companies in Holland and Zeland and the horse of Guelderland and Brabant to assemble on 23 January at Gertrudenbergh in Brabant, about seven Dutch miles from Thurnout. On that day, the Count arriving there himself found fifty ensigns of foot and fifteen cornets of horse, having brought with him six pieces of artillery. The foot he divided into six regiments; the first consisting of six ensigns, he appointed to march in the vanguard under his own colours; the second, about 700 men drawn out of divers companies of Flushing, to march under Sir Robert Sydney: the third, being of eight ensigns of Sir Fr. Vere's regiment, to follow them, whereunto were joined 150 which were sent from the garrison of Bryell under Lord Borough's colours: next followed the regiment of Scots and after them two several troops of Dutch; being appointed to hold the same order every day, without alteration or taking of turns as is usual, and upon any occasion of fight the two English troops to draw up and so make an equal front with that of Count Maurice. Next morning, being Thursday, set forth about the break of day and marched without resting till one of the clock at night. At night we made a stay in the open field within a Dutch mile of the place where the enemy lay, as well to have time to draw up our men together which came scattering by reason of the long and tedious march, as also to attend the daylight, the moon being then gone down and the night exceedingly dark. At daybreak we marched again till we came within half an English mile of the place where the enemy was lodged, when as yet we knew none other but that they lay fast expecting our coming. Whereupon our troops being put into several battailes we marched a fast pace towards the town, with the horsemen before, who, approaching the one end, found them newly gone out at the other, having sent away their baggage some three hours before. The village was open on all sides and some little earth had been cast up about it, but not so much as might be termed a trench. Hard at the farther end where they went forth the country was full of hedges and ditches and, amongst others, one little brook somewhat deep, whereon was a footbridge which they plucked up and carried away and at another water where our horsemen should pass they had cut down a tree and laid it thwart the way and laid boughs and other impediments to hinder their passage, which the Count seeing took advice whether to pursue them or no. Count Hollack and Swolmes alleged many difficulties. First, of passing that place: then, how hard it would be to put men in order to follow them, they having already gained the start and in a country full of straights where they might find many advantages to fight upon. Sir Fr. Vere, on the other side, advised to entertain them with small skirmishes till the main troops might be passed over; to which Count Maurice assented, affirming that a good opportunity of charging them being taken, could not but turn to a good issue. Whereupon he caused Sir Fr. Vere to take some few musquetiers such as were next at hand and would best make shift to get over, who spurring his horse to leap the brook plundered and fell down, notwithstanding he recovered the other side on foot, and taking those shotte followed the enemy with a light skirmish. In the meantime Count Maurice got the passage straight cleared for the horse, so that within a short space they got all over and followed them at the heels, still skirmishing in lanes and straights, until about two English miles off they came to a large heath, where the enemy, marching with a battayle of pykes, and two wings of musquetiers in their rearguard, kept on their way, but being forced all this while to maintain fight they were much hindered and detained. And now our foot having made a new bridge were many of them passed over and advanced within sight, when Sir Fr, Vere seeing they had passed the greatest part of the heath, and were within a musquet shot or little more of entering into another straight (which recovered they might easily have escaped) desired leave of Count Maurice to charge them: which granted, he presently gave on with some five or six horse upon the flank of the battayle, right in the midst of the ensigns: which Count Hollack seeing, presently and in a manner at the said instant charged likewise upon a wing of the shotte, and immediately all the rest of the horse, some upon the wings, some upon the battayle, and fell to execution, where they slew, as appeared to our judgements and was testified the next day by the boores, about the number of 2,000, between 4 and 500 taken prisoners, 38 ensigns taken and the General slain in the field, a cornet of horse also taken which had the guard of the baggage: but while our men were busy spoiling the wagons some forty horse of the enemy turned head with a countenance as though they would charge our men, whereupon almost all the horse fairly betook them to their spurs, and had by all likelihood turned away in fear and disorder, had not the English troops of foot, being newly come up, made a stand, to the emboldening of ours and discouragement of the enemy from following. There were strong four regiments of foot, the Colonels being all absent and the whole forces commanded by the Count of Varras. The first, being of Neapolitans, belonged to the Marques of Trevick: another, of Almains, to the Count of Solst: another, of Wallons and Burgognois, to la Berlot. And the fourth, being of Wallons and Netherlands, to the Count of Assincourt. They had five cornets of horse, commanded by Nicolo Basto who was the only captain present with his company. The next belonged to Don John de Cordua, Mondragon, Grosman and Grobbendenck. They were, by general confession of the prisoners, 3,600 foot and 400 horse, and we about 5,000 foot and 800 horse. Many of the prisoners laid fault in the General for that he did not put all his men into one squadron and attend our coming upon the market place, which indeed was very long and flanked with a castle near unto it, and he might well have done so if we had not brought artillery with us; but the village being on all sides open and our artillery being to be put in the front of our troops, I cannot but think we should have obtained a far greater day upon them if they had abydden us there, neither can I conceive any ways how they could have escaped without great dommage, lying so weakly as they did, except they had got sooner intelligence of our coming; but so suddenly had the Count made his preparation, and so secretly kept it, and, withal, so speedily put it in execution, that till we came within a Dutch mile of them where we rested us in the night, they had heard nothing of us in certainty. The pursuit ceasing, we turned to Thurnout and there lodged that night, where the Count sent presently to summon the Castle, wherein were left some 40 men. At first they refused to yield, but next morning after the cannon had played three tyre upon them, having also knowledge of the defeat of their men, they gave it up with composition to depart with bag and baggage. The Count then gave commandment that every man should bring in a note of his prisoners, where one man brought in a note of eighty that belonged to him, one other of forty, and divers of four, five, and six, for they followed every man of any shewe with their hands up to be taken to mercy and protected from the fury. Amongst them were ten captains and a Count of Mansfelt taken, which was ensign bearer to the Count of Solst and the sergeant-major of the Neapolitan regiment, who was valued both for the worth of his person and good ability to pay a ransom equal with all the rest of the captains, but being carelessly guarded he made an escape. Of ours were not above ten slain, few hurt, and amongst them all none of account. Endorsed:-"Captain Dockwray's discourse of the service at TurnJanu. 96.” hault. 6 pp. (173. 30.) RICHARD CARMERDEN to SIR ROBERT CECIL. 1596-7, Jan. 30.-Recommending this bearer, John Ryce, to be taken into Cecil's service and to have the keeping of the little park at Enfield, which is fallen into his Honour's gift by the death of one Doddes. Has been before a suitor in behalf of this man for a walk in the chace, but understands that Cecil had bestowed the same before that that time. From his house in Mark Lane in London, the 30 January 1596. Signed. Seal. p. (173. 26.) THOMAS GURLYN to SIR ROBERT CECIL. 1586-7, Jan. 30.-Understanding of Cecil's hard opinion conceived against him for having preferred a petition concerning the Countess of Oxford, begs that he will permit him into his honourable presence to answer her Honour's objections and to shew the cause he did prefer the same; and that, if he shall shew the part of an honest man towards her Ladyship, he may crave Cecil's favour; otherwise to endure such punishment as his Honour shall please to impose on him.-This 30th of January 1596. Holograph. Seal. p. (173. 27.) P. DE REGEMORTES to the EARL OF ESSEX. 1596-7, Jan. 30.-Monseigneur,-J'ay escript a vostre excellence dernierement un petit mot de lettre et accommodé ma breiveté au sujet qu'alors avoy. Car la perte et mal adventure de la flotte d'Espaigne, qu'on rapportoit, rendoit les esprits de plusieurs paisibles et hors d'arrière-pensée, ne balancants que, par nostre nonchalance, l'ennemy prend ses affaires derechef à cœur et que nostre repos luy faict remuer et donne occasions de bien faire et entreprendre, tant plus d'autant que nos preparations durent seulement si long temps que les alarmes. A quelle chose, si en temps et en saison presente on ne remedie, je crains qu'alors qu'on aura la volonté on n'aura pas autant de puissance et moyen d'effectuer. Je laisse les belles occasions qui journellement echappent, ou par une vilipendence des forces enemies ou par une asseurance et appuy de nos propres. Quand aux occasions, si elles ont oncques servies à entreprendre avec nostre advantage, je me persuade que c'est à present, taschant le Roy d'Espaigne par un nouveau gouvernement du Cardinal employer tout son pouvoir et moyen pour lasser et accabler aucun des associés et faire la preuve de nostre lascheté : laquelle trouvée luy servira d'asses de fondement et pied pour mener ses desseins plus en avant, et soubs un tiltre paisible nous causerait quasi trahir la posterite. Qu'au contraire avec bon ordre de la nouvelle Ligue on ne pourroit seulement rembarer les desseins et attentats de l'ennemy, ains entièrement rompre et aneantir si en semblables saisons on vouldroit eslargir pour quelque moyenne armée ce qu'en petit secours on fait à la longue, par quel moyen on continue les frais et le faix de la guerre. à present (chose plus à desirer qu'à esperer!) sa Majesté seroit servie prester aucun secours extraordinaire en ces quartiers apres nostre Si victoire, j'estime fermement qu'avec le bon ordre qu'on a prins, nos troupes et son assistance, que l'occasion serviroit de reduire les affaires de l'ennemy en terms desesperés et remettre l'estat de France et le nostre. C'est Sa Majesté d'Engleterre laquelle de si longtemps a tenu en balance et contrepoix la monarchie de l'Europe, sans laquelle ny la cause Francaise ny la nostre eust esté bastante de se soutenir, mais par sa faveur, avec la benediction Divine, nous nous sommes maintenus et parvenus à l'estat auquel nous consistons. En cas qu'elle commence à lasser et serrer sa main, je crains que quelque part un desespoir causeroit qu'un membre de la Ligue se perdroit et conditioneroit; et, si cela se fait, la consequence n'est obscure. Les affaires d'Engleterre sont encores en son entier ceux de ce pays en si bon termes qu'oncques. Il est au chois de Sa Majesté Serenissime de prevaloir par terre et par mer, et en l'un et l'autre endroit elle peut mettre le loy à son ennemy. Il est bien vrai que les thresors se consument et le peuple contribue: Mais, à scavoir, s'il ne vaut mieux, à telle dépense, laisser sa memoire en vraie liberté entre ses subjects qu'un estat douteux, circondate des ennemys-ennemys encores à la liberté de conscience laquelle nous exercons. Et, pour finir en raison, il me semble estre le temps opportun qu'il fauldrait ou se joindre ensemble par mer avec ordre, forces et ferme resolution de continuer à l'invasion, ou, si cela seroit trouvée moins expedier, joindre les troupes l'este à venir par terre, en quoi on feroit autant d'utilité et effect. Votre Excellence aura par autres entendu les particularités de nostre bataille de Ternhout, en laquelle Monsieur de Vere a gaigné et grand honneur et reputacion.-A la Haye, le 30 de Janvier 1597, stil. vet. Holograph. Seal. 1 pp. (173. 28.) ANTHONY COOKE to SIR ROBERT CECIL. 1596-7, Jan. 31.-In the humble love and duty I bear you I could wish to shew myself unto you to bid you that comfort which your late loss hath bereft; but knowing that wisdom's combat with affection must have a solitary time, I forbear in reason what in my love I might do amiss. This present Monday the last of January, 1596. Holograph. Seal of arms. 1 p. (38. 11.) The ATTORNEY-GENERAL to SIR ROBERT CECIL. 1596-7, Jan.-"Some information concerning those that intended the rebellion in Oxfordshire." Bartholomew Stere, carpenter and single man and placed in very good service, about a fortnight before Michaelmas was the first deviser of this insurrection. His outward pretence was to overthrow enclosures, and to help the poor commonalty that were to famish for want of corn; but intended to kill the gentlemen of that country and take their spoil, affirming that the commons long since in Spain did rise and kill all the gentlemen in Spain, and sithens have lived merrily there. After this he meant to have gone to London and joined with the prentices, who (as he thought) would join with him, for that some of them were lately hanged for the like attempt; and said it was but a month's work to overrun England. He continually persuaded others to join with him in this treason, and specially Roger Symonds, who was a poor man and had a great charge of children, and therefore should have some colour to rise in respect of hunger. 94110. D He and Richard Bradshaw (who willingly joined with him) agreed that the place where they should first assemble should be at Enslow Hill on the Monday after St. Hugh's day; for Bradshaw said the sooner the better, and Stere said there was once a rising at Enslow Hill by the commons, and they were persuaded to go down, and after were hanged like dogs. "But," said he, "we will never yield, but go through with it." He at the first entering to this treason served the Lord Norris, meant to have spoiled his house, to have taken his horse, armour and artillery, and to have victualled themselves with his wine, beer and other necessaries, and persuaded his lordship's carter and coachman to join with him, meaning to use them for their carriages. He expected that the gentlemen's servants of his country would join with him in cutting their masters' throats, for that he said they were kept like dogs. He had also drawn two of Sir Wm. Spencer's servants, the cater and carter, to be, as he termed them, "sound fellows." At the time and place appointed Barth, Stere, Edward Bompas, Robert Burton, mason, and Thomas Horne met about 9 of the clock in the night, well weaponed, specially Stere, and continued there till 11 of the clock, and then departed for that others failed. : We find, next to Bartholomew Stere, these to be principal offenders : Richard Bradshaw, miller. Edward Bompas, fuller. We find these also offenders : John Stere the father and John his son. John Horne. More doubtful against these :- Vincent Rancle. William Dowley. Thomas Ingolsby. Robert Burton, mason. Thomas Horne. William Baldwyn. Thomas Powell. We find that Roger Symons did before the time appointed discover the treason, and never used speech of consent but to understand and reveal the treason, The clearest way to proceed against these is to proceed upon the Statute of the 13th of her Majesty's reign, upon which law the prentices of London were attainted for the like offence. Upon that law they must have two witnesses upon their arraignment, or their own confession, and be proceeded against within 6 months. Against the first five, or so many of them as shall be thought fit to be attainted, there is apparent matter. This proceeding must be before the end of March next, for then the 6 months expire, within which time the assizes will fall. Unsigned. 2 pp. (38. 12.) WILLIAM LYLLE to the EARL OF ESSEX. [1596-7, Jan.].-The Signor Virginio Ursini is despatched from the King [of France] to go for Italy and to begin the wars in the Kingdom of Naples, having his commission to be the King's lieutenant there. To favour this the King hath already prayed the Turk to assist him with 3,000 men. It is thought that the Pope will assist the Spaniard by reason of the great faction he holdeth in Rome. In this case this lord shall have just cause to impatronize himself of divers towns of the Pope's which are strong and upon those confines. If that fall out then will all the parents and brothers take arms and discover themselves heads of that faction. These are all the house di Vitelli, |