History of the United Netherlands, 1595 | Page 7

of
Rudolph, where he was created a prince of the Empire, and appointed
to the chief command of the Imperial armies under the Archduke
Matthias. But his warfare was over. At the siege of Gran he was
stricken with sickness and removed to Comorn, where he lingered
some weeks. There, on the 24th August, as he lay half-dozing on his
couch, he was told that the siege was at last successful; upon which he
called for a goblet of wine, drained it eagerly, and then lay resting his
head on his hand, like one absorbed in thought. When they came to
arouse him from his reverie they found that he was dead. His father still
remained superfluous in the Netherlands, hating and hated by Fuentes;
but no longer able to give that governor so much annoyance as during
his son's life-time the two had been able to create for Alexander
Farnese. The octogenarian was past work and past mischief now; but
there was one older soldier than he still left upon the stage, the grandest
veteran in Philip's service, and now the last survivor, except the
decrepit Peter Ernest, of the grim commanders of Alva's school.
Christopher Mondragon--that miracle of human endurance, who had

been an old man when the great duke arrived in the Netherlands--was
still governor of Antwerp citadel, and men were to speak of him yet
once more before he passed from the stage.
I return from this digression to the siege of Dourlens. The death of La
Motte made no difference in the plans of Fuentes. He was determined
to reduce the place preparatively to more important operations.
Bouillon was disposed to relieve it, and to that end had assembled a
force of eight thousand men within the city of Amiens. By midsummer
the Spaniards had advanced with their mines and galleries close to the
walls of the city. Meantime Admiral Villars, who had gained so much
renown by defending Rouen against Henry IV., and who had
subsequently made such an excellent bargain with that monarch before
entering his service, arrived at Amiens. On the 24th July an expedition
was sent from that city towards Dourlens. Bouillon and St. Pol
commanded in person a force of six hundred picked cavalry. Pillars and
Sanseval each led half as many, and there was a supporting body of
twelve hundred musketeers. This little army convoyed a train of
wagons, containing ammunition and other supplies for the beleaguered
town. But Fuentes, having sufficiently strengthened his works, sallied
forth with two thousand infantry, and a flying squadron of Spanish
horse, to intercept them. It was the eve of St. James, the patron saint of
Spain, at the sound, of whose name as a war-cry so many battle-fields
had been won in the Netherlands, so many cities sacked, so many
wholesale massacres perpetrated. Fuentes rode in the midst of his
troops with the royal standard of Spain floating above him. On the
other hand Yillars, glittering in magnificent armour and mounted on a
superbly caparisoned charger came on, with his three hundred troopers,
as if about to ride a course in a tournament. The battle which ensued
was one of the most bloody for the numbers engaged, and the victory
one of the most decisive recorded in this war. Villars charged
prematurely, furiously, foolishly. He seemed jealous of Bouillon, and
disposed to show the sovereign to whom he had so recently given his
allegiance that an ancient Leaguer and Papist was a better soldier for
his purpose than the most grizzled Huguenot in his army. On the other
hand the friends of Villars accused the duke of faintheartedness, or at
least of an excessive desire to save himself and his own command. The
first impetuous onset of the admiral was successful, and he drove half-

a-dozen companies of Spaniards before him. But he had ventured too
far from his supports. Bouillon had only intended a feint, instead of a
desperate charge; the Spaniards were rallied, and the day was saved by
that cool and ready soldier, Carlos Coloma. In less than an hour the
French were utterly defeated and cut to pieces. Bouillon escaped to
Amiens with five hundred men; this was all that was left of the
expedition. The horse of Villars was shot under him and the admiral's
leg was broken as he fell. He was then taken prisoner by two
lieutenants of Carlos Coloma; but while these warriors were enjoying,
by anticipation, the enormous ransom they should derive from so
illustrious a captive, two other lieutenants in the service of Marshal de
Rosnes came up and claimed their share in the prize. While the four
were wrangling, the admiral called out to them in excellent Spanish not
to dispute, for he had money enough to satisfy them all. Meantime the
Spanish