History of the United Netherlands, 1604-05 | Page 7

upon his first great field day to defeat
Maurice of Nassau and his cousin Lewis William. He withdrew
discomfited at last, leaving several hundred dead upon the field,
definitely renouncing all hope of relieving Sluys, and retiring by way of
Dam to his camp before Ostend. Next day the town capitulated.
The garrison were allowed to depart with the honours of war, and the
same terms were accorded to the inhabitants, both in secular and
religious matters, as were usual when Maurice re-occupied any portion
of the republic. Between three and four thousand creatures, looking
rather like ghosts from the churchyards than living soldiers, marched
out, with drums beating, colours displayed, matches lighted, and bullet
in mouth. Sixty of them fell dead before the dismal procession had
passed out of the gates. Besides these troops were nearly fifteen
hundred galley-slaves, even more like shadows than the rest, as they
had been regularly sent forth during the latter days of the siege to
browse upon soutenelle in the submerged meadows, or to drown or
starve if unable to find a sufficient supply of that weed. These
unfortunate victims of Mahometan and Christian tyranny were nearly
all Turks, and by the care of the Dutch Government were sent back by
sea to their homes. A few of them entered the service of the States.
The evacuation of Sluys by Governor Serrano and his garrison was
upon the 20th August. Next day the stadholder took possession,
bestowing the nominal government of the place upon his brother

Frederic Henry. The atmosphere, naturally enough, was pestiferous,
and young Count Lewis Gunther of Nassau, who had so brilliantly led
the cavalry on the famous day of Nieuport, died of fever soon after
entering the town infinitely regretted by every one who wished well to
the republic.
Thus an important portion of Zeeland was restored, to its natural
owners. A seaport which in those days was an excellent one, and more
than a compensation for the isolated fishing village already beleaguered
for upwards of three years, had been captured in three months. The
States- General congratulated their stadholder on such prompt and
efficient work, while the garrison of Ostend, first learning the authentic
news seven days afterwards, although at a distance of only fourteen
miles, had cause to go upon their knees and sing praises to the Most
High.
The question now arose as to the relief of Ostend. Maurice was
decidedly opposed to any such scheme. He had got a better Ostend in
Slays, and he saw no motive for spending money and blood in any
further attempt to gain possession of a ruin, which, even if conquered,
could only with extreme difficulty be held. The States were of a
diametrically opposite opinion. They insisted that the stadholder, so
soon he could complete his preparations, should march straight upon
Spinola's works and break up the siege, even at the risk of a general
action. They were willing once more to take the terrible chance of a
defeat in Flanders. Maurice, with a heavy heart, bowed to their decision,
showing by his conduct the very spirit of a republican soldier, obeying
the civil magistrate, even when that obedience was like to bring disaster
upon the commonwealth. But much was to be done before he could
undertake this new adventure.
Meantime the garrison in Ostend were at their last gasp. On being
asked by the States-General whether it was possible to hold out for
twenty days longer, Marquette called a council of officers, who decided
that they would do their best, but that it was impossible to fix a day or
hour when resistance must cease. Obviously, however, the siege was in
its extreme old age. The inevitable end was approaching.
Before the middle of September the enemy was thoroughly established
in possession of the new Hell's Mouth, the new Porcupine, and all the
other bastions of the new entrenchment. On the 13th of that month the

last supreme effort was made, and the Sand Hill, that all-important
redoubt, which during these three dismal years had triumphantly
resisted every assault, was at last carried by storm. The enemy had now
gained possession of the whole town except Little Troy. The new
harbour would be theirs in a few hours, and as for Troy itself, those
hastily and flimsily constructed ramparts were not likely to justify the
vaunts uttered when they were thrown up nor to hold out many minutes
before the whole artillery of Spinola. Plainly on this last morsel of the
fatal sandbank the word surrender must be spoken, unless the
advancing trumpets of Maurice should now be heard. But there was no
such welcome sound in the air. The weather was so persistently rainy
and stormy that the roads became impassable, and Maurice, although
ready and intending to