AFter that his Excellency Prince Maurice of Nassaw , had trayned his whole Army through Brabant , and lastly laide siedge to the stronge City of Graue : at his first arriuall , hee busied his Soldiers , in continuall raysing of his Trenches , as well for his defence against the sallyes which might be made out of the Citty , as also to preuent the incursion of the Arch-dukes Campe : the which hee knew was very stronge , & would very shortly attempt the Cityes rescue , which indéede so fell out , for that in a very short time , the Admirant of Aragon , with the Archdukes Army , was heard to be marching thetherward : yet by the carefull diligence of his Excellency , and his Commaunders , the whole Campe was so strongely fortifyed , and walled about with déep Trenches , that the Admirant comming thether , and perceiuing that there was but small hope left , of making any breach through his excellencyes Trenches : Pitched his whole Army lesse then a halfe houres going from our Campe , lying within sight thereof , without any aparant signes of the least a●…t●…mpt .

His Princely Excellency with his whole Regiment , lyeth on the other side of the Mase , neere Kuycke : the Lord Count William , with his Forces lyeth on the side of the Heath : and Sir Frances Veare with his English Forces , lyeth on the higher side , on the side of the riuer Mase : the other Regiments are placed accordingly , in such order , and maintained with so gallant Martiall gouernement , as it doth ones heart good that beholdes it : their Watches and Centinels so warily and carefully ordered , that they seeme a common wealth : Also , many valiant and resolute enterprises are performed , euen vnder the Citty walles .

The Cittizens perceiuing the Archdukes Campe to be néere hand , and trusting to be by their approach , better furthered and relieued , then afterwardes they found themselues , beganne to shewe themselues somewhat bolder then before , by diuers signes of brauerie , and some sallyes in the night vpon our Campe , howbeit to their losse , for that they still lost more ( by far ) then we did , which is contrary to common chaunce , where the ●…allyes of Citties ( which they neuer proffer but vpon espyed aduantage ) happen for the most part to the dammage and losse of the besiedgers .

Before the enemies approach , the Cittizens kept themselues very quiet , and now hoping of rescue , they made sundry fires in the Citty to the Campe : the which out of the Archdukes Campe were answered with the like signes , without that ought else haue ensued therof .

In the enemies Campe there is great want of victuals , by reason whereof , many Italians come ouer into his Excellencies Campe .

The 18. of August there came aboue foure score Italians into our Campe , some of them were whole Corporalships , with all their weapons and furniture : His Excellency vsing them very kindly , victuals them , and to euery man he giueth a Gilden in money , with a Pasport to returne into Italy : with them hee sendes a messenger to aduise the States , that where they passe , they should be victualled , and so sent forwards .

At the same time the Cittizens made a salley vpon our Trenches , but being preuented and not daring to come on any farther then their owne counterscarpe , it is not knowne whether they lost any men or no.

The 19. of August , there came againe into his Excellencyes quarter , aboue 150. of the enemyes reuolted Soldiers , most of them Italians , some of them with their weapons and furniture , and othersome without : they were all well vsed and each man giuen a Gilden in money , and so shipt away .

The 20. of August , there came ouer to our Campe , a Horse-man with his horse , and al his whole furniture , with two Horse-men without their horses : also two Spaniards which would receiue no Pasport , but wold remaine in his Excellencies seruice .

The 21 of August , there was a Jesuite or Seminary Priest taken prisoner , and carr●…ed into his Excellencyes quarter : also certaine reuolted Italians came to our Campe this day .

At the same time there were brought nine prisoners which were taken in the skirmish néer vnto the Sconce which his Excellencie tooke from the enemy at his first comming before the Citty , being on the other side of the Mase . In this Sconce ( whilst the enemy helde it ) there was but a Corpes de Guarde , but it is now a stronge three square Sconce : howbeit , there is no Ordinance thereon , but onely one great murderer , which casteth balles of fire-worke into the Citty : also , they shoote great péeces of blewe square stone , and other great stones out of it : of such bignes , that a man ( with all his power & strength ) is but able to lift one of them . These stones ( making way wheresoeuer they fal ) breaking through Churches and houses , the people doe cry very pittifully , when the said peece is shot off , which can easily be heard out of the said Sconce . The balles of fire which they shoote , are filled with Musket-shot , and doe lye still on the ground , about halfe a quarter of an houre before they worke : and then the flame is séene aboue al the houses of the Citty , insomuch ( for as much as can be perceiued , and is most apparant and likely of truth ) those of the Citty , doe more feare these fire balles and these great stones , which are shot out of the sayd Sconce , then all the rest of his Excellencies great Ordynance , which he hath in foure batteryes .

Betwéene the 21. and 22. of August , the enemy attempted to put about 2000. men into the Citty , together with 400. horse , furnishing them al with ladders , deale-boords , shouels , pickaxes , and other instrumentes , to breake in vpon the Redu●…s or Courts of Guarde that lay betweene the quarters of his Excellency & Count William , but hauing intelligence that his Excellency was ●…irring vp and downe with 4000. Horse-men and many foote , they resyred back , leauing their waggons whereon their abouesaid Instrumentes were laden : some ladders were ( that night ) brought into his Excellencyes Tent.

The same night there was taken a horsemans boy , who was found swimming from the Citty , and was carryed before his Excellency , but they could gather nothing by him , because he shewed himselfe as if he had béen drunk or simple : and the selfe same night , the vttermost Centinels at the ●…ase side were at a bickering to-together , wherein two ●…f the townsmen were slaine .

Our Soldiers doe d●…ly get many faire horses and prisoners : als●… three horse-mens boyes got nine fayre horses of the 〈◊〉 .

The 22 of August , those of the City issued out twice vpon their Coun●●●scarpes , but it cannot bee knowne whether any of them were slaine or not : for our part , ( praise vnto God ) we lost none . This day our Horsemen tooke another Jesuite Prisoner .

Betweene Thursday and Fryday in the night , being betweene the 22. and 23. of August , the enemy set fire on all his Tents and Cabbins , which did so flame , as if the whole Country had béen on fire , and ther withall , breaking vp his Campe , he went away very quietly without any noyse : next day were found many waggons with weapons and furniture , besides many sicke men , the which his Excellencie caused to be carryed away , vpon his owne costes and charges . The enemy tooke his way vpwards alongst the Mase : and his Excellency followed him with 1200. horse , and some foote : but being that the 23. day of August , there was a very thick mist , he lost the enemy , not knowing which way hee was gone . In the quarter of his Excellency the spéech was , that he was gone toward Rhynebercke . After in the Mase were found many dead bodyes driuing with the streame , as also many armes and legges that were shotten off .