Book mi.

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2 34 Of the iflands in Zeland.
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weeks, and forced to depart having done nothing, yet he comes
frdh upon them again , and befteging them moft clofely he never left to aflail them continually. But when theTownfmen were puc to great extremity and were at the lowcft ebb, wanting all things yet they could be brought to yeeld by no threats nor fair promifes, though now 7 months, befides fire and flames caft into their City , they were beleaguerd by Sea and Land with all forts of Engins ,
Rams, Slings, Darts, Targetfences, and other warlike inftruments
V j&gniZes which that age frequently ufed. When wherefore they were in the ziri^eans. narrow ftraights , and theCity had no help, Philip the Fair, the FrencbKing came feafonably to their afliftance, and making 11a flop nor delay , he fends John Tayderofos his Admiral and chief Commander, andReginer Grimaldw of Genoa , with a well pro- •videdFleet, and fome long Ships , (which, becaufe they rowe Galleys* with Cares more than they fail, are called Galleys) and he wifheth them to make fpeed to releive the befeiged in time. They made noftay to fulifill the Kings command, and do what they had in charge fuddenly 5 whom fo foon as the Watch and Senteries per¬ ceived from a high Watch-Tower, from whence they could look farr into the Sea , and gave warning of it , faying they were not farroff, prefently william Prince of Holland and Zealand f kin to the King by his Sifter, firft feeing the Admiralls Ships, and then a great Fleet failing at length , he prefently joyns the Ships he had ready for that ufe with this Fleet, and unitingitheir forces they had collected , they refolve to fet upon the Flemings and to deftroy them 5 the Townf-men alfo that were paft all hopes, areraifed up with hopes of Vnftory, and they recollected their forces that were broken with a long Siege, and take new courage againft the Enemy. But when the Army was ready , and the Fleet To excellent well provided with all things was to fall on , and began to fail from the place they rid at; The Flemings ,(as they want no military policies and ftratagems J fend out a Ship , having the wind and tide with them, againft the whole Fleet , and it was halfe full of dry wood, Faggots, Laths, Straw, Stubble, and other dry matter that will foon cake fire , all wet with Oyle, Pitch, Brimftone, Tallow, Fat. But when this fire-Ship ftuck here and there, and then being ftopt by the Waves, went on flowly, till the Ocean began to come to the full height, and began to ebb again ; behold fuddenly, (which we r muft needs think was a fingular providence of God ) the wind turn-
ed and was driven to the North , fo the Sea coming back again 3 the Fire-Ship was forced back, and falls amongft th t Flemings Ships, and fets them on fire in every place 3 many of them that The courage of tfrey nnigbt not be burnt leaped into the Sea, changing one dangec the Flemings, with another, and faved their lives by fwimming* The Flemings being turmoild by this lofle , our men fall on with Ores and Sails upon them , but they being nothing difeouraged , putting out the fire as they could, they ftoutly oppofe the reft of their forces, and Ships the fire had not hurt , againft their Enemy. The battle was firft doubtful 1 from noon till the Morning rife of the Sun , fo that the night it felfe, which at that time of the year is fomewhat clear ,
namely
Chap. 2.
Of the Ijlands in Zeland.
ilamely about the Ides of Auguft , could not end the conteft. Our men, being equall with them, for place, and the wind being againft them , and the Sea ebbing, frighted them with Fire, Sword, Fire¬ brands, and Poles lighted , and we caft in many Fireballs and brands to burn their Snips. In the mean while the .Townf-men * opening their gates, and tallying forth did them great fpoil, and lo beat back and kept down the violence of the Flemings againft our men, the women alfo Hying forth fo violently againft the Enemy , that they did as valiantly and ftoutly oppofe them, as the men did.
There were fuch crackings, cryes, bowlings, noyles and exclama¬ tions in that conflift , as many teftifie , that for above three miles they might be heard. And let no man think this to be incredible; in the night ail for thatanoyfeat Sea, cries ofan Army, may be heard very wide , heard efpecially in a.filent night. For fince nothing hinders, nor Woods, At Sea a noyfe nor Groves , nor Mountaines , nor Rocks as high as Heaven , the ”beardvery noyfe paffeth on the plain of the Sea, asin a wide Champion-^*
Land, tarr and broad, and is fcattered through the Ayrc. But when all night this miferable {laughter and deftru&ion continued, in the morning the Flemings , part all hopes , became fubje enemies, being killed, and lcattered by them. In that battel were ,
loft above 8000 Flemings , and there were taken , befides private Souldicrs , whofe number is not eafie to be had , Guido Damp etr a Earl 0c
Prince of Flanders, and with him innumerable Lords of the Court; Flanders capd- their Enfignes were taken from them. Skins, Tents, fpoils, and ma- vaud- ny rich booties and gallant things were recovered from them, and with the Prince and Captives were brought into the City : andth great Fleet they had , with all things fo well appointed ,j was ei -mdinl een“' ther fhattered to peices, or burnt, and what they had came all in¬ to the Enemies hands. Wherefore the Flemings being afflicted " with this memorable Ioffe , take Counfel to corapofe the bufi- neffe, and to redeem their Captives. Thefe things fhould teach other mem Princes , that are covetous or other mens Countries , and long ar- beinvxdcd . ter their neighbours Lands, that they fhould not raife Armes againft fuch as live neere unto them, where they have no juft caufe to make a Warr , not fufficient reafon to induce them to ir.
And if there beacaufe, they were better firfttryall means, and admitt of any conditions almoft for peace , than to take up the Sword. But now the fiege being raifed at Zirizea , and the Warr ended, which fell out Anno Domini 1 303 about the Ides of Auguft , which was St. Laurence day, leaft fo fierce a vi&ory obtain’d after fo bloody Warr, after fome yeares fhould be forgotten, or flip out of the minds of the Citizens, they decreed , that folemn year¬ ly thankfgiving fhould be rendred unto the immortal God, and the Senate would have this continued year by year, for perpetuall me¬ mory to lhew how thefe things were done and how the City was delivered ; and this hath never been negle&ed by their pofterity : but alfo the yourtg boys that frequent publick Schools , and are^^^ traind up in learning, keep this day holy-day,and reft,having leave amtfeare row* allowed them for to play : fo is the remembrance of this deed deli- ^^gbJ )er-
Kk 2 vered
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23 6
Of the Iflands in Zeland.