History of the United Netherlands, 1586a | Page 5

been seen that the republic had been almost entirely driven
out of Flanders and Brabant. The Estates, however, still held Grave,
Megem, Batenburg, and Venlo upon the Meuse. That river formed, as it
were, a perfect circle of protection for the whole Province of Brabant,
and Farnese determined to make himself master of this great natural
moat. Afterwards, he meant to possess himself of the Rhine, flowing in
a parallel course, about twenty-five miles further to the east. In order to
gain and hold the Meuse, the first step was to reduce the city of Grave.
That town, upon the left or Brabant bank, was strongly fortified on its
land-side, where it was surrounded by low and fertile pastures, while,
upon the other, it depended upon its natural Toss, the river. It was,

according to Lord North and the Earl of Leicester, the "strongest town
in all the Low Countries, though but a little one."
Baron Hemart, a young Gueldrian noble, of small experience in
military affairs, commanded in the city, his garrison being eight
hundred soldiers, and about one thousand burgher guard. As early as
January, Farnese had ordered Count Mansfeld to lay siege to the place.
Five forts had accordingly been constructed, above and below the town,
upon the left bank of the river, while a bridge of boats thrown across
the stream led to a fortified camp on the opposite side. Mansfeld,
Mondragon, Bobadil, Aquila, and other distinguished veterans in
Philip's service, were engaged in the enterprise. A few unimportant
skirmishes between Schenk and the Spaniards had taken place, but the
city was already hard pressed, and, by the series of forts which
environed it, was cut off from its supplies. It was highly important,
therefore, that Grave should be relieved, with the least possible delay.
Early in Easter week, a force of three thousand men, under Hohenlo
and Sir John Norris, was accordingly despatched by Leicester, with
orders, at every hazard, to throw reinforcements and provisions into the
place. They took possession, at once, of a stone sconce, called the
Mill-Fort, which was guarded by fifty men, mostly boors of the country.
These were nearly all hanged for "using malicious words," and for
"railing against Queen Elizabeth," and--a sufficient number of men
being left to maintain the fort--the whole relieving force marched with
great difficulty--for the river was rapidly rising, and flooding the
country--along the right bank of the Meuse, taking possession of
Batenburg and Ravenstein castles, as they went. A force of four or five
hundred Englishmen was then pushed forward to a point almost exactly
opposite Grave, and within an English mile of the head of the bridge
constructed by the Spaniards. Here, in the night of Easter Tuesday, they
rapidly formed an entrenched camp, upon the dyke along the river, and,
although molested by some armed vessels, succeeded in establishing
themselves in a most important position.
On the morning of Easter Wednesday, April 16, Mansfeld, perceiving
that the enemy had thus stolen a march upon him, ordered one thousand
picked troops, all Spaniards, under Aquila, Casco and other veterans, to
assault this advanced post. A reserve of two thousand was placed in
readiness to support the attack. The Spaniards slowly crossed the

bridge, which was swaying very dangerously with the current, and then
charged the entrenched camp at a run. A quarrel between the different
regiments as to the right of precedence precipitated the attack, before
the reserve, consisting of some picked companies of Mondragon's
veterans, had been able to arrive. Coming in breathless and fatigued,
the first assailants were readily repulsed in their first onset. Aquila then
opportunely made his appearance, and the attack was renewed with
great vigour: The defenders of the camp yielded at the third charge and
fled in dismay, while the Spaniards, leaping the barriers, scattered
hither and thither in the ardour of pursuit. The routed Englishmen fled
swiftly along the oozy dyke, in hopes of joining the main body of the
relieving party, who were expected to advance, with the dawn, from
their position six miles farther down the river. Two miles long the
chace lasted, and it seemed probable that the fugitives would be
overtaken and destroyed, when, at last, from behind a line of mounds
which stretched towards Batenburg and had masked their approach,
appeared Count Hohenlo and Sir John Norris, at the head of
twenty-five hundred Englishmen and Hollanders. This force, advanced
as rapidly as the slippery ground and the fatigue of a two hours' march
would permit to the rescue of their friends, while the retreating English
rallied, turned upon their pursuers, and drove them back over the path
along which they had just been charging in the full career of victory.
The fortune of the day was changed, and in a few minutes Hohenlo