SIR, to satisfie your of­ten earnest requestes, I haue taken time these holydaies to set you downe a briefe re­porte of the military seruices done in the lowe Countries, by the Earle of LEICES­TER, and his armies, during the time of his abode and gouernment there: reckening from the 22. day of Ianuary 1585. on which day he was receiued Gouernour of those Coun­tries; till the 23. of Nouember 1586. when he embar­ked at VLVSHING, in his returne for ENGLAND. I entermeddle not with the estate of Religion, iustice, or ciuill pollicie, because your letters demaund it not, and I willingly deale not further in reportes, then is by some kinde of dutie required of me. You expect not I hope but the substance of things done with breuitie: the circum­staunces, I know, and particularities, will require a rea­sonable volume. Of one thing I must entreate you to be especially excused. I will not meddle with the particular seruices of priuate men: because if I should rehearse them all, and speake of them as indeede they haue deserued, it were aboue my skill, and I should be longer then my lei­sure suffreth. And if I should touch some, and conceale others, the iust offence would hardly be endured. For [Page] truth of the things I write you of, this be assured: what I write as done of our partie, either I sawe, and am wit­nes of it my selfe, or I haue it by the credible report of those that were the doers. What I set downe of the eni­mies doings, I either take it from their owne intercepted letters, or I do it vpon the aduertisements of our best in­telligencers: who in circumstances may erre, but swarue not much from truth, I thinke, in any materiall point: howsoeuer it is, I trust you will be perswaded, that I willingly speake no vntruth: And then as I conceiue of these things, if so it please you to accept of them, they haue béene done, as I take them, in maner as followeth.

After long and humble suite of the Estates generall of the vnited Prouinces of the lowe Countries, it pleased the Quéenes Maiestie our Soueraigne to graunt vnto them a large and bountifull aide of men & money, in such sort, and vpon such Articles and conditions, as in the treatie concluded betwéene them, bearing date the fourth day of September, in the yéere 1585. it more at large ap­péereth. To speake of the magnanimitie, wisedome, boun­tie, and singular goodnesse of hir Maiestie in yéelding so great and chargeable a succour: with consideration a­gainst whom, vpon how necessarie and most vrgent cau­ses, and for how gréeuouslie oppressed a people and coun­tries, it was intended, were a matter beside my purpose at this time, and aboue the reach of my pen and skill. The fact is, and will be approoued, and renowmed in the world, so long as the memorie of wise and good Princes, and of true princely actions shal endure. But in the Tre­atie named, there is one Article amongst others, where­by it is especially required, That it might please her Maiestie to sende with her forces into those partes, a personage of nobilitie, valure and wisedome, of the En­glish Nobilitie, as well to gouerne her people, as also to direct and to deale otherwise, and to vse such further [Page] préeminence and authoritie, as is specified in the Treatie. The man for this purpose most desired of the Estates, and especially chosen by her Maiestie, was the Earle of Leyce­ster, who being accordingly appointed for this seruice, after his commission receiued, and view taken of such as were then to go with him, leauing whatsoeuer the singular bles­sings of God most happily many waies, and the especiall fauour of a mightie Prince had of long time yéelded him in his owne Countrie; tooke leaue at the Courte, and de­parted towardes Harwich in Essex, there to embarque in the beginning of December following. There accompani­ed him in this voyage, the Earle of Essex, the Lord Awde­ley, the Lord North, with diuers Knights, and manie Esquiers and Gentlemen, to the number of sixe or seauen hundred horse, brauely and souldiour like appointed, all vo­luntaries and of his owne friendes, followers, & seruants. He departed from Harwich with the most part of his traine the ninth day of December, and on the tenth of the same arriued at Ʋlushing in Zealand, where, & at Middleborough he was receiued with great concourse and ioye, and after two daies staie there by sundrie iournies came to the Hage in Holland. Here after many daies treatie: vpon the 22. daie of Ianuary 1585. he receiued the gouernement of those Countries, with tytle of Gouernour and Captaine Generall of Holland, Zealand, and of the vnited Prouinces, and of their associates. The vnited Prouinces, and their associates were then accounted the Duchie of Gelders, with the Countie of Zutphen, Holland, Zealand, Vtricht, and the countries adioining of Frizeland, betwéene the riuer of Emes and Lawers, Flaunders also and Brabant, for the townes of those countries, that then helde with the other vnited Prouinces. And the estate of them all was then this. In Holland, Zealand, and Vtricht the enimie had cléerly nothing: in Frizeland also nothing, sauing that the citie of Gron­ningen and that part of the countrie called Omelandes were [Page] wholie his: in Gelderland and Zutphen he had a good part: in Brabant the Estates had but Bergen apzome, Saint Ghertru­denberg, Huesden, Graue, and Wowe castle, with the Forte of Lillo: in Flaunders they had Sluice, and Oostend, and the fortes of Terneuse, the Dole, Lyskenshooke, and Saint Antonies hooke: all the rest were the enimies, togither with all the other of the seauentéene Prouinces, except the whole al­most of the countrie of Ouerissell, which in a kinde of newe­tralitie, séemed to fauor the Estates party, and rather to en­cline to them: but indéed did greatly aide the enimie with victuales and prouisions, and had manie secrete intelligen­ces with him.

These Prouinces, their estate, and the people of them did the E. of Leicester at this his first arriuall, and accep­tance of the gouernment find in great confusion: The com­mon people without obedience, The soldier in miserie and disorder for want of pay, The Gouernors weary, & tired, for lacke of good assistance, and due obedience, The Prouin­ces themselues staggering in their vnion, & euery Towne next danger readie to séeke newe meanes for their safetie: such was their feare of the enimie triumphant nowe with continuall victories, and especially with the late recouerie of Anwarpe: so little was their hope of their owne abilitie to resist, and so many were the enimies déepe and secret practises, euen in the verie bowels of them.

The estate dulie considered, and such remedies to euerie member aptly applied, as the present time would then per­mit: the ciuill gouernment being first in some good sort well setled, the Earle applied himselfe foorthwith to the militarie seruice, the first occasion being offered for the reliefe of Graue.

Graue is a Towne in Brabant, belonging to Count Mourice of Nassau, seconde sonne to William Prince of Orange deceased. But it was then in the gouernment of Count Philip of Hohenloe or Hollocke a Germaine, who [Page] had long serued the Estates, and had placed gouernour in this Towne Mounsieur Hemart, a Baron of these lowe Countries with garrison of about eight hundred Dutch and Netherlande souldiours. The Towne is not great, but fortified of late, and made verie strong by the Prince of Orange, whose patrimonie it was. It is of some importaunce, because standing vpon the riuer of Mase, it hindereth the frée passage of that part of the riuer néere it. Otherwise for trade, territorie, wealth, or any other commoditie, it is not to be much accounted of. Alexander Farnese, Prince of Parma, gouernour then for the king of Spaine in Brabant, Flaunders, and those parts of the lowe Countries that acknowledge the king of Spaine, had sent the Count Charles Maunsfelt, to be­leaguere this Towne, and to besiege it somewhat a far off, which he accordingly did, by erecting rounde about it foure fortes, with fiftéene hundred souldiours in them, and hauing néere him within one english mile all the spanish Regiments, to the number of fiue thousand foote­men. He had now lien there from December till about the beginning of March: at which time the E. of Leyce­ster vnderstanding the Towne was brought into distres for lacke of men, victuals, and other prouisions, mind­ing to relieue it, and for the readie answering of all inci­dent occasions to be more néere it, departed from the Hage by Harlem, and Amstelredam, to Vtricht. From thence he presently sent his horsemen being in number about thirtéene or fourtéene hundred, to encampe at Nyekircke in the prouince of Vellowe in Gelderland: aswell to vnburden the Townes of them, as also by their li­eng there to deteine the enimies forces of those partes from Graue. He appointed to Count Hollock, and S. Iohn Norris Coronell generall of the English infantery, about two thousand footemen, without horsemen, be­cause the place was not for them, with direction to vic­tuall [Page] and to supplie and furnish Graue, with all necessa­ries. These Gentlemen marching with their troupes, tooke first by assault a little fort of the enimies about foure miles from Graue, called the Mill forte, and then mea­ning to fortifie themselues as néere the Towne as they might, and from their fortification to take such order as occasion should minister, for atchieuing their intent be­gan to intrench vpon the banke of the Mase on Gelder­land side, about two english miles from Graue, betwéene it and Battenbourge castle, and within halfe a mile or thereabouts of the enimies bridge, and fortes on that side. They began their worke with about thrée hundred soul­diours, and some pyoners on Tuesday at night in Easter-wéeke the 5. of Aprill, and in the morning had raised it a yarde high, when the enimie hauing had intelligence of their meaning, sendeth to hinder the same thrée thousand Spaniardes: who after two or thrée attempts put our men being but few from their worke, and caused them to retire. But other of our troups to the number of eight or nine hundred, presently méeting them, our men made stande againe, gaue a fresh charge vpon the Spaniardes, draue them ouer the fortification, where they fought be­fore, euen to their owne forte, slaying on the ground fiue hundred of them all Spaniards: amongst whom seauen speciall captaines, and two others of greater account, and wounded about two hundred which were caried to Bol­duke, & other places. They tooke also one péece of the eni­mies ordinance, brought to beate our boates and fortifi­cation. Of our men sixe or seauen score were slaine, but not one man of name. Sir Iohn Norris was hurt in the brest with a pike: sir Iohn Boroughes had a finger stro­ken off with a musket shot. After this fight, the Count Hollocke battered and tooke Battenbourge castle, and the forte de Guanden,, and the strong house of Empell, and then his victual being come he victualed Graue by water twise, [Page] went himselfe into it, supplied the garrison with newe men, and left it furnished with all prouisions sufficient by acknowledgement of Hemart the captaine himselfe for nine monethes. And hauing done that he came for, in the verie viewe and face of the enimie, he dissolued his campe, and came away with great honor.

A liftle before this time fell out the surpryse of Wearle a great Towne in Westfalia by coronell Skenck, and af­terwards a sharpe fight by the same Skenck, with thrée or foure thousande of that countrie, where he slewe and ouerthrewe aboue two thousand with great valure, and brought away rich spoiles: but being in the diocesse of Colloigne, and without the iurisdiction of the vnited Pro­uinces, and not directly against their chiefe enimie. I wil enlarge no further of these exploites.

The prince of Parma (as it was reported to vs) was much kindled with this ouerthrow at Graue, with the ta­king of the castles and victualing of the Towne: and his former winter preparations being nowe in readines, a­bout the beginning of Maie he began to march towardes Graue, but so, as that he was first assured by Count Maunsfelde (as by our intelligences & letters intercepted it appéered) that the match for the towne was fully cōclu­ded before he would set out to it. Thither he came with his campe nowe of twelue thousand footemen, and about foure thousande horse. He battered the Towne for shew, and vpon batterie, had it presently yéelded without as­sault. The E. of Leycester hearing of the princes prepa­rations towards Graue, being as yet vnreadie and desti­tute of all meanes to furnish a campe sufficient to méete with him on equall ground in fielde, yet to the entent to be néere at hand with the forces he had, and to waite such aduantages as occasion might offer, with a small campe of about thrée thousand foote, and one thousande horse, he passed in person the riuer of Rhyne at Arnham in Gelder­land, [Page] into the prouince of Bettowe, with intent from thence to passe the riuer of Wale also, and so to approch to Graue it selfe.

The Bettowe is a prouince in Gelderland, lying betwéen the riuers of Rhyne and Wale, verie fertile, and then who­lie helde by the enimie, or at least infested by him, with his fortes of Luytesforte, and Berckshoofe and the two ca­stles of Alon and Bemell. It was first thought expedient to win these fortes and castles before further passage: but they were verie strong, well manned, and sufficiently prouided of all necessaries. The great citie of Newmegen was but ouer the Wale on the other side very néere them, and the enimy with his campe at Graue, not eight english miles from them. These good helpes so néere, encouraged greatly the souldiours within, who with all warlike skill omitted nothing that mought be required in souldiours for defence. But the resolution was to attempt them, which was done with such valure of our souldiours, his Excellencie himselfe ordering the batteries at some of them, and without respect of trauel or danger, putting his owne hand to the trenches, and other workes to be made for the approches, as at length at seuerall times they were all yéelded.

Another thing of good importaunce was then to be done also. A little aboue the Towlehuise in Cleueland is a small Islande in the riuer of Rhyne, in place where the Rhyne diuiding himselfe, taketh the right hande course downe to Arnham, and retaineth still the name of Rhyne, and on the left hand passeth to Newmegen, and is in Latin called Vahalis, in vulgar Dutch the Wale. The Islande is called Grauenswert, and being fortified might commaunde both the riuers of Rhyne and Wale from that place down­ward, that nothing coulde passe to Arnham or Newmegen. It was thought verie important to surprise this Islande, and to builde a forte in it: but the matter required celeri­tie, [Page] secrecie, and good strength of men, bicause the enimie was néere. It was committed to be done to sir Martin Skenck, (he was now knighted before at Vtricht, and had giuen him by his Excellencie, at his receiuing of knight­hood a chaine of golde of a thousand crownes) sir Martin whiles his Excellencie was occupied in winning the forts and castles, tooke the Island, built the forte, and ha­uing left it defensible and well manned, returned againe to his Excellencie: who hauing nowe gotten the fortes and castles, and so cléered the whole prouince of Bet­towe, and left not one enimie in it, thought fit to pro­céede in his principall intent of drawing néere the enimie at Graue. He had first to passe the riuer of Wale, & then to marche eight english miles in the enimies countries, to the Mase & Graue, where the prince & his campe lay. As he began to prouide his passage ouer the Wale the newes were sodainly brought him that Graue was yéelded. This séemed so strange that it was not at the first beléeued, as­well bicause it was knowne to be of great strength, and victualed, and thorowly prouided of all necessaries for nine Monethes, as also and more specially for that his Excellencie had receiued two letters from Baron He­mart, captaine of Graue, the one the daie before, the other the same day: wherein Hemart wished his Excellencie to do what else he thought conuenient, and to haue no care of Graue, for he was well able to defend it against all men, for one halfe yéere. These letters were sent to the Q. Maiestie: but in the ende the newes were found true. The Town was yéelded; and his Excellencie bethinking him what was fit to be done, and séeing his army nothing equall to the enimies, the numbers being so far different, as is before rehearsed: vnderstanding also that almost all the Townes néere about, as Bomell, Arnham, Amersfort, Deuenter, and the rest of Guelders and Ouerissell stoode in tickle tearmes likely to yéelde if the enimie came néere [Page] them: and finding indéede that the prince had alreadie sent part of his armie towards Bomelsverte: he sent foorth­with strong garrisons into the next frontire Townes, and Bomell being thought to be then in some danger, himselfe went thither, with fiftéene hundred footemen, and fiue hundred horse, where he assured that Towne, and the Island being of great importaunce, and tooke such order for the rest as that time and the small meanes he then had would permit. Hemart for his sodaine yéelding of Graue without good cause, being sufficiently furnished of all necessaries for defence and contrarie to assuraunce of it, giuen by his owne letters but the same day, and the day before, comming to Bomell was there apprehen­ded and caried to Vtricht, his proces drawne, and in so­lemne assemblie by Co. Hollock himselfe and all the rest of the Coronels and Martiall officers, of the Dutch, En­glish, and diuers other nations adiudged to die, and was publikely executed accordingly, with two others of his captaines. I will not speak of what difficultie the matter was thought to do this executiō: the party being a baron, of a Barons liuing, & great by birth and alliance in those parts: his Excellencie, a stranger: the Estate in broken termes: and the example there scant séene before. But the fact fell out so plaine, that his Excellencie woulde not be intreated but that iustice shoulde procéede: the iudges coulde not but condemne him, and the people though sorye for the man yet much reioiced to sée the iustice done. Amongest diuers others nowe sent to strengthen the garrions in sundrye places, sir Martin Skenck, and sir Roger Williams were appointed with certaine horse & footmen, to sée if they might enter Venloe, whither it was thought the enimie would make his next iourney. Venloe is a Towne of the Dutchie of Gelders, si­tuate vpon the riuer of Mase, seauen or eight english miles from Graue, & then in the gouernment of sir Martin [Page] Skenck, who had garrison in it of seauen hundred dutch souldiours: but himselfe was absent, and attempting to get into it went as I saie with sir Roger Williams, and about a hundred horse, But they founde themselues pre­uented, and all the passages taken by the enimie. But yet minding to assay if with their horsemen they might possi­blie breake through the gardes, they gaue in the night a sodaine most valiaunt attempt, vpon the whole campe, and slue manie euen néere to the princes owne lodging. But directing themselues towardes the Towne, and finding the turnpikes shut, and garded with strong watch of Muskeyteires, and the campe nowe all vp in armes, and the day drawing on: they turned their course to­wards Wachtendoucke, a Towne of the Estates, seauen or eight miles of, where themselues and manie of their companie entred, and saued themselues from the whole cauallarie of the enimie, now pursuing them, some thir­tie or fortie of their company were slaine, and taken. The prince then planted thorowly his siedge of Venloe, which the townes men in short space yéelded to him, whiles the souldiours stoode at defence of the walles. Whiles these things were thus in doing in those partes the L. Wil­loughbie Gouernour of Berghes apzome in Brabant, hauing intelligence of a great Conuoy of victuall, and o­ther prouisions to be brought out of the furder partes of Brabant, next Cleueland, and Lukeland, into Antwerpe: and hauing good aduertisement of the time of their comming, vpon the 23. of Maie, he met with them in their waie about eight or ten english miles from Antwerpe: himself had with him thrée cornets of horse, and three companies of foote: the conuoy was foure hundred wagons, and garded with souldiours, and of the countrie people, to the number of a thousande. He set vpon them, slue, and put to flight all the people, burnt and spoiled almost all the wagons, and prouisions, and some mares, wagons, and [Page] such other things as he thought fit he brought away with him to Berghes.

The E. of Leycester in the meane time hauing placed strong garrisons in al his frontiers, began to imploy him­selfe wholie to the gathering of a sufficient armie to méete with the prince in fielde: footemen in good numbers were gotten out of Englande, with some from Scot­land: two thousande Germaine horses were appointed to be brought by Count Mewres, with a regiment of Al­maine footemen, and a thousand pyoners. But that the forces now readie mought be doing, whiles the others to make vp the full armie were in prouiding, his Excellen­cie sent into Flaunders, vnder the conduction of Count Mourice of Nassau, and of his Nephew sir Phillip Sid­ney, about two thousand footemen, which with great se­crecie and valure surprised the Towne of Axell, with foure strong fortes néere about it, slue and put to flight foure bandes of footemen in the Towne, had rich spoyle, brought away fiue Ensignes of the enimies, left coronell Pyron, with eight or nine hundred souldiours in garrisō, and came their way, to the intent to attempt Graueling in Flaunders, which by a deceitfull traine laide for him by La Mote, was promised to sir Phillip Sidney, who came thither, but finding the fraude, returned with the losse of about thirtie common souldiours. Those of Axell had by this time cut the dikes, and by letting in the sea, drowned the countrie to the wals of Axell, and Hulst, and thereby added great strength to Axell.

Shortly after this, the Count Hollock, and sir Willi­am Pellham, L. Marshall of the fielde, made a roade into Brabant, where hauing wasted and spoiled Lange Strate, and a great part of the countrey, they returned without hearing of any enimie to resist them.

The prince after the yéelding of Ʋenloe marched to Nuyse, a Towne of the diocesse of Colloigne, helde for the [Page] elector Trucses, by a valiant yoong gentleman, called Clowte. After some skirmishes, and a little batterie, and Clowte wounded, this Towne was lost, by the coward­lines of Clowtes soldiers, and Clowte taken out of his chamber wounded, and hanged out at the windowe with some note of vnsoldierlike vsage.

From thence came the prince to Bercke, wherin were sir Martin Skenck and coronell Morgan, with twelue hundred English, and seauen or eight hundred other soul­diours. This Towne is also of the diocesse of Colloigne, and held for the elector Trucses. And though being with­out the limits of his Excellencies iurisdiction, it may séem it appertained not to his charge, as in like sorte Nuyse al­so: yet for the importaunce of the place to the vnited Prouinces standing vpon the riuer of the Rhyne, and for the communitie, and néere coniunction and dependencie of both causes one on the other, vz. of the elector Truc­ses, and of the Estates of the vnited Prouinces, it was thought expedient that the Towne should be defended with common aide, and therefore such garrison before rehearsed was put into it. The Towne at the beginning when this garrison came in about the time of the losse of Venlo was very weake, and through a contention for it betwéene the Prince elector Trucses and Adolphe Count of Meurs, vnprouided almost of all necessaries. But his Excellencie hauing a little before quieted the strife betwéene those two, it was now somwhat supplied of prouisions by the Estates, and repaired by the indu­strie and trauell of Sir Martin and his soldiers. The siege began in the end of Iuly, and was continued on without great effect, partly through the valure of the cap­taine and soldier within it, who made diuers salies, and often intercepted, and slew sundrie of the enimies soldi­ers: but especially by reason of the many continuall ad­uertisements brought daily to the Princes campe of a [Page] great armie of his Excellencies now gathered and in rea­dines to march. And indéed about this time had the Erle of Leicester collected his forces, and prepared his prouisi­ons, and about the 14. of August, sent sir Iohn Norris, & sir Thomas Cecill with the vantguard to passe the riuer Yssell on his bridge of boates, at the foot of Yssellort a mile aboue Arnham, with direction to encamp 6. or 7. miles in­to Cleueland, at a place called S. Seuenter vpon the banke of the Rhine. On the 17. of August was sent thither to him sir William Pelham L. Marshall of the armie with another troupe, and on the 19. his Excellencie departed from Ʋtricht to Rhenen, and so to Arnham, where he stai­ed till the troupes of Brabant and Zealand with Co. Hol­lock, and those of Frizeland with Count William of Nas­sau met him there. And when they were all come togi­ther, on saturday the xxvij. of August he departed from Arnham, accompanied with the Prince of Portugall Don Emanuell, the Prince elector of Colloigne Trucses, Co. Mourice of Nassau, Co. Hollock, Co. William of Nassau, Erle of Essex generall of the English horsemen, Count Phillip of Nassau, Count Solmes, Count Ouersteyne, L. Willoughbie, L. North, S. Phillip Sidney, and diuers o­thers, noblemen, knights, and gentlemen, and with the rest of the armie marched that night to Elten in Cleueland. At Elten his Excellencie thought expedient himselfe to take view of his armie, which he did on sunday the 28. of August, and finding the bands of English and Irish not to fill the number of fiue thousand footemen: the rest of all nations not to make 2000. the Cauallerie of all sorts not to excéede the number of 1400. knowing the enimie to be 12000. strong on foote, and 3500. horse, ex­perienced soldiers, he fell into consultation what were fittest to be done. To reléeue Berck was the principall intent, or at least to get the soldiers safe and honorably out of it. This was to be effected by one of two meanes. [Page] Either by assailing or diuerting the enimie. The first was full of difficulties. The enimie was strong, he was in his place of strength, he had his retraits at hand. Our campe was fewer in number, we should come a long march into a strange place, we had no retrait with­in twentie miles. And which tooke away all deliberation: our victuals vnsufficient, either for maintenance of the armie, or for reliefe of the towne, must néedes haue fai­led vs. Diuersion therefore was thought to be the way, and that to be done by the siege of some place that might force the enimie to arise to succour it. And that place was reckoned fittest, to be Duisbourge. Duisbourge is a towne of the Countie of Zutphen, scituate at the confluence of the riuer called old Issell, with that péece of the Rhine, that separating himselfe from the bodie of the Rhine a little east of Arnham, was anciently called Fossa Drusiana, as a ditch cut and made by Drusius from the Rhine into Issell. The Towne was also called Drusii burgum. It was and is now the chamber of the Countie of Zutphen: well peopled and reasonably rich, walled round with a high and strong wall, and watered of good depth and breadth round, and in the greatest part double: so that in the opi­nion of soldiers it was thought of good strength.

This Towne besides that being of importance, it was like to draw the enimie from Bercke to succour it, it was perilous also for our armie to be left vngotten behind vs, for that lieng almost in the way of our passage betwéene Arnham and the campe, we must haue béene constrained, if we had procéeded to Bercke to haue left good forces for the assurance of that passage. There was in it captaine Sampson, a valiant old soldier, a Wallon, with 300, soldi­ers, and about 500. Burgers that bare armes. The reso­lution being taken for the siege of this Towne, the ar­mie not knowing but they should passe on to Bercke: vpon the sodaine his Excellencie appointed Count Hol­locke [Page] with the Erle of Essex, sir Phillip Sidney and others, with seauen or 800. foote, and 500. horse to march by night, and taking the passages of the towne to begin the siege by the breake of the day on twesday the 30. of August. His Excellencie with the whole armie that day followed marching back thither from Elten in an order woorth the noting, for that the bands extended to the vttermost made show of fourtéen or fiftéene thousand, whereas indéed horse and foote both were not complete eight thousande. He came earely that afternoone to Duis­bourge: and himselfe in person within arcabuze shot tooke viewe of the wals, on al the east side, and that night set pyoners and soldiers to intrenching within halfe ar­cabuze shot. Our ordinance was not yet come. The next night his Excellencie vnderstanding that our pyoners had left their worke at the trenches: himselfe betwéene eleuen and twelue of the clocke at night, went with sir William Pelham and some few of his garde to sée what was doing, and being within thréescore yeardes of the Towne ditch, both going togither, a musket shot from the wall stroke sir William Pelham most dangerously in the bellie, but pierced not his entrailes, so that he escaped death, and was abroade againe within two daies. The next day came our ordinance, and the morning after it was planted. Then had we also newes that the prince of Parma, being certified of our sitting downe here, woulde be with vs within foure daies. Wherewith the former opinion of his Excellencie for the leuie of the princes campe by this diuersion was fully confirmed. The orde­nance being ten péeces plaied on Friday the second of September, from the breake of day till two in the after­noone, his Excellencie being continually hard by them in the trenches, and had made two breaches reasonablie as­saultable, but yet so filled vp againe by those within, with logs, earth, bedding, and such other trash, that the assault [Page] was difficult, especially a water of a yard and more déepe and thréescore foote broade being betwéene the assailors and the wall. But such was the courage of our men of all nations, that without further batterie they extorted with great importunitie from his Excellencie being in the trenches, a resolution for a present assault. And the contention being great betwéene the leaders to whom the honour of the assault shoulde be giuen, it was orde­red by his Excellencie that Count Hollocke with the Dutch and Scots: sir Iohn Norris with the English and Irish, should ech attempt one breach. They foorthwith or­dered their squadrons accordingly, with so generall courage and ioy, as was maruellous to behold, and did in­déede daunt the enimie more (as themselues afterwardes confessed) than any thing else that was done. Great also and many and most earnest were the particular suites of priuate noble men, and gentlemen, for leaue to go to the assault: which his Excellencie would grant to verie few of them. The squadrons standing at the water side rea­die to passe to the assault, the enimies within hauing hitherto valiantly and soldierlike carried themselues, and now laboring to repaire the breaches, and standing in armes to receiue vs, yet séeing presently before their eies their owne imminent danger, & especially mooued with the resolution of our people, they offered first an accord vpon conditions, which his Excellencie refused, and ther­vpon they yéelded simplie, with grant of life to the com­mon soldier onely. Which being accepted the towne was rendred, and sir Iohn Boroughes and sir William Stanley appointed to the garde of it, till further order. This Exploite being happily atchiued without losse, vp­on aduise it was resolued to stay there a while, aswell to take order for the safe kéeping of the towne, as also to a­bide there the princes comming with his campe, if he had meaning to séeke vs: and especially for that neither [Page] victuals nor furniture for our ordinance were then come sufficient for any further present attempt. There were two or thrée english miles from Duisborough somwhat to­wards Zutphen, a castle called Voerdon, & a strong place cal­led Hackfourd house, held by the enimy, which greatly an­noied those parts. It was thought expedient in the meane time to take in these castle & house, for which cause certain companies were sent thither. They answered at the first stoutly. But afterwards being made beléeue the cannon was at hand they yéelded. Our newes came often to Duis­boroughe, that the prince with his campe was risen from Berck: That he had laide his bridge ouer the Rhyne with intent to passe towardes vs: and indéede he was whyles we lay there, passed with his armie, and, as we learned, minded to haue assaied the succouring of Duisbourge, if it had not béene taken sooner then he expected. But hearing it was gone, and vnderstanding that our campe laie (as indéed it did) verie strongly, he staied on this side the Rhyne néere Weesell, about thirtie english miles from vs, with intent to returne, and to procéed in the siege of Berck as we were verie credibly enformed. The E. of Leyce­ster hauing now set full order in the towne, his prouisi­ons being come, and finding that the prince made no haste towards him in that place, though he might haue séemed to haue attained his principall intent, in raising the siege of Berck, with some ouerplus of aduantage in getting Duisbourge, yet to drawe the prince further away from Berck that it might be wholie reléeued, as also for diuers other good reasons, he resolued to depart thence to­wards Zutphen, and accordingly on the thirtéene of Sep­tember, marched thither with his whole campe, and there sat downe, about an english mile from the towne, on the riuer side next Zutphen, and the princes campe.

Zutphen is the chiefe towne of the Countie of Zut­phen, scituate on the east banke of the riuer Yssell, about [Page] equall distance of sixe or seauen english miles from Duis­bourge on the south, and from Deuenter on the northeast quarter. It is of it selfe strong: but important in this only, that it hindreth the frée passage of the Yssell in the places néere about it. But on the north west side of the riuer right ouer against Zutphen, and within musket shot of the Towne in the prouince of the Vellowe, in the Duchie of Gelders, were two forts, called the forts of Zutphen, such of importance, as they spoiled the whole prouince of the Vellowe, and made the countrie yéeld them large contribu­tions euen from the ports of Vtricht, Amsterdam, and Leiden in Holland, being 50. miles frō them. For strength they were accounted impregnable, and might be supplied from the Towne by great passagde boates with al neces­saries. The Estates campe two yéeres before had lieu at them ten moneths, with eleuen thousand footemen, and 3000. horse, and departed with losse without them. Taxis a soldier of account with the enimie, lieutenant to Coro­nell Verdugo gouernour of Frizeland for the king of Spaine, commanded in the towne and forts. After aduise taken, vpon good view of the place, it was resolued, that the forts as of more importance for vs, and not the town, should be besieged. Our bridge of boates was appointed to be laid ouer the riuer about an English mile from the Towne, and the campe to be placed on both sides the water: that the prince if he came and thought fit, mought sée that we would giue him the opportunitie to attempt vs. Order being taken for these things, whiles they were in doing: his Excellencie vnderstanding the tickle estate of Deuenter, thought fit himselfe in person to go thither, leauing straight charge to be spéedily aduertised, if at the campe they should vnderstand any thing of the Princes moouing.

Deuenter is the chiefe citie of the prouince of Ouerissell. One of the Haunse townes, large, strong, rich, and direc­ting [Page] indéede Swowle and Campen, and the rest of the cities and townes of that countrie, which in a manner depende wholy vpon it. It is seated vpon the northeast bank of the riuer Yssell. It then stoode in a kinde of newtrall termes inclining more in shew to the Estates party, but yéelding no contributions to the war, and indéed aiding the enimie with victuals and prouisions, and some of the towne ha­uing secret and strict intelligences with him. That was the cause of his Excellencies so spéedie repaire thither: the case being taken to be such, as that who had come first of the prince or him with forces, should haue béene receiued. And indéede the prince as we after vnderstood, hastened al he could thither. But his Excellencie was first entred, and with him about foure hundred footemen, and two or thrée cornets of horse, and no moe at this time. He dealt in courteous and gentle sort with the townesmen, and they likewise vsed him and his well: but yet so, as they woulde not lodge as in garrison anie of those he brought with him. He had not béene there full two daies when certaine aduertisement came to him from the camp, that the prince with his whole armie was risen from about Weesell, and come to Burckloe, a towne of the territorie of Munster, about eight english miles from our campe. Wherevpon his Excellencie departed presently with his owne traine to the campe, leauing the foure hundred footemen, and two cornets of horse in Deuenter, and fin­ding in the camp the trenches vpon Zutphen side not fully finished, he cōmanded all diligence to be vsed therin, so as in one day they were sufficiently made vp, & wel furnish­ed with soldiers, and al necessaries ready for defence. The next night the prince came to Zutphen, with 1500. horse, and the morning after departed, leauing part of his horse men there, and returned to his campe at Burckloe, where whiles he staied prouiding victuals as we vnderstoode for Zutphen, and the forts, our men spent the time in intren­ching [Page] and fortifieng about the two forts, where, as also vpon the towne side happened diuers light skirmishes al­most euery day, till vpon the 21. of September in the eue­ning his Excellencie hauing intelligence that the Prince would the next morning send a conuoy of victuals into Zutphen, sent out good scowt that night, and gaue order to sir Iohn Norris to drawe out sir William Stanleies, and some other bands of footemen, and appointed some horsemen withall to encounter the conuoy in the way be­twéene the enimies campe, and Zutphen. In the morning the 22. of September fell a great and thicke mist, that you might hardly discerne a man ten paces of, at the brea­king vp whereof the enimies appéered so néere our com­panies, hauing planted all their muskets and arcabuzes being 2000. and their pikes being a thousande, very strongly on the high way, as our men, specially the noble­men and gentlemen, as the Erle of Essex, the Lord Wil­loughbie, sir Phillip Sidney, sir William Russell, sir Iohn Norris, and the rest, in number seuen or eight score, who were in troupe togither in the face of the enimie before our footemen, receiued the whole volie of the enimies shot, and passing the very furie of it, gaue charge vpon the two formost troupes of the enimies horsemen, and draue them backe ouer their owne trenches, and within their pikes at two seuerall times, in such sort, as Count Hanniball Gonzaga a man for nobilitie and seruice of speciall account amongst them, was there slaine, and ma­ny others with him. Captaine George Cresier an Alba­nese of singular valure and skill, was taken prisoner, and two of their cornets brought away. We lost about thir­tie, one and other, slaine, and dying after of hurts, but not any of name, saue onely sir Phillip Sidney, who first ha­uing one horse shot vnder him, and mounted vpon a se­cond was shot with a musket in the left thigh, but came home on his horse, and died the 25. day after. His Excel­lencie [Page] hauing béene in the field giuing order from the be­ginning, and now receiuing the newes of this good suc­cesse, was somewhat of opinion to haue brought downe the whole campe, and to haue set vpon the enimie with all our forces. But vpon better consideration by aduise of all the chiefe officers of the field, we being not past 300. horse, & 16. or 17. hundred footmen, that might presently come to fight, the rest being imploied at the forts, and in other necessarie seruices at that time: the enimie being thrée thousand footemen strong in place, and 12. or 14. hundred horse, and we doubting least his whole armie had béene there, which it might well haue béene, being the night before but fiue miles of, it was resolued that our troupes should stay, and not to commit the whole to the fortune of that day. So this hot skirmish ended, our men content with their victorie returning, and the enimie marching quietly away.

After this fight we heard no more of the Prince in 10. or 12. daies. But our certaine intelligences gaue vs, that he was gone to méete with our Reyters and Almaines, (now thought to be readie to march,) with intent to stay them either by stopping their passage, or by fight, or other­wise, as also to prouide more victuals, powder, and shot for Zutphen. His Excellencie still applied his principall purpose in besieging the forts. There is a péece of ground on the side of the riuer that Zutphen is, and within sixtie yards of the towne, called the Island, but it is drie to­ward the towne. The taking of it was accounted of great importance for the winning of the forts, but full of dan­ger, lying so néere the towne, and the enimie hauing a sconce in it fortified and manned with thirtie men. His Excellencie was sundrie times promised the surprising of this Island by some, but performance not following, one night himselfe imparting his purpose to two cap­taines onely, went out at ten of clocke in the night, (the [Page] prince elector Trucses, the Erle of Essex, and the L. North being with him) and gaue order for a present surprise of it, which so happily succéeded, that the place and sconse were suddenly taken, the men within, two or thrée taken prisoners, some slaine, the rest fled, or were drowned in the water, and not a man of ours lost or hurt. Now to kéepe this place was great danger, and some would néeds perswade to haue it left. His Excellencie would not so, but fell foorthwith in hand to intrenching, and hauing made it defensible, he then abandoned the former seate of campe, and brought the bridge downe to this Island, and the whole campe néerer the forts, now indéede seriously attending by all militarie arts and deuices to win them. The hope of all our leaders both English and others, was small for the obteining of these fortes: They were so strong and well prouided euerie way, and our meanes scant sufficient for so great an exploit. But his Excellencies owne selfe contrary to all and euery their aduises persisted in his intent most constantly, and would not heare anie thing that might tend to disswade him from this purpose: and as indéede about a worke of his owne, and of the commendation whereof very little can be deriued to any others, he most diligently and dan­gerously attended alwaies in person both earelie and late, and put his owne hand almost to euery particular seruice of it, sconces were built, trenches were drawne, skirmishes made on both sides, and nothing for offence, or defence omitted on either side, that militarie skill in like case coulde execute or inuent, till on the fourth of Octo­ber, the prince hauing béene aduertised by Taxis that the Islande was taken, and that our workes began to grow perillous to the fortes, came in person to Zutphen with his whole campe, with intent as we could gather, to at­tempt our trenches in the Islande on the towne side. He came the fourth of October at night, and on the morrow [Page] after, we certainely expected he shoulde haue assailed the Island, for the which he had great opportunities: himself with his campe being to come in the face on the east and south side, in a faire plaine capable of his armie vnder the town wal: the towne on the northeast beating on it with their great and small shot, & hauing a gate for salie within arcabuze shot: the Mill forte betwéene the towne and the water, hauing his artillarie bent on it: the great fort with his ordenance ready to plaie on the north side, and the lit­tle forte somewhat néerer with musket and arcabuze northeast, so that sauing on the west and south side they had compassed it round. But his Excellencie on the Tues­day at night, all night long had planted his ordenance to beate vpon the princes campe if it came: and hauing re­plenished the trenches with store of men, was sufficently prouided for him. On the Wednesday morning the fift of October, we sawe of the princes troupes of horse and foote raunge vp & downe, a mile of and more. But hauing left some victuals and store of men in the town, and doubting nothing of the losse of the sconces, he departed that night two english miles back, which assoone as his Excellencie vnderstoode, the same Wednesday at night he planted his ordinance both in the Island, & on the other side the wa­ter against the little fort. On the Thursday morning he battered the little but strongest fort on both sides, till two of the clock in the afternoone, & then tooke it by assault ha­uing in it 300. soldiers in the face of the great fort with eight hundred soldiers, and of the towne where Taxis then was with aboue 2000. and in hearing at least of the prince, and his whole campe, hauing béene at Zutphen the daie before, and now not thrée english miles of it. His Excellencie was all the time of this batterie and assault in the trenches in the Island on the towne side, and at the assault time with his pike in hande, verilie expecting a salie from the towne in that part, but none came. In this [Page] assault did M. Edward Stanley lieutenant to coronell sir W. Stanley, & captaine of one of his bands, being appoin­ted the first for the assault, behaue himselfe most valiant­ly, & was with his valor the principall cause of this daies happy successe, whom his Excellencie beholding made him therefore presently knight in the trenches, gaue him fortie pounds sterling in golde, and sent him the next daie a patent of one hundred marks sterling by yéer, during the life of the saide sir Edward, binding his Excellencies own landes in England for the due paiment thereof, with a most honorable report of this his fact conteined in the pa­tent. We lost about eight men in this assault and not a­boue. His Excellencie appointed the next day for the ap­proching the great forte. But that night did all the cap­taines and soldiers within abandon it, leauing behinde them their ordenance, and escaped ouer the water to the towne where Taxis was faine to receiue them. There were taken from the enimie by our men during this siege two fortes mo, which the enimy had lately erected about those others, and a castle called Niembeck castle his Excellencie himself in person tooke in, foure english miles in the Vellow frō this place: besides the castle of Boxbergen néere Deuenter, which we tooke also a little before this time. Great ioies were made in all the vnited Prouin­ces for the recouerie of these fortes. The whole countrie of the Vellow about fortie english miles in breadth, and as­much in length, being thereby fully cléered: and no lesse was the enimie daunted, hauing now lost his whole foo­ting in that countrie: and Taxis the gouernor hauing ta­ken from him a goodly reuenew, which the contributions of that ki [...]ge e [...]c [...]ite vp to Amstredam and Loyden did yéeld him. Vpon the departure of the prince from Zut­phen, his Excellencie dispatched secretly sir William Russell and sir Roger Williams, with fiue hundred horse to attend vpon him, and to obserue his march, who found [Page] him on the Friday at night the next day after the assault was giuen, about Burckloe, eight or ten english miles from our campe, where they gaue alarme to his whole campe, beate in his scowtes and corps de gards, but not a man came foorth to them. The next day the prince mar­ched vp towards Ringlebert, a house of the duke of Cleues, about thrée or foure english miles from Weesell, where he lay crased as we harde of an ague, and dispersed his campe about in the villages adioining, since which time till his returne to Brussels, we harde nothing of him. His Excellencie after he had so honorably, and with so small losse in so short time, takē these forts, thought before very hard to be won: hauing deliuered Berck also, which was the principall intent of his first marching, and sir Martin Skenck with diuers of our english, being come from thence to his campe at Zutphen to him: séeing his Al­maines and Reyters came not: and finding the enimie quietly gone, hauing nothing else to do in fielde, and the time of yéere far spent, being about the midst of October, determined by aduise of his counsaile, to giue order for guarde and defence of the fortes, and to withdrawe his soldiers from the Islande, and other places, and so to dis­misse his army. Which things the better to effect, himself with the chiefe of his counsaile went to Deuenter: min­ding withal to assay the garrisoning of that place, being a matter of great importance. But being called away from thence to Arnham, where sir Philip Sidney then laie in great danger: & by the death of sir Phillip retiring himself with extreame griefe and sorrow to Vtricht: he gaue or­der before his departure for the garrisoning of Deuenter, and changing of the magistrate there to the prince elector of Colloigne Trucses, sir William Pelham, and sir Iohn Norris, who with some little stur and danger, effected both accordingly, and left gouernor of the garrison there sir William Stanley, with 1200 footemen English and [Page] Irish, and two hundred horse.

Whiles this was in doing at Deuenter, there fell out a great and gallant skirmish at the campe in this sort. Order being giuen for dismissing the troupes into garri­son, first some companies, then others were sent awaie, and now it was thought expedient to abandon the tren­ches on the other side of the water next Zutphen: and so to take vp the bridge and come away. First the larger trenches were left, and the men drawne into a small for­tification at the bridge end, with intent the next night to take vp our bridge also. Which Taxis perceiuing from the towne, and séeing the small companies remaining on that side, he salied with about two thousand footemen, passed the first trenches forsaken, and assaulted the small fortification remaining with great valure, himselfe be­ing of the first in person. Our men being taken on the sudden were at the first fiue or sixe of them slaine: but the rest stood manfully to it, at the pikes end, vntill sir Willi­am Stanley comming ouer the bridge from the Vellowe side with supply of fiue or sixe hundred footemen, and lieu­tenant Nicholas Parker with onely fiue horsemen, draue them away euen into the towne gate, and slew many of them, and were likely to haue entred the towne pell mel with them, if the soldiers had not béene staied by their leaders. The next night we left this little fortification also, and tooke vp our bridge, and day by day, as it might conueniently be done, dismissed the whole forces into garrisons.

It may be demanded his Excellencie being now in a good course of prosperous procéeding: the Prince with his campe being gone, the forts taken, and nothing remai­ning in those quarters but the bare town of Zutphen: why the winning of that was not attempted also? To which this may be answered: The towne is of it selfe of small importance without the forts, onely prohibiting the frée [Page] passage of the riuer by it: Then is it very strong, well pro­uided of all necessaries, and at that time manned with two or thrée thousand bearing armes: and the Prince though departed further of, yet houering with his armie not aboue twentie English miles of it, so that the at­tempt of it could not be but dangerous, the commoditie small. But besides, it remaineth so inuironed with our garrisons round about it, as it may be well said to be now besieged. In Deuenter sixe English miles at northest vp­on the riuer side is sir William Stanley with twelue hundred footemen, and two hundred horse. In the forts of Zutphen on the Vellowe side within musket shot of the towne at west, is maister Rowland Yorke with eight hundred footmen, and one hundred horse. At Duisbourge southward sixe miles, (and at Brunkhurst castell somwhat néerer) vpon the banke of Issell also is sir Iohn Boroughes with eight hundred footmen, and two hundred horse. The east and southeast quarters are shut vp with our garri­sons of Lockham, Sherenberg, Doetecom: So that they of the garrison of Zutphen can not stir out, neither can so much as victuals be brought to them, but by land: and that from twentie or thirtie miles of at least: and through the mid­dest of our garrisons, which will require more forces than the Prince can often spare them, and more charges than the value of the towne will counteruaile. But be­fore our comming away, as soone as our campe was bro­ken vp, we heare that Taxis hath lessened his garrison to the number of two hundred, and put the Burgers out of the towne, meaning to spare victuals, which he hath in small store. For neither did the Prince bring him in much at the times he came thither, neither could or can he supply him at one time with any plentie for want of carriages. Besides these, other causes also letted this at­tempt against Zutphen. The time of yéere was spent, the wants in our armie were very great, and our Reiters [Page] came not, who if they had not disappointed vs, all impe­diments notwithstanding his Excellencie had procéeded furder. And last of all it was thought we had done well for this yéere: more being indéed most happily atchieued, than was hoped for or purposed at our comming foorth. For the onely intent at the first setting out of this last campe was to raise the siege of Berke: yea, or if we could haue honourably deliuered our men that were in it, though the towne were lost, it was thought a sufficient péece of seruice, with so small means against an enimie so puissant, & with continuall late victories so greatly estée­med and feared. But God be thanked, who is the giuer of victories, and whose power for his poore afflicted appéered not obscurely in these actions: Berke is cléerely deliuered, the English are all come from it: it is left well manned and otherwise prouided. And if we will summarily note all Gods blessings in these militarie seruices onely shew­ed by the ministerie of his Excellencie during the time of his gouernement and abode there, it will appéere that in those few monethes there haue béene taken by our men from the enimie aboue twentie townes, ca­stles, forts, and sconces: that his footemen and his best footemen the Spanyards haue béen met withall at Graue, that his horsemen and his best horsemen the Albaneses, and Italians, haue béene well encountred in the skirmish besides Zutphen: that his strong Zutphen forts were ta­ken by assault, euen in the sight almost of himselfe, and of his whole campe: that his armie so much redoubted and feared, was drawne from Berck to Zutphen: there abid­den, there encountred sundry times, and at length retur­ned backe againe & dismissed without sauing his forts, or doing vs any dammage, sauing the losse of sir Phillip Sid­ney, True it is, he hath gotten in this time Graue, Venloe, & Nuyse: But Graue by such means, as baron Hemart the gouernor by publique iudgement of his owne best friend [Page] and commander the Count Hollock, and of al other mili­tarie officers of all nations, lost his head for it. Venloe was yéelded by the townesmen whiles the soldiers defended the wals. Nuyse was not of the iurisdiction, or territory of the vnited Prouinces, & therefore his Excellencie had not to do with it. But this is true also, that in all these wars and sundrie diuersities of accidents and attempts in diuers places, the enimie neuer got one towne, castle, forte, or sconce, wherein any one english soldier was, nor did anie one péece of seruice woorth the noting since his Excellencie came into the fielde with this last armie. And let the Estates especially, and the people of the vnited Prouinces acknowledge the goodnes of God in these his workes, and the great grace and fauor of her Maiestie, in spending and sending to and for them, her money, forces, and most valiant, noble, louing and beloued subiects, by whose seruice it is nowe done for them, that whereas their estate was at his Excellencies first arriuall, so vt­terly without hope of standing as is shewed at the begin­ning of my letter: Nowe they are left in good assurance of safetie, religion by a synode being fully established: the ciuill gouernment orderly setled: the militarie discipline well restored: their people in good obedience: their fron­tiers in great hope of maintenance to be continued: their territorie in Gelders, Zutphen, Ouerissell, and Flaunders in­larged: their reuenew by a great accession of contribution in Gelders and Ouerissell increased: their doubtfull friends of Ouerissell assured, and their enimie put to that plunge, as he yet hath not béene since his being in those countries. God make them as thankfull to God and hir Maiestie for it as they haue good cause: and to acknowledge it to his Excellencie as his franke and most behoouefull great seruice for them hath deserued: whom if extremities of sundrie kinde of great crosses: plaine destitution and want almost of all fit meanes: priuate care of his owne [Page] most large expences for the publike: or often dangerous hazard of his person could haue withdrawne from this procéeding, nothing had béene done at this time. But God whom he serueth hath wrought this great worke out of all those difficulties by him, to him be the praise and glory for it. His Excellencie after his campe thus dismis­sed, and a little time spent at Vtricht in the publique af­faires, departed thence to the Hage in Hollande: where hauing established perfect order in the ciuill and military gouernments during his absence, being vpon important causes to returne into England, from Hage he passed by Delph, Rotterdam, Dort, Briell, and Vlushing, where he embarked for England on the 23. of Nouember at night, and on the next night was with her Maiestie at Rich­monde, of whom he was most graciously receiued.

Thus haue I béen bold to trouble you with this briefe discourse, wherein if any thing set downe or omitted be not to your contentation, I hope you will consider it hath procéeded by your owne earnest vrging from him, who desireth nothing more then to content you, and who but to please you had rather haue shewed his dutifull affecti­on in some other matter. But thus much if it like you so well to interprete of it, may be as it were to giue you a taste in these matters, till some of better skill and more leisure may fully satisfie it with a iust volume, which I wish indéed to be done, the argument will well beare it. And so remaining to do you what further seruice my slen­der abilitie may aforde I ende.