History of the United Netherlands, 1597-98 | Page 3

just disappearing from view. The situation was a very
peculiar one.
The rain and thaw, following upon frosty weather, had converted the
fenny country in many directions into a shallow lake. The little river
which flowed by the village had risen above its almost level banks, and
could with difficulty be traversed at any point, while there was no
permanent bridge, such as there was at Ravels. The retreating Spaniards
had made their way through a narrow passage, where a
roughly-constructed causeway of planks had enabled the infantry to
cross the waters almost in single file, while the cavalry had floundered
through as best they might. Those who were acquainted with the
country reported that beyond this defile there was an upland heath, a
league in extent, full of furze and thickets, where it would be easy
enough for Varax to draw up his army in battle array, and conceal it
from view. Maurice's scouts, too, brought information that the Spanish
commander had left a force of musketeers to guard the passage at the
farther end.
This looked very like an ambush. In the opinion of Hohenlo, of Solms,
and of Sidney, an advance was not to be thought of; and if the
adventure seemed perilous to such hardy and experienced campaigners
as these three, the stadholder might well hesitate. Nevertheless,
Maurice had made up his mind. Sir Francis Vere and Marcellus Bax
confirmed him in his determination, and spoke fiercely of the disgrace
which would come upon the arms of the republic if now, after having
made a day's march to meet the enemy, they should turn their backs
upon him just as he was doing his best to escape.
On leave obtained from the prince, these two champions, the
Englishman and the Hollander, spurred their horses through the narrow
pass, with the waters up to the saddle-bow, at the head of a mere
handful of troopers, not more than a dozen men in all. Two hundred
musketeers followed, picking their way across the planks. As they
emerged into the open country beyond, the Spanish soldiers guarding

the passage fled without firing a shot. Such was already the
discouraging effect produced upon veterans by the unexpected order
given that morning to retreat. Vere and Bax sent word for all the
cavalry to advance at once, and meantime hovered about the rearguard
of the retreating enemy, ready to charge upon him so soon as they
should be strong enough.
Maurice lost no time in plunging with his whole mounted force through
the watery defile; directing the infantry to follow as fast as practicable.
When the commander-in-chief with his eight hundred horsemen,
Englishmen, Zeelanders, Hollanders, and Germans, came upon the
heath, the position and purpose of the enemy were plainly visible. He
was not drawn up in battle order, waiting to sweep down upon his rash
assailants so soon as, after struggling through the difficult pass, they
should be delivered into his hands. On the contrary, it was obvious at a
glance that his object was still to escape. The heath of Tiel, on which
Spaniards, Italians, Walloons, Germans, Dutchmen, English; Scotch,
and Irishmen now all found themselves together, was a ridgy, spongy
expanse of country, bordered on one side by the swollen river, here
flowing again through steeper banks which were overgrown with alders
and pollard willows. Along the left of the Spanish army, as they moved
in the direction of Herenthals, was a continuous fringe of scrub-oaks,
intermixed with tall beeches, skirting the heath, and forming a leafless
but almost impervious screen for the movements of small detachments
of troops. Quite at the termination of the open apace, these thickets
becoming closely crowded, overhung another extremely narrow
passage, which formed the only outlet from the plain. Thus the heath of
Tiel, upon that winter's morning, had but a single entrance and a single
exit, each very dangerous or very fortunate for those capable of taking
or neglecting the advantages offered by the position.
The whole force of Varax, at least five thousand strong, was advancing
in close marching order towards the narrow passage by which only they
could emerge from the heath. Should they reach this point in time, and
thus effect their escape, it would be useless to attempt to follow them,
for, as was the case with the first defile, it was not possible for two
abreast to go through, while beyond was a swampy-country in which
military operations were impossible. Yet there remained less than half a
league's space for the retreating soldiers to traverse, while not a single

foot-soldier Of Maurice's army had thus far made his appearance on the
heath. All were still wallowing and struggling, single file, in the marshy
entrance, through which only the cavalry had forced their way. Here
was a dilemma. Should