A iournall or daily register of all those warlike atchieuements which happened in the siege of Berghen-up-Zoome in the Low-countries betweene the armies of the Marquesse Spinola assaylants, and the Prince of Orange, defendants, of the said towne; together with the raising of the siege. In the end is added two letters, which discouer the errours fore-conceiued of the successe of that siege, and the after-designes of the Spanish armies, if they had taken in Bergen: with some particular accidents of warre, which were occasions of mirth to the beholders. All faithfully translated out of the original Low-Dutch copie.

The Copies of two Letters written from Antwerpe, the first by a good Protestant, dated the 24. of September, and the other by a Romish Catholike, dated before the 13. of September.

DEarely beloued Brother in the Lord, it is now long agoe, since I receiued any Letters from you: It is true that I vnderstood by a Messen∣ger, that you were well before the siege, hoping now the like. For asmuch as concerneth vs, we are in health, God be praised. Furthermore, we heare here daily of nothing else but heauy newes. First, in regard of the great store of wounded and hurt men, which are daily brought hither, with twenty, thirty, yea, sometime forty Waggons at a time, lamenting and complay∣ning pittifully, they dye also many times desperately vpon the Waggons, cursing the houre of their birth. Secondly because wee heare daily such ill newes of Bergen vp Zome, for it is here reported, that the Spa∣nish forces are gotten into your Walles, and sweepe the streets cleere with their Ordnance, in such man∣ner that none dare walke the same by day light: They say here likewise, that the Towne is vndermi∣ned vnto the Steeple of the Church too, that the ene∣mies deferre onely the blowing vp; vntill such time as they shall be sure, that the Church is full of Here∣ticks; relating moreouer that no Shippes can any more goe forth, or come into your Hauen, so that the Citie is not able to hold out aboue eight or tenne

dayes, adding thereunto, that the best Ordnance, be∣sides the Horse, and all what was of any value, was sent thence already, and that whatsoeuer is left with∣in it, is like to fall into their hands very shortly; and here are many which lay great wagers vpon the sur∣rendring vp of the said City: Therefore I pray you to send me word by word of mouth, or by writing (as you shall thinke it most conuenient) how all stands.

Vale, Antwerpe, the 24. of Septem. Anno 1622.

The second Letter.

COsen, I haue written to you in former times, that Holland was in great danger, and I hope that you perceiue now, that I informed you of the truth, and therefore will resolue to come ouer vnto vs, if you please, I shall send you a Pasport to preuent all suspi∣cion of your absolute departure. For it will not be long ere Holland will fall into vtter confusion and mi∣serie. I doubt how you can escape in such a case, though you be a Catholique: for our Iesuites say, that the greatest part of the Hollandish Catholiques are poysoned by the potions of the Heretickes, making this comparison, that an Iron which hath once taken the ayre of the Load-stone, participates presently of the same nature; in such manner, that it cannot be taken away, or driuen out by fire.

Wherefore I am afraid that you will speed no bet∣ter then the Catholiques haue done, which were in Prague, or Heydelberg, or those sometimes did, when

this City was sackt, where the Souldiers answered them which desired to be spared for their Romish religions sake, that there was no mercy to be found at their hands, but if they were Catholiques, it should be the better for their soules.

Can you looke now for any thing else, then a sur∣prisal, and generall ouerthrow, seeing the Emperour and all Kings are on our side? You haue relyed and trusted vpon a bulrush, therefore I pray you to come speedily away, for our forces intend suddenly to make an end of the siege before Bergen. And haue therefore appointed a Clergie for the diuine seruice, and a Go∣uernour to command in the Citie. Afterwards, Mar∣quesse Spinola is to set vpon Tertolen, and all the Islands of Sealand. Don Lewis de Valasco shall besiege Sluys, Don Gonsales de Cordua, shall with his forces, keepe the Campe of the Prince of Orange, in awe. Count Henry Vanden Bergh, with the Baron of Anholt, and the Ba∣uarian forces shall inuade Friesland. Therefore I pray you come presently hither, and deliuer me from my feare; seeing that at euery Canon shot I am doubtfull of your life, suspecting you to be slaine therewith: Doe likewise your best endeauour to draw all other good Catholiques out of that cursed Sodome, Antwerpe the 13. of September, Anno 1622.