and  received  the  Golden  Fleece.    He  was  a  man 

'  Biog.  Brit. 


\ 


366  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

of  a  noble  and  generous  disposition,  with  gentle  and 
kindly  manners,  but  prompt  and  vigorous  in  actit-n.  i 
thoughtful  organizer  and  a  consummate  general.  N.- 
one  can  look  upon  the  expression  of  his  countcnano.- 
as,  in  the  picture  of  "  Las  lanzas,"  by  Vc'la>que/..  \\\ 
gently  puts  his  hand  on  the  shoulder  of  the  defeat'..: 
governor  of  Hreda,  without  almost  loving  Spinola  i<  : 
the  noble  pity  that  beams  in  his  face.  His  wIu'-l- 
heart  seems  to  be  absorbed  in  the  desire  to  >uitL-n 
the  humiliation  of  his  foe.^ 

Such  was  the  commander  against  whom  Mauricv 
and  his  officers  were  now  to  be  matched.  The  Sta:-.- 
General  had  resolved  to  find  compensation  fov  i:v. 
loss  of  Ostend  by  recovering  the  important  foriiriv.: 
town  of  Sluvs.  Francis  V'ere  had  won  his  t^.r-: 
laurels  in  it>  defence.  Horace  was  to  win  hi>  rr?: 
succe>s,  after  his  brother's  retirement,  in  its  recovL?;.. 
In  April,  1604,  Prince  Maurice  had  a>>eml>led  nr. 
armv  of  14,000  men  at  Dordrecht,  which  wa>  f^n.iliv 
embarked  at  Arnemuiden  and  Flushing.  1  he 
army  included  the  whole  Engli>h  contingent  umkr 
Horace  Vere,  Ogle,  and  Cecil.  Under  Maurice,  who 
was  accompanied  by  his  young  brother  Frederii^k 
Henry,  the  Dutch  troops  were  commanded  In*  hi> 
cousins,  Counts  Hrnest  Casimir,  Loui>  tiunther.  ar.-.i 
William  of  Nassau.  A  vast  number  of  ve^>el>-  had 
been  collected,  and  thev  made  sail  in  excellent  i»rdt.:. 
successfuUv  landing  the  army  on  the  opposite  shore. 
between  X'ulpen  and  Cadzand,  on  the  24th  of  April. 
In   the   two   f(»llowing   days,    Hofstede   and    all   the 

^  X'clasqvuv  wis  |  resent,  and  he  himself  appears  in  the  grogp  oi 
otTi.  ITS  muinl  Spincla. 

*  rhreo  i!iuu>aiKi  live  hundred,  according  to  Grimeston. 


THE  RECOVERY  OF  SLUYS.  367 

Other  forts  on  Cadzand  Island  surrendered  to  Prince 
Maurice;  and  on  the  30th  he  crossed  the  channel  to 
Coxie,  and  captured  the  forts  on  that  side.  Iscndike 
also  submitted,  the  town  of  Ardenburg  opened  its 
gates,  and  the  Dutch  cavalry  scoured  the  country  to 
the  very  walls  of  Ghent  and  Bruges,  The  object  of 
Maurice  was  to  get  possession  of  all  the  military 
posts  in  the  vicinity  before  laying  regular  siege  to 
the  town  of  Sluys.  His  movements  had  been  bold 
and  judicious,  and  were  crowned  with  success.  But 
before  a  close  siege  could  be  formed  it  was  necessary 
to  outmanceuvre  the  efforts  to  relieve  the  garrison, 
not  only  of  Don  Luis  de  Velasco,  the  Spanish  gen- 
eral of  horse,  but  of  Spinola  himself. 

Velasco  had  intrenched  his  force  of  2,000  men  in 
a  narrow  pass,  in  front  of  Damme,  the  town  between 
Sluys  and  Bruges,  which,  with  Shiys,  long  formed 
one  of  the  two  ports  of  the  great  Flemish  emporium 
of  trade.  Leaving  garrisons  in  Isendike  and  Ar- 
denburg, Maurice  advanced  against  the  Spaniards. 
Count  Ernest  led  the  vanguard,  with  cavalry  under 
Marcellus  Bacx,  but  they  were  taken  at  a  disadvan- 
tage and  were  obsei-vcd  to  be  falling  back-  Sir 
Horace  Vere,  seeing  that  the  enemy  was  gaining 
ground,  entreated  the  Prince  to  allow  him  to  charge 
at  the  head  of  the  English  companies.  The  request 
was  at  once  granted.  He  selected  100  pikes  and 
200  shotmen  from  his  brother's  old  regiment,  and 
placed  them  under  the  command  of  Sir  Charles  Fair- 
fax.  A  second  detachment  of  400  men,  under  Sir 
John  Ogle,  was  to  follow.  The  way  was  narrow, 
and  on  either  side  there  were  swamps  and  stagnant 
waters,  where  the  sea  had  been  let  In  over  the  polder 


368  THE  FIGHTIXG   VERES, 

lands.  Fairfax  led  his  men  to  the  attack  with  srroat 
resolution.  After  a  sharp  engagement,  he  forcLJ 
the  encmv  to  retire  behind  their  intrenchnicni'-.  a:  : 
followed  them  so  closely  that  they  were  routLu 
Velasco  himself  was  one  of  the  first  to  tlv.  Mar.. 
plunged  into  the  swamps  and  flooded  polders.  The 
slain  numbered  423,  and  400  prisoners  were  tak^r. 
The  States  General  gave  the  honor  of  this  gaKa:.: 
action  to  the  linglish  companies.^  On  the  >.!::>- 
night  Colonel  Van  der  Node,  who  had  been  gover::  : 
of  O.^tend,  crossed  the  Zwin  at  low  water  with  thir:;. 
companies,  of  which  ten  were  English,  and  fortir.vJ 
a  >i)ot  selected  by  Prince  Maurice,  oppoMte  to  S!i:;o. 
The  api)roach  from  Bruges  and  Damme  was  \\\.> 
commanded,  and  the  investment  of  the  town  \\a> 
conii)leted.  In  the  end  of  May  the  Archduke  sent  .1 
large  force  witli  a  convoy  of  provi>ions  for  the  :<• 
lea'-uered  irarrison,  but  it  was  routed,  and  all  r::-. 
wagons  were  captured. 

The  ^iew-works  were  fortified  with  trenches  ar.;i 
square  .sconces,  both  against  sorties  from  the  lour. 
and  attacks  from  outside.  Prince  Maurice  himst!: 
wa>  eneamped  on  the  north  side,  Count  Erne>t  i-r. 
the  otln  r  >icle  of  the  Zwin,  Count  William  on  t;-'. 
ea^t,  and  Colonel  Wan  der  Node  occuj)ied  the  tl*»oii'.i 
lands  with  a  larcre  tlolilla  of  armed  vessels  drawiiv^ 
littlr  water. 

In  Jiilv  S|)inola  himself  made  an  attempt  to  relieve 
Slu\  s.  ( )n  the  2Sth  he  encamped  between  Hruge- 
ami  1  )amme,  with  10,000  men  and  600  wagons  laden 
\\\\\\  nu  al.  lie  thenee  advanced  bv  A rdenburi;  t«»- 
wani^    ihr  (|uarters  of   Wan   der  Node.      His   obiect 

>   \aWk  I  ii.^m  Sir  J^'lm  O-lc,  .May  «>  1604.     Hatfield  M^S- 


THE  RECOVERY  OF  SLUYS.  369 

was  to  reach  the  town  by  a  wide  causeway  which  was 
still  open.  But  Maurice  set  a  large  force  to  work, 
and  in  forty-eight  hours  he  had  dug  a  trench  across, 
which  effectually  stopped  the  passage.  He  then 
mounted  several  guns  between  the  quarters  of  Van 
der  Node  and  Count  William,  and  opened  a  heavy 
and  continuous  fire  on  the  camp  of  Spinola.  On  the 
evening  of  the  6th  of  August  the  Genoese  general 
made  an  attack  on  Count  William's  quarters,  and 
there  was  a  desperate  conflict  in  the  trenches  which 
was  long  doubtful.  But  at  length  the  assailants  were 
forced  to  retreat,  and  on  the  iSth  Spinola  gave  up 
hope  and  marched  away. 

The  garrison  was  now  reduced  to  great  straits  by 
famine,  and  on  the  20th  of  August,  1604,  Skiys  sur- 
rendered,  4,200  half-starved  men  presenting  a  melan- 
choly spectacle  as  they  marched  out,  some  of  them 
scarcely  able  to  walk.  A  large  store  of  munitions, 
eighty-four  brass  and  twenty-four  iron  guns,  were 
captured,  and  the  place  was  ordered  to  be  well 
strengthened  for  the  States  General.  During  the 
siege  Count  Louis  of  Nassau  died  of  fever,  and 
Colonel  Van  der  Aa,  who  had  so  gallantly  seconded 
Sir  Francis  Vere  at  the  battle  of  Turnhout,  was  mor- 
tally wounded. 

The  army  of  Prince  Maurice  had  to  overcome 
much  greater  difficulties  in  this  second  siege  of  Sluys 
than  were  encountered  by  the  Duke  of  Parma  in 
1586.  The  place  was  stronger  and  better  provided, 
the  garrison  was  more  numerous,  there  were  a  num- 
ber of  outposts  to  capture,  and  there  was  an  active 
army  in  the  field,  operating  against  the  besiegers. 
On  the  whole,  this  was  the  most  difificult  and  the 


I 


370  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

most   ably   conducted    military  operation    in   which 
Prince  Maurice  was  ever  engaged.^ 

In  May,  1604,  while  the  siege  of  Sluys  was  pro- 
ceedin<j:,  the  veteran  Count  Peter  Ernot  dc  Mansic!: 
died,  at  the  aii^o  of  eii^htv-seven.  He  had  scrwd  uiih 
Charles  W  at  I'unis,  and  behaved  with  irrcat  Liai- 
lantry  at  the  battle  of  St.  Quentin,  where  he  ui- 
wounded.  He  married  Marguerite  dc  lireLkn^ii;. 
and  had  three  sons,  who  were  all  slain;*  bur  :.i> 
natural  son  was  the  famous  Count  Mansfelt  of  the 
Thirty  Years'  War. 

The  strategic  skill  of  Spinola  was  displayed  to 
great  advantage  in  the  campaign  of  1605.  I  hi>  \\rL> 
the  least  fortunate  vear,  from  a  militarv  point  of  view, 
in  the  whole  career  of  Prince  Maurice.  He  not  on!v 
gained  no  ground,  but  barely  held  his  own.  At  or.c 
time  his  active  enemy  had  advanced  almost  to  the 
borders  of  iMiu-sland,  and  for  a  moment  the  fortress 
of  Coevordrn  was  in  imminent  danger.  T<»warci< 
the  end  of  Se|)tembcr,  Prince  Maurice  with  his  armv 
was  at  \\\si'l  watching  the  movements  of  Spinola. 
who  was  cau>ing  a  fort  to  be  con>tructed  on  the 
Rhine,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Ruhr.  His  head* 
(luarters  were  at  Ruhrort,  at  the  junction  of  the  two 
rivers,  and  he  had  detachments  stationed  several 
miles  up  the  Ruhr  valley.  Ruhrort  is  fifteen  milc> 
above  \\  esel. 

^  S.I-  M'  t.  J    1.  (ir!;;.'  --tnn.  Urn-  1^04:**  in  Prinstcrer.  No.  ci:x\J  \. 

tivo'^iio,    iTv".       l.--:tis    i:m!:i    Sir  2S2.     Also  ccxvi.   p.  201.     tmc*l 

Wilii.in  Ii.'.^AiiL- .M  I  l:^liin^,  fnim  Casimir  to  Count  John.     *•  Sluys. 

Sir   Il'TirL'   W'Tf.   Sir  Jolin  Ol:1c.  Juno  7.  1^04/* 

anil  Sir   i  /.w.ii'l  <  ceil.     **J«"urn:iI  *  Charles  de  M. in >fr It  was  shia 

(1:    1\.\;^.  «!:■'■»  .     «  li     Il.iM'ro    p.ir  in  Hiinpiry,  the  stcom!  son  fe!!  in 

Junius,  >«iii  '  .  :•■  lit-   C"":v,t«-  (^.uil-  a  <lurl.  ami  the  third  mtt  a  >o!dier's 

laiiinc  dc  .\as>«.iu,     sUi\s.  May  jr.  death  i)cforc  Knixl>enburg 


THE  BA  TTLE  OF  Afl/LHE/M. 


371 


The  Ruhr,  flowing  from  the  Waldeck  country,  has 
a  course  of  about  eighty  miles,  with  here  and  there  a 
stretch  of  fertile  plain  bordering  its  banks,  while  in 
other  places  the  hills  rise  almost  directly  to  plateaux, 
which  in  those  days  were  covered  with  forest.  Close 
to  Ruhrort  is  the  ancient  town  of  Duisburg,  where 
the  great  geographer,  Gerard  Mcrcator  (or  Cremer), 
dwelt  for  upwards  of  forty  years,  and  where  he  con- 
structed the  famous  map  of  the  world  on  the  pro- 
jection which  bears  his  name.  Ten  years  before 
Spinola  encamped  at  Ruhrort,  Mercator  breathed  his 
last  in  the  neighboring  town,  at  a  good  old  age.  He 
was  buried  in  the  church  of  St.  Saviour  at  Duisburg, 
and  his  statue  now  graces  the  Burg-platz.  The 
quaint  old  tower  of  St.  Saviour  is  visible  from  Ruhr- 
ort and  for  miles  along  the  lower  course  of  the  Ruhr. 

Seven  miles  up  the  river  stands  the  town  of  Mul- 
heim,  which  was  then  a  small  village,  consisting  of 
one  street  on  a  steep  slope,  at  right  angles  with  the 
stream.  On  the  opposite  or  southern  bank  of  the 
Ruhr  the  hills  rise  abruptly,  and  the  old  castle  of 
Broick  stood  on  their  slope.  There  it  still  stands, 
while  all  around  is  changed.  The  steep  hill  has  been 
partly  faced  with  terraced  walls,  and  on  one  of  the 
terraces  there  is  a  very  ancient  elm  which  may  have 
afforded  shade  to  the  soldiers  of  Spinola.  The  castle 
was  a  quadrilateral  work,  with  round  bastions  at  the 
angles.  Part  of  the  old  walls  and  one  bastion  re- 
main, and  there  is  a  garden  with  tall  shady  trees  on 
the  rampart  overlooking  the  river.  The  chief  build- 
ing, pierced  by  an  archway,  is  on  the  east  side  of  the 
courtyard,  and  over  the  arch  there  is  a  shield  of  arms 
with  the  year  1648,  the  date  of  the  Peace  of  West- 


372  THE  FIGHTIXG    VERES. 

phalia.  This  indicates  that  the  castle  was  restored  i: 
the  close  of  the  Thirty  Years'  War,  There  arc  a:> 
two  richly  decorated  coats-of-arms  of  the  Ncubtr; 
branch  of  the  Palatine  family,  with  crown  and  >u> 
porters,  on  a  gable  of  another  block  of  build;:. ^-. 
Enough  remains  to  enable  us  to  build  uj)  rhc  ca-:  •. 
of  Hroick  in  imagination,  as  it  appeared  in  the  cla.? 
of  Spinola  and  Maurice  of  Orange. 

SpinoJa  had  stationed  Count  Teodorc)  Trivulci**.  i 
Milanese  nobleman,  with  a  lar<j:e  bodv  of  cavalry,  at 
Mulheim  ;  and  a  detachment  under  Don  I->anv:;>'.  ■ 
Anrazal)al,  a  Spaniard  from  the  Basque  i)ro\incc  ■ : 
Guipuzcoa,  occu})ied  the  castle  of  Hroick.  Maurii.. 
was  watching  his  enemy's  movements  with  cI- S'. 
attention,  from  Wesel.  Finding  that  ditachmtr.:* 
were  scalU-rcd  alone:  the  Ruhr  vallew  and  that  'I::- 
vulcio  was  several  miles  from  the  main  bodv,  Ik-  ma  :. 
a  plan  for  attacking  him  simultaneously  at  MuHk::'. 
and  Uroic'k,  and  anniliilating  his  force>  before  >uc^  r 
could  arri\c  from  Ruhrort.  With  this  object.  Mau- 
rice set  out  from  Wesel  as  soon  as  it  wa>  dark.  «  r. 
the  ni«»ln  of  the  Stli  of  Octolx-r,  i6o^,  with  all  !:i> 
ca\ahv  and  twentv-four  comi)anies  of  foot,  inchidir.' 
the  I^niTH.sh  conlinirent  under  Sir  Ihirace  \"ere. 
Vounir  Trince  T'rederick  Henrv,  who  had  alrcaiv 
(li>tin<»:iii>he(l  himself  at  the  recovcrv  cif  Sluv>.  a:ui 
wa-i  now  onlv  in  his  twentv-first  vear,  comn'iandei: 
the  1  avcdry.  With  him  was  the  veteran  Marccl!.> 
I>ac\.  It  is  said  that  the  infantrv  were  carried  ::: 
wagons.  Maurice  also  had  four  fioldi)ieces.  Hi> 
plan  was  h»r  r>aex  t(^  cro»  the  river  above  Miilheir.: 
and  *'(.  ;i))\-  liroii'k,  while  Prince  I'rederick  Hcnr\' 
attacked   Mulheim  and  drove  the  enemy  across  the 


THE  BATTLE   OF  MUUIEIM.  373 

river,  to  be  received  by  Bacx  on  the  other  side. 
Maurice  was  then  to  come  up  with  the  infantry  and 
complete  the  victory.  It  was  a  well-conceived  idea, 
but  it  failed  through  the  misconduct  of  some  of  the 
cavalry. 

Marcellus  Bacx  succeeded  in  crossing  the  Ruhr 
out  of  sight  of  the  enemy,  and,  riding  over  a  hill 
called  the  Cassenberg,  he  came  suddenly  upon  the 
detachment  of  Spanish  cavalry  commanded  by  Don 
Francisco  Arirazabal.  After  a  very  brief  encounter 
the  Spaniards  were  routed,  and  Bacx  took  the  castle 
of  Broick  without  further  opposition.  Meanwhile, 
Prince  Frederick  Henry  led  his  cavahy  direct  to  the 
head  of  the  street  of  Miilheim  village,  which  descends 
to  the  river  bank,  and  tn  the  upper  part  is  steep  and 
narrow.  He  first  came  to  the  Old  Market  (Alt 
Markt)  at  the  entrance  to  the  village,  where  there 
was  a  small  fortified  house  in  those  days.  Thence  a 
narrow  lane,  called  the  "  Bogcn-strassc"  (Bow  Street), 
leads  down  to  the  main  thoroughfare  of  the  village. 
a  steep  street  called  "  UcUe."  On  the  right  of  the 
Bogen-strasse  there  is  a  high  wall  supporting  the 
churchyard  and  old  church,  approached  from  be- 
low by  many  steps.  Three  arches  span  the  Bogen- 
strasse,  over  which  the  churchyard  is  reached  from 
the  second  stories  of  th(i  houses  on  the  other  side. 

The  Prince  halted  in  the  Alt  Markt,  at  the  head 
of  the  Bogen-strasse,  waiting  for  his  brother  with 
the  main  body.  No  enemy  had  encountered  him, 
for  Trivulcio,  seeing  that  Broick  had  been  attacked 
and  occupied  by  Bacx,  had  evacuated  Mulhcim,  and 
began  to  cross  the  river.  Hearing  that  this  move- 
ment was  in  process  of  execution,  Prince  Frederick 


374  ^'-^^^  IIGIITJXG   I'EKES. 

Henry  rode  down  the  Bogen-strasse  into  the  "  Dk:.-- 

fcrnicd  his  men   in  line,  and   led   them    du\\:\  :!  y 
thorouirhfare   to   the   river  bank.      Here    he  \\j^.\  .. 
Trivulcio  was  in  the  act  of  cro»inj{  with  hi>  l.i-. ..!' 
but  ^eeint;   Prince  P'rederick  Henry's   tro(ij)>  i.i:.  :   . 
bank  lie  had  just  left,  lie  wheeled  and  charL;Lci  :':■ 
An  unaeeountable  panic  seized  the  Prince'>  n.-. ::.  .l:  . 
they  tied  in  complete  rout.     Two  companio.    .' 
Sir   John  Silbv  of    TwizeiK  alone  stood   finii.      \\  .*. 
the^e  the  vouni;  Prince  rode  up  the  valley.  fi»rd-  ■'.  ' 
rivi.r  hij^hcr  up,  and  joined  Marcellu>  Hacx  at  li:-  .  •. 
That  \eteran  was  already  hard  prosed  hv  rcir.:-  '    ■ 
nunts  from  Kuhrort,  a^  well  ai>  bv   Trivulciu  ui:;.  ;  - 
victorious  troo])>.* 

On  the  >ame  mornini;  Si)inola  was  ridin*^   :::    :" 
valK  V  from    Kuhrort   to  xisit  the  camp  at   Mi;!;: 
accniri|)anic  (1  l)y  I^on  Lui>  de  Velasco,  hi>  mrur.i!    : 
cavalrv.      What   a  change  have  the  >uccee<lir-.j:     ■    - 
turio    ctTrclrd    in    that    (ierman   v.illcv,   wi'.cir    :    . 
Itaii.in  and   the  Spam'>h  t ummander>  wen-   \'.\l:\  - 
inti  lit  o:i  llic  suhjiiL^.ilitin  of  alien  peoj)le>,  \\!v    w    :■. 
to  t!^  ni  a>   lucre  jmwiin  on  a  che»bnard!     >;!:'.   '..; 
and  \'t  !.!•-*.)  >.iw  onl\'  forest-covered  .slopi'>  nn  ii:'  •.: 
side  (f  iIuuKa--  they  rode  throui^h  swampv  nua  !   v.- 
to    ih.e    Milihivl    llille   \illaL:e   on   the    Ruhr.      N-a 
tiie-e    i.iK  liiii.  at- (1    liMcts   are   covered   with    wi-.i;.^ 
(To;'-.      I'loiM   anxnii;  the  trees  on  the  hill-i/n^  :.- 
tih-  1'  '\\v  (  !uinn'-\  '^  of  (  )ljerhau>en,  with  it>  imn-w*  :  k- 
a:w:  Wi.riii-L^  and   -^iMnninj:;  factories.      In   the    lU;;^ 
I);:i-t  r  W.ild   I.)  the  south,  whiih  was  the   ha.::!  •: 
wi'  1  iM.i;-^  ;i:iil  d«e;-  in   S]»inola's  day,  there  arc  ::■  a 
;^a:.'.::>  aiu!   j;!t  .i-iii'e-h-'U^es,  frequented  bv  cro\\v:> 

'    Mi  •'  :r'.  ;    I  .linHstnn. 


THE  BATTLE  OF  MULHEJM.  375 

of  children  and  other  holiday  folk  from  the  neighbor- 
ing towns.  The  little  village  of  Mulheim  is  now  a 
handsome  and  flourishing  manufacturing  town,  with 
two  bridges  connecting  it  with  Broick,  and  a  river 
made  navigable  by  locks.  No  speculation  as  regards 
the  future  of  the  country  through  which  they  were 
riding  occupied  the  minds  of  the  southern  generals. 
Yet  all  the  prosperity,  in  the  distant  future,  was  due 
to  the  total  overthrow  of  the  cause  for  which  they 
fought,  and  to  the  vindication  of  those  rights  of 
nationalities  which  they  sought  to  trample  under  foot. 

As  they  rode  along  the  river  hanks,  Spinola  and 
Velasco  were  met  by  a  messenger  from  Trivulcio, 
galloping  in  hot  haste,  with  news  of  the  attack  and  a 
request  for  help.  Spinola  went  back  -with  the  mes- 
senger to  organize  reinforcements,  sending  Velasco 
on  towards  MuIhcim.  Directly  afterwards  that 
officer  encountered  three  companies  of  cavalry  under 
a  Neapolitan  captain  named  Fabricio  Santomago.^ 
He  placed  himself  at  their  head  and  hurried  to  the 
scene  of  action,  which  now  centred  round  the  castle 
of  Broick,  Some  of  the  allied  cavalry  had  been 
again  put  to  disgraceful  rout.  Bacx  and  the  young 
Prince  were  seriously  outnumbered.  S  pinoia  himself 
came  from  Ruhrort  with  some  companies  of  foot; 
2,000  more  were  on  the  road,  and  he  adopted  the 
stratagem  of  sending  mounted  drummers  ahead  to 
sound  marches,  and  make  the  enemy  believe  that  still 
further  reinforcements  were  on  the  road. 

This  was  the  state  of  affairs  when  Prince  Maurice 
arrived  at  Mulheim,  marched  down  the  Delle  Strasse, 
and  obtained  a  full  view  of  the  action  raging  round 

'  Centivoglio. 


376  THE  FiGinixG  veres. 

Broick  castle,  from  the  river  bank:   most  cif  i::-    . 
airy  llyiiii;  in  all  directions,  a  small  rcinnai.:  !.  . 
his  brother  and  Uacx  fighting  desjXTatcly,  bi;:  .lir.  • 
surrounded  by  the  enemy,  and  hi>  own  forv^c  r.ir : 
small   to  encounter  the   army  of   Spine *Li    w::; 
hope  of  success,      lie  got  his  guns  into  i>«»i:i   :.  .. 
opened  lire,  and  he  made  de>jx*rate   cfft.irr.-*   :  .  :, 
the  panic->lricken  fugitives.     There  \va>  luii:::-  ^  . 
but   retreat,   with   every  prospect    of    the    u^..-.::. 
being  c:onverted  into  a  C()mj)lete  rout,  iinlo^  >;  .- 
gave  him  time  t(.)  rally  his  men  and  form  aL^air..  •..; 
was  not  likelv. 

At  thi^  critical  moment  Sir  Horace  Wmv  ;r.  .  ■  • 
to  Mauricr  that  he  >Iiou!d  cjuit  his   post  in  \\^\.  ::  . 
body,  with   the   linglish    companio,  cr<»»   iIk-   :: 
and    In*   krej)in'^   the   enemv  at   bav,   Liain    \\\\v    : 
I>ac\   and    the   young    Prince   to  fall    back,    ai^!  :  ■ 
Maurii  e   to   reorgani/r   hi^   forces   pn]\arat<ir\    : 
retrr.it.        Thr    >u;4'j;i>tinn    was    cordiallv    ai.ce::.. 
The  pI.Ke   fnr   f. Mciing.  which  wa>   selected  \^\   \ *.' 
wa>  ;il   t!i'-  tMil  .f  the   I  )elle  Strasse.      Th«-   r:   •  r    * 
hero   i»l    (  n:;-idrrai)le   width,  but   the   men   wtrt.-   .■: 
U])  to  tilt  ir  ini.i<ile>   in  one  j)lace,  and  ther.-  .i:-'    :.-. 
i;raNsv  i>Ii  t^   in  ihe  rhannel.      The  Mnuli>h  :  :k-  "    ' 
mari  !:id   -t- .i.;i!y  aen^^s.  and  advanced    up   i:^_    :. 
shoiiMi.  r  ti»  -Ii-»iil(l.r,  with  calm  roolution. 

H.K  \  .i:m1  i!ie  Trinee  had  routed  the  fir>t  atMck  -  : 
S])a;i>!i  n.M-^r  mm  ihe  plateau  <»f  Speldorf,  abuM-  :!■•. 
ca^:ir:  :..ii  the  ir.^iiive.s  rallied  behind  their  infa:'.:r. 
Wire  :■  iiitmird  i.y  Trivulcic*  and  Velasco.  and  o:u\ 
ni'Mv  .liar-.ll  the  heroic  Dutchmen.  /\i:ain  ihiv 
Wt  !r  i.iii.d  back.  Th«'n  reinforcement>  becan  ti 
arri- ^  li. -.n  l\uhr(»it.  accompanied  by  Spinula  in  |)cr- 


THE  BA  TTLE  OF  AfULHE/Af.  377 

son.  Many  of  the  Dutch  fled  in  panic,  leaving  their 
two  leaders  with  only  400  men  opposed  to  a  thou- 
sand. The  Prince  was  twice  in  imminent  personal 
danger.  Almost  surrounded,  and  in  close  hand-to- 
hand  fight,  these  gallant  heroes  long  held  their  own, 
hoping  for  succor.  Then  came  the  diversion  organ- 
ized by  Sir  Horace  Vcre,  and  the  remnant  of  cavalry, 
nearly  worn  out,  effected  a  retreat.  They  had  been 
fighting  for  seven  hours. 

The  whole  Spanish  force  then  turned  upon  Vere. 
He  had  with  him  four  English  companies  and  one 
Scotch  company  under  the  Earl  of  Buccleuch.  They 
firmly  stood  their  ground  for  an  hour,  in  a  disadvan- 
tageous position  on  the  Broick  hill-slope,  repulsing 
the  enemy  with  their  pilces,  and  never  faltering,  not- 
withstanding the  furious  charges  of  the  Spaniards, 
At  length  a  French  company  came  to  their  help,  its 
leader,  the  gallant  Dommervilie,  falling  while  at  the 
head  of  his  men  in  the  river.  Verc's  object  had 
been  attained,  and  he  gave  orders  for  a  retreat.  As 
soon  as  the  Spaniards  saw  his  intention  they  again 
charged  down  the  hillside  in  great  numbers.  Vere 
selected  si.xty  veterans  as  a  forlorn  hope,  to  cover 
the  retreat  of  their  comrades  across  the  Ruhr.  He 
himself  was  in  the  post  of  danger,  disputing  the 
passage  with  the  enemy  on  the  brink  of  the  river. 
Nearly  all  the  sixty  British  heroes  were  killed,  and 
Veres  horse  was  mortally  wounded.  It  was  just  able 
to  carry  its  master  across,  and  fell  dead  on  the  oppo- 
site bank. 

Spinola  declared  that  Sir  Horace  Vere  had  saved 
the  army  of  the  States.  His  brilliant  movement 
and  the  dogged  valor  of  his  men  gave  time  for  Mau- 


378  THE  FIGiniXG    VERES. 

rice  to  rally  the  fugitives,  and  he  retreated  lo  V.'^.-. 
without  further   molestation.     Count    Tri'. :;!..:      v.> 
killud  by  a  .>hot  from  one  of  Maurice">    x\k.\k\\  . . . .- 

m 

and  his  body  was  conveyed  to  Milan  f.  t  i:::^r:  .::. 
Santomago  wa>  al^o  killed.  Youn;^  Xic»'Ia>  I  •-.  - 1 
a  cousin  of  Spinola,  was  wounded  and  lakLii  j.^r:-  :.  • 
On  the  other  s>ide  2CH3  fell,  includintr  >LV<.ral  •  :"l-  > 
of  di>tincti(>n.  Sir  Henry  Cary  wa>  capturLti.  a* 
beini;  a  volunteer,  wa>  oblined  to  pav  a  vcrv  :....  . 
random.  Captains  Pigott  and  KatelitYu  wlt-j  .- - 
taken  pri>oners.  Shortly  after  this  memorable  a:::  '. 
the  two  armies  went  into  winter-quartL'r>. 

Prince  Maurice  fullv  recocrnized  the  ini;  «  rMr.:-: 
of  the  ser\icc  runderud  by  Sir  Horace  Wiv  ai  :/•. 
battle  of  Mulheim.  Prom  that  time  the  Iir.^!:--. 
C(.>mman(lLr  became  one  of  the  mo>t  trusted  a:.i 
valued  officers  upon  whom  the  Prince  of  (_>rar.:: 
relied.  Sir  P'rancis  wa>  alwavs  on  irood  lern^**  \\::r 
Maurice,  was  invariabiv  con>ulted,  and  hi>  advice  'a^ 
m:neral!v  taken.  Put  while  Sir  Horace  >i:cceev:'.  : 
to  his  brotlier  in  these  respects,  there  wa>  a  ••::.. 
clo>er  tie  of  friend>hip  between  him  and  the  Priii^v. 
which  ccwuiniied  in"ichanc;ed  until  tJK-  tleaih  t-:  ti.v 
latter.  The  armi>tice  of  twelve  year>  followed  sh'Ttv. 
after  the  battle  of  Mulheim.  Sir  Horace  Wre  th-.> 
had  leisure  to  return  to  his  relations  in  Encrlar.d  lor 
a  si-ason,  and  to  be  with  his  beloved  elder  brulhcr 
during  the  last  vears  of  his  life. 


CHAPTER   II. 

MARRIAGE  OF  SIR  HORACE  VERE.  — HIS  YOUNG  RE- 
LATIONS.—THE  PILGRIM  FATHERS.— DEATH  OF 
BARNEVELDT.  — AFFAIRS    IN  THE   PALATINATE. 

The  long  years  of  service  in  the  wars,  separated 
for  many  months  at  a  time  from  relations  and  friends 
at  home,  and  constantly  exposed  to  dangers  and 
hardships,  never  seem  to  liave  deprived  the  warrior 
brothers  of  the  hope  that  one  day  they  might  be 
able  to  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  courtship  and  love. 
At  length  the  truce  of  twelve  years  with  the  Span- 
iards announced  that  their  labors  were  over,  and  that 
their  work  was  done,  and  done  most  nobly.  Sir 
Francis  won  the  heart  of  a  young  lady  in  her  seven- 
teenth year.  Sir  Horace  chose  for  his  bride  a  youth- 
ful widow  with  two  little  boys.  The  brothers  were 
married  in  the  same  month  of  the  same  year. 

Mary  Tracey  was  the  youngest  child  of  Sir  John 
Tracey  of  Todington,  in  Gloucestershire,  a  knight  of 
most  ancient  lineage,  descended  in  the  male  line 
from  the  Saxon  kings.  Her  mother.  Anne,  daughter 
of  Sir  Thomas  Throckmorton,  died  on  the  21st  of 
May,  1581,  three  days  after  the  birth  of  her  daughter 
Mary.  Her  father.  Sir  John,  followed  bis  wife  to  the 
grave  in  1591.  Therewere  four  children.  Sir  John, 
the  eldest,  who  succeeded  at  Todington,  married 
Mary,  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Shirley,  of  Isfield, 


380  THE  FIGIITIXG    VERES, 

and  was  created  Viscount  Tracey  in  1642."  W:'!;^- 
the  oilier  brother,  married  Marv,  daiitjhtur  .-:  > 
John  Conway,  of  Arrow,  whu^L■  broiliL-r.  Sir  Ll^.^^-. 
Conway,  was  for  several  years  liuiitcnant-'^  \ -rr. 
of  the  Brill  for  Sir  Francis  Vcrc."  ^>ir  LJ»'.-:, 
himself  married  Dorothy,  the  elder  .si>i<.r  if  M..-, 
Tracey. 

Marv   was   in    her  twentieth  vcar   when   **re   -x  ■' 
married  to   her  first  husband,  William  1  Ic»bv.  ^.  r. 
Sir    William    Hoby,    a    privy   councillur     to    H.:- 
VIII.     She  was  left  a  widow  with  two  ehildrc:^.  .il-  ." 
three  years  after  her  marriage,  and   >iie  \\a>  tv.-. :.:  ■ 
six  when  she  won   the   iieart  of  Sir  Horace   \\::.. 
his  return  fr(»m   the    Low  Countries.      It    i>    j.»:\'. .,.-. 
that  they   fir>l   became  accjuainted   inrtniyii    >•;.-   ;_. 
ward  Conway's  friend>liip  with  the  \\re>.      I  i.-  ::  v 
ri:iL;e  took  ])hice  in  October,  1607;'  and  Marv    I  r.^ 
proved  to  be  a  fittinij;  helpmate  lr>  h'T  j^.iliarr.  r  .- 
l)anil.     She  w:i^  a  woman  imbued  with    >:r.  t^'  r 
gious  feeliiii;s,  anrl  endowed  with  a  firm  wiil  in.:  ,\-..r 
intellect.      She    followed    her   hu^banil   t<>    t!ie    I.- 
Countries,  and  dcvotc-d  herself  to  hi>  inttr-  **!**.     ii  • 
resicK m  e  in  Holland   strengthened   her  i'.arl\  e   r...- 
tions,  and  during  a  long  and  useful  life  >he  wa-*  e*.  ' 
a  stanc  li  ad\deate  (»f  civil  and  relit:i«>i!v  li;)^ mv. 

A    gnat   ^orr(»w   r)vertook   Sir    Horace    Wre   L-* 

^  'lilt   ]:  \\v.  I'lu-  r  inn-  t(»  .in  irul  His  cratulson  is  tl-.i-  j  n -cr.:  :,!-■:■- 

will'    Ii''r.'\.   r*  ;!:•;,  \'i^<«'iii;r    |  i.i-  Sin'i-lrv. 

c«v. '.\1."  i!-'  I  i:i  I'-r.    Ili^  il.in^li-         -  Hi- was  Si-rret.irv  I  I   *•!-*■    ' 

tcr      111!    ^:m      p,i:;'«.l     «.li;irlcs  1^-2 ;.  .irul   rnM»t'v!    liari-:.   C   r.«i-. 

II.ili':i:\.    "'■'.   I...  '^    tin:   i.air.r  ..f  i.f    K;i'^'lcy   in    I'-*4,   ar:.!    \":»».    j- * 

Tr.ii  '  ■. .     i:  ■!    u:-    i  r<  .i!«  d    Hr-ii  C'i:;\\.iv  in  !'_'''•.    Mtt!i{,'  — .  v  \: 
Sui'it  1'.  y   •'!      r.  uiu^toii    ill     i^jS.         «    I'h's  a'.i'i'.tr-  fi  n*.  a   Icrter  :a 

t!ic  ShrfWsliUM  C\'iTc!^j  or.iii 


MARRIAGE  OF  SIR  HORACE   VERE.  38 1 

than  two  years  after  his  marriage,  in  the  death  of 
his  renowned  brother,  whose  remains  he  followed  to 
their  last  resting-place  in  Westminster  Abbey.  He 
succeeded  Sir  Francis  as  governor  of  the  Brill,  the 
appointment  being  dated  October  18,  1609.  Al- 
though James  I.  had  abandoned  England's  ally,  and 
had  made  a  disgraceful  peace  with  Spain,  the  cau- 
tionary towns  were  to  be  retained  until  the  States 
General  had  cleared  off  their  debt  This  important 
charge  and  the  command  of  the  English  troops  in 
the  pay  of  the  States  made  it  necessary  for  Sir  Hor^ 
ace  Vere  to  reside  in  Holland,  and  between  16 10 
and  1 6 14  his  four  eldest  daughters,  Elizabeth,  Mary,^ 
Katherine,  and  Anne,  were  born  there. 

During  their  visits  to  England  Sir  Horace  and 
Lady  Vere  had  a  house  or  lodging  near  the  Ex- 
change, in  the  parish  of  St.  Bartholomew  the  Great 
Their  fifth  daughter,  Dorothy,^  was  born  there,  and 
baptized  in  the  church  of  St  Bartholomew  on  the 
15th  of  January,  1616.  She  came  to  them  at  a  time 
of  sorrow,  for  the  aged  mother  of  Sir  Horace  died 
in  December,  16 15,  and  his  young  step-son,  Philip 
Hoby,  was  buried  at  Isleworth  in  January,  i6i6.* 
The  other  child  of  Lady  Vere,  by  her  first  husband, 
had  died  previously. 


^  An  Act  of  Parliament  was 
passed  in  1624  for  the  naturaliza- 
tion of  Elizabeth  and  Mary  Vere. 
{^Rushworth^  i.  p.  151.)  Elizabeth 
was  Countess  of  Clare  ;  Mary  be- 
came Lady  Townshend,  afterwards 
Countess  of  Westmoreland  ;  Kath- 
erine married,  first,  Oliver  St.  John, 
and  second,  Lord  Poulett ;  Anne 
was  Lady  Fairfax. 


^  Afterwards  Mrs.  Wolsten- 
holme. 

•  January  13,  1616.  Isleworth 
Parish  Register.  Holman,  in  his 
MS.  history  of  the  Veres,  says 
that  the  two  sons  of  Lady  Vere  by 
W.  Hoby  died  aged  nineteen  and 
twenty-three  respectively.  But  the 
Isleworth  Register  shows  that  this 
must  be  a  mistake. 


1/ 


382  THE  FIGHTIXG    VERES. 

In  1616  more  stirring  times  began  to  loom  «":  :: 
horizon,  though  the  truce  with  Spain  did  pa-i  I'.r- 
natc  until  1621.  Young  nephews  and  co:>i:'.>  v.  .- 
beginning  to  reach  years  of  disCTL-tiun.  wh"  v.:, 
anxious  to  serw  under  their  famous  relaii.;:.  :.  , 
greatest  living  ICnglish  general.  Among  ir^.-'..  : 
youth  in  whom  Sir  Horace  naturally  t(>c»k  li-.e  «.!.  ■ 
est  interest  was  his  cousin  and  the  head  c!  .  .: 
house,  Henry,  the  eighteenth  I'larl  of   Oxford. 

lulward,  the  seventeenth  Earl,  who  wa>    a   b   •- 
Hedintiham  in  the  childhood  of  l-'raMLi>  and  H^  :..  . 
had   led   a    life    <A    reckless    exlravagan^e.    a:..;    ! -- 
ended  in  totallv  de>tn)ving  the   noble   inheri:.-.:.^. 
whiJi  lie  had  succeeded.      One  bv<»ne  llie  r.i:v..-.:    .- 
manors  and  estates  in  ICssex  and  Suttolk  \vere  ::  .'■ 
iiaued  and  sold.     His  first  wife,  the  dauLihu:-  «  :  I. 
HurK'igh,  ha<l  died  in  15SS,  leaving   three   ila  :;^.:  ■"' 
wh'ise  lUsl-^   were  carelullv  feathered  hv  tluir  ■  :;. 
failur,  t!ie  Lonl    I'reasurer,  with  all  the   rin.r.a:.:-     : 
the  Wre  estates  that  the  law  Could  be   iviadt-    t- ■    ^ 
tluni."       1  line  was  no  son.      So  in    i  ;oC>   \\\y    -:  . 
lliiiit   \\A\'\  \\A^  married  a^ain  to  one   of   (^hl-.  v.  1     .■ 
abelh's  iii.iid^  of   IiMiior.       This  was  Lli/abti;-.  -i.*.  ;;•• 
ter   of    lh«'i::as  'I'n.  ntham  of    Rocester.   in    >:..::   - 
sliii"r.  1)\   \\li«»iii  he   had   an   onlv  son,  Henr\".  i-i  ■:.   ." 
i^n;.'-      In    llie    l.i-t    vrais   of   his   life    l-.a:l    I*!dw..-1 
\\\K\\  in  a  l:'-ii^e  at   Newin''t(Mi.  where  he  tiied  ^►n  ::.. 

'1.1     i  .-y    •  !    <  »\:.':il.    \\c    a:«-  I'-iil  (  iiiiiuM!i.i-.iv.N  :!u'  \x^^\t.  ,  :  :■  » 

\x''  '.    '  \     :  ■  ■  .      '   .      :.•[■■:        I".'.:t-  ^l■■•\. 

I-    ^'       :  ::      ".  ■     if  !.  -!>■•■!  .mil         •  Henry,  known  .\^   L- r  :    :     f 

o^:- ■■  ,  ■'■  ■■  1>:'.     '  !   \i  '\'-\.     11  r  bfC  (luiir.<;  :hc   Isui.riic  i-t       •   :• 

ii  ::>  il    -      i-    '  v  f   '.    '    '"Ji   :'.  1*    lie-  :lu  r.   w.i«4    N-rn    i-^    Fi-'-ru-r-    -*- 

Ku    ■     '      V    ■  ■  '    i     .'.  .  :->  li'j.v.in'l   ].ip!i;i.!  .i:   Ni«  -«*   " 

r.  '.  !    .  ■<    _     -         .:'  f    v.!:..  \\.is  or,  M.uth  5I^^     'Ncwii.jjun  K.^- 

l.i-  \\'\-  )   :  \  t.    :.-.:::.  \,^  his  l-^I.Hc.  ibtcr.i 


VOLUNTEERS  FOR  SERVICE.  383 

24th  of  June,  1604.     He  was  buried  in  the  church 
at  Hackney. 

The  Dowager  Countess  of  Oxford  and  her  little 
son,  now  become  Henry,  the  eighteenth  Earl  of  Ox- 
ford,  went  to  live  in  a  house  in  Canon  Row,  West- 
minster, with  very  small  means.  As  the  boy  grew 
up  he  got  into  undesirable  company,  and  his  poor 
mother  found  that  she  was  quite  unable  to  manage 
him.  At  last  she  was  driven  to  the  extreme  measure 
of  drawing  up  articles  against  one  John  Hunt  for 
corrupting  the  Earl,  her  son,  and  preying  on  his  es- 
tate.^ In  this  document  the  Countess  made  the  fol- 
lowing statement :  "  Under  pretence  of  kindred  Hunt 
insinuated  himself  into  my  son  s  acquaintance,  draw- 
ing him  from  his  lessons  to  course  with  greyhounds ; 
taking  him  to  taverns  plays  and  bad  company ;  and 
teaching  him  swearing,  and  filthy  and  ribald  talk. 
He  withdrew  him  from  my  house  in  Canon  Row  to 

*  Aubrey  Vere,  second  son  of  Hunt  of  Currah,  in  Limerick.  His 
the  sixteenth  Earl  of  Oxford,  and  son,  Sir  Vere  Hunt,  was  created  a 
uncle  of  Sir  Francis  and  Sir  baronet  in  1784,  and  married  Eli- 
Horace  Vere,  married  Margaret,  nor,  daughter  of  Dr.  W.  Cecil, 
dau<^hter  of  John  Spring  of  Laven-  Dean  of  Limerick.  Their  son  as- 
hani,  and  secondly,  Bridget,  daugh-  sumed  the  name  of  De  Vere  only 
ter  of  Sir  Anthony  Gibbon  of  in  1832,  and  became  Sir  Aubrey 
Lynn,  in  Norfolk.  His  son  Hugh,  De  Vere.  He  was  the  author  of 
by  his  first  wife,  married  a  daugh-  Julian  the  Apostate  and  other 
ter  of  William  Walsh,  and  was  poems.  Dying  in  1846,  he  left,  by 
father  of  Robert,  nineteenth  Earl  his  wife  Mary  Spring  Rice,  sister 
of  Oxford.  His  daug:hter  Jane  of  Lord  Monteagle,  Sir  Vere  De 
married  Henry  Hunt  of  Gosfield,  Vere,  who  died  in  1880;  Aubrey, 
in  Essex,  and  was  the  mother  of  author  of  the  Waldenses  and  other 
this  disreputable  John  Hunt,  who  poems ;  Sir  Stephen,  the  present 
was  thus  a  second  cousin  of  the  baronet,  unmarried ;  William  Cecil, 
young  Earl  whom  he  led  astray,  a  commander  R.N.,  who  died  child- 
John  Hunt  had  a  son,  Vere  Hunt,  less  in  1869;  and  Francis,  in  the 
who  settled  in  Ireland  in  1657,  and  artillery,  who  died  leaving  three 
whose    great-grandson  was  Vere  daughters. 


384  '^ff£  lIGiniXG  VEKES. 

a  disorderly  life  in  Essex,  huntinj;  in  deer  park-,  i': 

other  like  disorderly  actions.      lie   hath    iinjiuc'." 
presumed  to  be   his   bed  fellow,  and   otherwise   ^.v  . 
him  most  disrespectfully,  has  borrowed  mcnK  v  ::. 
sons  name  to  his  dishonor,  and  live>  wIkm!-.-  l  :.   ■ 
son's  purse,  draws  him  from  my  hciuse.  aM.i  c...-  • 
him  to  spend  all  his   time  in  play  at  an    t-r<:::'..i'    . 
Milt(»rd  Lane,  not  coming  home  until  i  ur  j   ::.  :  . 
mornin»4."^     The  liarl  was  verv  vouhli:  wIki;  iv   :   -• 
got  into  bad  company,  not  more  than  j^evenin :..  ;.:  . 
his  i)oor  mother  \\a.»  in  despair.     She  apj)ear>.  ! 
ever,  to  have  i)laced  him  under  the  care   «»f   ir.>:     • 
and  a  few  vears  afterwards  he  went    abrua^i.  rt.;  ... 
ing  in    Italy  until   Octt>ber,    161S.      He    eanie    i.  ' 
much   improved,  and  worthv  to  ser\e  with    \\\^   ^:-  .: 
relative,  Sir  Horace  V'ere,  under  who>e  c«»nin..i:.  '. 
met    a    soldier's    death.      Sir    I'Vane  is    toi-k    a    ;!     . 
interest   in   this  voun<i  head  of  hi>  h<iu>e;  anti  w..    . 
the  Stati-s  (K-neral  granted  him  a  peu'-inn   Iil    ::.... 
an  canu  >t   rrc|ue>t,  which  wa>  ciimplitd  wiili.  t!*..i:  .: 
miij-lit  l)r  C()ntinued.  after  his  death,  t«»   hi>   rL!./.... 
llenrv,  tlu*  eiLrlilcenth  I'-arl  of  Oxford. 

An«»llur  veuuLT  follower  of  Sir  Horace  Wtl-  ^^:L- 
John,  a  nal'.'.ra!  >on  of  hi>  eldot  broliur.  \\A\w  Wv 
of  i\i;!»v  Hall.  'i*Iii-»  vouth  caused  hi>  father  v.  i..;-. 
einbaria-^-^nunl,  and  fur  nuuiv  vears  he  is  said  ti»  }:.k.L 
I.UM  iiiidrr  <ln\ullul  apprehen>ions  of  liod's  wrath  :: 
aiCMiiiii  K^\  the  l)o\*>  irregular  entrance  ir.to  ::-.v 
wnrKI.  lint  his  um  U^  l)efriended  him,  and  op^r.Lj 
for  him  an  lumoraMr  i  areer.  He  was  sorireant-rv.a"  : 
in  ihr  ii  ;iuui^t  nf  hi^  uncle  Horace,  and  rtc^iui 
tlic  lienor  I'f  knighthtuid  in   1607.      There  wa^  alsO  A 


VOLUNTEERS  FOR  SERVICE.  385 

kinsman  named  Edward  Vcre,  whose  precise  relation- 
ship is  not  clearly  made  out/  but  who  served  with 
great  distinction  under  Sir  Horace,  and  was  slain  at 
Bois  le  Due. 

Another  young  volunteer  for  service  under  Sir 
Horace  Vere  was  his  nephew  Simon  Harcourt. 
Frances  Vere  had  been  married,  in  1598,  to  Sir  Rob- 
ert Harcourt  of  Stanton  Harcourt,  in  Oxfordshire, 
an  adventurous  knight  who  obtained  letters  patent 
from  James  I.  to  plant  the  region  between  the  Ama- 
zons and  Essequibo  in  South  America.  He  sailed 
in  the  "  Rose,"  of  eighty  tons,  with  his  brother  Mi- 
chael, and  returned  after  an  absence  of  three  years, 
leaving  Michael  behind.^  He  published  an  account 
of  his  voyage,^  and  died  in  1631,  aged  fifty-seven. 
He  left  two  sons  by  Frances  Vere:  Simon,  the  eld- 
est, who  became  a  distinguished  officer  under  his 
uncle  Sir  Horace  Vere  ;  and  Vere  Harcourt,  to  whom 
his  uncle  John  Vere  left  an  annuity  of  £^0  a  year, 
and  who  became  a  clergyman. 

These  aspirants  to  military  fame  had  either  com- 
menced their  careers,  or  were  soon  about  to  seek 
appointments  under  their  kinsman,  when  Sir  Horace 
Vere  returned  to  Holland,  commissioned  to  restore 
the  Brill  to  the  States  General,  after  it  had  been  gar- 
risoned by  the  English  for  upwards  of  thirty  years. 
The  States  General,  having  repaid  the  loans  from 

•  The  above  Sir  John  Vere  had  Edward  Vere  who  was  slain  at  the 

a  son  Edward,  but  he  would   have  siege  of  Maastricht. 

l>een  too   young   to   be   identified  '  Michael's  fate  was  never  aa- 

wilh  the  Edward  Vere  referred  to  cenained. 

in  the  text,  and  moreover  he  died  '  Relation  of  a  Voyage  to  Guiana 

young.    He  is  probably  the  Licul.  (1613),  zd  cd.  (1626),  a  very  scarce 
work. 


^ 


386  THE  FIGIITIXG   VERES. 

England,  received  back  the  cautionarj'  toxms  \r. 
May,  1616.*  Vere  received  a  life  pension  of  /'>o:  - 
year  as  compen^ation  for  the  luss  of  his  gu\Lr:.  :• 
ship.- 

Sir  Horace  found  his  good  friend  Sir  l>i:.;'. 
Carleton  "^  at  the  Hague,  as  envoy  from  linglar.u.  ~ 
po.st  which  he  ci>nlinued  to  hold  from  1616  to  10:^. 
He  was  the  last  Hngli>h  minister  who  had  ihc-  j>ri  ;• 
lege  of  sitting  in  the  Council  of  the  Stato  Gci-.^.'-.v. 
a  i)rivilege  gained  by  Queen  Elizabeth,  and  anruxL  i 
to  the  occupation  of  the  cautionary  towns.  I:  v 
pri\iluge  wa>  continued  to  Carleton  as  a  matter  <  : 
courtov  aiti'r  the  towns  had  been  restored.  Thvr. 
was  cordial  fritndshii^  between  Sir  Dudley  Car.e:  :. 
and  Sir  Horace  Vere,  who  wa.s  at  the  Hatrue  d.;r!:  ■ 
the  summer  of  1616,  inspecting  the  lro<)f»>.  li-. 
then  Went  t<>  drink  the  waters  at  Spa,  and  ai  r".:-* 
found  himsrlf  rather  weakened  bv  them,  but  a::-' 
compleiing  the  C()ur>e  his  friend  Carleton  rt{>or:'  ; 
that   he   had    become   :x'*novus  hotuo!^^     Tl;e   lr;;C': 

^  'I"!:.'  ::i  .!'v  Vy  \\!il.  1^   tbr   r.iu-  fnila»i<iy    ni    F'.ir;**        I-     if--;     ^- 

tiii:..:ry  !•  v.  ii-  \m  :i-  r'.-!(ir«<l  to  tlif  \\\\\\  in   Si  .ii:i  \\\\\\    I.    :.;    \..—  - 

S'.i'.iN   I:.-,. It!    v.'II   l.c   f..i:!i<!    in  In    M.r  .    i'  lo.  !if;   v.is   .■■.■.■:•?- 

J\\  »*:■'.  \- '\  ~    ;-,~*7.  t'»  •'UiTf  i-'i  >i:  'riii"i.t-  I  ."•■     -    ■• 

'"'    I  )i  ■    ■'   ■'■  A    •  I     1.'  T'!    I*''!*"-!!.  ;i-»   .jTn!».i»>'.»«''ir   ti-    '^  (    A:    •     -•    • 

til'    :   V     I"   .,  ■  «  r-.nr  *>{   I'lrili,  hi-!  nt  I'.tu-^i;-.  1  ir    i   r-  i»i-  •   .  j   -• 

.\   ;  I  :.  .■    :i  <  •    '' .'     '   .V   yi- ir.  ^^^i^l»  intcrvoDfti   :nii!    "•'•   y*   '.    ■    *   • 

\\:-  !  ■  .'    .1 '■    >:    •  ■    "  :     Mi-r.irr  i.f^\.     In    Sri-ft  m"  tr  •!   :S-    ^  .— :r 

\  •  \-  '  -  '  '  •  -■"■'  ■■:=  !  I  :  t!-Mili.  yr.ir  hf  wn-*   k:^i,!  re«i    .i:  li   "*    -   • 

"I'      ■' y  '    .''•'■  :.    w  I-".  :!:«•  sun  n  i?f:l   to  tlie   im'-.ts-^v  .t:  \  •" 

<^f    \'  ■    ■     \    ^  ...'  '  :    :i    I  l"   !".al«!w'n  aii  I  w  i<»  tlierr  cn-^.T^cr:   in  a-     "■ 

V-'.'\.''-\:'.\    i'i     (K:*-!  I'rf,    .md  |'M!.iiit    nr'^i-i?.it!i»n    as    mr-'-.t''^ 

A\.is  ;  ■■•.  '»;\''.:'.    I    .  1-;7V      lie  Iwiwn-n  t!.r   I)iikf>  of   sav-  v  it^*^ 

\v..N     '       .  i"     :       .'.r     W  — •pvr.-'fT  M.ir.::i.i.      Kc turnirsj    t«.    I  n^Ii-*: 

S«  !■'»■  "    .\  .  \     '   ■  ■  '•    I   :  ^\^^\^.    0\.  in  I'-I^.hc  w.i"«.  .T.>-*in!v.!  rrv-.  Ti- 

f.T.i.     ..:.  :     ::  w-.W-.   '     m.-  \     \'*  \  tin-  St.ilr«i  r.i'ncr.il. 
\vi,i :;  :.'    !     (..:::c   >■  .  :    V;:  v  :■•  tlif  *  Sir   iJucllcy   Carlcl^n     t'.»     Si: 


THE  PILGRIM  FATHERS.  387 

enabled  Sir  Horace  to  visit  Spa,  which  was  in  the 
territory  of  the  Archdukes,  and  in  September  he 
returned  to  England.  He  was  with  his  family  at  his 
house  in  the  city  during  the  rest  of  the  year,  and  in 
November  we  find  him  sending  a  present  of  four 
venison  pasties  to  his  friend  Carleton.^ 

During  Sir  Horace  Verc's  long  residence  in  Hol- 
land, while  the  truce  continued,  he  resided  at  the 
Hague  and  at  Leyden,  with  periodical  visits  to  the 
Brill,  and  latterly  at  Utrecht.  Like  his  brother,  he 
did  not  fail  to  derive  inspiration  from  the  principle 
for  which  he  fought,  and  to  sympathize  with  the 
cause  of  civil  and  religious  freedom.  The  same 
sentiment  was  very  prevalent  among  those  who  took 
service  under  the  Veres.  Their  feelings  were  en- 
listed against  persecution  and  tyranny.  When  the 
hunted  congregation  of  John  Robinson  arrived  in 
Holland,*  and  was  permitted  to  establish  itself  in 
Leyden  during  the  month  of  May,  1609,  it  met  with 

Ralph    Winwood,    August,    1616.  his  cure   to   join   the  Separatists. 

(Car/f/on/.^Wfrj,  pp.  44,  S4.)    The  William  Bradford,  a  nalive  of  Ills 

Duke  of    I'arma   used   10    take  a  neighboring  village  of  AusU-rfield, 

course  of  the  Spa  waters  for  his  in  Yurkshiri:,  was  another  leading 

gout,  in  the  intervals  of  campaign-  member.     When  a  sharp  per&ccu- 

ing.  tion  began,  they  resolved  lo  go  to 

'  Stale  Papers,  Domestic,  James  Holland,  where    tViey  heard    ihnt 

I.,  vol.  xc.  No.  11.  there  was  freedom  of  religion  for 

*  A  congregation  of  .separatists  all  men.  They  attempted  lo  em- 
was  formed  by  inhabitants  of  bark  at  Boston,  but  were  seized, 
Yorkshire,  Nottinghamshire,  nnd  thrown  into  prison,  and  their  goods 
Lincolnshire,  near  the  tri-junctiun  confi.scatcd.  Another  attempt  to 
of  the  boundaries  of  those  coun-  escape  was  also  prevented,  but  at 
ties,  in  1606.  They  met  in  the  length  the  magistrates  became 
house  of  William  Brewster,  the  ashamed  of  persisting  in  the  per- 
postmaster  of  Serooby,  near  Bnw-  seciition  of  these  helpless  people, 
trj',  their  pastor  being  John  Robin-  and  they  were  allowed  to  go. 
son,  a  Cambridge  graduate  who  They  reached  Amsterdam  in  Au- 
had  been  ordained,  but  threw  up  gust,  1608. 


388  THE  FIGHTLXG    VERES, 

friendly  treatment  at  the  hands  of  warrior  countn.-. 
men,  from  the  general  downwards.  Some  ()f  th^.-v 
who  had  served  under  the  Ycres  even  j(iint.ci  it- 
ranks.  The  period  during  which  the  pilgrim?  .: 
Robinson's  con<j;rcq;ation  abode  at  Levden  cdinciut* 
with  the  truce  of  twelve  years —  1609  to  i6jo.  W  i^- 
liam  Bradford,  the  second  governor  of  the  Pivnv'u:" 
.  colony,  belonged  to  the  original  Scrooby  CL»r:.:rt.\:a. 
tion.  But  other  leading  pilgrims  were  «>f  th  -. 
who  joined  in  Holland,  attracted  to  the  Lc\(:-.r. 
church  by  that  love  of  civil  and  religious  lilxrv- 
which  ihey  had  imbibed  under  the  X'eres,  and  u :::.:. 
was  so  sturdily  represented  by  those  fugiiivL>  :  : 
conscience'  sake. 

Miles  Standish  had  been  educated  in  the  sch  -.! 
of  the  Veres.  A  trained  soldier  of  freedi»m,  hi 
settled  at  Leyden  when  the  truce  was  prociainxi 
and  formed  friendly  relations  with  the  pilgriTn>.  }:•. 
was  the  militarv  adviser  of  the  infant  colon v.^  Viiir' 
Edward  Win^low,  scion  of  an  old  \Vorce>lt  r^iiir." 
family,  was  in  Holland  during  the  truce,  but  \\\:  l-.u: 
not  actually  served  against  the  Spaniards.  He  a!-o 
joined  the  Leyden  congregation,  and  eventuailv  U- 
came,  next  to  I  Bradford,  the  chi^'f  leader  of  :h. 
colony.-     So   that   when    the   j)ilgrim   father>   >a;lv;c: 

^  He   ramc   nf    an    i,li|    Lanca-  Scronbv  oni^rc^atlon.      lie  w"." 

sliirf  I'ani'ly,  and  w.i-s  !)i.iii  in  i  ;S4.  to  America   in   the   •'M.r.r.    ■*«-.' 

AtiiT  siTvini,'  tin-  (.c.l.ii.y  i.iiilitullv  and  was  iiuvltiht  nt  the  I'l-.n-  u:.-. 

fnr  :nanv  xr.i!";,  l)«)lli  .is  a  •^oMicr  cnlnnv  tor  niaiiv  viMrs.      He  wr  'z 

ami  a  cmku  illor,  ho  ilii<l  at  Dux-  a  History  tyf  the  /'I.moutf^  t>.  «» 

biiiy.  in  Mas-iat  hnsrit-^.  in  i^;().  «//;</  /ViJ/^/«'.    i6d<>-46i.       \W    c'.:i 

-  \\  illia'ii  |ir;i<]t'iiil  wa-;  a  Vr»rk-  in  May,  l(»;7,  and  hi*  descin.unij 

sliirt'rn.in.  a  ua-ivc   i-t    A'.:>*frfi«  lii,  still  flourish  in  the  L'r.ilcii  StaTf*. 

I'l   liii  ^Mc    i-irih.       He    was    hurn  Kd\v.ird  WiP'^lnw  wa<«  the  •t.i  c 

in  i5-iS,  and   loinicd   unt-   ui   tlic  of  a  good  family  at  Kcrij^v,  ia 


THE  PlLGRl.\f  FATHERS.  389 

from  Delftshaven  in  July,  1620,  to  lay  the  first  foun- 
dation of  the  great  republic  across  the  Atlantic,  they 
had  amongst  them  at  least  one,  if  not  more  com- 
panions who  were  pupils  of  the  Veres.  There  were 
other  warriors  of  that  school  who  took  a  leading  part 
in  founding  the  American  settlements :  such  as  Sir 
Ferdinando  Gorges  in  Maine,  Lion  Gardiner  in  Con- 
necticut, and  Edward  Maria  Wingfield  in  Virginia.' 

The  deplorable  events  in  Holland  which  preceded 
the  termination  of  the  truce  were  not  connected  with 
the  English  contingent  further  than  that  Sir  Horace 
Vera  served,  in  the  ordinary  course  of  duty,  under 
the  orders  of  the  Prince  of  Orange.  Throughout 
the  war  Maurice  and  Olden  Barneveldt  had  acted 
together  with  cordiality,  both  actuated  by  the  one 
great  object  of  securing  the  independence  of  their 
common  country.  Barneveldt  was  the  ablest  and 
most  patriotic  statesman  of  the  age  in  which  he 
Hved.  Maurice  was  one  of  the  greatest  military 
commanders ;  but  in  civil  affairs  he  was  giudcd  by 
the  old  friend  and  councillor   of    his  father.      The 


Woreesiershire.     The  Winslows  clias.     TTie    Protector   appointed 

were  long  established  on  a  small  him  chief  commissioner    la    the 

estate  in  thai  parish,  called   Clerk-  Jamaica  expedition,  and   he   died 

enleap,   Edward  was  born  at  Droit-  at  sea.  near  the  Jamaica  coast,  on 

wich,  on  Oct.  19,  1595.    He  joined  May  8,    1655.     His  descendants 

himself    to     the    Leyden    churrli  still   form    a    distinguished   New 

when    only   twenty-two,  and   went  England  familv. 

out  in  the  "  Mayflower."     He  con-  '  Wingfield  was  the  first  presi- 

ducted   the  negotiations  with  the  dent  of  the   colony  of  Virginia, 

native   chief  Massasoit,  went  on  He  wrote  a  "  Discourse  of  Vir- 

missions  to  England  as  agent  for  ginia,"   first   printed    in   Areka»- 

the   colony,   and    was   twift   rov-  lo^ia  Americana,  iv.  67,  from  the 

emor.    He  wrote  Good  News  frnm  manuscript  in   the   Lambeth    Li- 

New  England,  an  account  of  the  brary,  and  edited  by  Mr.  Charles 

colony  which  is  abridged  in  Fur-  Dcane. 


:r/::-  .vr.-i.  r. ^vevcr.  niost  cti>tastcful  to  Maurice  w'- 
c.'.r.  .■  :   ■'  "    V'::*.:  but  tin-  mincmcnts  of   ariv.:.--  • 
5: :./.->..-    ■"..:-   :   •;   a   c.ir.iDai^n,   and     tlu-    *'.■•:•_ 
v:/..->.      Iv.:-.-. ". /..:    iVlt    that    the   countrv    n.-  :     . 
V:\.;:^:"^   :i"x.  ^::.l   liiat   the-  trucc  \va>    i>ra«. :  ■  . 
.1"    /./>:■'.    a'.".  ..:.;•':'.  ::l   "f  L)'.:tv  h   iiulcpcnckin  r.-.  a:   !  ..- 
>;:;*:    .1    ^r. -\:    .1::.:    i:^\p»>rtant    triunii)h.      Triu^    :    .: 
:::v-.  :>..  :./::■  ^>  *  I    M.v.irirc  l(nvarcl>  tht*  oM  -:.,:  - 
:r..-.::   v. .   v    .:'■    iv.ltcJ.   and   he   canu-   t«  1    \^^^^K     . 
Ivi  ■:.  •.  /  .:   .;-  ";.>  ^luniy,  and  as  ohl*   thai   nu;-: 
v'\..:\  ■    ::    ■".    '^.i-    i\\:h.   althoui;h    he   C()iK'ca!M:    ■  - 
l\ /•:.;-.  v.'.:..:^.    cv::iiiii:L-d    t()   grow   in   intt'n>i:v  :  ■ 

-      ■■      ■-■        %         **'^ 
>t    .  V  .  .; .      .  I  ..  .  ^. 

W:  ::  :>  .'.ir:*^^;.!:  to  reconcile  llie  crime  v.  hie'    :" 
r:::'.\  ^v  ::'^  i:^^:,  antl  whieli  has  larni>IiLd  hi-  :,.•    . 
!x'.    :   '.  :. .  r...  \\\\\\  liu'  len(»r  of  Ids  lif^.-  hi'^'-rv.      .\'' 
a  v:  ::.\"\  V-  *' :'m:\:i  r.  ht*  was  >urn»und«.d   !»\   -:^.::- 
t\>:    :    '--..i    :::ivd>.   and   lie   acciuirL-d    the    !\-:-.: 
a*:v:   m::  .:;:1   >v  !\ :.  l-   »'f    (itVu\rs   and    nun.       I:.    :. -. 
!.;:'■■.   :/..•■    :  -  !v-  u  a>  <4inerMus  and  atYc.i'ti« ':.:*!!•   : 
a    :\"m!<./\'    i!v  ;^:\  L-.      He   tr^-aled    hi>   >"n.  :»::.:"• - 
1.  ■.:>■  /...    I      ■l,:'\.  :'.«^t   <>n;v  willi   kinchit.-^   a:.  !   : 
s:v,'..    '    ;•    .w    a    t!*>t.<l    friind    and    ad\i>«.r.       li- 
a^i   ■  : .  !    ;    -    :i.r.i'-!':t«'JK  r    I'rcdLrick    Henrv.    !.-k 
i::^   :■  :."•".   a-  a  -"ii.  ap.d  r.(  \  i.r  n^.arritil.  in  dm'k  ;■  :'  ..' 
hi   "  :_■■-:  -.;«■.  ■  r.'i  a^  hi-  hrir.      lie  fnr};|[avi-  Id-  -:-"  * 
\y":  :;■.■.  ■.:■._;  ::.■.■  l'«M*l;i!^iU;-i;  PrcttMukr.  and  li'  '.. 
>■:;■;'-■  :■       ";;'  :"  a:.d    lur  eldldren.      lie    re(fi\id   ::  ■- 
i:;^:  ■   ■    I\::l:  .'.:.:  f^urn  kA  Iiohenna  and  lluir  ;a'^ 
la::  \.\ .  v   .  ":■    :!.-  ::;  a  Iionie  at  the  Ila-'Ue.  and  irca'.iJ 
till  v^  wW .    ■::'::::p^   kindness.      It   i**   hard   In   i::v/u  r- 
.Stan. I  \v'\\  :'  :-  ma:i  ran  ha\e  heen  ^uiltv  of  >uc!:  :c 
ati.'^  iu;!- .  :  :n.  •  a>  \\a>  itivohed  in  the  execution  ii 


DEATH  OF  BARNEVELDT.  391 

his  father's  old  friend,  the  patriot  statesman  who  had 
guided  his  country  safely  through  many  dangers,  the 
virtuous  Olden  Barneveldt.  The  only  explanation  is 
that  Maurice  was  embittered  by  the  opposition  to 
his  wishes  involved  in  the  truce,  that  he  nursed  his 
anger  until  it  turned  to  unreasoning  hatred,  and  that, 
in  this  frame  of  mind,  he  really  believed  the  absurd 
calumnies  that  were  whispered  into  his  ear. 

Under  the  mask  of  outward  calm  and  formal 
friendliness  he  watched  an  opportunity  for  ven- 
geance. It  came  in  the  heated  religious  controversy 
of  the  time.  The  Calvinistic  followers  of  Gomer 
commenced  a  violent  persecution  of  the  disciples  of 
Arminius.  Neither  Barneveldt  nor  Maurice  were 
partisans  of  either  side  in  their  hearts.  The  dog- 
matic hair-splittings  were  distasteful  alike  to  the 
statesman  and  the  soldier.  But  Barneveldt  desired 
to  stop  persecution  and  to  maintain  religious,  liberty. 
For  that  reason  alone  Maurice  adopted  the  other 
side.  Barneveldt  had  promoted  the  raising  of  local 
levies  in  the  different  States,  to  preserx'C  order  and 
prevent  persecution.  Consequently  Maurice  deter- 
mined to  put  down  the  new  levies  with  his  army, 
and  to  seize  this  excuse  for  bringing  about  the  de- 
Etruction  of  Barneveldt  and  his  friends. 

Sir  Dudley  Carleton  was  instructed  to  take  the 
side  of  Maurice  against  Barneveldt,  because  the 
French  envoy  had  been  told  to  adopt  the  opposite 
course.  Sir  Horace  Vere,  as  a  military  commander, 
simply  obeyed  his  orders.  But  his  brother's  old 
friend.  Sir  John  Ogle,  could  not  be  equally  indiffer- 
ent. He  was  in  command  at  Utrecht  when  the 
fanatical  tumults  were  at  their  height.     Barneveldt 


392  THE  FIGHTIXG   VERES. 

had  ever  been  the  admirer  and  warm  supporter  ': 
his  great  chief,  Sir  Francis  \'ere.  Ogle  did  not  c  -- 
ceal  hi>  feelings  in  the  matter,  and  he  was  rvn-.ov.: 
from  his  command.  The  Prince  of  Oranij'j  r:  - 
ceeded  to  disarm  the  new  levies,  and  rir>t  he  r  ar';!-.-: 
to  Utrecht  with  Sir  Horace  Vere,  and  met  \\\v:.  r 
oppo>ition.  He  then  made  a  progress  thn*ii;;ii  {:  - 
land,  accompanied  by  Sir  Horace,  who  recei'.eJ  :  . 
governcr-hip  of  Tlrecht  in  July,  i6iS,*  He  v.^.- 
there  joined  by  Lady  \'ere. 

The  execiiti()n  of  Barneveldt  took  {>lace  a:  :"■. 
Hague  on  the  13th  of  May,  1619.  There  i-^  n-*  i  .- 
cati(Mi  that  Prince  Maurice  ever  felt  comri::- ■:■.  - 
rciiret  for  having  committed  this  crime.  Ve:;^ 
afterward^,  when  the  sons  of  liarneveldt  were  ■  •  r- 
den-'.iuvl  to  tleath  for  c<)n>i)iring  against  him.  :'-•.:• 
motlur  jvtitioneil  for  mercy.  The  Prince  a>keii  ':-.' 
whv  >he  pra\ed  for  the  life  of  her  sons,  when  •-■  l 
had  nevt  r  iloiu-  >«>  for  her  husband.  She  iv;>'i  i 
tliat  lur  ira^band  wa-^  inn«»cent,  her  sons  were  •^;;:!:- 
If  Mar.rice  had  felt  any  regret  for  hi--  {>a'-l  i-  :- 
duct.  !u'  would  >urely  h.ive  seized  this  <i{)j>««rti::-.::;. 
of  >!:.  \\i:v^  nv.'rcv.  lUit  he  showed  none.  If  !h  w.i- 
a  ^(M'li  irieiul,  he  was  certainlv  a  bitter  and  relL:.:- 
le»  t'  'e. 

h  i^  to  in*  reLfrctted  that  Sir  Horace  Vore  >hi>::".: 
ha\e  h  id  any  ronrern  in  lhi>  business,  however  >!i.;h:. 
l>iit  \w  >i:n|)lv  «>])eve(l  <>rders  as  a  soldier,  and  he  wa- 
ab>i.:ii  at  I'trecht  when  Harneveldt  was  arre>ted  a::d 
put  to  draih  at  the  I  lague. 

The  aiYair>  '^f  the  Palatinate,  and  the  interest 
lalxe:i  in  t!uin  by  the   r'ngli>h  people,  not  only  bi> 

'  LKitUi.n  Letter.^,  I'p.  J  72,  283.  310. 


DEATH  OF  BARXEVELDT. 


393 


cause  they  represented  the  cause  of  Protestantism, 
but  also  because  they  involved  the  welfare  of  an 
EngHsh  Princess,  led  to  the  employment  of  Sir 
Horace  Vere  on  a  distant  and  most  difficult  military 
expedition.  Early  in  1620  he  was  busily  engaged  in 
preparations;  his  youngest  child  Susan  having  been 
born  in  the  previous  year,  and  baptized  on  March 
20,  1619,  in  the  church  of  St.  Bartholomew  the  Great. 
She  was  his  Palatinate  child,  having  been  born  just 
before  he  set  out,  and  dying  a  few  months  after  his 
return. 

For  various  reasons  there  had  been  differences 
between  Sir  Horace  \'ere.  Sir  Edward  Cecil,  and  Sir 
John  Ogle.  Cecil  never  tost  anything  for  want  of 
asking,  and  was  not  easily  satisfied.  Ogle  saw  the 
conduct  of  Maurice  with  regard  to  the  religious 
troubles  in  a  different  light  from  Vere.  There  had 
been  estrangements.  But  through  the  mediation  of 
Sir  Dudley  Carleton,  the  three  commanders  were 
reconciled  and  became  good  friends  before  Sir 
Horace  Vere  departed  for  the  Palatinate. 


I 


CHAPTER   III. 

THE   WAR   IN   THE    PALATIVATE. 

The  expedition  to  the  Palatinate  was  undL-rtaker. 
for  a  cause  which  was  very  dear  to  the  pcfjlc  : 
England.  The  defence  of  a  Protestant  c<n;:::r/ ar.-: 
of  the  rii;lits  of  an  KngHsh  princess  went  td  the  w' 
hearts  of   I{n'j[lishmen.     But  these  reasons  fur  iir.l-.:- 

t    7 

takini;  a  chivah'ous  enterprise  did  not  recorr.n^itr.: 
themselves  to  James  I.  and  his  son.  They  car-:-- 
nothin*^  for  the  wishes  of  the  people,  less  if  pos>iL..; 
for  the  cause  of  Protestantism,  and  were  hoartlc^iv 
indifferent  to  tlie  dan<j;ers  and  distress  of  a  dau-'hic: 
and  >i>tcr. 

15y  the  Peace  of  Augsburg,  in  1555,  the  CfvrTr.ir. 
princes  wlio  favored  the  Reformation  wlto  ailcACC 
t;)  introduce  Protestantism  into  their  dominions  :  b-t 
there  wa>  a  .stroma  Catlicjlic  reaction  towards  ti':e  f.r.i 
of  the  century,  and  the  Protestant  cause  was  I'r.rta:- 
ened.  Tin's  led  to  the  formation,  by  Gennan  princ-> 
of  the  reformed  relii;i()ns,  of  the  Prototant  L'niiT.  :r. 
defence  of  their  creed,  in  1608.  The  head  of  the 
Union  was  h'rcderick  1\\,  the  Elector  Palatine.  whi>>o 
wife  was  L()ui>a  Juliana,  sister  of  Prince  Maurice. 
On  the  hlK(  tor's  death  he  was  succeeded  bv  his  son. 
P'rederic  k  \*.,  and  soon  afterwards  proposals  were 
made  for  a  maniaw  between  this  vountx  prince  and 
lili/abeth,  daughter  of  James  I.     It  is  not  ea»y  to 


THE   WAR  IN  THE  PALATINATE.  395 

make  out  what  induced  James  to  consent  to  this  union. 
Possibly  he  wished  to  spite  his  wife,^  who  detested  it, 
for  the  reasons  which  actuated  him  were  generally  as 
base  as  they  were  foolish.  His  consent  was  given. 
Elizabeth  was  married  to  the  Elector  Frederick  on 
February  14, 161 3,  and  she  proceeded  to  Heidelberg, 
the  capital  of  her  husband  s  dominions,  attended  by 
a  gay  train  of  English  courtiers.  The  Palatinate 
was  then  one  of  the  most  flourishing  states  in  Ger- 
many, and  Frederick  was  made  chief  of  the  Protes- 
tant Union,  which  included  the  Elector  of  Branden- 
burg, the  Duke  of  Wiirtemberg,  the  Margraves  of 
Anspach  and  Baden  Durlach,  and  the  Duke  of  Neu- 
burg. 

For  the  first  five  years  of  their  married  life  Fred- 
erick and  Elizabeth  passed  a  time  of  happy  prosperity 
at  Heidelberg.  Frederick  made  a  garden  for  his 
wife,  by  cutting  terraces  in  the  steep  cliffs  below  the 
castle,  planting  orange  and  mulberry  trees,  and  lead- 
ing cascades  to  fall  over  the  cliff?.^  He  strove  to 
convert  the  castle  of  Heidelberg  and  its  grounds  into 
a  place  of  all  earthly  delights,  and  for  a  time  he  sue- 
ceeded.  But  unwisdom  and  ambition  shattered  all 
this  happiness  for  ever.  The  Bohemians,  dissatisfied 
with  their  Hapsburg  rulers,  declared  their  monarchy 
to  be  elective,  deposed  their  king,  Ferdinand  H.,  and 
offered  the  crown  to  the  Elector  Palatine.  The 
decree  of  deposition  was  dated  August  16,  and  Fer- 
dinand was  chosen  Emperor  of  Germany  on  August 
18,  161 9.     Frederick  hesitated  for  a  time,  but  at  last 

*  Anne     of    Denmark    was    a        ^  Benger's  Ufe  of  the  Queen  of 
Roman    Catholic,   had    no    influ-    BokemiafX.p.  21  s* 
ence  with  her  husband,  and  lived 
apart  from  him. 


396 


THE  FIGIITIXG    VERES. 


he  accci)tcd  the  offer.     He  and  his  wife  set  r-ut  fr  • 
Heidcllxrtr,  and  in  Uctolx-r  thev  reached  Pr.i  ■  .:l.  :. 
were  crowiu-d  Kintr  and  (.hieen  of  liohtniia. 

Bv  this  fatal  act  the  whole  of  Cathcjlic  li^r'v.*.- 
led  bv  the  Duke  of  l>a\aria,  was  r<)U>ed  a-'.i::  -:  I- 
erick.     'I'lie  ICleclor  of  Saxony  and  the  La:v!-^'.i.- 
Hes^e  maintained  an   unfiiendlv  neutra!it\  :   x   '  •' 
princes  of  the    Protectant   I'nion,  altIi«i:.iL;:i   :!■■■. 
ckired  that  tluy  were  wiliin;^  to  defend  iIk-  \\i-:\  \\\:r 
domini()ns  of  the  h!lect«)r  l\alatine,  refused  a!:  ^.■ 
to  nieddie  in  tlie  affairs  of  IJoheniia.*     I'Vetk  ::\ 'r:    ■ 
had  an  inefficient  force  e.nder  the   Prince  • -t"    A:.'  . 
and   a   narcenarv   arinv    raided   and   Coiv.ii. .;:.,'!    ; 
C'ount  Mrne>t  Mansfelt.      I''roni  the  fir.-i  I-i-  e....--.  . 
Bohemia  wa>  lioiK-less. 

But  this  was  not  the  wor>t.     The  I""ni|)t  !(  r  :•  - 
tliat  I''rrderick's  liereditarv  dominion^  >'ni.i:;..i  ' 
from  hiiM.     As  all   the  C'ath(jhc  forces  of   (,   -  .  . 
Were  i.-nL;a!L;ed  in  llie  (kNtriu  tion  of  l-'rederi*.  *k  -  , 
in   r>o!i(  iiiia,  it  wa^  arr.iiV'ed  between    ll-c     i    •  ■.  .  - 
and  tlie  Ar(  hthike^.  lliat  a  S|)ani>h  arnn   i::.!r  -  > 
nola   slioulil   mart  h   from    Brussels  and   o\t.:-.„:-.  : 
Palatinate. 

All   r\r>  wrie  turn<'d   tt>   I'-nirland,   I)i:t.  .»\-'    * 
Cnat    <):iiin   was  ditid.      lames  woultl   mi..:   *.■:     ..- 
sie>.  would  iL;ive  advi<.e.   hut   wtuild   not    lul;=.      1 
StaU  >  (leiirral   orderr*!  thrir  envc)v,  No^.1  d..-:.,  : 
press  the  \\\\v^  of  ICni^land  lo  comply  with  iIil  \\W: 
of  his  ])rii|»le,  and  to  lake  up  arms  in  defence  ^f 
son-in-law  aiul  of  reli'-i'^n.      Frederick  him>cli  >«.: 


2\.    !'•  'o.    •'  '■     I''.'*.  -Milt    1  ti:  .  r*i 


;i  (I  tho  C.it!'.«"!'c    I.v.*.:"  f    r 
interfere  in  the  iiuhem.oni; ..»: 


a^rctu  \\\\\\  tlic  I  Uikc  nf    I-.iv.ir'.i 


THE  WAR  m  THE  PALATINATE. 


397 


Count  Dohna  as  an  envoy  to  James,  to  entreat  him 
to  interfere  on  his  behalf.  The  English  people  were 
indignant  at  the  contemptible  conduct  of  their  rulers. 
James  was  daily  urged  to  take  action,  but  he  cared 
as  little  for  the  great  cause  as  he  did  for  his  unfortu- 
nate daughter.  In  fact,  he  was  at  that  very  time 
coquetting  with  Spain,  and  hoping  to  get  a  large 
dowry  through  a  Spanish  marriage.  He  had  the 
meanness  to  ask  the  Dutch  to  defend  his  own  daugh- 
ter's rights.  At  last  he  consented  to  allow  Count 
Dohna  to  raise  a  body  of  volunteers  in  England  for 
the  defence  of  the  Palaiinate. 

The  enthusiasm  was  great  throughout  the  country 
when  the  news  of  even  this  small  concession  spread 
abroad.  There  could  be  no  doubt  to  whom  Count 
Dohna  would  offer  the  command  of  this  forlorn 
hope.  Sir  Horace  Vere  was,  since  his  brother's 
death,  the  ablest  English  military  officer  then  living. 
He  was  too  modest  to  seek  the  appointment,  but  he 
accepted  it  without  hesitation  when  it  was  offered  to 
him.'  Sir  Edward  Cecil  had  used  all  the  interest  he 
possessed  to  get  the  command  for  himself,  and  was 
very  angry  at  being  disappointed.'^ 

Never  was  service  more  popular.  The  flower  of 
the  young  nobility  pressed  forward  for  the  honor 
of  serving  under  Sir  Horace  Vcre,  and  volunteers 
crowded  to  the  standard  in  the  city  of  London  by 

■  On  October  r,  1619,  lie  wrote  have  Ihe  command  ;  and  if  it  had 
to  Sir  Dudley  Carle  ton  "that  there  been  in  the  gift  of  James,  Buck- 
is  much  seeliing  fnr  the  command  ingham's  wish  would  have  beetl 
of  such  troop!!  as  his  Majesty  shall  law.  As  it  was,  Cecil  \V3S  furious, 
employ  for  Bohemia."  abusing      and      insulting      Count 

*  The  Duke  of  Huckitigham,  to  Dohna.      As  for  Buckingham,  he 

whom  Cecil  paid    humble  court,  treated  Cecil's  rejeciion  as  a  per- 

intended  that  his  flatterer  should  sooal  Insult  to  himself. 


39S  THE  FRUITIXG   VERES. 

beat  of  dium.^     James  had  only  sanctioned  thv 
ing  of  one  regiment,  but  it  was  a  larLjL-  i»nc,  c.  ■:>> 
of  2,200  men  eomplete.     The  hi>t()rian    f»f  ::-.r.  . 
ditiiMi  savs:  "  Tliis  reijinient  was  tlie   «Mi!a:::'. -: 
the   persons   and   outward   presence    t)f   nun    ::..■ 
many  ai;es  A  think)  hath  appeared  either  at  !'..  :• 
abroail."     Tlie  Earls  of  Oxford  and  Ks^cx  r  ■•- 
men  apieee,  and  Arthur  Wilxm,  the  historia::.  .t 
panied    I'-s>e\.      The    i;allant   John    Hurroi:--;-. - 
seri;eant-mai(W*    general.     Amoni;   the   oiIkt  ■  :" 
were   Sir  Gerard    Ik-rbert,  Sir   Robert    Kru  .:!■.-. 
1-Mward  Sackville,  Sir  Charles  Rich,  Sir  \K^\\\\  \\ 
wonh ;  Captains  William  and  John  I'\airfax.  ( in.  .r 
Tninter.    jviuk,     StatTord,    Wilmot,    Kni^ht:<.  •. . 
Ri'ivrt    Markham.     The  chaj)lain  wa.s    I  )r.  I;;:r, 
On  tlu-  ulli  t)f    lulv,  1620,  Sir  Horace  Wtl-  w      " 
Tlu'^lwlds  to   take  leave  of  the    Kintr,   and   *■: 
12A   llu'  will-equi[)pLd  little  expedition    >ailed   :: 
( i:avr>rnd. 


1  ■   •'    !.  ■  *-  .  \r*'  :/.v.  Lnitl  nuri^h.      Ht*  %v.i<  \r.  J"  ' 

■    lii   fir*"  '\  «i    rii'^'\  or  Hur-     I-cii.r'>ii  r,  ;irui   al"--   '  .    :■ 


I'  ■''  .  I    Krni.  \\!.i»  <l-ril  (iiivl  nti  M.ircli  7.  15  ,^    .^. 

S  ■     I  I:.'n.is  \\\'    I'iurj;:i  l\\(».     Thi'  >ir  Jiilin   !  ■  r:     ., 

1  .'A.f  .  I\..it  I'.iMU't.  Ni-vi-il    i!i    tlu-     r.il...::-    .■ 

..'    I".:  .1' r:!'.  t!.i':u;'i.T  • »  i:rsr  inui'h  y-iiri^^ir.  .ir. 

■    !'.  •    V.  '■••    In  in  Ns  of  Irrnil   lamily.   aM  ■  j^"...  r 

.     Sr     lli-r^w--,   liis  •lt>ccncli.<l  irmn    l!*.t.    >.i-   ■.- 

!    I". .•■;::    I".i:r:;h   (if  tor**.      IK-    was    .1    >  ••.      :    ." 

.  ■•!   14^7.  l)y  Ili.nry  !''iirrnui;li    »«t   >:•■«.  vkX'   '. 

:'     I-"!   I-iir^!'   \v,i»i  wl.o  liidl    in    I'-if*.  .»-.  .    t'   •» 

l:    ..:■■■■•    '■:   :' :     1 '■:  ;!,  .iii-l  »!!«  (i  in  n^'rui'iy    iIkto    i**    .1    ^ri-*- 

i<-.:.      1  ■  '  I      v»    '■■■    t  ^i»   Sir    liO'.n  iv.rnt  in  Slow  chu:^.;i      I*.*  ■- 

1«-T     ■..■-       ■•  !    '       I'i-t  :i^'.r.x:,oil  w.i'.   Amy.  i!au;;h:cr   i-t    A.'. 

r!:   ■'  ■'.    -  :     :   <    I.-  A  ('.iMn'ries.  i<:i.   l..sq.  nf  ihc    \^\^   ^.j  \\ 

i^-      \\  1  ^     i    !  :.  .!i   r  of   t!  r   sxjh  who  ilitd  in  :63i. 


f.  '.:  .:■: 


I  !    "*  I    !  . 
...... 

\  : :     ]■■.■■ 


THE  WAR  IN  THE  PALATINATE, 


399 


The  service  on  which  Vere  was  now  engaged  ap- 
peared to  those  acquainted  with  the  state  of  affairs 
to  be  one  of  great  risk.  Sir  Dudley  Carleton,  in 
August,  1620,  wrote:  "  We  cannot  yet  conceive  with 
what  safety  they  can  make  into  the  Palatinate ;  Spi- 
nola  being  before  them  with  one  army,  Don  Luis  de 
Velasco  in  the  way  with  another.  Spinola  has  30,ocx> 
men,  and  departed  from  Brussels  towards  Maastricht 
The  Prince  of  Orange  has  left  the  Hague  for  Am- 
hem.''^  In  fact,  Spinola  had  already  marched  to  the 
Rhine  with  upwards  of  24,000  men,^  leaving  Velasco 
in  the  Netherlands  with  an  army  18,000  strong  to 
watch  Prince  Maurice.  Spinola  crossed  the  Rhine 
below  Coblentz,  feigning  a  march  to  Bohemia,  but 
suddenly  wheeled,  recrossed  the  river,  and  entered 
the  city  of  Mayence  on  the  19th  of  August.  The 
Princes  of  the  Union  had  assembled  a  force  under 
the  Margrave  of  Anspach,  in  compliance  with  their 
en2:ac:ement  to  defend  the  Palatinate,  and  were  en- 
camped  at  Oppenheim,  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Rhine, 
between  Mayence  and  Worms.  The  English  envoys, 
Sir  Edward  Conway  and  Sir  Richard  Weston,*  hur- 
ried to  Oppenheim  to  confer  with  the  Princes,  and 
found  that  the  Marorrave  had  with  him  a  force  of 
22,550  men.*     But  the  leaders  were  lukewarm  and 


1  Carlcton  to  Naunton,  Aug.  8, 
1620.     Carhton  Letters^  p.  485. 

2  He  left  Brussels  on  August  9. 
**  Son  of  Sir  Jerome  Weston  of 

Roxwell,  CO.  Essex.  Sir  Richard 
was  born  in  1577,  was  ambassador 
to  Boliemia  and  Brussels,  and 
Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer.  In 
1628  he  was  created  Baron  Weston 
of  Ncyland,  became  Lord  Treas- 


urer and  K.  G.,  and  in  1633  Earl 
of  Portland.  He  died  in  1634,  and 
the  peerage  became  extinct  on  the 
death  of  his  son,  the  fourth  Earl, 
in  1688. 

^  Consisting  of  13,600  foot  and 
8,950  horse,  under  the  Margraves 
of  Anspach  and  Baden,  the  Duke 
of  Wiirtemberg,  the  Landgrave  of 
Hesse,  and  Count  of  Solms. 


i/ 


400  THE  FIGHTIXG    VERES, 

apatlictic.     They  wore  no  match   for   Spinola,  v. 
was   watchincif   them  from   Mavencc,    whcrt.-   Iv. 
cstal)li>hLd  his  base  of  operations.      On   llu-  ;o: 
August  the  active  Genoese  made  a  rapiti  n.ar  :.  _ 
the   \ alley  of    tlie   Xahe,  and    captured     Kr^ ■.:/:■.;. 
The    Princes  of  the   Union  then   retreated,  in   -  ■ 
C(»nfii>i*)n,  to   Worms,  and  Spinola  e-ntc-red    (  >:  • 
hiim  K^w  the  4th  of  September.      The  I)uke  t.f  I» 
Pont^  was  conductinij:  the  civil  adndni-*traii< 'ii  (  :  • 
Palalinale,  in  the  absence  of  the  Iileclor. 

Thv*   (»biect    of   Sir    Horace   V'ere   wa>    to   !■  -: 
jumlion  with  the  army  of  the  Margrave  of  .\:>:  .. 
but  the  distance  was  verv  great,  and  the  h»nL:  -  ••' 
hail    to   Ik*   made  with   a   watchful   enemv  ci    . ..-• 
su|)rri»)r  fince  ever  on  the  alert.      It   wa-^   iiu:.-.  \ 
fi»rlorn  ImjK'.      It  was  arranged  that  the  litlk-  I-.::^   * 
fiuee  >houid   be   accompanied  by  a  b4»tly  i.f    P  / 
c.ualrv   under   Count    Henrv  of    Nas>au.    \\\\\\\   \ 
wrre    within    touch    of    their    German    allio.     \ 
nLurli  d  from  Aiiihem  to  Wesel,  where  prc!«ar.i!:     • 
WLir    iiKule    to    iro>s    the    Rhine.      The    e\]'Vvi:" 
n  ai  ;  V  d  We.M'l  <in  the  2Sth  of  Augu>t,  1620. 

1  \v'  \^\\v^\\'»  (»l"  thi>  truly  national  enterpri-^  -.v:.- 
wall '^d  ill  I'.ngland  with  the  deepest  iriii.ri'*:  :■,'  . 
an\i  ;\.  Main  a  I'amilv,  through  the  len*  ::-.  .. 
biia  i;;i  of  tin-  land,  had  a  dear  one  in  the  rcgi:'^ :  : 
ii  >ir  IJoi.ue.  lAtl<.r>  d()ubtlcs>  pa.ssed  ti»  and  r 
{.,'.]  cf  fi'Uil  h(»|)e^  and  cheering  ne\\>.  l\\\  ha.. 
!)-.  rii  pic-ervrd.  Uut  We  have  the  correspondence  *: 
ihv  two  i-allant  voung  >ons  of  Sir  Thomas  Fairta.\." 

:   ^:.     I  1;  ."M'i    l.::i\  ■:    ])i:\-     !»r(iii;;li  in   15^10.     He  siTVt  .  »  "- 

■  ,  \:     ;      !'  :■■:.,  .r  ■'.    W  '.'  • .  \:J.\.     Sir   I  r.incis    VtTf,  wiih  mh-  -     e 

i:     V.:k-:.;i' ,    \\.i>    1    ::    -it    liil-     f<':mtii  .1  clo>c  fricntibhip,  a.^l:  wii 


THE  WAR  IN  THE  PALATINATE.  401 

the  old  friend  and  comrade  of  Sir  Frantis  Vere  in 
years  gone  by.  He  was  now  settled  quieily  down  as 
a  country  gentleman  at  Denton,  in  Yorksliire,  writing 
political  pamphlets  and  breeding  horses.  But  the 
departure  of  his  boys  aroused  in  him  all  the  feelings 
of  youth.  They  were  no  soonc-r  gone  than  hu  longed 
to  gladden  his  eyes  with  the  sight  of  them  once 
more,  before  they  were  face  to  face  with  Spinola  and 
the  horrors  of  war.  "  The  report  of  Spinola's  inten- 
tion to  oppose  the  march,"  wrote  William  Fairfax  to 
one  of  his  brothers,  "has  brought  my  gray-headed 
old  father  into  the  Low  Countries."  Old  Sir  Thomas 
marched  with  his  boys  as  far  as  Wesel,  whence  Wil- 
liam wrote :  "My  father  lodges  with  his  sons  in  the 
field  before  Wesel."'  Here  he  bade  them  a  last  fare- 
well.    He  was  destined  never  to  see  them  again. 

Sir  Horace  Vere  crossed  the  Rhine  by  a  bridge  of 
boats  provided  by  Prince  Maurice,  a  little  below 
Wesel,  and  marched  through  the  territory  of  Jiilich, 
Count  Henry  of  Nassau,  with  2,000  horse,  clearing 
the  road  before  him  and  acting  as  a  guide.  When 
they  approached  Coblentz  tliey  intended  to  cross  the 
Rhine  again  into  the  Nassau  territory.  But  know- 
ing that  Spinola  would  have  spies  out  in  all  direc- 

knighted  before   Rouen  in  IS94.    Parliament  general.     Henrv  was 
He  was  created  IJaron  Fairfax  of     in  holy  orders,  Rector  of  Bolton 
Cameron    on    May   4.    1627,   and     Percy,    ancestor    of    t>)e    present 
died   on    May   2,   1640.      He   lies     -       -     -      -  -      - 

i>uried  under  an  altar  tomb  in  Ot- 

ley  cburcli.      He   married   Ellen, 

daughter  of  Robert  Aske  of  Augh- 

Ion,    and     had     twelve    children. 

The    eldest.    Ferdinando,  second    and  Peregrine. 

Lord   Fairfax,  was  father  o£  Sir        '  Fairfax 

Thomas  (third  Lord)  Fairfait,  the    p.  xxxv. 


Lord    Fairfax. 

Charles  was  an 

accomplished  wi 

n'ler  and  lawyer  as 

wcllasasoldier. 

William  was  bom 

in  1S93.  Jolin  '" 

I  1597.  at  Nunap- 

pleion.    There 

were  also  Thomas 

402  ////:■  Ficiniya  ikriis. 

lions  to  WwY^  him  news,  Count  Hcnrv  n"iat:».  r.  :'-... 
towards  the  M(»>t.Hc  in  si|L;ht  of  the-  walls  t»f  C-      '.:*. 
TIk'V  wriv  so  mar  tliat  a  bullet  from  ihi-  i.^a:.  :  .--   . 
between  Sir  Iloraee  Wre  and   Lord    I^^>«.\.  >:-;-.-. 
a  uenllenian  nami-d  j-'lood  on  theelbi»\\".     Ti:.-:    ."     • 
thire  was  a  ^kirniiNJi  between  >ome   I'-nuli-ii  r.:  '.  : 
country  i)eo|)le,  for  Cai)tain  I'airfax  b^^iiiLi  ^'     ^  ■      -'•■ 
for  pn)\i>i(fn-,  he  was  fired   upon,  and    M»n:r     .: 
men  were  hin--.      Ihit   lie  continued  to  aciv.ir.   ' 
the  ])e<»p!e  lonk  to  their  ])oat>  and  hurrivd  i]    ..  .  ' 
Coi)lenl/.      The   town   of    Uacherach,   liiLLhi  r    ■.:.■  : 
Rhine,  wa>  >\\\\  held   for  the   Mlector.      Sir    I!-  ^;•.. 
therc.-fore,  >i'ni  (\ipiain>  Row  and  Baxter.  \\i:r  :\. :.:"■- 
four  ^irk   and  wounded,  tn  that  town   bv  w.-tc  r.     .\ 
few   da\s   aflrr\\.ii-d>    Iku  lieraeh   wa>  Miir,:v.' ■:.•.-:  '. 
S|)i;i()!a,  and   _\:e!ded   without    any  roi^iar..  t-.      I'. 
I^ni-ii^h  werj   treated  civillv  and   allowcii   t"   r^::.:: 
honie. 

.\\u  V  V:  iv-aiiuiv^  a  dav  brfure  Col^knt/,  Sir  1 1  r.;  •. 
and  t  oi::.i  11-  :\vv  drew  Iiaek  about  twi»  v..'.'.-,  *.  .r  ! 
cr<'.-^  (I  ilu  \\!v  !•■.■  lore-'  owr  llu'  Rhine,  in  :■;::  !-  :'•..' 

« 

liad   b  .  ;i   «i'';  it..!   i',.r  il^-  |)ur])o>e.  on   tiu     r:* 
Si'.:   i:;!--.  ^•.    T'l^v  ad\an(  rd  thne  niil»  ^  C'n  ::-.v  -  :'■   ' 
>i(lr.    i--^    []]■•    \:!;.s^r   cf    1  K.inlx'ieh.    llie    >.i:v.«     :  ■^.  " 
TI^  '■■  \':\   n   1.  .'  !r   lon^L^  marehe>  over  :hr  i  :"     v   ■  .■• 
trv  oi"  :!...•    i.i-.;:::^   ii'ward>   I'rankft 'rt.     Spi-.-.  '.;  *.•...- 
ap'  ::-■  d   *•!'  ti.*ir  i;,<"\c'nunts.      He  pa-^-etl   o'-ir  :' 
M..  :.    "  "  !:   al    i.:-    t.r..ilr\-  and   4aXXD  fiw.t.   •-•   :■  ' 
cr|  I  '.I.     1.:.:  .'>!.:  '  ;:t  ;!h-  ^tn-am  wa-^  full  an*: -t  •  r^ 
ai^l    I:.     :•  -:     -    ■ '■    i'l"    li:^    wai/on^    and    n«  !•:•■:•. -.* 
w!;:-  !:  i  .  '  .-.  .  ■.;  '.  '.■:■,  '• .  '.•■fi  at.    Meanwhilr  >i:-  1  ix-r.;  • 
\^'     r    :  <•■.■       II   :■■'.■  !  -.1   tlieir  troi'])--  avri'^-   :'•'. 
M..:      '  .  a  :■     !   •.:•.•!  .-..i.kiort.  on  the  241I1  of  Sep- 


THE  WAR  IN  THE  PALATf.XATE.  403 

tember.  The  infantry  were  up  to  their  middles,  and 
that  night  the  men  were  s'orely  in  need  of  rest.  But 
they  had  to  stand  to  their  amis,  there  being  two 
alarms  of  Spinola's  approach.  Next  day  there  was 
a  long  march  to  Darmstadt.  As  Sir  Horace  Vere 
was  now  close  to  the  forces  of  the  Union,  Count 
Henry  of  Nassau  took  his  leave,  and  returned  to 
Holland  with  his  cavalry.  Next  day  Vere  was  joined 
by  1,500  German  horse,  sent  by  the  Margrave  of 
Anspach,  and  on  the  27th  of  September  he  reached 
the  town  of  Bensheim, 

Sir  Horace  Vere  was  leading  an  enterprise  of 
knight-errantry,  and  he  had  penetrated  into  the 
very  heart  of  the  German  Fatherland.  The  Rhine 
flows  through  the  centre  of  this  famed  region,  with 
flourishing  cities  along  its  course.  On  its  left  bank 
are  Speyer,  Frankenthal,  Worms,  Oppenheim,  and 
Mayence;  and  on  its  right  bank  is  the  important 
city  of  Manhcim.  The  Lower  Palatinate  extended 
over  the  country  on  both  banks.  To  the  west  a  flat 
plain  borders  the  river,  and  further  inland  there  are 
bare  undulating  hills  and  dales,  backed  by  the  Don- 
nerberg  and  other  peaks  of  the  Hardt  range,  which, 
on  the  banks  of  the  Nahe,  near  Kreuznach,  forms 
grand  porphyritic  cliffs.  Here  is  the  famous  Rhein- 
grafenberg  precipice.  To  the  cast  of  the  Rhine  there 
is  also  a  plain  near  the  river,  but  a  few  miles  inland 
the  forest-clad  hills  of  the  Odenwald  rise  to  nearly 
2,000  feet.  To  the  south  is  the  beautiful  gorge  of 
the  Neckar,  with  the  city  of  Heidelberg  lining  the 
riverside,  and  its  famous  castle  crowning  the  Hill. 
To  the  north  is  the  line  of  the  river  Main,  with  the 
imperial    town    of    Frankfort    seated    on    its    banks. 


404  ^^^^  FIGHTIXG    VERES. 

This  rciiion  is  the  centre  of  the  romantic  Icijer.cL-  : 
\.\\\i  Nibchnigcn-licd ;  but  they  are  equalled  in  irr.vr-.v 
by  the  exploit  undertaken  by  the  Puritan>  uf  hr..- 
land  in  defence  of  their  relijjion  and  their  rrin-:*.-:- 
For  it  was  the  people,  and  especially  the  Ywr:,.- 
party,  not  the  royalist  courtiers,  who  di>j)!a;.L.i  :..  • 
true  spirit  of  chivalry. 

Hcn>hcim   was  then  a  little  walled   town.  :;-.>:!:.; 
at   the  foot  of  the  Odenwald.  with   vine-clad  -'..:- 
backed    by    wooded     uplands.       Here     the     1*>.:^;:- 
rested;  the  troops  exercising  bv  divisions  e\erv  c.- 
in   motions  and  p(»tures,^      Sir   Horace  cli\id^.i  :' * 
little  force  into  four  divisions  of  500  nu-n  eai.  h      '1    . 
Earls  of  Oxford  and  Essex  led  the  rir>t.       Ilu  t«»r"    ■ 
had   sown   his   wild   oats,   and   was  servin*'    -t'. .i/ 
under  hi>  illu>trious  kinsman.     The  latter  had   -^  • 
through   agonies  of  sorrow  and  mortifu  alii»n.  d::-.  : 
the  infcuny  and  })rollii;acy  of  the  Stuart  ci»urt.-     A::.: 
loivj;   retirement    he    had    adopted    the    pr(»f,.  ^-i.  ::     • 
arms.     The  sc-cond  di\i>ion  was  uml.  r  Sir  C  i\ir!.? 
Kirh  and  Sir  John  Wentworth.      The  lliircl  \\a^  v    " - 
manded  by  Col<»nel  Pointer,  with  Captains  C]na:;:.\ 
and  I'airfax;  and   the  fourth  bv  Sir  Cieranl  H    r:-r: 
Sir  StalTonl  W'ilmot,  who  died  soon   afterwari's.  a:«: 
Captain  lUuk.       The   I\ni;li>h  were   to   have   ti:e  '.a-, 
of  all   the   thld,  and  \'ere  was  to  be  general  1  t  tr..- 
whole  fort  e  f(»r  the  KiniJ  of  Bohemia. 

On  lea\inL![  lu-nsheim  Sir  Horace  \*ere  nia-ihi-i 
owr  the  plain  of  tlu:  Rhine,  and  by  Lorsch  and  ti'.^ 
adiaci  nt  forests,  to  the  island  of  Rosengarten,  on  V-\^ 

1   /*;/''.':•<','/;.,:.  j.  \1.  some    >ti>r\.   whii  h     occv.   i^*    "C 

-  '!"■■  I  i:«'r-    it'   C.iij   .i:-.(!  Ivn     fniiksi  j»a:;i.' in  l"ni;l;>h  hi>:on"- 


THE  WAR  IN  THE  PALATI.WATE.  405 

banks  of  the  river.  This  was  the  scene  of  one  of 
the  most  famous  achievements  in  the  Nibelungen- 
lied,  where  Siegfried  slew  the  dragon,  or  -worm. 
whence  the  city  took  its  name,  which  was  visible  on 
the  opposite  shore.  About  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from 
the  river  bank  the  eastern  wall  of  Worms  could  be 
seen, — built  of  sandstone  of  a  warm  red  color,  with 
high  square  towers  at  intervals.  Behind  rose  the 
beautiful  cathedral,  with  its  exquisite  arcaded  domes 
and  minaret-like  towers.  At  Worms  the  English 
were  to  join  the  army  of  the  Protestant  Union,  and 
they  crossed  the  Rhine  by  a  bridge  of  boats  on  the 
ist  of  October,  1620.  The  Margrave  of  Anspach 
and  the  other  Princes  received  them  on  the  opposite 
bank,  and  accompanied  Sir  Horace  Vere  into  the 
city.  They  expressed  admiration  at  the  equipment 
and  bearing  of  the  English  infantry;  "wondering  at 
the  gallantry  of  such  foot,  who  were  with  them  the 
meanest  of  the  people."'  In  those  days  the  episcopal 
palace  to  the  northwest  of  the  cathedral,  where  the 
famous  Diet  assembled  to  hear  Luther's  defence,  was 
still  standing,  and  was  doubtless  occupied  by  the 
Princes  and  the  English  general.  But  there  was 
also  an  inn  in  the  Andreas  Strasse,  with  the  sign  of 
the  '•^  R'dmisc he  Kaiser^'' vi\C\&^  was  opened  In  1604. 
It  is  still  flourishing  as  the  "  Alter  Kaiser"  hotel. 

Spinola  had  recrossed  the  Rhine  at  Mayence,  and 
had  taken  the  field  on  the  left  bank,  but  bis  exact 
position  was  unknown  to  the  allies.  It  was,  how- 
ever, resolved  that  the  Protestant  army  should  march 
with  the  object  of  bringing  him  to  battle.  The 
Princes  had  only  reinforced  Vcre  with  4,000  horse 
>  WilsoQ. 


^o6  THE  FlGiniXG    VERES, 

and  6,000  foot.  Marching  westward  over  a  succ- 
sion  of  bare  undulating  hills,  Veres  army  ruac::  - 
the  town  of  Alzey,  in  a  deep  hollow,  on  the  Lui.k- 
of  the  little  river  Selz,  which  falls  into  the  K;.::.-. 
between  Mayence  and  liingen.  Here  there  wa^  .; 
important  castle  belonging  to  the  Palatinate,  oi  w;.. 
there  are  still  extensive  ruins. 

Two  days  after  his  arrival   at  Alzey,  \'erc   r.L-a- : 
that  Spinola  with  his  whole  army  wa.s    in    hi-   .-■  ..: 
and  approaching  the  town.      He  at  once  Muiruiv.^  : 
arms,  marcliinii:  out  in  the  direction  of   Won:.-.  .-:  : 
in   three   hours   the   scouts  were   skirmi>hinLr.      "I/.- 
cavalrv  of  the    Princes  advanced,  but   were   rcjr.;;-.  . 
by  Si)inola's  cannon.     The  fieldpieces   of   tlu-   a".!:-- 
were  then   gt)t    into  j)o>ition    on   a   hill  tlankin^:  '^•■- 
eneniv's    riirlit ;    a    wide    bottom    and    vi^c\■a^d-^  \:.y\ 
sloi)L'S  I)iing  between  the  two  armies.     Wrc  \\^y^\\    ; 
to  make  an  attaek  with  a  picked  bodv  of  Mnuli-^M  -> 
fantrv.      lie   ^eleeted   So  men  from  each  di\i-i"r.  : 
lead,  .uul  while  the  chai)lain,  Dr.  liurge».  wa>  t  :il ■■..•■ 
auin-'  tiuni  with  a  >hort  (li>cour>e.  he  weni  in  rev.    :> 
noilie,  aeeoiiipanied   by  Oxford  and   li!-**ex.       1  o  !> 
great  (li-appoinlment   he  found   that   Sjiinola  \\a-  ::". 
full  relr<  at,  wiih  llie  f<»ot  LTuardin*^  a  train  (►f  wa^i'  :.* 
and  tile  I  a\alry  ])riiiging  up  the  rear.      The    ICari  <  : 
l'!>-r\  -.illnprd  uff  to  tlic   Margravc,  and   urged  hi::, 
to  ft>'.!«».\  with  hi^  horse.     Anspach  replied  that  liui' 
w.i-*  .1  loll  a  little  further  on,  and  that  ho  would  '>. 
ohli^rd  to  pa-»>  within  range  of  it.      When   he  lua^i 
thi-  I  \eii-i',  \'(  re  (•\(  laiiued,  with  >omc  >corn,  "  Wh«  \\ 
>\\a\  wf  i"il;Iu,  th*-n,  it  we  shun  the  cannon  I  " 

1  i.i-  \\.i>  ihe  o:;Iy  lime  when  Spinola  showed  ar.\ 
iiuliiialioii  t.)  gi\r  h.iitle.      He  began  a  succession  ot 


THE  WAR  W  THE  PALATINATE.  407 

marches  and  countermarches,  with  the  apparent  ob- 
ject of  wearing  out  his  antagonist.  Wilson  says  that 
"  he  led  them  a  dance,  like  children  at  hide-and-seek." 
Meanwhile,  winter  was  approaching,  and  the  nights 
passed  on  the  bare  and  desolate  hiils  were  cold  and 
miserable.  One  night  the  cold  was  so  great  and  fuel 
so  scarce  that  the  commanders  sacrificed  several 
wagons  wherewith  to  make  fires  and  warm  themselves 
and  the  men.  Eventually,  towards  the  middle  of 
November,  it  became  necessary  to  go  into  winter- 
quarters  ;  and  Vere  resolved  to  hold  the  three  most 
important  strongholds  of  the  Palatinate,  dividing  his 
English  among  them.  He  occupied  Manheim  him- 
self, Sir  Gerard  Herbert  became  governor  of  Heidel- 
berg Castle,  and  the  Serg cant-Major  General  John 
Burrough  undertook  to  defend  Frankenthal,  an  im- 
portant place  near  the  Rhine,  between  Worms  and 
Speyer. 

But  the  hope  of  success  appeared  more  forlorn 
than  ever.  News  arrived  that  on  the  29th  October 
a  battle  was  fought  outside  Prague,  in  which  the 
army  of  the  Elector  Palatine  was  totally  defeated, 
while  Count  Mansfelt  i\as  sulking  at  Pilscn.  Fred- 
erick and  Elizabeth  became  homeless  fugitives,  and 
they  took  refuge  at  the  Hague.  This  event  would 
liberate  the  army  of  the  Catholic  League,  which 
would  be  able  to  join  the  Spaniards  in  the  conquest 
of  the  Palatinate.  The  news  of  the  battle  of  Prague 
reached  London  on  the  24th  of  November.  The 
agitation  was  great;  the  people  laid  the  blame  on 
the  King,  who  made  promises  of  help  which  he  had 
no  intention  of  keeping.  He  betrayed  his  true  feel- 
ing by  his  refusal  to  allow  his  daughter  to  come  to 


4IO  THE  FIGHTING    VERES. 

by  himself,  and  he  served  whom  he  chose.  He,  how. 
ever,  continued  faithful  to  the  unhappy  Elector,  ar: 
though  he  received  large  bribes  from  the  other  .-::•: 
he  merely  took  them  without  in  the  least  altering;  r.> 
course  of  action.  Another  friend  in  need  \va>  yi  '^r: 
Christian  of  Brunswick,  who  for  love  of  his  cou-::. 
Elizabeth^  raised  a  small  army  in  the  north  of  Ut:- 
many. 

Si)inolaleft  the  Palatinate  in  162 1,  for  in  that  y-r 
the  truce  of  twelve  years  with  the  States  GLT.L-ri 
came  to  an  end,  and  it  was  necessary  that  he  sl^.i-i:!-: 
take  command  of  the  army  which  was  to  opp<)>c-  t":  ■. 
Prince  of  Orange.'  He  had,  in  fact,  arranged  !> 
plans  for  the  siege  of  Bergen-oi>Zooni.  But  he  i-.:: 
a  Si)ani>h  force  under  Gonzales  de  Cordova  and  \  -.'• 
dugo  to  cooperate  with  the  Imperialist  general.  Kly^w:'. 
Tilly,  against  Sir  Horace  Vere.  Mansfelt  and  Cr.r:- 
tian  of  Brunswick,  judging  that  they  could  do  I:::!. 
good  in  the  field  against  Tilly  and  Cordova,  rt >•»!'. '.i 
to  fiiiht  their  wav  to  the  seat  of  war  in  the  Xithv'- 
lands.  In  an  encounter  with  Cordova's  army  r.^a: 
Namur,  vounii:  Chri>tian  lost  his  bridle  arm.  :ir.c 
many  I^ngh'sh  officers  had  the  opportunity  of  fij^h:- 
ini:  t^allantlv  for  their  Princess,  who  was  so  sharv.- 
fullv  (loertcd  bv  her  kindred  in  Knc;land,  but  who 
was  called  *'  the  Queen  of  Hearts"  bv  all  true  Kriz- 
lishmcn,  and  *'  who  in  those  davs  carried  a  tirLa: 
^^tlvam  of  affection  towards  her/'"  Maurice  wx^ 
thus  strongly  reinforced,  and  Spinola  was  obliged  to 

*   Ilis    mother   was  a    sister  of  time,  until   her  death  in   i'>52,  ?"  s 

\\w\v    <.t     Denmark,    Elizabeth's  widow,  the   Archduche**  Is.i'«!'i 

mo!l.«  r.  ruled    the    S]>anish     Ncthcrii::-* 

-  Till    At(li(!uko  Albert  died  in  alone. 
K)2i,  a'^cd  sixtv-iwo  ;  from  which         •  Wilson. 


THE  WAR  IN  THE  PALATINATE.  4II 

raise  the  siege  of  Bergen-op-Zoom.  During  the 
winter  Mansfelt  went  to  Hagenau  and  hia  recruiting 
ground  in  Alsace,  while  Christian  raised  a  new  army 
in  the  north;  both  intending  to  return  to  the  Palati- 
nate in  the  ensuing  year. 

Meanwhile,  Cordova  had  been  pressing  Sir  Horace 
very  closely  by  cutting  off  supplies,  and  in  Septem- 
ber, 1620,  he  laid  siege  to  Frankenthal.  This  town  is 
in  the  flat  plain  of  the  Rhine,  about  a  mile  from  the 
left  bank  of  the  river.  It  must  have  been  an  ancient 
place,  for  it  contains  the  ruins  of  a  romanesque 
cloister,  but  it  first  became  commercially  prosperous 
after  the  arrival  of  many  skilled  Dutch  artisans  in,, 
about  1550,  fugitives  from  the  cruelties  of  Alva. 
The  romanesque  church,  with  its  richly  ornamented 
portal,  was  given  to  these  people,  and  was  known  as 
the  "old  Dutch  church."  It  stood  in  the  market- 
place near  the  centre  of  the  town,  and  its  style  of 
architecture  is  indicated  by  the  facade  of  the  cloister 
which  survives.  The  town  was  within  a  parallelo- 
gram, 600  yards  from  north  to  south  by  460;  but  the 
defences  were  antiquated,  and  not  suited  to  resist 
siege  operations  in  the  seventeenth  century.  Cordo- 
va, however,  was  unprovided  with  a  regular  siege  train. 
The  old  walls  were  built  of  the  same  warm  red  stone 
which  so  heightens  the  beauty  of  Worms  cathedral. 
There  were  earth  ramparts  behind  the  walls,  and  cir- 
cular bastions  at  the  angles,  perforated  by  slits  for 
shooting  arrows.'  A  running  stream  entered  the 
town  near  the  centre  of  the  south  wall,  and  left  it, 
flowing  to  the  Rhine,  on  the  east  side,  and  the 
1  The  southeast  bastion  is  stiU   standing,  and  some  bits  of    the 


412  THE  FIGHTING    VERES. 

means  were  thus  supplied  of  filling  a  moat.  There 
were  four  gates,  one  in  the  centre  of  each  >ic:. 
The  main  street  led  from  north  to  south  throL^::. 
the  market-place,  called  the  Wtirmscr  Sirassc  un  :h: 
north  and  the  Spcycrer  Strasse  on  the  south  j-iui:. 
and  in  the  southwest  angle  of  the  town  there  wi? 
a  large  house,  surrounded  by  a  garden,  called  :hc 
Schafforct.  It  belonged  to  the  Elector,  and  was  on^- 
inally  intended  as  the  dower  house  for  Elizabeth. 

Stout  John   liurrough  did  what    was    po>>ib!e  : 
strengthen  the  defences.     Outside  each  gate  he  c.:- 
structed  a   ravelin,  surrounded   by   water    from   :::-. 
moat;  and  where  the  stream  flowed  in,  bv  the  S:x\.' 
Gate,    he  added  an  additional   outwork.       The  ti-: 
ravelin,  facing  the  Rhine,  was  entrusted  to  the  Er.i:- 
lish,  and  was  known  as  the  En2;lish  ravelin.    In  I'-/. 
162 1,  Ur.  Burgess,  the  chaplain,  left  Frank*. r;ihj.l  : 
go  home,  nuicli  regretted  by  the  little  garri>Mr./*     b. 
Se])tember  I^^rankenthal  was  closelv  bei>ieLred  ":>v  C  :• 
dova,  who  pressed  forward  his  approache>  vigvri-j-! . 
Burrough    had   with   him   those  gallant  and   ace  r.- 
plished    brothers   William    and    John    Fairfax,-   .ir- 
young   Robert  Markham,  a  nephew  of   l'rane;>  zc.l 
Gcrvase    Markham,  who  served   under   Sir    I-'nirAi? 
Vere,  and  wrote  works  on  military  subject-.      H.-.:!v 
in  September  there  was  a  sortie,  in  which  y\\\\  I'.t::- 
fax  was  wounded  in  the  arm.     On   Fridav  nii:!u.  ::v- 
5th  of  October,  John    Fairfax  was  stationed   in  :;■•. 

1  '*  \\!m:ii     wir     ^^natly    nl^^^."  responded  willi  SeUlon      In-'*    : 

{Fi7:rf.r\  ( \>r, .  ./>.'/.■«/  //./•.  i.  j».  xlii.)  his  last  letters  he  i  x.  n-^se  :  a  w  *•* 

-  Wilii.iin  i  ul  r>jiLc  ially  distin-  that  hi*i  old  maniiscri;  :>  jr.:  K- 

cnii-lictl     l.ii.^li"    .It    Cambridge,  man  coins  shuuld  be  j»rc>cr.:c»;  t: 

1  li-m^li  so  ^^••;•l^^  lie  was  a  i^ood  Seldcn. 
>rIiol.ir  a.nl  ar\  ;irrt;«|Uary.    He  cor- 


THE  WAR  IN  THE  PALATINATE. 


413 


Speyer  outwork  with  eighty  men.  Just  after  dusk 
he  was  furiously  assaulted,  the  work  was  carried  by 
the  enemy,  and  every  soul  in  it  was  put  to  the  sword. 
William  Fairfax,  then  acting  as  sergeant-major,  hur- 
ried  to  the  rescue,  but  was  too  late.  His  gallant 
attempt  to  enter  the  work  was  fiercely  met  at  push  of 
pike  and  repulsed.  He  himself  was  wounded,  but 
was  rescued  and  carried  into  the  adjoining  ravelin 
by  Foxcroft,  his  clerk,  and  a  soldier  named  Carr.  His 
wound  was  in  the  leg,  but  a  week  afterwards  he 
could  walk  with  the  help  of  a  stick,  and  went  down 
into  the  English  ravelin.  There  he  was  struck  on  the 
thigh  by  one  of  the  enemy's  shot,  the  bone  being 
broken.  "  He  died  towards  morning,"  says  John 
Burrough  in  the  letter  announcing  the  news  to  the 
broken-hearted  old  father ;  adding,  "  They  both  died 
with  the  general  fame  of  honest  men  and  valiant 
gentlemen."^  Lord  Clifford  also  wrote  a  letter  of 
condolence  to  Sir  Thomas  Fairfax.  The  gallant  bro- 
thers were  buried  with  military  honors,  and  a  monu- 
ment was  erected  to  their  memory  in  the  old  church 
at  Frankenthal.^  Two  or  three  days  after  the  death 
of  William  Fairfax,  Sir  Horace  Vere  marched  from 
Manheim,  and  Cordova  was  forced  to  raise  the  siege 
of  Frankenthal.^ 


^  Fairfax  Comspondencey  i.  p. 
xlvi. 

2  The  inscription  was  copied  by 
their  nephew,  Brian  Fairfax.  The 
church  was  destroyed  by  the 
French  in  1689,  and  the  monu- 
ment has  disappeared.  About 
eighteen  old  monuments  have  re- 
cently been  collected  and  placed 
in  the  public  garden  at  Franken- 


thai,  but  that  to  the  brothers  Fair- 
fax does  not  appear  to  be  among 
them.  Some  of  the  inscriptions 
are,  however,  quite  obliterated. 

•  There  is  a  letter  at  Dropmore 
(Mr.  Fortescue's)  from  Sir  Horace 
Vere  to  the  favorite  Buckingham, 
dated  December  15, 162 1,  in  which 
he  describes  the  condition  to  which 
his  troops  had  been  reduced. 


414  ^^^  FIGHTIXG    VERES. 

Early  in  1622  Mansfclt  had  collected  aconsickrab'.: 
force  at  Gcrmershcim  on  the  Rhine,  above  Spcv..:. 
and  the  Margrave  of  Baden  Durlach  was  j:)rcpa:ic 
to  cooperate  with  a  small  army,  while  Chri>tian  :t 
Brunswick  was  advancing  from  the  north.  Mar.- 
felt  invited  the  Elector  Palatine  to  join  him.  a- : 
after  some  hesitation  the  unlucky  Frederick  left  th:^ 
Hague,  and  travelling  through  France  ijico-mto.  :.: 
arrived  at  Germersheim  on  the  2d  of  .April.  Hl  wa.- 
received  with  some  enthusiasm,  and  Mansfclt  ^■k 
the  field  against  the  Imperialist  armv  under  C'.:r: 
Tilly.  At  first  there  was  a  gleam  of  success.  Til/- 
was  defeated  at  Wiesloch,  south  of  Hcid-jlLvr:. 
Frederick  and  Mansfelt  then  captured  the  \o\\t.  : 
Ladcnburg,  and  the  Elector  once  more  visitLiI  \\.- 
towns  of  Manheim  and  Heidelberg,  with  their  irj-*" 
EnghVh  garrisons.  But  this  was  his  last  glim:3>e  c:" 
good-fortune. 

Cordova  hastened  to  reinforce  Tillv.  The  Mr- 
grave  of  Baden  Durlach  declined  to  unite  his  tro:> 
with  those  of  Mansfelt.  He  preferred  to  act  on  1  > 
own  account,  and  intrenched  himself  at  Wimpfen. :." 
the  upper  valley  of  the  Neckar.  There,  on  the  iK'r 
of  April,  he  was  attacked  by  Tilly  and  Cord.na.  w!" 
practically  annihilated  his  force,  capturing  all  his  art:  - 
lery.  This  left  the  road  open  to  Alsace,  ami  as  .i-. 
Mansfelt's  plunder  was  stored  at  Hagenau  he  h::r- 
ried  off  for  its  protection,  leaving  the  Elector  to  hi- 
fate.  Soon  afterwards  Christian  of  Brunswick  wa? 
surprised  in  his  camj)  at  Hcichst,  on  the  Main,  a  ftu' 
miles  below  TVankfort,  and  entirely  defeated.*     James 

*  Till  FP  arc  two  l.ir-i-  pictures     Wimpfen  and  Hochst.  b\  I'  "^r-i - 
at    liiuiscls    ol    the    l)attlcs    of    ers.    They  are  well  woiihv  ux  d- 


THE  WAR  IN  THE  PALATINATE.  415 

now  sent  Lord  Chichester  ^  as  an  envoy  to  negotiate 
an  armistice  between  the  Elector  and  Tilly.  But  it 
was  too  late.  Chichester  found  Frederick  at  Man- 
heim  when  he  arrived,  and  he  attempted  to  open 
negotiations.  Tilly,  however,  refused  to  treat,  tell- 
ing Chichester  that  he  did  not  consider  him  as  an 
ambassador.  Sir  Arthur  replied  that  if  his  master 
had  sent  him  with  brave  men  instead  of  useless  mes- 
sages he  would  soon  show  Tilly  that  he  was  a  soldier 
as  well  as  an  ambassador.  He  went  to  Frankenthal 
to  help  Burrough  with  his  advice,  and  remained  there 
from  July  until  the  beginning  of  September.  Fred- 
erick, in  despair,  on  the  13th  of  June,  1622,  departed 
from  Manheim,  never  to  return. 

The  little  English  band  of  heroes  was  now  indeed 
left  to  its  fate.  It  was  divided  between  the  three 
strongholds  of  Manheim,  Heidelberg,  and  Franken- 
thal, under  three  glorious  leaders.  Sir  Horace  Vere, 
Sir  Gerard  Herbert,  and  Sergeant-major  General  Bur- 
rough.     They  were  surrounded  by  an  overwhelming 

amination,  as  they  show  the  arms,  son  under  Edward  Norris,  served 

accoutrements,  and  system  of  for-  in  France,  and  was  at  the  Cadis 

mation.      The  latter  also  shows  action  under  the    Earl  of  Essex, 

the  way  in  which  a  field  camp  was  He  received  knighthood  in  France 

formed  in  those  days.  from  Henry  IV.    Going  to  Ireland 

^  Arthur  Chichester  was  the  sec-  with  Lord  Mountjoy,  he  was  made 

end   son    of  Sir  John  Chichester  sergeant-major   general    of    the 

of  Raleigh,  in  Devonshire,  by  Ger-  army  there.     In  1604  he  became 

trude,    daughter  of    Sir  William  Lord  Deputy  of  Ireland,  holding 

Courtenay  of  Powderham  Castle,  the  post  for    twelve    years.      In 

He  was  at  Exeter  College.  Oxford,  1614  he  was  created  Baron  Chi- 

but  early  embraced  a  military  ca-  Chester  of  Belfast    He  died  child* 

reer,  first  going  to  Ireland  with  a  less  in  1624.    His  life  was  written 

young  Fortescue  as  his   compan-  by  Sir  Faithful  Fortescue,  and  an 

ion.     He  was  in  Lord  Sheffield's  elegy  by  A.  Spicer.    The  Marquis 

ship  at  the  repulse  of  the  Spanish  of  Donegal  is  descended  from  his 

Armada,  was  in  the  Ostend  garri-  brother  Edward* 


41 6  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

force  of  Imperialists  and  Spaniards,  under  such  gen- 
erals as  Tilly,  Cordova,  and  Verdugo.  V'erc  knt* 
that  his  military  position  was  hopeless,  but  the  thrtT 
faithful  governors  resolved  to  hold  out  to  the  laaL* 

Cordova  ravaged  the  open  country  and  burnt  :hr 
villages.  Tilly  occupied  the  Heiligenbcrg,  a  \i\z\^:\ 
on  the  right  bank  of  the  Neckar,  and  threattr..- 
Heidelberg  on  the  20th  of  June;  and  on  the  151:1  .: 
August  he  began  the  siege  in  earnest. 

The  position  of  Heidelberg  in  the  deep  ravine  ■: 
the  Neckar,  just  at  the  point  where  the  river  i?>L;- 
from  the  mountains  and  enters  the  flat  plain  of  i  . 
Rhine,  has  prevented  any  great  change  bv  an  ::.- 
crease  in  the  size '  of  the  town.  All  the  po>iii. '^ 
can  be  clearly  traced  out.  The  beautiful  ca>tle  ?:^ 
stands  on  its  terrace,  commanding  the  town,  and  :' 
turn  commanded  by  surrounding  wooded  heii^h:- 
There  are  still  the  exquisite  fa9ades  of  Otto  Hvir.- 
rich  and  TViedrich  IV.,  the  terrace  of  the  AL'-j^i- 
from  which  one  looks  down  into  the  streets  of  :".. 
town,  and  the  grand  old  octagon  tower.  In  the  :•  -.'■. 
the  tall  tower  of  the  "  Heilicj-Geist "  still  marks  :>■: 
position  of  the  market-place  and  of  the  richly  can-,: 
front  of  Bclier's  house;  the  Marsialt  survives  \\::"'. 
its  old  walls  and  angle  bastions,  and  there  is  ever.  ^ 

'  TluTe  are  cii:ht  imj>ort.int  let-  They  describe   the  had  C'»r.J  :   • 

l(  rs  from  Lord  Chiclu-stcr  to  Lord  of  the  troops  and  the  mover. fi 

CnmiicM,  written  from  the  Palati-  of  Tilly.     On  Scpteml>cr  I4:h  0> 

nate  in  1022,  in  the  possession  of  Chester  reports  that  he  lei:  r -i'- 

I^arl    Dc    la   Warr.      One,   dated  kenthal  on  the  4th,  and  carrc  :: 

June  2J,  describes  the  stale  of  the  P'rankfort.     He  also  give*  an  i-"* 

aiinv.     Another,  of  June  24th,  al-  count   of  the    fall    of  Hcice'.>r: 

hules  to  the  want  t.f  money.    Three  On  Noveml^r  I2ih  he  rcporta  ^"- 

are  from    Fr.inkenthal,  dated  July  fall  of  Manlieim. 
9':\  and   221!.   anil    August    13th. 


THE  WAR  IN  THE  PALATINATE,  417 

tower  of  the  old  wall ;  but  the  covered  wooden  bridge, 
with  its  towers  of  defence,  has  long  since  been  re- 
placed by  the  present  stone  bridge. 

Sir  Horace  Vere  had  entrusted  the  defence  of  the 
town  of  Heidelberg  to  a  Dutch  officer  named  Van 
der  Merven,  while  Herbert  had  command  of  the  cas- 
tle. The  town  was  divided  into  the  Altstadt^  between 
the  castle-hill  and  the  Neckar,  and  the  Vorstadty  ex- 
tending westward  to  the  plain  of  the  Rhine.  Both 
were  surrounded  by  a  strong  wall  with  towers,  and 
the  bridge  was  well  fortified.  On  the  south  side  of 
the  Vorstadt  there  was  an  outwork  on  the  slope  of 
the  hill  called  the  Trotz  Kaiser^  2iTid  two  smaller  forts. 
But  the  works  were  of  great  extent,  while  the  garri- 
son was  weak  and  insufficiently  provided  with  sup- 
plies. The  castle  was  still  more  difficult  to  defend. 
It  is  true  that  it  was  impregnable  on  the  side  of  the 
Neckar,  where  the  cliffs  rise  almost  sheer  from  the 
town.  But  on  the  south  the  steep  mountains  con- 
tinue to  rise  abruptly,  and  completely  command  the 
castle.  Towering  above  the  others  is  the  Kanig" 
stulil,  and  to  the  west  of  it  there  is  another  height 
called  the  Gcisbcrg,  at  the  foot  of  which  is  the  Trotz 
Kaiser  fort.  A  road  led  from  the  castle  terraces 
eastward  between  the  hills  and  the  cliffs  overhanging 
the  Neckar,  to  the  pretty  valley  of  the  Wolfsbrun- 
noiy  a  favorite  resort  of  Frederick  and  Elizabeth  in 
their  happy  days.  Herbert  did  his  best  to  put  the 
castle  in  a  posture  of  defence.  Ravelins  and  half- 
moons  were  thrown  up  in  the  lovely  terraced  gardens, 
where  Solomon  de  Caus^  had  exhausted  all  his  art 

^  Solomon  de  Caus  was  the  Heidelberg  Castle.  He  published 
artist  employed  by  the  Elector  a  description  of  them,  entitled 
Palatine  to  design  the  gardens  of    Hortus  Palatinus. 


4l8  THE  FIGHTIXG    VERES, 

to  combine  the  wealth  of  exotic  vegetation  with  the 
beauties  of  nature.  He  also  constructed  forts  on  :he 
road  from  the  Wolfsbrunnen,  with  intrenched  o-t- 
works  across  the  space  now  occupied  by  the  Schl.r? 
Hotel. 

On  the  15th  of  August  Count  Tilly  began  th 
siege  in  earnest,  investing  both  the  castle  and  tr. 
town.  He  planted  batteries  on  the  K6nig>tuhl  a:.- 
the  Gci>berg,  as  well  as  along  the  right  bank  of  ir.i 
Neckar,  and  began  approaches  on  the  WolNbrunr^r 
road,  in  front  of  the  Trotz  Kaiser,  and  again>t  i:v- 
westcrn  wall  of  the  town.  A  heavy  cannonade  \\i'' 
commenced  on  the  22d,  and  continued  for  twtr// 
days.  An  attempt  to  storm  the  town  on  the  5th  ■ : 
Septeml)er  was  repulsed,  but  the  Troiz  Kaiser  ar.i 
other  outworks  were  captured.  A  heavy  fire  of  ar::!- 
lery  was  tlien  ke})t  up  for  several  day.s,  the  cjates  wure 
blown  in,  and  on  the  i6th  the  town  was  taken  by 
storm.  Van  der  Merven  and  the  soldiers  retreat'.: 
into  the  castle,  but  Tilly  gave  Heidelberg  up  to  sric^ 
and  pillage,  and  appalling  atrocities  were  cc»mn'ii::.i 
on  the  hai)le>s  i>eople  for  three  days.  I'^orty  hou?*.^ 
were  burnt  to  the  ground. 

Sir  (ier.ird  I  ierbert  defended  the  castle  for  sonv. 
davs  loiT'er.  With  heroic  resolution  he  held  the  <■■•.::- 
work  in  the  i;;)nlen,  repulsing  all  the  assaults  of  :hv 
eueuiv,  until  this  gallant  hero  fell,  mortallv  wounvitJ. 
\'an  (ler  Merwu  tJK'n  surrendered  the  castle  on  \\\\ 
19th.  the  ti-Mons  being  allowed  to  march  out  with  ail 
the  honors  of  war.^ 

^   I  i"\   i:  "iir*   v.  i-  «!.int'  to  Hei-  the  Pcicc  uf  Muuster,  hr  kept  ^  * 

cl(!l.<"_:  r.i.'"..  ■.;i-:-ii;  I  illy*>s:f-i'.  court  thorc  for  thirty   \c.iPi,  u.-.:^ 

Afrr    t!  f    i  1  '  !■•■  tiirl  s    L<uiis  his  death  in    i6So.     The  t!e*!n:c- 

was  It  -t'-n-  !  :«•  !  -n  il-. minions  by  lion  of  the  castle  took  place  uur- 


THE  WAR  IN  THE  PALATINATE.  419 

Sir  Horace  Vcre  was  now  besieged  in  Manheim, 
with  a  garrison  of  1,400  men,  to  defend  very  extensive 
fortifications.  He  had  no  money  and  no  supplies. 
When  he  was  reduced  to  extremities  he  retired  into 
the  citadel,  and  capitulated  on  honorable  terms  in 
the  end  of  September.  He  and  his  brave  garrison 
marched  out  with  all  the  honors  of  war.  Sir  Horace 
went  first  to  Frankfort,  and  thence  to  the  Hague. 
The  gallant  Burrough  still  held  out  at  Frankenthal^ 
The  defences  were  antiquated  and  feeble,  his  supplies 
exhausted.  Yet  he  maintained  the  place  against 
Tilly,  and  afterwards  against  Verdugo  and  the  Span- 
iards all  through  the  winter.  He  did  not  surrender 
until  the  14th  of  April,  1623,  and  then  he  did  so 
only  by  reason  of  orders  from  home.  Moreover,  the 
surrender  was  not  made  to  the  Imperialists,  but  to 
the  Archduchess  Isabella,  with  a  promise  that  the 
place  should  be  restored  to  the  Queen  of  Bohemia 
as  her  dowry.  The  promise  was  broken.  Burrough 
was  knighted  for  his  defence  of  Frankenthal.^ 

ing  the  atrocious  devastation  of  II.  *' Vera  effi<ries  urbis  Heidel- 
the  Palatinate  by  the  French  in  bergae  quo  eadem  modo,  anno 
1693  and  \iyc)\.  Then  it  was  that  1 622  tempore  obsessionis  fortifi- 
the  "Shattered  Tower"  (Ge-  cata  et  extracta  erat." 
spretK^te  T/iurm)  was  blown  up,  *  Sir  John  Burrough  was  seo* 
and  the  palace  was  gutted  by  or-  ond  in  command  in  the  expedition 
der  of  tlie  French  General  Melac.  to  the  Isle  of  Rhd.  Robert  Mark- 
There  are  two  plans  of  Heidel-  ham  remained  with  him  at  Fran- 
ber^::,  showini;  tlie  defences  and  kenthal  to  the  last,  and  accompa* 
Tilly's  sie;:e  works  of  1622,  in  the  nied  him  to  Rh^,  where  both  were 
museum  at  the  castle  —  slain.  Markham,  however,  lived 
I.  "Vahre  contrafactur  der  long  enough  to  write  a  poetical  ele- 
Churfurstlichen  Statt  Heidelberg  gy  on  his  beloved  commander  Sir 
und  wie  dieselbii^e  von  General  John  Burrough,  which  was  after- 
Tilly  belagert  und  einijenomen  wards  published.  Sir  John  was 
worden,  anno  1622."  (Matthseus  buried  in  Westminster  Abbey. 
Merianus) 


420  THE  FIGHTING    VERES. 

Sir  Horace  Vere  returned  to  England  in  Januar;. 
1624,  and  was  received  by  King  James  so  gratLiu!.. 
and  thankfully,  that,  forgetting  himself,  his  Majesty 
stood  bare-headed  before  his  illustrious  subject. 

The  Palatinate  was  the  most  prosperous  cuuntr. 
in  Germany  before  the  Elector  accepted  the  cn-v.: 
of  Bohemia.  From  that  time  until  the  end  f'f  i;:-. 
Thirty  Years'  War  it  was  devastated  most  ruth!e>>; 
by  successive  armies.  Villages  were  burnt,  cr-:- 
destroyed,  the  inhabitants  killed  or  hunted  into  ihr 
woods  like  w^ild  beasts.  At  lensjth,  when  Char!v> 
Louis,  the  son  of  the  ill-fated  Frederick,  was  re^torL-i 
to  part  of  his  dominions  by  the  Peace  of  \Ve>tphi- 
lia,  he  returned  to  a  scene  of  heart-rending  desolatior. 
For  thirtv  vears  he  devoted  all  his  enermes  to  the 
good  of  his  people  and  to  the  restoration  of  ihcir 
prosperity.  His  memory  was  justly  revered.  Ir. 
England  he  took  the  side  of  the  parliamentary  party, 
which  always  advocated  his  mother's  cause,  again*: 
the  brother  who  treated  her  with  cold  neiilecL  ir. 
Germany  he  was  the  father  of  his  people. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

DEATH    OF    JOHN  VERE.  — SIEGE    OF    BREDA  BY  SPI- 
NOLA.  — CREATION   OF   LORD  VERE   OF  TILBURY. 

The  conduct  of  the  Palatinate  enterprise  by  Sir 
Horace  Vere  added  to  his  fame  as  a  resolute  and 
able  general.  The  insurmountable  difficulties  of  the 
undertaking,  with  the  forces  at  his  command,  and 
the  way  in  which  he  faced  them  and  held  his  own 
against  tremendous  odds  fot*  upwards  of  two  years, 
were  fully  recognized  by  his  countrymen.  On  Feb- 
ruary 1 6,  1623,  he  was  appointed  Master-General  of 
the  Ordnance  for  life,  and  on  July  20,  1624,  he  be- 
came a  member  of  the  Council  of  War. 

Domestic  sorrows,  occurring  at  this  time,  cast  a 
passing  shadow  over  his  public  success.  Little  Susan, 
his  youngest  child,  born  just  before  he  set  out  for 
the  Palatinate,  was  taken  from  him  soon  after  his 
return,  at  the  age  of  four  years.  She  was  buried  on 
May  24,  1623.  John  Vere  died  a  year  afterwards, 
on  April  12,  1624.  This  eldest  brother  had  always 
been  very  dear  to  the  three  soldiers,  Francis,  Horace, 
and  Robert.  His  house  at  Kirby  was  their  home 
whenever  they  came  on  brief  visits  to  England. 
Here  the  aged  mother  lived  in  peaceful  comfort  with 
her  eldest  boy,  while  the  others  were  exposed  to  the 
dangers  and  hardships  of  a  soldier's  life.  John  acted 
as  an  agent  for  his  brothers,  transacting  their  busi- 


42  2  THE  FIGHTLXG    VERES. 

ness  and  looking  after  their  interests  in   England 
After  his  mother's  death  in   1617,  ^^  and  his  wife 
continued  to  live  quietly  at  Kirby,  but  they  had  n. 
children  who  survived  infancy.     John   had  one  iilt- 
gitimate  son.     He   became  a  distinguished   >L»ldiLr. 
vet  he  caused  his  father  much  remorse  and  an\i's.tv. 
John  \'ere  was  for  several  years  in  dreadful  api  rt- 
hension  of  God's  wrath,  ''but  at  last,  bv  God's  et'>i- 
ness  and  blessing  on  the  ministry,  he  received  cor:;- 
fort   and  died   triumphant."      He   made   his   wiil  in 
161 2,  but  added  no  less  than  seven  codicils  betWLv.i 
that  year  and   his   death.      Tilbur)-  and   the   oih^r 
lands  of  Sir  Francis  Vere  had  reverted  to  his  elder 
brother  on  the  death  of  his  widow.*     John  left  Stone 
Lodge,   near  Greenhithe,  in  Kent,  and  a  hou>e  ir. 
Aldgate,  to  his  wife  absolutely,  as  they  were  her  prop- 
ertv  bLfore  marriaw;  and  he  left  Tilburv  and  Kirov 
Hall  to  his  wife  for  her  life,  and  then  to  his  bn>:hLr 
Horace.     He  left  an  annuitv  to  his  sister  France-. 
Ladv  I  larcourt ;  and  another  annuitv  of  jCao  a  vcir 
to  his  nephew  \'ere  Harcourt.     He  also  left  a  hou>e 
in  Hedin<>ham,  and  a  small  endowment  in  trust  f»  r 
the  use  of  i.)0()r  people  of  the  parish,     by  a  codicil  in 
162  ^  he  cancelled  the  reversion  of  his  estates  to  hi> 

brother  Horace,  and  left  them  all  to  his  illciiitimaie 

«.  .■» 

son  John.  lUit  three  weeks  afterwards  he  asrain  can- 
celkd  this  cc>dicil,  and  gave  the  reversion  to  his 
brother.  His  mind  seems  to  have  vacillated  with 
reijard  to  his  dutv  to  this  son.^ 

1  Sic  xlii  .1  ill  1^23.  in    1607.      He    died   in   the   L^** 

-  J=  l:n    Vui's   ilK  i::::ma:e   s<m  C<>untries  in    1631,  and   h:«  »:.!. 

ho.  .i!V:i'    Si-   I-'.n    \\:c.  \vA   sct-  dated  Dec  13,  If>3o,  was  adr*.:r.  t- 

<,^t  iiiMv.  ;■..!  i:.  t:.'   ik-'miist  01  lus  tered  by  Robert,  nineteenth  I'j'- 

uikIc  liui.uc.     Ho  \\.i>  knighted  of  Oxford,  on  Nov.  14,  1631.    Sir 


DEA  TH  OF  JOHN  VERB. 


423 


John  Vere  had  reached  the  age  of  sixty-six.  He 
was  buried  in  the  church  at  Castle  Hedingham,  the 
funeral  sermon  being  preached  by  Mr.  Brewer,  on 
the  15th  of  April,  1624.  A  monument  was  erected 
to  his  memory,  with  an  inscription  which  has  now 
disappeared.^  As  John  Vere's  widow  survived  Sir 
Horace,  the  reversion  of  Tilbury  and  Kirby  was 
never  enjoyed  by  the  latter. 

In  1624  Spinola  made  great  preparations  for  the 
siege  of  Breda,  and  Sir  Horace  Vere  proceeded  to 
the  Hague,  to  join  the  army  of  Prince  Maurice,  and 
concert  such  measures  as  were  practicable  for  its 
defence.  His  young  kinsman,  the  Earl  of  Oxford, 
had  got  into  trouble  after  his  return  from  the  Palati- 
nate.  He  was  accused  of  having  "spoken  some 
words  to  the  dishonor  of  the  King  and  disparage- 
ment of  his  government,''  for  which  he  was  sent  to 
the  Tower,^  and  detained  there  over  two  years.*  He 
had  simply  said  what  everybody  else  thought.  He 
was,  however,  fortunate  in  his  matrimonial  a£fairs, 
for  although  he  had  little  to  offer  but  his  ancient 
title,  he  won  the  heart  of  Lady  Diana  Cecil.     This 


John  had  a  son  Edward,  who  was 
probably  the  same  Edward  Vere 
that  became  a  lieutenant,  and  was 
slain  at  the  siege  of  Maestricht  in 
1632.  He  appears  to  have  been 
illegitimate  ;  for  by  his  wife  Mercy, 
daughter  of  Sir  James  Pytts  of 
Kyre  Wyre,  in  Worcestershire, 
Sir  John  had  an  only  daughter, 
Marv,  who  died  intestate  and 
unmarried,  administration  being 
granted  to  her  uncle  James  Pytts, 
on  August   15,   1 63 1.      Sir  John 


Vere  is  mentioned,  in  legal  doco* 
ments,  as  of  Netherwood. 

^  Holman,  writing  a  century 
ago,  says  that  the  reason  why  the 
inscription  on  John  Vere's  monu- 
ment was  so  worn  out,  was  because 
a  school  was  formerly  kept  in  the 
chancel  of  Hedingham  church. 

^  Rapin^  ii.  p.  212. 

*  He  returned  from  the  Palati- 
nate in  January,  162 1,  was  com- 
mitted  to  the  Tower,  examined 
July  13,  and  enlaiged  Dec  30^ 
1623. 


424  '^^^^  FIGHTIXG    VERES. 

was  a  love  match,  but  the  married  life  of  the  lover?, 
which  commenced  in   1623,  was  destined  to  endurt 
for  a  few  months  only.^    In  1624  the   Earls  of  Ox- 
ford, Southampton,  and  Essex,  and  Lord  Willoughby. 
raised  four  regiments  for  service  in  the  Nethcrlar.d?; 
and  a  great  dispute  arose  between  the  Earls  of  O.xfori 
and  Southampton  on  a  question  of  precedence.    Thv 
quarrel   gave   rise   to   much  correspondence   and  :-. 
official  arbitration,-  but  it  was  closed  ver\'  summari/. 
Southampton  and  his  son  died  of  fever  at  Rosendai! 
and  not  many  months  had  passed  before  Oxford  \\i.- 
also  in  his  grave.     In  the  brief  remainder  of  his  lirV 
however,  he  again  served  under  his  great  kinsrur 
with  distinguished  gallantry,  in  attempting  the  relief 
of  Breda. 

The  siege  of  Hreda  was  commenced  by  Spin«!.i  :" 
Au'u.^t,  1624.  The  occasion  was  one  of  trrcat  ir> 
poruiiicc,  both  as  regards  the  strength  of  the  I'Lice 
and  the  value  attached  to  it,  and  with  refer.-r.cv  i 
tlvj  vast  i)re|^arations  that  had  been  made  ftir  i:^  :•.-- 
ductii)!!.  The  eyes  of  all  Europe  were  turned  to  :>.-. 
hi>t:>riral  old  Brabant  city.  In  1404  the  heiro^'-  f 
r)r.c!a  liad  married  Count  Enwlbert  of  Na^.<au.  who-t 
s[)leii(lid  tomb  still  adorns  the  church,  and  whose  d'.-- 

^   I-i  .1  !.t:cr  fr-'irti  !.••:( I  ('«mw.iy         ^  The  Council  (*f  War  mi!e  \ 

\\'^\\'\  !J  '  ,';a'n.  il.ito-l  fri-m  White-  report    on    this    questitm    !■■*   r'*-; 

li  :  :.    \    ::1    12.    i    23,  tV.c   sT«>rv  of  Kin:;,  on  July  21,   1^)24.      » K:  -: 

t  ..•  !    .  •  •  f  L'T  !  ()\»'  III  and  I.a«:y  wa-^  tn  have  precedence  at  c   :"' 

\y\v\\    is    i\l.it».-.l.    a".«!    Ir-i    )"n!-  an(i   in   all    civil    cnterrainn-o, 

-'i\'     :>  .vftty  is  .i!'.;:il^  .1  ti.  Cham-  Si'Uthamplon     as    cnlorel.       T't 

"  .*  '  '   .  i  1    I  le'ti  r  t«'  Sir   I)ii.]l<;y  report  N  signed  hv  I.oni  Crsr-i:- 

r.-::  .1 '.-I' 1    .\\v\    10,    i^»23.  son.  Korc!   Chichester.  Lord  CcJv 

- '    -  •     •  I  '-  1  « »\:'  r !  i-s  to  Inve  war.  and  Sir  John  Ocle. 
V."  '1  T     '  ■  TV  \"i.  /4.C23  in  mnnev 
a::  *   i'  .  'oo  in  lar.vl. 


SIEGE  OF  BREDA   BY  SPINOLA.  425 

scendants  made  Breda  their  chief  residence.  Henry 
of  Nassau  built  the  castle,  which  was  fortified  with 
walls,  bulwarks,  and  double  ditches,  and  beautified 
with  terraces  and  pleasant  gardens.  The  turf  ram- 
parts were  set  thick  with  a  continuous  row  of  old 
oak-trees.  Above  all  rose  the  spire  of  the  church- 
tower  from  the  centre  of  the  town,  262  feet  high. 
When  William  the  Taciturn  fled  to  Germany  in 
1567,  Breda  was  seized  for  the  King  of  Spain  by  the 
Duke  of  Alva.  In  1577  it  was  retaken  by  Count 
Hohenlohe.  It  was  surprised  by  the  Sioeur  de  Haute- 
penne  in  1581,  and  remained  in  the  power  of  the 
Spaniards  until,  by  his  famous  stratagem  of  the  peat 
boat,  Prince  Maurice  recovered  it  in  1590. 

The  historian  of  the  siege  described  the  country 
round  Breda  as  **  pleasant,  rich  of  corn  and  pasture, 
the  meadows  beset  round  with  young  sprouts  of  trees 
and  separated  by  small  brooks.  Rows  of  trees  shaded 
all  the  walks  and  houses  round  the  town ;  and  not 
far  from  the  walls  there  were  four  woods,  one  of  fir 
and  the  other  three  of  oak.''  The  rivers  Marke  and 
Aa  unite  before  the  walls,  and  separate  to  fill  the 
moat,  both  again  joining  to  form  the  famous  harbor 
into  which  the  patriot-laden  peat  boat  was  piloted 
thirty-four  years  before.  The  walls  round  the  town 
included  fifteen  bulwarks,  with  artillery,  numerous 
ravelins,  and  five  formidable  horn  works.  Justin  of 
Nassau,  the  half-brother  of  the  Prince  of  Orange, 
was  governor  of  Breda,  with  sixteen  companies  of 
infantry  and  five  troops  of  horse,  in  all  1,600  men. 
In  addition  to  the  garrison,  1,800  townsmen  bore 
arms  under  the  command  of  Aertsen,  Lord  of  Wer- 
mont,  as  town  colonel.     Supplies  were  sent  into  the 


426  THE  FIGHTIXG    I'EKES, 

town,  consisting  of  8,2(X)  measures   of   wheat,  o^:? 
cheese,  and  dried  haberdine. 

On  the  2ist  of  July,  1624,  Spinola  set  ou:  fro" 
Brussels  with  one  divi^ion.  Two  others  fdkw.: 
under  Don  Louis  de  Velasco,  Conde  de  Saia/ar. :. . 
general  of  horse,  and  Juan  Bravo,  tlie  j^ovLrnt-r  : 
Antwerp.  There  were  fifteen  ruj^init-nts,  o ':>!>:::: 
of  198  companies  of  infantry  and  thirty-i:inL  iro- :^ 
of  horse,  making  a  total  force  of  iS,ooo  n^.cp..  Ir.  :":■. 
days  Spinola  reached  the  village  near  Urcda.  c::!!.i 
Gilsen.  A  rcconnoissance  was  made,  and  >:::.!  ".:• 
council  pronounced  the  place  impiVLCnablt-,  a:.d  J> 
suaded  him  from  undertaking  the  ^icL;c.  \  \\w:r 
was  wasted  in  discussion;  but  on  the  26th  cf  A;:::-'* 
Francisco  Medina  was  sent  to  occupy  ( iiixhcr..  ::•. 
nearest  villaii^e  to  Breda,  while  an  Italian  rLu^in.'.* 
was  stationed  at  Terheyde,  on  tht*  >ide  cpp^  ^-itt  : 
Ginchen.  Spinola  also  sent  soldiL*r>  tu  ilu  \:.";i^- 
of  Teteringen  and  H age,  and  made  a  bridge  c*.  lt  :;•. 
Markc.  Juan  Xino  de  Tabara,  after\\ard>  \'icvr.  y  .: 
the  IMiilippine  Inlands,  and  Diego  Luis  de  C>lTr.v'- 
commanded  in  the  lines  which  were  drawn  r-  i:*.: 
the  town,  with  redoubts  of  earth,  ditcher,  cu-l;:;:c"- 
scarps,  and  jjalisades. 

Justin  of  Nassau  had  dismissed  hi.s  cavalr}-.  H: 
entrusted  the  defence  of  the  Ginehen  Gate  tv*  ih-. 
ImvucIi  Colonel  Hauterine  and  his  \Valloon>.  L\'..- 
nel  Mori^an  held  the  Bois-le-Duc  Gate,  and  Lequt- 
rane,  with  the  Scots  and  Dutch,  were  at  the  Antwerp 
Gate.  The  Prince  of  Oransje  advanced  with  an  arr-.v 
from  the  Hague,  and  Spinola  waited  in  battle  array 
for  two  (lavs  to  receive  him.  But  this  was  the  sra'a: 
warrior's  last  api)earance  in  the  field.     Maurice  w*3S 


SIEGE  OF  BREDA   BY  S PINO  LA.  427 

taken  seriously  ill,  and  returned  to  the  Hague.  He 
died  on  April  23,  1625,  his  last  words  being  an  in- 
quiry whether  Breda  was  succored  or  lost.  He  had 
done  hard  and  good  service  for  his  country  during 
forty  years.  His  patriotism  and  heroic  fortitude  may 
be  placed  in  the  balance  against  his  want  of  magna^ 
nimity.  His  half-brother,  Frederick  Henry,  whom  he 
had  adopted  as  his  son,  quietly  succeeded  as  Stadt- 
holder  and  general  of  the  army,  as  well  as  to  the 
family  honors  as  Prince  of  Orange. 

Meanwhile,  Spinola  pushed  forward  his  approaches. 
Having  made  a  double  line  of  circumvallation,  with 
strong  forts  at  intervals,  he  drowned  all  the  lower 
lands  by  cutting  the  dikes  at  Terheyde,  and  he  made 
a  stockade  over  the  drowned  meadows  to  hinder 
relief  by  boats.  The  only  ways  to  approach  the  siege 
works  from  outside  were  by  the  causeways  of  Ger- 
truydenburg  and  Sevenburg.  But  one  was  palisaded 
and  cut  through;  the  other  was  also  cut,  and  fortified 
with  a  redoubt  and  breastwork.  Notwithstanding 
these  obstacles,  the  Prince  of  Orange  resolved  to 
send  Sir  Horace  Vere  to  make  a  desperate  attempt 
to  force  the  causeways.  The  dikes  were  twenty  or 
thirty  feet  wide.  Vere  had  with  him  about  6,ocx> 
men,  including  300  pikemen  led  on  by  his  young 
kinsman  the  Earl  of  Oxford.  An  hour  before  dawn 
the  English  marched  along  the  dikes  with  dauntless 
resolution,  threw  in  fire-balls,  and,  after  a  sharp  en- 
gagement, captured  the  redoubt  and  a  half-moon. 
Then  Spinola  sent  strong  reinforcements,  and,  after 
a  long  and  most  gallant  struggle,  the  English  were 
forced  to  retreat,  many  being  killed  and  wounded. 
The  Earl  of  Oxford  was  wounded  and  received  a 


428 


THE  FIGHTING    VERES. 


sunstroke,  dying  at  the  Hague  a  few  months  afte: 
vvards,  aged  thirty-six.^  The  gallant  young  Erj:!;.-: 
officer  who  strove  to  plant  his  colors  on  the  Spar.iv 
fort  was  slain  by  push  of  pike.  Sir  Thoma>  Wir.: . 
Captain  Dacres,  and  Lieutenant  Chevnev  were  au- 
killed.  **  They  ended  their  davs,"  said  their  <^cncrou' 
enemy  who  wrote  the  history  of  the  sie<^c,  "  \\\v 
wounds  as  honorable  and  fair  as  their  craliar.t  b-: 
havior  could  deserve,  and  they  were  worthy  to  ha*.: 
had  the  victory/'  The  brave  Captain  Skippon.  Lit.:- 
tenant  Corbett,  and  others  were  wounded.  S* 
Horace  Vere  conducted  the  retreat  in  perfect  ore-.: 
under  the  eve  of  the  Prince  of  Oranire. 

From  that  time  all  hope  of  raising  the  siei^e  w.i* 
abandoned.  The  capitulation,  on  favorable  \:K>r.\.' 
tions,  was  signed  on  the  2d  of  June,  162^.  J.:-:.- 
of  Nas>au,  a  venerable  old  gentleman,  with  hi<  \^i:: 
and  children,  was  received  by  Spinola  in  the  >ra^- 
between  the  town  and  an  inner  ditch.  The  ^Cv:". 
has  been  immortalized  by  Velasquez  in  his  ma^rr.::'- 
cent  picture  of  *'  Las  Laficas"  at  Madrid.  The  >:•..;•. 
of  lireda  was  also  fortunate  in  its  historians.  Tr-. 
narrative  (^f  Herman   Hucfo"  is  admirablv  tt)Id.  ^ir.j 


^  In  .1  letter  t(»  Ills  (.'ountONS. 
(lau-il  M.iy  I  V  M'05,  .11  (irrlriiyden- 
biir^,  lu'  \vn»tt':  •*  Tliis  li-ltor  is  to 
sli<»w  1  ;iin  well  Ic^t  ifpnrts  miijht 
err.  Tlu;  v.in-iianl  ;itta("ke(l  Ter- 
luv(!«'  under  ilie  Lord  deneral 
\'(rr  .mil  nu'-j  If.  Our  nation  lost 
n(^  ln'iu'ur.  hut  ni.itn- lirave  ;;entle- 
ni«*n  'ilnir  live^.  y\\:  ensijjn  T. 
Stanhope  \va<;  kUli-il  upon  tlie 
plai  e.  I'iij'taln  J.  Cromwell  is 
(lanLMiiU^lv  hurt.  We  fouLTht  as 
loni;    ar>    our   ammunition   lasted, 


and  I  was  !»hot  in    n-.v  !-. ::   ;. — 
(Letter  in  possession  if  M  *•  ^"  -- 
way  (Griffith,   Carre ;;lfr\i:.  A^:  . 
sea.      Fifth   R,'*>ort   cf  C'-tw  ' 

•  The  Siece  of  Brcd.i  .■    Wrv?- 

in  Latin  by  k.  F.  Hermin  llu;.. 
the    Society    of    Jc<us.    trar>!a-? 
into    English    by   C.    H.   O^  r^- 
dedicated  to  the   soldiers  .  t     -: 
nation  in  general,      a.  n.  Kcr  .•'^ 
152.  with  maps  and  pIans]L 


SIEGE  OF  BREDA   BY  SPINOLA.  429 

he  bestows  praise  impartially  on  friend  and  foe, 
although  the  work  was  intended  as  a  eulogy  on  Spi- 
nola.  The  story,  as  told  by  honest  Henry  Hexham,* 
who  began  his  militfiry  career  as  page  to  Sir  Francis 
Vere  at  the  siege  of  Ostend,  is  also  clear,  graphic, 
and  impartial.  After  the  surrender  of  Breda,  Am- 
brosio  Spinola  took  his  leave  of  the  Netherlands.' 
There  was  no  more  noble-minded  and  magnanimous 
commander  engaged  in  the  war  from  its  commence- 
ment. Breda  did  not  long  remain  in  the  hands  of 
the  Spaniards  after  his  departure.  It  was  recaptured 
in  1637.* 

Sir  Horace  Vere  felt  the  death  of  his  kinsman,  the 
head  of  his  house,  very  deeply.  He  and  his  brother 
Francis  had  taken  a  warm  interest  in  the  welfare  of 
their  cousin  from  his  early  youth.  He  had  now 
fallen  gallantly  and  on  the  field  of  honor,  but  he  was 
childless.*     His  remains  were  conveyed  to  England, 

*  A  true  and  brief  relation  of  the  One  was  a  cardinal ;  the  other  was 

famous  siege  of  Breda  :  Besieged  a  statesman,  and  president  of  the 

and  taken  by  the  able  and  victori-  Council  of  Flanders  at  Madrid, 

ous  Prince  of  Orange.    Composed  •  This  siege,  directed  by  Fred- 

by  Henry  Hexham,  Quartermaster  erick   Henry,    Prince  of  Orange, 

to  the  Regiment  of  Colonel  Goring  lasted  from  July  23  to  October  10, 

(Delft,  1637).     Sold  by  Hendricus  1637.    Sir  Jacob  Astley  was  scr- 

Hondius,  near  the  Gevangen  Port  geant-major  of  the  English  tercio. 

in   the   Hague.     It  opens  with  a  The     Elector    Palatine,    Princes 

narrative  of  the  former  siege  by  Rupert  and  Maurice,  the  Earls  of 

Spinola.  Warwick  and  Northampton,  Lord 

^  In  1628  Spinola  went  to  Spain,  Grandison,  Colonel  Goring,  Ser- 

and  on  his  way  through  France  geant-major   Skippon,  and  numy 

he  visited  Louis  XIII.  at  the  siege  other  English  officers,  were  at  this 

of  Rochelle.     He  was  sent  by  the  siege. 

King  of  Spain  to  conduct  an  attack  *  His  widow  (Lady  Diana  Cecil) 

on  the  Duke  of  Mantua,  and  died  married  secondly  ThomaSi  Earl  of 

in  the  castle  of  Castelanovo  di  Elgin.     He  erected  a  mausoleum 

Scrivia,  on  Sept  25,  1630,  aged  of  octagonal  form,  adjoining  Man- 

sixt>M>ne.     By   his    wife,   Juana  den  Church  in  Bedfordshire,  to 

Bacciadonna,  he    had    two  sons,  her  memory,  in  1656^ 


430  THE  FIGHTING    VERES, 

and  Henry,  eighteenth  Earl  of  Oxford,  found  his  liv 

resting-place  in  Westminster  Abbey.  The  title  pi-s-.i 
to  his  second  cousin,  Robert  Vere,  who  succecdLC  i- 
nineteenth  Earl  of  Oxford.  He  was  a  grand>ori  «' 
Aubrey,  the  uncle  of  Sir  Francis  and  Sir  HiTa:: 
Vcre.  His  father  was  Hugh  Vere,  who  had  serwd  :: 
the  first  campaign  under  Leicester.  A  famous  qu'.- 
tion  arose  on  the  accession  of  the  nineteenth  tar! 
Hitherto  the  hereditary  Lord  Chanibcrlain>hip  : 
England  had  gone  with  the  title.  But  now  Lcr: 
Willoughby  claimed  it  by  right  of  his  mother.  Lacy 
Mary  Vere,  heiress  of  the  sixteenth  Earl  of  Oxf-vd. 
It  was  a  complicated  and  difficult  case,  and  the  :::.:::• 
ment  is  a  most  learned  and  exhaustive  discus^icr.  •: 
the  question,  and  contains  a  valuable  hi>torv  oi  :':  ■. 
Oxford  peerage.  Finally,  in  1627,  the  title  nf  Ha: 
of  Oxford  was  adjudged  to  Robert  Vere,  the  «m:\'. 
of  Lord  Great  Chamberlain  to  Lord  Willouahhv  ar : 
his  heirs,  while  the  baronies  of  Bolebcc,  Sand:':  :! 
Badlcsmere,  and  Plaiz  fell  into  abevance. 

Robert  had  served  for  some  years  under  his  kir- 
man  Sir  Horace  Vere  before  he  succeeded  to  trr 
earldom,  and  was  looked  upon  as  a  brave  and  L-tticit:.: 
officer.  He  had  married  in  the  country  to  Bcat'A 
Hemmema,  of  a  noble  Frisian  family.^ 

On  his  return  from  Holland,  after  the  jrailar.: 
action  before  Breda,  Sir  Horace  \'^erc  found  li'iat 
Charles  I.  had  succeeded  his  father,  and  that  a  nt  a 
reign  had  commenced.  The  great  general  was  a: 
the  summit  of  his  fame,  and  was  without  questit'. 
the  most  di>tinguished  military  officer  among  living; 

*  See  note  on  page  443. 


CREATION  OF  LORD  VERE  OF  TILBURY.      431 

Englishmen.  When  a  peerage  was  suggested  for 
his  brother  Francis,  Queen  Elizabeth  replied:  "I 
consider  that  he  is  above  it  already."  Times  were 
changed.  Sir  Horace  was  created  Baron  Vere  of 
Tilbury  on  the  25th  of  July,  1625.^  No  doubt  he 
chose  the  title  of  Tilbury  from  affectionate  remem- 
brance of  his  brother  Francis,  whose  estate  it  was, 
and  who  lived  there  during  the  last  years  of  his  life. 
Horace  had  a  reversionary  interest  only  in  the  Til- 
bury estate ;  for  the  widow  of  his  brother  John,  who 
enjoyed  it  for  her  life,  outlived  him.  Not  only  did 
Sir  Horace  s  great  services  entitle  him  to  a  peerage, 
but  his  official  position  as  Master  General  of  Ord- 
nance for  life  and  Councillor  of  War  made  it  de- 
sirable that  he  should  receive  that  rank.  A  further 
reason  for  the  creation  was  that  Sir  Horace  was  heir 
presumptive  of  the  most  ancient  earldom  in  Eng- 
land,^ and  consequently  a  personage  of  the  first  dis- 
tinction. If  a  consciousness  of  never  having  himself 
preferred  a  claim,  and  of  having  steadfastly  and 
earnestly  sought  to  perform  his  duty  to  his  country 
without  self-seeking,  could  give  satisfaction  to  Lord 
Vere  in  assuming  the  title  that  had  been  conferred 

*  Besides  the  \'cre  mullet,  Lord  granted  to  the  peerage  were  dex- 

Verc  of  Tilbury  bore  a  mullet  to  ter,  a  boar  azure,  with  a  shield  of 

indicate  a  third  son.    His  arms  are  the  arms  of    Holland   round   its 

recorded  with  twenty-one  quarter-  neck,  and  sinister,  a  harpy  with  a 

in<>:s    (V'cre,    Bolcbec,    Sandford,  shield  of  the  arms    of   Zeeland. 

Badlesmere,     Fitz     Barnard,    St.  {Record  in  the  Herald* s  ColUge^ 

Hilary,  Lisle,  Fitz  Hamon,  Mare-  *  Lord  Vere  of  Tilbury  was  heir 

schal,   Clare,   Delafield,  Serjeaux,  presumptive    to    the    earldom  of 

Archdeacon,  Causton.  Kilvington,  Oxford  until  the  birth  of  the  nine* 

Milburne,  Kentbury,  Trussel,  etc.),  teenth    EarPs  son  in    1627;   and 

and  his  wife  bore  Tracy  and  Bald-  again  from  the  death  of  the  nine- 

ington  quarterly.    The  supporters  teenth  Earl  to  his  own  death. 


432  ^^^  FIGHTING    VERES. 

on  him,  then,  most  assuredly,  that  nobleman  had  tt 
right  to  indulge  in  such  reflections  to  the  fulle 
extent  His  undoubted  capacity  as  a  general  us 
not  more  remarkable  than  his  modesty  and  th 
absence  of  selfish  motives  throughout  his  career. 


CHAPTER  V. 

MARRIAGES  OF  DAUGHTERS.  — THE  SIEGES  OF  BOIS- 
LE-DUC  AND  MAESTRICHT.  —  NOTICE  OF  HENRY 
HEXHAM. 

Lord  and  Lady  Vere  removed  from  their  lodgings 
in  the  city  to  a  pleasant  house  at  Clapton,  near  Hack- 
ney, where  they  lived  with  their  five  young  daughters, 
in  the  intervals  during  which  the  general  was  able  to 
be  absent  from  his  duties  in  Holland.  He  was,  how- 
ever, obliged  to  be  with  his  troops  for  the  greater 
part  of  the  years  1627  and  1628. 

A  year  after  the  creation  of  the  peerage,  a  mar- 
riage  was  arranged  between  Elizabeth,  the  eldest 
daughter  of  Lord  Vere,  and  Lord  Haughton,  the 
son  and  heir  of  the  Earl  of  Clare.  The  brothers  of 
the  Holies  family  were  cousins  of  the  Veres,*  and 
had  been  companions  in  arms  for  many  years.  John 
Holies,  the  eldest,  served  as  a  volunteer  under  Sir 
Francis  Vere,  and  was  with  him  in  the  "  Island  Voy- 
age." In  1 6 16  he  purchased  the  barony  of  Haughton 
from  James  I.  for  ;^  10,000,  and  was  created  Earl 
of  Clare  in  1624.  His  son,  born  in  1595,  was  also 
a  gallant  soldier,  and  was  thirty  when  he  became 

*  They  were    sons    of    Denzil  Horace  Vere.    So  that  the  HoUet 

Holies,  by  Eleanor,  daughter  of  brothers  were  first  cousins  once 

Edmund    Lord    Sheffield    and   of  removed  of  Sir  Francis  and  Sir 

Lady  Anne  Vere,  sister  of  Geoffrey  Horace, 
and  aunt  of  Sir  Francis  and  Sir  * 


434 


THE  FIGHTING    VERES. 


engaged  to  Elizabeth  Vere.  Sir  George  I  lollcs,  x:- 
next  brother  to  the  Earl  of  Clare,  was  serw^r.:- 
major  general  at  the  battle  of  Nieuport  and  >icL:'-'  ■  ■ 
Ostend,  and  lost  his  left  eye  in  action.  Dvii-i;  ■..:.. 
married  in  1626,  he  was  buried  with  ercat  nii.i::.- 
pomp  in  Westminster  Abbey  on  the  23d  (»f  May.  \:x 
Earl  of  Clare  and  Lord  Vere  of  Tilburv  bL-iiv^  tht 
chief  mourners.^  The  youngest  brother,  TIioiv.i* 
Holies,  was  lieutenant-colonel  of  Lord  Vere's  r-.j!- 
ment.  The  marriage  of  Lord  Haughton  with  Eliza- 
beth \'ere  was  solemnized  in  Hackney  church  on  ih-. 
24th  of  September,  1626." 

The  second  daughter,   Mary,  soon   followed   ht: 
sister  to  the  altar.     On  May  17,  1627,  she  wa>  v:x- 
ried,  at  Hackney  church,  to  Sir  Roger  Town-lKn-i 
Ba7'ouct,  of  Raynham  in  Norfolk,  who  had  Ixxn  ^ 
created  in  161 7.^ 


^  The  statue  of  Sir  deor/xe 
Hoiks,  attired  as  a  Roman  sol- 
dier, overlooks  the  tnmb  of  Sir 
FraiK  is  \'eie. 

2  na«  kiK  V  l*aiish  Register. 
They  had  six  (laii;;htcrs  and  one 
son,  (iill)ert  IlnlUs,  third  Karl  of 
Clare,  who,  d.in.,^  in  if "^'9,  left  by 
his  wife*  Lady  (iract^  I*ierp<»int,  a 
son  J<)hn,  fourth  Karl  («f  Clare, 
created  Duke  of  Newcastle.  \\\ 
his  wift.  Lady  Mari;an-t  Caven- 
disli.  th<?  Duke  had  a  dau^lilcT  and 
hoiit'^s,  L.ul\  Henrietta  Cavi-ndisli 
Holies,  v.ho  marrieil  L»>rd  liarley. 
Their  ordv  child,  Lady  Mari^aret 
Cavendisli  I  larley.  I'l-canu'  Duch- 
ess of  Portland.  TIin-UL;])  her  a 
lar^c  n':nd'cr  of  famili«->.  are  di- 
rertlv  dc-i  i-nilt'vl  fnun  Sir  Hj>race 
\'ere.     lili/alicth   Vcro«,  Count'vSS 


of  Clare,  was  buried  at  St.  M;r  -. 
Nottinj:;ham,  on  Ja:iu.ir.  11.  !  •: 
Her  husband,  the  ^<  c«  nd  i  ..:!  :: 
Clare,  had  did  I  in  I'rf  5. 

*  Sir  Rofier  Townshen!  «!•■.  :  ■  1 
the  1st  of  January.  I?  3*^.  a^t  ; ;  r.-. 
one.     Their  chiKlrt-n  we- ■-■   K  ,:'.•. 
who  died  in  1640;  I  b  tra  i .  w  :■,■   ..  .* 
created  Viscount  T"W  n^V.tai:.  i"  . 
was  the  father  of  iho  >vc  p.l:  V  * 
count    Town>hend,     Sec:",  .irv     t 
Slate  :  and  four  d.iui:l;terN.     Mi-. 
(Vere).  the  widowc!   La-!.-  TvW'- 
shcnd,   was   married    •^c  ••r.cl.   ■ 
Mildmay  Fane,  Karl  of  Wo'-n.  r- 
land,  <»n  June  21  st,  163.S,  at  W^z* 
ney,   only,  five   mcmihs   alter  :  r 
death   of  her   first    husland.     : 
him  she  bad    \'ere    Fane,   f  ■■" 
F.arl  of  Wesrm<»reland.  ar  I   :V-" 
dau<;hters.     Her  second  husbarJ 


SIEGE  OF  BOIS-LE'DC/C.  435 

In  1628  the  Dutch  achieved  a  famous  triumph  at 
sea.  Pict  Heyne  captured  the  Spanish  plate  fleet, 
and  brouo^ht  to  Holland  the  vast  treasure  which  was 
to  have  furnished  the  sinews  of  war  for  the  Span- 
iards. Frederick  Henry,  on  the  strength  of  this 
great  success,  determined  to  undertake  some  impor- 
tant action.  Lord  Vere  proceeded  to  the  Hague  to 
assist  at  the  consultations  which  took  place,  and  it 
was  resolved  that  the  next  campaign  should  be  sig- 
nalized by  the  siege  and  capture  of  the  city  of  Bois- 
le-Duc  (or  Hertzogenbosch).  The  place  was  usually 
called  's  Bosch  by  the  Dutch,  which  Englishmen 
turned  into  Busse.  Lord  Vere  missed  his  old  and 
tried  friend  Sir  Dudley  Carleton  ^  at  the  Hague.  He 
had  been  superseded  as  British  envoy  by  Sir  Harry 
Vane. 

The  Prince  of  Orange,  having  resolved  to  take  the 
field,  appointed  the  rendezvous  at  Schenken  Schanz, 
on  the  26th  of  April,  1629.  On  Tuesday,  the  24th 
of  April,  General  Lord  Vere  set  out  from  the  Hague, 
lodging  that  night  at  Utrecht,  and  next  day  he  joined 

died  in  1665.     She  herself  died  on  sadors  met  with  partial  success, 

Oct()l)cr  1 8,  ir/x;,  and  was  buried  and  on  Carleton*s  return   he  was 

at  Kaynham.  elected   M.  P.  for   Hastings.     In 

Throii«rh   the   Townshends  the  1626  he  was  made  Vice-Chamber- 

name   of   Horace   passed    to   the  lain  of  the    Household,  and  was 

Walpoles.  created  Baron  Carleton  of  Imber* 

1  In   December,  1625,  Carleton  court.     He  returned  to  the  Hague 

was  recalled   to   take   part  in  an  from  June,  1627,  to  April,  1628.  He 

embassy  to   France,   jointly  with  died  in  1632,  aged  fifty-nine,  and 

the    Karl    of    Holland,   to    press  was  buried  in  Westminster  Abbey. 

Louis  XII I.  to  return  ships  which  The  volumes  of    his   letters  are 

had  been  lent  to  him,  and  which  v^uable   depositories  of  informa- 

he    was    employing     as^ainst    the  tion.     His  constant  correspondent 

Rochcllcrs,   a    proceeding    which  was  Mr.  John  Chamberlain,  of  the 

raised  a  great  clamor  in  England,  Court  of  Wards. 
The  rei^resentations  of  the  ambas- 


436  THE  FIGHTIXG    VERES. 

the  Prince  at  Arnhem.  Crowds  of  vouns:  OTntlemer. 
came  over  to  ser\e  in  this  campaign.  W'iiii  Lor: 
Vere's  own  regiment  were  his  nephew  Sim».»n  Hi:- 
court,  his  =.on-in-law  Lord  Haughton,  his  cou-in  :r.r 
Earl  of  Oxford,  young  Thomas  Fairfax,  —  th^-  I-:j:. 
general  for  the  Parliament,  —  gallant  Philip  Skiro.r. 
and  with  them  occur  the  names  of   Luttr^li.  l;\r.r. 

m 

Hotham,  Cave.  A  second  Engli>h  regime:::  \^i? 
commanded  by  Edward  Cecil,  who,  by  payir^u;  a--:.!-- 
ous  court  to  the  favorite  Buckingham,  had  ubt.v:  vi 
a  peerage,  and  was  now  Viscount  Wimbledon.  W  ::*. 
him  were  thirtv-nine  volunteers,  including:  I-  '-" 
Doncaster,  Fielding,  and  Craven:  Sir  Thunia^  \\\r- 
ham  and  Sir  John  Sucklinfj.  There  were  iwl:'.:v->:a 
volunteers  attached  to  General   Morgan's   x^'^v.\x"- 

thirtv->ix  to  that  of  Colonel   Harwood,  and  l:^":.:' 

^  ■ 

that   of   Sir   luhvard   Vere.      Sir    Harrv   \'a::v.  :'v. 

m 

Engli>h  aml)as>ador,  and  many  other  persons  •■!  Li> 
tinction,  f()llt)wed  the  arm  v. 

The  Prince  of  Orancre  and  his  staff,  accom:  ;.'::; 
bv  the  Fnirli^h  forces,  marched  from  Arnhen-  .v.  r  -> 
the  Hctuwe  to  Nymegen,  and  effected  ilie  |-.i--.".-:- 
of  the  Maas  by  a  bridge  of  boats  about  a  jr.. -'%-.:• 
shot  from  Grave.  There  were  fiftv->ix  tr«M.:--  : 
hor.^e  and  2S6  companies  of  foot.  Three  bri^.i.U- 
of  the  army  encamped  on  a  heath  on  the  lelt  :\ir.k 
of  the  Maas.  All  that  niijht  the  men  were  i':i  :'*v 
alert,  with  the  butt  ends  of  their  pikes  stickin;^  \\\  :>.v 
ground.  Thence  the  armv  advanced  alc^nii  th^  l:r.-j 
of  the  Maas  towards  liois-le-Duc,  until,  on  the  ;o:r.. 
the  Prince  lodged  in  a  house  at  the  villaiie  of  \'i:c'-.:. 
with  the  Lord  Cieneral  Vere  in  a  house  next  hi::;: 
Count  William  of  Nassau,  the  Lord  of   BrcdcrLKic. 


SIEGE  OF  BOIS-LE'Dl/C,  437 

and  Count  Solms  being  stationed  in  a  line  between 
Vucht  and  the  Maas.  Solms  guarded  the  Dutch 
shipping  at  Engelen. 

The  city  of  Bois-le-Duc  was  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant military  positions  in  Brabant,  and  had  for 
years  served  as  a  base  of  operations  whence  the 
Spanish  armies  could  invade  the  Bommel-waart  and 
threaten  the  Betuwe.  It  was  strongly  fortified,  and 
its  moat  was  supplied  with  water  from  the  rivers  Aa 
and  Dommel,  which  flow  from  the  great  Peel  morass 
to  the  Maas.  The  Sieur  de  Grubbendonck  was  gov- 
ernor of  the  town,  and  Count  Henryde  Berghe  was 
in  the  field  with  a  force  of  30,000  men.  But  there 
was  no  longer  a  Spinola  to  direct  operations. 

The  Prince  of  Orange  gave  orders  that  each  com- 
pany should  intrench  with  spades  and  pickaxes*  the 
line  of  circumvallation,  thirty  English  miles  in  cir- 
cuit, being  strengthened  with  homworks,  sconces, 
half-moons,  redoubts,  and  traverses,  on  the  most  im- 
proved principles  of  military  art.  This  line  was 
designed  to  resist  any  attack  from  the  army  of  Count 
de  Berghe,  as  well  as  sorties  of  the  garrison.  The 
Count  kept  the  besiegers  awake  for  three  weeks 
with  constant  alarms,  and  then  marched  away.  In 
August  the  besiegers  began  to  push  forward  the 
approaches,  and  service  in  the  trenches  was  severe 
and  dangerous.  Sir  Edward  Vere  was  mortally 
wounded  on  the  night  of  Saturday  the  i8th  of  Au- 
gust. His  regiment  was  given  to  the  Earl  of  Oxford. 
Sir  Jacob  Astley,  Sir  Simon  Harcourt,  and  Sir  Ed- 
ward Harwood  relieved  each  other  in  the  trenches 
until  the  breach  was  ready  for  assault.  Then»on  the 
17  th  of  September,  Bois-le-Duc  was  surrendered  to 


438  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

the  Prince  of  Orange,  and  the  garrison  marched  c-t. 
That  day  the  Prince  dined  with  the  King  and  Qui.-.r. 
of  Bohemia,  who  had  come  to  see  the  end  of  t'.v 
siege.  Afterwards  the  priests  and  Jesuits  came  c:.: 
of  the  town  in  wagons,  and  the  friars  on  foot.  N\\: 
followed  Governor  Grobbendonks  wife  in  her  c<ac'. 
with  her  daughter  and  child  on  a  nurseV  lap  in  t!.v 
forei)art.  The  Prince  came  down  to  the  cc^acii  a:  J 
held  some  courteous  discourse  with  the  ladv,  v.:.  . 
then  went  on;  and  in  the  evening  came  the  govern.  : 
marching  out  with  the  rest  of  his  troops. 

The  death  of  Sir  Edward  Vere  was  the  nv-: 
serious  loss  sustained  by  the  besieged.  Lord  W:-. 
and  the  Earl  of  Oxford  attended  his  funeral  al  I)L'::> 
mel.  lie  was  a  kinsman,  but  it  is  not  clear  tn  \\\\::. 
branch  of  the  family  he  belonged.  Edward  Wtl 
had  joined  the  army  as  a  page  when  lie  was  \^:\ 
young.  It  is  said  that  Sir  John  Holies,  after\\a:> 
Earl  of  Clare,  was  the  first  to  put  a  pike  inio  :"x 
hands  of  voun<j:  Edward,  and  that  Sir  l-"ranci>  W:-. 
said,  "  You  will  make  that  scurvv  bov  but  ('\Lr- 
j)roud."  He  persevered  in  his  profes>ion,  ar.il  r  -v 
to  be  not  only  a  brave  soldier,  but  an  accomp:i>lK  i 
scholar.  A  manu>cript  folio  is  still  jireserved.  c- :.- 
tainiuLr  Polvbius  translated  into  Ent(li>h  bv  Sir  l:-.:- 
ward  \'ere.^  He  ro^e  to  the  command  of  a  rcuinie:.: 
undrr  his  kinsman,  and  met  a  glorious  deaiii  in  \\\^ 
trenches  Infore  liois-le-Duc. 

Thi>  sieire  is  remarkable  for  the  number  of  otnccrj* 

1  Til  ilk  lolit).   loio  ia,i:es.  MS.  occurs:   "Sir    Kdward    Virt   !•-■: 

iii.,    i:-,    tl.*'    p»>st^>iuii    dI    Lord  this  character:  —  all  summer  ir.  *.  t 

Lii    1.!:  1!.  field,  all  winter  in   his  s  ud\  ;    i" 

III  a  !.  :u  :  fi..r:i  W.v\  Ham|;de'n  whose  fall  fame  makes  Uit»  king- 

to   .^ir  Jul.n    J-lioi,   this    passage  dom  a  great  loser." 


SIEGE  OF  MAASTRICHT,  439 

present  who  were  afterwards  distinguished  in  the 
civil  war  in  England.  There  were  Thomas  Fairfax 
and  Philip  Skippon,  the  future  organizers  of  the  new 
model  army,  on  one  side ;  Jacob  Astley  and  Thomas 
Glemham,  on  the  other.  Henry  Hexham,  the  dili- 
gent recorder  of  the  events  ?n  which  he  took  an 
active  and  honorable  part,  is  again  our  interesting 
and  trustworthy  guide  at  the  siege  of  Bois-le-Duc.^ 

Lord  Vere  returned  to  the  Hague  with  the  rest 
of  the  illustrious  company  which  had  surrounded 
Prince  Frederick  Henry  during  the  enactment  of 
this  great  military  achievement.  He  continued  to 
divide  his  time,  as  duty  required  his  presence,  between 
London  and  Holland,  until,  in  the  year  1632,  he  was 
called  by  the  Prince  of  Orange  to  join  in  another 
victorious  campaign.  This  time  he  took  the  field 
with  power  to  confer  knighthood.  The  point  of 
attack  was  the  city  of  Maastricht  on  the  Maas,  and 
a  rendezvous  was  appointed  at  Nymegen  for  the 
2 2d  of  Ma3%  1632. 

The  Maastricht  campaign  was  a  fitting  close  to  the 
services  of  the  Veres  in  the  Netherlands.  When 
young  Francis  first  trailed  a  pike  under  the  Earl  of 
Leicester,  nearly  fifty  years  before,  the  line  of  the 
Maas  was  lost  to  the  patriots.  Maastricht,  Venlo, 
Roermond,  and  Grave  fell  before  the  victorious  arms 
of  the  Duke  of  Parma.  The  recovery  of  Grave  was 
the  last  military  service  on  which  Sir  Francis  Vere 

^  A   historical  relation  of  the  master  to  my  Lord  General  Vere 

fatnous  sieij^e  of  Busse^  together  his  regiment.  (Delft,  1630.;  l2mo. 

with   the   articles    and   points  of  Dedicated  to  the  company  of  mer- 

composition  granted  by  H.  E.  the  chant     adventurers    residing    in 

Prince  of  Orange  to  those  of  the  Delft, 
town:   written  by  H.  H.,  Quarter- 


440 


THE  FIGHTIXG    VERES. 


was  engaged.  The  capture  of  the  other  strong  j  lac.- 
on  the  Maas  was  destined  to  be  the  clo^inii  >».r\:^c 
of  his  brother. 

The  army  of  Prince  Frederick  Henr\-  C(>n>i>iLj  : 
a  Dutch,  an  English,  and  a  French  brigade,  ci'::::^::^ 
ing  28  regiments  of  foot  in  381  companies  ;  2i>  : :•'.•;  * 
of  horse,  83  pieces  of  ordnance;  12  boats  for  briu^'.?. 
carried  on  wagons;  and  i,5C»  provision  \vagor.>  \\\'s. 
100,000  pounds  of  biscuit.  Lord  Vcre  s  ri:gii:jLr.: 
was  divided  into  23  companies,  Howard's  ini<«  i: 
Morgan's  and  Packenham  s  into  1 1  each,  Count  lir-- 
derode's  into  12,  Count  Solmss  into  1 1.  On  thu  i-: 
of  June  the  army  came  before  Venlo,  the  town  >ur- 
rendcring  on  the  4th.  Roermond  followed  the  l\- 
ami)le  next  day,  and  on  the  7th  the  Prince  of  Oiar.j^t 
left  that  place  for  Maastricht. 

The  citv  of  Maastricht,  a  name  which  means  ih 
passage  of  the  Maas,  is  situated  on  that  river  ii>: 
below  the  lofty  height  of  Pietersburgj.  It  is  the  *..ii^ 
ital  of  the  province  of  Limburg.  The  stronglv  i.  •::> 
ficd  city  itself  is  on  the  left,  its  suburb  of  Wijk  r. 
the  rii^ht  bank.  When  the  troubles  beijan  it  \\a>  '^a:- 
risoned  by  Spaniards,  but  in  1579  it  was  capturtci  b;. 
the  |)atriots.  The  Duke  of  Parma,  after  a  >iege  <•: 
eight  months,  took  the  place  by  assault  on  the  2oih 
of  June,  1579,  and  there  was  a  dreadful  nia»acre. 
In  1632  it  was  well  provided  for  a  siege,  with  a  ^tn'^..: 
^arri>on  commanded  bv  the  Comte  La  Motteri-. 
Thcenemv  also  had  forces  in  the  field  on  both  bank> 
of  the  river.  The  Marquis  of  Santa  Cruz  was  ac- 
valuing  with  an  armv  from  Brussels,  and  Count  Pa'j- 
penheim  was  at  the  head  of  another  force  on  the 
right  bank  of  the  Maas. 


SIEGE  OF  MAASTRICHT.  441 

The  Prince  of  Orange  sent  Mr.  Percival,  the  quar- 
termaster-general, to  reconnoitre  the  ground,  and  a 
quartermaster  and  sergeant  of  each  company  accom- 
panied him,  to  have  their  stations  in  the  camp  al- 
,  lotted.  A  line  of  circumvallation,  with  suitable 
defensive  works,  was  carefully  planned,  and  Colonel 
Harwood  began  to  break  ground  on  the  14th  of 
June.  But  the  garrison  was  not  disposed  to  offer  a 
passive  resistance  only.  Many  workmen  were  slain 
by  the  fire  of  heavy  guns  from  the  town,  and  at  mid- 
night of  the  nth  a  large  force  sallied  out  to  inter- 
rupt the  labors  of  the  besiegers.  They  were  encoun- 
tered by  Sergeant-major  Skippon  with  eighty  men 
in  the  open  field,  and  driven  back.  On  the  25th  the 
Spanish  army  arrived  at  the  village  of  Tongeren. 
The  troops  were  encamped  in  the  villages  of  Neer- 
haeren  and  Lanaekar,  with  the  wood  of  Petersheim 
on  their  right  flank,  and  the  Marquis  of  Santa  Cruz 
took  up  his  quarters  at  a  monastery  called  the  Hoogt 
Kloster,^  only  a  mile  or  two  from  the  works  of  the 
besiegers.  But  he  made  no  serious  attempt  to  molest 
them. 

The  Prince  of  Orange,  with  Lord  Vere,  fixed  his 
headquarters  near  the  centre  of  the  line  to  the  west 
of  Maastricht,  facing  the -Brussels  Gate.  On  each  side 
of  him  the  regiments  of  Brederode,  Henry  of  Nas- 
sau, and  the  English  extended  to  the  river.  On  the 
right  bank,  surrounding  the  suburb  of  Wijk,  the 
lines  were  occupied  by  Dutch  troops  and  l>y  the  reg" 
iment  of  the  Due  de  Bouillon.  Count  de  Sturm  was 
on  the  river  bank  at  Borghaven,  Count  William  of 

*  The  ruins  of  this  cloister  may    ch^eau  of  Petersheim,  which  be- 
still  be  seen  in  the  garden  of  the    longs  to  the  Comte  de  Merode* 


442  TH^  FIGHTIXG    VERES. 

Nassau  at  the  village  of  Ambrij,  the  Due  dc  Iv  "^i- 
lon  at  Heer,  and  the  Prisons  on  the  river  at  Hl.  .:•.:.. 
The  approaches  were  pushed  rapidly  forward  ii  -.vu:-* 
the  western  walls  of  the  town  in  two  zii^za^  iir.r*. 
called  respectively  the  English  and  I-Venc!-  ap- 
proaches. 

One  day,  in  the  early  part  of  Auj^ust.  the  Iro.ic'-. 
was  so  enlartred  that  an  assault  seemed  likeiv  :■  -j:- 
ceed.  The  Karl  of  Oxford,  who  was  comn.a./ir^ 
in  the  trenches,  ijave  the  order,  and  a  i^alla:.:  :..*: 
was  made.  There  was  fierce  roistance.  Sir  >:::■  - 
Harcourt  was  shot  through  the  cheeks  and  •'.i.. 
torn  in  the  thigh  by  a  grenade.  Lieutenant  (i.ir:" 
was  slain.  While  the  contest  was  at  its  hei^h:  ::  . 
sky  had  become  overcast.  A  heavy  fall  of  rain  h:.: 
the  effect  of  slackening  the  fury  of  the  Q\^\\\j:,\?r> 
and  a  retreat  was  sounded.  That  nit^ht  the  e:  .rv 
sprung  a  mine  under  the  English  approaehe'-.  ar.-i  ; . 
the  followin<j;  davs  the  cjarrison  made  nuanvc!'.  ^;  ^.'-^'\ 
sorties.  Everv  ni'j^ht  Lord  \'ere  himself  t.^nk  ■  "  • 
mand  of  the  line  which  protected  the  En*M:-:".  :iJ- 
vanced  parties.  The  most  desjx-rate  fightiui;  •.\:.'»  "■ 
the  17th  of  August.  On  that  day  the  enemvivi:'-. 
out  in  force  and  attacked  the  English  trenches.  T>- 
combatants  were  at  fierce  push  of  pike  for  >«  r: 
minutes  round  the  i'Of'/>s  dii  gai'dc,  Sergeant-r.a  : 
Williamson,  who  led  on  the  defenders,  fell  nv'r:;i"v 
wounded.  At  this  critical  moment  the  chiv.i!ro.> 
Lord  Craven  and  brave  Philip  Skippon  hurried  \\\ 
to  the  rescue,  giving  fresh  vigor  to  the  defena. 
The  assailants  were  driven  back,  but  thev  still  koi'i 
up  a  galling  fire  from  their  works.  Later  in  the  even- 
ing the  Earl  of  Oxford  was  bringing  up  fresh  troops 


SIEGE  OF  MAASTRICHT. 


443 


to  relieve  the  wearied  men  in  the  trenches,  when  he 
received  a  mortal  wound  in  the  head.^    Hexham  says : 


^  Robert,  nineteenth  Earl  of  Ox- 
ford, married  a  Frisian  lady  of 
the  Hemmema  family.  Hetto 
Hemmema,  living  in  1438,  had  a 
fortified  house  at  Berlikum,  in 
Friesland,  between  Leeuwarden 
and  the  sea.  His  great-grandson 
Hetto  (Hector)  Hemmema  did 
homage  to  Charles  V.  in  1 5 1 5,  and 
was  buried  at  Berlikum  in  1572, 
aged  eighty-two.  The  son  of  Het- 
to, by  his  wife  Barbara  Grietma, 
was  Sicco  Hemmema,  a  learned 
mathematician  and  refuter  of  judi- 
cial astrology.  His  curious  work, 
Astrologia  refutata^  was  published 
at  Antwerp  in  1583,  the  year  of 
his  death.  It  is  dedicated  to  Ber- 
nard, Baron  de  Merode,  then  gov- 
ernor of  Friesland.  The  son  of 
Sicco  was  Sjicrck  Hemmema,  who 
died  at  Dordrecht  in  1603,  leaving 
several  children.  The  eldest  son, 
Doco  Hemmema,  was  a  captain  in 
Prince  Maurice's  p:uard,  and  was 
buried  at  Berlikum,  aired  ninety- 
six,  in  169S.  His  son  Erasmus,  a 
distinguished  officer  who  was  slain 
in  a  battle  with  the  Swedes  in 
Funen  in  1659,  died  childless. 
The  dauirhters  were  both  married 
to  EnjT^lishmen.  Barbara  was  the 
wife  of  Captain  John  Sj^cncer,  and 
Banck  (or  Peat  rice)  mnrricd  the 
nineteenth  Karl  of  (Oxford,  and 
was  mother  of  the  twentieth  and 
last  Earl.  She  died  at  Bertelhal 
in  1657.  The  last  of  the  Hem- 
memas  married  I)u  Tour  of  Bel- 
linckhaven,  and  there  is  only  one 
representative  of  the  Du  Tour 
family  now  living. 


The  church  of  Berlikum  was 
founded  in  1324,  and  in  1375  the 
towers  were  built.  In  1432  a  tiled 
roof  replaced  the  old  thatched  one. 
It  was  the  burial-place  of  the 
Hemmema  family  from  time  im- 
memorial, and  also  of  the  Boom* 
stras,  Grietmas,  Roorda.s,  and  Ad- 
dringas.  In  1779  the  old  church 
was  pulled  down  and  replaced  bj 
an  octagonal  edifice  with  a  dome. 
The  old  **  slot  *'  of  the  Hemmemas 
was  at  the  end  of  the  village  far- 
thest from  the  church,  and  wai 
surrounded  by  a  wide  moat.  There 
are  still  some  vestiges  of  it,  —  a 
great  archway  and  two  smaller 
arched  doorways,  now  parts  of  a 
modem  house.  On  the  gable  of 
the  same  building  there  is  a  shield 
of  arms  and  a  helmet  carved  in 
stone.  The  arms  are  those  of 
Hemmema  {rubrntn  cum  cane  vt" 
natico  assiliente  argenteum). 

In  the  neighboring  church  of 
St.  Anna  in  Bilt  there  is  a  richly 
carved  pulpit,  and  oaken  }>ew  with 
the  arms  of  Van  Haren  impaling 
Hemmema.  A  niece  of  the  Coud> 
tess  of  Oxford  married  William 
van  Haren,  who  died  in  1708. 

The  above  details  were  kindly 
obtained  for  me  bv  Mr.  Arnold  van 
Tets,  from  two  manuscript  genea- 
logical works  respecting  the  Fris- 
ian nobility,  by  the  Baron  van 
Spaen,  and  Heemstra,  and  from  a 
printed  handlK>ok  of  noble  fami- 
lies of  Frie.sland  bv  Haan  Hette- 
ma  and  van  Halmael.  I  visited 
Berlikum  and  St  Anna  in  Bilt  in 
1879. 


444  ^^^  FIGHTIXG    VERES, 

*"\Vhat  a  sudden  impression  of  grief  it  was  :■  r 

Lord  General  the  symptoms  of  his  face  die:  i>- 
cov'jr.  Nevertheless,  his  Lordship.  ^llppre^^iIv^  ;:  > 
well  as  he  could,  gave  further  instruciion>  ih.i:  :  . 
men  ?houid  C(»ntinuc  to  fire  on  the  enenn-.  a:*.-:  :' ..: 
the  guard  -hould  be  relieved."  It  was  midiii^ir. 
fore  LVL-rything  was  restored  to  order,  and  ihv  .,  r- 
eral  cukl  reiiix-  to  indulge  his  gricf.^  Anoti.-.r  k:>- 
man.  yraing  Lieutenant  Edward  \'cre,  al-u  :•/.! 
that  n::::ht. 

TiiC  nrble  house  of  Vere  had  not  spared  it-  '  ! 
in  the  cause  ot  freedom.      Lord  \'ere*s   own   b:  : 
Robert  heads  the  ii^t  of  slain;  next,  ilie  ei'^i.:  .•: 
Earl   of  Oxi'»>:-d   fell  at   Breda,  Sir    Edward  X*-.-.  -: 
Bois-le-Duc,  the  nineteenth  Earl  and   voun^  E-.:v...-. 

^  K  '  cr:.    r.ir.vt:  cnth     Karl     of  Wil'.iam  .im!  M:ir' .  v. ..-  c        - 

0\\  \\.  \\:'.\  .■::  '■■:.!■.    m-h   Au' tlv,  tlu-    h>  rsc   ;:i:-i-  i-.    ..- 

b\  !."s  i  ::>..:::  w':-..  rn.-.-i:ricc  Hem-  liic  K\i:]i-  •  f  il.--  I.     - 

rr.c:-.!.     A.:"  :ey  \\\:<  li-.m  in  H  27.  at  \\\<  Ini:.:sc  in   !•■■■.-      ,  -■-. 

a"  !  wii-i  :  :i.-.:^l.:   i::)   in   rr:v>Iai;d  Ms  M:vci:ly-ti^i.:;    ^^.:^.     -     ■ 

v:\.  !  •-  ::\    \.\.\^^\x.\\\\\.      1:^1(32  12.  1 7C3.  a:i  i  w  ::'i  ■    -    •"  :    .-. 

I'.t.-  >•:     '■■■■.:    I.i^  f.ii'/.LT   as  l\vt:i-  earl.lDni  f 'f  ilM'ur.;  S--   ..••-. 

ti'.:!.  }■!.:!«':   <>\t'"i(!.     He  wa^.  in  He   ha'i   u*^   ci  -iiirL:;  ■   •  • 

f. I. *..:".    ].i-:  t:t  ;'..c  Wrts.     I!r.ter-  wife  .Amur,  il-Ui;!::,.:  o:    ;         ".    - 

i:-..:  ''.  ■    >■:■.:    ■  <t  tl.c   S:a:es  i^en-  ct  unt  r>a;.:i::i^.      >1  -.   i    . 

cr.;*.  1  ■■   s  :v.  :   i:i   a  rei^inu-iit   (-t  anil    by    hj^    sn.i.r.fl    w-. 

K::^!:-:.    :'<  •  :    i::;"il    t!:(.;    Teace  of  tiaiijjIittT  (-t  (f^-^'r;jt  K  ■  "^  «    ■-■ 

W'l  >::  :\l'.".\  i:i    r4^.      H!>   muthcr  tl'.o    bei!cham'-L-:    !*.■   i.  ;    •    . 

h.:v  :.^'  •    •   '.   i*"i    i-'f".   Vx   r.ime   t-^  lu*   liai!  a  il.iU'.;"n!i  r  :   \.r.i.  -  .r 

Y.T.i  ■."■     -iver:!  f  Rt-stnr.ition.  and  <'n  Aj^ril  10.  M-^i^.  :■■  c*   .*.^'. -  !     - 

w.i-  m.-.d-   .:  K::-^]it  <i  the  G;irtcr  cK-rr.   tir>l   Du'^e    01    >•     .■..':■.  ■ 

a::f;    !.'»•  :    I.i  i::j:i.int    of    I'.sscx.  Karl  Au!>n'v  ua>  l-i.-ii  ' 


:  1 
II 


lb'  -i:i-.i'  .1  '. 't'-ii'-i  to  J.imes   II.  minster  Al  "bey.     T'  t  L>   '-.    ■::  v 

tn  o.'.'".  1   I'av'imvji'.t.  an-l.  hoanily  Albans,   wbo    qi;.;:ur-     :   -.    \  .' 

a:)-  :    ■■  i  .4    •  i    tlK-    rLvoluiion,    lie  arms,  is  now  tr-.c  n-;  :u^i-:..-  ., 

j..'- ■   i  !  :■     P:'M.  0  ni   Or.uiLZt-'.  and  that    anricni   iaTv.il.      \\<  C'.' 

w.i>  :..■.<■   .1  1  ■  ■.:*.c:Kint-u«  uL'ial  in  bears  the   titk-   \\    Tar-ri    V:*. 

Fil'iMir-.    r '.).     He    uinicd  tb.c  Hanworth.     All  bi^  ,  :■ :'.  ::t-   -i-: 

sword  1,1  -M'lc  at  the  n^'ronaiiun  of  De  Vcre  for  their  second  nairc 


SIEGE  OF  MAASTRICHT.  445 

at  Maastricht,  while  Francis  and  Horace  were  rid- 
dled with  wounds. 

The  siege  proceeded,  hitherto  with  little  molesta- 
tion from  the  enemy  outside  the  lines  of  circumval- 
lation.  But  one  day,  while  Lord  Vere  and  other 
officers  were  dining  with  Lord  Craven  in  the  trenches, 
they  heard  a  sudden  cannonade  from  the  hill  beyond 
Wijk,  whence  Count  Pappenheim  had  been  threat- 
ening the  lines  on  the  other  side  of  the  river.  That 
officer  was  firing  on  the  Dutch  quarters,  and  he  fol- 
lowed up  his  cannonade  by  making  a  dash  with  6,cxx> 
men  through  trees  and  orchards  at  a  point  where  the 
line  was  not  yet  completed.  In  the  little  churchyard 
of  Ambrij  an  Italian  regiment  came  to  push  of  pike 
with  the  Dutch.^  But  the  guns  of  the  besiegers 
raked  through  and  through  the  ranks  of  Pappen- 
heim. At  first  he  charged  his  own  men  in  rear  with 
cavalry,  to  force  them  to  advance,  but  at  length  he 
allowed  them  to  retreat.  Santa  Cruz  remained  inac- 
tive, and  never  attempted  any  diversion  to  further 
Pappenheim  s  plan  of  attack. 

By  the  20th  the  trenches  and  gallery  were  well 
advanced.  The  mine  being  ready,  Colonel  Holies, 
with  Lord  Vcre's  regiment,  had  command  in  the 
trenches  when  the  order  was  given  for  the  assault. 
Lieutenants  Kettleby  and  Holmes  led  the  forlorn 
hope,  with  Quartermaster  Watkins  as  engineer. 
Next  came  the  companies  of  Manley,  Sydenham, 
and  Stanton,  followed  by  Colonel  Sir  Thomas  Holies, 
Lord  Craven,  and  Sergeant-major  Huncks.     At  nine 

*  At  Ambrij  the  ground  begins  high,  round  the  suburb  of  Wijk. 
to  rise,  and  further  back  there  is  Ambrij  is  a  pretty  little  village^ 
an  amphitheatre  of  hills  1,600  feet    surrounded  by  orchards. 


446  THE  FiGHTiyc  veres, 

o'clock  in  the  forenoon  the  mine  was  spri:n:;.  .A 
huge  mass  of  the  wall  fell  into  the  moat,  and  the  l:— 
lant  Englishmen  climbed  to  the  top  of  the  brc:u: . : 
hcisfht  of  ciirhtv  feet.  Here  thev  met  the  tnt".  ■  ^: 
push  of  pike,  while  at  the  same  lime  a  heavy  i^i:  k!-; 
fire  was  opened  upon  them.  Then  Captain  I  >i:l1" 
Lieutenant  Wrangham,  and  young  Garrett.  \\;;u  v.^- 
Lord  X'ere's  ensign  for  his  Dort  com  pan  v.  >a  : 
along  the  moat,  crossed  the  counterscarp,  and  c..:":.: 
the  half-moon  by  the  Brussels  Gate.  L*»ru  \. ••: 
himself  stood  on  the  battcrv,  where  the  bul'iLt.- r"  v 
thick,  to  see  the  breach  assaulted.  Percei\  i:':i:  t  i: 
the  loss  was  becoming  serious,  he  ordered  a  re::-.:r 
into  the  works.  Next  day  Maastricht  was  s-;r:  "• 
dered  to  the  Prince  of  Orange,  articles  of  comjc-/:  z 
having  been  drawn  up  and  signed  on  the  2\^'.  : 
Augii>t.  The  garrison  was  allowed  to  join  tlie  ar^  • 
of  Santa  Cruz.  That  noble  Spaniard  was  up!>r^i  /.: 
both  by  La  Motterie  and  Pappenheim  for  nev^r  :::.■• 
ing  lifted  his  little  finger  to  help  them  di:rir.g  :  •: 
whole  >iege.  At  the  time  of  Pappenheim's  a-vi..: 
Santa  Cruz  was  playing  at  cards  with  some  fri^.r.>. 
The  ln>ses  were  heavv.  Count  Mrne^t  of  N.i--:/-. 
Robert  Larl  of  Oxford,  Lieutenant  Iidwanl  \\- . 
and  Serfieant-maior  Williamson  were  slain.  >:' 
Thomas  Holies,  Sir  Simon  Harcourt,*  Captains  \\i' 

*  S  r^vn     liarc'-nrt    w.t;     Ijnl  tnr\  cjcncril.     Mar.\  of  *■- r  !:'■  "*■ 

Vi:c*-  r:.  5  :.iw.  s- -ri  of    his  si-tor  written    wlien     L.iii;.     W..  It.-,    v: 

I'riii.  (■-.  I  .i(!\  Il.irc- urt.     He  was  preserved  .it   Nuiu}'..i:r:,  a-   .  .  .. 

sl.r-.  i  1  Inl.it^d  in  i'4\.:nfl  !  iiried  been  ]>rivatcly    printe*'.     I:.-  -  " 

at    In'. 'in.       Me    rv.i'-fl     Anne.  Sir  IMiilip  married   hers!*    r:   .- 

(l.i-j   ■  •'  r  -  f  \V'!!    •  .    I.  r  !   iViLift.  ter  Anne.  (*aiii;htir  of  Si-  W  W.- 

a*"!  !:  !■'  .1  -'  '\  "•;;■  V\'\'-    11. vr  urt.  ler.  and  w.is  f.ttht-r  of  ^in  ■  V  - 

His   •.'.;, ;.,"v    ri.rri;(i    Sir  William  cmint  Haromrt,  the  Lord  0.'.r:- - 

Waller,  <£  Osterl;.  i!ie  j)arliamcn-  lor,  whose  great-grandson  w»  !>?• 


HENRY  HEXHAM.  447 

mund  Manley,  Dudley,  Wentworth,  Martin,  and 
many  others  were  wounded.  The  total  number  pf 
slain,  of  all  nations,  was  909. 

The  historian  of  the  siege  of  Maastricht  was  again 
Henry  Hexham,^  Lord  Vere  s  diligent  quartermaster. 
This  military  author  deserves  more  than  a  passing 
notice.  He  entered  the  army  as  a  boy,  and  early 
obtained  the  appointment  of  page  to  Sir  Francis 
Vere,  serving  in  that  capacity  during  the  siege  of 
Ostend.  There  is  some  reason  to  think  that  he  was 
a  relation  of  Sir  Christopher  Heyden,^  an  officer  who 
was  a  companion  in  arms  of  Sir  Francis  Vere  dur- 
ing many  years,  and  this  would  account  for  the  boy 
having  secured  a  post  so  near  the  great  general's 
person.  The  lad  s  first  attempt  as  an  author  was  in 
the  form  of  a  narrative  of  his  personal  experiences 
during  the  siege  of  Ostend.    It  is  by  the  unimpeach- 

William  Vernon  Harcourt,  Arch-  (Delft,  1633,  PP*  40-)   Dedicated  to 

bishop  of  York.    Sir  William  Ver-  his    honourable  kinsman   Master 

non    Harcourt,  grandson    of   the  Francis    Morrice    Clarke  of  Hb 

Archbishop,     married    Elizabeth,  Majesty's  Ordnance. 

daughter  of  John   L.  Motley,  the  Hexham  says  he  was  incited  to 

historian.    (See  foot-note  on  Mot-  write  in  praise  of   the  Prince  of 

ley's  criticism  of  Vere  p.  304  («.)  Orange    because    Herman   Hugo 

1  A   Journal  of  the  taking  of  had  written  so  well  in  praise  of  the 

Venh,   Roermont^  the  memorable  Marquis  Spinola. 

siege  of  Maastricht,  the  town  and  *    Master    Francis    Qarke,    to 

castle  of  Limburg,  under  the  able  whom  Hexham  dedicated  his  5'Af^ 

and  wise  conduct  of  H.  E.  the  of  Maastricht^  married  the  widow 

Prince  of  Orange,  anno  1632 :  with  of  his  deceased  uncle,  Mr.  Jerome 

an  exact  card  drawn  by  Charles  Heydon,  a  merchant  of  London. 

Floyd  (now  Ensign)  and  since  les-  Sir  Christopher  Heyden,  knighted 

sened  cut  by  cut.  by  Henricus  and  at  Cadiz,  was  of  Baconsthorpe,  ia 

Willhelminus  Hondius  dwelling  by  Norfolk.      Hi»  daughter  Frances 

the  (levangen  Port  in  the  Haerh  :  married    Dr.    Philip   Vincent   of 

compiled  together  by  Henry  Hex-  Firsby,  who  wrote  a  copy  of  venet 

ham,  Quarter  Master  to  the  Regi-  in  praise  of  H.  Hesduun* 
ment  of  the   Lord  General  Vere. 


448  THE  FIGHTING  VERES. 

able  and  undesigned  evidence  of  Hexham  that  ere 
of  Mr.  Motley's  most  damaging  attacks  on  the  fi:: 
fame  of  Sir  Francis  Verc  is  entirely  refuted;  >«>  thi: 
the  boy  was  the  means  of  doing  useful  service  to  ih-. 
memory  of  his  beloved  master  centuries  aftL-r  b- :': 
had  ceased  to  exist.  Hexham  continued  to  >ervc  :'. 
the  army  with  credit  and  diligence,  and  evL-ni'Lia.  . 
attained  to  the  responsible  post  of  quarterma-ltr  :r. 
Lord  Vere's  own  regiment.  He  appears  to  h.v.L 
made  his  home  in  Holland,  and  there  he  pubii>h',i 
his  narratives  of  the  sieges  of  Breda,  lJoi>-iL-I>L.. 
and  Maastricht.  He  also  wrote  a  curious  dia!('^'-i 
in  which  the  causes  of  the  war  are  fairly  argued  I  :;• 
from  a  Spanish  and  a  Dutch  point  of  view,  ui.:.:: 
was  published  in  London  in  1623,  and  dedicai-.L:  : 
Sir  George  Holies.^  Hexham's  '*  Princijjles  if  :' 
Art  Military  practised  in  the  Warres  of  the  Uni:  : 
Netherlands  "  is  a  folio  volume,  with  numen»us  pl.i::- 
which  was  loni^  a  standard  work  on  the  subiec: 
which  it  treats.  It  describes  the  duties  c»f  otr.ce>  .'. 
their  >everal  grades,  the  pike  and  musket  drill  \\  \' ::. 
period,  the  evolutions  of  companies,  and  has  ar  :::  - 
pendix  giving  the  draconic  articles  of  war  <.»rdair.,.: 
bv  the  States  General.* 

*  .  /  /'  n^ i4C  .ofnh.tt  iKitely •  happen-  ^! a jn r  to  G f  n c ml  \' e rv .  ?  ■ .   : '  * ' " 

tn^  f-:'i':  i:  t\.'o  i\ti^!:<h  snuuUi'rs  Hexham.      The    interl.  c:   :-   -'• 

ifi  :.r  .'/.'/  (i-At  i>/  ih\i:'i\\t'fiii,  the  "Red    Scirfe."    the     au'b- r.    a": 

or.r   ^  :/:•   to   serve   the    Kin,:  «'/"  ** 'I'awnv  Sc.irfo."  the  an»»tri"    i 

S/>  :n:.ti'\    uht'f  to  srr^.e  the  States  the  loni;uo  omiKit. 
(/".//,'  i!  t'f  the  C^/i:te'(/  J^nKifiies.         '-^  The prineipUs  cf  tkf  art  w.-.r^ 

ich:>,:n    the    ^anse,    lour.^e.    anti  itarie  praetised  in   ike    -warre:   ■' 

e<>/:::'::/.:/:,e  .»/'  those  u'lirres  is  tie-  the    United    Xetherliineis.    r  ."-'" 

fitted  n:,/ iit\  ■  ireJ.  ( I.nndun.  1^23.  sented   M'  Ji^^urc.    the     a irr.;.-    .-•' 

YY.     ij.j.)       To     the     Hon-''*'    Sir  command^     and     demcnit^t:.^^ 

GLi'i.;e  H"i;i;s,  Knijiht,   Serjeant  Composed     by    Heary    Hexbaak 


HENRY  HEXHAM, 


449 


But  his  writings  were  not  entirely  confined  to  mil- 
itary subjects.  The  great  work  which  entitles  Hex- 
ham to  be  remembered  as  a  geographer  as  well  as 
the  recorder  of  the  deeds  of  soldiers  was  his  splen- 
did English  edition  of  the  Atlas  of  Mercator  and 
Hondius,  in  two  folio  volumes.  This  was  not  a  mere 
translation.  In  his  preface  Hexham  describes  it  as 
presenting  "the  laborious  work  of  those  two  cos- 
mographers,  Gerard  Mercator  and  Judocus  Hondius, 
with  lively  descriptions  clad  in  new  robes,  by  Mr. 
Henry  Hondius,  son  to  Judocus."  He  adds  that  "at 
the  request  of  Henry  Hondius,  and  according  to  my 
weak  ability,  I  have  undertaken  the  translation  of 
their  Atlas  Major  into  English,  and  have  enlarged 
and  augmented  it  out  of  many  authors  of  my  own 
nation."  He  sets  forth  the  importance  of  geography 
as  a  science,  especially  to  a  soldier  or  a  student  <rf 
history,  and  he  gives  elaborate  descriptions  of  the 
different  countries  to  which  the  maps  refer,  their 
people  and  government.*  Before  the  preface  there 
is  a  copy  of  verses  addressed  to  Hexham  by  his 
friend  Dr.  Philip  Vincent,  of  Firsby,^  a  Yorkshire- 
man.     Hexham  s  last  work  was  a  Dutch  and  Eng- 


Quarter  Master  to  the  regiment  of 
the  Hon'''*  Colonel  Goring.  (Lon- 
don, 1637,  folio,  pp.  55.)  Dedi- 
cation to  the  Earl  of  Holland. 

^  Gcrardi  Mtrcatoris  et  J,  Hon- 
dii :  Atlas  or  a  ^eoi^raphick  de- 
scription of  the  regions^  countries^ 
and  kin^^domes  of  the  worlds 
throui^h  EuropCy  Asia^  Africa^ 
and  America,  represented  by  new 
and  exact  maps.  Translated  by 
Henry  Hexham,  Quarter  Master 


to  the  regiment  of  Colonel  Goring. 
(Amsterdam,  2  vols,  folio,  1636.) 

«  He  calls  himself  "Phflippm 
Vincentius  Firsbseus,  Anglobritan- 
nus,  Eboracensis,  Theolofdac  et 
Medici nx  Doctor.**  Addressing 
Hexham,  he  says : 

'* — Ofttend  and  many  a  nefre  beside 
Have  been  thy  tcbool.  Thou  art  a  mMm 
tried.  »• 

Dr.  Philip  Vincent  married 
Frances,  daughter  of  Sir  Chriato* 
pher  Heyden 


450  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

lish  dictionary,  the  first,  it  seems,  that  ever  was  corr- 
piled.     It  was  published  at  Rotterdam  in  1648.^ 

Many  gallant  soldiers,  many  able  statesmen  ar : 
earnest  patriots,  were  reared  in  the  school  of  :r.'. 
Veres.  It  was  not  alone  the  example  of  the  gcr..- 
rals,  but  the  cause  for  which  they  fought,  the  at;:.'  - 
phere  of  freedom  in  which  they  lived,  that  tcr.c.: 
to  nourish  noble  thoughts,  and  to  foster  enlighttnt-i 
and  liberal  views.  It  was  a  nursery  of  good  a:.: 
useful  men ;  and  not  the  least  faithful  soldier,  not  ihv 
least  accomplished  scholar  among  them,  was  he  wh  » 
began  life  as  page  to  Sir  Francis,  and  clo>ed  it  a? 
quartermaster  to  Horace  Lord  V'ere, —  brave  u/i 
Henry  Hexham. 

Tlie  siege  of  Maastricht  was  the  last  important 
military  operation  in  which  Lord  Vere  was  engaged 
He  still  continued  to  give  the  aid  of  his  knowkdizc 
and  long  experience  to  the  States,  but  his  active  x.r- 
vice  in  the  field  had  come  to  an  end.  He  was  ap- 
proaching the  close  of  a  long  and  well-spent  life. 

^  A  copious  EiK^Iish anJ Xether  this  work  to    his    honorcil    frier.: 

Dnvtch  nictifltiarit\  composed  out  Sir  Bartholomew  van  Warer..  c  -- 

ofourlhKtEnrJishauthoufs.'-dfith  sellor  at  law.     The  ilcdiciti  r.  .> 

an  oppcmlix  or'  thr  names  of  all  dated  September  21.  1647.  ar  :  ir. 

kind  of  beasts.  fKulcs.  birds,  fishes,  it  he   says    that   '•nt-ver  wis  ir.-. 

huntin;:^   and  haii'kiui^,   as  also  a  such    dictionarv   extant    l-tf.-rr;" 

compendium  for  the  instruction  of  and  he  submits  it  to  his  frtr.  !  a**'i 

the   learner :    by  Htnry  Hexham,  token  of  that  love  ami  rcsptct  aa 

(K()Ut.nlain,  164S.)    He  dedicated  old  soldier  bears  you." 


CHAPTER  VI. 

DEATH  OF  LORD  VERE.  — CONCLUSION. 

The  last  year  of  Lord  Vere's  life  was  passed  at 
home,  where  he  was  engaged  in  performing  the  du- 
ties of  his  command  and  in  transacting  the  business 
of  the  ordnance  office ;  while  he  enjoyed  the  society 
of  a  wife  who  sympathized  in  his  pursuits  and.  opin- 
ions, and  of  amiable  and  intelligent  daughters.  On 
the  30th  of  January,  1634,  his  third  child,  Katherine, 
was  married,  at  Hackney  church,  to  Oliver  St  John, 
son  and  heir  of  Sir  John  St.  John,  Bart.^  Another 
marriage  had  been  proposed,  previous  to  the  death  of 
Lord  Vcrc,  between  his  fourth  daughter  Anne  and 
young  Thomas  Fairfax,  who  had  served  under  him 
at  the  siege  of  Bois-le-Duc.  The  alliance  had  his 
cordial  approval,  although  the  marriage  did  not  take 
place  until  after  his  death.  The  family  of  Fairfax, 
like  that  of  Hollos,  was  allied  to  the  Veres  through 

*  The  famous  Henry  St.  John,  Horace,  and  Vere,  who  died  un- 

Lord  Holin<;hr()ke,  was  her  great-  married. 

grandson.  Katherine  \'cre  married,  At  Hinton  St.  George,  the  seat 

secondly,  John   Lord   Poulett   of  of  Earl   Poulett,  there  were  poiv 

Hinton  St.  Ceori^e.    Lord  Poulett  traits  of  Mary,  wife  of  Sir  Horace 

was  a  royalist,  but  he  obtained  an  (Lord)  Vere,  by  Gibson  ;  of  Lord 

easy  composition  from  the  Parlia-  Vere  himself;  of  their  daughters, 

ment  throu'j:h  the  intervention  of  Lady  Mary  Townshend  and  Kath* 

his  brother-in-law,   Lord  Fairfax,  erine  Lady  Poulett ;  of  Lady  Mary 

He   died   in  1665.     By   him   she  Vere,  the  wife  of  Lord  Willough- 

had  John  Lord  Poulett,  whose  son  by;  and  of  John,  sixteenth  Earl  of 

was  created  Earl  Poulett  in  1706;  Oxford. 


452 


THE  FIGHTIXG    VERES. 


the  Sheffields ;  ^  and  several  of  its  members  had  been 
companions  in  arms  of  Sir  Francis  and  Sir  Horace 
Vere.  Sir  Thomas  Fairfax  of  Denton,  wh.i  wa? 
created  Baron  Fairfax  of  Cameron,  the  grandf aihc: 
of  the  intended  bridegroom,  was  an  old  and  iniirr.atr 
friend  of  Sir  Francis  Vere,  and  served  with  him  ir. 
several  of  his  earlier  campaigns.  His  brother,  Sir 
Charles  Fairfax,  was  at  the  battle  of  Xiciipon,  iHt 
siege  of  Ostend,  and  the  recovery  of  Sluy>.  Hb 
two  gallant  sons,  William  and  John,  were  >]ain  a: 
Frankenthal.  His  grandson,  Thomas,  the  future  par- 
liamentary general,  was  in  Lord  Ware's  regiment  a: 
Bois-le-Duc.  Thomas  Fairfax  was  married  to  \v.7x 
Vere,  in  Hackney  church,  on  the  20th  of  June,  i6;7.' 
The  youngest  daughter,  Dorothy,  was  the  wife  0: 
John  Wolstenholme,  Esq.,  of  Stanmore,''  in  MiJdlL- 
sex. 

Lord  Vere  lived  to  see  his  three  elder  daui^hter? 
happily  married,  and  his  fourth  daughter  Anne  en- 
gaged to  a  kinsman  of  whom  he  heartily  apjirnved 
He  saw  much  of  his  old  companions  in  anr.s,  and 
had  collected  a  series  of  portraits  of  his  principal 
officers,  which   were  afterwards  at   Ravnham.     His 


^  Lady  Anne  Vere,  (hui;;hler  of 
the  fifteenth  Karl  of  Oxford,  mar- 
ried Lord  Sheffield.  Her  jjrand- 
son,  I\]dmiind  Lord  Sheffield,  was 
created  Karl  of  Mul;irave.  His 
dauuliter  Trances  married  Sir  Plii- 
lip  Fairfax  of  Stecton,  and  his 
dau<^luer  Mary  was  the  wife  of 
Fer(linand(>,  second  Lord  Fairfax, 
and  mother  of  Thomas  (afterwards 
tliird  Lord  Fairfax,),  who  married 
Anne  \'ere. 


*  Hackney  Tarish  lU'^i*:- r. 

•  Her  hiishan*!  tlit-*!  c"  \\  >-*or. 
SeptcmlKT  12,  n^'<»,a'id  w.i-  *  .vr; 
at  Stanmorc.  She  <!ied  ir  >!  ■,  \i. 
i^8S.  In  the  chancel  at  Siirn:-.  t 
there  is  a  monument  witli  a  t":Mi  :* 
of  white  marble,  decorateii  -r.  !>  r: 
with  the  arms  of  Wo^-itcn:  -■Irre  A 
Nostell  impalint:  \*cre.  I'-iicr  the 
canopy  is  the  ti-jr.rc  of  a  Ia.!v  rcst- 
injj  on  her  riyht  arm.  and  wcr;:r.5 
over  the  remains  of  her  huslund. 


DEATH  OF  LORD  VERE.  453 

death  was  sudden,  but,  as  old  Fuller  observed,^  "  no 
doubt  but  he  was  well  prepared  for  death,  seeing 
such  was  his  vigilancy  that  never  any  enemy  sur- 
prised him  in  his  quarters."  On  the  2d  of  May, 
1635,  he  was  dining  with  Sir  Harry  Vane  at  White- 
hall. He  called  for  fresh  salmon,  and  reaching  out 
his  plate  to  take  it  from  one  that  carved,  he  could  not 
draw  his  arm  back  again,  but  sank  down  in  a  fit  of 
apoplexy,  dying  two  hours  afterwards.^  Lord  Vere  was 
in  his  seventieth  year.  He  was  buried  in  Westminster 
Abbey,  by  the  side  of  his  brother  Francis,  with  much 
military  pomp,  on  the  8th  of  May,  and  the  same  tomb 
serves  for  both.  Minute-guns  were  fired  from  the 
tower  during  the  funeral.  His  title  became  ex- 
tinct, and  by  his  will  (proved  May  6,  1635)  his  widow, 
Lady  Vere,  succeeded  to  all  his  personal  and  landed 
estates,  and  was  made  sole  executrix.  His  daughters 
are  not  mentioned  in  the  will,  so  that  Lady  Vere  was 
left  witli  power  to  bequeath  portions  to  them  accord- 
ing to  her  discretion.  There  appears  to  have  been 
perfect  trust  and  confidence  between  Lord  and  Lady 
Vere,  who  had  lived  happily  together  for  more  than 
a  quarter  of  a  century. 

There  is  a  portrait  of  Lord  Vere,  half  length, 
painted  by  Cornelius  Jansen  when  the  great  general 
was  advanced  in  years.  It  is  now  the  property  of  the 
Marquis  Townshend.  It  was  engraved  by  Vertue, 
and  is  criven  in  Collinses  "  House  of  Vere."  There  is 
a  copy  of  this  picture  at  Wentworth.  Another  por- 
trait, full  length,  attributed  to  Jansen,  is  the  property 
of  Sir  H.  St.  John  Mildmay. 

Lady  Vere  continued  to  live  at  Clapton  until  the 

1  Worthies^  P-  33^'  *  Strafford  Letters^  i.  p.  423. 


454  ^^^  FIGHTING    VERES. 

death  of  the  widow  ^  of  her  brother-in-law,  John  Vere. 
in  1639,  when  she  succeeded  to  Kirby,^  Tilbury.'  ar.d 
other  estates  in  Essex.  From  that  time  she  rL>i.:ji 
chiefly  at  Kirby  Hall,  where  she  was  often  vi>itLii  Ly 
her  daiiu:hters  and  their  vounsf  families.  Hlt  : .  \: 
husband  and  his  brother  had  devoted  their  li.c-  : 
the  defence  of  those  rights  and  liberties  whi\h  :. 
free  people  hold  dear.  She  was  not  likely  :••  L . 
away  from  the  principles  of  the  Veres  in  Ikt  !•.  :..: 
widowhood.  She  was  a  firm  friend  of  the  Par]ia!:u:.:. 
and  was  so  trusted  bv  the  leadinsj  statesmen  ci'  :::•. 
popular  side  that  the  Kings  children  weie  en:ri>v. i 
to  her  care  for  some  time.*  Her  correspond*,  ncc  v..i> 
extensive,  and  she  was  a  clear-headed  and  ii:d:\i"  > 
adviser.  She  was  strongly  opposed  to  the  trial  :.\\\ 
execution  of  the  Kinc[;  and  her  courau^eous  daiii::.:.:. 
Ladv  I\iirfax,  not  onlv  shared  her  views,  but  \\t:.t  -  ■ 
far  as  publicly  to  interrupt  the  trial.  "A  W.^e  lI 
the  fitrluinG:  Veres,"  Carlvle  called  her.^ 

1  Tin' will  «t  Thoni.i^ine,  widow  shcnd.  snUi  it  to  Ar.ilriw  \\:.:\tr.. 

of  Ji)hii  \"i  re  of  Kiihy   Hall,  was  a  son  ( f  the  Ilishoj.. 
dated  Ajuil  i.  n'3<).  and  proved  on         *  Clarendon  5ay>  of  lav.  '.'• ' 

NovcmiiT    I4;li    fnllouini;.      The  '•  An  old  lad\  mu^h   in   •.!•.-''"   "   r 

reccr-I  kA  lur  huii.d  is  i'l  the  Castle  rarl!anient'>   **  lavorj-u:  :.   •  \' 

llediriuli.im   parish    re^^ister,   May  ambitious  of  that   1 1  .ir jr.   : 

(1,  M  V)-  there  was  a  crjnu  i.*.t-.!   \.'. 

*  AliiT  the  ikath  of  Lady  Verc,  assii^ned  for    ihtir  sr;  ;    r: 

Kirlv     II. dl  u.is  solil,  in    1^175,10  received  the  chililren  n-i  :.  . 

Kiel. aid  ^liclfi'-lil.  who  attain  sold  <»f   the    Ci»untess    if    I ».  r-- :. 

it  in  170J  to  Kiihard  Sj  rint^er.     In  shortly   afterwards    ;:  ivc     u 

I7<'2  it  1)  r  I  me  i:u'  proprrtvof  Mr.  charge  to  the  Larl  of  N'-r:;.-:*  .c' 

TetiT  Muilinan,  an   antiquary  and  land." 

Colli  (!■  r  of    UMterials  for   county         ^  IttUrs  and  S/*et'ckts  rr  C*'^- 

history.  wr//,  ii.  I5'"». 

■'  « )n  I.:it]v  \'o:r'>i  dtath  Tilbnrv         "  Havini;:  been  bred  in   ! J- ■'.'.:.?.■■?. 


^    ■    - 

I.'.. I"    ■ 


r    •  ~* 


WTi.t  !•'   liiT   'jr.indMin.  Sir   Koi^tr     slie  had  not  thai  reverc.ct.-  :■ 
To\vn^!u:id.    Horace,  Lord  Town-     Church  of  Fn«;l.inci  as  she  lU'hl 

to  have  had."    iClarcndon.i 


CONCLUSION.  455 

Lady  Vere  lived  to  extreme  old  age.  She  died  at 
Kirby  Hall,  on  Christmas  Eve  of  1670,  aged  ninety 
years.  Her  funeral  sermon  was  preached  in  Castle 
Hedingham  Church,  on  February  10,  1671,  by  Mr. 
Gurnall,  the  Vicar  of  Lavenham. 

The  liistory  of  the  lives  of  the  two  Vere  warriors 
is  the  military  history  of  England  during  half  a  cen- 
tury. It  extends  from  the  time  when  Queen  Elizap 
beth  undertook  the  defence  of  the  rights  of  her 
neighbors,  to  within  a  few  years  of  the  time  when 
the  Parliament  of  England  entered  upon  armed  re- 
sistance to  the  unconstitutional  tyranny  of  Charles  I. 
It  connects  these  two  momentous  events,  and  thus 
makes  their  history  continuous.  From  a  purely  mili- 
tary point  of  view  the  period  was  one  of  great  impor- 
tance. When  the  war  began  Spain  was  in  the  height 
of  her  power.  The  Spanish  infantry  had  no  equal. 
The  soldiers  of  Holland  and  England  were  unable 
to  face  their  enemies  in  the  open  field.  They  had, 
by  slow  and  painful  experience,  to  learn  from  those 
enemies.  The  Veres  were  at  first  diligent  pupils. 
But  in  the  course  of  time  they  became  great  masters 
in  the  art  of  war,  and  did  for  Englishmen  what  the 
Princes  of  Orange  did  for  their  Dutch  compatriots. 
They  created  a  school,  and  at  last  they  habitually 
led  their  troops  to  assured  victory.  They  and  their 
com]:)anions  in  arms  attended  closely  to  drill  and  to 
constant  practice  in  manoeuvring,  their  men  were 
trained  in  all  the  work  of  intrenching  and  in  siege 
operations,  and  their  discipline  was  strictly  main* 
tained.  The  V^eres  were  alive  to  every  new  improve- 
ment, and  studied  the  progress  of  invention  and 
adaptation  in  every  branch  of  their  profession.    They 


456  THE  FIGHTING  VERES. 

watched  over  and  defended  the  rights  and  lntere^:^ 
of  all  who  served  under  them,  whether  ofi[ictr>  ■ : 
men,  and  thus  created  a  feelinor  of  lovaltv  and  <: 
esprit  de  corps,  which  can  be  traced  throii^h  tr-: 
whole  history  of  the  English  troops  in  the  Lo-.v 
Countries.  It  did  not  signify  whether  thev  uvr. 
volunteers,  or  soldiers  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  *>r  c  ■"• 
panics  in  the  pay  of  the  States.  They  maintair:'. : 
the  feeling  and  tradition  of  one  corps  throiighnu:. 
they  were  soldiers  of  a  free  country,  serving  in  \:\\, 
cause  of  freedom, — soldiers  of  the  school  k{  :r. 
lighting  Veres. 

It  was  from  the  school  of  the  Veres  that  the  ::•.-: 
commanders  came,  who  were  afterwards  di>tincrui-h-. : 
in  the  civil  war,  whether  on  the  side  of  the  Kir.i:  : 
of  the  Parliament.  Amoner  the  rovalists  wa>  ^': 
Jacob  Aslley,  the  best  officer  on  that  side  :  and  >:' 
Thomas  Cilemham,  who  defended  Vork/CarIi>le.  r.r.i 
Oxford.  Lord  Grandison,  Sir  Richard  (jivn\i'.:. 
Lord  lUron,  Sir  Ralph  Hopton,  and  Lord  Gi  rirj:. 
also  served  under  Lord  \'ere. 

But  I^y  far  the  greatest  amount  of  military  talcr.: 
whirh  had  been  brought  out  and  fostered  :  y  iIa- 
Wivs  was  enlisted  on  the  side  of  the  raiiiaiv.cr.r. 
The  I'.arlsof  Warwick  and  Peterborous^h,  of  Indf.'rJ 
and  lissew  had  served  campaigns  in  the  Low  Gtvjr;- 
tries.  The  Earl  of  Essex,  who  was  one  of  Si: 
Horace  Vere's  diligent  lieutenants  in  the  e.\jK*diti«.'n 
to  tlu'  Pahitinate,  and  had  also  served  in  the  aitcmj.: 
on  Cadi/,  accepted  the  appointment  of  general  of  the 
trooj-^^  rai>e(l  by  the  Parliament.  Sir  Thoma^  Fair- 
fax, Lord  Wre's  son-in-law,  who  received  his  jfii>: 
lesson  in  war  at  tlie  siege  of  Bois-le-Duc,  did  still 


CONCLUSION.  457 

greater  credit  to  the  teachings  of  their  masten  After 
his  skilful  work  in  Yorkshire,  Fairfax  was  selected  as 
commander-in-chief  of  the  new  model  army,  by  the 
unanimous  vote  of  Parliament.  By  general  consent 
this  pupil  of  Lord  Vere  was  judged  to  be  the  ablest 
officer  in  England;  and  he  soon  ended  the  war,  and 
restored  the  blessings  of  peace  to  his  country.  As  a 
regimental  and  staff  officer,  Sergeant-major  Skippon 
was  the  best  and  most  experienced  organizer  who 
had  been  brought  up  in  theschool  of  the  Veres,  and 
had  survived  the  risks  of  war.  His  merits  were  so 
well  known  that  great  efforts  were  made  by  the 
royalists  to  secure  his  services.  But  honest  Philip 
Skippon  had  fought  too  long  in  the  good  old  cause 
to  become  a  partisan  of  the  feeble  Stuart  tyranny 
in  his  mature  years.  He  was  a  stanch  Parliament 
man.  To  him  is  due,  under  the  general  superin- 
tendence of  Sir  Thomas  Fairfax,  the  credit  of  the 
organization  of  the  new  model  army.  He  was  the 
chief  of  tlie  staff  under  Fairfax,  and  arranged  every 
detail  with  careful  exactness.^  One  more  pupil  of 
Lord  Vcre,  who  rose  to  distinction  in  the  civil  war, 
must  be  mentioned.  George  Monk  gained  his  first 
knowledge  and  grounding  in  the  military  art  in  Lord 
Vere  s  regiment.-  In  later  times  he  was  Cromwell's 
ablest  general.  Fairfax  and  Monk  restored  the 
monarchy. 

*  Popular  histories  of  England  organization,  that  he  was  not  even 

will  probably  continue  to  make  the  present  during  the  process,  and 

erroneous    statement   that   Oliver  that  he  did  not  succeed  in  evading 

Cromwell   created   and  organized  the   self<<]enying    ordinance  until 

the    "  new   model "   armv.      The  after  it  had  taken  the  field  under 

facts  remain  that  he  had  nothing  Fairfax  and  Skippon. 

whatever  to  do  with  its  military  ^  Qarendon,  xvi.  96. 


458  THE  FIGHTING    VERES. 

The  captains  who  gave  their  help  in  founding  the 
American  colonies  were  not  less  indebted  lu  ir.c 
training  supplied  by  campaigns  in  the  Low  CVu:.- 
tries.  Miles  Standish  had  served  under  the  Wtln 
Lion  Gardner  was  another  disci|:)Ie  of  thn>e  Lrrci: 
generals.  Edward  Winslow,  though  too  your.g  :. 
have  actually  taken  part  in  the  war,  came  ox  er  lu  il  •. 
Low  Countries,  where  Sir  Horace  \'ere  was  ci  r- 
manding,  as  soon  as  he  was  old  enouj^h  to  ira-./. 
Sir  Fcrdinando  Gorges,  whose  name  is  s<.)  well  kriuAr. 
in  connection  with  American  colonization,  fcu':.: 
side  by  side  with  Sir  Francis  Vere  at  the  >ie::c  \\ 
Sluys.  Edward  Maria  Wingfield,  of  \'irginian  lan-.L. 
was  a  companion  in  arms  of  the  Veres.  In  tliL  c  j^r.- 
ing  page  of  American  history  the  name  of  \\;:c 
should  have  an  honorable  place. 

The  indirect  influence  which  the  \'eres  had  rr. 
the  oj)inions  of  three  generations  of  their  eoi.ntrv- 
mcn  was  probably  more  important  than  tlie  ^jr^c: 
teaching  of  those  masters  in  the  art  of  war.  .\> 
the  ablest  English  military  commander.^  <'f  th^.i: 
day,  they  trained  the  men  who  settled  the  q;ic>ti«;i 
between  King  and  Parliament,  and  tlie  uien  \\h? 
founded  the  colonies  of  New  England.  Hut  as  the 
upholders  of  a  great  cause,  their  examples  made  a  :a: 
dee])er  and  more  enduring  impression  on  their  con- 
temporaries. When  Queen  Elizabeth's  noble  decla- 
ration sent  crowds  of  enthusiastic  volunteers  into 
Ilollancl,  it  was  felt  that  a  great  principle  was  a: 
stake.  The  Oiieen  announced  that  oppressed  people 
had  a  ri-'ht  to  defend  their  institutions  and  ancient 
privileges  against  the  illegal  encroachments  of  their 
rulers.     It  was  to  uphold  this  principle  that  English* 


CONCLUSION.  459 

men  entered  upon  the  war.  Their  feelings  are  ex- 
pressed in  the  letters  of  Lord  North  and  many 
others.  It  was  seen  that  those  constitutional  rights, 
those  parliamentary  privileges,  which  Englishmen 
held  so  dear,  would  be  endangered  by  the  destruction 
of  liberty  in  a  neighboring  country.  In  fact,  the 
parliamentary  cause  which  was  fought  out  in  Eng- 
land, until  it  triumphed,  by  Essex  and  Fairfax, 
had  been  contended  for  in  the  Low  Countries  by 
the  previous  generation  under  Francis  and  Horace 
Vere.  This  was  the  justification  for  calling  it  "the 
good  old  cause."  The  Veres  had  fought  for  it  during 
nearly  half  a  century  in  the  Netherlands,  until  the 
triumph  of  their  arms  was  complete.  Their  pupils 
fought  for  it  in  England,  until  the  system  of  Charles 
and  Laud  was  destroyed  for  ever  on  the  battlefield 
of  Naseby. 

Sir  Francis  Vere  was  sincerely  attached  to  the 
cause  of  civil  and  religious  liberty  for  which  it  was 
his  duty  to  fight.  His  opinions  were  so  well  known, 
that,  on  more  than  one  occasion,  he  was .  officially 
censured.  It  was  suspected  that  he  might  be  more 
anxious  to  further  that  cause  than  to  obey  orders 
which  seemed  to  endanger  it.  As  a  diplomatist,  as 
well  as  in  his  capacity  as  general  of  the  English 
forces,  Sir  Francis  was  first  and  before  all  things  the 
faithful  and  loyal  servant  of  England  and  of  the 
great  Queen,  but  he  was  almost  equally  the  champion 
of  freedom.  His  brother  fully  shared  his  feelings  in 
all  respects,  and  Lady  Vere,  in  her  loyal  adherence 
to  the  Parliament,  indicated  the  form  that  those  feel- 
ings would  have  taken,  in  the  great  constitutional 
question  which  arose  after  the  Veres  had  passed 
awav. 


460  THE  FIGHTING   VERES. 

It  was  the  fashion  for  young  Englishmen  to  >er.. 
a  campaign  under  the  Veres,  even  if  they  b.aci  r 
intention  of  embracing  the  military  career.  It  v.i* 
natural  that  a  great  number  of  them  shi)ulcl  l^:. 
some  of  the  enthusiastic  feeling  which  animatL-d  ::.-  " 
chiefs  and  the  veterans  with  whom  thev  cair.e  :: 
contact.     There  can  be  no  doubt  that  in  ihi<  ui 

■ 

the  upper  and  middle  classes  of   Englishmen  wcr. 
leavened  with  a  more  jealous  attachment  to  ir^.e  ^.  :.- 
stitutional    liberties   inherited    from    their   aiK^-:.:- 
than  would  have  been  the  case  if  thev  had  ir.Lr/. 
lived  at  home  at  ease. 

The  lives  of  Sir  Francis  and  Sir  Horace  Wre  :h-- 
had  an  important  indirect  influence  on  the  genera::-  r. 
which  succeeded  them.  For  that  reason  their  career- 
are  wortliy  of  attentive  study.  They  displayed  : 
extraordinary  genius.  They  were  simply  otticers  i: 
talent,  energy,  and  perseverance,  who  with  '^int:!-.- 
minded  zeal  devoted  their  lives  to  the  dutv  thev  h:ic: 
undertaken,  never  turning  aside  until  the  wtirk  w:t- 
done.  1  hey  lived  to  see  the  triumph  of  the  cai:>-. 
to  which  their  whole  lives  had  been  devoted.  Thi- 
gives  a  completeness  and  a  finish  to  their  carev' 
which  increases  the  interest  attaching  to  it  a>  a 
l)rominent  episode  in  the  history  of  the  l!!ngli>:> 
speaking  race.  The  cause  for  which  they  fought  ir 
the  Netherlands  had  soon  afterwards  to  be  main- 
tained nearer  home.  The  Veres  were  the  military 
irodfathers  of  the  threat  Lord  Fairfax. 


APPENDIX. 


A. 

NOTE   RESPECTING  THE  STORY  TOLD    TO  THE  DISPARAGEMENT  OF 

AN   EARL  OF   OXFORD,   IN   FROISSART. 

Some  traditions  and  tales  raet  with  in  history  are  based  on 
facts,  though  incorrectly  told.  Others  are  baseless  and  without 
foundation  in  fact.  It  can  be  shown  that  the  following  story, 
reflecting  upon  a  Vere,  Earl  of  Oxford,  which  occurs  in  Froissart, 
belongs  to  the  latter  class. 

When  the  Dukes  of  York  and  Gloucester  and  other  discontented 
nobles  confederated  against  Richard  II.  and  his  favorite  Robert 
de  Vere,  ninth  Earl  of  Oxford  and  Duke  of  Ireland,  Froissart  * 
tells  us  that  they  disparaged  the  favorite,  among  other  ways,  by 
abusing  his  father.  They  said :  "  We  are  not  ignorant  who  the 
Earl  of  Oxford  was,  and  that  in  this  country  he  had  not  one  good 
quality,  either  of  sense,  honor,  or  gentility,  allowed  him.  Sir 
John  Chandos,  added  a  knight,  made  him  feel  this  very  sharply 
once,  at  the  palace  of  the  Prince  of  Wales  at  St  Andrews,  in 
Bordeaux.  *  How  so  ? '  demanded  another,  who  wished  to  know 
the  particulars.  '  I  will  tell  you,'  replied  the  knight,  *  for  I  was 
present.  Wine  was  serving  round  to  the  Prince  of  Wales  and  a 
large  part>'  of  English  lords,  in  an  apartment  of  his  palace ;  and 
when  the  Prince  had  drunk,  the  cup  was  carried  to  Sir  John 
Chandos,  as  Constable  of  Aquitaine,  who  took  it  and  drank, 
without  paying  any  attention  to  the  Earl  of  Oxford,  father  of  thb 
Duke  of  Ireland,  or  desiring  him  to  drink  first.  After  Sir  John 
Chandos  had  drunk,  one  of  the  squires  presented  the  wine  to  the 
Earl  of  Oxford  ;  but,  indignant  that  Chandos  had  drunk  before 
him,  he  refused  it,  and  said,  by  way  of  mockery,  to  the  squire  who 

1  II.  p.  263  (vol.  iv.,  cap.  78). 


462  APPENDIX, 

was  holding  the  cup,  "Go,  carr>'  it  to  thy  master  Chandos:  !t: 
him  drink."   "  Why  should  I  go  to  him  ?  for  he  has  drunk-   \^rj:\ 
yourself,  since  it  is  offered  you  ;  for,  by  St.  George,   if  \  .u  : 
not,  I  will  throw  it  in  your  face."     The    Earl,    atrai;!   ic>:  :  -. 
squire  should  execute  what  he  had  said,  for  he  was  bi*!J  er;  .^. 
to  do  so,  took  ihe  cup,  and  put  it  to  his  mouth   and  th/ink.  c:  - 
least  pretended  to  drink.     Sir  John  Chandos  was  not  tar  otT,  r : 
heard  and  saw  the  whole  ;  and  the  squire,  while   the   Prince  w> 
in  conversation  with  others,  came  and  told  him  whai  had  pi^s: : 
Sir  John   Chandos  took'  no  notice  of  it  until  the  Prince  ha^:  :=- 
tired,  when,  stepping  up  to  the  Earl  of  Oxford,  he  saiil,  -  \V..^:. 
Sir  Aubrey,  are  you  displeased  that   I  drink  first,  who  ani  :  -. 
Constable  of  this  country  ?    I  may  well  drink  and  take  prtccJ:- .? 
before  you,  since  my  most  renowned  sovereign  the  Kin::  «.:  i  r^- 
land  and  my  lords  the  Princes  assent  to  it.     True  it  i>  ;I,:l:  ■.   . 
were  at  the  battle  of  Poitiers,  but  all  now  present  do  i:-:  k:    ■ 
the  cause  of  it  as  well  as  I  do.     I  will  declare  it,  iha;  v:m\  r  i 
remember  it.     When  mv  lord  the  Prince  had  finished  h  >  •    ::  ■-• 
to  Languedoc,  Carcassonne,  and  Narbonne,  and  was  re:i:':.,- :  ' 
this  citv  of   Bordeaux,  vou  took  it  in  your  head  that  \r.\i  w  »  : 
return  to  England,     l^ut  what  did  the  King  say  to  you.*     1  k-^  ' 
it  well,  though  1  was  not  present.     He  asked  if  yciu   had  ...:  '- 
plishcd  your  service  ;  and  afterward,  what  you  had  done  «:::.     .- 
son.     Vou  replied,  *  Sir,  I  left  him  in  good  health   at   l;»ri:tij\ 
'  What  I  '  said  the  King,  *and  have  you  been  bold  enough  to  re:.'z 
luilier  without  him  .^     Did  I  not  strictly  enjoin  you,  and  :I*.e  ■. : 
ers  who  accompanied  you,  never  to  return  without  him,  under  ::r 
forfeiture  of  vour  lands  .^     And  vet  you  have  dared  to  disL»lH:\  rr,- 
commands.     I    now    positively  order  you    to    quit    my  kin^-J  ■^. 
within  four  days,  and  return  to  the  Prince  ;  for.  if  you  he  :■■  j'  : 
on  the  fifth  day,  you  shall  lose  your  life  and  estates.'     Vo.:  'a^-i 
afiiii'l  to  ha/ard  disobedience,  as  was  natural,  and  left  hr.j;!^:  : 
\'(in  were  >o  fortunate  that  you  joined  the  Prince  four  days  be:.*; 
the  hiUtle  of  Poitiers,  and  had,  that  day,  the  command  of  lorrk 
lint  i<.  wliile  1  had  sixty.     Now,  consider  if  I,  who  am  Con'^tji.  ■ 
of   \quitaine.  have  not  the  right  to  take  precedence  and  dr:-* 
In  fore  you  do."     The  Earl  of  Oxford  was  much  ashamed,  a" ' 
Would  willingly  have  been  anywhere  but  there.     He  wa<  f  ■r;-. 
l.<)\\e\tr,  to  bear  with  what  Sir  John  Chandos  said,  who  spo*:. 
ai«»u(i,  that  all  mi -ht  hear  him.'  " 


APPENDIX.  463 

Assuredly  this  story  is  circumstantial  enough.  It  is  told  of 
Sir  Aubrey  Vere,  Earl  of  Oxford,  who  is  alleged  to  have  been 
father  of  the  Duke  of  Ireland.  But  the  name  of  the  father  of 
the  Duke  of  Ireland  was  Tiiomas,  not  Aubrey. 

There  were  four  Veres  who  were,  or  became,  Earls  of  Oxford, 
contemporaries  of  Sir  John  Chandos,  namely :  John,  the  seventh 
earl,  grandfather  of  the  Duke  of  Ireland  ;  Thomas,  the  eighth 
earl,  his  father ;  and  Aubrey,  the  tenth  earl,  his  uncle.  Robert, 
the  ninth  earl,  afterwards  Duke  of  Ireland,  was  a  child  of  seven 
when  Sir  John  Chandos  died,  in  1370. 

The  points  of  the  story  require  that  the  earl  to  whom  it  applies 
should  have  been  Earl  of  Oxford  at  the  same  time  that  Sir  John 
Chandos  was  Constable  of  Aquitaine  ;  that  he  should  have  gone 
to  Bordeaux  with  the  Prince  of  Wales  in  August,  1355  ;  and  that 
he  should  have  been  at  the  battle  of  Poitiers  on  September  i, 
1357.     This  is  not  true  of  any  Earl  of  Oxford. 

As  regards  John,  the  seventh  Earl  of  Oxford,  he  was  certainly 
at  the  battle  of  Poitiers.  But  he  died  in  1359*  and  Sir  John 
Chandos  was  not  made  Constable  of  Aquitaine  until  1363.  The 
story,  therefore,  cannot  be  true  as  regards  him. 

Thomas,  eighth  Earl  of  Oxford,  father  of  the  Duke  of  Ireland, 
and  of  whom  the  story  is  actually  told,  was  not  at  the  battle  of 
Poitiers.  He  first  bore  arms  with  his  father,  at  the  early  age  of  18, 
ill  ^359'  three  years  afterwards;  when  three  sons  of  Edward  III. 
—  Lionel,  aged  21  ;  John,  aged  19  ;  and  Edmund,  aged  18  —  also 
first  bore  arms.  He  was  only  15  at  the  time  of  the  battle  of  Poi- 
tiers, and  13  when  the  Prince  of  Wales  went  to  Bordeaux,  in 
1355-  ^  ^^^  Prince  was  25,  and  it  is  too  much  to  believe  that 
Edward  III.  ordered  a  boy  of  13  to  go  out  in  charge  of  his  grown- 
up son  and  not  to  come  home  without  him.  The  eighth  earl 
died  in  1370,  aged  28.  So  that  the  story  cannot  be  true  as  re- 
gards the  Duke  of  Ireland's  father. 

Aubrey,  tenth  Earl  of  Oxford,  did  not  succeed  to  the  earldom 
until  1393,  and  Sir  John  Chandos  was  killed  in  137a  Aubrey 
was  10  when  the  Prince  of  Wales  went  to  Bordeaux,  in  13551  ^^^ 
he  certainly  was  not  at  Poitiers.  He  was  then  a  lad  of  la.  The 
story  is  not  true  as  regards  him. 

The  above  facts  prove  that  the  story  in  Froissart,  told  to  the 
disparagement  of  an  Earl  of  Oxford,  is  without  any  foundation  in 
fact,  that  Sir  John  Chandos  never  made  the  speech  attributed  to 
him,  and  that  the  statements  it  contains  are  false. 


464 


APPENDIX. 


B. 

NOTE   ON   THE  AUTHORITIES. 

In  this  note  on  the  authorities  for  the  lives  of  the  Veres  I  : 
not  propose  to  enumerate  ever)'  work  that  is  quoted  and  icrcr*. 
to  in  the  foot-notes,  but  only  to  give  a  detailed    account  01  "- 
principal  sources  of  information. 

I.  Family  of  Vere. 

Besides   well-known  works,  such    as    Dugdale's    •'  B.iroi.i;r 
Collins's  *' Historical  Collections  of  the  Anticni  and  Noble  F.*" 
of  Verc,"  and  the  "  IJiographia  Britannica,'*  there   arc  nuT.-  -  .- 
notices  of  the  family,  of  more  or  less  importance,  in  o:her  [v^^-. 
in  periodicals,  and  in  manuscripts. 

In  Morant's  *'  Essex  "  (1768),  and  in  the  *'  History  of  L— . 
by  a  (icntleman ''  (Muilman  ?),  there  are  details  respectir:;:  V  : 
manors  and  other  possessions.      In  vol.   ii.  of   the   latter   w. •^ 
there  is  a  plate  of  Kirby  Hall.     Leland*s  "  Itinerar\-  "  al^:*  c    ■ 
tains    information;   and    Weever's    **  Funeral    Monumcn:* " 
scribes  the  tombs  of  the  Veres  at  Earl's  Colne. 

In  the  "  Vetusta  Monumenta'*  (iii. )  there  is  an  artii'e  -—  *■ 
Castle  of  Iledin^ham,  with  plates,  by  I^wis  Majcn.lii.  ^!: 
Ashiirst  Majendie,  in  the  "Proceedings  of  the  Essex  .Arcl.a-V  ;• 
cal  Society  "  (1852-54,  Part  I.  vol.  i.  p.  75),  contributed  *'  N:-:-. » 
on  Ho(lin|2:ham  Castle  and  the  Family  of  De  Verc^,  Ea'!- 
Oxford."  His  paper  contains  information  respecting  the  W:-.- 
in  Normandy.  In  the  **  Archaeological  Journal  "  (vol.  ix.  :•-'. 
is  a  papiT  read  at  Oxford,  by  Mr.  J.  G.  Nichols,  on  ''T?:-?  i^ 
scont  of  the  Earldom  of  Oxford,''  and  another  on  ''The  T  n-S 
at  Earl's  C'olne,"  in  vol.  xi. 

riu;  Norham  manuscripts  at  Oxford  contain  numerous  :::r:- 
cnccs  t(^  the  Vcre  familv,  and  similar  material  is  to  be  found  ' 
the  manuscript  presented  to  the  Society  of  Antiquaries  by  Pett: 
Muilman  in  1771.  In  the  Harleian  MSS.  is  Percival  Go;d:r^  ? 
*'  Arms,  honours,  matches,  and  issues  of  the  antient  and  illu^!"- 
ous  family  of  Vtcr."  written  before  1625.  The  Holman  MS 
(in  the  l5()(lKian  Eihrarv)  consists  of  "  An  hvstorical  and  cirr.-.> 
h^^icMJ  account  of  the  ancient  and  noble  familv  of  l)e  Vckn 
Earls  of   Oxford  ;  their  arms,  wives,  issues,    and  actions.**    A: 


APPENDIX.  465 

Castle  Hedingham  is  preserved  Richard  (rough's  MS.  "  Memoirs 
of  the  Veres,  Earls  of  Oxford."  At  the  Herald's  College  there 
are  Vere  records  in  Vincent's  "  Collections."  At  Earl's  Colne 
there  is  a  MS.  volume  belonging  to  H.  H.  Carwardine,  Esq.,  en- 
titled "An  account  of  the  most  ancient  and  noble  family  of  the 
De  Veres,  Earls  of  Oxford,  from  original  deeds,  charters,  parliar 
mentary  rolls,  and  registers." 

The  Act  of  Parliament  frustrating  the  design  of  the  Protector 
Somerset  with  regard  to  the  Vere  estates,  is  at  the  House  of 
Lords.  The  "  Inquisitio  post  mortem  "  of  Sir  Francis  Vere  is  in 
the  State  Paper  Office,  and  it  recites  his  marriage  settlement 
There  are  also  the  wills  of  his  brothers  John  and  Horace,  and 
numerous  extracts  from  parish  registers,  in  the  collections  of 
Colonel  Chester,  and  in  a  manuscript  volume  belonging  to  Mr. 
Ashurst  Majendie. 

II.   Military  Manuals, 

The  works  on  military  subjects  which  were  in  use  during  the 
sixteenth  and  seventeenth  centuries  were  very  numerous.  Many 
were  written  by  officers  who  had  taken  an  active  part  in  the  Low 
Country  wars. 

A  great  folio  published  at  Paris  in  1535,  with  numerous  plates, 
was  much  studied.  It  contained  :  I.  Elavil  Vegetii  Renati  viri 
illustris  de  re  militari,  libri  quatuor.  II.  Sexti  Julii  Frontini  viri 
consularis  de  stratagematis,  libri  totidem.  III.  Eliani  de  instnxen* 
dis  aciebus,  liber  unus.  IV.  Modesti  de  vocabulis  rei  militaris, 
liber  unus.  And,  V.  Roberti  Valturii  de  re  militari.  Valturius 
was  born  at  Rimini  in  the  middle  of  the  fifteenth  century.  His 
work  "  De  Re  Militari  "  went  through  several  editions  at  Paris. 
It  is  dedicated  to  Sigismond  Malatesta,  of  Rimini,  the  inventor 
of  bombs.  Valturius  is  the  oldest  of  the  modem  writers  on 
war.  (Basle,  1472.)  Another  folio,  by  Herman  Hugo  the  Jesuit, 
])ublished  at  Antwerp  a  century  later,  was  also  in  request,  "  De 
militia  cquestri  antiqua  et  nova  ad  regem  Philippum  IV.,  libri 
quinque." 

One  of  the  earliest  military  manuals  published  in  England  was 
written  by  Peter  Whitebome  in  1562.  It  is  entitled,  "  Certain 
waies  for  the  ordering  of  souldiers  in  battelray  and  setting  of  bafr> 
tails  after  divers  fashions,  with  their  manner  of  marching:  and 
also  figures  of  certain  new  plattes  for  fortification  of  townes,  and 


466  APPEXDIX. 

moreover  how  to  make  saltpetre,  gunpowder,  and  divers  son^-?  : 
fireworkes  and  wild  fyre,  with  other  thynges  apertaininge  to  :r.c 
warres."     ll  is  in  black  letter. 

Another  early  writer  on  warlike  subjects  was  Sir  John  Smy:-r 
In  1578  he  published  a  book  entitled  **Of  the  Knywlcci^c  -:  '. 
Conduct  of  Warres";  and  in    1594  appeared    his  *' <  crrair.  :- 
structions,    observations,   and   orders   militarie    requisite   it  j 
chieftaines  and  captains."     The  latter  work  went  tiiroujh  u 
editions  ;  but  Smythe  was  a  dull,  pedantic  writer. 

A  more  practical  manual  was  Robert  Barret's  "Theorike  ir: 
Practike  of  Moderne  Warres,  discoursed  in  dialogue-wise,*  .1 5::^. " 
folio,  publislicd  in  1589.  It  details  the  duties  of  omccrs.  ::c 
formation  of  companies,  the  drill,  and  the  system  of  fort.i:ci:i  - 
with  classes  of  heavv  jruns. 

An  equally  complete  manual  was  published  in  16 17.  b-v  J  !.• 
Wavmouth,  and  entitled  "  Low  countrie  iravnin;:,  or  cer:.-i::-.t 
monslrations  wherein  is  represented  the  order  how  a  c  rr  r  . 
shoultl  march,  and  also  how  the  same  should  he  exerci>n!.  :•..;  v  . 
and  drilled,  accordini;  to  the  method  now  perfected  and  j-r.i  ■  -  . 
by  the  jireat  and  expert  general  of  these  times.  Prince  M.ii;r..v 
Nassau."  Way  mouth  was  a  brother  of  the  arctic  na\ii::i:.  r.  ;:•. 
had  served  under  Sir  Kdward  Cecil  at  the  siege  of  (luilick.  :r  : 
dedicated  iiis  work  to  that  ijeneral. 

The  I-rench  manual  of  this  period  was  entitled  "  I.'Ar:  >t:  - 
tarie  auciuel  est  moustre.  I.  Le  maniement  du  moiiMjiit.-:  «•  -'r 
la  pi<iue.  II.  I/exercise  d'une  companie  touie  p.irfaite  ^.t!--  "i 
pratique  (hi  tres  illustre  et  tres  excellent  chef  de  pierre  Mau:  ■-, 
Prince  d'Oranue.  HI.  Nouvelles  ordinances  de  bitaiie.  IV 
La  (lixipline  militaire.  I'ar  Jean  Jacques  de  Walhaii^^:  ."  I:  - 
a  sm.ill  fr)lio,  published  in  1630,  and  dedicated  to  Prince  I't  .-.• 
ick  Henry. 

A  l).»(>k  entitled  **  The  exercise  of  arms  for  ralivers.  nv.>kv'*. 
antl  pikes,  after  the  order  of  his  Excellence  Mauritz,  Frir^te  ■  * 
Oran-e,  with  written  instructions  for  all  captains,"  bv  Jacoh  v^ 
Che\  n,  was  published  at  the  Hague  in  1607.  There  art:  4: 
plates  showiim  the  caliver  exercise,  and  42  words  of  comm.ir: '  . 
a  similar  number  f.»r  musket  drill ;  and  32  plates  ill usira tin;;  32 
words  nf  (ommand  for  jjike  drill. 

The  two  Ijroihers  Francis  and  Ger^•ase  Markham  served  un- 
der  Sir   IVancis   Vere.     In   1622    Francis  published  his  "  Fivt 


APPENDIX.  467 

Decades  of  Epistles  of  War,"  a  folio,  in  which  he  describes  the 
duties  of  all  the  officers  of  an  army.  Gervase,  who  was  a  prolific 
author  on  other  subjects,  from  poetry  to  farriery,  published  "  The 
Soldier's  Accidence,  or  an  Introduction  into  Military  Discipline." 
The  third  edition  appeared  in  1643. 

The  most  popular  manual  of  those  days  was  the  "  Principles  of 
the  Art  Military  practised  in  the  Warres  of  the  United  Nether- 
lands, under  the  command  of  his  Highness  the  Prince  of  Orange, 
our  Captain  General ;  for  so  much  as  concernes  the  duties  of  a 
souldier,  and  the  officers  of  a  companie  of  foote,  as  also  of  a 
troupe  of  horse,  and  the  exercising  of  them  through  their  several 
motions,  represented  by  figures,  the  words  of  command,  and 
demonstration.  Composed  by  Captain  Henry  Hexham,  quar- 
termaster to  the  honorable  Colonel  Goring."  A  folio.  The  sec- 
ond edition  was  published  at  Delft,  in  1642.  Captain  Hexham, 
who  began  his  career  as  page  to  Sir  Francis  Vere  in  the  siege  of 
Ostend,  had  served  forty-two  years  in  the  Netherlands  when  he 
published  this  work.  It  is  illustrated  by  plates,  including  a  plan 
of  the  battle  of  Nieuport.  The  second  part  treats  of  the  duties 
of  officers,  and  the  third  is  devoted  to  gunnery.  Laws  and  arti- 
cles of  war  are  given  in  an  appendix. 

A  nearly  contemporaneous  work  by  Captain  William  Barriffe 
is  entitled  "  Military  Discipline,  or  the  Young  Artilleryman, 
wherein  is  discoursed  and  shown  the  postures  of  musket  and  pike 
the  exactest  way,  together  with  the  exercise  of  the  foot  in  their 
motions,  with  much  variety,  as  also  divers  and  several  formes  for 
the  embatteling^  small  or  greater  bodies,  demonstrated  by  the 
number  of  a  single  company,  with  their  reducements ;  very  neces- 
sary for  all  such  as  are  studious  in  the  art  military ;  whereunto  is 
also  added  the  postures  and  beneficial  use  of  the  half-pike  joined 
with  the  musket,  with  the  way  to  draw  up  the  Swedish  brigade." 
The  fourth  edition,  dedicated  to  Algernon,  Earl  of  Northumber- 
land, and  General  Philip  Skippon,  was  published  in  1643  (small 
4to,  pp.  261),  with  a  portrait  of  the  author.  Longfellow,  in  his 
"Courtship  of  Miles  Standish,"  mentions  Bariffe's  Artillery 
Guide  as  forming  part  of  the  library  of  the  renowned  "  Captain 
of  Plymouth.'* 

The  drills  introduced  by  Gustavus  Adolphus  are  given  in 
Monro's  "Expedition  with  the  Worthy  Scots  Regiment  levied 
in  1626  by  Sir  Donald  MacKey,  Lord  Reay,"  a  folio  published 
in  1637. 


468  APPENDIX. 

Sir  Edward  Cecil  (Lord  Wimbledon)  wrote  two  raii;:ir. 
treatises :  "  The  Duty  of  a  Private  Soldier,"  and  '"  Derr.  onstra- 
tions  of  Divers  Parts  of  War,  especially  of  Cavallerie."  Sir  Kcctr 
Williams,  in  1590,  wrote  **  Discourse  of  War,  with  hi>  opii.:  • 
concerning  military  discipline."  In  16 19  apjxjared  "  Kri^Ianc  ? 
Training  for  a  Private  Soldier,**  by  Davies. 

Several  elaborate  works  on  fortification  and  anillcrv.  chi-.r 
by  Italian  officers,  were  known  in  England.  Aurelio  de  Ta-  • . 
wrote  "  Discours  de  I'Architecture  de  Guerre,  concernarit  It:- :'  r  - 
fications  tant  anciennes  que  modemes,"  which  was  puh.]-'rt:  j' 
Antwerp  in  1579.  In  1598  appeared  **  Modeles,  Anihcc*  4:v  1  - -, 
et  Divers  Instruments  de  Guerre,"  by  Joseph  de  lioillot.  <i  :!;■:. 
an  engineer  to  the  Archduke  Albert  at  the  siege  of  0>lL-n'],  p-> 
lished  a  work  on  artillery  in  1607.  The  "Manual  of  Ar:;'.!cr.." 
by  Luis  C'ollado  and  Diego  Ufano,  went  through  several  eili:i  -- 
at  Venice  and  Milan,  between  1586  and  1606:  and  in  1*4: 
appeared  a  great  work  on  artillery  in  Holland,  by  C  jl-.t.  • 
Sicmicnowicz. 

As  regards  the  ordering  of  a  camp,  two  works  apj-ve.irt  :  •• 
London  in  1642,  by  John  Cruso.  These  were,  **Castramc:j:r-. 
or  the  measuring  out  of  the  quarters  for  the  encamping; -•:  -r 
army"  (small  410,  pp.  51),  and  "The  Order  of  Miliiarv  W  v.  :-. 
dedicated  to  his  ever  honoured  friend,  Philip  Skippon  "  (p;\  17 

A  ni(Me  modern  work  on  this  subject,  which  deser\es  no:::e, 
and  wliirh  was  published  in  1786  (2  vols.  4to\  is  eniiiled  *"  M  :■ 
tary  Antiquities  respecting  a  History  of  the  English  Army  from  ::  -. 
(*()n(|uest  to  the  Present  Time,  by  Francis  Grose."  It  contiir?  j 
good  deal  of  curious  information,  but  is  confused  and  badly  ar- 
ranged. An  interesting  histor}*  of  gun-locks  will  be  found  in  vc!. 
iii.  of  the  "Journal  V.  S.  Inst." 

III.    General  History, 

Famianus  Strada  wrote  the  standard  work  on  the  Ntiher'.-:  . 
war  cf  independence,  from  the  Spanish  point  of  view,  "  Dc  ik*i-- 
r.el-iro,  Dtcis  Prima,'*  1555-1590-  it  was  continued  in  **  Deca> 
SiHund.i,"  1500-1609,  by  Fathers  Dondini  and  GalluzzL  S:raii 
w.i^  l)Kn  at  Rome  in  1572.  was  a  Jesuit  and  professor  of  rhet- 
oric .It  iIm.'  (ire^nrian  College,  and  died  in  1590.  The  work  wi> 
undertaken  at  the  request  of  the  Farnese  family.  \i\  Ita'.iar. 
version  appeared  at  Rome  in  1638,  and  an  English  translation  0: 


APPENDIX.  469 

the  first  part,  by  Sir  Robert  Stapleton,  entitled  "  History  of  the 
Low  Country  Wars,"  was  published  in  1650;  second  edition, 
1667.     Strada's  narrative  is  prejudiced  and  one-sided. ' 

Guido  Bentivoglio  was  born  at  Ferrara  in  1579.  He  was  sent 
by  Pope  Paul  V.  as  nuncio  to  Flanders  at  the  age  of  26,  and 
during  his  residence  there  he  wrote  "  Delia  Guerra  di  Fiandra,** 
in  three  parts,  first  published  at  Cologne  in  1632.  The  narrative 
is  brought  down  to  1607.  The  work,  though  necessarily  written 
with  a  strong  Spanish  bias,  is  more  impartial  than  that  of  Strada. 
Bentivoglio  became  a  cardinal  in  162  t,  and  died  in  1654.  A 
Spanish  edition,  translated  by  Padre  Basilio  Varen,  appeared  at 
Antwerp  in  1687.     I  have  used  this  Spanish  version. 

Antonio  Carnero  is  a  most  valuable  authority.  He  served  as 
accountant  to  the  Spanish  army  in  the  Low  Countries  for  twelve 
years,  and  was  an  eye-witness  of  many  of  the  scenes«he  describes. 
His  work,  dedicated  to  the  Archduchess  Isabella,  was  published 
at  Brussels  in  1625,  a  folio  in  double  columns.  It  is  entitled 
^*  Historia  de  las  guerres  civiles  que  ha  avido  en  los  estados  de 
Flandres  desde  el  aflo  1559  hasta  el  de  1609,  y  las  causas  de  la 
rebelion  de  dichos  estados." 

Antonio  de  Herrera  wrote  a  history  of  the  reign  of  Philip  11^ 
including  the  portion  of  the  war  from  1558  to  1598,  which  was 
published  at  Madrid  in  161 2.  "  Historia  General  del  Mundo  del 
tiempo  de  Sefior  Rey  Don  Felipe  II.  el  prudente,  desde  el  afk> 
1555  hasta  el  de  1598  que  passo  a  mejor  vida." 

Pompeo  Guistiniano  was  a  Corsican,  born  in  1569,  maestre  de 
campo  in  the  Spanish  service,  and  lost  his  right  arm.  After- 
wards he  entered  the  Venetian  serv'ice,  and  was  killed  in  16 16. 
He  wrote  a  work  entitled  "  Delle  Guerra  di  Fiandra,"  in  six  books, 
dedicated  to  Spinola,  which  was  published  at  Antwerp  in  1609. 

Bernardino  de  Mendoza  was  a  colonel  of  cavalry.  His  work, 
entitled  "  Comentarios  de  Don  Bernardino  de  Mendoza  de  I0 
sucedido  en  las  guerras  de  los  payses  baxos  desde  el  alio  de  1567 
hasta  el  de  1577,"  was  published  at  Madrid  in  1592. 

The  modern  history  of  Spain  by  La  Fuente  does  not  dwell  at 
any  great  length  on  the  subject  of  the  Low  Country  war,  although 
that  portion  of  the  narrative  is  not  neglected.  It  b  in  the  fif- 
teenth and  sixteenth  volumes  of  that  history. 

The  writers  on  the  patriot  side  were  numerous,  but  two  priod- 
pal  historians  have  sufficed  to  enable  me  to  check  the  Spanish 


470  appEjXdix. 

and  Italian  narratives,  and  to  furnish  additional  det.iiN  in  nr/  r.; 
the  main  story  from  the  letters  and  reports  of  the  V..:-.^  ^:c 
other  English  officers.  These  are  Melereii  and  Lc  It:.:  :: 
Grimcston's  version. 

Emanuel  van  Mcteren  was  born  at  Antwerp  in  Ju'v.  1555.     r:r 
was  a  relation  and  intimate  friend  of  Orielius,  the  ;;rcat  ^..   .;-i- 
pher.     His  father,  Jacob  de  Meteren,  was  a  native  r.f   1;:-..:.  .- 
his  mother  was  a  daughter  of  William  Ortelius,   ni    A..,-l  :-.;. 
grandfather  of  the  geographer.     Meteren's  parent>.  W    ^  V'  '■ 
estants,  embarked  for  England.     Their  vessel  \\a>  nrci  i:  t  ■  y  : 
sunk  by  a  French  man-of-war,  and  both  were  drDwnc.     V  -•: 
Emanuel  got  employment  under  an  Antwerp  mcrclKii:.  i-.  I  -; 
land,  from  1556  to  1562,  and  became  a  general  auev.T-     \r.   ly  x 
he  returned  to  Antwerp,  where  he  usually  lo<lged  v\ii;i  ii:>  ccj-z". 
Abraham  Ortelius.     Returning  to  London,  he  coniinutd  10  r-  is 
agent  of  the  Flemish  merchants  there  until  his  lif.ri;  i'l  i\\2. 
aged  77.     He  was  buried  in  the  church  of  St.  Der.i^.      The  r.:-: 
edition  of  his  "  Historia  Belgica  *'  was  publishefl  in  I.n'::\  a:  Ar- 
sterdam,  in  1597.     A  Flemish  edition  appeared  at  Dc!:":  t:    15.: 
A  continuation  was  written   up  to  the  date  of   Metircn's  c.mw  . 
and  a  French  version  came  out  at  the  Hague  in  16  iS.      1:  is  -. ' 
titled  "L'Histoire    des  Pavs    Bas   d'Enianiiel    de     Mttervn.      - 
Rccueil  des  guerres  et  choses  memorables  advenues  :  ini  es     .: 
Pays  qn'es  Pays  voysins  depuis  Pan   1315  jusques  2l  I'.in    i'  :: 
traduit  de  Flamand  en  Fran^oys  par  I.  D.  I.  Have."     Metert'.  * 
the  author  whose  evidence  is  most  important  for  esiablisiiir.^  ::  r 
innocence  of  Anne  Bolevn. 

Tlie  work  of  Grimeston  is  a  translation  of  the  history ''-f  Je:r. 
Fran(^ois  le  Petit,  which  was  published  at  Dordrech?  in  if.ci.  ard 
is  mentioned  by  Meteren.'  Grimeston  made  ad<iili'':'s  to  his 
translation  from  a  manuscript  of  Sir  Roger  William"^,  an  :  brr-u^h: 
the  narrative  down  to  1608.  This  Edward  Grimeston  de-^cer  ir-i 
from  a  branch,  settled  in  Suffolk,  of  the  ancient  V<»rks'i:rc  larruv 
of  Criinieston,  of  Grimeston  (irath.  He  was  made  pr'*-'>ncr  \\ 
Calais  in  1558;  escaped  from  the  Bastille;  and,  be^^ides  :■:* 
translation,  wrote  a  history  of  France.  He  is  said  to  hive  !:*■?■: 
to  the  ai;e  of  98,  and  was  grandfather  of  Sir  Harbo:tle  Grime- 
ston, the  Sj)eaker  in  1660.^     His  work  is  valuable  for  comp.i::><T* 

^     iM(  tCT'TI,    I).   440. 

'^  Friin  ^^!ull.l  dcscciuls,  through  a  female,  the  present  Farl  oi  Vers- 

lam. 


APPENDIX.  471 

with   accounts  of  the  same  events  in  Meteren's  history.     For 

English     affairs,    we    have    Camden's    "  Annals "    and    Stow's 

"  Chronicle." 

IV.    Memoirs  and  Letters, 

G.  Groen  van  Prinsterer  published  two  series  of  letters  from 
members  of  the  House  of  Orange,  at  Leyden  in  1835,  ^"^^  Ut- 
recht, 1858.  "Archives  ou  Correspondance  in^dite  de  la  Mabon 
d'Orange."  It  includes  several  letters  containing  accounts  of 
actions  in  which  the  Veres  were  engaged.  The  Camden  Society 
has  placed  within  reach  the  letters  of  Cecil  to  Carew,  Gardi- 
ner's "  Relations  with  Germany,"  and  the  "  Leicester  Papers," 
edited  by  Bruce.  Collins's  "  Sydney  State  Papers,"  the  "  Win- 
wood  Memorials,"  the  letters  from  and  to  Sir  Dudley  Carleton, 
and  Birch's  "  Memoirs  of  Queen  Elizabeth  "  contain  a  large 
store  of  information.  I  am  also  indebted  to  the  admirable  biog- 
raphy of  Lord  Willoughby,  by  Lady  Georgina  Bertie ;  and  to  Mr. 
Dalton's  excellent  "  Life  of  Sir  Edward  Cecil,  Viscount  Wimble- 
don," recently  published.  It  contains  a  great  number  of  original 
letters,  with  an  interesting  connecting  narrative.  Miss  Benger's 
"  Life  of  the  Queen  of  Bohemia,"  and  Arthur  Wilson's  "  History 
of  James  I.  in  Kennet,"  have  been  useful  as  regards  the  war  in 
the  Palatinate.  The  authorities  for  the  sieges  in  which  Lord 
Vere  was  engaged  towards  the  end  of  his  life,  are  Henry  Hex- 
ham on  the  English  side,  and  Herman  Hugo,  as  a  fair  and  gen- 
erous adverse  writer. 

V.    Manuscripts, 

In  the  Slate  Paper  Office  there  is  a  series  of  many  volumes 
of  letters  and  other  documents,  under  the  heading  "  Holland." 
They  include  189  letters  from  Sir  Francis  Vere,  to  Lord  Wil- 
loughby,  Walsingham.  the  Queen,  the  Lords  of  the  Council,  Bui^ 
leigh,  Essex,  Robert  Cecil,  James  I.,  and  the  States  General,  be- 
sides many  from  Sir  Horace  Vere.  They  also  contain  a  series  of 
letters  and  reports  from  news-writers  at  Antwerp,  the  Queen's 
agents  at  the  Hague,  Sir  John  Norris,  Lords  Leicester  and  Wil- 
loughby,  Sir  Philip  and  Sir  Robert  Sydney,  Lord  North,  Sir  J. 
Shirley,  Sir  J.  Digges,  and  many  other  officers,  as  well  as  rolls  of 
officers  and  men,  pay-lists,  and  other  official  documents.  At 
Hatfield  there  are  thirty-five  letters  from  Sir  Frands  Vere  to 
Lord  Cranborne  and  the  Earl  of  Essex,  and  there  are  four  among 
the  Cotton  MSS.  in  the  British  Museum. 


INDEX. 


Aa,  river  at  Breda,  435. 

Aa,  river  falling  into  the  Dieie  near  Bois-le- 

Duc,  272,  437. 
Aa,  river  between  Tumhout  and  Heerenthad, 

257 ;  Sir  Francis  Vere's  horse  fell,  in  croM- 

ing,  258,  258,  ft. 
Aa,  Captain  van  der,  led  the  troops  across  the 

Aa,  25S ;  slain  at  the  stxond  siege  of  Sluys, 

369. 
Abingdon,  monks  of  Elarrs  Colne  came  from, 

Abrincis,  Lucia  de,  founded  the  nunnery  at 
Hedingham,  6,  13. 

Admiral.     See  A  r agon,  Howard. 

Aertsen,  Lord  of  Wermont,  commanded  the 
townsmen  at  Breda,  42$. 

iCthclred  of  England,  his  army  defeated  in 
the  Cotentin,  3. 

At^uila,  Don  Juan  de,  Maestro  de  Campo,  at 
ihe  siege  «>f  Sluys,  109. 

Alan.     Soc  Rrittany. 

Albert,  Archduke,  notice  of,  selected  to  rep- 
resent Spanish  power  in  the  Netherlands, 
254 ;  to  marry  the  Infanta  Isabella,  and  be 
with  her  joint  sovcreijjn  of  the  Netherlands, 
264;  marriage  with  the  Infanta  Isabella, 
270,  276;  concentrated  his  army  at  Ghent, 
when  he  heard  of  the  landinj;  uf  Maurice  at 
Philippine,  280;  approach  of  his  army  to 
Nicuport,  2S8 ;  aclvancina;,  ^<)^\  at  the  bat- 
tle of  NicujK)rt,  207;  his  flight  from  Nieu- 
port  to  Hniges.  302  ;  l)cgan  the  siege  of  Ost- 
end,  joj;  liis  treacherous  use  of  a  spy  at 
Oslend,  317  ;  prepared  to  storm  the  works  at 
Ostcnd,3iS;  "hoist  with  his  own  petard,*' 
323i  n.  ;  delivered  his  grand  assault  on  Ost- 
end,  327  :  entered  the  ruins  of  Ostend,  331 ; 
to  be  restrained  from  recniiting  in  England, 
347  ;  sent  a  Spanish  army  into  the  Palati- 
nate, 3</i;  his  death,  410,  n. 

Albertus,  Fort,  near  Ostend  (see  Si.  Alberf), 
2'^  \  headquarters  of  the  Archduke  at  the 
siege  of  Ostend,  310. 

Aldrich,  Sir  John,  knighted  at  Cadiz,  234. 

Alkmaar,  defence  of,  2<>;  position,  37. 


Allen,  Sir  Francis,  his  Jooniqr  to  Poltad  with 

Francis  Vere,  a6,  a6,  «.  ;  with  Vers  at  Ber> 

gen-op-Zoom,  98 ;  at  the  siq^  of  Sluys,  101 ; 

swam  out  of  Sluys  to  communicattt  with 

Flushing,  106;  Sir  F.  Vers  obtained  a  oom- 

pany  for,  155. 
Allen,  Lieut.  William,  his  gaDantry  before  D^ 

venter,  174. 
Alpen,  road  from  Wead  to,  isa. 
Alst,  in  the  Bommel-waart,  ayj. 
Alva,  Duke  of,  his  cruelty,  aS;  his  veogMOoe, 

39 ;  superseded,  39;  sent  agarrison  to Fhisb- 

ing,  4a ;  his  measures  to  rdieve  Goes,  46; 

brought  the  musket  into  use,  s8;    Breda 

seized  by,  435. 
Alzey,  in  the  Palatinate,  Sir  Horace  Van  at, 

406. 
Ambrij,  near  Maastricht,  Comit  William  of 

Nassau  at,  44a ;  hard  fighting  in  the  dmrdi> 

yard,  445 ;  description  of,  445, «. 
Ambrose,  Mr.,  of  Mistley  Manor,  adcoow- 

ledgment  of  assistance,  vL 
Amersfoort,  tower  of,  39. 
Ames,  Israel,  bought  Tilbury  from  the  Eari 

of  Oxford,  his  wife  Thomasine  Carew,  351. 
"  Amity,"  ship  in  which  the  Eari  of  Leicester 

embarked  at  Harwich,  79. 
Amsterdam,  occupied  by  Don  Fadriqoe  de  Tol 

ledo,  39;  position,  37;  permission  to  obtain 

tenders  from  merchants  of,  for  gunpowder, 

»55. 
Andrew,  Cardinal,  of  Austria,  in  {oiot  eoifr 

mand,  370. 
Andrewes,   Daniel  (see  Har1mekemdtn\  hia 

heiress,  Mrs.  Wale,  left   Earfa  Colne  to 

Mrs.  Holgate,  16.  n. 
Anhalt,  Prince  of,  commanding  Frederid^a 

troops  in  Bohemia,  396. 
Ann  Boleyn.    See  BoUym, 
Anspach,   MaqcraTe   of,   in   the   Proiestaiit 

Union,  395 ;  commanding  the  troops  of  the 

Union  at  Oppenheim,  399;  object  of  Sir 

Horace  Vere  to  form  a  junction  with,  400; 

sent  cavalry  to  jdn  Sir  Horace  Vere,  409 ; 

recdved  Sir  Horace  Vere  at  Wonaa,  409; 


474 


INDEX. 


declined    to    charge    Spinola's    retreating  '   Arnhem,  high   land   near.   \^.    le     Lrvcn 
troo)>s,  406.  assembled   lils   furce»  au  v^  .  k.i ,  l    : 

"Antelope,"    commanded    by    Sir   Thomas  Philip  Sidney  at.  </>  .   lrjiie!-\=-r  v. 


Vavasour,  for  the  "  Island  Voyage,"  a3Ji.        ;       intrigues  01  >uii::<  >.    1:;,  %. 


T. ..-:,•    . 


Antii>ch,  Vcros  at,  5,  6.  for  the  army  (if   Maur.j.-.  1,-1  .  -:;-*.-  -r 

Aiitonio,  Don   binion,   sent    into  Ostend  to  Frederick  licury  truiu,  \y^ 

l'arli:y,  },3.\.  ,   Arquebus,  5.''. 

Antwerp,  Sjianish  nia>sacre  at,  30  ;  taken  by  '   Arschoi,  Don  Juan,  ^.f  A:i*trii.  ij^A-vT^i- 
the  D\iUo  of  PaniM,  ,w.  ^  \  the  i;t)Vcmor  of,  50. 

sent  to  relieve  tiocs.,  46;  Mundra^'on,  gnv-       Aitaiona,  leader  uf  ^{vj^ish  :=.La.  ■••.  :. '  • 

ernor  of,  i()2  ;  Juan  I>ravo,  governor  of,  4^1..  ■       of  Zui]>hen,  ^j. 
Ara;;on,  Don  Francisco  de  Mendoza,  Admiral      Artillery,  orj:.ini2a:ioii  i}f  e  ■.-..;  mt  ■      «    . 

of,  in  eoinmautl  during   All»erl"s    ub»ence,  guns  a:n,I  >ht^t, '.4  ;  s::.n. '  4     ^.   ■    -     - 

270;    r:ivaa;ed  the   territ<jry   of   Cleves  and  65:  works  on.      Sit    /i/rr.-*'  .  ...•..* 

Westphalia,   270;  captured  l.revecueur  and  |       /<!</>>,  i/i».r(-, />V..»'/,  \..  j...-,  ■..-:.  .. 

besi'.i;i.-<l    Uomniel,    27.^;    rai'xd   the   siegi^       Arusnu,  Fri'ian    ^ti.craJ    a!    N.. 

374;  picture  of  lii-.  surrendi-r,  at  Nieuixirt,  1       Sir  F.  V..rc.  3-f. 

2S3  ;  c«>niinaM»liiv^  cavalry  at  Nieuporl,  292  ;      Ascuii,  PriiiCe  fif, a;  :»it.;c  i-!  l:.r. .-  -  .-^    ■ 

taken  pristmer,  302.  '        12'-. 

Arcluluke.     'i^iQ  A  .'(H-rt,  Frnrsi,  Matthias.  '    Ashley,  Sir  Ant  hi -ny.  iri.  a- unr  :.  r  ■■,:      .: 

Arclur-,  at  the   battle  of  Poitiers,  led  by  the  1       exptdil:on,  233. 

Karl  ot  ( )\lor(l,  7.  A*hur^l,  Mr.,  rep.LJr.d  Uetajn^:.-:r.  v.  1  .  : 

Arctiv,  e\pe»liiio!i,  k-d  by  Barent>,  account  of  1       «.     S;e  Ma'cnJu 

it,  by  Sir  F.  V«.rc,  207.  Astley.  Sir  J^^Lub,  i;.  tjv    ir-r-.:.-.-   i"    !    .- 

AriUiibur-,    pil-riinaj;e    rif    Kdward    III.    to,  |       Due,   437,   43^:    iriintu    ur._tf   -L.    '. 

1x2;   suricndercd   to   Prince  Maurice,  367,  45'^>. 

V"^.  I   Audlcy,  Lord.  acc-.nii:.i:.:  .;    L.;.-   :  -  ■ 
Arira/abal,    Don    F'ranciv.o,   in   command  at  Ne:hfnanc>.    7^.    C"n:m.."  ;    .     .    •■ 

Bmick,  ^72  ;  Tiiiitt  1  liy  Marr-liuH  P>acx,  373.  hoive,  ^4,  <^i  ;    ::i  •!»■.  il.jr^-    .::  W.- 

**  All;  Kiival.*'  ship   cf  Ai'niiial  Lord  Howard  ]       04- 

in   til.-  Cull/  v«iva-',   I'l  „  224;  council  <m      A  udicy.  Captain,  in  !*■*  F!trj.----7     -  ..- 

bo.ir:'..  \'.\  <'acli7  I'.i\.  2.'^. 


•mn,    120:    kindi.vs-   tj    >.r    r      ^-t 
bn-ther  of,  i  w 
Audli-y.  Jnhn,  raii.iir.  of  a  ci  rr^  .■  -  ■■    .- 


Artikui.i.  >p.ini-h.  ihf'-at,  125. 

Ami  '.ice   fi<r  twi-ive  vi.ii«*,  ^-^;    Pil;:rim   Fa- 
ther-- at    L«-vcl.-:i    diiriii;;,  ^'^^  ;  caus^  of  the  F.  Vrrc,  i"! 
cLtTiiL-tit'.-  b'  tw.-en  Maurici*  .iml  i^anievcldt,  Au^r-^bur,-,  tn.arv  -  f.  -t-y.wr- ^   •*.         ■■  .]. 
.^^•1.  ? "'•  j       of  Prii:e-»:ar!i^ni  ;■.:  ■  rS-j   .:-■.:».     e 

Arin..r.  burjon-t.  r;;,  c;^,,  57:  corselet,   55,   5^  ,       r.-fi-rmed  (i.  rns.if  pr;- .  1 -.  -.  ^ 

t-:  :  nioiion,    57,  ;«:.   f  ^;   .zi^rzrX,  «;7,   5S,  f,\\  Aunpier-,  Mi!..,  Duke   i.f.    j"  ^3,  i    ^- w   ".     . 

nii:  I   ..    -.-.t.^;  lMia-.:;.lat.-.   s'^ :  taces,   5X;  |       t  ht- V  res  fr. 'ir.  ^ 

jK.uliitdi'-.  ;'!.  I. ; ;  v.intbrace-^.  58.  '    AuMerfii-ld.     Set*  .W^Vfr. f. •■•.'♦ 

Arm         S:  ■    ,-/r/'/.-.*7j.    Pnjjir,'*;    //a/Srnf,  Authi.ri:ic»  fur  :h-  fan.;  >  hi-:,  n  .■■^-V  -r* 

I\irti:i>:,    /V'l.'r.-/.    /'/..'.'.',    Fikf,   SuvrJ.  4»>4 :   for   military  it;; j-    :.      -     i        :j  - 

.\Ti.iii-.ini  nt  f.-i   supply  '.f,  11:4.  ^»  ^  ;  fnr  the   i:-.n-ri:   h:-:-r~.    ,■    ■•       .<-.. 

A:pi    ..f  th-'  V.rcs.  ;.  v  ;  ,,f  S-tJ-mux,  15.  «.  ;  4"*:  mem.«;r««.  !■  f.tr .  •:•  ;•   .«.  -          4- 

(I  i:.ii:--   if  cnip.inio    bme  thrir  arni««  nn  Auwerr'.- rryl.  Fi-rr,  i.-.ir  *>       -.    ■  .     ..     .1:- 

•-l)-    r  r..:..tv.   :;r.  |         tured  I'V  L'l"  lUlt  W  .".i-Pi  .  •    \  ,- .  ;  .         .. 

An::;.,     Kn.;.:  h.     m .;  (ni/   d     nn    tll<«     Spani.sh  Ava!<i«.  ( >-.ror.iRu<  di  .  ;-i  i!   >:-->.-■      •  ■ 

tr-.'i'I.    --?  :  -li'.-.i   ^  ft   (»:Ti>it-;,   54:  "-oMii  rs  Francis  Vere.  .it  t.  .iil  r.  a*.* 

.11. cl    ;h.  ii  .iir:i-  mu\   .iCLn'itn-m.-iits.  57-^2  :  Axel,  in   Ihitch    F'.atd-.rv.    ,i     j-  .   ■■   < 

•'■■■■■''>.  '   ■:  i.iri..iis.  ■■ ; ;  .»rt;:'rry,  '.4.     See  .iM.ick  on.  ra- fur*'.  *»-.  .   ."i..-^- i;  v    ■    ■      * 

•1'.      ..{  P'?-  ,>-.,  Ami'r.  .\  rn:s.  Artul^rv.  A/«  res.  iv»*i!i.in  v\   th  •   .:t--.::      *».•             -r   • 

(  ./.  /  -I .  ',■'./  V.  ( •..;,.' ,,..,.  /\/x.(  t,if„,  ShM-  tioii  fif  the  islands  24  :.  24*      \.\'w  .- 

\:.  ■  ,,..  .  n  ;  ■..    t:i,i  .i|.ii»,  s.  n  ,;  niim-  c.illct!  the  "  I-lar.-l   V,.vi-. ."  -  ■      fa- 

'    •  ■      '  ;■■':■'•  ;r.-i'['s  !:•  :'i.*  Ni-th-.T-  Fs<*:x  ti»  CJ^mmiri'.!.  rv  .   '.-:.•  ■:,  T-.i   :- 

I'l  1;,..  .ii,  i'»j;  in  i5i2,  ers  nnd  »hi;w.   2\-^,  :t<:  vi-"i:--— -^    -,■    • 

'■■   1=    I-    '  '"■  miKllh,    24:*;     ••ilrrji    Tr»   ct    i««-    J   •    -    .-.«" 

An '••.•.'-•.  !    .     •   ■.,  i.7>t   thf-   Spaniard*  at.  paMron>.   241.  242;    fc.-iV.*   :-   r    I"  i»-    ■    ' 

>-'     '    ' '    I-    "'m  •':  a:,  (or  tl»e  recovery-  of  24".  encoiinicrvti  a  z^'.-  i'=  '^ '   i.  i  .:  :   - 

^   ■'  cay,   240,   341;    rtrtumetS  diuStd  u  F* 


n:i 


I  r    :     I"    I  :  ■  ..    I 
I  '  I  I  :     . .    I 


INDEX. 


475 


mouth,  341 ;  volunteers  deserted,  from  sea- 
sickness, 241,  24-';  expedition  sailed  again, 
242  ;  reached  Klores,  dispositions  for  attack- 
ing the  islands,  -44  ;  capture  of  Horta  in 
Fayal,  245  ;  chase  of  the  .Spanish  fleet,  246, 
247  ;  lin^jish  fleet  proceeded  to  St.  Michael's 
and  toijk  Villafranca,  247 ;  return  home,  250  ; 
authorities  for,  249,  n. 

Bacherach,  Vere's  sick  and  wounded  sent  to, 
402. 

Bacon,  Anthony,  26,  n. 

Bacon,  Sir  Francis,  26. 

Bacx,  Sir  Marcellus.  Dutch  cavalry  officer  at 
the  defence  of  Bergcn-oi>-Zoom,  124;  daily 
raids  bv,  m'^\  his  sorties  to  Wouw,  12"^; 
knighted  by  Lord  Wiilocighby,  132;  crossed 
the  Lijipe  to  attack  Spanish  force,  214;  con- 
ducted the  retreat  over  the  Lipj>e,  215  ;  at 
the  battle  of  Turnhout,  255;  advised  a  vig- 
orous pursuit,  257  ;  at  the  battle  of  Nieu- 
port,  291  ;  his  charge  at  Nicuport,  301  ;  at 
the  recovery  of  Sluys,  567 ;  with  Prince 
Frederick  Henry  at  Mulheim,  372;  crossed 
the  Ruhr,  and  ca^^tiired  Broick,  373;  hard 
pressed  by  Trivu'.cio,  374;  desperate  fight  at 
Broick,  376. 

Bacx,  Sir  Paul,  at  the  defence  of  Bergen-op- 
Zoom,  124;  knighted  by  Lord  Willoughby, 
132. 

Baden  Durlach,  Margrave  of.  in  the  Protes- 
tant Unirin,  395  ;  defeated  by  Tilly  at  Wim- 
pfcn.  414. 

Badlesmere,  barony  inherited  by  the  Veres,  2  ; 
in  abcy.^iicc.  430. 

Bagiiall.  Sir  Samuel,  knighted  by  Essex  at 
Cadi/,  232.  23  V 

Balei;,  (i.d.irt  d''.  crossed  the  Lippe  to  attack 
Spatn^h  forcf",  214. 

Ball,  (  apt.iiii.  hi>  cavalry  on  the  seashore  at 
Nif'uport.  2j4  :   hi-  chnrce.  "oi. 

Pall.Kl  '  f  till'  Sp.-.nivli  lady,  question  as  to  the 
hero.  2  ^2,  ft. 

Bandog  ers,  5S;  cartridge  box  took  the  place 
of,  51.  n 

Bannaster.  Captain,  in  the  Bergen -op-Zoom 
garrison.  12--  .  h;v  retireniert,  iro,  n.  ;  kind- 
ness of  Sir  K    Vere  to,  i  5^. 

Barents.  \\'i  j,:m.  ncconnt  of  liis  Arctic  expedi- 
tion sent  home  hy  Sir  F.  V'ere,  207. 

Barlavniotif .  Sia-iir  de,  commanded  Walloons 
at  Turnhout.  ?'-,  2";') 

Barnardi^t'111.  >T  vor,  of  the  Ryes,  acknow- 
Icdctnent  of  .is^i-it.iiicc,  \i. 

BameveVlt.  OVlfn.  etivov  from  Hol'and,  to 
seek  aid  if  <>i'-"n  Fi/abrth.  ^H;  on  good 
terms  with  Sr  F".  W^rc.  14''^ ;  n'^potiation  with 
Wre  resperfi'iv  the  (^.idiz  cxi)eHition,  21^ ; 
Vere's  luTir  to,  !fd  to  tlu'  battle  of  Turnhout, 
»55  i  envoy  to  France,  his  views  respecting 


a  peace  with  Spain,  264;  many  conferem^s 
with  Vere,  269  ;  ratification  of  the  new  treaty 
with  England,  269;  advice  to  invade  Flan- 
ders, 27S ;  dunes  in  North  Holland  formed 
by  order  of,  384  ;  sent  news  of  the  battle  of 
Nieuport  to  England,  304;  upheld  Vere  in 
his  negotiations  with  the  States,  340 ;  in 
favor  of  the  truce,  390;  hated  by  Maurice 
for  promoting  the  truce,  391 ;  his  execution, 
392. 

Barret,  Robert,  on  the  use  of  daggers,  57;  his 
theory  and  practice  of  war,  4^*6. 

Barriffe,  his  "Artillery  Guide."  467;  in  the 
library  of  Miles  Statidish,  18,  n. 

Bassett,  Sir  Arthur,  accompanied  Leicester  to 
the  Nethei  lands,  78. 

Battles,  the  Bctuwe,  177,  178;  Bommel-waart, 
271-275;  outside  F'.ushing,  43;  Gemblours, 
30;  Mulheim,  371-376;  Nieuport,  388-303  ; 
relief  of  Rhcinberg.  147,  154  ;  relief  of  Reck* 
linghausen,  165,  167;  Rymenant,  50;  Sou- 
burg,  44  ;  Tester-berge,  213,214;  Turnhout. 
255-261;  Warnsfeld,  93. 

Bavaria,  Duke  of,  led  the  Catholic  League, 

Bax.     See  Bacx. 

Baxter,  Captain,  sent  to  Bacherach  with  sick 
and  wounded,  402. 

Bayeux,  Odon,  Bishop  of.  See  Ver^  WUliam 
tU. 

Bedford,  Earl  of,  trained  under  the  Veres,  456. 

Behaim,  Martin,  the  cartographer,  settled  at 
Fayal,  244. 

Belchamp,  St.  Paul,  18  ;  John  Golding,  a  na- 
tive of.  See  Goldiug.  Property  of  Sir  Fran- 
cis Vere  in,  352,  «. 

Beliers,  house  of.  at  Heidelberg,  416. 

Benger,  Miss,  "  Life  of  the  Queen  of  Bohe> 
mia,*'  471. 

Bensheim,  Sir  Horace  Vere's  regiment  at,  403  ; 
description,  404. 

Bentivoglio,  Cardinal,  notice  of  his  history, 
469. 

Bentley,  Great,  manor  of  the  Veres  at,  5,  «., 
16. 

Bergen -op- Zoom,  position,  38  :  Spanish  troops 
retired  to,  42 ;  Spanish  force  for  the  relief 
of  Goes  concentrated  at,  46;  Lord  Wil- 
louchby,  governor  of,  8S  ;  Leicester  at,  89; 
Francis  Vere  in  garrison  at,  his  comrades, 
120;  the  key  of  Zeeland,  121  ;  de»cription 
of  the  defences,  121,  122:  the  palace,  12a; 
the  town,  123;  Colonel  Morgan  appointed 
governor,  123;  the  siege  commenced,  127; 
Spanish  attack  on  the  water  fort  repulsed, 
131  '.  siege  raised,  131 :  Sir  Thomas  Mor|^n, 
governor,  144,  181;  Sir  John  Pooley's  corn* 
pany  disbanded  at,  204;  siege  by  Spinola, 
410. 

Berghe,  Adrian  de,  captain  of  the  peat  boat  ia 


476 


INDEX. 


which    troops  were   concealed    to  surprise   i 
Breda,    15^,   15-; :  preparaiion   vli   his   buai, 
159;  rvjachcd  lireda,  i'jo  :  lamled  the  men, 

Bergho,  Count  Frederick  de,  i;ovomor  of  Coe- 
vordL'n,  iSj. 

Ber^h-',  Count  Henry  de.  in  the  fwld,  threat* 
enin^  th.-  ^ie::-*  wruks  at  lUnM-lc-lfuCf  437.       1 

Bershi.*.  Count  Hjiin.in  lie,  governor  of  De- 
venter,  irr.  ask,;<l  for  terms,  174;  lo».iking 
out  (or  Vcre  .it  M.i.ijtricht,  197;  nominally 
in  comtn.m  1  :il  <  »ro!'.e,  212. 

Benrh-ilt,  E.tst,  hirthpUce  of  Constable  the 
painti-r,  12.  ' 

Berlikum,  the  h«Mne  of  the  Ileinmcmas,  443t 
n.     .Sec  IfftKtncin.t. 

Bcnie,  Mr.  Rich.ird.  father  of  Lord  Wil- 
h>uj;liby.  Si. 

Bertie,  Laly  Goor.;!!;.!,  h-.'r  bioijraphy  of  I^vd 
WiiIiiUj;hhy,  141.  471. 

Betuwv-,  th.',  isl.inil  fnmi.^'l  liy  hranchcs  of  the 
Rhine,  35;  Princ-  Maurici:  .md  >ir  F.  V\re 
thre.it''ni!);»  N'ynscgfn  fmni,  1  -^ :  dike  acro-s 
the  low;>r  pit,  til  i»T  litest  l.ind  fnjni  inund-i- 
tioii'5.  I  J,  army  it  tli:.*  I>.rNi-iif  Parma  in. 
177:  b.i;t.--.  i;**:  nnr(htif  I'rince  rredfrick 
Henrv  acrn^s,  4^  • ;  ihi.a  eiK-d  from  liois-le- 

I>UC,    \X7- 

Beve'an'l.  No'th.  ^"i. 

Bevrlani.  >o.uli.    ;S ;  i!ilc  ■*.  broken  throu';h, 

3S,     ^  J,    4-;     I  •vi>'t    of  V  !:.i'.;.-s    .i;;ainst    the 

Siv\Mi.iri'.-<.  4.';  ;>.c«'-.i^'  (if  Mon<Ira-^on  acrit^s 

the  c!i;t:in  ■!  t  ■,  4,'. 
Bfii-niii:!.  tn  ■a:.!:  ,.:->  nf  th-*  word,  62,  62,  m. 
Bies.l{.> .-.  h,  fi.ri:i  iti.iri,  ;^,  ;m. 
Hiuti.;-^,  iii:orm.'.rT,.ij--  oi  V<r-  "s  with,  2. 
liuiirli.iin,  Sm    K:i  h.ir  J,  .it  :I:c  luttle  of  Rymr- 

n.nit.  ;i :    ■■  i-it-.-r  oi  th-.-  or  In  wiv  ■,  ^^  :  n.uni-d 

by  Lci!  \Vl.I-ii:':;liby  .is  .1  !:ftti-r  man  locom- 

ni.in-!.  r  i  *■ 
**  Hi!>,ji:iph:.i   15iit.innii.a.'*   lives  of  the  ViTcs 

in.  \ii.  4    I 
Bin  !i.  ni.::c<:  Df  lii-«  m>.-n»oir'«  <»f  (^ueen   Eliza- 

bi  :li.  !?  ,,  f:.n  j'l. 
Bi>siii  h,  .ir  MV  ■•.  I'll-ii.-.- M  i-irii  •   rrcnmfx**!  .it. 

21  ^  ;  bit'!:  -N  <■!'  I'M    ip  «•{  N.i^^iu  and  Krnest 

."^d'ni^  '    lit  ■<-,  2  I  i.. 
i;i.:.<:,  >!-    M    jli.   tr.  .Kir.r  of   tlie  "  Nland 

V.\;i  :■■."*  'Mt  t""  ••  M^it  li  Ti-  .  c)  on.  24!. 
IJ'.-i: '.:   n'-ir.,.  /    :r :   .;.»iri-i-:K«!  by  the  Duke  rf 

l'-i:i!i  '..■•.     .    .  '  --i'-^  ('.  \  \  Lt-icrster.  in. 
Pii>v:'t.    "^  r    ("li--.;    |ib  r,    1:1    tlie    HiTi»en-i">p- 

7.   <    n  ^1':     ■>•  .  I  _■    ;   kn  ^b.t -d  by  I. on!  Wi*.. 

li'ii.ir  \.  i:.':  .",  'Ii-  I  (■•■.in    of  war  in  th»- 

Ca:!.'i.  \      ':...■..   Mi.   h  •  n  ■.;imcnt  Iat:di-d. 

2.'^;    -  ■:      1    J  :  1'.!    '.\  ■■    ip;-r(ia(h  to  Cad:/ 

fr>;n   '\\  •   '.■:.'.   .■  ■  ,  .    i-l   m.  1  •L'»*iirr^i   in   tl.-.- 

•■  \:v  \  \  VI  -.••  .:■:  ■l.ipdi-.tbl.-d  in  tbr 

r.iy  (t  I  .M  :\.  .',■".  !■   ."t:  I.  k  ^t.  MitbaelV. 

244;   -"U.:!.'.  I"  ;i.-.ir.-  Kaici^b,  345. 


Boar,  cre^t  of  the  Verw.  »c.  «  ,  rSi. 

Uodley.  hir 'I'h'.>nias,  mv.ii  j:   :hc  Hi^*   ■' 
report  on  th..*  K-  r■i^.\^-^^  ■/  .^n  _  t.-  : 
advi>er  of  >ir  t.  Vtrt.  14'  .  n ';.•:?  c.  .4    ^ 
hi>  hi^h  upii::un    oi   .'^.r   F     \  err.   14* 
repurt  on  the  cas'ii'n-  01  Ni-i  -ict,  1- 
sons  for  hiA   rt.iir  ni  t.:.  40*.  ;>»*.  ■       ■&■. 
ci— ded  by  Mr,  <  u  ;  i"    jd-*. 

BuheinLA,  E.cctor   Pj  .iii-.^  ^rp«-:ew   ^-i,   .: 
396.     See  F'-riLr..  (■,  yv  i^.u 

Boiilut,  Ji^ejjb  (Ii..  bi-   ikit'A'.      .t;     ^r   -  « 

Bois-\-L>'i<.,    .»;.    J7J  .     f  ;:e    c-   — ■    *. 
435;    p<»>iiio»i    A\\.    li   I' r..    *.    417      •--  : 
dercd    lu   the    Prj- Cr-    t«i    »,»•*:. ^1     «.-.*■ 
hibtory  of  the  -i,v.-  iy  He\t  l-  ..  4*. 

I^ilebvc,  harony  iidi.'ied  >  .r--  \ .- —  : 
title  of  the  eldest  -01.  t-f  :bc  \^*.z  »  c:  •  ■."  r-. 
a,  n. ;  in  ab«.-yaiiie.  4  ;o. 

B<»1'.yn,  i^ueen    Atinv,  *.   4.*.    M  ■«-•-■••»•- 
dence  in  her  fa\i<r.  47J. 

Iwimmel.  .^'*.  1' 4  ;  P»  1.*.:-  M.iiir-c- c.-*»cr-— 1 -. 
I.i-*  (orcc  at,  27:  .  til  -.^.n    .1  r.  v.  :  r  ■   »■ 
27/,  a,  27;,   «  ,    f  .  ii  u-    .i--ai.  ■.  : 

siete  r;ti«<d,  ^74  ;   .'^ir    L.-wjr^   \-.t:  .  ,— 
at.  45S. 

Bonimi.Uwaart.  ^5;  «  ■•.  ra:i   ;:«  f:   >  •   J     •   ■ 
in,  14^:  <iciu;ii.l  by  :*:     i -■•;-■  :   M.    -. 
I  /">:   li  si'i;!-'.!!!    1 1[    •>■,  •    c  » .■  :• . .    :  -: 
vadt-tj  b\   th  ■   >;'iTiirri>.  2-:  .   '"    ■    ■ 
hum.' by  >.r  !■■    %"e«,a-«;  r%s^ 
Siuniard*.    175:    .tut?  t'":ic*    :   '    ■• 
paifin.  r75.»r  ;  ;I-.rea:-.nvd  fror   i~     ■     I 
4«7. 

"  Bonavt'i-riirf."  v;:.    w*:  '..^    Hjt  «  ■    ■"  ■ 
for  the  "  I*"  -iii  V.  ■.  ,^.."  ;•.- 

Hi)r^ur;o.  lt\'.\-  ■  f  r.  ■-  \'~  .i»— *  .^r     : 

Bor;:h.\wn.  niir  M.',.1'«*t~'  '.'.  i  r   ■  ■  S-  —    '- 
camfX'ii  at.  441. 

B«im>u;:h.  .*^tiphrn  .-■  .1  W     .   — .  .    —    -     -; 
the  fl»Tt  to  c-  ■  i**;.    I.  i     -  ■  •  :      5 
7^  :  notice  •*!.  -*    k 

Borrtvrlen.  .Aiiri.ir   var.  i'''-w'.  r-- -    .-■--• 
at    Fin«.l.::\:.  r'  .    F-."---    -.j-.   "^    •  t. 
J.ic  ha  of  JI.  ;"i:  .:    4: 

Bo<-;.  cat!' of  r«r^!  :  -     ■/■-»-     ■: 

B(»<>>ti.  l."o«!rt,  i"rp"  ■■   "i:  ^  <     ■-.--.  •;■.  ■ 
Pt'n  Jn.iH  ■  t  Av-r'.i    4  . 

Boni.Inn,  r»m   d",  »:   '^•■■a".  «"■-  -■   p- 
Na*MU   lo  '■»■:     };-n     :  /    .    r«i  — --i    ! 
belh  I'f  Nai'i.i'i.  ri.-;h-r  rf  T::'*'"-    :        • 
Wijh  durit'c  ih-*  «irc-r  \A  Mu«i-    *■■    *, 

B'-tir'otJt,  in  corfiT.  ir.il  <A  t*»e  >r\j-'«r"  *•"■  •   * 
th-'  Bomm-l-w.-. irr.  ;-i 

Bou'e-t  ot   Sw:n*^hrid    l-^rp>  ri  :♦«?  t.L".* 
the  .^pani-h  !.«''%,  r-j.  « 

I'ra.ikm.in.  dtSTrip!  ;in  rt.  i-j.  j-  1,  ■. 

Bi-al>.int.  ^'5.  1 1. 

Brailfiinl.  Wi'.lj.im.  a  le\f?»r  i-»:  :*'r  p-  s— —  F* 
thLTji.  j'»7,  if.,  jS*;    notice  oi.  ^14,  m. 


INDEX. 


477 


Brandenburg,    Elector  of,   in   the   Protestant 

Union,  395. 

Bravo,  Juan,  in  the  assault  at  the  siege  of 
Sluys,  199;  governor  of  Antwerp,  at  the 
ftie^e  of  Hreda,  4^6, 

Breda,  {x>»iiion,  36;  plan  of  Maurice  to  sur- 
prise ilic  town,  15.S;  descripiion  of  the 
town,  159;  Spanii>h  troops  in,  \(iq\  peat 
boat  arrived  and  men  landed,  i()0,  161  ; 
Maunce  entered  the  town,  161  ;  flight  of  the 
Spanish  garribon,  162;  Heraugiere  made 
governor,  i6a;  description  of  the  scene  of 
the  peat  boat  exploit,  163;  tomb  of  Engel- 
bert  of  Nassau  at,  163,  361  ;  siege  by  Spi- 
nola,  4:^3  \  vicissitudcii,  4^5  ;  descripiion  of 
defences  and  environs,  425,  42^^);  attempt  to 
relieve,  437;  surrender  to  Spinola,  428;  re- 
capture, 429. 

Brederode,  Floris  de,  with  the  army  of  Prince 
Maurice,  iHi  ;  encamped  on  cast  side  at  siege 
of  Gcriruydenburg,  i8S;  at  the  battle  of 
Turnhout,  355 ;  at  the  siege  of  Bois-le-Duc, 
436;  and  of  Maastricht,  440,  441. 

BresktMis,  isle  of,  38,  10 1  ;  the  governor  of 
Sluys  to  retire  to,  and  thence  to  Flushing, 
no. 

Brett,  Captain,  took  home  despatches  from 
Ostend,  ^i6,  «. 

Brill,  c.^i>iur<d  by  the  Sea  Gueux,  29,42;  on 
the  island  of  Voorn,  36:  delivered  up  as  a 
cautionary  town,fH^;  Sir  Thomas  Cecil  made 
governor,  73  ;  description  of  the  town,  73  : 
Lord  Ilurgh  made  governor,  113,  i8i  ;  Sir 
F.  Vcro  made  povcrnnr,  25^ :  ycnrly  cost  of 
Brill,  25^  ti.  ;  f>ffic«rs  at  Hrill,  under  Vcre, 
25^,  tt  ;  Sir  F.  V-rc  at.  271.  .U7.  35o;  James 
I  procl.iiiuf  d  at,  314;  Sir  F.  Vcre  coiifirmt-d 
in  ih<.'  povtrnm<-nt,  34!;;  Sir  Horace  Vere 
madi'  pnvtrnor.  3S1  ;  restnrtd  to  the  States 
General,  ^"^A. 

Brittany,  Alan  of.  coded  the  Cou.ntin  to  Nor- 
mandy, 3 ;  Sir  F.  Vere  offered  a  command 
in,  171. 

BroadbtMit,  ma«5ter  of  the  "  Warspite  **  in  the 
"  Klaiifl  V<n'acc."  3^7. 

Brok-k,  c.istle  of,  on  the  Ruhr.  d''«;cription, 
371  ;  I>iin  Franci'-co  Arirarnhal  in  com- 
mand, 372  ;    dcsjK-rate    fi;j;htiiit;  round,  376, 

Brooke,  Sir  Callisthene^,  a  useless  officer,  306; 

diM-h,irc>d  bv  Sir  F.  Vere.  ■;07. 
Brooke,  Sir  Fdward,  slain  before  Gronlngcn, 

•  94. 

Brooke.  Sir  William,  in  the  "  Dreadnoutjlu  ** 
for  the  "  Island  Voya^^e,"  23S;  reached 
Flores  with  Raleiph,  243. 

Brouwershavi'n,  r  1. 

Brrniwrrshavcn  Gat.  I'l 

Browne,  Gvorvje,  saved  Morgan's  ensign,  out- 
side Flushing,  43. 


Browne,  Sir  William,  Uught  the  yomis  Veres 
the  military  art,  25  ;  knighted  by  the  Earl  of 
Essex  at  the  Azores,  349;  gossiping  letter- 
writer,  339,  M.,  347i  353. 

Bruges,  44,  2S0;  Parma  assembled  his  army 
for  tiie  siege  of  Sluys  at,  100;  canal  front, 
to  Sluys,  115 ;  old  map  of  Sluys  at,  116,  m.  ; 
old  map  of  the  country  round  Nieuport  at, 
283,  284  i  flight  of  the  Archduke  Albert  to, 
302. 

Brunswick,  Prince  Chri:»tian  of,  his  defence  of 
the  Palatinate  for  love  of  his  cousin  Elisa- 
beth, 410;  lost  his  bridle  arm  in  an  encoun- 
ter near  Namur,  410;  defeated  at  Hdchst  od 
the  Main,  414. 

Brussels,  Archduke  Albert  at,  254;  court  ol 
the  Archdukes,  277. 

Buccleuch,  Earl  of,  at  Mulheim  with  Sir 
Horace  Vere,  377. 

I'uck,  Captain,  in  the  Palatinate,  398,  404^ 

Buck,  Sir  George,  author  of  the  life  of  Rid^ 
ard  III.,  at  Cadiz,  234,  m. 

Buck,  John,  commanding  t  company  ander 
Sir  F.  Vere,  181;  wounded  at  Steenwyck, 
184;  kniglued  at  Cadiz,  234. 

Bucquoy,  Count,  commanding  a  division  at 
the  siege  of  Ostend,  310,  324,  327. 

Buderich.     See  IVesei. 

Buren,  marriage  of  Count  Hohenlohe  at,  art. 

Burgaii,  Marquis  of,  with  a  Tyrolesc  regimenti 
for  the  siege  of  Bergen-op4Soom,  ia6. 

Burgess,  Dr. ,  chaplain  to  the  Palatinate  reg^ 
ment,  39S;  his  exhortation  to  the  troops, 
406 ;  much  regretted  when  he  left  Franken- 
thai,  412. 

Burph,  Lord,  governor  of  Bnll,  131,  iSi ;  be- 
grudged supplying  Vcre  with  soldiers  for  the 
field,  201,  201,  n, ;  death,  25a;  notice  of, 
252,  n. 

Bnrgonet.     See  Armor. 

Burleigh,  Lord,  Sir  F.  Vere  presented  to, 
»3K»  expressions  of  loyalty  from  Sir  F.  Vere 
to,  171 ;  complained  of  Vere's  negligence  in 
dispatching  troops  to  France,  19 j,  200; 
Vere's  reply  to  the  Queen's  reprimand  sent 
to.  205 ;  sought  to  get  the  lease  of  Kirby  for 
hi<4  grand  -  daughters,  a  10;  feathered  his 
prand-dauj^hters*  nests,  381 ;  death,  269,  344. 
See  Cecil. 

Burleicjh,  2d  lx>rd,  conduct  on  the  occasion  of 
the  insurrection  of  Essex,  308.  See  CecU^ 
Sir  T. 

Burrougli  (or  Burgh),  Sir  John,  with  th^  Rng- 
lish  volunteers,  had  a  company  in  Leices- 
ter's army,  84 :  withdrawn  from  the  Nether- 
lands, 142  ;  death,  252,  n. 

Burrouch,  Sir  John,  sergeant-major  general  in 
the  Palatinate  regiment,  30*< ;  notice  of  hb 
family,  398,  n. ;  governor  of  Frankenthad, 
407i  415;  ^*  defence  of  Franksnthal,  41a, 


478                                           INDEX. 

«imnd.redF™ik(mhJ,4i5id«ith«ih,  ■ 

Cip»o. 

life  oCKhi.  4.0, -.                                          1 

BuKon,  Sir  Hcuty.  l«d   ot   iht  minor  ol 

t»i«. 

Hilclum,  )H. 

Br"».  1^>1.  «  Ibc  »t|K  ol  Uot^lc-Duc,  4]''t 

Cjpuin 

nand  under  »Ik  Vcrci,  is'^ 

Cirb.nt 

C*bo  d=  C»nur«lo  (or  La.iiptudo),  piy.  si. 

Cab..tk-K«ojJri.    S«C«-/>ni/. 

KOK, 

Cidii.  cii«iil»o  RK^lvcd  U)>.ii.  ii;;  lilt  of 

oftcm  ju»l  »hi[H,  119;  ptwHdvd  lo  Ply 

m«i:h,    ziol    uilcd    liDtn    (.-iwuiid,    iitl 

prw. 

Dolia 

C»»rw, 

B>y  .od  h.  d.fcM«,  «j :  S|»i>i>h  dd«v- 

»>• 

livo  ni'Uvm,  134;  eIm  bitjI  kHod,  »&, 

C.rk.0 

11;;  ilie  lind  o|m(i«ii.  i^ir..^  apttn  1 

i      Hai^ 

!       Sir  I 

\       VS.  • 

.     *■: 

ijj ;  mortham  ^ip>  borol.  imoui.t  ..(  W, 

«)!   oiinUiton  lofl   C«.li>.  2,.:    Jrt>iin' 

^rii". 

lilnaiy  tnirm.  i}5 1  aaihDriik'i  fur  ih<:  Cadii 

..p..dili™,  Lij. 

C«1K.( 

C»d«:id.  LJjiid  of.  j",  loi:  aiiick  br  Sit 

c«™. 

W3:.cr  Uu.ny.  .0^1  o«:ii)«d  by  Uk  Duke 

tore. 

of  riimi,  ib!>i  liaiury  m  Ifofitcde,  toft; 

1      Wl. 

proiX!.*!  ...  l..na  on.  (.*  tcli.f  oC  Sioyt,  .  .0, 

rejHff 

d«t. 

C*«r.Sir"j"ror™m^"Mr.™«.'-wido«, 

ioiIh 

liii.  I'.u*  7-.h  Lul  of  OxIiTtl  diilvaiEd  Uh  Canrid, 

t-ruDTh  .if,  7.  Jh*. 

IdmU,  (.'agniin,  rei.ulKd  nn  asuult  at  Ou-  Cinrjr 

:id.  i!«.  ion]  i 

i-..^i..:...  nilitinii.Hi   <>[   a   xiuidTon,   fA:  Colnc 

lOlli.iSiif,  .11.  icri[H 

mbriiii^r,  Ihe  i7lh  F.k]  uf  Oijotd  a  -Iiidcnl  46). 

i.ii  I  i.Igc-hin-.  railK'  of  Campr.  in.  Iitld  by  JJi 


INDEX. 


479 


Cavendish,  Henry,  joined  the  English  vohin- 
teers  in  the  Netherlands,  48;  at  Kymenant, 

50- 

Cav\>and  Bay,  the  Cadiz  expedition  sailed 
fruni,  221;  expedition  to  the  Arorcs  an- 
chored in,  240. 

Cecil,  I^vly  Diana,  married  to  the  18th  Earl 
of  Oxford,  421,  424. 

Cecil,  Sir  Edwanl.  first  service  in  the  Bom- 
m»^l-waart,  271;  commaiulinj^  cavalry  in  the 
division  of  Sir  F.  Vere,  for  the  inva-sion  of 
Flanders,  279;  his  charge  at  Nieujxjrt,  101 ; 
in  command  of  English  cavalry  in  tlie  Neih- 
erland-i,  3^8,  345;  one  of  the  four  English 
colonels,  ^64;  at  the  recovery  of  Shiys,  3*^)6; 
wished  for  the  command  in  the  Palatin.ite, 
39.^ »  397;  with  his  regiment  at  Hois-le-Diic, 
43f) ;  created  Viscount  VVimhledoii.  43":  his 
works  on  the  duties  of  a  soldier,  4O8  ;  his  life 
by  Mr.  Dalton,  471. 

Cecil,  Sir  Rob.rt,  at  Ostend,  m'.*ntion  of 
Francis  Vero  by,  117;  his  o|)iiiion  of  Prince 
Maurice,  145;  a  warm  friend  i>f  Sir  Francis 
Vere,  253,  271,  276;  created  Karl  of  Salis- 
bury: letter  to,  from  Sir  F.  V.;re,  rcsp.'ct- 
iiig  dismiss il  of  useless  officers,  307;  corre- 
spondence with  Sir  Francis  Vere,  34'^);  Vere 
reported  the  crant  of  a  pension  to,  347  ;  let- 
ter to.  from  Vere,  res|>eciing  his  Portsmouth 
command,  353. 

Cecil,  Sir  Thomas,  governor  of  Brill,  73;  su- 
perseded by  I^ord  Burgh,  113,  271.  Sec  Bur- 
Uish,  Lord. 

Cecil,  Sir  William,  Arthur  G-ilding  lived  in 
lli^  Ih'US',  18:  guardian  of  the  17th  Earl  of 
Oxford,  -!  ^ ;  married  hi>.  dau^^hter  Anne  to 
the  F.arl  of  Oxford,  24  ;  plan  of  H'-dingham 
Ca->tle  made  f<ir,  13,  n.  See  BurUi^h^ 
Lord. 

C\rda,  r)nn  Euis  de  la,  the  7th  Earl  of  Ox- 
f()r<l  ill  the  sea-fight  with,  off  Ouernsey,  7. 

Cb.iinl) -rl.Tin,  I.ord  (iie.tt.  luroditary  in  the 
fa'iiily  of  Vere,  5  ;  question  of  succession  to, 
4». 

Ch.^nHos,  Sir  John,  Constable  of  Aquitaine, 
^tnrv,  in  Fr'  issart,  nboiit  him  and  an  Earl 
of  Oxford,  proved  to  be  false,  \'^\-\,<^\. 

Cbarlf-magne.  fictiliou-.  descent  of  Vere  from 
a  brf>ther-in-la\v  of,  3,  n. 

Charles  I.,  accessi<in,  430;  E.idy  Fairfax  inter- 
rupted his  trill.  \i,\. 

Charles  the  P.oUl  of  Hurgimdy.  marriage  with 
M  iruaret  of  York,  \<^\. 

Charles  Lftuis,  El'ctf)r  I*alatine,  420;  restored 
by  the  Treaty  of  W.stphnlia,  42'V 

Chatillon,  Si.-ur  de,  slain  at  the  defence  of 
O^tetid.  31^. 

(Chester       See  /T «!,''//>/»   I'oluutrers. 

Chester,  C'o'.onel,  assistance  acknowledged,  vi., 
vii-,  354,  4^5- 


Cheyney,  Lieut.,  slain  before  Breda,  438. 

Chichester,  Sir  Arthur,  afterwards  Lord  Chi- 
chester of  Belfast,  services  transferred  to 
Ireland,  271 ;  sent  as  envoy  to  the  Palati- 
nate, his  message  to  Tilly,  415;  notice  of, 
415;  correspoqdence,  416,  n.  ;  sat  on  a  ques- 
tion of  precedence,  424,  n. 

Christian  of  Brunswick.     See  Brunswick. 

Christmas,  John,  commanding  a  company 
under  VerCi  181. 

**  Christopher,"  ship,  recaptured  by  Edward 
III.  at  Sluys,  102 

Clapton,  near  Hackney,  Lord  Vere's  house  at, 

433- 

Clare,  Adeliza  de,  ^^•ife  of  Aubrey  de  Vere,  2,  5. 

Clare,  Earl  of,  married  Elizabeth  Vere,  3S1; 
price  of  his  peerage,  433.  See  Haugkion, 
Holies. 

Clare  Priory,  14. 

Clark,  Captain,  engineer  at  defence  of  Ostend, 
322,  326. 

Cleves,  its  position,  34, 35  ;  troops  of  the  Duke 
of,  besieging  Reck  inghausen,  165;  territory 
ravaged  by  the  Admiral  of  Aragon,  270. 

Clifford,  Sir  Conyers,  sergeant-major  general 
in  the  Cadiz  expedition,  on  board  the 
"Dreadnought,"'  219;  in  the  naval  action, 
227;  his  regiment  landed,  228;  nent  to  guard 
th  *  approach  to  Cadiz  from  the  land,  229. 

Clifton,  Sir  Gervase,  accompanied  Leicester  to 
the  Netherlands,  78. 

Clothing,  arrangements  for  more  regular  sup- 
ply, i<;4«     See  Dress. 

Coblentz,  Spinola  crossed  the  Rhine  at,  399; 
Sir  Horace  Vere's  force  before,  401,  402. 

C(K;quille,  Antoinede,  governor  of  Steenwyck, 

Coevordcn,  37 ;  in  the  hands  of  the  Spaniards, 
175;  besieged  by  Prince  Maurice,  184;  sur- 
rendered to  Maurice,  185;  threatened  by 
Spinola,  370. 

Colchester,  16;  Leicester  a.,  on  his  way  to 
embark,  78 ;  Francis  Vere  joined  the  expe- 
dition at,  78. 

Coligny,  Admiral,  .Sir  John  Norria  served 
under,  4^);  two  sons  of,  with  Maurice  at  the 
battle  of  Nieuport,  270. 

Coligny,  Louise  de.  Princess  of  Orange,  her 
marriage  and  child,  31,  «• ;  letter  of  condo- 
lence to,  from  tlie  Queen,  68;  received 
Leicester  at  Middclburg,  80;  affection  of 
Maurice  for,  3<x>- 

CoUado,  Luis,  and  Diego  Ufano,  work  on 
artillery,  4^>8, 

Collins  repeated  Leland's  version  of  the  origin 
of  the  Veres,  3,  «.,  6,  «.  ;  on  the  fa»nily  of 
Hardekyn,  21  «.  ;  his  history  of  the  Veres, 
464 ;  editor  of  the  Sydney  papers,  47 «• 

Colne,  river  and  valley,  ii,  13,  14 ;  country  oC 
the  Veres,  17. 


48o 


INDEX, 


Colne  EnRaine,  i6. 

Coh>e   Priory.      See  Earl*s   Colm,    IVakt^s 

Colnt. 
Colc>};ne,    Archbishop    of,    troops    besie;;inK 

KccklinKhauseu,     i^^S-        See     Rheinherg^ 

Tnuhses. 
Colonel,  rank  of,  54. 
Colonel-general,  duties,  54. 
Colors  of  an  infantry  coini)jny,  55 ;  of  cavalry, 

Commentaries  of  Sir  Francis  Yere,  vi.,  357; 
circumstancet*  of  their  publicaiion,  omtunts, 

Com|>any  of  infantry,  formation,  55,  s'i,  59; 
divirlcd  into  sciuadrons,  5r> :  officeis,  55-57; 
pikemen  ami  shotmen,  57  :  colorN,  5*^. 

C^rii<«l>y,  a  spy  employed  by  the  Archduke  in 
OstciKl,  317, 

Constable,  the  i)ainter,  l)om  at  Fast  Rerxholt, 
11;  hi.'t  flc^ription  of  the  scenery  in  the 
vullcy  t)f  the  Stour,  12. 

Consiah'.e,  Sir  \Viiii;ini,  appointed  to  a  com- 
pany by  Sir  F.  Veie,  A)^  ;  K-nt  to  capture 
i^rounded  shi(ka  at  Cadiz,  J27  ;  at  Villafranca 
(AIl>^e^),  24H. 

Conti,  Apin,  con)n).indiii};  Italian  cavalry  at 
the  rclirf  of  Zutphen,  ><^ 

Conway,  Sir  Kdward,  aftcrward-t  Lord  Con- 
w.iy,  in  iliar.;i-  oi  gu.irN  (»n  ihi:  waiU  of 
Catli/,  2.;.>:  lieutenant-^overnt.r  uf  the  I'li!!, 
2!',,  M  .  u'-;  attiiiy  as  aci'ni  lnr  Sir  F.  Wre 
in  Kni;land.  jyil  mariii-d  u*  Mary  Tracey, 
sistir  i>f  I.nilv  ViTi*.  »st.  »  .  ^*"o ;•  envoy  to 
til'-  Prutr'statil  l.'ni«^n  in  CJt-nnanv,  v>-):  ''i'- 
tiiii:  on  a  qu-.^tion  (»f  piecedince,  424,  it.  ; 
nii'ifi'  of,  2?l,  H. 

C()Mv%av.  Sir  folin,  ma^-trr-g'-n*  ral  of  ordnance 
ill  Lcicevti  r\  army,  S5  ;  jjovfri.or  of  Ostend, 

Co. .};<■,    Sir    Fdwanl,   divu-^sion  with    Sir  F. 

Virr  (i!i  a  <:w>-tii>n  of  rank,  220. 
C.i.<:  ma  I  ,  J-lin.  a  Iw.y  at  fKi-  tid.  \« hipped  for 

!'■  ii.j  c  rvjlit  liv  lln-  »-i,i:nv,  .•■u. 
C.  •!    :j.  I.i.  Sit  .  w.-uMlr-'  \-  (•■n-  I'.n-da.  42* 
("- :!     r.'.iif,  A'Imiral  'f  tli  •  Snudan  of  jVrcf, 

<1  f  .!;■  il  Iv  thr  (ihri'^tian*  luar  Anticnh,  5. 
(  <  ■.;<  \  I.  CfOii/.ili-z   dr.    hit    in   command   of 

^i  .11  i  )i  Tii-ii.ps  in  tlu;  Palatinati>, 410:  pn'«is. 

i:  .'    \''ii    hard:  laid  vleue  to  I- rankentlwil, 

t'l.  4 1 -•  :   ra;-^-(l  the  •'i'-Cf.  41 1 
I.     '   \.t      I  .11.   >Jr,   comniaiidink;    cava'ry    at 

I-:    !..!■:.  .•;-. 
(<■•'.   !!'.  .1  I  a:i.ii'i  «>f  TrrHa,  invented  a  tower 

I.  ■  uli-  .  ]■  .«t  tl-r  ^i-  '^c  r»f  St'-i-nw\«-k,  i^{. 
.■.\.\  '■-.  *-ir  ri, Lilian.  dr;Mtly-k«'»iier  of  Fast 
'     I.'    -!.   i;i   !■. r  Sir  F.  Verc,  buried  at 


l".  I 
I. 

y 
c  • 
c- 


i' 


Corral.  Franciico  de.  coRimaadi;  ^  :he  >;a9- 

Uh  fleet  in  the  Azores,  Z47. 
Corselet.     &ee  ATtmor 
Corufia,   trcMip»  and   »}.i;  s  auent  t  d    v    . 

invade  Ln^land.  sr*' 
Corvo,  I»le  of,  sighted  by  :ke  c  ci  m  L->  : 

a4J- 
Cotentin,  Danish  <«ttleiDrri  m.  t  .  -{•-><  . 

of,  4;  levies  fiimi.  ai  the  bAi'.r  .^  ^  ■  .     . 
Cotton,  lildward,  bought   iSe   lL..r-.   •  .. -. 

351 ;  sold  it,  \i%. 
Coucy»    Philappu    de.    CiHini^s*    1.:    it      l 

tomb,  15,  M. 
Courcy  village,  on  t?ic  ><•  ...c^  4 
Cuurtena>s,  inlermarri.ic  »  .f;  *•"■'-•.  ; 
Coutances  Y*  ""  thv  ."^  .:.  r*.  4.    \   ■*  ^  :  ■: 

See  Seal  de  St.  Sauz  rmrs 
Craven,    Lord,  at   the    a;i:^?    nc    [.   ^-  ; 

416;  at  Maastricht,  44^:   r=:-.-t-:,  -  .    -. 

Vere  at  diuncr  in  tlic  trc&chc«    44^ 
Cre^is  Giiivaiini.  cocnman.:!!.^  1....:      s.    'f 

at  Zutphen,  1^3 ;    Hcil.crK^    :  v    L  >;  .    >« 

louichby,  94- 
Ciepping  H-ill,  manor  of  Cn«  S— 1   >     -.  : 

Francis  Vere  b.  ru  a:,  aj;    r««:  -t-  .       j 

Earl  of  0\fiird,  3^. 
Crcs«y,  uait.c  of.  the  f-..arl  %A  <''a:  .r:  .  .  • 
Crest  of  the  Veres,  15,  h  ,  ;•  : 
Crcvrccvur,  Fort,  cjp'.iir-.  :  \<\  \\  >  ■■  .. 

27a;  taken  by  :he  A  imi-i   li     \-j,   - 

soU]  to   Maui  ice   by  the    "^^m*  .>'     ,12-- 

»77. 
Cmmwcll,  Oliver,  a  N»rn  gr  n-»a'.    '■     " 

365;  oruaniiatiiin  of    thi-    r  :w  r.  ■  ■ 

improperly  .It: I 'Irti'ed  m.  4^7.  « 
Cromwell,  Captain  F.,  wuu-.^Jco  t«--'r  \ 

4»*«. « 
Cross,    Sir   Robert,   captain    of   t^*    ■   •> . 

Mire,"  in  the  Cadir  cxped.:    n.  :  •- 

nav.il  action,  297. 
Cnid-nburg  on  the   L:p-^.    ifi*  W-«*       :   • 

Kn.:!i9h  and  Dutcti  cavm  r.  C7i>««  :^k    1      « 

near,  214. 
CniNader*.  the  seo-nd  A "'»■••  r  Hf  Ve-r    1 

tiiui  lo  hi*  pai'rnj    «hKl<:.  5:  rrir'  *    ■ 

dr  Vere  with  Robert  ci  Ncjcmaiict  a:   '   -^ 

salem.  K 
CruMi.  John,  his  work  on  the  orc-.r  c  >'  • 

rami  I.  4**^. 
Cruviwick  manor  <<'tt*e«l  on  C««»<Jt«\  Vr—   :- 
Cuirass.     See  A  rwwr 
Cumberland,  Karl  n|.  arrived  tcr^  JU  tr  lU: 

part  in  the  defence  of  Slu>>,  1 :  j.  ■ 

Pacm.  Captain,  slam  before  Breda.  «:■• 

T^a^nCVVi  ^"^  (  f •  5:- 

Da'ton.  Mr  ,  Life  of  t  Ce«i".,  V:»c*rt  W  -> 

bifdon,  471. 
D^mmei  army  of  Yeluoo  ihreutusc  Haara 


INDEX. 


481 


from,  367;  marriage  cl  Margaret  of  York  at, 

«o3. 
Dampierre.  Count  Guy  de,  built  lightbouset  at 

Nieuport,  zif^y 
Danes  settled  in  the  Cotentin,  %. 
Danvers,  Captain  Sir  Charles,  in  the  Bergen- 

op-Zoom  garrison,  120;  knighted  by  Lord 

Willoughby,  132. 
Darcy,  Lord,  of  Chiche,  married  to  Elizabeth 

Vere,  19,  21. 
Darmstadt,  march  of  Sir  Horace  Vere  to,  403. 
l>avaIos,  Alfonso,  led  the  assault  at  Bommel, 

«73. 
Day,  Captain,  drove  the  Spaniards  out  of  the 

'*  Half  Moon  "  during  the  assault  on  Ostend, 

338. 

Declaration  by  the  Queen  of  her  reasons  for 
war  with  Spain,  70. 

^  Defiance,"  Lord  Mountjoy^s  ship,  in  the 
Island  Voyage,  337. 

Delft,  position,  37 ;  LeiceMer  kept  Christinas 
at,  Yii. 

Delfthaven,  departure  of  the  Pilgrim  Fathen 
from,  v.,  359. 

Delfziel,  a  port  on  the  Dollart,  invested  by 
Prince  Maurice,  175,  i(>3. 

Denmark,  mtssiunH  of  L<>rd  Willoughby  to,8t. 

Dent,  Mr.  John,  his  house  at  Mitcham;  re- 
ceived a  visit  from  the  Queen  ;  his  wife  and 
family;  death,  354;  widow  married  to  Sir 
Julius  Cxsar,  355. 

Dent,  ElixAbcth,  354;  married  to  Sir  Frands 
Vere,  356;  secondly,  to  Sir  Patrick  Murray, 
357,  'v-  ;  erected  a  monument  to  her  first 
husband  in  Westminster  Abbey,  361 ;  her 
death,  422,  h. 

Dent,  Mary,  354;  married  to  Sir  H.  Saville, 

Derby,  Earl  of,  at  the  attack  on  Cadzand,  loa. 
Dethick,  Windsor  herald,  on  the  staff  of  the 

Earl  cA  I^iccster,  S5. 
Deventcr,  a  ^t^aiot'ic  p«int  on  the  Vsscl,  35 : 

betrayed  by  StanKy,  v>S,  112,   172;  Heiman 

de  fU:rghe,  Rovemor,  171;  description  of  the 

town;  sief;e  commenced,  173;   surrtndered 

to  Prince  Mauricr,  174, 
Dexter.  Captain  K.ilph,  engineer,  at  work  on 

the  defences  of  Ontt'nH,  ^22,  3-6. 
Dicze,  river,  at  B'^is-'e-Duc.  272. 
Digges,  Thomas,  mustiT-mast«.'r  general,  notice 

of,  85  ;    his  report  on  Flu>hing,  76;  report 

on  ahii9<'«  and  on  payment  of  troops,  119; 

succeeded  by  Mr.  Sp.\rhawke,  204. 
Dikes  for  rcMrainini;  flotxlK  and  keeping  back 

the  "iea,  w,  in  lh<?  Hetiiwe,  164. 
DiUinc:ham.   Dr.,  ptihltHhed  Vere's  Ccmmtit- 

tar  Us,  1S7,  «  ,  %<^,  n. 
Docwra,  Sir  Henry,  knighted  by  the  Earl  of 

Essex  at  the  Azores,  24) ;  his  account  of  the 

battle  of  Tumhout,  vii.,  ^^i,  m. 


Doeabarst  a  atrategic  point  on  tlia  YaidL  95; 

in  the  hands  of  the  Duke  of  Pama,  S7; 

besieged  and  taken  by  Leiocater,  91;  :^ 

Francis  Vere  at,  171,  184 ;  battered  by  tiM 

Admiral  of  Aragoo,  ija. 
Dohna,  Count,  envoy  of  the  kinf  flf  BolMMiav 

alk>wed  to  raise  a  regiinent  in  Kngiand,  199. 
Dollart.    SteD^/ykiei. 
DomroeU  nver,  37a,  437. 
Dommenrilk,  M.,  with  tiM  French  oootingrat 

at  Mulhetm,  slain,  377. 
Doncaster,  Lord,  at  the  nage  flf  Boia-to4>«c; 

436. 
Donge,  river,  iupplied  Gertniydeidboff  met/L 

with  water,  137,  188. 
Donnerberg,  in  the  Palatinate,  493. 
Dordrecht,  position,  36 ;  penuonaiy  of,  ddb^ 

ered  an  oration  to  Queen  Elizabeth,  68, 69} 

Leicester  arrived  at,  8a 
Doria,  Nicolas,  takes  ptiaoner  at  MolhiiB, 

378. 

Dorp,  Van,  governor  of  Oatend  afttr  Sir  Fl 
CM  Vere,  331. 

Dragoons,  formation  and  aroaa,  6^ 

Drake,  Sir  Frands,  136. 

**  Dreadnought,'*  ship  of  Sir  Conyvs 
in  the  Cadii  expedition,  319^  in  the 
action,  337;  coromamled  by  Sir  W. 
in  the  Island  Voyage,  338 ;  kept  the  "  W«w 
spite"  company,  when  in  dutrewib  Hit  ^ 
Fayal,  344*  »^ 

Drenkelaar,  tower  at  Gmninftn,  19a,  193. 

Drenthe,  peat  deposita,  34;  Statea  GaMoi 
resolve  on  an  attempt  to  free,  175. 

Dress,  of  pikemen,  58 :  of  lancers,  6$. 

Drury,  Sir  Robert,  with  Vere  in  the  attach  of 
Cadiz,  330 ;  in  Vere^s  division  in  the  inva- 
sion of  (landers,  378;  rescued  Sir  P.  Vera 
at  the  battle  of  Nieuport,  399 ;  itMned  l» 
Ostend  with  Sir  F.  Vere,  313- 

Drury,  Sir  William,  appointed  fay  Lord  WO- 
loughby  to  be  governor  of  Bcrgen-op-Zooni 
but  not  onnfinned,  133 ;  hla  vakr,  ija ; 
withdrawn  from  the  Ketherlanda,  14a. 

DulxMs,  commisMry- general  of  aenkf  9(t 
Nieuport,  ordered  to  duuxet  fPi- 

Dudley,  Sir  Robert,  captain  of  the  **Nd«- 
pareil "  in  the  Cadis  expedition.  319. 

Dudley,  Captain,  his  good  aervice  at  Mm»- 
tricht,  446 ;  wounded,  447. 

*'  Due-repulae,"  flag-ship  of  Eiaes  on  die 
Island  Voyage,  337. 

Dugdale,  on  the  Vere  fanily,  464. 

Duisburg,  a  strategic  point  on  the  Rhiat,  js* 
165 ;  statue  of  Gerard  Mercator  at,  371. 

Duiveland,  39. 

Duncombe,  a  yoang  ktver  aerving  in  dm  Plri^ 
tinate,  his  end,  408. 

Dunes,  detcriptioo  0^33,  j9};  duMaol  MiMN 


482 


INDEX. 


port  described  by  Sir  Francis  Vere,   2S5,  ' 

2S9. 
Dunkirk,   Parma    ready   to  embark  at,    125; 

Parma  broke  up  his  camp  at,  12^;  attacked 

by    Prince    Maurice;    Vcre   wuuuded,  170; 

design  aj^ainst,  2  7*<. 
Durango,  Kort,  attacked  by  Sir  Francis  Vere, 

275. 
Dutch  republics  founded,   31  :    character    of 

the  people,   ^4;  gallantry  uf   Dutch   troops 

III.     See  Itiux. 

Dyle,  rivL-r,  50. 

Earl's  Collie,  i)rIory  founded  by  the  first  Al- 
bt'ric  do  Vcri",  s.  h.  ;  death  of  the  fifteenth 
Earl  of   Oxford  at,  <; ;    biiri.d- ])iace  of  the 
£larls  of   Oxford,  14  ;    dc-iription,    15,  16;   ' 
monuments  btiil  pn-served,  le,  «, 

Edmonds,  Mr.,  t«»ok  .Sir  Y .  Vcrc's*  despatches 
home,  after  Nieiip  irt,  305. 

EldmundN,  S..otii>)i  (.oloiiel,  .lided  Horace 
Vcre  at  Heerew.j.irdi-n,  274. 

Edward  I.,  the  tUtli  and  »ixtli  Karls  of  Oxford 
served  under,  '.. 

Edward  III.,  John,  sixth  Far)  of  Oxford, 
served  in  the  wai>  of,  7;  exix-diiion  to 
Cadzand,  101:  h.ittie  of  Sluy-t;  went  a  pil- 
grinianc  to  Ard.-nhur^,  \'>2. 

Edward  IV.  bcheailed  the  twelfth  Earl  of 
Oxf-.rd.  S. 

Elector  Palatine.     S  e  FrfJrrkk. 

Klejry  on  Sir  I-raiuis  V.-re,  V't  « 

Eli/.abeili,  (J  i-.  •  11.  j'l ;  admin d  the  'cventeenth 
Farl  of  «  Ktord,  -•4;  ftiri-d  into  tlie  war 
with  .sp.ii.;,  \i,  ».;;  unistrr  of  voaint^ers 
b.'fore,  4-' ;  li  r  int.i.--t  in  ilif  N«>rii«.  family, 
4S ;  fiiiid  li;,>  fur  J..i'iv  Ni»'ri'.,  41;  heljK'd 
the  Prii.i.e  of  Otaii;;i-  wi.h  m  -n  .md  n)«irey. 
52 .  Ii  r  I'l.ii.s  iiiMii  (i'-iMHNi-  |t.it:kcrs,  ?_•; 
h«'r  army  1  r.:  m.y-  d  on  tlur  ^p.i:;i«>li  iiinde!, 
5^;  h'.'r  II?  t  I'.i  !  « ■>iidikl--n<->- .liter  the  a>''aN- 
siiia'i  n  (if  ;li  •  I'i.ii*.e  <f  Oran;;-.',  ^7  ;  n.- 
Ce".\.«l  f\.>-.-  lii-n  the  St.i;i;s,  f.^  :  tnaty 
y.\\\\  til-.-  .-:.i:-  -  ( '.  :-i.d,  '.^  :  her  decinraii-.n 
of  war  \\\\\\  ^^,  ii  1,  iii  ,  '.,:  I.«>rd  North's 
pri;-e  if  h  r  j.i'ii\,  *•.•  ;  .ii;\iely  to  letain 
Sliiys.  111:  >ir  I  t.iM  :•.  ViTe  fi:'>t  hrouiht  to 
hi-r  no'ii  .  \\\\  hi-r  !-:tei'>  to  Lord  Wil- 
li-ii  Ii'  V,  ;  .  I  |i  ;  -.i,'  iritv  in  Si-lecting  Vcre  ' 
I'  r  V '  .  :  I  !•:  :i.i'  d,  1 1-'.  I  \\  \  her  f;racious  1 
I-  r  I  !  \'  ir.  i|;:  i:raci<nis  messajie 
t-     \  ■'    ■    :   '1    ^ir    I     Nnrr'.,    171;  rrpri- 

n:.f  e  :  V  i-  t  i  ,  ..  ..;ii,^  fount  Ph::ip  of 
N"'  .!,.•;  !  ■•  \  d  t«i  ■>  ml  in  exp-diti'^n 
to  <  I  .  •.  ■:  ;  .■  r-  ■■..,«  witli  Veri'.  who  de- 
f-  ■•  !  !  :!i  ■  I-  ■'.  :  !■  -  \.  .•?!  ;  mad-  >ir  F. 
V-  '■  .■  •  ■  I-  .  r  ■■:  !:■  :.  .•;  ;;  Ip  r  r-ti-r  to 
V-  ■■■  1  ■.  I  :'•.  ■  .,'  .■  I  !  r,i  t:l:i-;{.  .-»  2  ;  h-r 
o;-  ■!■..;  >  [  I  ■  I-  I  ,  V  le.  .♦'  .».  .'-1  ;  limu  ■ 
ji.t'TM-  w  \\,\   s.i    |ra:...i.?  Vere.  J/-.  ;  com-   j 


mendition  of  Vere  after  the  bat*!r  cf  N*  -. 
port,  304;  reiuctar.ce  lu  JLSscnt  to  L:  «t'. .- 
lion  of    F.^^e*.   jo**.   «.  .    »:ea_:*  : 
defence  uf  Ootcnd.  31;;  <:r.ic-p  d  \\.r  \  .- 
Northumlxrrlaiid  tu  fL'rLf.-ar  a.*.  1:*  -*: 
Vere,  3.15;  her  tKnc**,  ;4i«  «4-";  «  -  " 
her  |ia  I  not  ism  and  |-ub-;c  *pr.-.  :«.       -     '. 
her  early  friend  A .  h«r(Ica:h  a  c^r^:  -^  .~ 
344f  J*/-:  her  teavnio  :■  t  r.?:  h-ta:.  ■ :  '     f 
Vere  a  jHier.  2'.2,  ;-2.  \\\    w^i'.'.t  ^I•   I    ■■ 
and  bir  Ju.iu»  Cx^ar  j:   M.i>...a::     ::.^  • 

Kiizabcth.  dau|;Kter  %A    ]z.rr.f^  I  ,  -j  -  . 

the  Kiect'-r   Paiatii.c.  j  .5;    I  •-•.■.:■  ■ 

Hoh'-niia   an<i    r(,fu;;c    at    t.' •:    Ha;.-     . 

devotion  f»f  Eiii^.i-h-n-n  t.'  \x  r   .^  .-■    . 

her  dowcr  houw  at  Frar.kcii::-.^..  *.: .  - 

sie>;c  of  Bois-Ic-Duc,  45^. 
Fmmerick,   a   stratenic    jK-lt :   r-r.    ::-  ?-.  •. 

35.  *«^- 

Em-cher,  river. in  W<-s*|iha'.a.  i*.:.     >-r  ."-  •■ 
litti^kiLitien. 

FpRlc^^en.  Count      Set  .\'.i..iv 

F:iuii>h  re.imeni>«  ii.  ihe    N-:::-."  a    1-. 
Continuous  tr.idit ■•■:.,   41  :    .!:•-•--• 
Iffftre  the   >|J.i':Jr  ■«..   41:   !t'>r*'   v-     ■■ 
war  irmn  SpJOiioh  s'i'.;iier-'.  4:     ■',  -    4. 

5^:  voliiiiieerN,  4^.  44.  4*  .  4- .  i"  r    ■  • 
«o;  tentative  eTTiir:*.  uf.    «2  ■--;     ;■ 

Nieu|»iil,    s  r*',     irre.it    *!.ii  ;*';  •    ■ ". 
ne>:>iiiatii'n    re'-;«c  i-.,:    tlie    .e^a.    »:-"_ 
^40:  n:  T'OiN-'ifDuc.  43'<. 

Enkhu\^en.  37. 

Envij;!!  of  a  company.  hi>  d:.t.c<.   -re  •.    :■ 
5^ 

Kiic,   Pitntf  «f   Sweden,   er.trr-jirri   i.      • 
sixtecT.lh  F-ul  t%\  Oxfi  r  !.  zz. 

Frnt«-t,    Archdik-,    in    cumn.arii  *i    ?;-     i 
army.  i'>) ;  lieath.  see 

Friifit.  Ci»iint.      >ee  A  .»/«»» 

Krrinuiim,  C.ipiaiii.  «n.ci:;  :s  \  *"►»;•-  •'  ;  -r  ^- 
<Jiieen,  77.  Rovir-.ir  ^•i    Karr-.r*-*    . 
on   l.ord  \V.;iou(;hby"*  counL.!    .  :   »  .*.  :   ' 
ri-tire«l.  i^i 

F-'Caladitii:  a  fnrt  near  ni!.!eri».».  r  • 

F»"><*x,  e-'taii-H  •■!  the  Veres  ;r.       >'«  .'"/j  -r 
h.t  ttu  Ki  rfy,  /  ;.'A*  r  r 

Kn^x,  R«»t»^ft.  Farl  of',accf<mpar  *e.-i  l^    •••  — 
to  the  Nctherland*.  7';  currm.ir.  Jed  »    •  • 
of  horse,  S4;  in  the  chance  at  War-*:-  -     . 
made  a  banneret  on  the  field,  f  .  ','■       -»•■* 
at  Sir  Philip  Sidnev**   furcraJ.    /  .   ■      i 
tempt  10  Ro  \t%  th*  4i«.  e  nf   >.u^-«    :   -    • 
to  cnmmand   ihe  Sanrf  forces  ir-   :Ke  ■  i: : 
e\i>t.di:i4in,  .'17.    in  the   •"Repute"" 
ferred  with  Vere  oi!  I>over.  214     laT-i*.  1: 
Rve.  and  went    to  cnuri   w.:h   Vere 
se-ilril  a  question  tif  rank  bc?«rcr«  K  .  -  .^ 
and  Vere,  221;    cnncurrrd  with  RaVi;     i» 
to  going  round  to  Cadii  bay,  U4.  2^1 .  f 


INDEX. 


483 


the  naval  action,  227;  landed  wiili  Vcre, 
228;  took  Vere's  advice,  2V}\  led  the  i>arty 
which  scaled  the  walls  of  Cadiz,  231;  to 
command  an  cxi>ediiion  to  the  Azores,  237  ; 
intervi'.w  with  Vere  at  Sandwich,  23S ;  re- 
conciled Raleigh  and  Vere,  iy)\  his  ship  in 
danger,  241  ;  sailed  a  second  lime,  243  ; 
reached  Hores,  243;  arrived  at  Fayal,  and 
found  Kahigh  in  possession,  244;  held  a 
court  of  inquiry  on  Raleigh,  245  ;  missed  the 
Spanish  fleet,  246;  landed  at  Villafranca  off 
St.  Michael's,  24M  ;  sniukinn  tobacco  at 
Villafranca,  24^^ ;  superintended  the  embar- 
kation of  troops  24'>;  conferred  knighthood 
on  several  officers,  249;  his  character,  250  ; 
his  Conduct  defended  10  tiie  Queen  by  Vere, 
252;  his  hostility  to  Vere,  271,308;  insur- 
rection and  death,  45'). 

Essex.  Robert,  Earl  of  (son  of  the  above), 
joined  the  Palatinate  regiment,  3'>S  ;  led  the 
first  division,  404;  witness*'d  Spinola's  re- 
treat, 40^) ;  sent  home  by  Vere  to  explain 
the  position,  40S;  raised  a  rej^imcnt  for  ser- 
vice in  the  Netherlands,  424;  trained  in 
the  sch(K)l  of  the  Veres.  45^. 

Evans,  lieut.  of  the  Earl  of  Sussex  regiment, 
first  over  the  wall  at  Cadiz.  23'- 

Ewers,  Sir  William,  kniRhted  by  the  Earl  of 
Essex  at  the  Azores,  249. 

Fairfax,  Sir  Charles,  with  Sir  F.  Vere  in 
the  invasion  of  Flanders,  279;  rallied  the 
men  at  the  battle  of  Nionport,  301,  508;  a 
hostajje  in  tin-  An  luhike's  cinip,  321,  32-; 
returned  to  OnIciuI.  x-iw  station  at  the  as- 
sault. 3^-1,  3y>  ;  foviuht  ualianlly  in  the 
brtach.  3;ro;  nfitice  of,  3.'  j.  330,  //.  ;  attacked 
Velasco  luar  Shiys.  3'-;,  4c.'. 

Fairfax,  Jihn.  in  the  Palatinate  re^jiment, 
3  i*  ;  at  \Vt  ^fl,  401  ;  in  rrankcnlhal,  412; 
sla  n  in  anout\\ork,  413,  452. 

Fairiax.  Sir  Thom.i^.  i^t  Lord  Fairfax.  452; 
servin;;  in  Lcicr-trr's  army.  ^4  ;  appointed 
to  a  company  l-y  Sir  F.  Vfrc,  2i.\\\  notice 
of.  ^03.  w.,  4'>'".  ft.:  ii'iiitd  bi-i  sous  in  the 
camp  before  Wc^i!.  401  ;  nccivcd  news  of 
the  deatli  r>f  liis  soti^i.  41  \. 

Fairfax,  Sir  Thomas,  ^d  Lord  Fairfax,  mar- 
ried Anne  V«-r«',  3^1^  „  •  ^\  j),,.  siepe  of 
Poiv-Ir- 1)110,  43;,  4  M.  4=2;  trained  undt-r 
Lord  \'ere  ;  oi'^ani/cd  the  new  mo«lel 
armv,  41^7. 

Fairfax,  Wi'.linrti,  in  the  Palatinate  retjimcnt, 
yt^ ;  at  Ui-^cl,  401 ;  fired  upon,  near 
CoM'-nl/,  40?.  4  >4  ;  in  p'rank<-n!hal,  412; 
wounded,  d-ath.  41;;  moinimcnt,  413,  «., 
4?2. 

Falmouth,  Phi  ip  II.  intiiidcd  to  land  an 
annv  at,  .';o. 

Farnese,  Kanuccio.son  of  ihc  Duke  j>f  Parma, 


conducted  the  retreat    from   the    Betuwe, 

178. 
Farnese,  Count,  in  the  assault  on  Ostend,  334. 

See  Farma,  Dukt  of. 
Faroll  in   Algarve,  Cadiz  expedition  touched 

at,  234. 
Fayal  Island,   244;    Horta    the  capital,  144. 

See  Behaim.     Essex  and  Raleigh  to  attack, 

244- 

Ferdinand  IL  elected  Emperor,  395. 

Fenner,  captain  of  tlie  **  Tremoutaine  *'  in 
the  "  Island  Voyage,'*  238. 

Ferrol,  Spanish  fleet  assembled  at,  for  the 
invasion  of  Ireland,  237,  240,  242;  project 
to  attack,  abandoned,  243. 

Flanders  (Dutch),  position,  38.  See  Axel^ 
Sluys,  Ttmheusen.  Invasion  ordered  by 
the  States  General,  279;  detail  of  invading 
force,  278. 

Fleming,  auditor,  at  the  siege  of  Ostend, 
325,  328, «.,  329. 

Flemings  settled  at  the  Azores,  344. 

Flood,  Mr.,  hit  on  the  elbow  by  a  shot  from 
Coblentz,  402. 

Floods  in  the  Netherlands,  33. 

Flushing,  seaport,  position,  38;  Pacheco 
hanged  at,  arrival  of  English  volunteers,  42  ; 
Spaniards  open  fire  on  the  walls,  43 ;  fight 
of  English  volunteers  outside  the  town,  43 ; 
one  of  the  cautionary  towns,  69 ;  Sir  Philip 
Sidney  appointed  governor,  73  ;  importance 
of  the  position,  74;  description,  75,  76; 
the  E^rl  of  Leicester  landed  at,  79 ;  body 
of  .'^ir  Philip  Sidney  embarked  at,  96;  Sir 
William  Russell  made  governor,  97 ;  death 
of  Sir  William  Pelham  at,  113:  Sir  Robert 
Sidney  made  governor,  1 13,  184;  Francis 
Vere  at,  on  approach  of  Spanish  Armada, 
125  ;  marriage  of  an  English  officer  to  a  bur- 
gomaster's daughter,  156, 157;  number  of  the 
garrison,  181 ;  Sir  F.  Vere  at,  receiving  re- 
cruits. 169;  fleet  for  the  recovery  of  Siuys 
assembled  at,  366. 

Fontenai-le-Comte.  Francois  de  la  Noue  lost 
his  arm  at  the  siege  of,  49. 

Forage-master,  duties,  65. 

"  Foresight,''  commanded  by  Sir  Carew  Rei- 
gnall,  for  the  *'  Island  Voyage,"  238 ;  then 
by  Sir  Alexander  Ratcliffe.  241. 

Fortifications,  65. 

Foxcroft  rescued  W.  Fairfax  at  Frankenthal, 

4«3- 

Frankenthal,  403  ;  Sergeant  -  Major  General 
Burrouph  governor,  407  ;  sieire,  411  i  de- 
scription of  the  town  and  defences,  411; 
siege  raisrd.  413  ;  Sir  Arthur  Chichester  at, 
41 «; ;   second  fiece,  surrender,  419. 

Frankfort,  Sir  Horace  Vere  crossed  the  Main 
near.  402,  403. 

Frating,  manor  of  the  Verca  at,  16. 


484 


INDEX. 


Frederick  Henry,  Prince  of  Orange,  birth, 
32,  ».  ;  w.th  bis  brother  Maurice  at  the 
battle  of  Nieuport,  279;  at  the  recovery  of 
Sluys,  3*^6 ;  commanded  the  cavalry  at 
Mulheim,  372,  373;  his  troops  routed  by 
Trivulcici,  374;  gallantry  at  the  fii;lit  round 
liriiick,  i7'i,  377;  his  brother'N  affection  for 
him,  yio ;  suco-edcd  his  brother  Maurice, 
427;  rcsolvLtl  tit  capture  IJois-lc-Duc,  43s; 
advar.ced  with  his  army  to  Vucht.  43*1;  hi» 
ordtrs  for  the  sic^e  of  Itois-le-Duc,  437: 
lictis-le-Duc  surrendered,  417;  his  army  for 
the  siege  of  Maastricht,  440:  headqiiarters 
west  of  Maastricht,  441;  Maa&tricht  sur- 
rendered, 446. 

Fn-derick  IV.,  F.lector  Palatine,  husband  a 
Prince    Maurice's    sister,    Louisa    Juliana, 

Fre'lcrick  V'.,  Elector  Palatine,  married  to 
Kll/aheih,  daii>;liier  iif  James  I.,  3^^4.  vj?  ; 
their  home  at  lliiiK-lbcr;:,  3f)5  ;  accepted  the 
ci('\%n  ot'  I>olu:niia,  3-  $,  3/1:  his  critical 
po^ilir)!).  y'/y\  lli^ht  from  Pravrue,  407; 
beiit  a  iomini>M«in  to  Sn-  tiorace  Vcre,  40*, 
j<  incd  Mansfelt  in  the  Palatinate,  414;  left 
the  Paiatinait*  never  to  return,  41s'.  his  son 
rt».tir'.d  by  th-  Peace  of  Westphalia,  420: 
at  the  M.  Ke  of   IJ<  i—le-I»UC,  4^^. 

Frie^lai'.d.  represeiit.r.ivesuf.  at  the  Uni<m  nf 
Uireelit,  .^i  :  partlv  swijUowed  up  by  the 
se.t,  Ti :  th.iracter  of  the  l-ii^iai  s,  \'*>\  wais 
with  Hi>'.l.uui.  ^'j:  States  (Jeneral  resolve  on 
an  atiemi^t  to  fiee,  175. 

FIi^i.^l1■-,  pa:rii>ti>»m,  3s,  i.j©;  in  Ver-s's  divi.s- 
ion  for   the   invasion  f»f  Flandt-rs,   27*:  at 
the  l.attl'T  of   Niiiii«ort,  an"),  2i/>,  297,   300:    ■ 
at  the  flefviice  of  Ostciid,  316;  lady  marr.ed   •■ 
\\v  1  ,th  K.\il  ■•[  ()xti-nl.      See  Hetnmftn.x.   • 

Fr«ii'--.iit.  (li-paia-^riiiL'  s:i'r>'  about  an  Earl  of 
Ovt'iiiil  in.  piovfi'.  tit  ),r  f.i'v,',  4/«i-4f.^. 

Fn- !^t-. -,  Hdu  Ptfhit  II«-iiii()iii'/  de  A/i-vi-do, 
("(•M'K-  d/,  .i>M»ciati-d  \\i:h  Count  Mai:'sfeit 
in  (•>in:n.uid  of  tlie  S|  ai(i>h  aimy,  i^(.,  255. 

C».i:n-''«-r"u:.'h,  the  painter,  l>orn  in  the  valley   ' 
ct  i\\    <'.!  nr.  1 1. 

t"ii'-,   fi-iil.      S-e  /:'»'<,•■';» A  J'oiUtttrers.  I 

('..i'  ;  ,  w.-ik  on  aril'i-rv.  4^''. 

(li!i    .1  111  «1.'  li  Vr  a.  in   lis  "  R<»y.il   Ci^m-   • 
n:   :t(--,   (if     1*.  rn."    itti  i.vil    i  art    'f    the 
wti'v  (f    I'.Vt-.  V-  i-ra,    savi  tl  fr'^m  the  sa*.k   \ 
<;<»!!/,;"•  I 

(i.iv'.i  ■■  r,  I.i-n.  tr.un.-d  by  th-  Vt-res.  four.def 
c:   .1  t  "•■'iP.- rt.i  ;".t  ><'t"em«.iit.  ;^*«"  1,  45*.  1 

i\.\.  :    \.  Iii.m   (".i:'i.  rr-z  <1.  ,  c^Mnmanded  the  ' 
S'l  •■■II-  h  :'■.  -t  !"  !*•  ■  .\/«ri  -.  ^  \-^. 

"(;.,:' I-   ;."   ■'   ■   1  .;■'  |.f    S.'i:?''smp'<m*s  ship 

('.i-  't.  I  ■  ■  ;  V  :  ''  ■  t:  =  ■»!,  !•:-;  -.^c^l  service 
.1:  -l-.e  -i    ,e  "i  M.i.r  :r:(!it.  446.  i 


Garth,  Lieut.,  »!ain  before  Maa^triLh!.  m£ 
liavray,  village   in    the    l.r-:c:.i  t  .  r^-  ^    : 
Vcre  held  of  the  iuiHr...r  n—  ■  :  « :  •ijtri- 
3.  n-t  4- 
Gclderiand,  reprfst.r.:a:i\ cs  .;    :'  .    1  :.  -   = 
L'trecht.  31  :  po>it^t:..  \-.    \   .  v  ._::'!  .i 
governor   «.f,  Xo :   bl-  tie^t:  .   i:,.   *  _   >  : 
request   Sir  F.  Verc   lo  re..-.*t    K:  ?     .fi 

Gelleet.  J:.(.qiies.  <  f   F:i.-}   :  ^.  1":,..      -  r 
ried  to  .in    Ki.;;;.-h    i:T?. -r       >. .-   J.^..^". 

Ciemblours,  b -ttie  n:,  :i. .  4  ..  j  j. 

(tcneral  of  an  arm\.  c  i. 

Genoese  bankers,  tit vir  >ju:.»  :.  «,'j.-i  i  -^ 
beth,  $2. 

Gerard.  Sir  T.,  c^'P-.  mar  ■.;!.;:  .»  r  j  ■•:'  .  . 
on  the  Council  <^f  vk.ir  ;:.  rh  -  «. .  .;  -i-- 
tion,  2iy;  Iji*    n^iimiT.!   '.,.    .  :.   .;•      ^ 
to  guard  the  appr^^aih    t.-  t  » 1.;    :    :..  ■  j 
land,  22  4. 

Geratd.  Mair,  ptrira  :  i :'  }■:.•, z-  '.:*i 
(L.idy  Hjrv.iiur;    li.  ^i  N..:  :  .  .-.  .  r, 

(iermersheim,  M.,i,«-'e  :'-  .,t.  .     ■.  i.« 

GcrtruydenbuTi:,     p:-::,^.;,,  r-  .    ■     • 

137:  mutiny  cif  the  -.■■i'^.v.    .    :    '.  r- 

up    to    the    Spani.i:.!-.     1:..    i-  .*■     - 
Prida  absert    ar.    r- ..    -:•  j;t    ct  - - 
»**7:  extfn:^i\e  «'irgr  ».  •'».•,   i»*  .  ;   ■»     ■.*- 
reiidvred.  i*»,  ;  tr<-  ;  *  c     I  1  '.?  Jt.  ■    -."  " 
on   Tumhi  ut.   asj.    a;\  r  ^a'..  :      Jr...- 
cauM'wa.'  <tf.  4^  .. 

GiTvi!?!-,  M  rli ,  f-:  il.p  S.  ■  c:\  :  j\--  ;  -• 
C'f  Nfrnianil". .  b.^  < ;  ;i  .•  i.  s-  :.•;  ..1 
of  the  Vin*.  ^,  m. 

Gesiinfithorin.,  a:.  2s     S..-e  /:' I'J^  \:^    «"'  -  ■ 
/.m 

Geule.  harbor  ff  <»-:i:i!.  i-,  ,;:.  1.  ,-: 
l;urqiii?y*>  1  at:-. 'i   -  ..■    •      .  :i4 

Ghent,  army  <  f  tli    .\u  !.*„.*«.■  c  -c«r  '-i  : :  *■- 

2*'0. 

Ohfvn.  Ja  i>\'  di .  n:  '.r.  r^  n  .'  ■  jt     4'' 
(lie^viUs.  I*t  :e:   \a'..  1  ;  •    •  '   tI      ^    *■  .r    rs  ;.' 

<M..i  d.  jixr>.  x\i. 
Ctletlifrn,   vilia;:e   nejr  S'.ic  *\.'k,    1*:      -:■ 

a!r>-  of  the  IxMeti-r-  a:.    •: 
<.iifiFi>rd,   Sir   Gi  or.  e.   ca;*..:i    i^    ■>'    "    ,, 

tance."  in  the  i  ari.-  '\:tr  '-.  -.     .  ?.  . 
Gilben.   S.r  H-mprirv.>.  ."r:.\    ■ 

with   volunti-iT-*,   4x;    I.  »   p  . 

(iitcs  44i  4( :  ltd  an  a:Ta..L.  4 

K norland.  4^. 
Gi'beM.  Capia'n.  «:th  Sir  I"    Vi -i    ;■  ■>*     - 

vasion  vi  F  landen*.  174;  *  ^  :    i'  >.!-,>--*- 

.^01. 
(ii'p  n,   Mr.,   envo%-  at  ib^    H^r-.tr.  x'  -  *-■ 

rrtiled    Ml      P-IIrv.    ?»;  Cil"   jfi?   ■!    >J 

F-  Ven    ;n  ni):i-;ia:e  ths   n. »    irvj'y   r- 

sudden  death,  .i-t. 
Gilscn.  \-i'Iage  iieAr   Urcda,  arr.ra.  ol  Sfia:^ 

at,  426. 


I  ,     'I 


r.;-r-  .-. 


INDEX. 


485 


Ginehen,  near  Breda,  occupied  by  Spaniards, 

426. 
(fineheu  (iate,  at  Breda,  defence  of,  426. 
Gis^ant,   Sieur  de,    governor   of   Gcriruyden- 

bur^,  slain,  1S9. 
G^u^tiniano,    Pompco,    notice  of    his  history, 

Cilci^j,  Mr.,  his  l)ioj;raphy  of  Sir  F.  Vere,  vii. 

(iiemham,  Sir  Thomas,  at  the  sicRe  of  Hoi>-le- 
Diic.  43'^>,  4,\)\  reared  in  the  scliool  of  the 
Vcr.,.S  45'). 

(ii)CiK-rer<le  Island,  \U. 

(i<»CN,  citv  01'.  in  ^outh  Bev«^land,  \^\  plan  of 
the  sic>;'-,  44;  description,  45;  besieged  by 
Kn^lish  volunteers,  46;  measures  of  relief, 
4<) ;   siej;e  raised,  4S. 

Goldinc,  Arthur,  a  voluminous  translator,  un- 
cle t>f  the  17th  Karl  cf  Oxford,  uS  ;  his  trans- 
lation of  Caisar  in  the  library  of  Miles 
Starulish,  iS,  n.  ;  lived  much  with  his 
nephew  the  17th  Karl,  23. 

GoUlins;,  Margaret,  second  wife  of  the  i6th 
Karl  of  Oxford,  iS 

Goldin^,   Pcrci\al,  his  pedigree  of  the  Veres, 

3.   n  ,  4"4- 

Gomez,  Antonio,  in  the  assault  at  the  siege  of 
Sluys,  10;. 

(loiuloinar,  Count,  Spanish  ambassador,  his 
nitUience  with  James  I.,  40S. 

Gonzago,  Atinibal,  commanded  Italian  cav- 
alry at  the  relief  of  Zutphen,  93  ;  mortally 
wounded  at  Warnsfeld,  </5. 

(ioodycre,  Cajnain,  knighted  at  Warnsfeld,  i^. 

(iorciirn  and  I.owestevn,  men  selected  from 
gari  ixin-.  of  C'oinit  IMiilip  <»f  Nassau  at,  for 
>ci\:c.-  in  ihi.-   jxjU  boat  to  surprise   Breda, 

Gurj-  <.   Sir  Arthur,   Raleigh's  captain   in   the 

'■  Is  .i!id  Voyii;..-,""  237;  his  narrativir  of  the 

expjdii'.on,  34  f,  tt. 
Gor^'cs.   Sir   Ferdinand,  at  the  si.'j^e  f>f  Sluys, 

105;   sert;' ant-major  J,',  iieral   for  ilie '*  Island 

Voya<<',"  237;  too  sL-asick  to  pn)ceed,  241  ; 

conumnded  a  company  at  the  Brill,  253,  n.  : 

connection    with    Maine    colonization,    3*0, 

4>^- 
(Joi'  .:.    I^rd,    reared    in    the    school    of    the 

V.-r   s.  4^'>. 
( iii-;i  id.     Sfi-  Huttt, 
(»"■-[> -It ,  reported   to   by   sailors   n\M"nix   to   the 

p<ir;  r--.:u'alions  at  I'Drtv-niontli.  3^;. 
Coil  1,1.  j>osition,  -,7  :   vt. lined  i:lass,  3.,;  defeat 

of    I".n_'"iHh   volunteer-^  at,  4^. 
CxMi^li.    Hirlurd,    tnanustript    history    of     the 

V'lrcs,  4'«s. 
Gover,    mister  of    the  '•  Dne-repnlse  "  under 

K.ssex,  :;37;   Iii-;  fatil   advice,  ?46. 
Gracio-;i.  one  of  the  Azores.  Sir  F.  Vere  and 

Lord  Thomas   Howard  to  attack,   244;  jho- 

p!e  send  provisions  to  English  ships,  246. 


Grandison,  Lord,  sat  on  a  question  of  prece- 
dcnce,  424,  n.  ;  reared  in  the  bchool  uf  the 
Veres,  456. 

Grant,  Christopher,  of  Manchester,  father  ol 
the  wife  of  John  Dent  and  Sir  Julius  Caesar, 

354- 
Grave,  p>osition  on  the  Maas,  35;  taken  by 
the  Duke  of  Parma,  87,  97 ;  Verdugo  en- 
camped at,  179;  besieged  by  the  army  of 
Maurice,  338  ;  description,  33S,  n. ;  Prince 
Frederick  Henry  crossed  the  Maas  at,  436. 

Greatorcx,  Captain,  in  the  Palatinate  regi- 
ment, 398,  404. 

"  Greenway,"  at  the  battle  of  Nieuport, 
charges  of  cavalry  on,  293;  description  of 
the  ground,  n)4 ;  charge  of  Cecil,  301 ;  seo> 
ond  charge,  302. 

Greenwich,  muster  of  volunteers  before  the 
Queen  at,  42. 

Grenville,  Sir  Richard,  report  by  Sir  Walter 
Raleigh  on  the  fight  of  the  '*  Revenge," 
221. 

Grenville,  Sir  Richard,  Jr.,  reared  by  the 
Veres,  456. 

Greville,  Sir  Fulk,  his  sayings,  on  the  Queen** 
declaration  of  war  with  Spain,  72  ;  his  anec- 
dote of  Sir  Philip  Sidney  and  the  wounded 
soldier,  96,  n.  ;  helped  Sir  F.  Vere  with  the 
Queen  in  the  matter  of  the  governorship  of 
Brill,  253. 

Grey,  Lord  of  Wilton,  with  Prince  Maurice 
at  the  battle  of  Nieuport,  379;  sent  de- 
spatches to  England,  303. 

(irimeston,  William,  in  garrison  at  Bergen- 
op-Zoom,  circumvented  the  Sfxanish  spies, 
12S,  129  ;  in  the  Spanish  camp,  130. 

Grimeston,  the  historian,  notice  of,  4-?o. 

Groenvelt,  Arnold  de,  governor  of  Sluys,  ap> 
plied  for  help,  100;  defence  of  Sluys,  107; 
means  of  defence  exhausted,  surrender,  110; 
in  campaign  of  1592  with  Maurice,  181;  at 
the  siege  of  Gertruydenbunr,  1S8. 

Groningen,  37;  Verdugo  in  command  of  Span- 
iards, 175;  account  of  th  *  city.  191;  de- 
fences, 192;  old  maps  and  plans,  192,1V.; 
arrangements  for  the  siege,  193  ;  progress  of 
the  siege,  194;  surrender,  195. 

Grooten-dorst,  one  of  the  Spanish  batteries  at 
the  siege  of  Ostend,  314. 

Grove,  Francis,  his  work  on  military  antiqui- 
ties. 4^>8. 

G'libbendonck,  Sieur  de,  commanded  the 
Flemincs  at  Turnhout,  257:  governor  of 
Bois-le-Duc,  437;  surrendered  to  the  Prince 
of  Orange,  43S. 

Guernsey.     See  Cerda,  Doti  Lui«  de  la. 

Gueux,  the  sea,  attack  on  Brill,  2S,  73. 

(Juisnes,  heiress,  married  to  Alberic  de  Vere,  6. 

Gunner  (master^  64,  65 ;  stores,  65.  See  Ar* 
tilUry, 


486 


INDEX. 


Gustavus  Adolphns,  drill*  for  his  anny,  given 

in  Miinro's  book,  4^*7. 
GultciiJ):e.     bee  Cruitwick. 
Guzman,   Juan    de,    commanded    cavalry    at 

Turuhoul,  257. 

Haarlem,  siege,  29;  lofty  dunes  near,  5a;  posi- 
tion, 37  ;  «a  of,  37. 

Hadiincourt,  Comte  de,  commanded  Walloons 
at  Turnhout,  257,  259. 

HackiR-y  (see  Clapton)^  mania^^es  of  Lord 
Verc's  dau^liters  at,  434. 

Hajif,  vili.i^e  near  lircda,  iiccui)ied  by  Span- 
iards, 426. 

Hagi'uau,  Mani>felt's  plunder  at,  414. 

lla^uc,  States  General  puKl.iinu-d  inde}H'n- 
dcnco  al,  31  ;  po.iitinn,  37;  Karl  <if  Leicirv- 
ter  at,  So;  Lord  WilU  ui:lil»y  aiiivcil  at,  Si ; 
Sir  F.  Vtii-  at,  154;  Vcre  rcLovcrini;  from 
hi''  vMiiiiul  at,  171  ;  Veie  ne;:otiaiiiJK  as  to 
the  Cadiz  t-xiH.(litioii  at,  2i*»;  and  tlie  m-w 
Ir.a'.y.  jM;  Sir  I".  Vere  at,  after  th:-  llnni- 
nicl-wa.ut  cainjul^n,  275;  KrccKric\  aiul 
K.i/alH:lli  itKik  rtfu;ie  at,  407  ;  cxuciitlon  of 
liarncvcliU  at,  3(^2  ;  last  \W\\  "f  Sir  K.  Wre 
to,  347;  env«\s  at.  See  lioJuy,  GiiJ^im^ 
t\ir't'*.')t,  WiHTvood^  Wine. 

Hallifrds,  5^. 

Ha'.lou^htou,  home  of  the  Dents  in  Leicester- 
shin*.  ^^4. 

Hall  ['l.tre*.  -scat  of  the  Earls  of  Oxford  at 
KiitTs  <  'o*ii«».  15,  i'». 

Hani'vi"  Al  !■>  v.  on  the  Svrnn'',  4. 

H.in.'«\':  i  1-^  of  S-r  rrrtricis  Vi-re.  .■»-»<). 

Htr.il.i  l'.'..i.it.in<'.  kill'/  of  I  >'!!ni.irk,  h's  fol- 
io\v>r>»  r-n.  -i-Hd  in  the  CViJci.'.in,  3. 

H.»r'  in  -i-r.  ?'■. 

H.iif cf.rt,  !,.»''>'  TrinceR  Vere\  wife  of  Sir 
Ko*i--rt,  of  NiMU'h.Tn:,  37,  2i'>,  n. 

H.ird'Mn.  Michncl,  sTviiiv;  in  a  cavalry  troop 
\v  il.T  thi»  l";u!  ««f  F .<'i»rvtfr.  *<4. 

H.iri.r.nt.  ">^ir  K<ih  rt,  of    Nnni'ham.  married 

l- >•»■■.   \'  r  ■,  -M,   z\'-.  n.;  his  **  Vcya^i"  to 

(■« 
•  ■■1 1      .      ■   «; 

II  •■  ■■.  ^  r  S"'7ior>,  i^-^:  at  the  sji".;e  <if 
P.K  -■  -1 ''■«■.  4;';  in  th"  tr-iiches.  43-: 
w..'.;  (1  Ivfnre  Maastiicht,  442  :  notice  of, 
1  «'•.  n 

\\.\y  (■■It,  l\<v  Vf  rf.  r'i'Tiiyman,  3^5;  legacy 
!•!  I'  1,1-  ini( '1'  Ii'iti  Vrr«'.  i"!,  422. 

II   '  ■   ■  ••;,    t.jp  i!v,    i\  ;    ptojK-rty   «'f   Tln^mas 

H  :     •   Vn.     M 

H    •  1"  !/ -h-th,    manifd     to    Geoffrey 

II.  '  '■.  I   ■  .■     of  nMiiirjt.iii  s  in  thi-  IMlatinate, 

n    I    -1.  ■  !"  I  ■!■  inMr  ( I'nnin.'t'n,  !■>•,  lov 
U  '•  •    ;■  -I,    l-..il>ol,     an    rarly    friend    of    the 
K\    .....  - ,, 

H  1:  ■  ^■-     .  >:r  John.  27. 


Haring-vUet  channel,  36. 

Harlackendcn,  Roger,  EarPi  C&iae  K.i 

Hart,  CapUin,   at   the   surpe  ci  Si.  • 
swam  out  to  cuniinu:.:caic,  19..  s_-.: 
by  the  Spaniards  at  l-a>jJ,  J45. 

Hart^ting,  Daniel  dc,  l^>d  «.l  M^r.^..::. 
la»t  Dutch  go%*cri.-ir  ni  <l-:c::d.  :■ 

Harvey,  Sir  Wiiii^im.  in  :Lc  *'lk;^.^::. 
for  the  I»laiid  Wiy  {:e.  2  ;l^. 

Harwich,  n;  I'nncc  hr  c  •!    r«c..r:-   — 
at,  22  :  Kar!  of  I.eit.e»:er  cn.bar'^cc  «:. 

HarwtHid,  >ir  Kdwani.  l<:-.c  ot  the  (.«.- 
the  Netiierlandn,  j'14  ;  at  t.  c  iir.e  ^  i 
le-Duc,  436;  m  the  trenches,  43:  ^  -:  ^'> 
trichl,  441. 

Hastings,  battle  of.     See  Senlae 

Hattield,  letters  from  >ir  \    Vere  a:.  «* 

Hattield,  liriad  Oak,  pr^ry  ic«.:..>.^  .■ 
Earl  of  Uxfofd,  ••. 

Hau^hton,    Ix»rd,   aft-.Tward*    L-ir.     : 
Iv-e  Clctre'i  at  ihcsit-^e  ■_■:  I.*!.-.-  i-I  _     . 

H^Ufihttm,  Cap:a:ii.  *>:..: ion  :  -r  r;;* 
aH&ault  at  0»tcni],  3  j;  :  ».ai:.«  3  —k 

Hautepenne,  Sieur  I'.c.  vex^t  tw  xrS%.t  i 
hion  at    Iioivic-I>.rf: ;    s^:i,   ix> .   i-; 
Hreda,  425. 

Hauterine.  CVone!.  defentli'  z  Gi'.  *  s-   '  ■ 
at  Breda  with  Wa^li-in*-,  4.*' 

Haviktnti,  Sir  Richard,  on  SvH  iK?  ^•.  1- 
fleot   when   cha^d   bk    the    Kn^'.-h   -: 
A/ores  247. 

Hawksworth,  Sir  John,  bom  at  Sy*:  *  ;; 
ham,  13- 

Hi'dinfham  Ca^tV.  nu-n^rr  f'find-^  ^■.  \ 
de   Abrinri>,  •■ :    ch»f    s^Jt    c4  •••■   '»    • 
Hevrription.    ij,   \\:  Ki^wirr*.  i--*-    I  •- 
Oxford,   at,  23:    rrpairvl   \\   M-    .*  ■ 
!2,  w . ;  plan    of,    13.  n   .  Sr-j  "»:     • 
Vt-re  to    poor,  422:    Jihi    V  t?  '     •- 
431  :  Lady  Vere  hu»4"d  .it.  4:: .   2. 
by  Mr.  .A^hnr^t  Maw-ndi-.  «"  4 

Hf-ervnthals,  retreat   of   C-^ur.:   deV.— . • 

Hpfp'n-aarden,  work   thrown  up  at.  *- 

HiT.icr  Vere,  274. 
Heiil-llv-nj.  happinr«<  of  Frrrtf  ri.-k  i:»  ■  : 

b-th  at,  105  :  city  of,  40;  ;  Sir  G-^a-- 

N'rt.  poA-emor  of  the  ca*t"«-.  «'--.   "  **— 

of  the  c-tstle  and  tfiw-n.  41'  :  ^rn* •-.-:  : 

tiun  described,  417;    *!ej;e  arc  n.-*— 

41^. 
Helmund,  a  bouition  in  the  defence*  el  rw- 

311.  32Y.  324.  33$'.  repwrvd.  311 
Helt,  Nfatthew,  the  oAcrr  who  oearVcrc 

in  the  peat  boat  at  Rnrda,  %*€* 
HemJ«ch.  Sir  Horace  Vrrr  a?.  «C2 
Hrmmema.  Reatrix.  a  Frisian    stS.   — : 

to  the  1  ,th  F^rl  of  Oxlord,  490;  acsr» 

her  family,  443,  ml 


_£ 


INDEX. 


487 


Heniy  I.,  created  Alberic  de  Vere,  Lord  Great 
Chamberlain,  5. 

Henry  11,  cuofirmed  the  earldom  of  Oxfofd 
granted  by  his  mother,  6. 

Henry  V.,  the  £arl  of  Oxford  aerred  under,  7. 

Henry  VIII.,  the  tsth  Earl  of  Oxford  god- 
father to,  8 ;  title  of  colonel  came  into  use, 

54- 

Henry  IV.,  of  France,  received  aid  from 
England,  180;  appointed  the  Due  de 
Bouillon  as  general  in  the  country  round 
Sedan,  i(>6;  made  a  separate  treaty  with 
Spain,  264. 

Herald.     See  Detkick, 

Herald*8  College,  Vere  records  at,  among  the 
Vincent  MSS,  465. 

Heraogidre,  Charles  de,  commanding  Dutch 
troops  at  the  siege  of  Siuys,  loi  ;  persuaded 
the  captain  of  a  peat  boat  to  take  soldiers 
on  board,  to  surprise  Breda,  159;  selected 
the  men  as  a  forlorn  h<^,  159 ;  led  the  men 
from  the  boat  into  Breda,  161 ;  made  gov- 
ernor of  Breda,  162 ;  commanded  Dutch  at 
battle  of  Tumhout,  255. 

Herbert,  Sir  Gerard,  in  the  Palatinate  regi- 
ment, 398;  led  the  fourth  division,  404; 
governor  of  Heidelberg  Castle,  407,  415 ; 
mortally  wounded,  418. 

Hereford,  Bishop  of.    See  PVnr,  William. 

Heronni^re,  turf  boat  moored  off,  preparatory 
10  the  surprise  of  Breda,  160. 

Herrera,  Antonio  de^  notice  of  his  history, 
469. 

Herrera,  Joan  de,  leader  of  Spanish  infantry, 
for  the  relief  of  Zutphen,  93. 

Herrera,  Pedro  de,  paid  a  ransom  at  Cadiz  to 
Sir  F.  Vere,  2.H- 

Hetlinga,  Taco,  Frisian  general  in  the  Nieu- 
port  campaii^n,  279. 

Hexham,  Henrj',  page  to  Sir  F.  Vere  at  Ost- 
end,  31S;  his  narrative  refutes  an  accusa- 
tion of  Motley  against  Sir  F.  Vere,  320,  «.  ; 
hi»  evidence  respecting  the  opening  of  the 
west  sluice,  329,  n,  ;  received  the  last  wishes 
of  Master  Tedcastle,  330:  his  narrative  of 
the  siege  of  Ostend,  35R,  «.;  his  account  of 
the  sxt^e  of  Breda,  429,  n. ;  history  of  the 
siejse  of  Bois-le-Duc,  439;  his  notice  of  the 
death  of  the  19th  Earl  of  Oxford,  443;  his 
.tccnunt  of  the  siege  of  Maastricht,  447; 
notice  of  his  life  and  works,  447,  448,  449; 
his  *' principles  of  the  Art  Military,"  467; 
his  histories  of  sieges,  471. 

Heyne,  Piet,  captured  the  Spanish  plate  fleet, 

435- 
Heyson,  Sir  Christopher,  appointed  to  a  com- 
pany bv  Sir  F.  Vere,  203 ;  notice  of,  203, 
M. ;  with  Vere  in  the  attack  on  Cadiz,  210; 
knighted  at  Cadix,  333 ;  connected  with  H. 
Hexham,  447. 


Hinchford  Hundred  in  Etwx,  Vere 

in,  II. 
Hingham,  Thomai,  cum  to  tiM  reaciw  of  Sw 

F.  Vere  at  Nieuport,  199. 
Hoby,  PhiUp,  Lady  Vere'a  aoo,  Ua  deMh, 

381. 
Hoby,  William,  firM  hndwnd  of  Lady  Vcic, 

380. 
Hdchst,  Chriatian  of  Bnmnrick  defettad  atg 

414 ;  picture  of  the  battle,  by  Saaycn,  414, 

Hoeksche  waard,  ielaiid  of,  36. 

Hofstede,  batteiy  on  Cadtand,  aonendei  to 
Maurice,  366^ 

Hohenlohe,  Count  Phifip  of,  rBcqtandl 
Schouwen,  30 ;  Ueot^enenl  m  the  anny  ol 
the  Earl  of  Leiceater,  83 ;  joined  Lcfcealtf 
at  Ariihem,  91  \  wounded  at  Waniifdd,aui> 
ety  for  the  sute  of  Sir  PbiUp  Sidnej,  9&1 
defeated  the  Sieur  de  Hantepenne  aad  cn^ 
tured  the  fort  of  Creveooeur,  too;  uiipmM 
lar  as  governor  of  Certiuydenbuif,  ify;  hk 
the  Bommel-waart  with  Prince  Mamiett 
148 ;  entered  Breda,  161,  i6s{  villi  the  anay 
of  Maurice,  181 ;  encamped  00  the  em  dde, 
at  the  aiegeof  Gertmydenboif,  188;  mnniad 
to  Mary  of  Orange^  aiater  of  Prinee  Man- 
rice,  an  ;  ooounandiqg  the  Dntift  CMldij 
at  Tumhout,  ass  I  chai|[ed  the  ombj** 
right  flank,  ate;  recapcured  Bradfti  415. 

Holcroft,  Captain,  aUn  at  tha  diiiaea  of 
Ostend,  316,  «. 

Holgate,  Mra.    See  AttdrmUf  rafwwirfJM. 

Holhind,    repreaentatirea  at  die    Uidon  «l 
Utrecht,  31;   phyaical  (eognphj,  3a,  37, 

39. 
Hollandsche  Diep,  36w 
Holies,  Sir  George,  aelgean^nlaKNr  feneial  at 

the  battle  of    Nieuport,  879,  434;  mom* 

ment  in  Westminster  Abbey,  near  that  ol 

Sir    Franas  Vere,   960,   434;    HexhaaaV 

"  Tongue  Combat  '*  dedkaied  to,  •44aL 
Holies,  Sir  Thomas,  Uent.-colonel  of  Laid 

Vere*s  regiment,  434;  at  the  eicfe  of  Maaa* 

tricht,    445;    wounded,   4«&    See   CAerv, 

Earl  of;  /^MiyA/Me,  Lord. 
Holman  manuacript  at  Oadbid,  hialory  of  die 

Veres,  464. 
Holmes,  Lieut,  led  (he  forion  hope  at  lliai 

tricht,  445. 
Hondius,  English  venion  of  hb  atlaa  pal^ 

lished  by  H'xham,  449. 
Honta,  the,  or  West  Scheldt,  38. 
Hoom,  position  of,  37. 
Hoptnn.  Shr  Ralph,  trafaiod  fo  iha  achod  cC 

the  Veres,  456. 
Horta,  capiul  of  Fa^vl,  If artfai 

tied  at,  344 ;  town  burnt  by 

prisal,  24s. 
Hostagea.    80a  Fsi^fkM,  Ojgk* 


488 


INDEX. 


Hotham,  Captain,  at  the  siege  of  Boivle-Duc, 

HuwArdt  intermarriage  with  Vere,  a.  S<e 
Surrey,  Earl  ttf. 

Howard,  Lord  uf  Ef&ngham,  tu  command  the 
t1jt;t  in  the  Cadiz  expedition,  217;  in  tlic 
"Ark  Rnyal,"  219;  agreed  to  adopt  the 
views  of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  as  to  the  attack, 
225:  on  board  the  "Nonpareil"  in  the 
naval  action,  22^;  his  conduct  when  K-^sex 
rebelled,  3uS ;  created  barl  of  Nottingham, 

-52- 
Howard,   I^rd  Thomas,   26  ;   vice-admiral  in 

the  Cadit  exp-diiinn,  on  Ixwrd  the  "Mere- 
honor."  2i.y:  vilified  lu>  flag  to  the  "  Non- 
pareil,"' 2J  I  ;  vice-admiral  in  ihe  *'  Island 
Voyage."  on  Ixurd  the  "Lion,"  237;  his 
ship  di^,il)'.ed  in  the  Hay  of  Biscay,  241  ;  to 
attack  (ir.iciovi,  244;  his  friendly  mediaiion 
beiweci)  Ks'i..-x  and  kal<'iy;h,  J45. 

Howard,  Colonel,  regiment  at  the  siege  of 
Maastricht,  440. 

Howard,  >ir  William,  the  admiral's  s<m  knight* 
ed  at  Cadiz,  j;;?. 

HuddlotoTi,  Richard,  treasurer  of  Leicester's 
army,  *s- 

Hir^o,  Horman,  historian  of  the  sirge  of 
Ilrjda,  4.«S  471. 

Hul-t.  ill  I)iiiih  Fland^rrs  3^;  captured  by 
the  Sj'aniard^,  254. 

HuMcks.  Sr;;i.'ant-. Major,  in  the  breach  at 
Ma.istii'  ht,  4(5. 

HiinMlon,  L'Mtl,  cousin  and  friend  of  the 
Qii-en,  1J4, 

Hunt,  IKniy,  of  GustVld,  married  to  Jane 
Vtr-.-,  i'>. 

Hunt,  J'hii,  *-'>n  fif  Henry,  led  the  young 
Karl  lit"  M\i"riT(l  into  ba>l  haitit-^,  ;*<i .  de- 
sr:inl.ints  ill  Ir.iand  jN-unu-d  the  name  of 
I).-  V.T.-.    ;^^ 

Himtinui'.'.!'.,  Karl  of,  pail-bcarcr  at  Sir  Philip 
Si<!ii.  y'->  fiineral,  </>. 

Huntley,  •  a[)fain,  at  the  sie-^e  of  Sluys,  101. 

Hiirw.'i  n,  S;>ani^h  camp  at,  274. 

Idi.i'I'.i''.':.  W-  n/.«i  de,  led  an  a>«sault  at  the  siege 

of     "1   IV-,    III. 

Idiijii  /.    n-niin^o  dr.  in  the  attack  nn  the 

w.itT  ;■  !•!  .It  M  r^i-n-'j*-/ ii-m,  n  i. 
In  if   (!•!.•  1       i>(    the    I'liiti-d   Provinces  pro- 

1-:  I  -n  ■■.  .1;  ;h:;  H.»:iie,  ;i. 
Ii.fir.'.-\,    S;i,iiii-h.   th'ir    -iipfrii-irity,   ^o,    «;^; 

Mii.iiu;.  "..  •  ; ;   11- •  111   ii  trcMirhin'^   tw)ls  by, 

( i.      >.•     '  .".vAjwr. 
IrtK'i  •••  f    III.    ■  xiM-nmnnicated   the  3d  Earl 

if  Or:    r  !.  '.. 
Ir-'it  ',    l>:".'  i.f,    -:   hi*   fiincril,   ic;   inva- 

.M'l'i    <  ■',    .  r.iV-'.iu"  I',  ,1    |,y    Philip     II.,  237; 

tr-M.;.,  ...ii'tM,  liy  si,  Y.  Vere,  J71. 


'  Isabella  of  Portugal  married  Phi  :p  ci  F:'- 
gundy,  103. 

Isabella,  daughter  of  Philip  II..  tr  tt^t-.  •:• 
Archduke  Albert,  aud  became  y.tT.\  v»-.tt"i.- 
of  ihe  NcthcrJatKls,a*<3  ;  marr.Ji^'.  i".  z- 
disappointed  in  her  expccut.^'^  •  ■:  c:  -r* :, 
U^tend,  J23  ;  her  death.  410,  «. 

iMrndike    submitted  10  PnDce   Miur.r    v- 
3f»S. 

**  Island  Vnrage,"  exprditi-  d  to  ih.  A;,  ri-  ■ 
called,  wliich  see,  a  3^-^50. 

Italian  troops,  cavalry  at  Wamsfr" :.         -     • 
at  i)Iuy»,  100:  dcicasctl  ai   K:..  :.:«'. 
at  Twmhout,  257;  at  Terhe-.^c-  .j-    ;  *.  ,r 
of  Breda,  416;  at  mc^c  i>i  Mi*a»:r..  r :.  ««- 

Ivry.  clianccllor  to  the   Sta::f  1  f  « ^  ::•  i* 
requested  Sir  F.  Vere  to  uudert^AX  \.^  r- 
lief  of  Kheiiiberg,  151. 

Jacoba,  or  JacqueSine.  hcii^st  of  He  .^a:   •  • 
palace  at  Goes,  45. 

James  I.f  proclaimed  by  S:r  F    Vtc  &r  L- 
343;   accession  and  nivr^crl:..   ;«*.e   •   * 
Spain,  344 ;  sent  .>ir  t .  \  err  4-n  2  :■  . ■ 
the  Hague,  34^,  347:  mama^^  'l:..-^.:i 
to  tlie  Elector  Puiat;iic,  3*5  .  >..  -■  -. . 
conduct,  3^6:  sanctiurK-d  :h.-  r«    .   ,;    :  ' 
Palatinate   regiment,   yt*:    t.^r.  .      t 

lieojile    after    the    battle  t  (    pr_.     .   ..  ■ 
truckling  to  the  Spanish  arri^a'-o.:  -.  «  * 

Jansrn,  Comnutdtirr,  of  (he   Ha^ur.  ;..>     • 
edgment  nf  a»*-istanc(.-,  vii 

Jam.ic,  battle  of,  Fran^uia  c-^r  la  N  -..-    .-    1 

John.  Count.     See  .Vssiam 

John,  King,  Robert,  jd  Fjr:  cf  «"Vi-  -  .    -.- 
po'krd  to,  6. 

JunglK-,  (ierart  de,  governor  ri  Kr  ot:«.*-    .  -: 
«"4- 

Juan,  Hon,  nf  Austria.  Micof^^H   K'-   -*e-- 
iii  tl>e  ;;ovemment  o:  :!:••  \  «»:  •.  - 
woo  the  battle  of  (»;m*(i:r,.   -.4 
army,  49;    retreated  irum   K.r-.s-.-:    f 
death,  30. 

Judge  Marshal.    See  /)r  .^««.  ;.jf 

Justin.  Count.     See  X.tixttm 

Kampen,  on  thr  Zuydrr  Z'*.  ?« 
Katwyk,  encmHrhment  of  ih-  *ei  at.  i'* 
Kenil«-orth.  the  yh  Karl  of  f  »..•>•::  ci-- :- 

at,  <»;  Sir  Thomas  ('«r<il  W-.i  ^•.!'  ir.  --. 
Kensington  held  by  the  dm  A'^vrvu  -.e  V*- 

5.  M. 

Kcttliby.  Lieut.,  led  the  forl'-trn  hoj*  a:  M    - 

tncht,  44$. 
Kinr.  Captain,  of  the  "  Tremmtaitw. "   :r   " 

Cadiz  exprditlon,  ai<> 
Kin«'ki.  Count   Duchert  de.  crrMvd  ".h?  I  -.< 

to  attack  a  Spanuh  fone,  alain  in  tkc  cKs-: 

fi4> 


INDEX. 


489 


Kirby  Hall,  manor,  14;  John  Vere  made  his 
mother  a  home  at,  2\,  157,  ^51  ;  description 
of,  25  ;  Francis  Vere  at,  134  ;  lease  of,  209  ; 
news  of  Robert  ■»  death  brought  home  to, 
216;  Jolin  V'erc  brought  a  wile  home  to, 
353  ;  disp<  sition  of,  in  John  Verc's  will,  422  ; 
Lady  Vere  succeeded  to,  454 ;  subsequent 
history,  454,  n.  ;  plate  of,  in  Muilman's 
Essex,  4^>4. 

Kni(;htley,  Captain,  in  the  Palatinate  regi- 
ment, 398. 

Knwlsenb.rg,  Fort,  built  by  Sir  F.  Vere  to 
thieatcn  Nyniegen,  i'>4  ;  Gcrart  dc  Jonghe 
made  governor,  1^4  ;  Ixsicgcd  by  the  Duke 
of  Panna,  i;^;  biege  r.iisc-d,  17.S;  damage  to 
NyniugkU  l)y  fne  fioni,  17^;  traces  of,  near 
the  villace  of  Ixnt,  iSo. 

Knolleb,  Sir  Robert,  in  the  Palatinate  regi- 
ment, 30^. 

Knowles,  Sir  Thomas,  in  the  Bergen-oivZoom 
garriaon,  i  .0  ;  knighted  by  Lord  Willoughby, 

Krcuznach  captured  by  Spinola,  400. 

Ladenburg  taken  by  (!ount  .NLmsfelt,  414. 
Lalain,  (ie(»rge,  Stadiholder  of  Groningen,  a 

traitor,  I'^i. 
Lambart,  Sir  Oliver,  gallantry  in  the  march  to 

Rheiub.rg,    153,    307;    notice    of,     153,    n.  ; 

conimanding  a  company,    iSi  ;  wounded  at 

Steenwyck,    184;    in   the   Cadiz  expedition, 

222  ;  kni;^htod  at  Cadiz,  J34 ;  share  of  ran- 
som at   Cadiz,    234,   n.  ;    guarding   the   ajv- 

proichf'*;  to  Hort.i,  in  I'aynl,  245. 
La  Mothirio.     Sc'-  Mothrrit'. 
Lannchvr,    n^  nr     M.ia-tricht,     Spaniards    en- 

caniprd  at,  441. 
Lanci'^tcr.    Hovisi-   of.    Veres  adhered    to  the 

canso  of.  7,  S, 
Lancers  rhe-s  aii'l  .inns,  (^\, 
Lank  ini.   .^ov'-nur    of    f 'ironinc^cn,    192  ;    >^ur- 

renrlei,    i  .5. 
Lan«>pi  s.iflii.      Si-  C,ih,i  ii>-  Cixnt.iraJo. 
Lanz.iv-  C(  hi,i,    IMnaTdd.   trov  rnf>r    of    Trcda, 

mntiii -er-^  of  ( i-ttruvdci-burc;    •surrender  to, 

I  ■;'^.  13  ,;  ah'^eiit  \>lien   I'.reda  was  surprised 

and  taken,  \'^z. 
Lanz.TVecc  I1  a.    Paulo    Antonio,    in    cli.iry^e  of 

r.re<li,  I'to;   wounded   indrfnce  of    Ilreda, 

i^.i.  \(2. 
Lavcnham,  larcelv  own< d   by  the   Veres,    14; 

Au'r-y  de  Vere   married  to  a  native  of,  19 

See  S*rifi^s. 
Loc«>  of  C'-ldroy,  jewels  which  belonged  to  the 

Spani-h    L.uly  oi'  the    I?al]ad   in  possession 

of,  7\7,  ft. 
Lrflfin'j:he,  ^f.mric'•'s  arniv  rrossfd   the  Vper- 

leet   at.    i'^j;   Aichdnkc  \   army  crossed   at, 

2S7,   3'/>.  I 

Leicester,    Robert    Dudley,    Earl    of,    a6 ;  8«.  ; 


lected  by  the  Queen  to  command  in  the 
Netherlands,  72  ;  his  qualifications.  72,  73 ; 
his  detractors,  77,  7S,  114;  entered  Colche»' 
ter  on  the  way  to  embark,  78 ;  officers  who 
accompanied  liim,  78 ;  arrival  at  Flu&liing, 
79 ;  enthusiaMic  reception,  79 ;  dinner  at 
Middelburg,  80 ;  in  a  fog  between  Middel- 
burg  and  Dordrecht^  80 ;  declared  governor 
and  captain-general,  80;  officers  of  his  army, 
83*85  ;  his  military  position,  86  ;  movements, 
87 ;  inspected  the  Schenken-Schanz,  88 ; 
assembled  his  army  at  Amhcm,  took  Doe»> 
burg,  91 ;  invested  Zutphen,  92  ,  battle  of 
Warn&fcld,  94  :  return  to  England,  97 ;  pall- 
bearer at  Sir  Philip  Sidney's  funeral,  96  ;  on 
bad  terms  with  the  States,  failure  to  relieve 
Sluys,  112,  113;  death,  113,  m.,  344;  his  let- 
ters  edited  for  the  Camden  Soaety,  471. 

Lek,  river,  course,  35. 

Leland,  his  fictitious  origin  of  the  Veres,  3,  «.  ; 
his  mistake  as  to  the  surname  of  the 
'*  Grimme,"  given  to  Aubrey  de  Vere,  6,  is.  ; 
on  the  Veres,  464. 

Lenscn,  Cornelius,  brought  n«wa  of  the 
Queen^s  death  to  Holland,  341. 

Leon,  Ii»le  of,  227. 

Le  Petit,  Franyob,  Grimeston's  translation  of 
his  history,  470. 

Leveson,  Sir  Richard,  commanded  the  **  Non- 
pareil" for  the  *•  Island  Vojrage,"  238;  no> 
tice  of,  23S,  n.  ;  said  to  liave  been  the  hero 
of  the  ballad  of  the  Spanish  Lady,  232,  m, 

Lewis  Gunther,  Count.     See  Nassau. 

I^ydcn,  defence,  30;  position,  37;  Pilgrim 
Fathers  at,  3R8. 

Leyva,  Don  Antonio  Martinet  de,  his  noble 
company  in  the  army  of  Don  Juan  of  Aus- 
tria, 4f) ;  repulsed  by  the  English  volunteers 
at  Rymenant,  50. 

Leyva,  Don  Sincho  de,  led  the  attack  on  the 
water  fort  at  Bcrgen-op-Zoom,  130. 

Licr,  in  Prabant,  51. 

Lier,  village  near  Breda,  159. 

Lier,  van  der,  Captain  Nicholas,  slain  at  Ost- 
end,  310. 

Lieutenant  of  a  company,  duties,  pay,  55. 

1  ieutenant-Colonel,  54,  55. 

Lieutenant-general  of  horse,  duties,  54. 

I.icht-hor^*,  drvss  and  arms,  63. 

'*  Lion,"  Sir  R.  Southwell's  ship,  in  the  Cadfa 
expedition,  219;  in  the  naval  action,  22A. 

••  Lion's  Whelp,"  a  fast  sailer  in  the  Cadii 
expedition,  223. 

Lippe,  river,  its  course,  165,  ttj  ;  chivalry  of 
England  and  Holland  swim  their  horsea 
across,  214. 

Litkenhoven   Castle,  at  Recklinghausen,  165. 

"  Litness,'*  a  fast  sailer  in  the  Cadis  expedi- 
tion, 223. 

Locks,  history  of,  in  the  U.  S.  Institution** 


490 


IXDEX, 


Journal,    4'»S.     See   Match    Lock,    IVkeel 
Locky  6na; hammer. 
Lockcin,  vii.ugc  near  Zuiphcn,  Farina's  army 

at,  <n- 
Loiulwcrtzydc,    village    near    Nieupori,   aSi, 

2S5. 
Lonj;,  Mr.  Ch.irlos,  on  the  liallad  of  the  Si>an> 

ish  L.uly,  232,  n. 
Loi).  .1  cuuntiy  house  on  the  way  to  Rhcin- 

berK,  i5-»- 
Ix>queraiie,    Colonel,    with    the     Dutch    and 

Scotch,  dcfotuiing  Breda,  42'r. 
Ix>r.>ch,  ntarch  of  Sir  Hi>racc  Vcru  by,  404. 
Louis,!   Juliana,    of   Oran;;*:,  m^Iit  of  i'lince 

Mauri(.(.',  ^1,  '/.  ;  \i->itcd  the  >iL-;;t.- works  at 

CyLrtiujdciiburj;,    iS.y,  374.      Sire  Frederuk 

ri. 

\jn\K\\,  Thomab,  his  gallantry  bi-fi.>rc  Flush- 

i"^i  44- 
Lo\\c<li  (.."aptain,  >^ith  Sir  F.  Verc  in  the  Nitu- 

I><rt  lanipai);!).  279;  rallied  the  Ku^li>h  at 

NiLUiK-it,  ^1. 
Lower,   Captain,    a   crenturc   of   the    Earl   of 

N'orthunilKjiIand,  f!i^nu-i>(.-d,  307. 
Lowesteyn.     Set-  GorcutH. 
Lucas,  Sir  Thomasi,  entertained  the  Earl  of  | 

lAicc«.teral  Colchtstir,  7S. 
Lucia,  (■nunte^^  of  Oxfcnl.     Sec  Atrincit. 
Luvi^  I'edro  de,  prisoner  at  B«.rgin-o|vZcH»mt 

Lnitrcll,  Captain,  at  the  hie^c  of  I'oiv-L-Duc, 

4V'. 

Maas  (M.  u'.e\  river,  II«>llan<l  i^arily  fi-rmed 
by  iV'ta  <-f.  u" ;  j:reaj  t1i-«>d  cau-ed  by,  3^; 
cur--  r.  :1  ..led  by  ).!';•■.  -i;  turn««  we"t- 
\%ato,  jt;;  n;  "te^  wi:h  tlii-  Waal.  V  '■>  re*>i.me> 
it-  (iM  i:.i'-i',  v't  J>I  "■■«N  f'-'M  ii  ■.;  it«»  <!i  1:,T. 
nii'Utli.  ;>;  I'l-l.ini;  -  vill.iprs  at  the  mouth, 
3-:  i.ivr.'-  !iy  I'riiiC"  Frc-.'.erick  Henry, 
•tT-  :  (■  i;-ti::'   <'f  *'lro'<^holil-  <  n,  41'' 

Ma.-.sv- ),t.  r:  I  ■  -.r.  u.  4ti-:  i'-i:I<'n.  35. 
^1,;  i: -.  ".  ii  . --■M.-l'»i.  %%•■  f'TVi-N  a^-cmKlcd 
fcr  :!  ■ 'i  >  .11  .441  :  >--r:i'- cf  il:r  .i^atri-cn, 
44.':.  •■■■  ;  !.  i»— 44?:  »«i'.rri  i-cirr,  44'-;  lii*- 
t..ri.  •■  ■  t  •'  ■   •■■   -■'.      S«i-  Hi'xhirtt. 

M:j.".  :  •  .  (  •:  '..1  .  \\"u;i(!i(1  at  the  defence  of 
C);."  'V  ;  I      '•   ;  ''I  tin.  w^ 

M.i-::>  '■  I  -tn;  ",  Sj-ai.i-li  iij-nvalent  for 
t-    .  ■  ■  '.   ■  :.   ■  I. 

M       ,  ■' ".  !v  Sir  Hi-raLe  Vere,  nrar 

It    -1  •  ■■•.   j     -.    :  ■', 

M.,  M-     \-' •:!  t.  of  Otle  n.dirt:ham, 

vl  ;     !   •      •    .'..•••■.   .   ■■   'll'*   \'-^r'^,    X.   U   ,   4^*4. 

M.-  '.  M-  I  Ai.at.'iiMt  if  H'-dincham 
(    .  ■■      '  ■. .    ■     ;!■.     "V-;i:-M   Mnr.umenta." 

4'  t 
M.I'  ■  •• .  ■■:  '-.d  ly  Sir  Horace  Vcre, 

4   -.   • 4'  »•  I 

Mai-  :.\-    '   ..  j 


Manlej,  Captain,  in  th=  breach  a:  Ma^^r.^.. 
445;  wounded.  447. 

M.tnnin];trce,  the  Ear.  (.•!   lje'C:&:e'  *.   i-  *  t 
way  to  Harw-i4.h,  7^ 

Mani.y,  Sir  Walter,  ai  the  aiL^vik  ."    i z^-^ 

102. 

Maii>fe1t.  Ctiunt  Ch-irl- •.  rri--;  .    •    r-  .-^. 
of  Dvn  Juan  oi  Au<:itj.  4<.    -    .:--^: 
treii«.he>at  the  skie^ci^:  >..}-."  wi  ■  «    ,    .r 
loS  ;  threaicnii:^  si.-.   I;  r.r  --.-*  1  .'•    ..     . 
the  siei;e  of   i;ir^i.ii  ■■;-/.  .2       *■■ 

bled  tr^lOp^  t'.i  pre;'*  tK.  «■:  .-  '  ^ 
151,  154:  .id^aii«.c  t'  war  .9  l-i  .. 
fire  on  Knu.J-Hi".  ur^   ir.  •:     N         .'  4 

in   comnism]    durii.);     i'd-mi'i •«:».?     * 

trance,  \>2 

Mansfell,  Cc-ui.t   Peit-r  Errr^r,  »  .rcr-i--.  "  t 
Duke  uf  I'arii.a  ir  t  ••  -.riii'.-l  ■     :•     -.,  . 
army.  iS'-;   appr-iailf. ■:   <i  -t   ■.  ;     .     ;  • 
raise  the  M:gc,  j"  ,,  s..jr;r'*>.-.  •.  k  .   :  \.-  > 
duke  Ernest,  'i^i  ;  dca:*  .  :~j 

ManMelt,  Coui.t,  na:uTd    *.  :      (  v    ■--■  i  rr 
Eniest    Mansfcit,    37-  .    i»    !■    a    -:-.-,- 
army  in  Itoheniia.  y/  .  J!  I     •<■       _■ 
Kittle  f'f  Pra.:ue.  40-  :  tra»   :  ■  F  •    .  •    . 
army.  v>,:  wii.t-rii,^  a:    Ha.-.    a_.  4 
forte  at  tiemi-, r-S.ein.   y  '.•  -^ '.'.,•■   k  ■     " 
Palatine.    sucteM   at    Wi».»:»xiL.    „;:._-: 
Ladeiibnr^.  414. 

M.iplistead.  T- nipLir*' cVu'i*  .»"    -4 

Muick,  or  M.irke,  r-vt-r  ,  :■,  w  ...  •■•:•-  :• 
bull,  is.j,  i'<'.  425.  ir.dj'-  .  •  r  -  •  :** 
Spii.ola.  4^: 

M.iick,  William  dc  la,  hi»  atrai,*   -  -    1'  .     :. 

74- 
Margaret   of   YtU,  her  ir-irrjL^'  i*  !•*--? 

103. 
M.irkhani.    Frai:c:s.    \o!--T.*e  r   »  ■?"    ^  -    '•• 

Pelham,   n>i:icc  uf.    1  :r.   •«    .   1    -   *   r  ^        • 

of  W.ir,"  113.   4*1"   .   hi-   f\'.'   -.ks  !•■  '.     "i 

^kiil  of  Sir  F.  Vtre  a^  a  I  :er    '.  •-  _-"r-     -, 
M.:rkham,    (••.rva-^e.    11.     ih      «.-  •    :    - 

ian.'"  f-a:  nuticr  if.    lu.  *  .   4  :       ..  :  -  k 

entitU J  •■  Thf  S<-.'t!itf'*  A.-ii  ■   •-."*- 
M.irkham,  Sir  OriiSn.  a:  i?  f  -;,•.-     :  i".- 

pcn.   app'i>.d    for    ^ir    Jchr:    r.^'\'f   >.  r 

pany,  i^S-  «■ 
Mark  ham,  Jerr»me.  in    Leici-ttc-'i   a-ttx.  S 

ik!ain  in  a  dud.  S4.  n 
Markham.  R.-bcrt.  in  th  ■  Pa'.ar.r.i'e  ir^^r- 

yt^:  a*,  th-*  *ifj:e  of   Frar.k-r:>a     4-1    i 

elery  on  S-r  John  Purrcuj'T  .  41  ..  « 
Markham. Wil]i.im.  ht«  gal.1r.t17  a!  '.>rbar. c 

of  Rvmenar  I,  50. 
Marri-ipM  of  English  officers  arJ  ».-U:«n   -: 

the  Nether!ar'*».  iil*-.  j3r>. 
Mai^hal.  the  Lord.  dutie«.  54. 
Margin,   Captt-n.    wounded   «:    the  tie;*  s 

Maa»iricht.  44". 
"  Mary  Rok,**  SirGcofsv  Cam**  i^ip.!!  Ai 


INDEX. 


491 


Cadiz  expedition,  219;  in  the  naval  action, 
227;  Sir  Francis  Vere's  ship  in  the  "Is- 
land Voyage,"  237;  her  mainmast  sprung, 
241,  246;  nearly  ran  into  the  "  Warspile," 
247  ;  sprung  a  leak,  but  reached  Plymouth, 
*5o. 

Master  of  the  ordnance,  duties,  64. 

Master  gunner,  65. 

Match  lock,  use  of,  59. 

Matthias,  Archduke,  assembled  an  army  to 
oppose  Don  Juan  of  Austria,  49. 

Maud,  Empress,  created  the  earldom  of  Ox- 
ford, 6. 

Maud,  Queen  of  Stephen,  died  at  Hedingham 
Castle,  12. 

Maurice,  Prince  of  Orange,  birth,  31,  «. ;  suc- 
ceeded his  father,  6S;  received  Leicester  on 
landing  at  Flushing,  79;  at  Middelburg  with 
Leicester,  80 ;  made  governor  of  Holland 
and  Zeeland,  80  ;  general  of  the  army  of  the 
States,  114,  118;  project  for  an  attack  on 
Axel,  88  ;  collected  shipping  for  the  relief  of 
Sluys,  113  ;  unsuccessful  attack  on  Gertruy- 
denburg,  138;  opinions  of,  by  Cecil,  WiU 
loughby,  and  Verc,  145  ;  visited  quarters  of 
Sir  F.  Vere  in  the  Bommcl-waart,  14S;  his 
plan  to  surprise  Breda,  15S;  entered  Breda, 
161,  162;  advanced  into  the  Betuwe,  163; 
army  along  the  line  of  the  Waal,  164;  his 
attack  on  Dunkirk,  170;  took  the  field,  with 
rendezvous  at  Arnhem,  171  ;  capture  of 
Zutphen,  172;  and  Deventer,  173,  175; 
march  into  Groningen,  Dolfziel  taken,  175  ; 
battle  of  the  Betuwe,  177;  siege  of  Steen- 
wyck,  182;  and  Coevorden,  1S4;  Coevorden 
surrendered  to,  1S5;  planned  the  siege  of 
Gertruydcnburg,  188;  Gertruydenburg  sur- 
rendered to,  18);  siege  of  Groningen,  193, 
195  ;  letter  to  the  Queen  praying  for  rein- 
forcements, 200;  marriage  of  his  sisters, 
211;  laid  siege  to  Grolle,  212;  generous 
praise  of,  by  Sir  F.  Vere,  215;  battle  of 
Turnhout,  255-2^0;  disapproved  of  the  in- 
vasion of  Flanders,  279;  commander-in- 
chief  in  the  Nieuport  campaign,  279;  coun- 
cil of  war  at  Nieiii>ort.  286  ;  dispositions  for 
the  battle  of  Nieuport,  291.  293;  his  ap- 
proval of  Vcre's  arrangements  at  Nieuport, 
294  ;  took  his  stand  on  the  West  Hill,  300  ; 
exclamation  at  seeing  the  English  rally,  301  : 
ordered  Sir  E.  Cecil  to  charge,  301  ;  gave 
Vere  full  credit  for  the  battle,  303,  «. ,  304; 
gave  the  use  of  his  house  at  Ryswick  to 
Vere,  305  ;  his  succ -sses  in  the  field  during 
the  siege  of  Ostend,  joH  ;  took  the  field  and 
besieged  Grave,  33**  I  his  increasing  power, 
340 ;  took  final  le-ave  of  Sir  F.  Vere,  347 ; 
his  recovery  of  Sluys,  V^^'S^'o  *t  Wesel 
watching  Spinola,  370  ;  battle  of  Mulheim, 
372-378;   friendship  for  Sir   Horace  Vere, 


378;  his  dislike  of  the  truce,  390;  hatred  of 
Barneveldt,  391 ;  his  conduct  in  causing  the 
death  of  Barneveldt,  392  ;  hospitality  to  the 
King  and  Queen  of  Bohemia,  390,  408;  ill- 
ness  and  death,  426,  427. 

Mayencc,  403 ;  occupied  by  Spinola,  399 : 
treaty  signed  by  the  Princes  of  the  'Protes- 
tant Union  at,  409. 

Medina  Sidonia,  Duke  of,  ordered  the  mer- 
chant ships  to  be  burnt  at  Puerto  Real,  233  ; 
entered  Cadiz  on  the  departure  of  the  Eng- 
lish, 234. 

Medina,  Don  Francisco,  sent  to  occupy  Cine- 
hen,  near  Breda,  426. 

Meetkerk,  Adolf,  at  the  siege  of  Sluys,  loi ; 
at  the  attack  on  Dunkirk,  170;  slain  before 
Deventer,  174. 

Meetkerk,  Nicolas,  at  the  siege  of  Sluys,  loi ; 
succeeded  to  his  brother's  company,  174, 
181 ;  knighted  at  Cadiz,  234;  station  to  repel 
the  assault  at  Ostend,  325. 

Mel  ford.  Long,  14. 

Mendoza,  Don  Juan  de,  in  the  attempt  on  the 
water  port  at  Bergen-op-Zoom,  130. 

Mendoza,  Don  Alonzo  de,  commanding  cair- 
alry  at  Turnhout,  257. 

Mendoza,  Bernardino,  notice  of  his  history, 
469.     See  A  rag-oH ,  A  dmtrcd  of. 

Mercator,  Gerard,  his  atlas  published  by  Hex- 
ham, 449.     See  Duisfmrg. 

"Mere-honour,*'  vice-admiral's  ship  in  the 
Cadiz  expedition,  219;  unfit  for  sea,  237. 

Merrick,  Sir  Gilly,  in  the  "  Swifisure*'  for  the 
"  Island  Voyage."  238  ;  sought  to  injure 
Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  245. 

M erven.  Van  der,  governor  of  Heidelberg, 
417  :  surrender  of  Heidelberg  by,  418. 

Merwode,  Maas  and  Waal,  when  united,  so 
called,  36. 

Meteren,  Emanuel  van,  notice  of  his  history, 
470. 

Metz,  Sir  F.  Vere  escorted  Philip  of  Nassau 

to,  197. 

Meurs,  Count,  governor  of  Gelderland,  80; 
death  owing  to  an  explosion,  149,  150. 

Meuse.     See  Maas. 

Michelborne,  Sir  Edward,  captain  of  the 
"  Moone  "  in  the  "  Island  Voyage,"  237. 

Middelburg.  capital  of  Zeeland,  surrendered 
by  Mondragon,  29 ;  great  abbey  at,  39 ;  be- 
sieged by  the  patriots,  42  ;  Spanish  garrison 
of,  attacked  Flushing,  43,  44 ;  trade,  75,  76 ; 
Sir  F.  Vere  at,  218,  315. 

Middleton,  captain  of  the  "  Due-repulse"  un- 
der Essex,  237. 

Military,  the  art,  53. 

Military  manuals  and  drill  books,  465. 

Mitcham,on  the  roaHto  Nonsuch  Palace,  354; 
pleasant  houses  at,  house  of  Mr.  Dent,  354 ; 
the  Queen's  visit  to  Mr.  Dent  at,  354 ;  Sir 


dc'.iur^ 


:on>;.  lumndcnd  Mid- 
til  S.h..u-«i.  la;  hi* 
hum-:  in  .■:   Itoiiind. 

M-ilikl'jur:.  4'  ■   hH   npinenl  cilied  ihc 


A"«^rp,  u 


■i  E(«c*^ii-o;^Zviin. 


•JVC  Hted 


Ph.,,, 

,.fX 

U.  114 

;  niiivd  inio  Brabini. 

r,.lh. 

Mor-lnj 

.m. 

A.  ■ 

."d., 

JTllfV 

H-T.k.    ' 

:l.^ 

i" 

i;;"T::t 

..  .t.i„rf  «,rf« 

Lord 

M  <:,■■'.  ' 

'■:,':-:■ 

. -f 

r.u«» 

ivork 

M—  ■]'. 

amain  of  >h« 

i«j:^  ■■ 

«H-rii!U«i.  11, 

lUi; 

Ih-r 

it  KIT 

-M    *hi,«.    «7 

.  i>i: 

.■(■  ;  il.i-!l  ih:  >ii!.i.h  fl-^et.  n'  :  F.  V*i 

•..'i.n  .:!,  S'(K    r^M4-.  divMi 

■J,- 1!  dT  B---1--'-  »->iiri".  -li:i"nM  in  loaiu 

-.'   T.tMr"  II  r-i>l    ihc    I'KluIt    OD  Devon 

i.  III.  Miillnir 

:.  >i-.ir,n  i^.  jilh  F.4r!  of  Oifmd  and  Vcrr<, 


>'i.!'.I   tht    Eru:;i.h      Md«1hi1 


INDEX. 


493 


encamped  on  the  other  side  of  the  Zwin, 
368  ;  slain  at  the  siege  of  Maastricht,  446. 

Nassau,  Count  John  of  (the  elder),  presided  at 
the  Union  of  Utrecht,  51  :  siadtholder  of 
Friesland,  175 ;  holding  his  own  against 
Vertlugo,  190. 

Nassau,  Count  John  (the  younger),  his  praise 
of  Sir  F.  Vere  for  his  conduct  before  Coe" 
vorden,  185. 

Nassau,  Count  Justin  of,  natural  son  of  Wil- 
liam, Prince  of  Orange,  collected  ships  for 
the  relief  of  Sluys,  113;  with  Prince  Mau- 
rice in  the  Nieuport  campaign,  279;  go\'* 
ernor  of  Hrcda,  425,  426  \  surrendered  Breda 
to  Spinola,  42S. 

Nassau,  Count  Henry  of,  built  the  castle  of 
Breda,  425. 

Nassau,  Count  Henry  of  (the  >'Ounger),  es- 
corted Sir  Horace  Vere  to  the  Palatinate 
with  Dutch  cavaln.',  400  ;  acting  as  a  guide, 
401 ;  left  Sir  H.  Vere  at  Darmstadt,  403;  at 
the  siege  of  Maastricht,  441.  ■* 

Nassau,  Count  Louis  Gunlher,  214  ;  in  the 
Cadit  expedition,  218,  219,  222  ;  captured 
the  argosies  in  Cadit  Bay.  228 ;  with  Sir  F. 
Vere  in  the  attack  on  Cadiz,  230;  general  of 
cavalry  in  the  Nieuport  campaign,  278 ; 
misunderstood  his  orders,  292  ;  at  the  recov- 
ery of  Sluys,  366 ;  died  of  fever  before 
Sluys,  369. 

Nassau,  Count  Philip  of,  in  the  attack  on  the 
mutineers  of  nertruydenburg,  139 ;  arranged 
>^ith  the  captain  of  a  j>«'at  Iwat  for  the  sur- 
prise of  Hn-da,  I  i;S  ;  men  from  his  garrisons 
st'nt  on  Iward  the  peat  lx>at,  159;  entered 
Breda  with  Prince  Maurice,  i'')!  ;  in  1592 
took  the  field  with  Maurice,  iSi  ;  escorted 
by  Sir  F.  Vere  to  join  the  Due  de  Bouillon 
at  Sedan,  if^ ;  crossed  the  Lippc  to  attack 
a  Spanish  force,  214;  slain,  215. 

Nassau,  Count  William  of,  son  of  Count 
John,  Delf/iel  delivered  over  to,  175;  in 
1592  took  the  fiild  with  Maurice,  181  ;  led 
one  of  the  a«isaults  at  Steenwyck,  1S3;  at 
the  sietre  c)f  r.rf)ningen,  193;  with  Sir 
Horace  Vere  at  Heerewa.irden,  274;  at  the 
recovery  of  Sluys,  3^/^  3AS;  stationed  be- 
tween Viicht  and  the  Maas  at  the  siege  of 
Kois-le>I)uc.  \\(\  at  Ambrij  during  the 
siege  of  Maastricht,  442. 

Nauntnn.  Sir  Robert,  !>aneir>ric  on  the  Veres 
in  his  "  Fraumenta  Kecalia,"  2,  n.,  3S^,  n. 

Neal  of  St.  Sauveur.  Viscount  of  the  Coicn- 
tin,  his  revolt  against  Duke  William,  5. 

N<-a|>oIitans,  defeated  by  Sir  F.  Vere  on  his 
march  to  Rheinbcrg,  153;  at  Turnhout, 
257.      See  It.t'uinx. 

Neckar,  403  ;  Heidelberg  on  the  banks  of,  416. 

Neerh.vren,  n'^ar  Maastricht,  Spaniards  en- 
cami^d  at,  441. 


NetheTlands,  physical  geo^rnphy,  35,  34,  35  • 
eastern  part,  34 ;  line  of  hills,  34 ;  influence 
of  hills  on  course  of  rivers,  34;  considered 
Bs  a  fortress,  with  rivers  as  lines  of  defence* 
34>  35;  BommcWwaart  said  to  be  the  key 
"^  35  i  physical  features  of  free  and  Span* 
ish  Netherlands,  36,  37 ;  joy  of  the  people 
on  Queen*  ElizabetVs  declaration  of  war 
with  Spain,  7a ;  great  advmnces  In  pros- 
perity, 187,  206,  207;  Arctic  and  East  India 
voyages  sent  out  from,  207,  208 ;  armistice 
with  Spain,  378. 

Neubutg,  Duke  of,  in  the  Protestant  Union, 

395-   • 

Neuss,  a  strategic  point  on  the  Rhine,  35  \ 
taken  by  storm,  87. 

Neville,  Lady  Dorothy,  first  wife  of  the  i6th 
Earl  of  Oxford,  18. 

Newington,  the  17th  Earl  of  Oxford  lived  at, 
382  ;  buried  at,  383. 

Nicolas,  his  opinion  regarding  the  barony  of 
San  ford,  2,  m. 

Nieuport,  horsemen  from,  captured  an  Ost* 
end  boy  catching  fowl,  202,  a8o ;  arrival  ol 
the  division  of  Count  Solms,  281  ;  of  the 
rest  of  Maurice's  artny,  281 ;  history  and  de> 
scription  of  the  town,  283,  283  ;  the  dunet, 
28$  ;  description  of  the  battlefield,  289, 190 1 
disposition  of  forces,  ago,  291,  294;  de«^ 
perate  struggle  for  the  East  Hill,  396,  397; 
failure  of  the  reserves  to  come  up,  299 ;  >  pan» 
ish  advance,  300 ;  rally  of  the  English,  301 ; 
charge  of  cavalry,  301 ;  total  defeat  of  the 
Spaniards,  302. 

Node,  or  Noud,  Van  der,  governor  of  Ostend 
when  the  siege  began,  309;  received  Sir 
Francis  Vere,  310,  317,  n. ;  governor  of  Ost- 
end after  Van  Dorp,  331 ;  at  the  recovery  of 
Sluys,  368. 

••  Noniwreil,"  Sir  Robert  Dudley's  ship  in 
the  Cadiz  expedition,  219;  Lord  Thomas 
Howard  shifted  his  flag  to,  at  Cadiz,  226; 
Sir  Richard  Leveson  in  command  of,  for  the 
"  Island  Voyage,"  238. 

Nonsuch  Palace.     See  Mitckam. 

Norham  manuscripts  at  Oxford,  notices  of 
the  Vere  family  in,  464. 

Normandy,  the  Cotentin  ceded  to  the  Duke  of, 
by  Alan  of  Brittany,  3  ;  Society  of  Antiqua- 
ries of,  mention  of  Veres  in  transactions, 
3,  H. 

N orris,  Lord,  of  R\t;ote,  the  Queen ^t  friend- 
ship for  his  wife  (Margery  Williams),  49, 

344- 

Norris,  Edward,  with  the  English  volunteers, 
51  ;  lieutenant  to  Sir  Philip  Sidney  at  Flusb- 
ine,  S8  ;  ser\'ing  in  l^iicester's  army,  84,  91 X 
with  Schenk  at  the  construction  of  Schenken* 
Schanz.  88;  govrnor  of  Ostenr.  181,  20a. 

Norris,  Henry,  suffered  death  owing  to  falM 


494 


INDEX. 


accusations  against  Queen  Anne    Boleyn, 
48. 

Norm,  Henr>',  S8  ;  knighted  at  Wamsfdd.  96. 

Norris,  Sir  John,  with  the  English  Tolunteers, 
4S,  51  ;  family  of,  481  49  ;  commanded  Tolun- 
teers at  Rymenantf  50;    colonel -{general  in 

.  Leicester**  army.  84;  relief  of  Grove,  87; 
knighted,  HS  ;  at  Amhem  with  Leicester.  91 ; 
in  the  charge  at  Wamsfeldt  94 :  named  by  ' 
Lord  Willoughby  as  a  better  man  than  him-  j 
self  to  command  the  forces,  118;  came  to 
the  Netherlands  to  recruit  for  the  Portu^l 
action,  136;  withdrawn  fnmi  the  Nether* 
lands,  14J  ;  brought  a  gracious  message  to 
Sir  F.  Verc  from  the  Queen,  171  ;  death, 
252  ;  monument  in  Westminster  Abbey,  near 
that  of  Sir  F.  Vere,  .^'^•o. 

North,  Lord,  joined  the  English  Tolunteers  in 
the  Netherlands,  4H;  accompanied  Lcice<(ter 
to  Flu'^hing,  7S ;  letter  from,  in  praise  of  the 
Queen's  policy,  83;  commanded  a  troop  of 
hurse,  ^4,  91 ;  in  the  charge  at  Wamsfeld. 
94 ;  made  a  banneret  on  the  tield,  v/j ;  palN 
bearer  at  the  funeral  of  Sir  Philip  Sidney, 
9^> ;  named  by  Lord  Wiiloughby  as  a  better 
man  than  himself  to  command  the  forces, 
118. 

Northumberland,  Earl  of,  delivered  the 
Queen's  letter  to  Sir  F.  Vcre  at  CHtend. 
305  ;  an  incumbrance  in  the  army,  306 :  his 
creature  dismissed,  307 ;  took  <rffencc  and 
left  Oxtund,  .^17,  ^17,  n.  ;  challenged  Sir  F. 
V.re,  3<4i  V?5.  U'*:  notices  of,  ^34,  337,  n. 

Norwich,  Hi>!iop  of,  capture  of   Nieuport  by, 


J'*; 


Noitin}:hani.   Countess  of,  the  Queen's  grief 

at  her  death.  .^41. 
Nottir-iiham.  T-irl  \A.     See  I/iKvarJ. 
N'-uie,  h'i.tui;iii<»  de  la,  c'ommandeil  volunteers 

a■.;.lin^t    Don   Juan  of    Au-^tria,  former  !H:r* 

vi<.e>,  4'':  v'octed  a  po^iiimi  near  Kymenant. 

5. ;  !.>«.i  his  arm,  called  *'  Bran  de  Fcr,'*  41) ; 

aiii.J    >ir    Horace  Wro  at    Heerewaanlen, 

-'74- 
Num.h.irn.  j'»rtrait  of  Lady  Harcourt  (Fran- 

c>. N  Vcf.)  at.  2^.     See  Harcourt. 

f )  ikl' y,  manor  of  th«'  Veres  at,  16. 

()l'i-ili.ni>e:i.  in  the  Ruhr  valley,  374. 

O^;.-.  ^ir  J-<lm,  ;ieut.«ciiloin-l  of  the  diviMon 
of  ^ir  r.  Wxk-  \\\   the    S'ieup^irt  campaign, 
27  i ;   rc-«.;i''l  >ir  I  .  Vm-  in  tho  hattle,  2«»; 
r.»::i<  (1  :h.-   in-  n,  \  >i  ;  remark  On  the  luttle. 
-..-':  .!■  I  "..ir.r.Mn  of  >jr   V    Vere  t(»,  at  Ost- 
ei..!,  :'  It   lu- would  Pcvrr  yii-!fl,  u'>:  parley   I 
uith  :'m.-   S:..r.i.tri!-   .it   <  »s:f.„|.  120;   V:nt  a^   I 
a  !..  -•  lue  !  1  :).■■  An  ?;i!ii'm  '<.  ranij^.  121  ;  re-   ' 
""■■    .;,      :.—     jiite-l     .is    fri.-nd    of     >ir     F. 
V.  T--    :i  ':•,-  fi  itt.-r  .if   the  K.irl  i.f  Northum- 
bcrlanil's  «.!ui;coge,  3  54.  3  55  ;  hi*  narrative   . 


of  the  last  diarjce  at  Kieaporr  xtA  xhf  v^rm 
at  Ostend,  35S;  one  of  the  fou  E-,: .  * 
coloDels  servinK  the  States,  le^» :  11  'Im  — 
coveryd  Sluys,  y^f^  -**>■::  ir.  w-prr**-- 
Utrecht,  rea^oed,  r«thcr  than  ac:  ft.:,  c 
Bameveldt,  391;  recor.c  :!ia!  tic  ».-  •• 
Horace  Vere,  393:  aai,  in  tL«  eti.-«_  x 
war,  on  a  question  of  precedence.  4^4.  « 

OMen  Baraeveldt.     See  Btrnrrf.M 

Olmcyra,  L>iego  Lai^  de.  CLRinutiec    :    :• 
lines  round  Ilreda,  42^. 

Oppenhcim,   403  ;    army   of     the     ?-■*?•■_:: 
Union  at,  3-»  ;  taken  by  Spinoia.  4  •. 

Oranfie,  Prince   of.     See    UJiiam   J.'ur. 
Frederick  Henry,  S.xstoM. 

Ordnance.     See  M^Mter  ^/ 

Orsoy,  on  the   RhLie,   Mc«draj;r«a  nxsir-.'i 
at,  212. 

Ortiz,  an  officer  in  diar^e  of  the  K.ic.:-*  •'  ^ 
at  the  attack  on  ibe  water  !•  r:  a:  K:rj-.-.-  - 
Zoom,  13^,  131. 

Osono,   Don   Antoni.>,  enter*  Cajv  ^:    -t-* 
cvacuatiiin  by  the  Engh'b,  2^4. 

0»tend«  a  cautionari-  t>jwn.  '.,.  n-siir-  -.* 
ing  the  siege  of  S]ny«.  by   i^-  pi—.-  -  *: 
Illankenhuff .  i<^> :  Earl  v^  I^ckcMrr  ir 
Sir  John  Conway  marie  g.-v-rror.  ■.-     "•  • 
E^lward  Norris  gori-rrnr.  1*1      a  1 — 
treatment  of  the  boy  Car>prrar.  tr;  .  '•!..- 
rice's  armv  advanced  tn  nf;.:'^*Tr  -.'    ' 
a8o;  desicription  of  the  deier.ct«.  -,:.. 
313;  progress  of  the  sie^.  iij-:f     •-.■: 
Rem,  317-3*3;  arriral  iif  sur7:ie*  »-     -    ^ 
forcements,  3M  ;  rnparaHcn;*  f.-"^^  .*■.■- 
as^au]t.  323-t2rt :  the  gnrat  a«^u:*.  -t 
repulsed,  32S:  Sir  Franci*  Verr  >::  «.•'■•■ 
330;   sequel  o<  the   sieice.   33*;   sur— -   r 

OudenbuTK,  Fort«  oenr  Ovtend.tjlLR  S  Mai 
lice,  2^ :  enemv  before,  2*1. 

O^-errtskkee  Islar.d.  -^ 

Oversiein,  Count,  went  tn  ihc  re  Kef  of  R»^  "^ 
bent  with  Sir  F rands  Vcrr.  141.  :«>    ;« 
killed  before  Zutphen,  172. 

OverrsseU  Deventer  the  capitjl  c:.  tri    7*^ 
ant  proprietor!!,  \%x. 

Oxford,  Earltof,  hervditary  C*raM  OjtSt 
lains.  baronte«  inherited  by,  t :  cei:   -    •» 
Aheric  or  Aubrey  de   Vere,  i«i  F-i- 
founded  a  prinry  at  Hatfie'd  B-i*id  "i..  * 
ad  F:«rl,  buried  at  Hatfic<d  Broi  \  •>:-  ■ 
Robert,  jd  £ar!.  oppnicd  to  Kins  •:^- 
5th  Earl,  siiT»pnrt«l  Simon  de  M*!'^  ^ 
his  tomb  at  Eart'»  CoJi«,  11,  «.    .:S  f-' 
served  under  Edwaid  I.,  6     Tcht.-''  W'- 

"/^r^*7  ■"**  Poitierv-      *«»•  Ta-     •  ■ 
of  the  fal^h^^  ^   ^  ^:^  ,^^  ^^  ,  .  . 

R-chaMIl.  -.,,.      ,uH  t«\,serv^-- 
ot  Henry  V.,  ,;  k»  1,1^  «  te* 


INDEX. 


495 


CoItic,  15,  n.  12th  Earl,  beheaded  by  Ed- 
ward IV.,  S  ;  his  tomb  at  EarlsColne,  15,  n. 
i3ih  Eatl,  at  battles  of  Barnet  and  Bos- 
worthy  8.  John,  15th  Earl,  the  first  Prol- 
catani  Earl,  S  ;  his  tomb  at  Castle  Heding- 
ham,  g.  John,  i6th  Earl,  at  the  siege  of 
Boulogne,  18 ;  his  character,  22 ;  his  be- 
quests to  John  and  Francis  Vere,  23.  Ed- 
ward, 17th  Earl,  18,  22  ;  s»old  Earl's  Colne, 
15,  n.  ;  his  guardian,  23;  rules  for  his 
studies,  his  accomplishments,  married  to 
Anne  Cecil,  24  ;  dissipaled  the  wealth  and 
estates  of  the  family,  25,  20'>,  382  ;  death, 
349,  «.,  383  ;  second  marriage,  3S3.  Henry, 
i8th  Earl,  reversion  of  Sir  Francis  Vere's 
pension  granted  to,  349,  3S4 ;  his  mother's 
anxiety  about  his  evil  companion  John 
Hunt,  3S3;  went  to  Italy,  returned  to  serve 
under  Vere,  384;  raised  men  for  the  Pala- 
tinate regiment,  398;  led  the  first  divi- 
sion, 404  ;  witnessed  the  retreat  of  Spinola, 
406  ;  sent  home  by  Sir  Horace  Vere,  to  ex- 
plain the  position  in  the  Palatinate,  408; 
imprisoned  in  the  Tower,  423  ;  marriage  with 
Lady  Diana  Cecil,  423,  434 ;  raised  a  regi- 
ment for  service  in  the  Netherlands,  dis- 
pute with  the  Earl  of  Southampton  as  to 
precedence,  424 ;  led  the  attempt  to  relieve 
Breda,  427;  his  death,  42S,  429,  «.,  444. 
Robert,  iQth  Earl,  son  of  Hugh  Vere  by  a 
daughter  of  Wm.  Walsh,  383,  «. ;  succeeded 
to  the  title,  430;  married  to  Beatrix  Hem- 
meina  (sec  Hemnuma) ;  at  the  siege  of 
Bois-le-Duc,  435  ;  succeeded  to  Sir  Edward 
Vire's  regiment,  437  ;  repulsed  a  sortie  at 
Maastricht,  442  ;  mortally  wounded,  442,  1 
44^,  444,  44A.  Aubrey,  20th  Earl,  the  last 
Earl,  notice  of,  444. 

Pacheco,  Don  Isidro,  in  command  at  Goes, 
44  ;  repulsed  as'^nult  of  the  English,  44,  46  ; 
siijnal  to.  from  the  relieving  force,  47. 

Pacheco,  Don  Juan,  hanged  at   Flushing,  42, 

Parkeiiham,  Colonel,  his  regiment  at  the  siege 
of  M.iastrichi,  440. 

Pasanclls  in  the  Cotontin.  4. 

Palatinate,  English  regiment  raised  to  defend, 
3'>*^;  officers,  39S;  Sir  Horace  Vere  entered. 
40J  ;  garri'ion^;,  4<:>8 ;  deserted  by  the 
princes  of  the  Protestant  Union.  409:  deso- 
lation, returning  prosperity  under  Charles 
r*)uis,  4:?o.      See  Frederick. 

Pallaviriiio,  Genoese  banker,  the  Queen  bor- 
rowed money  from,  ^,2- 

P.ippenheim,  Count,  at  the  siege  of  Maas- 
tricht. 440:  att.icked  the  T^iitch  quarters, 
44^;  iipbrriifh'd  Santa  Cruz  for  in.irtion,  446. 

Parker,  Sir  Nicholas,  conim.inded  a  trf»op  of 
horse  under  Leicester,  84 ;    in  the  Bergen- 


op-Zoom  garrison,  tso;  ktiighted  by  Lord 
Willoughby,  132;  commanding  cavalry  un- 
der Sir  F.  Vere,  181 ;  his  company  had 
many  married  men,  200 ;  crossed  the  Lippe 
with  Robert  Vere,  214;  conducted  the  re> 
treat  over  the  Lippe,  214,  215;  brought  the 
news  of  Robert  Vere's  death,  21$,  322 ;  or- 
der to  cruise  between  St.  Geoiige  and  Graci^ 
osa,  246 ;  chasing  the  Spanish  fleet,  246 ; 
consultation  with  Sir  F.  Vere,  247;  at  Turor 
hout,  2^Jo,  307. 

Parma,  Margaret  of,  her  cruel  speech,  28.       1 

Parma,  Alexander  Farnese,  Duke  of,  govermor 
of  the  Netherlands,  took  Antwerp,  32,  68; 
serving  at  Rymenant,  49;  broke  up  the  "  Ter> 
cio  Vicjo,**  53 ;  nearly  surprised  in  his  tent 
at  Vcnlo,  60 ;  besieged  and  took  Grave,  871; 
besieged  Rheinberg,  87,  90;  marched  to  the 
relief  of  Zutphen,  92;  reoonnoiired  Leice»> 
ter*s  |Kisition  from  Zutphen,  92  ;  resolved  on 
the  siege  of  Sluys,  100;  his  preparations  ior 
the  siege  of  Sluys,  106,  112;  granted  honor- 
able terms  to  the  Sluys  garrison,  110,  iii'; 
plan  for  invading  England,  112,  125;  re> 
solved  to  besiege  Bergen-op-Zoom,  126;  bt- 
gan  the  Bergen-op-Zoom  siege,  127 ;  two 
pages  killed  by  his  side,  128;  scheme  for 
capturing  the  water  forts,  129;  raised  the 
siege  of  Bergen-op-Zoom,  131;  beheaded 
the  officers  of  Breda  garrison,  162;  absent 
in  France,  171,  175,  i8a;  besieged  Knodfleo> 
burg,  176;  retreated  from  the  Betuwe,  «t 
Spa.  178;  death  at  Arras,  character,  185.    ' 

Partisan.     See  Halberd. 

Pasino,  Aurelio  de,  his  work  on  forttficatioa, 
468. 

Paston  letters,  12th  EUirl  of  Oxford  mentioned 
in,  8. 

Pastrana,  Duke  of,  at  siege  of  Bergen-oiv 
Zoom,  12ft. 

Pay,  of  officers,  55,  56,  57;  of  soldiers,  58,  59, 
62 ;  money  sent  to  Lord  Willoughby  to  pay 
troops  1 19 ;  arrangements  for  more  regular- 
ity in  paying  troops,  154. 

Peat,  deposits  in  Drenthe,  34;  barges  laden 
with,  in  the  Vssel,92;  plan  to  surprise  Breda 
by  means  of  a  peat  boat.  158,  425;  prepara- 
tion of  the  boat,  159  :  in  the  Peel,  272. 

Peel,  the,  in  Brabant,  272,  437. 

Pekell,  a  bastion  in  the  Ostend  defeiKes,  31a ; 
underground  quarters  dug,  near,  315, 

Pelham,  Sir  William,  lord  marshal  of  Leice^ 
ter's  army,  notice  of  83 ;  joined  the  army, 
90 ;  wounded  at  Doesburg,  91 ;  in  the  charge 
at  Wamsfeld,  94 ;  left  England  for  the  relief 
of  Sluvs,  112 ;  died  at  Flushing,  113,  118. 

Pembroke,  Earl  of,  Roger  Williams  served  as 
pace  to,  53  ;  pall-bearer  at  Sir  Philip  Sid- 
ney's funeral,  96. 

Perce.     See  Corborant. 


496 


INDEX. 


Percival,  Mr.,  quartermaster-general,  lent  by 

the  Prince  of  Oranj^e  to  allot  stations  in  the 

camp  before  Maastricht,  441. 
Percy,  family  of,  4. 
Percy,  village  of,  in  the  Cfttcntin,  4. 
Percy.  Sir  Charies,  commanding  the  outlying 

picket  at  Villafranca  (Aiores),  240. 
Percy,  Thomas,  in  the  Ciunpuwder  Plot,  337, «. 

See  M0rthHtnb€riamit  Karl  q/". 
Peterborough,  Earl  of,  trained  under  the  Veres 

Petcrsl^im,  woods  of,  near  Maastricht,  441 ; 
chateau,  with  ruins  of  the  Hoogt  Klusier, 
where  the  Spanish  general  had  his  head- 
quarters during   the   siege    of    Maastricht, 

44«. 

Philip  II.  of  Spain,  invoked  the  aid  of  the 
assassin,  31 ;  prepared  an  expedition  ajzainst 
England,  112;  never  recovered  from  the 
sack  of  Cadiz,  237;  plans  thvi-arted  by  the 
elements,  250 ;  anxious  for  peace,  264 ;  death, 
270. 

Philip  III.,  marriage  with  Margaret  of  Aus- 
tria, 27^». 

Philip,  Duke  of  Bur^undv,  built  the  walls  of 
Flushinc.  75 ;  married  Is.ibella  of  Portugal, 
and  instituted  CJolden  Fleece,  103. 

Philippine,  point  selecteil  for  the  landing  of  the 
anny  of  Maurice  in  Flanders,  occupied  by 
Count  Ernest  of  Na«au.  »7q.  2S0;  descrip- 
tion, 27q,  n.  ;  army  landed,  2S0. 

Picard's  another  name  for  Kirby  Hall,  25. 

Piro.  one  of  the  Azores,  244 

Pi.t.rsherj;,  bright  near  Maastricht,  34.  440- 

Picott,  CaiXain,  taken  prisoner  at   Mulheim, 

Pi"..!',  description  of  the  ^-eapon,  44,  37 ;  ceased 

to  l>e  used,  57,  *»• 
Pik.rnen,    57 ;   dress  and   armor,   57,  5S,   61 : 

p.u-,  c;R. 
Pil-iim   Fathers,  principles  of  liberty  imbil>ed 

l)v.  3*<^:    departure  frf»m    r>elftshaven,  3'<«». 

S««'      nr',i,ff<fr',f,     Rodinsim^      Separatists^ 

Sf,  t n, /.•',»  h,   U 'in.t /{*»'. 
PiSi  'I.  Count  Man-frit  •-iilking  at,  378. 
Pi -toll-  FN,  dress  and  anns,  /.;. 
Pi-tf  k.  ^?. 
I'l.ii.'.  barony  of,  inherited  by  the  Veres.  2. 

I'l :   in  ahi-vanci',  4^0. 
PItirn.irt.  t:nid'-d  ;Hr  f^pani'^h  troc^p*  across  the 

I  ti  i'"irl  !'•  Sf»n;h  I5rv«-land.  4"- 
P'\  vif-ith,  ( '.t(V\7  iTi-n<!ition  procreded  to,  2?o  ; 

t.  ■  ■:•:  nf   th<'   ('a<li7  exjVHHtion  to,  214;  r\. 

j-ili'ifn  ti>  the  A/orrs  s.iil<*d  from,  240:  re- 

t'lrMid   His.i>ilpd,  241;   n-turn   of   the   shij^ 

fri>ni  tin-  A/on"*,  2^0. 
P"i- t' r.  ("ipta'n.in  thi^  Palatinate  reviiment, 

^    ^  :  1  ■  1  th'-  thir»l  f?i'-Jsion,  4r>^. 

P  > .'af'.'.f.  F.irl  <.f  <Kf..nl  at,  7. 

IN-"..i:  .;.  ■-•■itn«.-v  «  i  r'a:ui-»  Vere  to,  2^>. 


Polder,  n  otwoili.  in  tfie  deieaces  ti  fHted 
3<>t  313;  Krengtkened  by  m.>rli  ca-'ai: 
Quaniur«»  313;  ftnaUy  taken  ly  the  Sp^s. 
iards,  131. 

Poidera,  ck»aiptioD  of,  33.  4^. 

Pooley,  Sir  John,  in  garnsvr.  at  Btrptz^^ 
Zoom,  lao;  notice  li  h:t  fan  \.  ik,  ■  . 
knighted  by  Lord  Wi:;(4j,:h>iy.  i;2.  «  1 
Schenk  at  the  relief  of  RKc  n^rs,  14: 
commanded  cavalry  andcr  S.t  I  Vrrr.  i'  . 
death  before  i>rooir.ger.,  1  it :  «o  manv  on 
of  his  company  were  Bumcd  u  tW  rr^"i 
that  the  order  fur  its  rcnicva.  «ai  ca'  a  «-i. 
300;  his  cuinpany  ordered  to  l-c  diiAau>« 
204. 

Pooley,  Sir  William,  kni|;bted  at  L'j.^a.  .-«. 

Puore,  Sir  John,  knighted  at  Bcif'ti  ;-^«r. 
»3i- 

Popham  of  Littlecote  sapposcd  to  be  iNe  itn 
of  the  ballad  of  the  Sianc^h  L«di.  .-2 

Porc-espk,  ravelin  at  CKtmd.  k-y  ci  '^t  '.- 
fences.  311,  323  ;  Sergeant -Ma-  r  (  *-•  v* 
and  Captain  Meetkerk  in,  ai  :(<«■  a>v..  . 
325 ;  aaaauh.  .3a«»  131. 

Pordiester  Castle,  Sir  ¥.  Vere  cxa.-:^l  r  k. 

350- 
Portland,  Raleigh  and  Vcre  recr-'c.'rc  «'  * 

at,  330. 
Portocairero.  T><»n   Juan,  o  mimL^:  r:  '^f 

galleys  at  Cadii.  324. 
Portamouih  and  Pon!«a.  Sir  Fra:.c->  V"-?  :^ 

pointed  governor.  3^c.  3:3. 
"  Portugal  actiufi,**  triH>p»  fcr,  i;'- 
Pothey,  captain  of  a  «hir  in  the  *t  rf  r/  <  ^ - 

end.  recngnixed  by  ihe  Sp  niv^    f^t  ■. •  m'^ 

came  to  parley,  322.     Se^  Sr^r  i«.- 
Putlita,  Coant«  ai  the   rc.uf  vi    kh  1  b«^ 

Pouldrona.     Se»  Arimmr. 

Poulett,    Loid,   married   to    ILithrriar   \:n. 

45'.  * 

Powell,  Captain,  in  gams«jn  at  biv^:-';* 
Zoom.  laO' 

Prafue,  battle  of.  407. 

Precedence,  question  of.  beiwvru  ihc  la- 
Oxford  and  Southampto*:.  424 

fVeston,  Sir  Ames  capta.n  pf  iVr  '  W 
Royal**  in  the  Cadta  expediiirr.  2-.  -'• 
tain  of  the  "  Defiance  **  in  tW  "*  I*~i-.' 
Voyage,**  J3^ 

IVinsterer,  notice  of  hia  edition  of  lrnvr«  f««i 
members  of  the  HcMiie  of  Orar  ce.  4't 

Pmtesiant  Union,  formed  bv  llein.'r  rr.>.-«. 
J^^^^4\  refused  to  mrdd'e  with  IWiStiii.A  w 
tronpa  of  the  Cnion  at  Oppenh*  i»».  j*.  "^ 
treat  to  Worm*,  400:  prinrr«  rl.  ff*r?r-l 
Vere  at  Worm*,  409 :  leaw  Sir  H^acv  Ve^ 
to  hi«  fate.  4or^ 

Pnnroxtt  marshal,  54:  dotie*.  ^ 

Puerto  Real,  in  Cadia  Bay,  aaj  ; 


INDEX. 


497 


dinps  talce  refuge  at,  124;  modiaiit  sbipt 

burnt  at,  333. 
Puntales,  castle  in  Cadiz  Bay,  223,  aaS. 
Putten  Island,  36. 

Qtiarriera,  «t>rks  to  strengthen  the  Podler  in 
the  Ostend  defences,  313 ;  council  of  war  to 
consider  withdrawal  from,  319,  320. 

Quarternuster,  60 ;  duties,  6$. 

Quartermaster-general,  54.     See  Percivml. 

Quesada,  Dr.,  made  terms  with  Essex  respect- 
ing Cadiz,  23a. 

Quinoey,  De,  intermarriage  with  Veres,  a. 

Quiriel,  Sir  Hugh,  French  a>mniander  at  the 
battle  of  Sluys,  100. 

^  Quittance,"  Sir  G.  Gifiord's  ship  in  the 
Cadiz  expedition,  a  19. 

Raamsdonk,  village  east  of  Gertruydenburg, 
Hohenlohe  and  Brederode  encamped  at,  dur- 
ing  the  siege,  188. 

«*  Rainbow,"  ship  of  Sir  F.  Vere  in  the  Cadiz 
expedition,  219;  first  in  action,  226;  com- 
manded by  Sir  William  Monson  in  the  **  It* 
land  Voyage,''  337,  246. 

Raleigh,  Sir  Walter,  26 ;  rear-admiral  in  the 
Cadiz  expedition,  219 ;  on  board  the  **  War- 
spile,*'  219;  qutstion  with  Sir  F-  Vere  as 
to  rank,  220;  question  of  rank  settled  by 
Essex,  221 ;  his  renown,  aai,  222;  protested 
against  landing  at  the  Caleta,a24;  to  lead 
the  attack,  225  ;  proceeding  during  the  naval 
action,  227 ;  severely  wounded,  228 ;  opinion 
as  regards  ships  versus  forts,  22H,  n.  ;  rear- 
admiral  in  the  *Msland  Voyage,'*  239;  re- 
conciliation with  Vere,  239 ;  ship  disabled  in 
the  Bay  of  Biscay,  241 ;  reached  Flores,  243 ; 
anchored  at  Fnyal  and  took  Horta,  244; 
court  of  inquiry  on,  at  Fayal,  245 ;  sent  to 
St.  Michael's,  247;  captured  a  large  ship, 
24S;  his  house  at  Mitcham,  354. 

Rammekens,  Fort,  near  Flushing,  English  vol- 
unteers helped  at  its  capture,  4S,  76 ;  de- 
livered up  to  Queen  Elizabeth,  69 ;  descrip- 
tion, 76;  Sir  Phi'ip  Sidney  landed  at,  77; 
inspected  by  the  Earl  of  Leicester,  80 ;  Cap> 
tain  Errington  appointed  governor,  113;  Sir 
T.  Baskerville  Rov.^rnor,  iSi. 

Randolph,  Arthur,  his  marriage  at  Flushing, 
156. 

Ra5sart,  Captain  Charles,  his  station  for  re- 
pelling the?  assault  on  Ostend,  325. 

Ratcliffe,  Sir  Alexander,  succeeded  Sir  C 
Reignall  in  command  of  the  "  Foresight," 
241. 

RatclifTc,  Captain,  taken  prisoner  at  Mulheim, 
378. 

Rations,  scaU*  f«»r  the  EncHsh  army,  61,  62. 

Ravel,  near  Turahout,  army  of  Maurice  at, 
256. 


Raynham,  portndts  of  Lotd  Ven^  offioera  at, 

45»- 
Read,  Sir  William,   oa   Lord  HtnUougUqr^ 

couodl  ol  war,  itS. 
ReckUn^iauaen,  in  Westphalia,  bemged,  164, 

165 ;  description,  165 ;  fort  captured  by  Sb 

Franda  Vere,  166,  167. 
Recruits,  63 ;  excellent  condition  of,  tent  from 

England  to  defend  Osiend,  315,  316. 
Redhead  in  chaiige  of  Spanish  pris<mert  wX 

Bergen-op^Zoom,  laS,  139, 
Rees,  Sir  F.  Vere  croned  the  Rhine  at,  ist ; 

fort  afipotivt,  151  i  return  of  Sir  F.  Vere  to> 

«$4. 
Regiments.     See  Em^isk   Am^,  S^Uitr, 

Regneville,  Havre  de,  4. 

Reichswald,  woods  near  Qevea,  34. 

Reignall,  Sir  Carew,  mmmandind  the  "  Fon- 
sight "  for  the  "  Island  Voyage,"  ajS;  loo 
seasick  to  go  on,  141. 

Renty,  Marquis  de,  in  dbarge  of  the  trftuchaa 
before  Sluys  until  wounded,  108 ;  repidaed 
in  an  attack  on  Tholen,  lay. 

"  Repulse,'*  ship  of  the  Eari  of  Eawx  and  Sir 
William  Monson  in  the  Cadis  eipeditioa, 
319,  334 ;  in  the  naval  action,  asj. 

Requcsena,  Don  Lois  de,  tnccecded  Ahra  in 
the  government  of  the  Neth«iandi,a9;ai^ 
ture  of  Sdiouwen,  death,  30. 

Rest.    See  Mmkti  Rat. 

"Revenge.'*    See {^rvmrAOr. 

Rheims,  death  of  tlw  yth  Eari  of  Oifoid  \k 
the  English  camp  before,  7. 

Rheinberg,  a  strategic  point  on  the  Rhine,  35; 
besieged  by  the  Duke  of  Parnu,  87;  da- 
fended  by  Schenk,  90 ;  relieved  by  S^enk, 
147;  be^eged  by  the  Marqius  of  Warren> 
bon,  148;  description,  149;  present  appeaiw 
ance,  149,  m.  ;  first  relief  by  Sir  Franda 
Vere,  151 ;  force  detailed  for  the  second  r»> 
lief,  151 ;  second  relief,  133,  16S. 

Rheingrsfenberg,  precipice,  403. 

Rhine,  river,  Holland  partly  formed  by  tht 
delu,  32 ;  course  deflected  by  the  hlUs,  34  { 
strategic  points  on.  35 ;  islands  fnnnii^  the 
delta,  36 ;  crossed  by  Sir  F.  Vere  at  Roes, 
151;  crossed  by  Sphuda  at  Coblents,  3991 
crossed  by  Sir  Horace  Vere  near  CoUenta, 
402;  towns  on  its  banks,  where  it  flows 
through  the  Palatinate,  403 ;  crossed  by  Sir 
Horace  Vere  opposite  Worms,  405. 

Rich,  Lord,  volunteer  in  the  "  Ishmd  Vof> 
age,"  deserted  owing  to  seasickness,  a4a. 


Rich,  Sir  Charies,  in  the  Pahidnate 
398  :  led  the  second  division,  404. 

Richard  II.  at  the  funeral  of  his  favofils,  tht 
Eari  of  Oxford,  at  Eari's  Cohie,  7t  'S* 

Ripperda,  Frisian  goneral  in  the  Wwiport 
campaign,  S79k 


498 


INDEX. 


Rimm,  lillige  ouUidr  Fliuhiin,  7J.                  1  ioy  and 

Kim,  ^innUh  u£icer  in  cooffland  of  Iro<9«  prvcccd 

when  the  anny  oC  Miurice  landed  al  Philip-  SL  Uiyita, 

I^iK,  IM,]!I6.                                                   I  Si.  Paul'i 

Ruben  ol  NonnaDdy,  Alberic  dc  Vm  in  the  Sidney, 


on. J.A 


■1;   Si 


und,  ]>otilion  d[  lh«  Maat,  jj ' 

,e  PHn«  of  Orange.  <»o. 

[t,  Julian,  Spanish  infantry  colo 

ill  inteivjeo  Hilh  Roger  Willian 

Pol.  3* 

laal,  death  ol  Ihc  Earl  uf  Snuili 


I  Saliibufy, 

Sallandi, 
SanAndr 


KelherlaiHll,  7);  lieui.-gcnerlt  iif  ihi 
4,  ti  :  led  the  cliirgce  al  Wirnit-ld, 
ivemor  of  Flushing,  971  applied  10. 
ifnmnirntB  fnr  .Sluya,  loo;  nuRncd 


[>e  in  Mitrlcbone  Park,  ijt ;  no 

il.  F^arl  It.  went  np  the  Crrro  < 
St  Favil  with  Sir  F.  Ven 
>lrdliylheElrtolF,.v.,  n» 


ceof. 


14:. Mount.      Scbenkca 


INDEX. 


499 


dezvotts  for  the  army  of  Maurice,  338 ;  ren- 
dezvous before  the  siege  of    Bois-le-Duc, 

435- 
Scheveningen,  encroachment  of    the   sea  at, 

284. 
Schiedam,  36. 
Schottenburgh,  a  fort  in  the  defences  of  Ost- 

end,  31a  ;    Sir  F.  Vere  took   his   stand  at, 

335  ;  repulse  of  the  enemy,  327. 
Schouwen,  isle  of,  30,  36,  39. 
Schwarzenstein,  ruined  castle  on  the  Lippe, 

213. 
Scott,  Sir  Jolin,  at  the  siege  of  Sluys,  105;  in 

the  Bergen-4>p-Zuom  garrison,  lao;  knighted 

by  Lord  Willoughby,  132. 
Scout-master,  duties,  66. 
Scrooby.     See  Separatists. 
Scropes,  intermarriage  with  Veres,  a. 
Seals  of  Sir  Francis  Vere,  209,  n. 
Sedan,  196. 
Sclby,  Sir  John,  of  Twizell,  his  men  stand 

firm  at  Mulhcim,  374. 
Selz  River,  406. 

Senlac,  battle  of,  Albcric  de  Vere  at,  5. 
Separatists,  congregation  at  Austerfield  and 

Scrooby,  notice  of,  387,  n. 
Sergeant,  dutier.,  pay,  dress,  56,  60. 
Sergeant-major,  duties,  55. 
Sergeant-major  general,  duties,  54. 
Serjeaux  arms  on   a  tomb  at   £arl*s  Colne, 

15,  n. 
Serrano,    Don    Mateo,    sent    into   Ostend   to 

parley   with   Sir    K.    Vere,   320;    his   fool's 

errand,  321,  322. 
Scrug,  great-grandfather  of  Abraham,  descent 

of  Veres  from,  3,  n. 
Sevenburg,   ai>ptoach   to  Breda   by  causeway 

of,  427. 
Seymour.     See  Somerset,  Duke  of. 
Shakespeare,  William,  26. 
Sheffield,  Lord,  married  Lady  Anne  Vere,  iq; 

Fairfax  and    Holies  families  related  to  the 

Veres  through,  451,  452. 
Shields  of  arms.      See  A  rms. 
Ships   (see  Cadiz,   Azores),    unseaworthiness 

of,  240. 
Shirley,  Sir  Anthony,  5^5,  n.  :  succeeded  Sir  F. 

Gorges   as    sergeant-major    general    of    the 

•'  Island  Voyace."  241  ;   soucht  to  injure  Sir 

W.    Kai'i^b.    145;  letter  from    Sir   F.  Vere 

to,  when  in  I'er'>in,  2j<',  n. 
Shirley,   Sir  Thomas,    accompanied   Leicester 

to  the  Netherlands.  yS  ;   commanded  a  troop 

of  hors«',  S4 ;   trea>uri  r  of  the  army,  85;  in 

trouble  about  his  accounts,  S5,  «. 
Shotmen  of  .t  company,  armn,  58. 
Sidney,  Sir  Philip.   2'^:  covernor  of  Flushing, 

7^;   notice   of.  -|;  .irriv.il   at    Flushing,    77; 

his  defence  of  the   F.arl  of   Leicester,  77,  «., 

78  ;   gave  up  the  government  of  Bergen-op- 


Zoom  to  Lord  Willoughby,  85, 1*3;  project 
for  attacking  Axel,  88;  capture  of  Axel, 
89;  joined  Leicester  at  Amhem,  90;  in  the 
charge  at  Wamsfeld,  94 ;  wounded,  95,  96 ; 
death  at  Amhem,  funeral  at  St.  Paul's,  96. 

Sidney,  Sir  Robert,  served  with  the  English 
volunteers,  51 ;  in  command  of  a  troop  of 
horse  under  Leicester,  84;  made  governor 
of  Flushing,  113,  181  ;  commanding  cavahy 
in  the  field,  181 ;  wounded  at  Steenwyck, 
184;  returned  to  Flushing,  184;  came  vrith 
part  of  the  Flushing  garrison  to  Tumhout, 
255;  restless  night  before  the  battle,  256; 
mischief  made  between  him  and  Sir  F.  Verei 
261  ;  his  conduct  in  leaving  Nieuport  before 
the  battle,  304,  m. 

Sidney  State  Papers  edited  by  Collins,  471. 

Sieges,  Alkmaar,  29  ;  Antwerp,  32  ;  Axel,  89, 
90;  Bergen-op-Zoom,  1 26-1 31;  Bommel, 
273f  274  :  taking  of  Breda,  139,  163 ;  Spino> 
la's  siege,  424  *,  Cadiz,  223,  224 ;  Coevorden, 
184 ;  Deventer,  173 ;  Doesburg,  92 ;  Ger- 
truydenburg,  187,  189;  Goes,  44,  46;  Grave, 
S7i  338;  Grolle,  212;  Groningen,  I91-195 ; 
Haarlem,  29;  Leyden,  30;  Middelburg, 
29;  Nymegen,  179;  Ostend,  310-330; 
Sluys,  loi  -  113,  366-369;  Steenwyck,  18a; 
Zutphen,  92,  172;  Zutphen  Sconces,  171, 
172;  Frankenthal,  411,  419;  Heidelberg, 
416;  Manheim,  419;  Bois-le-Duc,  437; 
Maastricht,  441-446. 

Siegfried,  legend  of,  405. 

Siemienowicz,  Casimir,  work  on  artillery,  468. 

Skeyes,  a  manor  in  Tilbury,  belonging  to  Sir 
F.  Vere,  352. 

Skippon,  Philip,  wounded  before  Breda,  428 ; 
at  the  siege  of  Bois-le-Duc,  436,  439 ;  re- 
pulsed a  sortie  at  Maastricht,  441 ;  gallantry 
before  Maastricht,  442 :  organized  the  new 
model  army,  457;  military  works  dedicated 
to,  467,  468. 

Sloe  Channel,  between  Walcheren  and  S. 
Beveland,  76. 

Sluys,  town  of,  on  the  Zwin,  38;  Parma  re- 
solved on  the  siege  of,  100;  reinforcements 
arrive,  loi  ;  description  of  the  town  and  ap- 
proaches, loi,  103  ;  battle  of,  and  landing  of 
Edward  III.,  102;  trade,  in  the  days  of 
the  Dukes  of  Burgundy,  103 ;  defences,  104 ; 
besieging  force,  106 ;  communications  with 
Flushing  cut  off,  106 ;  castle  abandoned, 
107 ;  approached  by  the  West  Gate.  107 ; 
great  fusillade,  breach,  assault,  108;  des- 
perate gallantry  of  the  defence,  109  ;  Parma 
resolved  to  proceed  by  sap,  1 10 ;  surrender, 
110,  III  ;  authorities  for  the  siege,  iii,i>. ; 
subsequent  history,  114;  materials  for  the 
histor>'  of,  114,  H.  ;  present  appearance, 
lit;;  maps.  1 16,  h.  ;  advance  of  Rivas  from, 
a86 ;  assembly  of    Maurice's  army  lor  re> 


50O  IKDEX. 

covFrf  of,  }66:  lii^fi  work!  of  M: 
jbSi  lunendei  le  Miuriu,  364;  c« 
li«  dLffitulllM  or  ihe  l«o  IKXM.  ]49._  ^7. 


h  Eirloi 


Sp>ni> 

Kir  !■■-  VcTt.  .».. 

Ah-^ 

Smythe.  Sir  John,  his  >r«k  «>  Uie  conduct  of 

Spani. 

Snaphauncc,  S9,  x. 

ccml 

Saa^cr.  |nclui«  of  the  bitilo  of  WimplcD 

di^u 

xid  HUchM  by,  al  BruwU,  4<4.  >•■ 

Spani, 

SoWi«r..dr«,  s8;  pay,  s^.  W^  huHing  and 

Sparhj 

Spelda 

fcr...  aWo'.  O-A'V,  /'/*^"M-,  J**- 

and. 

Sp.ll=. 

Solms   Counl  Enrard.  »«sud    l^d  Wil- 

liHiKhby  in  fortifying  BciiEcu'ip-ZtiiKii,  117; 

Sp™. 

rfpulicd  the  Spanish  anack  un  Thuluii.  ■>?  1 

Spcnac 

iwi  tnicrtd  Btcda,  .'..t  io  ihc  attack  un 

iipingU 

171:  in  i;n  look  the  Acid  wiih  Mauiia, 

.SpinU 

iM:  at  ihc  %\<rtjt  a\  GcrtruydtnburB,   iWi 

Ix-m 

Spind. 

ceiTire    in   (he   Nicu]<orl  cam|Hign.   arSi 

dlKI 

(.■„„nt 

■>.,«■.  c,f,««l  iht  Lipp*  to 

and 

c™T 

Ich:ri<:k!<.i.hsJauiiceinlhc 

Vm 

ontai 

Ifflijn,  J7.,. 

Bn» 

iinit.  n 

•icK* 

land. 

t.  I>iik 

..f,  ProtECIiT.  Anhin  tiKUing 

Sp.ing 

iSiaciuf  pjrIijnieDi  smiiiiit 

Spri.1, 

Mate.  .HI  hit  v«,-,  marriaKt. 

HJ.I 

i:-.h  ac 

SpriBi!, 

1.'   act 

prewnrri  in  ihc    llmia*  n( 

:.H.iit 

INDEX. 


501 


tracherotuly  betrayed  his  trust,  9B,  1  la,  170, 
17a,  174;  his  intrigues  at  Amhem,  117, «.  ; 
bis  spies  detected  at  Bergen-op-Zooin,  laS, 
tag;  his  plan  frustrated,  130,  13 >• 

Stanmore,  tomb  of  the  Wolstenholmes  at, 
45a,  n. 

Stanton,  Captain,  in  the  breach  at  Maastncht, 

445- 

Star  of  five  potnu  in  the  shield  of  the  Veres,  5. 

States  General,  independence  declared  at  the 
Hague,  31 ;  envoys  to  Queen  Elizabeth  to 
ask  for  aid,  68 ;  terms  of  the  first  treaty,  69 ; 
discontented  with  the  English  alliance,  1 18 ; 
unjust  accusations  against  English  officers, 
139;  resolve  to  free  Friesland  and  Gronin- 
gen,  175;  alarm  at  the  advance  of  Parma, 
176 ;  resolve  to  send  aid  to  Groningen,  190 ; 
appoint  Sir  F-  Vere  general  of  all  the  £ng> 
Hsh  tro(^)s  in  their  pay,  191,  aoa,  203  ;  Sir 
F.  Vere's  negotiation  as  to  the  Cadii  expe> 
dition,  aiS;  the  second  treaty,  negotiations, 
365-269;  strained  every  nerve  to  defend 
Boramel,  273,  275;  resolve  to  invade  Flan* 
ders,  a7S  ;  entrust  the  defence  xA  Ostend  to 
Sir  F.  Vere,  30S-315  ;  employ  Sir  F.  Vere  to 
represent  them  in  England,  333 ;  negotiation 
as  to  sutus  of  English  troops,  340;  wel- 
come the  return  of  Sir  F.  Vere,  347;  grant 
a  pension  to  Sir  F.  Vere,  348,  349 ;  truce  of 
twelve  years,  378. 

Steenberg,  gate  of  Bergen-op-Zoom,  lat ;  sally 
from,  I  a  8. 

Steenwyck,  37 ;  in  the  hands  of  the  Spaniards, 
175;  siege  rcftolved  upon,  i8a:  description, 
1^2  ;  tower  on  wheels  invented  for  the  siege, 
183;  mines  exploded,  183;  surrender,  184; 
losses.  1S4. 

Stone  Castle,  near  Gieonhiihe,  William  Carew 
of,  father  of  Thomasiiie,  wife  of  John  Vere, 
351 ;  left  by  John  Vere  to  his  widow,  422. 

Stour,  nver  and  valley,  ti  ;  country  of  the 
Veres,  17. 

Strada,  F.imianus,  notice  of  his  history  *'  De 
Be'.lo  Belpico,"  4^8. 

Strataiiem'*  of  Sir  Francis  Vere,  at  Bergen-op> 
Z^>om,  131 ;  at  the  Zutphen  Sconces,  171, 
172  ;  in  the  Betuwe,  177;  at  Cadiz,  230;  at 
CKtenH,  314,  320-333,  328.  Of  Prince  Mau- 
rice, capture  of  Breda,  ii<^ 

Stiirni,  Count,  at  the  siege  of  Maastricht,  441. 

Suckling,  Sir  John,  at  the  siege  of  Bois-le- 
Due,  456. 

SufUmry,  birthplace  of  Gain<iborough,  1 1. 

Suffolk,  estates  of  Veres  in,  5,  5,  «  ,  10,  14,  17, 
19. 

Suffolk,  Dowager  Duchess  of,  mother  of  Lord 
WillouThhy,  «i. 

Surrey,  Karl  of,  married  to  Lady  Frances  Vere, 

«9 
Sussex,  Eail  of,  in  the  Cadiz  expedition,  219 ; 


with  Vcfe  IB  the  attsdc  co  Q»tSa^  330;  a 

caodidate  for  the  goveraonlup  of  Brill,  asj* 
Sntdiff,  Dr.,  Judfe  lHanhal  in  Lcioeiter'a 

army,  85. 
Sutton,  Captain,  in  the  dimioQ  of  Sir  F.  Vcn 

dmii^  tlie  Nieuport  campaifn,  979;  ralKed 

the  English  at  Nienport,  y>i. 
Sweden,  Prince  Eric  of,  landed  at  Uarwkbt 

entertained  by  the  i6lh  Earl  of  Obdbid,  as. 
Swegoe,  Thomas,  priaonerat  Botea-opJEoonw 

attempted  to  bribe  some  of  the  gwriaop,  laB. 
'*  Swiftsure,*'  Sir  Robert  Craaa  oa  board,  in 

the  Cadiz  expcditioo,  219;  in  the  aavnl  ao- 

tion,  227  i  Sir  Gilly  Merrick  oa  board,  for 

the  **  Island  Voyage,"  238;  at  Fajal,  344. 
Sword  worn  by  pikemen,  57. 
Sybil   Hedini^iam,   birthplace  of  Sir  Joha 

Hawksworth,  13. 
Sydenham,  Captain,  in  the  bleach  at  Maat* 

tricht,  445. 
Sydney.    See  Sidmy. 
Syennea,  ndley  of ,  in  the  C6laBtiQ,  4,  it. 

Tabara,  Juan  Niiio  de,  cnmmaiidim  is  tha 

lines  round  Breda,  426^ 
Taces.    See  ArtmMr, 
Tarlatini,  Ueut,  in  command  of  cavalry  wham 

Breda  was  sorpriMd,  i6a 
Taxis,  Juan  Baptitu,  go?crwit  of  Zntpheii 

9a. 
Tedcastle,  Maater,  on  the  staff  of  Shr  F.  Via% 

his  last  mesMge  to  his  nster,  330^ 
Tempel,  OHvierde,  comntanded  the  naria  tha 

Nieuport  campaign,  27S,  agr,  994. 
Temple,  William,  friend  of  Sir  Phifip  Sidney, 

who  died  in  his  arms,  96. 
Tendring  Hundred,  manors  of  the  Veres  ia, 

II,  16,  ao. 
Terceira,  one  of   the  Aaoresb  S44;  Spankh 

fleet  escaiied  into,  246. 
**  Tercio  Vie)n,*'  a  famous  Spanish  rq^raeatt 

53 ;  at  the  siege  of  Slays,  loQb 
Terheyde,  vilUge  near  Breda,  occupied  by  aa 

Italian  regiment,  426;  ^nola  cut  tha  dikea 

at,  4a  7. 
Temeuxen,  Sir  Philip  Sidney  landed  at,  for  tha 

attack  on  Axel,  89. 
Tester-berge,  hills  near  Weael,  si 3 ; 

by  the  cavslry  of  Mondrsgon,  213. 
Teteringen,  Tillage  near  Breda,  139^  a.; 

pied  by  Spinob,  426. 
Tets,  Arnold  van  M.,  admowledfBMBt  of  aa- 

si'tance,  vn. 
Tholen,  30 ;  attempt  of  the  Spa^aids  to  ca|^ 

tore,  126, 127;  threatened,  233. 
Throckmortoa,  Captain,  kindasae  of  Shr  F. 

Vere  to,  13$. 
Throckmorton,  Arthur,  his  Insoleaca  to  Sir  F* 

Vere  at  Plymoath,  234. 
ThrockfBorton,  Sir  MarodhH,ooHBKBdsi  ttn 


502 


INDEX. 


*•  San  Andres  "  for  the  **  Island  Voyage," 

Tilbury  (on  Thames),  army  assembling  at,  to 
resist  the  Spanish  invasion,  125. 

Tilbury  (juxia  Clare),  parish  of,  14;  Sir  F. 
Vere  retired  to,  34'),  350;  history  of  the  es- 
tate, 351  ;  disiMKyition  of,  by  John  Vere"s 
will,  42  J ;  R.ive  the  title  to  Sir  Horace  Vere's 
barony,  431  :  Lady  Vcre  succeeded  to,  454. 

Tilly,  Count,  lmi)erialiRt  general  in  the  Palati- 
nate, 410;  his  victory  at  Winipfen,  414;  re- 
fused to  recognize  Sir  Arthur  Chichester, 
415;  bes.icKed  Heidelberg,  418. 

Tobacco,  Larl  of  Essex  and  his  friends  smok- 
ing, at  Villafranca,  249. 

Todington.     See  Tracey. 

Toledo,  Don  Fadrique  de,  ^ege  of  Haarlem 
by,  2.). 

Tombs,  Alberic  de  Vere  at  Earl's  Colne,  5,  n. ; 
2d  Earl  of  Oxfoid  at  Hatfield  Bioad  Oak,  6; 
15th  Earl  of  Oxford  at  Hedingham,9  :  tlarls 
of  Oxford  at  EarPs  Colne,  14,  15,  15.  h.  See 
St.  /'aufs,  II 'tstminsUr  Abbey,  Stanptwre^ 
Frankfttthal^  lireda. 

Tongcren,  near  Maastricht,  S|)anish  army  at, 

44>- 
Torralva,   Don    liartolome   de,    in  charge  of 

trenches  before  Sluys  loX. 

Tourm-ur,  C  yril,  his   elegy  on   Sir   F,  Vere, 

Towiisheiul,  Sir   Roger,  married  Mary  Vere, 

3S1,  «.,  4.U- 
Tract y,  Mary,  daughter  of  Sir  John  Tracey  of 

To«linv;ti»n,    widow     of   W.     Hr»l>y,    married 

Sir  Hor.ici-  V«Te,  ^7*;  her  relations,  3S0. 
Trfa-un-r  of  war,  duties,  51. 
Treaty   lu-twi-m    (Jiu-en    Eli/al>eth    and    the 

St.iti-N  (len'ral,  <><> ;   now  treaty  negotiated 

by  Sir  F.  Vrre,  2'>s-y>i. 
TrLiith.im.  Fli/.ibi'Jli,  5etond  wife  of  the   ijth 

K.irl  of  Oxford,  ^"^2 ;  her  anxiety  about  her 

>c»ii'^  evil  t  onii'.u.ions,  ^*<3. 
"  Tnnioiit.iiiu  .**  ('ai>tain   King's  ship  in  the 

Cadi/    expedition,    ii.j;    Captain    Fenner's 

ship  in  tlie  *'  Island  Voyage,*'  23S. 
Tre\i^o,  Manpiis  of,  commanded  the  Neap«»'i- 

tans   at   Turnhout,    257;    formed    the   rear, 

2  5' J. 
Tr-  in  h  -  nKT-ter.  dutie*,   65  ;    skill    of    .Sir   F. 

Vt-r"  as,  I'. 4. 
Trivu'i  ill,  Ccimt  Tio<!f»r»»,  at  Mulheim  in  com- 

r\\\A   I'f    ca\  il'v.    \~i,    -^-3 ;    attacked    the 

I  M:tc!i  cava  r\  at  Hniiik,  ^74.  37'>;  slain.  37S. 
Trnce.      S'"»-  .^rt-ift:  r. 
TnKh-'s,   P'^i'tistaiit   Archbishop  of  Cologne, 

sii;m  <Tti  d  !v  tli«*  Stat«  ^,   14  ),  I'^S. 
"T!!!   !■  V.  ,'"  fa-t  s.iiler  in  the  C"adir  cxptHii- 

Tri:--    I.  r"i ■  d^'-tli,  (\inffi-«ts  of  <")xfnrrl,  lady 
of  tlu"  luiijse!,!-;!:  to  (^Mieen  Anne  Boleyn,  8. 


jj 


-C 


'  ^' 


•_•* 


Tucker,  Mr.  Stephen  (Sonenei  Hcnldk 
knowledgment  of  atawtance.  «: 

Turenne,  Marshal,  son  of   i*ri:.cr   M2..-V: 
sister,  211. 

Tunihout,   Spanish   force    undtr    *!:=   K.<.- 
de  Varrasat,  355:  enumeraii  rj  ,  :  :  «  «;. 
ish  force,  257  :  retreat  ordt-rec.  15:    *— : 
Prince  Orange  arrived  at,  25-.  :u::  *   : 
dc^iipiion    of   the    mt<irrT.    !•>«:],.•  . 
authoritie»  Utr  the  Inti^r.  2'  1.  «   .  re    *. 
in  England,  dramatii:  npreiri  tat:  r..  :  i 

t'Zereetk,  sent  by  the  Pnrce  of  «^--.-  : 
ganize  a  force   in   Wa'.chcrrn.  4;.  «  .  .•: 
an  expedition  tkith  £ngi:»h  vo'-.c.r-ro.  . 
plan  to  besiege  Giws,  45 ;  leu  ar  1:-^^^ 
Goes,  46. 

'   Uchtenbroek,  in  command  of  Dutwh  c  -s^^' 
at  the  siege  of  0>tcDd,  310.  31^. 

Ufano.     See  Cotlad^. 

Uffords,  intermarriage  with  Vrrev  2. 

Ugarie,  Juan    de,   led    Si>an.>h    ii.ta:'.-! 
Wamsfeld,  94. 

Uniim  of  Utrecht,  31. 

Upsher,  a  countr>'nian  of  Sir   F    Vert,  sc 
the  eaM  end  of  the  wall  at  Ca.I:i.  2:1 

Utcnhtiven.  Captain,  his  »tativn  :.  rr;  ..'« 
assault  on  Ostend,  325. 

Utrecht,  pitsition,  37;    repr««n:avvr-   s:  ' 
Union  of,  31  ;  tower.  3.*;  head^-*rfr>   : 
F.  Vere,  154;  Vere's  »chcn)c  :"■  r  2  c-"- 
dep<it  of  arms  and  cli  thine  a:.  •::     ^  ' 
Ogle   in  command,    341  ;    Sir   H  •% :  '• 
made  governor,  3^2,  435 

Uvedale,  Sir  Edmund,  M-rve<i  «.:h  '>:  L 
lish  volunteers,  ji  :   ht«  ttjrenv;;!     :  .  ' 
dier's  pay,  5S,  1*.  ;  had  a  cnn:  Ar>  :-  I.    . 
ter*H  army,  H4 ;   suf<rinift:i!rc  i?-r  ».  ,- 
mines  at  Slu^-s.  1 10  :  in  the  lU:rrr:»-  »;-.' 
garri<rf>n,  120;  notice  nf,  i?  ..  «  ,   ^..  - 
tion  of  Mofff[an  a'«  loverni.r  ni   Brr^'T' 
ZcKmi,  124;  knighted  by   I.^-r.i  W  '    ^* 
132:  Sidney*s  deputy  at  FIti«hii<c.  aci 

Uytenhoove,  Col.,  goven<4jr  ot  Osic&d.  7:: 


Valera,  Bias,  loss  of  hii  manuKripU  .-x  Pr  ■ 

at  the  vick  of  Catlix,  235. 
Val-ev Dunes,  battle  of,  5. 
Valkenburg,    surrendered   by    English   ««..> 

teer*.  4SL 
Valturius  oldest  modem  writer  or.  «ar.  «  < 
Vane,  Sir   Harnr,  envoy  ai  the   Hafu    «  * 

sudden   death  of    Lord  Vrrr   whca  c  ■:  ~4 

with.  453- 
«♦  Vanguard,"  Sir  John  Winf:iie:d*s  thir  1-  S 

C.idt2  expedition,  S19;    captured  (a.'e««  ' 

Cadii  llay,  227. 
Vantl)Taces.     See  Armwr. 
Varra^.  Count  of,  advanced  to  Tara)*ocf.  i«t 

deuil  of  his  force,  156  -,  onieicJ  a 


INDEX. 


503 


Hcerentbals^    259;    slain  in  the  battle    of 

Turnhout,  2<x). 
Vasio,  Marquis  of,  commanded  the  convoy  to 

relieve  Zutphen,  notice  of,  93  ;  in  danger  at 

Wamsfeld,  94;  in  the  army  at  the  siege  of 

Sluys,   100;    his  cavalry  regiment  surprised 

at  Breda,  160. 
Vavasour,   Sir  Thomas,  in  Leicester's  army, 

84;    commanded   the    "Antelope"   for   the 

"  Island  Voyage,"'  338. 
Veer,  town  in  Zeeland,  3,  «.,  38,  42,  45. 
Vega,    Garcilasso  de   la,    used   the   mutilated 

manuscripts  of  Bias  Valera,  saved  from  the 

&ack  of  Cadiz,  135. 
Vega,    Juan  de,  reinforced    the    besiegers   at 

Sluys,  no. 
Vega,    Manuel    de,   commanded    infantry    at 

Warnsfcld,  1 10. 
Vegetiu^,  hin  work  on  war,  465. 
Vela«ico,  ( reneral  Don  Luis,  Conde  de  Salazar, 

his  army  at  Damme,  threatening   Maurice, 

3^)7;   defeated  near  Damme,  368;    at    Mul* 

heim,  374  ;  at  the  siege  of  Ureda,  426. 
Velasco,  engineer,  designed  the   fort  of   San 

Andres,  274. 
Vela>«quez,  his  picture  of  "  Las  Lanzas,*'  366, 

428. 
Veluwe,  34.  37- 

Venero,  Pedro,  led  infantry  at  Warnsfcld,  9$. 
Venlo,    position    on    the    NL'us,    35 ;    Spanish 

camp  at,  surprised  by  Roger  Williams,  60; 

taken  by  the  l)uke  of    Parma,  87;  retaken 

by  the  Prince  of  Orange,  440. 
Ver,  Hcrnoiilf  de,  his  sale  of  the  manor  of  St. 

.Sauveur,  3,  h. 
Ver,    William    de,  letter   confirming   a   grant, 

3.  « 

Verdugn,  Don  Franci^o,  advised  the  construc- 
tion of  the  2utphen  .Sconces,  9^  ;  in  com- 
mand at  ( ironinncii,  175,  iS6,  I'w,  i<>i  ;  Com* 
majiiling  in  chief,  in  absence  of  Parma,  178; 
in  Fric^Iand,  iSj;  in  the  held  ne.ir  Coevor- 
dcn,  iSj;  his  nii^hi  attack  on  Maurice  at 
Coevordcn,  i*<5  ;  death,  212. 

Vere-*,  number  that  served  in  the  wars,  3", 
nurnhcr  slain  in  the  Low  Countries,  444*, 
fictitious  nrij;ins,  3,  ti.  ;  grants  to,  in  Essex 
and  S'ltTolk.  arms,  5:  histf)ries  of  the  family, 
4' 4.      See  Oxford,  Earls  of. 

Ven-,  Alh-ric  <le,  at  tlie  battle  of  Scnlac,  5; 
fouiuk-r  of  I-IarlV  Colne,  14. 

Vere,  Albcric  (1l-,  Lord  Great  Chamberlain,  5; 
chief  scat  at  Hf(lin.;ham.  11,  12. 

Vere,  Anne,  dau-htcr  of  the  i^lh  Earl  of  Ox- 
ford.     See  ShffliflA. 

Vere,  Anne,  daughter  of  Sir  Horace  Vere, 
married  to  Lord  Fairfax,  ^^^t.  4^1,453;  in- 
terfered at  the  trial  f)f  Charles  L,  4^4. 

Vere,  Aubrey,  son  nf  the  lah  Earl  of  Oxford, 
married  to  Margaret  Spring  of  Lavenham*    | 


19;  grandfather  ol  the  19th  Earl  of  Oxford, 

430- 
Vere,  Dorothy,  daughter  of  Sir  Horace  Vcrei 

married  to  John  Wolstenholme,  452. 
Vere,  Edward,  385;  at  the  siege  of   Bois-Ie- 

Due,   436;    mortally   wounded,    437,    444; 

buried  at  Bommel,  438. 
Vere,  Edward,  slain  at  Maastricht,  385,  433, 

«.,  444,  446. 
Vere,  Elisabeth,  married  to  Lord  Darcy  of 

Chiche,  19. 
Vere,  Elizabeth  (Hardekyn),  wife  of  Geoffrey 

Vere,  21,  23;  children,  aa;  lived  with  her 

son  John  Vere  at  Kirby,  33,  as,  157  ;  death, 

381. 
Vere,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Sir  Horace  Vere, 

381 ;   married  to  the  Earl  of  Clare,  381,  «., 

433- 

Vere,  Frances,  married  to  the  Earl  of  Surrey, 
19. 

Vere,  Fratices,  daughter  of  Geoffrey  Vere, 
married  to  Sir  Robert  Harcourt  of  Nune- 
hara,  23;  date  of  her  marriage,  ai6,  «  , 
legacy  from  the  brother  John,  432. 

Vere,  Sir  Francis,  son  of  Geoffrey  Vere,  birth 
at  Crepping  Hall,  33 ;  notes  on  the  date  of 
his  birth,  33,  m.  ;  bequest  of  the  16th  Earl 
of  Oxford  to,  33;  brought  up  with  the  17th 
Earl  of  Oxford,  33 ;  initiated  in  the  military 
art  by  Sir  W,  Browne,  25;  his  journey  to 
Poland,  26 ;  portrait,  26,  363 ;  personal  ap- 
pearance, 26,  262;  contemporaries,  26;  re- 
solved to  embrace  the  profession  of  armi* 
26,  32;  joined  the  Earl  of  Leicester  as  a 
volunteer,  78;  hoping  to  serve  under  Lord 
Willoughby,  81  ;  a  volunteer  in  Lord  Wlb 
Inughby's  troop,  84:  at  Bergen  •  op  -  Zoom, 
first  brush  with  the  enemy,  86;  in  the  ex- 
pedition to  Axel,  89;  in  the  charge  at 
Warnsfcld,  94;  obtained  a  company  at 
Bergcn-op-Zoom,  98;  at  the  siege  of  Sluys, 
lOi  :  gallantry  in  the  defence  of  Sluys,  109; 
made  famous  by  his  service  at  Sluys,  117; 
in  the  Bergen-op-Zoom  garrison,  his  com- 
rades, 120 :  his  appointment  as  senreant-ma- 
jor  not  confirmed,  123  ;  letter  to  Walsingham 
as  to  reception  of  Governor  Morgan,  124  ; 
letter  to  Walsingham  as  to  service  against 
the  Armada,  135;  capture  of  the  "San 
Mateo,"  125;  wounded  in  the  leg  in  a  sor- 
tie, 128;  in  command  nf  the  water  forts  at 
Bergen-op-Zoom,  120;  repulsed  the  Spanish 
attack,  tso,  131;  knighted  by  Lord  Wil- 
loughby, 133;  his  character,  kindness  to 
brother  officers,  133;  brought  to  the  Queen*s 
notice  by  Walsingham,  133 ;  home  on  leave, 
presented  to  the  Queen,  1 34 ;  appointed  ser- 
geant-major gtneral,  13$:  efforts  to  pacify 
the  mutineers  at  Gertniydenbtirg,  1 38 ;  chai^ge 
against  him  withdrawn  by  the  Sutet,  i]9f 


504 


INDEX. 


140;    selected  for  chief   command  in    the 
Netherlands,  143,  143;  title  and  pay,  144: 
difficulty  of  his  position,  145 ;  his  opinion  nf 
Prince  Maurice,  145:  on  good  terms  with 
Maurice  and  Barnuveldt,  146:  Sir  T.  HrKiU-y 
his  adviser,  146;  llodley's  high  opinidn  of 
•  Sir  F.  Vefc,  147;  in  the  Komnicl-waart,  14S; 
requested  to   relieve   Rheinlx-rp,   151  ;    his 
strategy  in  advancing  to  the  second  relief » 
152  ;  hi^  horse  killed  and  himself  in  immi' 
ncnt dannir,  \%\\  presented  a  horse  to  Secre- 
tary WaUin.nham,    154:    arrangimcnts    for 
supplying  tnKip;!,  i.S4i  kindness  to  brother 
officers,   155,   !!;»•,  157;  entered  Hreda  with 
Prince  Mauriti;,  i(»i  ;  his  praise  of    Prince 
Maurice,  15^,   I'ja,  J15;  eiettine  Knodscn* 
burg   Fort,    1^13,    164;    march   to   Reckling* 
hausen,  105;   capture   vi  forts  by  c<H:.)lade, 
i'»6,  1^7.  i^*<;  receiving  recruits  at  Flushing, 
itx) ;  anxiety  to  recover  Deventer  and  Zut> 
phon  Sit>nces,  170,  173;  kind  mtssa;:e  fmm 
the    Queen,    171;     recapture    of    Zutphen 
Stiinces  »7'  J  hc)r%c  killed  under  him  Iwfore 
Zut]ihen,  172  ;  his  plans  fortakin;^  ])eventer, 
174  ;  b.ittle  of  the  Botuwe,  177  ;  rei«)rted  the 
suin-mler  of   Nyniegen,  179;   harasxrd  by 
order:,  t"  send  trot»i>s  to  France,   iSo,   19.S, 
T'^»;  at  the  ^ir^e  of  Stecnwyck*  183:  came 
to  the  rescue  at  Coevordcn,  1S4  :  at  the  siege 
of    (lertniy'lrnburp.    iR^:    rejMJlspd    ("funt 
MiUivf'lr,   iSr,  manneuvrii!;j;  m\ind  ('ronin* 
gen.     I  .0:    ;ii>iM)inted    'ji  ncra;    of    F.Ji-.:lish 
troops  ii   ihf  pav  of  tl»e   States  rn-neral, 
iDi  ;    at   'li'^  <l»s«'  of  (ironiniien,    i  j1.   104; 
e^i  orti  d  Ci.iiit   Philip  of  N*.i"i-:au  to  Sedan, 
111*'.   \r\  r  (ji'lrel  to  repfirt    fullv  nn   ( ivil 
and  lo'iir.il  •Avnix,  ?07  :  va]  uv  cranted  by 
tin-  St.it'v.  2'.i?  :  stated  the  ;:rievanrr;s  of  tlw 
'■r-V'iiT «.  ,"»i-«}:  r- iTin«anil  by  tlie  Qiir-i-n.  n*- 
]ilv.  ?)t.  2- ••'■'.  hi"4  acmun:  of   the    l»arcnt> 
Aro'ic   »\j»'ir:;ion.   207;   hand  writ  iu'.',    ***a). 
?M  (.   ?. .  .  I/.  ,   rr  idv  to  .^IvL   lip  his  lca«<?  of 
Kiil<v  rn   I. Old   riurhi.-h.   210:    ncsoti.iti'in* 
nt  t!  .•   \\  i-i;.'  for  the  ladi/  t\nc<Ii!)»»i ,  ai**. 
21-:  ■'■  ■  f  .'.■•Ml' ral  'A  the  < 'atli/  eX]>oditinr, 
?i  1:   \v  Tit    Id  rnurt   with   F^^-ex.   j:*o:   qru><i- 
t:-i-i  '■{  rii.\:  \^;:li   S^r  W.    R.i'ir^h,   a.*n  ;   hi-i 
r(i:'w:\  .•:?•:  in  th-^  naval  artim  at  Cadi/. 
;.';.    .?  ■     !>'iii   for   tl-.f    r.ii^tnre  f>f    Cailir. 
I-   «".  ."'i;   I'Tok''  down  the  tatts  and  en- 
t- :    i.    ■•;•■.    r.i-.-'v-il   ratisom<   froni    Span- 
ii-  '..  .'-,.  ;  .-,-,s  d  t'l'.-  wint«'r  (-f  i:-/*-07  at 
«i!*".  .^•-       ;  tl.i"  Ha-.-nr  ni-jntiatih;*,  ^17: 
'■■I  !  "I,-  '1  I  !•■  'Ill-  '*  Island  Vovaec,"  21?; 
11  •••.i  .V    %.;■].    I  r,rd    K-««ex   at    Sandwich, 
:••.•■    •  f    •     ■  i-i't'  with    Ralcirh.  j-.-i;   lii* 
•-'   ■>   .'  .  '  '  f'    -11   \\\-    Ww  of    Hi^rav.  txx  \ 
I'll     •'  '1  !'   !-i.-!i  •?  Ki\  .r,?4i;  n>arrh  1M^ 
t1'-    <         ■  ■•■■    ( '.ir '.r-'ii-i,    ?4? ;    r'ia«..  ■!    rl:- 
Sj  .1!  i-M  fl;  1 1,  i\'\  l.ii-.dtd  nt  Vi::^f:ai;ca,  in 


St  Michael's,  14^:  last  tr.a-   :'   .-r-r?  :i 
shore,  149;  paying;  off  the  men  j:  V  ir.  .- 
aso;   met    Sir   W.    Ru&i^::  :-.    Mats  ■:• 
Park,  151;  defended    Kswk  t.   :tt  v.- 
151:  made  governor  oi  Bn':.  j:],  'utv- 
Tumhout,  aS5'~>''>  *  per*r»n-:e-;  i.^.  •>*«  v...- 
a«.«a  ;  special  ciivuy  to  \\r^*^\^'.-   ve  w.  • 
treaty  at  the  HaL;ue.   2*5:   h*      r-.-   - 

*')*/-^*;  audience  with  tl.c   >t  :ti  ■_» i 

at"<:  service  in  the  IVwnm.,-»_j-.  ;-: 
nes^un  the  I?»:ei>f  VcKirn.  j-*  .  1^     .  '■;. 
in  Lngland,  jt^i:  <>|>}^->r'::  v-  •.^- 
Flanders,  a7> :  his  (]ivi«i<ir.  i.    :'-   N. 
campaij^n.   a 7^;    advice    a:    >:.:■-. 
a*»7 :  a'«.»!»Mrd  the  havrn,  a^»,  a^.    •t-v'. 
of  {Xihiiiiins   in    the   d;iT.e»,    ;•  ..   >r,  ; 
repul-icd  enemy's  cavalrv  .  r  :Ve  -""t.:. 
plan    f«>r   the   battle   of    N.-uj.rr    1/ 
valor  at  Nieuj«^rt,  2»>«i  i   ik»  »ri:-c  «■  :  ■  - 
cued  by  his  officers,  j#«:  c-n^ctn:  :     ■    - 
nick  to  be  hca'iod,   «>3  ;    tn*  ..■'.. -:r»;  ■  -• 
useless  officers.    \a*,   wj:   aj't- ■.-:•.  :    .- 
fend  Oxtend.    w>,;    hi^  d-.c^ra-    :   ;       -.  f 
that  he  Mouid    never   >:il.:.    11.     ■'..*.   > 
council  of  war,  ^i  >;  hi>  !»:ra:a.--  n  .  .^.-  ; 
prei>aring  to   repu'.sc  tht    a*^.'.   -i'-  : 
rrpulvi-d  the  a't^siuli.   ;27  .   "-:?  <  »•    r-    ■ 
his  general«hi;i   in    the    ('ri'.-c    :•. ■ 
sent  on  a  siK-rial  mrss  '^r    •     '   e  Kj    -• 
the  Staten,  u\:  chiMf^rr:   :  -  :'      ?  . 
Ntirthuml^rland,   T.4.  ^'.s.  -.-•  .  \'  — '• 
du»'t  in  the   master  '-f   :h-    v^--«   ■'■.--    ■•• 
vinnndcd  l>cfon.' GraiT,  ??-.  r'Z"'^'    "•    ■ 
to  Ii-;a1  •■nius  of   K.n™!-sh  r--.-  :  .  -   • 

of  the  Que'*n's  i'lres*.  ar^:  i!--  ■.  ■:.  -  . 
pp •claimed  James  I.  a:  }'•']".  :,.    .    ■ 
in  the 'tiovemmen:  i-f  }>■'.;  it     —  ■  j 
of  his  Command.   i4s:we:rt      ■-;'■ 
biir\".  ^4'«.  -iCi,  \ti  \  ""eit  f  -^  a  r   -«    -  • 
Has>ip,  ?i''.  '4*'-  C"T"*'''  r,  :^- -    ■  • 
States  Cieneral,    14''.    r--.\'    rl  -. ■•-    •     -  - 
Hi-iraiiH.    ^en:    pjadc     ;    vp*-:    ■       f     r  ~ 
month.    ;!0     rr   tj-  d   ■"  '-    mi^  ?>•     ■ 
m.irriagi'   with    F.'i.M'"''i    !'•■"!     ■■"      ~    ' 
ri. ice  s»*t  Ill-men's,  ^s-;  Vr»-,*.  <      ——.-•;■  -i 
tt.-.   y^<.   n,    \:  ,:   dr-a'h.    vr;     "I.  - 
nirnt  in  Wctmivsi-r  AV  * v,    'r.   :•      ■•• 
One'-n's  n  n«on  i.i'  '-'■:  r'aki-;  *•■-    1  -■"'. 
2'?.  \f^i»  4U  ;  h:-  !-:!erv  ir  the  **■!-  V   ^ 
Offi'-,»  and  at  Ha-fl-'d.  4-:      S-e  y-'  -r 

Vere.  r.eofTrev,  S'^n  rf   ihp  t«rh   Ft      ""  ■  "^ 
ford,  father  nf  Sir  Ft^rn-j*  apr*  ».ir  H  ■—  t 
Vere.  o;  manors  »et!!e^.  or  hi-n.  »■    •-  — 
riace  ^"ith  F.'iFa!v*;*i  H.i't'''V\Ti.  z: .  ri — : 
life  and  rhi'.-*r^n.  5-1  d^ath    sx 

Vere.   Sir   Ifnrv*   :!.. -d    V.-e    rf   T'*  - 
Mrth.  21 ;  Nvan  H-n  »»■■'  ».i-v  car*«*T  «•■»■  ■ 
b'other.  le-:  fommarf'  t—  i  c.-m-.irT    - --■ 
Sir   Franris.  i^i  :    iiriun>!r;l    at    «£■■■••■••   ■ 
1^4  i  application  for  a  com(-«ny,  1  ^;  :*-  '.^: 


INDEX. 


505 


Cadix  expedition,  332  ;  knighted  at  Cadiz, 
23 3>  3^4  '•>  ^>r  ^-  Cecil  spoke  to  the  council 
in  his  favor,  271  ;  serving  in  the  Bommel* 
ivaart,  271,  274  ;  in  the  Nieuport  campaign, 
ajii;  rallied  his  men,  300,  301  ;  at  the  siege 
of  Osicnd,  310 ;  reported  his  brother's 
wound,  315  ;  in  favor  of  abandoning  the 
Quarrier,  320;  station  to  repulse  the  a&sault, 
324,  3^;  wounded  in  the  lep,  329;  sent  by 
bis  brother  with  a  letter  to  James  I.,  343; 
retrospect  of  his  service,  304  ;  his  character, 
365  ;  at  the  si«  ge  of  Sluys  under  Maurice, 
366 ;  routed  VelaMjo  near  Damme,  367 ;  at 
Mulheim,  372  ;  proposal  to  cross  the  Ruhr, 
376;  desperate  tight  at  Broick,  377;  Prince 
Maurice's  friendship  for  him,  379;  mar- 
riage, 379,  3S0;  succeeded  his  brother  as 
governor  of  Hrill,  3.H1  ;  at  Spa,  to  drink  the 
waters,  3%,  3S7;  effect  of  long  residence  in 
Holland  on  his  cpinions  and  principles, 
387,  3''H ;  governor  of  Utrecht,  392  ;  com- 
manded the  Palatinate  regiment,  393,  397  ; 
reconciliation  with  Cecil  and  Ogle,  393  ;  set 
out  for  the  Palatinate,  3<>S,  3(^9 ;  crossed  the 
Rhine  at  Wesel,  40  :  before  Coblenti,  401, 
402;  march  to  the  Palatinate,  402,  403; 
general  for  the  King  of  Bohemia,  405 ; 
entered  Worms,  failed  to  bring  Spinola  to 
battle,  405,  40^) ;  occupied  Manheim,  407, 
415:  hard  pressed  by  Cordova,  410,411; 
surrendcjcd  Manhemi,  41^1,  419;  return  to 
England,  420;  nnstcr-general  of  ordnance, 
421  ;  bequest,  under  brother  John's  will, 
422,  ^i\:  operations  to  reheve  B'cda,  423, 
427,  4^"^;  created  Haron  V»re  of  Tilbury. 
431;  ri-niovfd  to  a  hoii^o  at  Clapton,  433  i 
at  the  sii-'je  ot'  I'(>i--lc-r)uc,  435,  43''> '. 
power  to  confer  kniuhiliood,  4V);  siege  of 
Maastricht,  4V»-^4;;  sudden  deaih  at 
Whiti  hall,  4W.  portraits,  45^;  military 
qtia'ities  of  the  brr>thcT^,  45;;  commanders 
in  th'"  civil  war  reared  bv,  45'' ;  influence  of 
the  Vrres  on  opinion,  4c'^,  459,  4''o. 

Vere,  H>igh,  a  diplomatist  under  Edward 
I..  6. 

Vere,  Hnirh,  a  vr>liinteer  in  Lord  Willough- 
by'-i  troop.  84;  fathiT  of  the  19th  Earl  of 
Ox  orrl,  4^,0 

Vere,  jane,  married  to  Hinry  Hunt  of  Gos* 
field.  II. 

Vere.  John,  of  Kithy  Hall.  cld<'St  son  of 
(ieoftr(  V  Vere,  liitlli,  ^l\  bec^nest  of  the 
Earl  of  Oxfr^rd  to.  r^;  made  his  mother  a 
home  at  Kirbv.  2's.  2;,  i<;';  his  lease  of 
Kirhv  ci'Vi'ted  bv  I.ord  Hurleich,  210: 
bonrht  Tilbnrv  fnr  lis  brother  PVnncis,  and 
marri  fl  ihf  widow  .Anvs.  %t,2.\  death,  421; 
will  ami  cod. ells,  422;  buried  at  Hedingham, 

Vere,  Sir  John,   natural  son   of    John  Vere, 


\      sergeant-major    in    the    regiment    of     Sir 
;       Horace  Vere,  384;  notice  of,  42a,  422,  «.  ; 
monument  to,  423. 

Vere,  Katherine,  married  to  Lord  Windsor, 
18,  22 ;  intended  marriage  with  young  Sey- 
mour, 19. 

Vere,  Katherine,  daughter  of  Sir  Horace 
Vere,  381  ;  married  10  Oliver  St.  John,  »ec- 
ondly  to  Lord  Poulett,  381,  «,,  451. 

Vere,  Mary,  married  to  Lord  Willoughby,  iS, 
22,  81  ;  Lord  Chamberlainship  claimed  by 
her  son,  430. 

Vere,  Mary,  Lady  Vere,  wife  of  Sir  Horace 
Vere  (see  Tracey);  marriage,  379,  380; 
death  of  her  sons  by  a  first  marriage,  381  ; 
succeeded  to  Kirby  and  Tilbury,  454;  a 
firm  friend  of  the  Parliament,  454 ;  buried 
at  Hedingham,  455. 

Vere,  Mary,  daughter  of  Sir  Horace  Vere, 
381  ;  married  to  Sir  Roger  Townshend, 
3S1,  «.,  434  ;  act  for  her  naturalixation,  381, 
n. ;  her  family,  434,  n. 

Vere,  Robert,  son  of  tht  15th  Earl  of  Oxfordi 
9,  19. 

Vere,  Robert,  son  of  Geoffrey  Vere,  birth,  23  ; 
initiated  in  the  military  art,  35 ;  joined  his 
brother  Francis  in  the  cavalry.  134;  went 
home  to  fetch  Horace,  157  ;  march  to  Reck- 
linghausen, 165 :  commanding  cavalry  at 
Buderick,  167  :  a  troop  of  cavalry  under  Sir 
F.  Vere,  tSi ;  crossed  the  Lippe  to  attack 
the  Spaniards,  and  slain,  214,  444. 

Vere,  Susan,  daughter  of  Sir  Horace  Vere, 
393  ;  her  death,  481. 

V^ere,  Ursula,  died  unmarried,  19. 

Vere,  William,  Bishop  of  Hereford,  a  great 
builder,  6. 

Victual-master,  54;  duties,  55. 

Viedma  led  Spanish  infantry  at  Wamsfeld, 

93- 
Villafranca,  in    St.   Michael's    (Azores),   the 

English  under  Essex  and  Vere  land  at,  347, 

248. 
Vincent  MSS.,  in  the  Herald's  College,  Vere 

entries,  465. 
VHssingen.     See  Flushing. 
Volunteers.      See   English^   CavtnJuk,   Git* 

hrrt.  Morgan^  Sorrix^  N^rih^  H'iiiiami. 
Voorn,  island.  36. 
Voorn,  isle,   facing  the   Bommel-waart,    172, 

274  :    Sir   F.  Vere  confined  to  his  tent  by 

illness  at,  275. 
Vterboede,  Nieuport  lighthouses  at,  383. 

Waal,  river,  34;  course,  35;  unites  with  the 
'      Maas,  36  ;  army  of  Maurice  stationed  a'ong 

the  line  of,  163. 
Waalwyck,  tiear  Oertniydenbufg,  Count  Mans- 

felt  encamped  at,  189. 
Wagon-masteri  dutica,  65. 


5o6 


INDEX. 


Wake's  Colne,  t6  ;  Crepping  Hall  in  the  par- 
Uh  of,  20;  note  as  to  the  reguten,  23,  n. 

Walchcrcn,  inland,  3,  n. ;  dike  of  West  Kappel 
in  I  33  ;  position,  38 ;  revolt  i^;ainftt  Spaniards, 
4a ;  iradf,  74- 

Wales,  Mrs.     Sec  Andrrtveis  Daniel. 

Walts,  Prince  of  (Black  Prince),  Earl  of  Ox- 
ford ^-rvinR  with,  in  France,  7. 

Walhauscn,  military  manual  in  French,  466. 

Wallt^imn  at  the  dtrfence  of  Breda,  426. 

Wals.in>,'ham,  Secretary,  re|X>rts  to,  ui ;  letter 
to  Sir  F.  Vcrc  a<  to  the  reception  of  Gov- 
ernor Morgan,  124;  letter  to,  from  F.  Vere, 
asking:  for  service  a{;ain^t  the  Spanish 
Armada,  125;  grateful  letter  to,  from  Sir  F. 
Vcre,  WW  tirin  friend  to  Sir  F.  Vere,  134, 
144  ;  Sir  F.  Vere  presented  a  hnrse  to,  153. 

Warn^fcld,  near  Zutphen,  battle,  <4A%  <45* 

Warrcnbfin,  Marquis  of,  besieging  Kheinberj;, 
14X :  defeated,  liorM  captured  by  Sir  F. 
Vere,  15  ^ 

"  Warspite,"  RaUiKh's  ship  in  the  Cadiz  ex- 
pedition, 2\>t\  aud  in  the  "  Island  Voyage,** 
237*.  t'n',;a«ed  with  Spanish  sliiivs,  2^*^;  car- 
ried away  her  mainy.ird,  243  :  given  the 
rendezvous  at  Flores,  24^  ;  at  Fayal.  244; 
neaily  run  into  by  the  "  Mary  Ro***-,"'  2|«). 

War>\i«.k,   Karl  of,  trained  under  the  Veres, 

45''- 

Watkins  Philip,  his  gallantr>*.  44. 

Waikins.  quartermaster  at  the  siege  of  Maas- 
tricht, 445. 

Waynu)uth,  John,  his  mihtary  manual,  466. 

Weeley,  in.ini)r  nf  the  Vcre-^  16:  Crustwick, 
in  the  I'aiish  of,  20 ;  note  a^  to  the  registers, 
32,  n. 

Weever,  hit  account  of  the  Vere  monuments, 
I?.  «.,  4'  4. 

Wentworth,  Sir  Jnhn,  in  the  Palatinate  regi- 
ment. ; /"* ;  led  the  se<.<)n«l  f:ivi^i«ln,  404. 

Wtr.t worth..  Captain,  wounded  at  the  siege  of 
M.i.>"4tricht,  »47. 

Wrrin.mt,  I.nt.l  of.     See  Afrisen. 

Wcicl,  a  "tiattjiic  point  on  the  Rhine.  35,  152, 
1'  5  ;  flirt  opposite  tn,  tal;t:n  by  Sir  V.  Vere, 
I'l;,  I' "^ ;  r.i  i^hbiirhcuid  de^rilwd,  213; 
niaii'h  of  M. HIT  ice  to  Mullieim  from,  370, 
3- J  :   >it  Horace  Vcre'-*  furce  at.  400. 

Wf^t'  n-i ••.  vi  l.mc  near  N^^up<lrt,  2^5. 

W»  sf  K.ip;  '.•!.  <^ikv  of,  c  >. 

W.-.'n.:ii,t  t  A!S';y.  monument  of  Fir  Francis 
Vi  r.  .  !■  ;.  ;..»;  di  ».crili;d,  .V<i  :  monument 
;■•  "^  :  lohii  l'iiiTo:i.;h.  252,  n.;  (oSirGeort;e 
H  ■  •  •.  Ml!  ;.i  :|'f  Ncrrisos,  .^fo.  4^4:  Sir 
<  >  v  r  I.  \r\\  .lit  I'lirii"!  in,  15  ^  n  :  the  i^^th 
I  .1;  -t  Ox;',,.-!  buried  ii;.4;o;  I.i-.rd  Vere 
!  .  i:-.'.  \\:]\  '••-  |.T-i:»>.,-r  Frairi-.  4;x. 

W  >.:i  ■  -^.t  K:i  li.!!;'.  f.n\oy  to  the  Princes  of 
t':-    l''-,..{.ir::   Union  at  Oppcnheim,  39>: 


Westphalia,  territory  rara-e.i  Vt  tJ.«  \-r-. 

of  AraKim,  373;  peace  nf.  r^-i'^r^ir  r*^   ~ 

to  Charles   Louis  by,  423^     2«c?  a«.  cv 

katuttt. 
WheeMock,  description  of.  5* 
White,  Mr.,  trrvAnt  of  >.r  l    V^rc   -.i* 
Whitebonic,  Peter,  his  ni'  tdrf,  r.*-  .—  .*■; 
Whitehall,  dsath  oC  LA-rd  V:  rf  a:   4:' 
Whitlock,    Captain,    sen:    t>    *..*"     }  k-     -i 

NorthumberLand  to  cIul  cr.^^c  ^-  >    '•;- 

334f  J3«». 

Whyte,  Rowland,  hi*  re;-^rt  ■  r.  ;r«  ptv.-:'  ■ 
of  Sir  V.  Vcre  by  the  ^^e«i..  j-ti 

Wiefeloch,  battle  of.  414 

Wijk,  suburb  of  Maattricht.  440.  m:- 

Wiiford,  Sir  Thomj«,  *■  r,:t*-  ■-■-.iii-  s-z-^,. 
in  LcicestciS  arTn\.  03,  ,1  ■■-  l^r-.  '»  . 
loughby's  councij  ut  war,  i*.  ir  r  :<- 
Ken-op-ZiM>m  garrtM^n .  ^2  1.  *::t  ;:•>:  *^  •■■ 
123,  132;  withdrawn  trum  tnc  Nr::.^:^-- 
14a. 

Wlllebrord,  St..  left  hi»  b":t  e  a:  F  -v.  ■»  - 

Wi;i«mMad,  position.  «•  .  L  s.  i-rrr.j  s.  »; 
So;  Sir  F.  Vere  ai.J  '^ir  R.  .■».j5s\  «■_  r  . 

Wil'iiam,  Cotint.     See  A'.iij  i* 

William  the  (.*ooH.  C<?ur,i  ui  He  ur.-z.  r.^^ 
Flushing  a  ««aptn.  -* 

William  LnngxHord.  l\i\,e  ■:  N  r-i-i^  43 
mitted  a  Dar.iah  c-iitnv  i*  :  ■  :he  ».  '  s-'  ■ 

William  1.,  the  Conqueror.  K.*  ^rs--.*  :.  ^. 
bene  de  Vere,  5. 

William  the  Taciturn.  Prirce  -f  'V.rr-   r* 
government  of    ihe    Stated  <-5-rH  r      : 
wives  and  chllHron,    \t.  n.  .    i-^-'-j    - 
31;  news  of  hi>  murrfpr.  r  •• .  I>-..-.a  •«jr. 
when  he  fled  to  Oermanv.  42* 

Williams.  Lord  <r.f  I'hamr  .  h.-  .^a-jt^Tr-  Vi- 
gery,  Lady  Ni.rriv.  iho  Quret*>  ca-  ■:-•■. 
4)- 

Williams,  Sir  Roger,  pace  10  :»  -  Fa-,    irt-- 
broke,  52  :  acc<iunt  of.  4*  .  wr'-  :■»-  *    .- 
teers  at  F!u«hin^.  41 :  \,\*  c -irr-r-.:    -   •( 
siege   of  (k»es,  4'*;  served    .r    :Sr    >-.-  ■ 
army,   51,    52.    53:   ^ur^-r-ed    t»'e   ?;^    ■' 
camp  at  Venlo.  60:  at  .Ar-  h-m.  •   -•  :-    i 
I>t>eshurg.   gi;  led   the-    F.r^'.  ».h    *:   ?i  . 
lOf ;  foremost  in  the  defer: ce  rt   >  .•.*      ■ 
his  report  on  the  si^gre  of  Sii:v*,  1  ?  1     -f 
sage  to  Leicester,  tn.  wnihd-aw-    i-^-rz  • 
Netherlands.    142:    death,    .-n.    52      v 
works,  212,  «.,  v=i*;    buried    in  S:.  Fa. 
Cathedral,  212. 

William*.  Thomas,  commandinie  a  c-esr^ 
under  Sir  F.  Vere.  i*»i 

Williamson,  Sergeant- Major.  tUin  at  tbc  e^ 
nf  Maastr-chr.  442. 

Wi^Unighhv,  Perejrine.  Lord,  married  t«  U^' 
Mary  Vere,  i«*;  t  otice  of.  !»i  ;  tr-!«i  • 
the  Haeue,  Si :  commanded  a  trtvr  ■'• 
horse,  84:    governor  of    BsrftQop^dsB, 


INDEX. 


507 


85 ;  attacked  a  Spanish  ccmvoy,  86 ;  joined 
Leicester's  army  at  Arnhem,  go ;  in  the  charge 
at  Wamsfeld,  94  ;  unhorsed  Giovanni  Cre- 
^a,  94 ;  made  a  banneret  on  the  field,  96; 
pall-bearer  at  Sir  Philip  Sidney's  funeral, 
96;  general  of  the  English  forces,  114,  117; 
desired  to  be  excused,  118,  127,  n.  ;  received 
money  to  pay  the  troops,  1 19  ;  his  appoint- 
ments not  confirmed,  123;  expended  his 
private  fortune  on  the  public  service,  124, 
137;  his  wife  living  on  board  a  yacht,  124  ; 
working  at  the  defences  of  Bergen-op-Zoom, 
127;  frustrated  plot  of  the  Duke  of  Parma, 
129,  130;  conferred  knighthood  on  the  de- 
fenders of  Bergen-op-Zoom,  132;  urgent  re- 
que!it  to  be  recalled,  136;  letters  from  the 
Queen,  136,  141  ;  resignation  accepted,  141 ; 
service  in  France  and  at  Berwick,  141 ;  death, 
142;  life  by  Lady  Georgina  Bertie,  142,  n. ; 
his  opinion  of  Prince  Maurice,  145. 

Willoughby,  Lord  (son  of  Peregrine  Lord  Wil- 
loughby),  raised  a  regiment  for  ser^'ice  in 
the  Netherlands^  424 ;  claimed  the  Lord 
Chamberlainship,  430. 

Willoughby,  Margaret  (Lady  Arundell),  with 
the  Queen  to  the  last,  344. 

Wilmot,  Sir  Stafford,  in  the  Palatinate  regi- 
ment, 37S,  404. 

Wilson,  Arthur,  historian  of  the  Palatinate 
expedition,  39S,  471 ;  his  reflection  on  young 
Duncombc's  death,  409. 

Wimbledon,  Viscount.  See  Crr/7,  Sir  Ed- 
ward. 

Wimpfen,  battle  of,  414;  picture  by  Snayer, 
414,  n. 

Windsor,  I/Ord,  married  to  Lady  Katherine 
Verc,  iS. 

Wingfield.  Sir  John,  knitrhted  at  Wamsfeld,  ! 
9^);  in  the  garrison  at  Bergi-n-op-Zoom,  120; 
governor  of  (iertriiydejibiiri;,  mH  ;  notice  of, 
13S,  n.  :  accusations  aj^ainst,  by  the  States 
General,  13S,  131),  140;  c:im|>-master  in  the 
Cadiz  expedition  on  board  the"  Vanguard," 
219,  222;  captured  galleys  in  Cadiz  Bay.  227; 
movement  in  adv.TJice  under  Vcre's  orders, 
230;  mortally  wounded  in  the  moment  of 
victory,  232. 

Wingfield.  Thoma<;  Maria,  with  the  English  ; 
volunteers.  51  ;  bad  a  company  in  Leiccsicrs  1 
arm y,  84;  in  the  chnrge  of  Wamsfeld,  94;  | 
his  conduct  as  regards  a  prisoner ;  deprived  I 
of  his  conipajiy,  i  ?  :^,  ft. 

Wingfield,  Edward  M.iria,  settled  in  Virginia, 
■?H.^,  «.,  45S. 

Winnc,  Sir  Tlionias,  slain  before  Breda,  42S. 

Winslow.  Edw.ird,  joined  the  Pilgrim  Fathers, 
3SS,  3SQ.  n.,  4^^. 

Winter,  Capt:iin  John,  Sir  F.  Vere's  captain 
in  the  "Mary  Rose."  237;  wanted  to  cut 
away  the  mainmast,  241. 


Winwoodf  Sir  Ralph,  British  envoy  at  the 
Hague,  339;  hia  memorials,  471. 

Wivenhoe,  house  of  the  Earls  of  Oxford  at, 
16. 

Wolstenholme,  John,  married  to  Don>thy 
Vere,  452.  45^,  »• 

Worms,  Princes  of  the  Protestant  Union  at, 
400,  403 ;  appearance  from  the  Rhine,  405 ; 
Sir  Horace  Vere  at,  405. 

Wotton  House,  in  the  parish  of  Gestingthorpei 
the  residence  of  T.  Hardekyn,  21,  25. 

Wounds,  received  by  Sir  Francis  Vere,  445 ; 
wounded  twice  at  Sluys,  109;  pike  wound 
in  the  leg  at  Bergen-op-Zoom,  ia8;  horae 
killed  and  fell  on  him  near  Rheinberg,  152  ; 
wounded  in  the  leg  at  Dunkirk,  170;  bone 
killed  under  him  at  Zutphen,  17a  ;  wouodfMl 
slightly  at  Steenwyck,  183 ;  hurled  to  the 
ground  under  a  buckler  at  Groningen,  194; 
bullets  in  thigh  and  leg  at  Nieuport,  398; 
wounded  in  the  head  at  Oatend,  314; 
wounded  in  the  face  at  Grave,  338.  Received 
by  Sir  Horace  Vere,  445 ;  wounded  at  Steen- 
wyck, 183;  in  the  leg  at  Ostend,-329;  hone 
killed  under  him  at  Mulheim,  377. 

Wouw,  sallies  of  the  Bergen-op-Zbom  gani* 
son  to,  128  ;  description  of,  C28,  m. 

Wouw  gate  of  Bergen-op-Zbom,  121,  127. 

Wrangham,  Lieut.,  his  good  service  at  the  sicfe 
of  Maastricht,  446. 

Wrey,  Captain,  slain  at  the  siege  of  Grmnngen, 
194.  ^ 

Wulfwine,  Saxon  thane,  whose  estates  were 
granted  to  Albcric  de  Vere,  5. 

Wiirtemberg,  Duke  of,  in  the  Protestant 
Union,  395. 

Xanten,  town  of,  Sir  F.  Vere  marched  through 
on  his  way  to  Rheinberg,  rsa. 

Y.  river,  37. 

Yeldham,  Great,  property  of  Sir  F.  Vere  in, 

352- 

Yerseken-dam  in  S.  Beveland,  passage  ol 
Spanish  troops  from  Bergen-op-Zbom  across 
the  channel  to,  47. 

York,  Duke  of,  the  12th  Earl  of  Ozlord  served 
under,  8. 

Yorke,  Rowland,  at  the  siege  of  Gees,  46;  had 
a  company  in  Leicester's  army,  84 ;  in  charge 
of  the  Zutphen  Sconces,  97 :  treacherously 
betrayed  his  trust,  98,  170,  174, 

Yper-leet,  river,  falling  into  the  sea  at  Oatend, 
crossed  by  Maurice's  army,  a8i ;  ciuiid  by 
the  Archduke,  287;  at  Ostend,  311. 

Yssel,  river,  course  deflected  by  hBU*  34; 
strategic  points  on,  35  ;  towns  on, held  bythe 
Spaniards,  91  ;  its  appearance  at  Zutphen, 
92  ;  attack  on  Deventer  from  bridge,  174. 

Ysselmonde,  island,  36. 


5o8 


INDEX. 


Zamdam,  S7> 

Zapena,  Jasper,  aaanhed  Hecrewiarden,  374 ; 

marahal  of  the  Spanish  army  at  Nieaport, 

aqa ;  taken  prisoner,  303. 
Zeeland,  representatiTesat  the  Utrecht  Union, 

31 ;  physical  geography,  3*;  position,  38,  39; 

regiment    under   Count    Solms,    defended 

Tholen,  197.    See    WmUhgreny  Bevelmmd^ 

Flushing,  Goes,  Middeltmrg. 
Zierikzee,  capital  of  Sdionwen,  39 ;  taken  by 

Mondragon,  30. 
Zittan,  Captain,  his  station  to  re«tt  the  a»> 

sault  on  Ostcnd,  325. 
Zatphen,  representatives  at  the  Utrecht  Union, 

SI ;  massacre  at,  by  the  Spaniards,  39 ;  a 

■trategic  point  on  the  Yssel,  35;   in  the 

hands  of  the  Duke  oi  Parma,  87 ;  isrested 


ilcniIptioBt  <fk  \  icS^rd 


t95; 


kv 


Spuiiah 
ncfii  '7'* 

Zutphcn  ScoDoeai  oooatractod  by  The  adwc  ' 
Verdugo,  93 ;  capmrcd  by  Lnce«p.  Es« 
land  Yorke  in  oOflnmaiid.  97.  Vrrtr  b* 
trayed  hia  tnut,  9s ;  rccapcure  N  r«  F 
Vere,  171. 

Zuyder  Zee,  fonnation  of.  33:  h.'Js  rnir  ^j 
Yaael  to  flow  minhward  to.  34 .  bxadi  fit 
prorinoe  of  Utrecht,  37:  porr*  nr.  :• 

Zwin,  town  of  Sluy^  on  tlw.  3'  :  «:-nc<«i 
m  its  course,  101  :  fleet  of  \.c^ri  \\\ 
•ailed  up,  loa ;  Duke  of  Pareu'*  9ei.«v 
to  stop  the  approach  to  Sluys  by.  or  r.  r: 
up,  114;  ciuntd  by  Colwid  tib 


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