OVr Army vnder the Conduct of his Illustrious Excellency , the Duke of Buckingham , lyes as yet before the Fort of Saint Martins in the I le of Ree , which they haue intrenched round about , except vpon the North side where it is enuironed with the Sea , yet that passage is so blockt vp by our Ships , Pinnaces , and Long boates , that it is a matter difficult , if not altogether impossible , ( as matters stands now ) to put any Prouision of Victualls into the Citadell . For since that sixe Shalloppes of the Enemies , about a moneth since , brought some reliefe ( though small to the besiedged ) by the benefit of a seasonable night , and by the conniuence ( as it was doubted ) of some Dutch who came to the Iland for Salt , and lay betwixt vs and the maine . But now all hope of succour is debarred that way , by running two of our warlike Ships on ground , close vnder the Fort , vpon the Auenue of the water Port , and by the diligence and vigilancy of the rest of the Fleete , who leaue no course vnattempted , which Art or industry can propose for the finishing of this great worke , vpon which the honour of our Nation liyes so much ingaged .

So that besides the ordinary night and day watches obserued carefully by the Sea-men , diuerse long Boates well furnished with Musketiers and Marriners round it about the Island all the night long , who haue intercepted three French Soldiers of the Fort , that by swimming thought to recouer the maine with the Gouernours Letters

The Contents of these Letters implied : That their want within were great , that the Soldiers began to Mutenie , and that without speedy reliefe they could hold out no longer .

The Messengers who sought to conuay them being apprehended , were hanged in sight of the Fort , with the Letters about their neckes . Neither did the importunity of these aduertisements want cause , for as it appeareth by the testimonie of diuers fugitiues , and by the euidence of sundry probable circumstances , the besieged are so much distressed for want of necessaries , that although their Infantery be of the Regiment of Champaigne ( which is held to bee one of the brauest of all France ) and though there are diuers resolute Caualiers within it ( the reliques of those troupes , which at their first landing , were defeated by the English ) yet want begins to make them loose both courage and obedience , and to demeane themselues in a mutinous and insolent manner towards the Gouernour , who knowing well the truth and iustice of their pretentions , giues them good words , and bids them be confident of suddaine reliefe . But wordes and winde feedes not the belly , as honour heates not the toes : so that their discontents remaine as great as their necsssities are pressing . The violent inforcement whereof makes them ruune away by troupes ten and twenty in a company , and causeth others to aduenture themselues desperately out of their Workes , to gather Grapes , which growe betwixt the Fort , and our approches , many of whom are fetcht off by our Muskatiers , and slaine with the meate sticking in their mouthes .

Those within are allowed a small proportion of horseflesh , and sixe and fifty Peas a day .

The King of France his Brother is come downe within a league of Rochell , with an Army of 11. thousand strong , both Horse and Foote : he brings sixe brasse Peeces with him from Paris , with great store of Munition , and sundry materialls fit for the building of a Fort , the foundation whereof the French haue already layd opposite vnto that Fort , which was built on the North-West side of the Towne , in the yeare 1522. yet the Rochellers being confident of their owne strength , and of the English succours ( which are ready to assist them vpon all occasions ) resolue to endure all extreames , rather then to put their neckes vnder the yoake , or to faile in the course of their former resolutions .

Those of Rochell , the Enemies lying neere , sent out twenty common Souldiers on horseback cloathed in scarlet coates , and Armed after the manner of the French Gentlemen . The shew of this supposed salley , caused some principall Caualiers of the Kings side to issue out of their Workes , of purpose to encounter them . But they retiring , and the others pursuing , they fell into an Ambush of 50. Muskatiers purposely layd by the Rochellers , where diuers of them were slaine , amongst whom were two men of quality : for the recouering of one of whose bodies there happened a great Conflict , in which diuers of the French were slaughtered .

Although the ground about the Fort be hard to worke in , yet all difficulties being surmounted , our men haue drawne their approaches from the maine intrenchment ( which lyes betweene Saint Martins Towne and the Fort ) within lesse then Pistoll shot of the vtmost Counterskarfe , and that vpon two seuerall wayes or Auenues , whereof one is directed from the Batterie , and the other from the Redoubt .

Our Cannoniers haue dismounted all their Ordnance , except two sling Peeces , but of these they are able to make little vse , for want of Bullets : in foureteene dayes they haue made but one great Shot vpon our Quarter , which was but an exchanged Bullet , shot first from one of our Peeces .

But to supply this defect ( though with a feeble meanes ) they shoote and throwe many stones from their Workes , with which our men are so well acquainted , that it causeth as little terrour as it doth danger .

Our Armie keepes quatter with the French on land , for all those who are taken prisoners , or run out of the Fort , after a daies restraint or two are dismist , and sent into the maine with meanes of transportation & conduct . But of late no quarter is kept with them who are aken at Sea , because it appeared by the confession of some who were taken by our Boates vpon the 19. of the last moneth , that they are to confident and presumtiue vpon the Dukes mercie . His Excellencie lyeth in the Towne of Saint Martins , not farre from the Market place , attentiuely watching all faire opportunities , whose care and vigilancie wee hope that God will blesse with good successe . Monsieur Subuisa is in the Towne of Rochell , to confirme the Inhabitants with his presence and counsell .

The besieged haue not beene ssacke in their duties , for besides their continuall plying vs with their vollyes of great and small shot , they haue attempted to vndermine one of our Batteries , but this Designe of theirs was frustrated by a Countermine of ours , which wrought such effects , that they were beaten out of their own Mine after some resistance .

They are so much distressed for want of shotte , that wanting Lead and Iron , they are faine to melt all their Pewter and Tinne , of which they make Bullets . But this shot shatters like Hayle , and doth lesse hurt by farre then the other .

His Excellence is very sparing of his men , as well knowing that walles of bones are farre stronger then those of earth and stones , and resolues by following the president of Vanden Berke at Gulicke , and of Spinola at Breda to starne the besieged , or else to bring them to reason .

Vpon the Intercourse of some messages , his Grace hath imployed Mr. Aishburnham ( a Gentleman of his , lately arriued in England ) vpon occasions of speciall businesse , twice or thrice vnto the Gouernour Thorax .

Vpon his comming to the vtmost Sentinell , and the remonstrance of his imployment , his eyes were blindfolded , and in this manner ( because hee should not discouer their Workes ) he was conducted to receiue his audience .

The French giue out , that if wee doe not depart the sooner , they will cause vs to doe it by maine force , being confident of those aydes which are promised them from the King of Spaine , and the Archdutchesse , which together with their owne Ships , will make a Fleete of threescore saile , as they reckon in their large account . But I thinke this bragging of theirs will turne meerely into a French vapour , much shewe and little action . Howsoeuer they are sure to find a stout opposition , and a braue resistance .

Sir William Courtney , a Souldier of great conduct and experience , and Colonell of one of the English Regiments , was shot with a Musket from the Fort vpon the belly , but the Buller lighting vpon some money in a little pocket , lost his force , and did no farther hurt .

Vpon Wednesday being the twelfth of September , that Honourable and valiant Knight Sir Iohn Burrowes , Colonell Generall of the English Infanterie vnder his Excellencie the Duke of Buckingham , being carefull for the direction and suruay of all our Workes , came vp from his Quarters in the after-noone , to giue orders for the lniing out of a new Intrenchment , and as hee came off from the Workes with some other Commanders , hee was vnfortunately shot in the belly thorow the guttes , about fiue of the clocke in the euening , with a Musket , which wound proued mortall : for within foure or fiue houres after he gaue vp the ghost , to the exceeding griefe of all the Armie , but specially of the Duke of Buckingham , who comming to visite him before his death , shed many passionate teares to expresse his griefe , due to the remembrance of so worthy a person . Hee shewed a great deale of constancie , resolution , & religion at his death , as he had in the whole course and passage of his life . His body was opened and enbalmed , and sent into England with Mr , Aishburnham , who brought it to Plimouth on Monday , being the 24. of September , from whence it is comming about to Potesmouth , to be transported thence vnto Westminster , where it is to receiue the Sepulchrall rites of an Honorable interment .

Our Souldiers , but especially those of his Regiment were so much prouoked with this vnexpected accident , that in reuenge thereof they powred diuers vollyes of small & great shot vpon the French , with the storme whereof the Gouernours brother was slaine , and some other men of quality .